Windows 8.1 codenamed Windows Blue would be released as a preview on June 26 during the Build Conference but, the software giant has already revealed most of the features of the update for Windows 8. We have seen almost all the features, improvements and additions from Windows 8.1 whose details can be found here. One thing which the software giant mentioned which is very cool is the addition of more pre-installed Modern-UI apps in Windows 8.1.
Windows 8.1 Start Screen with new apps
Windows 8.1 would be getting a couple of new Modern-UI apps which would be baked in the OS when you install it. The apps cover almost all parts of daily lifestyle like Alarms, Calculator, Sounder Recording, Movie editing, Physical Health and Food & Drinking.
Windows 8.1 would be getting 8 new Modern-UI apps in-addition to the ones already found in Windows 8. All these apps have been made touch friendly and would surely eliminate the need of third party apps from Store.
Let’s have a quick look at the new pre-installed Modern-UI apps of Windows 8.1 which would be found in the preview later this month.
  • Alarms:
Microsoft has decided to include the Modern-UI touch-friendly Alarm app in Windows 8.1. As the name suggests, you would be able to set alarms on your Windows 8.1 device without the need to install any third party app. You would get the option to set multiple alarms as well as set countdown timers.
You would be able to customize the Alarms set by your by changing their ringtones to any of your choice, selecting its effects when it rings while your PC is awake or asleep and in the last, your Alarms will also ring while your PC is locked. You would also be able to snooze or stop the Alarms from Lock Screen without the need to login.
  • Calculator:
Calculator app would be baked in the Windows 8.1 which would work like a normal calculator app with all the basic or advanced mathematical operational capability. Thanks to its touch capability, you would be able to use it on touch screens or with mouse/keyboard easily. Other things about the app includes snap support to be able to run with other apps seamlessly.
  • Movie Moments:
Windows 8.1 would also be getting an all new Movie Moments app. Basically being a movie sharing app with editing features and auto-correction, this awesome app would be ideal to share short movements of your life with your friends and loved ones.
You can either import a video from your library or record video of up to three minutes and then, add captions, effects and sounds to it before sharing it with your friends using the Share Charm. It will also feature auto-effects feature which would add effects to your video automatically.
  • Sound Recorder:
Sound Recorder app would let you perform the tasks of sound recording in a more touch friendly way. You would also get the options to share your recording with others app using the Share Charm.
  • Help + Tips:
Microsoft has also decided to include a dedicated app to let the users get familiar with all the new features of Windows 8.1. Windows 8 was surely missing that app and most of the users weren’t able to get familiar with all the features of Windows 8.
But, with Windows 8.1, Microsoft has included this app which won’t just help users discover new features but, also let you get help from professionals if, you face a problem or can’t get a feature working properly.
  • Health & Fitness:
This awesome app like the name suggests will cover all your physicals aspects from problems you might be facing to suggestions and tips to remain healthy.
It will record your health by taking calorie readings and your weight – entered by users to help you get the most out of your health and remain physically/mentally healthy. These readings would be stored in cloud so that you can access them anywhere whether from other Windows 8.1 device of your Windows Phone using your Microsoft account.
You would also be able to discover popular diseases found in humans by pressing the specific body parts of the diagram provided which will show the list of diseases caused in that part.
  • Reading List:
One of the most anticipated feature of Windows 8 was the ability to save all your bookmarks and favorites at one place. Microsoft is finally including a way to save all your bookmarks at one place in Windows 8.1.
Reading List would save all your favorite websites and others pages which you think you would love reading later. You just have to go to the Share Charm and select Reading List from list and you bookmarks would be saved in the cloud which can be accessed by you anywhere even from others Windows 8.1 devices.
  • Food & Drinks:
Food & Drink as the name suggests would be related to food & dining. With this app you would be able find recipes of your favorite food items along with the option to find and create a list to cook that thing. You can also create meals plans which the app will notify you when the scheduled time and date arrives.
The best and probably, the most unique and coolest feature in whole Windows 8.1 would be the gesture control. If, your hands are dirty or something is sticking to your hands while cooking then, you would be able to use gestures to navigate in the Food & Drinks app. The gesture based navigation would work with your device’s normal webcam which means that it would work on any webcam supported device as far as we can understand.
These new apps are few of the features of Windows 8.1 which would be released as preview on June 26, 2013. You can read about all the new and improved features of Windows 8.1 here.
Windows 8.1 would be offered for free to all Windows 8 users through an update from Windows Store.