1.
Boot to the desktop
Microsoft has bowed to the pressure
from desktop users and given us an option to skip the Start screen after
logging in. Right-click on the taskbar, choose 'Properties', then switch to the
Navigation tab. Tick the 'Go to the desktop…' option to load it first instead
of the Start screen.
2.
Find your apps
The 8.1 edition of Windows pins
fewer apps to the Start screen by default, and has moved the location of the
full apps list - you can now find it by clicking on the down arrow in the lower
left corner. Click or tap the drop-down menu by the Apps heading to change how
the items are sorted.
3.
Universal wallpaper
In Windows 8.1 you can set your
Start screen wallpaper to the same image used for the desktop wallpaper, if it
makes life without the Start menu a little easier for you. Open up the
'Personalise' link from the Settings charm on the Start screen and your current
desktop backdrop will be one of the available thumbnails.
4.
Quicker shutdown
Windows 8.1 retains the shortcut
menu that appears when you right-click in the bottom left-hand corner of the
desktop, but there are some new options. You can now shut the system down or
log out of your account from here, rather than going through the Settings
charm.
5.
Configure Smart Search
By default Windows 8.1 will look
through files on your PC, in your SkyDrive account and on the web when you type
a query into the Search charm, but you can modify this behaviour. Open the
Settings charm then choose 'Change PC settings > Search and apps >
Search' to disable Bing integration.
6.
App tiles
It's not exactly a headline feature,
but Windows 8.1 gives you more control over the size of your app tiles on the
Start screen. Right-click on a tile, choose 'Resize' from the menu at the
bottom and there are four different options to pick from: Large, Wide, Medium
and Small.
7.
Lock screen slideshows
Having a static photo as your lock
screen picture is so Windows 8. Join the Windows 8.1 revolution by configuring
a slideshow of several images instead - on the Lock screen page under 'PC and
Devices' in the Settings app there's a new Slide show entry, complete with a
variety of configuration options.
8.
Name app groups
Each of your Start screen app tile
groups can have its own heading now, if required. You could name one group
'Work' and one 'Play', to be completely unoriginal and dull, for example.
Right-click on the Start screen and choose Customise to bring up the labels.
9.
Display tweaks
Display settings are now available from the Start screen
Your screen resolution configuration
and other related settings can now be accessed straight from the Start screen
without venturing to the desktop or the Control Panel. Choose 'Settings' from
the Charms bar, then 'Change PC settings', and then 'Display'.
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