Video: Microsoft’s Jensen Harris shows off Windows 8.1 on the Surface Pro

Jensen Harris is the Director of Program Management for the Windows User Experience team. Basically he’s in charge of the look and feel of an operating system you’re quite intimate with. Microsoft has just posted a video on YouTube where Jensen details some highlights of what to expect when Windows 8.1 arrives. Video after the break.

At work and can't access YouTube? Here's a list of the major changes in Windows 8.1. Exciting times ahead! He doesn't discuss it, but you'll notice the Start button is back on the desktop.

  • Lockscreen is a cloud-powered photo frame. Brings pictures from your PC and phone through SkyDrive.
  • New tiles sizes: Large and small.
  • Improved all apps screen. Swipe up from the Start screen to get all apps.
  • All apps can be sorted by most used, by name, by date installed, or category.
  • Press and hold to pin to Start
  • Press and hold like Windows Phone to manage apps on your Start screen
  • New personalization that can quickly be accessed by from the Settings charm
  • New colors for background and accent colors.
  • New motion accents for the background. Hard to explain, by attention during the 1:53 mark.
  • Desktop backgrounds can now be used on Start.
  • New search feature powered by Bing that curates searches from both the web and PC.
  • Better multi-tasking
  • Up to four Windows 8 apps on one screen each with adjustable sizes for Snap mode

Holy bullet list Batman! Jensen gave a quick look at some of the major new Windows 8.1 changes that are coming. We’ll obviously be learning more over the coming month, but it’s nice to get a sneak preview of how the best operating system for tablets, laptops and desktops is getting even better. The update will come later this year (probably around the Holidays) and be a free for Windows 8 customers.

Source: YouTube

Thanks for the tip Edwin R!

Sam Sabri
Latest in Windows 8
Steam on PC
Steam drops support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, dozens of PC gamers affected
Windows 8.1 Photos app
Windows 8.1 officially reaches end of extended support
Windows 8 presentation
Ex-Windows chief shares early concept ideas for Windows 8
Windows 8.1 end of support warning
Microsoft issues full-screen warning about Windows 8.1 end of support
Surface Pro 3
Windows 8.1 users will start seeing 'end of support' warnings soon
Windows 11 Tease
The end is near for the OneDrive desktop app if you're not on Windows 11 or 10
Latest in News
NVIDIA CES 2025
You should be worried about NVIDIA’s launch strategy for its most popular GPUs. Here's why.
Two hands holding a gaming handheld
This new gaming handheld could be perfect for Xbox Cloud and more reasonably priced than my current go-to
Cloud servers
Microsoft has killed "several" data center projects in the U.S. and Europe, according to reports — Microsoft responds (Updated)
Photo of Microsoft's new sign-in page for Xbox.com using the Microsoft Edge browser.
Over one billion users will get a new Microsoft user experience, and it has a dark mode
The Thing: Remastered key art
The Thing comes to Xbox Cloud Gaming's "Stream Your Own Game" library alongside other new arrivals
Promotional screenshot of heroes fighting a giant in Pillars of Eternity
Obsidian's classic Baldur's Gate successor 'Pillars of Eternity' is getting a surprise turn-based mode later this year, alongside other updates