Microsoft releases early first look video at Windows 8.1

Zac Bowden

Windows 8.1

Microsoft has released an early first look video of Windows 8.1 today. The video is presented by Jensen Harris, who also presented the Windows 8 Consumer Preview first look also. The video walks through some of Windows 8.1’s new features available on Surface and other hardware devices.

The video goes over improvements to the Start Screen, personalization, multitasking, apps list and search charm, as well as other small things seen throughout the video.

While the video goes over a few cool things regarding Metro, the video does not talk about the desktop, however we briefly get to see it when Harris demo’s desktop wallpapers on the Start Screen. This is unfortunate, as it’s definitely one of the things people are interested in with the Windows 8.1 update. We expect Microsoft to talk more about the desktop in Windows 8.1 at the BUILD 2013 developer conference later this month. Microsoft are expected to release a public preview alongside the developer conference too, meaning we’ll all be able to test drive the new update!