Key Windows 8.1 Update 1 Changes

The first change is visible when logging on to a Windows 8.1 Update 1 machine and viewing the desktop. The Windows Store has a shortcut on the Taskbar that shows the so-called "modern" applications can now be pinned to the Taskbar, which was previously not possible. This makes it easy to move between modern applications.You can control this via the Taskbar and Navigation properties in the Taskbar tab. To stop them from showing, deselect Show Windows Store apps (see screen shot below) on the taskbar.

Modern applications on the taskbar can have embedded active toolbars (thumbnail controls) such as the Music application.

On the Start Screen, if a tile is right-clicked, a context menu is displayed. Note that if you use touch, actions are still displayed at the bottom of the screen.

Modern applications have minimize and close icons when the cursor is moved to the top of the running modern application, making it easier to control.

Power options are now shown on the Start Screen as is the Search option.

The All Applications link on the Start Screen shows the number of new applications installed.

Internet Explorer 11 includes Enterprise Mode. This mode allows specific sites defined by a new Enterprise Mode Site List Manager tool, which renders the defined sites in an enhanced rendering engine, to improve compatibility for sites designed for Internet Explorer 8. More detail can be found at the Microsoft MSDN blogs.