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Who really knows Windows 8.1?

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Windows 8.1 is FAR more than simply a new and/or improved UI

Windows 8.1 "under the covers"

 

Picking out the differences between Windows XP and Windows 8.1 or even between Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, improvements have been enormous and have remained unnoticed by a lot of people. So here's a glimpse of new features that are all in Windows 8.1. In sum, the following three unsorted (net even complete) lists of new features give an impressive insight into the innovation thrusts of the different versions starting with Windows Vista to Windows 8.1. Naturally, the list would be much longer - especially if we considered Windows Servers as well, which we won't in this article. Windows Server 2012 R2 on its own provides so many new features that an own list would even be more extensive than the ones provided herein.

It is definitely worth to have a look on the documentation since Windows is simply and even more unbeatable regarding security, manageability, automation, feature richness and customization.

New features within Windows Vista

 

User Account Control 

User Interface Privilege Isolation 

Live Icons 

Restart Manager 

Session 0 Isolation 

Quick Search 

Aero 

Credential Providers 

Cancelable I/O 

Sidebar 

Secure Startup

WPF 

Network Access Protection 

Windows Feedback Services 

Presentation Settings 

Sync Center 

MMC 3.0 

Windows Imaging Format (WIM)

Protected Mode IE 

Parental Control 

High Resolution/High DPI 

Mandatory Integrity Control 

IPv6 Dual Stack 

Desktop Hardware Acceleration

Resource Exhaustion Diagnostics

Shell Property System 

Peer Name Resolution Protocol 

Stacks 

Crypto Next Generation 

Search Folders 

Single Binary 

Glass 

Workflow Foundation 

Power Management 

Windows Display Driver Model 

Flip3d 

Windows Service Hardening

Transactional Registry 

Windows Defender 

SuperFetch 

Windows Desktop Manager 

Windows Filtering Platform 

New Explorers 

WCF 

Writeable SIDs 

Winlogon Rearchitcture 

Registry/File Virtualization 

Bitlocker and MBAM

Monad Scripting Shell 

XAML and Segoe UI Font

Enhanced Group Policy Scenarios

Ink Analysis 

Info Card 

Enhanced Reliability Monitor

Windows Sideshow 

Startup Repair Toolkit 

Internet Explorer 7-9

Windows Resource Protection 

RSS Platform 

IE Hardware Accelaration (IE 9)

Ad-hoc Meeting Networks

New Event Viewer

Java-Script native code Jit- Compilation (IE9)

WS-Management 

Eventing and Intrumentation 

Process Elevation

Windows Installer 4.0/4.5 

XML Paper Specification 

Protected Processes

Function Discovery API 

.Net Framework 3.0 

Hidden Per-User-COM (Elevated Processes)

New Open/Save Dialog 

Process Dump in Taskmanager 

Improved Compiler Defenses (GS, ASLR, DEP, SAFESEH, robust, etc.)

User Mode Driver Framework 

Open Package Specification 

UI Access Application

Windows Disk Diagnostic 

Wizard Framework

TrustInfo - Application Manifest

New Direct Access

New Security Model

> 320 Shims

Directory Junctions 

NTFS English language 

Separation of OS and MUI 

Automatic Compat. Mitigations (>5.500 Applications)  

New Firewall (Profiles, etc.) 

New Security Center

HotStart 

 Speech Recognition

 New Accessibility Features

IIS 7.0 

Data Protection API 

ACT 5.0 

 

New features within Windows 7

 

User Account Control Slider

New Explorers

Enhanced MBAM 

New Taskbar 

Scenic Ribbon Control

BuiltIn Touch Platform

Taskbar Thumbnails

Process Cloning for Debugging

BranchCache ™

Pinned Icons

Display Driver Model (WDM 1.1)

DirectAccess ™

Thumbnail Buttons

Customized Troubleshooting

AppLocker ™

Thumbnail Preview,

Sensors and Locations

Sensors and Locations

Thumbnail Jumplists

Desktop Gadgets

New, Richer Support Tools

Thumbnail Overlay Icons

Memory Diagnostics

Shell Rearchitecture – Search, Explorer, CMD-Shell

Preview Pane

Network Location Awareness

Windows Installer 5

Reading Pane

Network Connection Timeout Event

Customized Troubleshooting

Folder/Document Library

VPN Reconnect

Internet Explorer 8-9

Metadata Pane

Bitlocker to go

IE Hardware Accelaration (IE 9)

People Near Me

Powershell BuiltIn

Java-Script native code Jit- Compilation (IE9)

Search Providers

.Net Framework 3.5

Improved Compiler Defenses (GS, ASLR, DEP, SAFESEH, robust, etc.)

Aero Snap / Shaking 

IE 9 Smart Screen and Tracking Protection

Event Viewer Tracing capabilities  

Compatibility - Application Manifest (OS Switch Points)

Direct Access

RPC changes, Asynchronous I/O changes 

Start Menu Search 

New Search Engine

New Logo Certification 

DaRT 7.0 

NUMA 

New Task Scheduler 

Concurrency Runtime 

Background Services 

WERR 

CPU Multi Processing and Core Parking 

Task Parallel Library (TPL) 

New Windows Update - Less Reboots 

>360 Shims 

Automatic Compat. Mitigations (>6.500 Applications)

Visibility of Firewall Port configuration in Resource Monitor 

Compatibility Assistant 

Boot Performance Improvements 

Kernel Changes for Flexibility and Extensibility 

New Firewall 

New BITS service 

Server RemoteFx Support 

VHD Boot 

XP Mode 

Windows Backup 

New RDP 

Action Center 

WERR - Third Party App Update 

IIS 7.5 

ACT 5.6 

New MDT and WAIK 

Credential Manager 

Security Compliance Manager 

High Contrast Mode 

 

New features within Windows 8

 

User Account Control changes 

Hyper-V on Client (almost the same as Server 2012 Hyper-V)

CHKDSK improvements with zero downtime (NTFS health)

Internet Explorer 10 with Enhanced Protected Mode 

Virtual Network Switch 

Powershell v3 In-Box, Powershell Intellisense, Powershell API Help- and Command Generator, New Powershell ISE

Virtual Fibre Channel 

SMB 3.0 Attached Storage 

Explorer VHD/ISO mount 

Guest NUMA Direct  

Direct Attached FC HBA 

Dynamic Memory 

64 TB Dynamic Virtual Disk 

64 Logical CPU 

VM 10-finger Touch 

Extensible Virtual Switch 

New Performance Tools

Fast and Fluid UI 

Low Power Busses 

VM NIC VMQ 

VM NIC Teaming 

OS BuilIn Smart Screen Filter (Has blocked >1.5B malware and >150M phishing attacks) 

New Explorer with Ribbon 

IIS 8.0 

Do Not Track (DNT) capability 

SmartScreen Filter protects third-party browsers

IE10 ASLR Support for none-ASLR aware AddIns 

Secure Boot 

New Task Manager 

Powershell Web Interface 

Trusted Boot 

Windows to go 

New MDT, WAIK, MDOP 

Measured Boot 

Offline Domain Join 

WMI 2.0 

Remote Attestation Service 

New Activation Model 

New App Certification

Remote Applications 

Connected Standby 

Virtual Smartcards 

Windows RT (Windows on ARM) 

BuiltIn USB 3.0 Support 

Direct Access improvements 

TPM 2.0 

BuiltIn Bluetooth 4.0 Support 

Branch Cache Improvements 

UEFI 2.3.1 

New Driver Model (WDM 1.2)

DaRT 8.0 

Storage Spaces – Thin/Thick Provisioning 

Hunderte neuer Powershell CMDLets (z.B. 162 für Hyper-V) 

New VDI 

New Windows Defender (Forefront Scan Engine) 

New Firewall with Packet Filtering 

Internet Explorer 10 64-Bit with 32-Bit Support 

Fast Boot

PS ISE integrated CMD List 

.Net Framework 4.5 SP1

Hybrid Shutdown 

Improved, comprehensive Compiler Defenses (GS, ASLR, DEP, SAFESEH, SEHOP, Heap Spray, robust, etc.)

Async APIs (85% of WinRT APIs and included in .Net 4.5) 

High Contrast Mode changes 

Office 2013 RT (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote included in Windows RT edition)

Windows RT APIs and new Kernel Services

(e.g. Background Tasks, Suspended Apps) 

Maintenance Tasks 

Suspended Desktop Application (Windows RT) 

Suspended Apps 

Shared Kernel – Phone, Tablet, Notebook, PC

Offloaded File/Folder Operation (ODX Protocol) 

New Application Model – Platform neutral (Intel/AMD/ARM) 

Windows to go parse-through VM 

Windows Store App Resource Protection 

OPP Brokered API Isolation 

Live Tiles 

App Contracts – Secure App Data exchange (Search, Share, FilePicker, PlayTo)

Office 2013 Student (Windows RT) 

RICH Touch Support

10-finger Touch Support 

Secure Device Access – App Capabilities 

Process Isolation – Low Integrity App container 

VM 3D graphic support 

Sidebar Removal

HTML 5 Support 

Search throughout apps 

New Windows 8 OS Switch Point via App Manifest 

StartScreen Mouse- and Keyboard Support 

File History 

Windows Refresh / Reset 

Windows 7 Backup included but deprecated 

Optical Disk Power Management 

Windows Store App Forward Compatibility

Flat Desktop Design and Improvements 

Windows Store (Link to certified Desktop Apps possible) 

Windows Store Apps using JavaScript and HTML 

Device Encryption and Bitlocker 

Windows Store Installer 

Sideloading Installation 

Windows Intune Support

WACK, WADK, WSDK, WDK 

ACT 6.0 

New Compatibility Assistant 

New Windows Update – Less Reboots 

Startup Application Diagnostics 

Enhanced Cloud Integration – Linked Microsoft Account 

Surface RT Ports for HDMI, USB, Bluetooth 4.0, SDCard 

Convertible Devices Support

Support for almost infinite number of Hardware Formfactors 

> 385 Shims 

Automatic Compat. Mitigations (>7.500 Applications) 

PowerShell Web Service Interface 

Remote Attestation Service 

Settings Roaming 

Huge number of different Device-Formfactors

Web Setup (ESD) 

No Installation without NX (DEP)

Silent (automatic) Activation 

UEFI CSM Boot (Class 2) 

Connected Account 

Automatic Startup Repair UI 

Assessment Execution Engine

Compression API

Data Deduplication API

App Packaging and Deployment

DirectComposition 

Direct Manipulation 

DirectXMath 

Help API 

iSCSI Software Target API 

Operation Recorder 

Steps Recorder Changes 

SMB Management API 

User Access Logging 

User State Management API 

Web Socket Protocol Component API 

Windows Connection Manager

Windows Storage Management API 

XAudio2

XInput 

Event Tracing 

IP Helper changes 

MIB changes 

Native Wifi changes 

Network Management changes

UEFI CSM Boot (Class 2) 

Connected Account 

Automatic Startup Repair UI 

Direct2D changes 

DirectWrite changes 

Printing changes

UI Automation changes

Windows Sockets changes

Software Input Panel 

Assessment Execution Engine

Compression API

Data Deduplication API

Surface Pro with ultra thin digitizer 

 New Accessibility Features

On-Touch Keyboard, New Magnifier, Narrator

Start Button replaced by link to new Start-Screen 

Technical Start Menu

Windows Style UI – New Start Screen 

 

New features within Windows 8.1

 

Internet Explorer 11 with Enhanced Protected Mode ON by default

Internet Explorer 11 – automatic AddOn-Handling with Process Isolation

IE11 with better touch performance, faster page load times and several other new features

Remote Business Data Removal(Selective Wipe)

Internet Explorer 11 antimalware solution integration

Windows Store in-place upgrade (Click-Click-Done)

3D Printing Support (built-in

Biometrics Support (built-in)

Biometrics liveliness Detection

Biometrics modern reader support (swipe, touch)

Biometrics usage with UAC, Windows Store, Modern UI Apps and more

Common fingerprint enrollment

Workplace Join

Work Folders

Open MDM for BYOD

Mobile Device Management

Web Application Proxy

RDS Enhancements - enhanced VDI

Wi-Fi Direct Printing

NFC Tap-to-pair Printing

Native Miracast Wireless Display

Broadband Tethering

Pervasive Device Encryption

Malware Resistance – Defender with network behavior monitoring and ActiveX support

Device Lockdown

Assigned Access

New Credential Theft Defenses (New local Groups, LSASS Protected Process, Account Policy Silos)

New local Groups for hardening capabilities

Hundreds of new Win32 APIs

New Windows Surface 2 RT with new Keyboards

New Windows Surface 2 Pro with new Keyboards

Boot Performance improvements

Network performance improvements

Remote-Apps with faster reconnects and improved compression and  multiple monitors support

Touch-to-buy Biometrics

Apps can automatically trigger VPN connections

Embedded wireless radio

Windows To Go - Windows Store enabled by default

Touch to Buy with Biometrics

High DPI improvements

Dynamic DPI Changes

Per-Monitor DPI-Aware Applications

New GPOs (e.g. Start Screen)

New or improved Development Tools

New or improved Deployment and Management Tools

Text to Speak capabilities

In-app commerce support

Automatic App Updates

Hyper-V improvements

New Shims and Compatibility Modes

New Windows SwitchPoint for backward compatibility

Developers: New App Packaging

Developers: New scheduler API for Asynchronous Programming

Developers: Lots of new HTML and JavaScript controls

Developers: Lots of new XAML controls

Developers: New Device APIs (USB, Bluetooth, 3D Printing, Biometrics,  Point of Service “POS”, Human Interface “HID”)

Developers: New DirectX 11.2 support with hundreds of new features

Developers: Enhanced support for in-app file management

Developers: New ways to capture and process media (playback controls, native support for Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) for HTML5 playback.

Developers: Removal of GetVersionEx()

Developers: New HTTP APIs

Developers: New Networking APIs

Developers: Latest authentication techniques support

New Windows Store

Better Mouse and Keyboard Options

Modern UI App Kiosk Mode

Enhanced Device Sync capabilities

Picture Slide Show on Lock Screen

New On-Touch Keyboard

Explorer SkyDrive integration

Redesigned Photo, Camera apps and more

Cloud connectivity enhancements (SkyDrive, etc.)

Improved All Apps List

Start Screen configuration by GPO

Start Screen Corporate Identity configuration

Improved Personalization

Variable, Continuous Size of Snap Views

Backgrounds with motions

Two more Live Tile sizes

Improved Search (Web, Bing, SkyDrive, Documents, Apps, etc.)

More colors and backgrounds for Start Screen

 High entropy ASLR (HEASLR)

Outlook on Windows 8.1 RT   

Redesigned Mail App

New Local Security Groups for New Rights Assignments

 Windows 8.1 RT - New 3rd Party VPN Clients

 

New Start Button

Boot to desktop

Modern UI Improvements – New Start Screen look and feel

 

By the way, Windows 8.1 now has a new Start Button which references to the new Start Screen. If you counted the number of required clicks or keystrokes to start a program in Windows 7, you will see you won't need more rather less clicks when using Windows 8.1. Despite, the Start Button is back most people don't miss it anymore as the Start Screen and the underlying application list became so beautiful, meaningful and useable.

 

Incidentally, the most important technical features are still accessible in the "Technical Start Menu" with a right mouse click on the new Start Button. This is a massive improvement for Virtual Machine users because on Windows 8 finding the bottom left corner in those machines was a little bit tricky some times.

 

Just looking at the touch ability of Windows 8.1 in the new Start Screen and in the new Windows Store applications is impressive and for this I'm likely adapting on a new operation system, which is in my opinion to learn easily within a few minutes. On Windows 8.1 a new user will see some useful hints (one time) while navigating through the Start Screen the first time.

 

In addition, the new type of handling opened an unprecedented comfort. Here a quote of a colleague, who appreciates the new Start Screen as much as I do:

 

"My personal highlight is the ability to interact in totally new ways compared to other operation systems.

I simply enter a term and Windows 8 lets me know all possible alternatives for it. So it shows you the results Windows 8 finds for the term in "Apps", "Files" and "Settings". What is even more interesting is that Windows 8 tries to process across apps. "Tie" for example is being looked for in Bing and eventually you might see what different types of ties and knots exist. Using an app might lead me to a shop where I find offers. Otherwise I can just search through an auction app for auctions. The "Share" function is just amazing: I may easily share the found ties with my wife and find out, whether she likes the tie as well."

 

Looking at how many powerful features inside Windows 8.1 are we can definitely call it an impressive operating system which hadn't been seen by the world before. It's the most feature rich client operating system so far (Windows Server 2012 R2 has much more than the client).

 

First of all, Windows itself benefits from these features and therefore reaches a new dimension concerning security, manageability, usability, performance and much more. Furthermore it is extremely energy saving so even with older hardware battery life has been raised a lot.

 

Also administrators profit by substantial increases Windows 8.1 had in terms of manageability, automation and security, which results in potential reduction of operating costs.

 

Additionally, software developer benefit from those features since many of them may directly be addressed or integrated in their own projects and thereby increasing the quality, safety and performance. Also, development costs can substantially be reduced.

 

Finally, all users profit from the new features – no matter if they use Windows 8.1 at home or at work. If the operating system and related apps are secure, reliable and fast, users are the ones to really make use of it. Not to mention that many features are of course available to the user – if he is aware of them.

 

There is one question remaining: "Who really knows Windows at all?"

 

It would be a pity if the entire discussion about Windows 8.1 would be reduced on a new type of user interface or usability.

 

Therefore, I to highlight my favorite Top-10 features in Windows 8.1 as a separate blog series.

 

More Information:

For Developers:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/dn263113.aspx

https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/bg182410

 

For Enterprise

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/dn140266.aspx?ocid=wc-bl-sprblog

https://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/business/archive/2013/06/03/modern-business-in-mind-windows-8-1-at-teched-2013.aspx

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/hh974336.aspx?ocid=wc-bl-wfyb

 

Oliver Niehus, Microsoft.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    November 28, 2013
    thanks for this nice overview! regarding the UI: add the "Windows Classic theme" back to windows 8.1 and i'll immediately upgrade. if not i'll have to stick with windows 7 for the next 10 years.

  • Anonymous
    November 30, 2013
    Not many know the direction of were Microsoft is going with the OS. The majority of the complainers there minds are shallow and only think of small things. I have read so many people complains and even on 8.1 and it is a great operating system completing windows 8.0. Sure it still need some tweak but over all it's the best OS in my opinion that Microsoft has built, considering the time and release. Windows 7 dose not even compare to it. Microsoft is making a cross over and they are aware it's going to be bumpy right but they're trying to make it a smooth transition as possible. I think they doing well but need move fast and quickly address any bug problem in the OS for business and customers.

  • Anonymous
    November 30, 2013
    Can you solve the problem of no HDMI sound when laptop is connected to TV?  Only sound from computer speakers.  Worked fine with Windows 8...gone with upgrade.  Nothing I have seen suggested on various sites has worked.

  • Anonymous
    November 30, 2013
    diane; just exchinge HDMI ON THE TV I MEAN TRY OTHER ONE

  • Anonymous
    November 30, 2013
    Nope - didn't work.  I changed to a different HDMI port no luck.  Reversed the HDMI cable no luck.  Odd it did work on daughter's TV on Thanksgiving - she has a different brand TV.  Does that mean anything?  I am stumped.  I know this probably isn't the right place to ask the question, but no other site has any answers.

  • Anonymous
    December 04, 2013
    Sorry we couldn't complete the update to Windows 8.1. We restored your previous version of Windows to this PC 0xC1900101 - 0x20017 I will stay on windows 7. I erase the HDD wiht windows8. This eror it was on clean inslall system with all updatets from microsoft and non other 3rd software or driver. It's very clear. the upgrade is sheet!

  • Anonymous
    January 29, 2014
    Diane B, Chris: There are other channels at Microsoft in order get Support. Please note that Software always contains bugs and even Drivers which most are being vendor specific. We do our best to improve and fix.

  • Anonymous
    January 29, 2014
    opmet: Sorry for a direct answer: Are you afraid of changes? The world is changing and even the way People work with Computers. The classic theme is obsolete! Technically, the classic theme runs on the CPU rather than the GPU (graphic processor). For Performance reasons it is much better to use the GPU in order to render the Desktop. This applies to Windows Vista and Windows 7 as well. The new start Screen and modern UI Apps running on the GPU. So, classic theme isnno longer available.    

  • Anonymous
    August 11, 2014
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 20, 2014
    olivnie: as follow-up to your reply: no, i'm not "afraid of changes". i fear you are missing the point.

this article's title reads "Who really knows Windows 8.1? Windows 8.1 is FAR more than simply a new and/or improved UI!". i read it as "whenever people comment on windows 8.x they just talk (or complain) about the new UI. come on, guys. take a closer look. there is so much more in it.". 2) and i'm saying: agreed. many technical improvements, indeed! but to me the UI has not "improved" at all. instead, it's a massive drawback! this is preventing me from upgrading to windows 8.x, unfortunately. in other words:

  • i don't agree to the summary "win 8.x is more than an improved UI. it is an improved OS, also."
  • instead, my personal opinion is "win 8.x is an improved OS. at the same time the UI changes impose many drawbacks, unfortunately." as an end user i don't care whether the UI is rendered in CPU or GPU. all i'm concerned about is the efficiency from "user experience" perspective. as a professional user (programmer) i'm interested in squeezing as much information onto the screen as possible. just compare the icons in the system tray of win xp (with "classic theme") against win 8.1. or the height of window titles, application menu, etc. in win 8.1 i'm observing a massive "waste of pixels" all over the place. hence my request to re-introduce the "windows classic theme". once win 8.x allows to configure an "efficient" UI appearance i'll be happy to upgrade. please put more focus on input from customers (user experience) rather than from software engineers (CPU vs. GPU).