Microsoft Updating Built-In Apps Ahead Of Windows 8 Release

After years of waiting, Windows 8 will finally launch later this month on October 26. Microsoft is going to party like its 1995, and show the world that Windows 8 is the company’s most substanti...
Microsoft Updating Built-In Apps Ahead Of Windows 8 Release
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After years of waiting, Windows 8 will finally launch later this month on October 26. Microsoft is going to party like its 1995, and show the world that Windows 8 is the company’s most substantial release since Windows 95. To help get started, the company is updating all the built-in apps that Windows 8 users will be greeted with when they first turn the machine on.

Microsoft announced yesterday that they will be slowly rolling out updates through the Windows Store up through the launch of Windows 8. The updates can be downloaded by anybody who has the RTM version of Windows 8 that was released in August. Microsoft says that the Windows Store tile will notify users of any current updates available for all currently installed apps.

The first updated app out of the gate today is the Bing app. Beyond that, pretty much every included app in Windows 8 will be getting substantial updates as head towards the official launch of the new operating system. Here’s some of the highlights:

SkyDrive

  • Search within SkyDrive
  • Rename and move folders and files
  • New first-run experience
  • Custom sort order
  • Photos

  • Crop and rotate photos
  • New auto-curated collage slideshows
  • View photos and videos on network locations in your Pictures Library such as Windows Home Server, network shares, and HomeGroups
  • Move through photos in your Pictures Library even when you open them from the desktop
  • Maps

  • Bird’s eye view
  • 3,000+ indoor venue maps
  • Driving directions hints
  • Improved navigation and layout
  • Improved customization, including custom pushpins and roaming options
  • Integration with Bing and Travel apps
  • Bing

  • Richer search results for local content and images
  • Bing rewards integration
  • Use zoom on your search results to see related queries
  • Use the file picker to select an image from Bing to use on your lock screen or in your other apps
  • Music

  • Expanded music services
  • Rich “Now Playing” experience
  • Discover more music with SmartDJ
  • Games

  • Exciting new games
  • In-game purchasing
  • Invites and turn notifications
  • You can check out the rest of the updates over at Microsoft’s original blog post. There’s some good stuff on the way for the Windows 8 faithful. It appears that most of these updates will go into effect before Windows 8 launches for everyone. It looks like the proud tradition of downloading updates on the day of release will be continued with Windows 8.

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