Microsoft Announces Updates For Windows 8 Built-In Apps

Microsoft announces the updates for Windows 8 built-in apps, at October 26 launch. All signs point toward the general availability of Windows 8, what with the upcoming OS launch event, the Surface RT finally hitting the FCC. In light of this, the Redmond company has announced a final update push to the built-in apps you’ll find in Windows 8. The Bing update will be first out the gate tomorrow — it promises richer search results for local content — with the rest rolling out through October 26th. Also of note is Music, which touts “expanded music services” as an update. They are also taking advantage of the integrated way that we can deliver updates to apps through the Windows Store. Leading up to GA for Windows 8, will be releasing updates for many of the apps that were included with the release to manufacturing (RTM) build of Windows 8 that was delivered to PC makers and to MSDN and TechNet subscribers in August. these app updates will also be available to PC makers to include by default with their PCs shipping in the future, but for those of you who have already installed Windows 8 RTM, it is super easy to get the updates from the Store app. The Store tile will notify you when updates are available, and you can open it and click the updates link in the top right corner to see the list and install the ones you want. Let us see the some highlights of the new capabilities.

SkyDrive

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

Mail, Calendar, People, and Messaging

• Conversation view of your inbox
• Complete IMAP account support
• Accepting and declining invitations in email
• Capturing and updating your account picture
• Improved search
• Search for a contact within the Messaging app

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

Finance

• Additional news and magazine content
• More market exchanges enabled
• Finance videos

News

• Additional news content from partners such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal
• Enhanced article reader, including font customization, zoom, pagination, and more
• Improved offline reading experience
• News videos
• Slideshows

Sports

• Additional news and magazine content
• Sports videos
• Slideshows
• New soccer leagues, including MLS, J. League, and Brazilian League

Travel

• Additional news and magazine content
• Improved flight search and new flight progress indicator
• Improved hotel listing page
• Interactive 360-degree panoramas (gyroscope supported)

Weather

• Improved default location usability
• Hourly weather forecasts, up to 10 days
• Day & evening high/low temperatures

Video

• Purchasing in local currencies
• Closed captioning
• Search by actor or director

Music

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

Games

• Exciting new games
• In-game purchasing
• Invites and turn notifications