Microsoft's Build Developer Conference is taking place this morning in San Francisco (you can watch it live here). It's a showcase for Windows 8.1. It's about making Windows more productive, more efficient and, in many ways, more fun. But mostly, Windows 8.1 is about what Microsoft has learned from having its next-generation operating system out in the wild world for a while, and letting people kick its tires.
If you're a close Microsoft watcher, you already know about many of the new features in Windows 8.1. The major things are an enhanced system-wide search function, deep SkyDrive integration for cloud-based file syncing and management, better multitasking and windowing capabilities across a range of devices -- from running a single app on an 8-inch screen to running eight apps on two monitors.
There are also major new features and apps, some of them really really cool and others that are flat out useful. It has built in support for 3D printers now. You can seamlessly sling audio and video to your Xbox. You can use Miracast to connect to all sorts of screens without wires. It has greatly enhanced security features, including some really innovative stuff like a touch-to-buy feature that lets you buy apps from the Windows Store, or Xbox movies or music by using your fingerprint rather than a password. (And it's worth noting that developers, like banking apps, can take advantage of this with just two API calls.) A Reading List feature essentially brings Instapaper-style ability to save something to read later to the system level, and it will sync across devices too. The Windows Store has been redesigned to make it feel more dynamic, with more app cycling by the Store editors that can better identify hot apps--so that you'll go there more frequently and check in to see what's new. And your current apps will update automatically.
Flipboard, Facebook and NFL Fantasy Football have all introduced new Windows 8 applications. And Microsoft announced that it has reached the 100,000 app milestone for Windows 8, with "hundreds of millions" of app downloads to date. The number is still relatively small compared to other app stores, but it is growing quickly. Microsoft also offered a teaser to Office 2014, a fully touch-capable version of the software set to launch next year.
But the overarching thing Microsoft has done with its 8.1 release is improve the overall end-to-end experience. In all kinds of little ways, it improved the process flows back and forth between the Modern UI and desktop. (The Start menu that takes you to the Start screen is a prime example of this. It helps restore the desktop's sense of familiarity while still moving on to the Modern UI). CEO Steve Ballmer noted in the Build keynote that Microsoft will continue to improve Windows 8, and at a much faster pace. "We are moving to an absolutely rapid release cycle,” Ballmer said, later adding, "This is fundamental to what we’re doing and what we must to do to mobilize our ecosystem and our partners."
This is Microsoft listening, evolving, and growing its next generation operating system. It's clear that the company has finally realized we're in a new modality now -- one where Microsoft software has to appeal to consumers as much or more than it does IT managers. It's speeding up its learning curve and release cycle. It has to do that of course if it wants to stay relevant in a BYOD era, but given how famously slow Microsoft has been for so may years, seeing it actually start to pull this off is kind of amazing.
Updated at 1:19PM ET with additional news and information from the Build keynote.
