1. Power and Search Buttons on the Start screen
The easiest way to tell if you’re running Windows 8.1 Update 1 is to look for the new Power and Search buttons in the upper right corner of the Start screen, next to your account picture. Now, you can more easily power down the system or perform searches directly off the Start screen without needing to bring up the Charms or use the Start button.
2. Automatically Go to the Desktop
One of the biggest annoyances for non-touch PC users in the first version of Windows 8 was being forced to go to the new Start screen. However, Microsoft gave users a choice to go to the Start screen in Windows 8.1; when using the new version of Windows 8, you could manually open the Taskbar and Navigation properties, then open the Navigation pane and check the option 'When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start.' Windows 8.1 Update 1 takes this a step further; non-touch PCs will now automatically bypass the Start screen and boot directly to the desktop.
3. Minimize and Close Buttons for Apps
Another huge problem for new Windows 8 users was figuring out how to close Windows 8 Apps. The apps didn’t have the well-known Minimize and Close buttons at the top of the window that Windows users expected. Instead, users needed to click at the top of the App and then drag it down, off of the screen—which wasn't exactly an intuitive feature. With Windows 8.1 Update 1, Metro Apps now have Close and Minimize buttons at the top of the app, making it much easier (and more intuitive) to close them.
4. Apps Displayed in the Taskbar
The earlier versions of Windows 8 had another problem; running apps weren’t displayed in the taskbar the way Windows users were used to seeing them. If you switched to the desktop, it wasn’t apparent which apps were still running. Windows 8.1 Update 1 now displays all running applications—both desktop applications and Metro Apps—in the taskbar.
5. Access the Taskbar from the Desktop and the Start Screen
Windows users often pin their commonly used applications to the taskbar. Earlier versions of Windows 8 and 8.1, however, didn't allow user access to the taskbar from the Start screen. With Update 1 you can now access the taskbar from both the desktop and the Start screen. On the Start screen, move the mouse pointer below the bottom edge of the screen to display the taskbar.
6. Right-click an App tile to Display a Context Menu
A very un-Windows-like attribute of the old Windows 8 and 8.1 Start screen was that it was resistant to the right-clicking behavior that Windows users were used to. If you’re using a mouse and you right-click a tile in the Windows 8.1 Update 1 Start screen, you’ll now see a context menu displaying the actions for the app.
7. Pin Apps to the Taskbar
The earlier versions of Windows 8 and 8.1 also forced a separation between the Start screen and the desktop. Users were required to utilize the Start screen for Metro apps and couldn't pin those apps to the taskbar. Windows 8.1 Update 1 allows you to pin Metro apps to the taskbar just like Windows desktop applications.
8. Desktop Applications Used by Default
Another unpopular option, making users feel that Microsoft was attempting to force Metro apps, was the default behavior when users clicked on an item in Windows Explorer. If you opened an item that had both a desktop application and a Metro app, Windows 8 opened the Metro app by default, which wasn't usually what desktop users wanted. Update 1 now opens the desktop application by default. To set your default apps, open PC Settings, Search and apps, then select Defaults and choose your preferred apps.
9. App Install Notifications
The way the Start Screen used to handle new program installations in Windows 8.1 made no sense to users. Tiles were not added to the Start screen by default; instead you had to go to Search to find the new programs and then manually pin them to the Start screen. Windows 8.1 Update 1 brings to users a new app notification display at the bottom of the Start screen whenever you install a new program.
10. Update 1 Available Automatically from Microsoft Update
If you’re on Windows 8.1, you don’t need to worry about how to get Update 1 because all Windows 8.1 systems will be automatically updated by the regular Windows Update. If you’re still using Windows 8, however, then you will first need to update to Windows 8.1 before you can get Update 1. Windows 8 users can get Windows 8.1 from the Windows Store for free. I definitely recommend getting Windows 8.1 and Update 1—especially if you’re using a non-touch desktop.