Microsoft is pushing updates to Windows 8 built-in apps as we are nearing the general availability of Windows 8. Windows team is addressing some of the shortcomings of these apps before releasing the Windows 8 for public on October 26th.
The list of apps that getting the update include SkyDrive, Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, Maps, Bing, Finance, News, Sports, Travel, Weather, Video, Music and Games. The update includes several important features, for example the mail app now supports IMAP accounts, this is one feature users are requesting from quite some time. Other features in the mail app include a conversation view of inbox, improved search etc.
According to the Windows team blog Bing app is the first to get the update and other in-house apps will also be updated over the next few weeks. The updates will come through the Windows app store, you will see a notification in the Store tile if you have an update waiting, you can click on that to see what is available for you to download.
Highlights of the Windows 8 apps update:
- Search within SkyDrive, rename and move folders and files.
- Conversation view of your inbox and IMAP account support.
- View photos and videos on network locations in your Pictures Library.
- Bird’s eye view in Maps, driving directions hints, integration with Bing and Travel apps.
- Bing rewards integration.
- More market exchanges enabled in Finance app.
- Additional news content from the likes of New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Improved offline viewing experience.
- Improved flight search and new flight progress indicator, interactive 360-degree panoramas with gyroscope support.
- Expanded music services with rich “Now Playing” experience. discover more music with SmartDj
- New game content and In-game purchasing among others.
These updates will roll out in the next few weeks and will be ready by the time Windows 8 will be released for public. For a complete list of updates check out the Building Windows Team Blog.
