Last week Microsoft’s Steven Sinofsky, posted on the Building Windows 8 blog that updates for the built-in Windows 8 apps were coming. And they’re starting to roll out now for RTM users to download. The built in apps are for the new touch enabled interface (modern / metro UI). These are the essential apps like Mail, News, Maps, and Photos.
In his article, Steven confirms that all of the Windows 8 built-in apps will be updated before general availability on October 26th. At the time of this writing, I found that these eight were available.
Here’s a look at one of the new features in the SkyDrive app. Previously when you launched it for the first time, you were bought straight into the folder structure. Now there’s a new first-run screen that shows a video explaining how SkyDrive works. This will be especially helpful to new users of the OS.
New Windows 8 App Features
Here’s a complete list of the new features in each app — via Building Windows 8 Blog:
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
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