Microsoft Shows Off Windows 8.1 Preview

Microsoft just released a video that shows off a preview of some of the new features in Windows 8.1.  The next version of Windows will be a free update to all existing Windows 8 users and will probably be released later this year or early next year.  The first release preview of Windows 8.1 is expected to ship later this month at Microsoft’s Build conference.

Windows 8.1 includes news ways to personalize the Start screen, such as modifying the colors and using your own wallpaper, it also gives users new ways to multi-task with apps, it offers deep SkyDrive and Bing integrations, and even brings back the much wanted ability to boot directly to the traditional Windows desktop (not the Start screen).

The feature I was most impressed with was the deep Bing integration.  It’s actually something I’m surprised Microsoft hadn’t done sooner, with so many Windows users in the world, it seems like a brilliant way to increase Bing’s search marketshare.  Aside from that, the new Windows search looks amazing, from design to implementation — color me impressed.

You can check out the preview video below: