In addition to the Windows 8.1 support, this update also includes the Win2PDF Desktop App, which provides easy access to the Win2PDF PDF conversion process and supports drag and drop functionality. During the initial installation of Win2PDF 7.6 you will be prompted to add (or not) this optional add-on.
Win2PDF Desktop App Prompt During Setup
For more information about the Win2PDF Desktop App, please see our official documentation here:
On June 26th, Microsoft will release a free 8.1 update to its Windows 8 operating system. Here’s the preview video demonstrating the new features in 8.1.
New 8.1 features at a glance:
Improved Personalization. You’ll be able to view pictures on lock screen like a digital photo frame. It will also provide more background images and colors for the Start screen, more tile sizes, and moving backgrounds.
Enhanced Search. The search charm will provide global search results using Bing. The search results will be displayed in an app-like experience, allowing to to find information on both your local PC or tablet as well as the internet as a whole.
App Improvements. For example, the Photos app will now include basic editing features, and there will be better support of multiple app viewing. An “All Apps” screen will appear when you swipe up from the main Start screen.
Improved cloud connectivity using SkyDrive. With 8.1, you’ll be able to save files directly to your SkyDrive cloud file storage account from any app.
Internet Explorer 11. IE11 has improvements for page loading speed and touch performance.
For Win2PDF users, there aren’t any changes with this new operating system update, but we will be adding a Win2PDF Desktop app to the Windows 8 store soon (we’ll provide more details when it’s available).
If you are a Win2PDF user and are new to Windows 8, please feel free to check our our Windows 8 support topics using the links below:
Now that Windows 8 is starting to get traction on new devices, we’re seeing more and more customers using Win2PDF on tablets and laptop/tablet hybrids. One of the more interesting entries has been Microsoft’s first foray into the hardware world with their Surface tablet.
Microsoft Surface, photo by methodshop.com via Flickr
Microsoft released its newest version — Surface Pro — earlier this month. While similar in design to the more inexpensive and lighter Surface RT, the Surface Pro really is a full-fledged PC stuffed into the form factor of a tablet.
Please note, there is a significant difference between Surface RT and Surface Pro:
Surface RT uses an ARM-processor and can only run apps designed for the newer Windows 8 style interface. Many existing desktop Windows applications (including our Win2PDF product) will not run on this platform at this time. Also, you can only install applications through Microsoft’s App Store. This is probably a suitable option for people that only want an iPad-like tablet for running specialized apps or accessing email or a web browser on the go.
Surface Pro, on the other hand, has an Intel processor and uses the complete Windows 8 operating system. This makes it especially useful for business users who need a full Windows compatible PC to run any type of application (and yes, our Win2PDF product is fully supported on this device). For our needs, and for others who need PDF tools like Win2PDF, the Surface Pro is the only model that is capable of running all applications from the tablet.
We haven’t got our hands on one yet, but most reviews are generally favorable.
Consumer reports: “The Microsoft Surface Pro delivers on its promise to provide the most laptop-like performance yet from a tablet. But like most groundbreaking devices, it has flaws—including limited storage and hefty weight and size—that mean it’s suited mainly to road warriors who can’t wait for a better super-tablet device to come along.”
New York Times: “But inside, the Pro is a full-blown Windows PC, with the same Intel chip that powers many high-end laptops, and even two fans to keep it cool (they’re silent). As a result, the Pro can run any of the four million Windows programs, like iTunes, Photoshop, Quicken, and, of course, Word, Excel and PowerPoint… Are you getting it? This is a PC, not an iPad.”
ZDNet: “There are a number of Windows 8 laptop and tablet options, but I haven’t seen any that are as light, well designed, and compelling to me as the Surface Pro. I want a super portable computer that is well designed and does not limit me from doing what I need to do when the occasion arises and I believe the Microsoft Surface Pro is that computer.”
It has decent horsepower and capability for serious Windows users, but the Surface Pro is not without its flaws.
Wired claims that it is virtually unrepairable should something go wrong: ” In a teardown of Microsoft’s tablet-laptop hybrid, the company gave it a rock-bottom score of just one — one! — out of 10 for repairability, lower even than Apple’s iPad and the Windows Surface RT.”
For now, the Microsoft Surface Pro seems to be a good option for users who need to access to a full-fledged Windows PC (with applications like Win2PDF), but still want the portability and tablet features like touch-screen and pen-based applications. I’m sure the options will continue to increase as other hardware vendors introduce new products, and hopefully the competition will reduce prices as well. Until that happens, though, the Surface Pro seems to be a respectable option if you’re looking for a tablet today.
As a follow up to our post on printing in Windows 8 from last week, Microsoft’s co-founder Paul Allen recently weighed in with his thoughts on their latest operating system.
“I did encounter some puzzling aspects of Windows 8. The bimodal user experience can introduce confusion… For example, after opening a PDF attachment in Outlook from the desktop, Windows opens the file in Microsoft Reader, an application more suited for use on a tablet, rather than the desktop Acrobat Reader.”
This is specifically referring to the new Microsoft Reader app, which is included in Windows 8. You will still be able to download and install the free Adobe Reader software (and other PDF viewers), but because Microsoft Reader is the default reader app for PDF files, it may be a little confusing at first.
PDF users will likely run into some of these puzzling aspects (as we did). If you’re planning on moving to Windows 8, it’s worthwhile to do a little reading on these new interface changes. Paul’s overview is a good place to start.
