Windows RT 8.1
Windows 8.1
Edition
Windows 8.1
Pro Edition
Windows 8.1
Enterprise Edition
Apps launch other apps (new)
x
x
x
x
Customize multiple tiles at once (new)
x
x
x
x
Lock screen photo slide show (new)
x
x
x
x
Four tile sizes (new)
x
x
x
x
Microsoft account login
x
x
x
x
Multiple instances of same app (new)
x
x
x
x
Open up to four variable sized windows at once (new)
x
x
x
x
Optional boot to the desktop/All apps screen/Start screen (new)
x
x
x
x
PC Settings improvements (new)
x
x
x
x
Portrait mode improvements (new)
x
x
x
x
Search powered by Bing (new)
x
x
x
x
Set the desktop wallpaper as Start background (new)
x
x
x
x
The Start button (new)
x
x
x
x
The Start screen and live tiles
x
x
x
x
Touch keyboard and thumb keyboard
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
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x
3D printing support (new)
x
x
x
x
Biometric enrollment (new)
x
x
x
x
InstantGo
x
x
x
x
MiraCast wireless display support (new)
x
x
x
x
Feature name
User experience
Apps
Automatic app updates from Windows Store (new)
Built-in apps (Mail, Calendar, People, and more)
i
Install and run desktop apps (x86/x64)
Internet Explorer 11 (new)
x
ii
Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 RT included
x
iii
Windows Media Player
Windows Store
iv
Xbox SmartGlass with Play To / Play On
Devices and peripherals
v
Mobile hotspot / Wi-Fi tethering (new)
x
x
x
x
Multiple monitor improvements (new)
x
x
x
x
Precision touchpad improvements (new)
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
1
1
2
2
4 GB
128 GB
512 GB
512 GB
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
<sold separately>
x
Storage Spaces
Wi-Fi Direct wireless printing support (new)
System
CPU Sockets
vi
Maximum RAM
Mount ISO / VHDs
Reset and refresh your PC
Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs)
vii
VHD boot
Windows Update
x
x
Management
Assigned access (new)
x
Client Hyper-V
Device enrollment (new)
x
x
Domain Join
Exchange ActiveSync
x
x
Group Policy
Open MDM support (new)
Sideloading LOB apps
viii
Start screen control
x
x
<sold separately>
(new)
x
Windows To Go Creator
x
Work folders (new)
x
x
x
x
Workplace join (new)
x
x
x
x
Security
AppLocker
x
ix
Binary extension scanning
x
x
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go
x
x
x
x
x
Device Encryption
x
x
x
x
Family Safety
x
x
x
x
Multi-factor authentication for BYOD (new)
x
x
x
x
Picture password
x
x
x
x
Remote business data removal (new)
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Windows Defender
x
x
x
x
Windows SmartScreen
x
x
x
x
xi
Trusted Boot
xii
Networking
BranchCache
Built-in VPN clientsxiii
x
x
x
x
DirectAccess
Remote Desktop (client)
x
x
x
x
Remote Desktop (host)
VDI enhancements
x
x
x
x
x
For additional discussion of some of the new features in Windows 8.1, see these additional resources:
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i
Download and install the Windows 8.1 Preview through the Store or with the ISO files
Download and read the Windows 8.1 Preview Product Guide
Read the Windows Blog: Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1
Read the Windows for your Business Blog: Modern Business in Mind: Windows 8.1 at TechEd 2013
Read the Springboard Blog on TechNet: What's New in Windows 8.1
At Preview, this includes: Alarms, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Finance, Food & Drink, Games, Health & Fitness, Mail, Maps, Music, News, People, Photos, Reader, Reading List,
SkyDrive, Sound Recorder, Sports, Travel, Video, and Weather; final list still being determined for GA
ii
Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook; certain features, macros, add-ins, and other custom programs may not work on Windows RT 8.1; for further details,
please go to http://office.com/officeRT
iii
Watching DVD movies on Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise Edition requires separate playback software; Windows RT 8.1 does not support DVD
movie playback
iv
Xbox SmartGlass available as download in the Windows Store
v
Enabled on all editions that meet InstantGo certification requirements, at OEM discretion (named “connected standby” in the Windows 8 editions)
vi
32-bit versions support up to 4GB
vii
Language switching is not included in Windows 8.1 single language versions
viii
Start screen control can be enabled in Windows RT 8.1 with side loading key
ix
Internet Explorer scans binary extensions (ActiveX for example) before running using the anti-malware solution
x
Device encryption is automatically enabled on InstantGo certified devices after first login with Microsoft Account
xi
Trusted Boot requires TPM
xii
Windows Defender now includes network behavior monitoring
xiii
VPN now includes auto-triggered VPN and 3rd party built-in VPN clients in addition to Microsoft VPN client