Microsoft Windows 8 Core Apps Updated For March 2013

Mail, Calendar, People, Xbox Games, Xbox Music apps updated, with more to follow. Solitaire Collection, Mahjongg, Minesweeper games also get updated.

Rahul R
14:47 28th Mar, 2013

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Microsoft has rolled out updates to the core apps that run in the tiled Modern UI of Windows 8 - Mail, Calendar, and People app. These updates, also available from the Windows Store, have started rolling out globally to users of Windows 8 (x86) based computers and Surface RT tablets as well.

These updated apps bring a host of enhancements:

Improvements to Windows 8 Mail app:

The app is now updated to provide flagging, junk mail and folder support. The updated Mail app allows users to view all of email accounts and toggle between them.

Improvements to Calendar app:

Windows 8 Calendar app is now easier to read with the earlier solid blocks of colours being featured in a small bar on the left of each appointment. Calendar app also gets the new "Work View" option. Apart from this, the app also has a scheduling assistant for accounts making use of Microsoft Exchange. Google Calendar support is lost, as Google does not support ActiveSync anymore.

Improvements to People App:

People App now incorporates swipe from top option through which users can open up app commands. A new filter enables users to regulate content of "what's new feed", and at the same time post tweets/status updates. "What's new" feed can also be filtered by social network.

Here are some more apps that have been updated:
Xbox Games - Game alerts have been introduced, the last game you played through the week will be displayed, communication features have been enhanced, besides unspecified "performance enhancements and feature updates".
Xbox Music - Now offers a separate volume control for music, options to have all songs added to Xbox Music available across your devices, add matched songs to your cloud collection, a new "Now Playing" interface, and speeds up app on Surface RT.
Games - Solitaire Collection, Mahjong and Minesweeper now offer the option to eliminate banner ads, through in-app payments.

Users need to click on the "Updates" link that appears in the top right-hand corner of the Windows Store to install these updates.

Some core apps of Windows 8 are yet to receive an update for March 2013 - Bing Maps, News, Finance, Travel, Weather and Sports. Apparently, there are plans to update the Reader, Camera, Photos, Xbox Live Games and SkyDrive apps as well, over the next few days.