Changes to Xbox Music and Windows Store for Windows 8.1

Leaked builds of Microsoft’s newest operating system have revealed even more visual and functional changes to Windows 8.1. The biggest changes were reserved for Windows Store and Music app, but improvements were made throughout the system, and new features, including Calculator, Sound Recorder, Scan, Reading List, Movie Moments, and Help & Tips, have been added.

Screenshots from the leaked build reveal a new Windows Store with improvements to top paid and free sections, and a “picks for you” section that seems to suggest apps based on your existing library. This “discoverability” theme is continued inside, with further suggestions appearing on app pages themselves. The design is also looking new, with a sharp, graphic redesign.

Xbox Music was also the focus of significant changes and improvements that seem to speed song access and make it easier to discover new artists. This update to access and speed was long overdue, with users complaining about slow, clunky access to the service via Windows 8 devices. You can check the changes out for yourself on June 26th, when Windows 8.1 is slated for release.

[Source.: The Verge]