At today's Build conference keynote, Microsoft officially announced Windows 8.1 Update 1, which is basically a bunch of tweaks for people who want to forgo its touch optimization and use the OS primarily with a mouse and keyboard.


Across the board, the Windows 8.1 interface has been reworked so that people who don't have a touchscreen can use the operating system. Something everybody is going to love is the return of the taskbar as a central aspect of navigation in the modern Metro-style app display. When you point your mouse at the bottom of the screen, there's your taskbar. It's not fancy. It's obvious—and that's the point.

Microsoft didn't announce many details but we'll surely know more soon. Windows 8.1 Update 1 will be available on April 8. It's free.