Windows 8.1 build 9600.16596 (winblues14_gdr_lean.140114-0237)

6.3.9600.16596.winblues14_gdr_lean.140114-0237
	Build of Windows 8.1
OS family	Windows NT
Version number	6.3
Build number	9600
Build revision	16596
Architecture	x64
Build lab	winblues14_gdr_lean
Compiled on	2014-01-14
SKUs
	Core; Pro
Product key
	Use a Windows 8.1 Retail product key
About dialog

Windows 8.1 build 9600.16596 (winblues14_gdr_lean.140114-0237) is a build of Windows 8.1 Update 1.

Between 22 January and 25 January 2014, Chinese website Win8China^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] and Russian website WZor.net^[5]^[6] released several screenshots of this build documenting its new features. The x64 compile of this build was eventually uploaded to the Polish WinClub forums on 2 February 2014.^[7]

New features and changes[edit | edit source]

Metro applications[edit | edit source]

The ability to pin Metro applications to and show currently running Metro applications on the taskbar has been added.
- As a part of this change, the Windows Store is now pinned by default.
Metro apps now have title bars, with close/minimize buttons and the ability to split applications to either side of the monitor when right-clicked.

Start[edit | edit source]

Search and shutdown buttons have been added to the Start screen.
- By default, these buttons are only shown on Desktops. However, It's possible to them on a tablet by going to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Launcher, creating a new DWORD value named Launcher_ShowPowerButtonOnStartScreen, and setting it to 1.
Right-clicking on the Start screen will now show a context menu instead of Metro bars (top and bottom).
- Ctrl+⇧ Shift+F10 can still be used to display the Metro bars.
Apps are now divided alphabetically in the "All Apps" view.
An option to show more apps in the "All Apps" view has been added.
The default Start screen layout has been updated. Most notably, shortcuts to This PC, Documents, and Pictures have been added.

PC Settings[edit | edit source]

PC Settings now displays a link to the Control Panel.
The Disk Space page has been added.

Miscellaneous[edit | edit source]

The default media player and photo viewer has been changed to Windows Media Player and Windows Photo Viewer respectively.
The copyright year in winver has been updated to 2014. This persisted up to build 9600.16606. However, it will be reverted in build 9600.16610 and 16608.
Internet Explorer has been updated to version 11.0.3.

Findings[edit | edit source]

Internet Explorer Enterprise mode[edit | edit source]

Internet Explorer in this build includes Enterprise mode, but it isn't enabled by default. To enable it, navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\, create a DWORD named EnableEnterpriseModeMenuOption and set its value to 1. After that, launch F12 tools and in the Emulation section, go to Browser Profile and select Enterprise.