The year is drawing to a close, so there’s a very good chance that you now find yourself staring straight down the gaping maw of Windows 8. Maybe someone gave you a new Windows tablet or PC as a gift.

Microsoft and its partners are beginning to show and tell more about the features that 7- and 8-inch Windows 8.1 "Blue" devices will offer. Mary Jo Foley Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry ...