Microsoft has released Windows Phone 8.1 developer version. The Windows Phone 8.1 update will be rolled out to Windows Phone 8 devices in coming months.
Nearly four years back Microsoft launched its Windows Phone 7 OS in Nokia devices. It had a unique interface to compete with Android and iOS but when it came to functionality the OS lacked a great bit. It does not even had a simple functionality of copy and pasting text. At that time, being new in market, Windows Phone Store also had very limited apps, again failing to have even some basic apps. The uses had to connect their Phones to computer to even set a ringtone of their choice and file transfer to other phones was out of picture. Though, it was highly appreciated for its interface and ease of operating as compared to the monotonous Android OS.
Within all these years Microsoft have been trying really hard to improve its Phone OS. They made many improvements in Windows Phone 8 version and recently released Black OS update. The interface remained elegant and simple yet users got a lot in terms of functionality. But as it is human behavior, people never stop complaining, same happened with Windows Phone 8. Users were not happy for not having 'notification center'.
Now Microsoft has come up with Windows Phone 8.1. It is currently available to developers and is a very big update when it comes to functionality. The OS has many amazing features: two big ones and few small ones.
First and for most the Windows Phone 8.1 OS now comes with a personal virtual assistant "Cortana" like Siri in iOS. "Cortana" is said to be the best of Google Now and Siri. It can talk back and even say funny things unlike Google Now, and it can also track a courier package or your flights which is very unlike Siri. Though the tracking will not be available in the Indian version of the OS. In fact, Cortana itself is not officially available in India.
Moving on to the 'Notification Center', for which people used to crib a lot. Yes, Windows Phone 8.1 has a 'Notification Center'. I think they named it as 'Action Center' as you can do much more than just seeing the notifications there. The 'center' allows you to access 4 common settings: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode and Rotation Lock (recently introduced in Windows Phone Black update) by default. But it is not just all, if you want to see some other settings in your 'Action Center' then Microsoft has provided that option as well. You can select from a large list of items. You can also choose the apps which are allowed to give notifications and which aren't. The user have to scroll down from top of the screen to open 'Action Center' just like any Android device.
Apart from these two huge features Windows Phone 8.1 offers many more features such as setting tiles background as an image rather than just the basic colored theme. It looks really good but the only problem with this is, if any app tile does not support theme background then its background will not be changed.
Users can now search through their messages. Yet again a simple but very useful feature. The OS also has Swype to type feature which makes typing dramatically faster, once you get used to it. Windows Phone 8.1 also offers a new camera app and a new version of Internet Explorer (IE 11).
Now you can separate the volume levels for ringers, notification and apps. The calender has also been updated with weekly view.
Anyone can get the developer version of Windows Phone 8.1 but you have to compromise with your device warranty. You just have to visit Windows Phone App Studio website and register using your Microsoft account there. Then download the app named "Preview For Developer", open and register yourself using your Microsoft account again. Go to settings, check for phone update and there you go.
To sum up, this update will surely attract more users towards Windows Phone platform. And as I already mentioned earlier that Windows Phone devices will get 'smarter' after this Windows Phone 8.1 update.
https://anurag189.blogspot.com
Nearly four years back Microsoft launched its Windows Phone 7 OS in Nokia devices. It had a unique interface to compete with Android and iOS but when it came to functionality the OS lacked a great bit. It does not even had a simple functionality of copy and pasting text. At that time, being new in market, Windows Phone Store also had very limited apps, again failing to have even some basic apps. The uses had to connect their Phones to computer to even set a ringtone of their choice and file transfer to other phones was out of picture. Though, it was highly appreciated for its interface and ease of operating as compared to the monotonous Android OS.
Within all these years Microsoft have been trying really hard to improve its Phone OS. They made many improvements in Windows Phone 8 version and recently released Black OS update. The interface remained elegant and simple yet users got a lot in terms of functionality. But as it is human behavior, people never stop complaining, same happened with Windows Phone 8. Users were not happy for not having 'notification center'.
Now Microsoft has come up with Windows Phone 8.1. It is currently available to developers and is a very big update when it comes to functionality. The OS has many amazing features: two big ones and few small ones.
First and for most the Windows Phone 8.1 OS now comes with a personal virtual assistant "Cortana" like Siri in iOS. "Cortana" is said to be the best of Google Now and Siri. It can talk back and even say funny things unlike Google Now, and it can also track a courier package or your flights which is very unlike Siri. Though the tracking will not be available in the Indian version of the OS. In fact, Cortana itself is not officially available in India.
Moving on to the 'Notification Center', for which people used to crib a lot. Yes, Windows Phone 8.1 has a 'Notification Center'. I think they named it as 'Action Center' as you can do much more than just seeing the notifications there. The 'center' allows you to access 4 common settings: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode and Rotation Lock (recently introduced in Windows Phone Black update) by default. But it is not just all, if you want to see some other settings in your 'Action Center' then Microsoft has provided that option as well. You can select from a large list of items. You can also choose the apps which are allowed to give notifications and which aren't. The user have to scroll down from top of the screen to open 'Action Center' just like any Android device.
Apart from these two huge features Windows Phone 8.1 offers many more features such as setting tiles background as an image rather than just the basic colored theme. It looks really good but the only problem with this is, if any app tile does not support theme background then its background will not be changed.
Users can now search through their messages. Yet again a simple but very useful feature. The OS also has Swype to type feature which makes typing dramatically faster, once you get used to it. Windows Phone 8.1 also offers a new camera app and a new version of Internet Explorer (IE 11).
Now you can separate the volume levels for ringers, notification and apps. The calender has also been updated with weekly view.
Anyone can get the developer version of Windows Phone 8.1 but you have to compromise with your device warranty. You just have to visit Windows Phone App Studio website and register using your Microsoft account there. Then download the app named "Preview For Developer", open and register yourself using your Microsoft account again. Go to settings, check for phone update and there you go.
To sum up, this update will surely attract more users towards Windows Phone platform. And as I already mentioned earlier that Windows Phone devices will get 'smarter' after this Windows Phone 8.1 update.
https://anurag189.blogspot.com
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