Microsoft unveils Update 1 for Windows Phone 8.1. Here are all the details.
As expected, Microsoft is finally revealing all there is about Update 1 for Windows Phone 8.1. Known internally as GDR1 for 'general distribution release,' this update is one of two for the 8.1 operating system in 2014. The news comes out of Beijing, China where Microsoft's Joe Belfiore announced the release during his keynote, in addition to the expansion of Cortana to the UK and China.
Update 1 is relatively minor in comparison to what 8.1 delivered this spring, but it still contains numerous new features for consumers, and hardware manufacturers. Leaks of these features in Update 1 came over the weekend and were accurate.
Additionally, starting next week, those enrolled in the free Preview for Developers program are slated to get an update to their phones to take advantage of the new OS refresh.
Live Folders
Revealed earlier by Microsoft on accident, Live Folders allows users dynamically to create folders on the Start screen. Microsoft calls these "Live" folders because whatever app or game is included in the folder still has their Live Tile enabled. In other words, your group of Tiles in the Folder Tile still reflect pushed updates, making them highly dynamic.
Although Microsoft appreciated the effort by Nokia in offering their App Folder app, Live Folders is "more consistent" with their design philosophy by continuing the Live Tile paradigm that began with Windows Phone 7.
Folders get created by dragging and dropping Tiles on top of each other, and they can later be renamed or rearranged according to user's needs.
Xbox Music Live Tile and performance improvements
Microsoft and the Xbox Music team are continuing to improve and refine the Xbox Music app. Starting with Update 1, the new OS allows the Xbox Music team finally to implement a Live Tile and Kid's Corner, which are features due in a couple of weeks.
For users who do not enroll in Update 1 Preview, they can continue to get the bimonthly updates, including one due this Friday that brings some significant performance improvements and a "quickplay" of recent playback activities.
Windows Phone Central has more details about this forthcoming update later this week, including an interview with members of the Xbox Music team. Stay tuned.
SMS merge and forwarding, Live Tile for the Store
Update 1 also brings a few other improvements, including SMS merge and forwarding, which gives users "the ability to select multiple SMS messages for deletion and forwarding."
In addition, the Store Tile is now a Live Tile, delivering info about the latest apps and games every six hours throughout the day. This behavior now reflects the Store Live Tile for Windows 8.1.
Apps Corner
Perhaps one of the more interesting, if not niche, additions to Update 1 is Apps Corner, which Microsoft describes as a "sandboxed" mode for users to show only a select amount of apps. Considered more for businesses and retailers, Apps Corner lets employees hand their Windows Phones over to customers without fear of exposing personal data, launching unauthorized apps or where there is no Master Data Management (MDM).
VPN through Wi-Fi hotspots, High-voltage charging, Smart covers, Improved IE compatibility and more
To close, Update 1 brings a new assortment of options and improvements, including VPN functionality through a public Wi-Fi hotspot, and improved IE rendering of mobile websites. The latter works by changing the user-agent string to let websites connect Internet Explorer as if it were a different mobile browser, greatly enhancing mobile usage and compatibility for Windows Phone users.
Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 support for Snapdragon 800 processor is included, letting Windows Phone users with the appropriate chipset take advantage Qualcomm's rapid, high voltage USB charging. Consequently, charging times should be upwards of 75% faster. Citing Qualcomm's data for a 3300 mAh battery, you can see the difference in the table below:
Support for Smart covers, like HTC's Dot View case, lets OEMs create unique flip cases that activate an app or Live Lock screen when open or closed. There are rumors of an HTC One W8 Windows Phone, complete with a Dot View case to take advantage of this feature in Update 1.
Update 1 also brings advanced support for Bluetooth standards PAN (personal area network) 1.0 profile, aptX codec support for A2DP, and browsing support for AVRCP. These new standards give customers better streaming and compatibility for Windows Phone media.
Finally, more support for device resolutions are in Update 1, including 1280 x 800 WXGA, 540 x 960 native qHD and screen sizes of 6.01" to 7" for the 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution. These changes are for OEMs who would like to leverage their existing supply chains from other equipment lines to make Window Phones, reducing costs and expediting releases.
More to come
Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 comes on the heels of the Windows Phone 8.1 refresh, and it shows a significant step up in speed from Microsoft. Considering the vast majority of Windows Phone owners have yet to received the official 8.1 rollout, the idea that the Update 1 preview is ahead of the official release is an interesting turn of events.
Questions remain whether or not all of these features and improvements meet the needs – and wants – of users, but it does appear Microsoft is in overdrive mode. Rumors of an Update 2 for Windows Phone 8.1 due later in November are still circulating, making this the most rapid release cycle yet for Microsoft's mobile OS.
Regarding the current hold on Lumia Cyan updates for those on the Preview program, Microsoft is planning on a fix for that for users, though they currently have nothing to report on the matter.
When?
Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 for the Preview for Developers program is expected to begin sometime next week. Keep checking Window Phone Central for more information about when that happens, or head into our dedicated forums to discuss the Preview program and Update 1 if you have any questions.
- Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 super page – Chronicling all we know and all our coverage, thus far
- Windows Phone 8.1 Forums
- Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 Forums
- Windows Phone Preview for Developers Forums
Also, remember to use the Windows Phone UserVoice page from Microsoft to suggest and vote for your favorite features. Decisions about the OS live and die on UserVoice, so make your voice heard. Learn more about Microsoft's UserVoice initiative here.
Source: Windows Phone Blog
