The next version of Windows 10 for Phones might enable it

Mar 17, 2015 03:09 GMT  ·  By

It's common knowledge that Windows Phone handsets do not feature notification LEDs and that Microsoft has opted for another method of notifications which is called Glance.

The difference is that the display is always active with the Glance feature and it drains the battery much faster. A notification LED, on the other hand, will consume very little energy, but Windows Phone does not support such a feature.

Well, it looks like Microsoft plans to enable LED notifications in the next version of Windows 10 for Phones Technical Preview and those who own devices featuring hardware LEDs inside will be able to benefit from this new feature.

We reported yesterday that the upcoming Technical Preview build would also add support for additional smartphones, including Lumia 930.

Although this isn't confirmed yet, it makes sense that Microsoft would want to test the new LED notifications feature on devices that actually have the hardware inside.

Since Lumia 930 has touch sensitive keys instead of on-screen buttons, Microsoft could use the Windows logo button at the base of the display as LED notification.

But what about other smartphones with on-screen buttons? Well, at least two of these devices, namely Lumia 730 and 735, already have hardware LEDs inside, just that they aren't active and thus everyone thought they don't have one.

Users will be able to choose from Glance and LED notifications (or both)

Now, it looks like WMPowerUser was tipped on the fact that someone disassembled a Lumia 735 and noticed that the smartphone does pack a notification LED inside.

This might be the case with other Lumia smartphones that we thought they lack notification LEDs, including the Lumia 930 that's supposed to support the next version of Windows 10 for Phones Technical Preview.

If Microsoft manages to enable LED notifications in all Lumia smartphones, then it will be interesting to see whether or not it will drop the Glance, which requires that devices feature special displays compatible with it.

It's nice that Microsoft continues to add new features to Windows Phone, some of them we never thought would be possible. We're curious to see how LED notifications will work on Windows 10 for Phones Technical Preview, so let's hope the next build will come sooner rather than later.

Lumia 735 disassembly procedure (3 Images)

Lumia 735's insides
Notification LEDNotification LED
Open gallery