Here is the full list of features in the upcoming update

Sep 5, 2014 11:47 GMT  ·  By

Although the Lumia Cyan update has yet to arrive on all compatible devices, Microsoft found the time during the launch of its new Windows Phone handsets at IFA 2014 to announce the next update for Lumia smartphones, which is called Denim.

According to Microsoft, Lumia Denim will come installed onto the Nokia Lumia 730/735 and Lumia 830, but it will also be available for download soon for the following smartphones: Lumia 930, Lumia 1520 and Lumia Icon.

The rest of Lumia smartphones compatible with the update will receive it beginning Q4 2014. Keep in mind that Lumia Denim requires your phone to be upgraded to Windows Phone 8.1.

Most of the new features included in the new update are camera-related, but there are some other improvements for Cortana and Glance Screen, too.

So let’s start with the camera enhancements that you get after applying the Lumia Denim update. First of all, the Nokia Camera application that’s now included in current Lumia smartphones will be replaced by another app called Lumia Camera.

Notice that Microsoft is getting rid of the Nokia brand in its apps, a process which started a few months ago. The new Lumia Camera app is said to be faster and more intuitive than the previous application, so you should experience a better performance when capturing photos or videos.

Lumia Camera app (screenshot)
Lumia Camera app (screenshot)
Another improvement made by Microsoft to the camera is the speed with which it opens in order to take a shot. Lumia Denim enhances the capture speeds as well.

Some Lumia phones with good cameras will also receive the option to long press the camera button in order to record 4K videos at 24fps, each frame having 8.3 megapixels. This feature has been demoed during Microsoft’s IFA 2014 press conference as well.

New features for the camera, such as Auto HDR and Dynamic Flash, have also been included. These will allow users to take a picture and then adjust the light and other settings later on.

Microsoft also added something called “improved image processing algorithms,” which are supposed to offer users clearer photos, especially in low light conditions.

One of the major improvements that come with Lumia Denim is the possibility to activate Cortana by voice. Instead of pressing the mic button to open Cortana you will now simply have to say “Hey Cortana” when the phone is in sleep mode, in order to wake up Cortana.

Microsoft confirmed that the new option to activate Cortana by voice has been made possible with the help of SensorCore technology.

Last but not least, some changes to the Glance Screen feature have also been made, which means that Lumia smartphones owners will be able to see more at a glance with Bing Weather, Bing Health & Fitness data. That’s in addition to the usual notifications, app data, time and date.

Obviously, the Lumia Denim update will also include Windows Phone 8.1's features that have already been announced by Microsoft, so here is hoping the update will arrive on all compatible smartphones sooner rather than later.

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Chris Webber announcing Lumia Denim
Lumia Camera app (screenshot)
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