14 DAY TRIAL // Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is reportedly hard at work with the development of two new software updates for the Windows Phone 8 platform, and some new details on them are now available.
According to info coming from a Twitter user, Windows Phone 8.1 will arrive on devices with new and rearranged icons in the status bar.
Apparently, Microsoft has decided to group said icons depending on their purpose. Those related to connectivity are placed on the left side of the screen, while those showing system info are grouped to the right.
Furthermore, the available info, which emerged online in the form of a screenshot, shows that Windows Phone 8.1 will have the Roaming icon displayed as part of the signal strength indicator.
As MyNokiaBlog notes, there is also an asterisk icon included in the system-reserved area, which would be meant to inform users on the presence of a notification.
In addition to these visual changes, Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to bring a larger number of applications to more devices out there.
Thus, software such as Nokia Pro Cam and Glance Screen, both Lumia-exclusive until now, should become available for all WP8.1 devices out there, rumor has it.
Considering the fact that Microsoft is buying Nokia’s handset division, it does not come as a surprise that Nokia apps will be pushed to phones from more manufacturers.
Another interesting piece of info that emerged now is the fact that Cortana, the personal assistant rumored for the Windows Phone platform not long ago, will become available in early 2014 in the United States.
The feature should be rolled out to other markets out there as well before the end of the next year, and is said to be already under testing at Microsoft. The service will offer support for more than 44 languages.
In fact, Cortana is said to have already emerged inside Nokia’s Bittersweet Shimmer app package that should go official as soon as the next month.
The package could land on Windows Phone 8 GDR3 devices, though it’s uncertain whether Cortana will indeed be a part of it or not. In the end, it might not be released before Windows Phone 8.1 arrives.
Interestingly enough, it appears that owners of Nokia Lumia 520 smartphones out there could be left out of the WP8 GDR3 update, due to a series of hardware issues.
As it turns out, Nokia might not be the only manufacturer to launch Windows Phone 8.1 devices, and a leaked screenshot shows that Samsung will also join the party. More on this might emerge soon, so stay tuned.
