14 DAY TRIAL // Although Microsoft and Nokia have confirmed that Windows Phone 8.1 will bring lots of new features and improvements, they have failed to announce which of the new features will be available on current Windows Phone 8 devices.
Microsoft states that Windows Phone 8.1 will arrive on all Windows Phone 8 handsets sometime this summer, while Nokia has promised that its next major software update for Lumia smartphones, Nokia Cyan, will be available in the coming months as well.
One of the new features that Nokia has announced that will be included in the Cyan update is Miracast capability, which will allow users to project content wirelessly to compatible screens, TVs and projectors.
The Finnish company has also confirmed that the Nokia Lumia 1520 and Lumia Icon will be compatible with the new Miracst feature included in the Cyan update.
In addition, Nokia Lumia 930, which will be launched sometime in June with Windows Phone 8.1 operating system out of the box, will come with Miracast included, so there will be no need for another software update.
However, Nokia and Microsoft have failed to state that no other smartphone besides those three mentioned earlier will support Miracast feature.
Well, it looks like Microsoft has just cleared up things for Windows Phone fans and they are not looking good at all. Joe Belfiore has just replied to a Miracast-related question and has confirmed that most Windows Phone 8 handsets will not be compatible with the new feature.
“WP8.1 supports Miracast but it will require new hardware. MAYBE 1520 is new enough, I'm not sure. Most WP8 hardware won't be.”
Given the fact that Nokia has already confirmed that its Lumia 1520 and Lumia Icon will be compatible with Miracast, we can safely assume that Joe Belfiore’s statement is correct and that only a few devices will come with Miracast.
@sarang20067 WP8.1 supports Miracast but it will require new HW. MAYBE 1520 is new enough, I'm not sure. most WP8 hw won't be.
— joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) April 6, 2014 Future Windows Phone 8.1 will need the required hardware in order to fully support Miracast, but from the current Windows Phone 8 handsets, only the Lumia 1520 and Lumia Icon seem to be equipped with the necessary hardware.
According to Microsoft, Windows Phone 8.1 will arrive on compatible smartphones this summer. The same goes for Nokia Cyan update, which is expected to be rolled out in the coming months for Lumia smartphones.
All Windows Phone 8 devices will receive one of the two major upgrades, but they will not get it at the same time. Depending on region and carrier, these updates may arrive sooner or later for some users.