14 DAY TRIAL // Today, Redmond-based software giant Microsoft has officially announced the upcoming availability of the first major update for Windows Phone 8.1, which has been spotted over the past several weeks as Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1.
The software refresh will be released as Windows Phone 8.1 Update and will become available as part of the company’s Developer Preview program as soon as the next week, Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore has officially announced.
One of the most important enhancements brought by the platform upgrade is expanded availability for Cortana, which will reach five new countries, China, UK, Canada, India, and Australia.
The software refresh will arrive on devices with a variety of new features and capabilities for all Windows Phone 8.1 users out here, while also being able to deliver a series of customizations aimed specifically at users in China.
The recently rumored Live Folders feature will be included in the update, allowing users to easily organize their apps into folders on the Start screen.
“We call this Live Folders because the live tiles of apps appear in the tile of the folders—you won’t miss tile updates because you group apps in a folder,” Joe Belfiore notes in a blog post.
In order to create a Live Folder, users will simply need to drag a tile over another, and then provide a name for the folder. However, they will also be able to open the folder to change its name, while also being able to arrange and size the tiles in the manner they want.
The Windows Phone 8.1 Update will also come with an improved Xbox Music app, which will deliver better performance, including faster loading times and list scrolling. Additionally, it will boast a series of features that have been missing in the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview for Developers.
Some of the capabilities that will be added to it in the coming months include a “quickplay” of recent playback activities, support for Kids Corner, and a Live Tile.
The Windows Phone Store will receive a Live Tile in the upcoming platform refresh, so that users could receive info on new apps and games directly on the Start Screen.
“If you have the Store pinned to your Start screen on your device, you’ll get updates on the newest titles – refreshed every 6 hours – streamed dynamically to you throughout your day,” said blog post explains.
Additionally, the new operating system version will enable users to select multiple SMS messages for deletion and forwarding, for easier management capabilities.
Moreover, an Apps Corner will arrive on Windows Phone 8.1 devices, allowing users to specify which apps are displayed in a “sandboxed” mode. Meant to restrict the apps used, the new feature is aimed mainly at businesses, which will be able to deliver access to apps when a full MDM solution isn’t needed.
What’s interesting is that Apps Corner can also be used to set the phone to boot straight to an app. For example, employees at a distribution center using Windows Phone devices will go straight into an inventory when turning on the smartphone.
It can also be used to setup retail demos, and allows retailers to export the profile of Apps Corner from one device and then import it on other device. Moreover, devs will receive info on usage from inside Apps Corner.
Windows Phone 8.1 Update will also come with a series of security enhancements, so that users’ data and identity are more protected on public networks. That includes the possibility to send and receive data via a virtual private network (VPN) when on a Wi-Fi hotspots.
As mentioned above, the update will start rolling out to devices with the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview for Developers platform release on them as soon as the next week. The update is also set to arrive on devices running Windows Phone 8.1 in the coming months.
