14 DAY TRIAL // It’s no mystery that Microsoft plans to include a Notification Center onto its next Windows Phone 8.1 platform, but additional details on how this will work have been scarce until lately.
The folks over at The Verge have been tipped on some of the features that Microsoft is currently testing for Windows Phone 8.1, but some may not make it into the final version.
According to sources familiar with the Redmond-based company’s plans, the Notification Center that has already been integrated into Windows Phone 8.1 will be accessible by swiping down from the top of the display.
Those familiar with Android devices will probably be familiar with the action, as Google’s mobile platform has been offering this feature for a very long time.
The same action can be used to access Windows Phone 8.1’s quick settings, while a longer swipe is said to display a full notification history.
Again, these features are now included in the beta version of Windows Phone 8.1, which Microsoft is currently testing internally, so they are subject to change.
But the inclusion of a Notification Center is not the only new feature that Microsoft plans to integrate in the next version of Windows Phone operating system.
The Verge reports that Microsoft will also be adding separate volume controls, so that users can adjust ringtone volume separately from the music playback.
In addition, the company is also planning to add Bing Smart Search results and VPN support for enterprise users. There’s also a high chance that Windows Phone 8.1 will arrive with a dedicated built-in music hub, separate from the current Xbox Music and Xbox Video apps.
Furthermore, social networking apps like Twitter and Facebook will be allowed to extend the People Hub even more in the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1
In the same piece of news, The Verge claims that Nokia is already readying two smartphones that will be launched with Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box, the “Goldfinger” and “Moneypenny.”
The former is said to feature a “3D Touch system” that can detect off-the-glass interactions, while the latter will be packed with on-screen Windows Phone 8.1 buttons.
Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be fully detailed next year at Microsoft’s Build Developer Conference, which is set to take place on April 2-4, in San Francisco, United States.