Microsoft demonstrated Windows Phone 8.1, the latest version of its mobile OS, at the BUILD 2014 conference in San Francisco on Wednesday. Microsoft executives, including Manager of Windows Phone, Joe Belfiore, showed off a bunch of new features that will be introduced in WP 8.1. These new features include a new voice assistant, customization options, a new notification centre and performance upgrades, among others.
Let’s take a look at some of these new features:
Cortana: Windows Phone’s answer to Siri
Cortana, the Windows Phone voice assistant has been rumoured for a long, long time. That’s why it came as no surprise when Cortana was demonstrated at BUILD 2014. Cortana, which takes its (her?) name from the Artificial Intelligence in the Halo series of games has most of the features boasted by Siri and Google Now. These include the ability to set reminders, call and message contacts and search the Web (using Bing), among many others. It also improves upon its rivals by allowing access to third party apps, so it could allow you to post a Facebook update, Tweet or Skype a contact by using just your voice. Microsoft also claims that Cortana can be customized to a greater extent than both Google Now and Siri and that it will progressively get smarter as it’s used more and more.
Image source: Uber Gizmo
Cortana will launch in beta in the U.S. first and will spread to Windows Phones in other countries after its beta stage is over. Considering how it’s integrated with Bing, Indian WP users have every right to feel wary considering that Microsoft hasn’t put in much work into the search engine’s India-centric features.
One App for all Devices
Microsoft also revealed that all devices running Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 will now be able to support universal apps whether the devices in question are tablets, phones, PCs or an Xbox. This means that supported apps will be able to carry over your information and maintain your status across all your (Windows) devices effortlessly. This also means that developers won’t have to exhaust themselves building versions of the same app for multiple form-factors and device types.
A Better Keyboard
I maintain that Windows Phone offers the best touchscreen keyboard among all mobile operating systems and Microsoft has gone and made that better. Apart from claiming that the keyboard is faster and more accurate in WP 8.1, Microsoft also revealed that the keyboard now comes with a typing method similar to the one offered by the Swype app which involves you just swiping your finger to different alphabets and letting the auto-correct recognise the words.
Customizations
Windows Phone 8.1 will now allow you more freedom in choosing how the interface looks. You will be able to set a photo as a background on the homescreen and also set a custom image or colour on the tiles. Microsoft also plans to let third-party apps access the lock screen to let you see more information quicker.
Action Center
Although Windows Phone is late to the party, at least it’s here. Like iOS and Android, Windows Phone will now have a notifications screen (branded “Action Center) that can be accessed with a swipe. Apart from notifications from apps, messages and emails, the screen will also host four quick controls (such as Wifi, Airplane Mode etc.) that can be changed to what you want.
Image source: WP Central
Some Other New Things
Other new features that Windows Phone users can expect include Internet Explorer 11, better security and enterprise features, a greater focus on app discovery and a better calendar.
Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to hit supported phones in April and May.
Sources: Wired, Tech Crunch
Main image source: Business Insider