We are heading towards the release of Windows Phone 8.1 in a month or two. Meanwhile, a number of leaks are coming regarding the features of Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft has been working on Windows Phone 8.1 for last two years. The developers are putting their all efforts in order not to miss even a single bit in the new WP Operating System.
The new Windows Phone version is expected to come in April with its OTA updates coming to flagships in next month June. Till now, we have learnt much about Windows Phone 8.1. All the hot features are revealed but now, Windows Phone 8.1 SDK leak finally reveals some minor but important changes. According to WPCentral, here is the list of all such changes:
- Sharing secured WI-Fi Networks with contacts if they have Wi-Fi Sense. They don’t get to see the shared password though
- Social notifications will now show up in Action Center by swiping from the top of the screen
- Operators can now control Data Sense limits remotely
- Operators can also install certain applications once a SIM card is detected
- Along with normal updates, there are now “important” updates.
- Options to always download emails and pictures within them
- Encrypted and signed e-mail support
- Change default SMS app. You can also change which SMS app will show notifications.
- Enterprise enrolled phones can have their passwords changed and remotely locked
- “Write, when I swipe through letters”. That should be self-explanatory
- Geofence monitoring support. Geofence is a boundary around a place of interest to you. Location services can monitor geofences to tell your apps when you’re entering and leaving them. This would be really good for IFTTT
- Office Lens support. Will scan in documents and screens
- The phone will have to update to the latest version before you can restore it to factory settings
- Option to update store apps automatically
- Option to update store apps when only on Wi-Fi
- App Suggestions by location
- Manual Update checks
- Password protected Office document support
- Trusted app list for NFC that will remove the need for asking whether you want to open a particular app.
- In-call speech commands. You’ll be able to say “Call XXXXXX”.
- Double-Tap to unlock your phone (Feature from Lumia devices on Amber Update and newer)
- Quiet Hours
- Double Tap to Power Off
- Notification if charger isn’t of adequate power
- Screenshot button combination is now Power + Volume Up
- Chkdsk for SD Cards essentially
- Apps on SD Cards are only allowed from ONE originating phone. If it detects that apps from another phone are installed on the SD Card, then it will ask to delete those first
- Voice Narrator for Accessibility
- The Search button will be the new way to open Speech instead of the Start button (Since the newer phones will have the start button on screen)
- New Email sync options with accordance to usage patterns (i.e. If you get a lot of mail on particular days and if you don’t check mail every day).
- Change the size and amount of tiles on your start screen.
- Wallet supports tickets and membership cards
- App Syncing
- Backups now include application data (ABOUT TIME)
- Screen Reader functionality (Maybe Text-To-Speech for apps?)
- Screen Recording functionality
- Inner Circle of contacts. Up to 40 contacts can be in the inner circle.
- You can favorite photos by tapping a heart icon
- Virtual SmartCard support
- Quiet Hours
The last one resembles the iOS ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ feature. You will not be notified about any activity during a certain time period. It seems that Microsoft has laid importance on every tiny improvement they can make in Windows Phone 8.1.
We are quite excited to get our hands on the latest Windows Phone, but still need to wait. Guys, Are you too excited? What you want more in Windows Phone 8.1?
Source: WPCentral