The Windows 10 Mobile anniversary update has started rolling out on HP Elite x3 devices, now available over-the-air or via the Windows Device Recovery Tool.
A significant feature included in the anniversary update is Windows Information Protection which provides corporate data security, letting users counteract unauthorized copying, pasting, opening and saving of encrypted data.
The update also brings support for a LED charging indicator and a Double Tap to Wake feature. Microsoft previously halted sales of the Elite x3 in the United States because of an issue with the camera constantly crashing. It seems that the update has also fixed this issue. Customizable quick settings, added languages for Cortana, mobile and desktop notifications syncing and an improved Skype app also come with the update.
Additionally, the update brings stability/performance improvements for the device. Windows Hello now performs faster and Iris logins are now more secure and harder to fake, upping up the ante on face recognition. Iris will also allow lock-screen previews, a feature absent on Microsoft's own handsets. However, it's still in development for a possible later release.
But the most significant changes are evidenced by the Elite x3's performance improvements, now running more smoothly and notably more powerful. AnTuTu benchmark tests were conducted by Windows Central for the phones pre-update and post-update, with interesting results. The Elite x3 scored 108,727 before the update and 118,796 afterwards, higher at 9.3 percent. In comparison, the test also included the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL, the most powerful Lumia model in terms of specs. The 950 XL only scored 87,906.
Last month, Microsoft promised to roll out the Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary update on Sept. 13, a day after the supposed Sept. 12 release of the Elite x3. But all references pointing to the exact date have since been shushed all of a sudden, replacing it with a less specific "in the coming weeks." The release of the x3 was then pushed back to Sept. 26, and so it did, along with the anniversary update, being available a day later.
If you want to have the anniversary update for your x3, open the Settings app, tap "Update and Security," and then tap "Phone Update." Finally, tap "Check for Updates" and wait until you receive "HP Update for Windows Phone."
The Elite x3 is currently available for $799 at the Microsoft Store unlocked. It features a 5.96-inch WQHD AMOLED display, a 16-megapixel camera, 64 GB of internal storage, an iris scanner and a fingerprint sensor. It also comes with a desk dock that allows keyboard and mouse accessories when the device is connected to an external display.
Photo: Maurizio Pesce | Flickr
