Microsoft took the wraps off of Windows Phone 8.1 and Nokia has announced all current Windows Phone 8 Lumia handsets would receive the software through the Lumia Cyan update it expects to release this summer.
Nokia pleased many Lumia smartphone customers when it showed off its new flagship Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone and a pair of affordable Windows Phone 8.1 handsets with the Lumia 630 and Lumia 635. The company also did something to please current Lumia owners by announcing that it would be releasing an OTA (over-the-air) update to any Lumia smartphones now running Windows Phone 8 that would upgrade their smartphone to Microsoft's latest and greatest version of Windows Phone.
Nokia took to its Conversations site to share everything you need to know about the Windows Phone 8.1 update. Here's a run down of some of the new features and enhancements Windows Phone 8.1 brings to the table.
Action stations for Action Center works like iOS' Notification Center and Control Center combined in an intuitive pull down menu. It makes accessing all notifications easy by having them in one centralized area.
You'll have another option in the way you type with Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft has added the very popular "Swype"-like keyboard already found on Android through Google's own keyboard or the third-party Swype application. Word Flow promises to learn from the way you use it and will provide predictions to save you time.
The Start screen in Windows Phone 8.1 has been given a facelift. You'll soon have an extra column of Live Tiles, allowing you to see more information. You can also add a background image that can be seen through some of the Live Tiles.
Cortana is Windows Phone 8.1's answer to Siri and Google Now, and from all accounts the virtual assistant is a great combination of its rivals and accurate.
Photography is in Nokia's DNA and the company is giving an enhanced Lumia imaging experience. If you have a Lumia 1520 or plan on getting the Lumia 930, you'll have the edded benefit of capturing better sound when taking video because Dolby Surround Support is now enabled.
The Nokia Lumia Cyan Windows Phone 8.1 update is expected to rollout to all Nokia Lumia 8 smartphones, from the low-end Lumia 520 to the high-end Verizon Lumia Icon.
