Microsoft unveiled the Windows Phone 8.1 update and new devices at its Build conference and now today, the Windows Phone 8.1 developer preview is finally available and all Windows Phone users can download it on their device. Windows Phone 8.1 is the major update and it brings number of features like Action Center, Cortana digital voice assistant, Start Screen backgrounds, new IE11 and more. Cortana is the first true digital assistant and the swipe keyboard is also added.
Windows Phone 8.1 update will hit your existing device sometime later this month or early May and if you are a developer, you have already been notified of the new update. However, if you want this update on your Windows Phone device, then you can have it on your phone too, as today everyone is a developer.
How to Get Windows Phone 8.1 Update On Your Device Right Now?
Step1: First you need to register yourself as a developer. To register yourself as a developer go to App Studio page and sign-in with your Microsoft account associated with your phone. For your information, this is the Microsoft website that provides you web-interface to build apps.
Step2: After signing, you need to download the Preview for Developeres app from the Windows Phone Store and once you downloaded the app on your device, tick against “Enable Preview For Developers”.
Step3: Now you have to check for updates, simply go to Settings > Phone update and click on “Check for updates”. Now download/install any update that are available.
That’s it now you are enjoying Windows Phone 8.1 on your device and it will work on any current handset running Windows Phone 8. Although, all of you installed Windows Phone 8.1 on your device, but there are some limitations like the warranty of your device will be void and will only bring Windows Phone 8.1 features & not the Nokia’s exclusive features. Since, it’s a developer preview and you might witness some bugs but in any case you are not able to reinstall this update or go back to Windows Phone 8.
Highlights of Windows Phone 8.1
- Action center – Notifications center on Windows Phone, finally!
- Cortana – Highly personal digital voice assistant
- Start screen wallpapers – Parallax scrolling for the wallpapers
- Lock screen themes – Make your own lock screen animations or use presets
- Word Flow keyboard – Like Swype, but Microsoft claims it is faster
- Skype integration to dialer
- New default apps – Calendar, Xbox Music, Video and new Podcasts
- People Hub can integrate with 3rd party apps
- New type of e-mail accounts supported – including iCloud
- New camera UI and gallery app
- New utilities – WiFi sense, Storage sense and Battery saver
- New enterprise features and a lot more