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Thanks to a new Windows Phone 8.1 SDK leak we can see that Redmond devs are planning to include a universal search feature in the next Windows Phone release. A recent leak revealed theme and start menu customizations, which adds another line to the long line of expected improvements. A universal search follows in the footsteps of Windows on desktop and just about every other mobile platform out there. Microsoft’s platform however will have even more use for such feature as Windows Phones handsets have a dedicated search button. If this feature lands it will offer message search, music (Artist, Song, Album, Playlist) and more. Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to bring an Action Center, Notification Center and File Manager among other things. Source

Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to go official in April during the annual BUILD conference. Meanwhile, thanks to Microsoft's WP8.1 SDK, various screenshots and videos have gave us a taste of the upcoming update. WP 8.1 is expected to bring the long awaited Action Center, Cortana voice assistant, Swype keyboard, better multi-tasking, burst shots for the camera, Internet Explorer 11 with password manager, minor UI enhancements, etc. Today, after various leaked screenshots we finally get to see the Action Center in action in a live video. There aren't many surprises here, but then again there's no need to reinvent the wheel. Source

Nokia is expected to unveil new Windows Phone 8.1 powered handsets in early April during a special event, including the alleged Nokia Lumia 930 (Martini) as well as the entry-level Nokia Lumia 630 (Moneypenny). Now, a new video has been unveiled, showcasing Windows Phone 8.1 running on a Lumia 630. In the video, we can see the on-screen navigation buttons, the highly anticipated Action Center, and other exciting features that are set to arrive with Windows Phone 8.1. The video isn't in English, but you can make out the new changes and improvements if you look closely. Here's what WPCentral spotted in the video, so far: Action centerNew Podcast appNew FM Radio app, pulled out of Music hubVideo and Music Xbox apps separated into two appsNew Store layout, as we recently reportedIE changes, including new Tab section, private tabsIE tabs are displayed in multitask viewPull down to close apps in multitaskNew stock Photos app, with sections All, Albums, Favorites now on separate panelsNew stock camera layoutApps that are installed on the device: Storage Sense, Battery Sense, Data SenseThe Lumia 630 device is rumored to come with a 4.5-inch display, sporting a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels, a quad-core Snapdragon 400 SoC, 1GB RAM, dual-SIM support, and should come with Windows Phone 8.1 as its operating system. Take a look at the video below. Spot any new features you like? Microsoft is expected to speak about Windows Phone 8.1 during the Build 2014 Developer Conference, beginning April 2nd. Source

Microsoft is currently experimenting with a free version of Windows 8.1 that could boost the number of people using the operating system. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the company is building "Windows 8.1 with Bing," a version that will bundle key Microsoft apps and services. While early versions of the software have leaked online, we understand that Windows 8.1 with Bing is an experimental project that aims to bring a low-cost version of Windows to consumers. ZDNet first reported some Windows 8.1 with Bing details earlier this week. We’re told that Microsoft is aiming to position Windows 8.1 with Bing as a free or low-cost upgrade for Windows 7 users. Any upgrade offers will be focused on boosting the number of people using Windows 8.1. This Bing-powered version of Windows 8.1 may also be offered to PC makers as part of recent license cuts for devices under $250. It’s not clear how committed Microsoft is to these plans, but the experiment is part of a number of initiatives designed to push and monetize Microsoft’s cloud services and apps. Microsoft is increasingly betting on Bing as a platform it can monetize in the future. Microsoft is also considering low-cost or free versions of Windows Phone, and the company is working towards merging its Windows RT and Windows Phone software into a single version designed for ARM-based chipsets. Bing-powered apps are currently bundled into Windows 8.1, and a leaked version of "Windows 8.1 with Bing" does not appear to reveal any significant changes yet. Microsoft recently unveiled its Windows 8.1 spring update, and the company is expected to further detail the update at its Build developer conference in April. Additional details around the merging of Windows RT and Windows Phone are also expected to be shared at the Build conference. Source

This year’s Mobile World Congress event was a site of wide range of high-end smartphone announcements, beginning with Samsung Galaxy S5 launch to Nokia X, an Android-based smartphone. The move from Nokia was clearly viewed as a departure from the protocol, especially following its acquisition by software giant, Microsoft. Naturally, response to the products ranged from being impressed to highly skeptical. Mobile World Congress 2014 What brought respite for Microsoft, was a new plan of action from the Finnish giant to increase the adoption rate of Windows Phone and assurance from other manufacturers like Lenovo, LG and Foxconn that readily agreed to equip their upcoming products with the Windows Phone OS, scaling Windows Phone globally. This event was followed by unveiling of a host of new hardware partners committed to manufacturing smartphones running the Windows Phone OS. The list, included brands like Huawei, ZTE, Longcheer , Xolo, Lava and Karbonn. These new partners are likely to supplement the existing Windows Phone partners- HTC, Samsung and others. Stephen Elop of Nokia while on stage at Nokia’s press event at Mobile World Congress confirmed the rolling out of BBM service to Lumia devices, soon. Panasonic too spilled the beans on its Windows Phone plans by launching Panasonic FZ-E1, a new Windows Embedded 8 Handheld device oriented towards enterprise users. An avowed tough phone, The Panasonic FZ-E1 can operate in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius. Microsoft was planning to release Windows Phone 8.1 right around the time of its Build 2014 conference, scheduled this April to make the OS available to all developers. Users won’t likely start receiving the new OS preloaded on new phones but delivered as updates to their existing Windows Phone 8 devices. With Windows 8.1, it would also add support for Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 and 400 processors, on-screen virtual hardware buttons, and the ability to install apps to microSD card. Evolving Windows 8 After claiming to have shipped Windows 8.1 in under a year in response to customer and partner feedback, Microsoft says it would continue efforts to refine and improve Windows for delivering delightful experience for all users on all devices. It aims to do so by enhancing support for enterprise customers via a few tweaks, particularly including features that greatly improve IE compatibility in Internet Explorer 11, critical for web-based line of business applications. Additionally, it is looking to make deployment easier. Source

You might recall that last month we showed you some images discovered of some of the Wi-Fi settings on Windows Phone 8.1. These images revealed that the Wi-Fi settings will include a feature that can turn connectivity back on based on a timer that can be set for 1 hour, 4 hours or 1 day. The user can also manually turn on Wi-Fi. The feature, called Wi-Fi Sense, will require that you opt in to Location services. This morning, we now have more than a static image of Wi-Fi Sense. The clip is all of 34 seconds long and shows the same options that we discussed back in February. Wi-Fi Sense will come in handy when you know that you're going to be away from a Wi-Fi signal for a known time period. And as we noted in the previous story, if you need to turn off Wi-Fi for longer than 4 hours (for example, when you're at work), Cortana can handle that request with settings changes based on whether you're at home or work. To check out Wi-Fi Sense inaction, click on the video below. Source

Details and screenshots of the upcoming Cortana virtual assistant for Windows Phone made the rounds. Microsoft’s answer to Siri will debut with Windows Phone 8.1. Cortana is tipped to replace the Bing search functionality in Windows Phone 8.1. It will be displayed as a circular icon, not the famous female character from the Halo gaming franchise. Reportedly, Cortana will animate while performing tasks. Users will have the option to be addressed by name or with a nickname. Microsoft’s virtual assistant is tipped to save data and information in a Notebook system. Google Now-like ability to track flight and other relevant information is also said to be on board. Cortana will utilize services which include Bing and Foursquare. The personal assistant is expected to be unveiled at the Microsoft Build conference early next month, though its final name is yet to be decided upon. Source

The Start Screen of Windows Phone 8.1 will be customizable with background images. Several leaked screenshots revealed the upcoming WP feature and its settings screen. The new customization option will not be enabled by default. The familiar two-tone Start Screen will still greet Windows Phone 8.1 users out of the box. Reportedly, not all apps will allow their tiles to be skinned. Some applications such as Office and Xbox Music will retain an appearance in solid color. Microsoft will likely begin seeding Windows Phone 8.1 to developers early next month, during its Build conference. Source

The HTC One for Windows Phone has been rumored to be coming for sometime now. HTC hasn't released a high end smartphone for Windows Phone since the HTC 8XT, so the possibility of the HTC One coming the ecosystem excites many. Today, Windows Phone Central has acquired all the specifications for the device, and as the rumors suggested, it's identical to the Android counterpart. The device features not only the same specs as the Android version, but also supports the Dot View smartcase. This smartcase supports viewing who's calling, the time and more. The Dot View case is only available thanks to the recent Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, which introduced support for smartcases. The full specifications for the device are as follows: Windows Phone 8.1 2.3GHz quad-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 32GB internal storage with Micro SD support 2GB RAM 5-inch 1080P SuperLCD3 display with Gorilla Glass 3 - 441 ppi 2600mAh Battery HTC UltraPixel camera, 5MP front facing camera Nano SIM HTC Boomsound U-Focus HTC Dot View Case Source

When Microsoft rolled out the Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview, it included build 2.5.1330 of the Xbox Music app. Starting next week, Microsoft is set to roll out a huge new update to the app, followed by new updates every two weeks. "And for those Xbox Music users running the WP8.1 Developer Preview, starting next week you will start to see the first update in the Windows Phone Store for the 8.1 Xbox Music application, followed by ongoing updates every two weeks. We want to hear your feedback on the new Xbox Music app so we can continue to incorporate it into the product," Microsoft stated in an official support forum post. Here is what's expected in next week's huge update to Xbox Music: Numerous stability fixes, including many of the reported black screens Cortana integration is complete and now supports playing playlists by name UI polish to improve animations and transitions between UI views Improved messaging for encountered errors, such as unplayable content in collections Background initial sync of local and cloud content Based on feedback received via the Developer Preview forums, Microsoft is working on new features such as Live Tile integration, continued focus on stability and performance, quickplay improvements, Kids Corner support, and various other user interface improvements. Stay tuned for this huge update, which rolls out next week. Source

Microsoft has acquired Nokia’s phone division with some huge plans for the future: for starters, it is preparing to release at least three new Windows Phone 8.1 devices this year, according to TheVerge. Out of those three, Microsoft’s flagship is a device said to carry the codename ‘McLaren’ and largely seen as the successor to the Lumia 1020, with a similarly great camera (and a similar lump in the back). Not just that, it is expected to come with new Kinect-like 3D Touch features like hovering your finger above the screen and slide your fingers along the side of the phone to zoom in and out when you’re using the camera. There is the 4.7-inch mid-range ‘Superman’ phone notable with its rumored 5-megapixel front camera (those selfies should sure look good). This mid-ranger is said to arrive alongside the second of two big updates to the Windows Phone 8.1 platform, coming towards the end of the year. Finally, there is the low-end ‘Rock’ smartphone, said to be something similar (or even identical) to the Nokia Lumia 530. We’re seeing the first leaked photos of a fourth phone that might come between the mid-range ‘Superman’ model and the high-end ‘McLaren’ camera phone. The cryptic phone could be the Lumia 830, the successor to the current Lumia 820, and it seems to have an aluminum frame and a polycarbonate back. It’s also possible that this is a phone referred to as the ‘Tesla’. Most notably, though, the Lumia 830 has the signature round opening for the camera on the back, an accent that hints that we’re looking at an above-average camera performer. Source

A tweet sent by Cortana's program manager, Marcus Ash, reveals that inside of two weeks, a developer preview for Cortana will be available. Keep in mind that the only Windows Phone 8.1 users in the U.K. that will be able to see and use Cortana, will be those who registered as developers with Microsoft. For the rest of you, the personal assistant will be unavailable for now, unless a hack is devised, of course. Right now, only those in the U.S. with Windows Phone 8.1 are able to use Cortana. In his conversations on Twitter, program manager Ash said that while developing Cortana, Microsoft learned a lot about scaling; that is certainly one of the issues that the company would have to face when rolling out a project as ambitious as a virtual personal manager, to a large number of countries world-wide. No word from Microsoft yet, as to when non-developers in the U.K. will be able to access Cortana. Source

HTC has sent out press invites for an event scheduled for August 19th in New York City. There's no word about the announcements the company plans to make, but there's a lot of speculation going around. A plethora of rumors has popped up in the past few weeks, hinting at HTC working on a new Google Nexus tablet codenamed Volantis. It's been a while since the Taiwanese OEM collaborated with Google on a Nexus device, but leaks from several often-correct publications suggest we might see a tablet in a the coming weeks. Second in the rumor mill is a new Windows Phone 8.1 device. Last we heard, the Taiwanese OEM was rumored to launch a Windows Phone device which will make use of the Duo Cameras and BoomSound speakers, and will resemble to the HTC One handset. HTC is one of the hardware partners for Microsoft, but it's been almost two years since we saw a WP handset. Source

Microsoft has been quietly pushing out a Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview update to some users. The update claims to offer “Additional Language Support” but it is unfortunately unclear what exactly was added. So far we have had reports from , India, Canada and USA. Have any of you received the update prompt? Let us know from the source page, Thanks Source

The first Windows Phone 8.1 powered devices are expected to hit retail by the end of this month, but what about the existing devices? When will the roll out start for them? Well, it's not confirmed at the moment, but Microsoft recently shared the lifecycle date for Windows Phone 8.1, and it's going to start on June 24th. That's the date when the Redmond-based company will start providing support for the product. Microsoft's support page mentions that the company will provide support and updates for the operating system for a minimum of 36 months, starting from June 24, meaning that you'll get security patches, new features and all incremental updates during the support period. "Microsoft will make updates available for the Operating System, including security updates, for a minimum of 36 months after the lifecycle start date. These updates will be incremental, with each update built on the update that preceded it. Customers need to install each update in order to remain supported," Microsoft said in the release notes on the support site. The update roll out depends on several factors, with the most common ones being the carrier or the manufacturer from whom you bought your device, as well as your region. It also depends on the hardware capabilities of the devices. At the time of launch, it was announced Windows Phone 8.1 will hit all existing devices, but we've seen in the past that some devices are not capable of running all the announced features due to hardware limitations -- take glance screen as an example. They further added, "The distribution of these incremental updates may be controlled by the mobile operator or the phone manufacturer from which you purchased your phone, and installation will require that your phone have any prior updates. Update availability will also vary by country, region, and hardware capabilities." If Microsoft begins the lifecycle on June 24th, our guess is that we might have to wait for a few weeks or maybe months for the update to reach all devices. The company mentioned it will continue to provide support to the OS until July 11, 2017. If you can't wait and want to get the taste of the features introduced in the Windows Phone 8.1 platform, you could install the developer preview in the meantime. Source

Nokia Care re-released the Software Recovery Tool for Lumia devices, and today the software has been updated to support Windows Phone 8.1. First spotted by the guys over at WPCentral, the tool will help you recover your phone if it is having software issues or problems while installing an update. "Use the Nokia Software Recovery Tool to recover your phone if you have software or software update problems. If your phone is not responding, it appears to be stuck or is not starting you can try to recover it at home before initiating a repair," Nokia Care writes. The latest update (version 1.3.1) of the Nokia Software Recovery tool adds support for Windows Phone 8.1, along with up to 75% faster downloads for large software packages. You are required to be running Windows 7 or newer, have a USB cable connecting your phone to your computer, and a minimum of 3GB of free storage space. Remember, using Nokia Software Recovery Tool erases all personal content on your phone. If possible, create a backup of your phone’s content before running the tool. Download Link Nokia Software Recovery Tool Source Via

Microsoft’s unofficial mascot, Clippy, has become somewhat of an Internet legend. The paperclip who was part of a previous version of Office was sacked many years ago, but the personality lives on in various Easter eggs in Microsoft products. The latest iteration where Clippy appears is in Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant for Windows Phone 8.1. And if after seeing Clippy in Windows Phone 8.1 you wondered what other personas Cortana may undertake during her routine activities, wonder no more, as one individual by the name of Leon, has done the hard work, for us. In a post over on his site, LeonZandman.com, he describes how he was able to dig up all of the personas that Clippy can take on and it’s a post worth reading if you'd like to know the back story. As you can see from some of the gifs included in this post, there are quite a few personas available for Cortana but we can’t confirm yet if she can actively use these images. Right now, these files were all found within Windows Phone 8.1 and Cortana has access to them but they may not be currently in use. But, know that they are out there and we suspect, over time, these gifs will make their way into Cortana if they are not already in use. It could be possible to trigger these personas now with the correct phrases as with Clippy, you have to ask it a very specific question to enact the Clippy Easter egg and these other personas may require similar questions too; there are more personas at the source link below too. Source : neowin

It's been a while since Microsoft released the Windows Phone 8.1 Developers Preview for users. You can download it even if you're not a developer, but it seems people are having troubles when they try to update to Windows Phone 8.1. The update downloads on the devices, but when the user tries to install it, it ends up with the error 80188309. Most of the users are using the Huawei Ascend W1, but the error has popped up on other models as well. A moderator on the Microsoft support site has responded to the issue, and said an update would be sent to the devices to fix the issue. Microsoft has collected details about the devices, and model numbers of users who are experiencing difficulties, but didn't mention an exact time frame when users can expect the update. A moderator on the support forums said he will provide more details on Thursday, April 24th. "A little clarification on the update notification. The notification has stopped for all devices that have not yet taken the first update, however those that have taken the first update and are waiting for the second update to the current 8.1 build will continue to occur. At this point, I would recommend ignoring the update notification and wait for further updates from us," Eli A, a Microsoft site moderator says. He further states, "The update itself is not going to be available today, or likely early next week. We will continue to work on getting you this update but it will not be as fast as you would like. I know a lot of you would like a better timeline on when it will be available, and at this time I cannot commit to a date. I will however, commit to updating you next Thursday April 24th, 2014 with any additional news. If I have any news or details before then, I will of course update you at that time." It's good to see the Redmond giant working on the issue, to make sure its users are happy. If any one of you faced the same problem, let us know in the comments below. We'll also update you as soon as more information comes up regarding this issue. Source

This has been the week of Windows Phone 8.1 Having been announced at Build earlier in the month, developer were finally able to get their hands on the massive mobile update -- in fact, anyone is able to download it. Interest levels were so high that the download servers struggled to cope. But if you did have trouble with the download, it was worth the wait... There is a lot to investigate in Windows Phone 8.1 and here at WinBeta we featured all manner of tip and tricks to help you get started, including revealing how to see more tiles on the home screen and how to enable Cortana outside of the US. The feature list for Windows Phone 8.1 is lengthy and impressive, and there is now the option of pinning websites as Live Tiles. For anyone who needed to get up to speed about just what Windows Phone 8.1 means, Microsoft released a selection of helpful videos, and there was also a guide to the new security features aimed at enterprise user. On top of this was a hands-on video to help you get started. Even though Windows Phone 8.1 has just been released, there are already rumors circulating about what we could expect to see in GDR2, including 2k resolution support. How about the idea of a Windows Phone with a physical keyboard? Continuing to look to the future, there is the promise of even better things to come from the already impressive Cortana, which was this week shown being used to control an automated lighting system. But while Windows Phone 8.1 may have dominated the headlines, there was also news for Office users. The official launch of Office 365 Personal saw the price of a subscription dropping to just $6.99 per month, and while the office suite is hardly struggling to maintain its user numbers, this is a great way to get newcomers onboard. This was not the only Office-related news from the week. Office Remote received an update that added a number of PowerPoint features, and the launch of Office in the Chrome Web Store could introduce a new range of online users to the suite. That was the past week in a nutshell -- here's hoping that the next seven day are just as action packed! Source

The folks at AdDuplex have released their monthly data for Windows Phone devices, which presents a pretty interesting picture of how the operating system is performing for this month. First of all, the best-selling Windows Phone handset, the Lumia 520, has seen a slight decrease in its market share for the first time in the past few months -- it's not very big, but still. Additionally, the most notable thing is the operating system version breakdown, which shows Windows Phone 8.1 gaining share pretty fast. "This report is based on data collected from 3886 Windows Phone apps running AdDuplex SDK v.2. The raw data analyzed was collected over the day of April 17th, 2014 (UTC time) unless otherwise stated. We have made every attempt to consolidate different reported phone model names under their canonical retail model names, but it is possible that some of the rare model name variations were not accounted for," says AdDuplex as a disclaimer. As far as the worldwide devices breakdown is concerned, Nokia Lumia 620 lost the second spot to Lumia 920, which makes sense since Nokia unveiled its successor at the Build conference, and there's a probability that retail outlets are clearing the remaining Lumia 920 inventory at competitive prices before the new Lumia 930 hits the market. As for US, the data is almost identical to last month. The most interesting change is seen in the operating system version. Microsoft unveiled the latest Windows Phone 8.1 at Build, with the developer preview released earlier this month. After a week of the launch, Windows Phone 8.1 is running on 3.1 percent of the total Windows Phone devices. And, we're guessing its not just the developers who have installed the Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview, as normal users might have installed the update as well since it was available for free for Windows Phone users. Other than that, 78 percent of the devices are running on Windows Phone 8. As for the US carriers, 34 percent of Windows Phone devices are running on AT&T, an increase from 33.2 percent last month, while T-Mobile comes in second place with 23.8%, MetroPCS at third with 15.1% and Verizon Wireless at 13.7 percent. It would be interesting to see the numbers next month since Nokia will launch its first Windows Phone 8.1 powered devices, and we might get more information about its roll out for existing devices. Source

Windows Phone 8.1 hasn’t yet seen its official release, but many of us have already gotten a good taste of what this update will bring thanks to the WP8.1 Developer Preview. This update, which was originally announced at last month’s Build 2014 conference, brings quite a bit of added functionality such as Cortana Voice Assistant, a new Action Center notification handler, and improved device personalization options. Despite all of WP8.1′s improvements, it still misses some key functionality that many power users would enjoy–most notably, a robust, built-in file manager. Yes, there’s no shortage of aftermarket file management apps for WP8/8.1, but having a good first party option is never a bad thing. Now, Microsoft hopes to rectify this with the release of the new Windows Phone 8.1-exclusive app Files. Files is a free file manager app that is able to access files stored on both your WP8.1 phone’s internal storage and SD card. You are able to browse, search, launch, and share files. You’re also able to create folders and move, rename, copy, or delete files–basically, everything you’d expect from a traditional file manager. Finally, Windows 8/8.1 users will immediately feel at home, as the interface mirrors Microsoft’s file selection UI on the desktop, and given Microsoft’s ability to produce cohesive, high quality interface designs, that’s a good thing. If you’re a WP8.1 user and you wish to give Files a try, head over to its listing in the Windows Phone App Store. Just be aware that you need to be running the WP8.1 Developer Preview in order to play–but you’re already running it anyway. Source

The first device to run the final Windows Phone 8.1 revision is out now – the Lumia 630. We’ve met with the little fella and already done a proper review. But as it seems we’ll be unveiling new features for days to come. The latest update we find in the Windows Phone 8.1 concerns the Store. In addition to the automatic updates feature and the easier Check for Updates functionality, the reviews section has also been updated. You can now see which device each reviewer was using to test a given app. This is surely a helpful option, especially for those running on a low-end WP smartphones with dual-core processors or with just half a gig of RAM. Source

Lumia Cyan is set to roll out for existing handsets all across the globe, and Nokia even updated its software update page for those who want to know about its progress for their region. For now, users enrolled in the free Windows Phone 8.1 Preview for Developers program should keep checking as an update is rolling out for the preview with build 12400. The update doesn't appear to be a big one, and does not bring any feature that's a part of the Cyan update. The update will start rolling out starting 1PM ET, so make sure you check for the update if you're rocking the developers preview. We'll update you once we find out complete details about what the new update has to offer. Source

Microsoft has a new ad out and it pits Windows Phone 8.1′s virtual assistant Cortana against Apple’s own Siri in a fight to prove which is the best. The assistants battle on the grounds of a Lumia 635 and iPhone 5s. Microsoft naturally picks its strong suits asking Cortana for things it knows it can do like set up a reminder for the next time a contact calls. In this instance it’s “when my wife calls remind me to tell her happy anniversary” – smooth move letting her call first. Siri plainly says it cannot do that. However when Siri can’t do something the words will appear on screen – in the ad Siri just has What can I help you with on screen. And while Siri cannot remind you something when a call arrives it will store a reminder for you to wish happy anniversary to your wife. Have a feel at the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0pjD4qpIpg Source

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.1 has taken the platform to new heights thanks to a range of improvements over previous versions, but the software giant isn’t ready to call it a day just yet. Already working on the next update to Windows Phone, dubbed as GDR1, and expected to release it soon, here are the upcoming features that consumers and phone makers can expect to begin shipping on new devices. One new feature is actually simply aimed at giving Windows Phone more parity with the competition of Android and iOS. Those with lots of apps will be pleased to hear that folders will soon be natively part of the Windows Phone experience, meaning users will be able to drag one Tile on top of another in a similar way to how folders are created on the aforementioned market leaders. It’s not going to make anyone ecstatic, but it’s a welcome feature nonetheless. Much more interesting to us is the news that Windows Phone will apparently gain support for interactive cases. The likes of HTC, LG and Samsung already offer such cases for their select flagship Android devices, and we have to say we really like the idea of having a case that automatically turns on a smartphone when it’s opened. Interactive accessories offer more than that though, with some cases having windows on them that allow the phone to display content such as notifications even when the case is closed. If Microsoft is looking to implement something similar with Windows Phone, then we’re all for it. Other features included in GDR1 update: Voice over LTE.Support for extra resolutions and more devices.A medium Live Tile for the native Microsoft Store app.Support for NTP (Network Time Protocol).Cortana can be added as phonebook entry to enable integration with car’s navigation system.Dual-SIM capability for both GSM+CDMA networks.“Auto scan for updates” entry can be hidden by OEMs.SD-card support no longer required for OEMs.OEMs can change the Start screen layout.Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 could be in the hands of developers as soon as next week. Source