• About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit For Review
  • Template Gallery
  • Excel 2016 Udemy Course
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

TheAppTimes

App Reviews, Tutorials, & Gadget News Hub

  • Gadgets
  • How To
  • Mobile Apps
  • Software and Web Apps
  • Buying Guides
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home » Deals and Promotions » 10 Great Features to Look Forward to in Windows Phone 8.1

10 Great Features to Look Forward to in Windows Phone 8.1

April 8, 2014

Got a Windows phone on you? The good news is that Microsoft will be rolling out a free update of Windows 8.1 for Windows 8 devices in the coming months. This is a really big update and there are some cool features that you can look forward to when it eventually lands on your phone. Here are 10 great features we expect to see in the latest update.

Top 10 Great Features in Windows Phone 8.1

The Notification and Action Center

notification and action center

Windows 8.1 is finally getting the Notification Center, a place where you can get all the latest happenings on your device live in one central place. Simply swipe down from the top of your Home screen to find all your latest email messages, text messages, social media updates and more. There are four Action Center buttons that will quickly take you to commonly used functions such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Internet Sharing and such.

Cortana

windows phone 8.1 cortana

Windows phones will finally be getting a digital voice assistant called Cortana, who takes after the AI character in the Halo video games series. You can ask Cortana a whole lot of questions such as where the nearest Lebanese restaurant is, and how long it will take for you to get there. Apart from that Cortana will be able to set alarms, activate or deactivate settings, make or block calls and text messages, set reminders and more. What makes Cortana so realistic and personal is that you can tell her to remind you to give your brother the gift you bought him, the next time you see him. The feature will be available this year in the US UK and China, but Asia is most likely to see this feature in 2015.

Quiet Hours

Quiet Hours is a very handy feature that lets you set the hours when you don’t want to be disturbed by any sort of calls or notifications. However, in exceptional cases, you will receive notifications of calls or texts, such as when you are contacted by people in your inner circle.

Start screen

10 great features of windows phone 8.1  - start screen

The Windows 8.1 update will bring a third column of tiles to all smartphones regardless of their screen size. Users will also be able to customize the Start screen background with an image.The Live tiles will take on a translucent look so that the photo background will be visible as users scroll up and down. Screens with no live tiles however will remain opaque so there’s still no ability to view the background image.

Work Flow Keyboard

If you’ve been ruing the fact that your Windows phone did not have a Swype-like keyboard, you’ll be delighted to learn that it will now be available in the form of Word Flow.

Data Sense

Keeping track of your mobile data usage is always an annoying task. Luckily, Windows does a decent job in helping you with that. With Windows 8.1, it gets a whole lot better. The feature called Data Sense lets you see how much of your data you have used up as well as the apps that have been steadily eating up your data. When your data limit comes closer to the end point, the phone will limit its usage and try and use Wi-Fi if possible. The only downside to Data Sense is that mobile operators support will be required to make this work so implementation may take some time for it to be truly effective.

Wi-Fi-Sense

wi-fi sense

Just like Data Sense, Wi-Fi Sense automatically connects your device to good free Wi-Fi  hotspots, where possible. Not only that, the feature will also connect to your Facebook, Skype and Outlook friends’ secure Wi-Fi hotspots.

Storage Sense

Storage Sense makes it easy for you to move content between the internal memory and SD card.

Battery Saver

battery saver

image credits

Battery Saver displays apps that are using your battery power, giving you a better understanding of which apps consume more power so that you can turn them off when you don’t need them, thereby extending your battery life. Microsoft is saying that with this new feature, users will be able to extend their battery life to 24 hours with just 20% remaining life.

Other App Improvements

Apart from the major features outlined above, Windows 8.1 will also be getting plenty of app updates. For instance the Calendar app will now get a Week view, the Music app will let you edit playlists and manage your songs that are stored in the cloud. The Photos app will let you organize photos by time and location and even support online albums. The Podcast app will let you subscribe to RSS feeds while the Camera app will  bring plenty of improved features. For navigation purposes, all devices can get ready to gear up to HERE Drive+ which offers loads of maps for your nav needs. Skype will be getting feature improvements too including the ability to upgrade cellular calls to Skype video.

Here’s a video demo of the phone in action.

Windows Phone 8.1 will be rolling out to existing Windows 8 devices as a free update in the coming months. Get ready to enjoy a much more personalized Windows Phone experience with Windows Phone 8.1.

Tweet
Share7
WhatsApp
Pin1
Buffer6
14 Shares

Filed Under: Deals and Promotions, How To, Software and Web Apps

You May Also Like

How to Link Your iPhone to Windows 11 - TATFI
How to Link Your iPhone to Windows 11 for Seamless Connectivity
Windows 11 Features for Businesses - TATFI
Microsoft Unveils the Latest Windows 11 Features for Businesses
How to Lock Your Google Account from Your iPhone - TATFI
How to Lock Your Google Account from Your iPhone Using Google Smart Lock

About Adeline Gear

Adeline is a tech enthusiast who loves exploring the latest tools and applications in the marketplace. She also loves her Android and spends time reviewing apps and playing games when she has the time.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hottest New Gadgets!

ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless Gaming Keyboard - LIKE IT

ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless Gaming Keyboard: Features & Performance Explained

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 vs Google Pixel Watch - TATFI

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 vs Google Pixel Watch: A Comparative Look

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 vs TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra - TATFI

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 vs TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra: A Comprehensive Comparison

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 - TATFI

The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5: A Fitness Smartwatch for Health Enthusiasts

Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed - TATFI

Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed: Ultimate Gaming Earbuds

MagEZ Folio 2 Magnetic Case for iPad Pro - TATFI

MagEZ Folio 2 is a Magnetic Case for iPad Pro With Convenient Viewing Angles

Logitech MX Anywhere 3S - TATFI

Logitech MX Anywhere 3S: The Wireless Mouse for On-the-Go Productivity

Popular Tags

android android apps android games android how to apple casino games chrome extensions excel excel how to facebook gadgets gaming gmail google ios apps ios games ios how to ios tips ipad iphone kids apps learn excel management microsoft music apps new releases outlook how to photo apps powerpoint how to productivity Samsung security smartphone smartphones smartwatches software tablet tablets technology twitter web browsers windows 10 word how to xbox youtube

Disclosure

TheAppTimes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Xiaomi Mi Band 8 vs Mi Band 7 - TATFI

Xiaomi Mi Band 8 vs Mi Band 7: A Comprehensive Comparison

Mi Band 8 - TATFI

Xiaomi Mi Band 8: A Comprehensive Guide for Buyers

Houseplant Care App Planta - TATFI

Planta: The Ultimate Houseplant Care App for iOS Users

Top Android Tower Defense Games to Play in 2023- TATFI

Awesome Android Tower Defense Games to Play in 2023

Assassin's Creed Mirage - TATFI

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: A Comprehensive Overview

How to Link Your iPhone to Windows 11 - TATFI

How to Link Your iPhone to Windows 11 for Seamless Connectivity

Logi Dock Flex - TATFI

The Logi Dock Flex Docking Station is a Great Solution to Manage Shared Workspaces

Cooperative Shooter Helldivers 2 for PS5 - TATFI

Intense Cooperative Shooter Helldivers 2 All Set to Return This Year

Windows 11 Features for Businesses - TATFI

Microsoft Unveils the Latest Windows 11 Features for Businesses

How to Lock Your Google Account from Your iPhone - TATFI

How to Lock Your Google Account from Your iPhone Using Google Smart Lock

Convert Handwritten Lists to Google Keep Notes - TATFI

How to Convert Handwritten Lists to Google Keep Notes: A Comprehensive Guide

Best VPN Services for Small Business - TATFI

Top VPN Services for Small Business in 2023

TheAppTimes © 2023 // Runs on StudioPress