Windows Phone 8.1 review: Major league

21 April 2014
Windows Phone is yet to become the game changer Microsoft was hoping for. It didn’t quite achieve the explosive growth to become Nokia’s savoir, but it has been steadily climbing up the ranks. Maybe an upgrade of the scale of its 8.1 version is all it needed to go into overdrive and really challenge the big two in the smartphone game.

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  • R
  • Raju
  • vGC
  • 22 Apr 2014

What about Call duration, Call recording and 3g Videocalling? Plz..

    • M
    • McCarthy
    • IVM
    • 22 Apr 2014

    jesse, 22 Apr 2014no flash = no buyBuy the Nokia Lumia 930 I double dare you

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • PSv
      • 22 Apr 2014

      the only grrat thing to have wp8 phone is the ability to update your phone in all range , from low end to high end, i have L620, i love the update, its smoother now with new animations, and the features although not on par with droid and ios, atleast its heading in the right direction, and oh, i heard we will be recieving 8.2 too :) no need to buy a new phone in a few months :)

        • R
        • Riajul
        • uNV
        • 22 Apr 2014

        Its great ms should more devlop apps store

          • A
          • AdamBoy64
          • Fv4
          • 22 Apr 2014

          [deleted post]Well written.
          Thank you for your efforts.

            • A
            • AdamBoy64
            • Fv4
            • 22 Apr 2014

            Anonymous, 22 Apr 2014Here is a file manager. You just need to download it. http... moreThank you very much.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • YPb
              • 22 Apr 2014

              I'm still puzzled we still call WP a smartphone OS since I can not even open and read a document without uploading to Skydrive.

                • D
                • AnonD-256525
                • Hkq
                • 22 Apr 2014

                WP 8.1
                Best part is its free and for all From 520 to 1520.
                Second, Cortana smarter than Google Now and S Voice and more human than Siri of Apple.
                Third, cosmetic changes are cool but usability and OS had also been revived from inside which will definitely notch its performance up to another level.
                last and most important, if u want to enjoy flexibility and customisation option like ANDROID with out compromising on security Like iOS and BB10 then Go for WP 8.1 without burning a hole, oops I mean without burning ur whole pocket.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • kg3
                  • 22 Apr 2014

                  Here is a file manager. You just need to download it.
                  http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/aerize-explorer/f18c01a2-716a-4b7e-8a26-43bbc18da986

                    • D
                    • AnonD-256529
                    • KZK
                    • 22 Apr 2014

                    This time Nokia and Microsoft really listen to us. Windows Phone is going to be something very big one day when their only major problem (lack of app in store) is being solved in next few years.

                    Good luck Nokia/Microsoft.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • kg3
                      • 22 Apr 2014

                      jesse, 22 Apr 2014no flash = no buyIE11 on Windows Phone 8.1 has inline video, so it can play many video straight from websites.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • ftK
                        • 22 Apr 2014

                        Is it all current windows 8 phones that are going too receive the windows 8.1 update? Cause i'd really love too see these new features on my lumia 625.

                          • j
                          • jesse
                          • MZ5
                          • 22 Apr 2014

                          no flash = no buy

                            • D
                            • AnonD-256520
                            • q$7
                            • 22 Apr 2014

                            Point by point:
                            Devs can configure their apps to allow pining in Action Center.

                            Wallpaper has parallax scrolling.

                            Quiet Hours, if placed in AC, can be toggled when needed.

                            Better than Google Now in that they're not using your info to place targeted ads in your mail and search results.

                            Could always go to callers'/messengers' contact pages simply by tapping their names.

                            Typing record set on low-end Lumia 520, breast high-end Galaxy S4 by 8 seconds.

                            Wi-Fi Sense works with Cortana. If you've been on trip with Wi-Fi turned off, when you reached home Cortana would know it is a place where you normally connect to Wi-Fi and turn on your Wi-Fi.

                            Lastly, you could always pin web pages to the start screen on Windows Phone. It may not have updated dynamically (can't remember), but you could pin the page.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • TkQ
                              • 22 Apr 2014

                              What a great upgrade.

                              Seriously, the list of stuff missing really makes little difference. iOS and Android have got a serious competitor now. I hope MS do well with it.

                                • D
                                • AnonD-200220
                                • KIp
                                • 22 Apr 2014

                                Forget the preview when is the real deal coming android is good but its soo damn laggy makes u feel like an old man and ios is for those who earned money through unfair means why waste money when it is a clear rip off can't wait to tell cortana that **** you and hear her answer. Loool

                                  • y
                                  • yasser soliman
                                  • fqe
                                  • 22 Apr 2014

                                  could any body tell me: for lumia1320
                                  can I play 2 windows or more in one screen at the same time? like galaxy note or sony z elc...
                                  and can I see the details of notifications(missed calls-facebook-games...) in the lock screen like IPhones and blackberry phones?
                                  answer urgently, thanks

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-112130
                                    • 39x
                                    • 21 Apr 2014

                                    Ohh. I updated my 920. It's Brill. I really love the keyboard. It works so well. I have battery percentage on mine. Cortana is good. Oh its all great. I'm deffo getting WP for my next upgrade.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-34979
                                      • f0I
                                      • 21 Apr 2014

                                      The app thing should go and die 💀 windows phone is awesome 🙆,check out universal apps with windows ? if app developers can't see that then they should shove there apps far up there behind. Period Rocking a WP8.1 Enabled Lumia.

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-628
                                        • L6J
                                        • 21 Apr 2014

                                        Hey man, you can upgrade to wp 8.1 now throght the preview for developers app. It's easy, basically it's te way Microsoft has to bypass carriers and deliver the updates inmediately.
                                        You can fine details here:
                                        http://www.wpcentral.com/how-sign-windows-phone-81-preview-developers