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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  • M
  • Me, The Nokia Guy
  • Nvj
  • 25 Apr 2014

Are there good alternative browsers on windows phone, such as Firefox, boat browser or Opera? And if yes, can you set them as default browser or can you only use internet explorer? IE uses lots of RAM and data

    • K
    • Kyembe
    • fu%
    • 25 Apr 2014

    You're welcome.

      You know, for all the advancements, it bemuses me as to why no windows phone will provide the user with a basic choice of keyboards. Eg: alphanumeric key pad for messaging. Not everyone wants to push and tap every single minuscule letter. Alpha numeric is much larger by nature and is very fast at messaging. Please do include this, then maybe we could buy.

        • M
        • Me, The Nokia Guy
        • Nvj
        • 25 Apr 2014

        I'm not a big fan of WP, but I love Nokia and the camera on the Lumias. it is the best camera, I just wish Mokia makes High end device running Asha or even Android, like Nokia X but with better specs and with same type of camera running on Lumia. That would be awesome.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • Nvj
          • 25 Apr 2014

          Anonymous, 25 Apr 2014and, atleast all wp8 devices, from low end to high end will... moreLol, You mentionned Android updates, but seem to have forgotten how MS focused on WP8 and totally dropped WP7. Also you seem to not know that as long as you have an Android device made by Google (Nexus 4, 7, 5...), you receive the latest updates. But I'll give you that, most Android manufacturers don't update their devices.. Enjoy your WP8.1 as much as you can, I just hope they don't drop you when they make WP9 :)

            • D
            • AnonD-257769
            • v0q
            • 25 Apr 2014

            i guess this is not just the Windows Phone 8.1 update, i guess this is Nokia's WP Cyan, because Glance screen is included in this review..please correct me if i'm wrong...

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • S35
              • 25 Apr 2014

              Can anyone help me how to activate Cortana?

                • S
                • Shabz
                • n5f
                • 25 Apr 2014

                AnonD-55345, 24 Apr 2014Question is, will Nokia Lumia 1020 will get this version 8... moreIt better do. The camera is still one of the best money can buy. Wish ms would allow video streaming. Currently vlc cannot be used for http video streaming nor on sat box apps like dreambox. Irratating. Other than that and lack of apps I adore my 1020.

                  • y
                  • yashwanthgollapudi
                  • uun
                  • 25 Apr 2014

                  You can update your phone to 8.1 by following steps
                  Open appstudio.windowsphone.com
                  Sign in with your windows live account and register for app developer
                  Download preview for developers and login again with windows live and click register
                  Now search for updates
                  It will show oyu some updates ready to intall
                  Install them
                  Switch off your phone and search for updates again
                  Again the same process as above
                  For the third time you will get 8.1 update
                  It is available for 520 as well
                  I am from India and I have updated my phone to 8.1

                    • M
                    • Moody
                    • p35
                    • 25 Apr 2014

                    when will this update be launched?

                      • i
                      • ian
                      • PSv
                      • 25 Apr 2014

                      Gladiator, 24 Apr 2014Obviously you don't know what you're talking about, The lat... moreobviously, atleast wp8 devices from low end to high recieved 8.1, how many android ICS 4 devices recieved jelly bean? or kitkat? and oh, i heard our 8.1 will recieved 8.2 next year even on 512mb ram early 2013 phone model

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • PSv
                        • 25 Apr 2014

                        Anonymous, 24 Apr 2014Any stock Android would be smooth, the reason why it would ... moreand, atleast all wp8 devices, from low end to high end will recieve an update, unlike android, those mid to low range will need to buy a new phone to have the kitkat. and, ive heard 8.1 will be recieving 8.2 too untill early next year :)

                          • D
                          • AnonD-245250
                          • rK8
                          • 24 Apr 2014

                          By aquiring nokia n changing its franchise totaly a new one microsoft is back in action be aware ios users

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • Nvj
                            • 24 Apr 2014

                            Anonymous, 24 Apr 2014Which Android device with 512MB is smooth? Can you give me ... moreAny stock Android would be smooth, the reason why it would lag would be because of the layer that OEMs add on top of Android. WP doesn't have this "layer" issues, therefore the UI looks fast, but launching and running apps on a 512 mb phone would be slow on both Android and WP.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • Nvj
                              • 24 Apr 2014

                              AnonD-156746, 24 Apr 2014If by "system" you mean folders of files related ... moreI was talking about OS files, so the answer is NO. Thanks

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • kg3
                                • 24 Apr 2014

                                Gladiator, 24 Apr 2014Obviously you don't know what you're talking about, The lat... moreWhich Android device with 512MB is smooth? Can you give me the name?

                                  The Lumia 1020 right now can run the WP8.1 preview as well for any WP8 device. So with no doubt the L1020 will get the official release of the WP8.1

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 3dr
                                    • 24 Apr 2014

                                    Nokia lumia 930 in black come summer. Nokia Lumia 525 with matte black rear cover till then. Windows phone 8.1 is awesome!

                                    Bye bye crapdroid!

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-156746
                                      • XuI
                                      • 24 Apr 2014

                                      Anonymous, 24 Apr 2014Can you access system file folders?If by "system" you mean folders of files related to OS and apps data then NO,if you mean folders inside internal memory(not ROM) then YES.

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-156746
                                        • XuI
                                        • 24 Apr 2014

                                        Gladiator, 24 Apr 2014I said "The latest Android update (Android 4.4) works ... moreI meant have you seen it actually working on a 512mb device,google said the same thing after 4.0,but clearly 4.0 also lags on 512mb phones....

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