Microsoft has begun to share the Windows Phone 8.1 SDK to developers, and earlier today we were treated to leaked information about what exactly is new in the forthcoming update to Windows Phone 8. Now you can see first-hand what’s new with our exclusive hands-on video.
Microsoft is expected to reveal the full details of Windows Phone 8.1 at the BUILD Developer Conference in April and it makes sense for partners and developers to have access to the information they need in order to get their software ready in time. As you can see in the video, embedded below for your viewing pleasure, there are quite a bit of new feature updates.
There are quite a bit of new feature updates and new tweaks to the operating system. Windows Phones 8.1 includes support for “Universal Apps” – consisting of tools to build apps for both Windows Store and Windows Phone Store. Support for a 3rd-party text messaging client is also indicated in this build, along with a “Battery Power Sense” tool which presumably helps you monitor battery life and get the most out of it.
This build also showcases the “navigation bar” which you can have match the background color or accent color of your device. Skydrive has already been renamed to OneDrive in this particular build.
Other features we have to look forward to, but are not available in this build, are the Siri-like voice assistant app and the new notification/action center. Microsoft has already said that Windows Phone 8.1 will be made available to any device currently running Windows Phone 8.
Take a look at our hands-on video below of Windows Phone 8.1 build 8.10.12298.
