Windows Phone 8.1 includes Start Screen backgrounds and browser sync features
A recently leaked Windows Phone 8.1 Software Development Kit (SDK) has provided an early look at some features
Microsoft is planning for its next mobile update. However, the software
maker is also planning many more additions in time for April that
aren’t immediately visible in the developer kit. LiveSino reports that the SDK includes references to a "change your phone’s background"
option to set a background image beneath the Live Tiles on the Start
Screen. Windows 8.1 introduced such an option on tablets and desktop
PCs, and Windows Phone 8.1 will provide a similar feature to match the
Live Tile accent color.
Sources familiar with Microsoft’s Windows Phone plans have revealed to The Verge
that the company is also currently experimenting with a three-column
layout for the Start Screen across all devices. Microsoft introduced a
three-column Start Screen for devices with large screens, but we’re told
existing handsets like the Lumia 920 and 1020 will be able to enable
the new layout with Windows Phone 8.1. LiveSino has discovered
this particular setting is available under a "show more Tiles" option,
but the default layout for smaller-sized phones will be the traditional
two-column UI.
Mockup image of how background images on the Windows Phone 8.1 Start Screen might look
Microsoft is also tweaking
its Internet Explorer mobile browser significantly. In Windows Phone 8.1
you’ll be able to upload and download content within Internet Explorer
11, and also sync your tabs with Windows 8.1 machines with a feature
that’s similar to Google’s Chrome browser. A new Reading View, InPrivate
"private browsing," and password manager are also present in Internet
Explorer 11 for Windows Phone 8.1.
Other changes that have been
recently discovered in the Windows Phone 8.1 SDK include the ability
for app developers to enable video editing and screen recording features
within their own applications. There’s also a mention of Miracast
support to mirror / extend a phone's display to a monitor or TV
wirelessly, but Microsoft’s SDK documents note the company may not be
able to provide this feature in time for the final version of Windows
Phone 8.1. Microsoft is expected to release Windows Phone 8.1 to
developers in early April.
Mockup image of how background images on the Windows Phone 8.1 Start Screen might look
No comments:
Post a Comment