Things I found different in WP8.1 (Compared to 8.0 Lumia 920)

[Adriaan NL]

this might be able to work, I really do want to test that. But I strongly think that cortana is hardcoded to understand where she is, and might be a software limitation, as she just would not show up with any settings I do.

Cortana, as the Dutch tech website Tweakers reports after testing Cortana, will show up when you change your region to the USA - regardless of your actual location. You can keep the other regional intact, but your phone has to be set the the USA. I am not so sure how happy I am with this, as when I want to buy something from the store, I have to do it through my carrier i.e. the Dutch carrier, so the store needs to be Dutch again. I wonder, if I return to the Dutch region, if Cortana will be reset and forgets me (and my settings) completely.

--> Source: Windows Phone 8.1: Microsofts nieuwe aanval op iOS en Android - Cortana: tussen Google Now en Siri - Preview - Reviews - Tweakers (yes it's Dutch. But Chrome can translate it).

 

[bilzkh]

In Canada we link to Local Scout by changing our Browser and Search Language to English (United States)...no need to change the Country/Region or Regional format.

Did anyone try the same trick with WP 8.1 and Cortana?

Is there any file manager capability(in onedrive) ?

This thread might help: http://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-phone-8-1/272545-wp8-1-does-have-file-picker.html

 

[rockstarzzz]

Cortana, as the Dutch tech website Tweakers reports after testing Cortana, will show up when you change your region to the USA - regardless of your actual location. You can keep the other regional intact, but your phone has to be set the the USA. I am not so sure how happy I am with this, as when I want to buy something from the store, I have to do it through my carrier i.e. the Dutch carrier, so the store needs to be Dutch again. I wonder, if I return to the Dutch region, if Cortana will be reset and forgets me (and my settings) completely.

--> Source: Windows Phone 8.1: Microsofts nieuwe aanval op iOS en Android - Cortana: tussen Google Now en Siri - Preview - Reviews - Tweakers (yes it's Dutch. But Chrome can translate it).

If that's true, Cortana does get deleted from your phone as soon as you change to local region. But if her notebook and notes are synced to the cloud, I guess they wont be deleted but only appear when you are in Cortana supported region again. Cortana's cloud storage will be synced to your live ID not location.

 

[bozza72]

Nice post cheers

 

[Adriaan NL]

If that's true, Cortana does get deleted from your phone as soon as you change to local region. But if her notebook and notes are synced to the cloud, I guess they wont be deleted but only appear when you are in Cortana supported region again. Cortana's cloud storage will be synced to your live ID not location.

Thanks, I forgot about cloud storage! I worried about it, because I do think it's handy to have the possibility to purchase apps from time to time without too much trouble.

 

[hermantj]

You can already switch to speaker while on FM radio in WP8. Just tap and hold on the radio station.

Ok... didn't know that. My bad

 

[Ali El]

While I was away, attending to family business, this might help answering a few of your questions:

This video shows nicely how the filepicker does it's magic (and I can confirm, as the filepicker is not so bad):
Youtube Video

And even though we cannot take his word for it, this guy does answer some burning questions:
"He called Cortana a 0.5 version app at present, and suggested some features may be cut before the final version..."

*Updated Thread with Web browser Differences

 

[paras chugh]

can you please check if the background tasks can be more than 15 now on even 512mb devices as u have a 512 mb emulator

 

[Ali El]

can you please check if the background tasks can be more than 15 now on even 512mb devices as u have a 512 mb emulator

No Problem.

 

[Ankit Nawlakha]

Can you please check whether in WP8.1 we get the ability to move pics from one album to another?? Or rename an existing album?? Or even adding an album on our WPs..??
And can you see what's the time limit of Live Tile updates??
Will be very helpful..

 

[SwimSwim]

I can also confirm that quiet hours disappears from settings when the region is changed, not surprising since it relies on Cortana to function properly.

That's disappointing... I'm sure that if Microsoft put just 15 minutes of effort in, they could easily make it function even when Cortana isn't available. I know Microsoft's support outside the US has been lacking, but that's seriously a new low...

 

[SwimSwim]

I found out that now FM Radio is a separated app.
Also, there's now an option to switch to speaker the radio.

That's actually always been there, just not in a vary obvious spot.

 

[neo158]

That's disappointing... I'm sure that if Microsoft put just 15 minutes of effort in, they could easily make it function even when Cortana isn't available. I know Microsoft's support outside the US has been lacking, but that's seriously a new low...

Well, if you live in the UK or China you'll get Cortana in Q2 this year :wink:

 

[Djole77]

is there an "open in background tab" option on ie11?

 

[AliNSiddiqui]

is there an "open in background tab" option on ie11?

Unfortunately no

But you can press back after opening a new tab (so the new tab continues loading in the background) so it's not that bad

 

[Djole77]

you mean holding the back button like you can do now?

 

[AliNSiddiqui]

you mean holding the back button like you can do now?

No, hold a link, then open new tab, then press back so that you go back to the first page while the link is still loading.


P.S. I don't actually have a Windows Phone so I could be wrong, in which case, I am sorry, and hope someone corrects me..
​

 

[Nitesh Tilwani]

I'm from India, do i have to factory reset my phone to change region to US? If No, will I lose any data while doing so?

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 625 using Tapatalk

 

[SwimSwim]

I'm from India, do i have to factory reset my phone to change region to US? If No, will I lose any data while doing so?

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 625 using Tapatalk

Changing your region does *NOT* require a factory reset. A restart? Yes, but no data will be lost when doing this.

Also, while I have not personally tested this, but I've heard that you can leave the region set to wherever you live (I.E: India), but just set the language to English - (United States), and then features that are US Only will still work.

I personally cannot confirm this, but it's worth investigation.

 

[neo158]

Changing your region does *NOT* require a factory reset. A restart? Yes, but no data will be lost when doing this.

Also, while I have not personally tested this, but I've heard that you can leave the region set to wherever you live (I.E: India), but just set the language to English - (United States), and then features that are US Only will still work.

I personally cannot confirm this, but it's worth investigation.

I'll test that now.

Edit: I can confirm that it doesn't work, the region and speech languages need to be set as US as well.