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

[Ali El]

Here are a list of things I found different in the new update 8.1 closely compared to 8.0 (Lumia Black Update, Lumia 920). I am trying to give you a look at the update in it's entirety, as well as try to show things that haven't been leaked or shown off in a demo, so that you can now know any new subliminal updates as well as the major one's.
I will do it by category (and app) and update the thread as i find new differences, and of course if you want me to find out anything, by any means, let me know :smile:

Without further ado:

Let's start with the simples and compare the "Messaging" app

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.1 Messaging App Can now (UPDATED):
Select Multiple (To Delete) from ApplicationBar
Search (Searches threads as well as messages in a thread) from applicationBar
Mute Threads (as well as unmute) from long hold on thread + in thread page from applicationBar
New Button on Thread View applicationBar to send you to the contact's details
Settings has been reduced (removing all chat settings) and added "Download messages from) [Selecting Time Frame]
Delivery Reports still come in as separate messages (Thread)

Screenshots:







-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.1 Settings - NFC:
Renamed from "tap+send" to NFC (holding it's own in the settings screen)
More settings added (Apart from turning it on/off):
Adding trusted apps to skip confirmation screens (Not sure if you can add devices such as Nokia Play 360 etc...)
Tap to pay (Toggle)
ApplicationBar holds one button: "Select" Which indicates the ability to remove multiple Trusted apps at once, but no [visible] possible way to add any apps
Tap to pay unlocks the ability to pay while the phone is either "Unlocked", Screen is only on, or anytime.

Screenshots:




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.1 Cortana Region Test (UPDATED):
Something funny happens when you switch regions (so far anything other than USA, I need to switch to more regions). After switching from USA to any, the OS restarts and If you have or had cortana pinned in the home screen, after switching, The tile is gone and so is the icon from the app list, so essentially cortana gets disabled and the traditional search screen return. Although the search screen is no longer a Pivot app, only a single screen with a textbox is there. After switching the long press on the search button activates a new UI for Voice Assistance.

Switching to CHINA in region, (Restart)


Cortana Tile Now Gone


Also gone from App list [Under "C"]


Pressing "Search" takes to the Newdational search screen.


"Long Search Press" Now takes you to this screen

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.1 Web Browser:
[Personal Favorite] "Other" in tabs view can continue tabs from other devices
"Blank Tabs" get removed by pressing the back key button
In Tabs view, applicationbar now has two new menu items "new inprivate tab" and "close all" (Which was long overdue if you ask me)
They finally removed that silly 6 Tab limit, not sure what the new limit is, hopefully limitless
The two state button in the addressbar is so seamless
InPrivate disables the ability to "Add to favorites", "find on page", "Share Page", and "Pin to start"
Favorites now can have folders
Share Picker looks different (I wonder if now devs can now extend this, would make life easier for PocketNow, to just share the link directly)
When tapping a search term in the suggestions, it launches bing search and searches the keyword outside the browser and websites like bing.com launch the search section.

Screenshots:

If you guys a more in depth look into the web browser section, let me know

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[rockstarzzz]

Probably start off by telling the community if these screenshots are coming from a real device running WP8.1 or just the SDK. If it is just the SDK, what features are limiting and different than real WP8.1?

 

[Ali El]

These are from the Windows Phone 8.1 Images (Emulators), now I am told that the images are closest thing to RTM and of course with any software anything can change anytime. Specifically "Emulator 8.1 WVGA 4 inch 512MB" Emulator Image and yes, it's the lowest Image, but I prefer testing there as it's way faster (Personal Opinion + PC Hardware) :smile:

 

[rockstarzzz]

Probably the best thing if you can test would be - to change your region if you are in USA to something like India or China and then see if Cortana functions? Also, does the emulator have Cortana to start with?

And if Cortana doesn't work when set to India or China - what does the search button do?

Also, can you change your region to USA and get Cortana fully functional? These are the most frequently asked questions which no one has been able to answer so far.

 

[Mahdi Ghiasi]

Can you check if they have changed the way SMS delivery reports arrive? (I'm hoping for a tick sign near each message instead of a separate message)

 

[Gorki247]

Can you check if there are any options for the NFC setting? In particular can you turn off the confirmation message you get when reading a tag?

 

[Ali El]

I will play with cortana now, and yes she is in there but I am not sure to what extent. I will play with regions and see what comes of it. :smile:

NFC added to thread and will see what more i can do with it. Also SMS and MMS Deliveries come in as separate messages, no ticks

 

[Mahdi Ghiasi]

Is that "default messaging app" setting still available? It was available in previous leaked SDK.

 

[Mahdi Ghiasi]

Also please check if we can manage local files in OneDrive app, just like windows 8.1 or not.

 

[Ali El]

I haven't looked too deep into the software capabilities by devs and such. I am only looking into the surface right now, and apps. One thing that works is the ability to hookup the outlook account and that UI and steps are also changed a little. IDK why i am surprised, but i didn't expect that to work. So that's good :amaze:

 

[msirapian]

2 questions :
1. Could you go in the calendar app and confirm List View has disappeared?
2. Does the calendar support timezones when setting a meeting?

thanks

 

[rockstarzzz]

A video just published on WPC front page confirms the same behaviour when Cortana isn't present on phone or set up. You get a routine one page search screen that all the non-US customers are so used to seeing currently. What will be interesting is if someone can check that the SDK recognises your region as non-USA because you aren't living for real in the US and then you switch the regions in emulator. I appreciate that in real life it will be real GPS and IP and it won't be same, but worth a shot to see if changing region to USA in non-USA phone works.

 

[Ali El]

1: List view is there, just have to tap on "view" then "Day" and shows the list of the days. The app is in my opinion, better organized now.
2: Not from what I see, no.

 

[anon(5725119)]

Has anyone noticed this? Maybe Skype isn't the only app that can be used to transfer from phone calls to video calls.

 

[Ali El]

Has anyone noticed this? Maybe Skype isn't the only app that can be used to transfer from phone calls to video calls.

View attachment 61337

Oh good catch.
I checked and that "Get an app" link takes you to the apps store and currently only gets skype. Maybe later other apps that do video calling can be selected?
Interesting...

 

[reversalagent]

Haven't had time to go through SDK, but is there finally an option for text message content NOT to show on lock screen?

Sent from my RM-860_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk

 

[Ali El]

Adding apps to upgrade from Cellular calls to Video Calls is available for any app. Found some info on it on the MSDN Library on WP8.1 and SDK also shows it. They're known as EXTENSIONS where your app can opt for things in the OS.

"Upgrade calls from cellular to VoIP in a Windows Phone Silverlight 8.1 app...."
Source

 

[meddyrainzo]

Really interesting thread here

 

[Mahdi Ghiasi]

Can you try sending a pdf and zip file via bluetooth and see what happens? Where does it save them? Downloads folder? (Is trying bluetooth even possible with emulator?)

Also please check bluetooth settings to see if anything is added.

 

[neo158]

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.