Windows Phone 8.1

[Killer BIGxyz]

When can we expect to see official news and a launch window for it? I got one of my Android friends to like WP (uses a note 2), and my iPhone friend to also see interest in it, and would like to tell them about the incoming features

 

[anon(7900571)]

April 2014 in //build conference

 

[Nokia Boy]

Windows Phone 8.1 includes notification center and Siri-like personal assistant | The Verge

 

[unstoppablekem]

I bet at build this year. No earlier, and I hope not later.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using WPCentral Forums mobile app

 

[anon(7900571)]

I bet at build this year. No earlier, and I hope not later.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using WPCentral Forums mobile app

would we get an early taste of wp8.1 like we get for gdr3 update (preview or something after build conference ) ? if yes I would be on cloud 9 hehe

 

[Muessig]

I'm expecting there to be a preview of it, maybe one that'd last longer than the current preview for GDR3. Like everyone else has said, I'd expect this at the very earliest at BUILD.

 

[maclancer]

So does this mean that the final version will not come until the end of this year?

 

[12Danny123]

So does this mean that the final version will not come until the end of this year?

the carrier version with OEM firmware likely that's the case. the people with a developer unlocked phone can get it earlier

 

[snowmutt]

So does this mean that the final version will not come until the end of this year?

If you are asking about updates, then if current devices get it prior to the Holiday season of 2014, I would be stunned.

If you are asking when it will be on new devices, one of the Windows Weekly podcasts I listened to with Paul Thrrott and Mary Jo Foley- 2 fairly dependable sources for all thing Microsoft- Foley was saying the goal for WP 8.1 was a Summer 2014 release, so they can get software fixes inplace prior to the Holiday WP 8.1 devices releases. That, of course, was just the rumor and the goal. Hope MS hits that. Those are the 2 most important selling seasons.

 

[chaitanya91845]

Its sad really. WP8.1 was supposed to be released in October 2013. Then the rumors of Windows Phone team lagging behind turned out to be true. Later, it was assumed that it would be released in first quarter of 2014. Now April.. With the possibility that current phones might take longer to update. I really don't care about GDR updates as they did little to add the much needed features to the current phones. It's been almost 15 months since a major update. So slow

 

[jmshub]

Its sad really. WP8.1 was supposed to be released in October 2013. Then the rumors of Windows Phone team lagging behind turned out to be true. Later, it was assumed that it would be released in first quarter of 2014. Now April.. With the possibility that current phones might take longer to update. I really don't care about GDR updates as they did little to add the much needed features to the current phones. It's been almost 15 months since a major update. So slow

The GDR updates did something important in that Microsoft got the carriers to release 2-3 updates in a year. One of the biggest hurdles for updates is getting the carriers to green-light the things once the update has been released. Especially with the update cadence of WP7, that is a Godsend.

 

[nadoj]

There isn't expected to be a preview of 8.1 at MWC?? Holy crap Microsoft we need an update! Chop chop... :/ Makes me very envious of my friend who gets regular developer iOS developer betas...

 

[unstoppablekem]

There isn't expected to be a preview of 8.1 at MWC?? Holy crap Microsoft we need an update! Chop chop... :/ Makes me very envious of my friend who gets regular developer iOS developer betas...

If 8.1 is going to be huge, I don't mind waiting.

 

[krox1105]

Windows Phone 8.1 is probably the update we all have been waiting for. Notification center, Cortana, Button-less phones, Separate Volume control switches etc etc...
OMG It's so hard to wait for Nokia to announce some shiny new hardware again ;D
Also, we want a successor of the 925, NOW!

 

[Chregu]

If 8.1 is going to be huge, I don't mind waiting.

Since Windows Mobile 6.5 (I write it like that just to include Windows Phone 7) Microsoft didn't particularly stun us with huge updates.

Windows Phone 8 might have been a big step forward for compatibility, but form an end-user perspective it was either no advantage or much worse, speaking of Zune for example.

 

[DavidinCT]

Since Windows Mobile 6.5 (I write it like that just to include Windows Phone 7) Microsoft didn't particularly stun us with huge updates.

Windows Phone 8 might have been a big step forward for compatibility, but form an end-user perspective it was either no advantage or much worse, speaking of Zune for example.

WM 6.5 was a pretty huge change from 6.1 but, Still over all, if you used WP7.5, going to WP8 was not a huge change (sure faster, etc) but, the basics were exactly the same. If 8.1 is a MAJOR change, I dont mind waiting a little but, it will be interesting to see what they plan on doing..

 

[radmanvr]

A lot of times the reason why teams lag when updating is because during the process they find a big bug or have a new feature they will add. Then, the cycle continues of fixing bugs and adding features. I expect to see a preview at MWC which will be held in Feb.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. With that being said, I'd rather have something released and be good than be mediocre at best.

 

[joe_easton]

I am anxious for 8.1 like everyone else. WP is starting to gain some attention and is getting a lot more apps recently. These are all good; now we just need to make sure that the user experience is better than what they have used in the past. I have gotten many interested in WP but few to switch. There is always something that is missing for them (an app or a feature).

 

[rculver9056]

I am anxious for 8.1 like everyone else. WP is starting to gain some attention and is getting a lot more apps recently. These are all good; now we just need to make sure that the user experience is better than what they have used in the past. I have gotten many interested in WP but few to switch. There is always something that is missing for them (an app or a feature).

There will always be "apps missing" because every time one is added they come up with another.

 

[Moiz Mian]

A lot of times the reason why teams lag when updating is because during the process they find a big bug or have a new feature they will add. Then, the cycle continues of fixing bugs and adding features. I expect to see a preview at MWC which will be held in Feb.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. With that being said, I'd rather have something released and be good than be mediocre at best.

Yea, but knowing the WP team, they are slow AND software is buggy. Tell that smooth line to all of the people with battery drain and freezing screens. I'm sure some of it comes down to the hardware, but man...this update can not come soon enough. It's so delayed. You guys are saying that the preview will come at Build and full release will come end of the year? That is basically a 2 year period for a 0.1 update! I hope this is wrong and the preview comes before Build.