Windows Phone 8.1 Brings a Few New Features

Microsoft has released the developer preview of Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 update. Some of the features it comes with are Cortana, Live Folders, Xbox Music, SMS merge and forward, and a few other things.

With that being said, it is also noteworthy that Cortana is now available in the UK, China, Canada, India, and Australia.

Microsoft noted about the update, "We have been thrilled by the excitement around Cortana in Windows Phone 8.1. And we're excited to make her available for people in China and the UK with this update as a "beta" and in Canada, India, and Australia as an "alpha".

Instead of "Cortana", the digital assistant will be known as "Xiao Na" in China. Despite the name change, Cortana will provide the same things everywhere it is used, like local data on sports, the London Stock Exchange, commuter conditions, and much more, all backed by Bing.

"If your car kit is integrated with contacts, you can now treat Cortana as a contact to invoke her, simply saying 'Call Cortana,' and then talking to her as you normally would," said Windows Phone boss Joe Belfiore.

The update also brings back some Xbox Music features that vanished in the previous update, like background syncing of the users music library and the "swipe to advance control".

"The voice and accent is, of course, local, and Cortana's personality in the UK has also been tweaked to be more locally relevant", notes Microsoft.

Windows Phone 8.1 update is available with Live Folders, which allow users to organize applications on the start screen into folders. Just like on the iPhone, you just have to drag a tile over another tile and it will create a folder that you can name.

The update also comes with the ability to select multiple SMS for deletion and forwarding, simplifying the SMS management tasks.

Other features in the update include Store Live Tile, Apps Corner, enhanced security, and Privacy.