For those in the Windows Phone Preview for Developer program, a new update to Windows Phone 8.1. Update 1 is now available for download. The build number for this release is 8.10.14157.200 and is available to everyone in the program. Remember that you can join the Preview for Developer program for free by downloading the app and registering your device. More details at the end of this post.
The research firm IDC has released their second quarter results for mobile platform sales and its a bit of a mixed bag for Windows Phone. Overall, compared to the same quarter in 2013, Windows Phone saw overall market share slip from 3.4% to 2.5% with device shipments dropping from 8.2 to 7.4 million in the comparison. For those who love & support the platform, not exactly a ringing enforcement by fellow mobile device users. Android remained the dominant player globally, amassing 84.7% of the global market share followed by Apple’s iOS platform at a distant 11.7%. Still though there are some positives to come out of this report from IDC that should give Windows Phone users some comfort.
All the interwebs are a flutter now that Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 has been released to those on Developer Preview. It seems many of you upgraded your Nokia Lumia’s to the latest from Redmond yesterday so you could take advantage of things like Live Folders and Cortana if you live outside of the United States.
So my question for you: Did you upgrade to Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 yesterday? If so, what do you think? Take the site poll below and leave a comment on your thoughts about the update or why you didn’t update. If you ran into troubles (or have found a bug) what were those issues? Keep in mind that this is technically beta software so a bug here or there is entirely probable.
[yop_poll id=”2″ tr_id=”1″]
Be sure to leave a comment – good or bad – on your Update 1 experience.
Last week Microsoft stated that those who had been a part of the Developer Preview program would start seeing Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 roll out to their devices this week. Here we are on Monday and the rollout has begun. The update has been rolling out to DP members globally with several key improvements and enhancements now available on their devices.
I admit it: I abandoned ship.
I don’t apologise. I don’t regret it. As I am fond of saying, it is what it is. I left Windows Phone and the community I had been a part of for nearly a decade in March 2012. My frustration had finally boiled over. I was frustrated with Windows Phone 7 and at that point it was being made clear that there would be no upgrade path to Windows Phone 8. The devices were slow. The App Store a mess and woefully lacking. All this and the shiny object that was iOS was so much easier to deal with on a day-to-day basis. So I left and I thought for good.
But then something funny happened.
At the 2012 International CES, HTC Corp. today introduced the HTC TITAN II as the company’s first Windows Phone to run on a 4G LTE network. Available in the coming months to AT&T customers, the smartphone includes the largest display among Windows Phones, an advanced 16-megapixel digital camera and access to 4G LTE* speeds.
“HTC’s history of innovation in 4G technology includes delivering the first 4G-powered devices to each major carrier in the U.S., so it is exciting today to continue that leadership with our first 4G LTE Windows Phone, the HTC TITAN II,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corp. “This full-featured smartphone combines HTC’s design with AT&T’s high-speed 4G LTE network and Microsoft’s powerful Windows Phone software, giving people more of what they crave.”
The HTC TITAN II comes equipped with a brilliant 4.7-inch super LCD capacitive touchscreen display for an optimized viewing experience when watching movies, playing games or enjoying photos and videos. The HTC TITAN II offers quick and easy access to the latest movies and TV shows via HTC Watch and on-the-go gaming with Xbox LIVE.
Packed with advanced imaging technology, the HTC TITAN II features a 16-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens, autofocus, dual LED flash, red eye reduction, image stabilization, a backside-illuminated sensor and a physical camera button, offering a viable replacement for digital point-and-shoot cameras. The HTC TITAN II delivers a number of features that HTC has developed to help consumers capture photos in a variety of conditions; for instance, panoramic shot for sweeping landscapes and burst shot for action photography. The smartphone also enables 720p HD video recording with the rear-facing camera, as well as on-the-go video chat over Wi-Fi with its 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.
Access to AT&T’s speedy 4G LTE network paired with Qualcomm’s 1.5 GHz Snapdragon™ S2 processor, enables the HTC TITAN II to deliver fast Web surfing, streaming and downloading. This new powerful smartphone will also feature a 1,730mAh lithium ion battery to support the robust mobile experience on one of the fastest 4G LTE networks.
Featuring the latest version of Windows Phone, the HTC TITAN II enhances connectivity, efficiency and productivity for busy consumers with its large on-screen keyboard and instant access to Windows Phone Office Hub, Microsoft Exchange 2010 and Outlook Mobile. The Live Tile display brings friend and family groups to life and delivers the latest updates and news from popular social networks directly to the home screen. HTC TITAN II customers will also be able to download a number of exclusive HTC applications for free within Windows Marketplace through HTC Hub.
The HTC TITAN II is expected to become available exclusively from AT&T in the U.S. in the coming months.
*Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.
About HTC
Founded in 1997, HTC Corp. (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by HTC Sense™, a multilayered graphical user interface that vastly improves user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.
Paul Thurrott over at Supersite for Windows reports that Microsoft is planning three LTE enabled Windows Phones by the end of 2012 with the first expected to be released March 18, 2012. The post reports that three LTE devices are expected in 2012 and all are on AT&T. The first is the Nokia Ace (sometimes referred to as the Lumia 900), the HTC Radiant and the Samsung Mendel.
While this is welcome news, it does bring about a little confusion as it relates to the leaked roadmap I posted on yesterday.
Paul writes…
What’s unclear is whether these LTE based devices will be accompanied by a software update of some kind. You may recall that the rumored “Tango” release, supposedly due in early 2012, is about low-end phones. So it’s unclear how that jives with LTE, which is obviously a high-end feature.
It will be interesting to see how Microsoft, AT&T, Nokia, HTC and Samsung all work this out but this is clearly good news for Windows Phone users.
Source: Supersite for Windows
If you have been wanting a Nokia Lumia 800 then you are in luck. Amazon has dropped the price down to $535.87, 40% off the regular price. The price is on the 16GB black model. Here are some of the other specifications:
At the time of this posting there were 10 units in stock.