Windows Phone has now been around for about three years, and the platform has come quite a distance, despite it not being that popular with consumers as of yet. Now we learn that there is a new version in the world over in Redmond ““ Windows Phone 8.1.
According to sources talking to The Verge, this new version of the mobile software will implement a Notification Centre as well as a personal assistant that will work like the Google Now or Siri technology.
How would a Windows Phone notification centre work, though? According to sources, it should be quite familiar to most ““ it‘ll be accessed the same way iOS and Android users are accustomed to: by swiping down from the top of the screen. While this might not be the most original idea, it would make an immediate effect on new users, as the adoption of Windows Phone might not feel so foreign. That’s not to say it will be identical, however, as a short swipe would bring up Quick Settings, while a long swipe would display your full history of notifications.
Also, WP8.1 is where Microsoft’s Cortana feature would finally come in handy. This will offer much more interaction and personalization than the current Bing Search, in that it will feature more of a contextual learning experience based on location and other personal data. These new features will help make the new WP assistant more competitive with Google Now and Siri.
What do you like and dislike about the Windows Phone platform? Let us know in the comments below.
