Windows Phone 8: Whats new in Windows phone 8.1

Windows Phone 8: Whats new in Windows phone 8.1: Another day and we have got the developer preview for Windows Phone 8.1. What has Microsoft done for us in the new OS. For one we are gettin...

Whats new in Windows phone 8.1

Another day and we have got the developer preview for Windows Phone 8.1. What has Microsoft done for us in the new OS. For one we are getting closer to iOS the software really feels fresh and some what faster.
Let get on in then
 NB :- screen capture has changed now you use power+volume up
UPDATE Process

At the moment the update is available publicly to the Windows Phone App developer, which mean you have to be registered as a developer or your phone should be enabled to receive developer software.
You can go to the Windowsphone store and get Preview for Developers App Preview for Developers, as a side note "I paid $19 to be registered as a developer which is one way activate the service" Once the app is downloaded you will then need enter your account that is registered for devlup. You will receive a software update Settings->phone update->check for updates
Once the first update is done you will repeat the above steps so that you get Windows 8.0.15xx update that will enable you to download the Windows 8.10.12359.845. This will take some time bare with us on that.

 

Once the update completes then you can have some fun, you have WiFi sense, Storage Sense, and new notifications window, advertising id, you can now add a custom background to you start screen, you will get Cortana(some settings will adjusted for those outside the US to be able to get this app). You view the history of installed apps and updates from the store.

The new IE 11allows you to pin websites to the start screen, you get quite hours, project my screen, sync my settings, VPN, Workplace, Notifications+actions

 

Let me run you through the new features that I have explored so far.

One of those features we were really missing on the windows phones platform

Notifications

We are now able to quickly navigate and see some of the settings that are available to us and also view app notification all by swiping down from the top of the screen

You can alter what you view on the notifications by simply going to Settings->Notifications+actions



and adding to the defaults that the OS will have picked.

 

You can then choose your quick actions, these are the things you want to quickly navigate too.

 

 

Battery Sense

Allows you to be able to see which apps are using your power and how much of the battery they are pulling to themselves. This can be view using Battery Saver and checking Usage. You still have the ability to conserve battery by enabling battery saver.

 





 

Cortana

 

Microsoft's searching assistance is the answer to iOS's siri and Android's Google Now. Basically Cortana is your personal assistant that leverages on Bing. Cortana will scan the web for the right response to a query. Cortana learns your personality every time you use it and with time you will able to get specific answer that are based on your searches.

So really what can we do with Cortana

1. As I stated it a personalized assistant. You can tell Cortana when you do not want to be disturbed and if there is any calls which ones you want to answer and which ones Cortana should not allow. By editing the Breakthrough rules you can say who is in your inner circle and can contact during the quite hours. 
2. 

   
   

   

2. You can use Cortana to make calls and set reminders to call or even mention certain things when you communicate with the person you are calling.

 

3. You can ask Cortana to wake you up or even start a service(App) for you at a certain time.

 

below is interaction with Cortana first via text and then speech

 



 

 

 Another cool thing that Microsoft has done on Windows phone 8.1 is modify the IE 11

 

Internet Explorer 11

 

The new IE is packed with some cool features and customizations now you are able to swipe right and go back(previous page) or swipe left and go forward.

entered my credentials as so

then accessed my msdn home page

I can then swipe on the screen to the right and get the pages I accessed before seeing my homepage on msdn.

Another good thing about the new IE 11 is that you can now pin a web page to start screen enabling you to quickly access those important sites


 

You click ... on IE and get pin to start

 

 

As you can see Microsoft Developer Network is now on start screen

The setting of IE have some add things too which will delight most of us who use the advanced features.

 

When you go to the settings of IE you can choose how you would like to view a website either desktop or mobile site version

Advanced settings allow you to specify how IE behaves and also storage for website date

 

You can specify Data Sense savings so that the phone can adjust what it displays when you are on data and its low

 

WiFi Sense

 

 

To enable you to save on data charges Windows Phone has wifi sense, it will scan for open WiFi and try to use that instead of your data. Please note that not all WiFi hotspots are secure and users should take great care when choosing the option.

You will love this new feature as it allows you share your wifi with contacts without exposing your router and network key to them. And you can also get internet access through their shared networks

 

Microsoft through Windows Phone have made it easier for Enterprise user to be able to access their work networks,

 

Workplace

If your company had policies in place on how you can access the enterprise network this feature will enable you to download the certificates and apps that are used by the company. This works out perfectly for companies that like to monitor the activities of the employees.

You can also connect to your work or home VPN as this option has been enabled with the windows 8.1 platform.

 

Finally for now lets look at the start screen.

 

If you go to settings->Start+theme you will be able to customize the start screen and add backgrounds to it. the addition of the background give a cool feel to the start as you scroll up and down the menu and different levels of transparency show the background

 



 


I will continue to update this as time goes by and I discover some other things that I might have missed. Yes I am lazy now there are still some feature that I have captured .





Windows Phone 8: Windows Phone Errors

Windows Phone 8: Windows Phone Errors: So now you have bought a new phone and it is giving you a hard time with different errors when you attempt to use it or download. Below is...

Windows Phone Errors

So now you have bought a new phone and it is giving you a hard time with different errors when you attempt to use it or download.

Below is a list of some of the errors that I can think of and solutions to them

Error code 805a0191 - This is mostly common when a user creates an Account(live account) and then do not complete the information required on the account. Now when you attempt to access services especially Xbox apps the error shows.

Solution - go to http://account.live.com : Fill out all account information. then go to
http://xbox.com : Sign in with the account, create gamer-tag, 'My Account' in the upper right. Bottom left 'Billing Contact Information'. Fill out account, attach region to account.
then
Hard reset the phone. (Settings > About > Reset your phone.)

 
 Error c00cee22 - When trying to access the Windows phone store you may get the following error c00cee22 this is a common error with people who have issues with the network or at time the store in your region maybe down.

Solution please try to test the simplest thing first are you able to access the internet from your phone, if not check the settings -> Access point -> see if there is an mobile service provider access point. If there is no value select add ->internet APN and enter the details.
If you do not have the APN you can always call your service provider and they can send you the settings.

Error 80320011 - While trying to update an App you may receive the error 80320011 this could be due to the App missing in the store

Solution -  You can try a work around the app might be missing in your region but available in other regions. Just change your region and see if you can download the app update from the store.


 Error 8018830f - trying to install new update. You download the update, but when it is time to install it, it says it couldnt open, and the (8018830F) error code shows up.

 Solution

1.  install Lumia Updates from Store;
2. update and/or install:  Accessories, Accesspoint, Audio, Display + Touch, Extras + Info, Feedback to Nokia, Network+, Nokia Account and  Storage Check (I think only this one is needed);
3. go to settings > storage check (not phone storage) > slide to page 2 (Details) > Temporary Files (mine had about 130 megs, probably from the failed downloaded firmware) > Clear (now you should have around 6 megs);
4. go to settings > phone updates > check for updates > follow the on-screen instructions > in about 30 minutes it should finish.

Error 80004004 When attempting to download an app you may receive an 80004004 error, this happens a lot when you try to use WiFi to download
Solution  If you are able to add or modify settings on your router you can try modify them to allow Windows Store through the firewall else try using data to download if the download works then you know the issues is firewall based.

Error c101a006 This error happens a lot for new users of Windows Phone, and it is an error reflecting an incorrect region setting. Your account may have been created with one regional and the phone may have a different region set on it.

Solution - you should be able to solve this error by going to your settings ->language+region then selecting the correct country that matches the account settings on your live account and also where you are at the time

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