Windows Phone 8.1 Features and Release Date: Touts Cortana as Its Most Recognizable Feature
One of the most recognizable feature of the Windows Phone 8.1 update is the addition of a personal virtual assistant who goes by the name of Cortana and is similar to Google Now and Apple's Siri. The name Cortana is derived from the Halo video game series, a Microsoft exclusive franchise that can only be played on an Xbox and a Windows run PC.
With Cortana, the user is able to set reminders using the person's natural voice without having to input a predetermined set of commands. Cortana is also able to answer questions using information from the Bing search engine. The feature is currently in beta and Microsoft has committed to updating Cortana some twice a month to add features.
The current version of the Windows mobile OS is codenamed Windows Phone Blue. Windows 8 is prepped to get three major updates over the following months leading up to Windows 8.2 or Windows 9, whichever it may be called at that time.
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The first major update called Update 1, already went out Aug. 4 for users participating in the Windows Phone Developer Preview program.
The Windows Phone OS is Microsoft's bet against Google's Android and Apple's iOS. The operating system runs almost exclusively with Nokia's Lumia smartphone line, with the exception of the HTC One M8 for Windows. The latest version is the Windows Phone 8.1, made publicly available Jul. 15 earlier this year.
The OS was first announced at Microsoft's Build Conference in San Francisco, California on Apr. 2 earlier this year. Before releasing the OS to the public, the final build of Windows 8.1 was first released to Windows Phone developers Apr. 14. After rolling out the OS to the public, all mobile devices running Windows Phone 8 would eventually be upgraded to Windows Phone 8.1.
