Windows Phone GDR3 (General Distribution Release 3) update has just been officially detailed today by Microsoft after quite a few leaks and rumors.
Microsoft has detailed the upcoming Windows Phone GDR3 update and the update as we all knew brings hardware and software updates. On the hardware front, the Windows Phone GDR3 update brings Full HD (1920 x 1080) display support and support for the beastly Snapdragon 800 processor as well. We are surely going to see the new hardware just a week later with the Lumia 1520 at Nokia World. On the software side, there are some features that were highly requested and Microsoft listened to them and there are some features Microsoft brought about by themselves.
There are new tiles and as Microsoft states, “The larger, 1080p HD displays on these devices will make Windows Phone even more personal—for example by sporting jumbo-sized Start screens with room for six Live Tiles across instead of four”. The update will make use of the new screen resolution support as “Built-in apps and Hubs like email, Photos, People, and Music and Videos will also be carefully scaled to take full advantage of the additional real estate on 6-inch screens”.
There’s a new Driving Mode which will let you drive with ease and will ”limit notifications on the lock screen—including texts, calls, and quick status alerts—until you’re safely parked”.You can configure this mode to work it your way so that when someone calls you they will receive a text from you saying you are driving and you can’t pick up.
There are new accessibility features, internet sharing has been improved. The multitasking interface now allows to close an app by clicking the X button on top. The orientation lock is finally here along with custom sounds and ringtones, improvement in Bluetooth services, ability to attach Office and PDF files in email and now you can set up WiFi at startup of your brand new Windows Phone. Microsoft claims to have brought hundreds of more enhancements and these are the noteworthy.
The update “will roll out to existing phones over the next several months”. Nokia Lumias will also get the “Bittersweet Shimmer” update along with the Windows Phone GDR3 update and we should hear about that from Nokia soon.
Along with the details of the Windows Phone GDR3 update, Microsoft has also announced a new Developer Preview program which lets the developer get the update on their devices so if you meet their conditions you can go ahead and install the update on your device right now.
To participate and download Windows Phone 8 Update 3, you need to meet one of three conditions: your phone is “developer-unlocked,” you’re a registered Windows Phone Store developer, or you’re a registered Windows Phone App Studio developer.
Source: Microsoft
