Microsoft has silently slipped out an update for developers and enthusiasts who are using the Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview. Not much is known regarding what new features the update brings. However, what we do know is that it includes a number of bug fixes along with some battery life improvements.
The news comes via a Twitter post by Joe Belfiore, the Corporate Vice President and Manager of the Windows Phone Program Management, stating, "Running #WP8.1 Developer Preview? GO CHECK FOR UPDATES! we have news bits with plenty of bug fixes including some battery improvements!"
When contacted by The Next Web, Microsoft declined to detail the exact changes, however, it did say the Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview update contained "several improvements based on the feedback we've received."
Running #WP8.1 Developer Preview? GO CHECK FOR UPDATES! we have news bits with plenty of bug fixes including some battery improvements!
One can get the latest update over the air via navigating through Settings>Phone Updates>Check for Updates. After the update, the handset's firmware should change from 8.10.12359.845 to 8.10.12382.878, as per Paul Thurrot's WinSupersite.
Earlier this week we also came to know that Microsoft will start sending out WP8.1 OS updates to Windows Phone 8 smartphones starting June 24.
The firm, like it did with Windows Phone 8 OS, will provide updates for 36 months (3 years) for devices running Windows Phone 8.1 from the lifecycle start date, which on the company's support page has been listed as June 24. The mainstream support end date will be July 11, 2017.
We expect the roll-out of Windows Phone 8.1 to be roughly around the same time as the launch of Nokia Lumia 930 in June, the flagship smartphone introduced during the Microsoft Build 2014 event along with Lumia 630 and Lumia 635 handsets (due in May), all running the latest WP8.1 OS.
Notably, the Lumia 630 and Lumia 630 Dual SIM were launched in India on Monday.
For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub.