Windows Phone 8.1 Thread

[Ian S.]

So, if you didn't hear the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview is out today.

 

https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-phone-81-preview-for-developers-now-available

 

1. Just register a developer app studio account

2. Download the Preview for Developers app

3. Check for updates

4.Install

 

I have installed it on my Lumia 521 today, and it just took around 25 minutes. I am excited to play around with Cortana

 

How have you been liking the update? What are your favorite features?

 

[George P Global Moderator]

There's a few things not in this preview that will be in the final version next month or whenever it goes out through carriers etc.  One of them is the new lock screen styles/themes that they showed off at build.  I don't know what else could change by then to but for now I'm liking it, also has anyone changed their region to US so they could try out Cortana?  I'm thinking about doing it but I think you also lose access to the store and so on, it sucks if you have to switch back and forth when you want to get a new app.

[_neutrino Veteran]

got the update installed. at first i was excited about more tiles on the home screen but i had to revert it back after a few minutes because the data on the large live tiles was just too small to read and it made it pointless for me.

 

On a side note VPN for me was a HUGE feature that they were adding to the phone however they only support IKEv2 there isnt any IPSEC for the VPN so I cannot use that either :(

[timster]

Geoffrey B., on 14 Apr 2014 - 10:52, said:

got the update installed. at first i was excited about more tiles on the home screen but i had to revert it back after a few minutes because the data on the large live tiles was just too small to read and it made it pointless for me.

 

On a side note VPN for me was a HUGE feature that they were adding to the phone however they only support IKEv2 there isnt any IPSEC for the VPN so I cannot use that either :(

how about PPTP?

[vcfan]

On a side note VPN for me was a HUGE feature that they were adding to the phone however they only support IKEv2 there isnt any IPSEC for the VPN so I cannot use that either :(

it does support IPsec, but IKEv2 only for keys.

 

 

 

how about PPTP?

 

no PPTP

[HawkMan]

There's a few things not in this preview that will be in the final version next month or whenever it goes out through carriers etc.  One of them is the new lock screen styles/themes that they showed off at build.  I don't know what else could change by then to but for now I'm liking it, also has anyone changed their region to US so they could try out Cortana?  I'm thinking about doing it but I think you also lose access to the store and so on, it sucks if you have to switch back and forth when you want to get a new app.

You can get custom lock screen themes already. The support is there you just need apps to do them. Facebook on 8.1 allows you custom lock screens, though not as fancy as the ones shown of earlier.

[_neutrino Veteran]

Nope Just IKEv2

 

Here is a screen capture of the VPN types expanded.

it does support IPsec, but IKEv2 only for keys.

 

 

 

 

no PPTP

 

How do i get IPSEC to work on it?

[sagum]

Strangely they seem to have removed the option to view contacts photos via the people hub. Even though the 'what's new' feed shows thumbnail images still. What's more is that if you click on the thumbnails in the 'what's new' feed, you're taken to the Facebook app on the Windows Phone's store.
 

Not a great update. Prefer it the other way. May as well remove the Facebook integration now, at the top of the 'What's new' feed there is an advert telling me to download the facebook app.


 

[JonnyLH]

Strangely they seem to have removed the option to view contacts photos via the people hub. Even though the 'what's new' feed shows thumbnail images still. What's more is that if you click on the thumbnails in the 'what's new' feed, you're taken to the Facebook app on the Windows Phone's store.

 

Not a great update. Prefer it the other way. May as well remove the Facebook integration now, at the top of the 'What's new' feed there is an advert telling me to download the facebook app.

Click the top, you can select what contacts you want to be shown in there now.

 

Loving this update! My phone feels a lot more mature. I can see what apps are killing my battery, nice individual volume selectors and I like the notification center. I can't grasp how it only received .1 because this for me sees more feature updates than major iOS versions I've gone through in the past.

[HawkMan]

Strangely they seem to have removed the option to view contacts photos via the people hub. Even though the 'what's new' feed shows thumbnail images still. What's more is that if you click on the thumbnails in the 'what's new' feed, you're taken to the Facebook app on the Windows Phone's store.

 

Not a great update. Prefer it the other way. May as well remove the Facebook integration now, at the top of the 'What's new' feed there is an advert telling me to download the facebook app.

I believe one of the changes was that instead of the hubs handling other services itself, other services/apps will plug into the hubs so that any service can be used in the hub, not just the ones they add support for.

[vcfan]

 

How do i get IPSEC to work on it?

 

IKEv1 and IKEv2 are the key exchange protocols used in IPsec. If whatever you're connecting to doesn't support IKEv2,then it wont work,because the wp 8.1 client only supports IKEv2.

[TPreston]

got the update installed. at first i was excited about more tiles on the home screen but i had to revert it back after a few minutes because the data on the large live tiles was just too small to read and it made it pointless for me.

 

On a side note VPN for me was a HUGE feature that they were adding to the phone however they only support IKEv2 there isnt any IPSEC for the VPN so I cannot use that either :(

Fail :(  I hope for SSTP support before the release as IPsec is a major pita to setup and use (for a remote a fess vpn) compared to SSTP which is after all a Microsoft technology but with it so close to release and this being the windows phone team I doubt it.

 

So much for enterprise support then. Fail;

[HawkMan]

Oh hey, I can set different tones for my 3 mail accounts now.

But where do I set the do not disturb times ?

[Brandon H Supervisor]

I can't grasp how it only received .1 because this for me sees more feature updates than major iOS versions I've gone through in the past.

i'm not completely certain but i'm pretty sure it was to unify the version numbers with WP & Windows

[Sandor]

Guessing I won't be able to install on my Ascend W1

[HawkMan]

Is it a w7 or w8 phone?

[sagum]

Guessing I won't be able to install on my Ascend W1

 

All Windows Phone 8 devices are supported.

[George P Global Moderator]

Quiet hours and inner circle are tied to Cortana, so if you have her you'll probably need to go into it's settings and look for them.  Otherwise, if you don't have Cortana you don't have it.

[Sandor]

All Windows Phone 8 devices are supported.

Really?

 

I seem to have an "older" OS version - 8.0.10211.204

[_neutrino Veteran]

something that is starting to drive me mad is that at a quick glance i cannot tell if i have 3G/ LTE service on my phone anymore it just has the signal bars.

[JonnyLH]

Really?

 

I seem to have an "older" OS version - 8.0.10211.204

If you're signed up to the developer preview program your phone would be fine for 8.1. There's some steps laying around on how to do this, maybe even in this thread.

[Guest]

Do the Office apps still not open Strict OOXL?

[HawkMan]

Quiet hours and inner circle are tied to Cortana, so if you have her you'll probably need to go into it's settings and look for them.  Otherwise, if you don't have Cortana you don't have it.

Why would do not disturb hours be tied to cortana?...

[George P Global Moderator]

Why would do not disturb hours be tied to cortana?...

 

I don't know why but that's how it is for now,  Quiet hours works with Inner Circle which works with Cortana.  They'll probably break them off and deliver them to use without needing Cortana I expect.   For now, we're still talking about a preview here, I expect updates to this build as we get closer to the release of new phones as well.

[Sandor]

If you're signed up to the developer preview program your phone would be fine for 8.1. There's some steps laying around on how to do this, maybe even in this thread.

Nah...just tried.

 

It wants 8.0.10322.71 or higher...which my phone doesn't have.