WP 8.1 Survey  

152 members have voted

  1. 1. Are you satisfied overall with the update?

    • Yes
      129
    • No give me more features
      10
    • No, undo the changes
      4
    • Don't own a Windows Phone
      9
  2. 2. Will this update make you share Windows Phone more?

    • Yes
      78
    • No. I have always been spreading the word
      60
    • No not yet, maybe the next update
      4
    • I don't know
      10


Recommended Posts

How do you turn on the Battery Sense live tile? Also, I can't see background tasks in Battery Saver. Can anyone else?

 

Background tasks are incorporated into Battery Sense.

 

Off topic: I can't get to work syncing of start screen color between WP8.1 and Windows 8 even though I use the same hotmail account. Anyone else?

Offline map data updated http://www.wpcentral.com/offline-maps-updated-windows-phone

 

"Along with all the excited in the air today about the release of the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview for Developers, many will also see an update to Nokia?s Offline Maps.

Our tipster is seeing updates for the entire U.S. map collection and we?ve been able to confirm updates for New York. It does appear that the updates are for devices running Windows Phone 8.1. My Lumia 1020 is still running Windows Phone 8 and no updates are in sight.

Offline maps are used for the HERE services and helps reduce your dependency on a data connection while traveling. You can choose maps by State, Country or Region. The process is simple to check for offline map updates and is as follows.

  • Go to your Windows Phone Settings
  • Swipe over to the Applications Page
  • Scroll Down to Maps
  • Tap the ?Check for Updates? button

Should updates be available, you will be given the option to install the updates now or wait until a better time to do so."

jakem1, on 14 Apr 2014 - 21:15, said:jakem1, on 14 Apr 2014 - 21:15, said:

How do you turn on the Battery Sense live tile? Also, I can't see background tasks in Battery Saver. Can anyone else?

background tasks = usage, press any app from usage and you can allow or disallow to run in the background

I can't find battery sense

The store was working for me, it updated apps automatically for me and I also managed to get the new FAcebook app fine but now it's not loading any lists.  I'm thinking they're having some server side problems at the moment.

 

*edit*

 

http://www.wpcentral.com/service-alert-windows-phone-store-down?utm_source=wpc&utm_medium=twitter

 

MS knows about the issue, so it's server side, not due to updating to 8.1.  They'll work it out in time, just have to wait.

I do like that they have finally integrated a better social sharing hub into the ME hub. Hopefully more networks besides, twitter, facebook, and linkedin will be added in to share stuff like instagram

It's kind of up to the networks since it's now API driven so any network can write and app to plug in.

So, the screenshot capture combo needed changed... For reasons?

 

Also, anyone else here just not getting the hang of the new swipe feature on the keyboard? I've never understood this concept before, and I still don't now.

So, the screenshot capture combo needed changed... For reasons?

 

Also, anyone else here just not getting the hang of the new swipe feature on the keyboard? I've never understood this concept before, and I still don't now.

 As to the screenshot combo, it didn't need changing, however for constancy they matched it to Windows 8.1's combo

My battery life has been destroyed from this update. But I guess it'll get better since Cortana was just learning about me today, and that was probably the reason.

come on she absorbed the entire internet. it might eat up some battery.

 

I have noticed since the update i am going to have to turn off some background processes because on a full charge after the update it is dropping faster than normal, and i really have not done much playing around yet.

No Battery Sense here on my 520. Only Batter Saver.

 

Also, muting takes a bit more work now. It used to be there when you hit the volume button. Now you have to expand the volumes dropdown and tap on the ringer icon to mute.

Lumia 928 does not have battery Sense either. I am starting to wonder if it was included on the update.

Well, looks like you can no longer simultaneously post to Twitter and Facebook via the "Me" tile. :/

that sucks, i use that all the time.

 

I miss the days of using Tweetdeck to post on both at the same time.

As cool as it was the fact is that the hubs never worked out like MS wanted.  People are already set in their app centric world, so now the hubs have APIs that any app can connect to, so doing an action like posting to FB or twitter will bring up those apps directly.   Just the way the market has went.

As cool as it was the fact is that the hubs never worked out like MS wanted.  People are already set in their app centric world, so now the hubs have APIs that any app can connect to, so doing an action like posting to FB or twitter will bring up those apps directly.   Just the way the market has went.

 

Well I like the fact that Apps can talk between each other now thanks to those API's so you can use the FB app to sign into other apps and services with FB account like iOS. 

 

It also opens for all services to use the HUBs rather than the few MS can spend resources incorporating. 

 

you could argue it would be best if they kept the few "biggest" ones, and instead let the API's override the built in function, but it kind of overcomplicates it. 

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • I'm still on Windows 10 22H2 because I didn't want to deal with all the issues in Windows 11, so I waited almost a week before installing the latest Patch Tuesday update (KB5094127), I went ahead and did it, and it was a huge mistake—ever since then, my File Explorer has seen a performance drop of about 30% when transferring large files... Once again, Microsoft has outdone itself! This update cannot be uninstalled, either through the Control Panel (via Settings) or by accessing Advanced Startup Options. The only possible alternative would be to use system restore points, but I’d have to reinstall all app and driver updates (and there’s no guarantee it would work). Or there’s the “nuclear option” of a in-place repair without losing files or apps, but even then, all my customizations would be lost! Microsoft just can’t help but mess everything up! Way to go, Microsoft! But I still don’t want your c****y Windows 11!
    • Microsoft: Windows 11 could finally solve a major issue across AMD, Nvidia, and Intel GPUs by Sayan Sen While Microsoft has been trying to improve it, Windows 11 is definitely not flawless, as even today some issues are taking a year to publicly acknowledge. However, one area of trouble that may finally see much better results soon is graphics driver crashes. Work on graphics driver timeouts, also called Timeout and Detection Recovery (TDR), is not new as the latest WDDM 3.2 also has specific improvements regarding it. Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version 3.2 is supported on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. However, with the upcoming version 26H2, TDR crash diagnosis could go to the next level as Microsoft is introducing a new DirectX 12 API feature called "DirectX Dump Files". Similar to how system memory dump files work when a system crashes or freezes or encounters any such major issue, DirectX Dump Files (DDF) will essentially record a snapshot of the GPU execution right at the moment a graphics-related crash or hang or freeze occurs, so that developers can better understand and diagnoze these TDR and timeout detection errors. The dump will be available as a .dxdmp file for analysis and it will be a comprehensive dump file generated with detailed insights about the hardware, drivers, Windows, as well as the affected application. This should be another welcome change in this department. Earlier at GDC 2026, when the technology was first debuted, Microsoft had shared more details regarding it. The company had explained how DDF is designed to gather data from every layer of the graphics stack into a single file, eliminating the need for developers to manually correlate logs from multiple tools. As mentioned above, the dump can contain a lot of useful details like GPU hardware state information such as register values, shader program counters, page fault virtual addresses, shader memory data, and command buffers. Alongside that, it also captures DirectX runtime and kernel information, including D3D objects, pipeline state objects, device error data, adapter details, and CPU call stacks. Microsoft says the feature has been built around two primary use cases: retail device removals and local device removals. The former allows developers to collect crash information from end users' systems in the field, while the latter helps QA teams and developers investigate issues on test machines. Developers will also be able to include up to 2 MB of custom application data through new D3D12 APIs, providing additional context for troubleshooting. In addition, Microsoft is introducing three dump collection modes ranging from zero-overhead capture, which has no runtime performance impact on supported hardware, to higher-detail modes that collect more vendor-specific debugging data. On compatible Tier 2 hardware, zero-overhead dumps will be enabled by default, meaning developers may begin receiving useful crash diagnostics without making any code changes. The table below explains the three tiers: Tier Description NO_OVERHEAD Enables crash capture with no runtime cost and is suitable for broad deployment MEDIUM_OVERHEAD Provides a balance, capturing additional diagnostic data with moderate impact HIGH_OVERHEAD Collects the most detailed GPU and driver state available, enabling deeper investigation at the cost of higher runtime overhead In terms of availability, the company expects broader release to be around the fall of 2026, which should be right around the time when Windows 11 version 26H2 lands. Right now, DirectX Dump Files are available as a preview and currently, only AMD has the compatible AgilitySDK Developer Preview driver version 26.10.07.02. You can find the official announcement post here on Microsoft's website.
    • And with SO much better perf than the laggy mess that is Files.
    • BrowserOS 0.46.0 by Razvan Serea BrowserOS is a free, open-source Chromium-based browser that runs AI agents natively, offering a smarter, more productive browsing experience. It supports Chrome extensions and integrates AI agents to automate tasks, fill forms, and streamline workflows. Your data stays on your computer: you can use your own API keys or run local models via Ollama, making it a privacy-first alternative to tools like Perplexity, Comet, or Dia. With built-in productivity tools and app integrations, BrowserOS boosts efficiency while keeping control firmly in your hands. Being Chromium-based, BrowserOS lets you effortlessly import your bookmarks, passwords, and Chrome extensions in just a few clicks. BrowserOS works with OpenAI GPT models, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and local AI models via Ollama or LMStudio. You can use your own API keys and effortlessly switch between providers. BrowserOS Agent Your AI productivity assistant that organizes and manages your browsing effortlessly Quickly list, group, or close tabs Save and resume browsing sessions Search your history and organize bookmarks Switch instantly to the tab you need BrowserOS Navigator – Automate web tasks with ease Navigate websites and search automatically Interact with pages without manual effort Handle repetitive tasks in seconds What makes BrowserOS special Feels like home - same familiar interface as Google Chrome, works with all your extensions AI agents that run on YOUR browser, not in the cloud Privacy first - bring your own keys or use local models with Ollama. Your browsing history stays on your computer Open source and community driven - see exactly what's happening under the hood MCP store to one-click install popular MCPs and use them directly in the browser bar (coming soon) Built-in AI ad blocker that works across more scenarios! BrowserOS 0.46.0 changelog: Run Claude Code & Codex right in your browser — We've extended the agent harness to bring full coding agents into BrowserOS. Claude Code and Codex now come bundled and plug straight into the assistant, so you can drive your browser with the agent — and the subscription — you already use. A brand new experience — A redesigned new tab, a calmer composer, and a rebuilt command center for switching between agents. The whole assistant is cleaner, faster to reach, and easier to live in. New MCP tools — We rebuilt the browser tool surface from the ground up — a tighter, more reliable set of tools for agents to drive the browser. Plus one-click install of BrowserOS as an MCP server into the agents you already run, with automatic URL sync. Chromium 148 — Updated to the latest Chromium base with all recent upstream fixes and security patches. Streamlined — We've pulled back a few features that weren't getting much use — Skills, Soul, and Memory — so we can focus and ship better versions of them soon. Download: BrowserOS 0.46.0 | 181.0 MB (Open Source) Download: BrowserOS for macOS | 485.0 MB Links: BrowserOS Homepage | Github | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Jordan Smith earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      BizSAR earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • First Post
      AndreaB earned a badge
      First Post
    • Week One Done
      Huge Trailer earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Classifyskilleducation earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      591
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      187
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      77
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      75
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      67
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!