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Microsoft confirms features of new Windows Phone GDR3 update

Microsoft has unveiled its new GDR3 (General Distribution Release) for Windows Phone 8, showing off the features of the operating system.

The update will begin rolling out to Windows Phone owners later this month and continue until the end of the year, including a number of enhancements for future hardware.



GDR3 will offer Start screen support for screens between 5-7 inches, and can now support resolutions up to 1080p.

Additionally, the operating system will now support Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 quad-core SoC, meaning future devices will be much more powerful.

On the software side, Driving Mode is now available, you can close individual apps within the multitasking menu, you can assign custom ringtones for texts and the "other" category within settings has been broken down into more specific categories.

Full press release here.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Oct 2013 20:38

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• 8 comments

• SomeBozo

  I can't believe with the brightest minds at MS supposedly, they still don't hear that people want the "Start MENU" not the just a button.
  
  

  16.10.2013 23:54 #1

• zxe

  You would think they would listen, but some ones said thats our strategy

  17.10.2013 05:05 #2

• magictown

  My Windows Phone works really well, why does it need a start button?
  

  18.10.2013 10:45 #3

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by magictown: My Windows Phone works really well, why does it need a start button? Because the desktop operating system has one. Huh? Ya the problem is M$ is getting cheap these days and they want the same operating system to run on everything. So because M$ is being cheap everyone gets everything. Or as I say.. "When you try to be everything to everyone, you quickly become nothing for everyone." So as they make the OS to run on everything, everyone will start to hate it and become awkward for everyone...
  
  

  18.10.2013 12:14 #4

• magictown

  Originally posted by SomeBozo: Originally posted by magictown: My Windows Phone works really well, why does it need a start button? Because the desktop operating system has one. Huh? Ya the problem is M$ is getting cheap these days and they want the same operating system to run on everything. So because M$ is being cheap everyone gets everything. Or as I say.. "When you try to be everything to everyone, you quickly become nothing for everyone." So as they make the OS to run on everything, everyone will start to hate it and become awkward for everyone...
  The phone OS does not need a start button, have you not used a Windows phone running OS8 onwards ? I have not met anyone who has taken a step back after changing yet! - the MS PC OS does not need a start button either Win8 works really well and the start button add-on is a retrograde step. I use a mix of MS OS 8s and they work seamlessly. When customers come into my shop and see how easy it is to access everything from all devices via SkyDrive and Family-rooms, collaboration with calenders amongst family and or friends all running the same OS them it all becomes very clear.
  I have converted most (but not all yet) away from Android and iOS devices and do get some praise for that.
  Back to problems when working on customer Macs and iOS devices.
  Android devices, only use to me is for rooting and using various tools that require and Android rooted device.
  My money is on Microsoft in the long run. I have been in this business for a long time... I can see Apple going down again eventually. There may be some more changes to come but MS will rule the tablet's OS in the future!
  

  18.10.2013 12:34 #5

• ddp

  most pc's don't have touch screens!
  

  18.10.2013 22:00 #6

• magictown

  THE ARTICLE IS ABOUT PHONES !!!!
  

  21.10.2013 07:22 #7

• ddp

  knockoff the shouting.

  21.10.2013 12:13 #8