Windows Phone 8.1 Update

Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 Rolling Out With New Settings UI and More: Report

Microsoft has reportedly started rolling out theWindows Phone 8.1 GDR2 update, or Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2, to certain handsets, and with it bringing a few new features to the platform.

As per user reports (via Windows Central) the new features deal largely with the smartphones' Settings interface. A full changelog has yet to be published.

The Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 update divides the Settings UI into categories, and brings the option to pin individual settings on the home screen. It is worth noting that these features were previously available for the Windows Phone handsets but via third-party apps.

(Also see:Microsoft Lumia 640, Lumia 640 XL Launched Alongside Dual SIM, LTE Variants)

Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 also brings the support for Bluetooth keyboard, which wasunveiled during the MWC 2015 trade show by Microsoft. Furthermore, the Redmond-based tech firm appears to have slightly changed the app permission settings letting Windows Phone users disable access to certain function like camera or other privacy features, on per app basis.

Lastly, the Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 update has introduced a new feature called "quick text", which is nothing but a set of pre-defined phrases users can bring up on the keyboard to send as a quick response. The full changelog for the Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 update has not been mentioned as of now.

(Also see:Microsoft Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL First Impressions)

In February, Microsoft started rolling out the Lumia Denim update in India, which includes features like Cortana, Live folders, Apps Corner, SMS merge and forwarding, Snooze Times, Consumer VPN, and Internet Explorer improvements. The update also adds certain exclusive features to Lumia devices, such as bringing the Lumia Camera app to select devices (Lumia 930, Lumia Icon, Lumia 1520,Lumia 830), and other camera improvements, apart from the Glance screen, and Hey Cortana voice activation (only on Lumia 930 and Lumia Icon).