Microsoft will make Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 available next week

Microsoft has officially announced Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1. The update for the mobile OS will be available to developers next week and public availability will follow soon after. Microsoft is also expanding Cortana to more countries.

Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 makes it possible for users to place Live Tiles on the Start screen in folders. The display of the folders changes according to the content and Microsoft calls them Live Folders. Users can rename and resize the tiles of the folders themselves.

In addition, the update brings performance improvements to the Xbox Music app, among other things. There will be a quick play option and a Kid’s Corner section, among other things. Microsoft promises even more improvements and the update would also return features that were no longer in the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview for Developers, such as background sync.

In addition, the update brings minor changes such as a Live Tile for the Store, which updates every six hours, the option to group multiple text messages for deletion and forwarding, and the corporate Apps Corner, which sandboxes apps and launches. to certain apps. Finally, support for virtual private networks has been expanded, Microsoft describes.

At the same time, the company announced that the virtual assistant Cortana will be rolled out in beta in China and the United Kingdom and as an alpha version in Canada, India and Australia.