First screenshots of the Notification Center for Windows Phone 8.1 reveal new design

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

The first images of the new Notification Center, dubbed 'Action Center', for Windows Phone 8.1 have made their way on to the web. The screenshots appeared on the site Winphollowers and Windows Phone Central is able to confirm their authenticity at this time.

The screenshots appear to have come from a confidential email sent around Microsoft, detailing various aspects of the new OS. Only one page of the email, or slide deck, is shown and it’s the one that details the Action and Notification Center.

The Action Center for Windows Phone 8.1

The image of the Action Center for 8.1 (aka 'Blue') shows the ability to enable / disable connections such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode and Driving Mode. These are of course, configurable for the user. On the left side, you can see an option to 'Clear All', that is, clear the notification list. To the right, a user can access 'All Settings', including the ability to configure the quick access tasks, mentioned above. Users swipe down once for the quick-actions, and can swipe again for the notifications. 

In addition, it is now clear that a battery percentage can be shown to users below the battery icon at the top left (in addition to the date), yet another minor feature that many users have requested.

The slidedeck also mentions about how apps can ‘intelligently manage notifications’ such as silently add, update and delay alerts. We’ve mentioned these in the past under the name ‘ghost notifications’ whereby a user won’t be actively alerted, like current Toast notifications, but instead, the alert will show in the Action Center. This will be useful for less important alerts to the user, and developers will be able to leverage these independently on their apps according to their design.

From sources familiar with the matter, we can also confirm some of the behavior of this Action Center. For example, if a user is playing a full screen game and they ‘swipe down’ accidentally, they won’t see a huge center come down, but instead will just see a small, blue tab (akin to the blue bar in the image). This intelligent usage of the Action Center will ensure users only can use it in appropriate contexts and not in others.

Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be announced by Microsoft on April 2 during their Build conference in San Franciso, with new devices being announced at a later date. A developer preview of 8.1 will also be  announced on the same day, with it being opened up as an opt-in program akin to the current Developer Preview program for Update 3.

Source: Winphollowers; Thanks, Redeemed, for the tip!

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

742 Comments
  • Can't wait!!!
  • This looks a lot better than the notification center that someone had on an tester phone. I also hope the put some attention into the settings list...needs better organization and icons!
  • Aghhh the waiting game again :)
  • Indeed :)
  • This is truely amazing revamp of wp8 UI ..... one thing even I want dere is custom wallpaper other than black and white only:)
  • Was wishing for a swipe from left, but lets see what it looks like and functions when released......waiting
  • If MS doesn't give us swipe from left for notification center then i don't think they ll add other quick settings control like battery saver toggle and brightness settings to the existing connectivity settings (unless they allow the quick settings pane to be like a panorama too swiping left right to access more settings). Windows phone 8 is the best candidate for swipe-from-left notification center as the start screen moves up down unlike ios and android where the list moves sideways.. But its probably because of unintentional launching which can be quite irritating especially when u r reading a book or browsing.
  • The reason it isn't swipe from left is because people need to be able access it from anywhere in the OS, not just the home screen. Too many apps already include horizontal navigation
  • It could be swipe-from-left-bezel, which would fix that problem easily.
  • That's a stupid idea - navigation in applications is already based on horizontal swiping. It would make a functional mess. It makes much more sense to introduce vertical gestures.
  • Then swipe up? Just to differentiate WP from the others, and also with large screens the first thing people do is move the phone in their hand to reach the top. Seen this will Android users. I have a 920 and would need to move the phone to reach the top. So swipe from the bottom, imho.
  • I would be ok with that. And I agree with you - with larger screens it would be much more comfortable to use a swipe up gesture when using the phone one handed. Though probably Microsoft will go with familiarity (from other platforms) and make us use the swipe down gesture.
  • You are right. I am pretty sure that is why Apple did it that way, and Microsoft would be wise to do the same. Besides, there already is the swipe down extra information thing, why not just add notifications?
  • Yes, see your point here, an extension of the current swipe down to gain more info. Makes sense now.......
  • Swipe from bottom has issues too, the capacitive buttons would activate.
  • Why not make use of that situation. Swipe up from each of the capacitive button brings up different screens. Try, feel it, then help vote http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/sugg...
  • Maybe a tap and press on the captive buttons would work. Perhaps hold the search key press and up pops notifications. Keeping tap for search...
  • So I am annoyed with a notification panel when I'm swiping up reading this very discussion thread? Or accidentally hit the hardware/software buttons? I bet this method has been tested and tried.
  • Navigation within apps is heavily based on horizontal gestures, yes, but edge gestures originating from the bezel wouldn't mess with this. I agree, vertical gestures is the better idea-- simple, easy to understand, relatively already well-known-- but horizontal gestures could work, too. That's all I'm getting at.
  • Guess the top swipe will be chosen due to familiarity with other OS's. But translucent would be good for me. Just to differentiate and it looks cool. I'm loving the WP experience so far and have confidence they will choose the best option to fit in with any further advancements in the OS.
  • It wouldn't work because it's a conflicting gesture. There is no top-down gesture in windows phone and so it is the best solution. Horizontal clashes with panos and pivots, bottom-up conflicts with the ... appbar menus. Currently swiping from the top shows internet connection and other information, and so what better to put up there than more information.
  • Yes, see your point here, an extension of the current swipe down to gain more info. Makes sense now.......
  • Oops that last sentence is a mess. Should be something like: "and so what better place to but it than at the top, to show even more information". My multitasking skills are abysmal.
  • Agree!
  • @pg2g Read till the end.
    i read that the 4 quick settings are customizable. I don't want to install another app for settings which fills my start screen.
  • Good point❕
  • That leaves the swipe from left for something else.. Lets see if they use it in 8.1-0xxxx...
    ...................
    I feel like my 1520 was made for this update, and that I'll be able to take full advantage of it with only 6 month old hardware... Come on AT&T❕.. You're the only one that can screw this up now...
    ...................
    I bet AT&T removes the Action center... Lol❕❕❕
  • I'm quite sure AT&T do not have any power in changing the software in the phones, the core is always the core and I'm sure MS would not distribute a completely different core just for AT&T. Just turning a flag off will make no difference as people will just find ways to turn that flag on again anyhow so would just be a waste of resources. I'm however with you on the hating on AT&T train for what they did with the Lumia 1520 hardware wise - that's just such bull-shit :( And for how to navigate into the notication center I would say they should have you swipe the konami code :D
  • think you're refering to something in this video ? ..............  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvVYzTBYblM
  • I'm sorry but where you get the custom wallpaper idea from? All I've seen in other news is another color, not a wallpaper background...
  • I want at least like the background like Windows 8.1
  • There just isn't enough visible background area in WP.. The only thing I can see would be some different colors, and hopefully textures, but an image,, I don't know how that would work.. Either way, they should let us choose our own background.... Hopefully it's coming in WP8.0-0xxxx
  • Uf, settings are truly awful. At least ones you need the most are on top, but some categorizing would be nice, or search
  • We need better Facebook integration ,atleast give us a damn decent Facebook app :/
  • I don't peoples issue with the current Facebook app, it works brilliantly
  • Lol brilliant ? Really? Its crap. And now with paper for IOS and soon
    For android our fb app for WP is even more outdated. Pathetic.
  • ? Android for WP8?
  • The current Facebook app is virtually identical to other OS's, and no phone has better Facebook integration, except the Facebook android thing which everybody hated. You have Facebook chat integrated into your txt messaging, you have Facebook photos integrated into your photo albums, you have statuses and photos and contact details and history integrated into your phonebook, you can post statuses straight from your ME page, you can see your news feed straight from the phonebook and you can share photos straight to Facebook from albums or the camera, the live tile gives you recent activities, probably more I'm forgetting... What the hell else do you want?!?! iOS has no integration at all except posting pictures, android has varying integration but unless you have the Facebook android its nowhere near as much... I don't get it, please tell me what you want integrated which isn't?!
  • First of all it is laggish, second if it is longer message you want to read, you need to open it in browser, then if you want to select and copy text, you cant. You cant attach anything in a message to someone and a lot of other things...
  • Its no more laggish than ios or android, that's down to the speed of Facebook itself. You can attach things to messages, i do it all the time. Honestly I hadn't ever noticed that you can't copy text with the app, but if you go back to the integrated Facebook instead of the app (which after all is what this person was requesting) you can copy text.
  • In the peoples hub,the news feed is just about the pages and stuff but not about friends ,which is the basic thing ,and we need a better Facebook app from Facebook itself ...why arent they making a wp version ?
  • The people hub mainly only shows your friends status', if you aren't seeing them then you have set it up incorrectly, Also if you go into a specific friends phonebook entry you will see just their wall, and their photos. again if you aren't seeing this you have set it up incorrectly, and again these are feature which iOS and android don't have integrated which WP does.
  • You can't tag people in a post by typing their name, quite annoying; If you want to view a message that you have to hit "read more" it loads it in a browser window instead of just opening it in the app, quite annoying; if you want to like a page you have to open up the settings button at the bottom, they could just add a like icon; you can't edit your about me section within the app....I could go on, but this is a pretty good list of areas that need improvement. Another annoyance that's not necessarily related to the facebook app, but does occur a lot more often in the facebook app is that when you're trying to scroll it often opens pictures or posts up accidentally. 
  • You can tag ppl just put @ before their name
  • the only thing i miss are the favourites-lists...i don't know how they are called in english... it's for tidying up your newsfeed and put some of your most important facebookpages into different lists.... THAT is a very basic feature i am missing... apart from that one everything works perfect for me.
  • In addition to HarkAtYou's comprehensive list there is also Lock Screen notication support, Lock Screen background photo support, and Glance Background notification support (for Nokia Devices). As far as I am aware, many of these features and those listed by HarkAtYou are unique to Windows Phone and do not exist on iOS or Android currently.
  • I don't care about the cosmetics like live tiles, integration etc. I want the Facebook app to be more responsive. Every action you doing on the app now require a full refresh. Opening comments, tapping Like, opening photos, etc etc. Have you not see the big differences between our crappy app and the iOS / Android. Things are happening on the fly, with much lesser refreshing! And when new events arrived, I'm seeing the new events already on the notification center the moment I opened it on the Android version. But with the WP FB app, I still need to wait for the updates to be loaded! Even the chat messenger does not received message in real time. I need to either make a manual refresh, or wait for the time out refresh. Is just a total crap! TBH, even the official Facebook app for Windows 8 is much much better than this one by MS.
  • For one, you cannot edit using the FB app, you also cannot tag using the FB app. Yes the integrated app allows tagging but even then you must know the exact name. It doesnt link to the FB database to find the names like the FB app does on other ios. Simple things like displaying the post and the comments together it is unable to do. These things are annoying and why i dont use FB on wp no more
  • You cannot edit, that is true. But the last time I checked you couldn't on ios either? Perhaps that has changed. You can however tag in the fb app, and it does link to the fb database to find the names just like the other os's.
  • Just try the Facebook messenger app in android and IOS. Its so awesome. Give respect where due. I don't want to wait all the time.
  • What needs to happen is to make it so all social media apps can plug into Me similar to how an app can plug into the camera as a lens. Each Me "lens" should be user-optionally active. FB and Twitter need to be ripped out of the OS.
  • ?!!?!!??? That's about all I can ?!??!??!
  • True
  • Doesn't really need icons, but a way to organize the options.
  • This is the best wp design I think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-5V7tZUL_4
  • Wow!!!
  • I hope we also get a file manager and the ability to move apps to SD :)
  • This +A Lot At the moment Windows Phone doesn't feel really smart if you can't download files or manipulate them like you can on a computer or android phone.
  • Yesss.My 2 biggest wishes for WP8.1.
  • I hope we can install apps to the microSD, but a file manager I can do without. I don't want to be tempted to micro-manage my phone. I had enough of that with windows mobile and webOS. I do hope they add more sections though, like a documents section. It would be nice to be able to download more file types, I just don't care about controlling where they go.
  • And also saving downloaded files to sd.
  • What if there was an option to force apps to download and install to SD? Then, if SD space runs low/out, it would download and install to internal memory.
  • Same here..,
  • Here's a better picture ;) http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/831/9413/original.jpg
  • Its quite clear. Thanks.
  • oh don't worry, you've waited 18 months for this, and actually over 2 years if you count the fact they should have shipped it then. things go slow in windows phone land. slowwww indeed.
  • No one but Microsoft use 'Surface' in that context. Bet your house on this one
  • I'm jonesing to get my paws on that developer preview of WP 8.1. The notification cent.... Ahem* action menu looks great.
  • Haha I'd have to agree. Will be a massive update so I'm really pumped to test it out!
  • Its beautiful!
  • They say developer preview, I say YAY!
  • Is the developer preview only available on one device? If I did it on my 1020, do I have to opt out of that one somehow before I get the preview on my 1520? Anyone know?
  • AFAIK, as long as we use a free developer id (any live id is free developer id, so to speak), we can only have one test device (three for those who paid for a real dev id). So yeah, we can only have one device running preview version. But we know we can circumvent this by create new live id (different id on different device). CMIIW :)
  • Does anyone know of a way to opt out of the first device though? I don't want to use another ID
  • Just opt-out with the developer-preview app :)
  • I have a free developer ID and I installed GDR3 in 3 different devices. So I think that they abolished that rule ;)
  • +1
  • I see. Thanks for your confirmation and correction. So, as DJCBS said, it can be installed on more then one device then :)
  • Does Daniel do this frequently? Posting article in the midnight?
  • Only when I have to!
  • You are the greatest, Daniel, Im sure you know that already, but I just had to tell you.
  • Thanks! Going to get back to my Saturday night now though... lol
  • Awesome! Finally we're gonna have a proper notification center. Thanks Daniel!
    And by the way, will the new devices announced after april be Lumia or still Nokia Lumia?
  • Not sure when the name changes start, there's been nothing official mentioned yet.
  • I hope we get one last round of Nokia Lumias for old time's sake.
  • I don't like long goodbyes. I've already reconciled myself to the fact so I want a clean break - do it right away!
  • That what I've been hoping for! Rumour says new flagship will also have superb camera. I really want it to be a Nokia!
  • I hope that's sarcasm pepsidude,smh
  • Hope this assignment didn't interrupt any phone sexy time.
  • Its 5pm here in Australia. So perfect timing for us :)
  • Yeah maybe they should hire an Australian correspondent so they can sleep lol
  • That's a great idea. They need to push WP8 a little better in Australia too and this may be the best idea to do it.
    I get so happy when I see someone using a WP8 and a Nokia especially. :)
  • Assuming you drive a Calais? What model?
  • Nah Calais is a no go. We have Holden SS Commodore (Clubsport HSV etc etc) and Ford Falcon XR8
  • My L720 will look awesome with WP Blue! Can't wait!
  • + mine. 720 has the best design ever under low and mid range phones
  • Can't agree more!
  • did anyone noticed one can see the battery remaining under the battery icon , also date is shown under the time , that's cool :)
  • Yeah i noticed it written in the article ;) hehe. I cant believe something as simple as a battery percentage isn't already there. Such a hassle having to gl in to the settings to see a percentage. Not sure if im alone, but the image that represents how much battery you have left almost never represents the actual level properly
  • ^_^ can't wait for developer preview :) hope by all this android/ios users can switch to windows phone since they miss all this on wp platform.quick toggles , clear notifications of Action Centre , battery percentage / date & time , hope they port most popular requested suggestions like install/move apps to SD card , a basic file manager for power users , better battery management .
  • After 8.1, there is nothing other apple and android users can complain about except some apps!!
  • Hell yeah, 720 owns everything in the mid range. Just only if I had 512mb more ram...
  • Hope they put a flashlight button there, to make it launch faster than an app.
  • I just don't like how the apps all have to open the shutter...
    But your idea would be cool too.
  • Funny how the date on the screen is 4\20. Hopefully this isn't a pipe dream.
  • Maybe 20 quick settings? Swipe left/right to see more?
  • It could mean April 20th? I know Nokia is keen on putting the phone model as the time in the screenshot.
  • April 20th of last year?
  • Lol. I see what you did there.
  • You can choose what those 4 settings are, so it might be possible to set one of those as a Flashlight app.  We'll have to see! :)
  • why? Because apple has it there. Must be the highest waste of space in a notification centre to put a flashlight button there. I just lauged when i saw it on ios7
  • Why? It's fantastic having it there.
  • I would find that very handy. Just because its apple doesnt mean its a bad idea.
  • Check out "Flashlight XT" for Windows Phone http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=d379dd57-020b-4f77-9b8c-a30dfd6dc4dc u can use the camera button with this one!!!
  • Did the thought that, what you consider a waste of space might in fact be very useful to another user, ever crossed your mind? Of course it didn't.
  • did u ever think of placing useful stuff on a start screen. Not sure why it should be placed on the notification screen where not even all phones would support that function. Well. Not every usefull thing makes sense just because it does in your head
  • Yeah. Hope we don't get one. Would be a ridiculous way of following Apple.
  • If you look at the notification center settings page that was leaked earlier, it showed how you could choose up to four or five quick setting options. Putting the two together tells how it could be. If they add flash light like a toggle, it would be interesting.
  • Exactly and a heck of a lot faster than going to the flashlight tile. I have flashlight towards the bottom of my start screen on my 1520 only because I have messaging and social media apps on the top and middle
  • No not because apple has because I work in a lot dark areas and on cars so I use the flashlight a lot.
  • FINALLY!!!! the only thing that is really missing for me on windows phone since launch is this! can't wait :) hope we can get this preview as soon as its announced :)
  • Wannnt so bad .... hurts... inside...
  • Fricking FINALLY! Maybe I'll pick up a 32GB 1520 and replace the back with a Qi back. 
  • Sweet Pete, now how do you replace with Qi again?
  • Check the forums ;)
  • The awesomeness of this notifications center is over 9000!!!seriously can't wait for this.BTW Is Installing apps directly to SD card confirmed in wp8.1??
  • I don't know
  • I think I'm the only one here who wished the icons for those quick settings be a little bigger. Metro is basic but damn that basic? I still want it though :)
  • I agree, and the icons should be centered (to match the tiles on the live screen).
  • I was thinking the same thing. they should be centered. What's the point of having them of center and a bunch of blank space like that. May be it's an old build.
  • Plus there is absolutely no need to put text under those icons to scream out what the icons mean. It looks like MS did not work hard enough to refine the look of the notification centre. They have just made a solid black panel as the notification centre? I hope we can change that colour.
  • In October 2012 Microsoft said they ran out of time with the notification center. 1.5 years later and this is all. They've had a chance to see how iOS and Android handle their notification center so they better blow us away with this one.
  • I don't seem to see a problem with this, it looks nice, and if it works, there you go 
  • Exactly. It just takes them too long, they're too damn slow. They are going to lose the game if they don't pick up the pace. They announce in April, release later in the year. So almost 2 years since WP8...
  • Satya says mobile and cloud are the future so I hope he holds the Windows Phone team more accountable and demands quicker results. Phones are replaced by people sometimes several times a year (lost/damaged) and they want new stuff. If Windows Phone doesn't offer new features why will people buy them? The 920 is still sold at at&t, what new software features does it offer compared to when it was released? What big software differences does the 1520 have over the 920? This notification center is taking too damn long to be released. I refuse to believe they ran out of time in 2012. They hadn't even started that sucker back then.
  • WP8 launched October 2012, less than 16 months ago.
  • He's means by the time blue is released to customers without developer preview.
  • They ran out of time to start working on the notification centre, what don't you understand?
  • Because it's metro and content should be displayed from left to right
  • it looks like third party developers designed it. kinda disapoointed.
  • I personally have no issues with the design or layout of this. So MS had extra time, at least it doesn't look like the other platforms. Im all for people to have their own opinions but i cant stand complaints when no one has used or seen the thing in action. Also, those complaining about the notification center not being centered, i think that's because of the area of the phone os its piggy backing on, the connectivity area. Since that expands the full width of the screen, i think it would look weird if the notification center didn't.
  • how do you know what the rest of the os looks like in 8.1??? maybe the modern design on the main screen has been updated too, we have so very little information on the complete os.
  • Was hoping for something a little more like this... http://youtu.be/tRVC4BKWaP8 Anyone think they should add some color to it so it doesn't look so plain?
  • Go back to 2006.
  • Not sure, but I hope so... It's a must for the 8S and similar phones... Even if the card has to by encrypted by some means, I really don't care!
  • Oh. My. God. That is just awesome. Love the design.
  • Also love the design. This so fantastic!
  • Weirdly i think the Fake Notification section desigs were kinda better, though this one is more consitant with the current OS.
  • It also means battery percentage and date are in the top bar too
  • It's not in the top bar, if you look at the screenshots it's UNDER the top bar (i.e. when you swipe down to see the mini quick actions).
  • Ah
  • That to me seems super annoying. They really need to put the % up top. I am ALWAYS looking at that on my iphone and do not want to have to swipe down everytime to see something as simple as the percentage... lets hope you don't have to only swipe down to see it. :-/
  • Why are you checking the battery every few seconds, Windows Phone alerts you if the battery is low anyway and if you use battery saver then the icon with a heart shows up at 20% anyway!!
  • I'm waiting for the new MS/Nokia phone with 8.1 and every time I see portion it make it much more harder for my waiting.
  • Is the hardness still there or is it gone?
  • He he he still hard :-)
  • Holy mother of !!!!!! Finally, battery percentage!!
  • Wow, this looks way better than I imagined it would. Can't wait for WP8.1!
  • Naughty MS employees! Thanks! Haha
  • Hahahhahahaha you seriously made me laugh! Thanx
  • You're welcome - glad I made you LOL! For the meantime, someone is about to get fired. To be notified through Action Center!
  • Don't forget that the Battery Percentage appears in the Action Center as well. That means it's accessible with just a swipe from the top regardless of what you're doing. - http://www.winrtsource.com/2014/02/08/windows-phone-8-1-leak-reveals-action-center-a-pull-down-notification-shade/
  • Lol at posting something to your own site in the comments section
  • Finally the notification center is coming to wp .... Keep it up ... But we really need it ??????
  • Yes we need it.
  • For missed toasts/notifications yes. That is only thing I like about Android.
    Not necessary for emails and texts-got tiles for those..
  • But notification center will effect the live tiles feature .. I think live tiles work great and it make wp platform different..
  • Live tiles aren't going anywhere. You'll now be able to see notifications for apps that aren't pinned
  • I feel like unpinning whatsapp now. Why would I need it but as a shortcut? Maybe I'll unpin alot of apps now. Keep the ones that only show pictures.
  • I think you'll still need the shortcut. If you have no notification but want to text someone ... don't you need it then?
  • How many days hours to go?? Fucking excited
  • 52 days to build :) WP countdown app haha
  • Nicholas, i can't find that app in the store... Can you sent a link?
    Thanks
  • 51 days 20 hours actually
  • I do hope most 8.1 updates will hit 512mb devices, including this.
  • They will get update for sure
  • Maybe lack some of the features like Cortana ? That happened to Siri . But I hope it will not happen .
  • New CEO with belfiore might look upon that matter of cortana. It should be available first for English speaking countries, India and china too even Italy
  • Please don't forget the Philippines :(
  • And North Korea!
  • Shut up kim
  • You're dreaming. Microsoft has made it very clear, over and over again, they're an American company focused in the American market. The number of windows phone users worldwide is only important when they want to show America how well WP is doing. You can even trade a used S3 or iPhone 4 for a brand new Lumia 1520 in the US. Pretty soon in the US, if one buys a WP Microsoft will give a corvette, a house in Hollywood and a part in the next Spiderman movie.
  • Thumbs up dude :)
  • xD
  • For you, I play the world's smallest violin. http://www.paulyndavis.com/wp-content/uploads/image/worldssmallestviolin... I guess you think Siri was rolled out to every country at the same time. News flash, it didn't... and still hasn't.
    The trade in deal was US only because it was a promotional offer with AT&T (which is a US company) and is useless to me ad well because I use Verizon.
  • I mean , not the marketing but by the hardware .
  • @Marco Gomes1 Agreed, sadly. It's almost as if they actively work towards ignoring non-US markets.
  • They'll get 8.1, not so sure about the next big update though.
  • Announcement in April. When will 1020 get the update??
  • Nothing has been announced about who gets what or when
  • The article, you should really read more of it...especially the end.
  • april 2nd....... developer preview
  • This is nice.  I'm not sure I care that much, but if this floats everyone's boat then awesome.  I guess I'll care if TMO deems 8.1 worthy of my mighty and epic Lumia 810.  Otherwise... carry on. 
  • If TMO doesn't give it to you then just use the developer preview 8.1
  • Or do the smart thing and leave TMO.
  • Hindsight 20/20.  I was expecting more than 8 months of life for this phone. 
  • We're not getting Black so I would be surprised if we get 8.1. It's unfortunate; I think the 810 is the best-looking Lumia. Hopefully they make another all-black monolithic Lumia. Not betting on it though.
  • Source that TMo will not be rolling out Black?
  • http://www.nokia.com/global/support/software-update/wp8-software-update/... Lumia 810 - Lumia Black Update - Not Available
  • I'm not that interested in the notification center (I'm fine with live tiles), but the shortcuts look nice! Shortcuts are the only major thing left on my "must have" list of wp8 features.
  • I would be with you if the live tiles and toast notifications worked flawlessly. Anyway, it's nice to have more options.
  • Seems nice.But what abt file manager?That is the most important one we need.And OTG support if given then game on with my Xbox controller to my lumia.
  • I don't know, I think most people see the file manager as a "nice-to-have" whereas I think a majority of people see the notification/action center as a "must-have" - and I'm inclined to think the same. Unless the phone is intended to replace a laptop/tablet, I don't see why it needs a file manager...
  • With VPN coming with 8.1 a file manager means you can keeps files on your server and access over the VPN.
  • For a phone positioning itself as a business device, I'd say it's pretty damn useful. Plus Lumia 1520 is intended to replace a small tablet.
  • I bought a file manager app a few months ago and never use it, but I get how it could be useful for some users.
  • I don't think we will see a file manager, though maybe better integration with OneDrive for files
  • That's what I wanted to hear!
  • Yeah, definitely think that can be improved. I just doubt we will see the type of file manager people on enthusiast sites like this are asking for, not with 8.1 at least.
  • So aside from the saftey net of sorts while playing games, I can open this in most other situations by simply swiping down? Will it also function on the lock screen? 
  • Yeah I hope it does!
  • Wasn't it stated before that the notification centre can be accessed from the lock screen as well? Swipe up to unlock or swipe down to access notifications.
  • Like I noted at the time of this leak, assuming it is real, it looks like you can: see the tick box for "show above lock"   http://www.phonearena.com/image.php?m=Articles.Images&f=name&id=103018&k...
  • It's true even in iOS there are some full-screen games that disable the notification shade(swipe down from top).
  • Yeah its getting much beautifuller
  • And awesomeerer. :P
  • Enough with the pull down, it should be a swipe to the right to display notifications, window phone should keep the pattern of being incredibly unique
  • How does this work while in apps? I prefer notifications to be a gesture that is not often used, like swiping down.
  • He clear didn't think about it. Pulling down is the best way to go.
  • Edge gestures, as in you start your swipe from the bezel and move your finger ONTO the screen for notifications. To just move that app itself panorama style, you start with you finger on the screen and move it.
  • Being different just for the sake of being different isn't really a worthwhile motivation. Swiping down has the advantages of (1): allowing easier access from inside an app and not just the lock screen, and (2): making it easier to use for those moving from iOS or Android
  • How about swiping up from the windows button. It's different but familiar, accessible from anywhere. Try it, you gonna like the way it feels... I guarantee it. http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/sugg...
  • How would that work with future phones with the on screen Windows button?
  • And how would this work on phones with physical buttons? Windows Phone isn't all Nokia, you know.
  • I can tell you how swipe up from the Start button would work: it wouldn't. Instead, you would find yourself back at the Start screen. (Source: just tried the action on my 925. Start button activates during swipe.)
  • So you think you can win users over by offering them something they already have? Strange logic...
  • I like the swipe right best, but I can just see my kids swiping right in error. Incidentally, I can possibly also see them swiping down in error. I did a mock up some time ago in the forums.
  • Just waiting for WP 8.1 to be released. Excited to see all the new features it has in store for us. What about installing apps directly to SD card. Has it been confirmed coming with WP 8.1 ? I really need this feature the most.
  • This would be nice, but given the piracy concerns I could see this being on the back burner
  • I doubt that it should be an issue. They can definitely add a certificate that is tied to the Windows Phone and when the SD card is transferred, it should not be able to run on a different phone.
  • Wow there is battery percentage
    Cant wait for it
    Waiting for April 2
    I think nokia will give update in Aug like that! Thanks to the developers preview
  • By August the Nokia acquisition will almost certainly be closed, so the update will be on Microsoft Devices Division to push out to Lumias
  • Yeah may be but who cares we have the developers preview
  • April 2nd? That's a day before my birthday.
  • I hope to God this is real, it looks so much better than the old notification center that got leaked.
  • Given that WPCentral put this as 10/10 it's real :D
  • Stupid, all they needed to do was place it in the already there notifications in the ME hub.
  • There is nothing keeping them from doing that too. This way allows for notifications to be seen without leaving your app
  • Well, one, if you're using your phone you wouldn't be missing the notification now would you. Two, you don't know that. :)
  • Yes, but how many taps and swipes will it take to see the notifications regardless of what you're doing? At least 2. A swipe down is one motion and accessible anywhere.
  • Actually, you also need two swipes in this implementation. One for quick action, and another to show the notification.
  • Nope. Short swipe or long swipe, not two separate swipes.
  • So what, I don't care how many swipes it takes, it's a redundant function that I personally don't need. Just put the missed toast notifications in the me tile and be done with it. It's not a race, if your looking for a phone with the most features, we've already lost. But what windows phone does best is data integration, now were breaking that apart with a feature that isn't really needed, except for a place to see missed toast notifications. Not email, not Facebook, not SMS etch, only the notifications that you can never retrieve elsewhere. The beautiful simplicity and integration is at risk of becoming fragmented with 'forced' features like this. It's not well thought out.
  • Ok... so don't install the update... or just don't use the feature.
    Quit crying about having new options and getting features that the MAJORITY of WP users want.
  • I imagine that was an option discussed, but one downside is that the Me hub is harder to access from within an app
  • From what I understand based on previous leaks/rumours - the Me hub is moving to the start screen (swipe left) and the notifications are moved into the Notification Centre.  This would allow for the notitfication centre to be accessed from anywhere.  This is much better IMO.
  • Well, that's interesting. Didn't really hear any rumer about the Me hub being moved to the left, though, its a damn great idea... Just swap left to post or to see social updates .. Man that would be great.
  • Interesting idea. Just waiting to see what they do.....hurry up, please..
  • Really? How often do you absolutely need to access notifications when inside a other application? I think a lot of these ideas are not real life, not how people actually use a phone, but rather something of a conceptual value, a practice of form over function rather than the opposite.
  • I get notifications all day whether texts, emails, package status, eBay auctions, instagram and Facebook alerts and so on. And I hate when a toast pops up when im doing something in another app and I have to either tap it and be thrown into that app away from what I was doing, or miss it and hunt it down later. Sometimes I just want to view what it was with no need to respond. A swipe down to see ALL notifications without leaving my current app is very practical and has a place.
  • That was just a fans mock up.
  • Man shut up about this placing it in the me tile hub! That's the dumbest idea.
  • Yesssssss! Makes me want to install win 8 for dev preview even though there's no drivers for my gfx card.
  • I don't think you need W8 for the developer preview.
  • Won't let me install dev tools without 8, unless there's another way.
  • You don't need the developer tools to get the update, it's delivered through the usual OTA system after you install the Preview for Developers app. If you're not already a developer, you can just sign up with the free, online Windows Phone App Studio. Here's an article from Paul Thurrott that steps you through the process: http://winsupersite.com/windows-phone/windows-phone-8-update-3-update-yo...
  • Wet my pants again
  • Me too... good thing my Lumia is not in there at the moment lol.
  • it's not meant to leak that way smh
  • There was an article that stated that a Lumia survived underwater. I am too lazy to look for it.
     
  • Oh my god! Yes! Swipe to the left please! Or maybe pull down menu?
  • Read the article.  Swipe to the left doesn't make sense (especially when inside apps).  It's a swipe down (hence the green bar).
  • All I need now is the next-gen round of phones that'll come from the Nokia & Microsoft collaboration to showcase this new software!! The anticipation is killing me!!
  • Waiting for this to upgrade.. :)
  • I can honestly say I'm proud of windows phone now.
  • +1
  • + my dev preview 1020. Cant wait for April
  • +8.1
  • I am not a developer
    but can i still get it?
  • Yes you can.
  • Yes u can
  • Through the developer preview program?
    i don't have developer account.
  • Yeah me too but you can sign up here: http://apps.windowsstore.com/
    Then you have to download this App and register your Phone: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/preview-for-developers/178ac...
    It's for free. After that you will receive all the developer updates! :)
  • Too exciting. Can't wait. It looks awesome.
  • Finally! I see other small details as well, the battery percentage + clock (24hr & 12hr) + operator name. I hope they add new icons too for headphones, orientation lock etc - these are small details but they're necessary. Text toasts needs some fix too, anyone can see part of msg if someone else is holding the phone. just need few minor adjustments/additions & wp OS will look complete!
  • Also hopefully fixes the reported skype issues. Seem to not work over mobile data.
  • Headphones/Orientation Lock/etc.  are selectable in the Settings.  If you look at the previous leak WPCentral posted of the Notification Center settings, you can select what you want those 4 actions to be.
  • Oh, i guess i missed that. Btw i was talking about new icons (headph, orientation lock etc) on the top bar, besides battery/wifi/gps icons.
  • Why would you need an icon to tell you if headphones are plugged in?
  • ROTFLMAO@Jf.Vigor.
  • Sometimes headphones don't work with some phones or aren't plugged in correctly!
  • Looking good, hopefully this will fix my facebook chat, that has stopped working since black.
  • That probably needs an app update from fb. Try the FB beta app,much faster updates.
  • Will do with thanks
  • Is there an fb app made by 'facebook' itself?
  • Yes there is, but not for windows phone.
  • The Facebook app is jointly made between Microsoft and Facebook.
  • FB Beta chat has been working perfectly for me since the last update.  I haven't received Black yet though, so now you're worrying me lol.
  • I think he means the built in fb chat client in messaging
  • Yes the built in one. :). Still doesn't work with either installed... Thankful most of us google chat.
  • Eagerly anticipated, but I hope they've refined the UI. As such it looks a bit rough around the edges and rather unlike Modern UI. Fingers crossed, April can't come sooner.
  • I'm sure they will... the final final version always looks a bit diff compared to leaks.  Also, remember things look better actually live on the phone compared to mockups/screencaps.
  • I'm desperately hoping that there is a quick option to adjust brightness. I'm constantly fiddling with it.
  • There is.  Remember in that previous Settings leak, you can select what those 4 quick actions are.  For example, I would have no use for Bluetooth being there, so I''ll definitely set that to Brightness.
  • You're right! And in that image it looks like someone selected brightness. Thank goodness. I need a birghtness toggle probably more than the actual phone.
  • Hopefully it will have a continuous bar for adjusting, rather than the 'high' Medium' and 'low'.
  • Not even gonna lie, that notification center looks sexy.
  • Let the hype build
  • Android?
  • Nope.
  • Android's is pretty lame compared to this.
  • Now, while I am a strong proponent of WP, Android Quick settings on KitKat are good, good enough to be an industry standard.
  • You mean the quick settings panel that has been there since Jellybean that require swipe down from the left hand side of the status bar. No thanks, I would rather have it done this way with the settings above the notifications. 
  • Settings above notifications is there since lagdroid's first version of notification bar. And after android 4.* these settings are also scrollable left-right to fit in almost all the settings. pardon if my comment made any WP fan hurt, but the leaked picture seriously reminded me of my lagdroid (cyanogenmod) days. i mean it looks 99% the same in design! The layout, 'Clear All', 'Settings', bottom blue bar, not to mention how we are going to swipe down to open the drawer, its all available in 4.1.2 Jellybean. Swiping down from the top in any full screen application to view the bar can also be done on my stock LG Optimus 4x. It works the same as described above, only displaying the noti-bar on first swipe, and open drawer on second swipe. I really hope this is just a false rumor and someone did an android launcher to pass it out as Windows Phone 8.1 leak and the real thing will come as separate notification - quick settings tiles. Microsoft should do better than Scroogle Loving Windows Phone 8.
  • They all look the same to me, but I believe the blue bar changes with your theme color.
  • The quick toggles weren't part of Android, they were manufacturer customisations.
  • Is April any farther away? :-/
  • At least February is a short month, but March? Come on!
  • Lets keep april b4 march MS
  • there is MWC with new phone announcements by Nokia to tide us over for the next two months. 
  • What? Normandy?
  • I want.. And I want now!!
  • Awesome
  • O my god ! O my god ! O my god ! O my god ! O my god ! O my god ! O my godddddd !!!
  • Waiting!!!!
  • They need an option to turn off toast notifications when playing a game. Nothing is more irritating than receiving a deluge of Facebook chat message toast notifications when you're in the middle of a good gaming session.
  • No kidding! So annoying! A "do not disturb" mode. Apple did it so why can't MS. Bring it!
  • You could always buy an iPhone, if it's that important to you.
  • iPhones are overrated
  • Don't we have flip to silence. Which only works on current call, rather than silencing phone. But then like call divert options in black, that are hit and miss as to wether you get or not.. And people slag down android. MS is going same route
  • Alot nicer than the shitty fake one that that ***hole was passing off months ago. It was so ugly. This one feels more legit. Looks clean and makes sense. Noice!
  • I like the % on the battery. Hopefully they have added options in contacts for skype, twitter and linkedin directly. Would be useful for a system task monitor to show what is hogging cpu or battery draining. Also the option to have time etc on screen all the time
  • The task manger thing is very un-Windows Phone. Plus Windows Phone is a smart OS and handles that stuff on its own (like IOS) unlike android
  • Skype is already listed under contacts with Skype.
  • Awesome notifications center
  • A pointless feature.  And, it looks like, along with getting rid of the capacitive buttons in favor of ON-SCREEN buttons, we're losing even more screen real estate to stupid features.  I'm really getting disappointed in where Windows Phone AND Windows 8 are going.  This is sickening.
  • They are trying to salvage from a huge mess. But at least they are trying.
  • You might be in the minority on this. What smartphone is doing it better in your opinion?
  • Pointless feature? A feature which every other modern mobile OS has. You're joking right?
  • Pointless feature? No, it isn't. This is the answer to a problem that has lingered since the first release of WP7 and that is missed notifications. The onscreen buttons are an OEM decision and devices with physical and/or capacitive buttons won't see them!!
  • The implementation of the on-screen buttons may not be as bad you worry. Remember when 720p screens came out and folks complained about the "letterbox bands" at the top and bottom. That was because the aspect ratio of the 1280x720 screens differered from that of the 800x480 and 1280x768 screens. It's possible that the direction that Microsoft is going is to treat the devices on-screen button devices as if they were the old aspect ratio, using the space of the "letterbox bands" as the place where the on-screen buttons would go. This would allow the buttons to rotate just as do the buttons in the application bar at the bottom of apps like email.
  • Is it just me or does this centre looks really like android or doesn't look like WP.. Especially the rectangle icons, aren't they ugly?? I mean they should have kept them circles like other WP menus..
  • It's the Windows 8 look. those rectangle icons
  • Still that looks a bit messy, judging from the screenshots. Dunno how it will be in actual use. Hope I'm proved wrong..
  • I don't know, I think that organising it by app makes it look better than similar implementations on other platforms, but I'll reserve judgement until I get my hands on the preview of 8.1 and try it for myself.
  • Not quite ugly, but it does look different from traditional Windows Phone and a little Androidish. That said, I hope they do refine the design of the whole OS. It's basically stayed unchanged since 2010 while other platforms have seen much improvement (cards, sidebars, gestures).
  • Yet those other platforms have stayed pretty much the same in the way they operate.
  • No, they haven't, unless you're trying to steer this conversation into "it's just an app launcher" nonsense. The way content is displayed has been rethought (cards). The way navigation is displayed has been rethought (sidebars). The ways that the user can interact with the interface have broadened (gestures). It's no coincidence that the best (Windows Phone) apps use non-standard controls and layouts.
  • So you're saying that Windows Phone should become just another clone of Android?
  • No, you pulled that out of thin air.
  • Looks alot like android. Especially with the cyan theme they got on
  • I guess that will change with the accent colour.
  • Looks more like what you see in Windows 8 to me. Particularly W8's media apps.
  • Too late.
  • Better late than never. Posted via the WPC App for Windows Phone 8.1
  • Exactly, how long did Apple take to add a notification centre?
  • The action center looks better than I expected. Can't wait to try it. The UI is getting better all the time.
  • Looks awesome! And thank goodness for customizability. Posted via the WPC App for Android!
  • Wow I am beyond excited now
  • This update is SO long overdue... I can't wait!!! :D:D:D:D:D
  • MY BODY IS READY. Breathe new life into my trusty Lumia 920 so I can go another year without needing to upgrade :D
  • WP 8.1 Is looking so good! The question is how long until it's released officially for legacy devices. I'm hoping and praying to God it's at least announced and demoed at MWC.
  • Sorry to burst your bubble but there won't be any WP news for the MWC.
  • Exactly, that will be coming at BUILD whch is in April I believe ;-)
  • Whoohoo first rumor that is a confirmed 10 lol.
  • YES!  I don't even care that I haven't received the Black update anymore.  I want 8.1 ASAP! lol
  • Just bring it on already! MS are taking far too long with this when they really need a sense of urgency if they wanna crack the 10% market share barrier
  • ^This. We loose WP users every - single - day, because of simple ideas, people who switch to WP, are expecting more than IOs and Andoid, esle why did they switch?
  • It makes me worried for the future that the word loose is replacing the word lose.
  • TBH i know the difference but i think my mind just feels the long "O" and writes double "O"s habitually. I just learnt that i have to be more carefull from now on. thank you.
  • also double "L"s it seems
  • Soooooo excited
  • I like it. The percentage under the battery is also great & innovative.
  • Indeed it's great! But innovative?
  • Will other countries get more bing services like the voice command, eat + drink, scout, and other news and headlines while opening bing search? Please MS u can make it large with Bing?
  • Yes... they said that already.  It'll probably take a bit of time but it's coming, especially now with Foursquare data and Cortona :D
  • So we can expect that from MS st build?
  • The number of times I've found Scout to be useful? Zero. And I'm an American who visits Chicago frequently, so this number ought to be higher.
  • Wow, wow, wow !
  • I hope this also adds a default file manager
  • The only thing that saddens me with this leak is that Outlook (blurred in the background) looks exactly the same... i'm hoping that's just an old app and we'll be surprised with a completely new app (on par to the Windows 8.1 app or even better Outlook.com). lol
  • If that is indeed Outlook, it could be a lot of things, it looks different to me. Outlook has a white background.
  • It has a white backgound if you select that in settings, otherwise it's a black background.
  • Why would it need to change, it displays your email so why would it need to look more complicated?
  • Nice, i hope they wont leak more screenshots i want to watch the event without known all features
  • Great news, finally..btw, Nokia storyteller is back!
  • Looks good. Needs a brightness slider though
  • Off course the inception of the new era. Can't wait.... Loves the butterness of wp.
  • Is this available for LUMIA 620????
  • It will come to all Windows Phone 8 Devices.
  • In theory, anyway. But you never know: evil carriers could withhold the update, forcing people to seek more advanced options for upgrade.
  • Can we get wp8.1 update all over countries at the same time??????
  • Can we get wp8.1 update all over countries at the same time????
  • All wp are going to be hot cakes.
  • I would like sleeping mode, same as driving mode but for night. Detect a WiFi, i.e. My home wifi and be between set times then turn on.
  • That would be nice for it to be native, but there are "quiet time" apps.
  • Will this work on lumia 520?
  • All devcies. Spread the word. Even the keyboard will be updated
  • Keyboard? Link?
  • What about file manager
  • Yupp file manager,apps to sd card and the amazing cortana will be out
  • Link?
  • If this comes to my Lumia 820 I'll be extremely happy.
  • It will.
  • Will i get this before christmas 2014 ? I still waiting for the Black Update will be waiting forever with my l620 like with amber.
    Give me black update nokia i have a unbranded phone !
  • Yes, it will come in summer 2014 (hopefully all the carriers will release it in the same time!) :D
  • Amber and Black are Nokia updates.
    Update 3 and Windows Phone 8.1 are Microsoft OS updates.
  • Lol.. I'm suprised ms haven't designed wp8 to have mini once a month updates.
  • So WP8.1 has flipped the Interface concept. you get notified where other OS lets users take action (because of livetiles), and you take action where other OS just notifies the user (because of the action center)? Thats interesting.
  • There will be both live tiles and notifications centre.u can use both
  • There will both and i can use them both? wow. That isnt what i was really trying to portray there. I was just saying that WP is being very innovative with the way they handle OS operatoins.
  • With live tiles, lock screen notifications, and glance screen notifications (including apps like battery sense), I don't see the urgency for an action center
  • I don't stare at my phone 24/7 tho.
  • With all those features I can say Windows is a best os for corporate and business users. We just want more office integration on our phones. Windows will work great if they also sell phones like 525,620 to corporate world. Thsts hoe we can increae market share initially. Thats the region other operating systems havent targetted yet except BB till now(demise). So selling in bulk such low end phones to corporate world is the only way Windows phone can increase their sales rapidly n easily
  • Yeah, weirdly i suddenly feel an unnecessary duplication. unless this might actually minimize my start screen.
  • I'd like the home button LED to flash when there's a notification, on top of all that. 
  • +8.1
  • How would that work on devices with a physical home button?
  • But the most popular WP device,the Lumia 520 does not have glance.So action center IS needed.
  • I need one. Just the other day I saw a toast come up, but it disappeared before I could pick up my phone. It wasn't on any live tiles (and I consider the tiles I have pinned to be my "important" ones, though that shouldn't have to be the case necessarily), and to this day I have no idea what the notification was. Not the first time that's happened, either.
  • That happens to me all the time, particularly from Sportscenter, Bing News' breaking news, games and a few apps that aren't pinned to my start screen.
  • For those toast notifications that appear at the top for only 10-15 seconds. That's what I want a list of. Only thing I like about Android.
  • You must've never missed a CNN breaking news alert...
  • Dude just don't use it then if you feel that way! People like you are the reasons that Microsoft settles!!
  • So where are those guys saying WP doesn't need a notification center? :))
  • ^Thiiiiiiiiiiiss!!
  • Read all the comments, they are still here.
  • I know it's a consistent gesture across the major platforms to have a "swipe down from the top" notification center, but I'm sure they could have came up with another way of calling the center up. I had an idea of long pressing the Search button to bring up a floating window similar to the phone dialer. But I mean whatever floats your boat lol
    On the note of search, I really hope they improve Bing on Windows Phone to make it more like Windows 8's Smart Search in terms of Xbox Music integration, and finding files on the phone easier.
  • I'm sorry guy, but I hate long presses. It feels always so slow!
  • Looking really nice. Very sophisticated in my eyes.
  • Our platform is slowly becoming of age!
  • Just needs to start pulling things together. MS needs to check apps better before putting onto store etc. You install an app and it kills other functions etc.
  • I agree. They shouldn't let apps on for the sake of having a high amount of apps in the store. High quality or no go. Remove all the fake ones like ones that are Firefox and chrome and shit
  • april is still too far from now..
  • Ah so good
  • Awesome!! :)
  • Next leaks , Cortana !
  • This will make so many things easier. Although I've seen some people complain that it should've been on the left of the start screen, but I'll say swipe from top is much more accessible from anywhere. Also, unrelated but any word on IE11 on WP? I think browser is also something that is lagging behind the competition.
  • IE is horrendous. It lacks so many features.
  • Your comments are horrendous.
  • Nokia run an comp, said needs flash or html5 on mobile version. I thought IE was html5
  • So how have you confrmed the accuracy? The same standard applies to you as anyone else. If you have no proof it is just a rumor and NOTHING in these images is beyond a person with even a basic grasp of PhotoShop. Oh, that's right, you don't post fake news so it must be true.  Oh, but wait, haven't you presented multiple vesions of this stuff in the past.  Since they must obviously all be true since you said so, Microsoft must change its mind a lot.
  • U MAD BRO?
  • Most of the versions we have seen have been real, but still in developement. Now the release is getting closer everything is more polished and final. Seems that you dont have much knowledge of developing anything... You test things and there is an evolution to reach the final product.
  • Yep, and I believe in the other leaks, they said that the design had changed because those leaks were from an old build.
  • Remember when the action centre was a tile? People were freaked out...
  • They already explained how they confirm their news and it's really much better than other "blogs". They get two sources confirming the authenticity, and then move on to tell us "yeah, this is real". They prefer the more traditional approach of journalism which is as trustable as it can be on anywhere else.
  • Ah, someone who hasn't heard of iterative design!!
  • I would really like to choose default apps on WP like Android. The entire Android ecosystem is so linked. As soon as you install an app, everything comes together. As in when trying to make a call, Android asks if I want to make it via default caller or via Skype. I like that integration and closeness between apps.
  • Windows Phone asked me if I'd like to open a PDF file with Adobe Reader or with Microsoft's PDF Reader app.
  • Buy an Android... or an iPhone, all of your comments seem to revolve around what they have & how they work.
    Rather than wanting WP to behave just like iPhone/Android, why not just get one of them.
  • Hello, have you even USED a Windows Phone?
  • Hello, have you ever USED a windows phone?
  • Can't wait to get it on my Lumia 925! :)
  • Although having something is better than having nothing, I still like the iOS7 notification panel much more. It looks very polished and refined in my opinion. This looks plain and childish.
  • Buy an iPhone if you want "polished".
  • I can only hope that this is accessed by swiping to the right... If it's from the top then it'll conflict with the status bar... They can't keep the status bar active all the time since it'll ruin the simplicity of the Start Screen...
  • Then it would be accessible from anywhere but the start screen.
  • I think you have a typo in there, shouldn't it be "Then it wouldn't..." rather than "Then it would...". Sorry, just had to point it out.
  • YEAH.....in your face android and ios users.
  • Yeah in other 2 years WP can out come android at this pace but need official apps updated regularly and available soon in which Fb from fb inc is still missing
  • Microsoft and Facebook collaborate on the WP Facebook app and that's as "official" as you're going to get!!
  • Me and my L520 can't wait! Posted from my Moto G on AT&T via the WPC App for Android
  • Interest sharing should be there in notification centre.bcoz internet sharing is not provided in any shortcut apps
  • +929 loljk +620
  • Maybe it is.
  • Will lumia 520 get this ??
    If not i am abandoning wp forever!!
  • Ofc they'll getting it
  • That attitude isn't getting you anywhere. but yes, it will. All phones will be compatible with 8.1
  • Lol, when you buy a low end smartphone, you cannot expect getting  all the features like high end, thats obvious, so dont blame WP8 or MS, but yourself, from buyin a cheap cheap device.  similarly you will not blame  Ford  that your Fiesta does not have the same 6 cylinder engine like Mustang
  • Your Mustang has a 6 cylinder? Weak.
  • You must be new, yes, all current WP phones will get 8.1.
  • "san franciso" am I the only who caught it? Or maybe that's a different city than san Francisco... Lol
  • So cool
  • Will this come already in a 5-inch screen with Lumia branding?! I can hardly wait!
  • No, it won't. If you have a Lumia 1520 you can only use tiles /s  
  • Is anyone else overly anxious and excited to see how 8.1 will function? From everything we've been hearing about it, it could be a huge step forward for the platform. I'm really looking forward to it.
  • Yeah I think it will be huge. WP8.1 on the updated version of Lumia 1020 later this year could finally be the high-end blockbuster hit we've been looking for. Not just among WP fans but it could draw a lot of switchers from iOS and Android.
  • I hope it's another fake. It has some good ideas (battery percentage and other info) but the  pull-able tab, overall layout, and the swiping from the top is so tired and unimaginitive for WP.  Not to mention awkward with large display devices.  There's a reason why the address bar in IE is at the bottom.
  • There are also reasons why the action centre are pulled from top: 1. swiping from the bottom can accidentally touch the capacitive buttons; 2. it's the only possible way to have the action centre universally accessible from any screen, whether you're in an app or any where in the phone. The IE has its address bar below because we have a visible area we can tap on, here, it's really hidden. I don't want my action centre always visible lol
  • I agree on your points but that doesn't make it less unoriginal or awkward to use with larger screen devices. They could've just as easily made the action center retrievable with a swipe from the left edge of the screen.
  • How about an option in settings: swipe from top or bottom? :)
  • Well with other OS' stealing WP's and W8's design language, I don't mind Microsoft borrowing design aspects from them.
  • I don't think so.
    Imagine a game or a panorama app, swiping from the left would interfere with gestures inside apps.
  • oh microsoft you make me happy.
  • The Facebook app should be made better in wp8.1 , even the beta version doesnt have many features that android and ios Facebook app has. The Facebook and whats app notifications should be improved so that they pop up quickly in the *action center* .....and will the apps which are not integrated with the OS have access to the action center??
  • Why do I rarely, if ever, hear of any demand for what, in my opinion, is the only essential feature of an Android phone, namely the email/text indicator light?
  • This should deffo be a feature imo - the windows button flashes when you start charging from a dead battery, maybe they should change it to flash after receiving a text or call
  • With access to the notification center, technically this should be possible if API access is available via the sdk. This could be done by developers instead of a Firmware baked in feature. One could give a toggle access to users to control the feature.
  • Lol yea, in BB too, I miss the days that my phone blinks disco lights when getting alerts from friends or an alarming pink light whenever my partner texts.
  • I really wish they had more options for background theme rather than being dark/light only.
  • Rumor is that there is.
  • Does this mean live tiles won't show missed calls and emails and stuff? will the tiles go from smart live tiles to very uninformed live tiles?
  • Both the action center and live tiles will work
  • Why would it mean that?
  • What do you think?
  • awesome bring it on!!
  • My lumia 925 is 2 months old and i want a new phone already maybe during my birtbday, this may a new lumia wp 8.1 may do.
  • This looks great :D now I can be happy, so glad it doesn't look like the previous images we've seen
  • All lumia devices going to blink once again with a latest notification center update
  • Came from a "confidential email"? Yeah right. Good feature though... Looking forward to it
  • Will I get Datasense when this gets released I wonder :)
  • Nice.
  • Will WP8 be upgradeable to WP8.1 ????
  • All WP8 devices will get WP8.1 :)
  • Yes
  • I want the start screen change too,3 columns on 925
  • Looking forward to the action center!
  • Looks good still little wile to wait though be worth the wait though of course :)
  • i have a nexus5 but i wanna update my phone with a lumia wp8.1..really cant wait:-)
  • Is it really true that those of us who got GDR3 preview will be able to get WP 8.1 straight in April? Can't wait to put it on my L920
  • Same here. From what he said in the last paragraph it sounds like we should indeed get it, just like we did with the GDR3 Preview.
  • Yes!  Don't think I've ever seen a 10/10 before.
  • That's a pity. The tiles and the center are kinda duplicating features now.
  • It will not be duplication. You ll get notifications in action centre of those apps which are not pinned to start. And if don't want toast notification, that can put in action centre
  • Now, if some notifications are in one place and others in the other place that will be one epic fail.
  • Ya, but i think we will have option to choose where to see it.
  • They could stick with the tiles. Like, a swipe to the right to show only the tiles that need attention.
  • But the tiles are unreliable anyway. Bring on the notification center, I say. Should've been there from the start!
  • Reliable tiles is what should have been there from the start.
  • No, they're not. Once toast notifications dissapear - you've got nothing to refer back to if you missed it. There's literally no good way you could "fix" this issue with tiles, considering those missed toasts could be from apps you don't have tiles pinned for. Not no mention, this gives you a central location no matter where you are - the start menu would never work quite as well considering there are games/apps that don't reload properly after using WP's multitasking feature. This on the other hand will consistenly no matter where you are.
  • I feel like its always a wait with windows phone... and even when an update delivers half of what we expected. You get "it's coming soon" as an excuse .
  • Nice android notification center! When WP notification center is coming?
  • This is Windows phone 8.1's notification centre.
  • This is nowhere near metro design, it's a custom rom of Android Either WP is getting complete UI overhaul or this is android custom rom
  • -1
  • Useful comment..
  • Alright then smartass, which custom ROM is it?
  • Sry im not as cool as you're, don't beat me plz
  • That doesn't answer the question.  Are you now saying that it's not fake, which, with "Microsoft Confidential" emblazoned across the slides indicates to everyone except you that this is in fact leaked from Microsoft.
  • It does look like a android one lol
  • Yep... And that sucks to be honest :/ Why not on the left of the home screen?? The dumb 90ies drawer graphics made me shudder
  • As others have said, that would mean the action centre could only be accessed from the start screen as swiping left and right are used in apps for navigation.
  • It's not about the swipes, it's about the UI of it, it looks like an old CM rom
  • Which "old" CM ROM were you using then, CM1.0?
  • Its because of the teal accent used.
  • I want a software data cable transfer app on WP. It helps to transfer big size files from one device to other. For that we need a file manager.
  • Now with wp8.1 we really need official fb app Facebook inc. Y they arent developing for WP? Why
  • Send an email to facebook
  • They are, in collaboration with Microsoft and that's as "official" as we'll get!!
  • The action center and the "Cortana" project are good features for the WP platform.Time wil make this OS only better and mature!Let's hope we will see more frequent OS updates so WP will begin to catch up with Android and iOS.
    The only problem i had with my 2 Lumia 920 and 3htc 8x replaced models is the bad battery manangment of the OS when you play a game or some apps, and make the phone overheat and cause ~30% batter draina /hour!
    I hope Qualcom and the phone manufacturers with MS toghether will fix this issue in upcoming models because it's the only reason i want to switch back to my iPhone!
  • Looks graat!
  • Does wp 8.1 support 720 & 920 ???
  • Yes
  • About dam time
  • It's a bit sad that I'm already happy to see anything new coming to Windows Phone..   But when I give this a second glance I'm not too happy with the design. Personally I had hoped WP and Windows would get a similar UI. This in no way looks like Windows. Swipe from the top is a gesture to close apps in Windows, not to show notifications. This only leads to further fracturing the two operating systems, not merger.   In my opinion the perfect location for missed notifcations, quick toggles and other stuff that needs easy access is the left side of the startscreen and in Windows 8 the upperside. Just like WP8 has the applist on the right side and Windows 8 has it on the lower side. Eventually they could make it so that when you turn Windows 8 to portrait mode it will look identical to WP with the applist and notifications on the left and right side. Effectly creating one UI that adapts to whether the device is portrait or landscape.
  • Couldn't agree more!
  • Having the action centre on the left of the startscreen isn't a feasible option imo. If it was located there, it wouldn't be accessible within apps. It just wouldn't make sense to me, to have to go back to my startscreen to access the action centre. But this is a subjective matter, so no one's opinion is more/less right.
  • I have considered that but it's choosing between two evils. By having the action centre on the top you fracture the ecosystem and remove what Microsoft has worked so hard to achieve. They are closest to having one OS or at least one UI across all platforms. This creates an unique value proposition that Google and Apple won't be able to match for years to come.   And how many times to you expect to access this action centre? Right now we seem to do fine without a notification centre. Sure every now and then you wonder what that one ntification was that you missed that isnt showing up on any pinned tiles. But do we really need to have that immediatly accessible with one swipe? And it that ability worth sacrificing the one UI/OS vision?   In the end I think only power-users want to quickly access this screen. They are well adapted to using software in general. So a pefectly gine substitute would be holding the windows button for 1 seconds and swiping up. Or if Microsoft were to bring the charm-bar to WP you could perhaps press on the notification-hub that pops up in Windows 8 when you do so. This would then also bring you to the same notification screen as a swipe to the left from th startscreen.
  • How will this fracture/fragment the ecosystem? WP7 is dead and won't get any more updates and ALL WP8 devices will get WP8.1 so all WP8 devices will have the Action Centre!!
  • Did you read my post? I wasn't talking about WP7 but about Windows 8. Microsoft has been working towards unification of WP and Windows both for the UI and under the hood. It would be a shame if they now took a step back by creating a different working interface, For example how much sense does it make that 6'' Windows device work entirely different from 8'' devices? That swipe from the top means closing an app for one and showing action centre for another? Why would the 8'' device lack an action centre? Eventually the action centre will come to Windows 8 as well and they will need to find a different way to access it on that platform.  WP8 on the 1520 is already being criticized (and rightfully so) for being unoptimized for such a large screen. Only the startmenu adapted to the screensize, the rest is just blown out of proportion.  My point is that they need to find a solution that in the long run can work for all devices. Whether they are small tablets, large phones or a desktops.
  • I hope they give the options of sliding the action shade from bottom to top (or anyway the user wants ) cause it would be better on a 5.5 in or bigger display
  • Gimme gimme gimme gimme.....I want it now dammit!!! I've been a wp user since htc7 trophy in early 2011 through to the lumia 800 and now more recently a very happy lumia 1520 user and a notification centre has been the one major thing missing throughout. Really great to see ms/nokia making it happen. So we have a brand new genius ceo and a awesome update to look forward to this year......2014 is shaping up to be a good year for windows phone :-)
  • In my opinion, it doesn't look very good, at least at first glance. Maybe because I don't see the big picture due to the excessive blurring, and maybe because it's just a static image, instead of a real demonstration of how it actually works.
  • Nice. The only thing that makes the imaes hard to believe is that windows phone desingwise has mostly been about the square modern UI design. All of a sudden we now have rectangular quicklaunch icons for the radio settings. I'm curious if this will also be like this in the final product. Still curious though if the icons will actually be the quicksettingsbuttons as a function or yet again as a  link to the settings pages. If the latter is true that would be very unfortuante. I hope the also still offer developers an api update where a live tile can for radio settings can actually directly function as an on/off switch. Now the only question will be what the memory footprint of the action center will be and how easy it is to delete read notifications.
  • That's the best most awesome news I have ever heard since the release of Windows phone, atlast, this is the update I was waiting for and that was holding me back from buying a new windows phone, hopefully they will release it soon after announcing it officially. Thanks for sharing WPC
  • Still think the fan design floating around a year ago where you had to swipe left for notifications was much nicer. This really does looks too close to android/ios to warrant the year long wait IMHO
  • I'm a bit worried about how much they will stuff into WP8.1. I hope they also do work on the services like better Skydrive where I can "make available offline" photos or documents like in Windows 8.1, folder management, week view for calendar, folders, better Skype integration, Smart Search for the Bing button including Cortana, Improvements to Office, for example Word displaying how a page looks and not just the text and Formulas in OneNote, Xbox Music app as central music app and with more features like fast-forwarding via the little bar and not via buttons, Reducing the font size of the title for most apps so you can see more content (compare Music app with Bing News), syncing of app data between WP8.1 and Win8.1, including IE, so history, passwords, favourites, and a new UI for IE where you can swipe to go back and forth like in Win8.1, favourites / most visited sites showing when you tap the adress bar If they miss some of these, then we will have to wait till WP8.1 GDR1, and that will propably be around christmas.
  • lazy azz monkeys took them 4 years to give US a notification centre.
  • Remind me how long it took Apple to add the same thing to iOS!!
  • Am I the only one who's noticed 'starbucks' instead of 'wifi' in the screenshot?...:P Anyway, MS though a bit late in the race, I guess the implementation is gonna be perfect!! That's good news.
  • Its the network name you goose! Geeze
  • Seriously? Do you like it? I feel a little sad and confused. It's exactly like Ios and android, why I am a WP user? Because it is totally different and fresh. Everyone in another post made it clear that did not want this, very disappointed MS
  • Its different its not a simple notification center but instead its an action centre..did you miss that on the pic
  • You don't have to use it; but some people do, so its there. MS are listening. Stop being a sourpuss
  • Exactly, I wasn't sure about this at first but knowing that I sometimes miss the toast notifications makes this perfect for me. You don't have to use it but it's there if you want to use it and I suspect most of the people who are complaining will use it anyway. My guess is they will show off the functionality of it at BUILD and they have probably added a unique twist on the traditional notification centre.
  • Agree, why is MS rubbing their ass so hard to do the same as those boring OSs, Come on..MS make some differences, after all its windows, it should be out of the crowd..
  • I didn't know every Windows Phone user post here at WPC
  • Please don't leave the Lumia 920 last on this update. The Lumia 920 was the 1st WP8 phone that came out and it deserves as much credit as the Lumia 1520 or the upcoming Lumia 929. The most important thing have a scheduled date on these updates don't have them scattered, like you guys did with the amber and black update. It was a mess and people were waiting so long it felt like a decade passed until the new OS was released.
  • Will the preview come to those of us with gdr3 preview installed automatically?
  • It will available to EVERYONE with windows 8 running in their phones
  • I'd have thought so if you're in the dev preview programme.
  • I'm in the program, still waiting on black for my 521. April sounds like a good time to have a WP.
  • Why is the fbook logo the old one with the light blue strip along the bottom?
  • I find it hard to get too excited that sometime, probably in 2015 (I'm on AT&T) my L1020 will have notification capabilities approaching those on my HD2 4 years ago. Wake me when Windows Phone OS can so something new that wasn't possible on Windows Mobile.
  • HTC tilt 2007
  • You can keep Windows Phone running reliably for more than a week without rebooting, that's something you could never do with Windows Mobile...
  • Give us a poll to see who likes it and who thinks they blew it. Time to show Microsoft they executed poorly with this android clone :)
  • *yawn*
  • Yawn what? I may stand corrected and will gladly admit if that's the case. But a poll would have to show that first. I am convinced even here, where there are arguably more people pro whatever wphone (including myself, mind you), that center would score no better than 70% - and that by all means is a botched job given the bias.
  • How is it an android clone?
  • Wait until its released, then such a poll would be more appropriate
  • True, makes more sense.
  • I just waiting for wp8.1 before buy another phone...maybe wp8 will become completely fully featured and more abilities , capabilities to come aside of that wp8 is completely smooth compared to Android is like java or symbian when you run the any apps .. Android good for games bad for applications ..
  • there are so much things even simplest things missing in WP. but every time those simple things are implemented it comes out in so much special way. not like other competitors copying each other so blatantly... not competing with others, but standing on its own... that makes WP owners hold on to their love on WP more...
  • Looks nice))
  • It's coming, blue screen errors and many more.
  • Has everyone missed the meaning behind the name "Action Centre"? That means you should be able to action/reply notification directly from this screen without opening full app...as per previous leaks all notifications in 8.1 should be actionable right from notification bar...much better than Android or iOS, this is going to be killer feature of WP8.1..:)
  • Shit... That could be awesome
  • I wonder why nobody mentions the 2 swipes required.. Isn't that kinda annoying?
  • No, you can do 2 short swipes or 1 long swipe
  • Where did you get that information from???
  • Can't find the source right now (lazy to search), but it has been previously leaked.
  • Another thing we can conclude is that notifications are categorized by the app they are from! Not so messy like in ios and android!!!
  • That's what I like about the way Microsoft have implemented this feature.
  • I really hope there's an action for switching between 2G and 3G/4G. Even on Android I had to install a custom rom for this.
  • the date is 4/20 (20/4 for the people who do not live in USA). IS THIS A JOKE?
  • No joke, it could 04/20/2013 build date or 04/20/2014 the date it is going to be available to Johns & Janes..
  • The leaker ( Microsoft employees maybe ) want to give us a hint, don't they ?
  • One thing I hope 8.1 has is the ability to edit playlist..any idea if its going to there..
  • Hopefully you can choose what settings are short cuts. Id love to see the ability to open some apps from the lock screen, ie a torch app. Quick access to something like that would be great
  • I cannot wait - this release is shaping up to be something major! I hope openvpn support is included!
  • This fascinates me, on so many levels. We have a saying in Croatia that goes something like this: "He who can please everyone is yet to be born." I don't know the English equivalent. In the same comment thread I read people squeaking happily because this is something new and original, and people protesting how this is going to be yet another Android clone... And we are all watching the same image. :) There's only little you can do to have notifications and settings all together and keep it fresh and innovative. Let us wait and see, keep the rotten tomatoes and eggs for later, if and when they would be necessary :)
  • Agreed. I hope I can swipe right to reveal the center. I don't know of any Android device that can do so.
  • And a,,, how about temporary files? :|
  • I honestly hope I can swipe right to bring the action center/notification center into view instead of swiping down from the top. I like to see my battery and connection indicators when I swipe down at the top of the phone. But if the update keeps the indicators on screen 24/7, then I'll be fine with swiping down.
  • Hopefully it will be on the left side of the screen and the icons will stay always on screen. It kind of annoys me having to pull down from the top everytime I want see the wifi/3G. Besides, the percentage will be on the top too (hopefully).
  • This is as lame as Android. Unless they have something on the left of my start screen, it's going to be a wasted space.
  • Already mentioned and leaked before, left swipe from start screen will have "Me"
  • Source? Link?
  • We need also a better calendar, the stock one sucks
  • amen! i dont even use it any more.  just looking at it ticks me off. 
  • Very much looking forward to having this. I just hope there are 'reply' options in the notification centre without having to open the relevant app.
  • Press+Hold will have options such as Reply, Cancel (or in case of FB, tell person to FO...)
  • Marked on my calendar...7 weeks and 3 days...
  • Tom Warren has tweeted more clearer screenshot. https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/432480060269154305
  • Can't wait for Lumia 1820!!!
  • Omg whats going on with the wpcentral app, everytime I try to post a short comment it edits my last longer one, and saves over it.... Typing this for the last time, the more I think about this I think its briliant... After this theres no longer need to pin bigger tiles for messaging related apps, as the preview is available in the centre... Atm I have email and fb as bigger, rest small as they give me toasts anyway..
  • Centre
  • I would also like to see a better calendar app and photos hub. Where we could create folders and see the picture info (size, date taken, location taken etc.)
  • Say hello to StoryTeller (even though it sucks).
  • Wait , are we supposed to swipe down to see the battery percentage ?
  • Oh come on.. Don't make it the same way as those Androids and iOSs have it.. Make some difference like for e.g. use the corners of the screen to to show up quick settings..like the one from windows 8 (pc). It should be like, touch the upper left corner to show up the quick settings. Come on MS show some creativity and innovation rather than following those bunch of SUCK OSs..
  • That can't work on a small screen.
  • OMG, this looks awesome!! Hoping that the shortcuts can be customisable.
  • Hooray looks great!
  • I dearly hope this comes with the ability to restrict which apps can notify you. One of the most annoying things about Android is just how many developers seem to think that their barely used app is somehow important enough to warrant a barrage of notifications every 5 minutes. It was utterly infuriating.
  • Is that a new version of Facebook app that benefits from the notifications center?
  • Wooooooooooooow new pic: http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/9/5394676/windows-phone-8-1-notification-center-action-center-screenshots
  • I like the idea that it comes down in two times, but I was hoping the top part would be more like the control center in iOS 7: music controls, brightness, flashlight, ... I think it's stupid and annoying you can only choose 4 actions...
  • 8.1 update should bring support for installation of apps&games on SD card or we're screwed.
  • From what I've heard elsewhere that is coming as well but I would expect it to be limited to microsSD cards that meet certain speed requirements.
  • Anyone know if custom email notifications will be part of this or not? The ability to specify a different notification per email contact is critical for me. I've been patiently living with that since WP7. Thanks.
  • Now, if only I could organize the definitions menu by moving the items up and down, more a less like we move the tiles in the start screen, that would also be very useful.
  • The feeling of something new coming on the way is kind of exciting, but I still can't wait to get this one let hope we won't wait for another 2 months for the carriers to approve it
  • Innovative??? Lmfao!! About as innovative as round wheels.
  • I suppose your car has square wheels then?
  • From engadget: "There's no guarantee that we'll see Action Center in 8.1, but the historically reliable WPCentral vouches for its existence -- we won't be surprised if it's part of the final OS release."
  • i am concerened about what the 3 dot settings is doing on the action center
  • I think that part of it is transparent that's why you can see the app in the background.
  • Wow, looks pretty good.  Pleasantly surprised.  
  • Awesome! Can't wait. Thanks
  • would be nice if they fixed the sms/mms delivery report thing. very annoying to get it in a new message
  • If they had to make Android like Notification Center, I wonder what took them 4 years. Pathetic.
  • Nice to see the battery percentage. Must of taken a while to code that
  • Wow! ALOT nicer than anticipated. I like it. Can't wait to get updated! jejeje
  • I was one of those people who believed that we don't need this sort of thing but the more I see of this, the more I'm warming to the idea of it.
  • Did you guys see the date...4/20 - April 20th is the date...now run amuck...
  • I'm glad that at least they copied this from Android and not from iOS7. I just hope you can put more than 4 quick settings there.
  • This looks stunning!!! Beautifully done... Just cant wait for release!!! :D
  • Now this is what I like to see!. Not red bars with different colour accents. Very simple looking and gets the job done.
  • I seriously can't wait for this update!! I LOVE YOU MICROSOFT!!!
  • Sexyyy :)
  • Also i wasn't way off.. http://imgur.com/fyUg2TL
  • Finally, one of the biggest 'should of been there since the beginning' features taken care of...just too bad we have X months to get it. WP is growing up
  • Please stop overreacting... "Beautiful" "stunning"... Come on, they will release something better.. It's like ICS android (ugly).. Pretty sure it will be so much better when they show us real WP 8.1... But it's nice.. I am closer and closer to get Lumia.. Waiting for Updated 1020 with 1080p and some updated sh*ts... And I am most exited about Cortana.. I really don't know how you live without something like Google Now and Siri.. It makes my life so much easier... Hope they will do it right this time.. I am little tired from iOS, and tried Android with Note 2, than Note 3, and I don't think I will ever use Android.. This is the biggest sh*t in the world.. For Note 3 with specs to the sky I still had Lags, apps crashing and all kind of problems... So WP is great OS.. And I am sure more and more Devs will support it.. It's getting really popular OS.. People are sick of iOS's look and Android Lags, so this is the best choice... And for most people camera is the most important thing.. And nokia does really good job.. Apple too, but when you are so sick of the OS.. You don't care so much it has great camera.. And it's cool to wait for updates with cool stuff.. Keeps you excited :-)))
  • Yes please
  • I hope MS will do some changes to the applications page which currently is just a vertical column of apps. This hasn't been changed since its original release. We need a batter for innovative idea how to arrange apps!
  • Just as long WP 8.1 Will support the Lumia 920! I know the 920 is an older device now but it still keeps up, and it's One Hell of a good phone
  • Last hope for windows phone.have to be on the mark otherwise BB10 is also improving very fast.
  • Nice!
  • Reminds me of the Dynamics CRM 2013 user interface.
  • Nice :-)
  • It would be fuck if Microsoft does not say anything at MWC I mean we fucking love MS but god damn it they take forever to update the platform. I want to be able to send a receive GIF images via MMS, Edit a video like iMovie from iphone, File Explorer like Android, Install apps on my micro sd card, damn!
  • Then you'll be sorely disappointed, Microsoft don't "do" MWC as they have their own event called BUILD ;-)
  • Date says 4/20? Lol
  • Wow this looks awesome! Seriously cannot wait..
  • toggles are very strange. They should be square or round as WP buttons/symbols
  • They fit right in, they're like small wide tiles.
  • This is Amazing :)
  • I know the vast majority is excited, but the real challenge here and always has been is making the masses care about WP. It is such a non-entity in North America among providers let alone average users. For this I think there has to be another major marketing push that goes all the way down to sales people.
  • These are welcomed developments on the windows phone ecosystem. At least, windows phone can now better compete with its closest rivals more than ever before!
  • You know, I'm not super thrilled with the "pulling it down" gesture. Someone mentioned about holding down the back button and using the multi-task area for a notification center, I would like that more because its different. Also, if there was any way to have the windows button blink for notifications I would attempt a back flip because that would be awesome as sh*t.
  • Different doesn't mean better. 
  • Can't wait to see new wp8.1 phones !
  • this notification center is OK , not more really disappointing come on MS spend some dollars to improve if u wanna compete NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL NICE UI AND NOTIFICATION CENTER! WOW! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRVC4BKWaP8&feature=youtu.be
  • Very pretty Notification Center (errr, Action Center) design. They may be extremely late, but at least they're doing it right. I'll definitely be marking my calendar for April 2, very exciting! Hopefully there won't be too much delay between the announcement and the Developer Preview. Either way, very excited!
  • Exactly, this is probably why its taken so long. They didn't want to create just another "notification centre" but wanted to add their own twist on it. All you naysayers need to wait for BUILD and see it in action before making judgements on it!!
  • This is the only major system feature I miss from other platforms, add this, plus a fully featured facebook app and facebook messenger and I won't have half a reason to switch to another platform :)
  • The design of the Action Center is awesome!
  • This is much nicer than I expected, I just hope it is launched with gesture, at least not from a tile....
  • What I most want from 8.1 is one-click switch of wifi and the such, also making nfc functions to do it more transparent
  • Looks purdy
  • This is on par with what Windows has been calling the hub it has since Vista. Sounds like Windows 8 will get a modern style action center too then. It is missing from the modern settings :)
  • Looks terible, would be looking great on Windows Phone 98 (if it existed). I'm talkin about the design ofcourse, and the usability, IDK, we'll see.
  • Battery percentage :)
  • Come on! You guys seriously believe this? We've been fooled before! And I thought WP8.1 will be announced at MWC this month!
  • It won't be announced at MWC, it will be announced at the BUILD event that Microsoft hold every year.
  • Ain't that awesome. Really really really really hope they don't disappoint
  • The leaker site said they have more images to release right? If true, Stop being such a tease. :)
  • Action Center + Threshold Merger = The God of all tablets, Surface
  • Nice, so 8.1 will be for Windows what 7.0 was for iOS - a bit more up to date. Google cannot thank you enough for giving them all that time but better late than never. Hope is on the horizon, if this update will find it's way to every WP phone this May then this system could yet be able to compete with Android.
  • So excited, I think this looks really good
  • Wifi icon is not aligned with other icons :þ
  • Wifi icon not aligned with other icons. Just saying :þ
  • So. Looks like I'll be reinstalling the Developer Preview app. Hope 8.1 can install on my 810 (Amber firmware only) and doesn't require Black.
  • my thumb is too short to swipe from top edge :(
  • Cool. Looks like IE browser tabs.
  • Just bring the damn notification or action center wathever it is already ... I dont care swipe horizontal or vertical
  • I see a second clock under the main one
  • That's the date!!
  • I see another clock under the main one
  • Sweet
  • This looks cool :P Yeah I'm waiting to see the Lumia 1820! :D and this update baked on it yay
  • Facebook beta for windowsphone can't upload photos in group comment section ..
  • What does that have to do with the article?
  • the quick toggle buttons might be customizable, so you will possibly able to add internet sharing there
  • Give me
  • Will we get more theme colours with 8.1?
  • Notification,hub is fine but we do need app installation in mmc card....and i would like one more feature,like in Symbian wen sending via Bluetooth,wen we select. Send via Bluetooth,Bluetooth. Comes on automatically and swiches off after file is sent
  • This seriously rocks. The 4 configurable slots for quick-settings is unique. This saves space on the UI and generally speaking 90% of the people don't use more than 4. I typically use WiFi, Bluetooth and Airplane mode. So having only 4 slots is perfectly fine. The other 10% of the time I can go into "All Settings". Also nice having a "CLEAR ALL" instead of the ambigous Android icon in KitKat. I think Action Center has the potential(from UI and API standpoint) to be the best of the 3. I think that the quick-toggles should default to: WiFi, Bluetooth, Airplane and Driving Mode. That will satisfy 90% of the masses.
  • How do you clear individual notifications.  I hope i can just slide it to the right
  • twitter notifications too?
  • the user should control whether the notification is silent or not.  This should not be controlled by the developer only, right?
  • Still waiting for GDR 3 update from Rogers for my Lumia 920.
  • Hmmmmmmmm....
  • I really hope Microsoft brings Aero mode to WP8 that can give the floating transparent look that they implemented in windows 8.1 desktop OS. Some people may not like this, but others do; After all, Microsoft was the first to execute the gif type wallpapers in Win 7 which Android brought to their mobile platform. Microsoft shouldn't be loosing customers to other platforms due to lack of option......they're the largest software company in the world. If people want options, give it to them. Focus on everyone like you did when you wanted to put a PC in every home. Honestly, its not a matter of re-inventing Microsoft, its about getting back to who you once were.......adopting that hunger & fire you had when you first set out to change the world!
  • Omg notifications. Lol. So behind
  • I agree with others complaining about IE. I hope for much changes on it. Missing too many features and standard. I.e. On touch site is so bad...
  • windows phone 7.0 user here. from day one in fact. actually have had every release and 3 handsets. is this supposed to get me excited about an OS that is where everybody else was 2 years ago? why can't microsoft ship something, you know revolutionary instead of being late 2 years to everything! seriously windows phone is turning into a joke that is always 2 years old...every year.
  • Still waiting to get GDR3 update
  • Still waiting on GDR3 update
  • Please allow us to turn off jpeg compression in the next update for 920
  • Please make it swipe right.
  • Release day on 4/20 maybe? See in the picture? That would make that day even better!
  • Notification,hub is good....but we need apps installation on mmc card...and simple feature like auto turn on,of Bluetooth wen sending a file,and then,after file is,sent it switches off, i have that feature on my Symbian 808 pure view.
  • 666 comment, good lord haha
  •   I'll admit that I'm one of those people that don't really see the need for a Notification Center since the Live Tiles work just fine for me but this does look pretty functional. Looking forward to trying it out.
  • Is annoying with live tiles and toast notifications. The toasts just keep on spamming non-stop especially with the Whatsapp. I hope with the new action center, it will not happen anymore. And I can have a much shorter start screen with lesser tiles pinned. And also, I don't need to unlock the phone to see if anything I missed should the lockscreen runs out of rooms for the notification.
  • Although looks good, but I dont see the purpose of showing battery % and logo together, it should be optional, as I personally dont prefer the logo, I like the % numbers instead....I hope they know...
  • You need to get out of the iOS and Android way of thinking!!
  • Hurry up and wait
  • Will it be fully functional on low end devices like Lumia 520? :|
  • Well i can see an Action Centre mock up but nothing of the notifications centre. The images prove nothing conclusive
  • Aside from the fact that there's a picture on Twitter that show it on an actual device, I'd call that conclusive!! That and the slides in the article are direct from MS!!
  • Working it way up and soon getting all the features that Android and ios have. I try 7.5,7.8 and got screwed... I learned a lesson, wait till Microsoft for at least for 5 to 7 more years. Maybe by then they will have it down...
  • Well, wasnt Live tiles enough for notifications... Are they removing live tile notifications support by introducing notification center? Quick settings for wifi/bt/etc.. is welcomed!
  • This looks like andriod's pull down tray though.....
  • So, Android and iOS ripped off ideas from Microsoft so it's about time Microsoft did the same!!
  • Sweet ! Can't wait for it to land on my 920 and whatever phones Nokia will announce on the 24th ! 
  • Pretty cool I guess, though not enough to get me to switch back to Windows Phone.  I wonder what it would take?
  • This is the reason why I sold my WP and turned to iPhone. I got fed up with all the waiting. It's been a year I sold it and back then notifications were already an option that will come 'soon'. Although I really liked my Lumia 920 I got tired of all the empty promises for this and that coming soon. 
  • O.......K. Don't understand what this post has to do with the topic. As if anyone cares about what phone platform you moved to.
  • YAY! I can't wait!
  • Emma has that face that says my vag-i-na is not as cute as me.
  • Can we get wp8.1 update all over countries at the same time...?????
  • Can we get wp8.1 update all over countries at the same time???????
  • Can we get wp8.1 update all over countries at the same time???????
  • I like the tie in with using Windows PC feature names. 
  • Wait... I always thought it would feel pretty natural for Windows Phone to access the notifications center by swiping to the Right from the home screen. I guess this other approach will probably allow the feature to be accessed from any app instead of only from the home screen. It might have been just me then. Wondering if it was better to try it this way, or if it was better not reinvent the wheel and use something that may feel pretty familiar if you come from another platform. The swipe is already familiar too if we want to see the status of things like BT, WiFi, signal strength, etc, so it might still feel like expanding or enhancing that existing gesture.
  • Will this be available on the Lumia 620?