Windows Phone 8.1 Action Center revealed in hands-on video

Another day, another leak. Yesterday, the new swipe keyboard for Windows Phone 8.1 was shown on video and today it’s the more interesting Action Center. Users swipe down from the top to reveal the center, which gives 4 selectable quick actions. In addition, the Action Center also houses the Notification Center, where users can see all the missed incoming Toast notifications, as well as silent ones too.

The video matches up with an earlier, initial leak of the Action Center.

Delving into Settings for the Action Center, we can see that users have a wide range of choices for the quick-action bar, including Bluetooth, Brightness, Camera, Flight Mode, Internet Sharing, Location, Project my Screen and Rotation Lock. For Messaging, users can opt to show notifications and change the sound for those messages.

Windows Phone Central has not yet verified the authenticity of the video, though Unleash the Phones did post a legitimate video of the swipe keyboard. We’ll update with more as information comes in.

Update: The video is real, but the build is a 'few weeks old' meaning this may not be the final way it looks.

All in all, Action Center looks to be the big ticket item that users will make the most out of in Windows Phone 8.1. On first glance, we’re highly impressed. What about you?

Check out our full feature list for Windows Phone 8.1 here.

Source: Unleash the Phones; Thanks, Doomguy, for the tip

Daniel Rubino

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.

Latest

Rumor: Eidos Montreal wants to bring back Deus Ex and 'do what Cyberpu... ►

See more latest ►

305 Comments

no mobile data option :( .....maybe coz he didnt put a sim card in??
I hope so.
I really don't understand the logic, Quick access to something that is going to be used so extensively is not included in the action centre, I'll wait till april to pass my judgement though, these are just pre release stuff.
+920
You turn off your mobile data often? Why? I only do it on vacations to avoid any possibility of roaming charges. The action center is for things you might access daily. Bluetooth and wifi are accessed daily. I just don't see a situation where someone would need to turn off mobile data on a daily basis.
To save battery.. Also I am almost always near a wi-fi network which gives me faster speed and better battery. I only turn on Data if needed (If I'm at college where I dont have wi-fi) Its pretty annoying going back and forth into the settings.
Well I'm not sure where you live mate, but here in New Zealand most people have a mobile data cap of 500mb per month. And so I have my mobile data /off/ 90% of the time, and turn it on when I want to use it. Reeeeeally hope this gets added to the list.
I don't know what kind of apps you use but if I don't use my phone to surf, watch movies, etc. I don't get over 150 MB at month. If do use the phone to download stuffs I get up to 5 GB that has been my record. You can always let data on and only surf the web when there is a wifi network available. Notifications, email and stuffs like that doesn't really add to the data cap.
500MB?! 6GB cap here...
In Romania the mobile data cap varies up to few Gb (e.g. 4Gb) but it costs 0.2 EUR/Mb above the cap. In any case my phone shows 17 Gb(!) data usage in one month over WiFi... That would be 3600 $ if it would be above the data cap. Even with modest excess data over the quota, say 2 more Gb of YouTube you have to pay 560 $.
Congratulations, you live in a First World country (tm) where you're not forced to pay in blood and sell your soul to He Who Shouldn't Be Mentioned (pbuh) if you're over your data allowance
what ..notifications only for system apps (phone,message)....so the whats app messages and the facebook notifications,news feed and the notifications from other app wont show up in action center?....if it doesn't this is not good
What? How on earth did you come to that conclusion?
check out the video....the part when he goes to action center settings...there are options only for phone ,message and some WiFi banners meh...
Yeah, but that could be because there are no apps installed for this yet except the built in ones...
http://unleashthephones.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/actioncentre.jpg See the Twitter App showing Notifications in Action Center. So all current notifications will appear in Action Center :)
and the screenshot proves my point that no sim was inserted
Lol, this is not a screen of a Windows Phone OS, please open your eyes, it seems like kind of an Android shell.
Wanna bet?
Yep, just note the Wi-Fi icon location, No SIM text, battery percentage under the icon, and the date under the time, this is never going to be a WP 8.1 screen :)
You do know the WiFi icon got moved and the battery percentage under the battery icon was confirmed. That being said idk if this is real or fake
One more hint http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/19/5425670/windows-phone-8-1-action-center-features-demo#216222199, it seems that it is originated from a Samsung Gingerbread Android :)
Did you even watch the video?
Omg, I am really blind, this is a WP 8.1 screenshot, at least if the video is not a fake. Sorry for debates :)
The only apps that would be listed are ones that delcare they have that functionality. He probably didn't have any installed, not to mention apps updated for WP8.1 aren't yet available in the Windows Store.
It's probably like that coz those apps are not installed
Yeah,i thought as much ....but still,there are many apps that use notifications
Also this might be something the programmers might have to add to the apps for it to appear on notification. The system won't know automagically "oh this must be a notification that i need to add to action center"
why can't the system add all the existing toast notifications to action center automatically?
How should the OS know what the set of "all existing notifications" are?
It is simple, Any app that has the "ID_CAP_PUSH_NOTIFICATION" capability enabled in the WMAppManifest will probably show up.
so you must be a developer who knows all the coding stuff as in but the question is will Microsoft allow other apps to use the action center?
I'm pretty sure otherwise it would be pointless to even have a notification center lol
Which ultimately means developers will conitinue to fuck it up, or be lazy (see their lack of using live tiles properly) and way too many will come to pages like this and cry that MS isn't doing it right.
If app is currently sending "Push Notifications", the permission is already there. So, developers hopefully will not have do anything special. It would be mindless and unuseful strategy to make developers add special code for the notifications to be able to show up in the Notification Center. This "control" should be left to the users. The notifications logically should be shown by default and allow the user to be able to Toggle Show/Hide on App Level. Just my 4 cents.
Maybe they can?
Or maybe apps need to be updated? We have to wait and see :)
Exactly. This device has no SIM and likely has not been setup with a Microsoft Account so the user could not install any apps. I say likely has not because it'd be an easy way of pointing yourself out as the leaker if you added your own MS account to this device.
You should know that without an update to the apps you'll not get notifications this way.
Build is all about telling new and old developers about what changed in the OS and how to implement said changes, a beta OS will not experiment with Facebook or Whatsapp.
I'd imagine that developers will have to code their apps to work with the action center. Being that it hasn't been released yet, I could see why only first party apps would be shown in this unauthorized demo.
Impossbile
From the other leaks, it seems that so far no phone functionality has been enabled in this preview build, so I wouldn't read too much into that.
Exactly.i hope data toggle is there.really hope:/
Not impressed. Maximum of only 4 icons to toggle? Why don't they do what blackberry did and have the option to display as many as i want? At least this is a major improvement of what was there before though! baby Steps.
Keeping something for WP9 ;)
Seriously! After all the wait, why would Microsoft limit to only 4 toggles at a time? Beyond my comprehension. They can easily have the toggle panel horizontally scrollable; or they can have the whole Action Center page horizontally, like iOS 7. That way more notification related content can be shown
WP design language is optimized for content and clarity. Adding as many icons as you want disrupts the clarity in the presentation. They always have to strike that balance and make decisions on what to allow and what NOT to allow, like the balance between the volume of content and the clarity on the layout. UI design is not a very easy task at all, and you have to decide what will please most people and reluctantly throw away what will please just a few people.
This guy gets it.^
Too bad your logic will be lost on this illogical horde of cry babies. SMH.
Seriosly, and unlimited amount of toggles basically takes the "action", or the quickness out of this all together.
Did you not read in the article where it said the build is a few weeks old.....lol don't pass judgment yet....
@PMICH Yes, 4 icons to QUICK toggle. I only ever really toggle WiFi off and On, or Sound to mute. I will have to turn sound off way less when Quiet Hours is baked in. So what exactly are the 4+ things you want to QUICK toggle. As I cannot appreciate the whining, but perhaps you have a point. Go ahead, waiting...
Bluetooth, Wifi, Bedside mode, alarm, rotational lock, hotspot and location. That's 7 that i use quite often throughout the day....especially the first 6.
I doubt you can toggle alarm like this as you can have many alarms so which would get toggled? I dont see why not have 5 there looks to be enough room for 5 I would have bluetooth, rotation lock, wifi, hotspot, OK yay I only need 4 - sweet! I think quiet hours sorts the volume issues and anyway the volume has its own shortcut already, i assume that stays. What is bedside mode? Is that a setting or some application you are referrinf to because if its an app then you would just use the live tile and to be fair now i think of it. i ld love an alarm app that lets me name alarms, create a short cut to toggle them - that would be cool. maybe i'll write it.
I am not buying 3 and 4, they are both generally nightime settings. Not sure what location is. Leaving, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, rotation and hotspot. 4 :)
I'm looking for that option (Mobile data) since the rumors about an Action Center began... No one says this is coming... Can't believe in that... I don't want brightness option, want my Mobile Data toogle too! lol
And no switching of 2G/3G/4G. Can't believe they have managed to mess this up by excluding such obvious actions.
Bro its a few weeks old build of it, calm down before you freak out about something they already have!
Already have? Source?
Lol I meant it as they probably have it lol....still you are freaking out about something that's not here yet just chill and wait then if it doesn't come you can bitch all you want.....and something so simple like that in positive it will be there. chill balls and wait a lil
*Chilling balls*
Its not the final build...calm down
.
Again, I don't get this toys out of pram on this one. But I might be missing something. Who / why do you ever need to switch between 2G/3G/4G? (as I literally know of 0 people who do this.) My phone switches between GPRS, 3G and HSDPA etc automatically. I never have to touch my signal parameters.
2G drains battery to a much lesser extent, being able to switch to 3G easily when needed would be useful.
More importantly "ACTION CENTRE" ??? Meaning UK english....fyi
Yup really: "Center" would be a synonym for "middle". (He stood in the center of the circle.) "Centre" would be the word used to describe a gathering place. (The crowd gathered at the new Arts and Innovation Centre.)
Agreed, that this is not the final build and things can change; but for those how say 4 is enough and more than 4 toggles will ruin the simplicity based design language, I would ask you this - 4 may be enough for you, but quite a few people would like to have more than 4. I currently have Wifi, Sound mute, mobile data, GPS, bluetooth on. How exactly will swiping left or right on the toggle panel make the Action Centre any less quick? They can probably have the 4 as default and can have a '+' for the users to add extra slots.
COLOUR ME SURPRISED
Finally ! You can set custom sound to message notifications. I am sick of the same sound from every notification.
I hope so,and I need date option
The pull down from top looks very androidy. I know a notification center has been what a lot of people have been asking for, but I don't think ill be using it at all. Edit: Meant action center, don't think I'd use a notification center either.
No problem, I'll. :)
I'm guessing you aren't a native english speaker but just so you know you can't use "I'll" like that. "I'll" is used in situations like "I'll go to the grocery store". You should have just said "I will". Not trying to be a dick but I figured you should know.
Shut the hell up, this isn't grammar and composition class......
he did stress he wasnt been picky and trying to be helpful. good man, +1 for the help @DMacke -1 for you being a douche.:)
I'm not a douche, grammar corrections online is like giving speeding tickets on the autobahn, completely unnecessary and defeating the point of the medium. If you understand what he is trying to say thats all that matters....besides if English is not his first language and where he lives it not that necessary what's the point. There some toolery and assholery I feel embeded in wvry grammar correction online whether that's their intention or not....
Not really, even in a country that has english as a second language, speaking proper english is a bonus to those that wants to be succesful. And you are being a douche be being rude to someone who tried to correct people politely. If dmacke was one of the rude grammar Nazis, I can understand why you did that, but he's not.
Didn't say I was rude I just wasn't a douche. And I don't understand the big deal. I don't care how polite someone is correcting my grammar is never okay just being a tool
I don't understand the big deal either. The OP wasn't offended by it so why should you? You're the only one who has a problem with me trying to help the guy out.
No it's not grammar and composition class. But if he is not a native english speaker and applies for a job where english is the dominant language and puts this on a resume or application it would look bad. I'm not trying to grammar troll, just trying to help the guy out.
Hahaha lol if he is not a native speaker and it looks bad on an English speaking place and they know he isn't English speakin I think he'll be alright lol
You're right about me not being a native English speaker. And thanks for the correction; that's a mistake I won't commit in the future. ;)
Don't worry about it, most English speakers use I'll the way you did.
They do?
I like using "I'll" like that, may start using it. Thanks.
Of course you will.
Anybody who says they won't use it, will miss a news or message toast notification, find it in the center and fall in love with it. I guarantee.
I believe you. I am already in love. This is going to be a beautfiful update. Quite hours, action centre, separate volumes controls are already enough to keep me in love. WP will be beautiful to me then.
F**k to you, don't use it.
I just said I wouldn't be using it, never said you couldn't use it either. Don't know why you had to swear at me for my personal preference.
calm down buddy. I remember you as the ridiculous Nokia Fan boy. But with your horrible English, it makes sense now that you're a bit immature.
I bet you will use it a little bit. But the quick settings thing is a massive boon to the OS, something that should've been in there from the beginning of WP8.
Lol
I've been using tile shortcuts for the quick settings. Worked well enoigh. This will make it slightly quicker and I can free up a little space on my home screen since I won't need those tiles anymore.
The way that Android implemented the notification centre is perfect, and there is no reason to change it. And if you won't use the action centre, it doesn't mean that other people won't. And if you don't find the quick toggle usefull, well...
I'm using it more than anything. Always missed toast notifications & it was missed forever.
@Rhamsey..plz tell us how else you would like MS to implement this solution..since it's SO "androidy"
Android use live tiles concept and they called it as 'Magazine' . So ?
HTC called it "blink feed" first, right?
Oh and a far as I'm concerned it's more Windows MOBILE task bar than android. When android first intorduced it, it looked like the next gen version of what WM already had.
Wrong, Android don't use tiles or squares. Is the OEMs that have their individual roms to be tile looking designs. So, get the fact right. Android is still good with its widgets, unlike flipping squares. And now MS feel that tiles are just not good enough for the jobs, hence they added notification center, just like how it works on Android.
Slide up from Windows button. Try and feel it.
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/sugg...
No, that'll make using the windows button slower since it'll have to wait to confirm if you're swiping up or not before being activated. This'll make it frustrating having to wait just to go to the start screen.
I don't think the phone is as slow as you imagine. It can process tasks or detections much faster than your thumb movement.
But there will be a lag, just like how browsers tend to wait 0.3 ms before doing anything just to detect double tapping.
Really? As long as it provides the greatest way, why MS shan't make it on WP too? I think swipe down is the best way because we can access it everywhere.
Who cares
Wish I could still edit my original post so I could bold some key parts many of you commenting to me missed, but this is WPC, where we all drink the cool-aid, so whatever.
1. I did not say that because I wasn't going to use it that no one else should use it.
2. I have never missed a notification, probably because my phone is always on silent and I don't have a Facebook. All I do is look at the glance screen and it hasn't failed me yet. Even in the years before hand on my venue pro I still managed to keep track of my text and emails (the notifications I use). This probably adds to the fact that I wouldn't use the action center.
3. The pull down menu is very similar to android. It doesn't mean I think they should try a different way, that I know of a better way, or that because android has magazines that copy live tiles it makes it okay to copy the pull down menu (or whatever it is some of you people are rambling about).
4. If people have a different opinion than you, attacking them or swearing at them is a very childish thing to do.
Failed parenting causes point 4.
Lol
But I agree with you people are very bitchy....lol they don't know how to disagree respectfully or make an opinion civilized-ly. I think it come from a emasculated real life so they have to be "hard" online
True, but you were the one blowing up a fuse because someone *dared* to make fun of a digital dyslexic
I just think it's silly to make grammatical corrections online. Just like I think it's silly to make grammar corrections or tweets fb posts or even texts. Lol I'm writing a quick message. If you start correcting sleeping and contractions might as well start on correct punctuation and correcting syntactical errors as well but since that would be doing wayyyyyy too much you can understand why I dislike just corrwcting small insignificant grammatical errors.
lol
Lol iPhone has a pull down fro. The top as well.....and it just makes more sense because with windows metro UI you slide from left to right a lot and it would become very annoying if your swiping the screen and the action or notification cent came up
I see what you mean, but accessing it from any other way, besides a button push would make it pretty difficult to access when you are inside an app that scrolls left and right.
Let the leaks start flowing in. :D
They already have. May be you should have said, let them continue flowing :)
Not really. I meant leaks of WP8.1 in action. ;)
Besides, leaks haven't exactly been "flowing" until recently. :D A trickle up until now perhaps. ^_~
This thing is close to us
Neat animations.
agreed!
+920
Yeahhh finally! Looks sexy
Cool!!
It's f**king amazing that a very important missing feature is finally coming to WP. I can't wait till I receive the update on my T-Mobile L925 ... In 4 years.
This is a bunch of crap. Why do you guys always say something like this!!! We all know you'll get it in 4.5 years. ;)
Bet the Developer Preview will allow you to install it.
+1 or something like "seven eighter" created with MS help ;) Good old days .. used seven eighter to update WP 7.8 on my Lumia 710, felt on the top of the world..lol
1,5 months~4 years
Haha...i too have a T-Mobile L925 with the Update 3 Developer Preview. I know how you feel...still now official Update 3 or Lumia Black release. My guess is that they will release new 8.1 devices before update existing devices...which is fine if you have JUMP (which I do)...you can just use it to get an 8.1 device. On another note...i hope there is a toggle to turn the action center/notification center off. I like to just use the live tiles and the notification section of the ME tile.
Looks cool and useful.
Looks good but why didn't they add the option to turn off data? Am I missing it? They always seem to leave one little thing behind.
EDIT: They do have a WiFi shortcut on there. In the preview build, it seems that the phone functionality is not included, but I bet cellular data will be an option too in the final build. Whew.
Hip hip huray!
Looks nice.
Finally! And it's out of the way so everyone here who cries and complains that "we don't need a notification center!" don't have to use it.
Soooo, the Toast Notifications will be renamed to Banners? Liked this. Anyone else noticed some "Groups" in the Start screen? I can see "Games", ":" and another one. And I could can also a arrow in the right of some of these groups names. This is also coming?
They didn't even show the home screen
No. It is an app currently available in store!
I believe that Folders are built into WP 8.1 because in the Icon Leak, there is a set of icons for the Start Screen and one of them is an open folders icon. http://mynokiablog.com/2014/02/19/cortana-icon-set-shows-specific-voice-controlled-features-plus-icons-for-maps-system-vpn-camera-scenes-action-centre-etc/ Now, the open folders could be for a type of File Explorer but we will find out soon enough. I do have the App Folder app from Nokia though and I have my games grouped in a Games "folder/group" currently.
Why not long press home button to show notification center?
Home will be virtual on newer phones so it's not going to be feasible.
And being virtual means you can't long press it? That doesn't make sense.
Not intuitive?
A swipe is quicker than a long press.
That's reserved for miss cortana
Hmm, I believe cortana is going to be activated by the search button.
FINALLY! YES,this will save me from 4 or so tiles i use on my startscreen for those quick actions,Gratz MSFT,it looks droid-ish but this is what is needed
At this point would agree with you on this ^^^^ Less need for tiles on start screen IS a benefit and missed toast notifications will not happen.
Thinking the same. The start screen should be for more graphical live tiles, like news, photos etc.
Daniel i dont know if this has been answered but do you know if there will be a setting for message to go off again incase you missed the first notification
Can't wait for this to breathe new life into my 920.
Interesting. We can customize the quick access buttons
I like the fact that the notification center can be customized. Doesn't look half-baked, so that's another good thing. I'm definitely looking forward to this update now.
Pissed off that it leaked... Poor MSFT nothing to show off in #build might as well release 8.1 in MWC 2014....hope cortana does not get leaked.....
Yeah, Cortana has an opportunity to make some noise when released. Probably what I'm most excited/interested to see. Especially if it is actually her voice, my WP decision will be solidified!
The more I hear about it the less likely it seems that it'll be Jen Taylor.
It was never said, nor confirmed that it would be. Matter of fact, it was said here and on the WPC podcast that it was highly unlikely that it would be.
I think showing it off with proper context will be plenty. Plus most people won't look at these leaks anyway - the general public will first hear of these things when they are officially released.
They need to open the slots in the action center for the developpers via an API
The only thing is reaching to the top of my screen with one hand on my Lumia 1520
Imagine a one hand person. They won't be able to while they're walking.
Hahahaha.. Yupp. So sad
I want a flashlight button in the quicksettings :(
Me too. Its something i use all the time. Quick access to it is essential
Soooo... a live tile, maybe?
sorry, i should have went into more detail.. I also hope the action centre can be access from the lock screen. This is where I'd like to have quick access to a flash light. In my line of work the flash light has become extremely handy. I'm also a minamilist so having a tile of for it is messy. imo.
Not sure about it being accessible from the lock screen, but other than making it available for developers to add notifications, or toggles to the AC they can't really do this seeing as WP doesn't have a native flashlight.
The action centre is accessible from the lock screen.
why don't you put all of your apps in quick settings? jebus. people are never satisfied. you can pin a small tile for flashlight on your homescreen.
I know but I want it to be a toggle, not just link to the flashlight screen
Daniel rubino is dis the official link of subway surfers plz reply.....http://www.windowsphone.com/en-in/store/app/subway-surfers/739dca1f-b0e0...
Its not official. The official game is made by kiloo
I think it is exclusively to 512 RAM Phones as It doesn't give me enough permissions to download it.
i cant download it on lumia 520 even with 512 ram
Long time ago kiloo had blocked this app. Try with downloading from sd card via pc
awesome. A great start on a great feature, and I'm sure they will improve it over time.
IE 11 ? Will it also one of the windows phone 8.1 feature ?
Yes.
Did any1 notice list animation.. Seems new..
the animations on start screen & settings pages are all refined ;)
Yeah hopefully I'll get this update on Lumia 920 At&t before 2035 but I'm not gonna get my hopes up :P
I mean, stop bitchin about it. It can either be pulled from somewhere od swiped from somewhere! Clearly Microsoft went with the first option because it is the most common one, not to mention the taskbar is at the top, so it gives a hint there's more to be pulled down from it. Furthermore, nav bar is going to be pulled up on onscreen-buttons phones, so it was either that or swipe. Since you will be able to swipe from the left over a live tile to clear its content I suppose putting the Action Centre to the left of the Start Screen was impossible because half of the time you would call it up instead of cleaning the Tile. Imagine the rant then. No matter what they choose it will never please everyone. :) I am happy they are doing something notifications-wise and I am very much looking forward to having those ghost notifications going to the centre without alterting the shit out of me every few minutes.
Yes, exactly! Left of the start screen is a stupid place anyway. If you have your quick actions like WiFi, Bluetooth, etc there then its just a second start screen, and can't be accessed from anywhere in the OS. There are already apps to add quick settings tiles to the start screen anyway.
Being able to turn off the banner alert when the phone is locked is a very nice, and sometimes necessary, feature.
http://ic.tweakimg.net/ext/i/1392822794.jpeg Twitter Notifications that I always missed in WP8 :) Can't wait.
Its orgasmic
I second that :P
Ménage à trois
The UI doesn't look good to me
Your faces UI doesn't look good oooooohh! Me 1 - you 0 ;P
http://www.straitpinkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Grouchy.jpg
the animation inside was feeling lil change what you guys says?
4? It's too limited! We should get unlimited quick accesses!!!
Unlimited? Really? Why have a start screen? I agree the 4 is too few tho. Maybe 6.
Some are never satisfied..maybe unlimited will come later?
And it will directly conflict with the UI...
Or you can use live tiles.
I hope you can put a flash light app to the quick settings and have access on the lock screen. Its the only thing I'd want really quick access to
Veru useful, like on Android. I just hope that Data is also an option 'cause data is one of the switches I use the most.
+920
OMG!!
Good news, but Microsoft please hurry up!!! PD: this should be a common update, so dont depends of carriers.
And GDRs were not common updates? This is going to lag cause of carriers, unless MS applies some pressure
Wow this looks amazing! Can't wait to get my hands on it
I hope we can add quick action they cause they better have a flashlight quick action!
+1020
Go MicroDroid go!! Can't wait
:'(
No wifi switch option??????. internet sharing is fine but not wifi??????? incredible!
Which settings you can have in the Action Center are configurable by the user. You should read the other leak articles/the master list compiled by people of the new features in the update. No need for sarcasm.
Did you watch the video? There's WiFi as an option there. Hell, it's even in the first screenshot in the article...
Its there...watch the video again and look closer...
I seriously can't wait for this, it looks incredible.
Hope to see a video of Cortana next time! :)
There really are no surprises anymore...
As much as I do like leaks, this one is way too informative. I like surprises!
Same here. The information leaks were fine but all the pics and videos are taking fun out of the anticipation. Its already a challenge waiting for these great features. Guess I need to put my head in the sand unto April.
Those "flip-tile" transitions seem new, too, and I'm not sure I like them. A bit gimmiky, but I may well get used to them...
More shortcut spots please
How many do you need?
I really hope the signal, battery etc. top bar is not visible all the time in 8.1... You can see its visible at the top at the beginning of the video, but that could be because he swiped it down already.
Me too!
This looks awesome, but I'm still waiting to be disappointed by the fact that the quick actions like WiFi don't actually toggle WiFi, they just look like a toggle that brings you to a screen where you can toggle. If that isn't the case I'm going to have zero complaints, but I won't be surprised to see it happen.
If you watch the video, you can see it are actually quick buttons and do not bring you to the settings screen. God bless us, Microsoft is learning!
Learning? It was available on WM...
But I know what you mean, maybe WiFi is another story. A shame he didn't showed us that button but maybe it is configurable (fingers crossed)
Well, at least in the video the toggles appear to really change the setting. See how when he taps, either the description at the bottom of the toggle or the color of the toggle changes; I gather the latter could be for the brightness setting to toggle it between different brigthness levels. But yeah, would not be surprised if they manage to f that up somehow. :P Btw, they should in addition have the ability to PIN any setting short cut to the start screen (unless the action center can cover all settings).
Nice
I thought Action Center was going to be swipe from bottom? Am I wrong?
Yes, you are wrong. :)
Can someone explain to me the action center?
It is a center that includes actions.. :P It allows you to quickly togle on an off certain things, say turn your WiFi on or off, turn on flight mode etc.
What's the bottom three for?
what bottom three? did you watch the video, it should be fairly clear from it. the picture with the "action center" at the top of this story is just where you set the action center options up; the action center itself is used by swiping down from the top.
Basically this... only for a phone. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/action-center
Did anyone else notice the flipping blinds transition moving from one menu to the next? Maybe theres an option to change transitions too? I can see some people wouldn't like that one, so to have different options would be cool. Just a guess though...
Looks amazing! Finally a notification center and look at those all-new animations!
So the sound for a message notification wont be the same as a text tone? It also looks like you can change every notification sound which is cool...I hope we can use out own and not just default wp sounds
I want it to be April now so I can get the beta. Take my money Microsoft!!!
Its awesome when is windows 8.1 coming?
Windows phone 8.1 :/
Or maybe they can have multiple qucik settings if u swipe to right you can get more. This would be ideal
Its... Its... Its so beautiful *wipes tears away*. So pumped for this. My love for WP and MS will soon be restored.
What does the thing mean that show notification in action centre when phone is locked will it show like how andriod shows its notifications when phone locked?
Iiiii like it !
Whats up with Skype in 8.1? Still a standalone app, integrated? Current app is absolutely terrible...slow, no animated emoticons, no picture sending, no profile editing. Honestly, terrible.
They should give avability to set more options. 4 is not enough. Guys take a look at this http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/sugg... What u think?
Looking at previous leaks of the people hub, I think they have reduced the size of the title.
Love the new transition animation! I think the animation is faster in windows phone 8.1
Much smooth so action very centre wow
Im so ready for winpho 8.1!!!!
What I am most excited about is that Now, hopefully we can get Pebble or any other smartwatch properly Integrated. Right now, can't do much with wearables. Listen up Wearable Manufacturers, Get rolling with the WP Apps for your products and get a whole bunch of new customers rocking your products!! Support for WP = $$,$$$,$$$,$$$
I know Microsoft isnprobably pissed bu I think they should be a little happy because similar to the "is it too late discussion," this is allowing WP users and potential WP users that this update is really and its going to be pretty holistic! While five weeks is not that far away someone wanting a new phone bad might see it as a lifetime and these leaks definitely help quell any fears of the feature parity of windows compares to other OS! So while Microsoft may have wanted to blow people minds (which I positive will still happen on its official announcement) I think is the best way for things to move forward!
Also because it is an early I'm praying they have added more that 4 quick action settings.....like a customizable number!
Yeah!! It's likely that they haven't, given past experiences with WP
Hahaha lol I'm gonna give them the benefit of the doubt....mainly for my own sanity lol!
How many do you need?
Lets see, vibrate, ring, screen lock, WiFi, celluar data, brightness, Bluetooth, tap to send, location so at least nine and positive I'm forgetting so.e useful ones. Lol I'm sure they will have it can't possibly see the dropping the ball on this one
No. There will be 4. Sometimes less is more - if you want to customize everything to the point where it looks and behaves like crap, there's Android. You seriously need short cuts to change "screen lock" (what is that anyway?), "tap to send", turn on and off location, turn on and off cellular data (never understood that one - if WiFi is on, cell data is not used anyway)?
How much of a performance issue will it really be if we got a few more?
Just because you don't use them doesn't mean they aren't used also. Its a single line of them and all you have to do is swipe right and just that part moves while the rest stays still. Clearly you have never seen the quick settings on an android otherwise you would realize how silly you sound. Less can be more but when less starts to mess with functionality and ease of usability that's when its becomes bad design. That's why apple is so good they stripped design to bare essentials but made those bare essentials literally what you needed not clutter and that's why it works. Just cuz you only need for doesn't mean others don't need more. And just swiping right on that single line I don't understand how it would clutter thing?!? So your comment really doesn't make sense in this situation
As many as I fucking desire..
My nigga lol! I like the way you think
Man I hope we'd be able to add more than 4 toggle buttons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do they always HAVE to leave something out?
Do people always have to complain about everything?
Yes...yes they do...
That's some shit I wish would go away.
Geez...
The battery percentage should ALWAYS be showing. God MSFT that's annoying that now we will have to swyoe and kill r battery more because we want to see the percentage. So frustrating to see that.
It should be an option to.always show or not...some of us don't want it to...
And for your info...it's supposed to be a feature...that will always show.
Geez...this whole comments section is just filled with complaints...
Please tell me you're kidding. There is so much wrong about this...
what is so wrong about this? Like Chef said, I think it should be an option. I think there are A LOT of great things coming out on Windows Phone 8.1... this is just one featrues that I happen to look at a lot when I am using my iPhone and would like to see it on WP because I see it as a handy feature. I am used to having it.. maybe WP users do not see the point of it yet because they do not have it. I, on the other hand do have it, and see its usefulness.
Speak for yourself.
Hope they put an icon or something more graphical for the No notifications text. It'd be neat!
Such smoothness.
Much features
So action.
Very wow.
Just me who cared about the blinds transitions ? Is that gonna be a thing orrr ?
Hopefully, these features will satisfy alot of the "dissatisfied" people in this comment thread....oh wait...people are already complaining about this leaked feature....
hopes it comes soon to all windows phones at the same time rather than according to the latest handsets first and the old ones last.....
Love
I want that phone..!!
More interesting than the swipe keyboard? Not to me
I get that they did the slide down from the top so it's easy for IOS and android users to use, but something different would've been nice.
The animation is nice.
Pls bring this update asap, and pls give space for WhatsApp & facebook notification in action centre. Its humble request to microsoft
as Windows phone user
why only 4 selectable quick actions?maybe I need 5 or 6?unbeliveble,it is like MS want to kill their own OS
This is perhaps the first convincingly amazing video of the new WP8.1 I've seen. I feel that this pretty much brings WP8.1 up to speed with the other OS's in terms of functionality and features, with the exception of a few other things like cortana and the number of apps. Very exciting to see the built in customization. I say give us plenty of options to customize that are at least optional.
Do you think Microsoft will improve the multimedia content integration? As to yet the maximum devices to share music and video from is 4. We can share content on 15 devices including 5 PC with Apple. besides the,XBOX ONE is the only way to easily connecting music and video on a TV. The price of an apple tv is 89$.
I got an Xbox 360 for $100. It does way more than apple tv
Are these notifications just a list of toasts, or are some of them actionable straight from the Action Center like Android/webOS/etc?
It looks so smooooooth
Well that answers the question on whether the settings shortcuts are toggles or launchers.
Wow no driving mode. That would entice more people to use it.
Looks good enough
I am no expert at all but while I can understand that creating an OS from scratch requires many people, time and money, I can't believe that developing such little upgrades (notification center for example) that require no thinking (it is what it is and it was missing from day one) will take a big company such as Microsoft almost two years . Nokia did this kind of things via betalabs in symbiam (and still does: see glance, camera, beamer, play to, etc) in a few weeks/months and some very small developers (very often just one guy) almost do it too without the advantages of being the big software company that created the OS. Poor management, crappy work system or just a marketing strategy to sell the latest flagship phone thogheter with the so desired update? I bet is number three. And I don't think they can really afford it...
I'm pretty fired up about this, looks really good. I'm sure there will be limitations, but this will be so much better than what we have today.
I really like the new animations :)
I have one question. Now that in WP 8.1 "swipe from the top" will bring down the action center, does it mean that the icons (battery, data, wifi, etc) will always be seen? I actually like that the icons be hidden. (because now on WP 8, swiping from the top means show all the icons)
Agreed.
Looking good, i hope 8.1 will arrive before i change my OS.
The most important question: are notifications actionable or do you just jump into the app if you tap one.
Love the transition ^_^
I wonder why there is only 4 hardcoded places for quick switches, clearly from screenshot you could put at least 5 switches with text and more if there will be just icons. Will this flexibility we a "feature" for 8.2 update somewhere in 2015:(
So it means that we cannot add more than 4 quick settings ,, hell man i was hoping for settings like in android but still good to see that at something is coming
Why do we need to follow the drawer pull down like Android or iOS. On the start screen, why don't we swipe right instead? We can do lots more. Just my 2 cents.

Show more comments