I installed the Windows Phone 8.1 update on my Nokia Lumia 720 last night (instructions here, including how to get Cortana in non US locations). The whole process took around 2 hours including the download. I like the new features quite a bit, especially the action centre (the notification panel) & the swipe keyboard that I’m using to compose this post.
The animations also seem to have been speeded up a la iOS 7.1, and this makes the phone feel snappier than before. The Windows Store seems to be acting up at times though. Hopefully it’s just a temporary glitch given the extensive overhaul of the store.
The online reviews seem to be positively glowing this time around and there are no real gaps in the core OS functionality compared to Android or iOS. Windows Phone now offers the smooth and polished experience of iOS with many of the useful features of Android in an affordable package. Here’s hoping to a strong year for Windows Phone. Hope to post a more detailed look at the changes after some extended use.
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2 responses to “First impressions: Windows Phone 8.1 Preview on the Lumia 720”
[…] I installed the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview on my Lumia 720 as soon as it was out and the new features bring it up to par with Android and iOS. While the overall experience was pretty positive, there were a few downsides. Most notably, the battery life seemed to take a hit. Previously, the phone used to last 2 days comfortably on a single charge, but the 8.1 update had me reaching for the charger well before the end of the second day. That said, the 2000 mAh battery on the Lumia 720 ensures that you can comfortably use it heavily throughout a single day and not worry about running out of juice even with the 8.1 update. […]
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[…] but it had a smoothness that Android lacked. The OS update situation was also quite rosy with the Windows Phone preview updates trickling in without any troubles. I was very happy with the phone until I dropped it at home and […]
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