Developers leak Windows Phone 8.1 SDK, reveal new features

 

 

Here's the list of features noted by the developer with Windows Phone 8.1 SDK access:

• NEW Audio/video transcoding, Hardware accelerated
• NEW Media editing:  audio and video; Audio effects, video effects; Slow motion video
• NEW Apps can capture audio/video from themselves
• NEW Stereoscopic 3d support
• NEW Wi-Fi Direct, a Wi-Fi standard allowing direct peer-to-peer connections over Wi-Fi without an access point
• NEW Windows Phone 8.1 apps won't run on 8.0 devices until they upgrade
• NEW Documentation confirms ALL current Windows Phone 8 hardware to get 8.1
• NEW Dev tools: SemanticZoom, DatePicker, TimePicker
• NEW PlayTo support
• NEW Single sign-in for apps (like on Windows 8) with Microsoft Account; sign in will persist across devices + apps with permissions prompt
• NEW YouTube Player (see lede image) including HTML5 video support (video playback doesn't have to be full screen)  And you get custom UI, so YouTube Closed Captions are in
• NEW File picker (see above image)
• NEW Geofencing API for location-based reminders
• NEW Background tasks: Bluetooth signal strength, Chat message notification, Device connection change, Device use trigger, Gatt characteristic notification, Location, Push notification, Rfcomm connection, System event, Timer
• NEW Slide down to close apps
• NEW Navigation bar color selection
• NEW USB choices
• NEW Updated camera layout, similar to Windows 8.1 (see photo below)
• Back button doesn't terminate the app
• No more XAP, instead APPX
• VPN (Virtual Private Network)
• OneDrive (previously SkyDrive) with integrated file browser (just like Windows 8.1)
• Filter through installed apps by usage/install date
• Select multiple tiles when customising the Start screen [FALSE]
• More efficient multitasking
• Ability to install apps on inserted SD Cards
• Internet Explorer 11 improved with WebGL and Normal mapping support
• Separate volume controls for ringer, media, etc.
• Bing smart search (similar search system as Windows 8.1)
• Xbox Music and Xbox Video as standalone apps instead of the Music + Video Hub (allowing more updates to be pushed)
• Redesigned Xbox Game Hub
• Twitter integrated more deeply into the contacts Hub 
• Facebook account option REMOVED (updated)
• Quick settings access (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) by doing a quick swipe from the top of the screen 
• Action Center accessed by doing a full swipe from up to the bottom (separate from the Notification Center)
• Silent notifications which go directly to the Action center
• Possibility to mark a Live Tile as read by swiping from the left of said tile
• Auto-updates for apps (just like Windows 8.1)
• Better backup functionality
• Improved keyboard
• Bluetooth 4.0 LE (to non-Lumia Windows Phones)
• Feature to mirror Windows Phone screens to TVs and/or monitors

Things not included in the SDK:

• Cortana
• Action Center + Notification Center
• new gesture-based keyboard