Gallery: Our Favorite New Features in Windows Phone 8.1

  • Image may contain Electronics Phone Mobile Phone and Cell Phone
    Photos by Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    01

    Windows phone 8.1 features. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

    Live Tiles are one of the best things about Windows Phone. Now, you can fit more of them on your homescreen. Microsoft added three-column support to some Windows Phone 8.1 handsets.
  • Image may contain Cell Phone Electronics Mobile Phone Phone Paper Advertisement Poster Brochure Flyer and Text
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    02

    Windows phone 8.1 features. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

  • Image may contain Electronics Phone Mobile Phone and Cell Phone
    Photos by Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    03

    Windows phone 8.1 features. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

    Windows 8.1 brings with it Internet Explorer 11 with HTML 5 video support.
  • Image may contain Electronics Phone Mobile Phone Cell Phone and Text
    Photos by Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    04

    Windows phone 8.1 features. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

    With Quiet Hours, you can silence your phone when you're sleeping or busy, except for interactions with select contacts.
  • Image may contain Cell Phone Electronics Mobile Phone and Phone
    Photos by Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    05

    Windows phone 8.1 features. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

    The Calendar in 8.1 has nice updates, like a week view and weather notifications.
  • Image may contain Electronics Phone Mobile Phone and Cell Phone
    Photos by Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    06

    Windows phone 8.1 features. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

    With the addition of Swipe functionality, the Windows Phone 8.1 keyboard feels complete.
  • Image may contain Cell Phone Electronics Mobile Phone and Phone
    Photos by Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    07

    Windows phone 8.1 features. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

    Action Center brings notifications and quick settings to your fingertips.
Read More
Is the Electric Trike the Next Big Thing in Shared Micromobility?
Veo is launching accessibility-focused electric tricycles in Denver, with plans to put its e-trikes on the streets nationwide.
Boone Ashworth
What WIRED Writers Would Actually Give Their Moms
Your mom never gets you a thoughtless gift, so you shouldn’t get her one, either. Here’s every cool gift WIRED writers would give their mothers.
Nena Farrell
Which Apple Watch Should You Buy?
Should you splurge on the new Series 11, or will the SE 3 do? Let us help you figure out which version to get (and which to avoid).
Boutayna Chokrane
12 Adventurous Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers, and Outdoorsy People
Let them pick out their own hiking boots. Instead, try gifting a useful blade or a nature journal to delight your outdoorsy friend.
Scott Gilbertson
A Two-Person Startup Has Fixed One of the Most Hated Sounds in Modern Life
Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
Jeremy White
Can the New York Times Save Journalism From Our AI Overlords?
In 2023, the Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. They’ve since spent more than $20 million on the case, and publisher A.G. Sulzberger has no plans to stop fighting it.
Katie Drummond
Silicon Valley’s Next IPO Billionaires Are Coming. Nonprofits Are Ready for Them
Anthropic and OpenAI employees are expected to give generously after their companies go public. “It’s going to be a wild ride,” says one nonprofit leader.
Paresh Dave
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Can Do It All
Dyson’s new stick vacuum can vacuum and mop in a single cordless device—if you’re willing to really splurge.
Nena Farrell
‘They’re Fucking a Lot of People’: 7-OH Users Brace for DEA Ban
The opioid-like compound, which is found in kratom, can cause brutal withdrawal symptoms and will soon be a controlled substance. Some users tell WIRED it has relieved their pain and anxiety.
Manisha Krishnan
An Extreme Solar Storm May Be Even More Devastating Than Previously Imagined
Scientists have long assumed that there’s an upper limit to the intensity of the solar winds that reach Earth. New research suggests there’s not—and the implications are alarming.
Javier Carbajal
Hugging Face Has a Deepfake Nudes Problem
Researchers tested top image editing models on Hugging Face and found they could easily create explicit deepfakes—and 1,000 image editing prompts show how people use the software.
Matt Burgess
Top Ulta Beauty Promo Codes: 50% Off
Shop the latest beauty trends and save big using an Ulta promo code for beauty tech, makeup, and more.
Boutayna Chokrane