Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft is yet to detail what the next major Windows Phone update is going to bring. Windows Phone 8.1 or Windows Phone Blue will come out next year and so far not much has been said about it. There have been a few rumors here and there, just recently we heard that it is possible for the coming update to do away with capacitive buttons and replace them with virtual ones. ”Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans” have told The Verge that Windows Phone 8.1 betas are currently being tested internally by the company and that this update is finally going to bring a notification center as well as a Siri-like virtual personal assistant.

This doesn’t come as a surprise though, as both possibilities have previously been rumored as well. Notification center is expected to be built into the next major Windows Phone update, whereas recently we heard that Microsoft’s “Cortana” personal digital assistant will also make its way over to WP devices. Apparently Cortana will replace Bing search and allow users to search using text input or voice. The assistant is said to support coversational interaction as well, just like Siri. Other features expected to be introduced with Windows Phone 8.1 include separate volume controls, through which users can control media and ringtone volume separately. VPN support for enterprise users and Smart Search results are expected to be included as well. Microsoft is expected to talk about Windows Phone 8.1 and its features in detail at the Build Developer Conference, which takes place in April next year.

Windows Phone 8.1 Notification Center And Virtual Assistant Rumored original content from Ubergizmo.

Recently a few codenames for several unreleased Nokia smartphones were leaked, “Moneypenny” was one of them. Interesting choice codename there, straight out of James Bond. Nevertheless, its highly unlikely that the codename is going to be used as the official branding for this Lumia device, whenever it is released. At this point in time not much is known about these devices, but according to the ever trustworthy Twitter leaker @evleaks, Nokia is also planning a dual-SIM variant of its “Moneypenny” device.

The possibility of a dual-SIM variant raises a few questions. For example, is this device going to be a high-end Lumia device that just so happens to be available in dual-SIM as well or if its a low-end device with the dual-SIM variant. In markets where such variants are often released, its common to see low end smartphones with dual-SIM capabilities, high-end devices usually don’t come in this particular configuration. @Evleaks has also said that this will one of the first few devices that will come with Windows Phone Blue pre-installed. Windows Phone Blue is a major update for Microsoft’s mobile operating system that’s due early next year. Given the fact that Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services division has been approved, its likely that this device might not come with Nokia’s name on it, though Microsoft is free to use the Asha and Lumia brands as it pleases.

Nokia ‘Moneypenny’ Dual-SIM Variant Rumored original content from Ubergizmo.