Nokia's Cyan update for Lumia smartphones running Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 operating system has started rolling out, bringing the OS to Windows Phone 8.1.
This update was highly anticipated by users worldwide, as Windows Phone 8.1 marks great improvements over the previous version of the OS. In addition to the neat new functionality Microsoft's new OS will bring to the table, Nokia has also packed several exclusive features with the Cyan update.
The Lumia Cyan update has started rolling out on Tuesday, July 15, to existing Lumia handsets running Windows Phone 8.
"Ready for some great news? Starting today, the Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphone family will receive the Lumia Cyan software, the new Windows Phone 8.1 update and Lumia features upgrade that will make your Lumia an even more personal, fun and indispensable part of your life," Nokia touts in its announcement on Tuesday, July 15. "Simply put, Lumia Cyan is the update you've been waiting for."
The update will roll out over the air (OTA) to Windows Phone 8 users across the world. As always with OTA updates, the exact availability will vary depending on region and/or carrier.
The Lumia Cyan package will bring a number of neat features to global users, but the much-touted Windows Phone 8.1 digital assistant, Cortana, will be available only to users in the U.S. for now. Cortana is Microsoft's answer to Apple's Siri and Google Now and has proved to be a very capable digital assistant, but it has yet to hit wider availability. The feature is also expected to reach China and the UK sometime soon, but no specific details are available yet in this regards.
In addition to Cortana, Windows Phone 8.1 has plenty more to offer. The new version of the OS will add a slew of new features to WP8 devices, including the ability to use a custom background image for the start screen, a new Action Center to customize settings, a third column for custom Live Tines, and app notifications. Wi-Fi Sense will allow users to automatically connect to free Wi-Fi hotspots, while other goodies include updated Bing-powered device search, updated native Calendar, Internet Explorer 11, and more.
Moreover, the Lumia Cyan update will also bring enhancements to the Nokia Camera, Creative Studio and Storyteller apps. Nokia Creative Studio 6 (CS6), for instance, will be available straight from the refreshed Camera Roll after this update. The Nokia Lumia 520, Lumia 525, Lumia 620 and Lumia 720, meanwhile, will also get a free upgrade to global Here Drive+ with Lumia Cyan.
The Cyan update will also improve the video and camera capabilities of the Lumia 1520 and Lumia Icon devices, and Microsoft's Screen Share tech will enable users to connect both of these devices to large screens such as TVs or projectors.
To learn more about the new Windows Phone 8.1 Lumia Cyan update, check out the video below.
