Database Users

What's New in Windows Phone 8.1

This article describes key new features and improvements in Windows Phone 8.1.
"A must read" for all WP developers (but not a hackers of course )
There are lot of "tasty" features in WP 8.1; as for me, it sounds like a great platform improvement without having to upgrade hardware. Hope to get dev preview of WP 8.1 very soon

I've been looking all morning for this article...thanks.

Didn't the leaked SDK contain all this a few months ago?

Sunius1 said:
Didn't the leaked SDK contain all this a few months ago?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, some things were hidden.

Hi,
An post, talk already of Windows Phone 8.1, on XDA Portal.
http://www.xda-developers.com/andro...tion-center-windows-to-bring-back-start-menu/

anaheiim, this topic is a little bit different. Article I've posted shortly describes new APIs for developers; it's not a discussion about user experience
P.S. Joke:
- Did you heard: Cortana will marry Siri?
- Are you kidding? It's not possible!
- No, it's possible in 17 states...

sensboston said:
anaheiim, this topic is a little bit different. Article I've posted shortly describes new APIs for developers; it's not a discussion about user experience
P.S. Joke:
- Did you heard: Cortana will marry Siri?
- Are you kidding? It's not possible!
- No, it's possible in 17 states...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, I did not see your link to MS dev blog in your first post.
Dev Preview of 8.1, will be released, of microsoft source during the first half of April.
And WPCentral source, announce April 14.
And for those who did not know (but I think you're all aware), the WP8.1 SDK is officially available in Release Candidate.
http://dev.windowsphone.com/en-us/downloadsdk

Yikes! This Windows Phone 8.1 Update seems to be a whole new OS with a ton of new features and improvements in UI and API.
Still didn't get: do they at MSFT plan to make the Update freely available through Windows Update to exiting Windows Phone 8 customers?

Luxon said:
Yikes! This Windows Phone 8.1 Update seems to be a whole new OS with a ton of new features and improvements in UI and API.
Still didn't get: do they at MSFT plan to make the Update freely available through Windows Update to exiting Windows Phone 8 customers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes! All Windows Phones can get updated to 8.1. It depends on when (and sadly, if) your carrier releases it. However if you want to get past that, you can just join the dev preview and it'll be downloadable sometime this month. Sources have been saying either the 10th or the 14th. So lookout

desolateone1 said:
Yes! All Windows Phones can get updated to 8.1. It depends on when (and sadly, if) your carrier releases it. However if you want to get past that, you can just join the dev preview and it'll be downloadable sometime this month. Sources have been saying either the 10th or the 14th. So lookout
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought MSFT had complete control over which devices get upgraded?
I saw in build conference that they had upgraded even the lowly 520 to 8.1!
Cheers!

desolateone1 said:
Yes! All Windows Phones can get updated to 8.1. It depends on when (and sadly, if) your carrier releases it. However if you want to get past that, you can just join the dev preview and it'll be downloadable sometime this month. Sources have been saying either the 10th or the 14th. So lookout
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Joe posted in twitter, that they don't know exact date. It'll be first part of April.

-W_O_L_F- said:
Joe posted in twitter, that they don't know exact date. It'll be first part of April.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and he didn't mention the year

ceesheim said:
and he didn't mention the year
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really thought they said (at build) that 8.1 preview was supposed to be available for download today 4/8.

They do. What part of @desolate1's post suggested otherwise? Join the dev preview program and get the update straight from Microsoft (as soon as it releases) while the bits are fresh!
It's only if you want to get it through your OEM and/or carrier that you'll need to wait, and risk disappointment. Reading comprehension, yo!

Qualcomm bug in Nexus 6 found by Checkpoint

According to the BBC, "Serious security flaws that could give attackers complete access to a phone's data have been found in software used on tens of millions of Android devices." This includes the Nexus 6.
Full story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37005226
App from Check Point for testing whether your device is susceptible: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.checkpoint.quadrooter

I never worry for two reasons,
1) I watch what I download and install, trusted vendors and sources only
2) It is a Nexus device it will be patched

Don't worry, yesterday it was stagefright, now it's something else.
With Nexus we will be close to a patch

http://thetechportal.com/2016/08/08/new-android-vulnerability-quadrooter/
This one took six months of reverse engineering qual comm code to find. And that is only to outline theoretical avenue for attack...real exploit can be more challenging.
It is ranked as "high risk"...Not even the highest category (critical is highest). There are many high and critical vulnerabilities patched every month. I think the only thing unique about this one is press coverage drummed up by checkpoint to celebrate their finding and make themselves look more notable

http://www.recode.net/2016/8/8/12403088/android-security-mess-quadrooter
http://www.recode.net/2016/8/8/12403088/android-security-mess-quadrooter
"Google, meanwhile, says three of the four flaws tied to Quadrooter were patched in an August security update while the fourth is set to be fixed soon. "

electricpete1 said:
"Google, meanwhile, says three of the four flaws tied to Quadrooter were patched in an August security update while the fourth is set to be fixed soon. "
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm. I'm running MOB30W (dated 5th August), and the Checkpoint app claims that I'm vulnerable to 3 of the vulnerabilities, so either Google or Checkpoint have got something wrong...

Philip said:
Hmmmm. I'm running MOB30W (dated 5th August), and the Checkpoint app claims that I'm vulnerable to 3 of the vulnerabilities, so either Google or Checkpoint have got something wrong...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It needs stock kernel, because it's a kernel driver bug. I'm using my own build but with the stock kernel, and it says only one vulnerability left.

btw.. 3 of the 4 are already patched.

If you are on the August update only one of the four is still an issue. And Franco just rolled the commit in for the fourth one in his update today if yoy are using his kernel.
But as mentioned, just be careful what tou install and it is a non issue. And remember its a report of a flaw, not a report of it being used in the wild. Big difference.

The Checkpoint app is questionable I think. Lots of false positives being reported on the web.

Really guys this is nothing more then more fear mongering. As long as android offered open source code you will always find holes like this. Most are nothing to even worry about. Just like the stagefright issue. Dont sweat it.

Note that THREE of the FOUR bugs are within the closed source GPU (Adreno) drivers.
So this is a very strong argument in favor of getting this crap swapped out in favor of freedreno.

And I've applied the CAF patch to the kernel. Great, but the app still lists it as a vulnerability. So since the fix looks valid, then the app must give a false positive.

zelendel said:
Really guys this is nothing more then more fear mongering. As long as android offered open source code you will always find holes like this. Most are nothing to even worry about. Just like the stagefright issue. Dont sweat it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
finally a voice of reason!
thanks man, couldn't agree more. Unfortunately 95% of the people that come here don't get it..

zelendel said:
Really guys this is nothing more then more fear mongering. As long as android offered open source code you will always find holes like this. Most are nothing to even worry about. Just like the stagefright issue. Dont sweat it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% agree. Exploits usually need to be customized for different makes, models, and Android operating system versions in order for compromise to occur, really, really difficult to own an entire ecosystem.

Every year it's something new, first stagefright, now Qualcomm bug, nothing comes of it and it's packed withing a month or two, it makes you wonder why they even bother reporting on it.

did the scan and my nexus 6 is ok running the dev 5 android 7 rom

Latest Galaxy S8 Exynos security patch level

Hi, whats the latest security patch level? I just got my phone and it is showing after the firmware update 1-Apr-2017. My company is not permitting me to access exchange due to old security patch level. What is the latest version and is there a way to force it or install it somehow? Thanks.

April 1st is the current patch level.

thanks for the response, this will be a problem for me then as our admins will require the patch to be installed in a week or 2 after being released by Google.

samitro said:
thanks for the response, this will be a problem for me then as our admins will require the patch to be installed in a week or 2 after being released by Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your admins seem a bit clueless when it comes to updates on android phones, let alone non-pixel phones.

In most cases, the patch level will be 15 to 20 days behind on the flagships in unlocked regions with no carrier bs.
The gap widens as major upgrades loom in (ex: from 6.0 to 7.0).
The s7 was left on an old security patch for a few months until 7.0 came out with the latest ones.
Oh, and as the device becomes older, updates switch to 4 month cycles, check the samsung security website for more details on what devices are on what release cycles. Currently, this is anything older than the S6.
EDIT: Link: http://security.samsungmobile.com/introsm.html

Not so good I was looking forward to move away from my iPhone. Thanks anyway.

I purchased an S8 and found out that the security patch is outdated and is not supported by my employer

OP are you using Microsoft Intunes/Company Portal to handle your Exchange account?!

May release is already out since 25th~ of May in some (if not most by now) markets, run an update.

JaeMelo said:
OP are you using Microsoft Intunes/Company Portal to handle your Exchange account?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, my company required Airwatch MDM to access corporate email.
Skander1998 said:
May release is already out since 25th~ of May in some (if not most by now) markets, run an update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My S8 is the USA unlocked version. No update till now. (Already checked)

sabaatworld said:
No, my company required Airwatch MDM to access corporate email.
My S8 is the USA unlocked version. No update till now. (Already checked)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please screenshot your settings -> software info page?

sabaatworld said:
I purchased an S8 and found out that the security patch is outdated and is not supported by my employer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your employer is an idiot if he thinks all android phones will be on the latest security patch, only the pixel is updated monthly.

Skander1998 said:
Can you please screenshot your settings -> software info page?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you go

peachpuff said:
Your employer is an idiot if he thinks all android phones will be on the latest security patch, only the pixel is updated monthly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My employer doesn't require I use any specific phone, they require that the phone I use on their network be patched with the latest OS Security patch (whether Android, Apple or Microsoft). That doesn't make them an idiot, it makes them conscious about data-loss/breaches. As a consumer of technology you REALLY want that.
More employers are requiring that mobile phones have monthly security patches applied. So far only Apple and Google fit the bill. Google has even cranked up the price of their mediocre flagship because they KNOW this. All the other mobile manufacturers are just handing the business market to Apple and Google by being blind to this.
And I can verify what the OP said. I just purchased an Unlocked S8+ and the security patch level is April 1, so it's 2 months behind the Samsung promised "montly security patching".

Received a firmware update today plus security patch for June

Now you can easily hide the nav bar for immersive experience. Very nice addition.

mbashat said:
Now you can easily hide the nav bar for immersive experience. Very nice addition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a very welcome edition and saves messing around with adb commands to get the full immersive experience, shame though that you cannot enable or disable it yet on a per app basis.

daleski75 said:
It's a very welcome edition and saves messing around with adb commands to get the full immersive experience, shame though that you cannot enable or disable it yet on a per app basis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have checked and the good news is that you do have the option to select which apps run in full screen mode. Not all apps are supported though.
To do this select Settings>Display>Full Screen Apps.

mbashat said:
I have checked and the good news is that you do have the option to select which apps run in full screen mode. Not all apps are supported though.
To do this select Settings>Display>Full Screen Apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats something else and only means the app is filled to the 18.5:9 screen ratio. That was there since launch of the S8(+)

my last was april... shame Samsung...

Android O

OnePlus has always been praised for having clean, near-stock software, and a big advantage of this is that updates are much easier to push out. Case in point: the OnePlus 3 has already received Android 8.0 Oreo via the closed beta group, with the newer 3T and 5 receiving it soon as well. Plus, OnePlus is hoping for an Oreo public beta by the end of September.
Here are few links
http://www.fonearena.com/blog/22907...3-3t-and-5-expected-by-september-end.html/amp
http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/0...coming-soon-public-beta-slated-end-september/
http://m.gsmarena.com/oreo_update_starts_rolling_out_to_oneplus_3_closed_beta_channel-news-27150.php
The Shenzhen-based company is reportedly aiming to be seen as "quick to update." It's a bit strange how the OnePlus 3 is receiving this beta before the newer 3T and 5, but hey, it's pretty nice to see this much support for an older device. The 3's build still isn't ready for prime time, with nonfunctional NFC, buggy WiFi, unstable hotspot, and wonky Bluetooth. In a message to the closed beta, the company mentioned that there was a high chance that OTAs/upgrades could go poorly, so many would have to take logs if anything went wrong. The company isn't playing around.
OnePlus is ambitiously gunning for stable builds for the 3, 3T, and 5 by mid-September, with a public beta by the end of September. If everything goes according to plan, OnePlus will almost certainly be the first company to offer an Oreo update to its users. And if anyone from OnePlus is reading this: we know you didn't want the public to know about this, but well done regardless.

@shirso.it7 copy paste from androidpolice.com

Yup. SO it seems. But good to see oneplus working on it already!

Siddk007 said:
@shirso.it7 copy paste from androidpolice.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes because people needs to know

shirso.it7 said:
Yes because people needs to know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you should (actually - you must) provide links to the source info.

Siddk007 said:
@shirso.it7 copy paste from androidpolice.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PxlFall said:
you should (actually - you must) provide links to the source info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ohk letme edit that

My Device can't find February Patch. I've tried everything. No results.

Hello people, I can't patch my device to February Patch.
I'm stuck to January one.
I've tried EVERYTHING (updating Google Play Services via APK or signing to beta tester on Google Play).
At the end, I've done a factory reset, too.
My device IS NOT Rooted, and bootloader is LOCKED.
Someone can help me, please?
Thanks,
ghale

Me too. Brand new Xiaomi, just bought today. After setup, it downloaded two updates, Dezember and January update.
Maybe we should wait a little longer.

Wait for march update?? Sigh.
My wife's device too, same issue.

You mean you don't see an OTA update option? If so just wait a few days, it gets rolled out in batches. You are just unlucky.

ghale said:
Hello people, I can't patch my device to February Patch.
I'm stuck to January one.
I've tried EVERYTHING (updating Google Play Services via APK or signing to beta tester on Google Play).
At the end, I've done a factory reset, too.
My device IS NOT Rooted, and bootloader is LOCKED.
Someone can help me, please?
Thanks,
ghale
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xiaomi stoped the release
Sent from my OnePlus 5T using Tapatalk

Ah.
So there are no updates for people that are on January, then?
Have you got some links where I can read about the stopped distribution, please?

Xiaomi has a weird habit of randomly cancelling released updates. Has done that before, will do that again. Chill out and just wait. And never buy anything based on Android One from them ever again - this company treats the MI A1 as an unwanted child. The February security update still has no official changelog 10 days after release.

birdie said:
Xiaomi has a weird habit of randomly cancelling released updates. Has done that before, will do that again. Chill out and just wait. And never buy anything based on Android One from them ever again - this company treats the MI A1 as an unwanted child. The February security update still has no official changelog 10 days after release.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand. Thanks for explaining me that.

Yep, I have 2 A1's, one for me and one for my wife, and neither has gotten the February update. I've asked Xiaomi about it through 2 FB groups, through the Feedback app and through email to their global support. I have not received an answer from any of those avenues: nada...crickets.
Honestly, I would rather a company pull the update than continue to distribute ones with major issues, but the total lack of communication is disheartening. I think the A1 is by far the best price/performance phone I've ever owned, and had high hopes of Xiaomi being my new 'goto' manufacturer. That is in jeopardy if they continue to step all over the whole idea of Android One and continue doing things without communicating why those things are needed. In the case of Android phones, no news is NOT good news! I will give them some slack, for a while, because the A1 is what, 6 months old? and it is their first Android One phone, so maybe it takes a bit for the need to 'do it right' to trickle down to the devs and working stiffs in the company. But that is only possible if it comes from upper management, and that is communicated by them. So far, all I've really seen in such communication is MIUI, which is a total no go for me. Get your stuff together Xiaomi. You've built a nice base of customers who might never have bought your products with the Mi A1. If you leave them high and dry, you will lose them just as quickly!

It's a nice phone indeed. But based on my experience, I wouldn't count on them communicating with users about software updates.

KB_Thailand said:
Yep, I have 2 A1's, one for me and one for my wife, and neither has gotten the February update. I've asked Xiaomi about it through 2 FB groups, through the Feedback app and through email to their global support. I have not received an answer from any of those avenues: nada...crickets.
Honestly, I would rather a company pull the update than continue to distribute ones with major issues, but the total lack of communication is disheartening. I think the A1 is by far the best price/performance phone I've ever owned, and had high hopes of Xiaomi being my new 'goto' manufacturer. That is in jeopardy if they continue to step all over the whole idea of Android One and continue doing things without communicating why those things are needed. In the case of Android phones, no news is NOT good news! I will give them some slack, for a while, because the A1 is what, 6 months old? and it is their first Android One phone, so maybe it takes a bit for the need to 'do it right' to trickle down to the devs and working stiffs in the company. But that is only possible if it comes from upper management, and that is communicated by them. So far, all I've really seen in such communication is MIUI, which is a total no go for me. Get your stuff together Xiaomi. You've built a nice base of customers who might never have bought your products with the Mi A1. If you leave them high and dry, you will lose them just as quickly!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Considering a total lack of communications in regard to the MI A1, I am not buying anything from Xiaomi ever again.
For six months since its release:
We haven't had a single official announcement about the MI A1 development process
We haven't seen a single official changelog (MIUI forums is not the right place for changelogs - Xiaomi's own website is). Some updates have been published without any changelogs whatsoever, e.g. the last one
We haven't been notified even once about updates being revoked (and it has happened at least four times already)
We haven't seen a single comment in regard to its bugs. All feature requests have been rejected by the MIUI forums moderators.
The MI A1 is not fully Android 8 compatible: no camera2API, no Project Treble support
It has extremely horrible low light camera performance
Updates are randomly delayed
Clearly this company couldn't care less about the MI A1.

ghale said:
Hello people, I can't patch my device to February Patch.
I'm stuck to January one.
I've tried EVERYTHING (updating Google Play Services via APK or signing to beta tester on Google Play).
At the end, I've done a factory reset, too.
My device IS NOT Rooted, and bootloader is LOCKED.
Someone can help me, please?
Thanks,
ghale
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got it the first day by clearing cache of 'Google Framework'. If you haven't tried it yet, do give it a try!

hamzam4lik said:
I got it the first day by clearing cache of 'Google Framework'. If you haven't tried it yet, do give it a try!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, tried everything.

birdie said:
Considering a total lack of communications in regard to the MI A1, I am not buying anything from Xiaomi ever again.
For six months since its release:
We haven't had a single official announcement about the MI A1 development process
We haven't seen a single official changelog (MIUI forums is not the right place for changelogs - Xiaomi's own website is). Some updates have been published without any changelogs whatsoever, e.g. the last one
We haven't been notified even once about updates being revoked (and it has happened at least four times already)
We haven't seen a single comment in regard to its bugs. All feature requests have been rejected by the MIUI forums moderators.
The MI A1 is not fully Android 8 compatible: no camera2API, no Project Treble support
It has extremely horrible low light camera performance
Updates are randomly delayed
Clearly this company couldn't care less about the MI A1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The page you linked provides an excellent summary of issues. Thanks for that. :good: I agree with you that perhaps the MIUI forums are not the best place for A1 bug tracking though, and it would be nice if Xiaomi actually paid attention to customers and provided a place for updates and feedback. Unfortunately, many users create their own issues, then scream loudly for the manufacturer to 'fix' an issue they created, or just plain complain incessantly about the lack of 'features' that were never part of the deal to begin with, and this may lead manufacturers to be less inclined to offer interactive tools.
While my A1's do not have a number of those issues, it does point to the fact that the A1 environment is varied, probably due to different software combinations from the many different locals it is sold in. Hopefully Xiaomi will get it's stuff together and provide some answers. Continuing to ignore customers is never a good solution. It also points out that if I want some features Xiaomi has neglected (EIS and Camera2 API), I am going to have to root the phone, which I was hoping to avoid.
So far, the update experience with the A1 has not been slooth, and I am a bit worried that the update to P may not happen at all, or be very painful if it does. While I won't go as far as to say I won't buy any more Xiaomi products, if another company comes along that offers excellent price/performance and does a decent job at communication and updates, it will certainly be on my radar.

Step 1 : Download Stock Oreo ROM by @JamFlux
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=889964283620777529
Step 2 : Flash Stock Oreo ROM January Update.
-Install adb drivers for Mi A1
-Unpack MiA1-Tool-Flasher-Oreo.7z tool
-Reboot your Mi A1 on fastboot mode (Hold Vol - & Power)
-Execute Rom-Flasher.bat
-Select one of 3 flashing options (option 2 for avoid conflicts, data will be erased)
Step 3 : Install Playstore Beta.
Step 4 : Check for updates .
Step 5 : Download updates.
Step 6 : Drink coffee and eat some snacks while waiting for download to finish.
Step 7 : It will ask you to restart and install the update.
Step 8 : Invite your friends and family to celebrate that you successfully updated your device.

pogz01 said:
Step 1 : Download Stock Oreo ROM by @JamFlux
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=889964283620777529
Step 2 : Flash Stock Oreo ROM January Update.
-Install adb drivers for Mi A1
-Unpack MiA1-Tool-Flasher-Oreo.7z tool
-Reboot your Mi A1 on fastboot mode (Hold Vol - & Power)
-Execute Rom-Flasher.bat
-Select one of 3 flashing options (option 2 for avoid conflicts, data will be erased)
Step 3 : Install Playstore Beta.
Step 4 : Check for updates .
Step 5 : Download updates.
Step 6 : Drink coffee and eat some snacks while waiting for download to finish.
Step 7 : It will ask you to restart and install the update.
Step 8 : Invite your friends and family to celebrate that you successfully updated your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure this works..

boka18 said:
I'm not sure this works..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'll partially follow step 8.
"Step 8 : Invite your friends and family to celebrate that you successfully updated your device."
I mean, I'll invite my friends to celebrate, we'll use Italian red wine.

boka18 said:
I'm not sure this works..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I did man. I flashed stock Oreo ROM by @JamFlux then downloaded that playstore beta and checked for updates.
Trust me man.
---------- Post added at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 AM ----------
ghale said:
Well, I'll partially follow step 8.
"Step 8 : Invite your friends and family to celebrate that you successfully updated your device."
I mean, I'll invite my friends to celebrate, we'll use Italian red wine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lmao hahaha

pogz01 said:
This is what I did man. I flashed stock Oreo ROM by @JamFlux then downloaded that playstore beta and checked for updates.
Trust me man.
---------- Post added at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 AM ----------
Lmao hahaha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that the February security patch is definitely revoked...

boka18 said:
I think that the February security patch is definitely revoked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a bit fed up about Xiaomi. But I'm very satisfied about my device.
I've got Samsung S2, S4, S7 and now Mi A1.
And I can tell you: I'm good with my choice.
I can buy a Xiaomi Device EVERY YEAR with some money I've spent with Samsung. And I love Samsung. But I've been waiting for Oreo for several months.
Mi A1 lacks NFC, I hope my next phone will have it onboard.