Windows Phone 8.1 to have a Notification Center, Siri like Personal Assistant and Split volume controls

Microsoft is not going to let Windows Phone bite the dust. Although a bit behind the curve, Windows Phone has made steady progress over the last year. Windows Phone 8.1 is a huge leap forward both in terms of core functionality as well as features that we have come to expect of smartphones, and quite literally use daily. One of them is the Notification Center which will be part of the Windows Phone 8.1 or Windows Phone Blue update, which will allow you to do some basic tasks on a short pull from he top of the status bar and a long pull will display your Notification history.

Next-up is a Siri like location-aware Personal assistant, dubbed Project Cortana, you know the ubiquitous AI from the HALO series. Cortana will understand location context and either enable/disable functionality based on your location or will just be able to switch interfaces based on whether you are driving, at a meeting or home. Microsoft's implementation such a Voice Assistant remains to be seen, although the company does have Voice Commands with the help of TellMe app.

Windows Phone 8.1 will also feature Split Volume controls, meaning you will be able to control volume separately for Ringtone, Calls and Media Playback right from the same interface. Facebook and Twitter are going to get deeper integration into the People hub, which has been one of the best features of Windows Phone from the start.

Microsoft is expected to showcase Windows Phone 8.1 in April at the annual BUILD Conference, and if previous reports are to be believed then it will arrive on the Nokia "Goldfinger" and "Moneypenny" devices before anyone else gets their paws on it. Although these things might seem basic to an Android user, Notification center just arrived on Apple devices as well with iOS 7. Although the implementation may be different but a collective Notification hub was always Android first, if we just count the current generation of smartphone OS'. Nevertheless, Windows Phone has promise and with literally no-one behind them in the race they have to just find a way to move forward.