The Windows Phone 8 Update To Have Gesture Controls And Radio

Bangalore: Microsoft is currently preparing to release an update that will support FM radio hardware on Windows Phone 8 devices, according to a report by The Verge. With this update the software maker from Redmond will return a hardware feature that it dropped in its latest OS for Smartphones.

The hardware support will be part of a General Distribution Release (GDR2) for Windows Phone 8. Which means that Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 will support FM radio, while other compatible handsets will also include the support. Nokia is also building in its own firmware improvements into GDR2. Sources familiar with Nokia's plans have revealed to The Verge that the company will add a new screen activation gesture. Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 owners will be able to double-tap the screen to wake the device from standby. Other firmware specific improvements from Nokia include a flip to silence option, and Lumia color profile settings for the device screen.

Recently, Microsoft had announced the support dates for its mobile operating systems, Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.8, on its support pages. The listing had revealed that Microsoft would support Windows Phone 7.8 till September 2014, and Windows Phone 8 till July 2014. However, Microsoft had clarified that Windows Phone 8 users would be able to upgrade to the next version of Windows Phone when it comes out. This means that users with Windows Phone 8 devices would be able to upgrade to the next version of the operating system. Microsoft is rumored to be working on Windows Phone Blue, the successor to Windows Phone 8.

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