What to consider installing pre-release Windows Phone 8 Update 3

Windows Phone 8 Update 3

Microsoft has decided to let developers install the pre-release version of Windows Phone 8 Update 3 before it’s available to customers, to help programmers test-drive their mobile apps and get them ready for the official release later this year. The Windows Phone 8 Update 3 brings three key features: 1080p screen resolution support for 5- and 6-inch displays (for future devices), landscape or portrait rotation lock, a new Driving Move with automatic reply feature, and few other additions.

Windows Phone Update 3 early access considerations

Although everyone likes to have the latest and greatest, when we are talking about a pre-release, support, stability, and requirements are limited. Before installing, make sure you understand the following considerations:

1. The Windows Phone 8 Preview is only meant for developers, who are registered, that means having a Dev Center account, a registered unlocked phone, or an App Studio account.

2. Installing the preview update for your phone may void warranty with either the device manufacturer and/or carrier.

3. Once you load the pre-release bits, you’ll be locked in, there is no workaround to rollback to the previous General Distribution Release 2.

4. The Windows Phone Update 3 only brings the operating system changes, there is no new firmware, and no new drivers for devices. In other words, there is a small change, you may fried your phone during the update.

5. The only prerequisite is to have a Windows Phone 8 with GDR2 installed, then after loading a special app for the occasion, the “Update 3” will just install as any other update.

6. If you want to try the update, but you aren’t a developer, you can pay Microsoft $19 for a year subscription to get the bits before they available to customers.

“Update 3”, the official name of this release and formerly known as GDR3, also brings a new option to allow mobile users to switch app faster, support for new ARM processors (Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core CPU), now users will be able to fit a total of 6 Live Tiles on the screen, instead of the previous four; new option to set custom ringtones, better storage management to free up space and manage temp files, improved Bluetooth capability, and Wi-Fi connectivity during phone set up.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft could merge Windows RT with Windows Phone sooner than you think

The pre-release update is available starting today, October 14, 2013, regular users will have to wait a few months. Microsoft is also preparing another update known as Windows Phone 8.1, and it is said to arrive sometime in 2014.

Source Microsoft

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.