Microsoft hasn't yet made any official announcements regarding its GDR2 update for Windows Phone 8, but today it was discovered that the company has quietly added information about GDR2 to its Windows Phone 8 update history. The page lists the latest update as being version 8.0.10327.77 or 8.0.10328.78 (the specific number depends on the phone model and operator), the changelog contains many of the feature's that've long been rumored to be coming with GDR2, including FM radio and Data Sense. The full GDR2 changelog posted by Microsoft is as follows:
Update 8.0.10327.77 or 8.0.10328.78*
- Xbox Music. It's now easier to select, download, and pin music. Plus, music fans will see more accurate metadata (such as song and album information) and many other performance improvements.
- FM radio. Listen to FM radio right from the Music+Videos hub. (Not available for all phones.)
- Data Sense. Stay on top of your phone's data usage with Data Sense. You can set a limit based on your data plan, or just keep track of which apps use the most data. (Not all mobile operators offer Data Sense.)
- Skype. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps like Lync and Skype now feature improved stability and performance.
- Internet Explorer. Your web browsing experience is now better than ever with improved HTML 5 compatibility.
- Camera. Set your favorite Lens so it opens automatically when you press the camera button. (Not available for all phones.)
- Other improvements. Includes many other improvements to Windows Phone.
*Your update version number depends on your specific phone model and mobile operator.
Like GDR1 before it, this new GDR2 looks like a nice little maintenance update that ought to improve the overall usability of the Windows Phone 8 hardware. Unfortunately, one piece of information that Microsoft didn't include with this changelog is the start date of GDR2's rollout. It's possible that Microsoft's decision to post this information could be an indication that the update is near, but for now the start of the GDR2 push is still up in the air.
It's also worth noting that Nokia is expected to take GDR2 and add some of its own features to create the upcoming Lumia Amber update. Along with FM radio and GDR2's other goodies, the Lumia Amber update will include Nokia's Smart Camera application and is also expected to bring Glance Screen, double-tap to wake, flip-to-silence and more. Nokia has said that the Lumia Amber update will begin rolling out its Windows Phone 8 devices this summer.
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