Got a Windows Phone 8 device? If so, you can catch an early look at Microsoft’s next big update.
The company this morning made the Windows Phone 8.1 developer preview available to anyone who signs up for a free developer account.
It’s not yet the final version of Windows Phone 8.1, which was first detailed at Microsoft’s Build conference a few weeks ago. The developer preview will void your warranty, but upgrading early could be worth it if you’re itching to try out Microsoft’s new Cortana virtual assistant. (Big caveat: You won’t be able to roll back to an earlier version of Windows Phone if you encounter any bugs.)
To nab the update, simply sign into the App Studio site with your Microsoft credentials, create a single project, and then download the developer preview app on your Windows Phone device. Once you log into that preview app, your phone will see the Windows Phone 8.1 update, and you’ll be able to install it from the “Settings” menu like any other update.
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In addition to Cortana, Windows Phone 8.1 also brings new features like a notification center and the ability to skin Start Screen tiles with your own wallpaper. Cortana is technically only available in the U.S. at the moment, but if you’re in another country, you can change your device’s region to test it out.
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