The Mast er Chief

The Nokia Lumia 930 shows off Windows Phone’s fancy 8.1 upgrade

COLOURFULLY TILED Window s PhoneS alw ays ELICIT lustful looks from design fans, but a lack of apps and an out-of-step operating system have meant many iPhone and Android users have been reluctant to make the jump. It may be time to reassess, though.

Windows Phone 8.1 is here, debuting on the Nokia Lumia 930’s five-inch screen. The main event is Microsoft’s own Siri- and Google Now-alike, the Halo- inspired Cortana. Like Scarlett Johansson’s virtual PA in Her, hand Cortana access to texts, emails and calendars and, powered by Bing, she optimises your phone for your schedule.

The software update also adds a drop-down Action Centre (read: Notifications) and background wallpapers at long last. Add plentiful photo apps – a real bonus when paired with the 930’s 20-megapixel, feature-laden camera – and you can colour us interested. Windowsphone.com/en-au, out june