New Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update in testing

While Windows Phone 8 GDR2 update rollout is picking pace, rumours of its possible successor, GDR3 update, have started surfacing. According to a report by TheVerge, Microsoft is testing a General Distribution 3 (GDR3) update. This update will be made available for newer devices initially and come with features such as rotation lock, certain UI changes to Live Tiles and a driving mode option for cars.

Windows Phone 8 during its launch

The rotation lock feature will allow users to disable the auto-rotation of the screen. Though it may sound like a basic feature, it isn’t available for Windows Phone 8 devices yet. The GDR3 update is expected to bring in some changes to the UI and update Live Tiles for 1080p devices. A post on Reddit has listed some possible changes that will come with the GDR3. Reportedly, Microsoft also plans to sync text messages from Windows Phones to PCs and the web.  The feature would allow Windows Phone users to view text messages on the web and on PCs, negating the need to view them on the handset. However, this feature is likely to not make it in time for the GDR3 release.

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The GDR3 update is expected to be finalised in mid-September. Around the same time, a new large-screen Nokia device is also said to be announced. Initially, the update will be available for the Nokia phablet and newer devices, and then to the other existing devices before the year ends. In 2014, Microsoft is expected to come with its big announcement - the highly anticipated Windows Phone 8.1 Blue update.