Details on Microsoft"s Windows 8.1 update have been officially revealed today, and it seems that along with the update will come a possible new addition to Windows Phone. Microsoft is reportedly working on a “Reading List” app in Windows 8.1 that will sync highlighted articles. Included in that snippet of information was the reveal that Windows Phone will receive an update so it works with this new service.
According to Engadget the new feature will come built into Windows 8.1 and arrive later for Windows Phone. Said to mimic the abilities of existing services such as Pocket or Instapaper it will sync a reading list of saved articles between devices. The Windows Phone app is said to work by using the existing Charms system to save the article to your list. How it will work when it arrives for Windows Phone we have yet to find out.
Here is how Engadget describe the Reading List:
“The app itself is styled in much the same way as Microsoft"s other first-party apps, with large tiles you swipe through from left to right. When you open something in the application, the article will take up most of the screen, with Reading List snapped into place along the side, taking up about 20 percent of the screen. Of course, though, now that those side-by-side windows are resizable, you can rejigger the ratio any way you like.”
A tantalising snippet of something we can expect in a major update of Windows Phone is always appreciated. Since this is suggested to be arriving after the Windows 8.1 update its hard to know when we’re likely to see this rolled in but could be as late as 2014.
We’re hoping that Microsoft will have more official news on Windows Phone 8 updates to deliver soon... but don"t hold your breath.
Source | Engadget