Microsoft has decided to let developers install the pre-release version of Windows Phone 8 Update 3 before it’s available to customers, to help programmers test-drive their mobile apps and get them ready for the official release later this year. The Windows Phone 8 Update 3 brings three key features: 1080p screen resolution support for 5- and 6-inch displays (for future devices), landscape or portrait rotation lock, a new Driving Move with automatic reply feature, and few other additions.

Windows Phone Update 3 early access considerations

Although everyone likes to have the latest and greatest, when we are talking about a pre-release, support, stability, and requirements are limited. Before installing, make sure you understand the following considerations:

  1. The Windows Phone 8 Preview is only meant for developers, who are registered, that means having a Dev Center account, a registered unlocked phone, or an App Studio account.

  2. Installing the preview update for your phone may void warranty with either the device manufacturer and/or carrier.

  3. Once you load the pre-release bits, you’ll be locked in, there is no workaround to rollback to the previous General Distribution Release 2.

  4. The Windows Phone Update 3 only brings the operating system changes, there is no new firmware, and no new drivers for devices. In other words, there is a small change, you may fried your phone during the update.

  5. The only prerequisite is to have a Windows Phone 8 with GDR2 installed, then after loading a special app for the occasion, the “Update 3” will just install as any other update.

  6. If you want to try the update, but you aren’t a developer, you can pay Microsoft $19 for a year subscription to get the bits before they available to customers.

“Update 3”, the official name of this release and formerly known as GDR3, also brings a new option to allow mobile users to switch app faster, support for new ARM processors (Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core CPU), now users will be able to fit a total of 6 Live Tiles on the screen, instead of the previous four; new option to set custom ringtones, better storage management to free up space and manage temp files, improved Bluetooth capability, and Wi-Fi connectivity during phone set up.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft could merge Windows RT with Windows Phone sooner than you think

The pre-release update is available starting today, October 14, 2013, regular users will have to wait a few months. Microsoft is also preparing another update known as Windows Phone 8.1, and it is said to arrive sometime in 2014.

Source Microsoft