Microsoft's mobile OS could soon be getting bigger, as an upcoming OS update will allow for 5- and 6-inch Windows Phone 8 devices, said a report on Thursday.
ZDNet cited unnamed sources who claimed that Microsoft's third "General Distribution Release" (GDR3) update will add support for 5- and 6-inch Windows Phone 8 devices when it's released sometime before early 2014.
The site's contacts also confirmed Tuesday's rumor that GDR3 will add support for 1080p resolution displays on Windows Phone 8 handsets.
Given all the rumors lately it seems Microsoft's mobile OS is about to get bigger and sharper, which could help give it a boost against Android.
Getting up to speed
In the near future everyone will be looking to Samsung's Galaxy S4, a 5-inch 1080p handset that will likely set the standard for 2013 and beyond.
Windows Phone 8 will find it even harder to compete if it can't meet those standards, and even an update bringing it up to speed by the end of the year (when GDR3 is currently expected) will be pushing it when the Galaxy S4 will have been out for months by then.
HTC's Tiara is rumored to be the first device that will launch with the GDR2 update to Windows Phone 8, and it's believed the 4.3-inch phone could arrive as early as May.
If the "Blue" update for Windows Phone arrives in early 2014 like ZDNet claimed it will, then it would make sense for GDR2 to land during the summer and GDR3 to arrive in time for the holidays.
It's currently unknown what changes GDR2 will bring, but ZDNet's sources hinted that GDR3 could add some UI tweaks and changes to core apps, including adding a third column to the start screen, in addition to allowing for bigger and higher-res handsets.
Source : techradar[dot]com
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