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Apr 14, 2014, 7:00 AM by Eric M. Zeman @zeman_e

Microsoft delivers a solid update to is smartphone platform with Windows Phone 8.1. The new features are genuinely delightful and bring Windows Phone up to speed with Android and iOS ... almost. Here is Phone Scoop's full review.

Intro

Microsoft promised to deliver Windows Phone 8.1 to most devices by summer. Believe us when we say: This is one update you're really going to want.

The name "Windows Phone 8.1" suggest this is a minor update to Windows Phone 8. It's not. Microsoft added a lot of features to Windows Phone that provide users with instant gratification. The company also made tweaks under the hood that will really pay off further down the road. The basic look and feel of Windows Phone 8.1 is familiar, despite the advancements to usability and usefulness. Now more than ever, Microsoft's mobile operating system offers feature parity with Android and iOS.

Unlike when it upgraded from Windows Phone 7.5 to Windows Phone 8, the jump from WP8 to WP8.1 won't break app compatibility. Also, it's being offered to all devices already running WP8. Microsoft has made a solid commitment to its customers. That's commendable, and goes further than what Google and its manufacturing partners are able to promise Android device owners.

We've spent about a week putting Windows Phone 8.1 through its paces on a Nokia Lumia Icon. Here are our thoughts so far.