Windows Phone 8.1: The 5 Best Features of Microsoft’s New OS

After years of being in the mobility dumps, Microsoft (MSFT) — along with its primary hardware partner Nokia (NOK) — gradually clawed its way back into contention, overtakingBlackBerry (BBRY) in 2013 to become the third-largest smartphone platform, worldwide.

Windows Phone has also been the fastest growing smartphone operating system, but the reality is that apparent momentum is because its share is so small to begin with (3% in Q4 2013). If Microsoft is to keep up the momentum break into double digits, Windows Phone simply has to get better and be able to compete at the level ofApple’s (AAPL) iOS and Google’s (GOOG) Android.

The Windows Phone 8.1 update is hugely important to Microsoft. And the good news for MSFT is that reaction to the new smartphone operating system — released to developers on April 14 — has been very positive. Ars Technica went so far as to pronounce Windows 8.1 “a magnificent smartphone platform.”

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