When we looked at the new Lumia 640 and 640 XLs earlier this week, we spotted a small change from the version of Windows Phone 8.1 that's currently shipping.
Over the past few days, a few more differences have been noticed, as has the name of the set of updates: it's called Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2. We don't know when it'll ship—Microsoft hasn't even officially announced it—but it'll contain a smattering of interface and functional changes.
The interface we spotted is a minor thing. At the bottom of the Start screen, where Windows Phone 8.1 has a right-pointing arrow to show that you can scroll right to see the all apps view, Update 2 adds some words: it now says "all apps."
Windows Central spotted a few other differences in the settings applet. Instead of the current split between system and applications settings, Update 2 puts all settings into a single list. However, this isn't the same random list of the current version: the list has been organized with different sets of settings grouped together under a number of headings. For example, Wi-Fi, roaming, NFC, Internet sharing, Bluetooth, and airplane mode are all put together in a "network and wireless" section.
As well as this organization, there's now a search magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen to enable direct searching for settings.
These settings can also now be pinned to the Start screen, providing another way to get quick access to settings if the buttons in the notification center aren't enough.
There's also a new settings app to control app permissions. This lists five different permission types—Calendar, Camera, Contacts, Messaging, and Microphone—and tapping through on any of those five lets you see all the apps that have access to those features. From there, access to the feature can be disabled on a per-app basis, or phone-wide.
Microsoft launched a new keyboard for tablets and phones at Mobile World Congress, the Universal Foldable Keyboard, and this revealed one final snippet of information about Update 2. The $100 folding keyboard will work with iOS, Android, and Windows devices—no surprises there—but the details page for the gadget lists a fourth operating system: Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2. It seems that the update will add Bluetooth keyboard support to Microsoft's phone platform.
With the update still not officially announced, we have no information on when it'll become available or what else it might contain, but it appears that it will be a small but welcome set of incremental improvements when it does arrive.
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