Nokia's update to its Windows Phone 7 handsets starts rolling out today. Nokia Lumia owners will be able to receive an update soon, if they haven't already, from Windows Phone 7.5 Mango to the improved Windows 7.8 operating system.
There are a few fixes and improvements that come with Windows Phone 7.8. First is that the color customization scheme has been doubled to 20 options. Another is the lockscreen: Lumia owners will have an option to set the Bing Image of the Day as their lockscreen wallpaper. You'll also be able to resize your home screen tiles.
Other updates include added support to share contacts via the Internet and Bluetooth. Another feature will be good for Nokia Lumia owners with curious children - there's a custom children's zone that will lock away the adult features like email, while providing a kid-friendly environment on the phone.
There are also some new apps for the Nokia handsets, including Nokia City Lens and Camera Extras. With Camera Extras, you'll be able to take "Smart Group Shots," panoramic images, and action shots. The Zune app has had its name changed to Xbox Music. Speaking of music, there's also a new Ringtone Maker with the upgrade.
For PC owners, the update will come through Zune, so once you receive Nokia's message, connect your handset to your computer through Zune and then follow the on-screen prompts to your update. For Mac users, you can update your Nokia Lumia by connecting it to the computer and using the Windows Phone app.
The update is for Nokia Lumia models 510, 610, 710, 800, and 900. But you must have Windows Phone 7.5 in order to be updated, so make sure you're up to speed on that first.