You can ask the phone to block calls, texts and notifications during certain hours, or turn the feature on when you’re at a movie or concert. What Windows doesn’t offer, though, is quick access to a flashlight app, as the iPhone does. But Windows lets you choose the four options you need most, while the iPhone picks for you. The Action Center also has four buttons at the top for frequently used settings and tools, such as airplane mode, similar to Apple’s Control Center. It’s similar to what iPhones and Android phones offer. You get notifications from various apps by pulling the Action Center down from the top of the screen like a window shade. I reviewed Cortana separately on Monday and found plenty to like, even though it’s still in a “beta” test mode and has kinks to work out. If you already have a Windows phone or are thinking of getting one, the new features should please you. That includes apps for my bank and JetBlue. But now and then, you’ll encounter something that only your iPhone and Android friends have. The Windows store is getting better and has many popular apps such as Facebook and Netflix.

The new system still doesn’t address one of my major frustrations: There aren’t as many apps for Windows smartphones compared with iPhones and Android phones. Beyond that, the new Windows Phone 8.1 has tools to simplify connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots, save battery life and block non-emergency calls overnight.

Windows phone airplane mode