Microsoft has recently released another important update for Windows Phone devices registered for the Preview for Developers program, making another big step towards the public launch of OS version 8.1.1.

Windows Phone 8.1.1 build 14203 is now available for download for devices that are running the Preview for Developers program, and even though no big changes seem to be included in this release, devs are still recommended to get it as soon as possible to benefit from the latest improvements.

As my colleague Cosmin Vasile wrote yesterday, the update is an important step towards the public release of Windows Phone 8.1.1, which could bring a few more customization options for Battery Saver and other apps running on devices powered by Microsoft's smartphone platform.

What's new in Windows Phone 8.1.1 build 14203

One of the biggest changes in Windows Phone 8.1.1 build 14203 is the addition of new options for Battery Saver, a built-in application that allows users to monitor battery usage and see the impact of installed programs on their battery life.

Starting with this new OS version, Battery Saver comes with support for live tiles and real-time updates, so if you pin the app's live tile to the Start screen, you'll also see the current level of the battery.

In existing stable versions of Windows Phone 8.1, Battery Saver can still be pinned to the Start screen, but instead of showing the current battery level, it only displays its icon and nothing more. Obviously, this doesn't make too much sense since we're talking about an app supposed to keep an eye on battery life, so the update clearly comes in handy to everyone.

Another improvement in Windows Phone 8.1.1 build 14203 allows users to include Battery Saver in the Quick Settings menu found in the notification center. If you do that, you can access Battery Saver by simply swiping down from the top of the screen to see the latest notifications.

It could ship to everyone by year-end

This new Windows Phone build could be released in stable form by the end of the year, which means that all users could get their hands on these improvements in the coming weeks.

Of course, Battery Saver enhancements aren't something that users can really drool over, but they're clearly welcome, especially since the battery of Windows Phone devices seems to be seriously impacted by apps that aren't entirely optimized for the latest versions of the OS.

WhatsApp, for instance, is one of the apps killing the battery of Windows Phone devices, so getting frequent updates for Battery Saver could actually come in very handy.