WP8 Summary

[roguemat]

MS announces WP8: http://wpcentral.com/microsoft-offic...indows-phone-8

WP7.8 for existing hardware: http://wpcentral.com/microsoft-unvei...egacy-hardware

New start screen: http://wpcentral.com/microsoft-annou...indows-phone-8

WP8 uses Nokia Maps: http://wpcentral.com/microsoft-annou...indows-phone-8

Wallet/NFC: http://wpcentral.com/microsoft-annou...indows-phone-8

New resolutions: http://wpcentral.com/windows-phone-s...indows-phone-8

VOIP integration (for Skype and 3rd party): http://wpcentral.com/microsoft-revea...indows-phone-8


OK, so WP7 devices will not be getting WP8, however they will be getting 7.8 which is a subset of WP8 that the existing phones support. For example, the existing phones don't have multiple cores or NFC - software can't change that.

[rrh]

Based on the above - and the local cost of the 900 - looks as though there isn't a WP8 in my future.

[diegoa]

I feel Microsoft just screwed current WP 7.5 customers and Nokia will be badly hit by the no upgrade path for Lumia to WP8 Apollo. WP 7.8 wooppy doooh, what happens when developers start addopting the WP8 only app route.

Same old Microsoft story, cant do things right first time. Not buying another Microsoft Windows phone until they sort their stuff out.

[Elimentals]

I feel Microsoft just screwed current WP 7.5 customers and Nokia will be badly hit by the no upgrade path for Lumia to WP8 Apollo. WP 7.8 wooppy doooh, what happens when developers start addopting the WP8 only app route.

Same old Microsoft story, cant do things right first time. Not buying another Microsoft Windows phone until they sort their stuff out.

For what its worth, most of the apps will be able to run on both. Only limiting factor would be based on hardware.

[Dr@g0nic]

For what its worth, most of the apps will be able to run on both. Only limiting factor would be based on hardware.

Yeah I saw that part yeah... Will see how things go... is bit of a curveball eventhough I understand slightly why 7.8 is a suitable upgrade. People might bail on buying WP phones till WP8 comes out... and maybe even then keep their eyes peeled first to see what might happen.

[Arthur]

Paul Thurrott has a good overview here.

[roguemat]

Video of the awesome new start screen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25DKX...ature=g-crec-u

[Park@82]

Will the Omnia 7 get 7.8?

[Arthur]

Will the Omnia 7 get 7.8?

According to Paul Thurrott here, apparently all existing WP7.x devices will be able to load WP7.8 (with new Metro and other tidbits) directly via a PC/wifi without having to wait for carriers to deliver.

Windows Update. Windows Phone 7.8 will be delivered directly to all Windows Phone users, bypassing the carriers. You will be able to download and install Windows Phone 7.8 over Wi-Fi, at home or wherever else, and install this update. This type of updating will be made available in Windows Phone 8, as well, as given my long, loud, and lengthy complaining about the lack of such updating in Windows Phone 7.x, you won’t be surprised, maybe, to discover that Microsoft jokingly calls this “the Paul Thurrott feature” internally.

[Mouse]

This thread is more informative than the MyBB article. The best thing I've seen is that they're allowing C++ dev. That should make it a bit easier for developers to maintain a common code base between different phone operating systems

[roguemat]

This thread is more informative than the MyBB article. The best thing I've seen is that they're allowing C++ dev. That should make it a bit easier for developers to maintain a common code base between different phone operating systems

And will allow existing game engines to come across really easily so we will see fancy new games (this is basically what you said).

[McCrazieGoalz]

Video of the awesome new start screen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25DKX...ature=g-crec-u

Lovely video.

Mine will be a sports fan phone.

[McCrazieGoalz]

Here is a link with some exciting new features on Nokia WP phones, which also includes a video.

http://conversations.nokia.com/2012/...a-even-better/

The camera app is one of the best additions in my opinion. I loved the burst feature on the Samsung Galaxy SIII. I am glad it will also be on the Lumias. For me it was a deciding factor.

[Tsepz_011]

Shame about none of the existing WP7s gettimg the update, i feel sorry for the many new Lumia800 and 900 users.

On the brightside WP8 is sounding good, the new homescreen looks messy but the rest of the new features show Microsoft moving in the right direction with WP.

Still many things missing in WP for me to drop Android for it, but i'll keep an eye on its progress, maybe WP9 will win me over.

[Elimentals]

Video of the awesome new start screen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25DKX...ature=g-crec-u

No other phone can have live tiles?

I call BS!!! With a simple app you can get it on Android.



Edit: I do like the idea of smaller tiles, but I have a feeling above mentioned launcher will have it before WP's does