Windows Phone 7.8 (features, release date/s & how?)

M

McCrazieGoalz

Expert Member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
1,858
Reaction score
0
Location
right here
The main question right now seems to be; "When is WP7.8 going to be released?"

The next question then is how is it going to be (or is it being) released?

So far, there is rumor that 7.8 is already out and some people in some countries have already received it. Yet, others speculate that it will be released officially, this month (January 2013).

So, what is it.

As for whats in the firmware update, here is the rundown that I've got:
- New Boot Screen – Reflects Microsoft’s new Windows Phone logo and actually matches that of Windows Phone 8
- New Start screen – The earlier confirmed 3-sizes for Tiles
- New Core apps re-design – Xbox Games, Office and Store all get updated with new logos
- 20 Accent colors – We saw this with Windows Phone 8 and now 7 .8 too gets 10 new accent colors (plus one for OEMs or carriers to customize)
- Live Lock screen Wallpaper – Users can now take advantage of Bing wallpaper, which dynamically updates every day. We’re not sure if this extendable to third party applications as in Windows Phone 8 but presumably it is possible.
- Nokia Network+ settings – we’ve seen this in current Lumia 810/820/822 and 920 devices where Nokia adds some advanced network configurations, such as call forwarding, call waiting and SMS options

Finally, there are some advanced changes that only Nokia is applying to their Lumia line as these are OEM customizations. Some of these should make folks very happy:
- Bluetooth sharing of non-DRM multimedia files
- More ringtone editing abilities
- Contact transfer and sharing app upgrade with new features
- Nokia City Lens
- New 7.x devices will be and are being released with 7.8 (i.e. including 610s, 710s, 800s and 900s being bought now)
- Cinemography included

Source - WPCentral (Features of Windows Phone 7.8 get revealed and confirmed).

Note: The points highlighted in blue are information not sourced from the WPCentral report.

Anything else you've heard.

My main question is, since I have ordered my 610 already (which apparently will not have City Lens owing to limited memory) - "How is the update being (going to be) released / pushed out?". Via downloads on your PC or via networks (MTN, Vodacom, Cell C)?

And just out of interest, will all Windows 7.x phones be getting 7.8?

Own a WP7.x device? Share with us your experience.
 
Last edited:
McCrazieGoalz said:
As for whats in the firmware update, here is the rundown that I've got:
- New Boot Screen – Reflects Microsoft’s new Windows Phone logo and actually matches that of Windows Phone 8
- New Start screen – The earlier confirmed 3-sizes for Tiles
- New Core apps re-design – Xbox Games, Office and Store all get updated with new logos
- 20 Accent colors – We saw this with Windows Phone 8 and now 7 .8 too gets 10 new accent colors (plus one for OEMs or carriers to customize)
- Live Lock screen Wallpaper – Users can now take advantage of Bing wallpaper, which dynamically updates every day. We’re not sure if this extendable to third party applications as in Windows Phone 8 but presumably it is possible.
- Nokia Network+ settings – we’ve seen this in current Lumia 810/820/822 and 920 devices where Nokia adds some advanced network configurations, such as call forwarding, call waiting and SMS options

Finally, there are some advanced changes that only Nokia is applying to their Lumia line as these are OEM customizations. Some of these should make folks very happy:
- Bluetooth sharing of non-DRM multimedia files
- More ringtone editing abilities
- Contact transfer and sharing app upgrade with new features
- Nokia City Lens
- New 7.x devices will be and are being released with 7.8 (i.e. including 610s, 710s, 800s and 900s being bought now)
- Cinemography included

Source - WPCentral (Features of Windows Phone 7.8 get revealed and confirmed).

Note: The points highlighted in blue are information not sourced from the WPCentral report.

Anything else you've heard.
Click to expand...

I've manually updated my Lumia 800 via Nokia Care Suite - this is a Nokia Vodacom branded ROM.

What I can confirm
- new boot screen
- new tile sizes
- can confirm the new logos - however i have hardly used these apps so cant comment on the design.
- never noticed anything with different accent colours
- live screen Bing wallpapers are awesome

As for the Nokia specific customisations - have not noticed them.

However, all things aside I have switched back to my iPhone simply because there are some core/decent apps missing from the Windows store....namely the FNB banking app, DropBox, Google Authenticator(2-step authentication), news aggregator (like FlipBoard) and a few others. I cant update when I get home regarding some of the other noticeable features.

If you are interested in manually updating to 7.8, head over to XDA forums for further instruction and details.
 
crazy_cat said:
If you are interested in manually updating to 7.8, head over to XDA forums for further instruction and details.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip.

I am expecting to recieve my 610 tomorrow. If it doesn't have 7.8 then will head on over to XDA.

If it does have 7.8. I will try to find out which features you may have missed and what my overall experience is.

I will be switching from a Symbian device so expect some over rated praise for WP7.8. My disclaimer.

I guess because of the comment above, the matter of apps is really a none issue to me. If you ask me having MS Office on mobile is like having an extra 100,000 apps.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for that link. There seems to be a firm confirmation of 31 January as the release date.

I am still waiting for my phone though.

I don't know if it will come with 7.8 or 7.5.
 
I think that you lose all your settings if you do a manual update, the OTA update will keep your settings and preferences.
 
Just got my 610 from Autopage.

I guess it was wishful thinking to think that it would have 7.8 preinstalled.

I will wait for the official update release. I am with MTN so my wait might be even longer. VC is the real Lumia SP. It is like the AT&T of SA.
 
For the record, MS is aware of this and has been for ages. It's not clear whether it was added on purpose or not, but they definitely know it's there and have no intention of patching it.

@Dr@g0nic, you might need to try 20 times. It's all about timing, and unfortunately depends alot on variable factors like you internet speed.
 
Ya, try waiting a bit longer before disconnecting. It worked for me when I disconnected after about 8+ seconds. I think the fact that so many people are trying to update is affecting the server speed, so it takes longer to get update info back to the Zune client.
 
Cool I just got to try a few more times. Got a Update available on my phone now but Zune gave a error... almost there.

EDIT: Boom got the first part of the update. Gave it 20secs before unplugging.
 
Last edited:
Righto, im on windows 7.8.... finally after exactly 20 months of having this phone (upgrade due already).... the question is, do I stick with windows phone and go for 8? or do I look at other options and enjoy the new tile interface on 7.8 as a second phone....
 
If the unplugging trick is not working for some of you, I can recommend the seveneighter app.
 
Unplug worked fine for me after I found a better nick... I click update and see how long it takes then the second time i count down till about 3 or 2 seconds less than the time it took the first time around and voila! Easy.
My timeout was about 18s the first time then 28s the second and third.
 
Last edited:
Success! Updated my DKR Lumia 900 to 7.8 after about a million tries :| Used the Zune update trick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X