Windows Phone 8 (What can you expect)

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Exclusive: Windows Phone 8 Detailed

Microsoft has some major changes in store for Windows Phone 8, we've learned, which is the version of the platform currently being referred to by codename "Apollo" (the one scheduled for deployment after the upcoming Tango update). Thanks to a video hosted by senior vice president and Windows Phone manager Joe Belfiore, and intended for partners at Nokia, a number of WP8 features and themes have now been revealed.

Hardware changes

According to Belfiore, the overarching theme with regards to the Windows Phone 8 hardware ecosystem will be scale and choice. Specifically, Apollo will add support for multicore processors, new screen resolutions (a total of four, although actual pixel counts weren't specified), and removable microSD card storage. It's clear that Microsoft is addressing one of the platform's pain points, which is a perceived inability to compete in spec sheet comparisons with the iPhone and Android-based devices.

NFC radios will also be supported, with Belfiore placing specific emphasis on 8's push into contactless payments. The "Wallet experience," as he calls it, will have to capability to be carrier-branded and controlled, either by a secure element on the SIM card or utilizing hardware in the phone itself. In addition, tap-to-share capabilities will reportedly work across multiple platforms, allowing desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones to all share content.

Windows 8 integration

Windows Phone 8 won't just share a UI with the next-generation desktop and tablet OS, apparently: it will use many of the same components as Windows 8, allowing developers to "reuse -- by far -- most of their code" when porting an app from desktop to phone, according to Belfiore. He specifically mentions the kernel, networking stacks, security, and multimedia support as areas of heavy overlap.

Moreover, Windows Phone 8 will reportedly scrap integration with the desktop Zune client in favor of a syncing relationship with a dedicated companion application. In other words, Microsoft is bringing back a (presumably) richer version of ActiveSync after letting that program die out for the most part.

The Xbox Companion app, currently found on Windows Phones, will see a partner client on Windows 8. Skydrive support promises seamless sharing of data between devices; Belfiore gives the example of instantly having one's music collection available on a newly-purchased Windows Phone, without the need for a PC sync.

It sounds like the tagline for this so-called Windows 2012 relaunch, or "Windows reimagined," will be "The New Familiar."

Application ecosystem

Microsoft expects 100,000 apps to be in the Marketplace (tipped for imminent worldwide availability) at the launch of Windows Phone 8 -- rumored by WMPoweruser as happening sometime in the fourth quarter. The biggest news on the app front is probably the addition of native code support, which will enable more powerful applications as well as ease the porting of code from programs initially developed for iOS or Android.

Also mentioned is support for app-to-app communication, as well as a revamped Skype client that hooks directly into the OS, letting Skype calls behave almost identically to regular, non-VoIP telephony. The camera will now be based around so-called lens apps: Microsoft provides a basic camera interface that can either be skinned by OEMs or overlaid with viewfinders from third-parties. Belfiore gives the example of a lens app that combines burst mode with smile detection to capture a perfect portrait shot.

Data management

One of the main highlights of the overview was a feature called DataSmart, which aims to reduce, and simplify the tracking of, data usage. Besides providing a breakdown of data consumption, as other platforms already do, Windows Phone 8 will actively attempt to give Wi-Fi connections precedence, going so far as to automatically connect to carrier-owned WLANs when in range. To that end, the Local Scout feature of Bing Maps will enable the real-time location of nearby hotspots. Data usage will also be made glanceable thanks to a live tile.

Perhaps most interesting is Windows Phone 8's planned use of a proxy server to feed pages to Internet Explorer 10. Like Opera Mini and the Skyfire of old, this service uses server-side compression to reduce the amount of data required to view websites -- in this case, by a claimed 30%.

Business support

In an attempt to recapture the enterprise, Windows Phone 8 is said to add native BitLocker encryption -- the same 128-bit, full-disk encryption found on Microsoft most recent desktop platforms. So-called "line-of-business" applications are also gaining support, allowing businesses to deploy proprietary, tailored software behind their company firewalls.


Overall, we're looking at a lot of changes and additions here, all of which seem designed to either bring Windows Phone in line with other platforms, feature-wise, or make it more closely identical to the desktop version of Windows. It's probably safe to say that the jump from Mango/Tango to Apollo will be nearly as significant as the transition from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone, and this preview certainly gives us a lot to look forward to.
Click to expand...

Source PocketNow

Sounds interesting...
 
I am more intrested in the App eco system and portability with Windows 8.

Also I must admit one of the reasons I hate Windows Phone 7 is the SD card/Zune crap, Active sync worked for me on Windows Mobile so I dont know why they went the crappy iOS route.
 
I hope that they at least try and provide some sort of usable VPN ..... and will phones being shipped now be able to upgrade ?
 
sammya said:
I hope that they at least try and provide some sort of usable VPN ..... and will phones being shipped now be able to upgrade ?
Click to expand...

This is uncertain, but it does seems like existing WP7 and WP7.5 phones wont be upgradeable to WP8 Apollo. If this is really the case I am sure it will piss off many WP7 customers.
 
diegoa said:
This is uncertain, but it does seems like existing WP7 and WP7.5 phones wont be upgradeable to WP8 Apollo. If this is really the case I am sure it will piss off many WP7 customers.
Click to expand...

I doubt that is the case, one of the main selling points of windows phone is its ability to get updates, unlike Android where it depends on the vendor or XDA.
 
Before Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) was released MS made a developer beta available to facilitate 7.5 development and testing. MS already confirmed that WP7 apps will run on WP8, so it makes sense that they release an v8 beta update for current phones so that devs can test compatibility. The beta release also encouraged development of apps with mango features. Taking all this into account the update might also be provided to the public. Obviously there will certain features that is aimed at forthcoming hardware specs that won't work on current phones.
 
It just might be that current WP7.5 phones will not get the full WP8 software due to hardware limitations. Similar to iphones were they do get the software updates, just not all of the features.
 
It is a much bigger change than one iOS version to another thought.
 
By the time 8 is out, it will probably time for a new phone in anycase.
Please note that all the cool features will probably only work if you have an USA XBOX account. No companion app here in good ol RSA.
 
Currently with the single core My Omnia 7 runs faster than my Nokia E7 and quite a few android device but once multicore support get added it can easily smoke many high end androids and and iPhone
 
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diegoa said:
Current Windows Phone Mango devices won't get Apollo update

http://www.gsmarena.com/current_windows_phone_mango_devices_wont_get_the_apollo_update-news-4108.php
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I think we come to realize this, the big question is not weather todays apps will work on Apollo as I am sure M$ will do everything in their power to make it backwards compatible, the real question where the fragmentation argument comes to play so many times in Android is if Apollo's apps will work on Mango Phones.

Edit: I am getting difrent resaults on the Mango/Apollo update issue see: http://wmpoweruser.com/microsoft-ev...handsets-will-be-upgraded-to-windows-phone-8/

Esp the

Q: In terms of devices, who today have one is it expectable that…
A: What Microsoft said/stated and what I’m allowed to tell you is that all actual devices will get upgrade to the next major version of Windows Phone (we´re talking about Apollo)
Q: When you say actual devices. Are all that came out to market?
A: Are all that came out. Since the first generation that were bought. The LGs and SAMSUNGs.. OMNIA 7 which were the first devices with Windows Phone reaching the market.
Click to expand...

Guess we will just have to wait and see, but I must admit the uncertainty does not build confidence.
 
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