Windows Phone 8 revealed at sneak peek event

by Mark Tyson on 21 June 2012, 10:16

Tags: Windows Phone, Windows 8

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Microsoft presented its new Smartphone OS last night at the Windows Phone Developer Summit in San Francisco. Windows Phone 8 was shown off to the crowd and the most important new features and tools for developing on the new OS were discussed. The new system has updates and tweaks all the way through it from the interface to the hardware support providing new capabilities to this breed of smartphones.

There are quite a lot of significant upgrades from the existing Windows Phone 7.X and the best way to pass on so many changes and updates is in a list, like below;

Key Windows Phone 8 features

Software

  • A new Start Screen with more colours, more Live Tile sizes and more personalisation options.
  • A common core with Windows 8. Microsoft says “Windows Phone 8 has full C and C++ support, making it easier to write apps for multiple platforms more quickly. It also means Windows Phone 8 supports popular gaming middleware such as Havok Vision Engine, Autodesk Scaleform, Audiokinetic Wwise, and Firelight FMOD, as well as native DirectX-based game development.”
  • Internet Explorer 10, just like on Windows 8 PCs and Tablets, a fast (4x faster JavaScript performance compared to Windows Phone 7.5) and secure browser.
  • Nokia Maps for everyone, including other handset vendors.
  • Wallet; a digital wallet for credit card and NFC payments.
  • Integrated VOIP calling that act just like traditional phone calls.
  • Better multitasking.
  • Device encryption; built in technology encrypts the entire device including the OS and user data files.
  • Language support, a total of 50 languages including more Middle Eastern languages.
  • Over-the-air updateability.

Hardware

  • Multi-core processor support for up to 64 cores.
  • As well as the current Windows Phone standard 800x480 resolution phones may now have screens at 1280x768 and 1280x720 pixels.
  • MicroSD card storage support.
  • NFC wireless chip support.

What about current Windows Phone owners?

People with current Windows Phone devices will not be able to update their phones with the new Windows Phone 8 operating system. However Microsoft will make available an update to Windows Phone 7.5 devices that will brings them the new Start Screen interface from Windows Phone 8. This update will be called Windows Phone 7.8. The company hopes this will placate current owners.

What new phones are on the way?

At the Windows Phone Summit, as a developer show, Microsoft really concentrated on the software and the new Windows Phone capabilities that brings but there are of course new phones in the pipeline to make good use of the new OS. Joe Belfiore on the Windows Phone blog said “We’re really excited about the strong line-up of hardware partners who are putting their support behind Windows Phone 8. The first wave of devices for Windows Phone 8 will come from Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, and HTC, all built on next-generation chips from Qualcomm.”



HEXUS Forums :: 17 Comments

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Ooooh looking better, at this rate my phone after next might well be a Windows phone… (next one probably another droid). Good to see the features coming up on parity with other OS and fruits of the Nokia ‘not-quite-buyout-yet-but-maybe-soon’ deal finding their way in. Sounds bad for Nokia though, one of their selling points things was the excellent Maps.

Microsoft seem to be trying hard, Windows 8 has some great integration potential across many devices.
Interesting too, that some are saying it could spell very bad news for Blackberry as MS are definitely targeting the corporate sector heaving here. Blackberry's are the default in my company and I'd love to see something different/better for work use.
I've been looking forward to this for ages! They've kind of screwed curernt users over a bit though what with the lack of app compatibility and whatnot.

I'm thinking about telling my friend (who bought a lumia 900 last weekend) to return it and wait till the Windows phone 8 release. What do you guys think?
Cant wait, it looks like a solid upgrade and im actually excited! I wonder how it will compare to jelly bean, as my contract doesnt end till may next year im in no rush to wait for both to get to a level of decent prices. I do like how WP is always a much smoother experience and battery life is better. Maybe those toshiba CPU will be getting in on that 64 core limit :D.

Looks like MS has actually put serious thought into this and its making Win8 look a bit better by the day as if i ever did get one id have so much integration, even the MS tablets have caught my eye… WHAT IS HAPPENING? The world is on its head…
Hicks12
Cant wait, it looks like a solid upgrade and im actually excited! I wonder how it will compare to jelly bean, as my contract doesnt end till may next year im in no rush to wait for both to get to a level of decent prices. I do like how WP is always a much smoother experience and battery life is better. Maybe those toshiba CPU will be getting in on that 64 core limit :D.

Looks like MS has actually put serious thought into this and its making Win8 look a bit better by the day as if i ever did get one id have so much integration, even the MS tablets have caught my eye… WHAT IS HAPPENING? The world is on its head…

They're actually starting to get it right is what's happening!