At last a list of Windows Phone 8 features:
Windows phone 8 will be an operating system that brings a whole host of technologies the mobile sector has been looking forward to seeing, one step closer.
According to Paul Thurrotts’s excellent blog over at WinSuperSite the news of the leak has meant that he can now talk more openly about what we can expect from the Windows 8 and the Windows Phone 8 operating system.
In term so of applications it has been noted that at the expected time of launch the Windows phone 7.5 operating system will have some 100,000 apps available and these will all be backward compatible for the new Windows Phone 8 operating system meaning that new devices will be able to tap into this existing application market with no problems (in theory of course)
Talking of Windows Phone 8, he also states that this new O/S will be based on the new Windows 8 kernel and not on the previous version called Windows CE, all this falls into the realms of “Windows Reimagined” and by god did it need some reimagining after various attempts to create a solid, sleek and useful operating system has essentially failed on so many occasions.
So onto the key new features of Windows Phone 8:
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- Wallet: Apollo will support removable microSD card storage and NFC radios, with Microsoft pushing contactless payments also referred to as the “Wallet experience.”
- App-to-App communication. Because Windows Phone 8 apps, like Windows 8 apps, are sandboxed from each other, this new system will provide a Windows 8 contracts-like app-to-app communications capabilities.
- Data Smart. Will switch you to cheaper Wi-Fi networks that you may have joined automatically thus in theory saving you MB’s and also money if your data provider charges a lot and you run out of your quota monthly.
- Internet Explorer 10 Mobile. Windows Phone 8 will use to use a version of IE which utilizes the latest web technologies.
- Shared components with Windows 8. The kernel, multi-core processor support, sensor fusion, security model, network, and video and graphics technologies are all coming to Phone from Windows 8.
- Companion experiences with Windows 8. Microsoft is offering a very similar user experience across phone (Windows Phone 8), PC (Windows 8), and TV (Xbox vNext). Pocketnow says there will be a new sync client, and not Zune PC software, though I can’t confirm that part, and a set of common cloud services that will work across all three. This includes the ability to sync content (photos, music, movies) between the three screens, phone management from PC or web, shared content between each device, and Xbox LIVE games, entertainment, and more.
- Skype app. Still a separate but better app and not integrated into OS. Still optional.
- Camera improvements. New “lens apps” and a far more powerful camera experience.
- SkyDrive integration. SkyDrive will allow access to all content on your Microsoft platforms.
- NFC and Wallet. Windows Phone 8 will allow users to securely pay and share via NFC and manage an integrated Wallet experience.
- Business features. A new angle that Windows wish to push more and more, Windows Phone 8 will include full-device, hardware-accelerated encryption with BitLocker and always-on Secure Boot capabilities, just like Windows 8. Also, it will support additional Exchange ActiveSync policies and System Center configuration settings and inventory capabilities. Businesses will be able to distribute phone apps privately as they can with Windows 8 apps.
- Local Scout. Now with personal recommendations.
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What do you think of this feature list?
Some of it appears pretty much as you would expect from a modern cross platform operating system that will compete with iOS/Android, though perhaps some areas are starting to look quite juicy such as the NFC capability which I will return to at a later date.
Your thoughts? What appeals most with Windows Phone 8 so far?
Anthony Munns