Windows Phone 8: everything you need to know
Today at its Windows Phone Summit, Microsoft showed off its vision for the future of its mobile platform with a glimpse of IE 10, a shared core with Windows 8, NFC technologies, and more. Check here for everything you need to know on the new OS that's set to ship "this holiday."
Microsoft's secret weapon in mobile gaming: DirectX on Windows Phone 8
Not many people remember this, but the original Xbox got its name from Microsoft's plans to deliver a "DirectX Box" to the home console market. Feeling the need to counteract the growing influence of consoles at the turn of the century, Microsoft sought to bring DirectX — its proprietary collection of programming interfaces (APIs) used to build games for Windows — to the living room. While its first attempt was rightly derided as a chopped-down desktop PC dressed up in home entertainment...
HTC's Windows Phone 8 roadmap: 'Zenith' flagship, 'Accord' midrange, and 'Rio' entry-level models
After yesterday's official look at Windows Phone 8 from Microsoft, we've received some details from a knowledgeable source on exactly what HTC — arguably the most important Windows Phone 8 licensee right now outside of Nokia — has planned to kick off the platform.
Starting at the bottom of the range, there's "Rio," featuring a 4-inch WVGA display, 14.4Mbps HSPA, and a 5-megapixel camera with 720p video capture. There's only 512MB on board, but the processor isn't bad — expect a Qualcomm...
The Windows Phone 7.8 Start Screen on a Nokia Lumia 900, an early look in photos and video
The dark news amongst all the good here at the Windows Phone Summit was that existing Windows Phone devices wouldn't be updated to Windows Phone 8. Instead, they will receive certain features from the new OS, most imporantly the new Start screen experience. Microsoft calls the updated Start Screen on Windows Phone 8 the "marquee feature" and, as you are probably aware, it's coming to existing devices with Windows Phone 7.8. We got a chance to sit down with Microsoft's Greg Sullivan to take a...
Windows Phone Summit video now available online
During this morning's Windows Phone Summit presentation, Microsoft provided a sneak peek at Windows Phone 8, the Windows Phone 7.8 update, and an assortment of other items. We've taken a look at the different announcements throughout the day, but if you'd like to watch the presentation for yourself, Microsoft has you covered: the company has posted streaming video of the event. Head over to Microsoft's site to see Joe Belfiore and company in action.
Thanks, Nathaniel!
'Draw Something' and 'Words With Friends' coming to Windows Phone (update)
Two of Zynga's most popular games, Draw Something and Word With Friends, are coming to Windows Phone devices soon. The games are Zynga's first on the platform. Both are multiplayer turn-based re-imaginings of classic games: Draw Something is basically a remote multiplayer version of the drawing game Pictionary, whereas Words With Friends borrows heavily from the word game Scrabble.
Draw Something was developed by OMGPOP (before it was bought by Zynga), and quickly became one of the most...
100,000 apps now available in the Windows Phone Marketplace
Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace has now hit 100,000 applications. After reaching 50,000 apps in late December, the Marketplace has doubled in size in six months to reach a new milestone for Microsoft's mobile operating system. The software giant revealed the news during its Windows Phone Summit today in San Francisco.
Questions still remain on the availability of big name Windows Phone apps and quality over quantity, but Microsoft is clearly attracting more and more developers to its...
Microsoft shows off new apps for Windows Phone 8: NOVA 3, Audible, Camera Extras and more
At an event today revealing Windows Phone 8, Microsoft also showed off some new apps for the platform. In addition to the NFC-connected Wallet app and the announcement that Nokia's mapping data will power Windows Phone 8, Microsoft's execs also demoed games like Gameloft's Nova 3 and Asphalt 7, plus Fairway Solitaire. During their demos, games were incredibly detailed and powerful, and Microsoft says the ports only took a couple of weeks. There's also a new app for audiobook service Audible,...
Nokia, Samsung, HTC, and Huawei will have first Windows Phone 8 devices
Microsoft just announced four special hardware partners for Windows Phone 8 — Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, and HTC will have Windows Phone 8 devices running on "next generation silicon" from Qualcomm. There weren't any details on exactly what this silicon would be, but we're guessing it'll be a dual-core processor. Microsoft and its partners are ready for a global push, as well: the company announced that it'll launch in more than 180 countries in 50 languages, more than Apple announced last...
Windows Phone 8 lets you have 'conversations with apps'
Microsoft is hoping to do Siri one better by letting developers integrate speech response and recognition directly into apps for Windows Phone 8. APIs will be available for building in standard speech controls, which can then be run from the main search function. In a demo of Audible, which Microsoft partnered with for the voice features, the app was able to recognize a search for "Game of Thrones," then pause it or skip to the next chapter based on voice prompts. It worked pretty well,...
Microsoft: no upgrades to Windows Phone 8, but some features will come in Windows Phone 7.8
It’s official, Microsoft is not offering Windows Phone 8 to existing handsets. We exclusively revealed Microsoft’s plans back in April, and the reaction generated Windows Phone discussions far and wide. Speaking to The Verge ahead of the Windows Phone 8 sneak peek today, Microsoft’s Greg Sullivan revealed the reasons behind the company’s choice not to offer a direct upgrade from Windows Phone 7.x to Windows Phone 8.
Describing some of the latest hardware changes in Windows Phone 8, t...
Windows Phone 8 in detail: new Start Screen, multi-core support, VoIP integration, and NFC
Microsoft is lifting the curtain to provide a preview of some of the software and hardware changes for its Windows Phone 8 operating system today. NFC, dual- and quad-core support are all set, and Microsoft has shifted over to the NT kernel for Windows Phone 8 to make it even easier for developers to code for its mobile and desktop ecosystems. There's a new Wallet hub, deeper integration of Skype, and an updated Start Screen interface with support for small tiles. Despite the improvements and...
Microsoft announces new Windows Phone 8 Start Screen with customizable live tile sizes
At its WIndows Phone 8 developer preview, Microsoft just announced a new start screen feature — users can customize the size of every single start screen tile. There are three sizes available: standard medium, small, and a large "double wide" tile that stretches across the entire start screen. Microsoft has also removed the right-hand "rail" that held the link to the full app list — you can really add a lot more information to your screen with this new design. When you're in...
Microsoft selects Nokia technology to power maps in Windows Phone 8
Microsoft has selected Nokia's technology to power maps on Windows Phone 8, the company said today at its Windows Phone Summit keynote. The service will use NAVTEQ data, and offer offline map support, map control for developers, and turn-by-turn directions. A move that will bring the tech behind Nokia Drive to any Windows Phone 8 device partner. Microsoft's decision to use Nokia technology to power its maps service is not a total surprise: it already uses Nokia data to provide enhanced...
Windows Phone 8 adds DirectX, native development, easier app porting
At its Windows Phone summit, Microsoft set the tone by talking a lot about "shared core" — it's practically a new mantra. Here's one way we'll see that in action: a native game development platform based on DirectX. A "common platform" for Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, which is to say there's a shared kernel across the platforms. Shared hardware drivers and the "hardware-based security" of Windows.
More simply put, developers should be able to quickly port their games to Windows Phones...
Microsoft adds NFC to Windows Phone 8 with Wallet Hub, Tap + Send
Microsoft has announced that Windows Phone 8 will officially support NFC, as has been rumored for quite some time. The announcement isn't limited to hardware support — Microsoft has introduced an all-new Wallet Hub for Windows Phone, which will be the sole home for all purchases on the devices: contactless payments, deals, loyalty cards, in-app purchases, and credit and debit cards.
"Every Windows Phone will include the wallet hub."
Microsoft went through a fairly detailed walkthrough of...
Windows Phone 8 will support removable microSD storage
Microsoft has just announced microSD support for its new mobile operating system, Windows Phone 8. The news means that owners of future Windows Phones will be able to extend their device's storage using the cards. The feature has been missing from Windows Phone until now, as although the Windows Phone 7 OS supported SD storage, it did not support the removal of microSD cards while powered on.
The slide shown at the Windows Phone Summit also detailed that "installing apps" is supported,...
Windows Phone 8 announced by Microsoft: new Start screen, shared core with Windows 8, release this fall
Microsoft just revealed Windows Phone 8 will be released this fall as the next version of its mobile phone operating system. Further details are coming at the Windows Phone 8 Platform Preview, which is underway right now. The biggest change is under the hood: the OS now has a "shared core" with Windows 8.
There's other news as well: Windows Phone 8 will support dual-core CPUs on day one (and quad-cores in the future), and will also offer three screen resolutions, maxing out at 1280 x 768....
