At the recent Windows Phone
Summit Conference, Microsoft officially unveiled its next version of Mobile
Phone Operation System: Windows Phone 8. Microsoft hopes to develop Windows
Phone 8 with high personalization, “closely knit to users” and bringing
ultimate “connection experience”. Windows Phone 8 is now equipped with the “Shared
windows core”, or in other words, this mobile OS will share the same core
Windows NT with Windows 8, not using Windows CE as the previous version.
Windows Phone 8
This means file system,
internet-based function, multimedia files and driver support are the same in
the 2 platforms. Windows 8 will be officially launched this fall.
The advantage of sharing Windows NT core
Programmers will take full
advantages of using the mutual OS. Instead of using .NET Compact Framework in
Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone 8 uses Core Common Language Runtime (CoreCRL,
can be recognized as a virtual machine, managing the programming code and
commanding soft wares just like the application launching method in Windows 8. Operating
performance will be improved, as there are more shared components between the 2
platforms and application development for both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8
will be simpler. The SDK set based on the programming tool Visual Studio 2012
will be unveiled before the end of this summer.
Besides, programmers can now
develop their applications with C/C++ (native code), SQLite (for the database
use) and Direct X (for game building). These tools will be helpful for the
popular applications and especially games to be mightier in operation. But not
that simple, Microsoft states “programmers are enabled to develop games for
Windows and Windows Phone concurrently“. It also revealed that Android, iOS
application convert into Windows Phone 8 will be more convenient. The company
expected the “Big Bosses” in the Software Technology would join to develop the
applications for Windows 8, especially in boosting the game with the promise
“the games not-ever-seen”. Microsoft will expand the Speech Recognition
function so that programmers can develop their own applications.
The advantage of shared Windows Core
Better Hardware Support
Microsoft stated that Windows Phone 8 will be optimized for dual-core
processors and up to 64 cores. Up to now, all the Window Phones Mobiles have
been equipped only with the single-core CPU. Besides the resolution 800 x 480
(15:9), which was supported previously, 2 more resolutions added in Windows
Phone 8 are 1280x768 (15:9) and 1280x720 (16:9). The good news is that the
coming Windows Phone applications will be provided with a removable micro SD
storage. The missing of this feature in Windows Phone 7 led to a lot of
complaints. Users will be set free to reserve files and they are enabled to
make use of this to save data. Even the removable storage can be used to
install the applications. Microsoft will also officially support NFC directly
within the Windows Phone operating system. Users can use it to share files with
other devices, or read tags,… The best part is that NFC will be combined with
the Wallet Hub.
The indeed Multi-task ability
In the introduction, Microsoft mentioned about the indeed
ability to run background multi-tasking that it wanted to expand for the
programmers with new galleries in Windows Phone 8. Now, the soft wares can
still operate normally even when it does not appear in the screen. For example,
you can use Chat apps, Skype and Navigation “underground” while doing other
tasks. These “underground” apps still operate, not be paused like in Windows
Phone 7. This is the most-wanted function as it helps to carry out better
multi-tasks in Windows Phone and the transfer from this application to another
will be simpler.
New Start screen
In terms of interface, Microsoft allows users to customize
the Start Screen, which is called “the sexiest feature of Windows Phone 8”.
There are 3 resizable tiles — double-wide, regular, and small. Users will be
set free to resize the tile by dragging the small arrow symbol which will
appear when clicking and holding Tile. This feature was missing from Windows
Phone 7. Color customization is identical to the previous versions. The current
soft wares from Windows Phone 7.5 still run with high resolution and new tile
size without any interference from the programmers. The photos of new Start
Screen are presented as follows:
New Start screen
Internet Explorer 10
Additionally, Internet
Explorer 10 will be built into the OS, and its rendering engine will mirror the
desktop version. Microsoft stated that IE 10 offered four times faster JavaScript
performance and better HTML5 support in comparison with Windows Phone 7.5. IE
10 is supported with the new features as the desktop version, typically the
“SmartScreen anti-phishing”. This is the anti-defrauding filter from millions
of Windows users to block dangerous websites in real time.
Internet Explorer 10
Nokia Maps instead of Bing Maps
A dramatic change in Windows Phone 8 is the use of Nokia
Maps instead of Bing Maps. As a result, the international map data will be in
much more details in comparison to Bing Maps. The service will use NAVTEQ - a
Nokia’s subsidiary. Nokia Maps offers the offline map without internet
connection. Programmers can use Nokia Maps as a control in their applications.
The turn-by-turn direction and “Deal” (allowing you to view the sale-off or
promotion shops in a geographical area) are built into the maps in Windows
Phone 8.
Nokia Maps instead of Bing Maps
Cooperating with manufactures,
software-updating through OTA
Besides the fruitful
relationship built to integrate the “next-generation silicon” processor into
Windows Phone 8, Microsoft will cooperate with four special hardware partners —
Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, and HTC to distribute the devices running on the new OS
to 180 nations, in 50 languages. These partners committed to develop Windows
Phone 8 in the future and all Windows Phone 8 devices will get "at
least" 18 months of software support after launch. Microsoft disclosed
that the updated versions will be delivered through “Over-The-Air” method,
which allows users to download and install the updates without a computer. All
will be carried out only through the phone.
In addition, Microsoft
announced the “enthusiasts program”. Users who want to experience and give
feedbacks to Microsoft may register this program to get access to software and
OS updates earlier than ordinary users.
Update: Qualcomm disclosed
that all the coming Windows Phone 8 devices will use its CPU Snapdragon S4
Plus. In details, it is the dual-core chip MSM8960, code name Krait.
Better support for companies and
organizations
Windows Phone 8 is equipped
with many features which can be applied to companies. The shared core between
the Windows Phone 8 and Windows NT helps the featured soft wares of the
companies and organizations to run better. The Admin can share the mutual tools
to manage the Windows Phone 8 equipment in the same way with Windows computers.
The BitLocker Driver coding and Secure Boot will enhance the data secure
reserved on the phone. Companies can expand all their own soft wares into the
Windows Phone without Marketplace. Office applications in Windows Phone 8 will
be improved for more convenient daily use. Microsoft will give more talk about
those new features in Windows Phone 8 official release.
Better support for companies and organizations
Additionally, a new port call
“Company” will be added up, which allows the company to express their own
applications. Concurrently, the admin is allowed to customize the highlighted
information upon the company situation. There is an application named Microsoft
IT, which is provided by Microsoft as a “model” that companies can customize
and install.
A new port call “Company” will be added up
Integrated Skype and VoIP
Microsoft announced they
would develop the facilities so that Skype and other VoIP applications are able
to run better in Windows Phone. “Skype will still be an application that you'll
be able to download that will take advantage of the VoIP integration in Windows
Phone 8”. Microsoft thought that they could be the pioneer who would lead this
aspect. In details, VoIP applications (including Skype) will be deeply
integrated into the phone dialer, People Hub, and more than that. Of course,
these applications will take advantages of real multi-task support in Windows
Phone 8.
