Microsoft's Windows Phone Summit in San Francisco (Wednesday, June 20) ...
The event will be open to everyone via a webcast on Microsoft’s Channel 9 at:
aka.ms or channel9.msdn.com
>> Windows Phone Summit: The Other big day for Microsoft next week
Mary Jo Foley
ZDNet | All About Windows
June 15, 2012
tinyurl.com
Summary: June 20 is Microsoft’s Windows Phone Summit, expected to be all about the Apollo operating system. Here’s what we think we know so far.
Just a quick reminder that June 18 isn’t the only big day for Microsoft next week.
Wednesday June 20 is Microsoft’s Windows Phone Summit in San Franciso, where the company is expected to share officially for the first time what is coming in its next major phone operating system update, codenamed Apollo.
The one-day summit will be Webcast on Microsoft’s Channel 9, starting at 9 a.m. PT.
I’ve seen a few folks claim that no one knows anything yet about Windows Phone OS 8. Actually, there have been a number of leaks about the successor to “Mango” and “Tango” — and the last of Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating systems releases likely to end in the letter “O.”
Here’s a list of some of the expected Windows Phone 8 features rumored since early February 2012
• Support for multicore processors
• Support for four new screen resolutions
• Support for removable microSD card storage
• Support for NFC and an associated “Wallet Experience”
• Inclusion of core Windows elements, including kernel, networking stacks, security, and multimedia support
• New data-tracking capabilities, showing users a breakdown of their data consumption by various networks
• Use of a proxy server to deliver pages more efficiently and quickly to Internet Explorer 10 Mobile
• Addition of native BitLocker encryption and Secure Boot
• A separate but improved Skype application, but not integration of Skype into the operating system
• Replacement of the Zune PC client software with an update mechanism more akin to ActiveSync. (The new update mechanism is codenamed Daphne, according to one of my contacts.)
LiveSide had a round up this week of leaks regarding other possible Apollo/Windows Phone 8 features [See Post Below].
Microsoft execs have said a few things about the developer strategy and tools for the coming Apollo release. In short, Windows Phone 7 apps will be able to run on Windows Phone 8, the Softies have said. Microsoft will continue to support XNA in some way with Windows Phone 8. They’ve been vaguer about plans for Silverlight support for the Windows Phone 8 platform. I’ve seen folks speculating the WinRT interface and framework is coming to Windows Phone 8 in some way, but I have not heard that directly from my contacts.
Here’s what Microsoft and its phone partners have said so far about whether existing Windows Phones will get Apollo: Nothing. Like The Verge, I’ve heard existing Windows Phones (even the recently introduced Nokia Lumia 900s) won’t get Apollo. Here’s hoping at next week’s Summit Microsoft officials provide a much-needed yay or nay regarding the Apollo update policy.
The Summit comes at a critical time for Microsoft, its partners and its customers. Its BPF (Best Phone Friend) Nokia is cutting another 10,000 jobs next year, officials announced this week. Nokia is blaming a soft low-end market for much of its problems. But Windows Phone, even cheaper models meant to go head-to-head with Android, aren’t really going to take Nokia where its greatest weaknesses are being felt. And this week at TechEd, Nokia officials told me again that Windows Phone isn’t the OS solution for the Asha feature-phone line, even in the future… That’s still Symbian territory.
As Microsoft more tightly ties Windows Phone to Windows — starting in earnest with the Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8?Windows RT releases — the fortunes on one platform seem pinned to the fortunes of the other. A common look and feel and toolset is good for customers and developers when a halo effect convinces users happy with one platform to try its sibling. But if one of the two platforms stagnates, that halo becomes an anchor….
Should be an interesting week ahead. ###
>> More Windows Phone 8 details leaked – Nokia 3D maps, Skype, Wallet, and more
damaster
LiveSide
June 12, 2012
tinyurl.com
Today Apple announced their upcoming upgrade to their mobile operating system, iOS 6, during their annual WWDC. With it comes several new features including 3D maps, turn by turn navigation, Facebook integration, Passbook, iCloud tabs, and more. However, whilst the spotlight had been on iOS today, our friends over at WPCentral had posted an interesting article revealing some details about Microsoft’s upcoming mobile operating system – Windows Phone 8.
Without going into too much details of the post, we have summarised the key points below:
Nokia Maps with 3D navigation – WPCentral claims that Nokia Maps will replace Bing Maps entirely, and will feature 3D navigation and hardware acceleration. According to the website, this will be available across all Windows Phone devices rather than limited to just Nokia devices.
Integrated Skype – This was long rumored before, but we will finally see Microsoft’s recently-acquired Skype built right into the Windows Phone 8 OS. WPCentral claims that Skype will be integrated with your contacts in the People hub, and available not just for instant messaging but also Voice-Over-IP chats. It is said that Skype for Windows Phone 8 will behave like a regular phone call, and will be “completely seamless”.
VOIP Integration – According to WPCentral, Microsoft will also be allowing other VOIP providers to “patch into” the Windows Phone 8 OS just like Skype, making other VOIP services just as seamless.
Windows Phone Wallet – This was also rumored previously, where the Windows Phone 8 OS will take advantage of new NFC-capable phones to provide contactless payments.
Voice Tools – WPCentral didn’t go into details, but made comparison with Apple’s Siri service. WMPU mentioned that Windows Phone 8 will feature Voice search that integrates results from IMDB, Yelp, Rotten Tomatoes, OpenTable and the more.
Lens Apps – Also rumored before, WPCentral says that Windows Phone 8 will provide some creative tools for developers to make good use of the phone’s camera. An example given previously was an app that combines burst mode with smile detection to capture a perfect portrait shot.
Native Code Development – Also revealed previously, WPCentral mentioned again that native code development will be coming, enabling more powerful applications and making it easier for developers to port apps from iOS or Android.
With the Windows Phone Summit coming next week, we’ll sure be hearing a lot more news about Windows Phone 8. ###
- Eric - |
