Windows on smartphones: Microsoft reveals details about Windows Phone 8

Optimistic despite strong competition: Microsoft manager Oliver Kaltner presents Windows Phone 8 (Photo: Microsoft Corporation)

Windows Phone 8 should provide a boost for new, more powerful Windows smartphones - and a significantly larger range of apps. Just like Apple and Android. Two days after the presentation of the "Surface" tablet PCs, Microsoft presents its upcoming mobile operating system in detail. WINDOWS TWEAKS summarizes what will soon run differently on Windows smartphones.

Windows smartphones with a new technology framework

Windows Phone 8 is based on the same technical core as the "big" Windows 8.

Advantage of Windows Phone 8: The Windows 8 software should be easily converted for the mobile platform. Microsoft cited games such as Assassin's Creed and Halo as examples, which will also be available as apps for Windows smartphones.

Disadvantage of Windows Phone 8: Current smartphones will not be able to be upgraded to version 8 and are basically discontinued models. This is bad news for Nokia, which is fully committed to Windows Phone 7 with its current Lumia phones. At least Microsoft has announced an update to Windows Phone 7.8 for the current devices, which will at least bring some Windows Phone innovations to the phones.

New hardware features for Windows smartphones

Windows Phone 8 enables significantly more powerful smartphones. The most important innovations:

• It is also suitable for smartphone processors with two or more cores. This allows more complex applications to be used, such as graphically very demanding games.
• It enables the use of sharper screens. Instead of the previous resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, this is no longer the case. The displays can now also display 1280 x 768 and 1280 x 720 pixels.
• It allows the use of removable microSD memory cards to expand the device memory and conveniently transfer photos and videos to the PC, for example.
• It enables the use of NFC chips. NFC near-field mobile technology can be used to exchange photos, office documents and contacts between two suitable cell phones.
• Windows Phone 8 devices can also be used for cashless payment at specially equipped checkouts.

New software features for Windows smartphones

Windows Phone 8 also offers some new features on the software side:

• The tiles on the start screen (Live Tiles) can be better customized. There is a choice of three different sizes for the tiles, which can be combined as desired. There are also new color themes for the user interface.
• Windows Phone 8 also comes with the new Internet Explorer 10, which is based on the same engine as its counterpart for Windows 8. The new IE is said to be significantly faster and also more secure, for example thanks to the improved SmartScreen phishing protection.
• A digital wallet enables the management of credit card data, vouchers and similar items. Apps from banks and insurance companies, for example, can be integrated into the wallet. In conjunction with the aforementioned NFC technology, the wallet function makes it possible to pay on the move. However, it remains to be seen when this will really take off in Germany.
• The Nokia Maps navigation software will be part of Windows Phone 8. It is designed to guide you to your destination almost anywhere in the world and offers spoken turn-by-turn directions for numerous countries. Maps can also be used offline. This is practical abroad, for example, where constant data connections would otherwise incur high roaming costs.
• The operating system has a new voice control function. This can be used not only to enter text, but also to operate appropriately programmed apps, such as the Audible audiobook app. The details of what the as yet nameless voice control has in store are still open.
• The user can install software updates for Windows Phone 8 wirelessly over-the-air. The cell phone does not need to be plugged into the PC for this. Microsoft promises updates for every phone model for at least 18 months from the launch date.

Windows Phone 8 - sales launch in fall 2012

If you've got your heart set on the new Windows Phone, you'll have to wait until fall. Then the first Smartphones with Windows Phone 8. Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Huawei have already announced smartphones with Windows Phone 8, but have not yet revealed any further information about the models.
Info: http://windowsteamblog.com/

(Photo rights: Microsoft Corporation)