Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, in its attempt to catch up with Apple and Google, has introduced a newer version for its mobile OS, Windows Phone 8.
Windows Phone 8, which is slated to release later this year, comes with same core software code as the new Windows 8 operating system running on personal computers, Terry Myerson, corporate vice president of Windows Phone, said at an event in San Francisco today.
Four manufactures Nokia, Samsung, Huawei and HTC will launch devices when Windows Phone 8 debuts, reports the company. But the news that might disappoint all Windows phone users is that the latest OS will not be provided in the existing smartphones.
For the existing users, however, the company has provided some upgade to the existing 7.5 Mango and calls it Windows Phone 7.8. According to Nokia, the 7.8 update will come to Lumia 900 in just a few weeks.
According to Myerson, Windows Phone 8, known as Apollo, will do what Windows 7 could not do for the company in last 18 months since its launch - overcoming the platform's inability and bridging the gap between them and major players like Apple and Google.
Will Myerson be right in predicting the future of the latest Microsoft OS? Can Windows Phone 8 surely live up to the company's expectation? While answers to these questions have to wait till the launch of the OS, let's see the features that, according to us, are the best five offered by the software giant:
1. Multi-Core CPU Support: It is delayed but finally it is here. Windows is perhaps the last to join the bandwagons of operating systems that support multi-core CPUs. The latest OS will support dual-core and multi-core processors.
2. Start Screen with Live Tiles: Microsoft has redesigned the start screen and has provided Live Tiles, which according to Joe Belfiore, Microsoft vice president, "the heart and soul of our product."
User can resize each individual live tile from the start screen to one of three sizes and can keep as many as 24 tiles on a single screen. With this new feature, Microsoft has given users more freedom and greater control over the looks of their phone.
CNET has reported that Microsoft has also provided support for new color themes, but didn't list.
3. NFC and Microsoft Wallet: Now Windows will support Near Field Technology (NFC), a wireless technology that lets phones share things over short distances and Wallet, an app that provides NFC payments supports and keep credit, debit, digital coupons, boarding pass and loyalty and membership card information on your fingertips. The app lets users make payments by tapping phone on a credit card reader. According to Belfiore, Microsoft Wallet will provide the "most complete wallet experience" on a phone which will launch this fall.
Wallet app will replace your wallet with just a phone.
Also, a new feature called Tap + Send has been provided in the Windows Phone 8 OS for NFC hardware support.
4. Nokia Map: Nokia Maps has finally taken over the Bing Maps. Microsoft has collaborated with Nokia to provide native support for turn-by-turn navigation. The latest map app that sports 3D mapping technology will now bring Windows at par with iOS and Android.
All upcoming Nokia phones will also get Nokia Drive and Nokia Transit apps to take full advantage of Nokia's features.
5. Windows Phone 8 @ Work: Windows Phone 8 is aiming enterprise in a big way and the company has launched a number of features and capabilities to serve the demands made by the IT departments of various companies. The business-friendly features include device encryption which will encrypt the entire device starting from OS to data files, provide better security with United Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), secure boot protocol and features improved app "sandboxing," remote management app and company hubs where companies can create their own Windows Phone 8 Hub for custom employee apps and other critical business info.
