[sc:mobile-category ]It’s been known for quite a while that Windows Phone 8 (Apollo), would be coming later in 2012, but details had remained very sketchy as to what would be included in it. Today some details have finally leaked out!
Engadget has done a nice job of summarizing the list of what’s now known, which is:
- Support for dual cores
- Support for four different resolutions, though no specifics were given
- NFC support added, including payment and content sharing with WP8 and Windows 8 machines
- Carrier control and branding of “wallet” element is possible via SIM or phone hardware
- MicroSD support added for expandable storage
- Transitions to core components from desktop, including kernel, network stack, security components and media support
- Simplified porting of desktop apps to mobile
- Zune desktop integration scrapped in favor of new, unnamed syncing app
- Deeper Skydrive integration, including ability to sync data such as music collections
- Xbox Companion app will get Windows 8 partner client
- Native code support, simplified porting from Android and iOS
- App-to-app communication and integration
- Skype client with deep OS hooks that will make it almost identical to placing standard voice calls
- Camera app now supports “lenses” which allow third parties to skin and add features to camera interface
- DataSmart tracks and reports usage via app and live tile
- Gives preferential treatment to WiFi, can automatically connect to carrier-owned hotspots
- Proxy server will compress websites in Internet Explorer 10 up to 30 percent
- Native Bitlocker encryption
- Support for proprietary, custom built apps to be deployed behind company firewalls
Let’s go through them one at a time:
- Yea, let’s suck some more battery! Really though by the end of the year quad core will be available, so we can only hope that WP8 won’t be limited to dual core and will be able to support more.
- More resolutions? Let’s take a guess at the four and see how close I am: 480×800 (that’s the easy one), 720×1280, 920×1600 and I’m going to go the other way, with a 480×400 option.
- Who cares about NFC really, yea it’s a cool tech demo at this point but it’s going to take a long time for it to become common place.
- Carrier control, just what you didn’t want to hear.
- Yea! Expandable storage, let’s home they support 64+gig cards!
- Using the Windows desktop kernel and components makes sense is so many ways and was obviously been pursued months ago. Current phone hardware is pretty powerful and as long as MS can deal with the power requirements, this will be a great move.
- Well duh, if you’re using the kernel and components from the desktop, porting becomes much more straight froward.
- I have to admit that I actually like the Zune desktop app, I hope they don’t dump it completely but instead just make it optional.
- I know they have to do it to complete with Google and Apple, I really don’t like storing all my stuff on other people’s servers so as long as it can disable it.
- Xbox integration is good.
- YES! Native code support is critical to getting apps like Opera and other’s on the platform.
- This should have been part of the original design, period.
- Skype is good and all, but I don’t use it. I want to see this kind of integration for VOIP/SIP as well.
- More camera features are always nice.
- More control of data usage is good.
- WiFi is your friend, data plans are expensive.
- I really don’t want MS to know everything about my browsing habits, privacy will be key to this feature and again, hopefully it will be able to be disabled.
- Encryption is good.
- Many company’s will find this very good, but let’s extend it allow anyone to install their own apps.
WP8 is looking to be very desirable and we can only assume the list of features will grow significantly by the time it is released.
Source: Pocketnow via Engadget
