Windows Phone 8 Announcement - My cheat sheet of what was announced!

Published on 20 June 2012 • Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Windows Phone 8 Announced Source: http://live.theverge.com/windows-phone-developer-summit-2012/ Out by Christmas (America fall, really) Same core as Windows 8 (i.e., desktop & phone are one platform!) + Hardware-wise, it should mean a wider range of form factors, price points, and capabilities.

• That means a bunch of things: kernel, networking, multimedia, driver support—that stuff will be shared between the two platforms.
• IPv6
• Improved Bluetooth
• Hardware-accelerated Direct3D
• Manufacturers will be able to reuse the same hardware drivers they built for Windows 8 on Windows Phone 8.
• "Dual-core & more...." CPU support New resolutions
• 800×480 (what we have today)
• 1280×768
• 1280×720
• All 7.5 apps will run without changes on all resolutions!
• Can optimize if you want—OPTIONAL Removable MicroSD support
• Phones, music, videos & apps can all be put on the microSD IE 10 built-in
• Same HTML rendering as the desktop version Native game development
• DirectX is mentioned
• I’m reading that to mean C++ support
• Same drivers as Windows 8, so games can be ported quickly & easily NFC support
• Ability to share between devices
• Will have a "mobile wallet"
• Credit & debit cards
• Loyalty & membership cards
• Mobile wallet can work without NFC for some scenarios
• All marketplace purchases now in the wallet In-App Purchases Supported 😊
• Can do operator billing
• Needs carrier "secure SIM"
• Tap & Share (contact, files, etc.) between devices built in!

Nokia mapping technology included in Windows Phone 8

• It will use NAVTEQ data, offline map support, map control for developers, and turn-by-turn directions.
• Includes My Commute—remembers your daily route and shows alternatives that can improve performance.

Enterprise

• Encryption & Secure Boot
• LOB app dev
• Businesses can run custom secure app stores
• Device management
• Same tools we use today for Windows can be used to manage the phone!
• Familiar Office apps
• (I read that as "normal Office")

New menu UI

• No more right-hand side (apps list)
• Just the main screen
• Icons can be "normal," double-wide, & small (one-quarter size)
• Any tile can be any size
• Double-wide for custom apps, finally 😊

Windows Phone Upgrade Story

• 7.5 will get a bump to 7.8
• 7.8 will include the new start screen
• Updates sent via Windows Update—BYPASSING OPERATORS!!
• All devices get 18 months of updates
• Can register to get updates early too! Source: http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windowsphone75/windows-phone-78-preview-143476
• No 7.5 device to 8 though 😒

Dev Features

• Built-in SQLite DB!
• Speech platform will be open to all!
• Can integrate any app into voice search
• Can respond with voice prompts (can you say Siri?)
• Can develop in C#, VB, C++, or HTML5!
• Can mix & match

Built-in VoIP technology

• Skype fully integrated—looks & feels like a normal call
• VoIP apps, not just Skype, can run in the background

Apps that use location can run in the background

• Think maps (direction apps!)

Camera

• Self-timer
• Action shot for burst mode
• Panorama
• Group shot (take multiple photos and swap faces—get rid of those closed eyes)