Microsoft Launches Windows Phone 8

[wildkitten]

[citation][nom]__pwnage__[/nom]Yes, I really feel left out at not constantly receiving updates from Android... Of course, it's an absolute necessity to get updates on any Windows device for the sake of preventing pwnage at the hand of any 8 y/o script kiddie, and the only way in hell I could get a "virus" on my Android phone is to install a fart soundboard that for some reason requires access to contacts, and the ability to make calls and send emails, but hey, I think I'll go with WP8 this round so that I can get updates and feel cool... Then OTOH I can also root my Android device and install any image I want on it, as well as remove carrier-crapware, but I'd still rather get that feeling from the update notifier that somebody is out there is looking out for me...[/citation]
You know, this constant "just root your device" from the Android fan kiddies is just pathetic. Sorry, but not everyone wishes to void their warranty, which most carriers do.
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/06/16/verizon-begins-charging-full-price-of-warranty-phones-if-rooted/
And if malware on Android was such a nonissue as you try to play it off to be, malware wouldn't be exploding at near exponential rates for the Android OS. Criminals don't do things that aren't successful. Guess what, Android/Linux is not as secure as the fan kiddies try to make it out to be. Nothing is.

 

[CaedenV]

[citation][nom]wemakeourfuture[/nom]Does anyone know if Microsoft will be pushing updates and their minimum update life expectancy for win8 phones?Last thing I want is a new update / service pack just to find out its not coming because a manufacturer is not going to push it or their going to take 6 months to support it. Plus I don't want a device that updates for 9-12 months and updates are dead on the phone after that.[/citation]
Balmer has said that phones will be able to keep with a current OS for a minimum of 18 months, which considering how quickly things are changing right now is not terrible, but there was no mention of the maximum amount of time for updates.

Keep in mind that WP7 will be getting the 7.8 update which will include pretty much all of the features that are not hardware dependant, and will run most of the new apps (unless the new app requires something from the new win8 platform in specific, which most will not for a little while yet).

Traditionally you can expect a large service pack with new features 1 year out on any Windows device, and security updates for ~3 years after the release of the next version. Also, as WP8 shares the same core OS as win8, it is not unreasonable to assume that we will have a 3 year product cycle before win9 and WP9, which means we should be able to get updates for WP8 devices for ~3 years, except that as hardware changes some new features will only be supported by new phones. But then again, WP8 is an entirely new monster, and I bet that MS doesn't even know what the future holds for it.

 

[CaedenV]

free pandora and the kids corner feature both look pretty neat, but no big surprises on features here. I'll have a read a few reviews, but I think I'll be looking at an 8X or 920 for my first smart phone. It will be a huge step up from my current junk phone!

 

[lpedraja2002]

I haven't read much of what will Windows 7.8 will offer, I would be very interested in those articles since I'm still 1 year away from ending my contract and will like to get as much use out of my LG Optimus 7 as possible.

 

[RedJaron]

free pandora and the kids corner feature both look pretty neat, but no big surprises on features here. I'll have a read a few reviews, but I think I'll be looking at an 8X or 920 for my first smart phone. It will be a huge step up from my current junk phone!

I also like the "Room" feature. Sounds kind of like a DropBox on demand function for groups. Looks interesting.

Now as soon as Verizon announces the 920 release date . . .

I haven't read much of what will Windows 7.8 will offer, I would be very interested in those articles since I'm still 1 year away from ending my contract and will like to get as much use out of my LG Optimus 7 as possible.

Biggest update to 7.8 will be the Live Tile resizing. That's indeed a nice thing so you can customize the home screen even more than you can now.