News - Windows Phone 8 to launch on October 29 says Microsoft

[HEXUS]

New mobile OS to be unveiled in San Francisco, be there and be square.

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[Boywilluk]

Looks good can't wait will defo have that date remembered....

[Tpyo]

HTC the lead device? From the news elsewhere MS was miffed at losing the WinPhone brand to the Lumia brand but this would seem* to relegate the 'special partnership' between MS and Nokia to a similar level to the 'special relationship' between the US and UK.

*may not actually mean this in practice but it is the image it projects

[brasco]

They all claim to be "lead devices" as much as they all tell you every device they release is going to change the world forever *looks at Apple*.

I have to say, the HTC looks like quite a good device, it's just my feelings towards them have been soured by owning the HD7, which has the build quality ethics of a Skoda 130. The OS is great so I'm keen to check WP8 out on release. Due a few upgrades so should be able to get a good deal.

[Brewster0101]

I can see why Microsoft have jumped into bed with HTC over Nokia. Nokia's finances are a mess - a serious mess.

It wouldn't surprise me that Microsoft used Nokia for PR - everyone was watching what the once King of mobiles would do to save its self. While Nokia was getting the attention, so was Microsoft's Windows Mobile. But in the long run Microsoft has no hard interest in Nokia , a sinking ship that has pretty much sunk.

I wonder if Microsoft will buy Nokia facilities to build its own devices.

But in the mean time they are in bed with HTC...

[Stringent]

Hopefully means the Lumia 920 will be around first week of November.

[saltyzip]

I'm dubious about a Windows 8 phone, for the moment anyway. Will it be reliable enough when first released, from all accounts it's been rushed and will be buggy. I for one don't want to buy a fledgling OS when it isn't going to offer anything bleeding edge over the market leaders. Best to wait a while me thinks especially as take up will initially be small. I'm very happy with my Android, it would have to take something special to make me jump ship. I don't know what form that special wow would come in, but from what I've seen all the technology inovation seem to be coming from the Droid camp at the moment, with the exception of the bulky Nokia camera thingy.

[brasco]

+ the Nokia NFC charging is pretty sweet.

I'm pretty sure WP8 will be rock solid, that's what they pride themselves on, small incremental updates = stable OS, I've never once had my HD7 crash or freeze in the 18 months I've had it, the 2 3GS' I've had have been crashing constantly, not just the Apps, the OS itself locks up.. Probably bad handsets, but twice unlucky is a stretch. I've not heard about it being rushed and buggy, do you have any articles on it before I go and whack my hard earned down?

[s_kinton]

Got to agree with the comment above, I had WP7 from the first release and its been very stable - no real crashes to speak of at all. No reason to believe that WP8 will be any different.

For me, Windows Phone is by far the most modern, slickest looking OS out there - always get comments from friends who've never seen it in the flesh. iOS needs an overhaul as its getting rather boring after 6 years an minimal cosmetic changes and Android can appear clunky - although I do like ICS on my Galaxy Tab.

[cameronlite]

I can see why Microsoft have jumped into bed with HTC over Nokia. Nokia's finances are a mess - a serious mess.

It wouldn't surprise me that Microsoft used Nokia for PR - everyone was watching what the once King of mobiles would do to save its self. While Nokia was getting the attention, so was Microsoft's Windows Mobile. But in the long run Microsoft has no hard interest in Nokia , a sinking ship that has pretty much sunk.

I wonder if Microsoft will buy Nokia facilities to build its own devices.

But in the mean time they are in bed with HTC...

Windows Mobile has long been retired - half of their branding issue is that even tech people keep using "Windows Mobile" which was just god awful.

[GeorgeStorm]

Loving my current W7 phone, I've no doubts that W8 will be my next upgrade, will be keeping an eye out on this

[saltyzip]

+ the Nokia NFC charging is pretty sweet.

I'm pretty sure WP8 will be rock solid, that's what they pride themselves on, small incremental updates = stable OS, I've never once had my HD7 crash or freeze in the 18 months I've had it, the 2 3GS' I've had have been crashing constantly, not just the Apps, the OS itself locks up.. Probably bad handsets, but twice unlucky is a stretch. I've not heard about it being rushed and buggy, do you have any articles on it before I go and whack my hard earned down?

Just Google for "windows 8 OS not ready" and you will find enough articles to warrant my current feelings. Trying to combine a mobile phone and desktop OS into one could end up being an epic fail. Hence my advice is to sit tight until end of 1st quarter next year before parting with any cash.

[brasco]

Just Google for "windows 8 OS not ready" and you will find enough articles to warrant my current feelings. Trying to combine a mobile phone and desktop OS into one could end up being an epic fail. Hence my advice is to sit tight until end of 1st quarter next year before parting with any cash.

Hi, I don't think you've read the article properly, it's not Windows 8, it's Windows Phone 8, they have a shared core but really not the same thing.

Most of the articles are just sensationalist rubbish anyway, there are some big players with concerns though, such as Intel, no doubt peeved at MS for partnering with Nvidia/ARM for the Surface RT.
The same articles pop up for Android and iOS, proof is in the product and having used WP7.5 and Win8, I'm happy to back them.

I've been using Windows 8 alongside 7 for a couple of months now without issue. In fact I don't like going back to 7 as I've gotten so used to it!

[Brewster0101]

The Lumia 920 was the only handset I was interested in, but recent reports of Nokia's finances , poor sales volume of the Lumia 800 and 900 and added to the fact Nokia are signing exclusive deals with poor networks, and high prices have made me go for the Galaxy 3.

I dare say the Lumia 920 will be a good device and windows mobile 8 will be brilliant, but I think they have come all too late....

[Brewster0101]

Stumbled across a leaked video on youtube over the weekend showing off the 920 in some of its glory. Phones looks stunny, windows 8 does not.

More specifically the internet browser seemed slow and also missed a lot of functions that the Android browsers have. Such as justifying the text when zooming in.
I checked out the windows mobile app store over the weekend for the popular apps I use on my Android tablet and phone. Most are there but the reviews would give the impression that their are not up to date as Android or Ios versions.......

Sinking feeling windows 8 mobile is gonna suck.

[TheAnimus]

I would be surprised if the zooming to text bodies didn't work, as that does on 7.5. What I find the browser lacking, besides flash, is the ability to zoom when its 'not sure' what your clicking. Chrome when there are lots of other links nearby, will provide a little zoom window over the top, having you re-confirm the selection.