It's official: Microsoft says "**** you" to WP7 owners

[directhex]

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/...urrent-phones/

[kalniel]

Are you expecting something for free?

[Agent]

Windows Phone 8 includes a number of features that require appropriate hardware not found in current devices, such as NFC and multicore support

Apple and Android do the same to be fair.

[directhex]

Apple and Android do the same to be fair.

iPhone 3GS release date: June 19th 2009

iPhone 3GS current OS: 5.1.1 (May 7th 2012)

[Agent]

Indeed, but anything older and you can't. It's a longer life for sure, but then again the iPhone has just been speed bumps and better screens, not a lot more.

Sadly I suspect the number of Win7 phone users who even know about 8 is small. When they see the new interface they'll think they have 8 anyway.

[Funkstar]

I think Agent is right. The updates I read about in 7.8 would be enough for many to think they have 8. Anyway, MS isn't just dumping WP7 handsets, they are giving them another update, just for them. They should feel special

WP8 is sounding pretty good actually.

[McPhee]

Using Apple as a bastion for fair software updates? Couldn't you have chosen someone better? Their track record is pretty bad and getting worse. My experience of iOS updates is an iPhone 3G that they turned in to a posh paperweight with iOS 4.0, an iPad that became a little sluggish with that same update, then had browser problems (crashes every half hour or so) with the next major update (iOS5). No fixes for these problems ever, and they were all widespread. It seems that each update knocks performance on every device to varying degrees.

The iPhone 3GS is 3 years old, sure. However, it's still sold via carrier. That's why it's still supported. Apple are giving iOS 6 to the devices that are still on sale. If your device is EOL you don't get an update. Very fair...

How about iOS 6? The iPhone 3GS is getting it, but not the first iPad or third iPod Touch? No Siri/3D maps/FaceTime over 3G on the iPhone 4 despite it being capable of running all of those features? Call me cynical, but it seems the idea here is to make sure people upgrade to newer devices; hold software features back purposefully to make device upgrades seem sweeter.

All Windows Phone 7 devices will get Windows Phone 7.8. It will bring new features available to all Windows Phone 7 devices (new Start screen plus a bunch of as-yet-unrevealed features). It will be optimised for these devices, so there's unlikely to be performance issues.

Dont get me wrong, I would have loved to see Windows Phone 8 on Windows Phone 7 hardware, but as I understand it, it's not possible. The new kernel won't run on the old hardware. WP 7.8 seems to be the best compromise possible. I look forward to seeing the other features.

[directhex]

WP8 apps won't run on 7.8, and in fact you need to redevelop WP8 apps to target them at WP7. Which won't happen, given the already tiny Windows Phone market.

That's my problem. WP7's app store is now on life support.

[dangel]

Ah, but do WP7 apps run on WP8? I assumed so - and that's more pertinent for the future of WP.

Like it or not, an NT based platform makes a lot of sense for MS in light of Surface (and W8)- for the first time MS will be offering the same fundamental OS on 3 distinct platform types.

Any really, do we need **** hyperbolic titles just because Linus thinks it's clever?

[GeorgeStorm]

I'm now not sure what to do, was planning on getting a nicer W7 phone since I love it, but I may just keep my current one till the end of the year or whatever and get myself a W8 phone.
Either way, I love the wider start screen

[Hicks12]

im still waiting for ICS for my O2x... Jelly bean is almost out, so i think WP7 getting upgraded to wp7.8 is good enough .

I dont think you can expect so much new stuff to run on the old design, it would have been nice to but its not so clear cut as MS being lazy and saying screw you .

[directhex]

im still waiting for ICS for my O2x... Jelly bean is almost out, so i think WP7 getting upgraded to wp7.8 is good enough .

I dont think you can expect so much new stuff to run on the old design, it would have been nice to but its not so clear cut as MS being lazy and saying screw you .

The Lumia 900 was released 2 months ago, and won't ever get more than a new start screen - it'll never run WP8, or get the ability to use a bunch of its hardware like the NFC emitter. You don't think that's bad?

[Hicks12]

ok maybe i didnt think about the lumia, was more thinking about the LG/samsung/HTC range that was on WP7 launch . Yeah that sounds a quite bad but then i guess its the same as buying a prebuilt desktop 2 months before win7 launched and then complaining it comes with vista, you cant please everyone unfortunately and its clear that there will be some left out to dry

[pp05]

Wasn't that the plan all along. These phones will be the real deal, what they were building towards.

Having said that those who own a win based phone on Mango have given it glowing reviews at least on Hexus.

[directhex]

i guess its the same as buying a prebuilt desktop 2 months before win7 launched and then complaining it comes with vista

"Starting June 2, anyone who buys a new Windows 7 PC will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 for $15 once the new operating system launches. The deal provides an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro from any version of Windows 7, and will be valid until January 31, 2013." ?

[jimbouk]

It does seem to be standard practice. New top-end phones are released with new hardware which makes you think maybe the old phones couldn't support the newer software versions. Then, for example HTC pull out the HTC Desire C with low end specs but Android 4.0.3 and HTC Sense 4.0. I guess they want to sell phones, but it does leave a bitter taste in the mouth when people are signing up to 2 years contracts.