Hi all,
What follows could be considered to be the ramblings of a lunatic however it is intended to provoke discussion and maybe some thought about where we (Sense users/fans) go from here. Personally I know I don't want to see Sense die off (I'm not planning on moving to Android or WinPho 7 any time soon, as you'll read) and my phone (HD2) is only a YEAR old!
The Future of Sense?
Many of us bought our HTC WinMo phones on the strength of Sense (henceforth referred to as Manila to differentiate it from its Android, and Windows Phone 7 "Hub", incarnations), which brought a compelling and attractive interface to ugly old WinMo. Judging by the amount of devices Manila has been (or has been requested to be) ported to it is still a compelling and attractive interface. However users and fans of Manila are now facing a dilemma; Manila is, in all probability reaching, if it hasn't already, the end of its (officially) developed life. Short of any previously unknown major bugs surfacing its not hard to imagine HTC now focusing all their efforts on Android and Windows Phone 7.
So where does this leave us, many of us who still have perfectly functioning phones, which often still have up-to-date hardware? We could, thanks to the guys (with very large brains) here on XDA developers, choose between Windows Phone 7 or Android to give our phones a new lease of life. However, personally (and I know I'm not the only one) I don't want to. Windows phone 7 doesn't appeal because of its lack of customisation (and copying of iOS on so many levels), and Android because of, well, Google! WinMo gives us the freedom to tinker, without the need of "jail breaking", which many of us love WinMo for. Manila is the icing on the cake... and everyone knows the icing is the best bit of the cake!
So where do we go from here?
Organise. Mobilise.
First off I don't want to take anything away from the (quite brilliant) people here on XDA Developers that have already managed (or facilitated others) to do some pretty amazing things with Manila, having extended it far beyond HTCs original scope. However despite all the hard work and effort that has gone into reverse engineering Manila there is still much that is unknown about it and parts we cannot change. If we wish to see Manila grow and develop (further than we already have), to keep our phones current, we need HTCs co-operation, we need the actual Manila source.
But why should HTC help us when they would probably rather us buy new phones? Well, HTC is a business and all good business' like a good deal. So, they've got something we want but what do we have to offer them in return? I believe that Manila has applications outside of Android and Windows Phone 7 (which HTC already have covered, so we can forget about them) so there is still one avenue left to us that we could attempt to try and tempt HTC with...
Swallow the Tablet!
At the moment the tablet market is dominated by iOS and Android but inevitably Microsoft will manage to muscle Windows into the tablet market. It managed it with phones (then, as we all know, lost its way) and more recently it managed to (almost completely) squeeze Linux out of the netbook market. At CES 2011 scores of Windows based tablets were unveiled from manufacturers such as Asus, Lenovo, Viliv and even Samsung! Microsofts desire to muscle its way into yet another market (tablets) with a full fat version of Windows is compounded by the fact that the next version of Windows (8) will support SoC architectures from Intel and ARM. Make no mistake; Whatever your views on the suitability of Windows for tablets, Windows tablets are coming and they will sell. However, lets not get too hung up on tablets, there are still millions upon millions (upon millions!) of PCs out there and sales of PCs are still strong.
But what does this have to do with Manila? Well, I believe Manila would make the perfect lightweight 3D widget engine for Windows and this is where our opportunity lies. HTC currently has a massive presence in smartphones and are now entering the tablet market (currently Android to begin with, but given their ties with Microsoft, in the past with Windows Mobile and now Windows Phone 7, it won't be long before they produce a full fat Windows tablet). However they do not (yet) have a presence, of any kind, on desktops and it is with this that we could tempt them. So, HTC get the opportunity to have a presence PC desktops worldwide and we get to extend the life of our phones that utilise Manila!
Don't forget the presence of "Sense" on the desktop would be a great marketing tool... people see the advertisements for Sense on the TV (as HTC are currently doing in the UK), they give it a try on their computer, like it, and may be inclined to buy a phone with Sense in the future. There are also the opportunities that "Sense" (Manila) on the desktop could tie in with Sense on phones.
To be continued...
Reserved for future use
Hi all,
What follows could be considered to be the ramblings of a lunatic however it is intended to provoke discussion and maybe some thought about where we (Sense users/fans) go from here. Personally I know I don't want to see Sense die off (I'm not planning on moving to Android or WinPho 7 any time soon, as you'll read) and my phone (HD2) is only a YEAR old!
The Future of Sense?
Many of us bought our HTC WinMo phones on the strength of Sense (henceforth referred to as Manila to differentiate it from its Android, and Windows Phone 7 "Hub", incarnations), which brought a compelling and attractive interface to ugly old WinMo. Judging by the amount of devices Manila has been (or has been requested to be) ported to it is still a compelling and attractive interface. However users and fans of Manila are now facing a dilemma; Manila is, in all probability reaching, if it hasn't already, the end of its (officially) developed life. Short of any previously unknown major bugs surfacing its not hard to imagine HTC now focusing all their efforts on Android and Windows Phone 7.
So where does this leave us, many of us who still have perfectly functioning phones, which often still have up-to-date hardware? We could, thanks to the guys (with very large brains) here on XDA developers, choose between Windows Phone 7 or Android to give our phones a new lease of life. However, personally (and I know I'm not the only one) I don't want to. Windows phone 7 doesn't appeal because of its lack of customisation (and copying of iOS on so many levels), and Android because of, well, Google! WinMo gives us the freedom to tinker, without the need of "jail breaking", which many of us love WinMo for. Manila is the icing on the cake... and everyone knows the icing is the best bit of the cake!
So where do we go from here?
Organise. Mobilise.
First off I don't want to take anything away from the (quite brilliant) people here on XDA Developers that have already managed (or facilitated others) to do some pretty amazing things with Manila, having extended it far beyond HTCs original scope. However despite all the hard work and effort that has gone into reverse engineering Manila there is still much that is unknown about it and parts we cannot change. If we wish to see Manila grow and develop (further than we already have), to keep our phones current, we need HTCs co-operation, we need the actual Manila source.
But why should HTC help us when they would probably rather us buy new phones? Well, HTC is a business and all good business' like a good deal. So, they've got something we want but what do we have to offer them in return? I believe that Manila has applications outside of Android and Windows Phone 7 (which HTC already have covered, so we can forget about them) so there is still one avenue left to us that we could attempt to try and tempt HTC with...
Swallow the Tablet!
At the moment the tablet market is dominated by iOS and Android but inevitably Microsoft will manage to muscle Windows into the tablet market. It managed it with phones (then, as we all know, lost its way) and more recently it managed to (almost completely) squeeze Linux out of the netbook market. At CES 2011 scores of Windows based tablets were unveiled from manufacturers such as Asus, Lenovo, Viliv and even Samsung! Microsofts desire to muscle its way into yet another market (tablets) with a full fat version of Windows is compounded by the fact that the next version of Windows (8) will support SoC architectures from Intel and ARM. Make no mistake; Whatever your views on the suitability of Windows for tablets, Windows tablets are coming and they will sell. However, lets not get too hung up on tablets, there are still millions upon millions (upon millions!) of PCs out there and sales of PCs are still strong.
But what does this have to do with Manila? Well, I believe Manila would make the perfect lightweight 3D widget engine for Windows and this is where our opportunity lies. HTC currently has a massive presence in smartphones and are now entering the tablet market (currently Android to begin with, but given their ties with Microsoft, in the past with Windows Mobile and now Windows Phone 7, it won't be long before they produce a full fat Windows tablet). However they do not (yet) have a presence, of any kind, on desktops and it is with this that we could tempt them. So, HTC get the opportunity to have a presence PC desktops worldwide and we get to extend the life of our phones that utilise Manila!
Don't forget the presence of "Sense" on the desktop would be a great marketing tool... people see the advertisements for Sense on the TV (as HTC are currently doing in the UK), they give it a try on their computer, like it, and may be inclined to buy a phone with Sense in the future. There are also the opportunities that "Sense" (Manila) on the desktop could tie in with Sense on phones.
To be continued...
Reserved for future use.
Not on a desktop
Sense is designed for touch interfaces. A desktop PC is better served by the current Windows 7 interface, in my opinion.
Sense is fine for tablets and other touch devices, in fact HTC just demoed a version for Android tablets.
stevedebi said:
Sense is designed for touch interfaces. A desktop PC is better served by the current Windows 7 interface, in my opinion.
Sense is fine for tablets and other touch devices, in fact HTC just demoed a version for Android tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel you've missed the point somewhat. Windows 7 is better suited to a desktop/laptop PC but even so Windows 7 is still being installed on tablets. What Windows 7 will need is a proper touch based interface to hide the largely finger unfriendly OS... Sound familiar? Like Windows Mobile and Sense perhaps?
Also, like I said in my first post, touchscreens are becoming more commonplace on desktop PCs (even in the home) so those too would benefit from a touch centric interface (and/or widget engine, as is being proposed).
Manila is being proposed as the base for that interface/engine not only because it is extremely lightweight and the similarities between Windows and Windows Mobile mean it shouldn't be too difficult to port (especially since it uses Lua), but because it will extend the life of our perfectly functioning and still up-to-date phones.
Windows Phone OS is now officially part of the major league, folks. The Marketplace for Microsoft's mobile OS has made it past the mark of 100,000 application submissions, thus joining the likes of Android and iOS as part of the elite club.It took the platform the relatively short 20 months to reach the magic number - that's quicker than Android (24 months), but slower than iOS (16 months).
Out of the 100,000+ submitted apps, 88,371 are available for download across 60 countries. That number is bound to increase with around 300 every day. Don't be surprised however, if the pace picks up even further - after all, Windows Phone Apollo is right around the corner.
:'(
Alas! i cant download them because i m using an older version of OS - win6.5 - is there any tweak ? i would love to go to market place for apps!
Why are you posting about Windows Phone in the Windows mobile section?
Moderator please move this post!
JBJ
Today I have read an article that all currently running WP7 Smartphones will NOT receive an Update to WP8.
Instead they will get an Update to WP 7.8.
I am sooooo happy that we have finally running HSPL for our devices, so our talented devs will hopefully be able to make coustom roms WITH WP8 !!
Lets hope the best
The article is in german, if you understand that language check it out
http://www.chip.de/news/Windows-Phone-8-Das-kann-das-neue-Microsoft-OS_56171609.html
I don't think DFT or others can do something about this :
The main reason WP8 isn't going to current devices is that most of the new kernel will be built for multi core processors ...
I don't think this is something you or me or DFT could change ...
Of course I want to be wrong xD
Btw I am pretty satisfied with the 7.8 solution.
A nice WP7.8 custom ROM would be enough for me if we'll still be able to be part of the system.
The important question is about what features will be included in the 7.8 update other than the GUI change.
Yeah, we're screwed. I'm selling my Titan while I still can, nobody would want one a few months from now.
I will probably buy a freakin' iPhone because it holds its price pretty well and stick with it until WP8 phones become available. That is if I won't become an Apple guy in the mean time...
The question still remains.... Is 7.8 going to be the last update, and how long will it take devs stop making things and switch to native code???
Why develop apps for a old system? I know wp7x apps will run on w8, but w8 will have all new open api.
i heard so many times that there would never be a way to get wp7 on my hd2....... perhaps history will repeat itself
I can deal with the 7.8 solution. I just think its a bit awkward that they would market the hell out of the Lumia 900 (and rightfully so) knowing that a few months later they are going to announce that it is not upgradeable to 8. However, Microsoft had to do what they had to do and seeing the big picture, I think it is going to be even more phenomenal. What concerns me is that I wonder if HTC is going to even bother upgrading the Titan (which I currently own) and Titan II seeing that they really have no enthusiasm for the platform. And what surprises me is that they are on board with the initial fleet of WP8 phones. I think I may switch over to Nokia next time around. You can tell how wonderfully they treat their customers and they continuously get new stuff. We shall see.
Flytetymex said:
What concerns me is that I wonder if HTC is going to even bother upgrading the Titan (which I currently own) and Titan II seeing that they really have no enthusiasm for the platform. ... I think I may switch over to Nokia next time around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the 7.8 update (if that's what you mean) is coming directly from MS so all current 7.5 handsets will be able to get it.
I'm almost 100% sure my WP8 will be from Nokia. I may even get a Lumia now, just because they look so cool & the apps are top notch. (hopefully prices on ebay will plummet after this announcement) Right now I've got a Titan II.
antaed said:
Yeah, we're screwed. I'm selling my Titan while I still can, nobody would want one a few months from now.
I will probably buy a freakin' iPhone because it holds its price pretty well and stick with it until WP8 phones become available. That is if I won't become an Apple guy in the mean time...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sutt359 said:
The question still remains.... Is 7.8 going to be the last update, and how long will it take devs stop making things and switch to native code???
Why develop apps for a old system? I know wp7x apps will run on w8, but w8 will have all new open api.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys don't talk like those trolls are WPCentral. We are on XDA-DEVELOPERS.
As an developer I would want to target mass market. When WP8 launches, even if with excellent traction what will be one's target market? 4 million? 5 million? in first 6 months?
WP7.x has 10 million+ strong.
WP7.x apps WILL run on WP8.
So I will be making apps for 15million target audience i.e. make an app for WP7.x and serve and earn more.
Only certain games that need multi-cores might be native coded but then we don't have that hardware, so MSFT hasn't screwed us.
drupad2drupad said:
Guys don't talk like those trolls are WPCentral. We are on XDA-DEVELOPERS.
As an developer I would want to target mass market. When WP8 launches, even if with excellent traction what will be one's target market? 4 million? 5 million? in first 6 months?
WP7.x has 10 million+ strong.
WP7.x apps WILL run on WP8.
So I will be making apps for 15million target audience i.e. make an app for WP7.x and serve and earn more.
Only certain games that need multi-cores might be native coded but then we don't have that hardware, so MSFT hasn't screwed us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with what you say and I'm sorry to act like a troll but I'm angry because:
- WP7 lacks some important functionality which I hoped to get with the WP8 upgrade (VOIP integration, location background tasks, universal search, HTML5/CSS3 compatible browser, etc.)
- I wanted to keep my Titan for at least 1 year and now I have to sell it (while it still holds some value)
- if I knew the Titan would not get the update I wouldn't have bought it (I was naive, so my fault here)
antaed said:
I agree with what you say and I'm sorry to act like a troll but I'm angry because:
- WP7 lacks some important functionality which I hoped to get with the WP8 upgrade (VOIP integration, location background tasks, universal search, HTML5/CSS3 compatible browser, etc.)
- I wanted to keep my Titan for at least 1 year and now I have to sell it (while it still holds some value)
- if I knew the Titan would not get the update I wouldn't have bought it (I was naive, so my fault here)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you are on XDA I am presuming you know that the dev community will probably port in custom ROMs with WP7.8 before even officials are rolled out! Yesterday's "dev summit" means nothing to the end user. No end user features are released officially. We've gotta wait for the customer focused annoucements. Surely WP7.8 won't be a start screen only update. It will plug in most of the non-hardware dependant gaps.
And - if MSFT doesnt, XDA will.
drupad2drupad said:
Since you are on XDA I am presuming you know that the dev community will probably port in custom ROMs with WP7.8 before even officials are rolled out! Yesterday's "dev summit" means nothing to the end user. No end user features are released officially. We've gotta wait for the customer focused annoucements. Surely WP7.8 won't be a start screen only update. It will plug in most of the non-hardware dependant gaps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm aware, of course
drupad2drupad said:
And - if MSFT doesnt, XDA will.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but to what extent? Supposing that current devices were used for WP8 testing, there is hope for test build leaks. If not, the kernel/driver related gaps will almost certainly never be filled. Very difficult challenge to overcome and few developers will be interested to do it - especially true for the Titan which is far from being a popular device...
The way I am looking at this scenario is that any device was to be supported for 2 years.
I got my Titan Nov 2011 (launch was Oct 2011?)
So ideally, MSFT should support my titan till April 2013. The so called WP7.8 will add features, may be not high tech, most advanced features, but surely those that will make my Nov 2011 Titan much better than what I purchased. This WP7.8 won't actually hit our phones till Nov-Dec 2012, if that's when WP8 phones are to be in the wild.
Surely that refresh can last my phone for next 6 months. MSFT has repeatedly said they will be giving 2 major updates. Only the Lumia 900 and HTC Titan2 owners will see just one WP7.8, but all of us have seen Mango and now WP7.8
And what says, that we won't have a Tango-like minor update after WP7.8?
The fact that 7.5 is being pushed to 7.8 and not 8.0 shows that its two iterations lower than 8.0 (one being kernel change, second being ?) and THREE iterations better than 7.5. Surely a new start screen isn't worth making it 7.8. It could easily have been 7.6 unless ofcourse MSFT devs like fooling us with numbers (I don't doubt it! )
Also, MSFT will support us with apps for that period too. Devs won't make apps for an OS with zero user base. They will want it to start off with 10 million of us first. At least till June-July 2013, I don't see lots of WP8 exclusive apps that are not hardware dependant. Ofcourse there will be a huge influx of apps come this Christmas that will be exclusive to WP8 to show off its hardware capapbilities.
All in all, it is an excellent thing if you want WP to succeed and want to benefit from the whole "ecosystem" experience unmatched by any other OS! I am loving my phone and won't buy a WP8 till next summer. I am in love with my Titan and the custom ROMs have just started... possibilites are endless. We might be looking at a new HTC HD2
---------- Post added at 10:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 AM ----------
Here found this:
http://conversations.nokia.com/2012/06/20/new-nokia-apps-zynga-games-to-make-your-lumia-even-better/
Part that is of our interest -
"Elsewhere, you may have read about the new Windows Phone 8. How does this affect your Lumia? Well, you are not being left out. All Lumia smartphones will be getting an update to give you some of the features of Windows Phone 8, including the new Start screen, as well as a pattern of ongoing updates going forward."
When the summit was summarised, it was told that we will get continuing support from OEMs. I am inclined to believe that OEMs will dish out a range of updates for another 12-15 months or so for WP7 to bring it as close as possible to WP8. When WP8.5 is released, WP7 will truely be dead, which is OK.
drupad2drupad said:
Also, MSFT will support us with apps for that period too. Devs won't make apps for an OS with zero user base. They will want it to start off with 10 million of us first. At least till June-July 2013, I don't see lots of WP8 exclusive apps that are not hardware dependant. Ofcourse there will be a huge influx of apps come this Christmas that will be exclusive to WP8 to show off its hardware capapbilities
.
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Click to collapse
it's really clear to me with my ics xoom tablet that gingerbread has not been abandoned. there are still few apps in the google play store that only work on ics or honeycomb. i'm pretty sure the same will apply for wp7.5/8 - as has been said before. why limit yourself to the people with one system when most apps will work on both. the only time this will change is if wp8 is a massive runaway success, which i'd be equally happy about
As far as markets go, being able to use native code means an easy port of games and apps to and from Android and iOS. If you could serve 3 markets with your app or just 1, which would you choose? WP8 means the end of apps for WP7 devices.
Microsoft could have chosen to port the kernel to our devices. People are like "well, the kernel needs multicore". Bull****. Windows 8 will run on a Pentium 4. You telling me they can get their desktop OS to run on 6-8 year old hardware but mobile can't run on less than a year old? The kernel doesn't matter any goddamn way. They could choose to port native support to our device. Apple did it with 68k to PPC and PPC to Intel, and with considerably less money and human resources. Embedded NT already runs on WP7 chipsets.
Microsoft is telling too many partners too many different things. First they say they are changing the OS to run on lower spec hardware, now they are saying the higher-end hardware can't run the next OS.
Sent from my PI39100 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
dragon_76 said:
As far as markets go, being able to use native code means an easy port of games and apps to and from Android and iOS. If you could serve 3 markets with your app or just 1, which would you choose? WP8 means the end of apps for WP7 devices.
Microsoft could have chosen to port the kernel to our devices. People are like "well, the kernel needs multicore". Bull****. Windows 8 will run on a Pentium 4. You telling me they can get their desktop OS to run on 6-8 year old hardware but mobile can't run on less than a year old? The kernel doesn't matter any goddamn way. They could choose to port native support to our device. Apple did it with 68k to PPC and PPC to Intel, and with considerably less money and human resources. Embedded NT already runs on WP7 chipsets.
Microsoft is telling too many partners too many different things. First they say they are changing the OS to run on lower spec hardware, now they are saying the higher-end hardware can't run the next OS.
Sent from my PI39100 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it is about hardware at all and MSFT never suggested so either. What they've said is the whole WP8 which can be scaled up and down is a big task and effort. From update point of view, packaging this whole new kernel update via Zune to us also means, that the noob on the other hand (not you and me) needs to know what to do. To wipe devices, to get the new drivers on, the new ROM and radio - not a normal update. I think MSFT could have spent a few months trying and testing things so that current gen phones can get this new kernel with "super update". But frankly, only a few thousand of us out of the suspected 12 million are tech-savvy for such an update. The bricks, the admin to support bricks would be an endless affair.
Also, OEMs. Convincing them to make new drivers to update current hardware would mean they can't sell more phones. OEMs want to sell phones. They want money, they will never choose update v/s new hardware. OEMs would also have to have support channels open for such bricks etc - again not good enough reason to put that effort on negligible number of users of this platform.
Above all, what I think the real, REAL reason is: Hardware. Current hardware although not outdate by any means isn't good enough to "exploit" WP8 kernel that powers a PC. The choice was:
Should we have a PC software run by mediocre hardware or should we launch it with awesome hardware that will exploit the new kernel? From business point of view, new hardware, new software = more attention grabbing.
My 2p
Then by your logic, Microsoft should never release anything but bug fixes. In fact, the opposite is happening. Microsoft is planning on bypassing vendors and carriers starting with Windows 8. As far as hardware goes, no ATT rep is going to push Windows Phone now, and it is already well-known that has been a problem as it is.
In fact, it would behoove vendors if Microsoft supported current generation phones because they could work on streamlining current production instead of spending the money on new designs. Do you think the most valuable company in the world (Apple) doesn't understand this? The 3GS will run iOS 6! Other smartphone platforms are basically saying if you want your hardware supported the life if your contract, you need to buy an iPhone...
Also, just an FYI, windows phones are all the same. They all use 100% identical chipsets and have almost no custom hardware. The only difference they have is in the camera and those are high-level drivers. Microsoft was notoriously strict with their hardware spec. Hardware partners did not write any drivers, the same way PC vendors do not write any drivers. It is all a partnership between MS and chipset manufacturers.
Sent from my PI39100 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I recieved an e.mail from Microsoft stating my titan will be able to recieve the window 8 update. What's that about?.
fallenmonk said:
I recieved an e.mail from Microsoft stating my titan will be able to recieve the window 8 update. What's that about?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to the site where I got that info, all currently devices which run WP7 wont get the update, so we should wait and see...
jay thang @j4yth4ng
@NokiaUS @wmpoweruser why are we not getting 7.8 for lumia 800???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nokia USA @NokiaUS
@j4yth4ng All Lumia devices will be getting the update that includes start screen. See for more info: http://nokia.ly/M5FGpB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nokia at the Windows Phone 8 unveiling
Published by Ian Delaney on June 20, 2012
Nokia at Windows Phone 8 unveiling
Today, Nokia’s Kevin Shields – who leads product development for Lumia smartphones – joined Microsoft representatives on stage at the Windows Phone Summit in San Francisco to outline how we’re working together to build a winning Windows Phone ecosystem and bring new experiences to Lumia phones.
Microsoft’s Terry Myerson, Kevin Gallo and Joe Belfiore started the morning by previewing Windows Phone 8, which will come out later this year, and unveiled new hardware specs like NFC, multi-core processors and improved screen resolutions.
With years of experience building NFC experiences on Symbian, the Nokia N9 and most recently the Nokia Lumia 610 NFC with Orange, we’re excited about what we can do with NFC across the whole of Windows Phone. Just take another look at the Nokia Play360 NFC speakers if you have any doubts.
Microsoft also revealed that Nokia would continue bringing unique innovations to Windows Phone 8 through our hardware, services and apps.
StartScreen_Maria35 StartScreen_Robin50
Nokia Lumia owners to get new Windows Phone 8 experience
But the news doesn’t stop there. For those who already have Lumia devices with Windows Phone 7.5, you’ll be able to update your phones with some of the new Windows Phone 8 features like the start screen and download new apps from companies like Zynga, whose Words with Friends and Draw Something will be available in Autumn.
Microsoft also announced today that the Windows Phone Marketplace has reached 100,000 apps, and with Windows Phone 8 sharing the Windows 8 core, millions of Windows developers will also be able to develop for Windows Phone ecosystem. Lumia customers can expect thousands more apps to be introduced across Windows Phone platform.
StartScreen_Kari22
The announcements underline the progress Nokia is making with the Lumia family of smartphones and in building a winning ecosystem with Microsoft. It shows how the Windows Phone experience continues to evolve at a faster pace than the competition and how Nokia’s continued investments in great location-based services benefit partners, developers and consumers.
New apps and functionality for Lumia owners
Finally, Kevin revealed that Nokia will deliver existing Lumia customers exclusive new Marketplace apps like digital Camera Extras to bring new possibilities to your Lumia including panorama shots, a self-timer, Action Shot for capturing movement and Smart Group Shot for creating the perfect group shot from several different images; new features for Nokia Drive and Nokia Transport; and also distributing a pattern of updates like WiFi tethering and flip-to-silence.
To learn more about those updates and when you can expect to see the new apps in Marketplace, check out this dedicated post. There’s a lot of exciting new stuff coming to Lumia now and in the future and we’ll keep you posted.
http://conversations.nokia.com/2012/06/20/nokia-at-the-windows-phone-8-unveiling/