Microsoft has done some amazing things breathing new life into their once-fading mobile OS and is gaining some ground with Windows Phone 7. Adding many great new features in the Mango update, the upcoming update will be a minor one codenamed Tango. After Tango, users can expect even more features with the Windows Phone 8 update (Apollo). Expect more functionality tied with the upcoming Windows 8 update fro the desktop among many other things. Some of the new treats has leaked courtesy of PocketNow and are detailed below after the break.
- support for multi-core processors
- support for 4 screen resolutions (up from one at the moment)
- NFC, including mobile payments and tap-to-share capabilities
- microSD expansion cards
- Windows 8 integration will allow developers to reuse most of their code when porting an app from the desktop to the Phone OS (although what isn’t clearly stated is if that refers to the Windows Phone-like apps in Windows 8, or ‘true’ desktop apps like the ones we use today on Windows 7)
- no more Zune desktop client – it will be replaced by a dedicated app for Windows Phone desktop sync
- Xbox Companion app will have a partner app on Windows 8
- Skydrive will enable seamless sharing between devices (think iCloud)
- 100,000 apps in the Marketplace by the time WP8 launches
- native code support for apps
- app-to-app communication (currently all apps are sandboxed)
- the camera will be based on lens apps – Microsoft providing a basic camera UI that can be skinned by manufacturers or overlaid with viewfinders from third-party apps
- DataSmart will aim to reduce mobile data usage – offering breakdown of data used, including in a live tile of its own, and actively attempting to give Wi-Fi connectivity precedence, automatically connecting to carrier-owned Wi-Fi networks when in range (which sounds like the only actually new thing here). The Local Scout feature inside Bing Maps will help with real-time location of nearby hotspots
- Internet Explorer 10 – again a similar version to its desktop cousin. Interestingly, it may even use a proxy for browsing, a la Opera Mini, reducing the amount of data required to view websites by a claimed 30%
- native BitLocker encryption – 128-bit full hardware accelerated disk encryption and always-on secure boot capabilities
- ‘line-of-business’ apps will be supported – these will be specific, proprietary apps deployed behind company firewalls
So after seeing all of this, who’s excited on more features coming to the growing mobile OS?
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