Microsoft unveiled the Windows Phone 8 shows off the new Windows Phone startscreen

Like any other mobile platforms out there, they need to be updated on its security, performance, bugs and fixes, features, and of course with how it looks. iOS has not been forward enough in doing major changes in how the platform looks. iOS is still basically what it looked like years ago but it seems to be working though. Android has changed a lot from Gingerbread to the latest version, Ice Cream Sandwich. Now it is Windows Phone's turn. Well, the difference from WP7 and WP8 is not really that big but it will really make a difference. What Microsoft did was to allow the user more tiles to be pinned into the home screen. They did this by allowing users to seize the tiles and more space allowed for them to put these tiles. For us users, we will have more freedom on how the Windows Phone 8 home screen will look like and that is just awesome.

Aside from changing how the home screen of Windows Phone 8 would look like, Microsoft also added some much awaited support and features into the platform. 

"With Windows Phone 8, the similarity is more than skin deep. We’ve based the next release of Windows Phone on the rock-solid technology core of Windows 8. It means Windows Phone and its bigger sibling will share common networking, security, media and web browser technology, and a common file system. That translates into better performance, more features, and new opportunities for app developers and hardware makers to innovate faster." - Windows Phone Blog

Here is a list of the new stuff coming to Windows Phone 8:

•  Support for multi-core processors - we should expect WP8 phones with dual-core, quad-core or more CPUs in them.
• Support for HD screens - 1280x768 and 1280x720 (720p displays)
• Support for mciroSD cards - Well, do I really need to explain? This could probably one of those things that current Windows Phone users have always been wanting! Extra storage.
• NFC wireless sharing - I have two words, Android Beam. This is cool to come to Windows Phone.
• IE10 - Phones running on WP8 will have IE10 in them. It will be sporting the same engine that IE10 has in Windows 8 PCs.
• Wallet - WP8 will also come with a digital wallet. Said to be able to keep debit and credit cards, coupons, boarding passes and whatnots will all accessible right from your WP8 device.
• Better Maps - WP8 will employ Nokia Maps into the platform which is a service started by Nokia and has now grown into one of the best mapping service you can get on your mobile devices.
• New apps and games

Before I end this post, there are some features in WP8 that was not mentioned by Joe Belfiore on his blog post. First we have Audible for Windpws Phone, which is available for Windows Phone 7.5 and up. The application is free to download from the marketplace.

Windows Phone 8 will also feature "true background multi-tasking". Endgadget has a more thorough coverage on that.

For those who owns a Windows Phone right now, those running on Windows Phone 7.5 (and those who are still yet to update their devices) might ask, are we getting WP8? Well, Microsoft answered directly to that question with a "NO". Unfortunately, those who have a device running on Windows Phone 7.5 won't get WP8. But, Microsoft will still be giving you the benefit of enjoying the new home screen. A software update will be rolled out to Windows Phone 7.5 devices which will bring in the new home screen. The software update will be named as the Windows Phone 7.8.

"Windows Phone 8 is a generation shift in technology, which means that it will not run on existing hardware. BUT we care deeply about our existing customers and want to keep their phones fresh, so we’re providing the new Start screen in this new update." - Joe Belfiore

So that is it, I believe. I'll just leave you with Microsoft's introduction video about Windows Phone 8 here. Enjoy! 

Source: Windows Phone Blog

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