Windows Phone 8 Detailed, Uses Windows 8 Kernel

MrSeb writes "Thanks to a leaked video — a video that Microsoft made for Nokia — we now have lots of details about Windows Phone 8 (WP8). From deep Windows 8, Skype, and SkyDrive integration, through to the addition of NFC 'wallet' payments and BitLocker encryption, it sounds like Windows Phone 8 will be close to iOS and Android in terms of features. The interesting stuff is under the hood, though: WP8 will have the Windows 8 kernel instead of the Windows CE kernel of its predecessors. Through the Win 8 kernel, WP8 will support native code and multi-core processors. It will also have the same network stack, security, and multimedia support as Windows 8. While Win 8 apps won't be directly compatible with Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone manager Joe Belfiore says developers will be able to 'reuse — by far — most of their code.'"

Comments

Bizarro World

[RazzleFrog]

I predict a world where Microsoft has the best mobile platform but can't break the stranglehold of Apple and Google.

Re:Bizarro World

[RazzleFrog]

You can say wild but companies learn from their mistakes. Look at how they've done with XBOX and Kinect. As a PS3 owner I can tell you that they leveled Sony.

Re:Bizarro World

[FuegoFuerte]

We're almost there already. Win Phone 7 is a bit short on apps perhaps, but already has many features the other two don't (and yes, there are some features the others have that WinPhone 7 doesn't).

There's still plenty of room for improvement in Windows Phone, but it's been improving rapidly already. I've owned one for about 6 months now I think (since the HTC Arrive came out on Sprint, whenever that was). It's been more stable than the "feature phones" I've owned, with the exception of my original Nokia 6185 in the '90s. If this keeps up, with Google's "Screw Security and Privacy" attitude, and Apple's "You can have it our way or you can't have it at all" "we know what hardware you want" attitude, I think Microsoft may even be able to break the stranglehold, with proper execution.

Re:Bizarro World

[bonch]

Don't count out Microsoft. They broke Sony's stranglehold at the height of the PS2.

Re:Bizarro World

[PessimysticRaven]

Methinks he's referring to your implication that Microsoft having the "best" mobile platform is laughable, at best. Sort of like saying RIM has the best management team, bar-none.

Re:Bizarro World

[shutdown -p now]

WP7 was originally consumer-centric when first released, but it's now ramping up on "enterprisey" stuff (and specifically with respect to integrating into MS intranet ecosystem) - it just goes slowly, feature by feature: 7.5 has got support for DRM'd Exchange emails, now there's a Lync client, and encryption is coming in vNext.

Re:code reuse shares vulnerabilities

[SJHillman]

Does that mean anyone who hacks a Linux desktop gets their Android phone too? If anyone that hacks a FreeBSD box also gets Mac OS X boxes too?

Windows Phone will become the best

[ndtechnologies]

Mark my words, and I can't believe I'm even saying this, but Windows Phone, will soon be considered the best mobile platform, due to it's unification with the desktop, and XBOX. Unfortunately, it won't mean much because people will still want shiny iPhones and will clamor to the numerous free Android phones that they can get. From a technical standpoint, there is nothing about Android that is good. The reason it is so popular, is because it is cheap and most people can get one. There, I said it. /standby to be marked as Troll in 3, 2, 1

Re:Windows Phone will become the best

[jdastrup]

I tend to agree with much of what you said. But I think it's more that they have the potential to become the best. They are late in the game, but they can learn from everyone else. A major problem they will have is getting developers to make apps for it. To compete with Android, it will have to be free. If not, as long as their marketshare numbers are a fraction of the Android devices out there, developers will dismiss it and so will everyone else.

Re:code reuse shares vulnerabilities

[neokushan]

Only if the hack involves something deep within the Kernel - which in terms of hacks, is generally pretty rare. Most hacks come from privilege escalation, usually because of some shoddily written plugin (i.e. just about anything Adobe makes). I very much doubt that Microsoft will offer WP8 users the same level of...freedom that Windows users get. Hell, you'll be lucky to even sideload apps.

compatibility for viruses?

[nik_qc]

So, viruses for Windows 8 will be also portable to WP8? :)

Why? (Re:Windows Phone will become the best)

[EXTomar]

I never understood the desire to unify desktop and other things (XBox) on a phone let alone why is it valuable. There is value in creating apps that interface with other systems but one is overstating the value of a whole phone dedicated to interfacing this way when it turns out people would rather have other features (mobile location services, e-readers, etc).

Another way to think about not: Are people chomping at the bit who support Android and iPhone to get or sharing accessing to their home machines? These platforms aren't popular because of this nor do I see that changing in two years. If you can answer "Why do you think that is valuable?" then I can begin to see your stance otherwise I suspect that such features are "gee-whiz" but not necessary or the best use of the mobile phone platform.