Thank God Apple supports their iPhone, Microsoft abandons Windows Phone users

[aneftp]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/20/3...8-upgrade-no-windows-phone-8-existing-devices

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/20/microsoft-unveils-windows-phone-7-8-for-legacy-devices/

Microsoft really knows how to make windows phone users happy with their announcement today owners of current generation Windows phones will not get Windows 8 upgrades. They will get "skinned" to look like Windows 8 but won't get the core windows 8 upgrade.

I have all types of phones (including Gnex/Nokia Lumia 900/iphone 4S). So am a phone junkie.

But this is a PR nightmare for Microsoft for current windows phone users. Not a good way to try to get market share.

Windows phone, if you haven't tried it is really a nice change from iOS and Android. Sure there are some must have apps that aren't there (Pandora, Chase bank etc). But there's no lag and a very fluid experience. But Microsoft may be losing all the steam with this kind of announcement.

I don't after today, the Lumia 900 or Titan 2 or other windows phone will be big sellers with basically EOL announcement by Microsoft.

Can you imagine if Apple said today that iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS will not get iOS6? Sales would tank immediately.

 

[walie]

what, all 43 of them?

 

[basesloaded190]

They are getting a lot of WP8. Just not the core parts of it. Which sounds very similar to what Apple does.

 

[daneoni]

Nope. There's a key difference. Legacy iPhones may not get all the new features of an iOS version update but they get the core OS and its ecosystem.

Microsoft today has said not only will you not be getting all the features of the new OS (understandable), you ALSO won't be getting any new apps developed for it either. But hey, in appreciation for beta-testing early versions of our OS for us, we'll give you new tiles!

In case you guys didn't get that. Any app developed for WP8 will NOT work on WP7.8 i.e. the Lumia 900 you bought 2 months ago. At least on iOS any apps developed for iOS6 will work on the 3GS which was released in 2009!

So glad i didn't fall for the Lumia hype.

 

[nfl46]

I was hoping for a Windows phone made by them. It's way too many of them. But I love the interface and W8 from what I saw from today's presentation

 

[DanteMann]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/20/3...8-upgrade-no-windows-phone-8-existing-devices

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/20/microsoft-unveils-windows-phone-7-8-for-legacy-devices/

Microsoft really knows how to make windows phone users happy with their announcement today owners of current generation Windows phones will not get Windows 8 upgrades. They will get "skinned" to look like Windows 8 but won't get the core windows 8 upgrade.

I have all types of phones (including Gnex/Nokia Lumia 900/iphone 4S). So am a phone junkie.

But this is a PR nightmare for Microsoft for current windows phone users. Not a good way to try to get market share.

Windows phone, if you haven't tried it is really a nice change from iOS and Android. Sure there are some must have apps that aren't there (Pandora, Chase bank etc). But there's no lag and a very fluid experience. But Microsoft may be losing all the steam with this kind of announcement.

I don't after today, the Lumia 900 or Titan 2 or other windows phone will be big sellers with basically EOL announcement by Microsoft.

Can you imagine if Apple said today that iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS will not get iOS6? Sales would tank immediately.

Wow, are you really that clueless? Maybe you should look at ios6 and see what features you won't be getting on certain idevices. Windows 8 is a real upgrade that actually requires upgraded hardware for it to run in all its glory. Unlike iOS6. That being said legacy devises will still get 7.8. Which is completely acceptable.

 

[sakau2007]

Wow, are you really that clueless? Maybe you should look at ios6 and see what features you won't be getting on certain idevices. Windows 8 is a real upgrade that actually requires upgraded hardware for it to run in all its glory. Unlike iOS6. That being said legacy devises will still get 7.8. Which is completely acceptable.

Didn't the iPhone 3GS come out in June 2009? And the iPhone 4 in June 2010? Though I realize those phones won't get all that iOS 6 offers, at least they are getting something. What Android/Windows phones that are 3 years old are still getting updates and improvements?

 

[cynics]

So windows phones get a make over but not full win8. And iOS gets a make over but not full iOS 6. Thank god?

 

[ChazUK]

Looks like Lumia 900 owners were in fact still a part of the smartphone beta test.

 

[sakau2007]

So windows phones get a make over but not full win8. And iOS users get iOS get a make over but not full iOS 6. Thank god?

What features of iOS 6 are not coming to the 4S, a phone that was about 8 or 9 months old when iOS 6 was unveiled? Now look at some of Microsoft's phones that are two months old that won't be getting their new OS.

 

[cynics]

What features of iOS 6 are not coming to the 4S, a phone that was about 8 or 9 months old when iOS 6 was unveiled? Now look at some of Microsoft's phones that are two months old that won't be getting their new OS.

Granted I agree with you but the 4 didn't get Siri so I'm sure their will be something that only software related.

 

[Frankied22]

I am pretty sure there have been iOS apps in the past that wouldn't work on older iPhones, even if they were running the latest iOS. Apple themselves made a couple of those apps. (GarageBand, iMovie, etc.)

 

[ChazUK]

Granted I agree with you but the 4 didn't get Siri so I'm sure their will be something that only software related.

This goes beyond anything as simple as a software feature tho. Despite the lack of Siri on the iPhone 4, application compatibility will be high. All WP7.5 devices will lack the ability to run native code as that is a WP8 only feature meaning any application that has been developed with Windows Phone 8 in mind is immediately incompatible with this "leagacy" hardware

Combined with the push to unify Windows 8, I have a feeling that Windows Phone 7.8 compatibility will be forgotten by developers potentially leaving you behind with new Apps. At the API level, I have no doubt all three generations of iPhone will almost be at feature parity.

I totally understand the need to push the platform forward but it would have been nice to have seen a better future of current devices. The lack of Mango support was bad enough as it was during my times with Windows Phone.

 

[lordofthereef]

I took back my Lumia 900 because of the display resolution. Boy am I ever glad I did that!

 

[PDFierro]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/20/3...8-upgrade-no-windows-phone-8-existing-devices

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/20/microsoft-unveils-windows-phone-7-8-for-legacy-devices/

Microsoft really knows how to make windows phone users happy with their announcement today owners of current generation Windows phones will not get Windows 8 upgrades. They will get "skinned" to look like Windows 8 but won't get the core windows 8 upgrade.

I have all types of phones (including Gnex/Nokia Lumia 900/iphone 4S). So am a phone junkie.

But this is a PR nightmare for Microsoft for current windows phone users. Not a good way to try to get market share.

Windows phone, if you haven't tried it is really a nice change from iOS and Android. Sure there are some must have apps that aren't there (Pandora, Chase bank etc). But there's no lag and a very fluid experience. But Microsoft may be losing all the steam with this kind of announcement.

I don't after today, the Lumia 900 or Titan 2 or other windows phone will be big sellers with basically EOL announcement by Microsoft.

Can you imagine if Apple said today that iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS will not get iOS6? Sales would tank immediately.

Wait, how come the 3GS didn't get the retina display?

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

WP8 is fundamentally different than previous versions. This is like the transition from OS Classic to OS X. All the same complaints are being made, but it seems to be the right decision for all the same reasons. The catch is, as a mobile device, emulating WP7.8 isn't practical as it was (kinda sorta) in OS X. This article is pretty insightful:

http://gizmodo.com/5919993/sorry-but-microsoft-screwing-you-is-the-right-thing-to-do

 

[lordofthereef]

Wait, how come the 3GS didn't get the retina display?

While the 3GS didn't get the retina display, it has gotten most of the featuers iOS had to offer all the way through iOS. We aren't talking about legacy Windows Phones not getting a higher resolution display. We are talking about them getting virtually cut from the software updates for good.

 

[DodgeV83]

So windows phones get a make over but not full win8. And iOS gets a make over but not full iOS 6. Thank god?

Of the 10 iOS features shown to us so far, only 3 aren't supported on the 3GS, and it already didn't support two of them anyway (FaceTime and Siri).

 

[PDFierro]

While the 3GS didn't get the retina display, it has gotten most of the featuers iOS had to offer all the way through iOS. We aren't talking about legacy Windows Phones not getting a higher resolution display. We are talking about them getting virtually cut from the software updates for good.

But it's pretty much the same thing. Windows Phone 8 isn't just an incremental upgrade like going to each iOS version is.

 

[lordofthereef]

But it's pretty much the same thing. Windows Phone 8 isn't just an incremental upgrade like going to each iOS version is.

How is it the same thing? Going from iOS 3.x to iOS 5.x was pretty darn big. About the same difference as going from WP7.8 to WP8, looking at the features list. And I am the kind of guy that thinks its ridiculous Apple limits anything from legacy devices in iOS upgrades, but I feel I have to give credit where credit is due, and that's not with Windows right now.

 

[mbell1975]

**waits for a Windows phone commercial spoof where some announcer guy laughs at people with a Windows 7 phone and says "you were just beta testers, you didn't think this was a real phone did you?"**

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

Wait, how come the 3GS didn't get the retina display?

While the 3GS didn't get the retina display, it has gotten most of the featuers iOS had to offer all the way through iOS. We aren't talking about legacy Windows Phones not getting a higher resolution display. We are talking about them getting virtually cut from the software updates for good.

Wait, are you guys serious?! Retina is a hardware feature, and we're talking about why current Windows phones won't get the newest software...

 

[aneftp]

WP8 is fundamentally different than previous versions. This is like the transition from OS Classic to OS X. All the same complaints are being made, but it seems to be the right decision for all the same reasons. The catch is, as a mobile device, emulating WP7.8 isn't practical as it was (kinda sorta) in OS X. This article is pretty insightful:

http://gizmodo.com/5919993/sorry-but-microsoft-screwing-you-is-the-right-thing-to-do

I read the Giz article and one of the guys commented (and I agree). First there was no upgrade path for Windows Mobile 6.5 to (windows phone 7).

Now no upgrade path from Windows 7 to Windows 8. Only skinned Windows 7.8

It's ok if the phones are at least 12 months old. We are talking about phones 2.5 months old (Titan 2 and Lumia 900) here.

And to add insult, Microsoft said they would support Windows 8 phones/tablets for 18 months onward. Who's to believe them now?

"This was almost exactly what you all said about Windows Phone 7. Now they're throwing it all out (again) and packing up (again) and moving onto a gorgeous country estate (again).

In fact, it seems that Microsoft does this quite a lot. I know it's technically the right move, but that doesn't mean it won't/shouldn't leave people with a bit of a sour taste in their mouth.

Can't wait for Windows Phone 9, where they make another fundamental shift, uprooting everything and getting out of whatever new dead-end cul-de-sac they have found themselves in this time.

Seriously, if Apple was doing this to iOS users, the tech blogs would be losing their ********* minds."

 

[lordofthereef]

Wait, are you guys serious?! Retina is a hardware feature, and we're talking about why current Windows phones won't get the newest software...

Not sure why you quoted me on this one...

 

[aneftp]

Wow, are you really that clueless? Maybe you should look at ios6 and see what features you won't be getting on certain idevices. Windows 8 is a real upgrade that actually requires upgraded hardware for it to run in all its glory. Unlike iOS6. That being said legacy devises will still get 7.8. Which is completely acceptable.

No, not clueless. Windows 7.5 phone users will miss out on many windows 8 only apps.

One only has to look at Android 4.0. Those still on gingerbread can't install Chrome for Android, which is very fast. Chrome is only for 4.0 operating system.

It's going to be the similar thing that's going to happen to Windows 7.5 users. We are talking about very newly released devices (less than 2.5 months old here).


And iPhone 4 received almost everything iPhone 4S received with iOS5 (with exception of Siri).

iPhone 4S will received almost everything iPhone (sixth gen) will receive with iOS6.

A company needs to support their devices at least 12 months with essential software upgrades. Not some neutered skinned update to make it look like the real thing.