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

[Rodimus Prime]

Could they? My understanding was the OS didn't support dual core. Same goes for higher resolutions (no support). I could be wrong about the prior, but certainly not the latter.

Not saying what they did was ok, by any means (I am happy I returned my Lumia based solely on screen resolution gripes at the time), but I am also not sure dual core was an option at the time.

Microsoft boxed themselves in and got screwed for it. They limited resolutions to set standard to avoid things getting fragmented. They limited hardware for the same reason. That screwed then because look at phone resolutions now. The MS standard is well low now compared to everyone else and they screwed up.

Assuming Apple changes their size of screen it would be for the same reason that Apple saw they were getting boxed into a corner and eat the pain to change sizes.

This better be MS last time to just drop support because it sucks. At least with windows 6.5 we all knew very far in advance that those devices were not going to be supported. The same could not be said about WP7 devices.

 

[lordofthereef]

Microsoft boxed themselves in and got screwed for it. They limited resolutions to set standard to avoid things getting fragmented. They limited hardware for the same reason. That screwed then because look at phone resolutions now. The MS standard is well low now compared to everyone else and they screwed up.

Assuming Apple changes their size of screen it would be for the same reason that Apple saw they were getting boxed into a corner and eat the pain to change sizes.

This better be MS last time to just drop support because it sucks. At least with windows 6.5 we all knew very far in advance that those devices were not going to be supported. The same could not be said about WP7 devices.

I don't disagree, but I am also not sure my question was answered. Does windows phone currently support multi-core processors?

 

[scott craft]

I don't disagree, but I am also not sure my question was answered. Does windows phone currently support multi-core processors?

I don't believe WP currently supports multi-core. At least I haven't seen it on any of the WP sites I frequent. I know for sure the necessity of dual-core processors has been a hotly debated issue on the WP forums.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I don't disagree, but I am also not sure my question was answered. Does windows phone currently support multi-core processors?

I do not believe it can use take advantage of multiple cores. Everything would just run on 1 core.

Androild 2.3 and down is not optimize to use multi cores. Honeycomb and up are optimize to do it.

 

[lordofthereef]

I do not believe it can use take advantage of multiple cores. Everything would just run on 1 core.

Androild 2.3 and down is not optimize to use multi cores. Honeycomb and up are optimize to do it.

So I suppose that, in theory, Nokia could have loaded a dual core chip in there in anticipation of things to come then. Historically, has this ever happened (say with Android)?

 

[aneftp]

So I suppose that, in theory, Nokia could have loaded a dual core chip in there in anticipation of things to come then. Historically, has this ever happened (say with Android)?

The AT&T HTC Vivid shipped with 2.3 duo core. When it got optimized with 4.0 ice cream sandwich. All the test showed how much faster it ran with 4.0 over 2.3 gingerbread.

This is Microsoft fault cause they locked down the system requirements so much (single core and only qualcomm processors). Duo core chips are much cheaper now. Nokia or htc or Samsung could have easily put duo core into windows 7 phone for "future proofing" even if windows 7 could not take advantage of duo core ( similar to 2.2/2.3 android not fully taking advantage of duo core and only 4.0 uses fully).

 

[saberahul]

Microsoft – Micro level technology in the software industry... (I see a lot of negative ratings coming...)

 

[lordofthereef]

The AT&T HTC Vivid shipped with 2.3 duo core. When it got optimized with 4.0 ice cream sandwich. All the test showed how much faster it ran with 4.0 over 2.3 gingerbread.

This is Microsoft fault cause they locked down the system requirements so much (single core and only qualcomm processors).

Interesting, thanks for the info. For the record, I wasn't arguing who's fault it is (or isn't). Just wanted to have some things cleared up. So it seems like those buying flagship WP8 devices when WP8 launches are safe, but those wanting to wait might get burned with WP9 (or whatever comes next).

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Microsoft – Micro level technology in the software industry... (I see a lot of negative ratings coming...)

I don't even think I understand what you are saying here.

 

[boss.king]

Am I the only one that's actually aware that they aren't dropping support? They're still offering an update. In fact this is pretty much just what Apple does, older devices get a watered down version with only the features the phone can support. I bought a Titan this year, and sure I would have liked it to get Windows Phone 8, but I don't see how I've missed out anything or been dumped by MSFT, they are still updating my phone with new features, and my phone still does everything I bought it to do.

If this is abandonment, then Apple is just as guilty.

 

[aneftp]

Am I the only one that's actually aware that they aren't dropping support? They're still offering an update. In fact this is pretty much just what Apple does, older devices get a watered down version with only the features the phone can support. I bought a Titan this year, and sure I would have liked it to get Windows Phone 8, but I don't see how I've missed out anything or been dumped by MSFT, they are still updating my phone with new features, and my phone still does everything I bought it to do.

If this is abandonment, then Apple is just as guilty.

Yes. You are missing the big picture here. Many iOS apps require iOS5. That's leaves iPhone 3G uses out since they are stuck at 4.2.1. No biggie since that phone is 4 years old.

Now. You have phones less than 2 months old like the Lumia 900, Titan 2, Focus 2 on windows 7.5.

When windows 8 launched. Developers will make windows 8 only apps. While those apps should be backwards compatible with windows 7.8. There is no guarantee developers will do that. And often times its not a hardware limitation either.

Many kiddie apps on iOS should run on ios4 for the 3G. But developers don't want to support legacy devices do require ios 5. Seriously these math apps, wheels on the bus can run on any basic phone without horsepower.

Same thing with Android. Why can't Chrome
For Android run on 2.3? It's only available on Android 4.0.

The same thing will happen to windows 8 devices vs legacy windows 7.8 devices. And these windows phones are practically newly released and they are already legacy devices in less than 5 months when windows 8 is released. N

 

[scott craft]

We don't really know that whenever WP8 phones are released that from that point on there will be no more apps made for WP7. It will be quite some time before there are more WP8 devices out than WP7. I understand lots of people are upset, but right now we don't know exactly how bad this is going to be.

Sent from my {HTC Trophy} using Board Express

 

[macingman]

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.

Any proof that it required "upgraded hardware"?

 

[kimlo]

Yes. You are missing the big picture here. Many iOS apps require iOS5. That's leaves iPhone 3G uses out since they are stuck at 4.2.1. No biggie since that phone is 4 years old.

Now. You have phones less than 2 months old like the Lumia 900, Titan 2, Focus 2 on windows 7.5.

When windows 8 launched. Developers will make windows 8 only apps. While those apps should be backwards compatible with windows 7.8. There is no guarantee developers will do that. And often times its not a hardware limitation either.

Many kiddie apps on iOS should run on ios4 for the 3G. But developers don't want to support legacy devices do require ios 5. Seriously these math apps, wheels on the bus can run on any basic phone without horsepower.

Same thing with Android. Why can't Chrome
For Android run on 2.3? It's only available on Android 4.0.

The same thing will happen to windows 8 devices vs legacy windows 7.8 devices. And these windows phones are practically newly released and they are already legacy devices in less than 5 months when windows 8 is released. N

The 3G is not a fair comparison because it's a really poor phone compared to the new hardware, it ran slow as a pig from day 1 hence the 3GS "for speed" so coding for the 3G is a real pain because it's so outdated.

Any developer worth his salt will be coding for Windows 7.8 at least for the first year post Win 8 release because the majority of the market will be there and there's no compelling reason to go Win 8 only beyond hardware limitations which Microsoft cannot override with software.

For at least the first 6 months there is going to be no visual or real world difference between Win 7.8 or Win 8 and after that it will be a very slow moving before it gets to a point where 7.8 have any real world difference between Win 8 phones besides hardware obviously.

 

[jeffe]

To be fair, there are very few ICS only apps..most of them being from google themselves. Android also has a one year release time lag really. New updates get released to developer devices and you then have about a year before it trickles down.

Most users are clueless about updates anyways. I anticipate this not being an issue for the majority of users.

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.

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Read the article...They used the example of NFC...most can't use that at the moment unless it had came with your phone.

Any proof that it required "upgraded hardware"?

 

[Technarchy]

In terms of conveying information at a glance, Windows Phone 8 tiles based start screen is the best in the business.

I just watched the whole keynote and I am really impressed. Microsofts rollout plan blows because it screws people that took a chance and became early adopters. The end product however looks great.

I am really impressed all around. I was planning on giving my wife my 4S when I upgrade. That plan might have just changed.

 

[Tarzanman]

With all the extra storage memory available, I personally don't see much reason to worry about "carrier bloat" these days.

Those apps are no different than many of the other preinstalled apps which a person might never (or rarely) want to run.

Just leave them off the homescreen

A lot of those carrier apps start themselves up and stay resident. Not having them installed in the first place would be ideal, but the only acceptable alternative is the ability to completely remove them from the phone... not just their icons.

They don't just take up space, they take up memory (which also wastes power). Then there are the ones that spy on you...

 

[cynics]

Even though we are talking about how crappy MS is for dropping support I'm getting more and more interested in a WP8. I know some people here feel the same and I notice the same on Android forums.

Oh and devs are going to still code for 7. Their profit is based off the people that by their apps. So if 8 can run 7 apps it would be dumb to code for 8 unless it's an absolute requirement.

 

[ChrisTX]

I don't disagree, but I am also not sure my question was answered. Does windows phone currently support multi-core processors?

No it does not. It supports low resolutions on large screens, and single core processors. Why would they push everyone onto the Lumia 900, and then 2 months later tell everyone it's a dead end device. That's shady on Microsofts part. At least Apple supports their newest handset with one full upgrade the following year. If this is the fate of Windows Phone, not sure how many people are going to want to gamble here.

 

[Wicked1]

Sounds like they followed Android, good thing Apple does not do this.

If AT&T would allow me an upgrade every 12 months, it would not be a big deal, but most Carriers went to 24 months between upgrades, however I could live with my iPhone 4S with iOS 5.1.1 until my next upgrade, but a big Fail for Microsoft.

Will be interested to see where Apple, Android, Microsoft, and RIM are in a year's time, I am assuming it will only be Apple and Android that are still around, not sure Microsoft can wow people over to WIN Mobile 8, and RIM is breathing it's last breathe of air as the CEO prepares to sell the company in pieces.

 

[ChazUK]

A lot of those carrier apps start themselves up and stay resident. Not having them installed in the first place would be ideal, but the only acceptable alternative is the ability to completely remove them from the phone... not just their icons.

Or to simply disable them all together.

 

[kokhean]

Your friends and family seem to be in the minority these days.
This one source indicates that most iOS users are pretty good about updating their system. In two weeks, 3/4 of iOS 5 users he was seeing updated from 5.0.1 to 5.1.0. Despite the frenzy with each iPhone release, it sounds like many iOS users are actually pretty update-savvy. (It helps that Apple makes it easy to update, too.)



Image

http://qph.cf.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-ddac8d000b5e3e4657272a0526970de8
http://www.quora.com/iOS/Where-can-I-find-an-current-statistics-for-iOS-version-usage

I've seen someone using 3.x.x on an iPhone 3GS, and they don't seem to be missing anything (other than iMessage) and those who updated to iOS 5 don't even use the new features like Notification Center, Reminders, Game Center, Siri, Personal Hotspot, iCloud and many more.

It seems that they are people who just want a working phone, so they couldn't care less about software updates. And that is the general public in terms of older people.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

So I suppose that, in theory, Nokia could have loaded a dual core chip in there in anticipation of things to come then. Historically, has this ever happened (say with Android)?

Nope Microsoft would not of allowed it.

When windows 8 launched. Developers will make windows 8 only apps. While those apps should be backwards compatible with windows 7.8. There is no guarantee developers will do that. And often times its not a hardware limitation either.

Just going to point out first rule of delevoping is you make sure you go after the largest target group in the OS. So in this case 7.8 would be the limiting factor for a while. Also do not go to higher level API unless you need them. If your App would not gain anything by going to Windows 8 then do not.

There is a reason a lot of Android Apps are based at 2.2. There just not much gain going to the Gingerbread or higher. If there is nothing gained by going higher you don't

Same thing with Android. Why can't Chrome
For Android run on 2.3? It's only available on Android 4.0.

That is because Chrome requires some API that are only in ICS.

Sounds like they followed Android, good thing Apple does not do this.

If AT&T would allow me an upgrade every 12 months, it would not be a big deal, but most Carriers went to 24 months between upgrades, however I could live with my iPhone 4S with iOS 5.1.1 until my next upgrade, but a big Fail for Microsoft.

Will be interested to see where Apple, Android, Microsoft, and RIM are in a year's time, I am assuming it will only be Apple and Android that are still around, not sure Microsoft can wow people over to WIN Mobile 8, and RIM is breathing it's last breathe of air as the CEO prepares to sell the company in pieces.

It more of an inbetween. Microsoft is still by passing the carriers and manufactures for OS updates. Now the carriers and Manufactures do control OTA updates but can not stop someone plugging into a computer and getting it directly from MS.

 

[lordofthereef]

Nope Microsoft would not of allowed it.

I was asking more of whether it was technically possible, not contractually possible.

 

[farmermac]

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

Wouldn't it be more like if apple said only the iPhone 5 is getting the new os?

All current phones instantly EOL

I'm sure apple is laughing right now

On top of it all confuse everyone by skinning them to look the same but not have function

Wonder who is in charge at ms.

 

[Dr McKay]

Wouldn't it be more like if apple said only the iPhone 5 is getting the new os?

All current phones instantly EOL

I'm sure apple is laughing right now

On top of it all confuse everyone by skinning them to look the same but not have function

Wonder who is in charge at ms.

It would be like announcing an iPhone 5 running iOS 6, with NFC, Quad-core, Higher resolution. But they are changing iOS completely, changing the Kernel. Earlier iPhones will get the software features of the new iOS in the form of iOS 5.9

The iPhone 5 would run any app that was created for earlier phones, but any app specifically created just for iOS 6 and iPhone 5 would not work on 4S and earlier.


Microsoft is making big changes to Windows Phone, they are changing the Kernel from the current CE based one to one what is shared with Windows 8, as a result Windows 8 Metro apps will require minimal effort to port to Windows Phone 8. Most of the features current devices won't get are mostly hardware related, Multi-Core, higher resolution, NFC etc. However they'll get most of the Software features in Windows Phone 7.8