You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 hit the mobile scene this past November, making it available to consumers for only four months, which means a lot of adopters of the mobile platform will probably not be pleased to hear the company is expected to only support it until July 2014.
Microsoft has always been standoffish when questioned how long they would provide support for its Windows Phone 8 platform, but a recently published lifecycle update confirms the company will only support the mobile platform up until 2014. If you’re a Windows Phone 8 user, expect to be able to receive support up until July 8th, then your guess would be as good as ours as to if or when you’d receive future updates from Microsoft. Windows Phone 7.8 users can expect to receive support until September 2014. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Draw Something 2 Leaked, Google Nexus 5 With Revolutionary Nikon Camera Rumored,
If you so happen to be a loyal fan of the Finnish phone company Nokia, then chances are you are most probably rocking to a Windows Phone 8 device, or you could have fallen on hard times and are stuck with an older generation Windows Phone 7.5 device. Well, it would bode you well to perform an “upgrade” then by purchasing a newer handset, be it the Nokia Lumia 920, the Nokia Lumia 820, or even the more entry level Nokia Lumia 620. Why? Well, Nokia has just announced that they will be rolling out software updates for the above mentioned trio. It will not be a major update of sorts, but like what we believe, it would always be better if your smartphone had the latest firmware running on it, as that would (normally) make it run at its most efficient. Of course, there were times in the past where “duds” appeared, and the latest update had to be pulled back, but those moments are few and far in between.
Both the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 will be on the receiving of an update to software version 1232.5957.1308.00xx, where it will include performance and stability enhancements, enhanced automatic display brightness adjustment, and better display stability during calls. The Lumia 620 that was recently launched will see its software version hit 1030.6407.1308.00xx, where it is touted to deliver system stability improvements, enhanced touch behavior, and camera picture quality fixes.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google Nexus 5 With Revolutionary Nikon Camera Rumored, Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2 To Get Android 5.0? [Rumor],
Microsoft has confirmed the dates it will end official software support for Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.8, with both smartphone platforms set to run out of mainstream support in mid-2014. In fact, both phone OS versions will get eighteen months of Microsoft love in total, the company says, with Windows Phone 7.8 ironically outlasting its more capable successor because of its delayed launch.
For Windows Phone 8, which first hit the market – and thus started its lifecycle – on December 14, 2012, Microsoft’s official support will run until August 7, 2014. As for Windows Phone 7.8, that saw its lifecycle begin on February 9, 2013, and so will be supported until September 9, 2014.
As for what “mainstream support” actually means, Microsoft defines it as a period of updates and fixes, though warns that what firmware changes actually arrive on individual phones will depend on manufacturer, carrier, and location.
“Microsoft will make updates available for the Operating System on your phone, including security updates, for a period of 18 months after the lifecycle start date” Microsoft
The decision to detail exactly what Windows Phone users can legitimately expect from Microsoft is a commendable one, though it’s still no commitment to timely updates or, indeed, any guarantee that the smartphone you buy today may get an upgrade to the next version of the platform. There’s also arguably a disconnect between the length of Microsoft’s commitment, eighteen months, and the typical twenty-four month agreement most smartphones are sold with.
Microsoft’s feelings of obligation do differ in that respect from some of the manufacturers. Speaking to Nokia’s smart devices chief Jo Harlow at Mobile World Congress last month, she told SlashGear that the Finnish firm sees its responsibility to users lasting potentially up to twice as long as Microsoft does.
“I think that probably 2-3 years [of software support], certainly within the normal life-cycle that most people would own a phone [could be expected],” Harlow told us. “And that’s kind of how we look at it: for most people it’s two years, because that’s when they renew their plan. And for as long as that phone is being sold in the market, it’s two years from there.”
[via Engadget]
Microsoft details Windows Phone 8′s ticking clock (but Nokia disagrees) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
I don’t know about you, but I would like to take this bit of reported information with more than just a pinch of salt – an entire packet might do the trick though. It seems that support will continue to pour through for Windows Phone 7.8 at least until September 2014, while it would be July 2014 for Windows Phone 8.0. Hmmm, something does not sound quite right there, can you put a finger on it?
The table above shows that Microsoft has indicated that Windows Phone 7.8 will continue to receive support until 9.9.2014, whereas folks who are rocking to Windows Phone 8 have gotten the shorter end of the proverbial stick, with support ending at 7.8.2014. The updates that Microsoft will make available for your smartphone’s operating system will comprise of security updates, and the distribution of such updates could very well be restricted by the mobile operator or the phone manufacturer. Does this mean that Windows Phone 7.9 is in for a shout? I really am unable to answer such a question, but we can more or less be sure that Windows Phone 8 has its fair share of variants in the pipeline, ready and waiting to be introduced.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Flickr Rolls Out Hashtag Support For iOS App, Pearltrees Launches its Boticelli Version with Visual Enhancements,
You don’t need to be Captain Subtext to understand that a few manufacturers (and developers) aren’t best pleased with Microsoft’s latest mobile products. The latest to damn Redmond with faint praise is Samsung’s newly-minted Co-CEO, JK Shin, who told The Wall Street Journal that demand for Windows-based phones and tablets isn’t sending the company’s accountants cross-eyed with glee. When asked about Samsung’s relationship with Microsoft after the latter deepened its ties with Nokia, Shin said:
“Smartphones and tablets based on Microsoft’s Windows operating system aren’t selling very well. There is a preference in the market for Android. In Europe, we’re also seeing lackluster demand for Windows-based products.”
Which, naturally, has done nothing to scotch those persistent rumors of the ATIV Tab being axed in Europe as well as the US. The CEO added that we can expect to see a Tizen-based phone in the third quarter of the year, although Samsung will continue to flirt with every available OS for the needs of its customers.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Samsung, Microsoft
Via: The Verge
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Still hurting from Google’s “spring cleaning” announcement yesterday? Google Reader fans may be out of luck, but Windows Phone users can take heart in knowing that Microsoft made the whitelist for the CalDAV sync interface, which is now shelved to all but developers who get Mountain View’s green light.
Early this year, Google announced it would extend support for Exchange ActiveSync on Windows Phone through July 31st, with the implication being that Redmond would build support for CalDAV in the meantime. Luckily Microsoft’s work was not for nothing, though — and this is a big though — the Windows team won’t be adding CalDAV or CarDAV support for users trying to connect a Google account via Mail, Calendar or People apps after January 30th, 2013.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft, Google
Via: ZDNet
Windows Phone 7.8 has had its fair share of issues in the past when it first rolled out, including one that saw it consume plenty of data that irked those who were on a limited data plan. Well, there were also other issues that accompanied this long awaited update, which would include the system’s live tiles acting up erratically. It did not take too long before Microsoft thought it better to stop all distribution of the update, which will hopefully buy them some time to fix some of the issues raised up.
It looks like D-Day is finally here, as there is a brand new Windows Phone 7.8 update that is ready to be propagated among users of Windows Phone 7.5-powered smartphones, where it will now come under the distribution of build 8860. No official changelog is yet available, so there is no way to verify just what this particular update will be able to do, but hopefully that the live tile issue will no longer be one. Have you given this update a go, and has it fixed your live tile woes?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Motorola X Phone Is Not A Single Device, Could Feature Customizable Hardware As Well [Rumor], Samsung Tizen Devices Expected In Q3 2013,
Earlier today we reported on a leaked screenshot that revealed that Instagram could be arriving for Windows Phone. The screenshot appeared to be legit and thanks to additional rumors and screenshots courtesy of @anontechleaks, Windows Phone users could be in for a treat. Come May, not only will you be able to download Instagram, but big titles such as the recently released Real Racing 3 and Temple Run 2! Those are some pretty heavy titles on both iOS and Android, so by releasing them on the Windows Phone platform, there are now more reasons to make the switch if you were considering such a move. @anontechleaks claims that the apps are already in the WP Store, but like yesterday’s screenshot revealed, they are not available for download, indicating that while they look ready for launch, they are waiting for permission to do so.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google Now For iPhone And iPad Pulled After Leak, Dual Bootable Android 4.2.2 Released By Intel,
According to The Verge, Verizon is going to be getting a variant of the Lumia 920 in April, and it will be a pretty nice upgrade. The upgrades include a switch to an aluminum body, a xenon and LED flash for the 8MP PureView camera, and the comes in thinner and lighter than the relatively bulky 920. More »
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
