Windows Phone 8 brings new hardware and OS features but what about the apps?

WP Central Windows Phone 8 brings new hardware and OS features but what about th

The next version of Windows Phone is just effectually the corner, with it comes some fantastic hardware and the promise of new features. Merely what about the next gen apps?

While nosotros have spent a great deal of time looking at the coming phones and peeking at the new underlying operating organization did nosotros forget that it's the apps that matter? While we know that existing apps will work fine on the new OS, what lays in store for those dedicated Windows Phone 8 apps?

The SDK controversy

Unlike previous versions of Windows Phone, the SDK is still in limited circulation, which in plough has led to wild speculation virtually the readiness of the Bone. Developers have become frustrated at non existence able to get in and first coding. Regardless of why the SDK has been and then scarce it means many devs have either been given very late admission or in some cases no access at all. Some worry that when Windows Telephone 8 launches it may not take many new or updated apps to show off the new platform.

We simply don't know what effect this will have at release time. With an existing catalogue of slap-up apps and a shiny new Os to run them, many may not mind. With the advent of native code and key gaming engines like Havok and Unity coming to Windows Phone 8 we're certainly likely to see some stunning games. Nosotros expect to come across some software announcements at launch just which ones is still a chip of a mystery.

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Ch-ch-ch Changes

Microsoft has made some key changes to Windows Phone viii to permit native code back up, better interactive speech and massively improved maps. We are very excited about what new possibilities these advances will bring, but across features, will these changes mean a fundamental shift in what apps we're likely to see? The evolution community around the platform is first-class and we have enough of high quality apps but will the changes to the cadre OS finally change how Android and iOS developers meet Windows Phone?

Apps are however regularly created in tandem for Android and iOS without much thought being given to producing a Windows Telephone version. That creates opportunity for developers to make full the gap but it doesn't change the fact that the first party version is nowhere to be seen. We have seen a gradual erosion of those apps but there remains a few loftier profile ones that won't budge. The BBC for example remains insistent that the iPlayer cannot exist brought to Windows Phone, although they were able to bring it to the Xbox 360, will they change their melody when Windows Telephone 8 arrives?

That's certainly our promise, with the platform set up to possibly overtake Blackberry this yr it will be the third eco system. With the "appification" of the Xbox and Windows 8, will this have that of import halo outcome that we and then want? I have already got to the point where I expect to see certain types of apps on all my Microsoft devices. I'yard often surprised when there is no parity, I wonder if this will be the eventual thought process others will take when developing for Microsoft products. A situation where y'all develop an app similar Zite or Flipboard for Windows viii and automatically think what a no brainer it would be to put it on all three screens with built in syncing.

WP Central Windows Phone 8 brings new hardware and OS features but what about th

With the new core capabilities of Windows Telephone combined with powerful linking of the three screens by way of the cloud nosotros could be on the verge of seeing something truly wonderful. Picking up where you left off a game across all 3 screens is compelling every bit is the possibility of reading news or listening to music and podcasts. If we are to see the true possibility of apps that are all continuous clients the Xbox 360 will form a primal part of that. It's still very early on to tell how the app story for the panel volition pan out.

Are you experienced?

And then what of these new app experiences? The lenses functionality in Windows Telephone 8 should lead to some fantastic new apps and could fifty-fifty change the fashion we recall about photo processing on the smartphone. The Lumia 920 is going to have the best camera on any smartphone but the OS volition let apps similar flickr to upload photos in the background automatically. We are going to see Windows Phone blur the lines when information technology comes to using traditional vocalization plans to make a call or simply opt to use Skype or another VoIP provider to make and receive calls. All these are great additions to an already stiff platform, will these type of features bring the remaining concur outs to the platform? Only time will tell.

Information technology is an exciting time ahead, could this be the year we see a change in perception from the public and developers about Windows Phone? I certainly believe the platform has finally shrugged off the new kid on the cake syndrome and is being taken e'er more seriously as the third key thespian in the smartphone market.

There are of course apps I'd still like to see become ported to Windows Phone merely in all honesty I'm more excited at what existing developers will bring to the platform. It'south those software makers that take brought Windows Telephone to life and will know how to make the adjacent version sing. We hope they are ready with stunning new versions of their apps.

We'd love to hear from you lot, our readers on what yous're hopes are for Windows Phone viii. What apps would y'all like to run across? With the new features of Windows Phone 8, what apps are now possible? Audio off in the comments blare, nosotros always value your feedback!