Microsoft Phones is a discontinued family of mobile operating systems developed by Microsoft for smartphones. It was designed to replace Windows Mobile and Zune, and featured a new user interface derived from Microsoft’s Metro design language. Unlike its predecessors, Windows Phone had a wide variety of features, and is still one of the most popular mobile operating systems.
Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7 is the first version of Microsoft’s mobile client operating system for mobile devices. It was released worldwide on October 21, 2010 and in the United States on November 8, 2010.
It is based on the Windows CE 6.0 kernel. Despite the name, the operating system is not a smartphone. However, it can be used on other mobile devices.
Windows Phone 7 uses a messaging system called “threads,” which allows people to easily communicate across multiple platforms.
This means that users can use Windows Live Messenger, Facebook Messenger, SMS, and more to communicate with each other. Depending on which service is in use, the system will switch to the most appropriate one for the current situation.
The latest version of the Windows Phone operating system features a modern-style interface called Metro UI. The design was praised by ZDNet and Engadget, who said that it has a unique, fresh look.
The People Hub and built-in capabilities of Windows Phone 7 have also received praise. The new operating system also won three awards at the 2011 International Design Excellence Awards, which is considered a prestigious award in design.
The new version of Windows Phone features some of the most popular apps such as Twitter and YouTube. The new version of Windows Phone also comes with a new app store and an improved user interface. Microsoft has made changes in the settings pane, which allows users to quickly manage space and manage apps.
The music hub also got a speed boost, and a new “X” for closing apps was added to the app switcher. Microsoft also added an instant hotspot feature, enabling users to create a hotspot with the Windows phone.
The Windows Phone 8 operating system features live folders, which group tiles and display live information. The new operating system also has a new app corner where users can easily access their apps without having to scroll back and forth through their home screens.
The new OS also allows users to customize the number of apps that are open on their home screens. There are also changes to the Cortana voice assistant and a new support for more VPN configurations. Several bug fixes have also been rolled out.
Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 8 is the second generation of Microsoft’s mobile operating system. It was released on October 29, 2012, and features a Metro design language and flat user interface. It was later followed by Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft is constantly updating its mobile operating systems to keep them relevant and up-to-date.
The latest update added features such as live folders, which group tiles and animate live information. This helps make better use of screen real estate on phablet devices. Another notable addition is the app corner, which lets you set up any number of apps and disable buttons. Microsoft has also made improvements to the action center, which now features up to 12 toggles per row.
The new operating system is aimed at challenging Apple iOS. Compared to the existing versions, WP8 has more innovative features, including the ability to connect to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networks. Mobile operators are expected to be the primary buyers of these phones. However, Huawei and ZTE have said they will not engage with Microsoft until the operating system is ready.
Windows Phone 8 for Microsoft phones will support near-field communications (NFC). NFC is a popular technology for mobile payments and will enable secure payment methods. Windows Phone 8 for Microsoft phones will also support a new feature called Wallet Hub. This feature will allow users to keep sensitive information on their phones. It’s similar to Apple’s Passbook feature.
Another new feature in Windows Phone 8 is Cortana. Cortana is a virtual personal assistant. It can remember your calendar appointments, remind you to leave work, and more. It can also be set to remind you to do something by name, place, or time. While Cortana is only available on the US market at launch, Microsoft promises to roll it out to other regions gradually.
Internet Explorer 10 is the default browser for Windows Phone 8. It carries over many features of the desktop version. The navigation interface was redesigned to be simpler and more intuitive. It now features a customizable button and address bar. You can change the button from the ‘Home’ button to the ‘Back’ button if you wish. The browser also supports swipe navigation.
Windows Phone 8.1
Windows Phone 8.1 is the third version of Microsoft’s Windows Phone mobile operating system. It followed on from Windows Phone 8 and was designed to be more secure and reliable. It is compatible with most popular mobile phones, including the latest iPhones. This version of the popular mobile operating system is designed to be easy to use and offers a variety of new features.
Users can now personalize their phone with the help of new features. For example, wallpaper can now move behind transparent tiles, making them easier to see.
Although the application list has become less visually engaging, Microsoft will soon release a new app to let users choose their lock screen. In addition, there are many new features for Microsoft phones that are aimed at improving user experience and functionality.
Another feature of Windows Phone 8.1 is the ability to save apps to a SD card. This is useful for users who don’t have much storage on their phone. It means they can keep their apps on their phone and not lose them if they upgrade to a newer version. It also gives users a much more convenient way to manage their phone’s storage.
Another feature of Windows Phone 8.1 that users will love is Cortana. This virtual assistant is a useful tool for keeping track of important events. Among other features, Cortana can remind you to leave the office or get to work.
With the help of a list of tasks, Cortana can even set up reminders by time and place. Although Cortana was available in the US at launch, Microsoft has promised to bring the feature to more countries slowly.
While Microsoft has made the move to buy Nokia, it could have saved itself a lot of trouble if it had decided to focus on one Windows Phone strategy for all its phones.
Nokia is still the leader in the smartphone market, and the company could have used its experience to buy the company earlier and set a single strategy for Windows Phone.
While the design of Windows Phone 8.1 is one of its strongest points, it is not without its flaws. The design was too much like an Apple product, which upset the hardware partners.
Consequently, Microsoft had to compromise in major ways. As a result, Windows Phone was not as smooth as the company had initially wanted.
Windows Phone 8.1 Update2
The latest Windows Phone operating system is here, and you can download it for free from the Windows Phone website. This latest update comes with a few changes.
The main difference from the previous version is the new interface. The new design also brings back the familiar Start menu. You can easily navigate from one window to another, and you’ll find it easier to use the software.
The new update also offers many new features. The Settings pane now includes rotation lock, and the storage manager has been redesigned to manage space and delete temporary files.
The music hub has also received a speed boost. The new version also adds support for the Personal Area Network 1.0 standard and Bluetooth 4.0 LE.
Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 will ship on the Lumia 640 XL. It will also be available on the Lumia 735 and Lumia 830. While the update is not official, it is expected to ship on these two devices in the coming days.
The new version of the Windows Phone operating system will be released in July 2019. It will include some fixes, and some new features.
The update is free for phones and tablets under nine inches. However, users are required to have a PC with an Internet connection that is not metered. Additionally, it is important to note that this version will have bugs.
The update will also introduce new sense apps, which are automatically installed on all Windows Phone devices. Data sense and WiFi Sense will automatically enable users to manage their data and WiFi connections more efficiently.
Storage Sense will handle the storage on SD cards better. Users can also opt to store all their media files on SD cards. The new battery saver will manage background tasks and run applications in the background.
Cortana, the new voice assistant, will be one of the biggest features in Windows Phone 8.1. Built on Bing and Microsoft’s Satori backend, Cortana was designed to be the phone’s personal assistant, handling tasks like reminders, calendar appointments, and quiet hours.
It is available in the search button and integrates with apps. For example, when Cortana hears a song on the music player, the new voice assistant can activate an auto-generated playlist in the Nokia Mixradio app.
