Microsoft is set to fire up its updating engine for Windows Phone in Q1 next year, according to a tweet published by renowned Twitter account @Football4PDA. The account was the named source for the leaked images of the HTC Accord (HTC 8X), as well as a number of other headlines that have been published along the way to Windows Phone 8.
The tweet in question claims Microsoft will release an update for its recently launched mobile platform at the beginning of next year, and will be titled Apollo+. While there's little to back up said claims, it's likely to turn out to be true. We're not entirely certain what could be included in such an update to Windows Phone 8, but it would make for a welcomed gift post-holiday season for those who have recently invested in a new Windows Phone.
Notifications Centre could well be on the list of included features and functionality, as well as separate volume controls, not to mention the number of bug fixes and improvements that will surely be applied to further smooth out the user experience. Be sure to head on over to our forums to view what the community wants to see added to Windows Phone.
MS is going to roll out update for WP8 which is called Apollo+ in Q1 2013...
— Football (@Football4PDA) November 26, 2012
Microsoft pushed out the NoDo update for Windows Phone 7 in Q1 2011 - though many had issues with carriers delaying the rollout. We wouldn't be surprised if the company had a windows Phone 8 update planned for the new year. What's more is that all updates pushed out by Microsoft should be sent out OTA (Over-The-Air) to consumers- no need to plug the device into a computer.
Update: According to The Verge, Microsoft has a number of improvements on the horizon for Windows Phone. The Apollo+ update could include VPN support to enable connectivity with systems, which has been missing since the Windows Mobile days. A WiFi connection patch is also in the pipeline to allow connections to remain active (something which Joe Belfiore mentioned recently), as well as some audio enhancements.
What would you like to see in the first update rolled out?
Source: @Football4PDA (Twitter)
Reader comments
Rumor: Microsoft set to roll out Windows Phone 8 update 'Apollo+' in Q1 2013 [Update]
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Screw the orientation lock, you NEED to address the independent volume control. There's been so many times I've missed a call or my alarm clock because I turned it down listening to music or turned it down to play something. This issue needs to be addressed yesterday. Had a windows 7 device for two years, dealt with it. Got the new HTC 8x and figured you guys would have this down by now. Apparently not. This is the most BASIC of controls. I remember my old LG flip phone having a control for music separate from the ringer and the alarm. At least get an app we can download to fix this... Other than that, i love my windows phone and wouldn't trade it for an android or iphail in a million years.
1) Option to use glowing Windows button as indicator of missed notification
2) Orientation lock
3) Option for better SMS privacy (ie able to block toasts or get less intrusive notification)
4) Numerical battery icon
5) Notification center, swipe left from home to access. Also could swipe down the lock screen instead of swipe up to jump right to it.
App CLOSING
1. email attachments (docs, multiple, from within email. 2. HTML in email without manual download. 3. Standby time of Never, not just 10 minutes max. 4. Longer notifications. 5. More robust calendar. 6. Voice navigation. 7. File management. All of the other recommendations too.
We deffinatly need seperate volume controlls for ring volume and media players. This mono volume does my head in.
File browser. Multimedia app that filters by folder hierarchy. Consistent sync to whatever account (1s interval).
Definately Bluetooth Low Energy API's for GATT so we can use all the nice Accessories being produced right now.
Weeknumbers in the Calendar (a MUST in Europe, somehow Americans don't get it).
Notification "center" (slide left like on N9)
APT-X hifi audio through Bluetooth!
I hope Microsoft keeps striking while the iron is hot. This is the time for action! There are a lot of new users with influence. There are a lot of onlookers, ready to join. Microsoft needs to respond ASAP to user requests. There needs to be improvements to battery life and stability. I trust MS is working with 3rd parties to bring modern apps to WP8. There is a lot to be impressed with. I think WP8 could be the tipping point, if Microsoft keeps the pressure on.
1. Better sync options including Wi-Fi syncing. Really now, my Nokia Lumia 920 requires a usb cable to sync to my Windows 8 computers - it's so 2008. Very lame.
2. Orientation lock.
3. Kids Corner should have the option not to require a passcode. It currently defeats the purpose with having to put in the master passcode. Yes, I take full responsibility for anything that could happen. No problem though, because I only put stuff on Kid's Corner that I want them to have access to. If you're silly enough to put your Facebook and Twitter connections up there, then having to enter a passcode isn't going to save you from your own bad judgement.
4. Connectivity to Windows Media Center and even other media centers over Wi-Fi. One would assume connection to Windows Media Center would be there right off the start.
5. Be able to populate contact info from an email signature and copied text. PLEASE!
This is MY list after having the phone for over a week now:
Messaging
Copy text from received messages.
Xbox Music+Video
Playlists creation, editing, sync
Can't clear "current playing" (currently only able to by power cycling the phone)
Lots of duplicates in music after awhile.
Be able to add Podcasts from other sources.
Search local files.
A desktop application for Windows 7 (access/pay/steam Music, and Videos from the store)
that will synchronize existing music/videos to phone.
DLNA - Client and server
SD card
add "store documents", "email attachments", and "PodcastSeries" to store on SD card.
Speech
More speech recognition in more areas of the phone (all text boxes).
Sounds
Custom sounds for "New text or IM", "New voicemail", "New email"
Custom sounds per contact (add IM, email)
Phone
Call length in Phone history
Quick switching of WiFi and Airplane mode on or off.
Search
Includes local files, calendar
You can copy another persons text messages by holding down on the message for 2-3 seconds and you can clear current playing through an app called "stop the music"
Better podcast support and a real replacement for Zune software.
First and foremost they should be fixing things like the massive battery drainage that happens sometimes and the reboots that some users experience.
Turn by turn on my 8x please.
Besides all suggestions given by everyone, what Microsoft needs to add is the proper coding and encryption for CDMA 2000 networks for the US and Japan.
How about full enterprise e-mail support on par with iOS and Android? Many of us are still problems, and without it, WP8 is just a fancy toy.
I like everyone's comments that are pertaining to the phone getting better.....Also I will like for Microsoft TellMe to be competitive to Siri, just like that commercial posted years ago....Make it superior to Siri please!
XBOX VIDEO SUPPORT PLEASE!
I'd like to see seperate volume controls & notification center also.
I'd also like to see a few fixes with the UI. I'd like to see more tile size options, for instance small unit tall but multiple units wide. I'd also like them to get rid of the wasted black space at the top of my screen. The tiles should move up closer to the clock, rather than having so much empty space.
I also agree that the calendar needs to be fixed. My live tile shows the next day, not the current.
Lastly, whatever security issues need to be taken care of so that my bank IT department will allow use of windows phones needs to happen.
I'll have a notification center please.
I would just like to be able to purchase a windows 8 phone.
the native news and sports apps they have on windows 8, from what my friend tells me they're pretty nifty apps. and of course a notificaiton center
Eprint support at OS level like iPhone. Really miss this feature in WP OS. Should not be an app, would create a non standard method of printing across other apps. PDF, web, photo, reader printing support a must.
I already mentioned this in a thread nobody answered yesterday, but this is what I want:
1. A setting for having the phone permanently on; no auto-lock after 5 minutes.
2. A simple mechanism for deleting a sound track currently playing.
Ive only found the app 'Stop the music!' for this, but it works.
I wouldn't expect any major feature changes or additions: I suspect they will add a few missing bits and pieces like VPN, persistent Wi-Fi option, and perhaps better DataSense - but the focus will be on stability and bug-fixes.
All I want is some text tones.
This is what Im looking forward to:
1. Segregated Volume controls for Keypad & Music & Phone. Add Silent Profile Shortcut in keypad like Samsung.
2. Import/Export to SIM
3. Full Color Palette for themes & NOT FIXED colors. Allow Multple Color Tiles on the homescreen, rather than 1 fixed color for all homescreen tiles.
4. End Task button for suspended apps
5. Adjustable display brightness and volume control
6. Call Recording, in-built
7. Custom ringtone for reminders/Calenders/To-do
8. Option to Permanently show or hide phone icons, such as Battery/Network etc..
9. Full backup like iphone or selectiv ebackup like BB
10. allow selection of mp3 as ringtones without having to shortening it to less than 1min
Notifications system and separate control.... And, very much required, orientation lock, search button in zune,
I would love that too, but something gives me the feeling that Apple may have copyrighted those functions... I hope I'm wrong.
Swipe to the left to have Notification Center, problem solved
From the start screen of course
Notification Center definitely!
Ability to finally tag people through the people hub in your Facebook statuses!!! Pretty much make the twitter and Facebook apps unnecessary so you only have to use the People Hub!
yea i think they should allow you to tag people to your status updates done via yhe people hub, as well as to check ins done throughtpeoples hub. i've always wished i could do that on my phone.
You already can...
How haha?!
To have a scrolling feature when listening to music, and watching youtube, hate fast forwarding by pressing arrows long enough.
AWESOME idea! I hate the arrows too... always seems hard to get it to work.
wow. 200 first world comments.
Wow. 200 first world comments and yet only one first world douchebag.
Why do you even read this site?
What point about smartphone functionality would you NOT classify as a "firstworldproblem"? Should everyone just shut up and never make a suggestion?
So stupid.
Well alot of these are very minor complaints or just user error
Print
1. Ability to assign static IP
2. Persistent WIFI
3. Customizable SMS/MMS notification tone
4. A way to shut down backgrounded apps like Win8, flick or drag down to quit app. When required have a simple dialog of "save app state, yes or no?"
5. Device wide contextual search
6. Toast notification hub
WiFi keep alive sounds awesome. My old focus was very quick to reestablish WiFi lock - the same amount of time it took to get past the lock screen. All WP phones I've used since then (some 7.5, some 8) take a while longer. My iPhone just gets it almost as soon as the screen turns on (and I've never had an app starve for data right after unlocking the iPhone, either).
Sure, its just a case of waiting for a few seconds, but why should I? Even my dilapidated Atrix is quick to grab a connection.
Keep unread emails count on the email tiles!
It's already there- stupid comment
He means don't clear the number just because you opened the email app... have the number be a reflection of the emails that are actually marked as unread.
I disagree with him completely and like the way it functions now, but that's what he meant.
Oh I see.... I get it now, you're a troll.. Welcome troll. :wave:
The calendar sucks, please improve it Microsoft
I want a nice week view of my schedule
Microsoft is not going to read this comment so it's quite stupid to put their name in it, plus agenda and month view works well anyway.
Actually it is well known that members of the Windows Phone development team peruse the more well known Windows Phone news sites and they do indeed read comments and listen to feedback. ;)
Just give us Instagram.. I have so many friends that love my phone (920) but won't switch over just because of the lack of Instagram.
Not Microsoft's fault, but we do need instagram
For the love of God Microsoft, give us custom text message/email sounds/voicemail/calendar sounds!!! Thank you.
no kidding we have been begging for this since 7.0.0.0.0000000000
I would like to see a patch for the Bluetooth switching. My Lumia 920 has issues.
That's great, Microsoft must prove their support after that 7.8 fail, also important is to show that they're able to release their stuff on time. WP 8.1 update with a juicy 8.2 or 8.5 in June/July and in 2014 WP 9.0.
7.8 fail? Yea right, this comment is fail tho however
It would be nice to be able to set some "open with" preferences. Like YouTube links open with SuperTube. When I first got my 920 I downloaded SuperTube, then later on a certain YouTube link said I needed the YouTube app. Lame! Now I have the lame YouTube app and LazyTube. Sort of redundant.
Flash and or whitelist support as IE 10 in Windows 8.
Rotation lock.
Fix battery drain issue.
Custom text alert noises.
Search button such be app specific and should pull up Bing only from start screen.
Back button should not be able to take you out of an app. I go into an app, do my business, and should be able to press back to get back to first thing that app opened to. Start button should be only way to leave app. Annoying in IE if I'm using it, leave it to do other things, come back to it, and if I want to go back to a previous page, it just exits me out of the app.
WiFi persistence.
More tile colors.
Option in email to always show images if its not in my junk/spam folder.
The back button MOSTLY works as you describe... taking you back to the previous screen. Only IE doesn't seem to comply with this policy in a meaningful way. I'd prefer they fix IE than change the behavior of the button.
I'm amazed at all the request pointing to Message Center..
My wants:
1. Ability to search SMS/Text messages
2. Ability to enable / disable history (SMS/Phone calls etc)
3. On/Off feature for the top notification which auto-hides the signal strength indicator, battery, time and wifi
4. WIFI keep alive
6. Improving Live tiles notification. Example if you have unread or missed nofication, live tiles should change color or get dimmed or do something else to get your attention.
7. Dual-live tiles. Meaning I can configure a live tile for 2 apps, live tiles will be flipping constantly. For example, one tile is CNN and the other is twitter. This allows me to put more apps in Windows Phone start screen withouth swyping horizontally because the tile can have two apps representing itselft. Let's not be iOS or Android. If they can pull this off then I'm completely sold.
8. A better synching app or better yet give us access to areas of the phone like photos, music, office docs where we can simply plug the phone and do drap and drop and treat it like a normal usb storage device
9. Printing function
10. Improved multi-tasking.
there it is. Goodluck to us. I hope someone in MS is reading this thread.
Number 8 is possible, plug in to PC or mac, shows up as external storage. Drag and drop.
Forward button in browser
Fix the rebooting bug - number 1! Then gapless playback
My wishlist:
Notification Centre
Separate Volume Controls
Orientation Lock
WiFi Remaining Active Option
A way to confirm what is actually running.
Quick way to close apps of you hold the arrow to multitask you should be able to close from there in one step
Improve browser capabilities. If I can view a page on my PC, I should be able to view the exact same content on my phone. No omissions.
Switch to desktop mode. That option has been there even since WM6.1
Thanks for the advise. However, I do have it in desktop mode. What I mean by viewing all content, I mean absolutely everything on a web page. Try www.behr.com or www.houlihans.comfor example. They don't display properly. There are tons of examples out there. It can and should be done.
Not sure why rotation lock is such a big deal... But a feature is a feature, and ill take it. I DEFINITELY need a notification system. I hate hearing my phone go off, and by the time I get to it, I don't know what beeped at me. Its sad really. I do want folder tiles, like how games separates out the games from the rest, I want to pin a folder(tile) to start, then associate a custom list of apps, available by either long press on the app itself and adding it like you would a song to a playlist, or by launching live tile(folder) and adding additional apps, that way I can have all my finance apps in one place, and my news apps in another and so on...
Start screen landscape mode. As well as app screen and just about every other stock app. Annoying when mounted in a car to read stuff sideways.
Ability to change font size for title/menu bars (people should not take up 1.25 inches of real estate)
Swipe delete email or messages ala webOs (hate the check box thing everytime I try to read an email the box comes up
NUMBER ROW ON MAIN KEYBOARD
Yes
Xbox video integration for the love of god!
Need to wait another 4 months from the random reboot fixes? I'd say it's rather slow.
Umm, "up to" 4 months. :) Q1 is Jan 1 - Mar 31. But your point is noted, and I agree. I really feel that a "fix" pack should be much higher on the priority list.
Notification center...folders...Xbox Video support.
Anything else is gravy...or can easily be solved via third party apps
Too many things still missings to WP8... and Microsoft continue to not listen us...but WP8 is faraway to be complete...
Very important
Lower Priority
Some of these are basically functions for a mature mobile OS.
I will not buy a WP8 until Microsoft will not make some step in the right way...
#firstworldproblem
+1
Backup for apps is already possible via SkyDrive API's. Many apps actually take advantage of it... most do not. That is solely at their discretion, as it should be.
Remote Desktop has NEVER been a pre-installed app on any mobile platform, and I'm OK with that. Also, ConnectMe is a fantastic 3rd party app... and it's a shining example of using SkyDrive API's.
Multiselection already exists for messages in WP8.
Otherwise, I'd say pretty consistent preferences based on other posts.
Multiselection on messages it's only for the entire conversation = useless. We need a selection of single messages to delete them quickly.
Microsoft should make a serious backup. We can't wait for every developer. At each change phone we'd lose all save data in this way. Apple can backup apps data and System files toghether or divided: so you can restore the entire system or, after a hard reset, restore only app and data. Why Microsoft can't do this?
Micorosft should also realise a proprietary Remote Desktop app...
I live by my calendar and to-do list, so the following would be huge for me:
1. Separate live tile for to-dos/tasks
2. Ability to change the account associated with a calendar event or task AFTER it is created (move from one calendar to another)
3. Be able to change the interval for minutes when picking start times; scroll in 5 minute intervals instead of 1 minute
4. Set date limits on recurring appointments (ends by)
I would like more sound notification settings. For example I would like to have my wife have one sound for txt, one for email, one for calls. And also have another email address from my work play a different customized sound when an email is received
They need to fix the DRM issues with Xbox Music....I'm really over it already.
I'd like to play .wav files again like I could before on 7 and 7.5
XBox Video Intergration from Windows 8. It is simply rediculous that it doesn't already. Please. Thank you.
Separate code for Kids corner will let u maintain phone security without feeling weird about holding phone screen away from kids... It just doesn't feel right to do this with my 8 year old whom I wish to instill family trust.
Google talk integration into messengin hub is my first on the list. Screen orientation lock next. FInally, allow keyboard apps such as swype. A fantasy feature would be live moving background instead of just black or white. Hm...now it looks a little bit like android!
Well, technically speaking, the new WP8 API's already allow keyboard "customization" options, so while I've not heard it discussed, SWYPE is at least a technical possibility. Google Talk integration is also already possible now, thanks to SIP application API's.
As for backgrounds. No. Hell no. Hell **** no. That crap kills battery life, wastes processor resources, and all around sucks.
Notification center
Custom text tones
Contact specific ringtones
Orientation lock
Kids corner without pin.
Live tile sto toggle common settings (BT, WiFI, NFC, GPC, LTE, Airplane mode.
Full silence.
Weekly/4-day calendar view
Do not disturb / answer by text.
Well I can help you out with one of them... you can already use contact specific ringtones. :)
And you can have full silence, but you have to choose it between volume/silence or volume/vibrate, not all three. Settings, Alerts, and toggle Vibrate off. Then your volume toggle is noise or silent.
Had ringtones for contacts since 7.5 at least... I use quite a few already for friends and family on my L900.
I agree notification centre and VPN support would be great, but what I want most is my storage back! It seems a phantom folder titled 'other' is taking up half of the storage on my 8x, and although it's only a 16GB device, that was ample with my HD7. What the hell is in that folder and how do I delete it! Please feel free to check your devices too, I have afunny feeling it's a standard issue. And no, it does not seem to be some sort of dynamic cache that frees space as you need it. I recorded in 1080p (20 mins ish) until my phone said memory was full. The 7GB otherfile was still there. Really needs sorting.
Just curious... can you tell me exactly where you're seeing this, and how to get there? I have a Lumia 920, so I'm curious if it's a WP8 thing, 8X thing, or 'You' thing. What have you done to troubleshoot it?
Go to settings and check storage. When the bar comes up, press it and i gives you the breakdown. Alternatively, plug into a comp and it shows on the app. There are threads on WP Central and the Windows community websites about a fair few people experiencing it, so I doubt it's a me thing. I cleared my e-mails, deleted most of my texts and cleared all map data. I'm hugely reluctant to reset the phone as I've just got it how I like it. As I said, i is pretty much exactly the same as my HD7 with perhaps 2 further games and 3 less apps. Pretty sure that's not 7GB worth of diference.
I have a 1.63GB "other" section. I'm curious to know what "other" means. I would have suspected map data or some type of other app cached information. Shame we don't have more detail. Did you copy any regular documents over to the phone via Explorer?
The 1.63GB for others is map data. I can tell you this cos i downloaded many maps on my phone and have 6.86 GB as others. By the way i have a lumia 920. So i guess what he is experiencing is a htc thing tja i guess thats what you get for going against us (Lumians) lol.
On a serious note thats messed up, not only do you get less storage but your storage is also consumed y some unknown place holder.
Nope, there are no documents, no maps, 4 texts, a couple of e-mails with no attachments and everything else seems accounted for.
In 7.5, the "Other" section was just music/video/picture data that had been moved onto the phone before Zune had been installed or before the last phone update. Basically, anything Zune wasn't able to state for sure was this or that (why they don't use the file extensions to type it I don't know).
If you add up your videos and music does it seem right?
Yeah I remember and this phone has literally exactly the same content as my HD7 but I had loads more space on that. Yeah, I've got like 7 albums on there and no videos at all. I'm baffled.
1. Kids corner separate lock code or no code option this will be very handy if you have older kids probably 6 and up
2. PDF file sending capabilities
Those are definitely possibilities, although Joe Belfiore is on record stating that the lock code thing is "by design" for now. I guess his logic makes sense... they want the user to maintain the control over access to the phone, which is smart. It does defeat the purpose when parents get sick of entering it in and just tell the kids the code, but then parents have no one to blame for the mishaps. As for PDF sending, I suspect that they could easily add that since you can now drag/drop any file type onto the phone by Windows Explorer.
I am still waiting for custom ringtones on other than phone calls like sms, email, etc.
Not OS related but need to work on getting more of the popular apps on board. That is what everyone is still complaining about.
Well, since we're posting our Wish Lists, I'll suggest the following:
Yeah, I think that'd do nicely. Oh, and you know, continue to work on that whole 3rd-party App Ecosystem thing to shutup the app who--- whiners, lol.
And incidentally, I'm not a coder but as a fairly technical person, I believe that half of those could be done with one developer spending a week on them (including planning and testing). The other half, a small group of developers could do them within a business quarter.
Agree, seems those things would be drag and drop modules by now based on how commonplace they are... Some decent developer should be able to compile those on short order. Only thing I can think of would be IP rights on how those tasks are accomplished. They are actually copyrighting code now and before code, they will copyright a process on how to accomplish a task, so it's hard for many people to find an alternate method, and even when they do, they get sued for copyright infringement and have to spend millions defending their alternate methods. Half the time its cheaper to license the current methods... Sad world that Apple has created with IP lawsuits for everything.
No WAV file support. Seriously? I didn't know that. I have plenty of stuff in WAV format still. You seriously saying that I can't play that music on my Windows PHone? Which I have yet to purchase yet. Still deciding?
Correct. It's a HUGE limit right now, but take comfort that Joe Belfiore is on record that they're "working on it."
You didn't know about the limitation, so you obviously don't need that feature. Why so angry?
He also hadn't purchased, and this may prevent him in doing so. Why so harsh?
I can't imagine why you need to play a .wav file on a phone when there are far less memory-consuming options. Time to do some media conversions, I reckon!
I love my Lumia 920 but there are two MAJOR things wrong with the support for Win8 Phone:
#1 - No all-in-one media management solution (like Zune Player was until they took the app store out of it). Windows Media Player is the best of a bad bunch but using Nokia Music or allowing XBox Music to run with my phone totally screws up my media library, with genres being altered (wrongly), artists and album info being altered (wrongly) and missing artwork that is actually embedded into the mp3 file itself! My library was organised into about 20 genres...after copying what I wanted over to my phone and running Nokia Music, I had over 40 genres and half the info was wrong or missing. Microsoft need their very own iTunes...the Nokia Desktop app looks like a Commodore Amiga program from 1995 and syncing files is not as automated as it would seem. Zune Player worked perfectly well and they have removed it without offering one fully-functional alternative. Poor show.
#2 - Apps - while I don't need 500 "Daily thought from the Bible" apps, the kind that bump up the numbers for the iOS and Android stores, Microsoft haven't done a great job of getting some of the most useful apps ported. BBC iPlayer, for example. I think anyone who installs more than 50 apps on their phone is installing for the sake of installing (I mean, how many do you really need to use/can actually use regularly?) WP8 does a great job of bringing social networking and email together and I rarely use the twitter or FB apps anyway...but they (MS) needed to speculate to accumulate. More people will migrate to the superior WP8 OS if they know their iPhone apps will be there when they do. I've had WP7/7.5 before so I haven't had many grumbles but it would be annoying to get a better phone (if I had been on Android, for example) but miss out on a few obviously popular apps.
Amen
Better Music syncing and podcast management. Basically, revive Zune and call it Xbox music/Video.
^^^THIS..... I cannot believe they discontinued ZUNE for the broken joke of Xbox music on WP8. No Podcast support unless in the MP??? Crappy No-sync of music and playlists and not even being able to open an mp3 file in IE10. WTH! Tell me to install Itunes to download podcasts! Its insane what they've done. Can't play Video I bought in Zune! I'm still carrying my T-II just to listen to podcast.... They need to get this right. I know people taking phones back because they can't listen to their voicemail mp3's.
Fix for signal misregistration (although this could be a Nokia bug)
Please clarify what you mean by this...?
Would be nice to not have my phone reboot itself 3 times a day!!!! Piece of crap HTC 8X
Uninstall Skype beta
I'd like to see a voice-to-text microphone key on all keyboards in all apps as a default. That would be huge.
Yes!! This would be fantastic!! Technically, though, this is already possible. The app developer need only enable the API in their app.
I need many improvements to editing, formatting and viewing documents in Word for WP8. They could take a look at Mobile Word as it was years ago on Windows Mobile, or at QuickOffice for iOS and Android. I need to be able to adjust font-size by points, not just "bigger" and "smaller". A few standard font choices would be nice along with line-spacing and more paragraph formatting. I also need to be able to view a document in an un-mobilized form, with word-wrap turned off so that I can see what my document will look like when the recipient opens it in Word, and/or prints it out. I also need to be able to either edit old .doc files, or convert them to .docx files within the phone. Word may be "free" on WP but it's ridiculously limited and embarrassing to show iPhone/Android users. That's frustratingly ironic, given that Word and WP are both Microsoft products.
This and VPN compatibility will open WP8 for the business world and give it a greater following.
Well I wouldn't hold my breath on any of that so soon, but yes, I agree. It should act the same as the Web App versions, at a minimum. Which makes me wonder... have you tried using the web apps on WP?
Yes I have. And Word and Excel seem to work fine through IE10. However, forget trying to edit Onenote. For kicks and giggles, I went to my local Att store and played with the HTC OneX+, logged into my live account via the browser and found that I could use and edit Word, Excel and Onenote much easier. I was disappointed with my browser at that point. MS has alot of work to do with alot of things to improve. The browser needs more plugins to view and manipulate more pages efficiently. I would be happy if I could view everything my wife can on her Iphone4 at least. I love my WP. The layout and efficiency with the design are fantastic. Come on MS, time to deliver.
This is what I have been waiting for.. Bring out the surface phone.. Im jumping from my current device to it...
I would like to see SMS privacy like android and ios
With you on this. Basic privacy issue and has been for some time!
In the text message/chat window, I'd like to know what phone number the text came from, or sending to. If a contact has multiple phone numbers, you only see the name, but no idea which number it came from.
Messaging will ONLY allow texting to their "mobile" number, so there really isn't much confusion unless the user has contacts duplicated on your phone (and shouldn't the user be responsible for cleaning those up). Although, I have seen people have their mobile number on Skype and Facebook that was listed incorrectly (forgot to update numbers, etc.), and that will list a duplicate mobile number. I find it easier to remind that person to fix or remove it, to be honest... they usually appreciate the reminder.
Knowing it will only text to mobile numbers, you can tap on the name and see the full contact details and immediately know what number to use.
Click the switch button at the bottom
What about audio/video out?? I've been asking for this feature since day 1!!!!!!
Smartglass and DLNA
Smartglass app is already available. Nokia had an DLNA "Play To" app available, it's still in the marketplace but was not updated to fit screen sizes bigger than WVGA.
Yes, a form of Play To should be baked into Windows Phone 8, and should support all DLNA devices, not just "Microsoft Certified" ones like the Surface RT has. (My Sony Blu-ray player has DLNA and I use it regularily, but I can't use it with either my phone or tablet, which is a little frustrating to me.)
Audi issue. Dunno which Audi head unit you have, but none of the VW/Audi vehicles I've driven supported Bluetooth streaming. Bluetooth handsfree calls, but not streaming.
There are a couple basics I would like to see.
1. The ability to have the phone keep notifiing me that there is a text message or voice mail until I have acknowledged it. This was on my IPhone 3g. If my phone is downstairs and I am up stairs and don't here it or if I have stepped away from my office and get a text, I would be nice for the phone to keep trying to let me know I missed it.
2. A decent calendar. I have seen a couple apps that are close but still a no go. I would like to be able to actually read the calendar. I have mulitple accounts that for different things. The calendar needs to beable to let me edit and see the different accounts in different colors. I have work for on account/color, than personal and family that me and my wife can both access and edit. With kids this for me is a must to keep everything in order.
3. Finally, a nice simple, easy to use music player. I don't play games and all the other stuff. I just want a simple music player.
So far that is all.
They didn't update that calendar for, like, years
Regarding #1 ... they did. It's called a live tile. See all those numbers next to the icons? ;) Not being a smartass, just saying that's the design paradigm, and they're not going to change it unless/until they implement a full notification hub.
Regarding #2 ... yes. The Calendar app is atrocious.
Regarding #3 ... that's one good thing WP has going for it already. It is very simple to play music on it. And buy music on it. Many, simple options. It's getting your existing music ONTO the phone that's annoying, but if you came from iPhone, you have an easier time since it's probably all in iTunes and you don't have to change anything.
I'm of the opinion that wp7/8 has the best native music player out of them all. As for syncing......
I don't understand #2... this works just fine in Agenda view. Different colors for different calendars and everything.
#3 doesn't make any sense to me either... the music player is awesome, and not tied into games at all, right? It can access videos, but it's just one selection branch after clicking on music and video to get to music.
In regards to #2, have you checked the settings in Calendar. You can specify whatever colour you want for all your syned calendars.
Also the music player on Windows Phone is the best I've used.
What do people mean by screen rotation lock ? Like, I'm confused. Is it, the screen rotates? '-'
The screen would be able to be locked in either portrait, or landscape mode.. Whatever your choice. Rotating the phone would not affect the orientation of the screens position.
OOOH gotcha. Thanks !
DO we really have to wait until Feb-March 2013 to get the basic bug fixes. UUGH!. I won't be able to play purchased video from XBOX Video store until then.... I would rather have bug fixes sooner and features later.
I have my money bet on this: If they do a notification center, then it will be a live wallpaper that has a companion app so you can set a picture as the backdrop for the notification center live wallpaper.
Anyone could do that now using existing API's and Native Code.
If they call it Apollo + (reads as Apollo plus), then it technically doesn't end in an "-O" which was their previous naming convention. They should call it "Ocho" or Apollo ocho" to keep up with the naming convention and keep with the Windows 8 branding. (Ocho means 8).
One handed keyboard use and notification center. Btw live tiles are sort of dumb played out cause you still need to open the app. (concept was good though)
Live Tiles do exactly what the app developer allows them to do. No more, no less. You need only look at Amazing Weather to realize how good they can be or Phone Dialer for how minimal. The point is, if you don't like a live tile, make it bigger, or contact the developer of that app and request it.
Static icons in android are dumb played out. This is one of the stupidest comments I've read.
I would hope that SOMEONE over at MS would lose some sleep if Apollo+ gets formally announced and dated before 7.8.
Create new contact from Text... Or at least the ability to copy the phone number or something. Doesn't happen all the time.. but has happened a few times since I moved to WP7 and WP8
I can copy/paste numbers for contacts very easily... and I can create them from texts/calls just fine, so I'm not sure what you mean.
Um... tap the phone number at the top of the message thread screen, then tap Save?
Better syncing and podcast support in the UK.
One touch silence (and I don't mean set to vibrate). I mean complete silence!
+1. I never understood why they don't let me enable/disable vibrate mode directly. I always have to go into the setting menu. Currently you can tap on the bell sign to turn on or off the sound. They should just add two more states like this:
- sound on, vib off
- sound off, vib on
- sound on, vib on
- sound off, vib off
Ditto this!
This, a million times this.
+1 I wonder why this ever has been removed since WM6.5 its just such an obviously useful feature and one that doesn't need a rocket scientist to implement I am sure.
Notification center
Custom alerts
Landscape view of the start screen
Volume controls for phone and for music separated
That is all I really want/need
Other than that fully satisfied.
Please add smart dial support.
This is a little touch that means a lot! I miss this madly from my One X.
Ability to watch movies on my windows phone. I purchased a movie on my windows 8 PC.. only to find out i couldn't watch it on my shiny new lumia 920... so sad.. so sad
INSTAGRAM, SNAPCHAT, AND MINECRAFT ASAP!!
This!!!! And a notification center would be very nice.
Not Microsoft's fault you guys. Come on, think McFly, think! Its the developers of these apps, annoy them.
Better Bluetooth support. Can't play music in my Audi with my 920. Don't know if that's a WP or Audi issue.
I can play music in my Ford Focus just fine. I've benen able to do it with all of my phones including the iPhone, all of my android phones and my Lumia 920. By the way, the audio system is powered by Microsoft Sync. It's so compatible.
Works fine on my 920 / Honda Oddesey
Audi issue. Dunno which Audi head unit you have, but none of the VW/Audi vehicles I've driven supported Bluetooth streaming. Bluetooth handsfree calls, but not streaming.
Please add a notification center! PLEASE! I hope they make it so you can swipe to the right on the homescreen to pull out a notification center much like swiping to left brings up all the apps. I also would like for them to add the ability to swipe up or down on apps when in the multitaksing veiw to close apps. If they add those two features i'll be extremely happy.
P.S. We also need nokia drive for all windows phone 8 devices to be rolled out!
Turn on your phone. Swipe up to unlock. BAM, notifications. :)
XBOX VIDEO AND ITUNES VIDEO SUPPORT FFS!!
In a world where we text more than call people, give us custom alert sounds please.
Flip to silence!!
But how would you use the wireless charger too?
I would like to see Microsoft give the finger to all the carriers and not allow the carriers to make any changes to the OS. That is the one feature I would like to see copied from Apple.
Let.me get this straight.. Windows phone 8 has a scheduled update and we still don't know when is windows phone 7.8 update coming out.
+10000000000
yes, and that update will arrive before 7.8 does.
This. Just release 7.8 already
They can't anyway. Most they can do is add a suggested apps list in the store and bundle a bunch of apps with the phone, all of which are uninstallable. What are you referring to?
WTF are YOU referring to?
Yeah. Apparently Microsoft thinks the existing WP costumers were not mistreated enough already.
CUSTOM TEXT ALERTS for the love of God.
A-FREAKING-MEN!! And a better windows phone app for your desktop.
Soooooo +1!! It's ridiculous right now.
Yes please!
#firstworldproblem
VPN. Rotation lock would be nice too.
Give us access to our Xbox movie purchases!!!!
Agreed!!!!!! I thought it was 3 screens and seamless integration
in the meantime I would happily take an Amazon Instant Video App
Viber for all windows phones! Nor just Nokia Microsoft!!!!!!!!!!!!
Viber HD isn't on Lumia WP8 devices.
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