Introduction

The bloggers & forum goers & tech journalists are still arguing over Microsoft’s announcement of all existing WP7 smartphones only being upgradable to Windows Phone 7.8 with only the new Start Screen as the only addition + that’s the end of the line for the WP7 line. Some have made-up their mind that’s the case, whether they’re fans of Windows Phone or not.

My opinion is more optimistic mixed with being realistic. But this article is not about that argument anymore. I’ve always argued that Microsoft hasn’t shown us ANY consumer features in the coming WP8 & by that line of reasoning, WP7.8.

So let us see where this line of argument takes us…

End of WP7? Maybe not…

According to this post from WPCentral, Senior Product Manager and Windows Phone team member Larry Lieberman has just given some indication that WP7.8 is not all it appears to be, just an additional Start Screen.

Towards the end of this video, Larry was evasive when asked if that’s all developers can expect of WP7.8, a new Start Screen. His words were carefully considered but it seems to indicate there’s more to come for consumers.

Greg Sullivan, Senior Product manager for Windows Phone has also told Pocket-lint, Microsoft has only shown a small portion of the consumer features at WP8 Summit in Jun 2012.

Let’s go back a few months & look at these news.

http://www.intomobile.com/2012/06/14/microsoft-helps-floundering-nokia-lower-prices-and-compete-against-android/

It’s speculated that these low-cost devices will run WP8 but if that’s the case, Microsoft can bring WP8 to all WP7 devices! Wouldn’t it be faster & cheaper to continue WP7.8 on single-core Qualcomm S2? So far, we’re hearing WP8 runs on Snapdragon S4 only.

Greg Sullivan had also confirm what many bloggers have suspected, that MS will not bring WP8 to WP7 due to time & manpower cost. It’s technically possible but it simply wouldn’t make it a great experience on current phones.

If Microsoft maintains WP7 & WP8, they owe it to WP7 users to ensure comparable features

Below is the list of stuff that should appear in WP7.8 that’s not hardware dependent:

1. Screen capture (It’s possible because it’s already in most Custom ROMs)
2. Custom sound for Notifications
3. Support more Bluetooth profile like Contact transfer & file transfer
4. User information backup/sync to Skydrive. Stuff like APP states (game progress), Message Thread, Video, Music, Podcast
5. Skype Integration (Change its P2P operations to semi-P2P, super-node reside on servers rather than phones)
6. Notification Center ala iOS 5 by swiping left or something
7. A more full featured Network stack (OK, this one may be a stretch)
8. Maps by Navteq with Nokia Drive
9. Xbox Music (Everywhere)
10. SmartGlass (if it doesn’t rely on DirectX)
11. Graphics equalizer!
12. IE10 (even if it’s without the Smartscreen feature)
13. Like/Edit/Delete Comments/Pictures/whatever in Me/People Hub

What wouldn’t make the cut?

1. Multi-threading (apps running in background)
2. Integrated Skype (if they don’t get off their butt & re-engineer Skype network or do workaround in the client)
3. Wallet (it’s only useful with NFC)
4. DirectX for high performance gaming engine like Havok (Adreno 205 doesn’t cut it)
5. Full IPv4/IPv6 network stack with VPN, IPSec, etc.

Microsoft will reveal all in the (rumoured) BUILD event coming end July, beginning August October, beginning November when they launch the new SDK for WP8.

What do you think? Comment below!