With the launch of Windows Phone 8, the previous crop of Microsoft-powered phones became a gaggle of lame ducks. But Microsoft isn't ready to take those ducks round the back of the barn to shoot them just yet, with new features emerging for the update to Windows Phone 7.8.
Hopelessly mixed farmyard animal analogies aside -- animalogies? -- phones such as the Nokia Lumia 800 can expect new colours, a new lock screen and custom ringtones, according to a leak from Nokia.
Training materials from the Finnish phone-fancier, spotted by WPcentral, reveal that the lock screen can update automatically with information from an app of your choice. You also get 20 new theme colours for the colourful squares on your home screen, called live tiles.
If you fancy turning your favourite tune into your ringtone, there's an MP3 editor to create custom ringdings from your MP3s. You also get Bluetooth file-sharing and some security upgrades to Internet Explorer 9.
Microsoft's Italian compagnos also took to Facebook to reveal Windows Phone 7.8 will include the new Rooms feature found in WP8. A Room is a space for contacts in a group to communicate -- family, say, or specific groups of friends.
The first Windows Phone 8 phones went on sale this month, including the Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 and the HTC 8X. New features that won't trickle down to old phones include Internet Explorer 10, camera improvements, voice control and even some apps.
But the biggest hand-me-down from Windows Phone 8 is the new flexible homescreen, which will let older phones resize live tiles to fit on more apps. Today's Windows Phones update to 7.8 at some stage in the first quarter of the new year, if you haven't lost interest and got yourself a new phone in the meantime.
Are current Windows Phones worth hanging onto, or has Microsoft left them high and dry? Can Windows Phone 8 claw out a niche for itself alongside Android and the iPhone? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 15
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anonymous 16 November, 2012 19:17
The first quarter of next year?! Come on Microsoft, its not even that big an update. Sure, you're not gonna make any money off us Windows Phone 7 suckers any more but a little aftercare would be nice.
gone2dogs 16 November, 2012 19:33
I am a die hard Microsoft supporter, but I am losing the faith. I bought a Nokia 900 and evangelized how great the product was. Now everyone I convinced is dead ended with their phone like me. (I am locked in for over a year to my phone and have no upgrade path beyond 7.8)
I am interested in the Surface tablet (both versions) but learn that Microsoft has higher margins on the product than Apple. (WTF)
I invested heavily in Silverlight only to have a sudden platform shift dead end me and the products my company has built on top of Silverlight.
Microsoft doesn't seem to realize that they are suddenly the underdog and they desperately need evangelists and supporters like me. In the Bill Gates era, MS courted developers because we helped build the ecosystem that made MS successful. In the Steve Balmer era, it is about immediate profits and to hell with the people who will ultimately make MS successful.
anonymous 16 November, 2012 20:10
I just recently upgraded from a droid to the Nokia Lumia 900. I do not like it. I'm stuck with it for 2 years now, till I can upgrade again. Or find someone selling a droid phone. Needs alot more apps, the facebook app is crap. You can't utilize the facebook chat app at all on thsi phone. Will never stray from a droid phone again.
Peter Hudson 16 November, 2012 22:05
gone2dogs, id be wary of the surface. The majority of the reviews say the hardware is a bit pants, and the lack of storage on the device is a big issue.
i'm a mac user but i have been impressed with windows 8. I'd say though, wait until the likes of samsung start producing windows 8 tablets. They will be awesome.
ElDiabloJuanCarl 17 November, 2012 01:23
@ Peter Hudson
Not sure what reviews you are reading, all the reviews I've read commented on the high build quality of the Surface. As for the storage, ok the OS does take up a big chunk and more space is used up by free/pre-installed apps (like the MS Office Suite), but at the lowest spec version you do have at least 16GB of actual usuable space out of the box, not to mention the ability to expand storage by an additional 64GB using an SD card
anonymous 17 November, 2012 06:11
WP8 release before WP7.8 doesn't make sense to me. Releasing later version first? Also, appointing a third party, Miyowi, as an official Live Messenger App developer is another weird move. Steve Bald is not a tech geek like Gates, and appointing him was just a stupid idea. Win8 is the evidence of that. Tablet OS for desktops. The idea is so bald too far from bold.
anonymous 17 November, 2012 09:52
SO can you tell me how to update my fone7 & how much wil it cost ME! ? THANKS.....
anonymous 17 November, 2012 15:30
The update will be free & you'll be notified the moment it is out.
anonymous 18 November, 2012 21:12
I'm now running WP7.8 on a HTC HD2, and I'll be honest and say it's a breath of fresh-air in comparison to Android and iOS. I miss some android features and lack of Google Now to ask random questions is killing me, but on the whole I love what MS have done with the phone OS.
I may well put Android 4.1 back on it, but for now WP7.8 is winning me over.....
anonymous 19 November, 2012 02:17
I just bought a Lumia 800 as the price dropped by 300Euro in the space of a week here....
Coming from a Samsung Galaxy S2 the only downside to WP7 is the lack of apps, and that really doesn't bother me. Windows phone is the best and I'm glad to hear of the 7.8 update. :D Nice article!
NokiaDrew 19 November, 2012 04:23
anonymous 16 November, 2012 20:10
I just recently upgraded from a droid to the Nokia Lumia 900. I do not like it. I'm stuck with it for 2 years now, till I can upgrade again. Or find someone selling a droid phone. Needs alot more apps, the facebook app is crap. You can't utilize the facebook chat app at all on thsi phone. Will never stray from a droid phone again.
1. Facebook App - The Android App is the worst of any mobile OS platform.
2. Facebook Chat - Learn to use the phone before you trash it. Go to Settings, click on Email, Accounts. Click on Facebook. Add your credentials. Once completed go back into your Homescreen and click on Messaging. Swipe your thumb to the left and you will show ONLINE contacts (Facebook Chat). I never even long into facebook because the native integration with chat and other notifications is so awesome!
3. Enjoy your Windows Phone because iOS and Android are in major need of an overhaul!
anonymous 19 November, 2012 11:33
well, im a proud owner of lumia 800. the phone is great. looking forward for the 7.8 update. i dont think that the 7.5 is already forgotten. apps like city lens is out for it and many more on the way. however im waiting for 920 contract free. i dont see issues with fb integration, like other commenters do. there is no need for fb app at all.
ericklamothe 19 November, 2012 12:12
Even before the arrival of Windows Phone 8 many were rightly regarding the OS as a powerful alternative mobile OS. With version 8 on the scene, devices running on 7.5 can be bought very reasonably offering specs no other Android or iOS running device can offer at those price levels.
anonymous 19 November, 2012 13:25
While I feel this update is sort of a peace offering for moving to a next major version so soon I appreciate it. It shows Microsoft is committed to their customers. People complaining are naïve since average smart phone ownership turn around is under 2 years anyway.
Alex Cazan 19 November, 2012 13:56
It's funny how mostly people who don't have the slightest interest in using the phone's features are complaining. I just read here, from an Anonymous poster (of course), that the Facebook Chat app is not usable in WP7, and the Facebook app is crappy. Well, why would you buy a phone that has INTEGRATED FACEBOOK and FACEBOOK MESSENGER WITHIN THE SMS HUB, and then install apps to do the same things...? If you want to get a WP device and use it like an Android device, don't get it!