Windows Phone 8 has finally set a date for its launch -- 29 October. The software giant has sent out colourful invitations to an event in San Francisco that will see the tile-based update officially go live.
Those of you waking up with a pit of sadness in your stomachs because you don't know when the next version of Microsoft's mobile operating system is officially out can finally rest easy. The date is remarkably close to the launch of Windows 8, which happens on 26 October.
Unfortunately, because no existing Windows Phone devices will be updated to Windows Phone 8, we won't see any software updates winging their way to mobiles on that date.
The first phones powered by the new operating system will be coming out in early November, according to reports. Among those devices are the 4.7-inch Nokia Lumia 920 and the colourful HTC 8X.
It's shaping up to be a merry month of Microsoft, but could Apple crash the party? A persistent rumour suggests we may see an iPad mini put on sale this month, with invites to an Apple bash tipped to be sent out on 10 October. If a smaller iPad were to be released at the same time as the new Windows software, Apple could easily nick Microsoft's thunder.
It's a shame that Microsoft doesn't appear to be throwing a UK event to coincide with the San Francisco hoe-down -- here's hoping the British launch of Windows Phone 8 doesn't suffer any delays.
Are you excited about Windows Phone 8? What are its chances of taking down Android and iOS? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 14
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Mark Anderson 5 October, 2012 10:12
"If an smaller iPad was released at the same time as the new Windows software is released, Apple could easily nick Microsoft's thunder."
LOLno. New iteration of world's most popular desktop/notebook OS and release of new phone OS vs boring, cut down iPad mini? Pssht.
shauney3 5 October, 2012 10:16
Well it probably won't steal the thunder from the desktop Windows 8 but yeah it probably would the Windows Phone 8 as there isn't much interest in that.
anonymous 5 October, 2012 10:17
Apple might be launching a smaller version on an existing product and Microsoft launching an entirely new OS which for the first time will enable co-exist across all platforms. Yes, Apple are really going to crash Microsoft's party.
The truth is that Apple are falling behind, and while their products are still great they simply don't have the sheer flexibility that W8 will bring, particularly with the number of manufacturers that will have Microsoft's offering on board.
anonymous 5 October, 2012 10:25
If the iPad mini goes the way of the iPhone 5 then it will be lucky to steal a rain shower let alone full on thunder!
anonymous 5 October, 2012 10:26
Shock,Gasp,Horror!! Cnet manage to slip something Apple into Windows 8 story...AGAIN!
Coming up next Windows RT pricing comes in under £300 but could Apple steal their thunder when one of there employee`s farts!!
anonymous 5 October, 2012 11:32
Can we PLEASE have reporting without 'APPLE' being mentioned. If for some peculiar reason I wanted to know anything about what that vile and immoral yankee company were doing I'd read an Apple article. Thank you.
anonymous 5 October, 2012 12:21
Surely it will be the Google, Amazon and Barnes and Noble that will be most affected by the new IPad mini as they are the competitor's in the 7 inch content tablet market. Microsoft doesn't even have a 7 inch tablet, they are competing against the real IPad and tablets with real PC abilities, not just ones sold for a loss because they are focussed as devices to consume books, music, movies etc.
anonymous 5 October, 2012 12:57
Apple will steal Windows 8 thunder... because all media outlets seem to think Apple is all people care about, effectively making it a self fulfilling prophecy by under-reporting everything non Apple. I guess media outlets find it much easier to promote all things Apple because it's easier than trying to get people interested in things they don't necessarily know about or understand. How many articles for example have we seen about Apple vs. Android where Windows Phone does not even get a mention despite the fact that it is just as good, if not better than both? (Is Windows Phone just the Ralph Nader of the phone world?). How many articles where Apple are needlessly worked into the article it the hope of increasing site traffic/readership/ad revenue? How many times has the CRAVE podcast had iPad/iPhone worked into the title, even though there was only a mention of the latest rumour (seriously, check the podcast history!)
Lazy journalism or just giving the people what they want (or are told they want)? I don't know, but I do know I find it 'disappointing' when I click on an article supposedly about Windows Phone, only for it to start wittering on about an Apple iPad (which is neither Microsoft nor a Phone!)
anonymous 5 October, 2012 15:08
Will it enable me to get BBC iPlayer though
Nick Hide 5 October, 2012 15:17
"Can we PLEASE have reporting without 'APPLE' being mentioned."
If you want to cocoon yourself in a bubble and only hear about one company, there are plenty of Microsoft fansites you can get your 'news'.
People with a healthy interest in everything that's going on in the tech world might be interested in the juxtaposition of the Windows Phone launch with the iPad mini.
You might not like it, but Apple is kind of a big deal. A lot of people are interested in its products - the iPhone 5 review is our most-read of the year, despite the fact we scored it lower than the S3 and Note 2.
ElDiabloJuanCarl 5 October, 2012 19:12
@ Nick Hilde
Thank you for your condescending comments, but I think the point being made has escaped you.
The iPhone 5 review is the most read as we are willing to read about Apple products, as well as about other technology companies.
People clicked on a link to read an article supposedly about Windows Phone 8. Windows Phone 8 is an operating system for a phone. An iPad mini is not a phone, it is a tablet. Why is there a need to juxtapose news about a phone operating system the release of a smaller version of a tablet?
Apple is a big deal, so are Microsoft. But would you start talking about Microsoft releasing a new tablet in an article about a change to the iPhone operating system?
The point is, people are getting sick of Apple being shoe-horned into articles!
anonymous 5 October, 2012 20:34
@NickHide
Nice to know that you regard your readers with such disdain - keep on downplaying the achievements and innovations of other companies and sustaining the Cult of Apple with every single article. After all, there are no other tech websites on the internet that we can visit for a more balanced perspective.
ElDiabloJuanCarl 6 October, 2012 00:57
For fun, I decided to re-watch the cnet video reviews for the flaship phones of the top 3 mobile phone manufacturers to play 'Juxtaposition BINGO':
Nokia Lumia 900 review (2mins 27secs): Number of references to Apple - 2
Galaxy S3 review (3mins 44secs): Number of references to Apple - 3 (number of times any of the following words used: Apple, iPhone, ios, Siri - 9)
iPhone 5 review (4mins 39secs): Number of references to a non Apple device - 1
just saying....
anonymous 6 October, 2012 08:08
Sycophantic apple polishing !!!