OT:
Huh? That makes no sense.
What I think they did wrong with Kids Corner was the fact that they designed it as a "lend it to my kid" feature. It would've been much better as a "Guest user" feature. There are lots of times when people want to hand over their phone for someone else to use temporarily (like in a store when scanning Groupons, etc) but don't want that user to have access to the whole enchilada, so to speak. THAT would have been a much cooler feature to advertise - and it would work great for the kids as well.
I actually use it in a sense like that. You can rename the word "Kids Corner" that is displayed on the lock screen, and I had set it to "Guest Mode" and only enabled apps that I wouldn't mind other people using (alarm, games, basic stuff.)
First let me clarify one thing. I came from Symbian not Android.
The idea of a file manager (or whatever you wish to call it) has several functions and integrates in many ways into the OS. It's not purely about having 'file storage'. In essence I would be using it for a storing files not normally used by the OS. This could be rar, zip or exe files or whatever files the OS doesn't like to use. I would be able to access this file area to email those files to other people, tap to send or bluetooth. I would be able to download from IE into this file area as well while on the move. I would be able to move files around and access them like I would in Windows Explorer. I would also have access to them via USB when the phone is connected. Along with this would be apps I can use with this file area too.
Now there are those who have different ideas and different levels of what they want out of a 'file manager' but I would be happy with this.
All of this I was able to do on Symbian. (except for the tap to send)
I would prefer an integrated file chooser, like that of Windows 8. It would/could allow apps (such as email) to choose any type of file (within limits) to use or attach, and the files would be stored and categorized within one location on the phone. This way, one doesn't need a file manager for a number of things, and can still easily manage content within reason. Case scenarios: Music+Video access to downloaded Videos & Music through IE, downloading of media other than Images through IE, Sending files through a file transfer application.
As far as "rar, zip, or exe" files, dude(tte), this isn't Windows Mobile. There is no practical use for managing those file types on a Windows Phone. If you need to manage those files, use a computer. Windows Phone shouldn't be like a pocket pc (that's what android is for). Yes, smartphones are supposed to be an
extension of your computer and allow you to do certain tasks on the go, but we don't need our entire computer on it. In fact, the original ads for Windows Phone said "...designed to Get in, Get out, and Get you back to life". Smartphones are about keeping in touch and doing important tasks, not spending all day using them as a pc. If not we would be doing entire presentations on our phones (we all know Office for WP, and alternatives for iOS and Android are not as powerful and advanced as the pc app).
In summary, a file chooser (which for certain apps would require dev. implementation), similar in design to windows 8, with the restrictions mentioned above, would probably be the best thing. It would allow some basic file access and management, and files could be renamed/deleted through the storage info menu in settings. No fancy file formats (which allowed file types would expand as supporting applications are installed), No odd file explorer, No mess, No hassle, No clutter.
What happened to the early adopter program ? I wish we could get this now...
I wonder too. I am starting to think this only applies to Blue 8.1, and similar to Windows 8.1 and its upcoming preview release, the "early adopter program" will be done via device registration and a update download for a "preview release" of Windows Phone 8.1 (or a download via the Windows Store) a few months before its public release.
At least, that's the only logical explanation I can come up with seeing as Microsoft mentions it once and never speaks of it again.