Legacy PHones no Apollo Update, will get 7.8 update

[Reflexx]

LOL that was me. I guess I'm not being very clear today

You probably assumed that I had watched the whole presentation since I was posting so much. So my bad! I only saw part of it.

 

[bear_lx]

The important part is that the Apple devices all got the latest kernel for 3 years. The kernel is the bottom line and all that matters. Everything else is secondary and can be hacked in. iPhone 4 can run Siri; but, not without the latest kernel.

WP7.5 have lost kernel support and that is the bottom line. Old phones won't ever be able to use many of the new apps and features. Those saying that iOS only gets "partial" updates are making a flawed comparison. There's a reason iOS 6 on iPhone 3GS is called iOS 6 and WP7.8 on Lumia 900 is WP7.8. It's NOT semantics as some of you are misguidedly claiming.

iphone 4 can NOT run siri. sure it can be jailbroken and installed but it will never work properly because of the servers... again comparing apple updates to windows updates are comparing apples and oranges... ( lol!!!) its not the same, especially since apple in the last 5 years has had only 5 different phones. how many windows phones are there, just in the last 2 years?

and i would love to see how smooth that 3gs is running ios 6, ios 5 doesnt even run right on it...

 

[d3ac0n]

iphone 4 can NOT run siri. sure it can be jailbroken and installed but it will never work properly because of the servers... again comparing apple updates to windows updates are comparing apples and oranges... ( lol!!!) its not the same, especially since apple in the last 5 years has had only 5 different phones. how many windows phones are there, just in the last 2 years?

and i would love to see how smooth that 3gs is running ios 6, ios 5 doesnt even run right on it...

2 different SoC. So 2 systems really.

Lumia 900 owners that had the device for a mere 2 months now and 22 months of contract left are really the ones screwed

 

[Reflexx]

I really doubt that wp7 will see market share increase after wp 8 launches. I could be wrong, but i doubt it. And if i were a developer I wouldn't put any effort into developing for a legacy platform with less than 1% market share.

Perhaps.

But that market share number really depends on what MS's budget handset strategy is.

If MS puts WP8 on budget hardware, then development for WP7 may slow to a crawl. But the positive side would be that we'll likely see ROMs coming out if we want to risk upgrading on our own.

If MS keeps budget handsets running WP7, then that could mean A LOT of people adopting it. That would keep app development at a nice, steady pace.

 

[bush715]

I watched the whole announcement. It makes perfect sense that we don't get wp8. They are completely changing the kernel and as others have said previously the logistics of full wipes rewritten drivers is just not justifiable at the cost to do it.
We are getting 7.8 which to me is an acceptable update as they could have just pulled an android and leave us in the wind.
Microsoft knows that it wants to be able to support the hardware which is why all WP8 will have at least 18 months of update support. I knew we were not going to 8 and I expected not to get anything past Tango so overall the announcement was good for the OS and for the environment that will help it grow on the consumer and professional aspects of the business. I will still support WP and when 8 launched I will pick one up as well. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jdevenberg]

Agreed!

BTW, part of the title of this thread is "An end to the debate." I'd say it's only the beginning, LOL!

It ends the debate on app compatibility was going on. And with no new apps for WP7, no WP8 sucks. No room for debate in my mind

 

[aubreyq]

You probably assumed that I had watched the whole presentation since I was posting so much. So my bad! I only saw part of it.

No problem

 

[Seketh]

Some people are panicking, but they have no reason to feel that way.

Devs won't simply abandon the userbase that already exists, they will create versions for Windows Phone 7.8 and Windows Phone 8. The only games and apps that won't come to Windows Phone 7.8 are those that require the new hardware, which was expected anyway.

You will still get new apps, new games, and features from Windows Phone 8.

It's like Apple, they launch a new iOS version, but the older devices don't have acess to all the new funcionality. The difference here is that Apple maintains the version name, and Microsoft opted to clearly distinguish both.

In the end, this is bad for marketing, but for existing users, it's the expected update. Don't worry, it's not like you suddenly have an expensive paperweight.

 

[trickym81]

I definitely think WP7 will be left behind when WP8 comes out. I can't see anything being done or sold past the WP7.8 upgrade.

How many WM6.5 devices did you see for sale after WP7 came out?
Exactly.

 

[Reflexx]

I think I should start working on some games or apps that run on WP7. Apparently, I won't have any competition and I can rake in all the money for myself!!

 

[jdevenberg]

Perhaps.

But that market share number really depends on what MS's budget handset strategy is.

If MS puts WP8 on budget hardware, then development for WP7 may slow to a crawl. But the positive side would be that we'll likely see ROMs coming out if we want to risk upgrading on our own.

If MS keeps budget handsets running WP7, then that could mean A LOT of people adopting it. That would keep app development at a nice, steady pace.

Even if they keep it for budget handsets, that will be more in developing markets. Premier developers don't develop apps to target those customers. They develop to target the US and Western Europe because that is who has money to spend on apps. Windows Phone 8 will be Microsoft's strategy in these markets.

 

[naplesbill]

As someone already mentioned, we will not maintain kernel compatibility. This alone makes this announcement very disheartening. There will definitely be apps we want but we won't be able to use. Our devices have just had their values relegated to pennies.

Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express

 

[N8ter]

What jdevenberg said.

 

[ejb222]

I doubt there will be very many new apps for WP7.x from here on out. As it is Developers were holding out for WP8 already.

 

[aubreyq]

Let's not mince words. Windows Phone 7 is DEAD. There. I said it.

 

[simonnyc]

WP8 won't be out until the Fall (at the earliest). WP7.5 apps will run on WP8. There's no reason why developers would stop developing apps for WP7.5 now since they will all continue to run on WP8 devices. Once WP8 officially launches, developers may stop developing for WP7.5 but until then, I don't expect to see a slowdown of new WP7.5 apps hitting the marketplace.

 

[Reflexx]

Maybe I'm just too much of an optimist.

But if I see developers leaving WP7 in droves, and a user base that is stuck on contract, then I see an opportunity to differentiate myself with less competition.

Heck. Anyone that has decided to develop on WP7 up to this point was partially doing so because there is less competition.

It may "suck" for consumers if some of the big developers ignore them, and some new game comes out that isn't available on WP7. But I believe that when you buy a device, you buy it for what it is, not what you hope it will be later. Well, unless you're a tech geek like many of us.

 

[Reflexx]

As someone already mentioned, we will not maintain kernel compatibility. This alone makes this announcement very disheartening. There will definitely be apps we want but we won't be able to use. Our devices have just had their values relegated to pennies.

Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express

Don't suppose you want to sell your Lumia 900 to me for what you say it is valued at?

 

[trickym81]

The only potential positive scenario I've read came in the comments of another blog. I forget which blog, but basically the scenario was this:

Since WP8 handsets will be able to run WP7 apps, we could end up in a situation where developers will code WP7 apps in order to appeal to the entire market. Of course, more intensive apps that require things like dual-cores and NFC will be made specifically for WP8, but there's a chance that simpler apps will be written for WP7.

I'm not a programmer, so I don't know which system is easier to code for.

Basically it comes down to this: The advantage of writing a WP7 app is that all Windows Phones will be able to use it (except maybe the Lumia 610.)

However, the advantage to writing a WP8 app is that it will work on Windows 8 tablets and PCs (a much larger audience.)

It doesn't look great for the future of WP7 apps....

 

[aubreyq]

...Once WP8 officially launches, developers may stop developing for WP7.5 but until then, I don't expect to see a slowdown of new WP7.5 apps hitting the marketplace.

You realize you are simply talking a few months here, right?