Legacy PHones no Apollo Update, will get 7.8 update

[tk-093]

Very true but werent they also addressing how much easier its going to be to port apps from other os's and wp7.5/7.8 to wp8/w8?? If that is correct, wouldnt they simply create an app in 7.8 and then port it to wp8/w8?

Because if a developer has stayed away from learning how to code for WP7, what is the motivation to do it now? Instead they can just go the native code route and support WP8/8RT. The WP7 install base will get smaller every day so why learn it now?

 

[Mr_pither]

oh dear....

What the #### Microsoft? You couldn't improve my hardware with just a software change??? #### YOU!

 

[Reflexx]

Because if a developer has stayed away from learning how to code for WP7, what is the motivation to do it now? Instead they can just go the native code route and support WP8/8RT. The WP7 install base will get smaller every day so why learn it now?

Native code is a pain in the butt.

Though for games, there are game engines that can make development as easy as managed code. But the engine itself runs native code.

 

[jdevenberg]

I knew there was a chance that they wouldn't get the update. In a thread discussing that, I even said I would be fine with that on two conditions; 1. MS give us some sort of update that brings the non-hardware features (which they are doing) and 2. that our phones were capable of running the WP8 apps. It isn't not getting Apollo that I'm upset about, it is being cut off from new apps. They could have gone about this in a way that apps could have been cross compatible to a degree (i.e. they don't require the improved hardware), which is more the Apple route, and honestly what I was expecting.

 

[naplesbill]

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

I can still return my Lumia within the 30 day window. But, I also have a Titan II. I may just do that though. At least then I will only get stuck with one outdated device.

I am trying not to be pessimistic but Microsoft did not provide any real way for a WP7 device to be completely integrated with a Surface RT device (this means sharing apps, etc.). This is why I am upset about this. There is no way you can convince me that a Titan II or Lumia 900 would not be able to run WP8 with some hardware based features disabled. I don't care what MS says about resources, they have wasted more on less (see Danger and Kin). The early adopters have basically been left out of the loop. WP7.8 is not even a bone, it's more like a toothpick.

I don't even know if I will consider a Surface at this point. I may be more reasonable in a week or two, but man this is just stupid on MS's part. They haven't learned a thing from their past. This same thought process is why so many of the WM users have moved on to other platforms.

 

[bigkevbosky]

What the #### Microsoft? You couldn't improve my hardware with just a software change??? #### YOU!

The only way MS can fix this for me is to offer me $500 in gold coins for my current phone and then give me a free WP8 device!

 

[hobbit25]

I have to admit i'm a bit pissed and disappointed. I purchased my Lumina 800 last month because it was finally available in Canada. I don't care about not having the best hardware because the WP experience is great but a 1 month old phone is now going to be no longer supported in a few months and I feel ripped off.

 

[jdevenberg]

What the #### Microsoft? You couldn't improve my hardware with just a software change??? #### YOU!

That really isn't the issue. No one was expecting our phones to have NFC or high res screens. That would be idiotic. The issue is about our phones not getting apps they would be perfectly capable of running because they had been written only for WP8, not for both.

 

[Reflexx]

Damn. Was hoping to be able to snag a cheap Lumia.

 

[canesfan625]

There might not be many new games but to say there wont be new apps is ridiculous. What app requires native code? none really. Obviously we wont be able to use some apps but it wont be much different from that of people with tango

 

[bigkevbosky]

I can still return my Lumia within the 30 day window. But, I also have a Titan II. I may just do that though. At least then I will only get stuck with one outdated device.

I am trying not to be pessimistic but Microsoft did not provide any real way for a WP7 device to be completely integrated with a Surface RT device (this means sharing apps, etc.). This is why I am upset about this. There is no way you can convince me that a Titan II or Lumia 900 would not be able to run WP8 with some hardware based features disabled. I don't care what MS says about resources, they have wasted more on less (see Danger and Kin). The early adopters have basically been left out of the loop. WP7.8 is not even a bone, it's more like a toothpick.

I don't even know if I will consider a Surface at this point. I may be more reasonable in a week or two, but man this is just stupid on MS's part. They haven't learned a thing from their past. This same thought process is why so many of the WM users have moved on to other platforms.

Let's go over some of your options for smart phones :

iOS - Jump on Apple's ship and you'll get support longer, but you'll spend much more, have less hardware choice, and be cut off from certain portions of updates (iPhone 4 can't run Siri? Really?)

Android - They're going to announce Jelly Bean and Key Lime Pie next week - yet the MAJORITY of their devices still run Gingerbread. So, yknow, good luck with updates there.

Symbian - Dead.

WebOS - Dead.

RIM - Dead. Basically.

Windows Phone - Yes, its unfortunate that you can't get WP8 on your device. Sucks. But when the Titan 2 and Lumia were ANNOUNCED, speculation was rampant they wouldn't get WP8. Right? Ok so you took the CHANCE your device wouldn't get updated. You came out on the losing end of a coin flip. BUT, you'll at least get SOME benefits from WP 7.8. NEXT time you're about to buy a device, and it isn't known if it'll get a software update, here's some advice - WAIT. It's what a lot of us did.

Meanwhile, while the Lumia and Titan 2 owners cry, MS had done a great SERVICE to first gen devices like the Focus by giving them even more longevity on their devices.

If you are REALLY pissed, sell your Lumia and Titan on Ebay, save the $500 or so you'll get, and buy a WP8 device off contract.

I can still return my Lumia within the 30 day window. But, I also have a Titan II. I may just do that though. At least then I will only get stuck with one outdated device.

You MAY just do that though? YOU MAY? You're whining about not getting an update and you MAY return your Lumia? Are you ok in the head?

YES, go return your Lumia. Yeesh.

 

[Seketh]

That really isn't the issue. No one was expecting our phones to have NFC or high res screens. That would be idiotic. The issue is about our phones not getting apps they would be perfectly capable of running because they had been written only for WP8, not for both.

Yes, devs will have to create a version of their WP8 app to WP7. But this is so easy to do, and considering the user base revenue possibilities, why wouldn't they?

It's not like Windows Phone 7 will suddenly stop getting apps.

 

[trickym81]

Wait.... WP7 apps will run on WP8 and WP8 apps will (apparently) run on Windows 8 as well.

Does that chain go all the way up? Like would there be a way to code an app that would run on WP7, WP8 and Windows 8? Or can it only go "up one step" so to speak?

 

[jdevenberg]

There might not be many new games but to say there wont be new apps is ridiculous. What app requires native code? none really.

Native Code isn't the only thing that could keep it off WP7. If there is a single WP8 exclusive API in an app, it will not be available for WP7. That is straight from MS, not speculation.

 

[canesfan625]

Google already set the precedent for this. They bent G1 users over and no lube and no early adopter trade in program of any kind from them or tmo. I don't expect to see anything MSFT either.

 

[jdevenberg]

Wait.... WP7 apps will run on WP8 and WP8 apps will (apparently) run on Windows 8 as well.

Does that chain go all the way up? Like would there be a way to code an app that would run on WP7, WP8 and Windows 8? Or can it only go "up one step" so to speak?

Really, the better way to think of it is that Windows 8 apps will run in Windows Phone 8 with very little modification. There will be a large user base for Windows 8, and if you can target a second platform with a tiny change in code, why not. The same can't be said for going from Windows 8 to Windows Phone 7. Plus the install base of Windows Phone 7 is so small that few will likely put in the effort.

 

[jaj324]

My .02 - WP7.8 will be WP8 Lite. The same apps will run on both with the exception of a few WP8 only. Your single-core 512MB device will run much better with 7.8 than it ever would have with 8. RIM and Apple both upgraded the software on devices beyond there processing capability. it sucked. I downgraded back when possible. Apple actually made downgrading impossible, that really sucked.

 

[trickym81]

Really, the better way to think of it is that Windows 8 apps will run in Windows Phone 8 with very little modification. There will be a large user base for Windows 8, and if you can target a second platform with a tiny change in code, why not. The same can't be said for going from Windows 8 to Windows Phone 7. Plus the install base of Windows Phone 7 is so small that few will likely put in the effort.

What I don't get, because I'm not a developer, is how much effort is it to take a Windows 8 or WP8 app and get it to run on WP7?

 

[naplesbill]

Let's go over some of your options for smart phones :

iOS - Jump on Apple's ship and you'll get support longer, but you'll spend much more, have less hardware choice, and be cut off from certain portions of updates (iPhone 4 can't run Siri? Really?)

Android - They're going to announce Jelly Bean and Key Lime Pie next week - yet the MAJORITY of their devices still run Gingerbread. So, yknow, good luck with updates there.

Symbian - Dead.

WebOS - Dead.

RIM - Dead. Basically.

Windows Phone - Yes, its unfortunate that you can't get WP8 on your device. Sucks. But when the Titan 2 and Lumia were ANNOUNCED, speculation was rampant they wouldn't get WP8. Right? Ok so you took the CHANCE your device wouldn't get updated. You came out on the losing end of a coin flip. BUT, you'll at least get SOME benefits from WP 7.8. NEXT time you're about to buy a device, and it isn't known if it'll get a software update, here's some advice - WAIT. It's what a lot of us did.

Meanwhile, while the Lumia and Titan 2 owners cry, MS had done a great SERVICE to first gen devices like the Focus by giving them even more longevity on their devices.

If you are REALLY pissed, sell your Lumia and Titan on Ebay, save the $500 or so you'll get, and buy a WP8 device off contract.



You MAY just do that though? YOU MAY? You're whining about not getting an update and you MAY return your Lumia? Are you ok in the head?

YES, go return your Lumia. Yeesh.

I will not have the same phone for more than three months regardless. That is not the point. The point is that none of these devices will have any resale value. This means I will spend more out of pocket in three months because I make less from selling my current device. Microsoft essentially sealed the doom of all exisiting WP7 devices.

Defend and sugarcoat Microsoft's choices all you want, it is still a slap in the face. I didn't buy a WP7 because of Android or IOS. I bought WP7 devices because Microsoft made the implication that this platform was NOT a dead end. That all became false today. The 7.8 they are providing is nothing more than a joke. It will not provide any extension of app compatibility so essentially it is like getting a divorce ring. It may look nice at first, but then you will realize what it really means.

I almost forgot. I still have two more upgrades available sometime this year. My comment about I may was sarcasm. Of course I am going to return the Lumia. There is no incentive to keep it.

 

[canesfan625]

Native Code isn't the only thing that could keep it off WP7. If there is a single WP8 exclusive API in an app, it will not be available for WP7. That is straight from MS, not speculation.

FUD

Developers are going to develop for what the majority of the base is which probably will be legacy devices for some time.