Legacy PHones no Apollo Update, will get 7.8 update

[AzD]

I bought a car in August, and then in October they announced the very SAME MODEL of the car but with extra features. Who's going to support my car now? They screwed me over!

Mmm... maybe more like, buy a car in August, they announce a new model in October that uses different sized tires, and eventually they are going to stop making tires that fit your model altogether.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

 

[Aeon2k]

Or less. Heck, they could have called it WP8 and just pointed out that it would be missing features like Apple does. Instead they acknowledged that there is a difference and now people are acting like MS is remotely detonating their phones tomorrow.

Most of the "rants" here are not about missing (hardware) features. Noone is so insane to expect that the phone might grow an NFC chip or a second core.
The complaints are based on
1) the fear that with (latest) WP8 phones not so far away the number of future apps for wp7 will decline, especially considering that a) wp7 has an already small marketshare and b) wp8 apps will run on all w8 devices making it potentially more lucrative.
2) people who bought a lumia in the past months were (imo rightfully) expecting the next big update on a hero (!) device. Most people don't read tech news/blogs and didn't know about the rumors (!!) of the lumias not getting the next update.
Both complaints are imo reasonable.
I just hope Nokia survives two osborne effects in a row...

 

[Winterfang]

I know. I'm not against you guys. I just accept Windows Phone 7 as dead.

 

[Rocketdan9]

Agreed. While i love the build of the 900 and think the design is one of the best on the market, I always felt it wasn't worth the 2 year commitment since the specs were so low and we all knew that WP8 required a dual core processor.

Good points. I switched over from Android after playing around with the lumia 900 at Best Buy. So close to buying the Lumia 900 , but the single core and 512 ram vs future kept bothering me. The screen though is advanced, and much better than anything out in the market right now.

I still couldn't deal with my stupid Android phone and got a refurb Samsung Focus instead. I lucked out because it is still an excellent phone plus i saved some money.

 

[Anthonyfear]

Or less. Heck, they could have called it WP8 and just pointed out that it would be missing features like Apple does. Instead they acknowledged that there is a difference and now people are acting like MS is remotely detonating their phones tomorrow.

To be fair - Windows Phone supporters are pretty few and far between. So if even a quarter of us feel disgruntled with this new move - that's a pretty big % of the user base!

I was previously a iPhone user but had the opportunity of an upgrade so took a gamble on a Lumia 900.

Did I know that the Lumia 900 was not highest specification handset on the market? Yes,
Did I know Samsung Galaxy S3 / iPhone 5 / Windows 8 devices were 'potentially' coming out? Yes,
But did I decide to support Nokia & MS anyway because I thought they had a genuinely different and interesting alternative? Yes !

Now my 'hero' phone is a 'wimp' with no prospects.

Of course I understand hardware gets upgraded, and that Windows Phone needed a significant upgrade to compete in the future - but even Apple don't throw out their 'Hero' phones within 12 months (and they can afford too).

I think the best thing MS / Nokia could do is offer trade-ins for new Windows Phone 8 devices when they are released. That would keep Lumia sales going now and would offer us 'supporters' a cheaper upgrade path.

Thought?

Oh and before you shout "Nokia can't afford that" - they are already giving away $200 headphones and $100 rebates as 'incentives', so why not a %50 handset trade in?

 

[suvastallions]

MS should have first build up its customer base before going to WP8. Customers will rethink their future with the OS with this high turnover.

 

[dkp23]

Windows Phone 7 needed to die. Windows 8 is what we needed all alone, actual Windows oh the phone.

Are you saying that Windows Phone 8 was the hero that we deserved, but not the one we need right now?

 

[jake69]

why so concern about apps for WP8? By the time those apps come out most likely majority of us are due for an upgrade.

 

[anon(5335877)]

Mmm... maybe more like, buy a car in August, they announce a new model in October that uses different sized tires, and eventually they are going to stop making tires that fit your model altogether.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

I don't think that analogy fits. The tires will eventually wear out and your car will be useless (in real life though, that can't happen. Tire manufacturers make all different sizes of tires. I guess I'm being nitpicky because I know too much about cars). Meanwhile, WP7 devices won't be useless, they'll still work fine. They just won't be the latest and greatest. Just like how an older car will still work (or should) and will get you from Point A to Point B. It just may not get you there as efficiently (gas mileage), and it may not have the latest tech toys (self park assist, entertainment system, etc.). However, it'll do it's job of taking places just fine.

 

[slinky826]

"Moreover, applications for Windows Phone 7.x will automatically run on Windows Phone 8 with little or no changes to the code of the app. Apps coded on Windows Phone 8 will conversely run on Windows Phone 7.x as well so long as they don’t use native coding (apps coded with native C++ won’t run on Windows Phone 7.x since they use different APIs)."

Wait, so what's the fuss about now?

http://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-officially-announces-windows-phone-8

Dev's won't use those WP8 API's until WP8 has a large enough user base to warrant it. Stop with the fear mongering and move on.

 

[DanSmithKY]

The comparisons to Apple really don't mean much though guys. Of course Apple doesn't come out with a "Hero" device and then come out with an incompatible OS a couple months later. They only release one new (phone) device a year and they only make one "major" update to their OS a year.

As far as apps go, few developers are going to make their apps WP 8 exclusive anytime soon. The only way they could justify such a move would be if WP 8 exploded out of the gate (relatively speaking) and established a similar in size or larger userbase than WP 7. Even then it would be post-launch.

 

[sinime]

Windows Phone 7 needed to die. Windows 8 is what we needed all alone, actual Windows oh the phone.

It may share the core, but it won't be actual windows on the phone. You won't be able to install win desktop programs on the phone. 8 pro is only for the high end Surface.

 

[slinky826]

Just copying from another thread, since it's relevant.

"Moreover, applications for Windows Phone 7.x will automatically run on Windows Phone 8 with little or no changes to the code of the app. Apps coded on Windows Phone 8 will conversely run on Windows Phone 7.x as well so long as they don’t use native coding (apps coded with native C++ won’t run on Windows Phone 7.x since they use different APIs)."

Wait, so what's the fuss about now?

http://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-o...indows-phone-8

Dev's won't use those WP8 API's until WP8 has a large enough user base to warrant it. Stop with the fear mongering and move on.

 

[anon(5335877)]

why so concern about apps for WP8? By the time those apps come out most likely majority of us are due for an upgrade.

Not those who bought a Lumia 900.

 

[sinime]

Oh, and I'm about to get into writing an app or two for WP, unfortunately the first app probably doesn't interest anyone here unless your a Beer Knurd / UFO member. Anyhow, I plan to target WP7 and only code for WP8 specifically if 7 can't handle it. Should run fine on 7, the first version ran on my Pre- and I'm coding the second version on iOS right now.

Sry for dbl post, hit quote instead of edit and can't delete the post from this app.

 

[AzD]

Well, if I didn't have an upgrade available, I'd buy a Surface RT tablet before I paid full price for a WP8 phone, and wait it out for upgrade eligibility. That's just me.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

 

[blehblehbleh]

I told y'all the cycle will repeat itself oneday...
Look what just came out:
"While current Windows Phones ? even those that just launched this year ? will be cut off with Windows Phone 7.8, future Windows Phone 8 devices will get at least 18 months of software updates. However, Apple has historically provided iOS updates for its various devices over a much longer timeframe ? the iPhone 3GS, introduced back in 2009, will receive iOS 6 later this year, plus minor updates after that, which makes for over 40 months of updates. If the Windows Phone team sticks to its yearly release schedule, 18 months would mean only one major update plus six months of additional minor updates.

Right after 18 months, So called WP8 will be ****ed just like WP7.x now.
Read the cooments too.
Windows Phone 8 guarantees 18 months of over-the-air updates, but is that enough? | WMPoweruser

Didn't read the link but if you think about it Apple controls the hardware on the iPhone. The timing of 18 months fits perfectly with hardware partners and mobile operators for planning new devices. It fits within the model of 2 year contracts. Hardware OEMs can just churn out devices without worrying about if the next phone will be capable of supporting the newer update. It just automatically will.

Microsoft wants to please their partners which in term helps them in business.

 

[AzD]

I don't think that analogy fits. The tires will eventually wear out and your car will be useless (in real life though, that can't happen. Tire manufacturers make all different sizes of tires. I guess I'm being nitpicky because I know too much about cars). Meanwhile, WP7 devices won't be useless, they'll still work fine. They just won't be the latest and greatest. Just like how an older car will still work (or should) and will get you from Point A to Point B. It just may not get you there as efficiently (gas mileage), and it may not have the latest tech toys (self park assist, entertainment system, etc.). However, it'll do it's job of taking places just fine.

Well no analogy is perfect, but I think mine fits just fine. Eventually your WP7 apps will stop being supported & updated. Sure it will work, but it will be like driving on bald tires that you can't replace.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

 

[anon(5335877)]

Well no analogy is perfect, but I think mine fits just fine. Eventually your WP7 apps will stop being supported & updated. Sure it will work, but it will be like driving on bald tires that you can't replace.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

Hopefully by that time, everyone will be eligible for an upgrade.

 

[fatclue_98]

I really regret the day I switched to WP. What's up with all these platform instability since WM 6.5? Why do they keep on changing stuff that worries poor consumers. A lot of people really need to be sacked from MS for making stupid decisions.
I really don't care about the stupid looks they announced.....all I care about is being supported.

Microsoft has confirmed that WP8 apps WILL NOT RUN in WP7.x. How many developers do you really think are going to design for WP7 now? To tell y'all the truth, there will be no support for WP7.x when WP8 comes out. I need support for apps not stupid looks.
Currently we (WP7.x) users are still fighting and praying for apps to come out, now with the announcement of this, I guess all ideas will be dropped and shifted to WP8...WTF! Is this some sort of Marketing strategy or what? Why didn't they decide all this kernel change before releasing WP7? We would have all be able to upgrade peacefully. With this I really think they'll change the kernel again when WP9 comes out and the cycle continues again.....why Microsoft? Are you guys some college and high school dudes with no PhD holders amongst you? Thus accounting for the stupid decisions you make to hurt our feelings and steal our money. I don't buy phones cheap because phones here are not carrier based and on contract....they are all unbranded and ****ing expensive. When will I ever get a WP8 device? My current phone is less than 14months old and you really wanna make me buy a ****ing expensive phone again or still use my device like a Symbian phone? This is just stupid.

I now understand and know that using a WP7.x was really a beta test.
I'm really pissed and just gonna throw my Stupid WP away and even switch. What's up with all these stupid changes and instability with the platform....****ers!

Feel like you gotta make an appointment with your proctologist to remove that 10' MS pole? Welcome to the world inhabited by former webOS users. We "feel" your pain.