Re: Lumia 920 to a Nokia N8
All those things you numbered are doable from a Microsoft software perspective.
Ya.. the NT kernel is very powerful, as we all know from out desktops, and its pretty much up to Microsoft and the available hardware for them to unlock it's full potential.
For example, NT can multitask as well as Symbian, but it needs more powerful hardware to achieve that. I think as soon as we get to 4GB ram and 3000+ mah batteries (or equivalent tech) MS should be able to unlock the multitasking. Also, don't forget that Windows Phone 8 is technically 1.0 .. or .. if you go by the kernel number.. 6.2 but I think they are different enough to where it doesn't correspond directly, so.. MS will be working on further optimization of the kernel anyway.
I believe that there can be an equilibrium between software and hardware.. in other words, hardware than can allow for the software to fully shine. I think we are just now hitting that mark in the Android realm, and they are at 4.0 / quad core 2gb ram.. I am pretty sure that iOS hit that mark with the iPhone 4s / iOS5.. dual core/1gb ram
Windows CE is at 7.5 I believe, and its very good.. it runs very well on single core/512 ram, much better than Android, and probably a bit better than iOS.
Windows NT (mobile), which is what we have in WP8, is surprisingly very, very good.. considering that its a desktop kernel that wasn't meant to run on cell phones. If someone told me that we will see NT run on mobile phones couple of years ago, I would've laughed at them. So.. just give it time.. I would say once they get to 3.0 - 3.5 we will have a pretty solid platform on our hands. At that time, the hardware will be much stronger as well..
.. the balance for WP8 might be a potent dual core/3-4gb RAM/3000 mah battery
Symbian is at version 10.5.. which technically makes it the most mature smartphone OS out there, and if you actually use one, you will see why, but still.. it never got that "equilibrium" point because Nokia mismanaged the whole project.. they would always under power their phones to the point where the software engineers were pretty much helpless.. ehm..the N97 fiasco. And bunch of other crap along in terms of where sym was going.
Even the 808 runs on a CPU architecture from .. 2002 .. lol .. so overall if you look at the history, the emphasis for Nokia was to optimize the OS to run on cheap hardware, and focus on convergence, rather than on the actual software user experience.. and by time they realized that people actually cared about the UI.. Apple stole the show.
.. the balance for Symbian would've been some dual core with faster 1gig of ram and a potent GPU. That would've solved their web browser issues for sure.
Still.. running 40 applications in real time on slow 512 ram and an ARM11 cpu.. good stuff
The internal corporate structure must have been a complete mess.
Indeed a mess.. here is some informative reading on the subject:
http://taskumuro.com/artikkelit/the-story-of-nokia-meego
and this one regarding their relationship with Microsoft over the years...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/11/nokia_microsoft_history/