WINDOWS PHONE : THE BEST SMART PHONE OS

The release of the iPhone in 2007 trembled the mobile industry out of its satisfaction. It not only ruined the supremacy of Nokia in the market, but also enforced companies to reconsider and revise their operating systems. Provoked by this challenge, Microsoft worked on and came up with a brand new operating system. Although the Windows Phone 7 had its piece of inadequacies, it still epitomized out-of-the-box thinking as far a mobile operating system was concerned. A couple of years on, we now have the Windows Phone 8 OS. It is making its main rivals, iOS and Android. The Windows Phone 8 is appearing to be the best smartphone OS. Here I have summed up few points that prove that it is the best. Have a look.

Windows Phone 8 is  the second and latest version of Windows Phone. it is the second generation of the Windows phone mobile Operating System, Released on october 29,2012.and like its predecessor it features the interface known as METRO.

Windows Phone 8 replaces its CE-based architecture used on Windows Phone 7 devices with the Windows NTkernel found on many Windows 8 components. Current Windows Phone 7.x devices cannot run or update to Windows Phone 8 and new applications compiled specifically for Windows Phone 8 are not made available for Windows Phone 7.x devices.

Windows Phone 8 devices are manufactured byNokia, HTC, Samsung and Huawei

DEVLOPMENT

On June 20, 2012, Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 8(codenamed Apollo), a second generation of the Windows Phone operating system for release later in 2012. Windows Phone 8 replaces its previously Windows CE-based architecture with one based on the Windows NT kernel (with many components shared with Windows 8), allowing developers to easily port applications between the two platforms.

Windows Phone 8 will also allow devices with larger screens (the 3 confirmed sizes are "WVGA 800x480 15:9","WXGA 1280x768 15:9","720p 1280x720 16:9" resolutions) and multi-core processors,NFC (which can primarily be used to share content and perform payments), backwards compatibility with Windows Phone 7 apps, improved support for removable storage (which now functions more similarly to how such storage is handled on Windows and Android), a redesigned home screen incorporating resizable tiles across the entire screen, a new Wallet hub (to integrate NFC payments, coupon websites such as Groupon, and loyalty cards), and "first-class" integration of VoIP applications into the core functions of the OS. Additionally, Windows Phone 8 will include more features aimed at the enterprise market, such as device management, BitLockerencryption, and the ability to create a private Marketplace to distribute apps to employees—features expected to meet or exceed the enterprise capabilities of the previous Windows Mobile platform. Additionally, Windows Phone 8 will support over-the-air updates, and all Windows Phone 8 devices will receive software support for at least 36 months after their release.

In the interest of ensuring it is released with devices designed to take advantage of its new features, Windows Phone 8 will not be made available as an update for existing Windows Phone 7 devices. Instead, Microsoft released Windows Phone 7.8 as an update for Windows Phone 7 devices, which backported several features such as the redesigned home screen.

Addressing some software bugs with Windows Phone 8 has forced Microsoft to delay some enterprise improvements, like VPN support, until 2014.

FEATURES

Core

Windows Phone 8 is the first mobile OS from Microsoft to use the Windows NT kernel, which is the same kernel that runs Windows 8. The operating system adds improved file system, drivers, network stack, security components, media and graphics support. Using the NT kernel, Windows Phone can now support multi-core CPUs of up to 64 cores, as well as 1280x720 and 1280x768 resolutions, in addition to the base 800x480 resolution already available on Windows Phone 7. Furthermore, Windows Phone 8 also adds support for MicroSD cards, which are commonly used to add extra storage to phones.

Due to the switch to the NT kernel, Windows Phone 8 also supports native 128-bit Bitlocker encryption and Secure Boot. Windows Phone 8 also supports NTFS due to this switch.

Web

Internet Explorer 10 is the default browser in Windows Phone 8 and carries over key improvements also found in the desktop version. The navigation interface has been simplified down to a single customizable button (defaults to stop / refresh) and the address bar. While users can change the button to a 'Back' button, there is no way to add a 'Forward' button.

         

MultiTasking

Unlike its predecessor, Windows Phone 8 uses true multitasking, allowing developers to create apps that can run in the background and resume instantly.

A user can switch between "active" tasks by pressing and holding the Back button, but any application listed may be suspended or terminated  under certain conditions, such as a network connection being established or battery power running low. An app running in the background may also automatically suspend if the user has not opened it for a long duration of time.

The user can force quit an application by pressing the "back" button repeatedly, which flips through and closes each open app.

Kids Corner

Windows Phone 8 adds Kids Corner, which operates as a kind of "guest mode". The user chooses which applications and games appear on the Kids Corner. When Kids Corner is activated, apps and games installed on the device can be played or accessed without touching the data of the main user signed in to the Windows Phone.

Rooms

Rooms is a feature added specifically for group messaging and communication. Using Rooms, users can contact and see Facebookand Twitter updates only from members of the group created

Data Sense

Data Sense allows users to set data usage limits based on their individual plan. Data Sense can restrict background data when the user is near their set limit (a heart icon is used to notify the user when background tasks are being automatically stopped).Although this feature was originally exclusive to Verizon phones in the United States, the GDR2 update released in July 2013 made Data Sense available to all Windows Phone 8 handsets.

NFC and Wallet

Select Windows Phones running Windows Phone 8 add NFCcapability, which allows for data transfer between two Windows Phone devices, or between a Windows Phone device, and a Windows 8computer or tablet, using a feature called "Tap and Send".

In certain markets, NFC support on Windows Phone 8 can also be used to conduct in-person transactions through credit and debit cards stored on the phone through the Wallet application. Carriers may activate the NFC feature through SIM or integrated phone hardware. Orange will be first carrier to support NFC on Windows Phone 8. Besides NFC support for transactions, Wallet can also be used to store credit cards in order to make Windows Phone Store and other in-app purchases (which is also a new feature), and can be used to store coupons and loyalty cards.

People Hub

 Now no need to save every contact in your phonebook. In windows 8, you can add contacts to People Hub on Windows Phone. Instead of the phonebook, as all contacts are added to People Hub on Windows Phone. You can also create rooms and invite your friends from your contact list to join it. All the room users can communicate over chat; share their calendars, photos and many more stuffs likes notes

Nokia Maps

 As announced by Microsoft, Windows Phone 8 comes with pre-loaded Nokia’s navigation software. They are a lot better than the previous Bing Maps available in Windows Phones. Nokia Maps has just been updated to version 3.0.125.8 for Windows Phone 8.

Windows Phone Store

The new Windows Phone Store formerly knows as Windows Marketplace has a handful of additional categories that allows users to browse and download applications that have been developed by third-parties. The user can browse categories and titles, see featured items, and get details with ratings, reviews, screen shots, and pricing information. However, the total number of apps at market place are much fewer than the App Store or Google Play but the Windows Phone Store market is expanding with wide varieties of apps like anything.
Camera Windows Phone 8 has upgraded the camera and lenses and now comes with dedicated 8MP rear camera with LED flash and speaker.

Other Features

• Xbox SmartGlass allows control of an Xbox 360 with a phone (Available for Windows Phone, iOS and Android)
• Xbox Music services support playback audio files in Windows Phone, as well as music purchases.
• Xbox Video services support playback of video files in Windows Phone but not video purchases.
• Native code support (C++), allows for simplified porting from platforms such as Android, Symbian, and iOS
• Simplified porting of Windows 8 apps to Windows Phone 8 (compatibility with Windows 8 "Modern UI" apps)
• Remote device management of Windows Phone similar to management of Windows PCs
• VoIP and video chat integration for any VoIP or video chat app (integrates into the phone dialer, people hub)
• Firmware over the air for Windows Phone updates
• Minimum 36 month support of Windows Phone updates to Windows Phone 8 devices
• Camera app now supports "lenses", which allow third parties to skin and add features to camera interface
• Native screen capture is added by pressing home and power buttons simultaneously
• Hebrew language support is added for Microsoft to introduce Windows Phone to the Israeli market.

In short, Windows Phone 8 is a lot better than its predecessors and a lot different from them too. Presently it is the best smartphone OS in the market and it is going the rule over iOS and Android. So if you are thinking of getting an smartphone, go for Windows Phone 8.