Windows Phone 8

History

Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 8 on June 20, 2012, under the codename Apollo, as a third-generation release for later that year. It replaced the Windows CE kernel with the Windows NT kernel, sharing many components with Windows 8 to ease app porting between platforms. Enterprise features included device management, BitLocker encryption, and the ability to create a private Marketplace. All Windows Phone 8 devices received at least 36 months of software support after release.

Developers could target both Windows Phone 7 and 8 via the proper SDKs in Visual Studio. The OS was not offered as an update for existing Windows Phone 7 devices; instead, Microsoft released Windows Phone 7.8 with backported features like the redesigned home screen. Some enterprise improvements, such as VPN support, were delayed until Windows Phone 8.1 due to software bugs.

Features

Windows Phone 8 was the first mobile OS from Microsoft to use the Windows NT kernel, specifically NT kernel 6.2, the same kernel running Windows 8. It brought an improved file system, drivers, network stack, security components, and media and graphics support. The NT kernel enabled support for multi-core CPUs of up to 64 cores, along with 1280×720 and 1280×768 resolutions in addition to the base 800×480 resolution from Windows Phone 7. MicroSD card support was added for extra storage, and 1080p screen support arrived with the GDR3 update in October 2013.

The switch to the NT kernel also brought native 128-bit BitLocker encryption, Secure Boot, and NTFS support. The boot loader adopted UEFI with ACPI protocol as part of the board support package. Internet Explorer 10 served as the default browser, with a simplified navigation interface featuring a single customizable button (defaulting to stop/refresh) and an address bar; swipe navigation allowed forward and back movement. Unlike its predecessor, Windows Phone 8 used true multitasking, letting developers create apps that run in the background and resume instantly.

Users switched between active tasks by pressing and holding the Back button, though any application could be suspended or terminated under conditions such as network connection establishment or low battery. An app running in the background might also auto-suspend if not opened for a long time. The user could close apps by opening the multitasking view and pressing an X button in the right-hand corner of each window, a feature added in Update 3.

Reception

Reviewers liked the extra features in Windows Phone 8, but they pointed out that its app store had fewer choices than rival platforms. Brad Molen from Engadget called the operating system exactly what people had hoped Microsoft would deliver, highlighting the more flexible Start Screen, its link to Windows 8, and better NFC support, though he also flagged the shortage of apps. The Verge scored it 7.9 out of 10, saying Microsoft was offering one of the most attractive ecosystem pitches around, but it took issue with the absence of a single notifications hub.

Alexandra Chang at Wired gave it an 8 out of 10, praising additions that were missing from Windows Phone 7, such as support for multi-core processors, faster web browsing, and the move from Bing Maps to Nokia Maps, while again noting the limited app selection. Some criticism centered on Microsoft’s decision to switch the kernel from the CE version used in Windows Phone 7 to the NT kernel, which it announced in June 2012 without first informing partners like Nokia and HTC or developers, and the ongoing lack of apps and a mature software ecosystem.

According to IDC, in the first full quarter of Windows Phone 8 availability across most countries (Q1 2013), its global market share rose to 3.2%, pushing it past BlackBerry OS into third place. By October 2013, Kantar reported that Windows Phone had increased its share to 4.8% in the United States and 10.2% in Europe. Gartner’s Q3 2013 figures showed a 123% year-over-year jump to 3.6% worldwide. However, IDC noted that by Q1 2014, global share had fallen to 2.7%.