{"id":30249,"date":"2012-10-29T23:15:50","date_gmt":"2012-10-29T21:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/?p=30249"},"modified":"2025-07-02T01:42:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T08:42:25","slug":"windows-phone-8-launch-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/windows-phone-8-launch-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Windows Phone 8 launch recap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/windows-phone-8-launch-recap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-30251\" title=\"Windows Phone 8\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/windows-phone-8-logo.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"56\" \/><\/a>Microsoft released <a title=\"Essential Guide to Windows 8\" href=\"http:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/essential-guide-to-windows-8\">Windows 8<\/a> to the public last week and it continues the momentum with the official launch of Windows Phone 8. While the new Windows Phone 8 devices aren\u2019t readily available yet, Vice President Joe Belfiore announced more features in the new operating system that he didn\u2019t touch on during the <a title=\"Windows Phone Summit recap\" href=\"http:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/windows-phone-summit-recap\">Windows Phone Summit<\/a> back in June.<\/p>\n<p>The Windows Phone Summit was a beginner\u2019s introduction to the upgraded operating system, highlighting hardware and more developer specific information. Today\u2019s launch announcement was directed more toward the consumer.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a rundown of the features highlighted during the announcement.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><object><\/object><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Live Tiles<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>These automatically updating tiles are fully customizable, and you can choose what you want to pin to the main screen. Tiles are re-sizable. You can pin people and favorite apps and reconfigure the main screen to your interests.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30253\" title=\"Windows Phone 8 lock screen\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-lock-screen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-lock-screen.jpg 600w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-lock-screen-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Live Apps<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Apps can integrate with Wallet and interact with other apps.<\/li>\n<li>Lock Screen features Live Apps.<\/li>\n<li>Facebook is releasing a Windows Phone 8 optimized app that can be set for the lock screen.<\/li>\n<li>Any app can provide notifications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Skype for Windows Phone 8<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Acts like a second line because it is always on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30254\" title=\"Windows Phone 8 top apps\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-top-apps.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-top-apps.jpg 600w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-top-apps-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>46 of the Top 50 popular apps on other platforms will be on Windows Phone 8.<\/p>\n<p>Pandora will release on Windows Phone 8 with one year of music with no ads.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30256\" title=\"Windows Phone 8 data sense\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-data-sense.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-data-sense.jpg 600w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-data-sense-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Data Sense<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Monitors data usage.<\/li>\n<li>Microsoft is compressing webpages for cellular data allowing users to browse more sites.<\/li>\n<li>App will find nearby Wi-Fi hotspots and show them on the map.<\/li>\n<li>Automatically offloads data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30257\" title=\"Windows Phone 8 kid's corner\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-kids-corner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-kids-corner.jpg 600w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-kids-corner-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Kid\u2019s Corner<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Separate area on phone for children.<\/li>\n<li>Parents can choose which apps, music, and other content children can access.<\/li>\n<li>Protects personal data by locking unauthorized apps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30258\" title=\"Windows Phone 8 iTunes Jessica Alba\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-iTunes-Jessica-Alba.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-iTunes-Jessica-Alba.jpg 600w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-iTunes-Jessica-Alba-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Import iTunes library and playlist to Windows Phone<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30259\" title=\"Windows Phone 8 people hub\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-people-hub.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-people-hub.jpg 600w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-people-hub-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>People Hub<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Create Rooms of specific users.<\/li>\n<li>Automatically send group messages.<\/li>\n<li>Group Calendar access.<\/li>\n<li>Post private photos.<\/li>\n<li>Create group-specific notes viewable by everyone.<\/li>\n<li>People with other phones can be invited to Rooms and see a limited number of features like sharing the Calendar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30261\" title=\"Windows Phone 8 skydrive\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-skydrive.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-skydrive.jpg 600w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-skydrive-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Skydrive<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Enabled by default through Windows account.<\/li>\n<li>Photos are automatically uploaded to cloud.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Music<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Xbox Music Service will extend to Windows Phone 8.  Read more about <a title=\"Xbox Music brings free streaming to Windows 8 PCs\" href=\"http:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/xbox-music-brings-free-streaming-to-windows-8-pcs\">Xbox Music here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30260\" title=\"Windows Phone 8 features\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-features.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-features.jpg 600w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2012\/10\/Windows-Phone-8-features-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The features described in the Windows Phone 8 launch are directed toward the consumer. The focus on Live Tiles continues with Windows Phone 8, adding more customization and a new level of individualism not found on other platforms by default. It\u2019s a little early to tell if Windows Phone 8 is going to gain more popularity, but the improvements from Windows Phone 7 are impressive.  Microsoft has an interesting OS for consumers, but will they want to change from iOS or Android?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft released Windows 8 to the public last week and it continues the momentum with the official launch of Windows Phone 8. While the new Windows Phone 8 devices aren\u2019t readily available yet, Vice President Joe Belfiore announced more features in the new operating system that he didn\u2019t touch on during the Windows Phone Summit &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/windows-phone-8-launch-recap\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Windows Phone 8 launch recap&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2030,"featured_media":30251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[1015],"tags":[],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-30249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2030"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30249"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":333569,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30249\/revisions\/333569"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30249"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=30249"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=30249"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=30249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}