TheVerge.com: current Windows Phone devices will not get 'Apollo' upgrade

[Dari]

What's the point of mimicking Apple if they're not going to provide updates years after the hardware is released?

 

[shortylickens]

By itself WebOS is perfectly fine. It just came in late and couldnt compete with established platforms. But it did encourage others to improve with things like universal search and unified contacts.
The Playbook with QNX is awesome too but again, cant compete in a crowded market.

 

[Jodell88]

poor hardware on the few phones that ran it was really the only flaw of WebOS imho, if I could get even semi current hardware with WebOS on it, I'd throw my Android phone away in a heart beat. It wasn't without flaws, but it was waaaay better than iOS & Android to me.

Pre 3?

I recently got a Pre 2 and I'm loving it.

 

[WelshBloke]

By itself WebOS is perfectly fine. It just came in late and couldnt compete with established platforms. But it did encourage others to improve with things like universal search and unified contacts.
The Playbook with QNX is awesome too but again, cant compete in a crowded market.

Ive only used WebOS on the touchpad and TBFH I was disappointed by it. The cards system was OK but a bit clunky, everything else seemed half finished or broken.

Ive not logged into WebOS for ages (been using CM9), just tried now for the first time in months (face book tells me about 6 months in the approved app list but I'd guess more like 3) only to find my WebOS install appears to be completely broken, just sits at the pulsing HP symbol.

 

[Jodell88]

Ive only used WebOS on the touchpad and TBFH I was disappointed by it. The cards system was OK but a bit clunky, everything else seemed half finished or broken.

Ive not logged into WebOS for ages (been using CM9), just tried now for the first time in months (face book tells me about 6 months in the approved app list but I'd guess more like 3) only to find my WebOS install appears to be completely broken, just sits at the pulsing HP symbol.

The touchpad didn't have the gesture bar. That makes a HUGE difference.

 

[WelshBloke]

The touchpad didn't have the gesture bar. That makes a HUGE difference.

Whats the gesture bar?

I'm not arguing that WebOS is crappy on a phone, Ive never used it on one. It was certainly not finished on the touchpad though.

 

[bearxor]

The bottom of WebOS phones (where the physical 'home' key is on a Pre) was actually a multi-touch area. To begin with you could swipe back and to go move through menus. I'm not sure what changes they made to it in later OS updates though.

And I did find it odd they left it out on the TouchPad. Wonder if they just thought the area was too big to be useful.

 

[Qbah]

As far as I know no one has ever offered "clean install" upgrades for a phone and they probably never will.

Err... what? iOS3->4->5 was basically:
1) Backup phone
2) Wipe it clean with a fresh installation
3) Restore apps/music etc from backup

If that's not a "clean install" I don't know what is...

I agree that this could mean that it needs a clean install with no "increment" upgrade possible. Actually I pray that's what it means, otherwise Nokia is pretty much dead.

 

[sciwizam]

Update: Microsoft developer evangelist retracts claim that Mango devices will get Apollo

https://blogs.msdn.com/b/nunos/archive/2012/04/19/my-comments-on-windows-phone.aspx

I recently participated in an interview with the Portuguese website Zwame, where I made some comments on the future of Windows Phone that created confusion. Rumors are swirling, so I feel the need to clarify my statements.
The point I was attempting to make was simply that existing Windows Phone applications will run on the next version of Windows Phone. This is the same guidance that Microsoft shared late last year.
I mistakenly confused app compatibility with phone updateability, which caused the rumors we saw yesterday. I did not intend to give the impression I was offering new guidance on any products under development or their upgradeability.
While we have given Windows Phone developers this preliminary guidance on app compatibility to help them with long term project planning, Microsoft does not have any further news to share on future products at this time.
As always, you can tell I am very excited about Windows Phone and I hope you are too!
Nuno Silva

 

[WelshBloke]

Update: Microsoft developer evangelist retracts claim that Mango devices will get Apollo

https://blogs.msdn.com/b/nunos/archive/2012/04/19/my-comments-on-windows-phone.aspx

Doesnt mean that the devices wont get upgraded, but I definitely wouldnt buy one on the assumption that they will.

 

[MrX8503]

Err... what? iOS3->4->5 was basically:
1) Backup phone
2) Wipe it clean with a fresh installation
3) Restore apps/music etc from backup

If that's not a "clean install" I don't know what is...

I agree that this could mean that it needs a clean install with no "increment" upgrade possible. Actually I pray that's what it means, otherwise Nokia is pretty much dead.

I believe the iPhone does do a clean install. If you check the file size of the iOS upgrade its freaking huge. This leads me to believe that its the actual full OS rather than an upgrade.

 

[shortylickens]

I've got an HD7. Was planning to upgrade anyways.

 

[WelshBloke]

I've got an HD7. Was planning to upgrade anyways.

Sticking with WP?

You going to wait till the WP8 sets come out?

 

[Slick5150]

Agree this is all speculation either way at this point so it isn't really worth debating, but add me to the list of people that wouldn't care all that much if my 900 didn't get the Apollo upgrade.

There was no sign advertising "Upgrade to Windows 8 this fall!" next to it when I bought it, I knew I was picking up the latest and greatest WP 7.5 phone. If I decide that WP8 has some upgrades that are worth me getting a new phone for, then I'll make that decision. If not, I'll be perfectly happy with my 900 w/ 7.5 on it.

 

[bearxor]

Agree this is all speculation either way at this point so it isn't really worth debating, but add me to the list of people that wouldn't care all that much if my 900 didn't get the Apollo upgrade.

There was no sign advertising "Upgrade to Windows 8 this fall!" next to it when I bought it, I knew I was picking up the latest and greatest WP 7.5 phone. If I decide that WP8 has some upgrades that are worth me getting a new phone for, then I'll make that decision. If not, I'll be perfectly happy with my 900 w/ 7.5 on it.

Ahhh, yes... It's just like Windows Mobile all over again.

 

[WelshBloke]

Agree this is all speculation either way at this point so it isn't really worth debating, but add me to the list of people that wouldn't care all that much if my 900 didn't get the Apollo upgrade.

There was no sign advertising "Upgrade to Windows 8 this fall!" next to it when I bought it, I knew I was picking up the latest and greatest WP 7.5 phone. If I decide that WP8 has some upgrades that are worth me getting a new phone for, then I'll make that decision. If not, I'll be perfectly happy with my 900 w/ 7.5 on it.

Which is the sensible attitude. You buy a product because you are happy with what it is not what you think it might become.

 

[shortylickens]

Sticking with WP?

You going to wait till the WP8 sets come out?

No point in buying another WP7 device now. Unless I was a hardcore fan boy with money to burn. But a brand new phone off contract is one rent payment or two car payments, thats silly.
Will wait to see who gets what and then go back on contract. Sprint ticked me off so no way I am ever going back to them. Hopefully they dont have a monopoly on WP8 toys.

 

[poofyhairguy]

There was no sign advertising "Upgrade to Windows 8 this fall!" next to it when I bought it, I knew I was picking up the latest and greatest WP 7.5 phone.

Honestly it is time we all took a step back an realized that iOS's ability to be easily updatable on old hardware is a true anomaly in the phone industry. It is hard to hold other platforms to that standard.

 

[dguy6789]

People should be buying phones for what they are not what they will be. A phone doesn't become worse than it is because newer software came out. If the device isn't good enough for you as is buy something else. My $0.02.

 

[Sheep]

I'm not arguing that WebOS is crappy on a phone, Ive never used it on one. It was certainly not finished on the touchpad though.

My experience with webOS ends with the Pre 1 and it certainly lacked polish there too.

Update: Microsoft developer evangelist retracts claim that Mango devices will get Apollo

https://blogs.msdn.com/b/nunos/archive/2012/04/19/my-comments-on-windows-phone.aspx

Microsoft needs to issue a statement clarifying this--to not do so is idiocy and will only hurt them. I've read idiot fanboys who say that Apple doesn't acknowledge rumors so Microsoft shouldn't do so either, but newsflash: Apple's in a much stronger position than Microsoft is in the mobile OS market. Apple can afford to not comment on rumors and Microsoft really can't at this point.

 

[WelshBloke]

No point in buying another WP7 device now. Unless I was a hardcore fan boy with money to burn. But a brand new phone off contract is one rent payment or two car payments, thats silly.
Will wait to see who gets what and then go back on contract. Sprint ticked me off so no way I am ever going back to them. Hopefully they dont have a monopoly on WP8 toys.

I would imagine that Microsoft will ensure that they are easy to get hold of.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Which is the sensible attitude. You buy a product because you are happy with what it is not what you think it might become.

Certainly, but I think there's an industry standard of keeping products upgraded for a while. I think it's fair to be outraged that upgrades might not go through especially when your OS needs to do catchup.

 

[WelshBloke]

Certainly, but I think there's an industry standard of keeping products upgraded for a while. I think it's fair to be outraged that upgrades might not go through especially when your OS needs to do catchup.

I think as long as its supported via bug fixes/security issues then thats fair. Anything above and beyond that is gravy and not to be expected.

 

[sequoia464]

I picked up a W7 phone a few weeks back and the sales rep over the phone assured me that the current phones would be upgraded to W8.

It doesn't get much more clearer or official than that - looks like we can put this discussion to bed.

QED ...

 

[soccerballtux]

I hope this is not true. This would really screw over WP7's early adopters, who have been extremely loving and enthusiastic about the platform. That would suck so bad for MS to leave a few million of their most dedicated fans orphaned with an OS that failed to get any significant market share.

+1 lmao they better not do that