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Windows Phone 8
| Version of Microsoft Windows | |
 | |
 | |
| OS family | Windows NT |
|---|---|
| Version | 6.2 |
| Codename | Apollo (RTM) Portico (GDR1) |
| Architecture | ARM32 |
| Release date | 2012-10-29 |
| Support end | 2016-01-12 |
| Based on | |
| Windows 8 | |
| Replaces | |
| Windows Phone 7 | |
| Replaced by | |
| Windows Phone 8.1 | |
Windows Phone 8 (codenamed Apollo) is a version of the Windows Phone mobile operating system.
It is the first version of Windows Phone to be based on the NT kernel rather than Windows CE, with the OS now being developed as a version of Windows 8 in concurrency with it.
Windows Phone uses a unique versioning and numbering scheme. Due to this, the base build that a build of Windows Phone is based on is stated on its respective page.
Windows Phone 8 builds were usually compiled by wpbldlab, otherwise known as Windows Phone Build Lab.
Main changes[edit | edit source]
OS codebase[edit | edit source]
Windows Phone 8, unlike its predecessors, is the first version of the Windows Phone OS family to replace the aging Windows CE core with the newer Windows NT codebase, allowing development to be synchronized with mainline Windows releases. The replacement allowed the operating system to support standards such as the NTFS filesystem, microSDHC memory cards and the UEFI firmware specification. Performance and functionality improvements such as multi-threading support, increased display resolution capabilities, and BitLocker Drive Encryption, were additionally introduced.
As Windows Phone 7-based devices were not capable of upgrading to Windows Phone 8 due to the significant codebase shift and the complexity of the work required to make such an upgrade possible, aspects of the Windows Phone 8 user interface were backported to its predecessor in the form of a major update intended to support legacy devices, dubbed Windows Phone 7.8.
Data synchronization[edit | edit source]
Windows Phone 8 adds native support for the Media Transfer Protocol, allowing content to be transferred to and from portable devices. Additional data transfer software required by Windows Phone 7, specifically the Zune companion application, is no longer required.
Kid's Corner[edit | edit source]
Windows Phone 8 introduces a new feature called "Kid's Corner", a similar counterpart to the "Guest" user account on Windows. The owner of the phone can choose which applications and games appear in Kid's Corner, which, once the application is active, are the only applications and games that can be opened until the app is closed. This feature allows the owner to set up a sort of sandbox, where no outside data can be touched by other people or as indicated by the app's name, children.
Rooms[edit | edit source]
The Rooms feature allowed users to contact each other inside of a group chat, and additionally further supported viewing Facebook and Twitter posts. Members of the group could also share messages and photos from within that room, which only other members of that room could view.
Driving Mode[edit | edit source]
A new mode called "Driving Mode" was introduced in Windows Phone 8 Update 3. When connected to a car via Bluetooth, the phone activates "Driving Mode", a specialized UI designed for easier use when driving.
Data Sense[edit | edit source]
Data Sense is a feature that enables users to set data usage limits on mobile networks based on their plan. Data Sense can also restrict background data usage when the user is near their set limit.
NFC[edit | edit source]
On Windows Phone 8 devices with NFC, data transfer between NFC-enabled devices is now possible. In certain countries and on some carriers, the phone was also able to be used as a credit and debit card via the Wallet application using this feature.
Multitasking[edit | edit source]
As of Windows Phone 8 Update 3, applications can now be closed in the task view menu.
Miscellaneous[edit | edit source]
- The built in browser has been updated from Internet Explorer 8 to Internet Explorer 10.
- Support for over the air updates and native C++ code has been added.
- The screenshotting feature has been introduced, no longer requiring the user to have a third-party screenshotting app installed. A user can screenshot by pressing the home and power buttons at the same time.
- The Hebrew language has been introduced.
- Support for "lenses" in the Camera app has been added, which allows OEMs to skin and add miscellaneous features to the camera interface.
- Toast notifications in the Action Center are now available, which allow app developers to add for example, progressbars on notifications to indicate an app being downloaded.
- The ability to easily port Metro Windows 8 apps to Windows Phone 8 has been added.
- VoIP and video chat integration on any VoIP or video chat app is now possible.
- The Xbox SmartGlass feature is now present, which allows Windows Phone to control an Xbox 360 or One console.
Partition layout[edit | edit source]
Windows Phone 8 is stored on 3 individual partitions:
- The EFI system partition, named
EFIESP, which initiates the booting process; - The OS partition, named
MainOS, which contains the OS itself; - The Data partition, named
Data, which stores the data of the user.
Update system[edit | edit source]
Windows Phone 8 updates are distributed via Windows Update as CABs in the following extensions:
.spkg, as a full package;.spku, as an update package containingPA30delta compressed files that can be applied on top of a specific previous build;.spkr, as a removal package.
Despite this, updates were usually only distributed via Delta packages, and as a result require the user to have a specific build installed prior to updating.[a]
When rebooting to update, the OS reboots into a special mode designated for installing updates named UpdateOS. In Windows Phone 8, UpdateOS only displays an animation of two spinning gears, with no other indication explaining if the upgrade is progressing or not. Windows Phone 8.1 would later add a progressbar beneath these gears, allowing the phone owner to see the update progress.
List of known builds[edit | edit source]
Available build Confirmed build Unconfirmed build Fake build Developer Preview[edit | edit source]
RTM[edit | edit source]
Post-RTM[edit | edit source]
GDR1[edit | edit source]
GDR2[edit | edit source]
GDR3[edit | edit source]
Uncategorized[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The delta compressed files can be applied on a Windows PC using a tool, such as
delta_patch.py
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