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Is Windows Phone 8…. late?

Sep 12, 2012 10:56 pm by Kip Kniskern | 27 comments

Today, in the shadow of iPhone 5 day, where Apple unveiled the new iPhone 5 with lots of fanfare and almost no surprises, Microsoft pushed ahead with a few announcements of its own. The biggest of these was the launch of Visual Studio 2012, and in conjunction access to (for select, published developers of Windows Phone apps) the Windows Phone 8 SDK. In a blog post on the Windows Phone Developers blog, Todd Brix, a Senior Director on the Windows Phone Apps team, attempted to explain why the SDK still isn’t widely available:

I know that many of you want to know why we simply don’t publically release the full SDK now. The reason is that not all Windows Phone 8 features have been announced and our SDK includes comprehensive emulators that allow developers to test apps against a wide range of Windows Phone features. We recognize that this is a different approach to delivering tools than we’ve taken in the past. Our goal is to generate as much Windows Phone 8 excitement as possible to attract new customers when phones go on sale. This is one of many steps we’re taking to help give you what you (and we) want most.

Of course, and as Peter Bright from Ars Technica (@DrPizza) posts in the comments, “There is no universe in which this makes sense”.

Microsoft took pains prior to the launch of both Windows Phone 7 and the Windows Phone “Mango” update to get developers on board early, so that those new customers would have apps for their phones. New features without apps that make use of them simply aren’t of much, if any, use, and a new Windows Phone Store full of new Windows Phone 8 apps is worth far more to Microsoft and its partners than the buzz generated by some magician-like revelation of a new feature or two.

In a post yesterday on The Verge, Tom Warren reports that “(Microsoft) has not yet finished the windows Phone 8 software”, that “(d)elays and bugs during testing have pushed back the launch, and associated devices, by weeks”, and that Microsoft had originally planned to launch Windows Phone 8 in early October, ahead of the launch of Windows 8, but that the company is now targeting an October 29th launch.

So why not release the SDK early, as is customary and as Windows Phone did for WP7 and Mango, even if the launch is delayed a bit? We simply can’t buy that Microsoft is holding out on announcing features just to generate buzz. If the features are ready, now is the time to announce them. Giving the iPhone 5 a month-long head start makes absolutely no sense, and there isn’t a CES or E3 coming up where you would want to wait to make a big splash. In fact, Microsoft is going to have to create an event at the end of October to announce Windows Phone 8, finally.

Unless the software is unfinished, or if it’s buggy, there just isn’t a reason why everyone doesn’t have the SDK today. Nokia, Samsung, and the other OEMs are chomping at the bit to ship their phones. They’re ready, but they’re waiting on Microsoft.

Steve Ballmer has been fond of saying that Microsoft will ship “when (the software) is ready”, but clearly Microsoft MUST ship in time for this holiday season (meaning the first of November at the latest) if it expects to survive in the mobile marketplace. A missed holiday season would probably be the death of Nokia, if not Windows Phone itself. Missing the 2006 holiday season with a delayed Windows Vista launch caused all kinds of havoc at Microsoft and in the Microsoft partner ecosystem, including the ouster of Jim Allchin and the promotion of Steven Sinofsky, who above all else “makes the trains run on time”.

It’s notable here that Windows Phone isn’t entirely under Sinofsky’s control, at least not yet. The Windows Phone Division still operates separately from Windows, and has its roots in Entertainment and Devices, where Zune, Metro, and Windows Phone were born. So Microsoft (and we’re speculating here, again) had to not only rebuild an entire mobile operating system, but do it across two divisions. A difficult task, and so it’s not surprising that they’re taking it right down to the wire, but they’ve already missed opportunities.

Microsoft has taken on a monumental task by choosing to use a single OS kernal across mobile, tablet, desktop, and gaming devices as it is doing with the Windows 8 / Windows Phone 8, and soon the Xbox “720” ecosystem. The benefits to such a system could be widespread, as eventually a single underlying OS could run across a family of devices, quite possibly all running the same apps and management system.

They’ve taken a bold step, to be sure, but if they can’t pull it off, or if the software ships buggy, it could be a colossal mistake. And if we’re all wrong, and Windows Phone 8 IS ready, and Microsoft is, as they imply, just waiting for an opportune moment to reveal some top secret new feature? Well it better be one helluva feature, that’s for sure.

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http://www.andrewtechhelp.com/ Andrew Tech Help

Paul Thurrott says that Tom Warren’s story about Windows Phone 8 being delayed isn’t true (listen to the latest episode of What The Tech to hear this).
- http://www.LiveSide.net Kip Kniskern – LiveSide.net
  
  Will take a listen, thanks. Paul said the same thing on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thurrott/status/244149893013323776, but I’m still not totally buying it – as I said there and here, much more marketing potential in lots of WP8 apps than in some big surprise reveal.
  - http://www.andrewtechhelp.com/ Andrew Tech Help
    
    I have an alternate theory (although if this is correct, I still disagree with the strategy). It could be possible that want developers to continue building apps using the Windows Phone 7.5 SDK.
    
    If they were given the Windows Phone 8 SDK, it would be likely that developers would start using it and would pick the Windows Phone 8 option when asked. If developers use this SDK to build Windows Phone 8 apps, those won’t work on Windows Phone 7.5, even if the developer doesn’t need to take any advantage of the new Windows Phone 8 features. This would probably cause the number of 7.5 compatible apps being added to the marketplace to drop instantly. I don’t think they want to stagnate that quite yet until there’s a good base of Windows Phone 8 devices.
    
    That’s another possible theory.
hysonmb

I think they’ve held off on announcing features because whenever they come out early and say what they’re baking in, Apple and Google release those same features first then people say MS is following the leaders.
Now that iOS6 is finished, announced, and on the way out of the door, Microsoft needs to get something on the street quickly. They’re going to loose some potential sales to people who simply don’t know when WP8 will be available or all of what it can do.
- JohnL
  
  Like me. I’m trying to decide whether to just upgrade my iPhone tomorrow or whether it’s worth waiting and hoping the Lumia 920 will be released on my carrier in a timely manner (i.e., SOON.) The Lumia 920 is, IMHO, better hands-down, but the iPhone 5 is more than “good enough”, too.
  - JohnL
    
    I’m also still waiting to hear more concrete details about the “enthusiast” beta update program for Windows Phone 8 before I take the plunge. My HTC Titan *still* only has the initial Mango release. Y’know… the one where the freakin’ keyboard keeps vanishing mid-sentence (thanks, AT&T.) I refuse to buy into Windows Phone again until I’m pretty dang certain I’ll be able to get timely updates.
    - JSYOUNG571
      
      Sorry JohnL. I didn’t know you were having those issues like me. I am pretty much to that point with Microsoft and At&t as well. I blame both of them. Microsoft should have jumped on At&t’s behind to force them to give us these updates. So far my experience with Windows Phone 7 has been anything less than awful. I am a very disappointed customer and it is not the first time either. I try to give Microsoft chance after chance because I have been a long time customer, but I continue to be let down by them. I believe this latest stunt with Windows phone 7.5 going to 7.8 with no mention of new features but a change in the start screen, Zune closing down, and a seperate phone market being started for 8 is the last round for me. Microsoft has still not learned their lesson yet about burning trust with customers.
  - JSYOUNG571
    
    Get the Apple iPhone 5 or Google Android so you don’t be disappointed like us Windows Phone 7.5 customers are and stuck with major headaches.
    - http://twitter.com/p_w_k Paul
      
      Your joking about the Android junk right? I have a Samsung Galaxy SIII (AKA Ice cream sandwich) which is the biggest monstrosity I’ve ever seen. Heck I love my Samsung Galaxy SIII so much I’m selling the POJ on Ebay and taking lose. IF you don’t want Google JUNK go with Windows phone or the iPhone. The whole Android ecosystem and fragmentation is out of control…. what a joke (it even been hijacked by Amazon and I would be surprised if Facebook joins in).
      - JSYOUNG571
        
        Android junk must be a role model for Windows Phone. That explains why Steve Balhead is chasing behind Android and iPhone.. Duplicating features and services that originally started with Android and iPhone. No innovation period. Windows Phone is late and doing nothing but playing “Ketchup” at the expense of it’s customers (Windows Phone 7.5) Let’s not talk about the preacher “Microsoft” against fragmentation. They have to be the only company right now that is actually eating their own words by doing the same thing. I could go on and on, but I know sooner or later my keyboard on my Windows Phone is going to drop., something I have never experienced on a Android.
      - http://twitter.com/p_w_k Paul
        
        The fragmentation of Windows Phones is a fraction of Androids. There is little consistency how the OEM update and modify new versions of Android. Microsoft on the other hand is at least trying to implement some kind of control.
        
        Obviously, most people don’t mine having a Android phones with a app store that looks like a college intern developed it and all the crap apps you can’t uninstall with out rooting. Android certainly isn’t the better platform because it has the largest market share.
      - JSYOUNG571
        
        Dude are you really serious about the Android Market? I
        believe it is the other way around.�
        Check out you reviews in Windows Market Place or Windows Store now from
        the members. The store continues to miss some major apps. The main apps are
        barely workable and are behind the times as far as features. Replacement apps are
        no better. This is coming from people who actually own a Windows Phone
        including me. We have been complaining about this every since the platform started. That has also been one of the major downfalls of the Windows
        Phone 7 not selling so well. Why do you think Microsoft was putting out loads
        of money to entice app designers? Android Market may not have the fancy design
        that Windows Phone store has, but it is what’s on the inside that counts…Apps
        period.
      - http://twitter.com/p_w_k Paul
        
        So if a non Microsoft app is missing features…it’s Microsoft’s fault? Your obviously not a developer.
        
        A caveman developer knows that it’s much easier developing for the Windows Phone than Android. Like I said it has nothing to do which product is better: it all about market share. Anyways if a developer whats to make money the iPhone is the way to go. Hence the reason the vast minority of app are better on the iPhone.
        
        Half of all Android devices vulnerable to malware due to outdated software.
        
        http://www.techhive.com/article/2000526/half-of-all-android-devices-vulnerable-to-malware-due-to-outdated-software.html
      - Eric
        
        (whispering) I think at this point, the strategy is to just nod politely.
      - http://www.facebook.com/iain.simpson1 Iain Simpson
        
        you my friend are sniffing to much glue or something, WP7x is a notch above android and ios on the innovation side, not copying thing from either but seems to be quite a few features that android and ios have actually copied.WP7.5 users have not been left out in the cold with no more updates, like the majority of android users out there that have never seen 1 update period. There is very little fragmentation in WP.
      - JohnL
        
        Begging your pardon but I have, too, been “left out in the cold”. My HTC Titan has not received a *single* update since the day I bought it in December 2011. It’s still running the same version of the OS it was sold with: 7.10.7720.68 — disappearing keyboard and all.
Fred A.

Is Windows Phone 8…. late?

NO, it isn’t.
http://www.jeffkibuule.com Jeff Kibuule

It seems when Microsoft doesn’t do what the tech press expects, they fill their blogs with nonsense stories. Windows Phone has always RTMed in September, and so far, there’s no sign of that slipping into October. Windows Phone has always launched in late October with new phones in November, and so far, no change there. Perhaps you could comment on the fact that they said the SDK would be available in late summer (and technically summer ends September 21st, not Labor Day), or they decided to change their minds and not have any beta SDKs.

Lastly, a product can only be late when a company has announced a release date for it.
- Mario Albertico
  
  I think, though, Kip is asking if Windows Phone 8 is late to the market with respect to the availability of other competing and flagship devices.
Jpolk84

No SDK, no apps. No apps, no sales. MS has to not only overcome the market’s penchant for Android and iOS, they have to have apps and right not they have no apps and no compelling reason for anyone to buy the phone without them. This is a recipe for failure. This is THE recipe for failure.
- Erichan
  
  With Windows 8 platform, theres huge potential behind it. Porting Apps, building Apps etc will be very easy. Give WP8 3-6 months and you’ll see Apps flooding the market with developers of IOS and Android apps porting over.
  
  And the fact that Windows 8, WP8, MS surface tab and xbox will all work in harmony together is the reason of a Successful Recipe.
- http://twitter.com/jwk6 Jason Kohlhoff
  
  All Windows Phone 7 apps (100,000+ of them) run on Windows Phone 8. What this means is that currently most developers only need to target one SDK; the Windows Phone 7.5 SDK.
  
  Quote from http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2012/06/29/recapping-windows-phone-8-developer-news.aspx :
  “Just so there isn’t any confusion: we’re committed to helping ensure that Windows Phone 7 and 7.5 apps work on Windows Phone 8. In fact, with the announcement of automatic pre-compilation of your app in the store, we expect existing apps to launch and run faster on Windows Phone 8 without changing a single line of code.”
  - Old Coot
    
    What!?!?!? We don’t want no reasonable types with their fancy facts round these parts. Your 7.5 phone is a brick, starting almost two months ago. Ain’t you heard, mister?
    - http://twitter.com/jwk6 Jason Kohlhoff
      
      ;-)
      
      It’s still pretty functional for a brick. Hell, I could uninstall every app I’ve downloaded, and I’d still love my Windows Phone.
newyorkcitymale

I think what they’re hiding is a SURFACE PHONE…
Eric

I wouldn’t sweat it anyway, many people doing apps MS deems worthy of the new platform are certainly already toiling away under NDAs. As excited as I am about NFC Fart and making screenshots of HD Flashlight, I can wait if I have to.
http://www.facebook.com/iain.simpson1 Iain Simpson

it is not late and it is not delayed. OEMS are not chomping at the bit, OEM’s are still in the process of securing carriers and such. WP8 will release on the normal schedule as mentioned above. HTC still has to preview the new devices they have. and don’t forget build is the coming event that I would imagine will be the public platform that will show the consumer side of windows 8. and why release the sdk to the public now. Developers that do major work on apps already have the sdk, developers that make apps but not major ones are getting a chance to get the sdk thru the program. This story is just utter nonsense and has no factual proof or reasoning.