Windows Phone 7.8 update coming in ‘early 2013’

Microsoft just announced that the long awaited Windows Phone 7.8 update for existing handsets will roll out only in 2013. The most obvious part of the update is the new homescreen which will feature the same resizable live tiles as on Windows Phone 8 running smartphones.

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Current Windows Phone devices to get WP 7.8 update with new start screen

Windows Phone users who are feeling shafted post the Windows Phone 8 announcement can sleep a bit easier tonight. While they still won’t be getting the complete update due to the sweeping changes in the backend, they will still get the new user interface which is one of the more obvious changes in the OS.

The new interface allows users to resize app tiles. Three specific sizes have been defined by Microsoft. Small, Medium and large which would correspond to  1×1 , 2×2 and 4×2  in terms of spaces on the icon grid. Unfortunately apps compiled just for Windows Phone 8 will not be backwards compatible which doesn’t bode too well for current users. In addition there are expected to be some other Windows Phone 8 features which should make their way back to the WP 7.8 update which the company will reveal closer to launch.  Continue reading “Current Windows Phone devices to get WP 7.8 update with new start screen”