Windows App Testing :: History of Windows Phone and its Version- Part 5

Windows Phone:

Windows Phone which is the successor to Windows Mobile is a smart phone OS developed by MS. It is incompatible with the older versions. It is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than enterprise. It was first launched under Windows 7 OS.

Windows 7:

Windows 7 was released on 8^th Nov, 2010. MS released an updated version of WP (Version 7.5) in May 2011.

Feature Included:

• IE9 (that supports same as web standard)
• Multi-tasking of third party apps.
• Twitter Integration
• Windows Live Sky Drive.

A minor update was released in 2012 under the code name “Tango”.

 Windows 7.8

In Jan 2013, Windows 7.8 was released

Features added:

• Updated Started screen
• Additional color schemes
• Additional wallpaper options

Limitations:

Windows 7 was not up-gradable to Windows 8 due to hardware limitations. However not all the users have received the Windows 7.8 update.

 Windows Phone 8

MS released a new generations of OS in 29^th Oct 2012. Windows Phone 8 brought support for the updated hardware which includes multi core processor and high screen resolutions. With the new hardware, Windows 8 could able to compete with Google and Apple.

Windows Phone 8.1:

It was released on 2^nd April 2014.

Features:

• Notifications Center
• IE 11
• Separate Volume controls
• Options to skin and add a tile live to the start screen

Starting with release, MS has dropped the requirement that all Windows Phone OEMs include a camera button and physical button for back, start, and search.