Wait for Windows Phone 8 or buy a Samsung Galaxy S3?

Microsoft's newest mobile OS -- Windows Phone 8 -- will add some key functionality to Microsoft's smartphone, but is it worth waiting for?

The new software offers a few more bells and whistles in terms of functionality for smartphone subscribers. But the bigger deal is that it will offer the necessary hooks for developers and device makers to build more advanced hardware. Finally, this could mean that Microsoft's live tile interface may finally be installed on some heavily spec'ed devices.

In this edition of Ask Maggie I help one reader figure out if he should wait for this flashy new hardware for the new Windows Phone 8 devices, or if he should go ahead and buy one of the latest and greatest Google Android phones of the summer: the Samsung Galaxy S3 or the HTC One series.

I also offer some advice about finding a normal-size smartphone in a world that seems to be going oversize.

To wait for new Windows Phone 8 devices or not

I currently own a Motorola Droid X on Verizon. I will be eligible for a new device in August. Android is fine, but I am by no means a fanboy. I'm a PC user and have tinkered with Windows for a very long time. I've been using a beta version of Windows 8 at home, and I really like it. I'm also interested in maybe getting the Surface when it comes out.

Anyway, I like the look and feel of the Windows Phone OS. But I've been disappointed in the hardware. But I hear that this might improve with Windows Phone 8. Is that true? Can I expect some Windows Phone 8 smartphones that are in the same category as Android devices? Also, do you think Verizon will offer some new Windows Phone 8 devices? And if you think they will, should I wait for a Windows 8 device, or should I just get a new Android this summer, like the Samsung Galaxy S3?

It's hard to say how the new Windows Phone 8 smartphones will stack up against current Android devices. That said, the Windows Phone 8 software is all about providing a foundation for Microsoft to offer new cutting-edge hardware. For instance, the new OS will support multicore processors. It will have an embedded NFC chip for mobile payments and other apps that may require short range wireless technology. It will allow multitasking.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

The Verge reported Thursday that Microsoft expects to launch three classes of Windows Phone 8 smartphones later this year. The Zenith will be the high-end line, with an expected 4.7-inch Super LCD 2 display, quad-core processor, NFC support, 8-megapixel camera that can grab 1,080p, and 42Mbps HSPA+. (My guess is that the top of the line phone will also have LTE support for the U.S. market.)

The midrange is being referred to as Accord and it's expected to have a slightly smaller, 4.3-inch screen and dual-core processors. The budget Windows Phone 8 will be the Rio line, which is expected to offer a 4-inch WVGA display; 14.4 Mbps HSPA connectivity; 5 megapixel, 720p capture; and a Snapdragon S4 processor.

Many of these new hardware enhancements are already available on Google Android devices today. In many ways, Windows Phone 8 is really just about keeping up with what Google Android has already been doing from a hardware and technology perspective.

Greg Sullivan, senior product manager at Microsoft for Windows Phone, said the Windows Phone 8 software paves the way for Microsoft to keep up with its competitors

"Windows Phone 8 is about investing in the future of the platform," he said. "It gives us the necessary headroom to continue to grow the device capabilities. It's important for consumers, but it's also really important for developers and hardware manufacturers as we move forward."

So should you wait for the Windows Phone 8 smartphones, or should you just buy a new Android phone now?

As you know, there are a couple of high-profile Google Android devices hitting the market this summer. And they already come equipped with the most powerful hardware out there. The Samsung Galaxy S3 goes on sale soon at all four major wireless carriers. And HTC has also introduced its latest One family of devices on all four major carriers.

I think that Windows Phone 8 will help manufacturers bring that same level of high-end hardware specifications to Windows Phones in the future. This could mean that the new Windows Phone 8 devices will be on par with any of the new Android devices as well as anything that Apple introduces this fall. But will they be more advanced? That's tough to say.The good thing about these new Android phones is that they both sport the latest Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software. They also have advanced cameras. And they come fully loaded with all kinds of high-end specifications.

Since the hardware will be similar in terms of specifications, I think the question you really need to ask yourself is which user experience and interface you prefer. The live-tiles make using Windows Phone devices very easy and intuitive. It still lacks some key apps, but Microsoft says it's catching up fast. In fact, Microsoft has surpassed the 100,000 mark in terms of the number of apps in its app store. Microsoft is also changing the home screen in the new Windows Phone 8 to make it even more customizable. (Windows Phone users on older hardware will also get this benefit in the Windows Phone 7.8 update that's expected to come later this summer.)

I'd recommend checking out a Nokia Lumia 900 or an HTC Titan at an AT&T shop to see if you like the software. These phones will soon get the Windows Phone 7.8 software upgrade that will give them the new home screen, which will be used on Windows Phone 8 devices.

But keep in mind that you may have to wait a long time for the new Windows Phone 8 devices. Microsoft has said that devices will be ready by the "end of the year." My guess is that the high-end phones won't come to market until the late fall, just before the holidays.

Will Verizon be one of the carriers offering these devices? That's a good question. As you are probably aware, Verizon hasn't been a big supporter of Windows Phone to date. In fact, it offers only one Windows Phone device on its network: the HTC Trophy. Even though Microsoft has updated its software and helped Nokia and HTC launch several other newer Windows Phone devices into the market, Verizon has still remained on the sidelines with respect to the platform.

But that may soon change. In April, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said during the company's earnings call that Verizon is "fully supportive" of Microsoft's Windows Phone platform. He also indicated that Verizon would have new Windows Phone 8 devices in time for the holidays. A Verizon representative reiterated these plans earlier this week after Microsoft's launch of Windows Phone 8. She said the carrier would offer devices using the OS by the end of the year.

Still, Verizon hasn't said a lot about how much it will support Windows Phone. Will it introduce just one Windows Phone 8 smartphone, or will it offer a full portfolio of devices with an Android-like marketing campaign?

It's a little too early to say for sure. But Microsoft's Sullivan said the carrier seems enthusiastic about the new Windows Phone 8 platform. Sullivan couldn't tell me specifics about the discussions, but he acknowledged that Microsoft has been in talks with Verizon for a long time. Still, he indicated that with Windows Phone 8, Verizon may finally be willing to put a little more weight behind its support for Microsoft's smartphones.

"They're very excited and enthusiastic about what Windows Phone 8 can bring," he said. "And it's very important for us to have strong support from Verizon."

If Verizon plans to put a lot of marketing muscle behind Windows Phone 8, then I'd definitely expect some cool new phones running the OS to appear on the carrier's network in the late fall and into the spring.

But it's the end of June now, and you are up for a new phone in August. Can you really wait that long? If not, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One devices are terrific phones. I doubt you'd regret buying either one of them. But if you are really intrigued by Windows Phone 8, you may just want to wait to see what's offered later in the year.

Good luck with your decision.

VIA:news.cnet.com

Windows Phone 8: Everything you need to know

Microsoft unveiled the new operating system that will ship in next-gen Windows Phones. There's a lot to know, and this is the place to start.

Behold, the new Windows Phone start screen.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 8 today, its next-generation smartphone operating system. But what exactly does that entail, when can we expect to see devices, and what does it mean for people who have Windows phones now?

What are hardware changes?

Near-Field Communication (NFC), support for multicore processors (like dual-core and quad-core), new screen resolutions (like 1,280x720-pixel HD), and expandable memory slots are the biggest news in terms of hardware changes.

What's with the new start screen?

Microsoft's redesigned start screen (pictured above) spans the width of the screen now. You'll be able to resize each individual live tile from the start screen to one of three sizes. There's also support for new color themes, which Microsoft didn't list.

What else is new?

There's also support for in-app purchases, and a "wallet" for storing sensitive account information and loyalty cards, to name a few. Phones get over-the-air OS updates, instead of tethering to the desktop to update. Windows Phone 8's architecture heavily overlaps with Windows 8 for the desktop and tablet, so there will be a great deal of similarity in the way that the OSes handle security, gaming, networking, media playback, and so forth.

Read here for more details about what's new in Windows Phone 8.

When can I get it on my Windows phone?

New Windows phones running WP8 will ship in the fall. Microsoft also used the term "holiday season," which could really mean anywhere from late September all the way to just before Christmas.

Bad news for existing Windows Phone owners, though. There's no upgrade path from Windows Phone 7.5 handsets to the forthcoming OS. We know, we feel your pain. You just bought your Samsung or Lumia phone and it's already obsolete. Now before you get your knickers in a bunch, consider this: it's mostly a hardware foundation that's going to make Windows phones far more competitive going forward.

Well, what can I get, then?

Microsoft threw you a bone. A small bone, but one that Redmond hopes you'll find tasty nonetheless. Windows Phone 7.8 is an update that will give current 7.5 Mango users the new start screen to play with. Microsoft did not announce an update schedule to Windows Phone 7.8.

What does Nokia say?

Nokia is also offering several apps on its phones: Play To content sharing over DLNA, Nokia Maps with commuting intelligence, Nokia Music 3.0 with Mix Radio, Nokia Drive, and camera extras, which include panorama, burst shot, and GroupShot (it'll find photos with the nicest smiles and open eyes.) Camera Extras and Counters will come to the U.S. and China by June 22, and to other countries in July.

Zynga games like Words with Friends and Draw Something will be available to Lumia owners for the next couple of months, Nokia said. There's also a usage app to monitor texts and calls.

When do developers get the SDK?

Microsoft will go into deeper details with developers later this summer, which is when they'll also get the SDK.

Who's making the phones?

Samsung, Nokia, HTC, Huawei, and ZTE are Microsoft's five largest partners, but we'll see Windows phones from other manufacturers as well. Samsung and Nokia have already shown a range of higher-end and more midrange Windows 7.5 handsets here in the U.S., and Huawei and ZTE have demoed the more affordable, entry-level Windows Phone handsets globally. We expect the trend to continue with Windows Phone 8.

Related stories

• Windows Phone 8 OS opens up to multicore processors, NFC
• Windows Phone 8 shipping on new phones this fall
• No upgrade for current Windows Phone devices

Which carriers will they come to?

AT&T has been Windows Phone's most staunch champion, with more of Microsoft's phones than any other carrier, so we can expect to see AT&T nabbing great higher-end devices. T-Mobile is doing well with Nokia's Lumia 710, and will undoubtedly jump on board with Windows Phone 8. Sprint and Verizon have had one handset apiece, and not for a long time. Verizon and Microsoft are publicly pleased to have a Windows phone in Big Red's portfolio, but the carrier could play it cautiously with just one high-end device until the platform proves itself. Sprint will surely follow suit.

What kind of processors will the phones use?

The high-end Windows phones will use Qualcomm's dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, which can be tuned for up to 1.7GHz clock speed. Some phones will also source slower processors as a way to manage price and match features for more entry-level phones. Get more details here.

Is there native Skype support?

No, the VoIP app isn't built in and you'll still have to download Skype to use it. Microsoft has, however, laid down the foundation for third-party apps like Skype and others to integrate with the phone-call menu so that VoIP calls that you place and answer look identical to calls that originate from the dialer.

How will it use NFC?

Windows Phone will support NFC, or near-field communications, for the first time. There are three parts. The first uses Tap + Share -- Microsoft's consumer-facing name for NFC -- to do all sorts of things, like share URLs among NFC devices and read a "tag" on items like a business card, poster, or menu. The second part makes use of a secure SIM card that the carriers can control and that will enable mobile payments.

Microsoft is also introducing its own wallet hub, which will store sensitive information about your accounts, loyalty cards, and so on. It's a very similar system to other third-party wallets available, and to Apple's Passbook feature for iOS 6.

What is this 'talking to apps' thing?

Microsoft demoed an expanded feature in its voice recognition software, TellMe, where you could speak commands to an app, in this case Audible. Audible used Microsoft's voice APIs to build a command mode into its app for Windows Phone. When you enable the command mode, you'll be able to launch, pause, stop, and resume media with your voice. It's a very cool-looking feature that any developer will be able to implement; however there are two historical problems with this type of app that Microsoft will have to counter. First, voice interpretation is typically spotty, and problems sometimes ensue. Second, it does drain the battery -- but just how much is yet to be seen on Windows phones.