Microsoft surprised all of us by releasing Windows 10 Mobile on March 17th. Wait.. What was the surprise..? Here it is.. Microsoft breaks all its promises and omitted majority of devices running Windows Phone 8.1 to be eligible for Windows 10 Mobile thus resulting about 60% of Windows Phone devices to be stand still on WP8.1
Now lets take a recall.. About Microsoft’s strategy on Windows Phone Update.
Windows Phone 7.0
Windows Phone 7 is the first major Mobile OS from Microsoft. Windows Phone 7 was succeed by their internal OS Windows Phone 6.5. Devices with x1x runs on WP7. And they got updated up to Windows Phone 7.8. Devices like Lumia 510, 610 etc was running WP7.8 and that was the end for these devices. They were not get updated to at least Windows Phone 8.0
Windows Phone 8.0
WP8.0 was the first major update from WP7.0. There also Microsoft surprised us by all the possible ways. Not a single device which runs WP7.0/WP7.8 was eligible for this update. Update was all meant for new devices. WP8.0 Starts with devices x2x. Devices like Lumia 520, 620, 720 was running WP8.0 outbox.
Windows Phone 8.0 Update 2: Windows Phone Update 2 also called as Lumia Amber was a small update from WP8.0. This was the default OS for Lumia 625,925,928 & Lumia 1020. With this version Nokia started to name their Firmware in alphabetical order with name of Colors. Lumia Amber was the First one. The famous “Glance Screen” Option was introduced with this version of OS.
Windows Phone 8.0 Update 3: Windows Phone Update 3 or also called as Lumia Black was another update from WP8.0 Update 2. This was the default OS for 525, 1320 and Lumia 1520.
Windows Phone 8.1 OR Lumia Cyan
Any Windows Phone user will say that Windows Phone 8.1 was the major update for the whole Windows Phone OS. It was also called as Lumia Cyan. It totally changed the way how the OS looks like. Windows Phone 8.1 brings many new features including notification bar. Fortunately all devices running WP8.0 was eligible for the update. Devices with x3x comes with WP8.1 outbox. Microsoft also started “Preview For Developers” with WP8.1. An earlier version to “Windows Insider”. With Preview for Developers app an user can test the early beta version of the OS before the general public release. WP8.1 gets a warm welcome among Windows Phone users.
Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 OR Lumia Denim: This was a small update from Windows Phone 8.1. Many new devices came with this deafult OS. Devices like 730, 830, 735 and Microsoft Lumia 535 came up with this version. Not many visible changes come up with version. This is the version on now majority of Windows Phone devices running. i.e, all the devices that are not eligible for Windows 10 Mobile.
OS version: 8.10.14141.167, 8.10.14147.180, 8.10.14157.200, 8.10.14176.243, 8.10.14192.280, 8.10.14203.206, 8.10.14219.341 or 8.10.14226.359
Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 OR Lumia Denim
WP8.1 Update 2 was also called as Denim. This was the default version for x4x series devices. Lumia 640 & 640XL comes outbox with this version. This Update 2 was not widely released for all devices. Only device like Lumia 830, 930 received this update. This is the update what we are asking for. Update 2 has brought some useful changes. Let’s see what Update 2 has brings:
OS version: 8.10.15143.154 or 8.10.15148.160
Official Change Log:
Settings: Find your phone settings more easily. Tap one of the new settings categories to jump to it, use Search to find a setting, or pan down to peruse in the traditional way. Additionally, phone settings can now be pinned to Start.
Name your phone: Give your phone a name without connecting to a PC. Just tap Settings >About > Edit name to name it.
VPN: Now you can use certificates to sign in for L2TP VPN connections. Always-on VPN profiles are now supported too, so you’re automatically and always connected.
Bluetooth: Type with more than your thumbs. Use an external Bluetooth keyboard and watch the words fly on your phone. And now get your text messages straight from your car if it has a compatible Bluetooth system.
App privacy permissions: Now you control whether an app can access your contacts, calendar, camera, microphone and text messages. Just tap Settings > App permissions to get started.
Reset Protection: Provide an extra layer of protection for your phone, so that if it ever ends up in the wrong hands, it can’t be easily reset or re-used. (This feature is available only for specific phones.)
The WP8.1 Update 2 has brought some useful changes. Including Bluetooth Keyboard support, redesign of settings menu, support for .MKV files, double tap on navigation bar to lock(only for on-screen navigation bar devices).
This update should be pushed to devices which are not eligible for Windows 10 Mobile according to Microsoft.
Microsoft Support Lifecycle
Every Windows Product has a life cycle. And thus Windows Phone 8.1 also has a life cycle. According to Microsoft what Lifecycle means that they will support the product and give regular update to the product until lifecycle ends. Lets check the lifecycle for WP8.1
So here’s the Life cycle for Windows Phone 8.1. Start Date: 24/06/2014 and End Date:11/07/2017. There is enough time remaining for WP8.1 Lifecycle to end. Accurately 16 Months. With Windows 10 Mobile released MS will continue support for a small amount of devices. What about other majority of devices out in the market. During the relaese of WP8.1 Microsoft was speaking mouthful about the Lifecycle they have given to the OS. Now not a single word from them.
What to Expect for the blacked out ones
With this we understand that ending Product support all of a sudden is not a new thing for Microsoft. But this have changed. The number of WP8.1 users is very very large comparing to WP7/WP7.8. They are in the middle of the road with no where to go.
As my Heading for this post says, I will/should use the word “CHEATED”. Every single Windows Insider has contributed something to Windows 10 Mobile through feedback app or directly giving reviews. We can clearly say that the decision to omit a large number of devices from eligible update list was not a last minute decision. Why can’t they tell it early that all devices will not be eligible. Just because they want the everything from all Insiders. And promised all WP8.1 devices are eligible for the update. If they announced earlier that all devices are not eligible for the update I bet they will loose 50% of its Insiders. Literally or Practically what Microsoft has done to its Insiders is not acceptable.
“IF YOU ARE A BETA TESTER, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN ITS FINAL PRODUCT”
Lets Check the devices:
Eligible for Windows 10 Mobile: Lumia 1520, Lumia 930, Lumia 830, Lumia 730, Lumia 735, Lumia 640, Lumia 640XL, Lumia 635 1GB, Lumia 636 1GB, Lumia 638 1GB, Lumia 540, Lumia 535, Lumia 532, Lumia 435, Lumia 430
Not Eligible for Windows 10 Mobile: Lumia 1320, Lumia 1020, Lumia Icon, Lumia 928, Lumia 925, Lumia 925T, Lumia 920, Lumia 920T, Lumia 822, Lumia 820, Lumia 810, Lumia 720, Lumia 720T, Lumia 635 LTE, Lumia 630, Lumia 625, Lumia 620, Lumia 530, Lumia 525, Lumia 520, Lumia 520T
There is a vast 16 months to end the life cycle of WP8.1. So be wise and at least provide WP8.1 Update 2 and gave regular security updates to devices up to July 2017 if you really value your customers OR at least make sure Windows Phone is DEAD.!
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This is the saddest truth I read today. *Starts crying inside