Windows Phone 8 OS update - when can the rest of us expect it?

Concluding night we broke the story near the international version of the HTC 8X receiving the Windows Telephone viii Os 10211 (Portico) update, which included a gear up for the rebooting issue and some new features as well.

Of course the majority of you with Nokia Lumias or branded 8Xs are probably aimlessly checking to run into if your update is ready too. Then when should we anticipate it?

Unfortunately, we don't have whatsoever specific dates for you lot—not notwithstanding at least. But past experiences and some common knowledge tell u.s.a. that this will exist a controlled, rolled out procedure. The reasons for that should be obvious merely in case it's not, let us explain.

Some history

With Windows Phone viii, over-the-air updates (OTA) are finally realized for the first time to evangelize Os fixes and patches straight to a users telephone with no syncing to a PC required. It'south a fascinating method that in theory will allow Microsoft to dynamically update our phones with either new firmware, Os patches or new features when necessitated. The problem is it's brand new.

For those of you who think on Windows Phone 7 when its first update (affectionately called 'NoDo') was released, information technology too was very staggered and boring, more than so than the proceeding Windows Telephone seven.5 'Mango', requiring a few apologies from Microsoft. Even carriers got in on the blame game at the time. Part of that interruption was because the update system was novice and Microsoft was collecting diagnostic data for feedback—to run into if was working or non.

Interestingly, it was estimated that most fifty% of users were on Windows Phone 7.5 but i month later on its release. That was a massive improvement from NoDo.

From what nosotros sympathize, this update too will be staggered, at least initially (and not on the level of NoDo). This kickoff update, pushed to non-branded HTC 8Xs, is a scrap of a test bed for the visitor and they're at present anxiously reading your comments here and getting feedback from support forums, etc. What for? At least two reasons:

To see if anyone is having a problem getting the update east.grand. freezes, failed loading, boot bug, etc.
To see if this indeed fixes some of the problems it needs to address

That latter office may audio odd simply there are a lot of variables going into a sudden reboot issue. As any software developer can tell you, y'all can internallytest, examination, testmerely it'south a whole different ballgame when that app goes "live" to the earth. (Just ask our ain thorough and fastidious Jay Bennett who is never surprised at the bugs our app faces in your easily).

In short, in that location are no guarantees that this update will set up everything information technology is meant too, though the chances of it doing and so are quite loftier (the Windows Telephone squad wouldn't button this if they weren't confident in it). There are also the unintended consequences of patching a mobile OS, numerous times nosotros may add, all over-the-air that need to be taken into account.

Types of OTA updates

Every bit we've detailed earlier, Microsoft has planned Windows Telephone eight around numerous types of OTA updates, which we'll repost below:

OEM updates

OEM code (drivers, customizations, QC lawmaking – modem and BSP changes (encrypted))

Microsoft updates

Extra small – (<1MB) – i.e. cert changes, security updates
Small-scale – (<10BM) – i.eastward. diff and approved changes – predominant MSFT update
Medium – (TBD) – i.e. feature pack dot updates
Large – 100+MB – i.e. Major update release (e.yard. 7740 update) w/o language pack – uncommon
Ten-Large – 150+MB – i.eastward. Major update release (e.g. 7740 update) with language pack – uncommon

What are the chances your phone getting this update?

We'd say very good. In Windows Phone circles, the role of carriers in assuasive or blocking updates is a notorious source of contention. Oftentimes the carriers are seen as impeding the update process due east.yard. AT&T'due south Tango update for the Focus 2 merely a couple of weeks ago. Indeed, they are ofttimes the cause for delays but nosotros retrieve this update will exist dissimilar. Why? Because it's high priority. And yes, updates deemed critical by Microsoft do get prioritized, even by the carriers.

The Portico (10211) OS update is not but an optional feature-ready to be added, like multiple MMS in Tango. Its main function at this point is to stop random reboots. That'due south not something that Microsoft would put under the "optional" category for carriers just rather "critical", making this something that users tin can expect to be getting. Sure, Microsoft has also tossed in some highly desired new features and if they can sneak those in with a critical update, fifty-fifty better for u.s.a.. But at this signal, fixing the Os is the primary business organization.

Our communication

There's no need to frantically check for this Bone update, as nosotros fear many of you are at present doing. For one, your device will notify you if and when your update is ready (it checks ~~once every 24 hours every~~ every few days). In fact, your best bet is to pay attention to our site or the Windows Telephone Blog, who will announce more than information when information technology becomes available.

Our guess is that we won't see this update for a few more weeks through the carriers—some faster, some slower. But we should give Microsoft a little breathing room in case they need to tweak the OTA procedure, especially on their starting time run with information technology.

Oh and for those asking for an official alter-log for these updates, information technology is our understanding that on the "finish" screen where it now repeatedly says "Update completed!" that repetition may be removed in hereafter deliveries to provide exactly that information. Then just consider information technology a placeholder for now.

Don't be these guys. Not until after Christmas.

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