Vamien McKalin
Windows Phone 8 is shaping up well - the features are there that makes it able to play with the big boys, and the handsets' hardware are top notch. However, Windows Phone 8 is missing one main feature, and that is a notification center where users can keep up with what their apps are doing.
During the build conference, someone from the audience asked about the feature's absence. Thomas Fennel, a program manager at Microsoft, answered with the following:
"Because we ran out of time. It's very very important to me... we get tons of feedback from developers that they want something like that as well. I promise we're thinking very very hard on that one."
But does Windows Phone 8 needs a notification center? One can see where this would be useful. However, if the user pins his/her favorite apps to the start screen, a notification feature could be invalid since the Live Tiles show the notification of the application. Then again, a user might use a particular application but choose not to place it on the start screen. In such a case, without the notification center, this user would have no idea what the app is up to.
There is a neat way Microsoft could make the notification center work on Windows Phone 8. Fans already know that swiping to the right brings up the apps list. So how about swiping to the left to bring up the notification center? That could definitely work, unless Microsoft has other plans for swiping left. The company could also try swiping from the bottom or the top as it is customary with Android and iOS.
© Copyright 2020 Mobile & Apps, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.most read
more stories from OS / Software
Microsoft has reportedly started talks with HTC to add its Windows OS to the phone maker's Android smartphones and HTC is apparently considering to make a Windows Phone/Android dual-booting smartphone.
ernest hamiltonA bug in Chrome for iOS 7 has caused Google's mobile browser to leak private searches made in 'Incognito' mode.
ernest hamiltonHTC has announced that Sprint has already started to roll out the Android 4.3 update to the HTC One, AT&T and T-Mobile will follow in mid-October, while Verizon will release it by the end of the month.
ernest hamiltonThe new Windows 8.1 has gone up for pre-order on the Microsoft Store, ahead of the official launch on Oct. 18.
ernest hamiltonApple has acknowledged the iOS 7 iMessage issue and promised to provide a fix in an upcoming software update.
ernest hamiltonSamsung Canada and French carrier SFR have confirmed the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean rollout schedule for the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.
ernest hamiltonThe unlocked, international HTC One is getting Android 4.3 Jelly Bean now, but the U.S. and Canadian versions will 'slightly miss' the end-September timeframe.
ernest hamiltonThe Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 are reportedly slated to get Android 4.3 Jelly Bean in the fourth quarter, by year-end.
ernest hamilton