14 DAY TRIAL // One of the enhancements that Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is reportedly set to include in its Windows Phone 8 operating system before the end of this year is support for handset screens that sport a resolution of 1080p.
At the moment, the platform offers support for WVGA, WXGA, and 720p resolutions, but support for full HD resolutions is expected in a future update for the OS, a recent article on The Verge notes.
Apparently, this new feature might open the gate to higher-end smartphones running under the platform, such as the HTC Zenith flagship that was rumored last year to arrive on shelves with a quad-core processor inside.
Apparently, HTC decided to cancel the device due to the lack of support for higher resolutions in Windows Phone 8, but chances are that it will arrive on shelves if said feature is added to the OS.
While no specific info has been provided on when support for 1080p resolutions might be added to Windows Phone 8, it seems that Microsoft will include it in the GDR3 (General Distribution Release 3) update that should land sometime in late 2013.
Furthermore, the new platform release is said to add support for some more Qualcomm processors, which should ensure the loading of Windows Phone 8 on more powerful, quad-core smartphones.
At the moment, Microsoft is said to plan the release of another update for WP8, namely GDR2, while also aiming at releasing a major upgrade for the platform sometime next year, as part of its so-called “Blue” initiative.
New features set to be included in that OS flavor will bring the mobile platform closer to the Windows 8 software for desktops, as Microsoft is moving forth with its plans to integrate the two as much as possible.
For the time being, however, no official info on the matter has been provided, and it might take a while before Microsoft actually makes an announcement on it, so stay tuned.