14 DAY TRIAL // Uncertainty is the thing that perfectly describes what is happening right now in the Windows phone community, with Microsoft remaining tight-lipped on the future of its mobile platform despite all the rumors pointing to an imminent death of both software and hardware.
And while there is speculation that a mobile makeover might be in the works, it looks that at least one software feature of Windows phones would live on no matter what.
HMD Global, the parent company of Nokia, has purchased the Nokia Camera user interface from Microsoft, along with other 500 patents that the software giant owned, and which presumably were taken over following the acquisition of Nokia’s Devices and Services Unit 2 years ago.
As shown in the EUIPO documents (via NokiaMob), the design of a future camera app for Nokia’s Android phones could feature the signature radial menu that’s been available on Windows phones for so long, and there’s a good chance all devices of the Finnish manufacturer would get it with a software update.
Zeiss lens coming to Nokia’s Android phones
While the same user interface continues to be available on some Windows phones as well, Nokia seems very keen on bringing it on Android devices as well, with Nokia 3, 5, 6 and possibly the upcoming 8 likely to feature it.
Interestingly, HMD has recently signed a deal with Zeiss as well, with future devices to introduce camera technology offered by its long-time partner, so the next-generation Android phones manufactured by Nokia are very likely to include several big features more or less inspired from its older Windows Phone models.
Meanwhile, Microsoft doesn’t talk too much about Windows phones, but when it does, it causes more frustration in its quickly-shrinking userbase. Recently, Joe Belfiore denied the hate for Windows Phone, saying instead that this commitment to the platform is one of the reasons the company is improving iPhone and Android.
It goes without saying that hardcore fans weren’t exactly pleased with this answer, so it remains to be seen how many of them would stick around until the eagerly-anticipated makeover of the platform lands.