Microsoft Windows Phone 8

This isn't a bad selection of lock screen features but it isn't exactly stellar either. You can't for instance jump straight to the app for which a notification has popped up nor add shortcuts to favourite apps. There isn't a shortcut to the camera...

Super-slick interface ; Cool camera options ; Screenshots. Finally

Still not intuitive enough ; Requires a new handset ; App store still gappy

Pretty and now more customisable ; Cortana's powerful and effective ; Notifications have finally arrived

Start can look messy if you arrange it badly ; Settings and multi-tasking could be cleaner ; iOS and Android still ahead on apps

8.1 sees Windows Phone starting to realise its potential - with a couple of caveats this is now a worthy alternative to iOS and Android

Windows Phone SDK 8.0 gives developers extensive features, snappier code, lots of help, and the option to code in JavaScript and HTML.

After four days of getting to know Windows Phone 8, our initial mood can be described as positive. While Windows Phone 7.5 already was a fine operating system, Windows Phone 8 offers more options to customise the phone according to your own ideas and...

On the upside, it’s getting a lot of positive attention on its unique features and, paired with some very distinctive launch devices, may just be Microsoft’s ticket out of mobile misery.

It's great to see some fresh ideas in the smartphone world and I recommend anyone buying a new phone to give Windows Phone 8 handsets a look, especially if you're also moving to Windows 8 on a PC.

Windows Phone 8 is a solid effort that remains beautiful and effortlessly easy to use. It adds in a few extra features to keep it competitive, as well as support for the current cutting edge in hardware, but unfortunately, it still doesn’t solve the...

Great user interface, good selection of producitivty tools, support for higher-specification devices

Can be confusing at first, lacking in apps

Windows Phone 8 is a massive improvement over Windows Phone 7, with a more appealing user interface, enhanced business features and support for devices with higher specifications. Microsoft still needs to put some work into its ecosystem, as the...

Despite playing catch up in the mobile space, Microsoft has worked hard to polish the Windows Phone platform and has added a number of key features. Manufacturers such as Nokia and HTC look to have nailed it from a hardware point of view, but the...