Microsoft pulls the plug on Windows Phone 8.1

12 July 2017
Microsoft won't be releasing any more updates for the mobile OS.

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said it from day one. lack of apps doomed this from the start. Its a lovely looking system but not enough apps = failure.

Cue the Windows fan boys saying "ive got all the apps i need", well, its not what everyone else wants which is why its failed dismally.

    Sad story. I like to see this many responses. Keep them coming you guys.

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      • AnonD-682657
      • D0e
      • 12 Jul 2017

      Arya, 12 Jul 2017Next is htc..Androids survive anyday damn there are uncountable android's lol if you consider the whole world 99percent uses Android than ios(Considering mobile price range starts from 30$)

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        • AnonD-558092
        • Q}R
        • 12 Jul 2017

        Ah, Microsoft. You tried to be the IBM of the smartphones, but you didn't bother listen to your customers. You pretty much doomed yourself with W10M and the abandon of the Android App Bridge. Next time perhaps you should consider what people want instead of telling them what to want.

          • J
          • Jose
          • 4yU
          • 12 Jul 2017

          Aadrian, 12 Jul 2017I use WP since the beginning and now using Windows 10 mobil... moreI am on WIndows Phones since LUMIA 920.... now with Lumia 950XL,, I will stay on WINDOWS systems ,, as long they are available, I am very satisfied with my phone...

            Angry Bird, 12 Jul 2017Windows 10 is good platform. The UI is better than Android'... moreAfter using it for years I just can't take the UI anymore. Android has actually really done well with advancing Nougat and all the crazy icon packs and launchers out there.

            After years MS can't get a simple thing right. For example tile with outlook calendar cuts off the word "calendar" in medium tile mode on my 950xl. A lot of apps cut the name off. Developers all compete to have the loudest tile to get noticed and all these loud tiles mixed and matched make it look like a bunch of legos spilled on the floor. They really need to enhance the UI. Transparency is a great idea except they don't enforce developers to use it. So those who like uniform colour using their accent can't get it. Having fully transparent doesn't work either as apps don't all support it. So again making it look horrible. The same goes for windows 10 Desktop. They need to advance the UI. Live tiles are chaotic and compete for your attention. They have had one of the best notification centers for a while. A notification gives way more info than a live tile can. Live tiles should be approved based on the app. For example, weather app or a grocery list are great but news and other stuff is going to come with a notification anyways. Notifications are nicely grouped with each app. This is something that ios still hasn't gotten right and android didn't have for a while. I guess depends on the flavour, I can't say I know all android oem's and their notifications.

              • I
              • IMSK
              • QrV
              • 12 Jul 2017

              This was a long time coming. Those jokers at Microsoft have a strategy of launching high priced devices and then abandoning them, believing the users will switch to newer platforms and they'll make even more money.

              I was one of the first ones to buy the Lumia 800, when it launched at an exorbitant price way back in 2010. Then 6 months later, they abandoned WM7.8 for 8.1, and I was left with a crap device with no apps and no updates within 6 months of making a purchase. They did the same to 8.1 with 10.

              Thank God the people realized the strategy and stopped buying the crappy devices.
              Thanks Microshit for sinking Nokia and Symbian and Meego...

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                • Aadrian
                • 3YQ
                • 12 Jul 2017

                I use WP since the beginning and now using Windows 10 mobile on my Lumia 930 and it works like a charm. For me it's the best OS, I will use it as long as possible.

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                  • AnonD-555284
                  • 61Q
                  • 12 Jul 2017

                  Angry Bird, 12 Jul 2017Windows 10 is good platform. The UI is better than Android'... moreFirst off, I own and have been using Lumia for several years and it's still my 2nd daily driver. It's Lumia 830 and I love every inch of it and still serves me well.

                  I think I completely agree with your opinion that MS has been abandoning the smartphone market. Yes, they don't listen to customer wants and THINK THEY KNOW exactly what we need. So, kaboom, there's your Windows 10 Mobile. Though it's a core update, the platform still looks and feels the same and the badly needed fix for Windows phone still isn't out there: availability of 3rd party apps.

                  So, if you think >60% of smartphone users choose Android because of its customability, I think you're mistaken. It's always been the lack of apps that kills Windows Mobile. iOS is very restricted in terms of customizing the look, you can't even put widgets in its home screen but it still captures >30% smartphone market share while Windows Phone struggles with its

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                    • AnonD-674280
                    • p74
                    • 12 Jul 2017

                    I am using Lumia 520 win 8.1 for a month now and it was on my shelf for over a year and I have not seen any updates for it anyway.

                    As my Lumia 830 was in guarantee and they didn't get to fix it even cause repair parts takes to long to arrive so they didn't do to it anything. And the deem shop from where I bought the phone don't even return my money or change it to a new phone in the same price range. To get new phone from them or money back the phone first needs to be writeoff so they can give back money or change it to new phone. Never again I will buy any device from the shops that don't do guarantee but give guarantee. Saving 10-20 euro just isn't worth it.

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                      • Windows 8.1
                      • Ia9
                      • 12 Jul 2017

                      Hotkolbas, 12 Jul 2017Love it.... the demise of windows os. Everything was no goo... moreWhen Nokia staff were still at Microsoft, they pumped out update after update with no problems

                      Heres the thing Windows 10, was beng developed and all phone every singlw windows 8.1 was going to recieve the first Windows 10 update

                      Windows 10 is toxic so toxic in fact that even the 3 devices , Lumia 950 ; 650 & 550 that were being relaesed with it W10 installed 2 years after it is still not working

                      So from having all phones on W10 olnly a few qualified and those devices which upgraded o W10 reverted to W8

                      Microsoft instead of realising it had a problem launched W10
                      So everybody whoswe phone is W8.1 havs a working phone, anybody on W10 is using a software so bad that it introduces additional problem

                      Remember Samsung with the NOTE 8 exploding battery so they pulled it
                      Microsoft have stopped selling phones due to the unfixable problems in windows 10 that renders a device almost unsable
                      What other reason do microsoft have in NOT selling the latest phone

                      Windows 10 is unfixable, if microsoft ever sell another phone the will be not a trace of Windows 10 in the software

                      Any fresh start has to be with W8.1 as a base
                      If Microsoft had don the right thing it would have released 950 /650 & 550 with Window 8 and upgrade it incrementally

                      Instead showing Phone operating sysytem is NOT laptop released Windows 10, which may have killed off the windows platform
                      http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_is_reportedly_testing_a_new_phone_running_a_new_branch_of_windows_mobile-news-25319.php

                      If you don't sell phones that run on Window 10 then say nothing of course App developers are going to abandon it
                      Windowsphone 10 operating system is quite possibly the biggest mistake to happen in the phone market


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                        • AnonD-555284
                        • tDR
                        • 12 Jul 2017

                        Anonymous, 12 Jul 2017What about Windows Phone Recovery Tool to Recover a Bricked... moreIf I'm not mistaken, you'll be directed to MS server to download the OS image. So, as long as MS keeps the file on their server, you'll be just fine.

                        Also, I've tried to download the image and store it to a local folder but I still failed to flash the image

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                          • Angry Bird
                          • pqm
                          • 12 Jul 2017

                          mc guy, 12 Jul 2017Windows platform was really great to me. The more the updat... moreWindows 10 is good platform. The UI is better than Android's. I have devices with both OS' , latest versions, I have pratical experience. I am really sorry to see how people are talking about something they have absolutely no idea about, just read some article somewhere. To start with: the home screen is more customizable than any Android device (look for videos on youtube..). You don't even have to have the classical tiles....and this is just one thing. The OS is more practical than Android, Android is more colourful, and this is what people are judging an OS on. It is actually sad because for the moment I am absolutely not happy with Android and iOS is just too restricted. I would like to see a third option on the market. My entire family is using WM, they are all HAPPY with their devices.


                          Regardless this, MS is abandoning the platform, so I am not going to fight for it, or invest any more money into it. In fact, I think the MS management has made a huge mistake. They are completely abandoning the mobile market, eventually they will loose the consumer market too. If google is playing well, they will take over the enterprise segment on a long term. MS has short-sighted management and very bad user care. Personal devices are the future...

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                            • AnonD-555284
                            • 61Q
                            • 12 Jul 2017

                            To be honest, I think not so many people would get upset with the news as there's only few people left with WP 8.1 and I'm pretty sure they're on their way to a phone store to get themselves either Android or iOS.

                            Don't get me wrong, I'm using Lumia 830 as a secondary phone. It's a great device for basic tasks a phone is built for: making calls, texting, or taking pictures. It's a good device as long as you don't set your expectations high. Plus, it's always a nice conversation starter. Whenever I reach out my Lumia, most people would ask, "Wtf are you holding?"

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                              • v.k.n
                              • v$C
                              • 12 Jul 2017

                              Anonymous, 12 Jul 2017i like the os, different people different taste, all those ... moreExactly.. Been using WM for 3 years.. switched to Android last year

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                                • Anonymous
                                • 3@B
                                • 12 Jul 2017

                                What about Windows Phone Recovery Tool to Recover a Bricked Phone and Reinstall Windows Phone 8.1
                                Will this tool still be available?

                                  There has been no updates to WP 8.1 after 2015 and only a small subset of Windows Phones received the Update 2 (8.1.2), anyway. This so called end of support date is purely theoretical, at least for consumers.

                                    rizki1, 12 Jul 2017very very sad news :'( no more nokia lumia and windows phone..The Nokia name was given to Microsoft for 2 years, it's years since the only making Microsoft Lumia.
                                    Nokia brand is Nokia not propriety of Microsoft

                                      • T
                                      • Truth_Hurts
                                      • XQP
                                      • 12 Jul 2017

                                      sr777, 12 Jul 2017Why do you think companies want to put out their mobile OS?... moreWhat do you think FBI will do with the data about which porn people get off to? If you're worried about getting caught for pirating, you shouldn't do it in the first place. Tell what secret do you have that you don't want FBI to know. And no, if they wanted your banking infos, then you'd already be bankrupt.

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                                        • Anonymous
                                        • pWQ
                                        • 12 Jul 2017

                                        AnonD-79703, 12 Jul 2017My parents (same age) actually like them, including the til... moreTheir Lumias are always connected to a charger, mom said her phone has never survived more than one whole day without charging. She does only use her phone for WhatsApp, text messages and calls. The most annoying thing is that the apps do not even update themselves like my Androids have always done - their WhatsApp's stopped working earlier this year and what a mess that was - explaining why their phones can't do as simple thing as keeping the apps working. :/ Also they find the UI messy, I actually agree with them. Or then I'm too used to Android's and find it more comfortable because of that.

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