Windows phones sit somewhere between Android and iOS. They aren't exactly open like Android, but they aren't as restricted in both OS features and hardware as iPhones are.

But because Microsoft mandates that each phone contains many of the same components, there is a unity amongst all Windows Phones. Each phone has the same three navigation buttons and the same dedicated photo button, for instance. But in WP7 they also could only run a single-core processor. This quickly became a problem.

While plenty of the WP7 phones ended up being wonderfully colorful and well-constructed phones, their single-core processors were quickly outdated.  This put Microsoft in the unfavorable position of being a budget alternative instead of a sexy disruptor.

So while Windows Phone 8 contains dozens and dozens of welcome little refinements and improvements (not to mention a few big ones), the biggest change to Windows Phone 8 is the new kernel, which allows Windows Phones to have dual-core processors.

Unfortunately, Windows Phones now have some catching up to do. WP owns less than 5% of the mobile market share currently, and while WP8 is a great new OS, the App Store is proof of Microsoft's challenge.

Microsoft claims 46 out of the top 50 apps are already in the store, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Of the handful of must-have apps I currently use, seven were not present in the store (Instagram, Sidecar, Path, Letterpress, Venmo, Uber, and Hero Academy). There's something sort of depressing about automatically assuming your phone just doesn't have the apps you want, and that thought-process pervaded my time with WP8.

But it may not be like that indefinitely, as WP8 is a very solid OS (with what appear to be some very solid hardware options). Windows Phone 8 may very well win over consumers interested in its "otherness" and where the consumers go, so too will the developers.

New Features

Windows Phone 8 has a handful of new features that makes it more well-rounded, polished OS. Live Tiles can now be resized, which will have a significant part in what your home screen looks like. Many apps are able to display additional information in larger tiles - so if you want Facebook to display your current status, or Xbox Music to display the song currently playing, you can do that by expanding your tiles. Certainly not all tiles benefit from the new sizes, but if nothing else having multiple sized tiles breaks up the monotony of your Home Screen.

There are a lot of cool aesthetic changes that can be sorted through settings. For instance, I changed my boring lock screen to display Bing's photo of the day and made it show me Facebook updates instead of Calendar reminders. This sort of tinkering allows you to really personalize your phone, but because it's all native to Windows Phone 8, I was never worried that I would download a faulty keyboard or start experiencing sluggishness due to add-ons, like I sometimes do in Android.

These WP8 add-ons are prevalent throughout the phone. For instance, on the Camera app, you can add something called lenses, which are basically standalone apps that affect your camera. There's currently only a few, but CNN's allows you to quickly upload your photos to CNN and CamWow allows you to distort your images on the fly.

There's also a new group sharing feature called Rooms. Rooms are basically a more complex, integrated version of Groups and allow you to share calendars, photos, messaging, the works. Even if your friends don't have a Windows Phone 8, you can still share a majority of things with them via Rooms, which means this feature is likely to catch on.

Xbox gets plenty of face time on the device. It's now the central hub for both music, video, and games. After loading my Gamertag on my phone I was able to quickly start racking up achievements on Xbox Live-compatible apps.

There are plenty more features to test out (like Kids' Corner, which allows you to hand off your phone without worrying about your kids getting into your stuff), but my initial impression is very positive.

Windows Phone 8 is probably the most aesthetically pleasing mobile OS out there, and it has a slew of interesting features that makes it a compelling option. Ultimately, it's going to need more apps if it wants to compete with Android and iOS, but WP8 is a big step in the right direction.

Nic is the Editor of IGN Tech. He loves technology almost as much as the Seahawks, Fresca, and P.O.S.'s new album. You can follow him on Twitter @nicvargus and IGN.

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