Windows Phone 8 review: Microsoft lays a foundation for success

I’m an unapologetic fan of Windows Phone 7. I like the aesthetic, the consistent UI design and concepts, and the personal nature of the Start screen. I think it’s a solid, stable, fun-to-use platform, and it’s my operating system of choice when it comes to smartphones. It has been something of a love/hate relationship, however. As much as I like the software, I haven’t liked the way Microsoft has managed it. In particular, the decisions the company has made around patching and updates have left a bad taste in my mouth.