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Windows Phone 8 might support mass storage mode, Zune sync begone

By Daniel Petrov

Published: Jul 16, 2012, 4:37 AM

Windows Apps

Windows Phone 8 might support mass storage mode, Zune sync begone

One of the user-friendly features of Android and Symbian devices is that they support mass storage mode, i.e. you just plug the device into your computer and can transfer any file back and forth just like you would with a card reader.

Now WPDang, the perennial Microsoft plans leaker, claims that this feature will be available with Windows Phone 8 as well. When announcing the newest version of its mobile OS, Microsoft only said it will support removable microSD cards, where you can keep your photos, videos, music and install apps.

The way Windows Phone 8 will manage the mass storage mode is that it will apparently create separate music, video, photos and so on folders for your multimedia and apps, and when connected to a computer and its drivers installed, the new WP8 phones will let you just drag and drop files there, rather than relying on the Zune software.

Certainly a welcome change, if it holds water, yet somehow we doubt you will be able to just drop a .xap file in any of these folders and sideload apps from there. There are a few more developer events until the first phones with Windows Phone 8 hit the market, where we could eventually learn more about this newfangled mass storage mode.

source: WPDang (translated)

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.