Microsoft has officially announced at the company’s “sneak peek” event the software that goes by the code name “Windows Apollo.” Windows Phone 8 stands out with its amped-up hardware support. Smartphones that will run in this mobile OS would require multi-core processors, WXGA screens with 1280 x 768 resolution, and external SD storage. With faster hardware, expect some faster gameplay experience and smoother usages of memory-demanding apps.

And as was rumored back then, Windows Phone 8 can also be used to run desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. The idea is to make porting from one device to the next much easier. It also has NFC support, making it adept to mobile wallet functionality, but as long as the device is armed with an augmented SIM.

As previously stated, Windows Phone 8 is not backward-compatible. Users of current Windows Phone may have to save money for newer, better Windows 8 smartphones or just be content with the upcoming Windows Phone 7.8 upgrade.

Windows Phone 8 is expected to arrive this fall, about the same time Microsoft’s Surface tablet will start shipping.