There is a large number of Microsoft fans that are eagerly awaiting the launch of new Win8 phones and there has been a consistent lack of information regarding their availability dates. It would make sense to develop a program for these advanced users that would allow them to receive their devices before they become generally available (even a week in advance would work). You could make the program have a nominal fee (like 15$ that would be returned in the form of store credit when an individual actually purchases a Win8 phone). This would help alleviate the frustration shown by fans on various forums and would also act as a great marketing tool since these loyal fans would act as great spokespeople for new products. Also, since it is likely that the people involved in the program have a much higher technical understanding of the product then the general consumer, they would make for a great group of beta testers that could help ensure that a large number of possible software issues with the phone are resolved before before it becomes widely available. Overall, this program would be greatly appreciated by the dedicated Win8 fans while at the same time benefiting Microsoft and its hardware partners since it would increase product awareness and help avoid some of the launch problems (software) that most phones experience.

You should have the ability to send any message that has attached to it a State, this state could render it to be silently received or by default to the setting of the recipients handset.

The reasons for this would be for privacy as well as convenience, Imagine you have a friend who has an interview, you cannot remember when or for how long but require the ability of notifying that friend for any reason. You would not "Hope" that individual has turned his phone to silent or not. Therefore the need for a silent Text message. This would allow the user to receive a text message without interruption should that individual have forgotten to turn their phone off or to silent if they have an important meeting or you simply wish to not interrupt them.

How can an interlace so brilliant fail so hard at producing a platform for search/download/storage of podcasts. It is not like podcasts haven't been around for longer than MP3 players.

I suggest that instead of treating podcasts as an after-though and tagging them onto xbox music with no functionality for search etc. that Microsoft build a dedicated platform to run independently of xbox music.

I do not believe that this is too much to ask. I am now returning my very expensive Nokia Lumia 920 that I waited a long time for my network (o2) to get. I love the WP8 system and am bored of iOS; but am being forced to maintain an iPhone because I need a proper podcast system that does not requre third party app or syncing with my iTunes account.... I am trying to get away from APPLE!