Microsoft's response to post-NoDo 16-bit banding issue
Remember a while back when we covered how some people were (and still are) experiencing issues with colours on their devices after updating to Nodo? We even put in a small work around fix which required unlocking the device, unfortunately. Still, people are (and rightfully so) aggravated that images and especially gradients don't look as good as they once did.
A thread on the Microsoft forums has been slowly accumalating posts, which have been joined by a response from a Moderator and member of technical support, Aled T:
When HTC launched the HD7 and Trophy they upgraded the color depth to 32 bit, which was outside of Microsoft’s design requirements of 16bit. Microsoft implemented the design standards to help ensure the best possible and consistent experience for all customers on all Windows Phones. To continue to deliver a stable and consistent customer experience, HTC returned the devices to the 16 bit design requirements as part of the March (7.0.7390) update.
The color palette change should not make a noticeable change to most customers experience on their Windows Phone 7. Microsoft's goal is to ensure that the device is performing as optimally as possible – and as always their engineering teams continue to investigate the opportunities for future improvements.
We should remember though, back at MIX '11 we were told that Mango will address this and full 32-bit will be coming. Makes sense that the HTC devices are brought back to a reliable level until the OS is updated for improvements to be made backend. While we understand this is frustrating for most (due to Metro UI supposedly being the "sexier" interface on the market), like the current state of the updates, 32-bit will be "coming soon". Hang in until Mango, seems like it'll be a blast.
Source: Microsoft Forums, via: WMPU
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earle36 says:
I was wondering why when I look at pictures on my Focus the color gradient does seem to have a little banding...Now that I know its 16 bit it makes sense...
GP07 says:
Makes me wonder what is holding them back to using 16bit instead of 32bit? Is it GPU driver or overall UI code that's not optimized? Maybe some battery drain comes into play because the GPU works more to display more color depth? A clear technical reason would be nice to have at this point.
enahs555 says:
I wonder if that means the Focus is also physically capable of displaying 32 (or at least 24 bit) color but is currently not doing so due to software? Would be sweet if we get that upgrade too in Mango for current users. Anybody know?
onlywaytomo says:
well i just got the may security update, i wonder how long its going to take to get mango
GP07 says:
Since MS has a Mango specific event coming up on the 24th iirc, then it shouldn't take long I expect. It sounds to me like they're on schedule at MS, the rest is OEM and carriers being slow though I don't expect it this time around seeing how big Mango is and how much it brings with it. Hell carriers should love it though they'll probably try to push the new Mango ready devices first, so there could be a small delay between the release of new phones with Mango and when the rest of us will get it. Either way I don't think it'll be in 2012 like some were saying.I think MS will have Mango RTM'd in Sept, with new phones hitting the market in Oct, and upgrades going out in Nov etc. Just my prediction at this point.
jfa1 says:
onlywaytomo do you have the focus or some other device Just curious as I have focus and am waiting on security uypdate am not near my home computer so cant update until Sunday but hope its available. Thanks
wheelerk says:
I have a Focus on ATT network. I wasn't getting the security update, so I unbranded my phone and got it instantly.
mikmik111 says:
I am just bothered that I have 16bit on my Windows Phone when I see posts that talks about it. But on everyday use, it's not really a problem to me.
wheelerk says:
Wow!!! we are only using 16bit and display on my focus puts any phone you hold up against it to shame. Imagine once we get Mango....No contest!
CABAL says:
As I recall someone either here or on WMPoweruser mentioned that WP7 dithered the 16-bit output so that it wasn't obvious. If that was the case then the dithering somehow got disabled in the NoDo update because the banding is a bit too apparent now.
Baka says:
I've been telling anyone who will listen how stunning pictures look on my Arrive, I can't wait to see how they look in 32 bit.
jimski says:
Before NoDo, WP Bench showed no banding on my Surround. But after NoDo I definitely saw banding. I applied the Advanced Configuration Tool 32bit fix and the banding is gone. Don't know what the fix did, but I have seen no noticeable difference in battery, performance, video playback, etc. Before and after NoDo I never noticed any banding on my photos or other graphics. Could only see it on the WP Bench test slide, so probably not that important
d-signet says:
while i'm happy to hear that this will be addressed with mango , i can't help but feel uneasy about mango itselfwe havent had any confirmation that mango will be an 'upgrade' , MS have only ever referred to it as the 'next version' and in MS terms historically that has always meant 'new devices only'.They haven't ONCE even HINTED that this will be a WP7/zune upgrade, we've just 'assumed' it.the closest i've seen them say is that most current wp7 devices will not have features that are available in the new SDK (gyroscope etc). That's NOT an ecouraging statement.has anyone EVER seen anything official where they say that mango will be an upgrade?i just get the impression that we're all assuming a mango update, and that they'll actually end up saying "we never said that, here are the new mango wp7.5 devices, please feel free to upgrade your handset". We know it's coming EVENTUALLY , we don't really think that our mozarts and trophys will be upgradable to WP10
jimski says:
I believe it was Steve Balmer who said in February that all existing devices will be upgradeable to Mango.
MistaWet says:
Great post but you sound like an abused Android survivor. No worries. Not now. Mango is for all devices.
Daniel Rubino says:
d-signet>has anyone EVER seen anything official where they say that mango will be an upgrade?Yes. Heard it from Microsoft themselves. Joe Belfiore said it at MIX11. Every Windows Phone will get Mango.
MistaWet says:
I remember during Mix11, channel9 interviewed Joe Belaforie and he was speaking about the gyroscope feature coming in the Mango "update". During that segment Joe said "all ver.1 devices will be able to use this feature but the new devices will take better advantage of it due to more current hardware. Secondly, Mango is called an "update" and not an "upgrade" which the latter suggests you would need a new device in order to receive the new OS features. Lastly, if Mango were not intended for all WP devices, MS will in one swoop usher in a level of fragmentation that would make Android blush.
