Microsoft's first Windows Phone 8 update dubbed Apollo Plus?

Football4PDA Twitter account as the source. The Verge subsequently posted that the code name of Windows Phone OS 8's follow-on would be "Apollo Plus." (Maybe the ban on code names ending with "o" doesn't start till Windows Phone 9 OS?)

The Verge's Tom Warren also reported that Microsoft would share details about the update at the Mobile World Congress show in February 2013. The Verge cited unnamed sources as providing the information and said the coming update could include features like VPN support, a Wi-Fi connectivity fix, and audio improvements.

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VPN support is an interesting one, given Microsoft officials said in June of this year that Microsoft had decided against including VPN functionality in the Windows Phone operating system (even though it had been included in Windows Phone OS' predecessor, Windows Mobile). A Microsoft official told me that Microsoft has decided instead to rely on things like Secure SSL to address this need... as they considered Secure SSL "a better, light-weight approach" to providing this kind of functionality in the new BYOD (bring your own device) world.

I've since heard from a number of business users that no VPN support was a deal breaker for their organizations in adopting Windows Phone. I've also heard from users in countries with governments that censor their citizens' Web-browsing that VPN is a much-desired feature for circumventing officially imposed firewalls.

I asked Microsoft whether the next version of the Windows Phone OS was code-named "Apollo Plus" and whether VPN connectivity will be part of it. Not surprisingly, a spokesperson said only that the company doesn't comment on rumors and speculation.

If Microsoft does refer to the minor, interim update to Windows Phone 8 OS as "Apollo Plus," that might help dampen user expectations a bit. With Tango, many users were expecting a lot more, feature-wise, than ended up being part of that update because it had its own special code name.

Meanwhile, I also asked Microsoft about the whereabouts of the Windows Phone OS 7.8 update -- the one that is slated to allow existing Windows Phone 7 users to make use of resizable tiles on their phones. A Microsoft spokesperson said: "More information on 7.8 will be available in the coming weeks."

As to the rumors circulating that 7.8 might be available this week, I'm doubtful. I think Microsoft might announce the release to manufacturing of 7.8 this week, but I'm hearing the update may not be available from the carriers until early next year (maybe even as late as February 2013).

This story originally posted as "Apollo Plus: Is this Microsoft's first Windows Phone 8 update?" on ZDNet.

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God game seeks Kickstarter update

Peter Molyneux was behind other god games such as Black and White Continue reading the main storyRelated StoriesFunding sought for Elite remakeKickstarter sued over 3D printersDevelopers quit Kickstarted game British gaming veteran Peter Molyneux has turned to Kickstarter to raise cash for an updated version of Populous.

The original started the "god game" genre, in which players act as the divine overseer of an artificial world.

The updated version, called Project Godus, will add multiplayer and have worlds that change to reflect the character of their creator.

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Apple issues supplemental OS X 10.8.2 update

With or without its new Fusion hybrid drive, Apple finally has a Mac Mini that competes well against mainstream Windows PCs in the same price range.

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Wii U update 'bricking' warning

The first batch of the Wii U became sold out at many stores after its launch in the US Continue reading the main storyRelated StoriesCan the Wii U power up Nintendo?Nintendo Wii U to be sold at lossNintendo Wii U has social network Owners of Nintendo's new Wii U console have been facing lengthy waits to make full use of it because they need to install a large firmware update.

The software - which adds features including access to the Miiverse social network - is about one gigabyte large, and must be downloaded via the net.

There are reports that some machines became "bricked" - or unusable - because the update was interrupted.

Nintendo has warned users not to "power off your system" during the process.

The Japanese games company has acknowledged that the data required "an hour or more" to download and install.

The Wii U launched in the US on Sunday.

Frozen consoles

Los Angeles Times business reporter Ben Fritz was one of the first to report problems with his newly purchased console after trying to cancel the update.

"Wii U has stopped functioning before I managed to play a single game. I tried to stop an interminable software update and now... nothing," he tweeted.

"On a related note, anybody in the market for a big black paperweight?"

He added that several other users had messaged him to say they were facing a similar problem.

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