Neowin is covering Microsoft's TechEd developer conference in New Zealand this week, and has learned a few extra details about the future of Windows Phone. When it comes to Windows Phone 7.8, which was completely absent from this week's New York event, the session revealed that the update will include "great new experiences" from OEMs (like Nokia, HTC, Samsung, etc.). So fortunately it appears that the update situation won't be just the new Start screen, although we don't know what and, to be blunt, we aren't expect much from recent dropouts like Dell and LG.

In a second report, the focus was entirely on Windows Phone 8 and what developers and fans alike can look forward to. Microsoft gave more details about the new Beta program, which we first heard about from the WP Summit. During today's session it was revealed that the program will let developers and "registered enthusiasts" have early access to updates before they are pushed out to the public. There's also a restatement of the 18 month update promise Microsoft will be instituting with Windows Phone 8, and of course a mention of the updates now being delivered straight to the device over Wi-Fi.

Source: Neowin 1, 2