Microsoft's mobile operating system, Windows Phone, is growing up. While many believed it would be Nokia to show off the first Windows Phone 8-based device, it turned out it got to be Samsung during IFA this past week. Either way, we should be seeing Nokia's efforts here shortly, and that has many people plenty excited.

Which makes sense, if these recent leaks are any indicator of what we should be expecting. If the leaks do pan out, then there's no doubt that Nokia is keeping up with their ridiculously nice looking Windows Phone designs, and the Lumia series should continue to be one of the best designed series out there.

I'll admit that when the leaks hit, and I was first introduced to the yellow-hued Lumia 920, my first reaction was a simple one:

"I'd buy that."

But then it quickly turned into:

"But I don't think I'd use it for long."

Taylor Martin is excited about the device. Actually, the leaked image and info has Taylor excited about Windows Phone. I know where he's coming from. If the Lumia 920 is indeed what we think it will be, then I can see why Taylor --and plenty of other people-- would be excited about. Even just for the PureView-branded camera.

But, hardware can only take you so far, in my opinion. The marriage between hardware and software is what compels me to buy a device. Or, more to the point, to keep a device. And, while I think that yellow Lumia 920 is ridiculously nice looking, and I'd love to show it off to everyone around me (not that they wouldn't already be staring at a giant yellow phone, anyway), I just have to keep my expectations in check.

I can't let myself get too excited. Not yet.

I was excited about the new things that Microsoft is including with Windows Phone 8, and that wasn't even really geared towards the consumer. I can't wait to see what new things Microsoft has for the consumer when they unveil new features for the platform, but there's only one area that I'm hoping gets a big, big boost.

The apps. I love some of the applications that are available for Windows Phone, simply because I love the landscape layout that has been instilled within the platform, but I just haven't found an app that I actually prefer to use in Windows Phone. Not compared to Android. Especially not compared to iOS.

I need application support, because I love applications. So, even if Microsoft unveils some great new notifications system for their new version of Windows Phone, it will just be one great feature that is watered down by the available applications.

I do have hope for Windows Phone. I do. I love the platform, and I love the connected ecosystem. I think it's going to be great. The applications just need to get better, in my opinion. So I hope when we see the next wave of Windows Phone devices head to market, we see a new wave of applications that follow suit.