At its IFA conference Aug. 29, Samsung announced a new Windows Phone 8 device along with the expected Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The ATIV S takes full advantage of new Windows Phone 8 features, with a high definition screen and multi-core processor.

The ATIV S measures 8.7 millimeters thick and weighs 135 grams. It uses a 4.8-INCH Super AMOLED display and features an 8-megapixel camera on the back with a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. The new smartphones runs on a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and users will have a choice between 16GB and 32GB storage capacities with MicroSD support expanding storage further. The ATIV S includes NFC and has a 2300m battery. Microsoft announced the device in a blog post, though did not reveal how long the battery will last.

Microsoft added that while the phone uses a 4.8-inch screen, it feels "impossibly slim" and is "solid but not heavy." It also talked about a raised home button, which is physical rather than capacitive, to access the start screen, while the buttons on the device are aluminum rather than plastic.

"It all adds up to a device that looks great, feels great, and performs great," Microsoft concluded.

The post includes photos of the device. The phone marks the beginning of expected announcements of Windows Phone 8 devices; Microsoft and Nokia are expected to announce two new Lumia devices at a Sept. 5 conference. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop told reporters in August that the company is building new devices, but he did not elaborate.

Windows Phone 8 is a big step forward for Microsoft's two-year-old operating system. Along with the aforementioned support for HD screens and multi-core processors, it features a new start screen that allows users to resize titles into one of three sizes. The move to the Windows NT Kernel also means that Windows Phone 7 devices will remain stagnant save for the complimentary Windows Phone 7.8 update, while Windows Phone 8 devices get updates.