See Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' in action (video)
Did you miss today's Windows Phone VIP event, where Microsoft showcased upcoming features for "Mango," codename for the next version? We've got you covered -- as does Microsoft. In the video, Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's corporate vice president for Windows Phone, highlights some of the exciting new features coming in Windows 7.5.
The strong undercurrent of Belfiore's Mango introduction is Microsoft's "glance and go" philosophy -- the idea being: The smartphone shouldn't be the center of your life, but instead enable you to live better. Related:
Nokia will ship Windows Phone 'Mango' but not this year
During today's Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' live preview event, Microsoft Windows Phone division president Andy Lees reveals that the first handsets from the Nokia partnership will run the operating system. That might suggest to some people that the first Nokia Windows Phone handsets will ship this year, since the operating system is scheduled to. That's not what he says.
Nokia timing is something Microsoft developers, OEM partners, customers, investors and watchers are looking for. Previously, the company indicated that the first Nokia Windows Phone handsets wouldn't release until 2012. There is nothing in today's announcement to suggest that anything has changed.
Windows Phone Mango: a luxury smartphone brand?
At an event in New York City on Tuesday, Microsoft announced the first new version of Windows Phone, version 7.5 (also known as "Mango") will be released on new devices this fall, and it will be available as a free update to all Windows Phone 7 devices at that time as well.
Even though Windows Phone Mango includes "more than 500 new features", some of which were shown off today, a major factor contributing to Mango's importance is the scale of this release.
Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango': Big on promises, not on apps
Microsoft is hosting a live media right now for the next version of Windows Phone, codename "Mango." Yesterday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer leaked name Windows Phone 7.5 during a speech in Japan. The update will be free when available later this year.
Today, Microsoft revealed 18,000 apps are available for Windows Phone 7, which launched in autumn 2010. The number pales in comparison to either the Android or Apple iOS app stores. No doubt, many Android and Mac sites will laugh off the paltry showing by comparison. But Microsoft is focused more on quality than quantity of apps with a specific design goal -- "glance and go." Let people get the information needed to live rather than be consumed by their smartphones.
Ballmer: 500 new 'features' in Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango"
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told attendees of the Japanese Microsoft Developers Forum Monday that the next version of Windows Phone -- codenamed "Mango" -- will contain approximately 500 new features. Ballmer was light on specifics, although rumors may provide some insight.
Mango is expected to include support for multitasking, as well as better integration with Microsoft's Office productivity suite. Internet Explorer 9 will also ship with the new OS, and e-mail will be enhanced with better search and a new thread view. People Hub is also expected to pick up Twitter support.
Windows Phone ramps up enterprise appeal with 7.5 'Mango' update
Amid a string of platform announcements at TechEd 2011 in Atlanta on Monday, Microsoft revealed a little more information about the enterprise-friendly aspects of the Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" update expected to launch later this year.
Microsoft launched Windows Phone 7 in the exact opposite way it had launched previous versions of Windows Mobile. In other words, Windows Phone 7 launched with consumer features that were never present on Windows Mobile, such as integration with Xbox Live and Zune, and is adding enterprise features incrementally.
5 more things you need to know about Microsoft and Nokia Windows Phones
When Microsoft and Nokia announced in February that they would be partnering for the production of Windows Phones, we outlined ten main points about the partnership that were important for consumers to know. The list inspected the effect the partnership would have on Nokia's Ovi services, Microsoft's Bing, Nokia's Finnish workforce, and Windows Phone as a whole.
On Thursday, Microsoft provided further information about the partnership, giving slightly deeper insight into how the Nokia Windows Phones ecosystem will look.
Microsoft unveils 'Mango' -- next major Windows Phone version
Microsoft's MIX11 Day 2 is perhaps more important than the first. Today, Joe Belfiore took the keynote stage to discuss the next Windows Phone update, codename "Mango," which will be "available to all current users of Windows Phone" and on new handsets, he said. Developer tools are coming next month.
Microsoft plans to release Mango in autumn, adding support for 16 additional languages. The number of countries where Windows Phone apps can be submitted will increase from 30 to 36. Applications will be available to download or buy in more countries -- 25 up from 16.
Windows Phone 7 draws 1,200 new developers per week, 11.5k apps per quarter
Though Windows Phone 7 has only been available to consumers for a little over four months, developer tools for the platform have been available for more than a year. To celebrate the first full year of Windows Phone development, Microsoft's Brandon Watson has revealed a list of statistics that loosely approximate the size and scope of the platform's third-party developer community.
Developers
If Windows Phone is No. 2 by 2015, I'll kiss Steve Ballmer's feet
Now here's something you don't see everyday, an analyst firm predicting that Microsoft's mobile operating system will trump Apple iOS and Research in Motion's BlackBerry. Don't believe it. I surely don't, and with good reasons.
The skinny: Today IDC predicted that by 2015, Windows Phone 7 and Mobile would reach 20.9 percent global market share, as measured by shipments, on smartphones -- up from 5.5 percent this year. By comparison, iOS share is predicted to be nearly flat over four years, with smartphone OS share of 15.3 percent in 2015. IDC predicts Android will grow to 45.4 percent from 39.5 percent.
Hands on with HTC HD7S: aka the Windows Phone that used to be T-Mobile's
HTC and Microsoft are in their third year of creating smartphones in the "HD" product line, and the two companies look to have finally hit their stride with the new HD7S, which is a slightly revamped version of the four-month-old HD7, completely ready for a world where T-Mobile USA no longer exists.
In early 2009, the HTC Touch HD was unveiled, a 3.8" WVGA touchscreen device which was obviously a post-iPhone device in chassis design, but was powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 which mandated a stylus and resistive touchscreen. By 2009, this was already something of a doomed interface in the smartphone category.
AT&T adds big screened 3D-ready LG Thrill, HTC HD7S to lineup
The nation's largest GSM carrier on Monday announced two new smartphones aimed at the higher end as it works to differentiate itself after losing exclusivity of the Apple iPhone. The LG Thrill 4G, a dual-core 3D-ready Android phone, and the HTC HD7S, a Windows Phone 7 device with a five megapixel built in camera, will be available in the coming weeks.
Both devices will sport large 4.3-inch screens, with the LG Thrill able to run on AT&T's new 4G network. The LG Thrill would also be able to shoot 3D imagery and video through its own built in five megapixel camera, and no glasses would be required in order to view the imagery.
Microsoft yanks Windows Phone 7 update for Samsung devices
The minor update to Windows Phone 7 that started rolling out on Monday has been problematic for Samsung devices running the OS, and Microsoft has stalled the update process.
The update, according to Michael Stroh in the Windows Phone Blog, was "designed to improve the software update process itself."
Windows Phone 7 to get Internet Explorer 9, Kinect integration
Following its Nokia partnership announcement at Mobile World Congress, Microsoft on Monday made half a dozen significant announcements about new features and capabilities that will be coming to the Windows Phone platform this year.
Microsoft CEO Ballmer announced that the first major update to Windows Phone 7 will be rolled out to consumers in March, and it will add copy and paste functionality. However, little else was said about the update, and we've asked Microsoft today for a bit more information about it. In all likelihood, it will pale in comparison to the updates Ballmer announced will be coming later this year.
Developers, is the Nokia-Microsoft deal good for you?
That's today's question for mobile developers, particularly those with experience creating applications or services for Android, iOS or Windows Phone in addition to Symbian or even Meego. Nokia will be swapping out Symbian as its primary mobile platform for Windows Phone. Details are scant now on how soon other than general references to 2012.
You can respond in comments or by e-mailing joewilcox at gmail dot com. I will take your responses and put some of them together as another post. Please be specific why the Nokia-Microsoft deal would be or would not be good for you, particularly if you see mixed benefits and shortcomings.
Recent Headlines
Most Commented Stories
© 1998-2024 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.