• MWC 2010:Microsoft Claws Back with Windows Phone 7

    MWC 2010:Microsoft Claws Back with Windows Phone 7

    Rahul Srinivas, Feb 15, 2010 2333 hrs IST

    Is this the best thing that has happened to phones since the iPhone?

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In what has to be one of the most significant announcements that Microsoft has made in recent times, it has made the next generation Mobile OS public with the unravelling of Windows Phone Series 7. A few hours ago, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft, for the first time, displayed what might well be the iPhone Killer you were eagerly waiting for.



We don't know if the Series 7 moniker at the end reminds you of the BMW 7 Series - a car known for its exclusivity, style and panache. For us, it did and we think it's cool, even though that effect might have been unintentional. That said, let us inform you that it would be an understatement if we said  that Windows Phone 7 is just an impressive OS. In fact, it just blows you away. This, coming from us, even as we have the iPhone amongst our midst, does convey a lot. Windows Mobile 7 (as it was known till today) was Microsoft's chance to redeem itself and get back the position it was steadily losing to faster, nimbler, slicker Operating Systems -- and for once, it seems Microsoft has delivered. And how! With one master stroke, Windows Phone 7 Series has turned Microsoft into the maker of the coolest Mobile OS on the planet.


There's lot to say and talk about Windows Phone Series 7. But first, we will start with the major highlights.


User Interface
The OS might turn out like nothing you have used before (Zune HD users please excuse). Simply put, this IS the best thing you might have come across, this side of 2007, ever since the iPhone happened. To describe the UI of WP7S (short for Windows Phone 7 Series) simply remove all the pre-conceived notions that you have regarding a typical phone UI and start afresh. There are no typical icons for launching apps in the same old boring style. Instead, WP7S uses an unusual grid of oversized squares that take up huge screen real estate and at the same time makes the user feel that reaching other areas of the menu is just a flick away. It is elegant, simple and like we said before, it's nothing like you have ever seen on a phone - iPhone included.






Sections
The menu is divided into six sections namely, People, Games, Music+Video, Pictures, Me and Search from where you can access everything on the phone. The People section is nothing but the contacts option. However, it hardly resembles just another contacts list. Like the Timescape application seen on the Xperia X10, the contact list is connected with their social networking accounts and you can see their updates right within the contact screen.


The Games section houses the Xbox live application. Now, we know what you're thinking but no, there are no games to play here (the Xbox versions) but what can do is to access your Xbox live account from your phone and play simple games that can be handled by the phone. WP7S has a separate section for the image gallery. The Music and Video section does what it is supposed to pretty well.



Rounding Up
Windows Phone 7 Series is a complete ground up product. It has nothing to do with previous generation Windows Mobile OS. This also means that things you have been used to on previous generation WM devices have seen a dramatic change. For example, support for custom interfaces (like Touch FLO, SENSE and the likes) stands revoked. All WP7S phones will be similar and will need to conform to certain standard that Microsoft has put forth, This includes capacitive, multitouch laden touchscreens (resistive screens can die now) and the presence of three buttons on the front fascia for Start, Back and Search.


The first phones with Windows Phone 7 Series will arrive by the end of the year and HTC has already announced that it has started working on these phones. Except for Nokia, most other major handset makers are still with Microsoft. Look's like the underdog has decided to bite back.


We will leave you with images of the UI at work. Leave us a comment and let us know if it's good enough.




 


 


 

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Discussion Board
(21) Comments
RooseveltFrankl
,nashville, on Feb 16, 2010 02:40 PM
Another me too, "iphone killer" wanna be phone.... introducing the Zoon phone from microsoft LOL !! wow, can't wait for this one, hope it gets here zoon. hahahahah see ya real Zoon at the apple store!!
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MONKEY
,New York, on Feb 17, 2010 01:07 AM
Hey, you know what would be really helpful? If you could put "THIS IS A WORTHLESS, IGNORANT, FANBOY COMMENT" right before that other stuff you wrote. Then we could simply read that and move on. Saves time, ya know?
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TheOnlySmartGuy
,Bristow, on Feb 17, 2010 03:12 AM
Dude, it's zune not zoon......
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RooseveltFrankl
,cleveland, on Feb 18, 2010 03:35 PM
dear friends, i know just how you feel.... the years of waiting for microsoft to actually creat something worthwhile. and now here you are again giving props to a phone that does not even exist yet..WTF is up with that???? you must believe me when i tell you that eventually you will get over it!! i just stopped by to point the way to the apple store!! see ya real Zoon!! LOL
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RooseveltFrankl
,cleveland, on Feb 18, 2010 03:40 PM
BTW, i know this is a little off topic but.... whats a zune?????? hahahahahahahaha
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Kapila
,Punjab, on Feb 16, 2010 08:34 PM
Simply awesome interface. As you said the interface is unlike anything we have seen till date. Microsoft delivered the first punch to apple with Windows 7 and has now followed with WP7S.
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Paul
,Bangalore, on Feb 16, 2010 12:12 AM
Not impressed. iPhone is superior, I think.
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Anonymous
,gkp, on Feb 16, 2010 12:19 AM
Wow!! it isn't even out yet and you've reached a conclusion!! Oh boy you are really something else!! Are you the man behind this phone and deliberately made it inferior to the iPhone??
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iCrapper
,Los Angeles, on Feb 16, 2010 11:45 AM
freaking icrap fanboy. Go hug your blanky with your milk bottle and play with your icrap toy. While your at it, kiss Jobs good night. MS trumps any iCrap toy.
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winfred James
,chennai, on Feb 16, 2010 05:43 PM
iphone rox
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Adeyemi
,Lagos, on Feb 16, 2010 12:17 PM
I need a phone that think d way i feel. Hope it can ?
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Adeyemi
,Lagos, on Feb 16, 2010 12:13 PM
I need a phone that think d way i feel. Hope it can ?
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Bob
,here, on Feb 16, 2010 11:53 AM
" It is elegant, simple and like we said before, it's nothing like you have ever seen on a phone - iPhone included. " Well, except the Xperia X1, which it bares a suspicious resemblance to, of course...
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Mark
,Harrisburg, on Feb 16, 2010 11:22 AM
Seems laim, where are the features? A reorg of the ui with all the same features, a weak search, no apps, who cares? Either this review is bad or this phone is bad. I don't have the iphone or droid but I'm looking for an upgrade. This is not impressive.
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iPhone Killer?
,Santa Cruz, on Feb 16, 2010 11:18 AM
an iPhone Killer? No.....you can't kill something that is already slowly dying. What new UI does the iPhone have? Just more and more useless apps. Microsoft seems to be going in the right direction with the WP7S. And I am sure they did their homework, it's just a matter of time before they have all their technologies integrated and talking with one another: WP7S. Windows 7, Xbox 360, Zune, Azure, etc. Looks like other phone OS's need to start thinking about a redesign. Very impressive phone.
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Madshi
,Torino, on Feb 16, 2010 03:15 AM
Dear Fellows, The Windows 7 Mobile is really very cool and very different from the regular mobile phones what we see and use now. At least for this reason, we can appreciate Microsoft. Watch the videos of Windows 7 mobile UI. It simply superb. I like the windows 7 mobile concept and it will shake the other mobile OSs little bit. iphone killer - its to early to say. All we can wait and see in future. Remember one more thing - Compare iphone 4th generation Vs Windows 7 mobile... We just seen Windoows7 mobile and will wait for iphone 4th gen, then we can compare... Anyway i would like to own one Windows 7 mobile...
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Anonymous
,hasdjk, on Feb 16, 2010 02:35 AM
I guess the guy who wrote this, is not up to date with whats going on in WM space. I have not seen anything from the WM space yet, which can be termed iphone killer. Just having gr8 start screen UI is not an iphone killer. Taking away support for touchflo or Sense UI is a step back for WM. Whats the use of having all phone's having the same UI, for this MS can manufacture their own phone and sell it.
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frankie shanley
,ireland, on Feb 16, 2010 12:10 AM
Am i the only one sick of hearing every single new phone being referred to as the "iPhone Killer"???? It's just not going to happen.
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Anonymous
,gkp, on Feb 16, 2010 12:16 AM
Maybe, but I hope it does....
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Rahul Srinivas
,mumbai, on Feb 16, 2010 12:49 AM
No! I guess. In fact, i too think the term iphone killer is over used. This time however, there is a difference. The fact is, we're not talking about a phone this time. The iPhone could do what it could, mainly because of it's Ui. It was way ahead of its time when launched. I guess the others are eventually catching up. And micrisoft just caught up. But then, just having a fancy UI is no guarantee for success.
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Annonymous
,Bangalore, on Feb 16, 2010 12:20 AM
I have 2 ques... Is there any money involved for writing this Blog.....?? :-\ Can I upgrade my Windows mobile 6.1 to Win 7 like iphone upgrade options....?
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