This is part 1 of the Windows Phone 7 series:
1. What is Windows Phone 7
7. Windows Phone 7 Application Platform
8. Silverlight for Windows Phone 7
9. XNA for Windows Phone 7
10. Getting Started With Windows Phone 7 Development. "Hello, World" Applications
Windows Phone 7(WP7) is the latest upcoming version of the Windows Mobile operating system developed by Microsoft. It will be your perfect present for Christmas
, because it’s planned to be released by
December 2010
. Microsoft's goal is to create an excellent user experience by redesigning the user interface, disallowing partners to modify or replace it, integrating the operating system with other services, and strictly controlling the hardware it runs on.
Microsoft officially unveiled Windows Phone 7 during the Mobile World Congress 2010 (January 15
) in Barcelona and revealed additional details at MIX 2010.
History
Work towards a major Windows Mobile update began as early as 2004 under the project name Photon. Due to delays caused by mismanagement, the project was scrapped in 2008, and the Windows Mobile team - reorganized. Microsoft then started from scratch to make a new mobile platform, which became known as Windows Phone.
User Interface
Windows Phone 7 will have a new user interface called “Metro”. It looks similar to Zune HD’s interface. The home screen (called the "Start screen") is made up of "tiles", which by default are links to important features, such as phone, music and videos, email, office, and contacts. The User can customize the tiles, delete them, or add their own - by pinning an application (or "experience"), media item, favorite contact, or almost anything to the Start screen, it becomes a tile.
Tiles are dynamic and update in real time. Tile contents are organized via "hubs" which combine both local and online content. Windows Phone 7 will have a more friendly touchscreen UI than previous Windows Mobile devices by using multitouch technology. Integration with popular social networks, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Windows Live will be included. Windows Phone 7 also features integration with Xbox Live, Zune, and Bing services.
Limitations
The OS will not support copy & paste or multitasking for 3rd party applications at launch.
Microsoft has stated that it will implement copy and paste, multitasking, and other features in future releases via Windows Phone Update.
In an interview, Microsoft stated that they are well aware of the limitations in the initial version of Windows Phone 7, and that they plan to integrate these features when they are complete
.
Internet Explorer for Windows Phone 7
Andy Lees, Microsoft's senior vice president of mobile communications, confirmed in an interview that the version of Internet Explorer Mobile on Windows Phone 7 would not support Adobe Flash at launch, citing
“performance reasons
”.
Later, Adobe Systems released a statement to clarify, saying "developing Flash for Windows Phone 7 (and Adobe) has been deeply involved with Microsoft
”. He also stated that the browser is "halfway between IE7 and IE8 rendering engine“
. Its web browser will be a modified version of Internet Explorer 7, rather than being based on the current IE8.
In addition, Microsoft's Silverlight technology will not work from within the Internet Explorer web browser
.
From Microsoft plan to regularly update IE Mobile independently from the "Windows Phone Update" system, meaning the browser will be able to automatically update itself and the layout engine.
Software and OS Updates
According to Microsoft, software updates will be delivered to Windows Phone users via Microsoft Update, as they are for desktop Windows users. The software component, called Windows Phone Update, exists both on the phone (for smaller updates, over-the-air) and in the Zune PC software (for larger updates, via USB connection). Users will be notified to attach their phones to a PC if such an update is required.
Unlike with Windows Mobile, Microsoft plans to use the update process and functionality in Windows Phone 7 effectively. Microsoft has talked about the idea of "Delighters" - updates that will be regularly rolled out over time to extend the platform in unique and interesting ways.
Windows Phone 7 Development and Distributing
Windows Phone 7 applications will be based on Silverlight, XNA and .NET Compact Framework. Windows Phone 7 will only run applications that have first been approved by Microsoft and made available via the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Conclusion
So phones are officially computers that happen to fit in your pocket
and Windows Phone 7 is almost everything anyone has ever dreamed of in a phone.