After a series of rumors about the Windows phone 7, now its finally official and has just been announced in the Mobile World Congress 2010.Microsoft launched one of its most awaited projects: the rebranding of Windows Mobile.Now what’s interesting about this and the older Windows Mobile OS is its completely built from scratch.I didn’t imagine that they would do so.This really is a completely new OS — and not just Microsoft’s new OS, it’s a new smartphone OS, like webOS new, like iPhone OS new. You haven’t used an interface like this before (exceptions Zune). 7 Series goes wider and deeper than the Zune by a longshot, and it’s got some pretty intense ideas about how you’re supposed to be interacting with a mobile device.The phone operating system does away with pretty much every scrap of previous mobile efforts from Microsoft, from the look and feel down to the underlying code — everything is brand new.
It all started When Steve Ballmer announced the 7 Series and handed off the stage to Joe Belfiore vice President of Windows Phone segment.He has previously worked on designing the user interface for Windows xp, Zune, Media center and now on this.He gave a presentation of what Windows phone 7 series has to offer.7 Series features a completely altered home screen and user interface experience, robust Xbox LIVE and Zune integration, and vastly new and improved social networking tools.Gone is the familiar Start screen, now replaced with “tiles” which scroll vertically and can be customized as quick launches, links to contacts, or self contained widgets.
The look of the OS has also been radically upended, mirroring the Zune HD experience closely, replete with that large, iconic text for menus, and content transitions which elegantly (and dimensionally) slide a user into and out of different views. The OS is also heavily focused on social networking, providing integrated contact pages which show status updates from multiple services and allow fast jumps to richer cloud content (such as photo galleries). The Xbox integration will include LIVE games, avatars, and profiles, while the Zune end of things appears to be a carbon copy of the standalone device’s features (including FM radio).
Let me give a brief info on the features as mentioned above.Lets see the user interface first and then move on to the phone section.
The design and layout of 7 Series’ UI (internally called Metro) is really quite original, utilizing what one of the designers (Albert Shum, formerly of Nike) calls an “authentically digital” and “chromeless” experience.The Start screen majorly consists of what’s called as “Live Panels“. This comes with something called pan in and out animations simply looks something like jquery.This OS looks nothing like anything else on the market.the design of the interface is definitely in a class of its own.Engadget got hands on snaps of the UI and the whole Windows phone.
Next best thing is this feature called People’s hub where the live date is being fetched from facebook account or from windows live account.All the albums, galleries and videos are stored and connected via the Windows OS so any time anywhere you can check the updates from your dear ones without logging into PC.
Start screen: the Start experience is completely revamped, now focusing on sets of tiles which represent links to applications or contacts. It’s a completely contextual experience which can be customized both by users and carriers, and allows people to “promote” items higher up in the list. To the right of this screen is a long, vertical list of all your apps for quick jumps. It will take some time getting used to this layout; one or two tiles per line, and that long list which goes up and down rather than left and right.It comes with 3buttons Start Search via Bing and forward and backward buttons on a capactive touch display screen.
General phone navigation: Navigation is similar to Zune HD.Lots of bold text on the device, lists with text cut off on the sides of the phone, and additional screens to the left and right driven by arrows pointing you in either direction.Everything else is super stripped down — the calendar app looks like vector line art the browser seems to be using the bare minimum to show its content and the phone application is essentially monochromatic. On the other hand, you’ve got a beautiful and robust photo app (with pinch to zoom, as in the browser), and the Zune end of things is perfectly integrated.
The sheer minimalism of the interface is striking, and we’re really impressed by how many risks Microsoft is taking here. It’s hard to believe that just a year ago this company was showing off WM 6.5, which now looks ages behind what they’ve turned around with today. We’re not sure if someone was just let off the leash or if we’re seeing a newer, smarter, more agile Microsoft, but the 7 Series concept definitely shows that this company is learning from its mistakes.
Next is the Xbox Live integration to play games on your Mobile.New feature to make gaming come live with Xbox live.Also can be used to play Xbox LIVE games and to see gamers profiles.
Integration with One note and Office is truly worth checking out.Syncing with Windows 7 PC and Windows phone is a awesome feature.With access to Office, OneNote and SharePoint Workspace all in one place, users can easily read, edit and share documents.
Similar to Zune the music and video is adapted from Zune only.It can play your audio files, podcasts and videos. Transfer movies or music from the internet or from a user’s PC becomes so simple. It also has an FM radio.
Marketplace allows users to easily discover and load the phone with certified applications and games.
Check out the some videos
Inspite of all these features there are some dis advantages to it like
The company seems to be taking a much more vertical approach with hardware and user experience, dictating rigid specs for 7 Series devices (a specific CPU and speed, screen aspect ratio and resolution, memory, and even button configuration), and doing away with carrier or partner UI customizations such as Sense or TouchWiz.Carrier partnerships are far and wide, including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, while hardware partners include Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm.
Lets wait until the first handsets will be hit the market by the holidays of this year.
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