At the third annual Microsoft Open House in New York, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer did a presentation of the new mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7. The Windows Phone 7 unveiled on February 15, 2010, at Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona, is a fully-fledged replacement to the older Windows Mobile platform. It is due to launch in Europe and Asia on October 21, 2010, and in the US on November 8th, 2010.
Windows Phone 7 delivers an integrated Bing Search experience, built-in GPS and Bing Maps.Search is made easier with a dedicated button. Local search provides quick access to phone numbers, ratings, reviews, and directions. In select locations, choose from driving or walking routes, view street-level images and real-time traffic updates. Windows Phone 7 also has a voice recognition function, powered by TellMe, which allows the user to perform a Bing search, call contacts or launch applications by speaking. This can be activated by pressing and holding the phone’s Start button.
Windows Phone 7 is the first phone to put the power of Xbox LIVE.Electronic Arts Inc.(EA) announced the first wave of EA games coming to Windows Phone 7. Windows Phone 7 is also the first to offer the Zune music experience on a phone. People can play their music collection, synced wirelessly from their PC, or stream or download new tunes from Windows Marketplace. An optional Zune Pass subscription is available.
Windows Phone features a new user interface, based upon Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 design system. The home screen, called the “Start screen”, is made up of “Tiles” which are links to applications, features, functions and individual items (such as contacts, web pages, applications or media items). Users can add, rearrange, or remove Tiles.Tiles are dynamic and updated in real time.
Windows Phone 7 is designed to help you get to everything you love in an easier and faster way, by organizing the stuff you love most into six Hubs: People, Pictures, Games, Music & Video, Marketplace (for applications) and Office. These Hubs offer consumers a seamless way to experience some of their favourite Microsoft consumer products — all in one place, right from the Start screen on their phone. Hubs combine local and online content via Windows Phone 7’s integration with popular social networks such as Facebook and Windows Live.
The Pictures Hub houses your entire collection, including photos you’ve saved to your phone, and pictures your friends have recently posted on Facebook or Windows Live.
The Microsoft Office Hub provides mobile versions of familiar Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile to view and edit documents. Users can also access information via Microsoft SharePoint Workspace Mobile 2010.
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The Music + Videos Hub puts all media in one place, including songs, videos and podcasts. Users can listen to FM radio or stream and download music from the Web. Zune Marketplace is also part of the experience, enabling users to explore new media while on the go and share with friends.
Internet Explorer on Windows Phone 7 allows the user to maintain a list of favourite web pages and show a tile linking to a web page on the Start screen. The browser supports up to 6 tabs, which can all load in parallel and the user can hop among them.
Calender in Windows Phone 7 shows the details of your next meeting or event right on the Start screen—so you can glance and go. It also combines your work and personal calendars in a single, color-coded view, making it easier to spot conflicts and manage your life. You can map appointment locations with a single tap, and if you get stuck in traffic, Windows Phone has your back: one touch sends a pre-written “I’m running late” mail.
The only phone with Outlook Mobile makes it easier than ever to stay on top of your inbox. With Windows Phone 7 you can quickly cut through the clutter to see only unread, urgent, or flagged messages or press Search to pinpoint a specific mail. Move or delete messages in bulk, and respond to meeting invites right from your inbox. Streamlined account setup works with Windows Live, Google, Yahoo!, and other popular providers. It also supports multiple Microsoft Exchange accounts for work.
Windows Phone 7 will use multi-touch technology. The default Windows Phone 7 user interface has a dark theme that prolongs battery life on OLED screens as fully black pixels don’t emit light. The user may choose light themes too with colors. User interface elements such as tiles are shown in the user’s chosen accent color. Third-party applications can be automatically themed with these colors.
Some more features
- If you don’t see the option you’re looking for, you can try tapping and holding to bring up a menu.
- Lots of screens have options to the left and right of the screen you see. Flick left or right to see what you uncover.
- You can open apps, search the web, and make phone calls using just your voice. Press and hold the Start button to bring up Speech.
- You can zoom in and out of websites, maps, and pictures by pinching or stretching with your fingers.
- Whenever you’re looking for something, on your phone or on the web, you can press the Search button to find it.
- There’s a wealth of other pointers over at the Tips & tricks page.
According to Microsoft documentation, software updates will be delivered to Windows Phone users via Microsoft Update, as is the case with other Windows operating systems. New windows phone 7 running phones in a variety of hardware designs will be available from Samsung, HTC, LG and Dell.
Watch Windows Phone 7 Featured video
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