Microsoft Windows Phone Mango hands-on

By on May 24, 2011 at 11:17 AM
mobile May 24, 2011

We’ve just seen a test handset running Windows Phone OS codenamed Mango, and even though the update won’t be available until the Fall, it brings some much needed improvements and enhancements to Microsoft’s mobile platform. OS 7.1 will also be the OS that Nokia devices running Windows Phone will launch with. Looking forward to 4G support, threads, deep social integration, voice dictation, multitasking with app resume, and much more? Check out our hands on photos in our gallery.

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  • John

    although i haven’t personally used one yet, i just can’t see the whole tile thing working out in the long run. maybe for some but just doesn’t seem like my cup of tea

    • http://twitter.com/MattSTKC MattSTKC

      to me it’s a lot more visually pleasing than red numbers in a circle (and I’m a huge iPhone/iPad fan and owner). The integration, while not new to smartphones, is also done in a way that rivals the iPhone and we’ll have to see if it can beat it at it’s own game.

      • John

        True. Guess only time will tell. ;)

    • http://twitter.com/TroyGates TroyGates

      Live tiles can contain much more info that just a number count. In the demo a live tile showed all the info about the guy’s next flight. Depart time, gate #, ontime/late, etc. A live tile can be very informative, it all depends on what a developer wants to put into it.

      Another great thing is that in Mango the tile can push into a feature of an app instead of just launching the app and then clicking your way into where the info is.

      • Cer

        Sounds like a widget. Why not let the user decide the size and shape of said widgets, where they want to put them on the screen, not require a full length strip of the screen be black for no reason, and maybe add a couple more homescreens? 

      • http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

        Why dont you just use an Android Phone and stop complaining? 

      • Cer

        Because my suggestions would be useful and make the OS better. I want more competition in the marketplace so I want msft to pick up its game. Do you not? Are you satisfied with WP7? Do you even use WP7? If you don’t, then what’s your horse in this race? Why are you so angry?

      • Anonymous

        There are still Linux developers that like home-brewed UIs and customization. Most users live it to the professionals. Home screen is meant to be 1 home screen and not a cluttered revolving WinMo-Android-like experience. It works,  and it works better.

      • Cer

        I agree. Choice just makes things complicated and icky!

      • Hank

        I don’t own one but I have played around with a WP7 and you can change the size of the tile and place it almost anywhere on the home screen. It was kinda cool to put the information I wanted where I wanted for when I wanted. Yeah it is like a widget too just more informative.

      • Cer

        By “change” you mean increase, right? There’s no way to decrease, say, the
        enormous tile that’s taken up simply for the shortcut to Internet Explorer,
        right? Or to email?

      • Anonymous

        Choices are good. That’s why there is Android, iOS, Win Mo and WebOS.

        Customization is good, but not for everyone. I want my device to be easily customizable, but having the same look that UI experts created. I don’t want iOS restrictive simplicity, I want something “living” and interactive. The logical choice for me is Win 7, especially considering the eco system it is and will be part of. I don’t want to spend days tweaking things just to make it right, I want it to be right out of the box. So I choose it over Android. Yes, Win7 establishes limits around look-and-feel. And I am fine with it. To me, this differs Mercedes from Ford T – one – you get in, press “Engine” button and drive away. Another you need to “customize” a bit – do some cranking, change several switches and push on levers before you can get going. I am fine with limited customization for the sake of convenience. Those who enjoy playing with look-and-feel buy Android, because this OS is for them. Different strokes for different folks.

        BTW, Android is not that customizable also. Aside from limited number of home screens, which can contain only limited number of widgets taking limited space,it still has rows and columns of non-interactive icons to launch applications, just like good-ol’ Palm had back in 1997. Win 7 launcher is a lot more diverse and interactive – check the “Gaming” section”, for example. Don’t rush making judgment just because one home screen looks a bit different, explore and you’d be surprised.

  • http://twitter.com/belogical2 Be Logical

    crickets….

    • Cer

      Seconded. Can someone call me when they let the user actually create their own homescreen without oversized live tiles? Thanks. 

      • http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

        Its the paradigm of Windows Phone, go play with your Android/iPhone/BlackBerry and STFU please

      • Cer

        Sorry. I’ll check my opinions with you first before I post next time. I
        wasn’t aware that criticism wasn’t allowed.

      • Anonymous

        Probably never. Before Android called it “innovative”, there was WinMo with SPB Shell on top of it. MS will play the same game as Apple – control look and feel of the OS lest it goes the way of WinMo.

        Oversized tiles work wonders for the UI. As a former WinMo, iPhone 3GS and Android 2.3 owner, I feel that it is the most innovative and engaging UI created to date. Sure, I don’t have the same freedom as in WinMo 5 had with SPB Shell or any Android device afterwards. However it takes less than a few days to realize that it is not needed – Metro UI is simply great and Android-like home-brews will only take away from the experience.

        Looking forward to updating to Nokia with Mango.

        Cheers!

      • bigbudha

        i too use android(lg2x rooted running bionix2) and iphone 4.  have you ever used webos.  that is by far the best ui.

  • Anonymous

    Am I the only one who really wants that Asus prototype?

    • Ayport

      you are not alone,i want it to.i hope they will mass-produce it

  • Ayport

    I want that Asus

  • http://twitter.com/stickyicky97 stickyicky97

    This may be on par with iOS4.3, but I’m certain MS will be behind the 8-ball again next month when Apple introduces iOS5.  I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

    • Bullyboyb

      But apple won’t put a 4g radio. It makes the phone big. Apple fanboys want thinner phones. Thinness is such an obsession at apple land that apple want to reduce the size of the micro sim even further because “we can use thinner sim card readers and reduce the size of the phone”.
      And I think the guy said windows phones with 4G will lanch this year with “mango”.

    • Anonymous

      Sorry to break it out to you, but Win7 is way ahead of the Apple in any respect, aside from the number of fart apps available. iOS 4.3 is far weaker and looks much outdated and primitive comparing to Win7. Not to mention that Win7, unlike previous versions of Windows, is much more intuitive than Apple. I doubt that iOS will catch up with Win 7.0, let alone Mango.

      • Rimbuk

        I actually agree with Mini_me. I own a Droid X on Verizon. My wife was on a Blackberry until today. I’ve created apps for the iphone/iPad. I know all those OS’s in and out.I was shopping for a new Android device for myself when I picked up the HTC Trophy just to check it out. I was blown away. Its intuitive beyond anything else out there, and it looks amazing. I just can’t see applie changing the whole style of their OS so drastically to catch up to this all in one iteration.
        I took my wife back and she traded in her blackberry for this after about 2 minutes with it.
        I’m waiting for a 4G-mango phone to hit Verizon. When it does, I’m switching to wp7.

  • Dr.8820

    My HD7 anxiously awaits!

    • Cer

      Yours and who else’s? ZING!

      • http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

        Having fun being a troll?

      • Cer

        Man, I said zing, it was obviously a joke. You must have a really long pole
        stuck inside you today.

        Having fun being the Microsoft Thought Police?

  • Gquaglia

    I curious to see what Apple has in store for iOS 5.  I have a feeling it’s going to be mediocre as usual.  

    • Bullyboyb

      No 4G, don’t ask me how I know cause I can’t tell you. Will get arrested for leaking the spec’s. Just know you heard it here first from bullyboyB.

  • http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

    @ChanceEncounterRecs:disqus My apologies for how I came off to you

    • Cer

      Not to worry. All is fair on the anonymous world we call the internet. It was fun trading barbs with you this morning.

  • http://twitter.com/Translatethis27 Translatethis27

    Show us the sales numbers Ballmer.. This is the biggest fail in history.

    • Bullyboyb

      Why do want to know the numnbers? Are you an investor? Are you planning on investing?

      You area consumer so concentrate on the product. If it aint good enough for you move on.

      You are the biggest fail, translatethis27 my backside.

  • Funny Guy

    Dude, what’s up with those ugly hands in all the pics again. If you have to picture the phones with hands please hire a female model with some pretty, manicured hands.

    • BLick

      Those hands are actually pretty hot. Total bigdick hands – looks like Mr. Geller might be packing. Why do you want female models in particular? Maybe the creepy Samsung girls flashing fake smiles and the peace sign?

  • http://windowssupportnow.com/ windows support

    I don’t own one but I have played around with a WP7 and you can change the size of the tile and place it almost anywhere on the home screen. It was kinda cool to put the information I wanted where I wanted for when I wanted. Yeah it is like a widget too just more informative.

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