I don't Adamson and Eva it! - INQUIRER rhyming slang
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Windows Phone 7.5 Mango hands-on review
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING but Windows Phone 7.5 (WP7.5), codenamed Mango, is finally here, rolling out from 6pm UTC tonight.
The INQUIRER got hold of an HTC Trophy running Mango this morning and, after fiddling around with it over the course of today, we can say that it's an improvement over Windows Phone 7 (WP7). Just don't go trading in your Android handset just yet.
The thing with Mango is that it's more improved than it is new. There are a lot of updates to its unloved predecessor Windows Phone 7, but not so many totally new features.
On the plus side, the browser has been updated to Internet Explorer 9, and we must say it's pretty fast. Features such as hardware-accelerated graphics, a faster Javascript engine, and support for the latest W3C web standards add to its appeal. The address bar can also be used in landscape mode, a welcome addition that should have appeared in Windows Phone 7 the first time around.
Windows Phone 7.5 still has Windows Phone Hubs, a customisable start screen, Windows Phone Live Tiles, Xbox Live, Office Mobile, and Zune. Xbox Live is slightly more integrated, allowing you to see other gamers' scores, but perhaps not integrated enough.
New features include intelligent multitasking, which automatically pauses built-in and third-party apps when you go to do something else, and updates to events that see Facebook events appear on the calendar.
Integration expands to text and instant messages, where you can start a conversation by text then finish on Facebook chat.
Social networking has had a bit of a make-over. New and improved features in the People Hub include built in support for Facebook and Windows Live as well as the additions of Twitter and Linkedin. There's no Google+ on the Mango update, but maybe that was Microsoft giving Google's Android the single-digit salute.
Mango also connects apps to searches, and lets you switch back and forth in apps, so you don't have to shut one down to use another.
The Windows Phone Marketplace Hub includes updates allowing you to search, and companies that develop custom apps for internal use can distribute them on the Windows Phone Marketplace without the apps being visible in the public-facing apps catalog.
Of course the search is powered by Bing, although operators can customise this as they have done in the past. A welcome addition to WP7.5 Mango is the search capability. Users can search for restaurants and things to do using their location, with a feature called 'Local Scout'. Next, is an app that allows you to record music and the handset will then search for it and download it if you are out and about.
Then, there is also the ability to scan text. The phone takes a picture of text and translates it to another language of your choice. Useful in French restaurants.
If you are used to Android or IOS it will seem quite foreign, but WP7.5 Mango is an improvement to its predecessor. Whether the tweaks will be enough to pump up Windows Phone's 1.7 per cent market share is probably down to the manufacturers as much as anything. µ
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My Samsung Galaxy Tab lasts for several days between charges, but I don't actually use it much in that time. And, er, it is a phone but it's bigger than most.
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2112351/microsoft-launches-windows-phone-mango
is where I read the exciting news that "Microsoft updated its Windows Phone app store, Windows Marketplace, allowing users to download apps directly from a Windows Phone 7 device using the Zune software." I assumed that this means " to download apps directly to a Windows Phone 7 device" and that this was not possible before now by any means.
But I've seen enough Microsoft adverts to recognise the exciting features of the new edition product that have, in fact, been available in several previous editions.
If MS had seen an iPhone Apple would be sueing them already. Litigious prats - would never buy anything from them ever again.
Well, seeing as Nokia is moving to WP7.5 then marketshare aught to grow.
The fact is that the biggest issue with Android phones is poor battery life. I'm yet to come across a single Android device where you can get more than a day and a half from it between charges.
I suspect this is simply down to manufacturers putting batteries into ther phones which just aren't up to the task, but I expect Nokia with their history in phones will get this right.
If they do, I may just dump my existing HTC Android handset and move across.
My wife just got her update on the HTC Trophy. After a few minutes of looking, she couldn't tell that anything changed.
"I read on another page, too, that now you will be able to download and install new apps from the Windows Phone marketplace -using the phone-"
Um you've always been able to do that w/ WP7, not a new feature..
"WP7 is still no iPhone"
Thank god, I had and iPhone and am so glad to be rid of it. The only advantages the iPhone has are the flooded marketplace and the rear facing camera (which is available on the 7.5 phones). The iPhone UI is one of the worst I've ever used.
Microsoft, even your mango update still stucks! Its like you guys never ever saw an iPhone. As a developer for both iPhone and WP7, and after a year of switching from iPhone to WP7, i can tell you this much, I am buying the iPhone 5. WP7 is just way too late and frankly still behind! I cannot even take a screen shot of any application on my wp7 phone?? With iphone, i press two buttons and can take a screen shot, that simple. WP7 still needs a MANGO 2 UPDATE. I am done supporting you Microsoft, going to put my wp7 on the desk and buy the new iPhone 5 next month! Maybe you will learn your lesson this time MS and move your ass to keep up with real technology!
Multitasking was invented by Microsoft, and now it's arrived on their phone devices. But wait! It's -intelligent- moltitasking, in which background applications don't leap up and interrupt the user! Yeah, just like desktop multitasking, except in this case it's because the background applications aren't running. Um... explain again, please?
I read on another page, too, that now you will be able to download and install new apps from the Windows Phone marketplace -using the phone-, instead of synchronising through your PC. More brilliant Microsoft market leading innovation, leading the way to the coming world where no one even needs a Windows PC any more. Um once again.
Now, which of these have I not been able to do on my Samsung Galaxy Tab sintce I got it as a fairly early adopter? Oh, that's right, neither. Has Microsoft considered just putting Android on their phones?
... because I'ven ever read such a positive review feel it was given so unfreely through gritted teeth...