Windows Phone 7 Series at MIX10
by Brian Klug on March 16, 2010 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Mobile
Three Handsets
Thus far, we've seen three handsets from different hardware partners.
The most common of which is the ASUS-built but completely unbranded handset Microsoft is using for most if not all of its demos and hands-ons. I understand this is what Microsoft is distributing to its team internally for development and day to day dogfooding. We've seen this device before numerous times.
There are also now two new devices: First, an LG device with full slide out keyboard. Unfortunately, its battery was dead on-stage and we haven't seen it turned on. This device was first shown during the Engadget show some time ago.
Next is a Samsung handset with no slide out keyboard and a large rear camera.
Nothing further has been said about either of these two new hardware designs, but there are definitely more coming. Curiously absent is Microsoft's traditional major Windows Mobile partner, HTC. We can only assume much more hardware is eventually coming down the pipes.
Demonstration Software
Microsoft emphasized the differences between the Silverlight and XNA framework applications are largely transparent to the user, and showed this off using a number of relatively impressive programs. AP's Mobile News reader, Jackson Fishmarket's Hush Hush Diary, Colorizer, Seesmic, and Graphic.LY were amongst the selected demo applications, with references to many more existing in contextual menus within hubs.
But perhaps the most intriguing and potentially killer application for the handset was Netflix. Since Netflix already heavily relies on Silverlight for streaming media delivery, it's an ideal showcase for Phone 7 Series. Instant playback worked flawlessly. If carriers don't explode at the notion of users streaming the Netflix catalog over already close-to-saturation 3G networks, this alone could be a potentially killer application.
Final Words
Microsoft has answered many of the questions lingering after Windows Phone 7 Series' announcement at Mobile World Congress, however much more remains to be covered at MIX10. Stay tuned!
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Guspaz - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
Ultimately, XNA is still .NET, meaning that it's analogous to Java apps on Android. The performance is quite good, but it's probably not AS good as native code would be.medi01 - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
JIT compilers theoretically are producing faster code than native compilers.But android's Java VM has no JIT. I wonder if MS W7 has it.
PsychoPif - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - link
It is the .Net Compact Framework, so yes, JIT compiler.But don't quote me on that.
pjladyfox - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
This is the one big thing that will make or break any phone running this OS for me. I currently have an iPhone and, while the phone is great and I do love it, I can't STAND the fact that I have to have a frigging data plan tied to the phone. You couple that with the fact that most places where I would use any "data" feature I wind up switching over to wifi, either at Starbucks or Borders, mainly due to the lackluster 3G coverage and signal in the Bay Area.You give me the ability to get a phone running this OS without having to have a data plan and I'll get one in a heartbeat. Otherwise, I'll stick with my original plan by switching over to a iPod Touch and a basic cellphone when my iPhone contract is up later this year.
CSMR - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
Of course. Microsoft isn't just manufacturing one model of the phone. You will still get bundling of some phones with contracts, unfortunately not an illegal practice, but you will be able to buy unlocked phones just as you can now.However data connections are pretty useful, if you don't like contracts fair enough but I would try to find a pay as you go provider.
pjladyfox - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
The problem is that even if you get an unlocked phone most providers will force you to sign up with all of the data plan baggage that goes with it. I was considering unlocking my iPhone about a year ago but I spoke to AT&T and Verizon and they both refused to let me sign my phone up without it.I even went so far as to try asking them both if there was a smartphone that you could get WITHOUT signing up for an expensive plan and both said no giving some bunk answer about "x phone needed it" which considering the ones I would choose would have wifi enabled on them I was'nt buying it. My guess is that, for whatever reason, the handset maker in cahoots with the providers setup the phones in such a way that they "phone home" every so often setting up the "need" for the data plan.
If these companies want smartphones to take off they need to either make the data plans cheaper or give us the ability to turn off the "phone home" feature so we can use the phone as a phone without an expensive data plan. -_-
kmmatney - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
You can always get a basic phone plan using a cheapo phone, and then swap over the SIMS card. I'm able to swap my SIMS card between a basic nom-smart Samsung phone and my iPhone.strikeback03 - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
Verizon has recently started requiring a $10 a month data plan on non-smartphones which didn't used to require a data plan, so obviously they are just looking to collect as much money as they can. I have heard that on business accounts the data plan is optional, but I do not know for sure.braveneworld - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
Developers, developers, developers, except for developers that don't want to share their code with MS or use the app store!Seriously, this is one of the main reasons the enterprise uses win mobile; you can create and install your own software without getting 'approval' from big brother MS.
In addition, if you use an app that you made that provides your company a competitive advantage, why in the world would you want to share it with your competitors? Not all software developers write software to sell!
They are going to drive many customers straight into RIM's and Google's, or even Palm's arms.
zicoz - Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - link
Paul Thurott seems to have some good news for you."And this summer--I'm thinking around the time of TechEd 2010 in June--Microsoft will announce that businesses can deploy internal Windows Phone applications privately using an as-yet unnamed "common distribution system." (I'm guessing this means WSUS or System Center Configuration Manager.)"