Steve Ballmer dropped a big one when he went up onstage to unveil the new Windows Phone 7 mobile platform. The system is not expected to be seen on a device until the holidays, but that did not stop the Microsoft mobile team from showing off their progress. It may seem like a risky marketing move, showing something this early. Considering the low attention spans of tech lovers, the wait could potentially drain all the excitement for the new OS.
From what we have seen, it will be hard to forget WP7 until the holidays.
The new OS totally reinvents the mobile phone experience. Throughout the whole presentation, the folks onstage kept repeating the phrase “the Phone is not a PC” like mantra. And indeed, if you look at it, mobile phone user interfaces are like watered down versions of desktop operating systems. WP7 is completely different; the highly stylized and dynamic user interface is unlike anything we have ever seen before. It makes the Google Android and even the impressive iPhone OS look stale in comparison (though iPhone OS 4 might change that).
Of course, there is more to the new Windows Phone OS than the user interface (which is still amazing). New features include the introduction of Zune as a standard for the platform. Folks in Europe have yet to see a localized Zune so the media tool is pretty new, but it brings that much needed change of pace from the old media player and file organizer used by Microsoft.
Xbox Live Games is also making its mobile debut on this platform. Now, there are no games listed to be released so claims that this feature will attract hardcore gamers are hard to prove at this point. What we do know is that XBL user accounts will be accessible.
Read the rest of the article about Windows Phone 7 at the source.
Tags: Windows-Mobile-7, Windows-Phone-7