Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) - The Scoop

It’s no wonder that many people are curious about the iPhone 5, but with so many rumors (and past knowledge of Apple’s work) you can fairly easily put together the iPhone 5 without too much work. Windows Phone 7.5 handsets (and OS) are another story.

Many people have rumored (and shown) what features 7.5 will be running, however, there is still a cloud around what is really going to show up in the release. Many people are now running pre-release betas of WP7.5, which gives us a good idea of the changes, but they still aren’t all there.

We do however know that the update will greatly reduce the number of things the phone doesn’t do (especially compared to the original release of Windows Phone 7). The update will add things like multitasking as well as a tighter integration of social networking to your phone’s start screen. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and obviously, Windows Live, will all be easily accessible without running apps and even without moving from your start screen. This tighter integration is one way that Microsoft is making the experience easier. You no longer have to consider what app to use when you want to post to or update your network; you just go to the appropriate hub on your home screen. All these features are expected to be in the 7.5 release which is said to be in mid October.

Along with the mysteries of the Windows Phone OS come mysteries of handsets to be expected.

Everyone is aware that Nokia and Microsoft have partnered up to make some, what should be, pretty epic handsets (based on the past quality of Nokia products), but there is still a lot of information missing as to when handsets will be released in the US. Two have been released in Europe already, the HTC Titan and the HTC Radar (pictured above), and will be going on sale within the next month or so. So when will the handsets be available to US consumers? Your guess is probably as good as ours but I would guess very shortly after the release of Windows Phone 7.5 here in the US. If they wait too long, interest will be lost and they will be quickly overshadowed by the iPhone 5. If 7.5 is set to be released in mid October that could mean its release is set the week after the iPhone 5 which be good and bad for the, still new, OS.

Hardware is one thing we can discuss in better quality. Windows has stated that its phones will have minimum requirements in the past which means that all the phones running WP7(.5) must meet these (and more) standards:

Minimum Windows Phone device requirements

Capacitive, 4-point multi-touch screen with WVGA (480x800) resolution

ARM v7 "Cortex/Scorpion" – Snapdragon QSD8X50, MSM7X30, and MSM8X55

DirectX9 rendering-capable GPU

256 MB of RAM with at least 8 GB of Flash memory

Accelerometer with compass, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, Assisted GPS, and Gyroscope

5-megapixel camera with an LED flash and an optional front facing camera

FM radio tuner

Six (6) dedicated hardware buttons – back, Start, search, 2-stage camera, power/sleep and Volume Up and Down.[76]

List provided by This Wiki

More and more people are now trying out the Windows Phone OS and many people have made the switch. Microsoft isn’t messing around anymore and it’s comforting to know they are back in the game. (It at least makes it all more fun!)

Posted in: Microsoft,Mobile,Windows Phone