Print
Windows Phone is the newest member of this group, and as such had the most room for growth. Microsoft’s Mango update to WP7 launched simultaneously to multiple devices on carriers throughout the world, and did so without any major hiccups. The update will be available to all Windows Phone devices and will become stock on a new wave of hardware arriving in the coming months.
The biggest update in Windows Phone 7.5 is Multitasking. Like iOS, most Windows Phone apps don’t truly run in the background, but Windows Phone 7.5 provides the APIs that developers need to do critical things, like play music or continue downloading files while the application is inactive. You can switch between running applications by holding the back button, swiping through the available options, and tapping on the app you want.
Microsoft’s tagline for Windows Phone is “Put People First”, and Mango improves on that goal in dramatic ways. Already one of the more socially connected platforms with Facebook integrated directly into the OS, WP7.5 also includes Twitter and LinkedIn integration, as well as improving the Facebook support. The “Me” tile can update any of the connected social networks, and you can follow friends through the People hub. Also through the People hub, the new History pivot tracks your interaction with individual friends, both via the integrated social networks and the more traditional means.
The Messaging app in Windows Phone is where you would typically read and send SMS and MMS messages. The Messaging interface itself received some minor tweaks, a rarity in this update, with incoming and outgoing messages being colored differently. The Messaging app is also the home of integrated Facebook chat. Messaging allows you to seamlessly switch back and forth between Facebook chat and SMS, much like Facebook Messages. Voice integration is another new feature of the Messaging app, allowing you to easily dictate text messages using only voice commands.
Windows Phone 7 included one of our favorite mobile email implementations before Mango, and it only gets better. Email in Mango has a threaded view, making it simple to view an entire conversation without searching through your email history. Also new in Mango is the ability to link inboxes. Linked inboxes let you associate two or more email accounts to handle as one, simplifying the task of managing your email without losing the benefits gained by having multiple accounts.
When the search button gets one of the three mandated hardware buttons on every Windows Phone device, there’s a good chance that Microsoft has big plans for Bing in Windows Phone 7. We’ve already covered much of Bing’s new functionality in our piece on Tips and Tricks for Mango, but know that if you aren’t using Bing on a regular basis, you’re missing out. Scout, Music, Vision, and Voice all have new features and use cases that have major potential, and compete favorably against the best Apple and Google can offer.
There are too many new features in Mango to fully delve into here, but some other items of interest include support for custom ringtones, new features in Zune (Music and Video), and the ability to save Office documents to SkyDrive. Mango also offers many new capabilities for developers that you'll see in your apps, such as the ability to pin multiple live tiles to your Start screen.
Regardless of which mobile platform you use on a daily basis, there are some good reasons to be excited about the new things on offer. Each platform has made major steps forward in features and how the UI presents those features.
The real question for many people is if their device will be supported, and unfortunately that often depends on the device. Most Apple devices are eligible for iOS 5, but will miss out on the most innovative feature in Siri. All Windows Phone devices are upgradeable to Mango, partially due to the small segment of the market held by Windows Phone. The upgradeability of Android devices is an entirely new conversation. The general rule of thumb says that popular devices from Google partners released in the last 18 months have the best chance for an upgrade, but the schedule for those devices to receive their update is anyone’s guess.
Which is your platform of choice? What new features are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments!
Comments are closed on this article
Visitor999
December 15, 2011 at 11:06pm
It’s been a busy month for three of our favorite mobile platforms. Microsoft launched “Mango” in late September, Apple released iOS 5 on October 12, and Google announced the long-awaited Ice Cream Sandwich on October 19 (the evening of the 18th in the US). Each update offers significant improvements in features and/or UI, but keeping track of all those new goodies can be an arduous task. We’ll give you a look at what’s new on these platforms, as well as some idea of how or if you can get them on your device.
Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) is the only update that hasn’t actually been released as of the time this writing, but Google did hold a launch event demonstrating new features and capabilities in Android 4. ICS will initially be available on the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Nexus, with updates proceeding to other eligible devices at a later date. Presumably Google will follow its policy of updating devices released by partners over the last 18 months.
GeneralIt seems like we’ve been hearing rumors about ICS since the dawn of time, but it hasn’t been quite that long. Reportedly the major benefit of ICS was the unification of the phone and tablet form factors, but the absence of a tablet demo to this point has been frustrating. The UI sports a lot of elements that will look very familiar to users of Honeycomb (Android 3.x) tablets. The three buttons that are always on display at the bottom of the screen, the app switcher, and even the neon glow around the UI bits are almost identical to Honeycomb. Those of you looking for better ways to organize your home screens will love folders and resizable widgets.
Zoandar
November 14, 2011 at 8:10pm
I am definitely a supporter of all things Android. But I should point out that my Droid X running Froyo has quick text message reply to incoming calls. That its not new in Android ICS. Also, as nice as that idea is, if the caller is on a land line, it obviously doesn't help.
NH3MAN
November 02, 2011 at 7:27pm
I keep hearing that WP7 needs better hardware but as a WP7 user I have to say as far as I'm concerned when compared to Android or IOS its almost a non issue even for a power user type. The OS is so smooth and seamless and the hardware is so well optimised that it never feels underpowered. Everything is blazing fast including M-Internet Explorer (which is hard to believe considering previous iterations). I never have to reboot, close programs, wait, worry, etc, etc. I have the Focus which has a gorgeous AMOLED screen, the best camera and battery life I've ever had on a phone. While its only 1 ghz, it never stutters a milli-second doing anything. I am still going to upgrade to the FOCUS S but its not really for the 1.4 ghz processor but for the larger 4.3 AMOLED + screen, the 8-megapixel camera on the back and the up front 1.3-megapixel snapper for video conferencing. The only area I see that the faster processor and memory will be for sure noticed is with HD video capture, anything else IMHO will be lagniappe and take it ahead of its competitors even more. It is already faster and more stable than any Droid I've owned or used and after you use it for a while you will find the Iphone to be lacking in its OI design.
bling581
November 02, 2011 at 9:50am
I was thinking about waiting for the iPhone 5 this summer, but after upgrading to iOS 5 on my 3GS it's noticeably slower. My apps lag and even basic things like swiping to the next window on the home screen or pushing the home button can cause 2-3 seconds of lag. I can't restore to an older version because some of the new apps I downloaded require 5. It's hard to believe Apple didn't notice the performance difference during testing, or if they did they didn't do a thing about it because they figured it would push people to upgrade their phone.
Wingzero_x
November 02, 2011 at 12:57am
People can say how great their free apps from the Android marketplace are, but I would be more concerned about malware and such. Both iOS and WP7 do a great job keeping out the nasties by having direct control over the apps for their devices. In contrast any scriptkiddie with the spare time can make anything for Android.
stige
November 01, 2011 at 7:51pm
in my opinion, my wifes HD7 blows my company issued iPhone 4g out of the water.
i have serious phone envy. once WP7 catches up in the hardware department i'll be an easy customer since i'm already sold on the OS.
she had a Samsung Galaxy and i had a BB 8200 before our current phones. both of us though android was the bee's knee's until we got our hands on the HD7. this doesn't meant there's anything wrong with Android. it's still awesome.
but if you like Android you should give WP7 a fair shake. it really is that good.
lordmidnight
November 02, 2011 at 9:35am
There is no such thing as an iPhone 4g. It's a common misnomer, but it should be noted, because many people confuse it with 4G services. The latest version of iPhone, the 4s, does use HSPA+ on AT&T's network, but the Sprint and Verizon versions both use the standard 3G CDMA networks. AT&T and T-Mobile have been running around calling HSPA+ "4G," but we all know that it's not. It's just updated 3G with enhanced fiber backhaul. It's faster than the 3G we're used to, but it's not LTE.
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make here is that there never has been a 4G iPhone, and Apple has used specific nomenclature to underscore this fact. The iPhone models, in order of appearance are: iPhone (sometimes called "Original iPhone," or "iPhone 2G"), iPhone 3G (which was a 3G device), iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4s.
I'm not trying to be nit-picky here. As a representative of one of the major carriers, I hear people say "iPhone 4G" on a daily basis. Some of those people are just making a simple error. Some of them, however, are not. Some people get extremely angry when they are told the iPhone 4 (and 4s) is NOT a 4G device. I only wish to clear up any confusion, so that further misconceptions are not perpetuated by well-meaning customers who have simply not caught on to the nomenclature, and perhaps are confused by the constantly shifting mobile landscape. It certainly doesn't help when carriers dismiss the official designations and start calling any old network "4G" (technically, LTE doesn't qualify as true 4G).
stige
November 02, 2011 at 2:18pm
thanks for that. i can tell you're trying super hard to not be nit-picky. /sarcasm
maybe another article can discus that absurd and misleading nomenclature of modern smart phones?
aarcane
November 01, 2011 at 5:29pm
iTried the iDevices a while back, and they tend to underperform and over-advertise. The apps may be a little better than their android equivalents, I wouldn't know.. they were so expensive. Also, ever tried to develop an app for the iPhone? they charge about $100 just to get started, and that's only if you already have the apple branded hardware required.
Android however is just awsome. The hundreds of free apps (Also note: iTunes app store requires credit card for free apps, Android doesn't.) are of more than sufficient quality to accomplish every task I need an app for. I couldn't say the same for the apple store, even after shelling out a small fortune on some tasks. I've written several single-use-case apps for my own needs without having to invest in new hardware or licensing fees for my android devices, and I can honestly say I've never been happier.
Even if Windows Phone Seven and a Half is "Good", it'd have to be Above and Beyond amazing for me to consider it over Android.
kixofmyg0t
November 01, 2011 at 5:06pm
I'm a recovering Blackberry user, been on Android therapy since April and I must say I honestly didn't know what I was missing.
9 minute boot times? A thing of the past my friend......
Battery pull everyday? No more.....
I can actually take decent pictures with it? *snap snap snap*
I can actually play games?!!? SCHWEET!
Wait....I can has INTERNETS!?! MOAR INTERNETS!!!!
I'm gladly a member of the Android Army.
AntonioGarrison
November 01, 2011 at 4:50pm
I have a Droid X and really dig the Android OS. The fragmentation of the updating of the Android OS does really leave alittle to be desired. I've gotten to learn abit about the Android OS and it's a great and stable OS in my opinion.
I really want to try the Mango OS. I am a fanboy of Microsoft, I love their products. They have served me well and I've only had one bad experience with the Windows OS where I had to re-do everything. I trust my Windows OS on my computer (So many configurations and stuff to play with. yay). I'm just looking forward to the possibilities of the Mango OS. I hope it's all it's cracked up to be. Bad thing is, I don't get an upgrade till next year, but this will give the Mango OS time to grow.
bigsarge72
November 01, 2011 at 12:00pm
I have been using Android since I returned from Afghanistan last January, and I love it. I would be willing to try WP7 since the Mango update, however, they really need to get some better hardware out there (and push it on different carriers). I think Sprint has one WP, and it is getting old. I'll leave the iPhone to all the small handed people out there for now =P
