[Review] Windows Phone 7 OS

[jacques]

Windows Phone 7 OS review: From scratch

 

 

Introduction

A modern smartphone OS needs to be balanced - drawing on excellent cloud services and standing on the cutting edge of software. The Windows Phone 7 OS is nothing like Windows Mobile. It's got a trendy, almost magazine-like new look, and it is incredibly simple to use despite its different approach to just about everything.

 

Windows Phone 7 has a brand new interface

Microsoft received a loud collective boo when it revealed that Windows Phone 7 will not support multitasking. But the company is trying to break the mold here. Instead of making a playground for apps, it made WP7 the “killer app”. Anything extra that you install just integrates in and extends the relevant features.

They must’ve sat down to think. A complete makeover or start from scratch. In an odd way, it looks like they never actually made up their mind. That doesn’t matter though. The important thing is Windows Phone 7 is breaking loose from its “Windows Mobile” heritage and changes everything about itself – from the homescreen to the very nature of apps.

 

Key features:

Premium mobile OS (high minimum hardware requirements)

Clean, uncluttered interface with distinctive design language

Easy and thumbable user interface

Smooth operation with cool animations and transition effects

A fresh start with no legacy support needed

Backed up and developed by one of the largest software companies in the world

Excellent MS Office mobile implementation

Top-notch social integration

Excellent cloud services integration (SkyDrive, Windows Live, Xbox Live)

 

Main disadvantages:

No system-wide file manager

No videocalling

Limited third-party apps

No Bluetooth file transfers

No USB mass storage mode

No memory card support

No multitasking

No copy paste

Too dependent on Zune software for computer file management and syncing

No music player equalisers

No Flash or Silverlight support in the web browser

No sign of free Bing maps Navigation so far

No DivX/XviD video support

 

Microsoft is not fossilized in their own mythology. They are finally looking competitive in the apps and services part of smartphoning and Windows Phone 7 is their ticket out of the mold.

Bing has evolved and is perhaps drawing people away from Google Search. Bing Maps even beats Google Maps on some counts (Bird’s eye view is so much better than the plain top down view). The Windows Live Messenger got social with Facebook integration. Even the new Internet Explorer 9 beta is impressive – you know, for an IE iteration, at least.

We know what you’re thinking: we came here for the Windows Phone 7 review so where is it and why should we care about Microsoft’s new services? But you should. Because Microsoft has made their new Windows Phone 7 the perfect mobile platform for accessing all of their online services.

Bing Search and Maps are a part of the OS, rather than apps, so are Xbox Live and the Zune Marketplace. And the new Internet Explorer mobile is starting to make up for years of embarrassment.

 

la suite ici: gsmarena.com