Whoopsie. Looks like somebody forgot about time zones as Microsoft's Romanian site outded the Mango press release before the U.S. event this morning.
All and all, not too much there we didn't expect -- and there's zero mention of new hardware. Just more of the "500 new features" -- and you know the vast majority of them won't be consumer-facing. Good news for developers, though.
Settle in, folks, cause it's time for the liveblog. And the full Romania presser's available after the break.
Source: Microsoft Romania; via WMPU
'Mango' brings an intelligent and simplified approach to communication, and Internet Applications
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Microsoft announced today the new version for Windows Phone called Mango that will bring over 500 new features that exceed the user experience of smartphones, communication, and Internet applications. The new version will be freely available to all terminals with Windows Phone and can be downloaded at the beginning of this summer. More details about scheduling updates for the terminal will be announced closer to launch. Also, Windows Phone will be available for new terminals, new partners from the manufacturers.
Andy Lees, President Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft Corp., "seven months ago, we kicked off this mission: to make smart phones smarter and easier to use by users. With Mango, Windows Phone is a big step forward in redefining the way users communicate, use applications and surf the Internet, so with half the effort now to get double results. "
Communication: connecting and sharing information is easier
Interaction with the smartphone can be complicated by a multitude of applications and accounts disconnected people trying to keep up with all the ways that communicate - from telephones, messages, emails, status updates, tweets, check ins, by tagging and posting photos. To help users cope with the complexity created, update Mango organizes information around a person or group that interacts with and not around application use.
• Threads. You can toggle between messages, chat up, and Windows Live Messenger, all in the same conversation
• Groups. Contact groups Tiles custom Live turns to see the latest statuses and quickly send a message to an email or instant message to the entire group, directly from the Start screen
• Better integration with social networks. Twitter and LinkedIn contacts are integrated into the card and can include up Mango check-in, also have available one nine facial detection software that makes it easy tagging your photos or posting them on the Internet
• Linked inbox. More email accounts in a secure inbox, conversations are organized so you can view the most recent mail
• Hands-free messaging. Built-in speech-to-text and text-to-speech, which allows writing messages and chat hands-free
A more intelligent applications
Windows Phone will change the way users look applications. Today, their usefulness is measured taking into account what can be done with the application, but its promise lies in how it can be integrated directly into the center of the experience with the phone. Besides that you can receive notifications and updates of applications directly on the home screen, Mango will add applications to the search results in Windows Phone Hubs. As a result, a useful application will be available where needed.
• Connect App. By connecting and integrating applications on their search results in Windows Phone Hubs, including Music and Videos and Pictures, applications are visible when and where needed.
• Live Tile's improved. You can get updated information without requiring applications to be open. Live Tiles are now more dynamic and can store more information.
• Multitasking. Applications can be rotated quickly and at the same time, others may run in the background, while retaining the performance and battery duration
Surfing the Internet beyond the browser
In addition to the inclusion of Internet Explorer, the update will connect the power of the internet Mango to the unique capabilities of the phone, and identify the location, camera and access to applications, to present a new way of browsing the Internet, which is now easier use and more relevant.
• Internet Explorer 9. The power of a PC browser-based IE9 support for HTML5 and support for hardware acceleration
• Recognize local (Local Scout). Providing local results and recommendations for nearby restaurants, shops and suggested activities, present in a user-friendly guide
• Bing Windows Phone. More ways to search the Internet, including Bing Vision, Voice and Music Search, so that decision making is easier
• Quick Cards (Quick Cards). When searching for a product, movie, event or place we provide a summary and relevant applications
Strengthening Ecosystem
Phone Windows ecosystem has increased steadily since the launch of Windows Phone 7 in October last year, with more than 17,000 applications available on the Marketplace, and Windows Terminal Phone available from a number of international partners and Microsoft, Nokia recently announced partnership . Mango will further expand Windows Phone ecosystem through partnerships with Acer, Fujitsu Ltd. and ZTE Corp.. Which were committed to produce devices with Windows Phone sites for various global markets until the end of this year. Moreover, a Beta version of Windows Phone free tools for developers, which will be used to create the next generation of applications and games Mango, will be posted on a public Microsoft site within 24 hours.
