Rumored Windows Phone 7 details surface ahead of MWC launch: Zune-like UI, no multitasking
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 6th 2010 4:07PM
posted February 6th 2010 4:07PM
We've had a pretty clear indication that Microsoft would have plenty to say about Windows Mobile 7 at MWC this month, and it looks like we now have the first significant batch of rumored details ahead of the presumed launch. While nothing is close to being confirmed just yet, PPCGeeks has received what it describes as some "truly amazing information" about what's now apparently known as Windows Phone 7, and it certainly paints an interesting picture. According to the site, Windows Phone 7 will sport an interface that's "very similar" to the Zune HD, along with a complete revamp of the start screen, and a UI (codenamed METRO) that's described as "very clean," "soulful," and "alive." Perhaps just as notably, the OS supposedly won't support multitasking, with applications instead simply pausing themselves when in the background (there will be support for push notifications, though). Also missing is Flash support (at least initially), as well as NETCF backwards compatibility for older applications, although there are apparently "high hopes" for porting NETCF to the new platform eventually.
On the upside, the OS is said to have full Xbox gaming integration (including gamertags, avatars and, yes, achievements), full Zune integration, full support for social networking, and a try before you buy system in the Marketplace. What we apparently won't be seeing at MWC, however, is any Windows Phone 7 hardware, as the announcement is said to focus solely on the user interface. According to PPCGeeks, however, Microsoft is confident that the first hardware will be ready by September of this year. Hit up the link below for the complete rundown.
Update: MobileTechWorld looks to have also received the same batch of rumors, and has revealed a few more, including word that the browsing experience is currently "better / faster" than the iPhone 3G, and that Microsoft is "aiming towards" the 3GS. They also say that while there will be no Microsoft-made device, the company will have tighter control of the manufacturing process, which promises to simplify things for everyone involved and allow for over-the-air updates.
On the upside, the OS is said to have full Xbox gaming integration (including gamertags, avatars and, yes, achievements), full Zune integration, full support for social networking, and a try before you buy system in the Marketplace. What we apparently won't be seeing at MWC, however, is any Windows Phone 7 hardware, as the announcement is said to focus solely on the user interface. According to PPCGeeks, however, Microsoft is confident that the first hardware will be ready by September of this year. Hit up the link below for the complete rundown.
Update: MobileTechWorld looks to have also received the same batch of rumors, and has revealed a few more, including word that the browsing experience is currently "better / faster" than the iPhone 3G, and that Microsoft is "aiming towards" the 3GS. They also say that while there will be no Microsoft-made device, the company will have tighter control of the manufacturing process, which promises to simplify things for everyone involved and allow for over-the-air updates.
No effing way!
Ughhh!! If you could only know how I hate iphone and housewives for doing that to winmobile! "Consumers"...
Why is everybody acting like no multitasking like you are used to will be the end of the world. multitasking on phones is not the best thing in the world giving the limited resources available on a phone.
if when you exit an application it pauses and when you return to that application it is exactly how you left it then that would be perfect. it accomplished what traditional multitasking would but in a way that would be faster and smoother. I bet for 98% of people this will be fine.
@thefranchise
So what if im downloading podcasts and streaming radio in the background and pinging twitter and IM, how does a paused app help me?
For all this peoples who already say that WM7 fails...rumors are not facts...
App control: You are forbidden from downloading and installing your own apps off the web.
Instead, all apps go through Microsoft's vetting process, and apps are only allowed that come from Microsoft's Mobile Marketplace app store.
"hardware will be ready by September" September!? You have got to be kidding me.
yes yes yes ... yes. Except think cooler, and all those things your complaining about will be fixed in the update. Except that thing about corporate bit locking - none of that.
And come on guys, its easy to get around the app drm, so you shouldn't have to worry :P
@Leedsward Your last line actually made me feel a little better.
Why no multitasking? that's like shooting yourself in the leg!
In the event they launch it without multitasking, no flash, no backwards compatibility, and that darn awful Zune software..... Ms may just as well save the cash of the launch event and do something OTHER than mobile devices now.
Sad.
Given the comment issues lately, I will keep my emotions to myself.
No multitasking, those ridiculous alleged minimum requirements, no flash (... eh that always comes later). This is crazy world. Techie no likey.
I really hope all these rumors are wrong. Otherwise, there's always Android, I guess.
I think everyone is getting a little too upset by these rumors imo.
Consider this- A couple of weeks ago WM Experts had a fascinating article that detailed 2 different versions of WM 7: Business and Media Editions.
http://www.wmexperts.com/barcelona-and-wm7-what-we-expect-and-what-we-are-hearing
If you read both articles you might come to the same conclusion as I did. The phone as detailed by MobileTechWorld is the "media edition" version that will cater to the masses.
I believe that the business edition of Window Phone 7 will allow for multitasking, and UI overlays like Sense, and Motoblur. It makes little sense why Microsoft would forget all of its current mobile users and throw away the platforms strengths.
I definitely hope I'm right.
@blindfromthesun
Um. I hope you WRONG.
Why should I have to choose between xbox 360 integration and multitasking? Why choose between flash and loading my own apps.
If MS is smart at all, the non-techie phone will be the one where you can't multitask, so joe schmoe the consumer will remark how fast it loads all the apps, while geeks like us go "oh really, but my version lets me customize my background, do complex process management and run silverlight.
Your average (meaning, nobody here) iPhone consumer can have the version that doesn't do multitasking or customization. That's more of a business phone. Your "geek edition" should have flash, multitasking, gaming, zune integration, side-loading apps, etc. If they divided up the geeky features, they ended up with features nobody cares about on the business phone, and lacking features people want on their geek phone.
We'll see in a week,though.
so, to all of you who seem to think that flash and multitasking isnt important - for example, if you wanted to see and engadget video, would you go to the youtube app to find it? and while thats happening, would you close the browser to open the youtube app? one of the many examples i can provide in favor of flash and multitasking...
So, if Windows Phone 7 (windows mobile 7 sounds so much better, anyways), so if is a mass market product, that is supposed to compete with apple and gain some of its market share back, but syncs through the zune software. Does that mean they will make a Mac Zune client? Or are they going to say, screw it, there's enough "I'm a PC" people out there to make WP7 gain market share back with out mac purists?
without multitasking? We are going backwards in time...
Could someone break down for me what exactly constitutes multitasking for a mobile device?
I was talking to a colleague about this article and they said "What IS multitasking, anyway?" and after a bit of spluttering and handwaving I was forced to admit that I couldn't state it clearly myself. It can't be as simple as playing music while something else is going on, because by that description the iPhone does multitask. I know what it would be on a computer, too. But what is an example of multitasking on a mobile device that you could tell a non-gadgetfreak?
I'm a big fan of the new WM7 approach. After using WM predecessors for 15+ years I can say one of the biggest detractors from WM in day to day use is that it's slow and hangs a lot. That's because it's trying to do multi-tasking on cell phone level hardware...which is dumb. And - this is most important - in 15+ years I've almost *never* used true multi-tasking. What I do all the time, though, and what people want, is cut/paste info between applications. I don't need multitasking -- what I need is flexible clipboard capability (especially one that can remember the last 3-5 clips).
If you gave me WM7 with no multitasking and expanded clipboard capability - that would be *perfect* based on my experience.