Microsoft talks Windows Phone 7 Series development ahead of GDC: Silverlight, XNA, and no backward compatibility
By Chris Ziegler 
posted March 4th 2010 8:30PM
posted March 4th 2010 8:30PM
The major points are that Silverlight, XNA, and .NET will figure prominently into the developer story -- not a surprise considering that Microsoft is heavily invested in both, gaming is central to the Windows Phone 7 Series story, XNA is a big deal on Zune HD already, and this all lines up with what we'd heard in the past. In fact, Kindel boldly proclaims that "If you are Silverlight or XNA developer today you're gonna be really happy." On the flipside, it's a bit ironic considering that Silverlight spends much of its existence going head-to-head with Flash, and all indications are that we won't see Flash support on 7 at initial availability (though it's sounding like a lock post-launch).
One final note at today's event is that Microsoft has now officially confirmed for the first time that 7 represents a clean break from Windows Mobile as we know it today; existing apps won't be compatible. Though that's likely to be a pain for existing owners with specialized apps who are looking to stay in the Microsoft ecosystem, Windows Phone 7 Series itself is a very different beast than the operating system it replaces -- it feels different, seeks a different demographic, and symbolically represents a very important clean-slate departure for a company that had lost its way in the mobile space. The bright side for the 6.5 faithful, we suppose, is that Kindel closes by saying that they "will continue to work with our partners to deliver new devices based on Windows Mobile 6.5 and will support those products for many years to come" -- a message Microsoft has been echoing recently.
We expect to hear much, much more on this at MIX -- and we might hear a few more tidbits at GDC as well -- but in the meantime, there's a developer Q&A going down on Twitter around 9:00PM ET (check the #wp7dev tag) where we could get some details. Stay tuned.
I've since moved on from WinMo, but I'll always love that little beast. So many ways to tweak and hack it. My Xda senior member status has been slowly collecting dust since WinMo6, used to compile custom roms over there...good fun....
@intrglctcrevfnk
The XDA-devs always made WinMo look and feel more "open" than Android. Just wish they'd change that name, even HTC-devs would have been more correct
I bet XDA-devs is going to be so pleased...
I still must have it.
Now, thats what I'm talking about!
winmo will still exist for those that needed as winphone classic. Still, I wonder what MS are going to do for the business sector in WP7...
@AstroSeven
Assuming a phone manufacturer is willing to make a WinMo 6 phone.
It's nice in theory, but when contracts end after 2 years people will want to upgrade their handset and there will be very few options.
Consider WinMo is going to rebranded as Windows Phone Classic after Windows Phone 7 comes out, it's no surprise that apps won't have backwards compatibility. They're two different Operating Systems.
Whoa, Silverlight will be installed? Sweet! I'm wanting this more and more! Finally can surf the "real" web...
@Herrera91 Or go to netflix.com and watch their videos (maybe even get netflix as a native service for the music+videos hub). This could be a huge get for MS because its something they could point to as "exclusive".
@jagowar Even better! :D
@Herrera91 .. I don't think Silverlight can be installed as such. I think it will be one of the 'core' frameworks i.e. EVERY app will be a Silverlight/.Net app. I think it is an incredibly bold decision and I wish them all the best.
This is really the 'new' Microsoft i.e. Office 7 / Windows 7 / Zune HD / XBox Live coming out. And hopefully it will change the company from within. You paying attention IE team ?!
@taligent If not, then bummer. But at least WinPho 7 will have more flash-like capabilities than the iPhone...stupid blue lego block of FAIL!
@Herrera91 .. Actually WinPho7 and iPhone will be similar in graphics capabilities. CoreImage/CoreAnimation/HTML5 Canvas is comparable to Silverlight just not as cohesive.
But it's not the point. WinPho7 apps are going to be completely unique. Very different UI styles and approaches.
DO WANT
Excellent move on Microsoft's part. Start fresh with a great development platform. Same developer skillsets can be applied to the web, desktop (cross platform no less) and now mobile devices. What's that saying about waking the sleeping dragon...?
I'm seeing some major money-making opportunities here.
With a clean break, there is a clear demand for apps.
I suggest you take up Silverlight and XNA. I've already ordered some books for this purpose.
@LAY Ha, I was just peeking at the silverlight 3 SDK and visual studio. I still prefer the flash platform but hey it's not what I prefer that matters.
@HighestRanked2 Though smartphone market bares no resemblance to the media player market. So make forecasts on the either market based on trends in the other market it is pointless.
@Edobe
theres losts of simularities between Smartphones and media player normally with the later only missing phone calls, text, mms etc
Zune > Windows Phone 7
iPod Touch > iPhone
Archos > Archos phone
@OCEAN CLAK You misunderstand. I did not say that smartphones and media players don't resemble eachother, I said the smartphone MARKET does not resemble the media player MARKET.
@HighestRanked2
Jesus you twit, if there is a clean break then someone will have to replace those apps. Now go enjoy your damn iphone and leave us alone.
@HighestRanked2 I see you missed the point of Lay's original statement. He is saying anyone reading this post (you for example Highest Ranked) should learn to develop silverlight applications so you may develop apps early since right now there are 0 apps. It would make more since then trying to develop an app for the iphone wich already has 100000 apps. ¿Comprendé?
@Edobe Once you really get to know Silverlight, Flash is gonna feel like a a toy. I've been doing SL dev for 15 months now, and I really love it.
So... Is it safe to assume that Windows Phone 7 apps will work on the Zune HD??
@BleeeK
that'd be epicly shweeet!!!
Or as jeremy clarkson would say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQJz04kTPJ0
@BleeeK
i really hope so!
@BleeeK
Considering you get ZuneHD apps through the Zune Marketplace and WP7S will be doing all of its syncing through the Zune Marketplace....I'd say that's a yes.
@BleeeK I really hope so; that's what I've been thinking since the announcement. I want more apps for my Zune HD!!!
@BleeeK Unfortunatly - no! As well is probably missing a lot of API's, Zune HD also doesn't meet the minimum screen resolution requirements all Windows Phone 7 apps will be made for, or have anywhere near enough RAM. And it runs on WinCE 5 kernel - Windows Phone 7 will run on either WinCE 6 or 7. Sorry!
@JasonDassh
The RAM issue isn't much of one since you don't have to handle both the front end and media duties as well as phone tasks. It won't (shouldn't) require as much RAM or processing power as the phone does.
The fact that its built on an old kernel isn't that big an issue either. That can be solved with a software update. And I would guess the lack of APIs could as well.
The low screen res is an issue, but even that can be overcome with the use of scaling. IIRC, they are the same aspect ratio.
What I'm thinking will happen though is MS will drop a new Zune right around the time W7PS phones hit the market. Apple drops an updated iPod ever year, why shouldn't Microsoft do the same?
@JasonDassh http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=564591 according to this, the zune hd runs on ce7, so yea it's more likely than you think
I am excited to see how this all comes together. Offer NETFLIX streaming along with very detailed games that are unlike the "get bored easily" iphone games that tie in with the Xbox titles, streaming radio while using apps, Office cloud based solution, wireless syncing and HTC better make a sexy beast of a device and watch the iPhone become a figment of fanbois imagination.
If they said that the HD2 will get a WinMo7 upgrade I would purchase it tomorrow. It already has all the basic specs required for it, perhaps the kernel is incompatible or something else.
Perhaps they can make a new version of the HD2 that will be compatible and it'll be a launch device. Just tell me something! I guess I will wait until MIX10.
UGLYPhone7 .. rots a ruck
oh.. and uh ... any developers out there developing new apps for 6.5?
hellooooooooooooo????
didnt think so
@obobo
Why would developers want to work with Windows Classic. It's not like there are millions of those phones out there or anything.
nice!
can we start calling it WinPho7 all the time? not as smooth sounding as winmo, but good good is it better than "windows phone 7 series".
@spasewalkr Yeah, put the 7 above the 'o' and then change the logo to a bowl of noodles and call it a day.
@kdilkington Ahahahahahaha that was funny and where my thoughts went too. Man now I'm craving pho.
@spasewalkr
cant we just go with 7series and call it a day
@Valicore Here's the unofficial logo for WinPho7.
A hint at no flash? After all the gripe yo guys give the iPhone, you're going to be happy with a unpopular container? I cannot remember the last time I went to a Silverlight website that was not directly related Microsoft.
No backwards comparability, so another target audince lef in the dark.
What audince is MS actually tageting? Zune sure was a smash hit, right?
Xbox Live intagration? I hear all about it, but anyone care to explain to me what that actually means. Chat with people on xbl? Let you join voice conversations? Only two things I can see remotley cool.
@Colrath
A audience which can 'spell' correctly...sorry i had too.
Anyway, are you one those types of people, who thinks BC is important? MS needs to stop legacy support, and the sooner the better.
Honestly, Windows would be so much better, if MS decided to make all the hardware companies use a universal standard, and remove legacy, the current hardware can emulate very effectively.
Why doesn't MS, build a protype MB, Processor etc, and show what can be done if they removed legacy, and also show what their software can really do.
Mac OS-X works great, because they use custom, spec hardware, the otherwords intel, Nvidia have to design their hardware around what Apple's specs, but now Apple has gone down the legacy route with using intel etc.
@Colrath .. I've been the biggest MS hater for the last 5-10 years.
But I 110% support them on this new path of theirs. Yes, there are gaps in their strategy. Yes, it isn't yet as successful as their competitors. But at least they are taking risks and trying to offer something unique to their marketplace. And it is unquestionable that MS now has a distinctive 'consumer' style like Apple does.
Will it work. Who knows. But at least they aren't boring any more.
@Geoff900 Had to take out contacts, was up all night at work fixing problems so wore them for 30+ hours, couple that with spellchecker not grabbing them and even no edit tools, and that's what you get.
Anyways, this isn't about hardware. This is about the lack of software emulation.
@Colrath : Flash would be kinda nice, given how many sites do use it, but at the same time, I think it would be in everybody's best interest to move away from Flash. Anyway, the likelihood of Flash appearing on WP7S is greater, because at least Windows Mobile 6.5 has Flash (lite) support. Silverlight would be a much better alternative, and I really wished more popular sites start jumping to it.
Backwards compatibility would be kinda silly. MS aims to have a fresh new start with WP7S. Having old apps work on such a whole different level of GUI would seem very odd. Anyway, I think most apps that Windows Mobile users have are meant to supplement the missing or not so good apps and features in the the OS. I'm talking about utility apps, skins, and that other stuff. I think WP7S pretty much makes most of that unnecessary.
I think MS is trying to appeal to everyone, though I think people most familiar with Microsoft's offerings will be the first to get on board, and maybe other people who find it more compelling than Apple's solutions or other phones. Zune HD might not be a success, but I think that has more to factor with the really low amount of advertising, down economy, and how well Apple has mindshare control in the US market.
About Xbox Live, someone on their team posted a blog entry asking what users might expect with Xbox Live, so maybe you should add some input: http://www.ozymandias.com/your-thoughts-on-xbox-live-and-windows-phone
@Quikboy
uh.... the CEO OF MICROSOFT, stood and said: "WP7S will not have Flash out of the gate."
Which means that, regardless of all the advances in hardware (Tegra 2, Scorpion...etc), come Christmas 2010, the WP7S phone ur carrying will NOT have Flash support. Even if it has 3 Tegra 2's and a Scorpion in it.
@TareG : Since when did "not have Flash out of the gate" translate to mean never? I would think that 'out of the gate' was referring to the WP7S launch, and Flash won't make it to launch, but COULD come later down the road.
Unless you have a different meaning as to what "out of the gate" could mean, I think Flash support isn't completely out of the question.
@Colrath This is about apps, not the web.
*cries about the HD2* its such a shame this phone that isn't released yet in the usa is already outdated