Microsoft demos push notifications on Windows Phone 7 Series

Microsoft's flavor of push notifications for Windows Phone 7 Series -- the so-called Microsoft Notification Service -- was just demoed using an MLS (Major League Soccer) app, and it fits in really well with the "Metro" UI motif. Notifications come in via an unobtrusive bar across the top of the display -- better than iPhone, and not unlike webOS -- and tapping them takes you into the app where you're presumably taken to a fuller view of the relevant information. The notifications are available regardless of whether the app is open, a model that mirrors Apple's and likely a heavy dose of foreshadowing that multitasking -- at least, multitasking as we know it -- won't be available. Check of pic of the notification bar after the break.

[Flix C Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:33PM]

@CRA1G
Hum.... Maemo? (or MeeGoo if you prefer)
How does this compromise ?
(And BTW, Android compromises all the time. Android is TEH compromiser)

[CRA1G Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:38PM]

@Flix C Last time I checked (so it may have changed), the Maemo SDK was available for Linux only.

[Anatidae Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:13PM]

Hey Engadget! What is up with all these Microsoft posts? Sheesh, you are almost making me believe you are not Apple biased anymore!

Sarcasm aside, I appreciate the detailed W7Ps info. Please keep it coming! I wouldn't even mind a couple speculative articles like the ones that graced the iPad the months running up to launch (maybe not as many though).

[juanvaldez Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:21PM]

@Anatidae Amazing how they cover the devices with the most potential and consumer interest. I think we should've been begging the market for better devices and OSes, and supporting said units, before blaming engagdet. But I do hear ya.

[one2gamble Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:21PM]

I just need to be able to do some things at once, keep chat going while looking at a spreadsheet/email/website whatever. If it cant do that in real time its going to be a bummer.

That said, seems like it will be able to

[Biotite Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:22PM]

I think Winpho7se reinvented multitasking so the classic way we think of it (as in android or winmo6x) isn't needed. It's an entirely different beast by the looks of it unlike the iPhone's system.

[hey buddy Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:03PM]

@Biotite It's kinda the *exact same* beast, maybe now you're just noticing it's not that bad.

[Motlee Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:32PM]

So if the iPhone 4 has true multi-tasking like reported (yes I know it has been reported since day one) then I can't see MS pushing out 7 without. Even for a true Apple hater it would be hard to argue for Win7 over the iPhone OS at that point....
....what am I thinking, no it wont.

[PaulY Posted Mar 15th 2010 3:00PM]

@Motlee: I agree, and I too am no Apple fan. This is way too much "look I'm a better iPhone than the iPhone." At least from what I've seen so far. Yeah, it is better visually and the "hubs" are far better than the glorified Windows 3.0 Program Manager that is the iPhone launcher. But the one-app-at-a-time metaphor is Apple's thing. The three or four clicks/drags to switch between apps is Apple's thing. Whiz-bang, time/CPU/battery sucking transitions are Apple's thing. This is really just a fancier iPhone. And if Apple does implement a WebOS card-like multi-tasking system, then this will be an also-ran before it runs.

Sorry MS, but you can't just copy and catch up. You innovated in a few ways, but you needed to rethink the metaphors entirely--both from WinMo 6.5 AND from iPhone. The only company that has truly innovated in this space since the first iPhone is Palm. Period.

(okay maybe RIM with that clickity screen crap, but that was BAD innovation)

[Motlee Posted Mar 15th 2010 3:11PM]

@PaulY I certainly agree. While I appreciate MS's attempt to get back in the game with Win7, from what I've seen so far, it seems a little on the gimmicky side to me, and that is one thing I can't stand in a tech device or anything for that matter. For example, live wallpapers on Android, while "cool", it serves no purpose other than being a gimmick to get people to say "oooohh".

[Dan Fruzzetti Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:48PM]

Did I already say leave it to Microsoft to always steal focus inappropriately?

[person5e9 Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:56PM]

It would be great if blogs like Engadget would pay more attention to the quality of the browser, especially if it's HTML5. This more than anything is going to shape how much choice and compatibility users will have across modern Web applications.

[PaulY Posted Mar 15th 2010 3:02PM]

@person5e9

And when blogs like Engadget get access to the phones and can comment on such, I'm sure they will. They are seeing demos projected on a screen. No more, no less.

[person5e9 Posted Mar 15th 2010 3:04PM]

@PaulY by then it will be too late, they should be pointedly asking about it at press events, unless they're just there to be led around by the glitz.

[Carniphage Posted Mar 15th 2010 3:50PM]

Why is this called Windows - when there patently are no Windows to speak of?

Nor is there any semblance to the desktop OS - known as Windows.

C.

[sinkingshriek Posted Mar 15th 2010 4:13PM]

sooo excited that my dick is about to explode!!

[BigFatDuck Posted Mar 15th 2010 8:45PM]

oh man, this is really quite enjoyable watching the same people who have been hating on the iphone for no "real" multitasking now suddenly offering explanations for why this is better than "real" multitasking and how it's really not so bad after all.

Guess what kids: it doesn't matter if the notification is a pop-up in the middle or if it's a pop-up on the top! it's still a push notification and it's still not real multitasking no matter how you spin it.

And just to clarify, I really don't care that my iPhone doesn't allow third party apps to run in the background. I just think it's hilarious to watch the hypocrites.

[dtg755 Posted Mar 16th 2010 4:54PM]

this looks like a cool notification system...i have a palm pre and I'm a huge fan of the way notifications come through on it so I'm digging this it looks pretty similar