Windows Phone 7 Series will be WVGA only at launch, HVGA later

Microsoft's driving home the point that developers are going to know exactly what kind of hardware they're targeting as they whip up Windows Phone 7 Series apps -- and naturally, a biggie is screen resolution since that affects how UI elements are going to be placed, how cool they can look, and how small they can realistically be. In a session at MIX10, Microsoft's Charlie Kindel has laid down the law that WP7S will be 800 x 480 -- just 800 x 480 -- at launch, a message we heard at MWC last month, but the new tidbit here is that there'll be 480 x 320 in the pipe for an unannounced later date. All devices will have precisely the same amount of available RAM and the same capacitive touch capability, and as we've already know, manufacturers will be able to tack on a keyboard if they like.

[JS Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:23PM]

Thats pretty crazy that they would even allow HVGA. That means that apps made for WVGA with small fonts etc. won't even be readable. Also, now when I get a Windows Phone I would have to make sure it's the right one with WVGA. That's plain moronic Microsoft what the F are you guys thinking??

[Wesley Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:32PM]

Kinda sucky about the consistent processor bit there. Snapdragon is decent, but that excludes Nvidia tegra 2, OMAP 4, Marvell Armada and a bunnch of other new chips with better performance.

[Wesley Posted Mar 15th 2010 7:06PM]

@Wesley Yeah so I saw another picture with details about the specs and it said: processor Arm7/Cortex/Scorpion or better

So not only Snapdragon then. Good. Why can't they just say it in plain language.

[saposmak Posted Mar 15th 2010 9:01PM]

@Wesley What part of "minimum specs" isn't clear? Minimum specs means, "this or better".

[Mister Warmth Posted Mar 15th 2010 9:01PM]

@Wesley coding for half a dozen different CPU's makes no sense at all. tell ya what, if you wanna put on your lil' propeller hat and root into the phone and do some commandline, then go get yourself an android phone - endless time-killing potential. now take a horse and go up in the mountains and stop bothering everybody.

[Bobot Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:40PM]

Microsoft will eventually make manufacturers to focus on design and build quality....I can't imagine other ways to make different devices with the same standards and specifications..

[makryger Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:43PM]

Something seems wrong with this picture. Same resolution? Same RAM? Same CPU? What happens when the industry gets better? The next generation of snapdragon? The next generation of OLED? It seems like all the phones will basically be the exact same, just different cases. Where's the excitement of getting a top-of-the-line phone?

Sad... at least I've got my Windows Phone 6.5. Now that is a phone that wows.

[saposmak Posted Mar 15th 2010 9:02PM]

@(Unverified) They're minimum specs. That means OEMs can't make a WP7S phone with worse specs. They are welcome to make phones with better specs.

[Bratyr Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:47PM]

As we've already know, Chris grammar bad!

[TareG Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:55PM]

Operation: Fragment WP7S.... begin!

[bbqbspareribs Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:57PM]

What's the typical screen size for 800X480? just wondering.

[Mister Warmth Posted Mar 15th 2010 9:02PM]

excellent question and very poignant. as luck would have it, the typical screen size for 800x480 *is* 800x480.

[bbqbspareribs Posted Mar 15th 2010 9:07PM]

@Mister Warmth

size = resolution?

[NuShrike Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:12PM]

@bbqbspareribs Hopefully at least 3.5" and up.

[bbqbspareribs Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:17PM]

@NuShrike Yeah, if it's 4.3" like the HD2... *drool*

[thinkthis Posted Mar 15th 2010 7:59PM]

BOOOOO on ever accepting HVGA resolutions. That's like coming out with an XBox with a harddrive and then later coming out with one that doesn't have a harddrive. Developers are going to develop to the lowest common denominator. Why can't the crappiest WP7S have WVGA? Keep the user base minimum standard as high as possible.

[david9944 Posted Mar 15th 2010 9:48PM]

Why not just take the apple route Microsoft and make your own hardware!!!!! More profits for you and more android phoness for me yehhaaaa!!!

[mocax Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:12PM]

so will there be 480x480 and 800x320 screen resolutions?

[JamRoc18 Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:57PM]

Anyone else wondering what that is pictured?

[hamsuplo Posted Mar 16th 2010 12:13PM]

Am I missing something, Why would any handset maker want to make a phone with this OS when they're all the same? At least with android, I know I can buy something more affordable, or something more cutting edge.

Unless I'm reading it wrong, and those are just minimum requirements....

[maxxorz Posted Mar 16th 2010 3:45PM]

@hamsuplo

Yeah, if you payed attention to pretty much *any* leak about the specs before this article, you would know that they're minimum specs... It's to set the bar, and work up. That's how progress is made.

A lot of developers don't code for WinMo anymore because there are too many different screen types. Hardware controls will help with that.

[silverton64 Posted Mar 16th 2010 8:17PM]

Okay guys I'm CONFUSED! So can someone justify a REAL reason for lowering screen res? If devlopers make an app for the 480 res will it still work on the 800 res screen? Why have a difference in screen resolution? Wouldn't that make it harder on developers? And isn't it ugly? I see some android phones and the rendering is beautiful compared to my iPhone rendering. I hate the iPhone res so I don't see WHY they would go to that???