Updated Windows Phone 7 videos show Office doing awesome things

As much as Microsoft has revealed about Windows Phone 7 thus far in the past two months, one critical, differentiating element that it's going to be able to lord over its competitors -- true Office support -- has been a bit of a black box. We're starting to see a little bit more about the Office team's next-gen mobile product now, though, thanks to a pair of new videos that have been published this week. The first focuses on the email and calendar experience, but we do see one pretty awesome trick when the demo opens a PowerPoint file inline from the email client, edits it, and sends it back to the original sender. The second video dives deeper on the actual Office hub, where we get a quick look at the Word editor -- and as you might expect, it's squeaky-clean and nearly UI-free, just like pretty much everything else in the platform. Peep the videos after the break.

[Thanks, skipper]

[TareG Posted Apr 24th 2010 12:29AM]

I don't like it... it seems that wherever you are, swiping to the right screen is an absolute necessity.

[TareG Posted Apr 24th 2010 12:58AM]

Why didn't Microsoft call the hubs, "windows"? It makes more sense, and they do look like "windows", in Windows Phone. They behave like windows, complete with a peeping tom activity that moves up and down, and offers a glimpse of what's inside. They should have called them "windows".

[David Bailey Posted Apr 24th 2010 1:30PM]

@TareG They are trying to get away from the PocketPC metaphor because "a phone is not a PC". Also, they are more like hubs than windows, because you drill down into them, you don't just view one thing in them.

[BeeQAL Posted Apr 24th 2010 1:50AM]

I'm a current iPhone 3G owner and I've been waiting for Windows Phone 7 since 6.5. I am DEFINITELY getting the new iPhone AND the Dell Lightning unless an even better Windows Phone is released by another company. Yes, yes I know, two phones? I got to have both >.

[kaplag Posted Apr 24th 2010 2:36AM]

Hahaha It looks like a computer screen in a movie. You know, like when the interfaces in cheap tv and movies where it looks super futuristic and the person in the movie just knows how to use it and everything moves cool and makes cool sounds for no reason. "can you enhance this?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxq9yj2pVWk

That's what the interface looks like to me. like something people aren't supposed to actually use. Like something meant to look cool but not be understood.

[the3rdpower Posted Apr 24th 2010 6:23AM]

@kaplag Just curious - have you ever used or played with an ZuneHD? If you had you'd understand it extremely simple, very minimalistic, and extremely native to a general thought process.

Quite honestly it's simplicity is deceptive which make users learn and understand better.

[CultOfOne Posted Apr 24th 2010 11:44PM]

@kaplag
I think I have seen every one of the shows that was on that clip!!!! I have gotta get out more

[cooldead Posted Apr 24th 2010 3:11AM]

Im glad MS is finally stepping up to the plate on this.. Android wasnt for me... my iphone is okay.. but i think this might do it for me only time will tell

[lamester Posted Apr 24th 2010 4:10AM]

they just need a sleek device and strong marketing to beat Apple and Google

[bemymonkey Posted Apr 24th 2010 4:29AM]

Microsoft: Release this version of Office (or at least one with similar functionality) for Android (with all the funky animations turned off), and I'll pay $50 for it. No other app I've bought has costed more than $5, but _this_ would be worth it...

[the3rdpower Posted Apr 24th 2010 5:50PM]

@bemymonkey EARTH to bemymonkey its never, ever, EVER going to happen. Office and the rest of their tools are halos for the brand. If you had a diamond worth $$$ would you give it to someone else to pay for the setting for the stone? No.

[xdeiri Posted Apr 24th 2010 4:45AM]

PLZ enable KIN

[cahyo Posted Apr 24th 2010 6:05AM]

now every other mobile os seems to look dated.

[Tohe Posted Apr 24th 2010 6:38AM]

What a beautiful interface, it really looks more polished than the iPhone's.

[Shark Tek Posted Apr 24th 2010 3:49PM]

@Tohe
Are you sure.
The home screen is a complete mess.
And after seeing how you navigate on it, I will get lost easily. Nothing tells you were you at on the phone.

[ckeledjian Posted Apr 24th 2010 4:28PM]

@Shark Tek Because the iPhone does? A bunch of non descriptive icons spread on several pages? WP7 home page is actually like a quick information panel where you can put active buttons that provide a quick glance of what is going on and what is important to you. Is totally customizable. Can't beat that.

[Tohe Posted Apr 24th 2010 7:06PM]

@ckeledjian

Not to mention that Apple is now adding "folders" to their home screens, it is like they are going retro on us. I'm linking WP7 more and more.

[aliasflavius Posted Apr 24th 2010 7:02AM]

Put WinPho 7 on HTC's HD2 and I'm in!

[nswprop Posted Apr 24th 2010 7:30AM]

STRONGer

[fugitivegill Posted Apr 24th 2010 8:29AM]

coooollllll.....
I am totally confuse after watching this video
iPhone 4g or htc wp 7
bhagwan help kero....

[TGrant Posted Apr 24th 2010 8:30AM]

Apple Fanboy here.....but this looks great!

Of course it's all vaporware though!.....If it performs this quickly on the device, it will be awesome.

You know who needs to watch there back, it Blackberry. That's who is really gonna get hammered.

[meatball Posted Apr 24th 2010 8:51AM]

Wow. I really hope W7P comes to T-Mobile. A lot of the coolness seems to come from Exchange and sync (for business). I don't need access to work emails, really, so I am hoping it can sway me anyway.

[fredphoesh Posted Apr 24th 2010 9:17AM]

SQUEE-PLOP!
what was that sound?

Apple shitting in their pants!
looks fantastic Microsoft!

[TimeForTheFairTax Posted Apr 24th 2010 10:04AM]

Does anyone know if this will "be missing at launch"?

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/charlie-kindel-on-windows-phone-7-some-things-will-be-missing-a/

[weesals Posted Apr 24th 2010 10:23AM]

Not sure why the keyboard and status bar where white - the same colour as the document. Still a solid interface and feature set :)

[LeonardWashington Posted Apr 24th 2010 12:11PM]

looks really awesome!

Though don't forget no copy & paste renders a word application useless!

[mrtexasfreedom Posted Apr 24th 2010 12:28PM]

I'm excited to see the vision of Apple's OpenDoc technology getting traction again. Sad day when Jobs pulled the plug on that project. But necessary as IBM had dropped the ball in supporting it on other platforms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDoc

mtf

[Broncsx3 Posted Apr 24th 2010 1:25PM]

Anyone know about the file system?

Is it FUBAR like iPad or will they have a real Windows file system so you can actually use it for business?

[the3rdpower Posted Apr 24th 2010 3:10PM]

@Broncsx3 It's built off CE6 - don't see why it wouldn't be possible (file sys)

[DoctarPeppar Posted Apr 24th 2010 1:32PM]

Please oh please flying spaghetti monster god let this os be able to print!
I'm so sick of all these mobile platforms that do not have printer support (not to mention garbage office functionality). This looks VERY promising for biz users :)

[skywise Posted Apr 24th 2010 8:21PM]

@DoctarPeppar Symbian S60 has printer support.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Apr 24th 2010 8:29PM]

@skywise
I think you are wrong.
I had an i8910 (Samsung OmniaHD running s60v5) and it only had bluetooth printing via a proprietary program (Print OTG) and it would only print pictures, etc..not documents or web pages.

There is no printer support built into the OS, however some of the business marketed Nokia phones do have it....but it's still proprietary to nokia.

[techtroll Posted Apr 24th 2010 1:37PM]

They look really smooth on the promo vid but I wonder how will it fare on a real phone.

[the3rdpower Posted Apr 24th 2010 2:55PM]

@techtroll Just watch the videos from MIX10... they have actually showed things running on the phone. With a 1Ghz SNAPPYDRAGON processor it will eat through it like a hot knife through warm butter.

[XChrisX Posted Apr 24th 2010 1:40PM]

This, plus that Dell lightning *DROOL*

[David Bailey Posted Apr 24th 2010 1:44PM]

@hated one
No, none of the iPhones match the minimum spec required. Sorry.

[deekan5 Posted Apr 24th 2010 3:00PM]

People act as if WP7 is presently an option. I only wish WM 6.whatever did what it's supposed to do. I have a feeling WP7 will fail to live up to the expectations set out in this video, just like WM has consistently done.

[Shark Tek Posted Apr 24th 2010 3:44PM]

@deekan5
Remember people forget things.
The future is on two choices.

iPhone or Android Base Phones.

Nothing else.

[ckeledjian Posted Apr 24th 2010 4:43PM]

@Shark Tek People change their phone more frequently and more dramatically that with most other gadgets. They have gone from Motorola RAZR, to Blackberry, to Palm, to iPhone to Android. Very little loyalty on the device itself. The loyalty comes with the applications, the integration with your computer software, and usability in a corporate setup. Windows Phone 7 can and will gain a big market share. All the iphone and android are is an cute interface and a myriad of cheap applications that you cannot try before buying. WP7 is out of a box a productivity tool as well as entertaintment and the apps will have obligatory try mode, and the development tools are incredible because you can use same code for phone, PC and xbox. This is the whole deal.

[Shark Tek Posted Apr 24th 2010 3:50PM]

Does anyone knows if a BSOD was included on the core features?

[the3rdpower Posted Apr 24th 2010 4:49PM]

@Shark Tek Are we just a bit of a hater?

[tlingitsoldier Posted Apr 24th 2010 3:57PM]

At 0:27 in the first video it appears as though they used a picture of Pharrell Williams as Frank Wu. And I can't quite put my finger on it but at 1:04 Eva Valverde looks like some other celebrity I've seen before

[brainskill Posted Apr 24th 2010 7:38PM]

I'm impressed.

[Tensai Posted Apr 24th 2010 8:55PM]

Meanwhile, a year and a half later google docs for android is still mia.

[the3rdpower Posted Apr 24th 2010 9:54PM]

@Tensai That may have something to do with:
a.) GoogleDocs is purely a webapp with a wanna be offline tool (gears)
b.) GoogleDocs the webapp still can't do copy cut paste...ONLINE!
c.) You cannot actually CREATE a new document OFFLINE with Gears!

Google is interested in A.) your data and B.) You using their search information. They aren't interested in creating anything that don't highlight points a. and b.

[zpoint Posted Apr 24th 2010 10:08PM]

Well, well some Apple fans will lose their good night sleep because of W7 Phone. Can't wait to upgrade my buggy iPhone with this one.

[the3rdpower Posted Apr 25th 2010 3:01AM]

Found this video... saw a few things that I think any WP7 fan would be interested in.

a.) process monitor
b.) some type of rudimentary file explorer
c.) TONS of settings information...

Watch the 2nd Video - definitely well worth a peek.
FYI - this is video of the unlocked simulator which (the file of which is now shut down.)

http://www.techau.tv/blog/10-minutes-with-windows-phone-7-simulator-unlocked-video/

[Raytem Posted Apr 25th 2010 7:03AM]

I read the comments before I watched the video. After I read all oooohhhhss and aaahhhss and all the love I thought I have to see it. Ok, I won't do what PCfanboys does, bash Apple products no matter what. First of all I really didn't see what was so impressive. It does look good but then it's a demo, who knows if it works this well without any bugs. Second all of you who think of themselves geniuses, it's a keyborad connected to it cause nobody can type this fast on phone so stop praising the speed. We'll see what's the future. Time will tell. I won't do what PC Fanboys does, make assumptions without knowledge.

[soupisgoodfood Posted Apr 25th 2010 12:31PM]

Interesting concepts, but still not a finished product. There are a few times when something is clipped for no apparent reason, such a the title for "Request for Proposal R..." Same goes for some of the main GUI elements, such as "shared docume..." It just looks bad and doesn't really help the user, unlike when part of the next page is visible.

[coden1ke Posted Apr 26th 2010 10:01AM]

And the only thing these videos are missing, is the nice catchy music.