MS releases new Windows Phone 7 dev tools, we take 'em for a spin and you can too (video)
By Tim Stevens 
posted May 2nd 2010 12:12PM
posted May 2nd 2010 12:12PM
The biggest new addition this time is the phone interface, which delivers a visually simple but comprehensive and intuitive way to make a call. From here you can cruise through your contacts or punch up a number directly, and once a call is in progress you can then continue on to work in other apps, with the call status displayed in the top status bar. It's easy to set up three-way calling, send audio to Bluetooth or the speakerphone, and even to throw your conversation counterpart on hold. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any catchy hold music, but that could change before release.
Beyond that there have been some improvements in transitions. In general things look a bit cleaner and as they should, as we're getting ever closer to the release sometime before the end of the year. The video above shows off that new calling app, plus we take a look at the camera and PowerPoint apps that we skipped last time. Of course, just like before you can take this for a spin yourself if you like. The instructions we posted previously still apply here, so make sure you read that first, but the files you'll need have changed somewhat.
For this release you'll need the Windows Phone Developer Tools CTP Refresh installer from developer.windowsphone.com, and if you have some earlier dev tools installed be prepared for a lengthy (and largely manual) series of uninstalls. The next thing you'll need is the unlocked .bin file, which is available at the xda-developers forum link below. From there it's just a simple process of making a few shortcuts and a few clicks. Again, it's all detailed here, so make with the download and then get with the clicking and have a look for yourself at the future!
after over a decade of pseudo-3D and shaded buttons... pastel flat buttons look refreshing.... just like engadget's site design :P
but that IE icon looks out of place.... i remember there's a flat version somewhere....
@futurerheza
Whoever did the render should not have made fun of AT&T.
Calling it a fake GSM network is just not nice.
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muhuhuhuhuhhuhuuhahahahahahahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
End of the year is going to be interesting from a Mobile OS point of view.. The iPhone OS 4, Windows Mobile 7 and Blackberry OS 6...
But this thing has an OLED screen! A colorful interface would be really excellent. Anyways, it's not all black and white. Just look at Office, and the home screen, for example.
This thing isn't even close to being released and already I have no interest in it; after using Windows most of the day and working with it at night the last thing I want is to have it on my phone.
@jalexoid
Yea WP7 is slick as it gets, MS really did cut out all the crap and lay it out with everything to the point.
The Best Part is skinning.. i'm itching to make a theme or something for WP7 weather its cooking a rom or MS provide some strong tools, WP7 is gonna get the greatest make over ever.
later bro
@futurerheza Haven't you noticed the trend on Engadget is the reply to the first comment, whether it is relevant or not?