Behind the scenes with Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 team: 'I think about this really as a first release'
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jun 17th 2010 4:23PM
posted Jun 17th 2010 4:23PM
On a related note, some existing Windows Marketplace devs have started getting notifications that Microsoft wants to send them loaner Windows Phone 7 devices -- yes, loaners, meaning they'll need to be returned to the mother ship at some point down the road. They're apparently set up for delivery in July, which should give publishers plenty of time to stock up the Marketplace in time for that planned holiday launch.
More than 512 MB ram, guaranteed.
@berkleyberkley2010
To which phone are you referring?
The oh-so-sexy Dell Lightning looks to have 512MB. XD
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/21/dell-lightning-the-ultimate-windows-phone-7-device-leaks-out/
@Alex
The HTC HD2 has 576MB of RAM!
@berkleyberkley2010
Probably not, sigh
@Paul Elmy as does the Desire
I wonder if they will ever return to the top.
@Bud92
Maybe not, but don't ever underestimate the power of microsft.
@Bud92 Don't think anyone is going to take the mantle away from Apple any time soon but I can definitely see Microsoft getting right back up there in the rankings. They just need to execute.
@Plazmic Flame Apple? I think the main guys they are gunning for is OS6. Especially in the business department as the tools and apps (and probably the overall UI look and feel) could cater to those users.
@N900
I don't usually put RIM/Blackberry into the mix just because it's usually not their arena when you compare devices. Although, if you're looking at it from the "Business User" angle, then definitely that would be WP7's target. If Microsoft can nail down Microsoft Office perfectly in the mobile space and have a smooth transition from mobile to desktop, they will convert a good amount of people.
Personally, I hate Documents to Go on my Blackberry. I don't hate the app, it's just the limitations of the device, along with the small screen. A mobile device that can do Microsoft Office, has my attention for sure so I look forward to what M$ does with WP7.
@Plazmic Flame But... Apple doesn't even have the "Mantle".
"First release"?
As in "it's half-baked and we just need to get something out, because we operate on time-pacing principles."
Figures.
@vasra
Right. That's why they've been doing stuff for months rather than chucking it out the door in half assed way like they did with 6.5
@vasra
Yeah it's a worry. Im a WinMo fan but the pace of WP7 does appear to be too fast for solid development.
At least they have been making dev tools availible for some time. Mobile OS's are defined by their 3rd party support now.
@Jimbob
keep in mind WinPhone7 uses a lot of silverlight for apps ... people who have been toying with it can make apps pretty easily.
everyone i have heard who has seen and touched the o/s has nothing but good things to say about it.
Microsoft is launching hardcore with every carrier and phone maker which is a plus.
iPhone 4 hype should be quiet by 4th quarter ... a few will be jumping the iphone ship too ... a lot of people buy iphones just because its the in thing plus the shiny factor. The apps is what keeps most iphoners in the appleverse ... i can't believe its the windows 1.0 interface the iphone is STILL running is what keeps people interested. Also bigger screens are the future ... not pixels per inch on small screens.
Microsoft is going to have a HUGE marketing campaign too.
Zune is a way better music-sphere than itunes ... all you can eat for $15 plus you get to keep 10 songs a month all with a much better interface on the device and your pc.
It's going to be big. I am thinking in a year the number of phones in use will go in this order: Android, Apple, then Microsoft.
So who at Engadget is a verified Microsoft phone developer? Get to the exclusive scoop guys. Chop chop
@DefPoet, if you mean verified their account quite a few have. I'm waiting to full validate when I'm further in my application. Still waiting for the next CTP release.
@SaggyBalls
Dummm dumm dumm! Fuck off troll.
Cnet is good, but not as good as Engadget...they are getting cathing up engadget!! Step-up ur game!!!!!
@TheSunman89
I wish it was Engadget in there.... :(
@Plazmic Flame
Engadget only cares about apples.
:o
This can't come soon enough. My smartphone is almost 4 years old and I badly need an upgrade.
@SaggyBalls i want this thing so bad. when are they going to release ??
Am i the only one who thinks that image looks photoshopped?
@EdR
Oh that one is easy!
Yes.
@EdR Can you tell from the pixels, and/or the shops you have seen in your time?
@SaggyBalls
This team smells like pure wiseness :)
@(Unverified)
I just have this huge feeling that WP7 will be a success, maybe as successful as the iPhone, or even more. iPhone is just one device. But Microsoft, has OEM's to help, so more devices, and this helps to grow marketshare. That's why PC's won in the PC vs Mac war. Well, I just wait and see. For now, iPhone has the most marketshare.
Yeah yeah... *waits for iOS 4 release*
@Maybach
On a Windows phone? Well that would be interesting.
@MarkAnderson *stares over at xda devs with a boiling couldron*
so who'll the first ginny pigs try out version 1 I mean someone's gotta do it!
@Gutsy Gibbons EDIT:
I'm sure version one will offer great things but the main question is who wants be the first ginnypigs trying out version 1, I mean someone's gotta do it! I'll be right behind you guys after the 4th iteration or so...
@Gutsy Gibbons They're "guinea pigs", as in "who wants to be the first "guinea pig" (singular, no s).
@Fanfoot
Actually, its ginny pigs as in pickled in pink gin. They'll buy the first of anything.
@Gutsy Gibbons I will...
@Gutsy Gibbons
Kinea pigs.
@Gutsy Gibbons
As someone who has owned guinea pigs for years, I'm offended you spelled that word so miserably.
Jk, lol, but yeah I'm definitely hoping to get version 1 when it comes out!
"I think about this as a good reason not to buy a Windows Phone 7. If the dev team has no faith in their own product why should I?"
@FelixDraconis What are you even talking about, and who are you quoting? You should try reading the source article.
@Paul Elmy, it will definitely have the best games. I just really hope all of MS's partners are on board releasing really integrated software.
Still waiting for a lot of API's, but most have been confirmed as being worked on.
@Paul Elmy Great points all, except you're talking about the wrong company. If you were talking about Google and Android I'd agree with you. Android is already outselling the iPhone in North America, though of course its got a long way to go to catch up in terms of units in use. I'm not clear why we need a third alternative though. Apple--well known, easy to use, simple choice. Android--lots of choices, many carriers, edgier, a little harder to use, a little less polish, more functionality. What does Microsoft bring to the table here? Sure a very nice interface and good media playback, and tie-ins to the failed Zune product (though very nice, in particular a nice PC program). The first version won't do multitasking, won't do cut & paste, will have a closed application ecosystem, etc etc. Sounds like Apple right? Except its not. It'll have less functionality, no applications when they start out, etc. Why would somebody buy one? It's even likely it won't be as good an enterprise phone as the existing Windows Mobile 6.5 phones or the iPhone.
Feels like a repeat of the Zune. Highly polished interface. A good copy of Apple but with a lot of missing pieces. Will Microsoft spend a lot of money on advertising? Will they put in the amount of work into this that Google is? Or even Apple? Doesn't feel like it. I'll bet it's going to tank.
windows 7 phone has failed and will never recover. they crippled it to much and took away users able to do what they want.
6.5 was the best, now its going downhill. they dont want to listen to end users only want to do what they expect you to do
@Ops 6.5 was the best to power users, aka, the minority. Users who wanted something clean and smooth moved away from it, no matter how much Sense would do it good.
Those same users that had left will return by the enticement of the interface, gaming and business functionality, and media/social integration.
@Ops
sorry dude ... you are the minority ... N900 is correct ... microsoft needs a phone for the masses ... not the 6 or 7 left over Windows Mobile fans. I am one of those fans .... i rocked a Samsung BlackJack2 forever ... that phone was a texting/emailing beast. But 6.5 and below are dead .. may they rest in peace with Palm's old o/s.
@Ops
How can unreleased software already have failed? Fact of the matter is, there's still 4-5 months until release, from the sounds of things its all progressing very nicely. Unless you're commenting from the future, in which case...how?
@Ops
Yes, yes, we know the Steve Jobs fairy told you to post that in your dreams, but this is the real world, and in the real world we wait to see how things go before we judge how things went.
Windows Phone 7 is too little, too late. And on top of that they admit to aiming for mediocrity. The only reason the don't have cut & paste is because Apple didn't have cut & paste. They've basically feature matched a two or three year old iPhone.
Maybe in two or three years they'll support the same ppi as an iPhone an cut & paste .. by which time the iPhone will be able to teleport people.
I really want to see a successful WinPho7 to have a healthy competition. Thing is, the wall for MS to climb is extremely high now. When they announced WinPho7, there was like just the Nexus One as the "super phone." Now, before WinPho7 is even out, we see iPhone 4, and the plethora of Android phones (Evo, Incredible, Droid 2, etc), and the new low end is the iPhone 3GS. In order to gain a good start, a WinPho7 phone has to be better than the 3GS and sold at $99. It's a tall order, but I do hope MS can make a comeback.