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Microsoft Begins Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) Rollout
MojoKid writes "While the news of late has focused on Apple's upcoming iPhone 5 launch, Microsoft has some news of their own on the mobile OS front. Windows Phone 7.5 is the first major overhaul of the system since the smaller, incremental NoDo updates began to roll out a few months ago. Starting this week, WP7 users should begin to see the v7.5 update roll their way. Microsoft claims that this release has a 'people-first' attitude, with a focus on multitasking, more integrated apps, and better mobile Web browsing, along with personalized tools, like integrated social networking and conversation threads for connecting with the people."
You obviously haven't used used WP7 at all. It's actually quite stable and well done. Please keep your knee-jerk memes to yourself. Competition is good - the more, the merrier.
My question is, if this release is "people first", wtf was first in the other versions? "Smallest effort money grabs first"?
which is totally what she said
What would be nice would be if we (the developers) could develop WP7 applications which also have the capability to run on ARM-built Windows 8. That said, from my knowledge of the means by which Metro development is being guided, I don't see this as a possibility.
I just feel that it would open Windows 8 on ARM to many established Windows Phone 7 applications (giving it a base to tap into, much like what the iPad had going for it), but given the differences between WP7 and Windows 8, this is just a pipe dream for me. Oh well.
Viable Slashdot alternatives: https://pipedot.org/ and http://soylentnews.org/
There's an app for that, and it's free!
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
I got the update today for my Samsung Focus, so far it looks like a solid upgrade.
I installed 7.5 yesterday and I haven't had a ton of time to play around with it, what I've seen so far, I like. The multitasking is smooth, and the full integration of social media is handy. I'm not sure when I'd use the Facebook chat feature, but it works. They made some changes to the Metro UI, the best part is related to searching and scrolling.
What really blows me away are the integrated search features. Rather than having to jump to a specialized application for a restaurant, I'm able to quickly find what I'm looking for, with reviews and other information, right from the search.
The reason I chose a windows phone in the first place was because of the clean interface that presents everything I need to know at a glance. 7.5 improves upon that while making significant changes under the hood. This won't convince anyone to buy a windows phone (not sure what will), but I've been very happy with my experience.
I'm Peggy.
riiiight, if a company needs the word "actually" in front of "stable" then maybe there is a reason not to trust 'em.
I will only be interested in Windows Phone once it is released on modern hardware. (dual core 1.2ghz+)
Current and planned Windows Phone devices have pathetic hardware.
I have a win phone 7, and it (never in 8 months) has crashed less than my android phones did (once every month or two), and has had no issues requiring a reboot (other than running out of battery) vs the androids which required a reboot every two weeks to one month. Battery life is the same. Mind you it's an HTC, and the androids were Samsung. Still, that kind of "windows BSODs" Crap really went out with the 90s unless you buy crap hardware, in which case, no OS will save you.
Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
A rolling mango gathers no moss.
From TFA: "The update will be gradually rolled out to existing Windows Phone owners".
Is the update coming direct from Microsoft (like all desktop Windows updates do), or from the cell provider (ATT/Verizon/etc)? It would be nice if it came from Microsoft, to avoid the (days/months/years) of delay for the provider to supply it.
I think by "people" they mean social networking.
Why does MS seem to think only social networking obsessives use their phones?
Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
And both of them showed up here, on slashdot, to comment within the first 15 posts? Maybe we should just admit that there might be 7 users?
This is the Edsel of mobile OSs, apparently
Bullied on by the success of the KIN, they are fancying themselves the new kings of social networking.
Soon to come, Bingbook lets you and your friends star in your own lame commercials!
All MSFT employees. Out of Duress.
I am wondering, if I have Zune open and I keep requesting to know if an update is available, will I get it quicker?
I've been running the HTC Trophy for about as long, and the only times I've ever had to reboot it was after installing the Mango beta. Which is actually totally worth it. I wish WP7 was released by anyone *other* than microsoft, it might actually get the publicity it deserves :/
Oh my, you certainly caught me!
Even my Samsung Focus hasn't had any issues, and I've been running it since Day 1. It's not an iPhone, but it's pretty damn stable and does everything I need a phone to do.
I have a Dell Venue Pro (unlocked), and I'm extremely happy with it. This is after two years of an iPhone, and 6 months of an Android phone.
Android felt like a basic copy of the iPhone in a lot of ways, and the battery life was so bad I couldn't keep using it. Windows Phone came out and I checked it out, seemed pretty good and different, and the battery goes on for two days with regular use. While I don't think I'll be convincing anybody here, I have to say that I've found this phone the best one so far, and with the cloud integration I find it extremely handy in a pinch.
The price is always right if someone else is paying.
They also launched the web marketplace which allows you to push apps to your phone from the web browser. http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/marketplace
You can also see your purchase history and reinstall apps, etc...
I tested it out and it works on my Mango Samsung Focus on AT&T.
*sigh*
What makes you think other releases weren't also "people first"? Or maybe "core functionality first"? Or "business applications first"?
I know, it's Microsoft, and this is Slashdot, thus you feel obligated to find something to bitch about. But really, you don't have to. Just this once, you can say "oh, good on MS, updating their product instead of abandoning it the way so many companies do".
The important thing is that Windows Phone 7.5 is out. All four users of Windows Phone 7 should be notified at once. Anyone knows their email address?
Write boring code, not shiny code!
Introduce a 4G device with Mango, on Verizon and I'll be the first one in line! Unfortunately the big V is the slowest to roll out any new updates, and devices. I'll see Windows 8 before this!
Microsoft claims that this release has a 'people-first' attitude...
I hear they are fast tracking it. If all goes well, 4/2012.
Help stamp out iliturcy.
I'm not sure of the first parts, but they end in @Microsoft.com
which is totally what she said
Scott Adams likes WP7 more than iOS and Android. http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/windows_phone_challenge/ I think slowly it will catch on and will certainly be the #3 player in the mobile space. Maybe #2 eventually. They also made the marketplace available on the web so you can push apps to your phone. In addition to skydrive storage, find my phone, etc... that has been there since launch. http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/marketplace
Hmm yeah, I suppose I should give credit where credit is due for 7. They stayed committed, and eventually 5 months after release, they figured out how to do cut and paste. Good job guys! Sorry that I wasn't more positive.
which is totally what she said
Well, back in the Windows Mobile days, the focus was on OEMs and carriers, not on users. The model was a mobile operator thought that they could sell a phone with certain specs, and asked an OEM to make it. The OEM came to Microsoft, and asked for software supporting this list of features. Therefore, the making the OEM happy was first priority, and actual users were barely even on the priority list. With WP7, the end user experience is what primarily drives decisions. (Disclosure: I am a former Microsoft employee who worked on Windows Phone)
Scott Adams likes wp7?? Wow! Like, I just don't give a shit what he likes. You know the guy that operates the draw bridge for the Rouge River in southwest Detroit? Yeah? Well, he likes water in his Wheaties! Get a bowl, lemming!
Thankyou, first useful answer. It's good that they're now getting a clue, but they're a couple of years late for keeping my custom.
which is totally what she said
For some reason MS phone reminds me of their "successful" mp3 player....
Apparently your brain doesn't have the capacity to interpret marketing-speak. I'm sorry.
It's actually quite stable and well done.
** This astroturf brought to you by Weber Shandwick on behalf of Microsoft Marketing
You obviously haven't used used WP7 at all.
Well duh!
Nobody's bothering to use it, 'cos it's dull, colourless and boring.
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
Heresy! Scott Adams is a treasured geek icon.
Sure, he could have taken Bill Watterson's ethical, cowardly route: quit after you're popular but before you become a sell-out. But no, he bravely followed Jim Davis' lead: phoning it in week after week, merchandising everything, and cashing big fat paychecks. If the man wants to say nice things about an expensive smartphone that some company gave him for free, let him ride that gravy train!
Slashdot: come for the pedantry, stay for the condescension.
Hmm yeah, I suppose I should give credit where credit is due for 7. They stayed committed, and eventually 5 months after release, they figured out how to do cut and paste. Good job guys! Sorry that I wasn't more positive.
Better than the 2 fucking years it took apple to get there with it.
read the article and it appears he had hardware problems with the Android phone he had and as he stated at the end of his post, he just wanted the phone to make calls, do email, and a tad of browsing without locking up. Sounds like he didn't pick his phone model very well and confuses Android with a phone(hardware).
and since most think that one counter example is proof of something being incorrect, my Android phone has been making phone calls, getting and sending emails and even browsing the web for a long time.
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
Really? Mango? Is there some deeper meaning in that like "Apple is a fruit and they were successful so let's use a fruit name?" Or to someone does Mango sound fast and cool? Is there target market South America/Africa/SE Asia?
...and the sweet sound of crickets as MS loses their hegemony to google.
I hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
Microsoft still does not understand that they are too late to the game.
you're the sort moronic pessimist that stops companies from innovating, 'ah no point trying, game's already started'.
The only way Windows Phone can succeed, is to make it Android compatible.
Because people are just clammering for RIM's Playbook.
I have personally talked to some executives in the industry, and they really do not want to do business with an organisation that behaves in this way.
Funny, i did the same thing and got told the opposite.
It's because he used marketing speak, this catch phrase is on the MS talking points list for this product. So he's using talking points and thus a troll.
Yes. In the same way that having a hand chopped off is better than losing your penis.
which is totally what she said
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crashed less than my android phones did (once every month or two), .... . Still, that kind of "windows BSODs" Crap really went out with the 90s unless you buy crap hardware, in which case, no OS will save you.
So you first blame the crashes on the OS, and then say how it's hardware that causes crashes. You probably had a dodgy phone - my Android has crashed twice since I had it, and I think they were battery/hardware issues anyway. So think about your criticisms of something that you already admit are incorrect.
Your android has still crashed more than his WP7, and mine for that matter. I've got a galaxy S too, and if its battery would last more than 4 hours, I probably still wouldn't use it because android is a slow buggy unresponsive sack of shit when compared to WP7 and IOS.
If medicine were ever perfected, we'd all be the same.
Reading Comprehension: EPIC FAIL.
I stated my previous two phones, which were android, crashed more than my windows phone. I never said it was the OS, in fact, when I did finally assign blame, I placed it on Samsung.
It was a point to emphasize the importance of hardware/manufacturer quality and the fact that something ostensibly good (such as android) can have problems on crap hardware (or if the manufacturer has crap drivers).
Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).