In October 2010, Microsoft released their highly publicized new mobile phone operating system, Windows Phone 7. Although it was first previewed more than 6 months earlier, the beta version showed a promising but buggy system that would possibly struggle against the likes of Apple and Google unless something more was achieved. Now the final version is out, the question is, is it any good? Have the problems been sorted or is it another of Microsoft's recent software failures?
The design brief was apparently simple, though not quite as easy to achieve as it may seem, build an operating system that is able to compete on a level playing field with the likes of the iOS4 from Apple and the continuously updated Android platform from Google, now on version 2.3. What has now been produced is a system that is certainly capable and utilizes hardware specifications to great effect, whilst also incorporating the ever more important touchscreen support.
What makes the Windows Phone 7 operating system so good is its fantastic visual interface that is just as easy to use as competing operating systems from Google and Apple. Page transitions are fast and smooth and it is able to integrate compatibility with Microsoft's Xbox Live and the Microsoft Zune entertainment platform and portable music player. WP7 also uses social networking functions to great effect, with the ability to be in constant synchronization with your Hotmail, Google, Facebook and of course MSN contacts, plus emails and notifications from each.
Some reports have suggested that Microsoft have been working on an updated mobile phone platform since 2004 but each one has been scrapped and some even being adapted into Windows Mobile updates. It has been confirmed, though, that in actual fact the Windows Phone 7 OS has only been in development for a relatively short period since 2008, when Microsoft first recognized that the Windows Mobile platform needed too much work. Ultimately this has meant that although it is a great OS, WP7 is still at least a years development behind Android and iOS4.
To sum up, the Windows Phone 7 operating system is a great looking platform that is easy to use and access, with very good multi-tasking capabilities compared to the competition and very efficient processor utilization but ultimately lacking in most other areas. What makes up for this is that WP7 is a great starting point for future updates to iron out these small problems and Microsoft seem to be committed to their new platform. So although it may seem that right now WP7 can not quite compete with Android and iOS4, it looks like it will not be long before it can.
The design brief was apparently simple, though not quite as easy to achieve as it may seem, build an operating system that is able to compete on a level playing field with the likes of the iOS4 from Apple and the continuously updated Android platform from Google, now on version 2.3. What has now been produced is a system that is certainly capable and utilizes hardware specifications to great effect, whilst also incorporating the ever more important touchscreen support.
What makes the Windows Phone 7 operating system so good is its fantastic visual interface that is just as easy to use as competing operating systems from Google and Apple. Page transitions are fast and smooth and it is able to integrate compatibility with Microsoft's Xbox Live and the Microsoft Zune entertainment platform and portable music player. WP7 also uses social networking functions to great effect, with the ability to be in constant synchronization with your Hotmail, Google, Facebook and of course MSN contacts, plus emails and notifications from each.
Some reports have suggested that Microsoft have been working on an updated mobile phone platform since 2004 but each one has been scrapped and some even being adapted into Windows Mobile updates. It has been confirmed, though, that in actual fact the Windows Phone 7 OS has only been in development for a relatively short period since 2008, when Microsoft first recognized that the Windows Mobile platform needed too much work. Ultimately this has meant that although it is a great OS, WP7 is still at least a years development behind Android and iOS4.
To sum up, the Windows Phone 7 operating system is a great looking platform that is easy to use and access, with very good multi-tasking capabilities compared to the competition and very efficient processor utilization but ultimately lacking in most other areas. What makes up for this is that WP7 is a great starting point for future updates to iron out these small problems and Microsoft seem to be committed to their new platform. So although it may seem that right now WP7 can not quite compete with Android and iOS4, it looks like it will not be long before it can.