Hasta La Gadget!

Finally, the Windows Phone 7 operating system is starting to catch up.

Microsoft’s web-based Windows Phone Marketplace goes live today, years after competitors Apple and Google launched their own. The app store launch is in conjunction with the rollout of Microsoft’s latest iteration of the Windows Phone 7 operating system (Mango).

The version 7.5 update will roll out to existing Windows Phone owners slowly to ensure there are no issues for users, according to the company. Mango adds over 500 tweaks and features to the Windows Phone 7 platform.

The Windows Phone Marketplace web portal launches with over 30,000 apps in tow, an admirable enough number (though still far behind its competitors). Apps are organized into one of 16 categories, and on the main page you can also browse by featured, free, top or new. Games are a separate tab from apps, and they’re organized into one of 14 different categories. On an app or game page, you’ve got what you’ve come to expect from a web-based app market: the app icon, price, a rating, description, screenshots and reviews. After purchasing an app from the web store, the app can be automatically downloaded over-the-air, without an SMS or e-mail link, to your Windows Phone 7.5 device¹.

The update to Mango is free and completely optional, but we got a chance to check it out ahead of time and honestly, there’s little reason not to upgrade. In particular, the OS adds some seriously cool social media integration to your contacts list, which is referred to as the People Hub. It also adds Wi-Fi sharing abilities and a Yelp-like built-in app called Local Scout to the homescreen.

If you’re a Samsung Focus, Dell Venue Pro or other Windows Phone 7 owner, you’ll receive an alert delivered OTA to your device when the update is prepped and ready to download. To check the status of your potential update, you can visit the “Where’s My Update” site, which is available starting today. You do, however, need PC or Mac connector software to install the update, but they’re available for free online (details are available on the Windows Phone Blog).

A number of Windows Phone Mango-specific devices will also be released later this fall.

Note 1. The original version of this story incorrectly stated that apps purchased from the Marketplace could be downloaded through e-mail or text message.

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

“Windows Phone Seven Point Five.” It’s somehow mind numbing and yet not totally unexpected that chunky string of syllables is how you say the name of the new Windows Phone. Mind numbing, because it’s the antithesis of what Microsoft has ultimately built, and not totally unexpected, because we’re still talking about Microsoft, and it’s not a reinvention of what they’ve done with Windows Phone. More »

With Mango finally on its very official way — that’d be one day away for certain AT&T owners — it’s hardly surprising to see OEMs jumping on Redmond’s mobile bandwagon. ZTE’s joined the allied Windows Phone 7.5 ranks, outing its Tania phone at the China International Postal and Telecommunications Exhibition 2011. The modestly specced 4.3-inch device runs Microsoft’s latest OS atop a single-core 1GHz processor, with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and a 5 megapixel rear camera on-board. It’s certainly no HTC Titan, but then again, not every smartphone needs to be a roided-up beast. Let’s just hope MS gets those regional marketplace availability issues squared away before this handset’s Chinese launch. After all, what fun is a live-tiled phone without the apps?

ZTE Tania joins Windows Phone Mango brigade, says Ni Hao to Chinese market originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung just took the wraps off its Omnia W, which looks like a non-US variant of the Focus Flash we’ve already heard about via AT&T. The handset will debut in Italy and start spreading across the Old World and Latin America from next month. It’ll sport Windows Phone 7.5 out of the box, a 3.7-inch 800×480 Super AMOLED display, 1.4GHz processor, VGA webcam on the front and rear 5MP shooter with 720p video recording. We expect it’ll go head-to-head with HTC’s 3.8-inch Radar when the War of the Mangoes finally kicks off.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Samsung’s Omnia W: Mango, 3.7-inch Super AMOLED, 1.4GHZ processor

Samsung’s Omnia W: Mango, 3.7-inch Super AMOLED, 1.4GHZ processor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The man who previously led the development of IE Mobile for Windows Phone is no longer with Microsoft, whose termination followed a series of tweets regarding one of Nokia’s unreleased Mango handsets. A representative of Ballmer & Co. has confirmed to us “that Joe Marini no longer works at Microsoft,” and while the company refuses to discuss the details of his termination, you be the judge. In his first tweet, Mr. Marini expressed glowing enthusiasm for the device, having called it one of Nokia’s slickest ever. Then, however, he went on to give the phone an “8” (to summarize his 144 character review), criticize the camera as being good, but not great, and bemoan its screen size. Oops. If anything, unbridled enthusiasm is encouraged at Microsoft (just think back to Steve Ballmer’s monkey dance if you had any doubt), but when sheer excitement erupts into stunning frankness regarding unreleased products from partner companies, perhaps this ex-Microsoftee should have kept his thoughts offline. We wish you luck, Joe, but next time, just remember that review scores are a relic of the past. Instead, just let the words speak for themselves.

Microsoft boots Windows Phone manager following mini-review of Nokia’s Mango handset originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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