Microsoft set to launch Mango before iOS 5?

 

It’s looking increasingly likely that Apple will launch its next-gen iPhone and iOS 5 in the next couple of weeks, and Microsoft doesn’t want to be left behind. As such, the software giant is readying Mango – the latest version of Windows Phone, and it could also be here at the beginning of October.

Microsoft have been left in Apple’s wake before, spending years coming up with a product that could finally compete with iOS – Windows 7 – when it came to usability.

With Apple’s 5th iteration of iOS likely to launch in the next two weeks or so, Microsoft needs to avoid being left behind again, which is where Mango comes in.

Mango is the latest version of Windows Phone, offering over 500 changes and improvements over earlier iterations.

It won’t just be buyers of new handsets that benefit, either, with Eric Hautala, the General Manager of Customer Experience Engineering at Microsoft, pointing out that “firmware has been painstakingly tuned so your phone-and apps-work with all the new features of Windows Phone 7.5”.

With Apple now expected to launch its iOS platform and next-generation iPhone on the 4th October, we wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft beat them to the punch by a day or two. The launch of Mango also means that Nokia can start its own revolution, with a host of Mango-based handsets set to hit the shops.

Would you consider opting for Windows Phone over iOS? Or will you wait and see what both new versions have to offer? Leave a comment and let us know.

HTC Omega Windows Phone Mango incoming

 

The first specs have been revealed for new HTC Windows Phone 7 Mango handset the HTC Omega, likely to be one of the devices launched at company’s press conference next week.

From the hush-hush facts that have appeared so far, the Omega will have an aluminium case (possibly a Unibody) that will house a 3.8-inch SLCD display. White and Silver is the only known colour scheme at present.

The new phone is likely to be powered by a 1.5GHz single-core Qaulcomm Snapdragon processor (MSM8255) and have 512 MB of RAM available. No storage is listed but it should be expandable via microHD/SDHD card. It should also support HD TV output via a micro-HDMI adapter and media ‘throwing’ to compatible kit via DLNA support.

The main rear-facing camera will be an 8 megapixel affair with an LED flash. The Omega will also have a front facing camera, leaving open the tantilising possibility of video chat and – we hope – Skype integration for Windows Phone 7 Mango devices.

HTC is expected to officially announce the HTC Omega at a press event on September the 1st. An second, higher-spec Mango handset with a larger 4.7 inch display is expected to be launched too, code-named the HTC Eternity.

Mango is the first major update for Windows Phone 7 and is intended to address many of the niggles that early adopters found with the original release.

Windows Phone 7 Mango now supports multitasking – or at least a form of task-switching using a long press of the Back button. The phone’s contacts app now integrates with your Facebook friends and you can see their status updates alongside their details.

3rd party apps should now be able to update Live Tiles on the homescreen and the update adds new voice controls and search SkyDrive cloud storage support and more.

Windows Phone Mango: What smartphones will launch first?

Windows Phone may have been late to the smartphone party, but it still feels like one of the freshest and nicest operating systems to use. It’s not perfect, but it should get a lot better when the latest ‘Mango’ version gets released later this year. Manufacturers have now been able to get their hands on Mango, and there are a host of new smartphones in the pipeline. Read on to find out more.

Mango is the latest version of the Windows Phone operating system. It’s already a great OS, but with a few tweaks it could be even better. Manufacturers have now got their hands on the latest ‘Mango’ version of Windows Phone, which means we’ll be seeing some new phones in the not too distant future. The manufacturers below will be among the first.

NokiaOut of all the smartphone manufacturers to release Windows Phone handsets, Nokia is one of the most eagerly anticipated. We can’t help but feel that the Finnish company’s future rests on the latest operating system from Microsoft, so it needs both the hardware and the software to be spot on. We’ve already seen that Nokia can manage stunning hardware – if Mango is as good as we hope the combination could be a match made in heaven.

Toshiba FujitsuToshiba has a history of making high-end smartphones – it was the first company to release a 4-inch handset with a 1GHz processor – but in a bid to take the king of the smartphones crown Toshiba has got together with Fujitsu. The result is set to be the catchily titled Fujitsu Toshiba Windows Phone IS12T, and it’s likely to be the first Mango smartphone to hit the shops.

SamsungSamsung has a proven track record when it comes to making smartphones with different operating systems, and was one of the first to release a Windows Phone 7 device. Following on from the success of the Android-based Samsung Galaxy S II, we can’t wait to see what the South Korean company has up its sleeve when it comes to Mango, but we bet it’ll be one of the best handsets out there.

HTCThe newest smartphone manufacturer in this group, HTC weren’t even on the scene until the late 90s. The company made a name for itself with Windows Mobile devices, however, also having incredible success with Android handsets. Along with Samsung, HTC released its own Windows Phone 7 device, so expect to see a Mango-based smartphone from HTC as well.

LGLG has made some of the most innovative smartphones this year, including the LG Optimus 3D. If it can bring the same sort of innovations to Mango and Windows Phone, then there’s no reason we couldn’t see a world-beating smartphone from the South Korean company.