Review of Microsoft WP7 development based on Win8 Metro innovation

After seeing Win8's stunning Metro interface, is it more interesting? In fact, Win8's Metro idea comes from Microsoft's smart mobile operating system - Windows Phone 7 (referred to as WP7). Is the device that originally used the Metro design language WP7? Let's take a look at the development of Microsoft's mobile operating system WP7 and Metro interface.
The left half is Win8 Metro, and the right vertical part is WP7

Windows Phone is a touch operation mode mobile operating system (developed codenamed Photon) produced and distributed by Microsoft. When Microsoft released the operating system, the main sales target was the general consumer market, not the enterprise market targeted by the previous version. It was first issued in Europe, Singapore and Australia on October 21, 2010, followed by the United States and Canada on November 8 of the same year and Mexico in November 24. The Asian region is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2011. In Windows Phone, Microsoft applied a design language called "Metro"; it was used in Zune, and integrated Microsoft and other third-party software into the operating system for strict control. Run its hardware.

This version is an important upgrade for Microsoft's mobile operating system, and the original beta for testers is expected to be released in November 2009. In the original plan, its official version is expected to be released in 2009, but many delays make Microsoft decided to use Windows Mobile 6.5 to transition first. This version has improved the original user interface, multi-touch function and motion sensing function [10], and companies such as MWg and HTC have launched several touch phones for Windows Phone. Important new features include a redesigned interface, a new version of Microsoft Office Mobile, Internet Explorer Mobile and Windows Media Player, and gestures with acceleration sensing.

Windows Phone 7 had February 16, 2010 changed its name to & ldquo; Windows Phone 7 Series & rdquo ;, after its cancellation on April 2 & ldquo; Series & rdquo ;, back to & ldquo; Windows Phone 7”.

At the time of release, Windows Phone is only available in five languages: English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Windows Phone Marketplace allows the purchase and sale of apps in only 17 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.

Microsoft released a major update to Windows Phone (developed under the symbol Mango) on September 27, 2011, which includes many system fixes and new features, as well as Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. 17 new display languages ​​within.
WP6.5 Interface

As early as 2004, Microsoft began to develop an important version of Windows Mobile with the code name of "Photon", but the progress was slow, and finally the entire plan was cancelled. It is. It was not until 2008 that Microsoft reorganized the Windows Mobile team and continued to develop a new mobile operating system. Originally planned to be released in 2009, but many delays made Microsoft decided to use Windows Mobile 6.5 to transition first.

The development of Windows Phone is done overnight. One of the consequences is that the old Windows Mobile application does not work properly on Windows Phone systems. Larry Lieberman, a mobile operating system product manager at Microsoft, said: "If we have more time and resources, maybe we can do something to improve its backward compatibility." . &rquo;

Lieberman pointed out that Microsoft has tried to look at the mobile phone market from a new angle and pay more attention to the end-user experience, instead of putting the focus as before. On the intranet. Terry Myerson, vice president of Windows Phone Development, said: "To improve Windows Phone by not using a stylus, changing capacitive touch screens, and other hardware changes." With 7 experience, we had to break the application compatibility of Windows Mobile 6.5.

On October 11, 2010, Microsoft CEO Steve · Ballmer released ten devices running Windows Phone, produced by HTC, Dell, Samsung and LG, and in the same year On October 21st in Europe and Australia; on November 8th, sales began in the United States. At that time, a total of 60 telecommunications companies in 30 countries supported or sold the ten equipment, and it is expected that more models will be released in 2011.

Windows Phone uses a set called & ldquo; Metro & rdquo; new user interface, the main screen is also called & ldquo; & rdquo ;, the start screen is composed of many square or rectangular pattern called "Dynamic bricks" (also known as active tiles, Live Tiles) elements of the composition. Dynamic bricks are equivalent to buttons that can be linked to applications, functions, and other stand-alone components such as contacts, web pages, or media projects. Users can add, rearrange, or delete dynamic bricks themselves. Even when the device is locked, the dynamic brick can update —&mdash at any time according to the content it represents; for example, the dynamic brick of the email will display several unread emails; or the weather dynamic brick can also Shows real-time updated weather content. Currently, dynamic tiles only support vertical layouts and cannot be displayed in landscape mode.

Some features of Windows Phone will be integrated into & ldquo; center & rdquo; in (hubs), which integrate Windows Phone and many well-known social networking sites (such as Facebook, Windows Live and Twitter), providing The contents of the machine and the online are integrated. For example, the "Photos" center will display the photos taken by the device and the user's Facebook album; "Contacts" will display the collections from various sources (including Windows Live, Facebook, Gmail, etc.). Contact list. From the center, users can leave a message directly on the social networking site, or even press “like”……. Other built-in centers include “Music+Videos” (integrated with Zune), “Game” (integrated with Xbox Live), “Market”, and “Microsoft Office”.

Windows Phone uses multi-touch technology. The default Windows Phone interface uses a black set theme that extends battery life in OLED screens because all black pixels don't need to emit light. Users can also choose the white background and various secondary color themes, and the components in the user interface, such as dynamic bricks, will be reflected in the secondary color selected by the user. Third-party applications can also automatically apply the theme of the set selected by the user.

In Windows Phone 7, multitasking is limited to the built-in applications. Starting with Windows Phone 7.5, the user will open the multitasking switch after long-pressing the "return" key, and the screen shots of the last five open applications will appear as cards in the switcher. . In general, the original application will be suspended after switching windows, and you can quickly respond to work through multitasking.

The WP app market launched last year is currently sought after by developers, easily breaking through 40,000 apps last month. Coupled with Microsoft's WP7 mobile phone cooperation plan with Nokia, the chances of a strong joint venture and win-win mobile market are just around the corner. This week, Microsoft Global Senior Vice President, Greater China Chairman and CEO Liang Nianjian will be a guest at Zhongguancun Online, bringing more news about Win8 and WP7.5, so stay tuned for real-time coverage on the same day!