Windows Mobile 7 details emerge – No multi-tasking?

With Mobile World Congress only a week away, a new batch of info on Windows Phone 7 has popped up on blogs over the world. PPCGeeks leaked the following info about the new OS:

• WP7 will be announced at MWC, and there will be a demo, but this will be just the UX
• MIX will have specific developement focus sessions on WP7
• WP7 supports both Sliverlight (out of browser) and XNA
• Silverlight is version 3.0, with elements of 4.0 plus mobile specific features such as sensors etc
• XNA apps can be developed using XNA GameStudio 3.1
• SL apps developed using Expression Blend 3.x and VS2010
• MS will release a mobile version of VS / Expression which will be free, and VS2010 / Expression Pro will have a free add-on
• WP7 will have an equivalent of .NET CF embedded into SL, but no SQL.
• WP7 will have isolated storage which is accessible using LINQ
• The UX of WP7 is based upon a theme called “METRO” and is similar to Zune HD, but with a completely new “Start” screen.
• No multi-tasking (applications will pause when in the background, however they will support notifications using the MS Push Notifications environment)
• No .NET CF backwards compatibility, however a proportion of the data and business logic in .NET CF could be ported
• MS were confident to have devices ready for Sep 2010
• No MS manufactured device, however much tighter control of manufactring process, so as an example each device has a 3D processing chipset, and
• MS provide all of the device drivers. So no platform builder. This enables OTA updates and simplified model for ODM’s
• Marketplace will support buy and try before you buy, as well as an API
• ODM / OEM will not be able to modify the “Start” screen, so no more HTC Sense / TouchFlo etc.
• MS are actually ahead of schedule which will surprise the analysts / journalists
• Browsing experience is currently faster / better than iPhone 3G, and they are aiming towards 3GS.
• Browser is based upon desktop IE7 codebase, but with some IE8 functionality
• No in browser Flash or SL
• WP7 has full integration with XBOX Live, and ability to purchase games
• WP7 will use the Zune software for music, videos, photos sync
• WP7 only supports app installation through service based delivery i.e. marketplace, so no side-loading
• MS will provide a hosted push notifications environment

The most important points being that there will be no multi-tasking, and that the browsing experience is better than on the 3GS, and that Microsoft is “aiming towards 3GS”.

[via]