因为iOS和Android这两大手机操作系统的市场行情毫不减势，导致更年轻的操作系统极易被人们忽略，比如说Windows Phone 7。

Windows Phone

WP7算是Windows Mobile的华丽转身，原版本的功能也很强大，只是因为长江后浪推前浪，不少新面孔相续出世才让Windows Mobile徒显年老色衰。彻底改头换面的WP7，抛弃原来的输入笔工具，采用了手指感应触摸屏功能。

Windows Mobile操作系统还有不少其他问题，比如说极力向台式电脑的Windows系统看齐，事实证明这也确非理想的出路。甚至连微软首席执行官史蒂夫·鲍尔默（Steve Ballmer）都不得不亲口承认，微软公司已难以招架Windows Mobile的折腾。尽管Windows Mobile的表现不尽如人意，但微软还是从中吸取了不少教训，再加上其他操作系统对市场的试水，相信WP7将会是一款取精华去糟粕的产品。我们认为有五项理由足以说明WP7值得期待：

Steve Ballmer

1）WP7绑定Xbox Live功能

这一点相信会是所有喜欢Xbox游戏玩家的福音。Xbox游戏原本就很具竞争力，而且已经拥有庞大的用户基数，再加上微软强势推出的在线游戏平台Xbox Live，WP7无需发愁收买游戏玩家的问题。痴迷游戏的玩家在外出时，可以轻松从Xbox游戏机转战WP7手机，对他们而言，这确实是很具杀伤力的一大优势。

Xbox Live icon

2）开发商将推更多内容

据称不少款应用服务已确认将植入WP7系统，比如说Twitter、Netflix、OpenTable、Travelocity以及Flixter。而且微软在上月也宣布将向WP7手机推出超过50款的XBLA游戏，虽然目前为止，尚无准确数据透露究竟已有多少款应用将挂靠WP7，但这一消息听起来确实是个不错的开端。相信不少应用开发商也将闻风而动，面向WP7平台推出更多应用内容。

3）微软重金砸向市场营销

据有关分析家估算，微软已斥资4亿美元左右为WP7的推广和宣传造势。要是WP7系统实际性能果真与他们在广告上形容的一样恰如其分，那么WP7成为响当当的手机操作系统品牌也大有可能。当然也有人会认为，微软不过是舍得花钱多搞几场公关活动来造声势，好争取消费者注意力。但不妨试想，如果WP7可以在本地Sprint运营商门店的众多产品中亮出最响的吆喝，那他们的产品当然更有可能虏获消费者。

4）更人性化的触摸屏界面

有个现实问题不得不提，大部分用户，尤其是男性的手指都比较笨拙肥厚，无法像输入笔那样准确无误地操作系统，所以原先的Windows Mobile上的多数应用服务仅支持输入笔操作方式。但现在有WP7就不同了，它的Tiles功能可使导航定位更加迅速而简便。用户可以将各种应用目标移到屏幕主界面，比如说你想添加一个链接，可以将其置成Tile图片形式，使图标显得更大，较大的手指就可以轻松操纵这一对象。

interface on WP7

5）更多运营商和手机硬件支持

目前包括AT&T、T-Mobile、Sprint、Verizon在内的美国运营商，以及HTC、戴尔、Asus、惠普、三星、索爱、Toshiba和LG等手机硬件均已表态力挺WP7，这一情况将方便WP7用户从不同运营商、手机硬件的选择中，找到最适合自己的一款产品。

总体而言，尽管WP7领衔手机操作系统市场依然前路漫漫，但相信它最终会打响这一枪。还记得之前多数人还嘲笑微软打造成功游戏平台的决心，但最终还是不得不承认这个巨无霸真的做到了。因此我们也有理由相信，WP7有望在今年圣诞假期档受到消费者热捧。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译）

5 Reasons to Pay Attention to Windows Phone 7

With iOS and Android, two major mobile operating systems taking up a valuable share of the market and becoming increasingly popular, it may be easy to disregard the new kid in town, Windows Phone 7.

Windows Phone 7 is practically a total rebranding of what used to be Windows Mobile. A system that served us well early on, but began to show its age as newer mobile operating systems started taking the spotlight. Eventually, the stylus began to be phased out, making ways for screens that used our fingers for input. Many of the applications for the older Windows Mobile OS were designed with a stylus in mind, and quickly became frustrating for users.

There were some problems. It tried to capture the look and feel of the desktop version of Windows, and perhaps that wasn’t the best route in the end. Even Steve Ballmer himself was once quoted as saying that the company “Screwed up with Windows Mobile.”

Still, lessons have been learned, and other mobile OSes have tested the market, and Windows Phone 7 may end up being the product of learning from past mistakes.

Either way, we think Windows Phone 7 is worth keeping an eye on.

1) Xbox Live integration – Gamers who love the Xbox brand will also love the direct integration with LIVE. The games are already looking awesome, and thanks to Microsoft’s strong position in the online gaming space with Xbox LIVE, they already have the strong advantage of a user-base that already enjoys the service. Add in the management capabilities (such as setting up their Avatar and managing their friends).

The ability to jump an from an XBLA (Xbox LIVE Arcade) game on your Xbox to the same game on your phone, when you have to leave the house should be another great feature, as well as the Avatar tools such as flashlights and levels (as in the tool, not the part of a game).

2) Developers with lots of content! -  There are already plenty of Apps confirmed to be coming to the the system. We’ve already seen that many of the essential applications such as Twitter, Netflix, OpenTable, Travelocity and Flixter are on their way. Not to mention, the company announced last month that the platform would bring more than 50 XBLA games to mobile. We don’t have a concrete number, but that already sounds like a strong first few months. The developers are on board.

3) Marketing dollars – Microsoft has the marketing dollars to push this thing out the door and make everyone know it’s coming. How much do reports say they are spending on marketing alone? Analysts estimate that they are spending about $400 million for the product’s launch. If they can make the OS look as great through their commercials as it does in the demonstrations we’ve seen, they have a great shot at becoming one of the big names in the mobile OS market. Of course one may argue that it takes more than a few good ad campaigns to sell a product, it definitely gets them the attention they need from consumers. If they can scream the loudest when you walk into your local Sprint store, they can definitely rack up the customers.

4) Much more useful interface for touch, built for thumbs and fingers. – Let’s face it. A lot of us, especially the guys, have big ol’ fat thumbs. Previous versions of Windows Mobile had many applications that felt as if they were designed for stylus input. Sorry, but our chubby fingers don’t have the precision of a stylus.

Luckily, this time around, the Tiles make navigating quick and easy. You can place various objects on your homescreen. For example, if you want to add a favorite contact, you can have them within easy reach on a Tile, and the icon is large so that even bigger hands can easily navigate.

5)  Availability right out the gate – We already know that carriers in the US already include AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon. Meanwhile, HTC, Dell, Asus, HP, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and LG are backing it on the hardware side. This obviously makes it much easier to distribute phones to people on various carriers and users can find a piece of hardware the suits their tastes and needs.

it will be a long journey for them to take a top place in the mobile OS world. it will take a serious marketing push. but remember, many of us laughed at the thought that Microsoft could ever build a successful gaming platform. By this holiday season, Windows Phone 7 will be in consumer hands. From there, it’s a push to be regarded at the best.（source:ismashphone）