MWC 2010: Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Series

One of the pivotal announcements this MWC was without a doubt the new Windows Phone 7 OS. There are yet no devices made to support it, but we've got some shots of a prototype plus some lengthy presentation videos to feast your eyes on.
The Microsoft booth was one of the most visited places at the huge Barcelona Fair grounds. After yesterday's announcement, the booth played a non-stop stream of live 30-minute presentations whole day.

Microsoft booth at the MWC 2010 • live presentations ran whole day
The new Microsoft Windows Phone 7 OS was presented on a prototype. That phone won't make it to the market and it has been created for demo purposes only. We bet however that some manufacturer (probably HTC) already has something similar in the pipeline.

Windows Phone 7 OS was presented on no-name prototype
Here's the full 30-minute Microsoft presentation of the new Windows Phone 7 mobile OS. We've split that into four parts and we've compiled them into a playlist here (make sure you select 480p mode for better video quality):

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MWC 2010: HTC overview

HTC were the last major manufacturer to announce their new handsets at this year's MWC. As it turns out, the wait was more than worth it. The Taiwanese company had three very nice devices in stock for us.

HTC booth at the MWC 2010

The HTC Desire, HTC Legend and HTC HD mini are all fine full-touch phones with sleek design and extensive functionality.

HTC Desire

The incredibly cheesy porn-starlet name aside, HTC Desire is a great device. Sleek looks meet great performance to create a package that is really hard to resist.

We are certainly impressed by the large AMOLED display. It sure is short of the Samsung S8500 Wave incredible blacks, but otherwise quite a match. We are not sure how it will handle exposure to direct sunlight but inside the Barcelona Fair halls it looks just great.

As was to be expected from a capacitive unit, response is excellent and there is multi-touch support too.

HTC Desire (codenamed Bravo)

In spite of our worries, the phone fits nicely in the hand and isn't too big to handle at all. Of course, it's no LG Mini but some good use of space makes sure the 3.7" display doesn't become a burden for the HTC Desire.

It was a short time we spent with the HTC Desire but it doesn't take long to convince anyone in the qualities of the 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU. The Desire is among the snappiest devices out there even though its display resolution nearly steps over netbook territory.

Unfortunately, the rumors about the HTC Desire (or Bravo as it was known at the time) capturing 720p video turned out wrong. It's not that D1 resolution at 30 fps is bad, but it certainly isn't top-notch.

The trackpad is a nice touch to the HTC Desire. It works fine and gives you an alternative way of browsing your homescreens for example. Unfortunately the trackpad itself is well on the small side and doesn't quite provide high precision.

And here goes a user interface demo to get you better acquainted with this new Android.

HTC have added a few new touches to their proprietary Sense UI that comes preinstalled on top of the Android OS 2.1. The Leap view is the nicest of them, allowing you to make all seven homescreens visible at once by a pinch, and decide where you want to go next.

HTC Legend

HTC Legend is the living proof that a handset can update its predecessor in almost all ways possible. It's lighter, slimmer and more powerful than the HTC Hero, and it looks way better.

The seamless aluminum unibody is absolutely impressive and while the Legend pays its respects to the original Android styling, the chin at the bottom is a very subtle accent rather than a prominent birthmark.

HTC Legend

The HTC Legend also packs an AMOLED display which, while maintaining the HVGA resolution of the Hero's TFT unit, has much deeper blacks and so much better image quality. Being so punchy and all it also contributes to the phone's general look, touching a soft spot in every geek's heart.

While our first impression might be a bit misleading, with the sample units lacking any extra software to slow them down, the HTC Legend performs above expectations. Getting the CPU from 528 to 600 MHz doesn't seem like too great of an update but the Legend definitely feels snappier than the Hero.

HTC Legend

The final hardware upgrade that the HTC Legend brings is the amount of RAM, which is now increased to 384 MB. We are in no position to judge the effect of that yet, but it should make some difference too.

On the software side of things, the Legend comes with Android OS v2.1 and the new version of the HTC Sense UI. You can check out how this new combo looks and feels in the short video below.

HTC HD mini

Now, we don't know what started it but every self-respecting maker now seems to want a mini in their portfolio. Looking at the HTC HD mini raises another interesting question - what's HD got to do with the whole thing.

HTC HD mini

It's not the screen resolution anymore (not that it was on the original HD but it was so much closer) and it certainly isn't the video, so it's puzzling indeed. But let's not get picky here - it's still better than Desire.

The guys at the HTC booth were all trying to convince us that the lower screen resolution will offset the slower CPU so no difference in performance should be felt between the HD2 and HD mini.

HTC HD mini

In all honesty, there is some difference but in simple tasks (like telephony and messaging) and menu navigation it's negligible. Of course it's all downhill from there when you start opening applications that are harder to swallow but we still think the HTC HD mini pulls off a pretty decent performance.

It's the only new Windows Mobile announcement by HTC at this MWC but it too packs the Sense UI like the two Android phones. Of course the difference in the user experience is there for everyone to see but Sense certainly makes the WinMo feel cozier.

And here goes the third and final video that we took at the HTC booth.

HTC Smart (BREW platform)

The HTC Smart has the company's proprietary Sense UI preinstalled on top of the Brew platform and will run on a 300 MHz CPU. RAM is 256 MB, while the display measures 2.8" in diagonal and sports QVGA resolution. Good news, 3G is also on the list.

HTC Smart

HTC are obviously keen to introduce their proprietary Sense UI to a wider audience and the Smart might just be the right way to go. Currently, there aren’t any affordable handsets running Sense and that is really pretty limiting.

The HTC Smart runs smooth despite its modest 300 MHz CPU but its screen is pretty much disappointing. The user interface is simplistic but not always perfectly logical so it might need some time getting used to.

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MWC 2010: LG overview

Now there's an interesting one for you - despite being a platinum sponsor of the MWC 2010, LG aren't among the exhibitors, for … um… cost-saving reasons. They've set up their own booth just outside the Barcelona Fair. Hope it fits their austerity budget.

There were no new announcements on their part, but LG still showcased three devices that they thought were worth attention.

LG GT540

The Android powered LG GT540 was officially announced a while ago by one of their trademark three-specs-are-all-you-need-to-know press releases so its hardware is still very much an enigma.

LG GT540

Nor did they bother to reveal many new specs here either and chose to focus on the social network integration in the LG GT540. OK, access to Facebook on your phone is cool and their approach is pretty neat but we can't see how that's more important than - say - the CPU. But maybe it's just us.

LG GT540

Anyway, the handset runs decently, though nothing spectacular. The occasional lag is there but it won't bother you too much in everyday uge.

However we just couldn't quite get the idea behind the LG GT540 design. We'll say no more. That thing on the photos there is the LG GT540. No, honestly.

LG GW990 MID

Names don't get any more obvious than this but details about the LG GW990 hardware are still pretty scarce. It steps on the Intel Moorestown platform, including a 45nm Atom-core Pineview CPU (basically like those new netbooks, though possibly at lower clockspeed), a graphics controller and built-in wireless capabilities - 3G with HSPA, Wi-Fi… it's all covered.

LG GW990 MID

With such powerful hardware under the hood, the software is still struggling to catch up. The LG GW990 MID is slow, laggy and crashes quite often and we just refuse to believe that it's down to the lack of processing power.

LG GW990 MID

Depending on how you look at it, the LG GW990 MID is either a really compact tablet or a huge phone. LG have confirmed that it will have telephony enabled but we just can't quite picture ourselves talking on this thing. But throw in a nice Bluetooth headset and we might just be about to change our minds.

LG GD880 Mini

Well this one is certainly rings a bell. Go ahead and check out our preview. And yes, we're delighted with our timing with this one.

LG GD880 Mini

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MWC 2010: Various brands overview

Along with market leaders there are plenty of smaller manufacturers who are keen to make a stand with some interesting devices. On the following pages you will find a summary of all those. We're starting off with Acer, newbies in the mobile phone industry, but a world leading manufacturer when it comes to mobile computers.

Acer

Acer is no small name, but their forte is computers. In mobile phone terms they are newbies with a relatively short (but still high-end) portfolio.

The Acer booth

Today at the MWC 2010 they announced four new smartphones, along with an updated version of their Android-running Liquid. Check out the live photos that we snatched at their booth and stay tuned for our first impressions coming up.

Acer neoTouch P300

Running on Window Mobile 6.5, Acer neoTouch P300 relies on a slide-out full QWERTY keybord to cover its texting needs. The phone is built around a 3.2" touchscreen display and runs on a 528 MHz Qualcomm CPU.

The Acer neoTouch P300 is actually pretty compact for a full QWERTY side-slider. Despite that the QWERTY keyboard allows for decent typing speed, with well used space and decent layout.

Acer neoTouch P300

There isn't a wow factor or anything about the P300 design but it's not too bad either. It carries the air of a business tool, rather than a shiny gadget to boast about to your friends.

Its performance on the other hand is pretty solid. It's no Snapdragon inside and it shows but the occasional lagging is not really that bothering.

Acer neoTouch P400

The second WinMo 6.5 device by Acer is the first member of a twin couple. Acer neoTouch P400 is a full touch handset with very little hardware controls whatsoever.

The four keys below the display are also touch-sensitive but need a slightly harder push than the display to register a click. We suppose they will fix that before it hits the shelves to equalize the effort needed and make up for a seamless transition.

Acer neoTouch P400

We do like its design better than the one of its slightly lower-end WinMo cousin. The unit we tested didn't have much to do in terms of UI customization.

The slightly faster 600 MHz feels well on the HVGA screen opening most menus and applications in an instant.

Acer beTouch E400

The second twin is Acer beTouch E400 - a full-touch handset running on Android 2.1 and sporting a 3.2" HVGA screen. At first glance it's virtually indistinguishable from its WinMo brother, but a closer look reveals that the software keys are different.

This is of course done to suit the individual needs of the different platforms but the general hardware is perfectly identical.

Acer beTouch E400

The Acer beTouch E400 packs some of the Acer's home-brewed UI tweaks but not as many as the Liquid e. Its performance is pretty good although.

An interesting thing to note is that the beTouch E400 is among the few Android handsets that don't sport a capacitive screen. It suffers a bit in terms of responsiveness compared to the Liquid but it should compensate with better accuracy.

Acer beTouch E110

The other new member of the beTouch family - Acer beTouch E110 is an entry-level phone with a 2.8" display of QVGA resolution. Its capable battery will be greatly appreciated by users who believe that a mobile phone is good as long as it's capable of making that call.

You don't see resistive touchscreen Android handsets too often but this is the second for today. The Acer beTouch E110 is also among the very few Google OS powered devices to have this low screen resolution.

Acer beTouch E110

Truth be told, the Android OS doesn't look very attractive on QVGA, with the icons being both too big and coarse. It looks like the developers never though Android would run on devices like that and the platform was never optimized for low-res displays.

But the fact that the E110 isn't the most impressive device in terms of features doesn't mean we don't get Acer's point in releasing it. The company is obviously trying to achieve something big as a maker of phones and that usually means it has to look at the mass market too.

Now, they only need to find a way for their low-end devices not to look that cheap.

Acer Liquid e

The third and last Android handset announced by Acer is simply an updated version of their popular Liquid phone. The Acer Liquid e runs on version 2.1 (Eclair) of the Google OS, but doesn't bring any hardware updates whatsoever.

Acer Liquid e

Acer also added the new version of their home-baked user interface to the Liquid e. It sports more transition effects, some new buttons and looks generally better than on the original liquid and the Acer E400.

We can't help noting though, it would've made a lot more sense to release a simple firmware update rather than a new handset.

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