Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" Update Now Available
by Kristian Vättö on September 28, 2011 5:38 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Windows Phone 7
- Mobile
- WP7
- Mango
- Windows Phone 7.5
Microsoft has been hyping the Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" update for quite some while now. They have been claiming that it will be the biggest update for WP7 platform, so the hype is understandable. We took a quick look at WP7.5 in May, but didn't have chance to go deeper. Today, Microsoft has announced that they have finally started pushing the WP7.5 "Mango" update to their customers.
There is one obstacle though. Microsoft says they will be releasing the update gradually, meaning that only certain phones and carriers will get the update today, while others will get it sometime between now and the end of October. Microsoft has not published which models and carriers will get the update first, but by the end of this week, roughly 10% of WP7 owners should be able to update to WP7.5. The availability will then improve progressively during the four week period if no major bugs are found.
Microsoft is claiming that this is because most smartphone OEMs want to customize the update with their own apps and drivers - hence Microsoft isn't delivering just one update, but many slightly different ones. It also helps them to isolate and fix possible issues quickly and without affecting the whole user base. This easily brings you the idea that Microsoft is using the early adopters as beta testers, but hopefully this is not true.
We covered some of the new features in our preview (linked above) but Microsoft has also released a longer list of new features, and it's available here. Brian has also already installed WP7.5 to his HTC Surround, so expect to hear our first thoughts soon!
If you own a WP7 phone, please share your WP7.5 update experiences in the comments. We can then update this article with phones and carriers which have already received the WP7.5 update.
Source: Microsoft
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davepermen - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
Its actually not the vendor apps that matter, but the special device optimized drivers. I was on the mango beta since quite a while now (so no, current users aren't beta testers, it's just a savety measure for the worst case).I got an update today for fresh device drivers on my Samsung Omnia 7. Earlier than my friends even got mango:)
So far, everything works great, just as expected.
Posting this from wp7.5 here.
I hope for a quick rollout without major issues.
Kristian Vättö - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
I added the driver bit.It just kind of gives you the idea that the early adopters are still beta testers, even though there was a separate beta. You are limiting the availability in order to be able to sort out issues faster, which is the whole idea of a beta. I'm not saying that it's beta, just that it's darn close ;) Besides, a beta doesn't always mean problems, I have ran many betas which were stabler than the final releases.
davepermen - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
Well, it does not make sense to push out the update immediatel, for everyone. Its just a basic last minute saveguard. One that was needed last time due to a buggy samsung firmware in the wild.It only makes sense. No gain in rushing now.
Duraz0rz - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
I've been using the beta for about a month and a half before the official build was released today. Smooth upgrade from the beta to final through Zune; I didn't even have to downgrade to NoDo.Threads is pretty sweet. I love the ability to keep track of conversations across multiple IM services.
The FB integration is much improved, as well as the Twitter and LinkedIn support as well, with support for check-ins, FB Chat (with threads!), events showing up in a separate calendar, and better sharing through the different social networks.
The new Bing support is pretty cool, as well. Bing Audio for finding out a certain song title and artist, and you're even able to purchase the album through the Marketplace once it finds the song. The QR code and barcode scanning is pretty sweet.
The SkyDrive support is much improved, with Office now able to edit and share documents on your SkyDrive space.
All in all, this is what WP7 should have been from the start.
mdonatas - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
There is a simple workaround which will get you Mango update earlier.I have successfuly updated my HTC Mozart 7 today with the mango update. Loving it so far :)
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Simple trick to force the Mango update
September 27, 2011 | By Surur
With the Windows Phone 7.5 update only being rolled out to 10% of users initially the impatient many many want an early piece of the action.
It seems the old “disconnect the internet“ trick from the NoDo days also works for forcing Zune to deliver the Mango update to your phone.
The step by step instructions are:
Connect your Windows Phone to a PC and launch the Zune software
Click on Settings/Update. Allow the software to tell you whether an update is available. If so, skip this guide. If not continue to the next step.
Click the check for update button again, and this time immediately disconnect your computer from the internet. Do this by pulling the Ethernet cable, disabling Wi-Fi, etc.
Wait 30 seconds or so and you should receive a notification that an update is available.
Now reconnect to the internet and continue with the update process through the Zune software.
Iketh - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
no "check for updates" button on my zune, and this didn't work... im using Focusratbert1 - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
This worked for me on HTC Trophy. Go to http://www.winrumors.com they have an article and more info/discussion.InTheBoilerRoom - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
I performed this forced update trick successfully yesterday on my Sprint HTC Arrive. It did take several attempts to get it to work, though. Once I got the trick to work and the update started, it went perfectly smoothly.I can confirm that Sprint is not currently supporting visual voicemail on Windows Phone 7.5, which is a bummer. I was able to create a custom ringtone, as well, but it's a bit annoying. I had to trim an MP3 down to 30 seconds using Audacity, then change it's genre to "ringtone". Everything else I've used seems to be working without a hitch.
OoklaTheMok - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
I got my WP 7.5 earlier than I was supposed to using the update trick I found on wpcentral. It is great! The Windows Phone team have really added some fantastic features and managed to add a bit of polish to the already stunning UI.Disclaimer: I do work at Microsoft, but these are my own personal opinions.
tturner224 - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - link
Found the nodo disconnect trick and finally got it to work on my ATT Focus. The best feature so far is the new web browser. When I was driving home last night I got a text and it read the text to me (hooked up via bluetooth) then asked if I wanted to call the person back (pleasantly surprised). The phone was fast before, but it seems even faster opening apps and the home screen. Wondering where the visual voicemail is though.