Developers: New Build of Mango Beta released and New SDK

Thanks to a post from Cliff Simpkins over at the Windows Phone Developer Blog, it seems like those earlier grumblings were true: developers are receiving a Mango Beta update! There's a keyword there that you still have to remind yourself of -- Beta. Yes despite Microsoft RTM-ing Mango yesterday, this developer build of Mango is still pre-release software. However, Simpkins makes it crystal clear that this is as close to a Release Candidate of Mango as you're going to get. The biggest takeaway from that is it means the Mango APIs are "locked" and will not change from this build to the RTM build. So developers can now pour in 100% of their effort into their in-progress apps before August 22nd pops up on the calendar.

So how are you supposed to get this update? Well if you're an invited developer (who this was officially only ever meant for) then your phone will receive an update notice "over the next few days". If you're impatient and think your update could be ready, then head on over to the Microsoft Connect site where you can find all of the files you need to update. Here's a step-by-step penned by Mr. Simpkins himself:

The process to update your phone with build 7712 is pretty straight-forward:

1. Make a copy of the backup you took when you updated to the Mango Beta 2 pre-release (which I’m sure you did) and put it in a safe place, if it isn’t in one already
2. Return to Connect.Microsoft.com (we’re using the same program you were invited to join last month) and download the freshly posted files, which includes a new Zune client and a new UpdateWP executable
3. Head to the Control Panel and uninstall the Beta 2 software (Zune client and UpdateWP) and tools (WPSDK) that you installed last month
4. Install the new software and tools that you just downloaded from Connect
5. Fire up the new Zune client beta (4.8.2134.0) to check for the new update
6. Zune will then update your phone from 7661 to 7712

Of course, what's a new build without a new SDK? That's exactly what Microsoft has given in its new "Beta 2 Refresh" package of tools (the RC version will be available later in the month). Anyway, get started from the Windows Phone Developer Blog and read everything before going on to the update.

So are you guys excited for this pleasant little Mango-flavored surprise? You can practically see a new Windows Phone 7.5 device can't you?

Source: Windows Phone Developer Blog