Rumor: Mango to Support Tasks via Outlook

We're a little over two days away from Microsoft's big Mango preview event, and the rumors are still in heavy rotation. Adding to the list is @WindowsPhone8 on Twitter, the same source that has spread word of other hinted features like visual voicemail and a "linked" inbox. Today the same mysterious user has posted another dead-simple explanation of an upcoming Mango feature: task support from Microsoft's own Outlook. Considering how widely used Outlook is, we can imagine this is a huge relief for those who make full use of the program's task management.

This is among many, many other rumors and leaked features so if you've missed out on anything you can catch up here. We'll also be posting a handy guide of everything we've heard so far about Microsoft's latest, which you can expect to see on the site by tomorrow evening. Stay tuned, because May 24th is just around the corner!

Source: Twitter (@WindowsPhone8)

Linked Inbox and New People Tile Shown Off in Press Photo

Yesterday we mentioned that the Twitter-based rumormonger @WindowsPhone8 let word out of a new functionality in the Mango updated called a "Linked Inbox". Earlier today, Neowin snagged a new press photo released to members of the New Zealand press in order to drum up excitement for their upcoming Mango preview event. The new photo shows the Start page of Windows Phone and the rumored feature makes an appearance as a new live tile. In the photo we can also clearly see what looks to be a touched-up People tile. The new look moves away from the 3x3 grid of the original and looks to feature larger, overlapping photos beamed in from your contacts' social networks. Another minor change is the Xbox Live tile (underneath the Neowin watermark) which lets go of the traditional logo in favor of a decidedly more Metro white one. There's really little more we can say about this, except that Microsoft is unleashing an entirely new beast with Mango later this year. May 24th will be a monumental day for Windows Phone fans, so stay tuned and temper your excitement by catching up on the other Mango feature leaks (there's a ton) in the meantime!

Source: Neowin

Rumor: Mango Will Include a "Linked Inbox"

The rumors are building along with the hype surrounding the May 24th Mango event in New York and London. A good chunk of those rumors are coming from @WindowsPhone8 on Twitter, who previously let word out about visual voicemail and future Skype integration. Today the same source revealed that Mango is going to add a much-anticipated feature, but with a twist: a new 'Linked Inbox' which they claim is going to be, "better than a unified inbox". There is a little bit of credibility behind this rumor, because Microsoft itself revealed that they're tweaking the email client in Windows Phone for Mango. It's not too much of a stretch to think Microsoft will also be answering the prayers of many smartphone users who tend to be quite popular and make use of email pretty often. However, that's basically all of the info we have right now (which isn't much) and @WindowsPhone8 still have yet to prove their reliability on their other Mango-related rumors.

If you've missed out on all of the rumored and confirmed Mango features that have been making the rounds lately, catch up here. For the rest of you: what do you think a "Linked Inbox" might be? Tell us in the comments!

Source: Twitter (@WindowsPhone8)

Mango To Include Redesigned Zune Player, Smart DJ Support

Man, the leaks keep rolling and Windows Phone Dev Podcast is proving to be the place to get them. We talked about the new features they revealed yesterday, but since then the post has been updated and two new revealing screenshots were added (seen above). The first screenshot shows a redesigned Zune player which will now feature always-present toggles for song rating and shuffle, and the playback controls have been moved to the top (to match the new drop-down controls, we suppose). The player settings also reveal that Windows Phone is finally getting some SmartDJ love and the ability to save it as a playlist. Hopefully the latter playlist saving feature will be extending to the rest of the Zune player as well. The second screenshot is less exciting, but the new option to turn off the camera shutter sound under the Ringtones & Sounds settings should be welcomed with open arms by previously annoyed amateur photographers. That's it for now, but every day we're hearing more and more as we approach Microsoft's event next Tuesday, May 24th. Stay tuned and keep your excitement at bay in the meantime!

Via: WMPoweruser
Source: Windows Phone Dev Podcast

Microsoft Details New Enterprise Features Coming in Mango (Update: Video Added)

Just like last week, we're hearing even more about Mango but this time it's coming from a more reliable source: Microsoft. Paul Bryan, Senior Director of Business Experience for the Windows Phone team (phew!), took to the Windows Phone Blog and published "Productivity takes a big step forward in Mango". This same information was presented during the TechEd 2011 keynote, so he detailed the new enterprise features coming in Mango for us.

Windows Phone's native email apps are getting a few refinements in Mango (above). First, email folders will now be pinnable to the Start page, though we're unsure if it is a Live Tile. Still, we've been waiting for that feature for a while now so it's great that it will soon be available. Another welcome improvement will be the added Conversation View in emails, which is something we know a lot more people than us have been waiting to see in action. You'll also notice a new Search button in the AppBar, which Bryan says is a new Server Search feature that will find emails that may no longer be synced on your phone. Finally, the last thing discussed was the Lync Mobile app (below), a Microsoft-built Lync solution that won't be native in the OS but will be offered in the Marketplace as a separate download.

That succulent Mango is just getting sweeter by the day. We're a little over a week away from Microsoft's public unveiling of Mango on May 24th, so stay tuned because the rumor mill is about to heat up!

Update: Winrumors just got their hands on a new video from TechEd showing off the new features. Jump past the break to get your fill of Mango-flavored business juice.



Source: Windows Phone Blog, Winrumors

New Mango Features: Messages Hub and More Leaked

Wherever Windows Phone Dev Podcast has been digging, they've struck gold and it just won't stop. Last time the site revealed turn-by-turn navigation and a beefed Bing experience. Today the site has put up even more screenshots and we've got some juicy stuff here.

First up the site can confirm that a new Messages Hub will be included in Mango and that it will support Windows Live Messenger, Facebook Chat, and possibly even AIM (left image). What's more, Messages will be deeply integrated into the OS; one example the podcast used was a new option while texting that asks if you'd like to use a chat service instead. Earlier this week we heard a similar type of integration would be heading to Skype chat as well. Plus Mango will also be supporting Group Messaging (center image).

Next we've got two familiar Hubs getting nice redesigns when Mango hits. The Office Hub is getting a minor facelift with some major new features, finally including SkyDrive support along with an improved SharePoint and Office 365 experience. The Games Hub is getting less new features but is getting significantly cleaned up (right image). We spotted the redesign at MIX '11 but this time we're getting a clear view of the slick white-and-green setup. Another screenshot shows a new 'Auto Sync' toggle in the Games Hub settings, but it's unclear exactly what will be syncing.

Those were the big reveals, but we've got plenty of scrumptious bits of info to nibble on too. The lock screen is getting a very slick new feature: the ability to set your Now Playing artist as your wallpaper! The Zune HD apparently had a similar implementation and to see it coming in Mango is quite cool indeed. The huge update is also bringing: native check-ins powered by Facebook Places (which we heard about before), new battery options in the Settings menu, visual voicemail as was rumored, and the ability to use a Windows Phone as a mobile hotspot. Check out the other screenshots at Windows Phone Dev Podcast and listen to the latest episode to get the full scoop.

We think it's safe to say that you can expect a ton of news from Microsoft's Mango preview event on May 24th. Until then, we challenge you to contain your excitement.

Note: Originally forgot to cite Windows Phone Dev Podcast article, which has now been fixed.

Source: Windows Phone Dev Podcast

More Mango Leaks: Visual Voicemail and Skype Integration

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Word comes via @WindowsPhone8 that we can expect even more features than we've already seen leaked when Mango launches later this year. First up is news about the inevitable Skype integration, suggesting we could see seamless switching between instant messaging and texting with your Windows Phone contacts. The next teased feature was given much less detail but it's definitely one that's highly requested: visual voicemail! Currently Windows Phone users are stuck with their carrier's old and lame automated phone number system but visual voicemail would certainly improve that and be a very cool feature to see included. We think it's safe to say that May 24th can't come soon enough.

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Source: @WindowsPhone8 [Skype] [Visual Voicemail]

Turn-By-Turn Navigation, Live Messenger and More New Features Coming to Mango

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The latest Windows Phone Dev Podcast just teased some major new features expected to launch with Mango and trust us when we say they're awesome. The long-anticipated (and predicted) turn-by-turn navigation is among the new additions in the Fall update. The podcast also confirmed two very cool new Bing-powered features: Bing Audio, which is a music recognition service similar to Shazam, and Bing Vision, which is a visual search tool not unlike Google Goggles.

Watson also divulged information about Microsoft's TellMe-powered Voice to Text feature coming in Mango that will compose new texts via microphone, and talked up their new podcast integration. Windows Phone Dev Podcast also got their hands on screenshots of the new features (we've embedded the new Bing Audio screens above) and more so visit the source link for more pictures and to listen to Brandon Watson discuss the features.

(Ed. note: I cleared up the misinformation in the article. It was my belief Brandon Watson of Microsoft confirmed this info but that was not the case.)

Update: When it rains it pours! A Chinese site, Cnblogs.com, was the origin of the info before being taken down but LiveSide.net managed to grab the info before that. It looks like Windows Live Messenger is finally being integrated into the People Hub, Bing is getting Image search, screenshots of an improved SkyDrive sync with Office were revealed, and East Asian character support is being implemented.

Via: WPCentral 1, 2
Source: Windows Phone Dev Podcast, LiveSide

Mango To Support Facebook Video Uploads and Places

WMPoweruser just got their hands on a pretty sweet morsel of Mango (or 7.5, whatever) info this morning. Someone with "VIP" access received an email from Microsoft all the way back during MWC, and the message explicitly states that Mango will be providing even more support for Facebook services. Specifically, we're looking at direct video uploads to Facebook, a feature sorely missing as of right now. WPCentral just this morning heard about 7.5 supporting some kind of check-in system and it turns out that will be powered by Facebook Places. Why would Microsoft want to include check-ins built into the OS? Maybe we can expect a new Location Hub which fans have been wishing for since we heard rumors about turn-by-turn directions. Either way, Mango is only getting bigger by the day and more features that real people would want to use are slowly being revealed. Hell, post Mango the world won't even need a real Facebook phone--it's already got Windows Phone.

Source: WMPoweruser, WPCentral