The Internet has proved to be a rather leaky sieve this morning, with leaked pictures and reviews not only of the rumored iPhone 4G, but also of documents detailing Windows Phone 7’s underlying architecture.
Posted on WMPoweruser, the document details some rather juicy information, which while not necessarily heart stoppingly surprising stuff, does make for a rather interesting read.
For instance, the guide notes that users will have to have a Windows Live ID for contact synchronization, access to the marketplace and access to Microsoft’s services. This is similar to what Google does for its Android offerings, using a person’s Google account.
On first setting up the device, users will apparently be asked to log in and then accept the EULA. This is significant, because not only does it render the device somewhat useless without a Windows Live login, it also actively ties the phone to one individual, which will doubtless have the privacy advocates gnashing their teeth.
Although, to be perfectly honest, people don’t really share their mobile phones with others anyway; the device has almost become more personal than one’s toothbrush, so Microsoft’s move is hardly earthshattering.
The document goes on to note that all hardware will have to go through a “Genuine Windows Phone certification” before an ID will be accepted.
Microsoft also proves itself paradoxical in its attempts at being forward-looking, on the one hand offering up to 1 GB of RAM for phone processes, but on the other lacking any Bluetooth 3 support.
The Redmond giant also seems keen to micro manage the devices containing its operating system, insisting that even OEM ROM updates come from Microsoft, and limiting OEMs to just six pre-installed apps taking up no more than 60 MB of space. OEMs are also forbidden from installing trialware on the handset.
One thing Microsoft will leave to OEMs is the responsibility for supplying the Direct3D drivers, which may or may not be a good thing.
OEMs, says the document, will also be able to change the default search engine in Internet Explorer, but for the rest of the device Bing will remain the default.
In terms of storage, we’re told, “Windows Phone 7 devices will use Microsoft Unified Storage System for user files, meaning applications will not be able to distinguish between files on internal storage and main memory. This also means if the user removes the memory card the smartphone will only be able to make emergency phone calls, but nothing else.”
The first Windows Phone 7 devices are predicted to hit shelves towards the end of 2010.
