Windows Phone Mango update in detail: the interface By Martin James on July 1, 2011

The Mango update to Microsoft's mobile OS Windows Phone will be running on board Nokia's first smartphones on the platform when they launch later this year. With some 500 updates on board, we're taking a closer look at what Nokia users have to look forward to, starting with the interface.

Windows Phone Mango Hands-On: What Nokia Users Have to Look Forward To

Probably the most loved part of Windows Phone 7 is its tile-based Metro interface. The idea of tools, notifications and apps being grouped inside Hubs is sensible, and well executed by the Microsoft OS.

So what new features does Mango add to the Windows Phone interface, and what does it change? Well, thanks to PocketNow's in-depth preview of Mango's many features, we can answer that question.

The main Start screen is unchanged until you enter the programs listing, where a new search function has been added for searching through your programs, or apps on the Marketplace.

The hardware Search button on Windows Phone 7 handsets will now be purely for Bing searches, rather than context-sensitive searches as before, so we'll assume it'll be the same story on Nokia Windows Phones – if a hardware Search button is present at all. Long lists of programs can now be more easily browsed via an alphabetical list of letters you can tap to take you quickly to where you want to be.

One feature to look forward to is fast task switching, which is accessed by holding down the back button for a couple of seconds. That brings up screens from recent applications you've accessed, with the plan being that apps will resume when selected in this way, though it seems third party apps aren't necessarily playing along thus far.

One of the biggest new areas for Nokia users to get used to is likely to be the Settings section, as this is invariably laid out differently with each OS. So the differences introduced by Mango are likely to be less noticeable than the difference in changing to Windows Phone in the first place.

But for the record, Mango now lets you set a custom sound for the camera shutter, lists apps that install third-party ringtones in the ringtones section, and allows you to browse recently accessed Wi-Fi networks.

Mango lets you set the phone to show artist artwork and wallpaper while you're playing music, which is a nice visual touch, while we also like a new feature that lets you set up password protection with an independent time setting to your phone's screensaver. In other words, you can set up the screensaver to not necessarily require a password to get past unless left for a certain length of time.

Another new setting is Battery Saver mode, which shuts down background applications and stop email downloads when power is running low, and switches off automatically once you plug in to recharge.

There are plenty of other changes to the Settings options, though as we say these aren't necessarily relevant to Nokia users, who won't after all be coming from another Windows Phone 7 device. In addition, a lot will depend on the actual hardware Nokia has up its sleeve for its Windows Phone smartphone assault.

What are your early thoughts on switching to the Mango interface? Are you looking forward to getting to grips with Metro? Let us know in the Comments!