MS Pure known to use non-WP7 interface

The Microsoft Pure phone has leaked today in a form that confirms significant details about its interface. Looking much like renderings, the touchscreen QWERTY slider has what's clearly a panel-based interface but one distinctly different from Windows Phone 7. It shows a centralized social networking area as well as dedicated panels for common tasks like calling, e-mail and media playback as well as RSS.

Support for third-party apps also appears to be present, although the related area isn't populated and is unlikely to support Windows Mobile 6 or Windows Phone 7 apps.

The unnamed source for Gizmodo, who reportedly works deep within either Microsoft or Verizon, also claimed to have had a short test of the Pure and said the phone is "better than Android" with sleeker transitions, although how it would trump Google's full smartphone OS isn't mentioned. Much of the interface includes transitions reminiscent of Windows Phone 7 or the Zune HD.

No additional tips have come in as to when the Pure or its companion the Turtle would appear, but the news does support beliefs that the Pure and Turtle would both be available in CDMA versions and ship to Verizon. Both are expected to be Microsoft's replacements for the Sidekick, as well as competition for low-end smartphones, and may use NVIDIA's Tegra to provide fast visual transitions and possible HD movie support.

By Electronista Staff