Microsoft shows off Windows Phone 7 Mango's music extras
updated 03:30 pm EDT, Sun June 5, 2011
Windows Phone 7 Mango music extras get demo
Microsoft this weekend gave a more detailed preview of the music aspects of its upcoming Windows Phone 7 Mango update. The mobile OS now finally has native podcast support and, similar to the Zune HD, gets a dedicated menu and dedicated navigation for individual episodes. The WP7 upgrade lets users subscribe directly from the app or stream episodes they don't want to cache locally.
Podcasts normally only stream through Wi-Fi by default to save bandwidth, but they can be pushed through 3G for those with high bandwidth caps or unlimited access.
Smart DJ was given a look as well. Closer to the Zune HD version, users can create an automatic playlist based on a song or album, much like Genius Playlists on iTunes. Zune Pass users still have the option of filling in songs streamed from the Zune Marketplace along with those from their own collection.
Several additional tweaks have come to the interface itself, such as better categorization of search results in the Marketplace, better mini player and lock screen controls, and more details about playback.
