Windows Phone Tango could pack native apps, 120 languages
updated 10:00 pm EST, Sun January 29, 2012
Windows Phone Tango may catch up in speed, reach
Microsoft may have inadvertently spoiled many of its plans for Windows Phone's Tango update after an Indian developer presentation was recounted (since pulled at Microsoft's request) this weekend. During the event, WPSauce heard from attendee Karthik Ragubathy that "the next release," possibly Tango, would support truly native apps for the first time. The approach would let apps optimize for performance without having to be written using XNA code intended for games.
Normal Windows Phone apps have to be written in a Silverlight-based platform, which is simpler and good for most apps but falls short for anything where non-standard 3D, media, or just intensive math are needed. The limitation has kept Microsoft back where Apple's iOS and Google's Android have ways to talk directly to the hardware.
Along with the speed mention, Ragubathy heard that Tango will support 120 languages, or nearly four times the 35 that Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) supports now. It would be almost exactly the 125 languages of Windows 7, letting Microsoft's partners almost always sell Windows Phones in the same countries where they can get Windows. Previous insiders had given away Tango's international focus and Microsoft's intent of getting Tango into every possible region.
The update, which should also focus on slimming down Windows Phone to let it run on cheaper devices, could be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in late February and arrive in the spring. Nokia is presumed to be one of the first customers, but everyone should get the update within weeks based on Microsoft's past upgrade schedule.
Microsoft hasn't confirmed any details independently of the presentation. Its reported call to have the details pulled at least strongly suggests they're authentic. [via LiveSide]
