Windows Phone 7 Series screenshots, pictures, user interface and more

Oh wow. This is brilliant. Everyone knew Windows Phone 7 was going to be different. Did we really believe MS would actually have the guts to go ahead and do it? Not really.

Well, they have done that. The new Windows Phone 7 series phones are going to have an all-new operating system, with all new code – and it has nothing to do with the current version of Windows Mobile 6.5 or 6.5.3.

This is really new, folks. It is quite like how Apple shifted over to OS X from System 9.

And just take a look at the screenshots and pictures we have here. Without a doubt, the photos tell you that the new OS for smartphones are a sea-change in the way we interact with phones. And not just that – it is not a weak imitation of the iPhone or Android OS either. That is amazing.

Here is our photo gallery of the Windows Phone OS. Take a look.

Photo: Windows Phone 7 home screen

That is a prototype model. All Windows Phone 7 phones will have those three buttons at the bottom. A Back button, a Windows icon for the home screen, and a Search button which will enable you to search the Net or your phone depending on where in the OS you are.

Microsoft is going to insist on a particular hardware specification and screen size – and probably a few more things to ensure consistency across all models and experiences.

This screenshot shows XBox Live integration with Windows Phone 7

That’s your XBox Live avatar, people.

Photo: The Pictures menu of the Windows Phone 7

The overall Zune HD feel is unmistakeable across the multiple screenshots of Windows Phone 7, isn’t it? And that is a good thing. This is the pictures menu – and Microsoft says its all integrated with social networks and web profiles and your own phone’s album.

Photo: Screenshot of the Windows Phone 7 Contacts screen

We can already say that 2010 is going to be an exciting year for smartphones. The iPhone OS – the fourth generation – is going to come out soon, and Android constantly gets updates from Google.

Microsoft says that the phone is extremely customizable. We are not yet clear how that works. The reason is, screen sizes are going to be specified, the form factor specs are unclear, hardware specs need more clarification.

Answering a question about their open source competitors, Steve Ballmer said that Microsoft was very clear that it developed software and sold it. He said that their business model works, and that is the way it is gonna be.

When it comes to customization of the user interface, things like the HTC Sense are going out the window. Or shall we say, our the Windows Phone 7? Microsoft said that the user interface is extensible – the so called Live Tiles can be added, changed, but the basic experience cannot be replaced by individual phone manufacturers.

Extensible platform, tiles