Microsoft shows off 'Mango', announces new Dev Tools, Skype, Layar and more

Las Vegas, April 13th...

Microsoft today showed off the next version of Windows Phone, coming this fall, called 'Mango' as well as announced new developer tools what will give devs a chance to go deeper with the phone.

The improved dev tools include "a performance profiler and sensor stimulation, enabling developers to build more intergrated and high-performing applications". In addition, devs get:

  • Application multitasking for background processing,, audio and file transfer, and fast app switching
  • Deeper phone intergration so apps can, for example, take better advantage of the versatility of Live Tiles
  • Access to the camera and Motion Sensor library so devs can build apps that incorporate device hardware and build augmented reality experiences
  • All of these new tools will be available starting in May. 

In addition, Microsoft showed of the next version of Windows Phone called 'Mango' including new apps such as Skype (!), Spotify, Layar, Quantas, Amazon Shopping and Kik Messenger

So there you go folks. Expect more throughout the day, including videos and more info. But darn it all, Microsoft is listening and look to be delivering. Shout out in comments on your thoughts!

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.