Sometimes the decision to go with one handset over the other is based on more than hardware. Often it is the operating system that makes all the difference. It is the makeup of every handset’s user experience that influences how a phone is used. Here we take a look at two of them: Symbian Belle and Windows Phone 7.5 Mango to see how they compare.
In some cases, an operating system (OS) can vastly affect the reputations of phone manufacturers. Take Nokia for example. Next to the Android and iOS operating systems, its Symbian operating systems have looked tired dated. Nokia, knowing this has released a new operating system called Symbian Belle – an overhaul of of its own OS that promises to deliver an all-round better user experience.
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But is Symbian Belle better than other solutions? Symbian Belle of course has to compete with other forms of OS, such as Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. But what do they both bring to the table?
Symbian Belle: What you need to know
Symbian Belle brings with it a number of tweaks to make it much more of a pleasure to use than past iterations. Some of the most noticeable changes are cosmetic, that combined with newer Nokia smartphones make navigating Symbian Belle feel less clunky than previous versions of Nokia’s OS.
An emphasis on widgets allows users to completely customise homescreens so that users can access their favourite apps and services in as few finger swipes as possible. So it’s possible to populate a homescreen full of social networking apps such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other business accounts. A pull-down notification tab lets users check notifications from such accounts without having to dive into each app. Missed calls and messages from colleagues will also display here. Text messages will also display as threaded conversations.
Internet browsing has also been refurbished. As with all Nokia smartphones, Symbian Belle devices will also be Flash compatible. Users are able to browse up to tab web pages – up to six at once. Symbian Belle devices will also be Near Field Communication-enabled – allowing information to be switched between compatible handsets by bumping them together. Symbian Belle phones are also able to access tagged information found in certain poster. So scanning a poster for a film will send a link to watch a trailer for it.
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Windows 7.5 Mango: What you need to know
Windows 7.5 Mango is also out now, and has already been impressing. Visually it is by far the more impressive of the two. Rather than static icons, Windows 7.5 Mango uses live tiles displaying functions and live updates. So if you’ve got a news app, a ticker will display real-time information on the square tile itself. Similar functionality applies to each active tile – already separating the OS from the pack.
Speech controls use voice to send phone calls, send text messages and open apps. Hold the start button then say something. Or say ‘find’ and then say your search term for Bing to look for it. The settings can also be adjusted so that you can use the speech controls in locked mode too, to call somebody quickly and easily without having to unlock the handset.
Like Symbian Belle, which has free Nokia Maps, Windows 7.5 Mango features Bing Maps with its own points of interest features – handy for when you’re on a business trip, or want to show a client around town. Windows 7.5 will also offer Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel to create and edit documents, Microsoft PowerPoint to preview finished slides. Windows 7.5 Mango offers more in productivity terms, but expect Symbian Belle to slowly catch up as Microsoft prepare itself to launch the new phone.
Symbian Belle vs Windows 7.5 Mango
Both operating systems are worthy in their own right, but Windows 7.5 Mango remains the quicker, more desirable OS to use. It slick interface and live real-time scrolling tiles look has so much going for it that it could well displace Android as the go-to interface. Symbian Belle is customisable, but Windows phone 7.5 Mango feels even more so. Compatibility with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint, and the ability to call on the help of apps form the WIndows Marketplace give WIndows 7.5 Mango even more promise.
Stephen Ebert
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