MSDN Update: Windows Phone Developer Tools for Mango

Last week, we previewed many of the new features coming in the next major release of Windows Phone, code-named “Mango”. As part of this event, we also announced the availability of the Windows Phone Developer Tools for Mango . With these tools, you can start building cool apps and games that take advantage of all of the functionality that was announced. Go download them and get building those apps!

From a high level perspective, there’s a lot to be excited about as a developer with Windows Phone Mango. We’re delivering outstanding new features including background processing, massive Live Tile functionality updates, direct camera access, sockets, a new profiler and emulator, deep linking into apps, local database support, and a new web browser control based on IE9 that supports HTML5.

In addition to the release of the tools, we’ve updated our docs in the  What’s New in Windows Phone Developer Tools  topic in the MSDN Library, created 22 new code samples , and released 10 new  hands-on labs  specific to Windows Phone Mango. We’ve also updated our  Game Development page  to highlight some of the new resources available for phone game developers using Windows Phone Mango.

Finally, to aid you in your learning about Windows Phone from a developer’s perspective, check out the following videos posted to Channel 9: 

• Inside the Mango Developer Tools: Communications
• Inside the Mango Developer Tools: Search
• Inside the Mango Developer Tools: App Platform 

Also check out this interview with fellow Canadian developer, Mark Artegea on .NET Rocks! on Window Phone 7 and Mango . A great listen and recommended if you’re looking for a high-level discussion on Windows Phone.

Go Canucks Go!