Contained we have some more confirmed information on the Windows Phone Tango update coming in the next few months this year. From RAM limitations, app memory usage limitations and new notification icons, the Tango update is bringing a variety of feats to the Windows Phone table.
As noted by The Verge, the official Windows Phone How-To page has been updated in regards to features and limitations that will come with the code named Tango update. With Windows Phone Tango, users will have a location icon at the top of their phone’s screen to notify when location services are being used. This icon will appear on the screen together with the Wifi, connectivity, Bluetooth and other icons that drop down when the top of the screen is tapped. Information on this feature reads as follows:
Tip
You can see when an app is accessing your phone’s current location information by tapping the top of your phone’s screen and looking for the location icon:
Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite Blog is next to provide details on the RAM and app memory usage limitations which will be imposed by Tango. These limitations apply to the low-end class of Windows Phone devices. Specifically, low-end devices (with the Tango update) will have 256MB of RAM which in turn will limit the use of some features, and even background tasks.
In regards to developers working with Tango, they too must adopt a 90MB memory limit for applications and keep in mind the reduced availability of on-device resources in such low-end devices. Thurrott reminds readers that back in February 27, 2012 Joe Belfiore mentioned the new update (Tango) would allow for devices to be available in 23 new markets, and unfortunately that some applications may not run at all on such devices (as evidenced in a leak earlier this year). Microsoft has found about 5% of the applications to have such issue and are apparently now working with developers to correct the applications so they may actually run on Tango low-end devices. There is hope after all to avoid being a marketplace outcast with a low-end Windows Phone!
This information has too been added to the Windows Phone How-To page, which reads as follows:
Some features may work differently or not at all if your phone has 256 MB of RAM. To find out how much memory your phone has, on Start, flick left, tapSettings, and then tap About. For more information, contact your mobile operator.
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