This one had slipped between the cracks, Microsoft has released an update of its Zune software which is used to sync and update Windows Phone devices and the Zune players. Update 4.8 includes a number of under-the-hood improvements and tweaks of the software, but most importantly, as Microsoft states on its official Windows Phone blog, the latest Zune software was released to pave the way for the WP7 Mango update. As we understand it, running Zune 4.8 is essential so that your Windows Phone can be updated to Mango from your PC when it is released.
To update, go to “Settings” > “Software” > “General” and click “Check Updates” in the Zune software, or hit the download link below. Mango is expected to bring Windows Phone to more languages and countries and Zune 4.8 has been updated accordingly with support for 22 display languages, including Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. No support for Mac OS yet however, Zune Software remains Windows only.
Additional tweaks in 4.8 include:
- 48-hour movie rentals.
- Parental Controls now support M-rated (Mature) content.
- Option to hide purchase confirmation dialog for faster app checkout.
- See what apps are compatible with the Windows Phone you own.
Overview video of Windows Phone 7 Mango: