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Microsoft Distributes WP7 Devices to Employees

Liam — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:48:25 +0000

There are certainly plenty of big advantages to working for one of the biggest companies in the whole world, especially when they are also the same developers of the most widely used operating system for desktop and laptop computers. Just for example: Microsoft is going to give out free smart phones to all of its employees.

Now, we have yet to get the full scoop on this little tidbit of news, which means that nobody has any idea one what the scope and limits for the giveaway will be. Obviously, Steve Ballmer’s teams are already getting the handset, and so will everyone who is associated with working on the operating system as well.

But as for the rest of the company, it is hard to imagine how Microsoft will be able to distribute so many devices internally –though they easily have the resources for it. It is estimated that the amount could cost anywhere from 1 to 2 million Pounds (about 2-4 million USD).

Anyway, the Windows Phone 7 OS has already been given out to many developers –bringing the device to its official technical phase. Initial reactions to the new OS are both promising and disconcerting. The UI and performance is said to be top notch, and while the new layout seems a little to experimental for some, it is fully functional, responsive and runs smoother than any other OS in the market.

The big issue that many folks are having is with the integration of Facebook into the handset. The OS apparently comes without any actual contacts page –the people page is the only list that users will get and it basically combines all contacts into a single listing.

Consolidated phone books are one thing, but for people who like to keep their phone and Facebook contacts separate, this can prove to be a serious issue. Also, having several thousand Facebook friends (surprisingly, many people do) will clog up the people page so badly that browsing through the list becomes a troublesome task.

Windows Phone 7: Microsoft is Bringing their A-Game

Liam — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:12:44 +0000

If there is one thing that we now know from the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference it is that most of the folks in MS share the excitement and enthusiasm that Steve Ballmer has regarding Windows Phone 7, and that a wide range of other upcoming Microsoft services are going to make the whole deal a lot sweeter for all end users. When Ballmer stated that they would have plenty to be proud of, he was not kidding.

The Windows Phone 7 already brings a lot to the table. From the new Bing search engine (which is slowly proving to be quite the competition for Google’s search engine) to the inclusion of Zune, WP7 promises plenty of new features that are dedicated to making everything more accessible to users. The new OS will also have the Xbox Live Games services, the MSN player, Silverlight, the XNA engine and plenty of other unannounced features.

Microsoft is not just stopping with the OS, they also have several supporting services that will be launched such as the Windows Phone Live service which allows users to easily back up files online for free (which is a much better deal than the Apple MobileMe paid service).

The Beta versions of the development tools for Windows Phone 7 have also been launched as well as trial versions of the handset running the new MS OS have been given out to specific groups for testing.

Microsoft stated that the app support for the new OS has been overwhelming and that they are excited about the platform’s launch. Considering that Microsoft has been pretty generous to app developers –to a point of even offering cash incentives for some, it is pretty much important that WP7 still manages to come out with plenty of great app support.

With the new OS expected to come out this coming September, many smart phone hopefuls are keeping a tight control on their budget for the release of the first Windows Phone 7 handsets.

No SENSE for HTC: Windows Phone 7

Liam — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:05:18 +0000

Taiwan based phone manufacturer HTC is one of the most celebrated smart phone makers of today. The company has just announced a massive growth in profits (gaining a full 33% increase from their 2009 performance) and is currently busy working on a large portfolio of handsets (some of which have been released in a roadmap leak).

HTC has had a very long history with Microsoft. While the company may be known famously for the Android OS (they played a key role as a partner for Google – developing the Nexus One as well as prominent Android smartphones like the HTC Desire and the HTC Wildfire), they also go pretty way back with the giant of Silicon Valley. Microsoft and HTC started their ties back when HTC was still a small electronics manufacturer. Tasked with building the most innovative and groundbreaking pocket PCs, HTC stood at the threshold of the business industry –only to be pushed back by the emergence of smart phones.

Anyway, HTC’s Windows Mobile handsets are not only the most well made, but they are also the most sought after. The combination of the Windows Mobile OS with the Sense user interface is one of the best combinations for the struggling platform –struggling in the general market at least.

The reason for this is the HTC Sense UI –which makes using Windows Mobile so much easier. Now, HTC is confirmed to be working on a WP7 device as well. While it has yet to be revealed if the HTC Mondrian and Mozart handsets are actually real, HTC has already confirmed that they will not be adding in a new user interface to the WP7 OS. No HTC Sense UI, a proprietary OS that the phone maker loves to add to their devices.

The HTC Sense may not be used, but even HTC has acknowledged the impressive user interface that Windows Phone 7 uses. The customizable tiles, the interconnected features and iTunes apps are among the best elements about the new OS.

Windows Phone 7: Rumors for September Launch and New Handsets

Liam — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:14:58 +0000

There is no denying that the upcoming Windows Phone 7 mobile platform is generating quite a buzz. The new OS is promising to deliver one of the most dynamic user interfaces, a fully comprehensive smart phone experience and of course, plenty of new integrated social networking features that does not only have access to Facebook, but also offers games and media sharing capabilities as well.

The WP7 OS was a surprise hit at the MWC last February that has gained quite a following since. In the past few months, Microsoft has slowly revealed even more details to the new OS. From the original Bing, Zune and Xbox Live Games trinity, the features of the new OS has been further expanded with new web services such as the MSN player, Silverlight and more.

According to a recently leaked document from Microsoft, it seems that retailers are being told to be prepared for a possible launch of the new WP7 handset this coming September. While a Q3 launch is not what Microsoft originally announced, it is pretty close to the original October launch date. This means that if Microsoft’s development is ahead of schedule, they might actually manage to release the OS a full month ahead of time.

However, as MS has yet to acknowledge the validity of the leaked document, we are still expecting WP7 and the first handsets to use it, to be available starting October.

Speaking of the WP7 handsets that are coming out; the LG panther is among the first of the devices to have been revealed to the public. And according to rumors, LG is already working on a couple more WP7 devices as well. So far, details on the rumored LG E900 and LG C900 handsets have not been released (nor have either two devices been confirmed).

ELSE Interface to be Found Elsewhere

Liam — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:12:45 +0000

In an announcement that is bound to make many tech fans sad, Emblaze has announced that their company is taking financial loses and in order to stabilize the situation, they will be seizing the funds allocated for the development of the First ELSE operating system and user interface.

After a fantastic showing of the First ELSE handset at the Mobile World Congress last February, it is hard to imagine that the phone will no longer be seeing production lines. The ELSE’s user interface made use of a one-touch system that allowed users to easily navigate menus, send files, call contacts with a single finger on the screen.

The stylish and innovative user interface lacked the big fussy animations and colors seen on the Windows Phone 7 or the elaborate icons of the iPhone. Instead, the design focused more on functionality –and providing a bit of a stylized futuristic feel to the phone.

While the First ELSE would not have been a mainstream smart phone, it would have certainly carved out a niche for itself, but sadly, that possibility is now going down the drain as Emblaze has to recuperate its losses, and cancelling the First ELSE is just a part of a long process the company has to go through before it is stabilized once again.

There have been reports that Emblaze is planning to sell some of the user interface designs to other companies. This brings hope to the possibility that the UI might actually see an incarnation in other mobile phones, but for the most part, tech fans will have to scratch out the First ELSE from their wish lists.

This announcement is just one of the many various technologies being announced as ‘scrapped’. Microsoft also announced that the Kin series of smart phones will be getting axes in favor of upcoming WP7 handsets.

Windows Phone 7 will be Ready by October

Liam — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:40:22 +0000

While it originally seemed like that the OS will be filled with so much features and additional content, Microsoft has managed to keep their development cogs turning and churning fast enough to make it to the holiday launch they promised.

At the Mobile World Congress held last February in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain; Steve Ballmer took the stage and gave the world its first look at the Windows Phone 7 operating system. Without a doubt, many users of the older Windows Mobile OS were outright impressed with the stylish new user interface, at how smooth all the transitions were and the fact that it made full use of capacitive touch screen controls.

The demonstration ended with a promise that the OS would be delivered to the public by the holidays of this year.

While it seemed that announcing a new almost a full year in advance might have not been a good idea, Microsoft is so far, managing to pull it off. The weeks have been full of new updates, demonstrations, and announcements regarding what will be added and what manufacturers will be making handset for the new OS.

From the basic Zune, Bing and Xbox Live Games features that were shown off at the MWC to the addition of Silverlight, XNA 3D, the new MSN Player and even an upcoming Adobe Flash Player update, there is plenty that this new OS is going to offer t the public. Apple’s iPhone will not only have contend with the open source Android, now it will be matched by another closed system that could potentially be offering even more functionality in the form of the Windows Phone 7 OS.

Business enterprise users have not been forgotten by Microsoft. Despite the general consumer focus of the WP7 OS, they have promised that they will continue the development of the Windows Mobile OS. In fact, they recently launched Windows Embedded Handheld for WinMo.

Samsung’s Next Wave Handsets Revealed

Liam — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:03:03 +0000

It may be a bit of a surprise for some people, but the Samsung Wave 2 and the Wave 2 Pro smart phones are officially confirmed to be mid to low range handsets. With the original Samsung Wave being a pretty impressive high end smart phone, it was originally thought that the next device in the series would have bigger touch screen display, a faster processor and overall, better features. Instead, the Wave 2 and Wave Pro 2 are more of watered down versions of the original device.

This is easily explained by the fact that Samsung aims to put the Bada OS into the mid range smart phone market as opposed to competing with the big giants of the high end market (which would be the Android, Windows Phone 7 and the Apple iPhone). The original goal from Samsung was that they wanted to bring smart phone technology to everyone.

And by turning the Bada into the best mobile platform for this range of handsets, Samsung has a chance to gain a good hold of the market (they would still have to compete with the Android as the Google OS is being used in low to high end smart phones).

In detail, the S5250 Wave 2 and S5330 Wave 2 smart phones are pretty identical in terms of specs; the only difference is that the Wave 2 Pro has a physical QWERTY keyboard. The devices come with a pretty decent sized screen at 3.2 inches with a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels. With an internal memory of 80MB, users are better off using a 16GB micro SD card for storing data and other content. Of course, the phones will be using the Bada operating system, so expect to get plenty of good app support and a good choice of games for the platform.

Windows Phone 7 Released for Developers

Simon — Wed, 26 May 2010 09:55:44 +0000

As you might have already heard, the LG Panther has been recently distributed to a few developers who are working on new apps for the upcoming Microsoft mobile platform. The slider smart phone looks very much like the original demonstration unit used by Microsoft to show off WP7, with the addition of a chrome border around the screen and a slightly altered three button layout on the bottom of the device.

The big bonus on this touch screen smart phone is the slide out QWERTY keyboard. So far, LG is the only manufacturer that has announced a WP7 device that makes use of the type-2 chassis. All of the other devices that will be using this OS from HTC, Samsung and other manufacturers are reported to be using the type-1 chassis –which is the basic touch screen format.

The device got shipped in with a large box though it is believed that the retail version of the Panther will have a different packaging design as the print on the box did not reflect the new WP7 logo that we have come to expect.

Speaking of the new phone, it appears that users will have to install a specialized version of Zune in order to connect the device to a computer. No word yet if the final retail version will also use the same software, though this iTunes-esque phone syncing routine is a bad direction to go –and Microsoft should have known better.

As seen with the developer version of the device and the SDK tools, Silverlight will play a key role in the development of apps for the new OS. For now, developers are advised to focus strongly on apps that would enhance the user experience. Microsoft will be supporting the business experience later on (it is expected that new tools will also be released).

Windows Phone 7: What We Know Thus Far

Simon — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:19:06 +0000

Exactly how much excitement can Microsoft deliver?

Reactions that “it was too early” were pretty common when Steve Ballmer went up onstage to show the world how much progress they have made with the Windows Phone 7 mobile platform. The new user interface was impressive and many felt that the OS could potentially change the way we look at mobile phones. But at the same time, there was that constant worry that such an early announcement would leave people spending too much time waiting for the new OS.

Fortunately, it seems like Microsoft already expected this.

With each passing week, we have seen new news updates for the OS. Ranging from news about upcoming devices and systems meant for the OS, to the recently released developer tools for making apps.

Looking back, we already know that each WP7 device will be following one of three standardized forms (basic touch screen, a QWERTY keyboard version and a third chassis type). It is also known that the OS will need a high speed processor, plenty of ram and importantly, a capacitive touch screen. Naturally, the phones need to have GPS, 3G support, WiFi and other basic functions.

Just this week, the XNA Game Studio and Visual Studio tools were shown off, revealing that WP7 has more than just XBL games, but also the ability to handle full 3D graphics and games that can be ported over to the PC or the Xbox 360 while continuing the game progress from the phone. It has also been confirmed that the mobile platform will be supporting Silverlight as well.

Bing, Zune and the XBL services will be joined by the Microsoft Location and Microsoft Notification Services which will turn the phone into a one stop shop for news updates.

Read more about what is new with the Windows Phone 7 mobile platform at Softpedia.

Windows Marketplace Being Primed for Phone 7 Series

Simon — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:19:43 +0000

The Windows Marketplace app store was launched last year after WinMo 6.5 came out. This much needed service support for WinMo users came pretty late as application stores for other operating systems have already been around for years.

In any case, WP7 owners will be enjoying full online store support from day one with the recent announcement that the Marketplace is already set to handle WP7 content.

It was announced several weeks back that the new mobile platform from Microsoft will not be compatible with applications made for the older WinMo OS. This places the new platform at a bit of a disadvantage as it no longer gets access to a large library of existing apps. But with this week’s launch of developer tools we can expect to see plenty of devs making use of these resources to make new apps for WP7.

The XNA Games Studio and Visual Studio are two major tools that game developers will certainly want to take advantage of. With impressive new features not present in other mobile platforms, both of the tools promises to change the way we see gaming in mobile devices.

Speaking of WP7, it has already been confirmed that LG’s Panther will be running the new OS and that Microsoft is working closely with Asus on their own WP7 device (which is apparently the same device that Microsoft uses in demonstrations). The Panther is a touch screen smart phone with a slide out QWERTY keyboard while the Asus-Microsoft handset is a more basic touch screen phone.

New to the line of WP7 is Samsung’s slate type device with a super AMOLED capacitive touch screen. As seen with the Wave, this new display delivers color quality not present in other devices.

To know more about the Marketplace for the Windows Phone 7 series, go to Softpedia.