Microsoft reiterates what we knew: no first-party handset, no Zunephone

While avoiding the juicier questions surrounding the mystery of Project Pink and its potential ties to Verizon for maximizing Pink's launch, a Microsoft spokesperson has issued new comments that reiterate the stance Redmond has held from time immemorial: there's no Zunephone, and furthermore, there won't be any Microsoft-branded phones.

Of course, the devil could lie in the precise wording, and the exact quote was as follows: "Microsoft is not going into the phone hardware business. Microsoft is not building a Zune-specific phone." Just because there's not a "Zune-specific phone" doesn't mean you can't steal some Zune tech for the phone business, and we have every reason to believe that Microsoft would want to be building Zune-esque features into Windows Mobile -- you can start to see tiny slivers of that in 6.5 with the home screen design, for example -- so we're still pretty confident that Pink (or another project) will ultimately marry portions of the technology and branding. In other words: Zunephone, no; Zune on Windows Mobile, though? Yeah, sure, why not?

[??? @ Apr 29th 2009 3:53AM]

You're stretching it. Stop that.

[Kit @ Apr 29th 2009 4:07AM]

I think that's alright, as long as they don't make random blood writing like another tech blog.

[glenskey @ Apr 29th 2009 4:09AM]

thats what she said

[TareX @ Apr 29th 2009 3:56AM]

Project Pink is nothing but another Windows Mobile phone BUT one that is media-centric (i.e. to counter act the iPhone), as opposed to all the other business-centric Windows Mobile phones.

So it won't be a "Microsoft" or "Zune" phone. But, MS is helping with the development of a multimedia phone which will NO DOUBT have Tegra.

[EdMercer @ Apr 29th 2009 6:59AM]

Hear Ye,Hear Ye.
Hope you're right about media-centric Windows Mobile phones (specially about Tegra). I'm sick of feeling like low-level management when sporting a smartphone while the smug iphonies have 'cool' pieces of junk. And let's see some game buttons on the thingie, shall we ? It's depressing to see people finger-smashing the new Toshiba with that great 3D processor (Snapdragon?) and crappy, touchscreen gaming interface

[inteller @ Apr 29th 2009 8:31AM]

no first party phone just means that Microsoft will develop the specs, HTC will make it, and Verizon will slap their "brand" on it.

no zunephone just means that it will run WinMo and Zune will be another application on the phone.

who are we kidding here?

[Adderz @ Apr 29th 2009 4:03AM]

Anything has to be better than Windows 6.5

Im using an RC build thanks to XDA Devs and it is HORRIBLE. Im wiping it off tonight and putting HTC's Touchflo2D back on together with 6.1

I cant believe HTC havent invested more in Android for its *consumer* handsets while keeping Windows Mobile for the hardcore business users, because honestly thats all its good for.

Heres to hoping Windows Mobile 7 will be as good as Windows 7.

[Rocky @ Apr 29th 2009 4:48AM]

Odd... I got rid of Touch Flo the day 6.5 came out on XDA and haven't had any regrets. It's better almost all the way across the board. What exactly didn't you like? Be specific...

[Adderz @ Apr 29th 2009 5:14AM]

The Today screen plug-in isnt customizable, i dont use some of those things but i cant remove them from the list, "getting started" for instance. You cant scroll from one end of the list to the other with your thumb, you have to swipe up the screen and then reapply to make your selection (hard to explain)

The honeycomb menu is too long, folders should of been implemented by default. Theres no animation when you select something so you dont know if youve hit the right thing.

Quitting out of anything returns you to the Today screen, which makes changing a bunch of settings an arduous task.

SMSing is still a shambles, requiring your thumb nail to change from inbox to sent items and threaded sms isnt built in by default.

Graphics are ugly, the scroll bar is hideous.

Ive also got Android running thanks to XDA and its 100 times better, although not all the hardware works just yet.

[Justin @ Apr 29th 2009 10:40AM]

The Today screen (Titanium) is customizable; download CHome Customizer by Showaco from XDA. Keep in mind, you are using a "beta" OS at this point as well. Additionally, you don't have to "swipe" with the bar. Press down at the bottom of your screen and scroll up--this will move your menu through the central focus bar, allowing you to access whatever's on your menu in a single gesture.

Honeycomb does seem to be somewhat poor. No sense in having 38 icons, side by side, down a row. Makes finding things a PITA.

As for quitting applications, change your task manager settings? You can exit upon an "X" click, or simply minimize. What's the problem?

Threaded SMS -IS- built-in by default, and if you don't like soft keyboards, buy a phone with a physical keyboard. How is a soft keyboard an OS's fault?

I guess the graphics are your own opinion. I think it's loads better than 6.1, and it's so customizable that you can do anything you want with it. Look at the Beck's Custom Theme on XDA.

Android is alright as well, but I don't know how you think it's 1000x better. It's cool, yes, but not nearly as capable as WM is.

[▀█▀ █ ▀█▀ ▄█▀ @ Apr 29th 2009 4:05AM]

"Microsoft is not going into the phone hardware business"

Of course not. Doesn't mean they won't have HTC build phones for them IMHO

[avi_wizard @ Apr 29th 2009 5:14AM]

HAHA... Nice profile name!!

[JAmerican @ Apr 29th 2009 6:52AM]

I still wonder how he/she did it like that.

[Daza @ Apr 29th 2009 7:38AM]

You don't actually think someone with the name ▀█▀ █ ▀█▀ ▄█▀ could be a girl, on the Internet nonetheless?

[Kwikit @ Apr 29th 2009 7:40AM]

I think it's done with Character Map, from Accessories, System Tools. There's a lower half block, full block, and upper half block, all in Arial font, which can be defined by Unicode... let me see if I can get it to work...


▀█▀ █ ▀█▀ ▄█▀


Let's see if Unicode code works too... probably not. :/

U+2580U+2588U+2580 U+2588 U+2580U+2588U+2580 U+2584U+2588U+2580

If it worked, you should see TITS on the screen. If not, I don't know what you'll see, but that's I believe how (s)he did it. :)

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 29th 2009 4:06AM]

They have to deny a phone in production, otherwise a lot of people who want to buy a WinMo phone will just wait for Microsoft's version, leading to a huge sale drop for other WinMo makers.

[ma3grp @ Apr 29th 2009 4:26AM]

can you please work on the logos now and stop wasting time!

[nichitapavel @ Apr 29th 2009 4:17AM]

Come on!!! Microsoft already sad that zune interface will be ported to WM and other media centric devices, zune software is the future for them.

[Jubei @ Apr 29th 2009 4:16AM]

This latest news is just a diversionary tactic to quell the fears of Microsoft WinMo partners. MS copy machines have been running at full tilt for the past few months and hundreds of engineers are busy pilfering Apples work. There will be a Zune Specific phone in the coming months. This is Microsoft were talking about, their "me too" DNA compels them to do so.

[superhobo @ Apr 29th 2009 7:54AM]

That's all fine.

What's interesting is how YOUR troll DNA compels US to lowrank you.

[L.M.L.Y.P @ Apr 29th 2009 9:14AM]

bah you dont sleep do you?!
inafterJubei's"metoo"comment

:(

[kazbaeden @ Apr 29th 2009 12:03PM]

I wonder how of Jubei's comments contain the phrase "me too." Doe 90% seem about right? I bet a similar percentage is ranked lowest.

[Mr Clickerson @ Apr 29th 2009 11:45PM]

Unlike Jubei's commonly advertised (by him) site, this holds relevance to everything Apple related.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0UjU0rtavE

[Mr Clickerson @ Apr 29th 2009 11:47PM]

Oh, and kazbaeden,

90-95% sounds about right... However the low ranked comments is pushing 99-100%.

[Jubei @ Apr 30th 2009 11:38AM]

@Mr Clickerson alias ZG = banned = FAILED!!!

Still unable to grasp the concept of debating properly. This well known video is a blast to watch. Clearly Jobs is angry having been exiled from Apple in defeat. Which make your argument irrelevant by using this video from a movie as your base fact for...? LOL. You can't even stay on topic.

Since you've FAILED massively ( see ZG new username ) already, I do hope you stay civil when you post your counterpoints in the near future.

[Jordan Biffle @ Apr 29th 2009 4:21AM]

Didn't they deny that they were making a portable music player, only to release the zune a couple of months later?

[Gamefreak @ Apr 29th 2009 4:54AM]

I guess i'll say it but I may be willing to ditch my iphone to jump on the zune phone IF it ever comes out.

[geoff @ Apr 29th 2009 5:01AM]

i think so many people are talking about new WinMo or PalmPre is because all of us want a viable iPhone alternative...apple is destroying everything in its way

[ace @ Apr 29th 2009 6:12AM]

How is this news?? For the umpeenth time, we're aware of this! Sheesh!

Who else is tired of the friggin' ZunePhone already?

[tj @ Apr 29th 2009 5:39AM]

Zune sucks. Why on earth would you want that shitty interface on a phone?
and don't even get me started on the ghastly windows mobile 7 UI.
its a cross between a non branded chinese rip off and a two year olds art sketch that went wrong.

Why are apple the only ones that release an intuitive operating system that is fun to use, looks great, and is simple to use.
no wonder apple is doing so well.

I'll start listening when palm pre, android and "pink" have had 1 billion app downloads to their name.

[martin @ Apr 29th 2009 6:18AM]

windows mobile 7? the one that hasn't been shown and has no release schedule yet? enlighten us on how you now it's crap please

[Pimpin Curlly @ Apr 29th 2009 6:26AM]

*Spits on tj's face*

[Daza @ Apr 29th 2009 7:39AM]

BAWSE!

[Kwikit @ Apr 29th 2009 8:00AM]

I have to admit that a lot of simple minded people I know actually love the iPhone. I hate it for everything it is, but they love it, shortcomings and all. Why? Because they love all their application icons strewn on the desktop. For them, it's so easy to find applcations like that. It's apparently very difficult to navigate menu's and subdirectories, even to the extent that Microsoft introduced that resource hog of an abortion, the Ribbon. Frankly, I don't know why so many fucking imbeciles want a smart phone. Maybe because it replaces their lack of smart(s).

Me, I want a Symbian phone that actually does everything a smart phone must do, or a Windows Mobile phone that does almost everything. I have no use for an iPhone, and any moron copying what Apple has done is wasting their time and insulting our intelligence. I don't want to play games on my phone or look at pretty images, I want to create documents, edit documents, file them and send them, and so on.

Please stop with the blather about the superiority of the iPhone... it is not superior and none of the douche bags using it are superior either. Although most of you would like to think you are. You ca keep your great UI, I want something that actually does something besides fart...

Look, don't listen, use what ever you want, but STFU while doing so, K? Not everyone needs to use the same device or OS, and I'm sorry your penis is so small, but we who choose not to use Apple products do not need to be reminded of the "superiority" of said crap. Let me / us choose to make that horrible mistake and choose something else, something that, gasp, hasn't sold 1 BILLION games and noise makers. Who fucking cares? Really.

[Skeezle @ Apr 29th 2009 8:54AM]

kwikit gets 'troll of the day!'

congratulations douchbag!

[jpw21683 @ Apr 29th 2009 9:54AM]

@Skeezle: You always get pissy when Windows fanbois shit all over Apple-related articles.

So why the fuck are you here?

[Skeezle @ Apr 29th 2009 10:36AM]

that IS why I am here, repaying the favor!

[jpw21683 @ Apr 29th 2009 12:45PM]

Skeezle: That's fine. But you can no longer tell the M$ fanbois to go away when they shit all over your precious Apple articles.

[Kwikit @ Apr 29th 2009 2:49PM]

I'm not a fanboi in the normal sense, I'm not pro Windows or Linux or Symbian, or whatever it is, I'm just not susceptible to the Apple propaganda. So mostly, I'm an anti-fanboi. Feel better?

[VanillaSpice @ Apr 29th 2009 9:56PM]

What rubbish, Kwikit - that you are "not a fanboi in the normal sense" and that you are "not pro Windows or Linux or Symbian" !

You admitted yourself that you are pro-Symbian (and slightly less pro-WinMo). So do not pretend that you are different from other fans.

Your post was extremely trollish - you referred to all iPhone users as "douchebags" for crying out loud! And then you tell everyone else to shut up (while you fail to do the same) and then you remark on the supposed "small penises" of Apple users!

You ARE a fanboy in the normal sense!

You implied that all that iPhones can do is fart, which is no different from a Mac fanboy claiming that all Windows can do is BSOD - it is trollish rubbish in both cases.

[Dragonfly @ Apr 29th 2009 6:36AM]

Don't understand why Engadget is trying to shoehorn a story into something that isn't there. There will be no Zune phone, just face the facts!

[Kwikit @ Apr 29th 2009 7:53AM]

I have to admit that a lot of simple minded people I know actually love the iPhone. I hate it for everything it is, but they love it, shortcomings and all. Why? Because they love all their application icons strewn on the desktop. For them, it's so easy to find applcations like that. It's apparently very difficult to navigate menu's and subdirectories, even to the extent that Microsoft introduced that resource hog of an abortion, the Ribbon. Frankly, I don't know why so many fucking imbeciles want a smart phone. Maybe because it replaces their lack of smart(s).

Me, I want a Symbian phone that actually does everything a smart phone must do, or a Windows Mobile phone that does almost everything. I have no use for an iPhone, and any moron copying what Apple has done is wasting their time and insulting our intelligence. I don't want to play games on my phone or look at pretty images, I want to create documents, edit documents, file them and send them, and so on.

Please stop with the blather about the superiority of the iPhone... it is not superior and none of the douche bags using it are superior either. Although most of you would like to think you are. You ca keep your great UI, I want something that actually does something besides fart...

[Kwikit @ Apr 29th 2009 7:56AM]

Never mind, the reply system here sucks, and I missed that it didn't register the reply, it made it a new comment. This was directed at tj and his Apple UI = genius.

[superhobo @ Apr 29th 2009 7:58AM]

+1

[Skeezle @ Apr 29th 2009 8:56AM]

kwikit also gets 'noob troll of the day!'

great going on the double play, douchebag!

[CJ @ Apr 29th 2009 7:38PM]

Engadget:

Can we please ban this asshole?

Kwikit posts not one, but TWO informed (albiet snarky) posts, discussing why/why not he's for a particular product, and all this asshole can do is reply with outright insults ('troll of the day', 'douchebag').

Is this really promoting helpful discussion? I remember when you dedicated an entire post to trying to stop idiots starting flamewars. How is this helping?

[VanillaSpice @ Apr 29th 2009 9:59PM]

CJ, Kwikit was not just being "snarky" -

"a lot of simple minded people I know actually love the iPhone" - "any moron copying what Apple has done is wasting their time and insulting our intelligence" - "none of the douche bags using it" - "I want something that actually does something besides fart" - "I'm sorry your penis is so small"

Kwikit was being a TROLL. Read those lines again. They're trollish, not merely snarky.

[VanillaSpice @ Apr 29th 2009 10:03PM]

How you could mistake his posts as being "informed" is beyond me.

When you called Engadget out for not stopping flamewars, you do mean flamewars started by the anti-Apple crowd, as well as ones started by the Apple fanboy crowd, yeah? Because it is not the case that all flamewar and troll posts are done by one side - idiots on both sides do it.

[CJ @ Apr 30th 2009 5:38AM]

Oh, believe me, there are people from all camps that I want to get rid of.

Guess what, you're one of them.

[EntropicDecay @ Apr 29th 2009 9:42AM]

Project Pink: Microsoft's secret bid to take control of Victoria's Secret