Microsoft's "Pink" smartphone to be Microsoft-branded?

Ready for even more rumors about Windows Mobile 7 and Microsoft's mysterious "Pink" smartphone project? Good, cause we've got a few -- and the first is potentially huge. ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley says her best understanding of "Pink" is now that it's a Microsoft-branded phone running a custom UI on top of Windows Mobile 7, developed by what's left of the Danger team and targeted at the Sidekick market. Yep, Microsoft-branded -- as in, the exact thing Microsoft has been denying for ages now. What's more, Redmond wouldn't be letting third parties use this new UI -- Pink would be manufactured only by Sharp or Motorola, who've made Sidekicks in the past. It all makes sense, even if it does feel a bit like MS is knifing its partners in the back -- companies like HTC and Samsung have been equally aggressive in layering their own UIs like TouchFLO 3D and TouchWiz on top of WinMo, but it's another thing entirely to compete against Microsoft itself, especially now that AdWeek says Microsoft's selected an agency to develop a Pink ad campaign. Yeah, things are starting to get a little wild -- we haven't even mentioned the open questions of whether the Zune HD is running Tegra because it's based on Windows Mobile 7 Chassis 1, or whether Pink will launch on Verizon, or whether Zune will appear on other phones, or... you get the idea. Hey Microsoft -- you want to clear any of this up by shipping some products?

Read - ZDNet
Read - AdWeek

[oghowie @ Jul 1st 2009 3:08PM]

Just make the Zune HD a phone. I'm too old for Pink.

[Templarian @ Jul 1st 2009 3:10PM]

Don't you mean young (too easy, but had to)

[Forrest @ Jul 1st 2009 4:45PM]

With all the erectile dysfunction drugs available these days, I'm not sure anyone is too old for pink :P

Seriously though - how is Microsoft creating a proprietary skin for devices that will bear their name backstabbing their partners? My guess is HTC and Samsung wouldn't be too keen on using an out-of-the box UI anyway. They'll want to put their own stamp on it, and odds are their UIs will be better anyway.

[Quix @ Jul 1st 2009 3:28PM]

"Microsoft branded?" Kinda like the Zune, where Microsoft's name/logo is not on the product at all? (Because they're too embarrassed to put their name on the Zune, or because they're afraid putting their name on the Zune will taint the product's perception? You decide.)

Hello from not Seattle.

[oghowie @ Jul 1st 2009 3:33PM]

@ Paul

The Zune HD currently looks pretty damn nice and the Zune name can only go up from here.

[PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jul 1st 2009 3:33PM]

give it a rest you troll

[kojo87 @ Jul 1st 2009 3:35PM]

i'd rather have no logos or brand names on my device than have a bunch schlocked all over. they are trying to make Zune a recognizable brand in and of itself. seems to be working

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 1st 2009 3:40PM]

@Quix

Uh, ok. Not sure what the heck that has to do with anything, but ya got your swipe at MS in, so thumbs up!

[krunal patel @ Jul 1st 2009 3:41PM]

one of my buddies is directly involved in the danger team and pretty much told me that he does not deny any of these rumors and they are working on a "microsoft endorsed phone." and anytime he has told me that he does not deny the rumors, they have been almost completely true so maybe there is good things to come soon

[Duke @ Jul 1st 2009 3:42PM]

There is some desperate anti MS trolling going on here. Just because people slam the iPhone constantly doesn't mean you are justified in doing the same BS regarding the Zune and the Pink project they are talking about.

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 1st 2009 3:43PM]

@ Paul

Aren't you one of those Apple fanatics that like to run around screaming "hater" at people who are critical of Apple products?

So why on earth are you on a thread about a non Apple product doing the same thing?

[Sisyphus @ Jul 1st 2009 3:45PM]

Paul a. Chapel is the mother of all trolls.

What happened to Paul A. Chapel? Did that account get banned?

[JC @ Jul 1st 2009 3:46PM]

@Look_Around_You - Exactly. I can't imagine why PACman... err, Paul, hit the read link on this post.

[Paul E. Chapel @ Jul 1st 2009 3:48PM]

"So now we're judging devices solely on their looks? "

It's all about looks, baby. Look at me with my black Mac Book sippin my half-caf, triple long latte at Starbucks. I'm so chic, and sophisticated.

[Mark @ Jul 1st 2009 3:48PM]

@Paul "So now we're judging devices solely on their looks? I would wait until you actually use it before making that judgment. Vista used to look pretty cool too and was actually not that bad during the RC, and look at how that turned out.":

Strange, considering I seem to remember you making some pretty big assumptions about the Zune HD(in relation to any app store it may or may not have). Or is it that people aren't allowed to think anything positive about Microsoft products before they're released but negative ones are just fine?(and vice versa with Apple products, of course)

[Sisyphus @ Jul 1st 2009 3:54PM]

"So I'll leave you guys alone. Feel free to agree with each other and enjoy your day."

Oh, how mightily gracious of you.

[Paul E. Chapel @ Jul 1st 2009 3:56PM]

Has anyone ever uttered the word "Zune" without being a little bit embarrassed? It has nothing to do with Microsoft. The word just sounds dumb. The "HD" ain't helping it.

Dont you think "iZuneHD" looks/sounds better, paula?

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 1st 2009 5:00PM]

i'm pretty damn surprised nothing has been leaked yet. no videos, or pictures or really anything of the sorts. from what i read on a winmo site, windows 7 is supposed to ship to OEMs by fall of 09 (which is basically what...2-3 months away?) with devices released spring of 2010. MS actually able to keep a secret for once.

[valuepc @ Jul 1st 2009 5:12PM]

@ Paul a. Chapel

"Has anyone ever uttered the word "Zune" without being a little bit embarrassed?"

"So now we're judging devices solely on their looks?"

Hello? You just judged the Zune by its name, which is even worse than judging by looks. Beat it.

[Harry Wagstaff @ Jul 1st 2009 5:36PM]

@valuepc
Reread the author's name in that 'zune ... embarassed' post you quoted, and then scroll up and down for other posts by the same author.

[Malweran @ Jul 1st 2009 6:37PM]

Please, engadget. Ban that awefull paul a. chapel troll. I want to read _FUNNY_ comments not flamewars.

[dudebro @ Jul 1st 2009 8:35PM]

i hope paul gets aids.

[Brown Robott @ Jul 1st 2009 9:10PM]

Dear Paul,

You know what? I seriously think that I should track you down and get rid of you. Here's the reason why: You don't have any life at all. Are you gay or mentally ill? I mean do you live with your parents but they're not just noticing you at all? I think you're just lacking love. Go out from your basement and earn real friends... I know it would be hard for you because you're obnoxious. You are one pathetic loser who doesn't even have a girlfriend and you masturbate at your Apple gadgets. Fuck you Paul. I hope that one of these days you'll realize what you are or better yet, I hope you choke to Death.

[Brown Robott @ Jul 1st 2009 11:14PM]

@OCEAN CLAK 31st Account: Well I'm not referring to you. So if you get offended by what I wrote to Paul, I won't apologize to you because I don't care who you are or what you do. Now that you mentioned you are with Paul on this one, I'm gonna give it to you too. Give your best friend Paul a. Chapel a blowjob.

[VanillaSpice @ Jul 1st 2009 11:15PM]

@Brown Robott - go away homophobe.

@dudepro - wow, you're classy. With an attitude like that, I bet you have lots of friends who really like you, and who think you're a nice person.

@Malweran - how about they ban ALL trolls, including those who try to pretend they're not trolls by crafting their trollposts so they look like "replies" to Paul A Chapel ?

[johnsushant1 @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:08AM]

@Paul (a-Z) Chapel
Dude you have to tell the secret of your courage. You fight for totally wrong point and get bashed by more than twenty in every post. Your account has even been blocked earlier. Get a life. Stop trying to prove every non apple logo product as inferior. Apple does not suck but its crazy fanboys do. I am sure you get $5 for each of these post but still, your self esteem is more important than the money.

[Duke @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:03AM]

Brown Robott, seriously, are you 12? How is he "gay or mentally ill"? Where did gay come from because he talks about a phone all the time? Are you just a tad immature maybe?

[Cody @ Jul 1st 2009 3:09PM]

How many rumors are in this post exactly?

[Kamil @ Jul 1st 2009 3:12PM]

OVER 9000!!!!

[seriousam7 @ Jul 1st 2009 3:32PM]

What?! 9000!! That cant be right!

[Ruben @ Jul 1st 2009 8:29PM]

Only if you read it in the next 30 minutes because these rumors can't be around all day.

[Ally @ Jul 1st 2009 3:12PM]

great site

[Singular Trap @ Jul 1st 2009 3:11PM]

Meh, they will just tell you that they promised the the Zune HD wouldn't be a phone.

[Dayne @ Jul 1st 2009 3:20PM]

@Paul
Whereas some people look at the iPhone and say, "where did the mp3 player go?"

[ljm @ Jul 1st 2009 3:20PM]

@ Paul
My hate for you grows with almost every post you make...

[Nohone @ Jul 1st 2009 3:34PM]

Paul, so you are saying that if you license a music protocol for devices, and it does not work out that well, it is crapware?

Please answer this question with a simple yes or no.

[Singular Trap @ Jul 1st 2009 3:34PM]

Actually, I have no problem with Microsoft trying to get into the phone provider market. They're doing just fine with WinMo, and soon will have WinMo7 to offer to third party phone makers. The thing is that I think they're extremely late to the party with an offering like Pink. From a business standpoint, they're acting like a lumbering General Motors, slow to react.

[kojo87 @ Jul 1st 2009 3:37PM]

is there a way to limit Paul's posts to TUAW?

[Nohone @ Jul 1st 2009 3:43PM]

You did not answer the question in a way I requested you to, let me try to make this a little easier for you to understand by bringing it down to your level. Let's suppose a company licenses a way to distribute music. That music distribution does not succeed, and is eventually pulled from the market. Are you therefore saying that music distribution mechanism is crapware? Is that what you are implying with how you called PlaysForSure crapware?

Yes or No only, please. Any other response will be considered a Yes.

[tcc3 @ Jul 1st 2009 3:45PM]

Why would he post there? Can't be an obnoxious troll if everyone agrees with your ridiculous statements.

[Colin @ Jul 1st 2009 4:10PM]

@Paul So that's a yes?

[iDavey @ Jul 1st 2009 4:25PM]

[because people will just look at the ZuneHD and say, "but you can make calls with the iPhone."]

As much as I just want to disagree with Paul...he does have a point.
I've had many a people say how nice my P2 is...but then be like...

"Well, my iPhone makes calls. Oh...and it has the App Store"
(Even though technically my P2 makes calls to because I can BT link my phone...but anywho)

So yeah. It would be a smart move to take the ZuneHD premise...and basically make it a phone.

[Dorf @ Jul 1st 2009 5:01PM]

I don't buy that 'but the iPhone makes calls' shit. iTouch sales and iPod/MP3 sales tell you that not everybody wants to pay a stupid montly data fee just to play music. Are you guys that dumb?

[Nohone @ Jul 1st 2009 5:35PM]

Paul, it has been a few hours, and even though you claim to want to have a discussion, you are refusing to answer my question. I can only assume that means the answer is Yes.

Here is why I asked: 2005 Apple licensed iTunes to Motorola during a special press conference held by Apple. If Apple held the event, it was not some hack made by Motorola, but a real product produced by Apple. It has been a dismal failure.

Microsoft licenses a music playing technology to play on other devices, it fails, and you call it crapware.
Apple licenses a music playing technology to play on other devices, it fails. Can't iTunes be called crapware also being iTunes for other devices was done in the same fashion as PlaysForSure?

So we now have you calling Apple a sell-out, calling Apple an Apple hater, and iTunes is crapware. Keep adding to the list, Paul.

[Zak @ Jul 1st 2009 6:14PM]

nohone, if you're implying that Fairplay (which is what Apple licensed to Motorola) was a dismal failure, then your head is even further up your ass than I thought. And believe me, that is saying something.

Since you like to play the "only answer yes or no" game, try this one on for size: Is the iTunes store, which uses Fairplay, the #1 music retailer in the United States? Yes or no only please. If you answer with anything other than yes or no, I'm going to assume that means yes.

You're right, this is a fun game!

[Nohone @ Jul 1st 2009 6:48PM]

Oh look, once again Paul cannot fight his own battles so Zak needs to step in, throw around his personal attacks, and attempt (but fail miserably) to fight for him.

Zak, I have no problem saying that iTunes sells the most music of all the online stores. So the answer would be yes. There is no shame in telling the real truth, not the "truth" that you, Paul, Jubei, etc. try to claim. Just as there is no shame in saying that, as much as you and your little friends like to claim it is a failure, Vista has sold more than OSX has sold. Just as there is no shame in saying that, as much as you and your little friends like to claim it is a failure, Windows Mobile has sold more than Apple has sold iPhones. And on down the line... But are you saying that iTunes on devices other than iPods, such as the ROKR, has been a wild success? Steve Jobs himself has said that there would be no more licensing of FairPlay, could it be because it has been a failure outside of Apple's ecosystem, that they don't want to suffer any more embarassing failures?

[Zak @ Jul 1st 2009 7:25PM]

nohone - Really? You believe this has anything to do with Paul? I hope you're kidding, because nobody is that dumb.

And yes, the answer is yes. And your original question had nothing to do with other devices. Let me quote what you said back to you, since you apparently don't remember it:

"Let's suppose a company licenses a way to distribute music. That music distribution does not succeed"

Apple's was called Fairplay, and the iTunes store became the #1 music retailer in the US while using it. There is no part of that situation that equals failure. PlaysForSure equals total failure, and I'd like to see you try to argue against that.

And why are you bringing other things into it? Is it because you can't hold up your end of this argument without resorting to examples that have nothing to do with music licensing? I think it is.

You'll also note that nobody here has called Vista or WinMo a failure, which invalidates your straw man argument. However Microsoft themselves are admitting Vista is a failure by extending the deadline for XP out past the launch date for Win 7 so you can bypass Vista completely. If that doesn't scream "failure" to you, then you're just not paying attention.

And seriously. Which embarrassing failure is Apple suffering through? The aforementioned top retail spot in the US for music sales? Oh yeah, I'm sure they're crying into their piles of money every night. Way to spot the failure there, Sherlock.

[Nohone @ Jul 1st 2009 7:46PM]

"You'll also note that nobody here has called Vista or WinMo a failure"

You entire argument is invalid, as evidenced by that line. You know quite well that many Apple fanboys call Vista a failure. But when it is compared to an Apple product, namely OSX, suddenly you have selective memory and forget all about your claims about Vista. Of course, people such as yourself have no problem rewriting history to fit your Apple only world.

[Zen @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:18AM]

Paul, my man...how much weed do you have?


You're like...always faded bro.

[Verythrax @ Jul 1st 2009 3:12PM]

Bring it on!
Never felt so compelled to try a MS phone before.
WinMo7 specsheet + tegra + zune + MS juggernaut resources = win