Windows Mobile 7 megarumor: LG Apollo and HTC Obsession running flagship '720p' specs, Zune Phone Experience
By Paul Miller 
posted January 18th 2010 3:05PM
posted January 18th 2010 3:05PM
Alright, this is some wild, heavy stuff, but the folks at WMExperts have compiled what they believe to be true about Windows Mobile 7, including a whole bunch of previously undisclosed info and even a couple of flagship phones. We can't vouch for the rumors, but there's a ring of truth to plenty of it, and most of the rest of it we want to be true. First off, Microsoft is approaching the revision with two flavors: Windows Phone Seven Business Edition, and Windows Phone Seven Media Edition. The former is a stripped down OS that will allow OEM overlays like HTC's Sense UI, and includes lower minimum specs -- though a WVGA "minimum" is nothing to get angry about. Meanwhile, it sounds like the Media Edition is the quasi-"Zune Phone" we've been dreaming of, with a heavy emphasis on HD media playback and capture, along with social networking activities like Xbox Live, Facebook and Twitter. Other features include cloud-style services on the Business Edition side for live manipulation of stored data, a long with a location-aware platform dubbed "Orion."This all sounds great, but what's really exciting is what Microsoft is dictating should be in some of these Media Edition phones. The first two to break cover are the LG Apollo and HTC Obsession. The Apollo is a 3G worldphone (EV-DO and HSDPA) that runs a 1.3GHz Qualcomm QSD8650 processor and a 3.8-inch AMOLED 1280 x 720 WXGA display. The phone also is purported to have a 10 megapixel camera capable of 720p video recording. Meanwhile, HTC's HSDPA-limited Obsession runs a mere 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 proc, with a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera and 720p video recording. The Apollo is due in August or September of this year, with the Obsession following in October. Now, some of these specs are admittedly suspect, like the WXGA resolution on the Apollo and that seemingly 10 megapixel sensor, but we want to believe.
As for what we know to be true? Well, we know we'll see something at MWC next month, unless Robbie Bach is just joshing around, and we also know HTC has confirmed its involvement with Windows Mobile 7 -- lending some credence to rumors of the Sense UI sticking around for a new-generation -- and that LG has gone on (and quickly off) record as well saying it'll have a WinMo 7 phone in September. It's all a lot more vague than the pages of specs we're staring at now, but it's clear that something is brewing. Hit up the source link for the full nitty gritty.
I think it's time to upgrade your computer when phones are faster than it.
How about bluetooth 3.0,USB 3 and LTE support?
Much as I want all of this to be true I can't help that this is wishful thinking. Praying I'm wrong of course.
Well, it looks like I'll be hanging on to my Touch Pro for a while longer still.
@Happyman
I just got a HD2 to replace my Touch Pro. So glad I did, come next holiday season I will grab one of these WinMo7 badboys...
And here I was just considering the switch to Android... well, I still have many moons until I'm completely off my contract.
Somehow it's hard for me to imagine LG making anything so innovative as this rumored "Apollo" - maybe the specs were swapped accidentally, and the HTC phone is the one with the 1.3 GHz processor, the 3.8 inch AMOLED screen, and the 10MP camera. Until today, Samsung and HTC have been the only phone manufacturers using, or expected to use, AMOLED display technology.
Don't hold your breath for the LG "Apollo" - LG is the same company that only now came out with an Android phone with a RESISTIVE touchscreen! Maybe the "Apollo" is actually going to be the HTC phone ;-)
Windows Mobile Ultimate
Windows Mobile Professional
Windows Mobile Home Edition
Windows Mobile Lite
Windows Mobile Coperate Edition
Windows Mobile Media Center Edition
@malu05
Windows Mobile Tweenie TXT LOL Phone Edition
Windows Mobile Yuppie Facebook Twitter Edition
Windows Mobile Simplified Dumb Fat Button Old Peoples Edition
Windows Mobile Boring Corporate Email Addict Edition
Windows Mobile Topolsky Gmail and Multitouch Keyboard Edition
Microsoft always release products in different edition. I hate this kind of thing totally.
@adrianmak : So you don't like choice?
@Quikboy
For windows mobile 7 there should only be one choice. You dont want to have to walk into a shop and see the following options:
Windows Mobile 6.5/6.6
Windows Mobile 7 Business
Windows Mobile 7 Media
That would be a totally awful move on Microsoft's part.
Why not have one phone with all feature at a license cost that enables OEM to produce competitive phones.
You could then have a profile switcher for instance that enables a device to a business centric skin that brings business functionality to the fore and a Media centric skin that would do similar, or just one great UI that incorporates all in a simple intuitive manner.
Who want to spend money on a phone for business use and know it has gimped media abilities and the other option is a media device with gimped business abilities?
one phone OS with a unified marketplace for apps, games, music and videos and a unified api with a great eyecatching UI. That is all that is needed.
@(Unverified)
Dude, big deal if there are two OS choices.. There are still going to be dozens and dozens of device choices anyway.
We buy and provide devices for our business users. Why would I want to spend tons more money on a high end Media device, when for business use, the Business OS will be fine.
It's not all about you, not everybody needs high end specs. And if you don't have two different min hardware requirements, you'll end up with device makers underpowering the "Seven Ultimate" devices and end back up where you are now.
The Apollo sounds like an alienware laptop-replacement phone. (Only useful with it plugged in)
Boner.
If these dates are right, then it is still too long to wait for me. Hello Android!
What dumbasses there are on here saying 720p on a phone is too much. Ever heard of tv out with a hdmi connection (like on Zune HD or Creative Zii) and watching it on tv or laptop or posting on youtube. Would be very good to view on 1280 x 720 WXGA screens too. Probably iPhone fanboys that have lowly 320x480 screens.
The people from WMExperts think 10mp camera is too much, they never heard of Sony Ericsson Satio and Xperia X10 or Samsung Pixon ?
@Wesley
People who think that 720p is too much definitely have shitty vision. I can easily see the pixel squares on my iPhone from 2 feet away. Also, they mistakenly assume that the font size MUST be reduced on a high resolution display. They don't know that font sizes can actually be increased, and text can still be large but will look crisper.
If HTC keep the sense UI i would assume the winmo7 UI is way off the touch glory mark and does not us the zune UI. Which is what it should be using.
@RealdudePRO
Or simply that HTC want to differentiate themselves from every other WinMo device on the market that doesnt have it's own shell/UI skin...
@RealdudePRO
I wouldn't assume that at all. HTC's Sense UI is their branding for WinMo/Android phones. Just one more way to differentiate value to potential customers.
BTW - haven't you seen Sense on current Android devices? It has nothing to do with being finger friendly.
Q. How many Microsoft Employees does it take to replace a lightbulb?
A. 40,000 to steal the directions and one more to do the work.
2011 is too late for the "real" Media-centric WM7. With the pace they are being developed, Android already looks like it will definitely outpace WM7 by 2011 comes... with a wide margin. I'm still set on buying the first Tegra 2 Android in 2010...
And by the way what role exactly will the Tegra 2 play in WM7's development??? I see that both flagship devices will have Qualcomm's Snapdragon in them. That's utterly disappointing, on both MS and NVIDIA's behalf.
Having a 1280 x 720 px 3.8" screen in your pocket is crazy good, by all accounts. But I still wouldn't hold my breath for it till 2011... I'd rather get my WVGA Tegra 2 Android in 2010, and stream it to a bigger screen when at home or at a friend's place...
@TareG : How exactly is it 'too' late? Android's the most recent of the smartphone OS's, so wasn't it already too late for Android?
The smartphone market is constantly changing rapidly at the moment. There isn't a 'too' late yet.
@Quikboy
It's too late for smartphone OSes. Android's App Market is already suffering way behind Apple's App store even though it only showed up a year after the iPhone which -let's be serious- was the first generation of modern smartphone OSes. Windows Mobile 7 won't be the first generation of the newer generation of smartphone OSes, it will be the 5th generation of the current generation of smartphone OSes, behind OSX, Android, Maemo, and webOS. 2011 is gonna be too late.
It's not like Android will remain stationary till WM7's celebrated arrival... Android will release a version that supports the insane WXGA resolution, and it will release a version with cosmetic enhancements that make use of the new processor...etc. Who knows maybe the Widgets will be in 3D, in layers, dancing around the homescreens with zero lag.
WTF. 1.3 ghz?
10 mPx camera?
thats insane.
they are goig to need to find a way to
A) increase battery power a LOT
and
B) find a way to make an immense amount of storage available on a small device for a consumable price.
if they can pull that off these phones sound pretty epic.
@(Unverified)
"A) increase battery power a LOT
and
B) find a way to make an immense amount of storage available on a small device for a consumable price."
a) I would settle for a day of usage, and by a day I mean about 12 hours or so. I can deal with charging my phone every night.
b) I'd like to see a minimum of 16GB onboard flash and an expanslot for SDHC/XC, as they start to come down in price expansion with 32GB+ cards should become cost effective.
now if only they would work on updating the actual Zune HD i bought expecting more apps, more features. wow a web browser tht is essentially useless. and not even a Windows Live suite of tools? or email for god sakes?
One or 2 more generations and my dream of a universal PC that I drag around as a phone in the daytime & dock @ home to a bigger screen, keyboard, mouse, etc...
WinMo... yawn.
I've had an iPod Touch for a year now and love the interface. Naturally, I've been interested in upgrading to the iPhone but the Android offerings keep looking better all the time. But if a worthy phone was designed akin to the Zune HD (build, feature set and interface) I'd be sold in a heartbeat. Please make it happen, Microsoft! You've been on such a roll this past year!
I had a someone tell me that a friend of their's who works at Microsoft told them that they were working on a phone.
I was hoping for some Tegra 2 action, while 1.0 and 1.3 Ghz Qualcomms are probably plenty powerful, they are no match for Nvidia's loooong battery life.
Microsoft: "This time it will be different, we promise".
Jon Rubinstein, it's good to see you are looking at the competition to see what the Smartphone Consumer expect for this year. As a Pre owner I can tell you that I do want a much faster processor, larger screen, different models to choose from (not just one good one), including one high-end model with a powerful camera and powerful media features such as video recording. One that's touchscreen and one with a full QWERTY keyboard (I don't like the pre's as its too small, an iphone is almost easier to type with). Camera must be 5MP or above on all models. I like WEBOS but I want a phone that really takes advantage of its features and that can handle games, video recording, more business features, touchscreen typing, high quality photos and quality media features. If you don't update sooner than later, well the competition will eat palm up just as it did in 2007 and 2008 when Palm was slow to react to the changes in consumer expectations and demand.
...don't call it a come back?
Wow. I can't believe this, but I'm excited about a Windows Phone. How weird is that?
A Zune phone... Must be mine!
Are the Media and Business editions both smart phones? Or is the Media a feature phone and the Business edition is a smart phone?
Second of all, why the two platforms, just make one super-phone with Business and Media capabilities. Seems like a pointless move that wastes resources.