Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series T-shirt cannon gets detailed, redefines 'mobile warfare']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/19/windows-phone-7-series-used-to-control-t-shirt-cannon-redefine/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/19/windows-phone-7-series-used-to-control-t-shirt-cannon-redefine/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/19/windows-phone-7-series-used-to-control-t-shirt-cannon-redefine/#comments Microsoft's MIX 10 Windows Phone app demos were highlighted by a robotic t-shirt cannon entirely controlled by a WP7S app, and the code monkeys behind the project are now back with a full breakdown of how things were achieved -- the bot was built on a standard battle-bot chassis, which was then modded with the cannons and an HP Envy laptop for control purposes. Just to drill in the point about how familiar development for the new mobile OS will be, the MS guys point out that outsider assistance on the project was recruited under the pretext that what was being built were "out of the browser" Silverlight apps for the desktop. Very crafty. We've got video of the cannon in action waiting after the break, along with an image of the Phone controls.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series T-shirt cannon gets detailed, redefines 'mobile warfare'

Windows Phone 7 Series T-shirt cannon gets detailed, redefines 'mobile warfare' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapplicationapplicationsbotcannoncoding4fundronemicrosoftmixmix 10mix 2010Mix10Mix2010msdnrobotsilverlightt-shirtt-shirt cannonT-shirtCannont-shirtswindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7wp7sFri, 19 Mar 2010 09:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7: the complete guide]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/windows-phone-7-series-the-complete-guide/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/windows-phone-7-series-the-complete-guide/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/windows-phone-7-series-the-complete-guide/#comments After Windows Phone 7's grand unveiling at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress last month, Microsoft has circled back during GDC and its own MIX10 conference to fill in many of the holes in this story -- in particular, details around the app development ecosystem and how third parties can take full advantage of it have been focal points. Of course, it makes sense: a modern smartphone is only as good as its software catalog, and Redmond's clearly keen to show that it knows how very true that is. XNA -- the technology that underpins Zune games and a host of Xbox content -- figures prominently into the equation, but Silverlight is a huge, unavoidable component as well, making development for WP7 devices a starkly different experience for studios and independent code monkeys than in versions prior. We're going to be periodically updating this post as we get new info on the platform, but for now, follow the break for everything you need to know -- so far -- about Microsoft's latest and greatest mobile platform.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7: the complete guide

Windows Phone 7: the complete guide originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>complete guideCompleteGuideguidemicrosoftmixMix10windows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7wp7sThu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft takes a note from Palm in new Windows Phone 7 Series ad]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/microsoft-takes-a-note-from-palm-in-new-windows-phone-7-series-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/microsoft-takes-a-note-from-palm-in-new-windows-phone-7-series-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/microsoft-takes-a-note-from-palm-in-new-windows-phone-7-series-a/#comments We've held no punches in sharing our thoughts on Palm's recent ad campaigns, but the one spot that was actually not heinous has seemingly served as the basis for one of Microsoft's first-ever WP7S commercials. Debuting here at the tail-end of MIX, the ad spotlights Anna -- a fictitious gal we've certainly heard of before -- using her new smartphone to share photos with her dear lover Miles. It also features Luca, a kid with an undying love for playing Xbox LIVE titles, who seems to be caught somewhere in between the world of nature and nurture. At any rate, it's worth your while to give the new Microsoft commercial and the Palm ad which it has oh-so-much in common with right after the break.

Oh, and Palm -- we guess "Windows Phone 7 Series was your idea," right?

Update: Yes, that definitely looks like an HTC HD2 at the 0:43 mark, but you can rest assured WP7S won't ever come to that gem in native fashion.

[Thanks, Sean]

Continue reading Microsoft takes a note from Palm in new Windows Phone 7 Series ad

Microsoft takes a note from Palm in new Windows Phone 7 Series ad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingannacommercialcopycatmarketingmetromicrosoftmilesmixmix 10mix 2010Mix10Mix2010operating systemOperatingSystemospalmpalm pixipalm prePalmPixiPalmPrepixismartphonesoftwareweboswindowswindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft on copy and paste in Windows Phone 7 Series: 'people don't do that']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/microsoft-on-copy-and-paste-in-windows-phone-7-series-people-d/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/microsoft-on-copy-and-paste-in-windows-phone-7-series-people-d/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/microsoft-on-copy-and-paste-in-windows-phone-7-series-people-d/#comments Microsoft certainly set off a firestorm of controversy yesterday with the revelation that Windows Phone 7 Series won't have copy and paste, since it doesn't necessarily line up with what the company has said in private before -- and the issue seems to have gotten even more clouded as people have started hacking around the emulator. So let's set the record straight on what we were told, since it wasn't ambiguous in any way: Microsoft says leaving clipboard operations out was a conscious design decision based on user research showing that people don't actually use copy and paste very often, and that instead 7 Series features a systemwide data detection service which recognizes things like phone numbers and addresses so you can take action on them. Third-party apps can hook into this service, so that an email address can be routed to the email client of your choice, but there's no copy and paste functionality. We specifically asked about Office and OneNote, and we were told that Microsoft's research shows that people mostly want to view and comment on documents, not move things around. We also specifically asked if copy and paste was coming later and were told no, although we'd guess that it's at least being worked on for a future version. Don't take it from us, though -- listen to Microsoft's Todd Brix for yourself:

Microsoft on copy and paste in Windows Phone 7 Series: 'people don't do that' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clipboardcopy and pasteCopyAndPastemicrosoftmixmix 10Mix10todd brixToddBrixWindows Phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWed, 17 Mar 2010 21:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series multitasking: the real deal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-7-series-multitasking-the-real-deal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-7-series-multitasking-the-real-deal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-7-series-multitasking-the-real-deal/#comments We've definitely learned a ton about Windows Phone 7 Series here at MIX, but getting the full picture on multitasking has been difficult, since the OS isn't ready, no one has final hardware, and the emulator seems to behave differently than actual devices and Microsoft's descriptions. So let's set the record straight on multitasking: it's not going to happen, at least not in the traditional way. Not only have we directly confirmed this with Microsoft executives several times, but the developer sessions here are totally clear on the matter -- you don't tell 1000+ devs that they should expect their apps to be killed whenever the user switches away from them if you don't mean it. Now, that's not to say that the OS can't do multitasking: first-party apps like the Zune player and IE can run in the background, and third-party apps are actually left running in a suspended state (Microsoft calls it "dehydrated") as long as the system doesn't need any additional resources. If the user cycles back to an app, it's resumed ("rehydrated") and life continues merrily along, but if the user opens other apps and the system needs additional resources, the app is killed without any indication or remorse.

If that sounds familiar, it's because it's basically a single-tasking riff on Android and Windows Mobile 6, both of which also purport to intelligently manage multiple running applications like this, and both of which usually find themselves greatly improved with manual task managers. We'll have to see if Windows Phone 7 Series can do a better job once it ships -- we have a feeling it will -- and later down the line we'll see if Microsoft decides to extend multitasking to third-party apps. But for now, just know that you're not going to be running Pandora in the background while you do other tasks on a 7 Series device -- it is a question we have specifically asked, and the answer, unfortunately, is no.

P.S. Still don't believe us? Hear it for yourself directly from Microsoft's Todd Brix:

Windows Phone 7 Series multitasking: the real deal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>background appsBackgroundAppsmicrosoftmixmix 10Mix10multitaskingtodd brixToddBrixWindows Phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWed, 17 Mar 2010 20:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series preview, MIX10 edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-7-series-preview-mix10-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-7-series-preview-mix10-edition/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-7-series-preview-mix10-edition/#comments We just spent some quality time with the MIX10 build of Windows Phone 7 Series running on the same prototype hardware sourced from Garmin-Asus that we saw at MWC -- and apart from a few Murphy's Law-style demo hiccups, we loved what we saw. One thing that immediately caught our attention was the fact that lists of items "compress" slightly once you've reached their end -- something we hadn't noticed before. In general, it's pretty impressive how much attention Microsoft is paying to the finer aesthetic points of the platform, from the slight "tilts" of items that you've pressed to the 3D effects you encounter as you flip through photos. Another thing we've confirmed here is that the test units do have accelerometers, refuting an earlier rumor that had been spreading out in Barcelona -- we know this because the display auto-rotated while viewing a photo. Check out the full video -- along with a shot of the phone resting alongside its Zune HD cousin -- after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series preview, MIX10 edition

Windows Phone 7 Series preview, MIX10 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands-onmicrosoftmixmix10windows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sWed, 17 Mar 2010 13:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone Marketplace can remotely revoke app licenses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-marketplace-can-remotely-revoke-app-licenses/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-marketplace-can-remotely-revoke-app-licenses/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/windows-phone-marketplace-can-remotely-revoke-app-licenses/#comments Speaking at a MIX10 session about Windows Phone 7 Series architecture this morning, Microsoft's Istvan Cseri mentioned that the Windows Phone Marketplace -- the one and only clearinghouse for apps in WP7S -- will be able to remotely revoke licenses. Since devices will only run properly-licensed apps, this effectively means the company will be able to shut down apps remotely -- a capability they'd probably invoke if a Marketplace app were to badly misbehave en masse, for example. To put it bluntly, Cseri says that apps simply aren't in control of their own life cycle; the user controls installation and removal while the Marketplace ensures that the license is valid.

On a related note, we know that Microsoft has a series of not-yet-finalized "business, technical, and content" guidelines for accepting and rejecting apps submitted to the Marketplace, and we've got a particularly interesting case: apps are being "discouraged" from using the phone's Back button. They're being so strongly discouraged, in fact, that Todd Brix -- senior director of mobile platform services product management at the company -- told us that apps can and will be straight-up rejected for using Back for anything but dismissing dialog boxes. We won't know the full rulebook until Microsoft releases it in May -- but in the meantime, don't bother making anything too controversial with those free tools, eh?

Windows Phone Marketplace can remotely revoke app licenses originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>marketplacemixmix10windows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 serieswindows phone marketplaceWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWindowsPhoneMarketplacewp7sWed, 17 Mar 2010 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Yes, Windows Phone 7 Series can make a phone call]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/yes-windows-phone-7-series-can-make-a-phone-call/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/yes-windows-phone-7-series-can-make-a-phone-call/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/yes-windows-phone-7-series-can-make-a-phone-call/#comments Sure, we've been pushing Microsoft hard for Windows Phone 7 Series details like copy and paste (no) and multitasking (no), but we just realized that we've never actually seen a 7 Series device... make a phone call. A little running around later and we've got two demo handsets calling each other. We're told that the little white arrow on the call panel will eventually bring up options like conference calling, speakerphone, and mute, but it's not working yet -- and one of the phones seems to think it's running on Cingular, so either time travel is an unannounced feature of the OS or Microsoft still has some work to do. Video after the break.

P.S. They're just demo SIMs, but we're sure the poor PR folks babysitting the devices would appreciate it if you didn't call the numbers, okay? Be nice.

Continue reading Yes, Windows Phone 7 Series can make a phone call

Yes, Windows Phone 7 Series can make a phone call originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>callexclusiveMicrosoftmixmix 10Mix10phonephone callPhoneCallvideoWindows Phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWed, 17 Mar 2010 07:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series will have themes... sort of]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-will-have-themes-sort-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-will-have-themes-sort-of/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-will-have-themes-sort-of/#comments It's no TouchFLO or SPB Mobile Shell, but it turns out you will be able theme Windows Phone 7 Series... a little. Although we've only ever seen the classy "dark" theme with the black background, Microsoft just demoed a "light" theme with dark text on a white background. Earth-shattering, we know. Both themes also have selectable accent colors, but don't expect to go crazy here: your choices are red, orange, green and blue. We're hoping all of these options will be expanded over time, but for now it's not looking like a customizer's dream come true.

Gallery: Windows Phone 7 Series will have themes... sort of

Windows Phone 7 Series will have themes... sort of originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmixmix 10Mix10skinskinsthemethemingWindows Phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesTue, 16 Mar 2010 23:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series device from Samsung is just a hacked i8910 HD]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-device-from-samsung-is-just-a-hacked-i891/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-device-from-samsung-is-just-a-hacked-i891/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-device-from-samsung-is-just-a-hacked-i891/#comments We couldn't shake the feeling that the mysterious Samsung-branded Windows Phone 7 Series device being passed around at MIX10 this week was just a warmed-over i8910 HD, and it turns out there's a very good reason for that: Samsung says it is a warmed-over i8910 HD. Even crazier, TechRadar writes that its contact at Samsung basically pegged the stunt entirely on Microsoft, simply saying "they used the i8910 HD to demo Windows 7" and that "this demo was a one-off." The whole thing reeks of the original Zune, which began life as a Frankenstein'd Toshiba Gigabeat -- but we don't think this new trick is going to make it all the way to retail since the i8910 HD clocks in with 640 x 360 resolution (WP7S requires 800 x 480) and a processor that falls well short of the standard-issue 1GHz Snapdragon. At any rate, we're trying to get the straight dope on this from Microsoft now that Samsung's washed its hands of it and we'll update you when we've got more.

Windows Phone 7 Series device from Samsung is just a hacked i8910 HD originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>i8910i8910 hdI8910Hdmicrosoftmixmix10omnia hdOmniaHdsamsungwindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sTue, 16 Mar 2010 21:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft shows off Internet Explorer 9: says 'yes' to HTML5, 'no' to Windows XP]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/microsoft-shows-off-internet-explorer-9-says-yes-to-html5-n/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/microsoft-shows-off-internet-explorer-9-says-yes-to-html5-n/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/microsoft-shows-off-internet-explorer-9-says-yes-to-html5-n/#comments Microsoft is having a good old time at MIX10, showing off all sorts of new things. New things like... Internet Explorer 9, which has just been previewed at the developer event, and here's what we've gleaned about it so far. First off, as expected it will support HTML5 video, boast a new Microsoft JavaScript engine which is codenamed "Chakra," and it'll support new-fangled web technologies like CSS3 and SVG2. Microsoft says one of its main goals with IE9 is to provide a faster browsing experience -- always good news -- though they don't have things cranked quite as high as the competition just yet (remember, this is still early). Preliminary ACID3 tests on the preview show the IE9 scores a 55/100, up from IE8's dismal 20/100 -- a huge leap forward no doubt, but still a far cry from the Chrome, Opera, and Safari scores of 100. In both PCMag's and ZDNet's SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark test, the preview performed competitively as well. Microsoft has also confirmed that IE9 will not support Windows XP, but the preview Microsoft is showing off plays nice with Vista SP2 and higher, meaning the shipping version will probably do the same. No shockers there, really. Microsoft's also made the first developer preview of Internet Explorer 9 available for download today -- hit the source link to check that out. Full press release is after the break.

Update: Chrome, Opera, and Safari do indeed score 100/100 in ACID3 testing, not "nearly" as previously stated. Thanks commenters for pointing out the obvious.

Continue reading Microsoft shows off Internet Explorer 9: says 'yes' to HTML5, 'no' to Windows XP

Microsoft shows off Internet Explorer 9: says 'yes' to HTML5, 'no' to Windows XP originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowsershtml 5html5ie9internetinternet explorerinternet explorer 9InternetExplorerInternetExplorer9microsoftmixmix10Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series won't have copy and paste]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-wont-have-copy-and-paste/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-wont-have-copy-and-paste/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/windows-phone-7-series-wont-have-copy-and-paste/#comments Ready for another long, drawn-out copy and paste controversy to overtake your every waking moment for a year or two? Good: Microsoft just mentioned in a Q&A session here at MIX10 in no uncertain terms that clipboard operations won't be supported on Windows Phone 7 Series... so that's that. Kind of ironic considering that the WinMo of old has been enjoying the functionality since time immemorial, isn't it? Of course, anything is possible going forward -- they've said on several occasions in different talks and sessions this week that they're already looking at a number of enhancements that were scoped out of the initial release of the platform -- but for the phones you buy this holiday season, don't expect to be copying anything between apps.

Update: We just super-double-ultra-plus-confirmed this with Microsoft -- Windows Phone 7 Series will not have copy and paste functionality. There is a data-detection service built into the text-handling API that will recognize phone numbers and addresses, but Microsoft says most users, including Office users, don't really need clipboard functionality. We... respectfully disagree? Sure, let's leave it at that.

Windows Phone 7 Series won't have copy and paste originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clipboardcopy and pastecopy pasteCopyAndPasteCopyPastecut and pasteCutAndPastemicrosoftmixmix10windows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sTue, 16 Mar 2010 17:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Mobile Podcast 039: MIX Edition - 03.16.2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/engadget-mobile-podcast-039-mix-edition-03-16-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/engadget-mobile-podcast-039-mix-edition-03-16-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/engadget-mobile-podcast-039-mix-edition-03-16-2010/#comments

You've read the news - it's Windows Phone 7 Time, for real real. Chris and Nilay go after the innards of the new news in a variety of dimensions. It's all in the MIX, y'all.

Hosts: Chris Ziegler, Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Daestro - Light Powered (Ghostly International)

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Engadget Mobile Podcast 039: MIX Edition - 03.16.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmixmix 10Mix10mobilepodcastpodcastsWindows Phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 serieswindows phone marketplaceWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWindowsPhoneMarketplaceTue, 16 Mar 2010 11:49:00 ESTEngadget Mobile Podcast 039Chris Ziegler, Nilay Patel0:42:02podcasts<![CDATA[Three Windows Phone 7 Series devices, all in a row]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/three-windows-phone-7-series-devices-all-in-a-row/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/three-windows-phone-7-series-devices-all-in-a-row/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/three-windows-phone-7-series-devices-all-in-a-row/#comments
Well, there they are, the only three confirmed Windows Phone 7 Series prototype devices that currently exist. From left, we have the new Samsung slate that debuted today, the just-for-demos unbranded Asus unit that was the star of MWC, and the LG slider that we got cozy with at the Engadget Show. We're still hoping for more time with the Samsung -- and we're pushing for more detailed specs on all of these -- but check out some high-res crops in the gallery below.

Gallery: Three Windows Phone 7 Series devices, all in a row

Three Windows Phone 7 Series devices, all in a row originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asusexclusivehandsetlgmicrosoftmixmix 10Mix10phoneprototypeswindows phonewindows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7SeriesMon, 15 Mar 2010 20:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft confirms accuracy of old, pre-'reboot' Windows Mobile 7 leaks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-confirms-accuracy-of-old-pre-reboot-windows-mobile/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-confirms-accuracy-of-old-pre-reboot-windows-mobile/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-confirms-accuracy-of-old-pre-reboot-windows-mobile/#comments Remember those old, allegedly leaked Windows Mobile 7 screen shots from way back in 2008? You know -- those ones that look absolutely nothing like the so-called Metro UI that Windows Phone 7 Series is actually using? Well, Microsoft's Albert Shum -- one of WP7S' chief designers who we had the pleasure of meeting back at MWC -- just confirmed the accuracy of those leaks in a session here at MIX10. Discussing the reboot of the WinMo 7 program that happened inside Microsoft about a year ago, Shum flashed a slide showing eight of those infamous shots featuring those crazy bottom-aligned battery and signal meters along with WinMo 6.x-ish ID oozing from every nook and cranny. Needless to say, a clean-slate approach was sorely needed, and that's exactly where Metro ended up coming into play -- but be honest: is there anyone out there that would've still preferred the old leak in a production device?

Microsoft confirms accuracy of old, pre-'reboot' Windows Mobile 7 leaks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albert shumAlbertShummicrosoftmixmix10windows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sMon, 15 Mar 2010 19:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series targeted at 38 year-old 'life maximizers']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-7-series-targeted-at-38-year-old-life-maximizers/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-7-series-targeted-at-38-year-old-life-maximizers/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-7-series-targeted-at-38-year-old-life-maximizers/#comments Here's a fun tidbit we just learned from Microsoft's Joe Belfiore: in order to focus Windows Phone 7 Series on the idea of best serving end users, the team actually created two fictional targets consumers named "Miles" and "Anna," a pair of married 38-year old "life maximizers" who demand the most from their devices. Yes, it's a little strange and hilariously specific on the surface -- Anna just scaled back her PR job to part-time so she can take care of the kids! Miles like to take pictures and use Facebook to share them with his parents in Europe! -- but it makes a certain amount of sense: Microsoft says it's trying to create a device that appeals to someone with both a work Exchange account and personal Gmail account, someone who needs to get work done but also wants to play 3D games, and it thinks that if Miles and Anna are happy, chances are a lot of other customer segments will satisfied as well. Of course, this is almost exactly the same message we've heard from Palm about the Pre, but at least Microsoft's ideal users aren't a creepy alien lady or a mom from the 50s -- and they have a much better reason to Bing their way through the WP7S UI.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series targeted at 38 year-old 'life maximizers'

Windows Phone 7 Series targeted at 38 year-old 'life maximizers' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annalife maximizersLifeMaximizersmicrosoftmilesmixmix 10Mix10Windows Phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesMon, 15 Mar 2010 18:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: HTC HD2 will not be upgraded to Windows Phone 7 series]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/confirmed-htc-hd2-will-not-be-upgraded-to-windows-phone-7-serie/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/confirmed-htc-hd2-will-not-be-upgraded-to-windows-phone-7-serie/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/confirmed-htc-hd2-will-not-be-upgraded-to-windows-phone-7-serie/#comments
Bad news, HTC HD2 owners: Microsoft has finally come right out and confirmed our suspicions that the mighty HTC HD2 won't be upgraded to Windows Phone 7 Series. Joe Belfiore just told us that the HD2 is "not compliant with the Windows Phone 7 Series hardware specifications," which should end any of the lingering doubt that's clouded this issue since MWC. That certainly puts a damper on the HD2's upcoming launch on T-Mobile, but hey -- every Microsoft employee here at MIX is carrying one, so it's clearly the WinMo handset to get until it's eclipsed by 7 late in the year. Pour one out for the king, friends.

Confirmed: HTC HD2 will not be upgraded to Windows Phone 7 series originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewshd2htchtc hd2HtcHd2microsoftmixmix 10Mix10upgradewindows phonewindows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7SeriesMon, 15 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 Series will be WVGA only at launch, HVGA later]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-7-series-will-be-wvga-at-launch-hvga-later/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-7-series-will-be-wvga-at-launch-hvga-later/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-7-series-will-be-wvga-at-launch-hvga-later/#comments Microsoft's driving home the point that developers are going to know exactly what kind of hardware they're targeting as they whip up Windows Phone 7 Series apps -- and naturally, a biggie is screen resolution since that affects how UI elements are going to be placed, how cool they can look, and how small they can realistically be. In a session at MIX10, Microsoft's Charlie Kindel has laid down the law that WP7S will be 800 x 480 -- just 800 x 480 -- at launch, a message we heard at MWC last month, but the new tidbit here is that there'll be 480 x 320 in the pipe for an unannounced later date. All devices will have precisely the same amount of available RAM and the same capacitive touch capability, and as we've already know, manufacturers will be able to tack on a keyboard if they like.

Windows Phone 7 Series will be WVGA only at launch, HVGA later originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmixmix10windows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sMon, 15 Mar 2010 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Ballmer's visage evoked for 'developers, developers, developers' demo app on Windows Phone 7 Series]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/ballmers-visage-evoked-for-developers-developers-developers/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/ballmers-visage-evoked-for-developers-developers-developers/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/ballmers-visage-evoked-for-developers-developers-developers/#comments You could argue that Steve Ballmer's classic "developers, developers, developers" mantra is more important to the success of Windows Phone 7 Series than of any other product in recent Microsoft history, so it comes as no surprise that he's pulled it out of his hat one more time for MIX10 today. Demoing how easy it is to take advantage of the platform's many rapid-development features, the team showed off a gangly Silverlight version of the big guy in lieu of the real deal (apparently he had a scheduling conflict and couldn't be around for the event). Ballmer actually recorded a "developers, developers, developers!" rant just for the app, which the visage chants incessantly; you can adjust voice pitch and throw the doll around with a few flicks of the hand. Scary? Yes, yet somehow, we'd pay $0.99 for it. Follow the break for video.

Continue reading Ballmer's visage evoked for 'developers, developers, developers' demo app on Windows Phone 7 Series

Ballmer's visage evoked for 'developers, developers, developers' demo app on Windows Phone 7 Series originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ballmermixmix10steve ballmerSteveBallmerwindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sMon, 15 Mar 2010 17:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Windows Phone 7 Series handset makes the scene]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/samsung-windows-phone-7-series-handset-makes-the-scene/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/samsung-windows-phone-7-series-handset-makes-the-scene/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/samsung-windows-phone-7-series-handset-makes-the-scene/#comments Here's a fun little surprise: Microsoft's Joe Belfiore just ran through a Windows Phone 7 Series demo on an as-yet unannounced Samsung device here at MIX. Apart from hints at an OLED screen, we don't much about the specific hardware, but Joe also showed off a slide of the WP7S minimum requirements, so we can tell you it has at least 256MB of RAM and 8GB of flash, as well as DirectX9 acceleration. We're due to meet with Joe in just a few, so we'll obviously dig for more -- stay tuned!

Continue reading Samsung Windows Phone 7 Series handset makes the scene

Samsung Windows Phone 7 Series handset makes the scene originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmixmix 10Mix10samsungWindows Phonewindows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7SeriesMon, 15 Mar 2010 16:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: Marketplace will be the only way to get apps on Windows Phone 7 Series]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/confirmed-marketplace-will-be-the-only-way-to-get-apps-on-windo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/confirmed-marketplace-will-be-the-only-way-to-get-apps-on-windo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/confirmed-marketplace-will-be-the-only-way-to-get-apps-on-windo/#comments
 We just got out of a meeting with Microsoft's Todd Biggs, who dropped a little bombshell on us: the only official way to get apps on a Windows Phone 7 Series device will be to download them from the just-detailed Windows Phone Marketplace. That means developers will have to abide by Microsoft's technical and content guidelines in order to make it in, with the very real possibility of rejection -- sound familiar? Todd told us Microsoft plans to avoid Apple-style submission headaches by making the process transparent and predictable, with a group of Microsoft execs regularly meeting to examine edge cases and refine the guidelines as needed, but even the best intentions can be led astray by a sexy app or two. We also got some additional details on Marketplace and how it's going to work, catch the highlights after the break.

Update: Microsoft wanted us to clarify that enterprise customers will be able to deploy apps to employees outside the consumer-facing Marketplace -- details on that will be released in the future.

Continue reading Confirmed: Marketplace will be the only way to get apps on Windows Phone 7 Series

Confirmed: Marketplace will be the only way to get apps on Windows Phone 7 Series originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsmarketplacemicrosoft-game-studiosmixmix 10Mix10windows marketplace for mobilewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindows Phone 7 Series Themewindows phone marketplaceWindowsMarketplaceForMobileWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWindowsPhone7SeriesThemeWindowsPhoneMarketplaceMon, 15 Mar 2010 15:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone Marketplace for Windows Phone 7 Series unveiled]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-marketplace-for-windows-phone-7-series-unveiled/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-marketplace-for-windows-phone-7-series-unveiled/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/windows-phone-marketplace-for-windows-phone-7-series-unveiled/#comments The biggest chunk of eye candy we've seen out of Microsoft's MIX10 event so far today has been the unveiling of the significantly-retooled Windows Phone Marketplace that'll debut in Windows Phone 7 Series -- and needless to say, it's a looker. It's got support for credit card purchases, operator billing, and ad-supported content -- a hot topic right now with Google's and Apple's mobile advertising acquisitions -- and a try-before-you-buy scheme not unlike Android Market's policy (though WP7S devs can choose what kind of trial period they want to offer; Android devs have no such option). We've been offered some video of the new Marketplace in action, and it looks super polished and well-integrated with the typical WP7S way of getting around -- you're given a "panoramic view" where you can browse categories and titles, see featured items, and get details with ratings, reviews, screen shots, and pricing information. Purchased apps can be pinned to your Quick Launch screen, saving you a couple taps for your favorite and most frequently-used items. Watch the full video after the break -- and keep an eye out for the trick "tilting" of menu items based on finger location toward the end of the clip, something we haven't seen before.

Gallery: Windows Phone Marketplace demo

Continue reading Windows Phone Marketplace for Windows Phone 7 Series unveiled

Windows Phone Marketplace for Windows Phone 7 Series unveiled originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsexclusivemarketplacemicrosoftmixmix10windows marketplacewindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 serieswindows phone marketplaceWindowsMarketplaceWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWindowsPhoneMarketplacewp7sMon, 15 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft demos push notifications on Windows Phone 7 Series]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-demos-push-notifications-on-windows-phone-7-series/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-demos-push-notifications-on-windows-phone-7-series/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-demos-push-notifications-on-windows-phone-7-series/#comments Microsoft's flavor of push notifications for Windows Phone 7 Series -- the so-called Microsoft Notification Service -- was just demoed using an MLS (Major League Soccer) app, and it fits in really well with the "Metro" UI motif. Notifications come in via an unobtrusive bar across the top of the display -- better than iPhone, and not unlike webOS -- and tapping them takes you into the app where you're presumably taken to a fuller view of the relevant information. The notifications are available regardless of whether the app is open, a model that mirrors Apple's and likely a heavy dose of foreshadowing that multitasking -- at least, multitasking as we know it -- won't be available. Check of pic of the notification bar after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft demos push notifications on Windows Phone 7 Series

Microsoft demos push notifications on Windows Phone 7 Series originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmixmix10windows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sMon, 15 Mar 2010 13:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft announces Windows Phone 7 Series dev partners and details apps: Sling, Pandora, Foursquare and Xbox gaming (video!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-announces-windows-phone-7-series-dev-partners-sling/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-announces-windows-phone-7-series-dev-partners-sling/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-announces-windows-phone-7-series-dev-partners-sling/#comments Microsoft just dropped its first press release of MIX10 on us, and in addition to detailing the Sliverlight and XNA-based Windows Phone 7 Series development situation, we've also got a list of launch software partners and some screenshots of apps in action. There's some heavy hitters here, and everything from games to enterprise apps are represented -- notables include the Associated Press, Citrix, EA Mobile, Foursquare, Namco, Pangeonce, Pandora, Seesmic, Shazam, and Sling. We've seen a handful of this new software in action, so check out the full list and details after the break.

Updating with impressions (and video!) after the break!

Gallery: Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Series apps


Gallery: Windows Phone 7 Series app demos

Continue reading Microsoft announces Windows Phone 7 Series dev partners and details apps: Sling, Pandora, Foursquare and Xbox gaming (video!)

Microsoft announces Windows Phone 7 Series dev partners and details apps: Sling, Pandora, Foursquare and Xbox gaming (video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsbreaking newsBreakingNewsdemofoursquarehush hushHushHushjoe belfioreJoeBelfioremicrosoftmixmix 10Mix10netflixpandoraseesmicslingthe harvestTheHarvestwindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7wp7sxblxblaxbox arcadexbox liveXboxArcadeXboxLiveMon, 15 Mar 2010 13:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix prototyped for Windows Phone 7 Series]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/netflix-announced-for-windows-phone-7-series/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/netflix-announced-for-windows-phone-7-series/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/netflix-announced-for-windows-phone-7-series/#comments We just got a quick look at Netflix for Windows Phone 7 Series, one of the third-party apps Microsoft's showing off here at MIX10, and it looks... well, very Netflixy -- it's red to the bone. Unlike other mobile Netflix apps, this one's got Watch Instantly support and it looks great -- a real testament to the capabilities Microsoft's bringing to the table with it Silverlight-based dev platform. Video after the break!

Gallery: Netflix announced for Windows Phone 7 Series

Continue reading Netflix prototyped for Windows Phone 7 Series

Netflix prototyped for Windows Phone 7 Series originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmixmix10netflixwindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswp7sMon, 15 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft tells its Windows Phone 7 Series developer story, tools available today]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-tells-its-windows-phone-7-series-developer-story/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-tells-its-windows-phone-7-series-developer-story/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/microsoft-tells-its-windows-phone-7-series-developer-story/#comments
 At its dev-focused MIX10 event kicking off today, Microsoft's closing the loop on some of the Windows Phone 7 Series third-party development details it started sharing in the days leading up to GDC last week -- and as you might expect, Silverlight and XNA are the stars of the show. XNA will naturally be the core, critical element of Redmond's gaming story while Silverlight is serving as a catch-all for the "rich internet applications" that make up much of your other mobile activities for those rare moments when you're not... you know, blowing up aliens or navigating a race course littered with your opponents' destroyed vehicles. To that end, Microsoft is kicking things off on the right foot by offering a free package of developer tools to would-be WP7S coders that includes both Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone and the Silverlight-focused Expression Blend for Windows Phone, pretty much everything you need to start building apps in preparation for the platform's anticipated launch toward the latter part of the year. The beta dev tools are available today.

Developers are going to be treated to a host of must-have services out of the gate, including accelerometer support, location-based APIs using Microsoft's own Location Service, a newly-announced Microsoft Notification Service for pushing notifications regardless of whether an app is running (sound familiar?), hardware-accelerated video with integrated DRM and support for Microsoft's Smooth Streaming tech, multitouch, and camera / microphone access.

On a related note, Microsoft has shared some important details on the revised Windows Phone Marketplace (notice the subtle name change) for WP7S-based devices today. The revenue split remains unchanged -- 70 percent goes to the publisher, 30 percent to Microsoft -- but the developer portal for managing submissions has been "streamlined" and some of the incremental costs associated with it have been killed off; what's more, students enrolled in the DreamSpark submission will have their registration fees waived altogether. The Marketplace has evolved from an app store to a content "destination," housing apps, casual and premium Xbox Live games, music, and customized carrier stuff in one spot. We'll be wandering MIX10 throughout the day, so stay tuned as we get more of the story.

Microsoft tells its Windows Phone 7 Series developer story, tools available today originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsdevdeveloperdevelopmentexclusiveexpressionexpression blendExpressionBlendmarketplacemicrosoftmixmix10silverlightwindows marketplacewindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 serieswindows phone marketplaceWindowsMarketplaceWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesWindowsPhoneMarketplacewp7sxnaMon, 15 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST