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Verizon halting Kin sales, supply getting returned to sender?

Sean Hollister — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:55:00 EST

Not that Verizon really cared much for it anyway, but according to WMExperts, the carrier is preparing to cease sales of the Microsoft's Kin altogether. As for the fate of the remaining stock, it's apparently being sent back to, well, somewhere. While a few retail stores we called disavowed any knowledge of such a thing, PhoneArena has a supposed internal screenshot that suggests they may soon change their tone. Either way, Verizon's not selling Kin online anymore, that's for sure -- quoth the raven, 404.

Verizon halting Kin sales, supply getting returned to sender? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Life and death of Microsoft Kin: the inside story

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST

Since our piece on Wednesday, we've had more trusted sources step forward to fill in some blanks and clarify the story behind the amazingly swift fall from grace that Microsoft's Kin phones have experienced since their launch just a few weeks ago. It's a fascinating tale, and we wanted to share everything we've learned.

Continue reading Life and death of Microsoft Kin: the inside story

Life and death of Microsoft Kin: the inside story originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: Think Pink - First take on Microsoft's Kin

Michael Gartenberg — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:36:00 EST

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

It has been a project shrouded in mystery and speculation that sparked imaginations about just what Microsoft was doing. Its codename was Pink, referring to the premium mobile experience group, and yesterday Microsoft finally revealed its Pink story. It's called Kin and it's pretty impressive. At its heart, Kin is centered around two devices called Kin One and Kin Two. Both the hardware and software were designed by Microsoft, and while Kin is a Microsoft brand, Microsoft is still not getting into the phone business. Built in conjunction with carrier partner Verizon, Pink is an extension of the company's mobile strategy, something that complements and co-exists with its larger ambitions with Windows Phone 7.

In many ways, Kin is the extension and spiritual descendant of the Sidekick (which was a product of Danger, founded by the father of Android, Andy Rubin, and later acquired by Microsoft). At its core, the Kin philosophy is guided by the proposition that one size device doesn't fit all, and specific demographics have different mobile needs.

Continue reading Entelligence: Think Pink - First take on Microsoft's Kin

Entelligence: Think Pink - First take on Microsoft's Kin originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two announced: Windows Phone roots with a social slant (updated with video)

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:01:00 EST

It's finally official: Microsoft Pink -- the product of Redmond's acquisition of Danger -- has just been unveiled as a pair of handsets sourced from Sharp (which made most of Danger's Sidekicks) known as the Kin One and Kin Two. The devices are being marketed as Windows Phones, and while they're ultimately based on most of the same underpinnings of Windows Phone 7, it's a distinctly and totally different experience -- the entire user interface is custom to Kin with a heavy social media slant, a custom browser (we're told it's based on the Zune's browser), and surprisingly, zero support for third-party apps. The displays are capacitive with support for multitouch (yes, you can pinch and zoom in the browser), but there's no support for in-browser Flash or Silverlight.

Kin One -- the phone we'd seen rumored as "Turtle" -- is basically a curved square slider with a QVGA display, 4GB of internal storage, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, and a full QWERTY keyboard. Kin Two, meanwhile, is the phone leaked as the "Pure," upping the ante with a HVGA display and a more traditional landscape QWERTY slide form factor. It also moves up to an 8 megapixel cam and 8GB of internal storage, but otherwise, the experience is roughly the same as what you get on the One; both phones have WiFi and Bluetooth in addition to their 3G cellular radios. For what it's worth, Microsoft is emphasizing that internal storage really isn't a big deal with the Kin phones, because your entire photo and video collection that you capture using the onboard camera is synced seamlessly with your bottomless online storage; you can access the entire collection from your phone at any time by browsing thumbnails, and if you want the full content, you can download it. Kin comes bundled with a desktop web experience that's entirely based on Silverlight for viewing and sorting just about all of the major stuff that you can see on your phone -- contacts, social network status updates, images, and so on -- and we've got to admit, it looks pretty slick. Keep reading after the break for a lot more info and video!

Gallery: Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two press shots

Continue reading Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two announced: Windows Phone roots with a social slant (updated with video)

Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two announced: Windows Phone roots with a social slant (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live from Microsoft's 'It's Time To Share' event!

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:46:00 EST

We've been ushered out to lovely San Francisco today (well, actually, not so lovely -- the weather is uncharacteristically yucky) to learn all about this mysterious "It's Time To Share" thing that Microsoft has been cooking up. The popular rumor is that a new line of handsets (Pink? Kin?) are en route. Stay tuned!

Continue reading Live from Microsoft's 'It's Time To Share' event!

Live from Microsoft's 'It's Time To Share' event! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft One and Two Project Pink phones appear in Verizon database? (updated)

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:36:00 EST

What's this? Two devices apparently of Microsoft origin in Verizon's database prefixed by MSONE and MSTWO on the eve of Microsoft's big presser -- an event widely thought (and even announced) to be the unveiling of Project Pink. We're also seeing Sharp, the Sidekick manufacturer named on the Turtle and Pure looking handsets that passed through the FCC. Really though, "One" and "Two?" Surely those words are just placeholders awaiting today's event before getting properly named, right? Who knows... when you're believed to be launching a competing platform against your own Windows Phone 7 OS while simultaneously keeping the WinMo 6.x dreams alive for businesses, hell, anything goes.

Update: 9 to 5 Mac is suggesting that the actual retail names of the devices will be Kin. As in next of, as in family. Since the company has an event in just a few hours, we'll obviously know for certain very soon, but it does look likely given the use of Kin in the listing above.

Microsoft One and Two Project Pink phones appear in Verizon database? (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Pink livestream page offers glimpse of Turtle, Pink name changing at launch

Nilay Patel — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:23:00 EST

Man, Microsoft is not even trying to be coy with its Pink launch tomorrow -- these happy and attractive young people pictured on the livestream page are clearly being delighted by the "Turtle" portrait slider that keeps leaking all over the place. Or maybe they're just stoked they can use SanDisk microSD cards with it -- that's how the kids react to removable storage nowadays, right?

In other news, Reuters says the phones won't actually be called Pink, and that they're likely scheduled to ship this summer, so that's something, we suppose. Honestly, we just don't know what Microsoft is going to offer here that'll be more attractive to teens than Windows Phone 7 -- we're still hoping to be wowed tomorrow, but we've got a suspicion we'll just be confused and sad. Which isn't a bad way to market something to teens, we suppose. Microsoft Pink: it's like having bad feelings.

P.S.- If you squint just right, that dude totally looks like a young Bill Gates. He also loves cuddles.

Continue reading Microsoft Pink livestream page offers glimpse of Turtle, Pink name changing at launch

Microsoft Pink livestream page offers glimpse of Turtle, Pink name changing at launch originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Pink device spotted in the wild, likely 'Turtle'

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:55:00 EST

There's not much too this -- and we'd like to apologize on behalf of the uploader for the choice of music and transitions -- but it looks like someone has managed to score a shot of a Pink device tethered up to a lappie in a coffee shop. From what we've seen leaked in the past, we're figuring this is the smaller model known as "Turtle" internally with a portrait QWERTY slide; it's a funny-looking little beast, isn't it? We don't have much to go on other than this single shot, sadly -- so unless we get some more juicy leakage ahead of Monday, we'll need to wait it out through the weekend to figure out what this is all about. Follow the break for the brief video (and we might recommend a quick press of your mute button before playing).

[Thanks, greenrolaids]

Continue reading Microsoft Pink device spotted in the wild, likely 'Turtle'

Microsoft Pink device spotted in the wild, likely 'Turtle' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SanDisk calls it: Microsoft Pink being announced on Monday

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:36:00 EST

Good secrets are hard to keep, and it looks like at least one of Microsoft's trusted partners has spilled the beans on the company's big announce for Monday. SanDisk used the occasion -- the unannounced occasion, that is -- to let some members of the press know today that Microsoft's Pink devices will be compatible with its line of microSD cards. That seems like a pretty lame way to ride on the coattails of a big hardware launch, but then again, when your most exciting products are nondescript pieces of plastic half the size of a postage stamp, how else are you going to make the news?

SanDisk calls it: Microsoft Pink being announced on Monday originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon teasing a Microsoft Pink announcement for Monday?

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:36:00 EST

So Phandroid has scored some internal Verizon rah-rah type material teasing a device announcement on Monday, and they're thinking it's the upcoming HTC Incredible -- but we're not so sure. This lines up all too well with Microsoft's mysterious event in San Francisco, an event that we've heard repeatedly from a multitude of respected sources (Paul Thurrott and Ina Fried, to name a couple) would be for Microsoft's long-rumored Pink handsets, likely for launch on Verizon. Couple that with Verizon's verbiage here -- "it's new, it's unique, living exclusively on... Verizon Wireless" -- and we kinda think that a device as similar to phones already in the marketplace as the Incredible is doesn't warrant the hype. Fortunately, we'll have this all sorted out in less than 72 hours' time.

[Thanks, Tom]

Verizon teasing a Microsoft Pink announcement for Monday? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft invites us to mystery event, April 12th! (update: for Pink phones?)

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:01:00 EST

Well... we don't know what to make of this one. Microsoft just snail-mailed us a circular package with an invitation to an event on April 12th in San Francisco. They also tell us that it's "time to share," and apparently intend that sharing to go on between young, attractive Urban Outfitters models (according to the images on the notice). Okay. So what is this? Pink? Courier (gasp!)? Windows Phone 7 Series Phone Series 7? Only Microsoft knows for sure. We're searching for more info, so stay tuned! One more pic after the break.

Update: Windows expert Paul Thurrott says definitively that this will not be a Courier event, rather it will be entirely focused on Pink phones, as does CNET's Ina Fried, who adds that they'll be released on Verizon as rumored. We can't say we're surprised, but we're seriously hoping Microsoft makes that tablet a reality.

[Thanks, Kevin]

Continue reading Microsoft invites us to mystery event, April 12th! (update: for Pink phones?)

Microsoft invites us to mystery event, April 12th! (update: for Pink phones?) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leak: Microsoft Pink phones coming to Verizon, on shelves April 20th?

Nilay Patel — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:55:00 EST

Details on Microsoft's Pink phones seem to be leaking all over the place this week, and we just got a huge piece of the puzzle: an extremely reliable source just told us the two Sharp-made devices will launch exclusively on Verizon, with a possible street date of April 20th. We've also got two more photos of the Pure and Turtle -- which are legit, as far as we can tell -- and some info on the Pink ad campaign, which will indeed be targeted at teens and twentysomethings and centered around that "truly madly deeply" line Microsoft employees have been tossing around lately. (Sort of explains that 4/20 launch date, right?) Whether any of this is good enough to overcome the fact that Pink seems to be a limited featurephone platform launching into a world of cheap smartphones remains to be seen, but this thing is definitely happening. New pic of the Turtle after the break.

Update: We've just heard that Pink will be coming to Vodafone internationally as well -- which explains why we've heard of both CDMA and GSM variants of the two devices.

Continue reading Leak: Microsoft Pink phones coming to Verizon, on shelves April 20th?

Leak: Microsoft Pink phones coming to Verizon, on shelves April 20th? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Project Pink QWERTY slider 'Pure' found in the wild, headed for Verizon?

Paul Miller — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:51:00 EST

There's a lot of rumbling in Project Pink land today, as Microsoft is seemingly nearing that magical time where its much-leaked Sidekick followup can finally see the light of day. First off, we're hearing from a tipster that the phones (we've seen 'Turtle' and 'Pure' so far) will be exclusive to Verizon, at least at the outset -- makes sense, given the CDMA radios we saw at the FCC. He calls the UI "hectic and colorful," and also says that there's still some serious cloud backup reliance, along with some desktop software to sync up with the cloud as well, and data plans that including a certain quantity of app downloads a month.

This is all fine and exciting, but it's helped along by a couple of image leaks. Conflipper, well known among the xda-dev crowd, is teasing the Twitter world with some screenshots of the emergency dialer (which also mention Verizon Wireless), and a Facebook upload from the device, which can be found in the gallery below. The dialer is about as barebones as it gets right now, but there's a bit of a hint of Windows Phone 7 Series in there to be sure. Finally, Gizmodo hit upon the hardware jackpot with a Mr. Blurrycam capture of the bigscreen 'Pure' QWERTY slider (pictured up above). If you really squint your eyes you can make out some of that "hectic and colorful" UI we're hearing about.

Gallery: Microsoft "Pink" pictures surface

Project Pink QWERTY slider 'Pure' found in the wild, headed for Verizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp PB20ZU gets FCC approval -- is this 'Pure' from Microsoft's Project Pink?

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:59:00 EST

The puzzle pieces are all fitting together now, aren't they? Just a few days after regulatory passage of the PB10ZU from Sharp -- a device that could very well be the pebble-shaped Turtle -- we're now seeing a separate filing for the PB20ZU. The label document isn't terribly detailed here, but if you squint your eyes, you can definitely see how this lines up perfectly with the concept of a landscape QWERTY slider which is exactly what Project Pink's rumored second phone, the Pure, is expected to be. Despite Microsoft's blowout announcement at MWC earlier this month, there was nary a mention of Pink or the Danger-influenced hardware and software said to surround it, so we're expecting to see this stuff soon -- especially now that we've got FCC certification under our belts. CTIA, perhaps? Notably, this phone rocks CDMA with Bluetooth and WiFi, so if it sees duty on an American carrier -- which it almost certainly will -- it's gotta be either Verizon or Sprint. Stay tuned.

Sharp PB20ZU gets FCC approval -- is this 'Pure' from Microsoft's Project Pink? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's 'Turtle' and 'Pure' phones linked to Tegra chipset, expected in both GSM and CDMA varieties

Vlad Savov — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:23:00 EST

They might not have been revealed at MWC, but that doesn't mean the news flow on Microsoft's long-rumored Pink phones needs to stop. Following the FCC entries that hinted at the future character of these devices, we now have word of an industrious hacker getting hold of the firmware for both the Turtle and Pure handsets. According to his data, the Turtle (believed to look like the square-ish creature on the left) will sport a 320 x 240 screen, while the Pure will have a more generous 480 x 320. Neither would encourage much hope for seeing these as the vanguard handsets of the Windows Phone 7 movement, but a litany of references to Premium Mobile Experiences would both confirm our earlier information and suggest that Microsoft is still going to hit us with something more than a simple feature phone. This is backed up by "a strong connection" to NVIDIA's Tegra chipset, which would be powerful enough to service the rumored video and media management capabilities. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, separate codenames of Lion and Pride have been uncovered, indicating CDMA versions of the Pure and Turtle, whose names are attached to the GSM variants of the two phones. Now if we can just get a release date, we'll be all set.

Microsoft's 'Turtle' and 'Pure' phones linked to Tegra chipset, expected in both GSM and CDMA varieties originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's PB10ZU (turtle) and PB20ZU Project Pink phones outed by FCC?

Thomas Ricker — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:38:00 EST

Oops. Those two pics looks similar, eh? And if we're not mistaken, Microsoft's Pink phone is rumored to be made by Sharp. This wireframe for model PB10ZU just hit the FCC looking every bit the "Turtle" device that was leaked last year. Of course, seeing Sharp behind Pink is only natural since it was one of Danger's manufacturers of choice for the Sidekick -- a team wholly ingested by Microsoft a few years ago. Looking through the FCC docs we see that it's a slider with dual-band CDMA, EVDO Rev. A, Bluetooth, and 802.11b/g WiFi. We also see reference to a second model, the PB20ZU (aka, "pure"?), although that model is lacking any detail whatsoever. The tastiest of FCC docs are being withheld by request until March 29th -- right in line with a rumored spring launch. Hopefully Microsoft will have more to say about Project Pink and Windows 7 devices here in Barcelona so stay tuned.

[Thanks, Jeremy F.]

Microsoft's PB10ZU (turtle) and PB20ZU Project Pink phones outed by FCC? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune software references rumored Project Pink devices, a video upload service?

Ross Miller — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:20:00 EST

We weren't sure things could get any more interesting with Microsoft's mobile rumor mill, but along comes Zune Boards with some tantalizing findings in the latest Zune software update. First up is the eEndpointFamily files, which lists all the compatible hardware -- ZuneHD, for example. Also found, however, were entries for "PmxPure" and "PmxTurtle." PMX, if you recall, seems to be a reference to Microsoft's Premium Mobile eXperiences group, the remnants of the Danger acquisition who have been whispered to be working on Project Pink. As for Pure and Turtle, let's go back all the way to September 2009, when we first heard those names as the initial Pink duo -- there were some supposed renders, too. If that's not enough, two PMX table entries pointed to a snippet of text stating that "Studio members" can "View and manage pictures and videos taken with your phone at the Studio," followed by a link that for now redirects to Zune.net. Could the mysterious Project Pink and the oft-rumored "Zune phone" be one in the same, with some "Studio" service for uploading media to the cloud? Is this all some red herring perpetuated by some amused Microsoft staffers? We don't know, but it's mean to tug at our heart strings like that, Microsoft, and worse that it makes Mobile World Congress even more painful to wait for. #tmdp

Zune software references rumored Project Pink devices, a video upload service? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune 'Phone' devices listed in latest software update

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:48:00 EST

Whoa, what's this? The so-called Zune software maintenance release has a trio of Phone device drivers tucked away inside the Zune.inf file according to Long Zheng over at istartedsomething. And similar to the three devices listed representing the three types of Zunes, we have three Phone.DeviceDesc placeholders for three unannounced (Pink and WinMo 6.x/7?) phones presumably running premium Zune media services. We expect Microsoft will come clean at Mobile World Congress starting February 15th. We'll be there live which means that you will be too.

Zune 'Phone' devices listed in latest software update originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Pink targeting teens and twenty-somethings, devices launching in Spring?

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:50:00 EST

Few reporting on Microsoft are as plugged in to the day-to-day happenings in Redmond as Mary Jo Foley. So much so that she's apt to write an entire column (or two) about internal Microsoft reorganizations -- moves that can be telling from a company attempting to seamlessly integrate its Zune, Xbox, Media Center, and Windows Mobile products, services, and experiences. While you might find it interesting that Enrique Rodriguez has left the company in the latest shakeup to hit MS' Entertainment and Devices unit, the following sentence presented as fact is what caught our attention:

"Pink is the codename for both the set of premium mobile services and one or more Windows Mobile phones aimed at the teen/twenty-something market."

Of course, what she's referring to is the infamous Project Pink, the mystery whatsit said to be emanating from the Microsoft Premium Mobile eXperiences (PMX) group built around the people and technologies nabbed after the Danger acquisition. We're also intrigued by the discussion of Pink in a separate breath from the consumer build of Windows Mobile 7. This makes us wonder if Microsoft is working on a three-pronged strategy that will result in targeted Windows Mobile 7 business and consumer devices as well as Pink phones specifically aimed at teens and twenty-somethings. Mary Jo Foley speculates that the Pink devices might be the first to run Microsoft's new premium Pink services but still be WinMo 6.x based -- if true then we could see a launch this quarter, no need to wait for Windows Mobile 7 which isn't expected until the end of the year. How many days until Mobile World Congress again?

[Thanks, Pratik]

Microsoft Pink targeting teens and twenty-somethings, devices launching in Spring? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Twitter chatter suggests Danger is up to something -- Pink drawing near?

Ross Miller — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:28:00 EST

The other day, we happened to catch a tag on a tweet reading "from Danger." No biggie, really -- Sidekicks have had Twitter integration for a while now. Here's the thing, though: tweeting from a Sidekick plugs a "from Sidekick" on the end, not Danger -- and what's more, the Danger text links to Microsoft's home page rather than Sidekick's. It's starting to get juicy, right? Anyhow, these "from Danger" tweets have really picked up across dozens of accounts since December or so, to the point where we've got a constant cacophony of 'em today -- possibly a sign that these guys have a product in the works that's nearing completion.

Danger... new product... Microsoft... ah, that's right, Pink! We haven't had any fresh intel on the alleged lovechild of Redmond's acquisition in some time -- it could be dead, for all we know -- but there's definitely something going on inside Microsoft's labs that involves Danger's legacy tech and headcount. Whatever it is, they've got a predisposition for the hashtag "#tmdp" (it used to be #tmd and changed at some point) -- we've no idea what it stands for, but we're curious to get your opinions. Anyhow, is this what we're going to see next month at MWC? Is WinMo 7 going to take a back seat yet again? Will it be a one-two punch where they reveal a whole slew of Danger and WinMo stuff at once? Heck, are they the same frigging product? Who knows, but hopefully we'll have it all sorted out within a few weeks' time.

Microsoft's Twitter chatter suggests Danger is up to something -- Pink drawing near? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Pink phones revealed?

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:26:00 EST

It looks likes someone at Microsoft is terribly sloppy with where they leave their important files sitting around. Gizmodo has gotten its hands on two images allegedly of the Pink smartphones that we've been hearing about lately. If you believe your orbs, these represent two distinct iterations of devices which the big M is looking at. Taking a glance at the renders, it's clear that at least one model is that Pre-like phone we spied the other day, supposedly (and creatively) codenamed "Turtle." The other device is dubbed the "Pure," and unfortunately for Microsoft, looks like the G1 having a bad hair day... in 1988. Both devices bear a kind of child-like, simplistic look, which actually makes us wonder if these aren't some concept pieces geared toward the youth market. As Giz says, "Project Pink is Microsoft's new phone for regular people," and "Pink will be primarily aimed at the same market as the Sidekick." Much of that info jibes almost exactly with the news Mary-Jo Foley recently speculated on. Then again, with all the heat the company has been getting about this top secret project, these could very well be reference designs (as opposed to proper models) for a forthcoming lineup of devices. Whatever the case may be, we're definitely underwhelmed from an industrial design standpoint. If this is Microsoft's play for the mainstream consumer smartphone buyer, they've got a pretty big boulder to push uphill.

Microsoft's Pink phones revealed? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Turtle and Pure 'Pink' phones and Surface Tablet: take 2

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:44:00 EST

Right on cue, Mary Jo Foley has chimed in with her expert opinion on the latest Project Pink rumor. Weekend gossip that has Microsoft and Sharp "unleashing" a pair of slider phones codenamed "Turtle" (pictured above) and "Pure" in January (likely at CES). JoFo thinks that it's possible that the rumored handsets could be announced in January, but any phone from Microsoft's Pink skunkworks project wouldn't launch until Windows Mobile 7 was ready, an OS not expected to ship on consumer devices until the end of 2010. Still, a January announce certainly aligns with the modern product buzz life-cycle: the iPhone landed six months after its unveiling while the first Google co-branded phone -- T-Mobile G1 -- took almost a year to bump hands of anxious consumers.

Foley also addressed 9to5Mac's tease of a "much, much bigger and juicier" rumor related to a Microsoft tablet in the late prototype phases. According to her sources, a new Microsoft tablet is part of something called "Alchemy Ventures" and contains at least one exec from Microsoft's Surface team and presumably led by our buddy, J Allard. You'll recall that Microsoft was already rumored to be working on "Oahu" a Surface-based tablet for consumers. So when might we see it? Mary Jo speculates that Microsoft could be waiting to see what Apple's working on before showing off Redmond's competing design. In other words: February.

[Via WMPowerUser]

Read -- "Turtle" pic
Read -- Mary-Jo Foley on Pink and Tablet

Filed under: Handsets, Others, Windows Mobile, Danger

Microsoft's Turtle and Pure 'Pink' phones and Surface Tablet: take 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Turtle and Pure 'Pink' phones and Surface Tablet: take 2

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:44:00 EST

Right on cue, Mary Jo Foley has chimed in with her expert opinion on the latest Project Pink rumor. Weekend gossip that has Microsoft and Sharp "unleashing" a pair of slider phones codenamed "Turtle" (pictured above) and "Pure" in January (likely at CES). JoFo thinks that it's possible that the rumored handsets could be announced in January, but any phone from Microsoft's Pink skunkworks project wouldn't launch until Windows Mobile 7 was ready, an OS not expected to ship on consumer devices until the end of 2010. Still, a January announce certainly aligns with the modern product buzz life-cycle: the iPhone landed six months after its unveiling while the first Google co-branded phone -- T-Mobile G1 -- took almost a year to bump hands of anxious consumers.

Foley also addressed 9to5Mac's tease of a "much, much bigger and juicier" rumor related to a Microsoft tablet in the late prototype phases. According to her sources, a new Microsoft tablet is part of something called "Alchemy Ventures" and contains at least one exec from Microsoft's Surface team and is presumably led by our buddy, J Allard. You'll recall that Microsoft was already rumored to be working on "Oahu" a Surface-based tablet for consumers. So when might we see it? Mary Jo speculates that Microsoft could be waiting to see what Apple's working on before showing off Redmond's competing design. In other words: February.

[Via WMPowerUser]

Read -- "Turtle" pic
Read -- Mary-Jo Foley on Pink and Tablet

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Tablet PCs

Microsoft's Turtle and Pure 'Pink' phones and Surface Tablet: take 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Project Pink finally bearing fruit in 2010 with two self-branded phones?

Chris Ziegler — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:59:00 EST

The concept of a self-branded Microsoft phone (or two) actually making it to market is more believable than ever. A deterrent frequently cited in years past was Microsoft's vested interest in keeping its Windows Mobile hardware partners happy -- but as even their staunchest supporters (think HTC and LG) have turned to Android to shore up their smartphone lineups, it'd be far less of a backstabbing move on Redmond's part to get into the business next year than it would've been in, say, 2006 or even 2008. Add in the fact that the Zune HD shares 99 percent of its DNA with what could be a top-notch Windows Mobile-beating smartphone, and... well, it'd actually be a little ridiculous at this point if they didn't move in that direction, wouldn't it?

This discussion takes us back once again to Project Pink, the oft-rumored secret package of hardware, software, and services (or some combination thereof) allegedly being developed deep within Microsoft's skunkworks. Last we'd heard it'd be based on Windows Mobile 7 Chassis 1 with a heavy dose of 2009-spec components capable of chewing through processor-intensive apps and games, and now 9to5Mac says it's received information that Microsoft will be releasing two Pink devices next year, likely at CES. We've heard for a long time that Pink is one of the fruits (perhaps the only fruit?) of the company's Danger acquisition, and to that end, the Pink devices will apparently be sourced from Sharp -- Danger's primary Hiptop ODM, up to and including the Sidekick LX 2009 -- and will feature "Microsoft+Sharp" co-branding, not unlike Garmin Asus. The handsets are said to be codenamed "Turtle" and "Pure," both sliders of some sort with Pure possibly destined for Verizon. As you might expect from a product developed with Danger, it'll feature tight app store support with carrier integration, but otherwise, there's nothing else to this latest noise. Considering Danger's utter lack of experience with Windows Mobile, that could account for the amount of time it's taking for Microsoft to show its Pink cards -- assuming it's all WinMo- or WinCE-based to begin with. That would also imply that the company would have to start revealing details on its primary next-gen mobile platform in January, which gives 6.5 extraordinarily little breathing room at the top of the food chain.

Of course, 9to5Mac isn't exactly a bastion of reliable Microsoft banter -- we turn to the likes of Mary Jo Foley for that, who's been providing much of the guidance on Pink so far -- but it's an interesting rumor that we think holds far more water than The Inquirer's bunk piece from a little under a year ago. Let's not forget that Danger has a history of procuring its own hardware, and that precedent has transferred to Microsoft by virtue of the purchase. If we see Microsoft+Sharp gear with GSM radios bow in a little over three months, you won't find our jaws on the floor.

Filed under: Handsets, Windows Mobile, Danger

Microsoft's Project Pink finally bearing fruit in 2010 with two self-branded phones? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Project Pink finally bearing fruit in 2010 with two self-branded phones?

Chris Ziegler — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Portable Audio

Microsoft's Project Pink finally bearing fruit in 2010 with two self-branded phones? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Nilay Patel — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:03:00 EST

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

Filed under: Cellphones

Microsoft's "Pink" smartphone to be Microsoft-branded? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft "Pink" specs leak out: Tegra, Snapdragon, OMAP 3, oh my?

Nilay Patel — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:39:00 EST

Ready for some more delicious Zune / Windows Mobile rumors after today's June Zune letdown? Well buckle up -- the always-sharp Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet says she's got specs for Windows Mobile 7 Chassis 1, the heart of that rumored "Pink" smartphone, and they're pretty wild. According to the list, Chassis 1 phones will all have 3.5-inch or larger multitouch displays with ARM v6+ processors and OpenGL ES 2.0-compatible graphics hardware, 256MB or more of RAM and 1GB or more of storage, as well as at least a 3 megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, a compass, and accelerometer. Oh, and glory be -- a 3.5mm headphone jack is required. Here's the kicker, though: NVIDIA's Tegra platform is specifically listed as meeting the core CPU requirements, as well as TI's OMAP 3 platform and "Qualcomm 8k," which sounds to us like Snapdragon's QSD8xxx-series chips. If you've been following along, you know that all three of these (Tegra in particular) have been bandied about as potential Microsoft phone platforms, so it makes perfect sense to us that Microsoft's giving its hardware partners a choice of currently-available high-powered platforms for Chassis 1 -- especially since we've been hearing lots of whispers of hardware based on these chips in the works.

Here's the thing, though: we've also always been told that "Pink" is the codename for Zune software and services on Windows Mobile, so something tells us that Chassis 1 phones running Windows Mobile 7 will feature a strong dose of Zune flavoring -- a plan Steve Ballmer's repeatedly confirmed in the past year. So how do we think this all fits together? Well, we'll slightly revise our previous totally crazy, off-the-wall prediction: we think "Pink" is the codename for a new consumer-focused version of Windows Mobile that integrates Zune services, running not only on a touchscreen Zune HD, but on several third-party phones. Are we crazy? Yes, absolutely -- but you've got to admit the pieces are coming together.

Filed under: Handsets, Windows Mobile

Microsoft "Pink" specs leak out: Tegra, Snapdragon, OMAP 3, oh my? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 May 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft "Pink" specs leak out: Tegra, Snapdragon, OMAP 3, oh my?

Nilay Patel — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Microsoft "Pink" specs leak out: Tegra, Snapdragon, OMAP 3, oh my? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 May 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft: 'June 2009 will be an important month for Zune lovers... hold off from buying an iPhone/Pre' Update: It's a hoax

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:27:00 EST

Microsoft has a new twitter account in support of its Office 2010 product launch. What's strange though, is that the people behind the account seem to care more about the future of the Zune than Office. Two tweets (of five) from this account have caught our attention. The first says,

June 2009 will be an important month for Zune lovers.

Then as a followup to the barrage of questions received, @officethemovie adds,

New product launch, that's all I'm allowed to say. Hold off from buying an iPhone/Pre.

Naturally, we're expecting the launch of the Zune HD and/or the unveiling of project Pink. Whatever happens, the month of June is going to be historic with Apple's WWDC scheduled to kick off on June 8th and the Palm Pre rumored for release on June 5th or June 7th.

Update: It's worth mentioning that the big E3 gaming expo kicks off on June 2nd (press events on the 1st) -- could be important if there's any truth to the new Zune HD supporting some form of Xbox game integration.

Update 2: Sadly, it's all a hoax -- but it was fun while it lasted.

[Via Neowin, thanks Anthony S.]

Filed under: Handsets

Microsoft: 'June 2009 will be an important month for Zune lovers... hold off from buying an iPhone/Pre' Update: It's a hoax originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 May 2009 04:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft: 'June 2009 will be an important month for Zune lovers... hold off from buying an iPhone/Pre' Update: It's a hoax

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:27:00 EST

June 2009 will be an important month for Zune lovers.

Then as a followup to the barrage of questions received, @officethemovie adds,

New product launch, that's all I'm allowed to say. Hold off from buying an iPhone/Pre.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

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Microsoft's "Pink" smartphone could rival iPhone on Verizon

Darren Murph — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:37:00 EST

It's crazy, we know. Just hours after hearing shockingly believable whispers that Apple's white-hot iPhone 3G could be sashaying over to Verizon Wireless, in flies a Wall Street Journal report asserting that the suits in Redmond are (also?) in talks with America's largest carrier. 'Course, we've heard rumors that Microsoft was banging out a smartphone behind closed doors for centuries now, but much to our chagrin, there's no mention of "Zune" in "Project Pink." Instead, we're told that said handset is a touchscreen-based multimedia phone that will aim to extend the Windows Mobile OS while "adding new software capabilities." Not surprisingly, the article also mentions that Windows Marketplace would be front and center on the phone, and potentially most interesting is this tidbit: "a third-party is expected to make the device." Hey HTC -- seen any strange calls originating from the 425?

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Filed under: Cellphones

Microsoft's "Pink" smartphone could rival iPhone on Verizon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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