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Just got a Windows Phone 7 handset? The best apps, accessories, and tips

Richard Lai — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 11:56:00 EST

Ah, so you've just been given a Windows Phone 7 handset. If that's what you'd been begging for all this time, then many congratulations; but if not, don't hit eBay just yet -- sure, WP7's range of apps is comparatively limited with its recent 5,000 milestone, but hey, you gotta start somewhere, right? Even at its infancy, WP7 has proven to be a nice alternative choice if you want to stand out from the rest of the smartphone crowd, and don't forget its two powerful weapons: Zune and Xbox Live integration. Until WP7 gets its major upgrade early next year, our holiday guide should keep you and your new phone going for a little longer. Go ahead and read on.

Continue reading Just got a Windows Phone 7 handset? The best apps, accessories, and tips

Just got a Windows Phone 7 handset? The best apps, accessories, and tips originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Focus review

Joshua Topolsky — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:47:00 EST

Even though we've seen a torrent of Windows Phone 7 devices, we couldn't leave you hanging on a review of the Samsung Focus. In the last few days, a flurry of new Microsoft-powered devices have hit the market, boasting slight differences, but all looking and acting largely the same. We've taken a deep dive on the operating system itself, the Omnia 7, Optimus 7, Mozart, HD7, and Surround (phew!) -- now it's time to focus on the, er... Focus. The device itself has a lot in common with its European brother, the Omnia 7, boasting the same 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 8GB of internal storage, 1GHz CPU, and 5 megapixel camera. The device will soon go on sale in America for $199.99 on AT&T's network -- in fact, it's the only Windows Phone 7 device you'll be able to buy on the network when they go public on November 8th. But is it really worth your hard earned cash when there are so many other options in the market? Read on for the full Engadget review to find out!

Update: Just a note, the HD7 will also be available (for T-Mobile) on November 8th and we've updated the above information to reflect that.

Update 2: We had the numbers wrong on the RAM / ROM. It's 512MB and 1GB, respectively.

This review is primarily of the Samsung Focus hardware. Check out our full review of Windows Phone 7 for our thoughts on the OS.

Gallery: Samsung Focus review hands-on

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Samsung Focus review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 review

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EST

Have you been looking for the definitive review of Windows Phone 7? Well, look no further. Microsoft's next (and perhaps final) opportunity to break back into the smartphone race has officially begun, and Engadget has been cranking on a variety of launch devices across several continents to see if the platform holds water.

Back in July we took a deep dive on Windows Phone 7 using a developer device that Microsoft handed out to journalists, and now we're back for the full review. What we realized going into this process was that really very little had changed between the summertime preview and the new OS' fall launch. Even though there have been tweaks and fixes in Microsoft's mobile experience, there hasn't been any addition so large that we felt the software required a completely fresh look. Instead, what we needed to do was go back to the observations made during our initial experience with the OS, compare it to the final product, and figure out where the company improved (or diminished) specific facets of the operating system. And of course, we finally had a real chance to use Xbox Live and third party applications -- two of the crucial elements of this OS. So, below is our re-edited, refreshed take on Windows Phone 7, complete with real answers to nagging questions, and our definitive score of Microsoft's great smartphone hope at version 1.0. Read on for the full story!

Gallery: Windows Phone 7 interface

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Windows Phone 7 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 launch guide

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:27:00 EST

Windows Phone 7. We came, we saw, we took lots and lots of photos. Today, Microsoft unleashed its global domination plans on the world, and we wanted to give readers some insight into what happens now, what happens next, and what the more distant future holds for Redmond's smartphone play. As we saw today, the WP7 push is going to happen in multiple countries (more than 30), on multiple carriers (more than 60), and involve lots and lots of hardware. Ten devices to start -- all announced today -- and a slew of others likely to follow.

Overall, the first approach of Windows Phone 7 into the marketplace looks strong. Microsoft has built a surprisingly solid new OS (which we previewed in-depth back in July), has a strong set of carrier relationships in place, and is introducing hardware that if not revolutionary, is certainly competitive. So, where are the holes in the plan right now?

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 launch guide

Windows Phone 7 launch guide originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 launch event

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:15:00 EST

The party starts soon! We're at the venue and about to get going, so tune back in at the times below!

03:30AM - Hawaii
06:30AM - Pacific
07:30AM - Mountain
08:30AM - Central
09:30AM - Eastern
02:30PM - London
03:30PM - Paris
05:30PM - Moscow
10:30PM - Tokyo

Continue reading Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 launch event

Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 launch event originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 launch event is Monday at 9:30AM ET, and we'll be there live!

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST

As you may have heard, Microsoft is having a major event Monday in NYC to announce details surrounding Windows Phone 7 launch dates and devices... and Engadget is going to be there delivering the best live coverage in the universe. In case you don't already know, Steve Ballmer and AT&T's Ralph de la Vega will be on stage to delight your senses, and there will likely be lots of new hardware we'll be getting our hands on.

You can see all of the news unfold in realtime right here at our liveblog post, and the whole thing starts tomorrow, October 11th, at the times listed below. Don't miss it!

03:30AM - Hawaii
06:30AM - Pacific
07:30AM - Mountain
08:30AM - Central
09:30AM - Eastern
02:30PM - London
03:30PM - Paris
05:30PM - Moscow
10:30PM - Tokyo

Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 launch event is Monday at 9:30AM ET, and we'll be there live! originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 goes gold master, begins rolling out to partners for final launch preparations

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST

If you've been holding yourself back during these early rounds of the smartphone wars in anticipation of Windows Phone 7, your wait just got a tiny bit shorter. Today Microsoft is announcing that its fancy new mobile operating system has been released to manufacturing, making the idea of you holding an actual WP7 device in your hands that much closer to reality. The finished product is now rolling out to partners around the world where it will be getting carrier and manufacturer tweaks and additions, and going through the kind of pre-launch testing you would expect for a release of this scale. If you had any doubt that the Windows Phone 7 onslaught was close at hand, feel free to abandon them now.

Furthermore, the folks on the 7 team have managed to cram a few last minute goodies into the OS, one of which we're particularly excited about. As you probably know from our in-depth preview of an early version of the software, we had a lot of issues with overflowing Facebook contacts in our phone. Microsoft has now solved that problem by enabling a contact filter system which looks for pre-existing matches to your Facebook contacts. If it doesn't find a match, it doesn't pull that contact into your address book (kind of like how Android filters Facebook friends). It's a welcome addition and should make the Facebook / Windows Phone 7 combo a lot more palatable to a lot of people. Furthermore, Microsoft has added functionality into the People Hub which will allow you to "like" someone's posts, and you'll be able to comment directly onto someone's Wall right in the hub. The company has also made tweaks and fixes focusing on feature discoverability (another issue we pointed out in the early look), along with the expected set of polishing and finish you'd expect from a product that's gone gold master.

Windows Phone 7 goes gold master, begins rolling out to partners for final launch preparations originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell dropping Windows Phone 7 devices from its roadmap? (update: Dell responds, is definitely still in the game)

Joshua Topolsky — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:54:00 EST

Now we don't have much more to go on here than some analyst chatter and a lengthy article from TechCrunch, but if you believe what you read, a major player has just dropped Windows Phone 7 devices from its roadmap. ~~And that player is Dell~~. According to Jonathan Goldberg, an telecom analyst at Deutsche Bank, the only remaining partners currently working on Windows Phone 7 handsets are HTC, Samsung, and LG. If this is true (and that's a big if), that means that the seriously awesome looking Dell Lightning that we spied in leaks recently will never see the light of day -- as a WP7 device, at least.

We already knew that HP was out of the game (instead focusing on webOS phones), but the casual suggestion that Dell has made for the door here is somewhat suspect. The company itself hasn't made any statements (we've reached out but have yet to hear back), and while Dell has certainly concentrated a lot of effort on Android devices recently, its partnership with Microsoft is long-standing (despite dabbling in the world of open source). If the story turns out to be true, it could spell mixed (if not outright bad) tidings for the Windows Phone 7 launch, which Goldberg alleges may cost Microsoft upwards of half a billion dollars -- no small fee. Losing two of the biggest computer-makers in the world can't feel very good when you're trying to fight your way back to relevancy, but at least on the bright side, neither HP nor Dell have a track record of making anything other than heroically mediocre handsets. Take this all with a grain of salt right now, however, as the author of the TechCrunch article provides no source for the statements from Goldberg, and... well, he's an analyst, and they're prone to making up all kinds of crazy things. We're investigating, and will let you know as soon as we have more info.

Update: We've been pinged back by Dell's Matt Parretta, and he was 100 percent clear that Dell was most certainly still part of the Windows Phone 7 game. In the company's words:

Any reports, or speculation, that report Dell will not support Windows Phone 7 are false... Microsoft announced Dell as a supporting partner at this year's Mobile World Congress and nothing's changed. We are excited to collaborate with Microsoft on Windows Phone 7, and are looking forward to bringing customers amazing mobile experiences.

Furthermore, the analyst in question here (Jonathan Goldberg) has also reached out to us to clarify his statements, saying that he believes Dell is still a partner on Windows Phone 7, just not a launch partner. Dell was mum on release schedules, but one thing is clear -- they intend to follow through on this collaboration.

Dell dropping Windows Phone 7 devices from its roadmap? (update: Dell responds, is definitely still in the game) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live launch titles for Windows Phone 7 finally revealed, we've got the full preview

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:12:00 EST

We've known that proper Xbox Live gaming (powered by XNA) was coming to Windows Phone 7 devices, but we'd yet to see any of that thumb-spraining goodness in action besides a brief demo and a few developer videos. Well, Microsoft has finally come clean with details about its launch strategy for the platform, and from where we sit, it's definitely looking pretty promising. First off, the company has announced a full list of launch titles for WP7 handsets, including some familiar names and franchises like Castlevania, Halo: Waypoint, Star Wars, Crackdown, and Guitar Hero, alongside a handful of newer properties like the ultra-cute ilomilo, produced in-house by Microsoft Game Studios. In total, the company will launch with over 60 game titles, with new offerings appearing every week in the Xbox Live Marketplace, just like its big brother console version. We've got all the details, a full list of the launch titles, and our hands-on preview after the break -- so read on to get the scoop!

Gallery: Xbox Live for Windows Phone 7 hands-on

Continue reading Xbox Live launch titles for Windows Phone 7 finally revealed, we've got the full preview

Xbox Live launch titles for Windows Phone 7 finally revealed, we've got the full preview originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive interview with Joe Belfiore, corporate VP of Windows Phone

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:46:00 EST

By now you've probably read our in-depth blowout of Windows Phone 7 (and if not, what are you waiting for?). But what you haven't seen yet is our exclusive sit-down with Microsoft's Joe Belfiore, wherein we talk about the ins and outs of the new mobile operating system. We grill the Windows Phone corporate VP about a whole stack of items, and do our very best to make him start crying like a Barbara Walters interview subject (spoiler alert, he doesn't cry). Still, we think there's some good insight here into what the company thinks of its odds in the smartphone wars, and what kinds of features we will (and won't) see when these devices launch this fall. Take a look at the video after the break -- you won't regret it.

Continue reading Exclusive interview with Joe Belfiore, corporate VP of Windows Phone

Exclusive interview with Joe Belfiore, corporate VP of Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 in-depth preview

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:10:00 EST

It's been a long road, hasn't it? Well, in some respects, it hasn't -- in fact, it's only been about two years since development of Windows Phone 7 as we know it today kicked off -- but when you consider that this product will be replacing Windows Mobile 6.5, that puts things in proper perspective. In fact, even the very latest maintenance releases of good ol' WinMo are based on the same rickety underpinnings as version 5.0 was way back in 2005, at a time when WVGA smartphone displays were science fiction, 4G networks were a good two Gs beyond the average American's comprehension, and Engadget looked like this. Nowadays, it's a very different game; eight year-olds have access to mobile email, your phone understands German, and "Yelp" is a verb (okay, actually Yelp is a verb). Indeed, mobile devices are the new PCs -- and companies like Apple and Google are dominating an industry that had once been practically handed to Microsoft on a silver platter. No one -- either inside or outside of Redmond -- is arguing that change isn't desperately (and quickly) needed, because it simply isn't enough to dominate the desktop anymore.

In light of all that, you could call Windows Phone 7 a desperation move to become relevant in the pocket again. Call it whatever you like, but regardless, brand loyalty isn't going to save this product -- it simply has to be good to sell. Scratch that; it actually has to be nearly flawless in a world where iOS 4 and Gingerbread play. Microsoft still has a few months before it intends to get the first volley of Windows Phone 7-based products to the marketplace, but we've recently been provided with reference hardware -- a not-for-retail Samsung called "Taylor" that's closely modeled on the Symbian-based i8910HD -- to get a feel for where they're at as the clock ticks down. Is this shaping up to be a killer platform for the next generation of high-end smartphones? And more importantly, can it win customers? Read on for our first take.

Gallery: Windows Phone 7 preview

Gallery: Windows Phone 7 interface shots

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Windows Phone 7 in-depth preview originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What killed the Kin?

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:27:00 EST

While the news today that Microsoft has killed its troubled Kin line didn't come as the craziest of surprises, it's definitely left a lot of lingering questions about just what happened. Now we may have a little insight into what went wrong -- and what might be in store down the road -- thanks to a reliable source of ours who's shared some news on Redmond's inner turmoil.

Apparently, the troubles started long before the swirling Pink phone rumors (and way before the name Kin was ringing in our ears). According to our source, the birth of these devices began with a decision at Microsoft to create a platform agnostic, cloud-centric featurephone. A featurephone that could be had at a relatively low cost, and sold to a burgeoning market of teens and young adults who had little need for a BlackBerry-level device (or pricing). The first step in the project was acquiring Danger to leverage the work it had done with the Sidekick platform, and aligning with Verizon as a launch partner who could offer attractive pricing plans for the devices to a big pool... and here's where the trouble begins.

Continue reading What killed the Kin?

What killed the Kin? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:02:00 EST

Microsoft just planted a massive flag in the ground with the debut of Windows Phone 7 Series. The company's new mobile operating system is a radical and potent departure from the past, and there's a lot to take in -- so we've gathered together all our knowledge and impressions of the device so far and rolled them into a single, concise guide. Of course, there will be plenty more to learn in the coming months, and we're going to be beating down Redmond's door for more details on this thing, but for now let's dive into what Microsoft has revealed so far about its latest and (potentially) greatest phone operating system.

Gallery: Windows Phone 7 Series Interface

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Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Making it different versus making a difference

Ross Rubin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

How many apps does it take to screw in a light bulb? That was the question facing Microsoft as rival mobile operating systems backed by Apple and Google added tens of thousands of applications giving users stylus-free access to a wide range of capabilities. For a company whose co-founder trumpeted the notion of information at your fingertips, it was a bitter position. The light bulb wasn't screwed, but Microsoft looked as though it was.

Finally, though, the light bulb has turned on, and it has lit a path in the opposite direction from the guiding user interface philosophy that characterized Windows Mobile, née Windows CE, since it powered devices known as Pocket PCs. With its miniature Start menu, menu bars and icons, Windows Mobile had been designed to present a familiar interface to those used to using Windows 95. In this case, however, familiarity bred contempt. As Microsoft's Joe Belfiore repeated several times during his introduction of the new Windows Phone 7 OS, "the phone is not a PC."

Continue reading Switched On: Making it different versus making a difference

Switched On: Making it different versus making a difference originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 7 Series

Nilay Patel — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

Microsoft took a dramatic step with Windows Phone 7 Series this morning at MWC in Barcelona, and obviously we've been talking about it all day here at Engadget HQ. Just like with the iPad and the Droid, opinions on the staff are all over the map -- it's not every day that a company reboots an entire OS -- so we're going to let everyone speak for themselves, starting with the people who've handled Windows Phone 7 Series in person: Josh, Chris, Thomas, and Sean.

Josh:

The most astonishing thing about Windows Phone 7 Series is how completely it's managed to obliterate its Windows Mobile roots. Let's just be crystal clear about it: this is unlike anything the company has ever done, both in distancing itself from its past, and in the clarity of its vision. From the floor to ceiling, 7 Series is just a very new operating system with very new ideas about how users should be involved with their devices. What people should recognize is that the Windows Mobile team has made a huge gamble that upending its ailing OS was the only solution... and from the looks of things, that gamble has paid off. But this isn't a battle already won -- it's a battle yet to be fought. There's still much we don't know about this OS, and plenty to be concerned about when it comes to turning what looks nice in a demo into a daily use smartphone. There are huge questions to be answered. How are notifications handled? What kind of SDK will be made available to developers? How rigid will the user experience guidelines be? What is the real story on multitasking? Will the phone support third party browsers, email clients, or messaging applications? Can hardware manufacturers differentiate their products enough? Will the basic phone experience be useful to enterprise users or others looking for a workhorse and not just a pretty face?

Honestly, those are just a few of the questions I have -- but I also continue to be impressed with Microsoft's fierceness of conviction on this platform. If the company can hew close enough to its promises and deliver on the tall order it's set out for itself, then hope for Windows in the mobile space is far from dead. It's about to be reborn.

Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 7 Series

Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 7 Series originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Zune music / video services going wherever Windows Phone 7 Series goes

Darren Murph — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:08:00 EST

Hear that, globetrotters? Just months after your hopes and dreams were obliterated, we're now hearing that the Zune HD and its associated music / video services are going international, and it could happen by the end of the year. At least that's the word given to Mary Jo Foley from Casey McGee, Microsoft Senior Marketing Manager. In a recent sit-down, Casey noted that the company's Zune music / video service "would be available in all countries where Windows 7 Phones will ship," and while it has yet to make that full list of nations publicly available, we already learned that the new mobile OS has gained support from mobile operators all over Europe. Putting two and two together can be difficult at times, but hopefully we aren't reading too much into this (painfully simple) equation.

Microsoft Zune music / video services going wherever Windows Phone 7 Series goes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft offers up lengthy Windows Phone 7 Series video walkthrough

Darren Murph — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:39:00 EST

Not quite sure if you've heard, but Microsoft launched a new mobile operating system today. Crazy, right? Unfortunately, it'll be a few ~~weeks~~ seasons still before you can actually wrap your palms around an actual Windows Phone 7 Series device, but the folks over at MSDN aren't holding back. They've hosted up a 22 minute video walkthrough to explain every nook and crannie of the fresh OS, and if you're one of those "impatient" types, you owe it to yourself to hit the source link and mash play. Grab a beverage first, though.

[Thanks, Nathan]

Microsoft offers up lengthy Windows Phone 7 Series video walkthrough originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone press event at MWC 2010

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:52:00 EST

We're in our seats and the show is about to begin. Hang tight! Everything is set to go at these times:

04:00AM - Hawaii
06:00AM - Pacific
07:00AM - Mountain
08:00AM - Central
09:00AM - Eastern
02:00PM - London
03:00PM - Paris
11:00PM - Tokyo

Continue reading Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone press event at MWC 2010

Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone press event at MWC 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 7 interface and device leaked on MWC banners

Vlad Savov — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:25:00 EST

The eagle-eyed folks of learnbemobile have come across this stupendous leak of Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Mobile 7 OS. It would appear that some last minute alterations were taking place under the covers in Barcelona, though apparently no one bothered to check if there were cameras around before lifting said covers. You can see what appears to be some kind of Xbox Live integration -- which was heavily rumored already -- taking up a corner of what's presumably a new home screen for the OS. There are also big, finger-loving notice icons for calls, text messages, and email, with sections for Facebook, Pictures and "Me" filling out the rest. We don't have any more info than these few shots, and the aforementioned site just has the images camped out on its Facebook page, but it definitely looks to be the real deal. If this is the new face of Windows Mobile, color us excited for today's event -- it looks like a radical departure (or at least a crazy skin). You can check out a few more shots in the gallery below.

[Thanks, HJ Willems]

Update: The official announcement has now been made and fully corroborates the visuals leaked here. Check out our hands-on experience with the fresh new software to learn more.

Gallery: Windows Mobile 7 leaked screenshots

Windows Mobile 7 interface and device leaked on MWC banners originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Windows Phone event at MWC kicks off tomorrow at 9AM ET

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:02:00 EST

If you're both ready and set, then you'll be pleased to know that Microsoft has major Windows Mobile goings-on to discuss tomorrow at 9AM ET (3PM here in Spain). What does that really mean? Well based on the torrent of circumstantial (and actual) evidence we've seen, it looks like the big M is set to deliver its most important piece of mobile news in years: Windows Mobile 7. Or, Windows Phone 7 Series... or whatever it is they're calling it these days. Regardless, it looks like a new era for Redmond's smartphone platform, and we'll be there covering the whole thing minute-by-minute... as only Engadget can.

If you're as curious as we are about Microsoft's plans, the event kicks off on Monday, February 15 at the times below. And here's the URL to park your browser at to see the action take place:

04:00AM - Hawaii
06:00AM - Pacific
07:00AM - Mountain
08:00AM - Central
09:00AM - Eastern
02:00PM - London
03:00PM - Paris
11:00PM - Tokyo

Microsoft's Windows Phone event at MWC kicks off tomorrow at 9AM ET originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 Series: that's the name

Chris Ziegler — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:26:00 EST

So we were just casually strolling through Plaça d'Espanya today in front of Fira de Barcelona -- better known as the site of MWC 2010 this coming week -- and we couldn't help but notice that Microsoft's digs at the Hotel Catalonia across the street had white stickers obviously covering something important underneath the Windows Phone logo that we'd seen a few days ago. The ensuing conversation went something like this:

Chris: Dude, I think I see something there underneath the sticker. I think it says "SEVEN" in all caps.
Thomas (staring intently): No way.
Chris: Yes, I'm telling you, "SEVEN." It's there!
Thomas: Fanboy. It's official, I'm covering MWC with an insane person... looks like I'm bouncing back to Amsterdam. Peace.

Well, turns out we were both wrong -- a little Photoshop magic (okay, a lot of Photoshop magic) reveals "7 Series" underneath the decal, just waiting to be torn off after Monday's big press event. The "7" is certainly no surprise, but the "Series" part of this is cause for some last-minute speculation -- are we actually going to see consumer and professional breakouts of the platform as we'd heard rumored a few times in the past? We'll know in less than two days. Follow the break for the full retouched image.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series: that's the name

Windows Phone 7 Series: that's the name originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's MWC digs come together, 'Ready, Set' is the theme (and Steve Ballmer's hosting)

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:12:00 EST

The fine city of Barcelona is abuzz this week as final preparations for Mobile World Congress fall into place -- and as you probably know by now, we're all expecting Microsoft to pull out all of the stops to introduce Windows Mobile 7. Just like last year, Redmond is renting out the Catalonia Barcelona Plaza Hotel across the street from the convention center to help kick off its announcements in style, and reader Javier has been kind enough to send in some shots of the facility getting done up in Microsoft livery for the event. There aren't any spoilers here, sadly, but we can see that the company's "Windows Phone" branding figures prominently (we should hope as much) and they're using the catchphrase "Ready. Set." to get everyone fired up. You might say the "wow" starts now -- or, you know, you might not. Either way, be sure to keep it tuned right here throughout next week's festivities, because we'll be bringing you tons of coverage live!

If you're as curious as we are about Microsoft's plans, here's when the event (which you can bet your bottom euro we'll be liveblogging) kicks off on Monday, February 15:

03:00AM - Hawaii
06:00AM - Pacific
07:00AM - Mountain
08:00AM - Central
09:00AM - Eastern
02:00PM - London
03:00PM - Paris
11:00PM - Tokyo

[Thanks, Javier M.]

Update: We've gotten email confirmation from Microsoft today that none other than the head honcho, Steve Ballmer, will be hosting the press conference -- which means we need roughly 20 percent less coffee before showing up than we would otherwise.

Gallery: Microsoft's MWC digs come together, 'Ready, Set' is the theme

Microsoft's MWC digs come together, 'Ready, Set' is the theme (and Steve Ballmer's hosting) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unearthed Microsoft emails reveal reaction to iTunes launch, make us giddy for MWC

Darren Murph — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:48:00 EST

It's a funny thing, really. iTunes has somehow managed to become the world's largest seller of music in just seven years, yet it's easily one of the buggiest, most resource intensive and altogether unlikable pieces of software to ever come from the labs of Cupertino. From Microsoft's perspective, however, they're really just interested in the first bit, and in particular, why it wasn't able to take advantage of the market opportunity in the way Jobs and company did. Groklaw managed to dig up a handful of email chains that were made public after the Comes v. Microsoft antitrust litigation, and the content is nothing short of eye-opening. One particular snippet from Bill Gates was exceptionally juicy, as he noted (in a number of words) that Apple had somehow managed to "get a better licensing deal than anyone else has gotten for music." Jim Allchin's terse reply consisted of two statements, one of which was "we were smoked."

Frankly, this unearthing couldn't have come at a better time. With Mobile World Congress about to get going in Barcelona, we're waiting on pins and needles to see what kind of music innovation is being veiled in the purported Windows Mobile 7 introduction. If you'll recall, we already heard that many elements from the Zune HD interface would be making their way onto the mobile side, and there's hardly a better time to really give iTunes a run for its money than mid-February 2010. Dig into the links below for more on the 2003 revelation -- it's a hoot, we tell ya.

Unearthed Microsoft emails reveal reaction to iTunes launch, make us giddy for MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumored Windows Phone 7 details surface ahead of MWC launch: Zune-like UI, no multitasking

Donald Melanson — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:07:00 EST

We've had a pretty clear indication that Microsoft would have plenty to say about Windows Mobile 7 at MWC this month, and it looks like we now have the first significant batch of rumored details ahead of the presumed launch. While nothing is close to being confirmed just yet, PPCGeeks has received what it describes as some "truly amazing information" about what's now apparently known as Windows Phone 7, and it certainly paints an interesting picture. According to the site, Windows Phone 7 will sport an interface that's "very similar" to the Zune HD, along with a complete revamp of the start screen, and a UI (codenamed METRO) that's described as "very clean," "soulful," and "alive." Perhaps just as notably, the OS supposedly won't support multitasking, with applications instead simply pausing themselves when in the background (there will be support for push notifications, though). Also missing is Flash support (at least initially), as well as NETCF backwards compatibility for older applications, although there are apparently "high hopes" for porting NETCF to the new platform eventually.

On the upside, the OS is said to have full Xbox gaming integration (including gamertags, avatars and, yes, achievements), full Zune integration, full support for social networking, and a try before you buy system in the Marketplace. What we apparently won't be seeing at MWC, however, is any Windows Phone 7 hardware, as the announcement is said to focus solely on the user interface. According to PPCGeeks, however, Microsoft is confident that the first hardware will be ready by September of this year. Hit up the link below for the complete rundown.

Update: MobileTechWorld looks to have also received the same batch of rumors, and has revealed a few more, including word that the browsing experience is currently "better / faster" than the iPhone 3G, and that Microsoft is "aiming towards" the 3GS. They also say that while there will be no Microsoft-made device, the company will have tighter control of the manufacturing process, which promises to simplify things for everyone involved and allow for over-the-air updates.

Rumored Windows Phone 7 details surface ahead of MWC launch: Zune-like UI, no multitasking originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft CFO says 'we'll have much more to say' about WinMo 7 in February

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:11:00 EST

Every indication we've had out of Microsoft is that Windows Mobile 7 is on track for a grand unveiling at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month, and indeed, Fox Business has none other than CFO Peter Klein on record saying as much -- the closest thing we've had to a confirmation outside of Robbie Bach's analyst remarks a few weeks back. At the 4:07 mark of the video, Klein says that the company is "heads down" on WinMo 7 and expects to have "much more to say" about the product out in Spain, which would mark the one-year anniversary since the announcement of 6.5 at the same venue. Considering the brutal response that last version endured over the better part of 2009, let's hope they're coming to the table with something much, much more delicious this time around.

Microsoft CFO says 'we'll have much more to say' about WinMo 7 in February originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 7 roadmap elucidated, starts with MWC 2010 demo

Vlad Savov — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:17:00 EST

You know, January is all but expired now. Gone are the heady (or is that headless?) days of CES 2010, and we're nearly past the rumor euphoria of the decade, so what do we have to look forward to? According to CNET's sources, WinMo 7. This year. Sure, we heard as much from DigiTimes, but it's always good to put a more legitimate source to what is quite the juicy forecast. Confirmation that Microsoft is planning to finalize all code by this summer also meshes with an earlier leak of an LG Windows Mobile 7 handset set for a September release, while the latest Pink phone rumors are also reiterated. At any rate, it all kicks off in Barcelona come February 15, with Microsoft also circling its MIX 2010 web development conference a month later as the time it'll start dishing the dirt on how to code for the new OS. So there we have it, new consumer phones and a long overdue WinMo overhaul all coming to you within the next few months.

Windows Mobile 7 roadmap elucidated, starts with MWC 2010 demo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:17:00 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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Engadget Podcast 180 - 01.22.2010

Trent Wolbe — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:46:00 EST

Plug into the latest Engadget Podcast for the lowdown on all the hottest, dirtiest, nastiest Apple Tablet rumors! Too hot for text! If you don't get down with the Crowd from Cupertino you can also feast your ears on sultry Finnish imports, steamy webOS reviews, and yeah, even some wild and wooly Windows Mobile wishes! FREE for a limited time only. Featuring Chris "Zazzle" Ziegler. Void where prohibited.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Guest: Chris Ziegler
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Electrodreams - Where It's At

Hear the podcast

01:50 - Nokia N900 review
13:40 - Nokia Ovi Maps with free turn-by-turn navigation hands-on
13:49 - Nokia offering free turn-by-turn navigation on smartphones globally (updated)
19:32 - Palm Pre Plus (and Pixi Plus) review
29:40 - Palm Pre Plus shows off multitasking upgrade with 50 simultaneous apps (video)
31:10 - The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more!
31:15 - Next Android version will be called Froyo, says Erick Tseng
31:37 - Windows Mobile 7 megarumor: LG Apollo and HTC Obsession running flagship '720p' specs, Zune Phone Experience
32:40 - Microsoft's Twitter chatter suggests Danger is up to something -- Pink drawing near?
34:10 - It's on: Apple holding January 27th event to show off its 'latest creation'
36:00 - Apple rumor roundup: pipe dreams, Lala's role and Verizon's iPhone 4G
38:00 - WSJ: Apple tablet to have books, games, music, TV, will make sandwiches
40:00 - Apple Tablet rumor roundup: summer 2010 edition
42:00 - Apple rumor roundup: future of media edition
45:00 - WSJ: Apple and HarperCollins negotiating e-book deal for tablet
47:40 - Next week's Apple event to be iLife / iPhone OS 4.0 / tablet trifecta?
56:30 - Apple rumor roundup: iPhone patent 4.0 edition

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Contact the podcast

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Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 180 - 01.22.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 7 rumors coalesce around Q4 launch, MWC announcement

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:57:00 EST

While DigiTimes isn't our go-to source for all things Microsoft, the Taiwanese tattler does have its finger on the pulse of the Taiwanese / Chinese manufacturing juggernaut. As such, we expect it to be privy to information related to HTC, Acer, and ASUS handsets. So lean in close when it cites "sources familiar to Microsoft's roadmap" in claiming a September 2010 release of Windows Mobile 7 to its handset partners -- the same month pegged by that LG leak last week. That should translate into consumer availability by the end of Q4, or Q1 2011 at the latest. As it's stated, WinMo7 will bring an improved interface, browsing, and multimedia experience with integrated support for Zune, Xbox Live, and Silverlight; nothing we haven't heard before (and long wished for). DigiTimes claims that only English and "common European languages" will be available initially with Asian localization coming in 2011. Oh, and it'll be announced at Mobile World Congress.

One thing's clear: the rapid convergence of the rumor mill around dates and feature sets has us very excited about Microsoft's chances at resurrecting its smartphone soul in time for the holidays. As such, we'll be at Mobile World Congress in force to bring you the full story starting February 15th. It's going to be good.

Windows Mobile 7 rumors coalesce around Q4 launch, MWC announcement originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 7 megarumor: LG Apollo and HTC Obsession running flagship '720p' specs, Zune Phone Experience

Paul Miller — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:05:00 EST

Alright, this is some wild, heavy stuff, but the folks at WMExperts have compiled what they believe to be true about Windows Mobile 7, including a whole bunch of previously undisclosed info and even a couple of flagship phones. We can't vouch for the rumors, but there's a ring of truth to plenty of it, and most of the rest of it we want to be true. First off, Microsoft is approaching the revision with two flavors: Windows Phone Seven Business Edition, and Windows Phone Seven Media Edition. The former is a stripped down OS that will allow OEM overlays like HTC's Sense UI, and includes lower minimum specs -- though a WVGA "minimum" is nothing to get angry about. Meanwhile, it sounds like the Media Edition is the quasi-"Zune Phone" we've been dreaming of, with a heavy emphasis on HD media playback and capture, along with social networking activities like Xbox Live, Facebook and Twitter. Other features include cloud-style services on the Business Edition side for live manipulation of stored data, a long with a location-aware platform dubbed "Orion."

This all sounds great, but what's really exciting is what Microsoft is dictating should be in some of these Media Edition phones. The first two to break cover are the LG Apollo and HTC Obsession. The Apollo is a 3G worldphone (EV-DO and HSDPA) that runs a 1.3GHz Qualcomm QSD8650 processor and a 3.8-inch AMOLED 1280 x 720 WXGA display. The phone also is purported to have a 10 megapixel camera capable of 720p video recording. Meanwhile, HTC's HSDPA-limited Obsession runs a mere 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 proc, with a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera and 720p video recording. The Apollo is due in August or September of this year, with the Obsession following in October. Now, some of these specs are admittedly suspect, like the WXGA resolution on the Apollo and that seemingly 10 megapixel sensor, but we want to believe.

As for what we know to be true? Well, we know we'll see something at MWC next month, unless Robbie Bach is just joshing around, and we also know HTC has confirmed its involvement with Windows Mobile 7 -- lending some credence to rumors of the Sense UI sticking around for a new-generation -- and that LG has gone on (and quickly off) record as well saying it'll have a WinMo 7 phone in September. It's all a lot more vague than the pages of specs we're staring at now, but it's clear that something is brewing. Hit up the source link for the full nitty gritty.

Windows Mobile 7 megarumor: LG Apollo and HTC Obsession running flagship '720p' specs, Zune Phone Experience originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Early Windows Mobile 7 build gets handled, incompatible with previous WinMo apps?

Ross Miller — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:18:00 EST

In case you weren't aware, Mobile-review's Eldar Murtazin is somewhat of a living legend around these parts. The Russian-borne phone guru manages to get his hands on an ample number of then-unreleased devices and juicy scoops -- but he's also been known to get things dead wrong from time, so keep that in mind. This time he might've just outdone himself with some apparent hands-on time with Windows Mobile 7. Here's what he's saying via Twitter: the OS has been built on scratch, and none of the old WinMo 6.x apps worked. There's "a lot of horizontal movements, a lot of additional info by clicks... for WM users it will be a great step ahead. For market it's a copycat of Android 3.1/3.2 [sic] or iPhone." No direct comparison to Zune HD, except to say that it's a simpler UI than what he was seeing here, and also no clue on the kernel underneath. Still, the lack of legacy compatibility is either a huge bummer to the fan base, or if not that then Microsoft is preparing for a two-platform WinMo world. Then again, this is a purported early build (and while we're at it, an unconfirmed hands-on), so who knows what's bound to change before the final release. There's a lot of other details if you're willing to check his feed, or just head over to WMPoweruser for the abridged / "good parts" version. Boy, February just can't come soon enough.

Early Windows Mobile 7 build gets handled, incompatible with previous WinMo apps? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG releasing Windows Mobile 7 phone in September and Android 2.1 in April?

Ross Miller — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:48:00 EST

First LG flat-out says on public record that Windows Mobile 7 is bound for 2010, and now we've gotten apparent word that the company has narrowed said release window to September of this year -- at least as far as its own devices are concerned. That comes via high-profile French tech blogger Eric of Presse Citron, who while attending a LG Design Lab tweeted (both in French and immediately after in English) that LG Mobile will release a Windows Mobile 7 device in September and an Android 2.1 device in April, first in the US and then Europe just after. The tweets are now gone, but WMPoweruser managed to catch both via Google cache, while we have corroborated just the French one by similar means. So, misheard claims from the company or accidental slip-up of NDA'd secrets? MWC is starting to look more and more interesting.

LG releasing Windows Mobile 7 phone in September and Android 2.1 in April? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Bach says 'there are other places where Zune logically could go'

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:26:00 EST

So that meeting a few days ago where financial analysts physically beat a few choice WinMo 7 nuggets out of Robbie Bach yielded something else that's pretty interesting, too: the expansion of the Zune franchise. Virtually everyone and their mother has been calling for a Zunephone since the day the first Zune 30 rolled off the assembly line, and a very, very carefully-worded statement by Bach in the meeting has us believing that we could finally see it make the bold leap to GSM (or CDMA, or both) this year. In response to a question about how Zune fits into Microsoft's mobile strategy, Bach had this to say:

"Now, your other question was about I'm getting old. Zune, so Zune has been critically successful. And the way Zune is going to be successful for us in the future is you should think of that as our media service across multiple screens. We'll continue to have the Zune device screen. But, we now have Zune on Xbox. We have Zune on the PC. There are other places where Zune logically could go that we don't get to talk about yet. And I think lots of different screens with that capability can go."

If you read between the lines there, it certainly sounds like Robbie's got his eyes on the prize -- but whether Zune will come to Windows Mobile or live as its own brand remains to be seen. No guarantees, but we're hoping all will be revealed at MWC next month.

Microsoft's Bach says 'there are other places where Zune logically could go' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Xbox Live Games' to plug Windows Mobile into Xbox ecosystem at last? Wouldn't that make too much sense?

Paul Miller — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:28:00 EST

We don't want to get our hopes up again, after having them repeatedly bashed against the rocks by a merciless Microsoft that's spoke quite highly of the potential synergy of its brands and yet so far held its mobile and gaming segments far apart, but this sounds promising. Apparently a slide from some internal Microsoft marketing material is making the rounds that says Xbox Live Games is the "mobile version" of Xbox Live for Windows phones, speaking in the not-yet-accurate present tense, and matching up with a recent job posting we've seen. Of course, that seems a completely obvious move for Microsoft, particularly with Windows Mobile 7 right around the corner, and we would assume it would bring along with it not just the social features of Xbox Live but also some gaming for these next-gen smartphones that can most certainly handle it. Shoot, there we go being logical again.

[Thanks, Philip]

'Xbox Live Games' to plug Windows Mobile into Xbox ecosystem at last? Wouldn't that make too much sense? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 7 coming to MWC in February, not just 'evolutionary'

Paul Miller — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:15:00 EST

We'd heard some rumblings, but apparently Robbie Bach let the cat out of the bag at an analyst briefing this week, stating that we should expect a showing of Windows Mobile 7 at the Mobile World Congress show in Spain, which begins on February 15th. He also added that the OS (which he's played with, surprisingly) will "set the bar forward not in (just) an evolutionary way," and that Microsoft is going to be "more engaged" with OEMs in its "go to market approach." We love a good buzzword or three, but the hope here is that Microsoft has learned its lesson from iPhone and Android and is ready to compete in the next-gen smartphone game in a big way -- a WinMo 7 showing just four months after the release of Windows Mobile 6.5 certainly smacks of that.

[Thanks, Matthias]

Windows Mobile 7 coming to MWC in February, not just 'evolutionary' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG says Windows Mobile 7 is coming this year

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:01:00 EST

Check it: LG just mentioned that Windows Mobile 7 will be in handsets this year. This would be the most official recent affirmation we've seen from any top-tier company of the 2010 date -- but no, they're not showing any hardware running it here, so it remains more of a magical, world peace-creating concept than an actual product. The wait, it seems, continues -- but at least we're feeling a little better about setting the countdown clock.

LG says Windows Mobile 7 is coming this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Russia says HD2 will get Windows Mobile 7 upgrade, but other 'communicators' won't

Vlad Savov — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:52:00 EST

And what do we have here? HTC's Russian contingent has been rather forthcoming with its Windows Mobile 7 plans this morning, which will please HD2 owners but disappoint many others. The good news is that HTC's flagship WinMo handset is assured of getting Microsoft's finest when it comes out, but the bad news is that the rest of the line will remain stuck at version 6.5 or below. Here's the tweet in the Queen's own tongue:

For Diamond 2 firmware is not planned. Of the existing communicators on the market, only the HD2 firmware to get WM7.

Keep in mind it's still possible, though not altogether probable, that this statement refers only to the Russian market. In either case, if you were holding out hope for your Touch Pro 2 or Snap to keep updating all the way to 7, it seems the odds are now officially stacked against you.

HTC Russia says HD2 will get Windows Mobile 7 upgrade, but other 'communicators' won't originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LinkedIn profiles reveal Windows Mobile 7 clues, folks with really great people skills

Tim Stevens — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:40:00 EST

Much to Ballmer's chagrin, Windows Mobile 7 is still a rather nebulous thing, but it's getting a wee bit clearer thanks to some bits and bytes extracted from the LinkedIn profiles of current and former Microsofties and Motorolites, the latter group indicating the company that brought you the Droid is also rather committed to Microsoft's theoretical new hotness. Various experience line-items reveal that the OS will support Silverlight (natch), will have a new navigation app, and will include much better game support along with some sort of Zune integration -- finally. Now, any guesses on how many people will lose their jobs for being so open about what those positions entail?

LinkedIn profiles reveal Windows Mobile 7 clues, folks with really great people skills originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft leaks a screenshot of Windows Mobile... something

Nilay Patel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:27:00 EST

Microsoft's been pretty cagey with the future of Windows Mobile so far, but apparently the Office Mobile 2010 team just doesn't care -- in addition to leaking a new interface in that confidential slide deck last month, they've now included this screen shot on the Office Mobile 2010 beta website. Here's what's wild: this design language completely matches the first set of Windows Mobile 7 leaks we saw nearly two years ago, so either Microsoft hasn't made any changes in that time, or what we're seeing here is something else entirely. Combine that with rumors that WinMo 7 isn't due to hit until the end of next year, and we're starting to think there's something bigger afoot here -- the only other alternative is that Microsoft has waited nearly three years to launch what's little more than a refresh of its current interface, and even Redmond can't be that slow to execute... can it?

[Via IntoMobile]

Filed under: Windows Mobile

Microsoft leaks a screenshot of Windows Mobile... something originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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