Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Microsoft job posting teases Windows Phone Mobile Studio, requires thinking cap to grok]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/microsoft-job-posting-teases-windows-phone-mobile-studio-requir/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/microsoft-job-posting-teases-windows-phone-mobile-studio-requir/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/microsoft-job-posting-teases-windows-phone-mobile-studio-requir/#comments A conclusion for Captain Obvious to draw, this is not. As with most mega-corp job postings, the wording in Microsoft's latest is just obfuscated enough to keep us guessing, but a few key phrases have us (as well as ZDNet's Mary-Jo Foley) on edge waiting for the next big thing in cloud storage. Judging by the rousing reception seen by Amazon's Cloud Drive, we're guessing that the folks in Redmond haven't forgotten completely about Kin's one positive feature: Kin Studio. Based on a new job request, there's a Windows Phone Mobile Studio brewing, and the leading thought is that this is really Kin Studio... but for WP7 devices. Granted, this may be nothing at all like it sounds -- we could be looking at a future home for apps, or simply another aspect of Zune that'll make music management a wee bit easier. That said, we'd love to see Microsoft bust out a world-class streaming / storage service for its mobile platform, and you can bet we'll be prying for details at MIX next month.

Microsoft job posting teases Windows Phone Mobile Studio, requires thinking cap to grok originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-oncloudcloud driveCloudDriveguijobjob listingjob postingJobListingJobPostingjobskinkin studioKinStudiomicrosoftMobile Communications Businessmobile osmobile studioMobileCommunicationsBusinessMobileOsMobileStudiomusicoffice 365Office365rumorsoftwarestoragethe mobile studioTheMobileStudiouiuixuser interfaceUserInterfacewindowswindows phone 7windows phone mobile studioWindowsPhone7WindowsPhoneMobileStudiowp7zuneWed, 30 Mar 2011 09:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumors of Kin Studio's continued existence confirmed by death of Kin Studio]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/rumors-of-kin-studios-continued-existence-confirmed-by-death-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/rumors-of-kin-studios-continued-existence-confirmed-by-death-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/rumors-of-kin-studios-continued-existence-confirmed-by-death-of/#comments What can we say, Kin Studio? Of all the ideas introduced by Microsoft's ill-fated Kin, you certainly weren't the worst. In fact, we kind of hope to see you again some day.

Rumors of Kin Studio's continued existence confirmed by death of Kin Studio originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinkin onekin studiokin twoKinOneKinStudioKinTwomicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinTue, 01 Feb 2011 19:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft suggests Windows Phone Live will get more Kin Studio-like features]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/microsoft-suggests-windows-phone-live-will-get-more-kin-studio-l/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/microsoft-suggests-windows-phone-live-will-get-more-kin-studio-l/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/08/microsoft-suggests-windows-phone-live-will-get-more-kin-studio-l/#comments
Microsoft's Kin may have been a failure of spectacular proportions, but it did introduce a few interesting ideas -- namely, the Kin Studio web-backup service. Now it looks like Microsoft may be set to revive at least some elements of the service on Windows Phone 7. Speaking with the Seattle Times, Microsoft's Aaron Woodman said that the company has made "very, very small baby step with Windows Phone Live," and added that it's "definitely part of the road map to have enriched services that make the phone more meaningful, and the Web more meaningful." Woodman also apparently suggested that those services would be one way Windows Phone can "continue to compete" with Android, but unfortunately didn't get very specific about a rollout date for the upgrades.

Microsoft suggests Windows Phone Live will get more Kin Studio-like features originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron woodmanAaronWoodmancesces 2011ces2011kinkin studioKinStudiomicrosoftwebweb-basedwindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone liveWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhoneLivewoodmanwp7Sat, 08 Jan 2011 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Kin Studio closing January 31st, Verizon offers free phones to affected customers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/11/kin-studio-closing-january-31st-verizon-offers-free-phones-to-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/11/kin-studio-closing-january-31st-verizon-offers-free-phones-to-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/11/kin-studio-closing-january-31st-verizon-offers-free-phones-to-a/#comments Though the final nail in the Microsoft Kin coffin has yet to be tapped into place, the software that made the pair of ill-fated handsets strangely compelling will soon get the axe. Come January 31st, Kin Studio will be no more, effectively neutering existing Kin phones by removing them from the cloud. They'll still be able to make calls, send SMS, email, browse the web and even stream music via Zune Pass, but their formerly live homescreens will become lifeless, stripped of social networking functionality -- and will actually remain stuck on their very last status update, much like a broken clock. Their online repository of pictures, videos and contacts will cease to exist, though you can back them up to a personal computer if you act now. Thankfully, Verizon seems to understands that not all Kin customers will be happy with a zombiephone, and has taken a drastic measure to help them out -- through March 31st, 2011, Kin owners can trade it in for a free 3G phone of their choice. How kind. Find full Verizon FAQs on the transition at our more coverage links.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Kin Studio closing January 31st, Verizon offers free phones to affected customers

Kin Studio closing January 31st, Verizon offers free phones to affected customers originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closedcloud storageCloudStoragedeaddiscontinuediscontinuedfreekilledKinKin studioKinStudioMicrosoftMicrosoft KinMicrosoftKinVerizonVerizon WirelessVerizonWirelessVZWwindows phoneWindowsPhoneSat, 11 Dec 2010 13:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Kin ONEm and Kin TWOm back at Verizon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/18/kin-onem-and-kin-twom-back-at-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/18/kin-onem-and-kin-twom-back-at-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/18/kin-onem-and-kin-twom-back-at-verizon/#comments That's no typo, folks, Microsoft's own-brand pseudo-smartphones are back at Verizon, this time sporting an "m" appendage to their names and what looks like better pricing across the board. The Kin ONEm will set you back a cent under $20 with a two-year contract, whereas the TWOm costs just under $50 but is also subject to a Buy One Get One Free offer (the free phone being an LG Ally). We've spotted Zune Pass is still present on the pair, though it's on a "WiFi and sideload only" basis, seemingly forbidding 3G streaming. Plans start at $39.99 for voice and $9.99 for 25MB of data (while the $9.99 option is advertised, the cheapest data plan we're presently able to add is the $15 a month 150MB option), plus there's a $35 activation fee. Compared to the original pricing, which had the One asking for $50 in upfront costs and $70 as the minimum levy for voice plus data, we'd say this is a definite move in the right direction. A few months late, but better late than never, eh?

[Thanks, Wyatt]

Continue reading Kin ONEm and Kin TWOm back at Verizon

Kin ONEm and Kin TWOm back at Verizon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewskinkin onekin onemkin twokin twomKinOneKinOnemKinTwoKinTwommicrosoftverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwzune passZunePassThu, 18 Nov 2010 02:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: Kin One and Two are returning to Verizon. Wait, what?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/confirmed-kin-one-and-two-are-returning-to-verizon-wait-what/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/confirmed-kin-one-and-two-are-returning-to-verizon-wait-what/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/confirmed-kin-one-and-two-are-returning-to-verizon-wait-what/#comments Unbelievably, against all odds and better judgment, we are able to independently confirm that Microsoft's short-lived Kin One and Kin Two are coming back for an encore performance on Verizon, possibly as soon as this quarter -- but it won't quite be the same product you remember from earlier this year. The phones were famously bashed for the unrealistic plan pricing model that put them head-to-head with actual, full-fledged smartphones -- despite the fact that the devices were targeted squarely at tweens, teens, and twentysomethings -- and we're hearing that the revised phones will be totally, completely debundled from data services. Data-centric features like the Loop "are out," we're told -- but the good news is that you'll still be able to use one of the product's most redeeming qualities, Zune Pass, over WiFi if you're not signed up for a proper data plan. Of course, the value proposition of a Kin without... well, without its only value proposition is questionable at best, so we're thinking this might just be a way to clear huge backlogs of hardware inventory before pulling the plug on the program. Seriously, who wants a Kin without the unlimited photo uploads?

Confirmed: Kin One and Two are returning to Verizon. Wait, what? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftrumorverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwwtfThu, 11 Nov 2010 20:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Steve Ballmer: Kin 'defocused activity from Windows Phone']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/29/steve-ballmer-kin-defocused-activity-from-windows-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/29/steve-ballmer-kin-defocused-activity-from-windows-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/29/steve-ballmer-kin-defocused-activity-from-windows-phone/#comments
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has been willing to admit some of the company's missteps in the past, and he's just done so again in addressing the now infamous Kin. Speaking with The Seattle Times, Ballmer said that the "No. 1 message from Kin is a message of focus," and that ultimately, "it just defocused activity from Windows Phone." Not exactly a huge surprise by any means, but it's still pretty notable to hear straight from the top, especially considering how much it cost Microsoft to learn that message. As for the rest of the interview, Ballmer didn't make a ton of news, but he did say that we'll be seeing additional Windows 7 tablet form factors starting this Christmas, and he revealed that he does in fact have a Facebook page, but he won't say which of the many Steve Ballmer pages is the real one. Hit up the source link below to read the whole thing.

Steve Ballmer: Kin 'defocused activity from Windows Phone' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ballmerkinmicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinsteve ballmerSteveBallmerWed, 29 Sep 2010 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Keepin' it real fake: the Haina X5-01 KIRFs the Kin One]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/27/keepin-it-real-fake-the-haina-x5-01-kirfs-the-kin-one/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/27/keepin-it-real-fake-the-haina-x5-01-kirfs-the-kin-one/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/27/keepin-it-real-fake-the-haina-x5-01-kirfs-the-kin-one/#commentsKeepin' it real fake: the Haina X5-01 KIRFs the Kin One Microsoft's Kin moved so quickly from curiosity to cadaver that we've almost managed to forget about the thing already, but one group will always remember: the KIRFers. This model is called the Haina X5-01 and it's something of an ode to Microsoft's less than dearly departed Kin One handset, a direct copy of the hardware we actually found to be somewhat derivative itself. This model, however, merrily leaps right over the line between imitation and clone, even stealing one of Microsoft's sample images of the UI. Thanks to that we don't actually have any real screenshots of what OS the thing is running, but something tells us that whatever ROM it's rocking it won't be nearly as adept at keeping up with our chaotic lives.

Keepin' it real fake: the Haina X5-01 KIRFs the Kin One originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinahainakeepin it real fakeKeepinItRealFakekinkin oneKinOnekirfmicrosoftshenzhenx5-01Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Tivanka Ellawala: no plans to develop more phone hardware]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/microsofts-tivanka-ellawala-no-plans-to-develop-more-phone-har/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/microsofts-tivanka-ellawala-no-plans-to-develop-more-phone-har/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/microsofts-tivanka-ellawala-no-plans-to-develop-more-phone-har/#comments Well, that settles that. Not that we really expected Microsoft to branch out and try the whole "let's make a phone!" thing again -- particularly after the Kin debacle ended the way it did -- but the company's own Tivanka Ellawala just said as much at an investor conference in San Francisco. For those unaware, Mr. Ellawala is the company's CFO for the Mobile Communications Business, and we have all ideas he's still reeling from lost investments related to Kin. Answering a question about rumors surrounding a future Microsoft-built phone, he stated: "We are in the software business and that is where our business will be focused." He went on to stress the importance and magnitude of Windows Phone 7, which he says will spearhead demand for data services and will be "strong on the gaming side." Honestly, we aren't too bummed out -- we'd rather the engineers in Redmond stick to making the best mobile OS they can, while the dudes and dudettes at HTC, Samsung and LG keep on cranking out the drool-worthy hardware. But mostly we're just terrified of the Kin 2.

Microsoft's Tivanka Ellawala: no plans to develop more phone hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>industrykinmicrosoftsmartphoneTivanka EllawalaTivankaEllawalawindowswindows mobilewindows phone 7WindowsMobileWindowsPhone7zunezune phoneZunePhoneThu, 16 Sep 2010 20:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Kin listed as at least $240 million writeoff in Microsoft earnings report]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/kin-listed-as-at-least-240-million-writeoff-in-microsoft-earnin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/kin-listed-as-at-least-240-million-writeoff-in-microsoft-earnin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/kin-listed-as-at-least-240-million-writeoff-in-microsoft-earnin/#comments Here's a tidbit in today's Microsoft quarterly earnings that we previously overlooked: a $240 million cost of revenue "primarily... resulting from the discontinuation of the Kin phone, offset in part by decreased Xbox 360 console costs." In other words, the company took at least a quarter billion hit due to manufacturing, distribution, and support costs of the Kin (according to Microsoft's definition of "cost of revenue"). We don't know how much Xbox 360 offset, unfortunately, but we can add this figure to the $500 million Danger acquisition and the full marketing cost for the product (which we also don't know, but anecdotally, it was on par with other major campaigns) to reach... well, at least $800 million in regret for the folks in Redmond.

Kin listed as at least $240 million writeoff in Microsoft earnings report originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costdangerfinancialfinancialsfiscalkinkin phoneKinPhoneMicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinsidekickThu, 22 Jul 2010 20:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: Verizon discontinues Kin]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/confirmed-verizon-discontinues-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/confirmed-verizon-discontinues-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/confirmed-verizon-discontinues-kin/#comments We guess this doesn't come as a surprise to anyone, but we have confirmation directly from Verizon this morning that it will no longer offer the Kin One or Two. It's probably pretty difficult to justify continuing to offer and support a product when its maker has already thrown in the towel -- never mind the fact that Big Red's heart never seemed to be in it from the start -- so this is more of a formality than anything else. We're being told that existing owners won't be impacted, meaning Microsoft will continue to operate the back-end services needed to keep retail Kins alive -- but considering how few Kins seem to have been sold, we can't imagine that's a money-making proposition for anyone involved, so who knows how long that'll go on?

Confirmed: Verizon discontinues Kin originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewskinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwMon, 19 Jul 2010 10:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon halting Kin sales, supply getting returned to sender?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/verizon-halting-kin-sales-supply-getting-returned-to-sender/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/verizon-halting-kin-sales-supply-getting-returned-to-sender/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/verizon-halting-kin-sales-supply-getting-returned-to-sender/#comments 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deaddeathkilledKinKin OneKin TwoKinOneKinTwoMicrosoftpinkproject pinkProjectPinkVerizonVZWSun, 18 Jul 2010 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Entelligence: Five gadgets that could have and should have done better]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/entelligence-five-gadgets-that-could-have-and-should-have-done/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/entelligence-five-gadgets-that-could-have-and-should-have-done/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/entelligence-five-gadgets-that-could-have-and-should-have-done/#commentsEntelligence 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.

 For every VHS, it seems there's also a Betamax -- a gadgets or standard that just didn't live up to the expectations of the mass market at the time. Despite being loved by niche audiences, these folks just didn't have what it took to make it to the big time. Here I celebrate some of my favorite gadgets and technologies that just couldn't catch on with the populace at large.

Continue reading Entelligence: Five gadgets that could have and should have done better

Entelligence: Five gadgets that could have and should have done better originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleataricolumnentelligencekinmicrosoftnewtonturboexpressTurbografx16Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Podcast 204: Q&A Bonanza - 07.09.2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/engadget-podcast-204-qanda-bonanza-07-09-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/engadget-podcast-204-qanda-bonanza-07-09-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/engadget-podcast-204-qanda-bonanza-07-09-2010/#comments Find out what happens when consumer electronics news stops being polite and starts getting real: the Engadget Podcasters take your questions. Find out the real story behind Kin's failure (hint: it was Josh's fault), why the Engadget staff is Mac-based (hint: it has to do with nested stock options), and why Paul Miller is still playing Chrono Trigger.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Guest: Michael Gartenberg
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Alejandro

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Engadget Podcast 204: Q&A Bonanza - 07.09.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fringgartenbergIphone4kinpodcastFri, 09 Jul 2010 15:37:00 ESTEngadget Podcast 204Josh Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller01:27:24podcasts<![CDATA[Microsoft's Kin saves a Roots show: a touching recollection by Questlove]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/microsofts-kin-saves-a-roots-show-a-touching-recollection-by-q/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/microsofts-kin-saves-a-roots-show-a-touching-recollection-by-q/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/microsofts-kin-saves-a-roots-show-a-touching-recollection-by-q/#comments The Kin may be dead and buried, but you can bet that the legacy of Microsoft's biggest failure in the phone market will live long in the minds of technophiles. What you probably wouldn't bet, however, is how it'll also live long in the mind of famed Roots drummer Questlove. You heard right -- the same beat maker that was caught FaceTiming with our own Josh Topolsky during a recent sit-down on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has a special place in his heart for the fallen phone series, and he's taken the time to pen a memoir detailing the reasons why. Undoubtedly an avid visitor of the (temporarily down) Kin R.I.P. web memorial, Questlove was recently held up behind a team of brats at the airport. As the story goes, even arriving 75 minutes early to his flight wasn't enough to clear through on a flight to Canada, leaving him in quite the pickle. If he didn't hop on this bird, his band mates would be struggling to please fans sans a drummer. As is so often the case these days, Quest ran into a particularly perturbed airline agent who wasn't about to bend in order to get him onboard; rather than name-dropping himself, he simply agreed to have his photo taken with a smattering of fans who just happened to waltz by during his pleading.

Suddenly, the light popped on in the mind of the agent: "OMG! You are the guy in the Kin commercial... I see that commercial all the time!" Needless to say, Quest's ego took a serious hit, but he did manage to catch his flight and make the show in the Great White North. He told his manager that it was the "Kin commercial he almost passed on" that got him to the show, and closed with a simple remark: "R.I.P. Kin." Hit those source links for the full skinny -- it's a compelling read, we assure you. Oh, and that aforesaid ad is embedded just past the break.

Continue reading Microsoft's Kin saves a Roots show: a touching recollection by Questlove

Microsoft's Kin saves a Roots show: a touching recollection by Questlove originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awesomecomedyconcertculturefacebookkinloopmicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinmusicquestquestloverootssocial networkingSocialNetworkingthe rootsTheRootstwittervideowindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Kin's seven deadly sins]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/05/switched-on-kins-seven-deadly-sins/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/05/switched-on-kins-seven-deadly-sins/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/05/switched-on-kins-seven-deadly-sins/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

There may have been a lot of behind-the-scenes machinations at Microsoft and Verizon that resulted in the discontinuation of the Kin One and the Kin Two, but there were also many marketplace miscues that resulted in the demise of the handsets. Here, then, were Kin's seven deadly sins:

Lust. With the Kin handsets, Microsoft was too eager to get its hands into the pockets of young social networkers for whom the smartphone market had proven elusive. The key paradox of this was that the Kin data plan was the same for that of other smartphones at Verizon, and that continued to shut out those who aspired to mobile digital sharing nirvana.

Gluttony. If Microsoft was angling to get Verizon to offer a sweetheart deal for Kin data, it certainly didn't help its cause with the automatic backup of rich media to the Kin Studio website. If there was one aspect to the Kin handsets operation that may pave the way toward future success, it was the Silverlight-based web interface to all the media that was captured with the device. This also allowed Microsoft and Sharp to minimize the amount of on-device storage. However, constantly backing up high-resolution photos and even standard-definition videos to the cloud required a lot of bandwidth, making it difficult for Verizon to justify a "light" data usage plan for Kin users.

Continue reading Switched On: Kin's seven deadly sins

Switched On: Kin's seven deadly sins originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>77 deadly sins7DeadlySinscolumnkinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinse7ensevenseven deady sinsSevenDeadySinssinsinsswitched onSwitchedOnMon, 05 Jul 2010 20:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Life and death of Microsoft Kin: the inside story]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/life-and-death-of-microsoft-kin-the-inside-story/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/life-and-death-of-microsoft-kin-the-inside-story/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/life-and-death-of-microsoft-kin-the-inside-story/#comments 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exclusivekinmicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinpinkproject pinkProjectPinkFri, 02 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What killed the Kin?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/#comments 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy leesAndyLeescorporate shakeupCorporateShakeupdeaddeathexclusivekilledkinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinpinksteven sinofskyStevenSinofskytroublewindows mobile 7windows phone 7WindowsMobile7WindowsPhone7Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Kin is dead]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/microsoft-kin-is-dead/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/microsoft-kin-is-dead/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/microsoft-kin-is-dead/#comments We're learning this afternoon that Microsoft's Kin line, for all practical purposes, is riding off into the sunset just a few short weeks after its release. Sources close to Microsoft tell us that Andy Lees has rolled Kin into the Windows Phone 7 team and has canceled the existing product's launch later this year in Europe on news that sales weren't as strong as expected. Speaking of sales, Verizon's already-launched Kin One and Kin Two are soldiering on for the time being, but for how long is anyone's guess. Here's Microsoft's official statement:
"We have made the decision to focus exclusively on Windows Phone 7 and we will not ship KIN in Europe this fall as planned. Additionally, we are integrating our KIN team with the Windows Phone 7 team, incorporating valuable ideas and technologies from KIN into future Windows Phone releases. We will continue to work with Verizon in the U.S. to sell current KIN phones."
Interestingly, CNET is reporting that Roz Ho -- the exec who masterminded Kin under the codename "Pink" following Microsoft's acquisition of Danger -- will "oversee" her team's move over to Windows Phone 7 before taking a to-be-determined role elsewhere in the company. For what it's worth, we didn't think much of the Kin when we reviewed it -- to be fair, we're not the product's target demographic, but it certainly seems as though the phones got no love from the tweens, teens, and twentysomethings it sought to win over, either. It's hard to say how the Kin's untimely (or is it timely?) death ties into Robbie Bach and J Allard's departure, but since Lees has his hands more closely wrapped around this project than he had in the past, it stands to reason that there's a link there. After all, just how bad do sales have to be to kill a project mere weeks into its retail launch? And for NVIDIA, what does it mean that they've yet to release even a single blockbuster, wildly successful Tegra device?

Update: What killed the Kin?

Microsoft Kin is dead originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewskinmicrosoftWed, 30 Jun 2010 16:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/screen-grabs-pretty-little-liars-is-tvs-newest-home-to-egregio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/screen-grabs-pretty-little-liars-is-tvs-newest-home-to-egregio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/screen-grabs-pretty-little-liars-is-tvs-newest-home-to-egregio/#comments Scene: Impossibly mature high school "girls" mingling in front of a locker. Action!
Bitter Barbie: "What are you doing? Is that a new phone?"
Bland Barbie: "Yeah, I'm checking my Kin. I'll just write on Hannah's wall from here."
End scene.

Yes, ABC's new Pretty Little Liars show is the future of American television, where entertainment morphs into infotainment and bakes the minds of an entire generation into a lovely pie of corporate servitude. We blame TiVo. Oh, and just because Palm quit making creepy commercials doesn't mean that they've given up on promoting its Pre to women. Looks like Roger McNamee was right about that backside mirror's appeal. See what we mean in the PLL episode 3 embeds posted after the break.

[Thanks, Dave]

Continue reading Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement (video)

Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingkinkin oneKinOnemicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinmirrorpalmpalm prePalmPreprepretty little liarsPrettyLittleLiarsproduct placementProductPlacementscreen grabsScreenGrabstelevisionvideoWed, 30 Jun 2010 04:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Kin One drops to $29, Two drops to $49, data plans remain silly expensive]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/kin-one-drops-to-29-two-drops-to-49-data-plans-remain-silly/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/kin-one-drops-to-29-two-drops-to-49-data-plans-remain-silly/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/kin-one-drops-to-29-two-drops-to-49-data-plans-remain-silly/#comments Best Buy's already taken to offering Microsoft's Kin One for free and the Two for $49 on sale, but it looks like Verizon's officially lowering the price tag on its socialphones: the Kin One will henceforth be $29 while the Two drops to $49 for good. The ever-reliable Ina Fried at CNET says the move is a direct response to lagging sales; workers at one Verizon store told her that Kin devices are being outsold by the Palm Pre. (Ouch -- for both the Kin and the Pre.) Unfortunately, both devices will still require a $29/month or higher data plan, making their total cost of ownership about the same as Verizon's other, far more capable smartphones in the Droid line. Until Verizon wises up and drops the Kin's data pricing to "insanely cheap" we can't see sales ever taking off, especially since Windows Phone 7 is destined to utterly overshadow the Kin when it launches later this year. We'll see -- maybe that summer software update will blow our inner tweens away.

Kin One drops to $29, Two drops to $49, data plans remain silly expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwoMicrosoftmicrosoft kinmicrosoft kin onemicrosoft kin twoMicrosoftKinMicrosoftKinOneMicrosoftKinTwopriceprice dropPriceDropVerizonMon, 28 Jun 2010 18:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft says Kin software update is scheduled for mid-summer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/microsoft-says-kin-software-update-is-scheduled-for-mid-summer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/microsoft-says-kin-software-update-is-scheduled-for-mid-summer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/microsoft-says-kin-software-update-is-scheduled-for-mid-summer/#comments
We'd already heard some talk that Microsoft's Kin One and Kin Two phones might be in store for an update, and it looks like the phones will indeed be getting one sooner rather than later. While it remains to be seen if it will include those rumored IM improvements, a Kin support moderator has confirmed on the Microsoft Answers forum that an update is scheduled for "mid-summer," and that it will address "many" of the concerns laid out in the post that prompted the response. That included complaints about battery issues, a suggestion for improvements to the Twitter client (including replies and re-tweets), and a plea for YouTube support. The seemingly in-the-know Conflipper also backs up the inclusion of those Twitter updates, and says the Facebook app will also be updated to let folks view more than three pictures.

Microsoft says Kin software update is scheduled for mid-summer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdatekinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinsoftware updateSoftwareUpdatetwitterupdateMon, 28 Jun 2010 12:57:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change Microsoft's Kin One and Two?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/how-would-you-change-microsofts-kin-one-and-two/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/how-would-you-change-microsofts-kin-one-and-two/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/how-would-you-change-microsofts-kin-one-and-two/#comments Hey! Microsoft debuted two new phones earlier this year! Remember that? Okay, so there's a fair chance that Microsoft actually moved fewer Kin One / Two handsets than Fusion Garage did JooJoo tablets, but we're pretty confident that a few of you fell for the whole "my life is so social, so I'm buying in" thing. We're still personally trying to figure out why the full Windows Phone 7 wasn't used here instead of an OS that'll likely be forgotten by the time you finish reading this, but enough of our rambling -- this space is all about you. Did you pick up one of the Kin brothers? How's the experience? Are you still kosher with paying the same data plan price as future Droid X users? Have you gained more friends than you know what to do with? Starred in your own commercial? Tell us below, tweeps.

How would you change Microsoft's Kin One and Two? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdmafacebookfeatureHow would you changeHowWouldYouChangehwyckinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftsmartphonesocial networkingSocialNetworkingturtletwitterverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelesswindows phone 7WindowsPhone7Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Kin skin for Windows Mobile 6.5 leads to more questions than answers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/kin-skin-for-windows-mobile-6-5-leads-to-more-questions-than-ans/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/kin-skin-for-windows-mobile-6-5-leads-to-more-questions-than-ans/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/kin-skin-for-windows-mobile-6-5-leads-to-more-questions-than-ans/#comments How would we like to replace the UI on our Windows Mobile 6.5 phone with the Kin UI? Well, we never really thought about it, we suppose... and frankly, we're not sure why anyone else did, either. Alas, KinLauncher is here, delivering a pretty authentic Kin-esque home screen but not much else -- as soon as you touch anything, you'll be dumped back into the cold comfort of WinMo (or Sense, as the case may be). It's available for download, if you're really into that sort of thing -- but if you'd rather enjoy the carnage from a safe distance, there's a video after the break.

Continue reading Kin skin for Windows Mobile 6.5 leads to more questions than answers

Kin skin for Windows Mobile 6.5 leads to more questions than answers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinmicrosoftskinuivideowindows mobilewindows mobile 6.5WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5winmowinmo 6.5Winmo6.5wm6.5Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft prepping Yahoo, AIM, and Windows Live Messenger support for Kin?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/microsoft-prepping-yahoo-aim-and-windows-live-messenger-suppor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/microsoft-prepping-yahoo-aim-and-windows-live-messenger-suppor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/microsoft-prepping-yahoo-aim-and-windows-live-messenger-suppor/#comments The list of conspicuously missing features on Microsoft's Kin devices is a lengthy one, but considering the target demographic, there's at least one particularly egregious omission: instant messaging. Well-established ROM spelunker Conflipper is now reporting that Microsoft intends to add IM support in the future, though -- a belief he's presumably gleaned from looking through the latest firmware. Specifically, he mentions support for Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, and AIM, a three-pack that would come close to covering the main services most of the Kin-owning world cares about; Google Talk would be nice, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if Microsoft went without -- especially considering that they're starting from zilch.

Microsoft prepping Yahoo, AIM, and Windows Live Messenger support for Kin? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimaolimkinmicrosoftrumorwindows livewindows live messengerWindowsLiveWindowsLiveMessengeryahooyahoo messengerYahooMessengerWed, 16 Jun 2010 13:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy now offering Kin One free, Kin Two for $50 on contract]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/best-buy-now-offering-kin-one-free-kin-two-for-50-on-contract/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/best-buy-now-offering-kin-one-free-kin-two-for-50-on-contract/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/best-buy-now-offering-kin-one-free-kin-two-for-50-on-contract/#comments
For all its faults, the prime reason we panned Microsoft's Kin was price. Why buy a Kin when you could get a more capable iPhone, Palm Pre or Android device for the same price? This week, it seems someone at Best Buy HQ has seen the light. As of today, the brick-and-mortar electronics superstore has knocked $50 off the price of both handsets, making the Kin One free and the Kin Two cost only $50 on a two-year contract, with no mail-in rebates or other nonsense required. Now, if only Verizon would do something about that $30 monthly data plan, your teen might finally have a vaguely compelling reason to pick one up.

[Thanks, Sean T.]

Best Buy now offering Kin One free, Kin Two for $50 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 May 2010 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best Buybest buy mobileBestBuyBestBuyMobileKinKin Onekin phonekin phonesKin TwoKinOneKinPhoneKinPhonesKinTwoMicrosoftMicrosoft KinMicrosoft Kin OneMicrosoft Kin TwoMicrosoftKinMicrosoftKinOneMicrosoftKinTwoVerizonwindows phoneWindowsPhoneMon, 31 May 2010 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft considers a Zune Pass price drop]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/microsoft-considers-a-zune-pass-price-drop/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/microsoft-considers-a-zune-pass-price-drop/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/microsoft-considers-a-zune-pass-price-drop/#comments Zune Pass already felt like a pretty sweet deal for music buffs -- $15 per month for unlimited streaming and 10 DRM-free MP3s -- and now Microsoft might be lowering the subscription price even further. Or so says Senior Product Manager Terry Farrell, who added, "it's a very definitely a challenging business." No indication what that new price might be, but just this past April, RealNetwork dropped Rhapsody's monthly fee from $15 to $10. If it does come to fruition, the new price would surely be a welcome boon to an already-promising Windows Phone 7 launch -- and maybe even Kin. Maybe.

Microsoft considers a Zune Pass price drop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dropfarrellkinmicrosoftprice dropPriceDroprumorrumorsterry farrelterry farrellTerryFarrelTerryFarrellwindows phone 7WindowsPhone7zunezune passZunePassThu, 27 May 2010 19:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Kin Two gets torn apart, reveals Sony image sensor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/microsoft-kin-two-gets-torn-apart-reveals-sony-image-sensor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/microsoft-kin-two-gets-torn-apart-reveals-sony-image-sensor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/microsoft-kin-two-gets-torn-apart-reveals-sony-image-sensor/#comments
Sure, we already know most of the Kin Two's main specs, but there's nothing like a proper teardown to find out exactly what makes something tick, and the folks from Chipworks have now kindly ripped one apart so you don't have to. Among the highlights are the expected NVIDIA Tegra APX2600 processor, a slew of chips and memory from the likes of Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Hynix, and Samsung and, perhaps most notably, an image sensor from none other than Sony. That sensor, the IMX046, is one of the smallest in its class with a pixel size of just 1.4 microns and, according to Chipworks, something of a surprise -- they were expecting a sensor from OmniVision. Hit up the links below for the Chipworks' complete blow-by-blow account, as well as some further analysis from the folks at iFixit -- and, no, there isn't a teardown of the Kin One just yet.

Microsoft Kin Two gets torn apart, reveals Sony image sensor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipworksdissectionIMX046kinkin twoKinTwoMicrosoftmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinsharpsonyteardownwindows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhone7SeriesTue, 18 May 2010 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Screen Grabs: Gossip Girl's Nate Archibald drops a blast from Kin Two]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/screen-grabs-gossip-girls-nate-archibald-drops-a-blast-from-ki/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/screen-grabs-gossip-girls-nate-archibald-drops-a-blast-from-ki/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/screen-grabs-gossip-girls-nate-archibald-drops-a-blast-from-ki/#commentsScreen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

Given Microsoft's Generation Upload marketing and Verizon's exclusive Gossip Girl placement deal, it's not surprising a Kin phone made an appearance on the show's season finale, but we're having a hard time believing that even Nate Archibald is chump enough to trade in his heat-seeking Droid for a Kin Two. Not that we'd know, since we don't watch the show. At all. Ever. Video after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Gallery: Gossip Girl Kin Screen Grabs

Continue reading Screen Grabs: Gossip Girl's Nate Archibald drops a blast from Kin Two

Screen Grabs: Gossip Girl's Nate Archibald drops a blast from Kin Two originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 01:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gossip girlGossipGirlkinLifeMaximizermicrosoftnatenate archibaldNateArchibaldsocialvideoTue, 18 May 2010 01:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Kin starts getting all social on Best Buy locations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/kin-starts-getting-all-social-on-best-buy-locations/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/kin-starts-getting-all-social-on-best-buy-locations/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/kin-starts-getting-all-social-on-best-buy-locations/#comments In the event that you've got a Best Buy a click closer to you than a Verizon store -- and you just happen to have a hankering to check out Microsoft's Kin devices -- well, you're in luck, because the phones are showing up. Of course, offering a device like this that requires a $30 data plan under the roof of a building alleging to be a "Best Buy" seems a tad disingenuous, but who are we to judge?

[Thanks, Geoff]

Kin starts getting all social on Best Buy locations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuykinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftmobileThu, 13 May 2010 23:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Kin Media Sync for Mac syncs Kin media with Mac]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/kin-media-sync-for-mac-syncs-kin-media-with-mac/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/kin-media-sync-for-mac-syncs-kin-media-with-mac/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/kin-media-sync-for-mac-syncs-kin-media-with-mac/#comments Sync music, sync photos, sync too much money into a mediocre phone. Now that we've gotten the amateur comedy hour out of the way, it's time to bring you the news that Kins and Macs will henceforth play very nicely together thanks to the just released Media Sync software from Mark/Space. Chosen by Microsoft as the exclusive provider of Mac syncing capabilities for Kin, the company is offering iTunes and iPhoto integration, whereby you'll able to transfer playlists and image albums both to and from your Kin device, as well as a neat transcoding feature to make videos playable on it. The software's free and can be found at the source link below, while the press announcement awaits after the break.

Continue reading Kin Media Sync for Mac syncs Kin media with Mac

Kin Media Sync for Mac syncs Kin media with Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleiphotoitunesitunes syncItunesSynckinkin media synckin media sync for macKinMediaSyncKinMediaSyncForMacmacmac osmac os xMacOsMacOsXmedia syncMediaSyncmicrosoft kinMicrosoftKinmissingsyncsyncsync softwareSyncSoftwareThu, 13 May 2010 03:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft and Verizon say Kin's monthly pricing isn't crazy, when you think about it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/12/microsoft-and-verizon-say-kins-monthly-pricing-isnt-crazy-whe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/12/microsoft-and-verizon-say-kins-monthly-pricing-isnt-crazy-whe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/12/microsoft-and-verizon-say-kins-monthly-pricing-isnt-crazy-whe/#comments Whatever you think about the Kin devices themselves, the one thing most folks can agree on is that their monthly pricing is more than a little out of step with their target audience -- except for Microsoft and Verizon, that is. Speaking to Computerworld, Microsoft senior product manager Greg Sullivan and Verizon spokesperson Brenda Raney both raised the issue of the Kin's ability to backup to the cloud when defending the high monthly price ($30 for data on top of a standard phone plan), with Sullivan saying that once customers "realize the value of this, they'll realize it's a great deal." On another note, Sullivan also used some interesting language when discussing the possibility of app downloads for the Kin, saying that "over the longer term" Microsoft will be "merging" the Kin and Windows Phone 7 platforms and adding downloadable apps. Now, that's not a radical departure from what we've heard from Microsoft before, but "merge" is a curious choice of words, isn't it?

Microsoft and Verizon say Kin's monthly pricing isn't crazy, when you think about it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 May 2010 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brenda raneyBrendaRaneycloudgreg sullivanGregSullivankinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftverizonwindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7Wed, 12 May 2010 12:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Podcast 195 - 05.07.2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/engadget-podcast-195-05-07-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/engadget-podcast-195-05-07-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/07/engadget-podcast-195-05-07-2010/#comments You'd think that Michael Gartenberg would bring a tone of civility to the Engadget Podcast, but his practical approach to tech thought simply causes rage in the hyper-inflated egos of Josh and Nilay, who both live in a world where teenagers simply do not exist. Don't miss it.

NOTE: We had a few recording issues, please bear with us. They won't kill you. But if they do, don't say we didn't warn you.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel
Special guest: Michael Gartenberg
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Rock And Roll All Night

Hear the podcast

00:01:30 - Microsoft Kin One and Two review
00:05:00 - Kin available online starting tomorrow, in Verizon stores on May 13
00:30:00 - Survey says: most teens don't have a data plan, almost all send texts
00:40:00 - Confirmed: BlackBerry two-way sync for Gmail is now live
00:48:05 - Intel's Atom Z6xx series isn't targeting Windows Phone 7, but 'full Windows experience' still an Atom priority
00:53:00 - Intel reaches for the 'smartphone zone' with Moorestown-based Atom Z6, comes up shorthanded
00:58:25 - Apple under preliminary antitrust investigation over iPhone, triggered by complaint from Adobe
01:15:40 - Engadget wins the People's Voice Webby in Consumer Electronics, and you can win a Droid Incredible!



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Engadget Podcast 195 - 05.07.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeantitrustappleatomblackberryflashgmailinteliphonekinmicrosoftpodcastrimz6xxFri, 07 May 2010 15:22:00 ESTEngadget Podcast 195Josh Topolsky, Nilay Patel01:19:16podcasts<![CDATA[Kin available online starting tomorrow, in Verizon stores on May 13]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/kin-available-online-starting-tomorrow-in-verizon-stores-on-may/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/kin-available-online-starting-tomorrow-in-verizon-stores-on-may/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/kin-available-online-starting-tomorrow-in-verizon-stores-on-may/#comments Dearest members of the Upload Generation: the wait to buy the Kin of your dreams is a short one -- provided Mommy and Daddy are willing to pony up the $30 a month in data charges, of course. Verizon will be selling both the Kin One and Kin Two online starting tomorrow, May 6, for $49.99 and $99.99 respectively, after you agree to a two-year contract and come to terms with the fact that you'll be paying $100 more upfront while you wait for your rebate to be mailed to you on a debit card (par for the course these days). If you'd rather play with the devices first, your wait isn't much longer -- you'll be able to score both of them in Verizon retail locations starting a week later on the 13th.

Continue reading Kin available online starting tomorrow, in Verizon stores on May 13

Kin available online starting tomorrow, in Verizon stores on May 13 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwWed, 05 May 2010 11:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Kin One and Two review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/kin-one-and-two-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/kin-one-and-two-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/kin-one-and-two-review/#comments Make no mistake: the Kin One and Two are coming into the world as the black sheep of the phone industry, and Microsoft would have it no other way. Straddling the fence somewhere between a dedicated smartphone and high-spec featurephone, they've been tricky to understand since the day they were first leaked (even Microsoft seemed unsure of what the devices meant until very recently). Billed as a Gen-Y (the "upload generation") social networking tool -- and sold in advertisements as the gateway to the time of your young, freewheeling life -- the Kin phones have admittedly been something of head-scratcher to those of us in the gadget world. Built atop a core similar (but not identical) to the Windows Phone 7 devices coming later this year, manufactured by Sharp, and tied into partnerships with Verizon and Vodafone, the phones dangerously preempt Microsoft's reemergence into the smartphone market. Hell, they're even called Windows Phones. But the One and Two aren't like any Windows Phones you've ever seen. With stripped-down interfaces, deep social networking integration, and a focus on very particular type of user, Microsoft is aiming for something altogether different with Kin. So do these devices deliver on that unique, social experience that Redmond has been selling, or does this experiment fall flat? We've taken both handsets for a spin, and we've got all the answers in our full review... so read on to find out!

Gallery: Kin One and Two review

Continue reading Microsoft Kin One and Two review

Microsoft Kin One and Two review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinkin onekin phonekin phoneskin twoKinOneKinPhoneKinPhonesKinTwomicrosoftmicrosoft kinmicrosoft kin onemicrosoft kin twoMicrosoftKinMicrosoftKinOneMicrosoftKinTworeviewvideowindows phonewindows phonesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhonesWed, 05 May 2010 00:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two to go up for pre-order on May 6th, shipping on May 13th?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/02/microsoft-kin-one-and-kin-two-to-go-up-for-pre-order-on-may-6th/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/02/microsoft-kin-one-and-kin-two-to-go-up-for-pre-order-on-may-6th/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/02/microsoft-kin-one-and-kin-two-to-go-up-for-pre-order-on-may-6th/#comments Microsoft's always said its Kin phones would come to Verizon in May and Vodafone in the fall, and now it looks like an internal Verizon email has spilled the details for us: Kin One and Kin Two will go up for pre-order on May 6th, and they'll "launch to all channels on May 13th," according to these screenshots. We can't confirm it yet, but we'd imagine tween hearts are a-flutter all over the country. Just remember: Kin's not for sexting, now.

Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two to go up for pre-order on May 6th, shipping on May 13th? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 May 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwolaunchleakleaksmicrosoftverizonSun, 02 May 2010 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Kin firmware torn apart, reveals provisioning for AT&T, T-Mobile, Fido?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/kin-firmware-torn-apart-reveals-provisioning-for-atandt-t-mobile/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/kin-firmware-torn-apart-reveals-provisioning-for-atandt-t-mobile/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/kin-firmware-torn-apart-reveals-provisioning-for-atandt-t-mobile/#comments In public, Microsoft has been adamant about its relationship with Verizon in bringing the Kin to market, even saying that the research and development process involved regular trips to Big Red's New Jersey offices -- but how strong is that bond behind the scenes? Well-established WinMo hacker Conflipper seems to have stumbled across a Kin ROM in recent days, tearing it apart in search of interesting tidbits, and here's a doozy: the firmware appears to be ready for provisioning on a variety of North American, European, and Asian carriers, including T-Mobile and AT&T in the US, Fido (a Rogers subsidiary) in Canada, O2, 3, TeliaSonera, China Mobile, China Unicom, Bharti Airtel for India, and both NTT DoCoMo and SoftBank in Japan. Amusingly, launch partner Vodafone is misspelled as "Vodaphone" in the files, but seriously, we're wondering how close any of these deals are to actually going down. Fido would make a lot of sense since Microsoft has yet to announce a Canadian partner, but we've previously heard that Microsoft has no intention of taking the phone to Asia -- so this could be a completely meaningless list after all.

Kin firmware torn apart, reveals provisioning for AT&T, T-Mobile, Fido? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attconflipperfidofirmwarekinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftprovisioningromt-mobileWed, 28 Apr 2010 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Kin specs update: 600MHz processors, ambient sensors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/microsoft-kin-specs-update-600mhz-processors-ambient-senso/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/microsoft-kin-specs-update-600mhz-processors-ambient-senso/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/microsoft-kin-specs-update-600mhz-processors-ambient-senso/#comments Surfing Facebook for Kin info? That's so last year. The cool kids are members of the "upload generation" -- meaning they wait at gdgt for Microsoft employees to upload the specs. This week, social marketing director John Starkweather did just that, and now we know that both Kin One and Kin Two will sport a 600MHz processor and EV-DO Rev. A when they come to market in May, as well as light and proximity sensors. Bluetooth remote and headset profiles are to be had alongside Microsoft Exchange, and there's support for H.264, MPEG-4 and WMV video files. Last and assuredly least, the phones aren't technically Verizon-exclusive in the US; the last remaining customers of Alltel will also get their chance to show off tragic, angst-filled lives.

Microsoft Kin specs update: 600MHz processors, ambient sensors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlltelAlltel WirelessAlltelWirelessKinKin OneKin TwoKinOneKinTwoMicrosoft Kinmicrosoft kin onemicrosoft kin twoMicrosoftKinMicrosoftKinOneMicrosoftKinTwospecificationsspecsVerizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessThu, 22 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Germany's Facebook page solidifies Kin specs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/microsoft-germanys-facebook-page-solidifies-kin-specs/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/microsoft-germanys-facebook-page-solidifies-kin-specs/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/microsoft-germanys-facebook-page-solidifies-kin-specs/#comments Nothing here we didn't already know, but it's nice to have some final, official confirmation: Microsoft Germany's just posted the specs for the Kin One and Kin Two on its Facebook page, and they line right up with that original, Google cached leak. As originally foretold, the Kin One will sport a 2.6-inch capacitive TFT LCD screen at 320 x 240 resolution, a 5 megapixel CMOS camera, 4GB of flash memory and a 1240 mAh battery, while the Kin Two ups its game with a 3.4-inch 480 x 320 screen, an 8 megapixel CMOS HDR shooter by Omnivision with a LumiLED flash, 8GB of solid state memory and 1390 mAh of juice. Both get 256MB of DDR, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11 b/g WiFi, GPS, FM radio and an accelerometer; neither will own up to the Tegra they hide inside their svelte plastic frames. Not a fan of specs? Find out what Kin's really all about in our full guide.

Microsoft Germany's Facebook page solidifies Kin specs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Kinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwoLumiLEDMicrosoft Kinmicrosoft kin onemicrosoft kin twoMicrosoftKinMicrosoftKinOneMicrosoftKinTwoOmnivisionspecificationsspecsTue, 20 Apr 2010 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft changes naughty 'sexting' Kin ad, camera to be used for clothed chests only]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/17/microsoft-changes-naughty-sexting-kin-ad-camera-to-be-used-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/17/microsoft-changes-naughty-sexting-kin-ad-camera-to-be-used-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/17/microsoft-changes-naughty-sexting-kin-ad-camera-to-be-used-fo/#comments As a card-carrying member of the Upload Generation, your Kin is about a lot of things: chilling with your peeps and BFFs, taking pictures and video of all of life's most awesome moments, keeping tabs on your MySpace pals, and documenting the fascinating story of your nipples without a pesky American Apparel V-neck getting in the way. Or wait... maybe not? Microsoft has just pulled a Kin ad briefly featuring a young gentleman snapping shots of his PG-rated parts underneath his t-shirt in response to Consumer Reports' concerns that the move encourages "sexting" -- a growing problem amongst the world's technologically-savvy (and hormone-riddled) youth -- saying that it "takes the issue of sexting very seriously and it was never our intent to promote it in any way." It looks like Microsoft has kept the commercial around on the Kin site and just removed the offending portion -- it was only about a second long -- so hanging out in underground speakeasies with fake hipsters is still okay, apparently. Follow the break for the original, unedited video.

Continue reading Microsoft changes naughty 'sexting' Kin ad, camera to be used for clothed chests only

Microsoft changes naughty 'sexting' Kin ad, camera to be used for clothed chests only originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingcommercialkinkin onekin twoKinOneKinTwomicrosoftsextingvideoSat, 17 Apr 2010 13:27:00 EST