Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7.5 Mango review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-review/#comments
Let's face it: Windows Phone, as we know it, has an enormous amount of potential, but it's a first-generation operating system. For the first eleven months of its existence, it's lacked many of the common features we've come to enjoy (and take for granted) on Android and iOS, but then again, even those platforms have taken their turn getting the major wrinkles ironed out. So it comes as no surprise that Microsoft's mobile darling -- the innovative rebirth of a weak and faltering Windows Mobile platform that was quickly falling into obscurity -- would need to go through a similar process.

It's finally time for Steve Ballmer & Co. to unleash its major annual update (not counting NoDo here), codenamed Mango, to a litany of devices both old and new. Also known as Windows Phone 7.5, the latest build delivers an onslaught of features -- no less than 500, according to Microsoft -- many of them we've been missing dearly. Three months ago we were given the opportunity to preview the new revamp and ogle over its smattering of new capabilities (see the full list of features here), and it's only proper for us to offer a follow-up with the update's final build. So how does the completely polished version hold up against the mobile juggernauts, not to mention its own first-gen offering? Follow us below to get the full scoop.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7.5 Mango review

Windows Phone 7.5 Mango review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfirmware updateFirmwareUpdateintegrationmangomarketplacemetrometro UIMetroUimicrosoftmobilepostcrossmultitaskmultitaskingpeople hubPeopleHubreviewsocial networkSocialNetworksoftware updateSoftwareUpdatetourtwitterupdatevideowindows phonewindows phone mangoWindowsPhoneWindowsPhoneMangowp7wp7.5zuneTue, 27 Sep 2011 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7.5 Mango in-depth preview (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-in-depth-preview-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-in-depth-preview-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/windows-phone-7-5-mango-in-depth-preview-video/#comments
Make no mistake, Microsoft isn't playing coy in the smartphone market any longer. The folks in Redmond are making a significant jump forward in the mobile arena, announcing that the upcoming version of Windows Phone, codenamed "Mango," will be heading to a device near you in time for the holidays. As its competitors have raised the bar of expectations to a much higher level, Microsoft followed suit by adding at least 500 features to its mobile investment, which the company hopes will plug all of the gaping holes the first two versions left open.

We received a Samsung Focus preloaded with the most recent developer build (read: not even close to the market release version) and we had a few good days to put it through its paces. It's still far from completion, as there were several key features that we couldn't test out; some weren't fully implemented, and others involved third-party apps that won't be updated until closer to launch. Yet we don't want to call this build half-baked -- in fact, it was surprisingly smooth for software that still has at least four months to go before it's available for public consumption.

At the risk of sounding ridiculously obvious, we're mighty interested in seeing the final result when all is said and done this holiday season. As a disclaimer, we can't guarantee that the stuff we cover here will actually look or act the same when it's ready to peek out and make its official introduction in Q4; as often happens, features and UI enhancements are subject to be changed by the Windows Phone team as Mango gets closer and closer to release. Let's get straight to brass tacks, since there's a lot of details to dive into. It'd be best to grab a large beverage (we'd recommend a Big Gulp, at least), find your most comfortable chair, and meet us after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7.5 Mango in-depth preview (video)

Windows Phone 7.5 Mango in-depth preview (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firmware updateFirmwareUpdateimpressionsmangomicrosoftmultitaskingnodopreviewreviewsoftware updateSoftwareUpdatespeech to textspeech-to-textSpeechToTextupdateupdatesvideovoicevoice navigationvoice recognitionVoiceNavigationVoiceRecognitionwindowswindows mangowindows mobilewindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7.5windows phone mangoWindowsMangoWindowsMobileWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7.5WindowsPhoneMangowp7Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Homebrew dev previews multitasking on Windows Phone 7, Microsoft issues stern warning (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/homebrew-dev-previews-multitasking-on-windows-phone-7-microsoft/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/homebrew-dev-previews-multitasking-on-windows-phone-7-microsoft/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/homebrew-dev-previews-multitasking-on-windows-phone-7-microsoft/#comments Oh, hackers... how we heart thee: following our story on Jaxbot's fascinating instant app resuming mod on Windows Phone 7, the plucky dev has taken tricks a step further -- this time demoing a workaround that struts true multitasking on your handset. Now before you start rushing to the source link, please note we say "demoing" intentionally as no release date has been set, and Jax is only previewing this work-in-progress to solicit user input (and achieve bragging rights, of course). Meanwhile, Microsoft has taken notice of developers' growing tenacity and is pleading for patience on its official blog, warning users to stay clear of these unsanctioned techniques citing unknown consequences. We're inclined to believe they aren't fully bluffing, considering their update track history, and all. Keeping in mind there's nothing to download just yet, check out WP7 tossing around apps in the background after the break, and let Jaxbot know what you think, will ya?

Continue reading Homebrew dev previews multitasking on Windows Phone 7, Microsoft issues stern warning (video)

Homebrew dev previews multitasking on Windows Phone 7, Microsoft issues stern warning (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appappsbackground appsBackgroundAppshackhacksjailbreakjaxbotmobilemodmultitaskingpreviewvideowindowswindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wpwp7Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 hack brings instant app resumption, mobile multitasking to the masses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/windows-phone-7-hack-brings-instant-app-resumption-mobile-multi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/windows-phone-7-hack-brings-instant-app-resumption-mobile-multi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/windows-phone-7-hack-brings-instant-app-resumption-mobile-multi/#comments Looking for a little snappier response when jumping to and fro between apps on your WP7 device? Well, do we have just the hack for you -- a dev from Windows Phone Hacker, Jaxbot, did some poking around in the Window's Phone registry and found a way to instantly resume apps, no muss, no fuss. By setting the "DehydrateOnPause" registry key value to zero, he got rid of that pesky app dehydration / rehydration process altogether. Keep in mind there may be some "undesirable" side effects from force-feeding your device multitasking (ADD?) ahead of schedule and you'll need a developer-unlocked device to access the registry, so only advanced users need apply -- you taking notes, Mr. Ballmer? Hit up the source link for the full monty, and check out the hack in action after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 hack brings instant app resumption, mobile multitasking to the masses

Windows Phone 7 hack brings instant app resumption, mobile multitasking to the masses originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appappsbackground appsBackgroundAppsdehydrationhackhacksmultitaskingregistryregistry hackRegistryHackrehydrationvideowindowswindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wpwp7Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:26:00 EST<![CDATA[See the new Windows Phone 7 features in motion (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/15/see-the-new-windows-phone-7-features-in-motion-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/15/see-the-new-windows-phone-7-features-in-motion-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/15/see-the-new-windows-phone-7-features-in-motion-video/#commentsSee the new Windows Phone 7 features in motion (video) Sure, you clung to every word we typed yesterday at Steve Ballmer's MWC keynote, where a suite of new Windows Phone 7 features were announced. But sometimes seeing is believing, sometimes a picture is worth 1,000 words, and sometimes just watching a video is simply more fun. Microsoft has you covered, revealing a number of clips detailing the new Kinect "experience," multitasking, and IE9. They're all embedded below, so click on through, won't you?

Continue reading See the new Windows Phone 7 features in motion (video)

See the new Windows Phone 7 features in motion (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ie9kinectmicrosoftmultitaskingmwcmwc 2011Mwc2011videowindows phone 7WindowsPhone7wp7Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Charlie Kindel on Windows Phone 7: some things will be missing at launch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/charlie-kindel-on-windows-phone-7-some-things-will-be-missing-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/charlie-kindel-on-windows-phone-7-some-things-will-be-missing-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/charlie-kindel-on-windows-phone-7-some-things-will-be-missing-a/#commentsIn the weeks since Microsoft's MIX conference, the company has obviously done a little introspection and refined its message around Windows Phone 7 -- there's no greater example of that than the fact that they simplified the name at the public's urging. Microsoft's Charlie Kindel, who's been leading up developer evangelism for the platform, has gone on record a few times recently with some interesting tidbits around their post-launch strategy, including the very good news that they want to "do the right thing" with copy / paste -- not a meaty answer to the problem, obviously, but a heartening sign that they'll end up adding a clipboard into the mix at one point or another. Managed multitasking -- something similar to what Apple has announced in iPhone OS 4.0 -- also appears to be on the docket, though it's not something we can expect in the first volley later this year.

Speaking in more generic terms, Kindel says that the company is well aware that "some things are missing at the launch," choosing to concentrate instead on getting a limited set of functionality perfectly polished for version 1.0 -- a distinctly different philosophy than in versions past. Fortunately, both OTA and tethered updates will be possible, though it sounds like Microsoft will be using a mix of the two depending on the size and complexity of the update -- you can't pick your own poison, the way you can with BlackBerrys and Android devices today.

On a related note, we wanted to take this opportunity to spruce up our complete guide to Windows Phone 7, which you'll be able to use over the course of the year to stay abreast of the latest and greatest information we have about the platform as we get close to launch. Check it out here!

Charlie Kindel on Windows Phone 7: some things will be missing at launch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charlie kindelCharlieKindelclipboardcopy and pasteCopyAndPastemicrosoftmultitaskingotaover the airOverTheAirupdateupgradewindows phone 7WindowsPhone7winpho 7Winpho7wp7Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Entelligence: Mobile multitasking is mostly a myth]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/entelligence-mobile-multitasking-is-mostly-a-myth/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/entelligence-mobile-multitasking-is-mostly-a-myth/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/entelligence-mobile-multitasking-is-mostly-a-myth/#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.

The idea of multitasking on mobile devices has been a hot topic for years. It's been debated since the early days of smartphones, when devices such as the Treo based on Palm OS could not handle more than one task at a time, while handsets based on the Windows Mobile platform had the capability. The issue reached a crescendo with the release of the iPhone (and more recently with the iPad) and lack of multitasking capability for third party apps. This week it's come up once again, with news from MIX10 that Microsoft would not support multitasking for third party apps on Windows Phone 7 Series, at least initially.

Continue reading Entelligence: Mobile multitasking is mostly a myth

Entelligence: Mobile multitasking is mostly a myth originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnentelligencemulti taskmulti taskingMultiTaskMultiTaskingwindows phonewindows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7Serieswpwp7wp7sFri, 26 Mar 2010 18:04:00 EST