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Windows Phone 7 handsets: spec comparison
Having trouble keeping track of all the new Windows Phone 7 handsets today? We don't blame you -- even we had trouble remembering all the minor differences between the similarly specced devices. To end our frustration, we've compiled a big chart that lists out the carriers and specs for all 10 devices (with a couple extra MIA) to make our lives a tad easier -- head on pass the break if you need the peace of mind.
Samsung Focus first hands-on!
And it's Samsung's Windows Phone 7 turn! We just got to check out the Samsung Focus (formerly known as the i917 Cetus), and if you're looking for the WP7 version of the Galaxy S, this is your guy. The curvy, glossy slate has a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, and feels a lot like the Samsung Vibrant. AT&T's touting that the 9.9-millimeter / .3-inch device is the slimmest Windows Phone handset yet, and we do have to say it's pretty darn slim. We'll be going back for more soon, but feast your eyes on the gallery and video below...%Gallery-104775%
Live from Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 launch event
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
Samsung Focus and Omnia 7 are ready to rock with Windows Phone 7
Samsung's i8910 HD-based Windows Phone 7 prototype has probably been the single most publicly-recognizable face of the platform this year, so it should come as little surprise that the Korean giant has come out swinging with production hardware today -- and fortunately, the pair of retail models look nothing (well, very little) like the proto. The Focus is the phone we've been calling the i917 Cetus in leaks, a curvy, glossy slate with a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display (presumably ripped right out of the Galaxy S line), a 5 megapixel camera, and support for microSD expansion up to 32GB; it'll be hitting AT&T in the States. The Omnia 7 is the second model, launching on Orange, SFR, Movistar, and T-Mobile across Europe with the same Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon processor (rare for a Samsung, by the way), 5 megapixel cam, and either 8GB or 16GB on board. Expect both of these to launch in time for the holidays; in fact, the Focus can be yours on AT&T come November 8 for $199.99. Follow the break for Samsung's Omnia 7 press release.
UK carrier's roadmap points to October 21 release for Windows Phone 7, over 2,000 apps at launch
The whole world and his neighbor's dog may already know when Windows Phone 7 will be announced, but when are the actual phones going to hit actual shelves? If you're in the US, that time still looks to be a month away, but the UK release window has just been narrowed down from late October to a single, albeit still speculative, date: October 21. Our tipster forwards the above snapshot from a Three UK document showing a "Windows 7Phone" nestled in between the BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Europa. Its Super AMOLED display tells us we're definitely looking at a Samsung handset, while the 4-inch diagonal suggests it'll be the Cetus (SGH-i916/7). This sheet of revelation also finally gives us a hint as to the number of apps WP7 will start off with, enumerating them at "over 2,000 at launch." We don't know why Microsoft's been so shy about that number -- 2,000 good apps are more than enough.
Samsung SGH-i916 spotted cuddling up to an iPhone 4 in the wilds of Canada
Unless our eyes deceive us most cruelly, the Samsung phone we see above looks identical to the i917 Windows Phone 7 handset we've been seeing all over the place. Curious then that it bears the title of SGH-i916. We can only surmise that there's some minuscule difference between the two phones, with this i916 purportedly set to ride Rogers airwaves up in Canada -- seemingly with none of Samsung's own branding anywhere on its shell. Another common feature it seems to share with the i917 is an AMOLED screen, judging by the deeper than deep black color it's capable of pushing out. See a much larger picture of the i916 after the break, and if you want an even better idea of how a 4-inch Samsung handset compares to the iPhone 4, visit our screen comparison test starring the Galaxy S.
Samsung Cetus i917 is in this video, automating your homes (video)
Believe it or not, we know most everything about the Samsung's Windows Phone 7-powered Cetus -- what it looks like, where it's going and what's inside, despite never seeing the device invoke a single pane of that Metro UI. Well, that's just changed with a new video from WMPowerUser, who tricked with WP7 program manager Charlie Kindel showing off his personal device -- albeit running a humble garage door opener app and thumbing through the dialer rather than showing a potent program of some sort. Still, that 4-inch AMOLED screen is very much in attendance, as you can see from the saturated orange squares above, and we'll just have to hope the last pieces of the Cetus puzzle -- release date and price -- come together in good time. Video after the break. Update: It appears this is actually a clip from Microsoft's internal Channel 9 crew, going behind-the-scenes with part of the Windows Phone 7 team, as many have noted in comments. We've updated our links to reflect that.
Exclusive: Galaxy Tab, red / white BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Focus hitting AT&T in Q4
Mmm, delicious. That's the feeling we're left with after being inundated with yet another round of AT&T leaks, this time giving us insight at a few flagship devices on tap for the carrier's holiday push. First up is the Galaxy Tab -- an Android 2.2-based tablet that we had previously heard rumored for AT&T's airwaves. Thanks to a branded snapshot from the carrier's internals, we can confirm that the Tab will indeed be sold on Ma Bell, and it (along with three other new Android devices) will ship "prior to December." Moving on, we've got even more confirmation that the Samsung Cetus (i917) will be one of the operator's first Windows Phone 7 devices, and it looks as if a heretofore unheard of Samsung Focus and HTC Surround will be joining it. Better still, we've got it on good authority that three other WP7 handsets will be splashing down alongside those others in time for the holidays. As for the remaining BlackBerry loyalists, AT&T will be tempting you with a trio of limited run Torch motifs coming in "mid to late November," with an all-white version, red / black model and olive colored edition on tap. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more, naturally. %Gallery-102059%
Exclusive: Samsung Cetus i917 bows for AT&T, shows off its Windows Phone 7 ways
Does the almost Pre-esque shape of this beast look vaguely familiar? It should, because it matches up nicely with the outline of the Samsung Cetus we saw in the FCC a little while back. Indeed, we're told this is the Cetus i917 destined for AT&T, featuring Windows Phone 7 in a glossy, black, curved shell that should fit nicely in those new skinny pants you just overpaid for. We don't know when this is hitting exactly, but we suspect everyone involved -- Microsoft, AT&T, and Samsung -- wants to have this on shelves in time for the holiday season. Hit up the gallery below for a couple more shots. %Gallery-99987%
Samsung's Cetus SGH-i917 sashays into FCC database, winks seductively at AT&T
AT&T came right out and confessed that it would be "the premiere carrier" for Windows Phone 7, and while it's obviously far too early to say if that'll be the case, this ain't a bad way to start proving one's point. Samsung's Cetus (SGH-i917) was just recently confirmed to be one of the first commercial Windows Phone 7 devices last week, and now the always-disclosing FCC database has shed even more light on the phone's intentions. Based on the mention of 850 / 1,900MHz frequency support -- and that whole "SGH-i917 (ATT)" marking on the label -- it's pretty safe to assume that this 4-inch, AMOLED-packin' superphone will soon be fighting with the iPhone 4 for shelf space. There's obviously no indication of when Ma Bell plans on releasing this one to the wilds, but it's typically not too far out after hitting this milestone. Giddy yet? %Gallery-98984%
Samsung's 4-inch Windows Phone 7 handset gets named: Cetus (SGH-i917)
You'd probably assume that Samsung would have a difficult time overshadowing the Galaxy S right now, but all it really takes is a salacious Bluetooth SIG entry that leaves only the most important parts to the imagination. We've known for some time now that Sammy would be one of Microsoft's closest Windows Phone 7 launch partners, and we've even taken the time to toy with a prototype earlier in the year. But a new Bluetooth certification is now all-but-confirming a name: Cetus. The SGH-i917 is apt to be North America's first WP7 device from Samsung, a 4-inch smartphone with an 800 x 480 AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera, a VGA front-facing camera, an FM radio tuner, inbuilt GPS, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, USB 2.0 and of course, Bluetooth. As for pricing, availability and form factor? "Not yet."
