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Long live the Samsung Taylor: prototype device to receive Mango?
Keep looking at Microsoft's "where's my Windows Phone update" page, concerned that Mango may never make it to your WP7 device? You may be comforted to hear that even the Samsung Taylor -- the beta device awarded to devs last summer that got left in the dark when NoDo came around -- is reportedly receiving the refresh to Windows Phone 7.5, inferring that the range of devices covered by the annual overhaul is pretty wide. It hasn't been made official, but the above screenshot was posted on the Facebook Wall of a Microsoft employee (which has since been taken down), offering a solid indication that the idea isn't too far-fetched. If you're one of the lucky few to have the prototype handset in your possession, be on the lookout and keep us apprised if Mango comes knocking on your door. Everyone else should feel at ease knowing that if the Taylor can get it, it's likely that every other Windows Phone can too.
Microsoft suggests WP7 dev prototypes won't get NoDo, upsets someone
Looks like it's out with the old and in with the new for Windows Phone developer handsets, with Microsoft announcing it has no intention to provide NoDo (or any future updates) to beta devices such as the Samsung Taylor. Even though test units were given free to many devs, a few poor saps have reported buying them from third-parties. Without eulogizing, we'd like to remind everyone that these phones were born from the greatness of the i8910 only to give coders early access to the platform. Considering what's coming in Windows Phone Next, perhaps it's time to shed that prototype hardware and move boldly forward. That commemorative Taylor will look mighty fine in a display case, don't you think?
Samsung's Windows Phone 7 prototype slipping out to Imagine Cup finalists
You thought about shipping off to Warsaw for the Imagine Cup 2010 finals, didn't you? 'Tis a shame you didn't, because Microsoft is fixing to hand out Windows Phone 7 prototypes to every last finalist at the show (around 400, we're hearing). The winning team has already received their handsets after receiving a mighty round of applause from developing Beastware, and while it's impossible to tell from images so far, the phones that they acquired look to be the same as the Samsung device we toyed with back in June. Funny -- we reckoned the finalists at a show like this would be in that elusive Kin generation. Update: Microsoft just pinged us with a clarification. Only the Rockstar Award winners are getting prototype devices today, with the rest of the finalists on a list to receive "a retail Windows Phone 7 device when and where they become available." [Image courtesy of artificialignorance]
