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HTC Titan II with LTE for AT&T hands-on at CES 2012 (video)
So the rumors were true -- the HTC Titan II is basically an HTC Titan with LTE for AT&T and a 16 megapixel camera with backside illuminated sensor, f/2.6 AF lens and dual LED flash (vs. eight megapixels sensor and f/2.2 lens on the original). The industrial design is more traditional HTC fare (think Thunderbolt) -- gone is the rather elegant look and feel of its predecessor, along with its removable battery (although the pack grows from 1600mAh to 1730mAh). After spending some quality time with HTC's latest Windows Phone flagship we came away pretty impressed with the camera. Our test shots contain tons of detail, with accurate colors and very little noise. We left the handset in the default "Intelligent Auto" scene mode for the majority of our pictures, and it handled the varying conditions with aplomb. Exposure was particularly well balanced, despite difficult lighting condition. Take a look at our gallery below and hit the break for our hands-on video, sample shots, and sample video.Alexandra Guerrero (Drita) contributed to this report.
Ballmer announces LTE Windows Phones coming to AT&T
Well, it's been a long time coming, but Windows Phone has finally been granted LTE compatibility -- officially. AT&T trotted out Steve Ballmer who talked up the "blindingly fast" 4G service that'll be coming to Mango. Hopefully there will be more information coming at the live blog tonight.
Zombies, vikings, murder: Ska Studios on WP7 and the future of XBLIG gore
In 2007, James Silva had just graduated college and settled into a 9-5 job. He was resigned to spend the rest of his existence in cubicle complacency, letting his lifelong goal to develop games as a career fade regretfully away. Then his indie title, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, won $10,000 in Microsoft's Dream Build Play competition, and everything changed. He quit his job, lived the life of a starving artist and perfected Dead Samurai until it passed certification from Microsoft. "The work was exhilarating," Silva said in an interview with Joystiq. "I remember that when I got the email saying I'd passed cert, I ran around the apartment screaming." The game sold "well enough," but more importantly, it led him to meet Michelle, his fiancée, who was a tester for Dead Samurai at PAX in 2009. "I've said it before: XBLA literally made all of my dreams come true, right down to meeting the woman of my dreams," Silva said. Since Dead Samurai, Silva has launched six games on XBLA and XBLIG through Ska Studios, including The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile and I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1NIT!!!1, with one more coming in 2012. His latest endeavor in the fantasy he calls a career is developing titles for Windows Phone -- on Jan. 4 Silva launched Z0MB1ES!!1 (on teh ph0ne) for WP7, a trio of games that includes I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1NIT!!!1, a new game mode called Endless Zombies and a shiny new title, Time Viking.
Windows Phone Marketplace now accepting app submissions for China, five other countries
It wasn't long ago that the Windows Phone Marketplace hit 50,000 unique titles, and very soon, developers may find themselves with a whole lot more exposure. Microsoft's virtual store is expanding once again -- this time to Argentina, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru and the Philippines. While it's not yet live in these countries, proactive developers may submit their apps now to benefit from early certification. Practically speaking, this also enables Microsoft to have its "shelves" fully stocked come opening day. So, unless you're an odd duck who doesn't like more money, the time seems ripe to get those apps submitted.
Nokia Lumia 900 coming to AT&T, further details expected on Monday
Lookie here -- The New York Times has confirmed that Nokia's much-rumored Lumia 900 (800 shown above) will be coming to AT&T, with official details expected here at CES. There's no word on where it'll be hawked outside of the States, but it looks like T-Mob's Lumia 710 is about to get upstaged. We're told to expect more information here on Monday, and in case you had any questions, Elop was quoted as affirming that no Android plans are in the pipeline. Shocker. As for rumored specifications, there's a 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive touchpanel, half a gig of RAM, Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) and an 8-megapixel shooter. Keep it locked here for more details as we get 'em.
Windows Phone leaks new games, sounds like a personal problem
The Windows Phone is carrying on quietly with its existence, launching update 7.5 and recently letting slip a list of games coming to Xbox Live on Windows Phone, including Age of Zombies, Bullet Asylum, geoDefense Swarm and Tamagotchi. These titles are already available on Android and iOS devices, except for Bullet Asylum, which was announced for Windows Phone, Xbox 360 and PC last last year, and whose trailer you can watch above. In related Windows Phone news, Ska Studios' Z0MB1ES (on teh ph0ne) dropped for version 7.5 yesterday. For $2.99 it includes I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!!1, the ENDL3SS Z0MB1ES mode and a new title from Ska, Time Viking. Looks like it's time to change your "number of reasons to buy Windows Phone" to three.
Nokia Lumia 710 for T-Mobile review
It's not the Nokia / Microsoft lovechild we've all been patiently awaiting here in the states. No, it's the other Lumia -- the low-end one. And it's headed for a berth on T-Mobile's airwaves next week, on January 11th. Rather than go big (or go home), Espoo's chosen to wade gently into the shallow waters of the US smartphone market, loading this budget Mango device with respectable mid-range specs and an irresistible price. The Lumia 710 is a $50 on contract proposition geared towards easing folks inept at the smarter aspects of wireless gadgetry into the 21st century. With a 3.7-inch ClearBlack LCD display, a 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor aided by 512MB of RAM, a decent 5 megapixel rear shoot capable of 720p video capture and, of course, Windows Phone 7.5, it may do just that. The obvious hurdle keeping this able phone from flying off the shelves has little to do with performance and everything to do with Nokia's stateside brand recognition. So, join us after the break as we put this unassuming handset through its paces and determine whether or not the 710's training wheels are worth a Grant.
HTC Radiant tipped for AT&T: don't call it an LTE-enabled Titan
...But really, that's exactly what it is. An admittedly dodgy image has emerged today showcasing what appears to be a gently massaged HTC Titan, but if rumors are to be believed, this guy will actually be called Radiant. It's bruited that this AT&T-bound model will offer the latest build of Windows Phone 7 and ship with an LTE radio within, and if the name's ringing a bell -- you aren't entirely crazy. Radiant was trademarked back in April of 2011, and if we had to guess, we'd say you'll be hearing more at CES (or worst-case, Mobile World Congress in February). Hopefully we'll get something a bit more exciting than a relocated dual-LED flash and another device name we'll never remember.
Ask Ziggy: the Windows Phone 7 counter to Apple's Siri (video)
Ask Ziggy has actually been on the Windows Store for right around a fortnight, but there's an updated version hitting soon that brings an astounding amount of Siri-ness to Microsoft's own Windows Phone 7 platform. Developed by Shai Leib, the app is a free (and even ad-free) program that can "translate human speech into transcribed text." According to Leib, the text is then "analyzed for patterns to detect commands or general queries, while commands are interpreted and routed to routine phone tasks such as emailing, texting, calling, social network updates, and getting directions." If you're asking a more generic question, the app uses a hodgepodge of technologies and web searches to find the answer, and we're told that "several passes may be required to find a concise answer." Still, what's shown on the video just past the break is impressive -- particularly for a gratis app from a single Earthling -- and you can expect the latest edition to pop up in the Store within the next couple of days. Just don't ask it if it's hot for Siri, okay? [Thanks, Alex]
Microsoft-approved Windows Phone 7 unlocker discontinued (for the moment)
Well, that was fast. Not two months after ChevronWP7 began selling $9 "tokens" to unlock WP7 handsets, the tool is being discontinued. WPCentral reports that ChevronWP7 made an agreement with Microsoft not to sell more than 10,000 tokens. Unfortunately for latecomers, though, the outfit's reached that cut-off, and says it has no current plans to renegotiate this number (though it hasn't ruled it out either). In a statement, ChevronWP7 spokesperson Rafael Rivera wrote, "Microsoft isn't involved in our discussion yet. And they can't provide us with more unlocks because we haven't asked yet. If we do request more, we're sure Microsoft will respond positively – as they have in the past." Until the two companies raise that sales ceiling, the only Redmond-sanctioned unlocker will be Microsoft's own AppHub, which will set you back a princelier $99.
Mimo Magic Touch screen combined with WP7 emulator to make impromptu Windows Phone tablet
When Mimo's Magic Touch monitor came out it was pitched as just that: a secondary, USB-powered display. But Windows Phone developer Social Ebola immediately eyed it as a potential programming tool. In a video demo, you can watch him drag and drop an emulator onto the Mimo display, and use it as the WP7 tablet we always wanted. As you can see, the emulator doesn't fit the Magic Touch's 10-inch screen perfectly, but gestures like scrolling and pinch to zoom seem buttery smooth from where we're sitting. Self-explanatory, yes, but oh-so mesmerizing. Have a look for yourself, just past the break.
'Z0MB1ES!!1 (on teh ph0ne)' for WP7 on January 4
Ska Studios' I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!!1 has been a dominant force in the dark, lonely lands of the Xbox 360's indie games section. Now its Windows Phone 7 counterpart, Z0MB1ES!!1 (on teh ph0ne), is ready to attack on January 4. The $2.99 Z0MB1ES!!1 (on teh ph0ne) app is a "suite" of twin-stick shooters, which includes I MAED A GAEM W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!1, "spiritual sequel" Time Viking, infinite arcade labyrinth mod Endless Zombies and the ability to put faces from your photo library into the game. Getting the Z0MB1ES!!1 theme song stuck in your head comes at no extra cost.
Windows Phone Marketplace hits 50,000 app-submission milestone
Just over one month after crossing the 40,000 app-submission threshold, Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace has hit another milestone: 50,000. According to analyses done by All About Windows Phone, the Taj Mahal of tiles has seen developers submit just over 50,000 applications for review -- 42,655 of which are currently available in the United States. What may be more telling is the rate at which developers are submitting their wares. Over 17,000 apps have been submitted to the Marketplace in the last 90-days from over 13,000 different publishers (an average of 265 per day). With Apple's iOS App Store and Google's Android Market sitting firmly atop the mobile-app-ecosystem totem pole, Microsoft is looking to close the gap and put distance between itself and Research In Motion's BlackBerry App World. Hopefully, the gang from Redmond can keep the positive momentum going through 2012... even with its next major mobile OS revision being a minor one.
Microsoft job opening hints at forthcoming backup / restore features for Windows Phone
The current state of performing backups for Windows Phone is far from ideal, although a new job posting from Microsoft suggests that a better solution may be coming to the smartphone platform in its next major software release. According to a job posting from the monolith in Redmond, the company is seeking a talented employee to join its Windows Phone Backup, Migrate and Restore team. The listing goes on to state, "Our goal is to ensure that no matter if someone loses their phone, drops their phone in a lake ... a user can quickly and seamlessly get their phone back to a good state." Whether this involves backup to the cloud, or simply more robust features within the Zune software is never explicitly stated, although Microsoft does suggest it aims to leapfrog the competition in this arena. Not a moment too soon, either.
Switched On: The year of reversal
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Back in 2005, Switched On dubbed its first full year of existence "The Year of the Switch" as IBM sold its PC business to Lenovo, Apple announced plans to leave the PowerPC platform for Macs and Microsoft moved to PowerPC processors for the XBox 360. But the dramatic reversals we saw in 2011 made even some of those decisions look tame by comparison.
Nokia ready to start shipping Lumias to Launchpad developers
Things were a lot less clear back in early 2011 when Nokia announced it would abandon its burning platform for Windows Phone 7. Amidst that uncertainty, Espoo pledged to give select developers an E7 as well as a mystery device running Redmond's bits in the near future. The company's now making good on the latter part of that promise, informing those registered under its Launchpad program that their gratis hardware is ready to ship. Kindly forwarded by a tipster is email proof (seen after the break), which in non-redacted form would provide instructions for procuring a complimentary Lumia 800. Previous whispers suggested the Lumia 710 will also be part of the scheme, so your mileage may vary. Still, a free handset is better than none -- or at the very least a Nokla, right? [Thanks, Jota]
Nokia Lumia 800 infiltrates Washington, succumbs to FCC teardown
It's a rite of passage for any stateside-bound communications device, and now Nokia's darling Windows Phone handset has arrived at FCC HQ to lay disrobed alongside the agency's imposing L-square ruler. The Lumia 800 has been available through carriers in other countries since shortly after its Nokia World launch, but it has yet to land in the US with a carrier subsidy. It's not clear exactly where the shiny slab is headed after its mandatory pit-stop near the nation's capital, though with no reports of 1700 MHz AWS on board, it's safe to say that this iteration won't be joining its Lumia 710 sibling over at T-Mobile.
Nokia reveals CES 2012 press event, Windows Phone the obvious focal point
"The exciting thing is, we've only just begun." That was the closing remark of then-CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo as he wrapped up Nokia's 2010 CES keynote, and while the words ring true today, we're guessing that what has transpired in Espoo between then and now wasn't exactly on his radar at the time. After laying low through the 2011 episode, Nokia will be making a triumphant return at next year's Consumer Electronics Show, even going so far as to reserve a block of time for a Metro-themed press event. The fun kicks off at 3:00PM PT on January 9th, and if you couldn't tell by the invite, we're guessing Windows Phone will be somewhere in the discussion. Naturally, we'll be bringing you every moment of it right here on the site -- nothing wrong with blocking out some vacation time to be here, you know?
Nokia Lumia 710 for T-Mobile hands-on (video)
Deja vu? Absolutely. Nokia's chosen to make its first, big Windows Phone splash stateside with the humble Lumia 710 on T-Mobile. Eager Espoo fanboys and girls were likely hoping the company would've opted for a Red, White and Blue polycarbonate debut (see: Lumia 800), but that's not the black and white story being told here. So, put your hands down if you already have a smartphone to call your own -- this one's aimed squarely at mobiledom's stragglers. At $49 on contract, it's a value proposition that could very well lead the uninitiated down a live-tiled, Mango-laden path and help Microsoft ensnare a larger user base for its OS. Join us then, won't you, as we dive deep into our second first impressions after the break. %Gallery-141840%
Android leads US market share, iOS may have stopped growing, RIM is still falling
NPD just published its latest plotting of the great American smartphone OS rivalry, and although the report covers annual rather than quarterly trends, it's perhaps more interesting to hold it up against the previous set of figures we saw -- those for Q2 2011. Back then, Google's OS had a 52 percent share, but these new figures suggest a marginally better performance of 53 percent between January and October. Meanwhile, iOS's 29 percent share is identical to what we saw in Q2, hinting that its growth has slowed right down or even stopped. RIM's share of the pie is 10 percent, compared to 11 percent in Q2, showing that the Summer flurry of new BB7 handsets like the Bold 9930 and Torch 9810 had little immediate impact. WP7 obstinately refuses to overtake Windows Mobile, although these figures are pre-Titan, while the doomed Symbian and webOS are barely clinging to life. Aside from all that, perhaps the only stats that are genuinely still shocking are those at the top of the column for 2006. Click below for further detail's in NPD's press release.
