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Microsoft reiterates that Windows 8 could see small(er) devices soon
What's an outgoing Microsoft executive to do on his last earnings call as CFO? Utter something that'd probably get the incoming CFO fired. Kidding aside, the outfit's own Peter Klein saw fit to reiterate something we'd heard back in March -- that Windows 8 is destined for smaller devices. To date, there isn't a Windows 8-based slate on the market south of 10-inches, but as Apple, ASUS, Google and Samsung have found, people tend to like tablets that can be held with a single hand. Of course, the "coming soon" angle definitely adds a time stamp (albeit a vague one) that we didn't have before, but we're still no closer to figuring out what kinds of devices we're to expect. A diminutive tablet? A smartwatch? A phone? Earlier this week, Terry Myerson -- corporate vice president of Microsoft's Windows Phone division -- admitted that the wearables space was undoubtedly an exciting one, though he wouldn't go so far as to affirm that any of the code he oversaw was being tested on the arm. Of course, rumors have been running wild since Windows Phone's introduction that Microsoft would eventually push WP aside in favor of just using Windows on everything, so we suppose that's another (far out) possibility. Wild imaginations are advised to contribute their best guesses in comments below. (But seriously, keep it sane. Thanks.)
Microsoft's Terry Myerson senses no urgency with iOS, calls Android 'a mess,' says WP8 is most successful in non-subsidized markets
Terry Myerson, who took over as corporate vice president of Microsoft's Windows Phone division following Andy Lees' departure in 2011, is helping to kick off the second day of D: Dive Into Mobile here in New York City. Right out of the gate, host Ina Fried asked where Windows Phone is seeing the most success. The response? "When you think about the world, there are markets where operators are subsidizing phones, and then there are markets where they aren't. We're seeing the most success in markets where operators are not subsidizing the phone. What happens in the subsidized market -- the market that Apple and Samsung have chosen to focus on -- is that the best innovation happens in the $650 product that's sold for $200. For us, the momentum we're building is with building a phone we can offer for less than $650 [unsubsidized]. Getting to 20 percent share in Mexico or Poland, that's the opportunity." %Gallery-185796%
Microsoft showcases Windows Phone middleware partnerships at GDC, we go hands-on (video)
Building on yesterday's announcement that Temple Run and several other games are coming to Windows Phone, Microsoft's been actively courting developers at GDC 2013. To that end, the company's booth showcases several games that highlight cross-platform development and middleware. Now that WP8 and Windows 8 share the same NT kernel, DirectX APIs and tools, it's easier than ever to write games that use the same code base for both platforms. Microsoft is sweetening the deal with a few significant middleware partnerships -- Unity, Marmalade and Havok, to be specific. We talked with Larry Lieberman, Senior Product Manager for Windows Phone development, who was kind enough to explain what these partnerships mean for developers and to give us a tour of the games. Hit the break for our hands-on video. %Gallery-184180%
The Daily Roundup for 03.18.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Samsung's JK Shin: there's 'lackluster demand' for Windows-based phones, tablets
You don't need to be Captain Subtext to understand that a few manufacturers (and developers) aren't best pleased with Microsoft's latest mobile products. The latest to damn Redmond with faint praise is Samsung's newly-minted Co-CEO, JK Shin, who told The Wall Street Journal that demand for Windows-based phones and tablets isn't sending the company's accountants cross-eyed with glee. When asked about Samsung's relationship with Microsoft after the latter deepened its ties with Nokia, Shin said: "Smartphones and tablets based on Microsoft's Windows operating system aren't selling very well. There is a preference in the market for Android. In Europe, we're also seeing lackluster demand for Windows-based products." Which, naturally, has done nothing to scotch those persistent rumors of the ATIV Tab being axed in Europe as well as the US. The CEO added that we can expect to see a Tizen-based phone in the third quarter of the year, although Samsung will continue to flirt with every available OS for the needs of its customers.
Despite 'spring cleaning,' Google CalDAV support still coming to Windows Phone
Still hurting from Google's "spring cleaning" announcement yesterday? Google Reader fans may be out of luck, but Windows Phone users can take heart in knowing that Microsoft made the whitelist for the CalDAV sync interface, which is now shelved to all but developers who get Mountain View's green light. Early this year, Google announced it would extend support for Exchange ActiveSync on Windows Phone through July 31st, with the implication being that Redmond would build support for CalDAV in the meantime. Luckily Microsoft's work was not for nothing, though -- and this is a big though -- the Windows team won't be adding CalDAV or CarDAV support for users trying to connect a Google account via Mail, Calendar or People apps after January 30th, 2013.
The Engadget Interview: Microsoft's Greg Sullivan on Windows Phone at MWC 2013
We caught up with Greg Sullivan -- senior product manager of Windows Phone -- for an early morning chat during Mobile World Congress. He was kind enough to give us an update on the state of Microsoft's mobile OS, which has apparently experienced a four-fold increase in sales since version 8 launched last fall and is taking share away from Android in the UK. We discussed the delightful user experience provided by lower-end Windows Phone 8 handsets like Nokia's Lumia 620 and asked how Microsoft plans to satisfy power users at the higher-end of the spectrum who are still missing critical features such as proper notifications, quick settings and CalDAV / CardDAV support (to name a few). It's clear that the company's aware of these shortcomings and is working to remedy most of them in a future release. We also talked about the ecosystem, what Microsoft is doing to improve app quality, how it meshes with Windows 8 / RT and whether the company is looking to expand its partnership beyond existing device manufacturers. Look for our full video interview after the break.
HTC's 'Tiara' crowns a medium spec, Windows Phone 8 GDR2 device
Trust. It's a valuable commodity. But serial twitter-sleuth @evleaks has done enough to earn ours for this latest leak. A Windows Phone 8 device -- apparently known internally as the Tiara -- which will be one of the first to run the next revision of the mobile operating system (GDR2). With a reported 4.3-inch display, a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera and 1GB of RAM, it bears more than a resemblance to another recent addition to the HTC fold. If you had hopes that it might also borrow from the firm's latest Android flagship design, then sorry to dash them, as the sources suggest otherwise. The Tiara moniker is unlikely to remain, with @evleaks taking a stab at it coming to market mid-May, possibly as the HTC 8W. Not a bad guess. Now it's just a matter of waiting to see if all that trust is truly well placed.
Twitter Windows Phone update brings it 'in line with other Twitter apps'
Twitter has finally given some love to its Windows Phone app, a change the company promises will put it "in line with other Twitter apps." On the docket are changes to the UI and a slew of new features. The app now offers tabs for Home, Connect, Discover and Me, making it easier to keep up with your feed and mentions around the Twittersphere. Also new are Tweet and Search icons, which let you perform those activities from anywhere in the app. And those who hate going to the trouble of opening the app the old fashioned way can pin searches and lists to their phone's start screen now, thanks to a new Live Tile update. For more info on the changes, click the source link below.
The Engadget Interview: Nokia CEO Stephen Elop at MWC 2013
Nokia just launched the stylish Lumia 720 and Lumia 520 Windows Phones plus a pair of affordable candy bar handsets (Nokia 301 and 105) here at MWC 2013. We spent a few brief minutes with CEO Stephen Elop to discuss the announcement -- talking about the common design language and the incredible price points for these devices (€15 / $20 for the Nokia 105 and €139 / $184 for the Lumia 520). We also quizzed Mr. Elop about the Lumia 920's ongoing camera woes and what's being done to address them, then chatted about the company's recent focus on entry-level smartphones like the delightful Lumia 620 and what it means in terms of strategy. Hit the break to watch our video interview.
We're live at the Nokia MWC press event!
Are you curious as to what mystery gadgets are hanging out in Stephen Elop's pocket right now? So are we, and thankfully we won't have to wait much longer to find out. The Nokia CEO is set to take the stage at MWC in just a few minutes to show off the latest and greatest mobile wares coming out of Finland, so sit down and join us as we bring you the announcements as they come.
Windows Phone users unable to download apps, receiving error code 805a0193
Thumbs twitching, in an attempt to get on that new Spotify beta? You might have had a frustrating morning. Multiple users are reporting that when trying to purchase or download apps on their Windows Phone they are instead receiving error code 805a0193. As handy as the code is, there's no further information about what is causing the problem. Unlike previous issues that seemed more localized, this current instance appears pretty widespread with reports coming from the US, and France amongst others. Are you affected? Let us know in the comments. In the meantime we've contacted Microsoft to see what's up. [Thanks to all who sent this in]
Spotify beta now available on Windows Phone 8
It's true, folks: Spotify is finally available as a free download on Windows Phone 8, which should come as a happy surprise for users who have been sorely missing the perks of the music streaming service on their brand new devices. Until now, the app was only available for legacy Windows Phone users, but it's finally made its way to WP8. If you don't see it available in your phone's store, hang on for a few hours; the app just barely started rolling out, so it may take a little while to reach everyone.
Nokia is hooked on Windows Phone, now has to pay for it
When Microsoft and Nokia married at the temple of Windows Phone last year, the dowry was nothing if not complicated. Nokia had to pay a minimum amount in software royalties to Microsoft each quarter, regardless of how many Lumia smartphones it sold, but the financial hit was more than cancelled out by Microsoft's "platform support payments" coming back the other way. At some point, however, the net flow of cash was always bound to switch direction, as the cost of the software royalties grew to exceed Redmond's $250 million quarterly support payments, effectively bringing the whole thing closer to being a zero-sum transaction. According to Nokia's latest financial report, that turning point has now been reached and the company's accountants will have to start writing a minus where there used to be a plus. The extra expense makes it doubly fortunate that Nokia has just returned to profitability -- at least if future quarters prove it really has.
Nokia makes a 2012 Q4 profit of $585 million, sells 4.4 million Lumia handsets
From somewhere atop a Finnish mountain, Stephen Elop is both bellowing and whispering Nokia's fourth quarter and full-year financials. The world's former number one has finally made a quarterly profit, with the final three months of the year raking in $585.7 million. However, the baggage for those previous losses weighed low on the annual report, pinning the company to a $3 billion loss for its overall performance in 2012. A big chunk of the quarterly profit came from the Nokia Siemens Networks infrastructure business, which chipped in with an operating profit of $334 million, while Nokia's Device business contributed $367 million. Nokia confirmed that it shipped 4.4 million Lumia handsets and 2.2 million Symbian smartphones during this period and, while those numbers are still sliding, the higher margins on phones like the Lumia 920 have had a positive effect on the bottom line. America, however, still hasn't fallen in love with the company's phones, with sales increasing from 300,000 to 700,000 -- but as of yet that's hardly enough to say they've been a big hit. On the upside, Nokia begins 2013 with a reasonably clean slate. It's cashed out another $250 million donation from Microsoft and has seen its net cash reserves increase for the first time in over a year -- up to $5.8 billion from $4.6 billion in the Autumn. The company has also decided not to grant a dividend to its shareholders for the first time in over a century as it hopes to keep adding to its corporate nest-egg.
Kantar: Apple's smartphone OS still the top selling in US for last quarter of 2012
Kantar's numbers for the final quarter of last year are in, and things are still looking peachy for Apple in the US smartphone market. According to the research firm, Cupertino scored 51.2-percent of smartphone sales in the states for the quarter, which drew to a close two days before Christmas. The second and third place entrants are the same as well, with Android at 44.4-percent and Microsoft's mobile version of Windows at 2.6-percent sales. On the carrier side, AT&T scored exactly a third of smartphone sales, with Verizon close before at 32-percent, according to to Kantar's numbers. Sprint, meanwhile, is in third with less than half of that number at 14.8-percent. More results can be found in the source link.
Huawei Ascend W1 now available in China for $260, cheaper than Lumia 620 locally
We knew that Huawei's 4-inch Ascend W1 will be hitting the UK at some point this quarter, but the company is once again launching a new device in its home country first. Currently available in black at the official online store, this dual-core, WCDMA 900/2100-flavored W1 is priced at ¥1,599 or about $260, making it the cheapest Windows Phone 8 device you can get in China -- probably something that will help address Huawei's smartphone penetration problem. Better yet, placing an order now will knock ¥100 (about $16) off the order but only while stocks last, so interested buyers better start calling their pals in China soon, especially before they shut down for Chinese New Year early next month! The title of cheapest WP8 device in China was previously held by Nokia's ¥1,999 (about $320) Lumia 620, though in the US it is available for just $249. Given the bigger screen and battery, the W1 might be a better buy, but we shall reserve our final judgement until we get to play with it properly. Meanwhile, somewhere in Redmond, Steve Ballmer is closely observing with a massive grin.
ASUS says it's interested in making a Windows Phone, maybe even a Windows-based PadFone
An Asus exec has revealed to the Wall Street Journal that his company is "in talks" with Microsoft to license Windows Phone 8. Talk is cheap, of course, but at this point WP8 is much in need of friends and it's interesting to contemplate what Asus might do with the OS, given that manufacturer's penchant for quirky form factors. Speaking of which, the same executive -- VP Benson Lin -- brought up the notion of a PadFone-style modular device based on Windows: "With our Padfone concept, the phone plus tablet, I think it makes sense for Windows 8" What doesn't make sense is how such a thing could work. The Android-based PadFone employs the exact same OS regardless of whether it's in phone or tablet mode, but no version of Windows (whether WP8, RT or the regular "8") currently allows that sort of flexibility with screen size. Lin may know something about the future of Windows that we don't, or he may just be throwing out abstract ideas about some sort of dual-OS device -- after all, he admitted that there is "no target timeline" for any of this. In the shorter term, Lin also said that Asus is talking to US carriers in the hope of bringing its wares to the States by 2014, which could mean that a PadFone 3 -- if there ever is one -- may be more than just a remote curiosity or an Expansys special.
Evernote's Windows Phone app gets PIN lock, Business support in update
Evernote has been one busy bee, er, pachyderm lately -- extending its proverbial trunk to a more professional crowd with the launch of Evernote Business and even cozying up to Samsung's Terminator-sounding T9000 smart-fridge. For its next trick, the popular productivity app is giving some extra love to Windows Phone users by way of a feature-laden update. One of the shiny new bells and whistles is support for the aforementioned Evernote Business, including note creation and searching via Business Notebooks. There's also a new PIN lock feature to ensure that your notes can't be viewed when sharing your Windows phone with members of the unwashed masses. Other key features include joined notebooks and new style options for text as well. For info about the update straight from the elephant's mouth, just head on to the Evernote Blog by clicking on the source link.
Google Maps returns to Windows Phone: we give it a try
No iffy third-party apps, no feature phone mobile version, Google's web-based Map service is back on Windows Phone devices. We just went down to the Nokia bus here at CES to give it a try, and it's working as you might expect. While the smartphone screen isn't the best place for a desktop map site, pinch to zoom and scrolling worked and we were able to hunt down places of interest. The more mobile-centric Google Places also reappeared ready for use, if you prefer your maps ready for vertical displays. [Thanks to everyone that sent this in]
