Nokia may be putting all of its weight into Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, according to the company's European manager, Victor Saeijs. The executive told the Swedish news outlet Dagens Industri that the handset maker's Windows Phone investments must prove successful, as there is no "plan B."
Microsoft has quickly terminated its pre-order program for Nokia's Lumia 900 handset, after taking deposits for a week. The company has yet to disclose full details surrounding the move, however it has ignited speculation that the flagship Windows Phone 7 smartphone may be nearing its ship date.
The Windows Phone Marketplace has reached its latest milestone, cracking the 60,000 app barrier. The figure comes some 14 months after the launch of Windows Phone 7 in October 2010 when it launched with just 1,000 apps. It had reached its previous milestone of 50,000 apps at the end of December showing a sudden acceleration as it has added a further 10,000 apps in just the past 25 days.
An enterprising hacker @Jaxbot has developed WindowBreak, an interop-unlock for Samsung Windows Phone 7 mobile phones. While not a full jailbreak, the new code [video embedded below] is the first major step towards allowing users the ability to install and run homebrew apps on the WP7 devices. Currently, the WindowBreak hack does not work on all WP7 devices, but should work with further tweaking from other hackers within the developer community.
Microsoft has announced a mobile version of its Lync application for both its own Windows Phone 7 platform as well as Android. The WP7 version (Free, Windows Marketplace) and the Android version (Free, Android Market) are now available for download, while a version for iOS has also been submitted for approval. Formerly known as Office Communicator, the app brings a combination of VoIP, instant messaging and conferencing.
Microsoft has offered to provide free Windows Phone 7 devices to individuals affected by malware targeted at Android devices. The promotion takes a dig at Google amid reports that the search giant was forced to remove 22 more Android Market titles that were found to contain malicious code.
Just days after Lenovo unveiled several new Android-based smartphones, the company has reportedly confirmed plans to expand its lineup with Windows Phone handsets. One of the company's product managers, Chen Yue, acknowledged that images showing the S2 handset running Windows Phone 7 are genuine, as the company is already developing devices that take advantage of Microsoft's mobile platform.
Microsoft is planning on holding a Windows Phone 7 event in New York on November 7. The company has issued an invite to the media for the event that it says will showcase new Windows 7.5 (Mango) Phone devices and chat to Joe Belfiore and Andy Lees. The event also coincides the rumored launch of the Tango third-party video chat app for Windows Phones.
Nokia has formally unveiled its first Windows Phone 7 mobile devices. CEO Stephen Elop took the wraps off the new devices at its London Nokia World 2011 special event. Two phones will be heading the Nokia charge, the Lumia 800 (Sea Ray) and the Lumia 710 (Sabre).
Microsoft has held a formal event to launch a trio of Windows Phone 7 Mango handsets in India. The launch was held at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi on Wednesday, where Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik announced the impending arrival of the HTC Radar, Samsung Omnia W and the Acer Allegro. The first of the three to land on the Indian market will be HTC’s Radar, which arrives next week.
A new Nokia Windows Phone has surfaced in an apparent screen shot listing upcoming handsets on France’s Orange mobile network. According to French website Mon Windows Phone, the phone is referred to as the Nokia Sun, and may join the known Nokia phones that have leaked to date including the Sea Ray and the Sabre. However, a possibility exists that it could also be one of these two models, but renamed for the French or European market.
The highly regarded Nokia Maps service has been given an app placeholder in the Windows Phone Marketplace. The app is expected to be an exclusive for Nokia’s forthcoming Windows Phone 7 mobiles, and is an example of the way in which Nokia will have certain privileges in its deal with Microsoft that will help differentiate its devices from competitors. Screenshots are embedded below.
Microsoft has quietly acknowledged a privacy problem with its Windows Phone 7 software, following a number of critical reports. The company posted information on its privacy pages admitting that its mobile OS exhibits "unintended behavior" by sending location information, such as details of nearby Wi-Fi access points and cell towers, even when a user declines to share such data.
Windows Phone 7 jailbreaker Rafael Rivera has demonstrated that the Windows Phone 7 camera application collects user data without permission. In testing Microsoft’s claims that it does not collect data without permission, Rivera found that data packets are sent back to Microsoft even after users opt out of sharing their location. The claims were tested in response to a current lawsuit underway where are user accuses the Redmond-based company of tracking users unlawfully.
AT&T is expected to begin the long awaited Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) update to users starting September 27. The devices set to get the update are the HTC Surround, LG Quantum and the Samsung Focus. However, users of the HTC HD7 will have to wait until mid-October for their update.
The HTC Radar 4G Windows Phone 7.5 has been spotted in the wild carrying T-Mobile US branding. The photos supplied to Tmo News show a boot screen revealing a T-Mobile version of the Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) OS, as well as T-Mobile’s TV mobile TV app. Although officially announced by HTC, the device has not been given a US launch date.
Ahead of the full Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' rollout, Microsoft is still encouraging developers to submit apps for the latest version of the mobile platform. In a blog post, Microsoft's senior director of the Windows Phone Marketplace, Todd Brix, admits that some developers have already complained about potential problems with the upgrade, which require separate app releases for the v7.0 and v7.5 editions.
Rumors are persisting that Microsoft will release the long anticipated major update to Windows Phone 7 this week. Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) was released to manufacturers back in July, giving them time to test the OS with the next-generation of Windows Phone 7 handsets. Microsoft also started accepting apps for Mango in late August, suggesting that a launch is imminent.
Corroborating recent rumors, leaked photos allegedly show HTC's unannounced Omega handset. The press renderings, which were posted by Pocketnow, suggest the Windows Phone 7 device will be built with a white and silver color scheme, offering a similar appearance to the company's Android-based Flyer tablet.
Microsoft is now ready to accept apps from developers for its upcoming Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) release. The company has let developers know through an update on its developer blog that the system for submitting apps is now up and running. Accordingly, a release candidate SDK download is available so that programmers can compile their apps to adapt to the final version of Mango and test it to make sure it works.
As Microsoft continues to dish out more details surrounding the upcoming Windows Phone update, the company has announced a number of new features that aim to improve the gaming experience. The Mango release will enable gamers to unlock 'Avatar Awardables', items that can worn on an avatar's sleeve as a sign of achievement. The Xbox Live title Chickens Can't Fly is said to be the first game to support the feature.
Microsoft has admitted that the upcoming Windows Phone 7.5 update may cause a hiccup for many developers. As developers are beginning to submit applications for the major release, the company cautions that apps released for Windows Phone 7.0 devices will not be able to receive any further updates once a developer posts a v7.5 build.
Nokia is planning on entering the large Chinese mobile phone market with its forthcoming Windows Phone 7 devices. A Nokia executive speaking in Beijing, Colin Giles, said that it plans on launching its new handsets on China Mobile’s 3G network using the TD-SCDMA standard. Giles did not offer a launch timeframe, but indicated that China would continue to figure strongly in Nokia’s plans moving forward.
Layar has announced the release of Layar Vision, an extension of its open source augmented reality platform for mobile devices. Layar Vision allows the device to recognize real world objects and show digital content layered over them. The Layar platform includes audio, video and animated objects, as well as location-based layers. The company claims the Layar software is installed on over 10 million mobile devices worldwide, including Windows Phone 7.
Microsoft has posted some new videos (embedded below) depicting its Windows Phone 7 (Mango) team members discussing upcoming email features in the forthcoming OS overhaul. The most notable of the new features is e-mail conversations, which has been done somewhat differently to other operating systems from a UI perspective. Instead of taking users out of the inbox in order to see a conversation thread, for example, the MS implementation allows users to quickly see the thread within the inbox.
Microsoft on Wednesday announced it will begin taking developer app submissions for Windows Phone 7 Mango in about one month's time. Developers will have the ability to submit their Mango apps to the App Hub to reach Windows Phone Marketplace in time for the launch. They will be required to use the Windows Phone Release Candidate tools that are expected to be released late in August.
On its Windows Phone blog on Friday, Microsoft revealed the upcoming changes found within the Windows Phone 7 Mango update. One change to make navigating a large number of apps easier involved adding a quick jump menu, just like the one used to find contacts, to the App list. The alphabetical headers that separate the apps won't be seen unless there are at least 45 apps installed, however, to make the screen more visually appealing.
Several early previews of Windows Phone 7 ‘Mango' are in, and like the original release, the reviews are positive but with some reservations. The general consensus is that Microsoft has taken some significant strides with its 7.5 update that clearly warrant the company’s claim that it is a major update. Microsoft has given the OS a much more rounded, and finished feel. However, on the downside, some of the vaunted new features have potential, but in their current state are not yet implemented as well as they might.
Microsoft has made available the Release Candidate of Windows Server Solutions Phone Connector. The app enables a user to manage a server running Windows Home Server 2011 via a Windows Phone 7 mobile device. Using the connector, a user can both remotely control the server itself and relay media streams.
Microsoft is trying to generate interest in the Windows Phone 7 platform with a promotion for three high-end handsets, the HTC HD7 from T-Mobile, the HTC Arrive from Sprint, and the HTC Trophy from Verizon. All three smartphones will be available for one cent with a new two year contract. In addition, T-Mobile is waiving activation its fee. The phones also will come with a card redeemable for 4,000 Xbox LIVE points.
Microsoft has provided yet another preview of the upcoming Windows Phone 7 update, referred to as Mango. Following Apple's iCloud announcement, Microsoft has quickly highlighted the cloud-based features that will be available on WP7 handsets. SkyDrive is touted as a competitive option, enabling devices to automatically upload photos to cloud storage.
Acer has already previewed its Windows Phone 7 handset, just one week after the software giant revealed its smartphone partnership with the computer maker. The device, referred to as the W4, offers a standard set of WP7 hardware specs, including a 3.6-inch touchscreen with 800x480 resolution, a 1GHz processor, a five-megapixel camera with autofocus, and 8GB of storage.
Following the more formal reveal for Windows Phone 7's Mango update, details of a web-ready version of Windows Phone Marketplace emerged on Wednesday. Much like the native app on the phones themselves, customers will be able to browse the catalog, view screenshots, read app details and reviews, and then pay for and download selected apps and games. Marketplace uses Bing Virtual Search to help a user pore through the available apps.
Nokia has announced that it is rebranding all of its Ovi online services. The company has said that its Ovi services will be rebranded as Nokia services as part of a transition that will continue through into 2012. New devices sold from July and August onwards will start to show the new branding, while existing devices will being receiving software updates to reflect the change.
The forthcoming major Windows Phone 7 update codenamed “Mango” is said to bring Bing AV features, native podcast support and turn-by-turn GPS. Bing Audio is a Shazam-styled service that is now an integrated component of the Bing search window. When a user plays a snippet of a tune, the software will search for the corresponding tune in the Marketplace where it can be streamed or purchased.
Dell has finally released its Venue Pro smartphone for customers using AT&T's network, following an earlier release through T-Mobile and other carriers in international markets. AT&T subscribers can choose from 8GB, 16GB or 32GB storage capacities, with prices starting at $100 when paired with a two-year contract.
Microsoft has warned that any Windows Phone 7 handsets that used "unofficial mechanisms" to install build 7390 will not be able to receive the latest software update. In the Windows Phone developer blog, the company claims the new update, build 7392, must be pushed to a handset that currently runs an official package, rather than the hacked software.
AT&T is reportedly stocking its retail locations with "Windows Phone 7 certified" microSD cards, which are presumably designed to overcome compatibility issues that have plagued many handsets based on Microsoft's mobile platform. An image posted on Engadget shows packaging for an 8GB WP7 card carrying a $32 price tag.
Microsoft's Joe Belfiore during the MIX11 day two keynote explained the reasons behind the problems in getting out the initial February update and the delays in getting updates out to phones on time. The phone bricking and other issues were triggered by gaps in code between testing phones and those shipping out to factories. In one case, Samsung phones had a firmware flag for use in the factory that, when triggered by the pre-NoDo update, rendered the phone unusable.
The Nokia E7 Symbian QWERTY slider is now available on Amazon for $649 unlocked. The E7, which first started shipping to European markets in February this year, is one of Nokia’s flagship current generation Symbian OS devices. Although its OS is set to take a back seat Windows Phone 7 in 2012 and beyond, the E7 still offers users a strong physical keyboard and touchscreen combination.
HTC's Arrive handset has be listed at online retailer Wirefly, with pre-orders currently priced at $150 with a two-year contract. The device essentially represents Sprint's CDMA version of the 7 Pro, a Windows Phone 7 handset that integrates a tilt-slider QWERTY keyboard. Both offerings share a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU and five-megapixel camera, while the Arrive bumps the integrated storage up to 16GB.
After originally stating that mobile apps aren’t an important factor in the success of a smartphone platform, Microsoft today announced that several top iPhone games are set to debut on Windows Phone 7. Launching April 6 will by Rovio’s smash hit Angry Birds, which will be joined by Doodle Jump, Plants vs Zombies, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 and geoDefense. The arrival of Angry Birds comes after some initial controversy which saw Microsoft use the Angry Birds icon amongst its promotional material for the launch of Windows Phone 7 without Rovio’s permission, and well before Rovio had committed to the platform.
When the deal between Nokia and Microsoft was made public, one aspect of interest to observers is what special influence, if any, that Nokia will be able to exert on Windows Phone 7 OS. Microsoft has exerted tight control over the phone hardware specifications that manufacturers must meet in order to licence WP7, and has strictly limited the level of customization that carriers and manufacturers have been able to add to the OS. In an interview with Phone Scoop at the World Mobile Congress, Nokia VP Niklas Savander has said that Nokia has been granted approval to delve deep into the OS to help shape its development, where previously it had been closed to other OEMs.
Microsoft is currently seating journalists for its Mobile World Congress keynote event, where everyone is eager to hear more Windows Phone 7 news. We expect speakers to provide further explanation of the Microsoft/Nokia partnership, though the subject of the event has yet to be officially confirmed. Watch after the break for updates as the session gets started; updates are tagged with local Barcelona time (GMT+01:00).
Former Nokia exec Ari Jaaski has launched a salvo at the new deal between Nokia and Microsoft that will see Windows Phone 7 supplant Symbian and MeeGo as Nokia’s new smartphone OS platform. Jaaski was a key player in MeeGo development is now heading up HP’s webOS and services development for its newly launched range of TouchPad, Veer and Pre 3 webOS devices. “I worry about my old friends a lot. I’m sad to see they no longer trust they can make a difference. They’ve given up and given away their passion. Sorry, that ain’t gonna work. You must believe in yourself and what you are up to, and you must believe you can change the world. That’s the only way I know,” posted Jaaski on his blog.
An AT&T compatible version of the Dell Venue Pro has popped up for pre-order on the Negri Electronics website. Currently, the Windows Phone 7 QWERTY portrait slider phone is only available on T-Mobile’s 3G bands, which operate at 1,700 and 2,100MHz. The new version is being sold unlocked and is fitted with an AT&T compatible 3G radio that operates on the 850 and 1900MHz spectrum.
Microsoft has expanded its support sites with a new document for "Troubleshooting problems during software update for Windows Phone 7." The entry does not specifically outline details of the update, but its presence has been viewed as a sign that a major update to the mobile OS may set to arrive in the very near future.
Microsoft has reportedly begun distributing payments to Windows Phone 7 developers. Microsoft has been good to its word as it had previously promised developers that they would begin to receive their first payments in the fourth week of January. The news has emerged via developers posting tweets through Twitter.
BBC reporter Tim Weber has just revealed through a tweet that Dell plans on releasing more Windows Phone 7-powered handsets. The news came from Michael Dell himself, who was carrying a WP7 and Android phone and said 'several' new Windows Phone 7 smartphones are coming. Thus far, Dell makes only the Venue Pro with Microsoft's new mobile OS.
Two new previously unheard of handsets are coming to Sprint, according to a Monday Engadget report. Other than the logos and names for the two, the HTC Arrive and Kyocera Echo, not much else is currently known. The HTC model is said to be powered by Windows Phone 7, however, and a trademark registration at the USPTO confirms the upcoming availability of this phone; it may be the name for the 7 Pro slider.
