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HTC’s custom Windows Phone 7 experience

Korneel De Feyter — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:43:54 +0000

HTC has a history customizing other’s mobile OSes. It designed custom layers on its Windows Mobile phones, it created the Sense UI for its Android devices, but with Windows Phone 7 Microsoft no longer allows manufacturers to build custom skins upon its yet-to-be-released WP7 OS. If this preview above it real (it looks very genuine), HTC has found a way to deliver an unique feeling that will distinguish them from other WP7 manufacturers.

I have to admit, this looks very nice…

Job posting hints Microsoft might be breeding on a new Zune

Korneel De Feyter — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 20:22:14 +0000

WMPoweruser.com noticed something very interesting on Microsoft’s job board. You’ll never guess what…
A job posting! Oh, that was your guess…

Well, Microsoft’s job postings have led to numerous rumours in the past. Some of them turned out to be the truth, others were miss-interpreted. This time the Softies’ Entertainment and Devices Division needs a Hardware Engineer to build “the next generation of portable entertainment and communication devices”.
Now this could be anything, right? Of course that could, but now add that the team that’s recruiting is stating that they were behind the creation of the Zune HD.
The job posting is filed under the product ‘Windows Phone’, this makes things more complicated. It gives us three options:

Microsoft is building a next generation Zune based on Windows Phone 7
Microsoft is building a Microsoft-branded Windows Phone 7 device (unlikely)
We’re just hoping for the two above and all MS is doing is creating an internal Windows Phone prototype device

As a side-note, I’ll add that ZDNet’s Mary-Jo Foley — who’s mostly well informed — recently said she had gotten a tip about a Zune HD successor. According to her, Microsoft is considering to make one last Zune device before turning it into a service on multiple platforms. It could become a phone-less Windows Phone 7 device, much like the iPod touch is to the iPhone.

Real-time console-to-phone gaming coming to WP7

Korneel De Feyter — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:40:45 +0000

Yes, you’re hearing it right. In the future you’ll be able to play from your Windows Phone 7 phone with your buddies who’re playing on a console (Xbox) through Xbox Live. However, this isn’t a day-one feature, but is planned for future Windows Phone versions. Click on the source link to read the full article.

LG C900 to launch around September 28th?

Korneel De Feyter — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:22:53 +0000

If we have to believe the Bluetooth SIG (the Bluetooth Special Interest Group| Wikipedia) LG’s C900 Windows Phone 7 handset would launch around September 28th. This is of course doesn’t quite inconsistent with what Microsoft’s COO Kevin Turner said before. Of course plans could always have changed or Turner might have made a mistake. However September still looks very early and it was recently rumoured that Microsoft won’t accept third party apps in its Marketplace before October.

But as Engadget points out: “The Bluetooth SIG has a long history of promoting its members’ “special interests” by leaking valuable tidbits about their handsets before they’re announced.” Phone Arena even knows that this lines up with AT&T’s marketing material. It’s interesting that AT&T — as the iPhone carrier in the USA — includes Windows Phone 7 in its line-up.

The LG phone in question is a QWERTY slider and the Bluetooth SIG make notion of a C900N, C900k, and C900B version. The LG C900 would be sold in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Happy 15th birthday Windows 95

Korneel De Feyter — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:54:13 +0000

Microsoft would have paid $2 million to licence ‘Start Me Up’ from the Rolling Stones.

Read about it:

Mary-Jo Foley on ZDNet: “Were you in line to buy Windows 95 fifteen years ago?“
Wikipedia: “Windows 95“
Michael Gartenberg: “The Story behind “Start Me Up” and Windows 95“

Buy it
On Amazon.co.uk for only £27.50 or €33,57.

And a Windows 95 video guide featuring Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston as a bonus:

Xbox Live to bring unique mobile gaming experience on WP7

Korneel De Feyter — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:55:12 +0000

Microsoft showed today how serious they are about gaming for their Windows Phone 7 platform. It released a list of games which would be available at launch. That list looks very promising, featuring some big names.

Read two excellent articles with hands-on treatments:

An excerpt from the Xbox Live for Windows Phone 7 website:

Connected and Accessible
Xbox LIVE on Windows Phone 7 unlocks a world of games, friends and fun for Windows Phone 7 users around the world. The Games hub brings together many popular Xbox LIVE gaming and community features:

Be omnipotent.

View, access and launch your full game library from one easy-to-navigate hub.
Get mad props. Earn, view and track Achievements, view Xbox LIVE leaderboards and build your Gamerscore every time you play an Xbox LIVE title.

Release your inner Mini Me.

Connect to your Xbox LIVE profile and Avatar, or easily create a new one right from the phone.
Get tricky. Access Spotlight feeds, including the latest game titles, breaking news from Xbox LIVE, game tips and tricks, and more.

Play before you pay.

Easily find, try and buy the games you want, either in the Marketplace or Games hub.

Flaunt your skills.

Invite, connect and play against friends on other Windows Phone 7 phones or PCs with turn-based (asynchronous) multiplayer gaming.

Windows Phone 7 featuring Xbox LIVE lets you connect and play games with your friends. Use your Xbox LIVE profile to access your avatar, gamerscore, and achievements. Share scores and earn recognition for your accomplishments across the phone, web, and Xbox. You can even earn achievements on Windows Phone that add to your Xbox LIVE gamerscore.

HTC’s Windows Phone 7 handheld starring in leaked video

Korneel De Feyter — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:13:42 +0000

It’s called the HTC Shubert and it’s rumoured to be the one of the flagship HTC smartphones that will run Microsoft’s yet-to-release mobile OS Windows Phone 7. The Shubert (most likely named after the famous Austrian composer) is packed in a very attractive unibody aluminium case. As of the specs, we can only make wild guesses for the moment.

Windows Phone 7 will debut in Europe, before heading to the US

Korneel De Feyter — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:30:46 +0000

According to Microsoft’s COO, Kevin Turner, Windows Phone 7 will first launch across Europe before reaching the American shelves. WP7 phones would be likely — as Turner says — available in Europe in the October timeframe and the USA would follow in the November timeframe.

This is a remarkable new strategy, Microsoft used to launch its products in USA first, before trying on the European market. As with the Zune, they didn’t want to release it over here, before it scored some goals in the USA. Sadly for Zune-enthusiasts like me, Zune wasn’t a box-office over there.

Zune Pass to be available soon in the UK?

Korneel De Feyter — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:04:21 +0000

A liveside.net tipster named Greg discovered something very interesting. He managed to subscribe for the free Zune Pass trial in the UK. Although it didn’t work – yet -, this could be a sign that Microsoft is planning to release the Zune Marketplace for the first time outside the USA. Until recently you couldn’t access the Zune Marketplace without changing your Windows Country-settings to ‘USA’, but the tipster didn’t need to apply this trick as the Zune Marketplace just appeared while his settings were still set on ‘UK’.

Microsoft has already said it people would have to use the Zune desktop software to manage and sync music to their Windows Phone 7 devices (Windows Phone 7 will be released internationally upcoming holiday season), but it didn’t say anything about making the Zune Pass available outside the USA, nor did it mention pricing. According to Liveside, the Zune Pass will cost £8.99/month, with a 3 month subscription costing £26.97/month (see image above).

Microsoft Kin is dead

Klaas Op De Beéck — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:04:35 +0000

You’ve probably allready heard what happened to Kin. It’s death. But why? Here are some good articles explaining what happened exactly.

http://bit.ly/aTYeuh

http://bit.ly/bBbglY