This rather loud video is from the T-Mobile HTC HD2 launch party, recorded by PhoneDog, and delivers a great demo of the smartphone.
Remember, we are giving away a T-Mobile HTC HD2 to one of our twitter followers at random. Read more about that here.
This 10 minute video by Engadget shows what we were all excited about before all of the bad news arrived. The UI is interesting and engaging, and clearly would make for an extremely interesting experience as a day to day main phone.
The Microsoft rep also demonstrated IE loading web pages in the background, which is an example of what he called “smart multi-tasking”, with apps only multi-tasking where users expect them to.
Is any-one’s interest re-ignited? Let us know below.
There has been some rumours that the reason Microsoft has left out Copy and Paste on Windows phone 7 was due to development priorities and basically running out of time.
Now Todd Brix, Senior Director for Windows Phone Product Management has revealed that this major omission was not in fact by accident.
"We don’t enable copy and paste and we do that very intentionally," Windows Phone executive Todd Brix said in an interview. "It’s actually an intentional design decision," he said. "We try to anticipate what the user wants so copy and paste isn’t necessary."
The replacement is supposed to be "smart linking," which lets a user double click on a phone number and either call it or add it to the phone book. For an address, one can get a map without having to copy and paste the address.
Apparently Brix felt that for most cases this will suffice, but of course offers no solution for the occasions when it does not.
"We tried to focus on what the core use cases were," Brix said. "Certainly there will be some people that wont be happy with some of those decisions."
Has Microsoft just undone all the goodwill their MWC announcements generated? Let us know below.
via CNET.com
While LG makes good handsets, their design language has never really caught on, unlike HTC, who pretty reliably generate attractive handset after attractive handset. That could change however, with this pretty nice handset recently leaked at MIX10.
The smartphone is said to feature a slide-out keyboard and of course all the other Windows Phone 7 specs ( 1 Ghz processor, 256 MB RAM, 5 megapixel camera and 8GB storage).
Originally leaked at Neowin, the picture has now disappeared from there, which is rather suspicious.
Do our readers like the design? Let us know below.
Update: Benjamin from Neowin.com has informed us that the handset is in fact the current LG Panther, photoshopped by Microsoft to look a bit better. Lets hope LG takes the hint and gives the Panther a bit more character before release.
Thanks Benjamin for the update.
Source: allaboutphones.nl va Unwiredview.com
The HTC HD2 is likely to be the pinnacle of Windows Mobile handsets, and to celebrate its impending release on T-Mobile USA we will be giving away one of these amazing devices to a lucky reader.
To win you need simply follow us on twitter – as soon as we hit 10,000 followers (and not a moment earlier) we will pick a winner at random and purchase an T-Mobile HTC HD2 at its no-commitment price of $450 and send it on its way.
Unfortunately only US residents will be able to qualify for this give away, but if you are lucky enough to be in the USA, follow us on http://twitter.com/wmpoweruser.
See the device in action above via WindowsMobileItaly, and remember to re-tweet the contest – the sooner we get to 10,000, the sooner your HTC HD2 will be on its way 
Just because we are not happy with Microsoft’s WP7 restrictions does not mean we are not interested in what they are doing with the UI.
In the above Engadget video we have two WP7 devices phoning each other, and we see Microsoft’s interesting implementation of the phone UI, where it does not cover the full user interface, ironically hinting strongly that one multi-tasks by continuing to use the applications while on a phone call.
Apparently the software is still not fully developed yet, with simple features such as speaker phone not even implemented yet. Some hope for C&P then?
Read more at Engadget here.
MobilityDigest reports that that extremely functional Blockbuster app, which has been extracted from the HTC HD2, is now ready to deliver its movie-streaming goodness to any US Windows Mobile phone.
The T-Mobile version of the HTC HD2 saw its official launch yesterday, likely explaining the activation, and apparently the software allows $2.99 to $3.99 movie streaming rentals and even purchases, and allows one to stream to the device, pause the movie, and continue on an other Blockbuster equipped device such as a TV set top box.
Read more at MobilityDigest here, and see this post for the Blockbuster cab.
Lets be clear. I don’t like Windows Phone 7.
Yes, the new operating system does bring a lot new to the table, but in the process has taken away the unique freedoms Windows Mobile fans have come to enjoy over the last few years. In fact, I find it difficult to believe some-one who called themselves a Windows Mobile fan could like Windows Phone 7.
In many ways our worst fears have been realized. A year ago, who would have believed Windows Mobile 7 would lack cut and paste, multi-tasking, memory cards and the ability to run arbitrary applications? In many ways the OS is worse than the iPhone, since we have been used to our freedom for more than a decade and have had it snatched away.
I have a theory that platforms in decline, such as Windows Mobile has certainly been, sometimes grasp too whole-heartedly at the criticism of their detractors in an effort to turn things around, and in the process throw out the baby with the bath water. So we have seen PalmOS, long criticized for its lack of multi-tasking, now becoming in its WebOS incarnation the example of how multi-tasking should be done. Now we have also seen Windows Mobile, the paragon of mobile OS freedom, but devoid of much consumer appeal, becoming even more locked down than the iPhone, and even more unfriendly to business.
What does this mean for WMPoweruser.com? We still love Windows Mobile but we are not stupid enough to believe there is any point in hanging on to a platform abandoned by its founders, much like the the Tapwave Zodiac community did. We, like all Windows Mobile users, are faced with moving on to the big 3 platforms (in the US at least); Android, iPhone or Windows phone 7.
At WMPoweruser.com, we will be choosing Windows Phone 7.
This however is not because we are accepting of the limitations Microsoft imposed, but because we know, lurking under the layer of Microsoft’s stupidly imposed restrictions sits a \Windows directory and a Registry, and we wish to report on the community wresting away control from those who think they know better.
Of course we will also continue to report on all the great things Microsoft has done with Windows Phone 7 series, as we have done already. In fact for many of our readers Microsoft may have already made a compelling argument for using the new mobile OS.
What is your plans for Windows Phone 7? Let us know in the poll below.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.
No way. It just can not be possible. No multi-tasking. No removable storage. No file system. No side-loading of apps. Now Engadget reports Windows Phone 7 does not have cut and paste either.
I’m sorry Microsoft, but I’m not buying it. Thank God the Toshiba K01 will still run a real smartphone OS.
Am I wrong? Let us know below.
Via Engadget.com
Some more evidence of a March arrival for the long-awaited Sprint HTC Touch Pro 2 Windows Mobile 6.5 update has leaked on PPCGeeks.
The above slide shows the ROM update coming with an improved version of HTC Sense and other mysterious Social Network integrations, which hopefully hints at an integrated HTC Peep twitter client found in HTC Sense 2.5
Are any Sprint HTC Touch Pro 2 user still waiting for the update? Let us know why below.
Via Pocketnow.com
Microsoft is pretty proud of their Windows Phone 7 user interface, to the extent that they have been giving out a 47 page book on the UI design inspiration.
Long Zheng from the Istartedsomething.com blog has uploaded the pages for our enjoyment.
Do our readers look forward to using a UI with a design ethic? Let us know below.
Press Release: Today, Opera Software released the final versions of the world’s most popular mobile Web browsers, Opera Mini 5 and Opera Mobile 10. Now, nearly any mobile phone can support an Opera-driven Web experience, complete with unmatched speed, style and cost savings. Simply go to m.opera.com/ to download it directly to your phone today.
Today’s release puts the finishing touches on the Opera mobile-browsing duo. The focus is on delivering the best Internet experience on nearly any mobile phone, along with a unified look and feel and innovative favourite features, such as Speed Dial, password manager and tabbed browsing.
“Keeping in mind the needs and wants of our 50+ million users, we have emphasized speed, desktop-like functionality and data savings in our mobile browsers. Today, we have made it even easier for everyone to surf, search and socialize on the Web,” said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software.
Opera delivers the full Web experience on nearly any mobile phone, and it is easy and free to download.
Opera mobile browsers are designed to boost your browsing speed significantly. Opera brings the best and fastest browsing experience on any mobile phone.
Opera Mini’s compression technology reduces the amount of data sent to your phone by up to 90 percent, resulting in lower costs on pay-per-MB data plans or when roaming.
Opera keeps it simple with a sleekly designed user interface, regardless of the phone you are using, and with the same great feature set, such as Speed Dial, tabs, and the password manager.
Opera Link lets you synchronize your bookmarks, notes and Speed Dial between your computer and your mobile phone. Make your information available wherever you are – at work, at home or on the road.
Bring the power of the Web to your phone. Download Opera Mini 5 or Opera Mobile 10 directly to your phone at no cost from m.opera.com, or read more at www.opera.com/mobile.
At MIX10 Microsoft has revealed the minimum specs of all Windows Phone 7 Phones, and they seem quite up to date for a 2010 phone, except possibly the memory requirements, which seems quite low for a Windows Mobile smartphone these days. Of course, on the other hand, Windows Phone does not multi-task, so maybe it will not need that much RAM after all…
The specs are:
Capacitive Touch: 4 or more contact points
Sensors: A-GPS, Accelerometer, Compass, Light, Proximity
Camera: 5 megapixels or more, Camera with a flash and dedicated camera button
Multimedia: Common detailed specs, Codec acceleration
Memory: 256 MB, 8 GB Flash or more
GPU: DirectX 9 acceleration
Processor: ARMv7 Cortex/Scorpion or better
2 screen sizes: 480×800 WVGA, 480×320 HVGA
Keyboard: Optional
Hardware Buttons: Must be fixed on the face
Is the template missing anything in particular? Let us know below.
Via FuzeMobility.com
Microsoft has released this video showing the new marketplace in Windows phone 7. As with the Xbox hub there is many opportunities for Microsoft to promote applications, and of course we know that this is the only authorized source of Windows phone 7 apps. The marketplace will also integrate carrier-branded stores in marketplace itself (under Contoso in this example).
Of note however is that developers an register devices to unlock them for arbitrary apps, which will hopefully be as easy as it is to register as a developer on the Android platform (that is very easy).
The above video from MIX10 shows 3D game play on a Windows Phone 7 phone, including a full 3D destructible environment and unlocking XBox Live Achievements, which is sure to be a draw from the hardcore gamer crowd.
Press Release: Today at MIX10, Microsoft Corp. showcased advancements in its platform technologies that enable the developer and designer community to deliver compelling user experiences across a broad set of devices. Building on the excitement of the recently announced Windows® Phone 7 Series, Scott Guthrie, corporate vice president, .NET Developer Platform, and Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president, Windows Phone Program Management, detailed the opportunity for developers to use proven technologies such as Microsoft Silverlight and the XNA Framework to build new mobile applications and 3-D Games.
“As the browser, server, Web and devices evolve, a focus on delivering consistently great user experiences has become paramount,” Guthrie said. “By extending our familiar platform technologies and tools to phones, Microsoft is delivering the premier application development experience across a variety of devices and form factors.”
End-to-End Application Development Platform for Windows Phone 7 Series
During the keynote, Microsoft provided the first deep dive into Windows Phone 7 Series application development. By combining Silverlight features for rich application development and the XNA Framework for games, Windows Phone 7 Series empowers millions of developers and designers to build visually stunning and immersive applications and games — one of the industry’s most profitable mobile application categories — while taking advantage of device-specific capabilities. Specifically, developers will be able to take advantage of the following features:
•Accelerometer, an intuitive control that responds to motion
•A Microsoft Location Service to provide developers with a single point of reference to acquire location information
•Microsoft Notification Service for pushing information to the phone, regardless of whether or not an application is running
•Hardware-accelerated video with digital rights management (DRM)
•Internet Information Services Smooth Streaming for the industry’s highest quality content viewing experience
•Multitouch
•Camera and microphone support
“Windows Phone 7 Series brings together a rich application environment, powerful hardware, a fresh approach to software and a smart new design,” Belfiore said. “It was designed to generate incredible opportunities for developers and designers to quickly and easily deliver compelling applications and games. With the best developer tools, an established ecosystem and marketplace, and a path for developers to use their Silverlight and XNA Framework skill sets, we are delivering an application platform that is simple, powerful and inspiring.”
Free Tools for Windows Phone 7 Series Developers and Designers
To further support an end-to-end development experience, Microsoft announced the availability of comprehensive tools support for Windows Phone 7 Series. The easy-to-install package includes previews of the following:
•Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone
•Windows Phone 7 Series add-in to use with Visual Studio 2010 RC
•XNA Game Studio 4.0
•Windows Phone 7 Series Emulator for application testing
•Expression Blend for Windows Phone Community Technology Preview (available as a separate download)
A Marketplace for Windows Phone 7 Series Applications
Microsoft also showed how developers and designers will be able to bring applications and games to market with a new Windows Phone Marketplace. The Marketplace features a panoramic design and active merchandising to increase the discoverability of games and applications, and supports one-time credit card purchases, mobile operator billing and advertising-funded applications. The Marketplace will also enable customers to try applications before buying them and allow developers to cross-promote their applications through deep linking.
Several leading companies will be creating exciting applications and games for Windows Phone 7 Series. They include The Associated Press, Archetype International Inc., AWS Convergence Technologies – WeatherBug, Citrix Systems Inc., Clarity Consulting Inc., Cypress Consulting, EA Mobile, Fandango Inc., Foursquare Labs Inc., frog design inc., Glu Mobile Inc., Graphic.ly, Hudson Entertainment Inc., IdentityMine Inc., IMDb.com Inc., Larva Labs, Match.com LLC, Matchbox Mobile Ltd., Microsoft Game Studios, Namco Networks America Inc., Oberon Media Inc., Pageonce Inc., Pandora Media Inc., Photobucket Inc., PopCap Games Inc., Seesmic, Shazam Entertainment Ltd., Sling Media, SPB Software Inc., stimulant, TeleCommunications Systems Inc., Touchality LLC and Vertigo Software Inc.
Continued Innovation With Silverlight and Expression Blend
Microsoft announced a release candidate (RC) for Silverlight 4, available for download today, which builds on the beta version released at the Professional Developers Conference in November 2009. The Silverlight 4 RC provides powerful media and enterprise application and media capabilities, out-of-browser flexibility and world-class tools support via Visual Studio and Expression Blend with Sketchflow to enable robust application development and rich interactive experiences.
In addition, Microsoft unveiled the Expression Blend 4 Beta, a design and development workflow tool. New features such as Path Layout enable developers and designers to build and animate innovative user interface design via a groundbreaking visual layout mechanism, without the need to write code. Expression Blend 4 Beta also adds support for Silverlight 4, .NET Framework 4 and Visual Studio 2010.
Silverlight Customer Adoption
Silverlight adoption has continued at a rapid pace with installations approaching 60 percent of all Internet devices worldwide — an increase of nearly 15 percentage points in just four months. Customers such as Major League Soccer, BBC, eBay Inc., Netflix Inc., NBCOlympics.com and CT Corp., a Wolters Kluwer business, demonstrated how they are taking advantage of the power of Silverlight to deliver compelling consumer and enterprise experiences.
“Microsoft Silverlight technology will be the backbone of the video platform on our newly launched MLSsoccer.com,” said Chris Schlosser, director of digital strategy for Major League Soccer. “Our work with Microsoft allows us to launch cutting-edge digital and mobile experiences for our loyal fans. As part of our increased focus on digital media, we view a rich video experience as absolutely critical to accomplishing our goal of ‘super serving’ MLS supporters.”
All the latest from MIX10 is available at http://live.visitmix.com/press, including downloads of tools for Windows Phone 7 Series, the Silverlight 4 RC and Expression Blend 4 Beta, which will be available today.
See the MIX10 keynote after the break.
The above video is pretty interesting, not just for the demo in the later half of the video, but due to the interesting proposition the developers raise of Silverlight being a practical cross-platform development tool which means desktop and handset porting will potentially be extremely easy and rapid.
More at Slashgear.com.
There is a lot of good news in Windows Phone 7, not least being the renewed developer support for the OS and all the services it comes bundled with.
The OS also however comes with plenty of bad news for those who liked how Windows Mobile worked.
Some of these include:
Is there anything else about Windows Phone 7 that makes you want to stick with your Windows Phone 7 device forever?
Let us know below.
Via WMExperts.com
In a further move to make Windows Phone 7 series devices more like iPhones and less like smartphones, Microsoft has said Windows Phone 7 will not support memory cards, unless these are not user replaceable.
Windows Phone 7s won’t support user-replaceable memory cards, Kindel said. Microsoft will work with OEMs to make sure that phones have enough storage for media and 3D games, but there will be no MicroSD cards for music. Some phones could have a MicroSD locked under the battery, but it won’t be user-replaceable.
Microsoft needed to exercise some control to provide a great set of consumer experiences, Kindel said
While guaranteeing minimum installed storage is a good, this move is just another that will alienate current Windows Mobile users who were not looking for just a Microsoft-branded iPhone.
Via PCMag.com
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On their blog Seesmic, developer of the best twitter client for the iPhone, has now committed to releasing their software on Windows Phone.
The Silverlight app, which will take advantage of work already done using their desktop Silverlight app, plans to fully utilize the benefits of the Windows Phone’s OS rich user experience and full integration of Bing maps and its geo-location features.
More screenshots after the break.
Read more at Seesmic’s blog here.