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Verizon not going to carry Windows Phone 7 until 2011
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Cell Phones, Corporate News, Microsoft
Verizon Wireless has confirmed that they will not be one of the carriers of Microsoft’s product when Windows Phone 7 launches in just a few weeks. While the Kin’s lack of any commercial viability led Verizon to stop carrying the product a mere few weeks after launch, Verizon and Microsoft’s relationship is reportedly intact. This leaves AT&T as the flagship carrier, as no others are known at this point. We’ll see at the launch if Windows Phone 7 can compete with the iPhone on its platform, and whether or not Verizon sitting out of the launch fray will have any negative impact on the success of WP7.
Read More 
| Business Week via Phonescoop
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Microsoft holds funeral for iPhone and BlackBerry
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Cell Phones, Microsoft
In light of their new Windows Phone 7 RTM being sent off for manufacturing, the folks at Microsoft jauntily gathered to pay their last respects to the iPhone and BlackBerry. The faux funeral was fully decked out with life sized mock iPhone and BlackBerry devices driven by hearse through Redmund campus.
Microsoft burying the iPhone and BlackBerry may seem a little far fetched at this juncture, but it sure is fun to watch when the big companies go head to head like this. No matter what side you are on, expect the competition to bring new levels of quality to everyone.
Windows Phone 7 was finished on September 1st, with a release date planned to be announced on October 11th in New York City.
Click to continue reading Microsoft holds funeral for iPhone and BlackBerry
Windows Phone 7 trailer gets Lawrence of Arabia treatment
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Cell Phones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Videos
Ahhhhh snap! Microsoft is officially bringing “it” by touting the Windows Phone 7 as the next revolution in smartphones. Introduced with a cinematic touch by utilizing Lawrence of Arabia themed teaser trailer, Windows Phone 7 rides blurringly from out of the distance into the forefront. Okay, we’re a bit too enthusiastic, but something about Xbox Live on our phones makes us get all giddy inside!
Bleeding Edge TV 361: Windows Phone 7 preview
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Cell Phones, Features, Handhelds, Microsoft, Podcasts, Videocasts, Videos
Wanna get an in-depth preview of what Microsoft has in store for Windows Phone 7? In this episode, we chat with Brian Seitz of the Windows Phone team, and he gives us a tour through the entire Windows Phone 7 interface. We get a look at a bunch of features and hubs, including things like social networking integration, Microsoft Office, Xbox Live, photos, friends, Zune, Outlook, and much more. Seeing how Microsoft was able to tie a bunch of their different service offerings (Xbox, Office, Zune, Bing, Explorer, etc.) so tightly into one device is impressive, and definitely gives us hope as they gear up for the launch of Windows Phone 7 devices this fall.
Windows Phone 7 gold dev tools coming in September
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Cell Phones, Microsoft, Software
Keeping true to their promise to have Windows Phone 7 devices out in time for the holiday season, Microsoft is getting ready to realase development tools to the public. The gold build will be released September 16th, and the Marketplace can start being bombarded with apps in the beginning of October. Apps are a key factor in solidifying Microsoft’s golden boy into the popular circle of smartphones.
With progress continuing to move forward on the Windows Phone 7 front, we can no longer doubt Microsoft’s ability to push a decent quality product out in time for the holiday season. Some other sources even speculate that devices carrying Windows Phone 7 OS may be out before Halloween, such as the Cetus pictured below.
Click to continue reading Windows Phone 7 gold dev tools coming in September
Read More | Windows Team Blog
Windows Phone 7 Preview
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Cell Phones, Editorial, Handhelds, Microsoft
With iOS, Android, WebOS, and BlackBerry dominating the smartphone scene, Microsoft has been noticeably absent from the game. Now they are aiming to change that with Windows Phone 7. Whether Microsoft will be able to pull a rabbit out of its hat and become relevant in the hearts and pockets of users is completely up to what Windows Phone 7 can do. The OS was recently previewed and it is promising to say the least, but is still flawed in some key areas.
The Good
- While in lock mode you will have an at-a-glance look at time and date, incoming emails, calender appointments and texts. A simple upwards slide of the screen reveals the elegant dashboard, which uses a “tile” interface that is very well done. Your tiles are completely customizable, allowing you to “pin” your favorite and most used tiles to your home interface, such as playlists, people, webpages, and apps.
- What you will notice right off the bat is that the touch screen response is incredibly fast. In fact, the smoothness of touch is right up there with iOS 4 as the most responsive UI on a smartphone ever.
- The keyboard is one of the more important aspects of a smart phone (who talks anymore?), as users will definitely need a cooperative keypad when sending texts and emails. Windows Phone 7 manages to pull it off exceptionally well. The virtual keyboard works in both vertical and horizontal modes, and as expected, is better suited for horizontal use. Though, the feel of the keyboard shouldn’t be taken too seriously just yet, as we will have to wait to get our hands on a finished piece of retail hardware to gauge its comfort in use.
Click to continue reading Windows Phone 7 Preview
Microsoft smartly removes ‘Series’ from Windows Phone 7
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Corporate News, Microsoft
No, this isn’t the most exciting story about mobile devices this weekend, but we’ve gotta hand it to Microsoft for listening to the masses on the whole Windows Phone 7 Series branding. It was too long, there was no simplicity, and frankly, it made no sense. Rather than stubbornly sticking with it, they’ve heard our cries, and Windows Phone 7 Series is now simply known as Windows Phone 7 from here on out. This doesn’t change the hardware or software in any way, mind you, it’s strictly a branding change. A smart branding change.
What to expect from Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Video Games
So last week when Windows Phone 7 Series was introduced to the world, one of the major bulletpoints was the fact that Xbox Live integration would be a big part of the platform, although Microsoft didn’t give too many details. That changed on during a conference call this morning, where Microsoft mobile communications chief Andy Lees gave a bit on insight on hat we can expect to see in the mobile version of Xbox Live:
“We are very excited about the way in which the platform works across screens, so we have commonality of platform across the PC, the Xbox, and the web and the phone. We provide a new set of tools that makes it easy and very fast for people to develop applications for the phone but also in a way that works across screens, and we’ll announce details of that at MIX. You’re also right to point out that a marketplace is included, and the marketplace will work for applications but also for games, so the gaming marketplace for the first time will utilize Xbox Live, and that enables you to create multiplayer, multiscreen games, and the marketplace will facilitate that, so that it will actually work across screens.”
We like it, especially that whole multiplayer, multiscreen aspect, although of course we have to see how it actually looks and feel before making final judgment. We’ll know about when Microsoft’s MIX conference kicks off next month.
Read More | TechFlash
Bleeding Edge TV 340: Zune Spring 2010 Preview
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Full Episodes, Gizmatic, CES, CES 2010, Features, Microsoft, Music, Podcasts, Portable Audio / Video, Videocasts, Videos
Microsoft has got some big things planned for Zune this year, not the least of which is Windows Phone 7 Series. At CES 2010, we talked with the Zune team’s Mike Yaeger about some of the other new hotness we can expect from the Zune service, all of which will be arriving later this Spring, such as Smart DJ right on the device.
Speaking of Zune, Amazon’s selling them at a nice discount right now, at $40 off.
Windows Phone 7 Series demo video
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Software, Videos
So, aside from that Windows Phone 7 Series keynote video, we thought you might want a condensed version that will allow you to just take a look at what all this Windows Phone 7 fuss is all about. Microsoft took the liberty of putting together this much shorter demo video to explain. Here you can get a look at all of the design elements and decisions that have gone into Windows Phone 7, which fundamentally set it apart from other mobile operating systems on the market. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Every Windows Phone 7 device will have three physical buttons on the front: Start, Search, and Back.
- There’s a focus on productivity, simplicity, music, and gaming. Both Xbox Live and Zune are deeply integrated into Windows Phone 7.
- People hub: Pulls in live data feeds, bringing you social networking status updates and photos from services like Facebook, Twitter, and Windows Live.
- Pictures hub: Brings together picture and video assets from your phone, web, and PC, allowing you to view your entire collection.
- Games hub: Check out your Xbox Live messages, achievements, avatar, and even play some games. Achievements can be earned on the phone.
- Office hub: Access to Microsoft Office suite, including OneNote and SharePoint Workspace. Also includes new version of Outlook Mobile for email.
This is definitely the biggest step that Microsoft has taken in the mobile phone space, and they do it over three years after Apple announced the original iPhone. The competition is heating up, and we are super-excited about it.
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