Free Windows Phone 7 Devices for All…

Before you get too excited, I should clarify that it’s free Windows Phone 7 devices for all Microsoft employee’s and now interns at Microsoft have been added to that list.

Last week, it was announced that Microsoft will make devices running their latest mobile operating system available to all their employees as they are launched in each market around the world. They’re not the first to do this, both Apple and Google did the same with their devices.  Yesterday, while talking with interns, Ballmer was asked if Microsoft interns would also be receiving a free Windows Phone 7 device.  Ballmer replied “Recruiting doesn’t have the budget, but I do. So, yes!”

It’s a smart move to outfit the interns with devices because they will be returning to school after the term expires with a new Windows Phone 7 device to show off.

(source = Gizmodo)

LG to Launch Windows Phone 7 Device by End of September

In 2009 at Mobile World Congress, LG Electronics made a big commitment to use Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system on the majority of their devices over the coming years. To date we haven’t seen much result from that announcement, but all that could change before the end of this year. According to an article from PCWorld, Ken Hong who is the LG representative for LG in Seoul, said “We have a deep relationship with Microsoft so expect to have a couple by the end of this year”.

Pictures of one of the LG smartphones has already been posted on a number of blogs – including MobileJaw. According to LG, this device is ready to be released. There was no indication when that particular device will be released, however LG did say that they will launch their first smartphone with Windows Phone 7 by the end of September.

Microsoft has been very reserved when it comes to dates for the release of Windows Phone 7. They’ve continued to stick with the “Holiday 2010” line that was used back in the Mobile World Congress announcement. A September release is a little before the holiday season by my standards, but I’m not going to complain.

Windows Phone 7 Takes 4th Place in Top 25 Most Innovative Products

“Reinventing yourself isn’t easy, yet that’s what Microsoft did with Windows Phone 7, its slick new mobile operating system. Microsoft took its aging, stodgy Windows Mobile OS, reserved mainly for business users, and built something new from the ground up. The end result: an intuitive new platform that pushes the user—instead of apps—into the limelight.”Laptop Magazine has flagged Microsoft’s efforts in the mobile space with the upcoming Windows Phone 7, as 4th place in the 25 Most Innovative Products of 2010. And when you consider that the new operating system isn’t even shipping yet, that’s a pretty impressive thing.

Devices are expecting to be available for “holiday 2010” according to Microsoft. We’ll keep bringing you more details as they become available.

You can check out the complete list of 25 items over at Laptop Magazine. Take a look at the top 10 and let us know if you agree with the list.

Source = WMExperts

SPB TV Upgraded to Version 2 for Windows Mobile

SPB TV for Windows Mobile devices has been updated to version 2. The new version offers video on demand and support for a new advanced video codec (H.264) to improve video quality with lower bitrates. Another significant enhancement is the change in price. SPB TV is now available for free. A small ad will be displayed while the channel is buffering. I was a little concerned about this, but after downloading the new version and playing around with it, the ads are not a big deal. They show for maybe 10 seconds after you select the channel and it starts to buffer content.

While the most recent update is for Windows Mobile devices, both touch screen and non-touch screen devices, SPB TV is also available for iPhone, Symbian, Android, BlackBerry, and WebOS based devices. For more information and to download a copy, check out the SPB website.

Share your Windows Phone 7 App Idea and Win!

Microsoft has kicked off a contest where you can plead your case for whatever app you would like to see on Windows Phone 7. The community will vote on the suggestions and the winning suggestion will not only have the application developed and listed in the marketplace as a free app, the winner will get $5000 plus a brand new Windows Phone 7 (once they are available). Sounds like a great contest on two sides – first, the community gets a chance to tell Microsoft what applications they want to see and a lucky winner will see it built. Second, enterprising developers can look over all the suggestions and get a good idea on what applications the community would like to see and possibly start their own development on these suggestions.

If there’s an application that you would like to see on Windows Phone 7, or if you want to see what people have already suggested,  head over to www.WindowsPhone7.com/iNeedThisApp/ The contest runs until July 8, so you have less than a month to submit your ideas and vote them up!

I’m wondering why nobody has suggested Cut and Paste as the app they want to see the most on Windows Phone 7? Surely someone is up to submitting this as a suggestion.  I would imagine it would get tons of votes!

Any Windows Phone 7 Device can be Unlocked for Development Purposes

If you’re a developer and looking for a better test experience than the emulator offers, then you’re in luck. The latest word coming out of a developer conference call is that any Windows Phone 7 device will be un-lockable through a special portal provided to developers. Each developer will be allowed to unlock up to 5 devices.

Unlocking the device will not remove the carriers lock, but it will remove the restrictions around applications being installed only though the marketplace. Consider this the same thing as jailbreaking your iPhone or rooting your Android device. Although, for now this is just for development purposes. I imagine it won’t take long for the community to figure out what change is being made and then provide their own lockdown removal.

Time is ticking along and we’re getting closer to the release of Windows Phone 7. While Microsoft is still saying “Holiday 2010”, it’s expected to hit around the fall. As you very well may expect, we will be keeping our eye’s on the launch and we’ll bring you all the details.

Source = Windows Phone Thoughts

LG Panther Arrives at Microsoft Innovation Center in Singapore

We’ve been reading rumors about the LG Panther for a while now. For those that haven’t been keeping up on the chatter, the Panther is LG’s Windows Phone 7 device and it’s picture has been floating around the internet since just before Microsoft’s MIX event back in March. Details have always been hard to come by, or at least hard to get an official response on.  Yesterday, Microsoft’s Innovation Center in Singapore posted about the device on their blog – Innovative Singapore.

The device was sent to them so they can start testing applications on real hardware instead of just the emulator. Don’t get too excited, the OS is still getting new builds almost every other day. So there’s still a whole lot of work left to do!

In terms of the hardware, they report that the phone is fast – incredibly fast and responsive. Good news for everyone that’s been worried about performance on the new platform.

If you’re developing applications for Windows Phone 7 and you’re in the Singapore area, Microsoft Innovation Center is willing to loan out the device. If you’re not in the area, you might want to talk with your local Microsoft Mobile rep and see if they can get you connected – even if it’s a loaner for testing. That’s better than playing around with an emulator!

Windows Phone 7 can’t come soon enough.

Source = WMExperts

All iPad Competitors will Fail – Really?

“The Apple iPad sure has the entire world interested in what it can do.  I’ve had everyone from managers and directors at the office (including the Chief Medical Information Officer at the hospital where I used to work) ask me what it was, if it was for them, and why they should buy one. Those are hard questions to answer, especially if you don’t know what the person’s intended use for the device is. However, I have had a fair number of those same people indicate that they were going to wait until either a MS/Windows or Android tablet was released and they were going to get it. Really? Personally, I think this is a horrible idea.  Here’s why…”

If you don’t know how someone is thinking of using a product, it is very hard to recommend a suitable product for them. If the person is the Chief Medical Information Officer at a hospital, then you really need to be aware of their plans. There is a significant difference between using the iPhone or iPad for business or enterprise versus using it for personal use. iTunes is a key part of the Apple Ecosystem for personal users. However, security of data on the device, remote management, compliance with government standards and the ability to side-load your custom applications are all key elements for any business that plans to role out a mobile device to their staff.

The way I see it, having a platform that meets and/or exceeds all of the requirements of big business, and also provides functionality to general consumers is more important to long term success. Sure, having a central ecosystem like iTunes is good for consumers, but I would rather have platforms that satisfy both consumer and enterprise needs. Then connecting these altogether with a nice easy to use market/platform would be fairly easy to add on. From XP to Vista to 7, Windows Servers, Xbox, Windows Phone, and Zune, Microsoft has something to help both the consumer and the enterprise manage their lives and their business. Connecting everything together seems easier than Apple’s position of building out those products to where the enterprise needs them.

But that’s just my thoughts. Take a chance to read the article over at Just Another Mobile Monday and let me know what you think. Is everything that goes to compete against the iPhone and iPad doomed to failure?

SPB Mobile Shell Reviewed by Clinton Fitch

“…the latest version of SPB Mobile Shell is nothing short of outstanding.  The application, which can run on Windows Phones running v5, 6 and 6.5, gives users a fast, customizable and well integrated user interface that covers the native UI.  In many ways it is better than HTC’s solution (in fact I run SBP Mobile Shell on my HTC phones) because it can be customized to fit your needs specifically.  It is a great answer to a common complaint on Windows Phone devices.”

Clinton Fitch has posted a great review of SPB Mobile Shell for Windows Phones. I’ve never actually used Mobile Shell myself, although I have seen it on a couple devices and played with it for a couple minutes. This is partly due to running a non-touch device for a long time. However, now that I’m using the HTC HD2 as my primary device, it might be worth loading this up and giving it a try. 

Clinton has some pretty good things to say about Mobile Shell. Has anyone else here used it? Are your thoughts in-line with what Clinton has to say about it? Let us know your thoughts. I’m off to download Mobile Shell.

New Samsung B7330 Messenger Device Heading to Canada

Samsung is the king of Windows Mobile Standard based devices. Since the launch of the original BlackJack, Samsung has been improving and updating this form factor. Last year they released the B7330 in the Netherlands, and now it appears that it will make it’s way to Canada for Bell and Rogers. The B7330 is only the second Windows Mobile Standard (non-touch) device to feature the larger 320×320 screen. While it doesn’t sound like a big difference over the regular 320×240/240×320 screens we see on other devices, it does make a significant difference in the day to day usage of the device.

The device specs seem to be an exact match to the version from the Netherlands, with exception to the radio being used. This version will take advantage of the North American 3G network. There’s no pricing information that I was able to find. However, it appears that the B7330 will be available for purchase starting on April 28th (Yes, that’s today!) from Bell, and May 4th from Rogers.  You can check out the device and all it’s specifications from the Samsung Canada website.

Source = MobileSyrup

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