Windows Mobile Phones

No Skype for Windows Phone 7

Citing a second-rate “user experience” compared to the iPhone and Android, Skype admits it has no immediate plans to release an app for Windows Phone 7.
Skype is working full steam ahead on an app for the iPad and the next-gen iPhone, but users of Windows Phone 7 will have to take a number and wait… and wait… and wait.

Skype’s Asia Pacific Vice-President Dan Neary says that Microsoft’s forthcoming smartphone OS is not a priority when it comes to mobile platforms.

“We try and focus not only where the need is but where the best experience is, and we feel that the best areas for us to develop are on the operating systems that we currently support – iPhone, Symbian, BlackBerry and now Android” Neary told APC during a press briefing in Sydney today. “We simply feel that those operating systems (have) a much better user experience”.

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Windows Phone 7 Series ROM spotted on the HTC HD2

HTC HD2 was captured running the new Windows Phone 7 Series ROM, more info according to www.winmo.nl:

- Multilanguage
- Ultra fast for an early build ( “So fast that it looks like on WM 6.5 the Snapdragon only ran at half its power”)
- TomTom is bundled with that ROM
- No SMS problem (They are referring to the SMS issues on WM 6.5 on most Leo ROMs)
- Zune part of the phone is not working on this ROM (error reports, etc.)

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Windows Phone 7 Series upcoming hardware partners

Microsoft has just announced the hardware partners for Windows Phone 7 both on the carrier and OEM. Their carriers partners are: T-Mobile, Sprint, Telefonica, Vodafone, Deutche Telekom, SFR, Verizon, Telecom Italia, and Telestra. In terms of OEMs, they’ll be working with HTC, Qualcomm, Garmin-Asus, Toshiba, Dell (really?), LG and Samsung.

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First Windows Mobile 7 spy shots

This is the first spy shot @ MWC 2010 that shows the real UI of the upcoming Windows Mobile 7.

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Windows Mobile 7 a.k.a. Windows Phone 7 Series

It looks like Microsoft’s attempt to cover up the naming scheme for Windows Mobile 7 prior to the unveiling at Mobile World Congress has been futile. The banner was caught, with some translucent covering, that reveals the name Windows Phone 7 Series.

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Windows Mobile 7 device emulator screenshots

These screenshots were taken with what appears to be a Windows Mobile 7 emulator from a long time ago, possibly even before the days of Windows Mobile 6 (that brings us back to around around 2006). It’s no secret that Microsoft has been working on Windows Mobile 7 for a long time and that they’ve gone back to the drawing board at least once to start from scratch. These screenshots offer a glimpse of what Windows Mobile 7 could have been if it were released many years ago. It’s possible that this version of the operating system was the precursor to the other possible Windows Mobile 7 screenshots we presented you with many months ago.

TouchXperience User Interface with Live Wallpapers and Panels for Windows Mobile

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Windows Mobile 7 now and Pink phone later – reports the Wall Street Journal

The on again and off again news about Windows Mobile 7, Pink phones, and the likes may finally simmer as the Wall Street Journal sheds some light on the matter. According to them, Microsoft plans on publicly showcasing its new mobile operating system to the attendees at Mobile World Congress at Barcelona on Monday. Their source comes from “people familiar with the matter” and goes on to say that “the operating system sports a revamped user interface that resembles the look of Microsoft’s Zune HD music player.” Aside from all the talking pointing to Windows Mobile 7, there is a handset in the works that is aimed for teenagers – which is codenamed Pink. This Pink phone will actually be the successor to the T-Mobile Sidekick with its youth-oriented software and services powered by Danger –  of course, it’ll emphasize on social networking applications. Japan’s Sharp Corp. is manufacturing the Pink phone and is expected to be sold internationally by Verizon Wireless and Vodafone Group PLC as early as spring. Now the Pink phone won’t be unveiled during MWC and we will have to wait on a later date to witness an announcement. Still, news about Windows Mobile 7 should really get enough people excited at what Microsoft has planned for the event.

Windows Mobile 7 leaked features

· WP7 will be announced at MWC, and there will be a demo, but this will be just the UX
· MIX will have specific developement focus sessions on WP7
· WP7 supports both Sliverlight (out of browser) and XNA
· Silverlight is version 3.0, with elements of 4.0 plus mobile specific features such as sensors etc
· XNA apps can be developed using XNA GameStudio 3.1
· SL apps developed using Expression Blend 3.x and VS2010
· MS will release a mobile version of VS / Expression which will be free, and VS2010 / Expression Pro will have a free add-on
· WP7 will have an equivalent of .NET CF embedded into SL, but no SQL.
· WP7 will have isolated storage which is accessible using LINQ
· The UX of WP7 is based upon a theme called “METRO” and is similar to Zune HD, but with a completely new “Start” screen.
· No multi-tasking (applications will pause when in the background, however they will support notifications using the MS Push Notifications environment)
· No .NET CF backwards compatibility, however a proportion of the data and business logic in .NET CF could be ported
· MS were confident to have devices ready for Sep 2010
· No MS manufactured device, however much tighter control of manufactring process, so as an example each device has a 3D processing chipset, and MS provide all of the device drivers. So no platform builder. This enables OTA updates and simplified model for ODM’s
· Marketplace will support buy and try before you buy, as well as an API
· ODM / OEM will not be able to modify the “Start” screen, so no more HTC Sense / TouchFlo etc.
· MS are actually ahead of schedule which will surprise the analysts / journalists
· Browsing experience is currently faster / better than iPhone 3G, and they are aiming towards 3GS.
· Browser is based upon desktop IE7 codebase, but with some IE8 functionality
· No in browser Flash or SL
· WP7 has full integration with XBOX Live, and ability to purchase games
· WP7 will use the Zune software for music, videos, photos sync
· WP7 only supports app installation through service based delivery i.e. marketplace, so no side-loading
· MS will provide a hosted push notifications environment

Windows Mobile 7 new leaked system requirements

The info is leaked by a russian blogger:

Minimum ROM: 128 mb + 512 flash / They are stated with 8 GB – very far from the true
Minimum RAM: 128 mb – recomended 256+
CPU: 600mhz ARM v6+ / Stated 1 GHz – very far from the true
FM reciever is not a requirement for WM7 – means that it is not needed for WM7 to funktion properly
Compass is not a requirement for WM7 – means that it is recommended for the device to have compass but it is not needed by the OS to funktion properly
3.6? display – not requirement at all WM7 devices will be available in many difrend display sizes
WVGA is not minimal resolution for WM7, there are vesions available by Microsoft which are QVGA as well WM7 support al resolutions and it is up to the OEM which one they will use for their devices
G-Sensor (accelerometer) – not required for functioning, recommended but not required

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