24
Mar
2011
Microsoft Windows Phone 7 finally getting copy/paste
For a company that has been losing ground in the mobile division for the past couple of years, Microsoft sure seems to have turned its ship around, patched the leaks and gotten a new crew. While the launch of the Windows Phone 7 platform was not met with blockbuster success, the company has seen moderate success with the platform and so far they are happy with the results even though Samsung claims they were expecting better numbers but declined to elaborate.
One of the things missing from Windows Phone 7 was copy and paste. If you remember, back in 2007 when the original iPhone was launched, copy and paste among many other features were missing from the device. It took Apple over two years to finally bring the feature to the device and of course when they did, they added a little extra something to justify the waiting period.
Well just a little over six months after the launch of the Windows Phone 7 platform, Microsoft is bringing the much anticipated copy and paste feature to the device. The update is not that huge as the company is saving the next major update of the device (codenamed Mango) for the fall of this year. But among other things it will also bring CDMA support to Windows Phone 7 which might not be important to us Brits, but for those living in North America, where the technology is still in use, it is ever so important.
Those owning a Windows Phone 7 device will be able to download the update over the air or from the Zune application. The update will also fix some minor bug issues such as errors when updating on a Samsung device.
22
Jul
2010
Microsoft: People Do Not Want Multitasking
It is interesting to have a quick insight into the opinions that developers may have sometimes. And this is not one of those times.
There is nothing interesting about Microsoft’s senior product manager telling the world that multitasking is not what the end users want. While it is true that running multiple programs would slow down any mobile phone and plenty of importance is placed on the overall performance of the handset –that is a decision for a user to make.
But for the option to be taken away, Microsoft is obviously asking for trouble.
Apple has already been through a couple of years’ worth of fans and users demanding that multitasking be added to the iPhone OS. It may have taken them until just recently to relent, but in the end, they did. And this is because people want multitasking. Besides, no credible tech critic would put down a phone for slowing down when it is running several apps at once.
Microsoft’s fears about the performance have no basis, people running multiple apps know what they are doing. Of course, it would be nice if MS’ app handling allows users to easily shut down or simply place an app in the background instead.
Multitasking is not the only feature missing from Windows Phone 7. Cut and paste is also not present –making things a whole lot worse. Not only are these two features important, but it feels like Microsoft is planning to follow every single mistake that Apple made with the iPhone –instead of allowing recent tech history to give them a lesson.
For some strange reason, Microsoft’s tech teams have decided that they need to go through the issues firsthand before learning anything at all. Anyway, the new Windows Phone 7 OS is expected to be launched this coming September, a full month ahead of the originally announced October launch.
15
Jul
2010
Ballmer: Windows Phone 7 and the New Direction for Microsoft
There is no doubt that Steve Ballmer know that the Google Android and the Apple iOS are the two biggest reasons why even the upcoming Windows Phone 7 mobile platform is going to have a tough time dominating the mobile phone industry.
Despite that, the man is adamant that the Windows Phone 7 has everything that Microsoft needs to succeed. During the Worldwide Partner Conference, Steve expressed that Microsoft has missed out on an entire generation of smart phone owners. But with WP7, they will not only address the needs of the general market but also that of IT specialists.
The new OS will not just be a standalone product, it will be able to connect, communicate and even sync with the Xbox 360 console and any computer running Windows 7. Cross platform compatibility is a big dream, and MS is certainly on its way to pursuing it.
We have all seen the demonstration where a game that was being played on the Windows Phone 7 handset was transferred in real time to a desktop computer. This is more than just a person loading the same game file on a different platform –this was literally continuing the game as is from the phone straight to a computer. Then the game was once again transferred to an Xbox 360 console and back to the smart phone again. The transition was fast, smooth and took only moments.
And that is just the games. Microsoft can certainly do much more with the current technology. While the Xbox 360 will certainly be taken out of the loop when it comes to non-gaming functions, the ability to continue working on a document that is being edited in real time on a phone straight to a desktop computer will certainly work wonders –especially when everything gets ported over, including the “undo” history.
8
Jul
2010
Microsoft Database Reveals LG E900 and C900
Korean phone maker LG has yet to confirm what the LG E900 and C900 phones are, but if the leaked database is to be analyzed, it seems that the two handsets are going to be WP7 devices.
Microsoft Mobile is currently busy with the development and support for their operating systems: Windows Mobile and the newer Windows Phone 7. With the upcoming launch of WP7 this coming October, it is expected that a large range of handsets will be available for buyers to choose from.
While the spec differences will not matter much (thanks to the pre-released minimum hardware requirements and chassis form factor), being able to choose a phone from a wide range of trusted phone makers is certain to be a great factor in marketing the new OS.
LG’s name has already been one of the leading brands in the WP7 handset department –and by leading, we mean the very first to announce their handset, show off the device in images, and later, even release a quick video demonstrating what the device looks like. The LG Panther is far ahead of its competitors in the industry, as WP7 handsets from many other manufacturers do not even have names yet. And those that did still have not released any other hardware details.
Unfortunately, the same can be said about the E900 and C900. Without any confirmation from LG or Microsoft about the two devices, it is difficult to determine if they really are upcoming smart phones or if they are completely difference devices. There are some early presumptions that one of the devices might already be the LG Panther’s designation code -which means that there really is a second LG WP7 handset that is currently in the works.
According to Microsoft, the Windows Phone 7 operating system is expected to launch during October and many devices that use the OS will be launched during the holiday season.
2
Jul
2010
Android Gingerbread in New Rumors
While we are all waiting for the release of the new Android Froyo update for the many smart phones running Google’s powerful, open source, operating system –Google has been busy in their labs working on what would be the newest version of the Android OS: version 3.0 Gingerbread.
The name (and version number) has already been announced during the Google I/O conference. But with the expected launch date of “end of 2010” being several months away, the current focus for many is on the 2.2 Froyo –which is still not released for a great majority of handsets. Right now, only the Google Nexus One is able to make use of the update that is available. While it is expected that compatible patches will also be released in the next few weeks, none have yet to be made available.
Anyway, the rumors regarding the new version 3.0 Gingerbread are both impressive and at the same time, a little hard to believe. The source of the rumors has been traced to a Russian tech podcast that states that the new 3.0 version will be made specifically for high end Android devices –while mid to low range handsets will be sticking with version 2.2 Froyo. While such a move would not be surprising (Microsoft is doing the same with Windows Mobile and the upcoming Windows Phone 7), Google is not quite likely to take that route.
Right now, Google’s mobile platform is the most used OS –considering that there are so many handsets that make use of the OS. Pushing version 3.0 to abandon the older OS would mean alienating a large percent of Google’s current users. Also, Google also announced at the I/O conference that they plan to make the Gingerbread something close to a standard version –stable and with minimal compatibility issues so that all devices have a specific benchmark to meet.
22
Jun
2010
Microsoft Announced New Business Class Platform
If there is one part of the mobile phone community that is not too excited about the upcoming, super dynamic and incredibly stylish Windows Phone 7 operating system, it is the business sector. For many years, Microsoft has been the primary option –though, second to RIM’s BlackBerry handsets. Thanks to the many business solutions offered by the handsets that come with the Windows Mobile operating system, most businesses find themselves relying heavily on either one of these two phones.
It was not too surprising that after Steve Ballmer went up onstage at the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona, Spain, many heavy users of the WinMo operating system felt worried that Microsoft would shift on their mobile phone focus.
This worry however, is something that Microsoft has chosen to address. Initially, they announced that Windows Mobile will still be developed and continued –a promise that they are living up to with the recent announcement of new WinMo devices such as the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 and Omnia Pro 5.
However, Microsoft is not just going to stop at Windows Mobile 6.5, just recently, they announced the release of Windows Embedded Handheld which will serve as a new alternative to business clients. The software developer intends to support three main operating systems: Windows Phone for the general class users, Windows Embedded Compact and Embedded Handheld for business clients. This combination provides the company with plenty of market range with their services and products.
Despite the growing number of casual smart phone users, the number of business clients is still substantial. Last year, about 2.3 million business smart phones were shipped, that volume is expected to double for this year, with a continuous degree of growth in the coming years as more companies adapt to the use of smart phones for conducting business.
19
Mar
2010
WP7: No Multitasking, No Cut and Paste
Will this be the start of our love hate relationship with Windows Phone 7 series?
After all, the past few weeks have been nothing but plenty of great news. But now, it seems like Microsoft is showing us a little of the problems that might be bothering the new OS and it looks like we will be in for a long hard fight convincing MS that certain features should really be put in.
Anyway, this week saw the release of the SDK for the OS and several new features that are bound to make the platform much more interesting to use (Silverlight, Notification and Location Services). At the same time, we also learned that the system will be lacking a few key factors.
First off, multi tasking is not longer present. While the OS can handle the music player over anything else, users will not be able to swap between active apps anymore. The hardware on a WP7 will certainly be more than enough to handle multi tasking –a problem quite similar with the Apple devices. The iPhone and the iPad both lack multi tasking as well.
Speaking of iPhone problems, Windows Phone 7 will also come without cut and paste capabilities. For such a simple function, it is pretty surprising that Microsoft has not enabled it; even worse, the system will be having the Pocket Office apps –unless these apps will have their own cut and paste technology. In any case, expect to see a lot of disappointed folks when they see this feature missing. Lastly, the WP7 will not support SD cards for extra storage space. Oddly enough, these traits are quite similar to the Apple iPhone OS –closed system and all.
Read more about the cut and paste issue with Windows Phone 7 at Mobile Choice UK.
18
Mar
2010
Dev Tools for WP7 Launched
Apps are always going to be an integral component for smart phones. No matter how good or efficient an operating system may be, it is the apps that provide versatility and adaptability to an OS.
Naturally, firmware updates and additional features also go a long way in bringing much needed functions to smart phones, but for more specific tasks, downloadable apps are what people will rely on.
This is why no matter how good or well designed the upcoming Windows Phone 7 mobile platform is, unless it gets good app support, other operating systems such as the Google Android or the iPhone OS would still be better. This is why Microsoft has recently unveiled their upcoming updates for the Windows Marketplace. This online app store was originally meant to be used by WinMo 6 devices, but when WP7 launches, it will have access to customized category of the Marketplace.
It has already been announced earlier that WP7 will not be able to run apps that are meant for the older Windows mobile platform, this means that 7 series will require a new set of apps made specifically just for the OS.
Just this week, Microsoft has launched developer tools for the OS. According to reports, the tools will enable programmers to access most of WP7’s hardware components. Thanks to the pre-established chassis type requirements, all devices using the OS are sure to have specific hardware features.
Part of the developer tools unveiled is the new XNA Game Studio which will enable plenty of impressive features including the ability to run games in full 3D. So far, no title has actually been announced that will make use of the new technology, but expect game developers to start working on this soon.
Get to know more about the new developer tools for Windows Phone 7 at Tech Radar.
17
Mar
2010
Windows Phone 7 Series to Bring Plenty of Changes
The presentation of Windows Phone 7 at the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona, Spain showed off plenty of impressive new features, an innovative user interface and Microsoft’s determination to take a hold of the mobile phone industry.
For many years, the Windows Mobile operating system was trailing far behind other operating systems such as the Apple iPhone OS and the Google Android. Even among business class users, WinMo was still a far second to the Palm OS. Because the old mobile platform was reliant on using the stylus input, WinMo was used more on phones that used resistive touch screen displays.
This made the OS feel very backwards when compared to newer platforms that were compatible with capacitive touch screen user interfaces. The bottom line was that WinMo is outdated and outside of the enterprise clients, no one wanted to use it. With the new WinMo 6.5.3 Maldives update, the OS now supports capacitive displays, but the change may be a little too late sine WinMo already has a bad reputation.
WP7 brings a whole new approach to mobile platforms, Microsoft’s motto of “the phone is not a PC” is turning into reality with the new OS as it makes the most of the capacitive touch screen user interface and real time live updates. This new OS takes away everything that was originally wrong with the old operating system and brings all new features that are bringing the new platform up to par with the Android and iPhone OS.
New to WP7 is the inclusion of Bing, Zune and XBL Games. Microsoft is also adding in a new MSN player with Silverlight for media and for games, the XNA Games Studio demonstrates full 3D capabilities.
Get to know more about the new features and capabilities of the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 series mobile platform at Mobile Choice UK.
15
Mar
2010
MSN Player Added to WP7 Features
With months of waiting still ahead for the release of Windows Phone 7 series, it looks like Microsoft is making every week worth the wait with new announcements about device capabilities, more features and better support.
This week alone saw two major add-ons for the platform. First off, it has been now been confirmed that Windows Phone 7 will have support for Adobe Flash. The actual update has not been implemented in the system in progress -and from what it looks like the initial build of WP7 will remain without Flash support.
The update is expected to come out shortly after the launch of the very first WP7 handset. This comes as great news to anyone who loves to browse online with their smart phones as the lack of Flash renders many web pages with missing functions and content. With Steve jobs at the helm of Apple, support for Adobe’s Flash is impossible to launch for the upcoming iPad.
The demonstration of the new XNA games studio featured 3D graphics running on the ASUS handset with WP7. While the initial screens have yet to show full-3D the fact that the technology is actually possible brings a lot of potential to the system –something game developers would surely enjoy.
New to WP7 is the addition of the MSN Player. Just a few weeks back, it has been announced that a new BBC player has been released for the iPhone. Microsoft will be matching this new update with their MSN video library that sports over a thousand hours of video content. It has been reported that MSN currently holds the largest market of users that stay for long periods –up to 25 minutes; making the player quite lucrative for many advertisers.
Get the full info on the MSN Player straight from the source at MSN Mobile UK.
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