Archive for January 7th, 2008

Astraware to join the Handmark family

Handmark and Astraware have announced a new business relationship in which Astraware will become part of the Handmark family.

From the press release:

Handmark and Astraware have worked together on entertainment projects for several years. Astraware undertook development work on the Tetris? Handmark major game license, and both companies already offer each other?s titles on their respective web shops.

Through the new relationship, Astraware will expand its existing UK games development studio to develop new high profile licenses as well as continuing work on original titles. In addition to Palm OS(R) and Windows Mobile(R), Astraware will release their first titles for Symbian(R) S60(R) and UIQ(R) in the first quarter of 2008, and will add games for BlackBerry(R) devices later in the year.

“We recognize the genius of the mobile gaming pioneers who created Astraware and welcome them to the Handmark family,” said Paul Reddick, Handmark CEO. “We share a passion for delivering superior mobile experiences.”

“For over 10 years, Astraware has successfully created some of the best mobile gaming brands in the industry, building a company through unparalleled focus on quality and customer satisfaction,” said Howard Tomlinson, co-founder and CEO of Astraware. “I am excited to be joining forces with Handmark and we will be able to focus our experience and talent on creating games across more platforms, and together we will become one of the most powerful forces in the mobile gaming industry.”

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Astraware, Astraware Casino, Windows Mobile Blog]

Windows Mobile 7 images leaked

It seems like only yesterday that we were talking about leaked screens and hacked versions of Windows Mobile 6 appearing on the web and this morning we wake up to see that Windows Mobile 7 images and specification have already been leaked.

Windows Mobile 7

WM7 is not expected to be released until the end of 2008 or the begining of 2009 but we can already see some of the new features that MS has in store for us courtesy of a leaked document mentioned on the ‘Inside Microsoft‘ website.

Looking through the details it’s is clear that WM7 is intended to be the Microsofts answer to the iPhone interface and will include ‘multitouch’ and gesture based touch screen control as well as motion based gesture control that will allow you to shake and tilt the device in order to control certain elements of the user interface.

WM7 Multitouch

WM7 Motion Detection

Windows Mobile 7 will use touch gestures, similar to how the iPhone does. You will be able to flick through lists, pan, swipe sideway, draw on the screen. A lot of emphasis has been put on making navigation easier and doing away with scrollbars, including a new scroll handle that allows for multiple ways of finding items extremely fast.

Windows Mobile 7 will use motion gestures, something the iPhone does not. It will not use an intricate and complicated series of gyroscopes and accelerometers. Instead, it will use the camera on the phone to detect motions and create appropriate actions. You will be able to shake, twist and otherwise manipulate the phone and get things done. The phone will be able to perform actions when placed face down on a surface, and it will know when it is in your pocket or bag.

Head over to ‘Inside Microsoft‘ for more info and then tell me you don’t want WM7 right now!

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Windows Mobile 7]