Archive for 2009

Windows Phone Launch Event

Windows Phone

I had the pleasure of attending the London launch of Microsoft’s Windows Phone. This involved presentations from both Microsoft and some of there associated partners and detailed the new features found in windows mobile 6.5.

The most prominent changes to the Windows Phones are Visual ones. Microsoft have tweaked as many bits as they can to make using the OS a more attractive experience as well as more finger friendly with bigger icons.

The initial visual change you will see when first using a new Windows Phone is the lock screen.

Lock Screen

The supplied picture above is not the best to demonstrate the lock screen but you should get the idea from my explanation. The icon at the top will normally be the only one present and this will show you of any new notifications you may have. If you have voicemail, for example, you can drag this notification down and open the notification without unlocking the screen. The same goes for messages and missed calls. A nice feature if the only reason you are checking your phone is the notifications.

To unlock the device the unlock button at the top just has to be swiped left or right. Simple

The Windows Phone homescreen has had a major facelift. Gone are the days of the boring homescreen with limited information available.

Home Screens

Now there is tonnes of info on the screen and each header allows you to view more info by sweeping left or right. For example – pressing on text messages will show you the latest message but you could also sweep to the right to view the next message and so on. Each swipe only shows you the basic info of the message but this allow you to see who is communicating with you without having to go all the way into the messaging application.

The start screen has also seen some major changes. No longer does a drop down list appear which is fiddly to use. Now you get a full page grid design with big icons making it super finger friendly.

Start Screen

These icons can be rearranged by means of dragging the ones you want to the top of the screen. This is 100 times nicer than the 6.1 option. Good stuff Microsoft!

Windows Marketplace was next on the list.

Marketplace

Marketplace is Microsoft’s app store. Initially it launched with 246 quality apps, according to Microsoft, with many more to come. With some catching up to do compared to the IPhone, Marketplace has its work cut out and it will be interesting to see how prices compare with other app stores. The interface certainly looks nice and user friendly. At the moment here in the UK Marketplace customers will need to register a credit card for payment, where as in the USA they also have the option to be billed by there network provider on there phone bill. This will make life easier if we can get this option here.

My Phone is an amazing service that lets you back up phone data to the cloud.

My Phone

I have been using the Beta version of My Phone for a few months now and its great. Not only can you sync your phone contacts but also photos, videos, sms, calendar, tasks, browser favorites, music and documents. This means if you do lose or damage your phone all you need to do is install My Phone on the new handset and all your personal info syncs back to the phone. Nice!

You can set My Phone to sync automatically at a time of the day to suit or just do it manually. In addition it will also back up the information you have stored on a memory card.

My Phone online

All your saved data can be viewed online and you may find it easier to edit data this way. My Phone works, plain and simple.

A new feature with My Phone will come in handy if your phone is lost or stolen. Firstly you can locate the phone on a map using its last cell position! If you cant find your phone you can make it ring! Finally you can remotely lock the phone to prevent others from using it. Genius!

I have given details of the main new features discussed by Microsoft at the launch, although in windows mobile 6.5 there are dozens and dozens of new tweaks in the OS. The only real way to check them all out is to get a Windows Phone. Windows is my platform of choice and im happy with the new changes/features. It should be enough to see me through the next year or so until version 7 arrives which should be a major event.

Once I have got the new 6.5 rom on my Touch Pro2 I will share my thoughts on the blog. Watch this space..

Posted by: James

Microsoft announce Windows Mobile 6.5

If you haven’t heard that it is here already I wouldn’t say you were living under a rock, it was very low key but here is old Steve Ballmer introducing it to you. Some might get excited, some won’t (many won’t) but it should be interesting to get our paws on 6.5.

SPBTV released for Blackberry

SPB TV comes to BlackBerry Smartphones – the number of platforms provided with SPB TV rapidly grows
October 06th, 2009 – SPB Software, a leading maker of mobile applications, announces the release of SPB TV for BlackBerry(R) smartphones. SPB TV is a subscription-free mobile IPTV viewer, designed for tuning in to publicly available digital TV channels from all over the world. SPB TV features exclusive and patent-pending usability innovations and gives the mobile subscribers easy access to over a hundred of international TV channels, directly from their phones.
The application supports such must-have TV features as TV browser with quick channels preview, instantly accessible TV guide for all offered channels, quick channels switching, and more.

HTC HD2, Touch2, Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2 with Windows Mobile 6.5

TAIWAN – October 6, 2009 – HTC Corporation today announced its first mobile phones to include the latest Windows Mobile^® 6.5 software.  In addition to the new HTC HD2ä and Touch2ä, newly purchased Touch Diamond2sä and Touch Pro2sä will include Windows Mobile 6.5 while upgrades will be offered to existing customers that previously purchased the Touch Diamond2 or Touch Pro2 phones.

“HTC is pleased to be integrating the new enhancements and services available on Windows phones with four leading HTC phones, this is a testament to the strong partnership HTC and Microsoft have,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation.  “The HTC HD2, Touch2, Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2 offer compelling choices to a variety of people looking for an advanced phone that is simple to use.”

Each handset boasts its own sleek and stylish design and utilizes full touchscreen controls to bring the rich Windows phone experience to life, including Microsoft’s new My Phone service and Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

HTC unveils first windows® Phone with HTC Sense, the HTC HD2

HTC HD2 delivers unprecedented Windows® phone experience with a high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display

TAIWAN – October 6, 2009 – HTC Corporation, today unveiled the HTC HD2ä, the first Windows phone with HTC Sense, a customer experience focused on putting people at the centre by making their phones work in a more simple, natural and personal way.  With its industry leading, high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display, the ultra thin HTC HD2 delivers more visible content in a sharper, brighter and richer way.

“At HTC we believe that the best things in life should be experienced, not explained. HTC Sense is based on this principle by making the phone more simple and natural to use and by enabling people to personalise their mobile experience in their own unique way,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. With HTC Sense, the HTC HD2 melds the power and flexibility of the Windows platform with the most advanced phone we’ve ever created.”

Clove sells HTC HD2

Tuesday 6^th October, is a busy day in the world of smartphones and mobile communications.  Windows 6.5 official launch, a raft of new devices which includes this, the HTC HD2!

The upgrade to the original HTC Touch HD, which was released 12 months ago, the HD2 has a bigger 4.3inch display and Windows Mobile 6.5, not to mention a 1GHz processor.

In traditional Clove fashion we are indeed offering the ability to pre-order the product – just follow the link below to be in the queue for one of the first handsets.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER

http://www.clove.co.uk/viewProduct.aspx?product=8BD3543E-20C2-425E-AE08-49CDE8188D62

Palm Pre to do Adobe Flash 10.1

Back in February, at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Palm confirmed to join the Open Screen Project, which will bring Adobe Flash Player on the new Palm webOS platform. Led by Adobe, the Open Screen Project includes industry leaders working together to provide a consistent runtime environment and user experience acrossmobile phones, desktops, and other consumer electronic devices.

The lack of news about Flash for the Pre had more than few worried, but Adobe has finally announced today, that a public developer beta of the browser runtime is expected to be available for Windows Mobile, Palm webOSand desktop operating systems including Windows, Macintosh and Linux later this year. General availability for the new Flash 10.1 is expected for the first half of 2010.

Paid and free apps reach Palm Pre store

After breaking with the app delivery on Thursdays, and turning Mondays into a happy way to start the week, Palm did not disappoint this Monday. Not only Palm delivered paid apps, but also more free apps into the Catalog. Now, as you can see on the screenshot below, the app counter is at 125 apps, let the fun begin!

Today, Monday October 5th 2009, is a day that many will remember, it has been a long road, but the App Catalog starts to flourish. It began with the popular Air Hockey game by Acceleroto, around 4 PM EST, than, a few minutes later; Who wants to be a Millionaire by Capcom Interactive, Inc. These two first paid apps paved the road for what many will become to appreciate as a modest – for now – but great app store.