Zune HD - Marketplace at 23:17

I've just been watching the video demo of the new MS Zune HD.
The first thing to notice is simply how beautiful that OLED capacitive touch screen really is.
Next up is just how fluid the transition and scrolling is.
But most importantly of all is the fact that it hass the Marketplace application.

It was bound to happen considering that this has to be an iPod Touch Killer and without Marketplace that just couldnt happen.
This also gives more clues to when we will see WM6.5 phones hitting the stores.
We know that the HD will be released on Sept 5th and there is no way that MS would release the HD with access to Marketplace before WM6.5 Phones.

Windows Mobile 7 - A Work in Progress at 23:01

The UX Evangelist has been reading reumes this week and has happened upon Kim Sealls'.
From reading this he has decerned two pieces of information regarding Windows Mobile 7.
The 1st is that the UI is not yet ready and the 2nd is that it is being built on Silverlight.

According to freelance UI/UX designer Kim Sealls, the Windows Mobile 7 UI is still a work in progress. Her resume lists her as presently working for the Windows Mobile UX team creating, "designs for Windows Mobile 7 controls (UI still in progress)," and creating, "XAML layouts for controls and dialogs (Silverlight created in Expression Blend)." It sounds like things are right on course for the Windows Mobile 7 UI to be as drastic of a change as has been speculated, but what I'm wondering is if the UI will resemble anything close to the mock-ups we've seen time-and-time again.

First Windows Mobile 7 Phone goes to - LG ? at 18:39

If your an LG fan as well as a Windows Mobile fan, then your in luck
- and in more ways than one.

Firstly LG have agreed to work with Windows Mobile as their main OS and are planning to release 50! Windows Mobile phones by the end of 2012.

But a piece of news leaked from AT&T suggests that this has paid dividends for LG, in a shot which would suggest that LG will be releasing the first Windows Mobile 7 device.

The LG Monaco/Pico will be a 3.2" WVGA device with a 5 Megapixel camera and the anticipated Snap Dragon chip.
Oh yeah, and it will be running Windows Mobile 7!

AT&T have previously stated that it will be released in September, but as we're only expecting 6.5 by then, we should be waiting until at least early 2010 for this and the following Windows Mobile 7 devices.

You can read more on this over at Engadget Mobile.

Windows Mobile 7 Concept at 18:21

This one is definitely a concept shot, rather than a leaked screenshot, but I couldn’t resist posting this.

If this is even Windows Mobile 8 or 9, I’d be extremely happy. This has to be the best looking concept I have ever seen (even better the Nokia  eco sensor concept).

This is part of a new leaked WinMo7 roadmap over on UX Evangelist.

Marketplace Prohibited List Explained at 11:32

From WMExperts.com

When Microsoft first released the list of what'll get an app blocked from Windows Marketplace for Mobile, some of the reasons weren't entirely clear. Now, we're happy to say, a number of them have been answered.

Microsoft's Loke Uei spoke on the Winmo World podcast (which features the guys from wmpoweruser, Unwired View and pda.pl) and cleared up some of our questions.

• No VOIP apps using a carrier's data. (WiFi is just fine. But no Skype over 3G. Sorry, folks. Saw that one coming.) [The Carriers have made this stipulation]
• No apps with an OTA download of over 10MB. (That's for the initial app download. So, no 800MB Myst games. Once the app's on your phone, it can suck in as much data as you want. Er, so long as it's not VOIP.)
• No apps that change the default browser, search client, or media player on the device. (Admittedly, they need to define this a little better, but they're working on it, and apps like Opera, Skyfire, Kinoma and the like should be OK.) [It may be interpreted as 'Do not modify IE6's code]

There's also a lot of talk about fragmenting the Windows Mobile application ecosystem with these rules, which will keep a number of apps out of the Marketplace. Our take on that:

The Windows Mobile application ecosystem already is fragmented. Yes, there are software houses that sell their apps under one roof, and there are sites such as Handango (and the WMExperts Software Store) that sell a number of apps. But it's safe to say Microsoft will be bring a weight and legitimacy to to the process that has been lacking for the average consumer.

The Marketplace should help bring the ecosystem together. Will it reach the level of integration of Apple's App Store? Certainly not at first. And maybe not ever. (And that's not necessarily a bad thing.) But suffice to say the Marketplace is still one of the larger developements for Windows Mobile to come out of the past couple of years.

source: www.wmexperts.com

ZuneHD on Windows Embedded CE 7.0 at 11:22

zunehd2TeamXbox.com is claiming to have been sitting on some inside information for the last few months, with more details on the ZuneHD, described by them as a “digital entertainment handheld.”

Code-name xYz to symbolize its position between Xbox and Zune, the device is said to offer both gaming and media playback, as well as Internet-related services, all in a portable format. Apparently the device will be devoid of any business application or user interface (UI) that resembles a smartphone, featuring instead the NXE user interface.

“Although the Microsoft handheld is definitely a converged device, this is not a Zune Phone.” The source added: “Microsoft won’t compete with its Windows Mobile customers.”

The “xYz” is supposed to have a large WVGA touchscreen display and “hardware features not found on any handheld on the market.”

The device will integrate closely with Microsoft’s other services.

“This is a Live Anywhere device” “There will be a single online marketplace; the lines between the Zune, Xbox Live and Sky marketplaces will blur when the handheld launches.”

This will allow a user to buy a song, a movie or a TV show on your Xbox, play the content later on the handheld or the other way around or play an Xbox Live Arcade game either on your Xbox or in this handheld, based on your Gamertag. The device will also offer many Live Search services, such as Maps, News, Traffic and Video.

This suggests that the ZuneHD will run on the Windows Embedded CE 7.0 (Chelan).
This is not to say it will be using Windows Mobile 7 to run, simply the same foundation.
What this does mean is that features and applications which will be created for the ZuneHD should be compatible with Windows Mobile 7.

Windows Mobile 6.5 - When? at 10:26

We've been hearing a lot from Microsoft's Senior Project Manager Loke Uei Tan recently regarding Windows Mobile 6.5 and today he is defending Windows Mobile 6.5.

There has been a lot of criticism for 6.5 recently, mainly around how few upgrades it brings over 6.1.
But Loke is having none of it.
He wants people to see just how much has been achieved in the very short time that the project has been given.

"The reason why we couldn't complete the interface on Windows Mobile 6.5 is because of time. We only spend what, eight months, nine months, to build 6.5 from ground up and it's actually an amazing engineering feat. But, in order to do that, we had to do some prioritization and we had to cut certain features. Eventually, we will make sure that the UI capabilities are carried out throughout the whole platform."

In this 12 min video Dale Coffing and Chris DeHerrera also stand by Windows Mobile 6.5 demonstrating the UI improvements.
[remember it is only the UI which people are complaining about]

The WM Dev Team on Twitter have posted the following recently :

"For the record, Windows Mobile 6.5 is DONE... complete... looks really good IOHO and every bit functional. ping us if u want to know more."
"New product launch, that's all I'm allowed to say. Hold off from buying an iPhone/Pre"

If 6.5 and the Marketplace are ready are we going to hear about the pre-installed first devices and upgrades in June???

Microsoft Official Facebook App - Officially Updated at 09:48

Microsoft's recently released Facebook App now has an update for those who were struggling to install it.
Windows Mobile's Joshua Partlow has this to say:

We’ve heard some users have been having problems with installation and a new copy of the app has been posted. This version should help anyone that was getting the “cannot install due to insufficient privileges” error and it should also help with some hanging errors.

The lastest install .cab can be downloaded direct from here.

Source

Microsoft Official Facebook App at 09:45

New from Windows Mobile: a Facebook application for your phone! Download the new Facebook application for Windows Mobile and:

• Send messages to any of the people in your Friends list.
• Take pictures and videos on your phone, then upload them right to Facebook.
• Send messages or call people in your Friends list.
• Manage your profile and post anytime, anywhere.

Keep up with the latest news and posts with Facebook on your phone. Now your status updates can be up-to-the moment accounts of what you’re doing. Photos and videos are about as close to live-action as you can get. Show your friends what you’re up to, while you’re out and about.

Connecting and sharing on Facebook just got a lot livelier!

Source and download location

Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard? at 14:16

This little piece of information from the Marketplace Application Standard Guidelines skipped past me:

"It is highly recommended that applications should have the ability to run on two or more Windows Mobile 6.5 device platforms, for example, multiple Standard and/or Professional devices. Writing to multiple Windows Mobile devices helps extend the market opportunity for developers and gives end-users greater choice when making purchase decisions concerning both applications and Windows Mobile devices. This requirement is waived for ruggedized devices, which also referred to as Vertical market devices."

It would suggest that we can expect Standard versions of Windows Mobile 6.5.
Although, we are yet to see any evidence of a Standard ROM.

HTC have just released the Snap, yet we haven't heard anything regarding an update for this device - as we have with the Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2.
This may simply mean that Microsoft don't have a Standard version ready for testing, rather than a lack in intent to produce one.


With Windows 7 already rapidly in progress and the price of touch screens falling, it may be make more sense for both MS and the Phone makers to drop the non touch screen versions.

Marketplace App Submission Guidlines at 03:43

Microsoft have just released the Application Submission Guidlines.pdf for the soon to be opened Marketplace for Mobile here).

I have just read through the 14 key requirements and this all seems to be very stuff.
It stipulates the how the application should work, what it can do and what it can't do.
And it justifies each requirement quite reasonably.

They have also released the Marketplace Prohibited Application Types .pdf (here) and this has caused a bit of an uproar with certain sites.
It lists 12 rules which an app must adhere to and includes:

• Applications that are or distribute alternate marketplaces for content types (applications, games, themes etc.) that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.
• Applications that enable VoIP (Voice over IP) services over a mobile operator network.
• Applications that replace, remove or modify the default dialer, SMS, or MMS interface.
• Applications that change the default browser, search client, or media player on the device.

Most of the rules follow similar lines; don't point to other download sites, don't cause too much network traffic, don't replace the core components of Windows Mobile.

The biggest controversy seems to be around the 'replacement' of SMS and the the browser.
Although, the replacement/changing may still allow parallel apps which duplicate the SMS/Browser apps.
The guidlines.pdf gives advise on sharing the default PIM store and we already have Opera, which MS allow.

Marketplace will allow far more apps than the AppStore would.
Most of this seems to down to interpretation.

Once it is open (officially) and we begin to see what is denied, we should have a far greater idea of what is and isn't allowed.

Mobile Marketplace on Verge of Release at 03:12

MrHawii over at PPCGeeks, running a cooked WM6.5 Rom, checked his MarketPlace icon the other day and rather than seeing the standard "Coming Soon" page, he found a new message "CAB Needed".
Clicking on this he has download the actual MarketPlace application and has been able to access, browse and download a few [free] apps.

If you are like me, than you have been playing with WinMo 6.5 beta roms and have seen the Marketplace Icon. I have opened it numerous times and never paid attention to it because it always said "Coming Soon" or something of the sorts. Today I clicked on it and it said CAB needed to be installed. After install, voila! Marketplace open for business. I already downloaded Pandora successfully. There are not too many fun apps yet and most of them come with a charge. But the layout of the store was very finger friendly and very snappy.

This was also experienced by a few other of the PPCGeeks Forum guys.
Whether this was a mistake, or a test, the "Coming Soon" page is back and the CAB is no longer offered.

Screenshots below :

Windows Mobile 6.5 Supports Upto 16Gb at 17:10

Microsoft's Loke Uei has given us a little piece of info about the forth coming Windows Mobile 6.5 – “The new Windows Mobile 6.5 will not support external cards any larger than Windows Mobile 6.1 can.” This is a suprise to me.

Where as the mobile designed MicroSD cards are currently only available at 16Gb, Sandisk are about to release a 32Gb standard SD card. This can only mean that MicroSD will be available in matching capacity.

Perhaps WM7 is expected to arrive before 32Gb cards are?!?

Microsoft Accepting Mobile Developers at 16:50

The below is from Microsoft’s developer site :

Distribute Applications on Windows Marketplace

Go global! We’ll make it easy.

Windows® Marketplace for Mobile makes it easy to manage and distribute your applications, and will directly connect you with millions of Windows Mobile users worldwide.

Key Features

Achieve global distribution

Marketplace will be pre-installed in every single Windows Mobile 6.5 device allowing you to reach a broad audience.

Leverage familiar tools

Use Microsoft development tools like Visual Studio for faster time to Marketplace!

Manage applications easily

Use our web-based developer portal for sign-up, submission of apps, support, reporting and more!

Increase revenue potential

Grow your business profitably by connecting directly with millions of Windows Mobile users that are looking for your applications.

For more information, view the Marketplace FAQ.

How Do You Use Your Smartphone? at 14:57

A report which probably wont surprise many has found that 59% of Windows Phone and RIM owners use their devices primarily for business purposes compared with just 26% of iPhone owners.
(based on research by Compete of 600 smartphone users)

This is no surprise to me as the iPhone, although becoming business ready, is primarily aimed at the general consumer and not the enterprise market.
But what it also shows is that a majority of the 1Billion downloads of the 33K apps will be for fun.

The AppStore is only now getting productivity applications which form the mainstay of the Windows Mobile and RIM market.
So we may see this shift slightly over the year and they become more useful as a business device.


How about you?
Do you use your smartphone more for work or fun?

Mobile Firefox Will Support Geolocation at 14:20

Courtesy of WM Experts :

Firefox will use Google Location Service and while it won't require an add-on to make it functional, it will ask your permission before giving your location to a Web site. (If you've ever used an iPhone or iPod Touch, you're used to this. But in Firefox's case, permission will be asked in a drop-down dialog box as seen above, and not in an obtrusive modal box.)

Triangulation will take place using GPS, WiFi, cell tower or manual entry, and geolocation also will be included in the upcoming Firefox 3.5 desktop browser.

From Mozilla's Doug Turner:

We are happy to announce that Firefox 3.5 and Fennec will be using Google Location Service. We found that we agreed on the many privacy concerns around location. Do check out Mozilla’s privacy policy and Google’s privacy policy. I am pretty excited about these policies I think they are going to be the industry standard when it comes to network based geolocation providers.

Doug does an excellent job of explaining the technical details of it all, including privacy concerns, on his blog, and Google's got more tech specs on its end.

And speaking of Firefox/Fennec, there's a new alpha nightly build available (HTC Touch Pro only, folks) that can now render pages, say some testers. Give it a shot, but be sure to back up your phone first. Update: As for the future of the Firefox mobile browser? Here's what Mozilla just gave us:

"We are on track for shipping an alpha in the near future and a beta sometime this summer, and are working toward a general release later this year. As with all our releases at Mozilla, we'll stick to our 'ship it when its ready' policy."

Windows 6.5 App : TellMe at 12:14

In a Press Release on Wednesday, TellMe, a subsidiary of MS, have announced that they will be releasing their Voice Command app for Windows Mobile 6.5.

TellMe will be far more user friendly than other voice command apps around at the moment.
It will integrate more components, including texting, dialing, searching via Live Search.
It is designed to be activated by a button and will know which app to run depending on your command.
Saying 'text' will open a text message and write your dictation.
Saying 'call' and a persons name will access your contacts list.
Live Search will also accept common phrase questions such as 'weather in San Francisco, California", "Pizza in Kansas City" or "mother's day gift ideas".

"In a recent study conducted by Sanderson Studios, more than 70 percent of respondents said that voice is superior to keypad or touch-based methods to perform some of the most popular mobile tasks. This includes looking up a business listing or location (78 percent), sending a text message (72 percent), placing a call (79 percent), getting information such as movies, weather, traffic or sports (77 percent) and getting directions (81 percent)."

The Sprint Instinct already has voice control Live Search (from TellMe) and they are seeing that 3 out of every 4 searches are being initiated by voice.

TellMe is already on the Blackberry, the Sprint Instinct and in Ford's new Sync System which also makes for safer searching while driving.

TellMe will be available for free on Windows Mobile 6.5 phones. Initially available in Mobile Marketplace, Tellme will also make the service available for free to mobile operators and carriers to embed 'on-device' for a voice experience right out of the box.

Microsoft Pink - What this really means at 11:09

The Wall Street Journal posted, on Wednesday, a report that Microsoft is working with Verizon on the 'Pink' project.
Many believed that this was proof of the fabled Zune Mobile and that this was going to be a real iPhone alternative from MS to fight back aginst the Apple invasion.
Microsoft came back the very next day with a to say "No Zune phone, no Microsoft phone, no way, no how, get over it."

But this this is only half of a denial.
Yes, they have denied the Zune Phone, which is something that they have kept to for years now, but they havent said that they are not working on the Pink Project with Verizon.

We know that the Zune Phone is out of the question.
We have all seen the pictures of the Zune HD.
We know that the Zune HD will have some Windows Mobile 7 features.
We know that it will be a touch screen multi-media device.
We know that the Pick project is a 'touch-screen multimedia device with cellphone capabilities'.

Put these 5 facts together and you get an iPod Touch Killer !
A touch-screen multimedia Zune,
based on WM7,
with a data connection over an cellphone network.

That connection would give you Internet Access and access to the Marketplace in the same way the iPod Touch uses Safari and the AppStore.

If the Zune HD has a greater storage capacity than the iPod Touch and is finally pushed out to the rest of the World, we could see MS over taking Apple in the mp3 player world.
MS already produce a higher quality sound on its devices, what reason would be left to use an iPod?

Windows Mobile 6.5 Web Widgets at 17:21

I have playing around with the widgets now for a while and I have found a few things.

The first is that web widgets will run quite happily.

The second is that it isn’t as easy as copying a widget into place and running it. Although not yet. Currently the widgets will only run via the \Windows\riahost.exe which is only setup for 3 – MSN Weather, Money and Search.

I began by taking a Vista Sidebar Gadget as they are Microsoft’s widgets. Simply running them doesn’t work and trying to open then with riahost.exe doesn’t work either. When I checked the 3 MSN widgets I found that they are hard coded into the riahost. This means that you have to replace one to run your own.

Copying the contents of the uncompressed gadget to the \Program Files\Widgets\User\2 folder is the start. riahost lloks for the money.htm so the gadget’s htm must be renamed. Running the MSN Money shortcut now displays the text but not the images. I have been struggling with the images and this is going to take a lot of work on amending the .css file.

I’ve used Sidebar Gadgets, Google Widgets, Yahoo Widgets and they all have this similar problem. This shows that they will run, but will need porting rather than simply copying into place.

Now, Web Widgets.

Heading over to WidgetsBox, I’ve tried a few web based widgets and I’m having much better success. Copying this code into the htm file and using the config.xml and two icon images (.ico and .png) these are running straight away. There is a short delay while the web widget gets the images.

All of the html appears to run under riahost.exe,it is just a case of getting the coding right to run on our screens. Of course Windows Mobile 6.5 will allow user created widgets to run on the device. We are not at the answer yet, but with a little more developers on the case, we should get there very soon.

I think that we are going to see a blend of web and client based widgets when developers start turning their attention our way.

Windows Mobile 6.5: Today Screen Add-Ons at 13:03

The XDA Developers have begun to produced apps for extending the new Windows Mobile 6.5 today screen (Titanium).
There are a small group who have been working hard and have produced sliders for Weather, Opera, Speed Dial and an App Launcher.

My favorite is the Weather Slider.
Unselected, this gives the temperature and general description of the wether (Sunny).
Once selected, it gives a current status icon and the current/max/min temps for next 5 days.
You can then slide across to give a new tab for each day with a more detailed description.
The final slide is a link into the new 6.5 MSN Weather Widget.

This Slider also changes your right soft key to its setup menu.
Here you can define the update schdule/hours and define your city.

This app uses AccuWeather to provide the forecast, so to find your local city code just visit here.
Select your city and copy the location code from the end of the web address (e.g. EUR|UK|UK174|Manchester)

11th May – Windows Mobile 6.5 Officially Released at 17:47

So, Q2 2009 will be the officially release of Windows Mobile 6.5 at day one of the Tech Ed 2009 conference next month.

Stephanie Ferguson, GM of Business Experiences at Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business is going to deliver the kick off launch presentation of Windows Mobile 6.5 on Monday, May 11th at 1:00PM – 2:15PM. This Tech Ed 2009 session focuses on one of the biggest launches in the history of Windows Mobile – Windows Mobile 6.5. It is targeted at both IT Professionals and Developers, with a cool demo and an outline of great stuff to come. Be sure to join us as we are giving away 5 Samsung Blackjack II’s!

source: The Boy Genius Report

Developers: From App Store to Marketplace at 18:05

Apple’s App Store created an easy way for both mobile users to buy apps and for developers to distribute their programs. It spawned a great deal of innovation within those developers and there have been more apps written for the iPhone in one year, than there has been created for Windows Mobile ever.

There a number of reasons:

The first is the fact all of the Apps are in one place and this helps both the developers and the consumers. The developers can pay one site to distribute their apps, immediately reaching the entire app buying audience. For the consumers it is the flipside of the same argument. When somebody wants to buy an App, there is no trawling sites to find thee app that you want and finding the best price, thus simplifying the whole buying process.

The second is the market which is buying the phones. Windows Mobile is predominantly bought for business use, where as the iPhone was designed as a feature phone, where the standard user was already paying for ringtones and wallpapers. Getting those people to switch from paying $3 for a ringtone to paying $1 for an app was very easy.

The next is the type of apps which have been written for the platforms. Windows Mobile apps are used most days once bought, normally in the workplace to improve productivity, and are invariably complex multi-level apps. If we look at the iPhone apps, there are more games and ‘30 second’ apps. Most Windows Mobile apps are for niche use, most iPhone apps will be used by everybody.

Device centric apps. If you want to write an app for the iPhone, you have one screen resolution with 2 (soon to be 3) different handset’s hardware to write for. There are so many different screen resolutions available for WM that it makes it difficult for developers and consumers to know if the app will run. The hardware choice further confounds things with so many different combinations of GPS, Camera, Accelerometers and physical keyboard/optical keyboard options. Writing an app for all WM devices just isn’t possible.

I am really looking for to Windows Marketplace which will address most of these points and I expect that a number of the iPhone Developers will port their apps to re-produce their success on WM. Lets just hope that the road bumps wont put too many of them off.

HTC Diamond 2 : ETA UK - 15th April - £420 at 23:45

Expansys have the Diamond 2 on pre-order now for £420 (inc tax).

Further Details to Designer 6.5 Themes at 23:38

There are now 5 Fashion Designers who have created themes for Windows Mobile 6.5 :

Isaac Mizrahi

DVF

Rock and Republic

Ron Arad

Vera Wing

View Full Album

The themes bring the official wallpapers, provide custom colours throughout the UI and also bring a colour mask to the Today Screen Taskbar.

The shading also masks our own chosen wallpaper.

View Full Album

More Windows Mobile 7 Screenshots at 10:23

Microsoft have released a new Software + Service video and just like Synchronizing Life, this includes further shots of Windows Mobile 7.

View Full Album

The video shows a Touch HD, Touch Pro and an Xperia X1.

Video Archive : Synchronizing Life at 10:23

I’ve brought this one out of the archives as it is interesting to see how the latest shots of Windows Mobile 7 compare with those from the start of last year.

Video : Software + Service – The Greater Sum at 10:17

Microsoft have a new video available for viewing pushing Cloud Services – Software + Service – The Greater Sum.

Oh yeah, this also includes shots of a Windows Mobile 7 based UI.

Watch the video here or head to the Software + Service site.

10 Windows Phones for Windows Mobile 6.5 Release at 00:48

Support is building for Windows Mobile 6.5 (Probably bolstered  following the recent success of the Windows 7 betas).

Robbie Bach, during CTIA, has announced , "We will have over 10 phones available in the U.S. alone. We expect to see that grow.".

We already know that HTC’s Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2 have been ear marked for free upgrades, so we can expect these two on that list. So, I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for the other 8.

Source : eWeek.com

Video: Introducing Windows Marketplace at 18:43

Microsoft have released this fantastic video showcasing the new Windows Mobile 6.5 client app for connecting to the Windows Marketplace.

(displayed in Silverlight)

Iris Browser Update for Windows Mobile at 17:25

Torch Mobile have now released a new version of their popular Iris Web Browser for Windows Mobile - version 1.1.6.

Newest features include :
A new registry flag to control the minimum/maximum zoom levels
Performance improvements including 25% faster page loads
Improved scrolling performance
Improved paint speed

Downloadable from Torch Mobile Upgradable from Options, Menu, Check for Updates.

New Look : What Do You Think? at 16:21

I've updated the look of my Blog.

What does everyone think?

New Windows Mobile 6.5 Satellite Phone at 15:07

Elektrobit are exhibiting a new Satellite Phone which is already running Windows Mobile 6.5.

The phone is a candybar qwerty device running Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro, QVGA touchscreen, BT, WiFi, GPS, 3MP camera.
And according to TerreStar, can quickly switch between satellite and 3G mode.

For a satellite phone this is both 'small' and attractive (no external antenna).

The two great things to gleam from is that it is the first instance of a QVGA screen running Windows Mobile 6.5 and it also the first Candybar that we have seen running 6.5.

Again, there has been sight of a Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard.
Is this a pre-emptive for there being no Windows Mobile 7 Standard?

For further images head over to WMExperts.

Non-Official WiMo App Store at 10:47

There is a new non-official Windows Mobile App Store.
This is un-linked with Microsoft and offers just 15 applications (predominantly SPB software).

Its a well presented site, but as there is no mobile portal, its success is uncertain.
Let's see what comes of it.

More Pluses to Windows Marketplace for Mobile at 10:32

Robbie Bach's keynote speach at CTIA has yealded more information about Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Firstly, Self Service Refunds :
The refund option on Marketplace is set to be extremely consumer friendly, allowing the buyer to choose the refund option (within 24hours), without having to have the option justified.

Purchase Back Ups :
As with the iStore, when you purchase from Marketplace, you will be able to re-download the application as the service will remember your purchases.
Further to this, it will not matter whether you bought the app online, or via the client app on your Windows 6.5> device - your login will store the details of your purchases.
This will mean that you can buy the app at via the online site and then later, download the install onto your device (very handy if your in a rush).

New Apple Patent Covering Movement Based Control at 10:13

Another Apple patent has surfaced (this from Oct 07) which covers "movement-based interfaces for personal media device.".
At that Apple could stop any other manufacturer from using acceloromter based software.

But will they?

We have seen a large number of legal cases regarding copyright infringments, but how many of those are by the top marque companies, such as Apple/Microsoft/RIM against companies of the same marque?

Virtually all of the patent cases have been by smaller companies who appear to have raised a patent simply as a means to make money from those already 'breaching' it.

I believe that every patent we see from the likes of Apple/Microsoft/RIM are infact security against the innovative technology that we are already using.
When one of our respectable software houses show an patent, it is not a declaration of war, but a olive branch, protecting the others.

How do you feel about the patents of already existing technology?

Windows Messenger + AOL, ICQ, Skype, Facebook & Google Talk at 12:29

On Thrusday the 2nd April we will see a new version of Windows Live Mobile being made available.
This is set to add further language support and enhanced photo upload capabilities.

The next upgrade is set to bring an even greater improvement.
Microsoft are working with developers to add the ability to conenct with other IM networks.
The list of names so far include AOL, ICQ, Skype, Facebook & Google Talk

New Fashion Themes for Windows Phones at 13:32

The first is that a number of designers have signed with Microsoft to produce designer themes for Windows Phones.
Isaac Mizrahi will be the first in a series of designers to create exclusive themes, including color palettes and wallpaper.
Other designers will be announced in the coming months.

“Phones are just as much a fashion statement as the clothes you wear,” says Mizrahi.
“As a designer, I’m excited to team up with Microsoft to bring forth fresh and funky new ways for people to make their Windows® phones a part of their personality."

The second and more important for the users, is that a new Theme Generator is about to released.
The Theme Generator, will be an online service here coming later this year (probably coinciding with the release Windows 6.5).
This will enable people to select pictures from their PC to set as background images, as well as choose colors to personalize their navigation bar, scroll bar and highlighted text.
The finished themes can then be sent directly to your phone.

Windows 6.5 has the ability to extend a wallpaper into the taskbar and softkey bar, but these are soon lost when you head away from the today screen.
These new themes look set to extend those images throughout the entire OS.
This will improve the overall Windows Mobile UI, which is in definite need of an update.

New Social Networking Apps at 12:54

Following on from the Facebook App from Microsoft, they are also creating a new MySpace App.
Both Apps are set to be free and LG have already agreed to release the MySpace App pre-installed onto their new Windows Phones.


Windows Live is also expanding to 25 Languages and will be free to download from here on April 2.
This will be available for Windows Mobile 6 and up and includes
Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Contacts, Windows Live Spaces, Microsoft Live Search
This will also bring enhanced photo upload capabilities.

Mobile Marketplace + Mobile Operators at 10:03

Mobile operators that partner with Microsoft on Windows Marketplace for Mobile will gain access to a branded section of the catalog, where they will be able to market their own applications and services to their customer base.

Mobile Marketplace + Developers at 10:02

Microsoft also announced today that developers will now be able to deliver updates to their applications for free* throughout the application lifecycle.

Mobile Marketplace + Consumers at 10:02

Customers will have the option to purchase applications on Windows Marketplace for Mobile with a credit card or have charges appear directly on their phone bill. In addition, people will be able to return an application after purchase within 24 hours for a full refund.

Mobile Marketplace + Mobile App Leaders at 09:57

The following leading companies have today signed up to create some of the first application for Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
AccuWeather.com, The Associated Press, CNBC, Developer One Mobile Software, EA Mobile, Facebook, Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Handmark, Ilium Software Inc., Jeyo Inc., Kinoma, LiteScape, Magmic Games, Melodis Corp., MySpace, Namco Networks, Netflix, Pandora, PhatWare Corp., Resco s.r.o., ShoZu Inc., Sling Media Inc., SBSH Mobile Software, Spb Software, Web Information Solutions Inc. and Zagat Survey.

“EA Mobile develops some of the world’s most fun and advanced mobile gaming applications, and we understand the importance of product quality and consumer discovery as keys to success,” said Adam Sussman, vice president of Worldwide Publishing, EA Mobile. “With Windows Marketplace for Mobile, we are excited to continue our close relationship with one of our most valued partners to offer great EA games to millions of Windows® phone users worldwide.”

New Supporters for Next Gen Windows Phones at 09:00

EA Mobile, MySpace and Isaac Mizrihi are among early supports of the next generation of Windows Phones and will be releasing new suftware with the launch of Microsoft's Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, in his keynote address at International CTIA WIRELESS 2009, will introduce an alliance with two prominent design houses through which fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi will demonstrate ways people can customize their Windows^® phone to fit their personal style.

Good News Regarding Windows Mobile Market Place at 23:26

So what will the good news be?

Any ideas?

Multi Touch : Apple Wont Stop Microsoft at 18:04

A real concern last year were the patents granted to Apple appeared to tie up Multi-Touch.
But a few sites have brought to light a new (old) patents regarding Multi-Touch which are owned by Microsoft which include.

"A touchscreen device may be configured to receive multiple concurrent touchscreen contacts."

The key difference between this and Apple's patent, is that Apple's only cover certain ways in multi-touch is attained.

So, Microsoft owns multi-touch.
It's probably too late for Windows 6.5, but if Windows 7 will have it, then so will Windows Mobile 7.

OTA Windows Firmware Updates at 10:32

Head to the bottom of your Settings, System tab and you’ll find a little app called Windows Update.

So far this,this has never turned anything up, but Microsoft are currently working to change that.

Microsoft had originally planned to provide updates OTA for all of its users. Want to upgrade from WM5 to WM6 or WM6.1, this app was designed to allow that.

Unfortunately, the phone makers and the carriers seemed to have different ideas and right now, all updates have to come through them.

With Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft want to take back that control. They are currently testing Firmware updates Over The Air.

This probably wont mean that we can upgrade our Windows Phones from 6.5 to 7 (due to different hardware requirement) but this should see smaller changes pushed down to our devices including updates to the inbuilt MS software.

If these tests are successful, I expect Windows Mobile 7.1 to delivered via this update feature.

Windows Mobile 7 : Merges Standard and Pro at 18:35

Further to my previous post, WMPowerUsers have provided us with another set of Windows Mobile 7 screenshots.
These further cement the UI which we saw back in January 08 (yep, over a year ago now).



These three new shots give us our first glimce of the new Windows Mobile Marketplace
We get a shot a of a very polished looking IM Client
And we get 'proof' that Zune will be coming to WM7.


The new today screen on Windows Mobile 6.5 is very similar to WinMo Standard 6.1.
This (plus previous WinMo7 shots) has lead me to believe that we will only see one iteration of Windows Mobile 7, merging Standard and Pro.

And that makes sense.

With the cost of touch screens now, the user can retain the full standard navigation, with full capability of a touch screen.
Also, Windows Mobile Standard and Pro apps are not compatible, why not allow developers to make one App which can run on all Windows Phones, without having to double their effort.

Opera Mobile 9.7 (With Turbo) at 15:55

At next week’s CTIA Wireless Show, Opera Software will be announcing the new Opera Mobile 9.7 server-accelerated browser for smartphones and mobile devices.

Opera Mobile 9.7 with Opera Turbo compresses data up to 80%, reducing traffic and data charges and page loading times.
As an example, the Opera website have a video showing 'Opera Mobile 9.7 with Opera Turbo', 'Opera Mobile 9.7 without Opera Turbo' and 'Microsoft Pocket IE' opening the same page.

Microsoft Pocket IE = 3 mins 27 sec
Opera Mobile w/o Turbo = 30.2 secs
Opera Mobile with Turbo = 9.2 secs



It is following Skyfire and Iris' lead by rendering the webpages for you and then sending them to you.
Opera have this handy little flow diagram :


Will this leave Windows IE 6 behind, before it even starts?

No Zune for Windows Mobile 6.5 at 21:00

But there will be for Windows Mobile 7

WMPowerUsers are reporting that Zune will be hitting Windows Mobile, but not until Windows Mobile 7.

“The bad news is that Windows Mobile 6.5 will not in fact be getting the Zune service. The good news is that Zune is very much coming to Windows Mobile 7, and a pretty full implementation of it too.”`

I’m looking forward to a ZunePass on my Windows Mobile.

6.5 Feature : Music on Titanium at 17:12

One of the new features to be seen in Windows Mobile 6.5 will be a today player to control Windows Media.
With WMP running in the background, you can return to the home screen and control your tracks form there.



This provides you with the album art, track name, artist and the option to move to next/previous track :
Pressing the slide will pause the track
Sweeping left moves to the previous track
Sweeping right for the next track
Your right softkey then becomes a shortcut for Windows Media Player.

You also have the ability to continue playing the track when the screen is switched off.

Rumor : Is this Windows Mobile 7? at 16:02

I cannot say for sure…

They share features with the original leaked WinMo7 images, without looking as they have been composites.
If somebody can workout where that map is centred, it could add weight if it is near a Microsoft building.

If we compare them to the original leaked images :



My only question is around the meters at the bottom.
The battery jumps from right to left and the volume becomes signal.

Is it possible that we are looking at genuine shots?
Comments welcome.

Internet ID – There should be only one at 21:37

I am Biomehanika ! (but only on some sites...)

How many different logins and User IDs do you have?
I have at least 10 which I use at least once a week + a long list of accounts which I needed to create on somebody else's forum to access a service which I no longer use.

But how many do I need?

My Windows Live ID will let me onto all MS sites.
My Google Login, will let me login into a large selection as well (including Blogger).
A Yahoo login also gives me access to Flickr.
Those three get me into over half of the sites which I access.
But can that be improved on?

Microsft have just made a feature available which could help, which means that any Website can sign-up and let people use their Windows Live IDs to login.

- Dan Wahlin's Weblog shows how.

If the other big companies followed suit and a website had the option to for you to use any of them, you could potential use your preferred ID for all websites.

Could there be just one?