winpho7 Archive

  • Microsoft helping OEMs develop unique Windows Phone 7 apps

    Microsoft helping OEMs develop unique Windows Phone 7 apps

    Posted on June 11, 2010 | No Comments
    Here's the simple truth about touchscreen smartphones: it's the software, dummy. Just look around at all the flagship handsets... other than a choice of with or without a QWERTY, today's handsets all look pretty much the same and are built using the same off-the-shelf components with very few exceptions. That's why we see so much skinning on Android handsets -- that's how manufacturers like Motorola (Motoblur), Samsung (TouchWiz), and HTC (Sense) differentiate themselves with consumers. But how's that going to work for Windows Phone 7 devices with Microsoft boxing OEMs in with a narrow set of hardware and software guidelines that restrict them from modifying the user interface? Easy, Microsoft is going to help them write unique apps. At least that's what this June 1st Microsoft job posting for a senior Windows Phone software developer says:
    "We are looking for a strong and experienced developer to help the OEM to design and develop applications that make their devices stand out in the marketplace. You will also help them to bring new phones to market."
    The position would be "working directly with a top Korean cellular phone manufacturer, who has made a large commitment to Windows Phone." Uh, would that be LG or Samsung, we're guessing the former. It'll be interesting to see if these apps are enough to differentiate one touchscreen handset from another. Even more exciting will be watching the homebrew community attempt to hack the manufacturer-specific apps into different handsets in order to create the ultimate Windows Phone 7 superphone... or Frakenphone as the case may be. Regardless, it's clear that Microsoft isn't leaving anything to chance as manfacturers prepare to launch their first devices running Redmond's virgin OS.

    [Thanks, Abed]

    Microsoft helping OEMs develop unique Windows Phone 7 apps originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 ‘Rockstar’ contest wraps up, neat apps ensue

    Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 ‘Rockstar’ contest wraps up, neat apps ensue

    Posted on June 10, 2010 | No Comments
    The success of Windows Phone 7 as a commercially viable mobile platform will ultimately depend on a great many things, but one of the biggest factors might be its chops as a gaming setup -- so naturally, we're excited to see each and every WP7 game that gets previewed right now. In March, Microsoft kicked off its so-called Rockstar competition, where student teams competed to make awesome apps (games or otherwise) for the platform in their choice of Silverlight or XNA -- and the results of the competition are finally in. Two of the top three winners were games, and the grand champion was a game by the name of -- wait for it -- "Droid." Members of the team are receiving $8,000 plus a Windows Phone, and while none of these apps are the most polished things in the world, it's a promising sign that these students were able to come in fresh on a brand new platform and produce solid version 1.0 software in less than three months' time. Hit up Microsoft's Windows Blog for the full list of winners.

    Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 'Rockstar' contest wraps up, neat apps ensue originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Microsoft tweaks Windows Phone Marketplace policies for the better

    Microsoft tweaks Windows Phone Marketplace policies for the better

    Posted on June 7, 2010 | No Comments
    Previously, the $99 that Windows Phone devs paid annually to get access to the Marketplace covered up to five app submissions -- but Microsoft looks like it's willing to play ball in an effort to drum up more interest in third-party development ahead of Windows Phone 7's release by chucking the five-app cap. Well, sort of -- paid apps will have unlimited submissions, but free apps will still be limited to five per yearly cycle, with additional submissions running $19.99 each. Additionally, Microsoft is taking the wraps off its Trial API for helping developers enforce trial functionality prior to purchase, details on its push notification service, and a new option that lets publishes push their apps globally -- to every localized store in the Marketplace's reach -- in one fell swoop. The company says that it has "listened to developers and responded to changing customer behavior to make Marketplace an even better experience for all," and it certainly seems like a step in the right direction -- but we'll admit, we'd still love to see free app submissions go unlimited (what can we say, we've got a soft spot for freebies).

    Microsoft tweaks Windows Phone Marketplace policies for the better originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Leaked Windows Phone 7 ROM filename suggests an HTC Mondrian?

    Leaked Windows Phone 7 ROM filename suggests an HTC Mondrian?

    Posted on May 15, 2010 | No Comments
    The lads and lassies at XDA-Developers made an intriguing discovery this week: a leaked 100MB file that might be the first Windows Phone 7 ROM actually destined for a device. What's more, it could possibly reveal details about a phone we barely knew existed -- the filename references an "HTC Mondrian." At best, the contents might reveal wonders beyond imagination, including full specs, bundled apps, even the tools needed to properly shoehorn WP7 onto your existing HTC handset. At worst, the community might never open the blasted file, or discover it's all a clever hoax. There's really no indication either way, so we prefer to dream. If you think you've got what it takes, try cracking the ROM yourself at our source link.

    Leaked Windows Phone 7 ROM filename suggests an HTC Mondrian? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 May 2010 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Windows Phone 7 based on a hybrid Windows CE 6 / Compact 7 kernel?

    Windows Phone 7 based on a hybrid Windows CE 6 / Compact 7 kernel?

    Posted on May 4, 2010 | No Comments
    Up until now, we'd heard and believed that Windows Phone 7 would be based on Microsoft's time-tested Windows CE 6 kernel -- aging, yes, but still considerably newer and more technically modern than the CE 5 upon which Windows Mobile 6.x operates. Thing is, Windows Embedded evangelist Olivier Bloch just dropped the knowledge this week that the company's all-new phone platform will actually be "based on the Windows Embedded Compact 7 core," which sounds a lot to us like Redmond skipped right over CE 6 and went straight for the latest and greatest (and still unavailable to the general public) stuff.

    [Thanks, Jeff]

    Continue reading Windows Phone 7 based on a hybrid Windows CE 6 / Compact 7 kernel?

    Windows Phone 7 based on a hybrid Windows CE 6 / Compact 7 kernel? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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