Category Archives: Useful Accessories

Windows Phone 7 Developer Tools Beta Released

Posted on by
Reply

Smartphone application developers can finally get their hands on some official tools for app creation on the Windows Phone 7 platform. The beta version for Windows Phone 7 developer tools has been released. The set includes:

  • Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone which is a free express edition of Visual Studio 2010
  • Express Blend for Windows Phone which is a free edition of Blend focusing on Windows Phone 7 development
  • Silverlight for Windows Phone 7
  • XNA Game Studio for Windows Phone 7

Additionally a phone emulator accompanies the set. Developers can create apps and test them out on this emulator without requiring a physical Windows Phone 7 handset. The hardware-accelerated emulator provides simple and helpful debugging techniques. Moreover the emulator supports multi-touch events on multi-touch capable monitors.

Silverlight has gotten two new controls: Panorama and Pivot. Both of these tools lets developers easily implement Windows Phone 7 navigations styles.

Microsoft’s official blog post about the release can be read here. If you are facing problems while uninstalling the previous CTP, read the solutions offered here.

Move Your Service Back To An Earlier Phone With MicroSIM Adapter

Posted on by
Reply

If you are using an iPhone 4, you know that the MicroSIM in it is not compatible with other phone. For example if you are facing the all-too-common antenna / reception issue on the set and want to temporarily use the SIM on your older iPhone, you will not be able to do so because of the new MicroSIM form factor.

To make the new MicroSIM back-compatible with older phone you can use a MicroSIM adapter being sold by the MicroSIM Shop.

The MicroSIM adapter covers your smaller MicroSIM in a plastic case so it can be fit into older devices. The plastic casing is quite sturdy and easily fits into your older phone. At any time you can take out the casing from your phone, extract the MicroSIM and reinsert it in your iPhone 4. Your iPad 3G’s MicroSIM can also be used on your older iPhone when you do not want to make the iPad’s data portable without having to carry a big device around.

Main beneficiaries of this product include people with older iPhones who also own an iPhone 4 or an iPad. You can purchase the adapter from MicroSIM Shop’s website for €5.99.