Tag Archives: microsoft

Further Details Revealed about Windows Phone 7

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Microsoft’s senior vice president Andy Lees made a number of important announcements today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 in Seattle. Many of the things he said would interest Windows Phone 7 enthusiasts because he revealed a few details.

Firstly he pointed out that fragmentation has been a problem in the past when it came to smartphones. But with Windows Phone 7 developers will have a very consistent hardware target that should reduce those problems.

Windows Phone 7 will initially support 5 languages: English, French, German Italian, and Spanish while the Windows Phone Marketplace will available in 17 countries. These countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and United States. No specific launch dates were discussed by Lees – he only mentioned the launch will be around the holiday season. One can assume that the countries where the Marketplace will be available will be the first ones to get Windows Phone 7 and its phones.

Four launch partners for Windows Phone 7 are known so far: HTC, Samsung, LG, and Dell.

Microsoft’s Eyes On Apple: Reveals in Windows 8 Leak

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Microsoft’s next operating system, codenamed Windows 8, will properly release sometime in 2012. For now the company has is revealing a lot about their upcoming PC OS. But thanks to leaked document, we know more about Windows 8 than Microsoft would prefer.

Through some recent leaked news we learned that Microsoft plans to create an applications store for Windows 8, much like the iTunes App Store for iPhone. Microsoft plans to keep authorized programs in their store so Windows users can get programs that have Microsoft’s seal of approval. Through some latest leaked news, it seems that the Windows Store is not the only thing Microsoft will be picking up from Apple.

The latest leaked documents refer to an April presentation shown by Microsoft at a meeting with computer makers. One of the slides was titled “How Apple Does It: A Virtuous Cycle” and it clearly mentioned Apple’s products and their simplicity. The slide mentioned that Apple’s products will of high quality yet uncomplicated for users to enjoy.

Other Apple-inspired features which Microsoft plans to incorporate in Windows 8 include a faster response time through a new power management procedure. The default power scheme will send the computer into a hibernation-like state from which it will be faster to reboot than the complete restart process.

In addition to the Windows Store and faster response times, Windows 8 will also feature integrated web applications, improved digital media support (including AVC HD and 3D video), USB 3.0 support, and Bluetooth 3.0 support.

Microsoft plans to offer all these features within a single Windows package while keeping things as simple as they can. It is good to see that Microsoft is finally adopting the reason of Apple’s success: simplicity.

Here are the Leaked Images (Via Cnet)

Microsoft Pulls Plug On Two Kin Phones

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Remember Kin One and Two, Microsoft’s phones that were about to revolutionize social networking? They’re history now.

It has only been two months since the handsets were released. They created quite a buzz. Along with good hardware specifications, the Kin sets were equipped with Zune music players, featured automatic backup and data syncing, and heavily focused on social networking. Their highlight however was the cloud-based backup technology, Microsoft Studio.

All these features were supposed to work together and project Microsoft’s image as a fresh company in touch with its customer’s needs and wants. But none of that will happen now.

In short, Microsoft has discontinued production of the Kin sets. Once current supplies are gone, there will be no more Kin phones sets. The official reason is that Microsoft wants to fully focus on the Windows Phone 7 launch. But it is clear that competition from Android, iPhone, and other handsets caused poor sales and scared Microsoft away from its Kin project.

What is most sad is the loss of Microsoft Studio which had such massive potential. Hopefully that idea has not entirely been abandoned and we will see a better form of it in the Windows Phone 7 series.