Published on July 31, 2010 at 11:44 pm in Android Central. Closed
We did not see this one coming but Apple has pulled the antenna performance videos featuring rival smartphones, at least here in the USA. It appears the videos are still live to our friends north of the border on the Canadian version of Apple’s site. In these videos you can see Apple display death grips on devices such as the Motorola Droid X, Blackberry Bold, HTC Droid Eris, etc…
Could this sudden removal of these videos mean that Apple wants to avoid more shots similar to how Motorola fired back just last week?
Published on July 31, 2010 at 6:18 pm in Android Central. Closed
We have seen many concept of what the HTC HD3 should look like, but this one is the first that actually comes with a concept for what Sense might look like. This was all created by a member of XDA by the name of _LeCiel_, who has done many other concepts, but I think this sense concept is one of the coolest.
His HTC HD2 concept is pretty cool, with many good looking aspect and even a speaker in the front. This design seems to follow the HD’s main look, and just replace some things around, and make the bottom have more use. There is no spec sheet, or concept of what the back should look like, but considering it took about 15 minutes for him to make this… I am sure he did not have the time. I also really like the touch sensitive buttons… its a fairly awesome way to control your device and I rather have that than hardware buttons.
The Sense concept is very simple, and does not change from what we have currently on our devices (which disappoints me). The problem people that make sense concepts face is… they are simple keeping the same old stuff and putting it in tiles and hubs. WP7 is all about change and innovation, and as such, I am sure the truly new Sense will have a new idea, concept, and approach to how it looks and how it improves the system. Other than that, the concept is very colorful, and nice looking, and I would not mind using this if I had no other option.
This is my second HD3 Concept. I made the first one (link) in February 2010 – back then people didn’t knew much about Windows Phone 7. I thought it’s going to be similar to 6.5.x and that – at some point – we’ll be able to flash it on our current devices.
That’s why I came up with a phone running Windows Mobile 7 and which looked like a kitchen knife (and what’s with that huge weather animation?! ).
The Concept got some attention and was mentioned on several websites and blogs all over the world. That’s when I learned that Google Translate has no problems translating “What an ugly phone!” from Russian and Turkish to English. Although I designed it for my graphic novel which takes place in 2015, my futuristic HD3 specifications were taken seriously so I was heavily criticized for the hardware.
Now, a few months later, I present to you my latest HD3 Concept.
Since everyone would like to see different specs I’ve decided to give you guys a chance of writing your own. I will update the threat withrealistic specifications written by someone who knows what he/she’s talking about.
As you can see, my new HD3 has two Build-in Speakers on both sides of the screen (I really liked that about my previous concept), a front facing Camera, HDMI output and a Micro-USB port. There are 6 hardware buttons (Power, Volume Up and Down and 3 WP7 buttons). You can come up with the rest.
I decided to make WP7 more customizable so I skinned it with Sense 3 (do you REALLY think HTC would release a phone without Sense? I know Microsoft claims that all WP7 devices should use Metro, but Sense is HTC’s trademark). Of course you could still change the wallpaper:
Published on July 31, 2010 at 5:54 pm in Android Central. Closed
Windows Phone 7 made a public appearance last week at a gadget show hosted by gdgt.com. Microsoft set up a booth and walked patrons through a demo of the software and gave everyone a little hands-on time with the phone.
Asides from the person trying to swallow his soda can around the 6:58 mark, the reactions were mostly positive about the Windows Phone. Everyone approach for their impressions were either an Android or iPhone user and "Really impressed", "Seems pretty cool" and "I liked it" were amongst the comments.
Two standout remarks were from Android users. The first "I was very surprised. I expected nothing good to come from Windows Phone 7. I'm an Android phone user and it was impressive enough that I might consider getting a Windows Phone 7." The second, "It was cool until we found out it didn't multi-task".
Hopefully these live demos will continue to give consumers a better picture of what to expect from Microsoft's new Windows Phone. It appears that most at the event found Windows Phone 7 interesting. Just not interesting enough to pull them away from their iPhones and Android phones.
Still, the positive comments is a good indication that Microsoft is headed in the right direction and gives us Windows Phone users a little hope.
Published on July 31, 2010 at 5:51 pm in Android Central. Closed
It seems Xbox Live Hub will have more games than any other mobile platform, and now hangman can be crossed off the list. This game was discovered by the guys at 1800PPC, who noted that the developer is doing this and other software for the Windows Phone 7 platform. There is not much information going for it, but at least you can enjoy the video above that shows quite a bit of good stuff.
I have said it before, and I will say it again… Good Job Microsoft. You have made a great platform for games, and applications alike, and I will not be surprised if in two years you pass everyone in app count (which really is just a pride thing, and does not really have much meaning). If this continues, I am sure we can expect over 1K application on launch day.
Published on July 31, 2010 at 5:32 pm in Android Central. Closed
Today I returned from my long two weeks’ vacation, and I have quite a bit of reviews, comparisons, giveaways and more that I need to do soon. In the coming week or two I will be reviewing slacker radio, pocketsheild, and other software for WM. I will be giving away those two, and more after I review them. I will also be reviewing one thing that I think a developer should have if they work endless hours on their computer… so look out for that. Lastly I will be comparing Verizon to At&t and T-mobile’s network from where I was on vacation (Lakeside Ohio). Those are the articles that I shall be writing within the next two week, so look out for those and I promise they will be worth reading.
The other thing that will happen soon is… I will stop writing news. It seems I do not have adequate writing for an all English blog like this, and I do not want to have you guys reading something from a guy like me who was born speaking French. I have not told this to Surur yet, so I am not quite sure how he will feel about it, but I think it’s in the best interest of everyone that I do not do anymore news. I will on the other hand continue doing my unbiased reviews, comparisons, and videos because I have noticed that the once I do usually take me hours or even days and the English is near perfect.
I hope this makes the people that were previously dissatisfied with my performance and blamed it on WMPU happy, and continue reading this great site. I will stop writing news this Sunday when Surur and everyone else that were previously on vacation (we all took our vacations on the same last two weeks of July) returns and yes, hopefully my replacement (I am thinking rush) will do a better job than I ever did and you guys enjoy his views towards Windows Phone.
Please re tweet this so as many people will know about it as possible, and follow me at @WMPerson if you want to stay connected. Hope some of my news was worth reading through, and I hope you will continue reading WMPoweruser daily for news from our other fine editors, and I apologize for the English my articles previously suffered from.
Published on July 31, 2010 at 4:48 pm in Android Central. Closed
Our trusty Verizon source has given us a little bit of info that might get you Motorola Droid owners excited. We already know that the original Droid will be getting Android 2.2, or Froyo, next week, but we’re hearing that the roll-out actually begins on Monday, August 2. Right now, we’re taking this with a grain of salt as our source was pretty confident with this date, but couldn’t give us the 100% assertion we needed. Even then, the update likely won’t hit all handsets at once.
Just like the Android 2.1 update that hit the Motorola Droid a few months ago, this one is likely to be released in the same fashion. During the first day, about a thousand or so handsets will receive the update before another wave hits thousands more 24 hours later. Lather, rinse, repeat to an increasing number of handsets and pretty soon every Droid owner in the country who hasn’t already rooted his or her device will be on the latest and greatest Android version.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get any word regarding any manual updates. Sprint, who is rolling out its Froyo update for the EVO 4G next week, will allow users who don’t get the OTA update pushed to their devices to access it manually through the phone’s settings menu. It certainly alleviates a lot of the stress and frustration it causes impatient users, so good for them.
Droid Incredible owners, fret not. We’re expecting your Froyo update from Verizon to hit some time in mid-August just before the Droid X begins to receive its Android 2.2 lovin’ at the end of August.
It looks like the cure for this summer’s heat is a little Froyo action–get it? Yeah? Alright, I tried. The Nexus One, EVO 4G, Droid, Droid Incredible and Droid X will be sporting the latest from Google which should give Apple reason to tremble even just a little. Let’s also not forget that the Droid 2 is launching very soon and it is also reportedly going to sport Android 2.2 right out of the gates.
Published on July 31, 2010 at 3:53 pm in Android Central. Closed
The HTC HD2 has been in the market for over 9 months, but yet it still manages to make the top sellers list month after month. The list created by Krusell, a Swedish case manufacture who always has case sales that are very similar to the actual device sales out in the market. The list reflects the sales from over 50 countries, and 4 continents.
1. (1) Apple iPhone 4 2. (2) Nokia 3720 Classic 3. (-) Apple iPad 4. (-) HTC HD2 5. (7) Nokia E52 6. (-) HTC Wildfire 7. (6) Samsung S8500 Wave 8. (3) HTC Desire 9. (9) Nokia 6700 Classic 10. (4) Apple iPhone 3G () = Last month’s position.
The list is pretty simple… iPhone 4 is on the top as expected, and the HD2 at number 4, followed by the desire at number 8.
Published on July 31, 2010 at 3:51 pm in Android Central. Closed
Owners of a Sony Ericsson X10 Mini or a Mini Pro will be happy to know that the folks at xda-developers have been able to achieve root on these two Android devices. The root requires some familiarity with adb and terminal commands and apparently takes advantage of the same exploit used to root the DROID X, Devour, and other Android handsets. Hit the read link for the detailed instructions and head over toe xda-devs to link up with other SE owners. Happy Rooting!
Published on July 31, 2010 at 3:29 pm in Android Central. Closed
Many people might know Microsoft as that cocky giant company that they have become, taking the initiative that because of their size, all their products will successed. Well Ballmer for once seems a little suppressed and under spoken towards the sales they are expecting for Windows Phone 7, and is a bit more understanding of the market he is going into. In a recent interview with financial analysts Ballmer had some quotes that might seem like a sign of disbelieve for his product, but I think is quite the opposite and shows that they are ready and are not simply laughing at the others while hiding the fact that their own product sucks.
“A number of you had a chance to kind of ask me a question … which is how are we going to do,” Ballmer told the analysts, at Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash. headquarters. “And I think it’s fair to say we’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Ballmer.
“It isn’t all going to happen overnight, and yet I think the opportunity to do interesting work, differentiated work, to build market share, it’s actually pretty good in the phone space right now,” said Ballmer.
The last quote tells me they are dedicated to keeping Windows Phone alive and kicking through the ages with OTA updates, and things that improve their users experience
Published on July 31, 2010 at 3:07 pm in Android Central. Closed
Microsoft has been handing out devices to developer as a ploy to help stimulate interest and development, well it seems 3,076 users are doing just that. The number came from Long Zheng, who used the facebook config for Windows Phone 7 as the source for this number. This is nothing really important to us, but it is just a little information to keep in mind. The devices I am sure are not all for developers… People like HTC, LG, Samsung, Asus execs will most likely have a few, and also some awarded devices. The day for Windows Phone 7 release is getting closer, and for those 3K who users are keeping us entertained with videos of the future OS, thanks.
The Sense concept is very simple, and does not change from what we have currently on our devices (which disappoints me). The problem people that make sense concepts face is… they are simple keeping the same old stuff and putting it in tiles and hubs. WP7 is all about change and innovation, and as such, I am sure the truly new Sense will have a new idea, concept, and approach to how it looks and how it improves the system. Other than that, the concept is very colorful, and nice looking, and I would not mind using this if I had no other option.
).
Although I designed it for my graphic novel which takes place in 2015, my futuristic HD3 specifications were taken seriously 
so I was heavily criticized for the hardware.
