Archive for: Microsoft
Microsoft’s mobile future is looking a bit brighter today after details of their next-gen “Apollo” update ( aka: Windows Phone 8 ) were revealed by PocketNow. While there are certainly going to be a slew of details trickling out over the next several months, the big takeaways include improvements in mobile-to-cloud and cloud-to-desktop synchronization and removing the need for manual syncing, better Xbox Live/gaming features, support for dual-core processors and higher resolution displays, NFC, continuing improvement of Marketplace ecosystem — Microsoft claims over 100,000 Windows Phone apps will be available in the fourth quarter of 2012 — as well as more rigid corporate/business features like 128-bit encryption and more robust data management.
What’s most intriguing, though, is that Microsoft will reportedly drop support for the desktop Zune music app and turn back towards an Active Sync-like syncing solution.
With Windows 8 slated for sometime later this year and (rumors pointing to) Windows Phone 8 in the 4th quarter, Microsoft’s holiday 2012 could be quite the revaluation compared to 2011.
We’re eager to get more into Windows Phone, but so far, a few of our most favorite apps haven’t made the jump yet. We’re confident, however, that the continuing trend of increasing app counts in the Marketplace are a sign that adoption by end users and developers is at least moving in the right direction. Who knows. Maybe this time next year we’ll be rockin’ a Windows Phone 8 device instead of an iPhone…
If the AT&T roadmap BGR’s source slipped them is correct, I’m going to have an awfully hard time keeping my two-year upgrade discount open for the next-gen iPhone. Reason being, AT&T is apparently planning to launch the 4.3″ and LTE equipped Nokia Lumia 900 on March 18th. This phone oozes gadgety sex appeal as well as a fresh take on the mobile OS compliments of Windows Phone 7. Of course, what’s even more exciting than a release a mere ~2 months away is the price: $99.
For a flagship phone from any manufacturer irregardless of OS, this is insane. Microsoft and/or Nokia must really be desperate to fast track marketshare. And what better way than a fire sale from the get go? Yeah. The duo could lose a fair chunk of change form practically giving their phone away because let’s face it, AT&T isn’t about to eat the cost. Ultimately, a move like this could be huge for the Windows Phone platform.
Consider my fingers crossed.
As for whatever else was on that leaked roadmap — BGR hasn’t mentioned anything yet. But if I had to guess, assume a few high-end dual and quad-core Android devices alone with a new iPhone too. But for now, my eyes are on the Lumia.
It’s no secret that Microsoft is working on a next-gen Xbox console to replace their highly successful Xbox 360. But exactly what the replacement will be called and when it’s coming have been shrouded in rumor and mystery. For now, the timing of any such release is still anyone’s best guess. But perhaps even more tantalizing (at this point) than official launch name and release date is just how much power the next-gen Xbox will possess.
The fine gurus over at IGN are reporting that they’ve received official confirmation from their Microsoft sources that the “Xbox 720″, as it has been called, will feature roughly 6x the processing power of the Xbox 360. In PC gaming terms, that’s equivalent to an AMD 6670 series graphics card typically found on computers. A card of this caliber will be capable of DirectX11, 1080p video, and multi-display support. Production on the next-gen Xbox’s GPU, according to IGN’s sources, is slated for late 2012.
We know what PC gamers are thinking: “That’s it?” Remember, your typical console is much smaller than a PC case. Small spaces mean less room for heat dispersion. The (relatively) lower powered AMD 6670 and it’s Xbox equivalent need to be able to survive in the confines of a console case, and especially one that will likely be physically smaller than the current Xbox 360′s. And, as is similar in the mobile realm, raw specs aren’t everything. Just look at the graphics the six and a half year old Xbox 360 is capable of with it’s Xenos GPU (roughly the same as an old AMD X1900/X1950 XT).
Nerd talk aside, we’re super excited to see what Microsoft plans to do with their (arguably) most successful product/service currently on the market.
It goes without saying, Instagram is a huge success on iOS. It could be on Android too, but the company still hasn’t released said version. And then there’s Windows Phone. Often an afterthought due to a still small market share all things considered. But one man by the name of Bil Simser who is developing “Metrogram”, a read-only Windows Phone 7 version of Instagram, is hoping to make sharing and altering photos on Windows Phone a much better experience.
You see, Instagram’s ToS explicitly prohibit 3rd party ability to write (read: upload) photos to Instagram for spam purposes. If Instagram goes along with Simser, it’ll be happy times for Windows Phone users and perhaps a catalyst to get Windows Phone share moving in the right direction, faster. If they say no, well, Metrogram will be nothing more than an Instagram browser.
Should photo uploading be allowed in Metrogram, look for it’s debut in 3-4 weeks, and if not, 2-3.
We’re hoping Bil can get some help from Instagram. The Instagram team has already proven they’re over-taxed just working on iOS (as is evident by the still not released Android version). Moving to Windows Phone would sure be a lot easier if Instagram was there waiting for us.
Nokia used CES as the launchpad for the North American push, and what a push it was. While the Lumia 900 is more or less a slightly larger, but nearly spec-for-spec copy of the Lumia 800, it intrigues nonetheless. The downright sexy hardware of the Lumia 900 is a testament to the fact that despite being down and beaten repeatedly over the last couple of years, they still know how to design a beautiful piece of hardware.
At CES 2012, Nokia and Microsoft are beating the war drum proudly (and perhaps naively), acting as if Apple and the best Android manufacturers have to catch them. While that topic is certainly debatable, there’s no denying that the Nokia Lumia 900 is a gadget worth remembering. Everything from the solid construction to the seemingly impenetrable colored polycarbonate oozes sophistication.
Hop past the break for Gadgetsteria’s Lumia 900 hands on.
Nokia was on the way to certain death just a few short months ago. But a newly revealed partnership with Microsoft and focus on Windows Phone moving forward have rekindled interest in the Finnish phone maker. Today, the company talked about their continuing strategy moving forward, while also showing off the one phone every Nokia/WP7 fan has been waiting for — the Lumia 900.
We’ve got to hand it to Microsoft. They really know how to take a budding product like Windows Phone and rip out its heart just as it’s getting on its feet. Earlier today, Windows Team blog editor, Eric Hautala announced two confusing changes moving forward.
- Detailed update information will no longer be shared on the update blog
- Carriers can now “request” updates
So why are those to items bad? Grab a drink and hop in…
Update
Microsoft has already removed the post. Stay tuend as we’ll update you to any changes. At this point it’s looking like more of a misunderstanding on our part and miscommunication on Microsoft’s. The perfect storm if you will.
- December 29, 2011 2:51 pm
Looks like the immediate future for Windows Phone hopefuls on VZW isn’t going to get any better. While there is at least one WP7 device planned for spring-2012 for Verizon, it’s not looking like it’s going to ship with LTE — a prime staple of any high-end VZW device these days — and is looking less likely that any LTE WP7 device is going to hit VZW until Q3/Q4 2012. The kicker: the outlook could have been better if VZW hadn’t turned down high-end LTE WP7 devices…
- December 21, 2011 12:51 pm
Want to catch a glimpse of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer or their gigantic booth at CES? Then you best pull a few strings and plan on attending the upcoming 2012 CES as it will be Microsoft’s last CES in which they’ll feature a large presence.
Microsoft spokesperson, Frank Shaw, stated that while Microsoft will still remain present for future CES events, 2012 is the last year in which they’ll hold a keynote and occupy a space on the show floor — behind closed doors meetings and such will also still take place. According to Shaw, Microsoft’s own product cycles are simply moving too fast to hold tight to CES’ yearly schedule. Fair enough we s’pose.
Shocked, unfazed, indifferent?
