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Google has just announced its new social network service, which combines elements of all the biggest or more interesting social networks of today.

The service will include a mobile component, but as of yet only clients for the iPhone and Android are available, with Symbian, RIM and Windows Mobile versions being promised.

Hopefully the service will do a bit better than Okurt…

Read more here.

Regular readers will know know we keep a close eye on Microsoft’s job postings, and occasionally come across something interesting.

The one below appears to be a pretty standard Project Natal job post, but then goes off into an unexpected tangent by demanding Windows Phone experience.

Does this mean that gesture-based UI is really coming to Windows Mobile?

Read the job post below and tell us what you think.

Sr Software Test Engineer (SDET) X box Live – Project Natal Job

Date: Feb 8, 2010

Location: Redmond, WA, US

Job Category: Software Engineering: Test
Location: United States, WA, Redmond
Job ID: 707967 11095
Product: Xbox Live
Division: Entertainment & Devices Division

Do you love Graphics? Want to take the latest graphics code, tools, and technologies for a ride before anyone else in the world? Want to participate in an effort to create the next generation of technology that will make our customers jump with excitement and our competitors shake with fear? If so, check out the Natal project – The Natal Platform Team is building the components at the core of this high profile project that is a huge part of the Microsoft consumer strategy. The result will be a revolutionary component for rich game and entertainment experiences that will forever change the face of entertainment. Do you have what it will take to help deliver on the vision? Jump in and find out…

Responsibilities include:
Design and implement graphics test cases which programmatically measure quality.
Investigate & implement new graphics testing techniques
Port existing graphics tests to new platforms
Write graphics test specifications
Lead by example
Own the quality of one or more feature areas in the System Test team
Identify product defects and track to their appropriate resolution
Collaborate with feature area Devs and PMs
Collaborate with partner teams
Provide feedback on key user scenarios, functional and technical designs, and
Contribute to overall product test planning and architecture
specifications.
Contribute to implementation of automation tools & solutions
Create and integrate test tools into test infrastructure
Qualifications include:
Experience writing graphics code with D3D10 or D3D11
Experience writing complex HLSL (or equivalent) shaders
Skills with 3D vector and matrix math
6 + years of product development and testing experience
Demonstrable experience of multiple successful product ship cycles
Strong C/C++ development and debugging skills
Able to work independently or with a team with minimal supervision
Excellent working knowledge of test methodologies and techniques
Utilization and evangelism of testing best practices
Experience with creating and enhancing existing automation systems
Examples of successful implementation of solutions to difficult product quality challenges
Familiar with test-driven development
Excellent problem solving skills
Strong communication and collaboration skills
Self disciplined and detail oriented
Solid understanding of the Xbox 360 software and system architecture desired
Experience working on Windows Mobile Phones a plus
A BA/BS in Computer Science or related technical discipline is required

Read the full job post here.

Microsoft, who has been working at low-end cheap smartphones for the developing world for some time, has teamed up with MediaTek, a chipset manufacturer, to create a reference platform for sub-$200 unsubsidized smartphones.

The phones, which will be Chinese 3G compatible, will use system-on-a-chip designs, which will both lower cost and boost performance and will be made available to low cost OEM and ODMs. 

The phones are expected to run Windows Mobile 6.x and to use Microsoft’s OneApp cross-OS application platform.

"There is a huge thirst for smartphones in emerging markets. For many people, the phone rather than the PC is the main entry point to the internet, resulting in a high demand for rich communication devices. In order to meet this demand, we have teamed up with MediaTek to facilitate the provision of affordable smartphones," said Daren Mancini, general manager for OEM Mobile at Microsoft in a statement.

Microsoft has been discussing smartphones for emerging markets for some years under the auspices of its Unlimited Potential Group. This has developed a concept called Fone+ – a midrange phone that would also serve as a PC, connecting to a TV to provide a large screen. The same group came up with the OneApp software platform for feature phones in emerging economies last year.

Read more at Rethink-wireless here.

Press Release: HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile phones, has announced the appointment of Vladimir Malugin as its new marketing director for EMEA.  Formerly head of products and marketing at Polaroid Consumer Electronics and head of market development at Eastman Kodak, Malugin will be responsible for HTC’s overall brand, marketing and communications across EMEA.

“HTC is a brand to watch in the mobile space,” says Vladimir Malugin, marketing director, HTC EMEA. “HTC has a reputation for cutting-edge innovation and design and provides a unique mobile experience for its users. It is an exciting time as HTC builds broad consumer awareness and further reinforces its position as a leading smartphone designer. I am thrilled to be joining at such an important stage in its evolution as a consumer brand and look forward to contributing to its continued success.”

Vladimir Malugin brings a wealth of experience having held top European marketing and management roles in for a variety of leading consumer brands. Malugin has also previously led the business development function for a mobile chipset start-up and established a marketing and digital consultancy supporting a variety of businesses including multi-national companies.

“HTC looks for individuals who are able to articulate and effectively wield HTC’s unique, customer-centric brand,” says Florian Seiche, vice president, HTC Europe. “Vladimir’s appointment is an important step in establishing our global vision for HTC.”

It seems there are all kinds of benefits to launching late. The HTC HD2 ROM for T-Mobile US has leaked onto the internet, and the packages contained in there shows a veritable power house of entertainment software.

To start with, the device will finally support the Amazon music store, meaning music can be purchased directly from the device. Next, the ereader application we recently showed from China will also make it to the US version of the device. 

The smartphone will also come bundled with games like Prince of Persia, Ferrari GT, Tetris and Guitar Hero.  Its not known of these will simply be trials or full versions however.

More interesting additions are Mobi-TV support, Slacker Radio and the presence of a BlockBuster app, and and finally, the smartphone will also come with Swype pre-installed.

Existing HTC HD2 owners can quench their seething jealousy by downloading the ROM from XDA-Developers here.

It seems everyone is jumping on the ereader market, and the latest rumour from Asia is that Cube, who produces a variety of PMP’s, is set to release a Windows Mobile 6.5 powered e-reader with a 6 inch colour capacitive screen.

No other details except for the targeted price is known yet, but at $150 that’s quite enticing enough.

No pictures exist yet, except for the teaser above, which I assume says its better that the iPhone .

Via Akhibaranews.com

Press release: Hit mobile games to be bundled with the HTC HD2 & HTC Touch2, including the chance to win Xbox 360 Arcade consoles and X5 gaming mouses!

StarHub looks set to delight all mobile phone buffs and gaming enthusiasts alike as they proudly announce the bundling of 2 hit mobile games, “Guitar Hero 5 Mobile” & “Diner Dash Flo on the Go Mobile”, free with every HTC HD2 and HTC Touch2 purchase from StarHub beginning today. In conjunction with the exciting collaboration, new HTC smartphone owners also stand to win 12 Xbox 360 Arcade consoles in an exclusive lucky draw contest ending 30 April 2010.

2 of the most sought-after and downloaded mobile games on the market, Guitar Hero® 5 Mobile and Diner Dash Flo on the Go Mobile will be exclusively bundled and preloaded with every new purchase of a HTC HD2 or HTC Touch2 from any of the participating StarHub Shops.

Contest Details
Be the first 10 customers to purchase these HTC phones at each of the 7 participating StarHub Shops* and receive these fabulous gifts for FREE!
* HTC HD2 – 1 HTC Xbox 360 Arcade Console set
* HTC Touch2 – 1 X5 gaming mouse

For those who missed out on the early bird promotion above, simply visit www.wemp.com.sg/htcxboxpromo to participate in the Xbox 360 lucky draw program and you could win a HTC Xbox 360 Arcade Console every week for 12 weeks!

Via MSMobiles.com