zune phone

An idea for Windows phone 7 launch

August 20, 2010 | By rush24

Zune_HD_wp7

Most of us loyal Windows mobile/Zune HD fans have always dreamt of the day when Microsoft would wake up and produce with a Zune phone. We got our first taste of the Zune integration with the Kin phones but the hardware came nowhere close to matching sleek Zune HD industrial design. The next iteration of a “Zune phone” will come in the form of WP7 handsets from various manufactures and from all design leaked so far, I have yet to see any one that I like except the Dell lightning, or maybe the Asus prototype that was shown during the Mix Conference (not the “ugly” one shown recently)

So, in order to fulfill the dreams of loyal fans like me, I think Microsoft should release a limited edition set of custom Zune HD originals inspired WP7 phones for the Windows phone 7 launch. These devices would be available in select stores in all regions where the OS launches and would guarantee IMHO, buzz worthy, headline generating “long line stories” that would definitely pique the public interest about the platform. If Microsoft can pull this off, I would definitely be one of those “ crazed fans” camping out for days just to get one for myself, would you?

8

Microsoft giving up on the business market with Windows Mobile 7?

February 8, 2010 | By Surur

Chainfire, via Tweakers.net, has posted this collection of Windows Mobile rumours:

Microsoft will drop much of the business side of WM in favor of the consumer side. The traditional business offerings like Office / Exchange functionality will of course still be supported, but the focus will be shifted to gaming and multimedia. The Xbox and Zune brands will be represented, the Zune player willl be included and it will be possible to wirelessly exchange data, multimedia, and games with the Xbox 360.

The first batch of phones that will be released will have pretty much the same chip specs, and HTC, Samsung, LG and SE will be the ones to deliver this first batch of phones. In this first batch (September 2010), the OEMs are apparently not allowed to make big changes, they all have to use the same interface.

This means, no custom UI like Sense, no Opera Mobile either. Instead the default WM UI will be used and a new PocketIE based on IE7, but with some functionality from IE8.

The second batch (end of 2010) will be allowed to have small changes, but likely only theme-based and addition of some custom application.

Only at the third batch (early 2011) will the OEMs be allowed to add their own interfaces, like Sense, Panels, TouchWiz and S-Class.

The official announcements of the WM7 phones are not expected to occur more than a few weeks before actual release of the OS, [CF: so we probably won't see official (unleaked) specs and such before the end of July (based on the September release date)].

As hardware goes they say mostly the same as the chassis 1 specs. 1 Ghz+ CPU, Open GL ES 2.0, 800×480+, 3.5"+, 384mb+ (possibly 512+).

According to those we have seen the WM7 interface, it is nothing revolutionary. It should have standard multi-touch support and supports only capacitive. The interface is said to be a hybrid of iPhone / Android / Zune HD elements.

Apparently those that have used WM7 builds differ in opinion about the software. Some state it is much faster than for example the 3GS, while others mention apps are slow to start and experiencing ‘hickups’.

Apps-wise, old applications will in principle not be compatible with Windows Mobile 7, throwing away many thousands of apps that are currently available. It may be compatibility for old apps will be emulated, but this is not clear yet. How exactly this will work will likely be explained at MIX 2010 in March.

It certainly seems like only .NET apps will be supported [CF: ugh!], however it is not clear if the Compact Framework will be a part of that .NET support.

PPCGeeks claim Windows Mobile 7 leak

February 6, 2010 | By Surur

PPCGeeks claims to have come accross a treasure trove of Windows Mobile 7 information, and most are consistent with other rumours we have heard, but no less controversial.

They claim:

-The User Interface is based upon codename “METRO”. It will be very similar to the Zune HD User Interface with a complete revamp of the “Start” screen. The UI is “Very Clean”, “Soulful” and “Alive”
-Unfortunately there will be no Flash support at the get go as there was not enough time to implement these features.
-Windows Phone 7 will only support application installation through service based delivery. (i.e Marketplace). Application installation via storage card will not be possible.
- No Multi-Task support. Applications will “Pause” when in the background, however will support notifications via push notifications.
-Marketplace will now support “try before you buy” as well as an API
-No NETCF backwards compatibility. This means the original rumor of no backward compatibility for applications holds to be true. That being said, there are high hopes of porting the NetCF to the newer platform easily.
-Microsoft is confident that devices will be ready by September 2010
-Full Zune Integration
-Windows Mobile Device Center will no longer be used. Zune software to take over syncing via PC.
-OEM Interfaces will not be allowed to run on the device. Say goodbye to Sense UI / SPB Mobile Shell / Point UI / Infinity, etc, etc
-Full XBOX Gaming Integration (Gamer tag, achievements, friends, avatars, merchandising, etc)
-Full support for social networking.

Hopefully what PPCGeeks are talking about is a Zune Phone rather than the real Windows Mobile 7, because otherwise… Do I hear Android calling?

What do our readers think? Let us know below.

70

Does ZuneHD price drop presage the Zune Phone?

February 5, 2010 | By Surur

Several blogs have noticed ZuneHD pricing at Amazon and New Egg had dropped by $30 to $40, while the official Microsoft Store is now offering a $20 price cut for the $32GB Zune HD, with the once-$229 16GB Zune HD now listed for $199.

Of course there are all kinds of theories to explain the drop, but my preferred on is the imminent announcement of a Zune Phone at Mobile World Congress.

If this is the case it also implied the device will not only be announced, but may be delivered to the market very soon after.

What do our readers think? Is this likely? Let us know below.

Via tech.yahoo.com

7

Tegra-powered Zune phone to be announced at Mobile World Congress?

February 1, 2010 | By Surur

Spanish blog myucomputer.com claims to have first hand knowledge that confirms that Microsoft will be announcing a Zune-themed phone at Mobile World Congress, powered by the same Tegra chipset as found in the ZuneHD.

Like the ZuneHD the device will also have HDMI-out capability, but retain the 480×272 screen.

They go on to speculate that the device will feature Windows Mobile 7, but this early in the day its likely to be the cut down non-multi-tasking version rumoured rather than the real release we will see towards the end of the year.

At WMPoweruser.com we find the rumour believable, and will make sure we are there to bring you the first pictures of the device.

Thanks Rakesh for the tip.

11

Pure and Turtle Zune phones proven again, Microsoft’s denials notwithstanding

January 29, 2010 | By Surur

Microsoft’s vociferous denials of making a Zune phone is starting to sound more and more hollow, given the evidence unearthed in their latest Zune 4.2 software.

The software has references to the Pure and Turtle phones leaked by Gizmodo some time ago , and also makes references to managing your pictures and video taken by your phone at Studio, a url which redirects to Zune.net.

The likelihood is that these devices represent a new generation of the Sidekick platform, and not real smartphones as we know it, and could therefore be released much sooner than we expect, possibly soon after Mobile World Congress.

Zune phone coming like a steam roller

January 26, 2010 | By Surur

The recent maintenance release of Zune 4.2 software appears to have hidden a decidedly firm clue that a Microsoft-branded Zune phone is coming after all.

The software includes drivers USB drivers for 3 “Zune phone” devices, and the hardware ID, which uniquely identifies the manufacturer, was registered to Microsoft.

This appears to confirm the rumoured Zune phone, likely based on Windows Mobile 7, that is a bit dumber than the regular smartphone, without multi-tasking and running only Silverlight and .net.

Read more at iStartedsomething.com here.

Do we have place in your lives for another limited phone that is only a great media player? Let us know below.

Via Engadget, thanks Rakesh for the tip.

9

Zune phone to be reference design, not actual product

February 6, 2009 | By Surur

Finally a Zune phone rumour I can get behind.

After months of speculation and insistence that Microsoft is ditching its Windows Mobile partners and going it alone, despite official denials, a new rumour has popped up which has tied all the loose ends together quite nicely, and makes quite a bit of sense.

Mary-Jo Foley from the All about Microsoft ZDNet blog claims to have spoken to people “familiar with the situation” who claim that, instead of Microsoft making a Zune phone, Microsoft is instead designing multiple reference designs for their ultimate media phone, and offering it to companies to build on. One if the designs famously runs on the Tegra processor platform.

This strategy continues to allow Microsoft to concentrate on the software aspect while staying away from the cut-throat hardware side, and will still allow them to make money of the services associated with the Zune store.

Mary-Joe expects the first devices based upon these designs to only start appearing in 2010, around the same time as Windows Mobile 7.

One can only assume this higher level of control over the hardware OEM’s use will allow Microsoft to specify sane minimum requirements, such as higher processor speeds and guaranteed graphics acceleration.

Do our readers feel this strategy is a good one, or would they have preferred a Microsoft-branded Zune. Let us know below.

16

Microsoft to boost music on Windows Mobile

June 6, 2008 | By Surur

Andy Lees, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business has been doing a lot of talking lately. After dissing the iPhone in his last letter to his Windows Mobile partners, he has gone on to acknowledge on this he feels the iPhone has done right.

“One thing that Apple has leveraged on is the music scenario, and I think that that is something the operators and ourselves are partnering on, just to make sure that consumers can use live music in the best way,” said Andy Lees.

Andy declined to elaborate, but the most obvious route forward would be for Microsoft to integrate their Zune media playing software, which already runs on the same kernel as Windows Mobile, into the Windows Mobile platform. Lees made the point that music in cellphones was a huge business opportunity, since every year consumers bought 10 times as many music-enabled cellphones as iPods.

Of course the likelihood is that Andy Less is talking about improving the next iteration of Windows Mobile, rather than the current 6.1. That does rather raise the question whether this effort would be too little, too late.

Andy does go on to point out that Windows Mobile is doing very well indeed, aiming to sell 20 million devices over the 12 months past, and have shipped 4.3 million smartphone licenses in Q1 2008, against Apple’s paltry 1.7 million iPhones. If fact he goes on to brag that the increase in Windows Mobile shipments over the same period YoY at 1.9 million was significantly more than even the 1.7 Apple managed to ship.

It seems IDC shares his confidence, as they forecast sales of Windows Mobile smartphones to consumers will double that of the iPhone in the next four years.