| Microsoft confirms no upgrade path to Windows Phone 8, unveils 7.8 for legacy devices Jun 20th 2012, 16:55  The debate can now be laid to rest: devices currently running on Windows Phone 7.5 will not be on the receiving end of the long-awaited Apollo update (aka Windows Phone 8). But that doesn't mean those smartphones are at the end of the line. It's long been speculated that the reason Microsoft would want to restrict WP8 to new phones is primarily due to improvements in hardware support and the change in platform architecture, and this conjecture appears to be right on the money. After all, how can single-core devices with WVGA screens take advantage of multi-core and additional resolution support? That part makes sense, but that leaves the software side. So here's the plan to ensure current Windows Phone users stay happy: a few software benefits will be included in WP8, and a hearty helping of these killer features (such as the new Start screen) will be available to legacy devices in the form of Windows Phone 7.8. We don't have many additional details yet, but we'll update as we hear more throughout the course of today's Developer Summit. Developing... To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! Microsoft confirms no upgrade path to Windows Phone 8, unveils 7.8 for legacy devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Windows Phone 8 introduces new Start screen Jun 20th 2012, 16:45  Yes, Windows Phone 8 is coming later this year, and it introduces some important changes to the user interface. The most noticeable is probably the new Start screen, which offers more customization and makes more efficient use of the real estate. As a user, you'll be able to choose any tile and tweak its appearance to suit your sensibilities. Sizing can be configured with a resize arrow that rests in each separate area while in customization mode and allows the option of small, medium or double-wide tiles that span the entire width of the display. All current applications will be automatically designed for small and medium versions by default and devs will be able to dive in to add support for the larger options should they feel the need to do so -- something that until today was reserved for Microsoft and its partners / carriers. What's that? You wanted more colors? Yeah, you'll get those too.
To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! Windows Phone 8 introduces new Start screen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | MS teases Windows Phone 8 enterprise features: encryption, secure boot, IT management Jun 20th 2012, 16:43  At today's Windows Phone Summit, Microsoft alluded to some of the next-gen OS' enterprise features, including a trusted shared Windows core, encryption, secure boot and IT device management. Company VP Joe Belfiore recognized that some business users haven't been satisfied with the operating system's previous suite of enterprise features, and that definitely appears to be one focus of Windows Phone 8. BitLocker Drive Encryption will provide support for device security, while IT administrators will have have the ability to push apps to handsets while sidestepping the Marketplace. Office will also have a greater presence in Windows Phone 8, though we don't know exactly how that will play out just yet. Enterprise clearly hasn't been a primary target of Microsoft's mobile OS to date, but that could very well change beginning this fall. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! MS teases Windows Phone 8 enterprise features: encryption, secure boot, IT management originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Microsoft brings NFC payments and loyalty cards to Windows Phone 8 Jun 20th 2012, 16:35  Well it looks like Google Wallet and Apple's Passbook have some new competition. Today at the Windows Phone Developer Summit, Microsoft shared its plans to bring NFC payments and loyalty cards to Windows Phone 8 with its very own mobile wallet feature. It's promising that it will be the "most complete wallet experience" on any phone. That of course includes support for tap-to-pay, the ability to link credit and debit cards, integration with third-party apps and, more uniquely, secure elements on the SIM card rather than the phone itself. Orange France is the first partner that Microsoft has announced, and it says that it expects to have a "good solution" with the US carrier-backed Isis partnership sometime next year, but not in time for launch. What's more, the wallet will come loaded on every Windows Phone 8 device, regardless of whether the carrier supports the SIM-based security, which will let folks use at least some of the features. Check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event in our liveblog! Microsoft brings NFC payments and loyalty cards to Windows Phone 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Windows Phone 8 to support multi-core CPUs, HD resolutions, SD cards and NFC Jun 20th 2012, 16:28  Microsoft is on stage at the Windows Phone Developer Summit offering us a bite of what's to come in Windows Phone 8, and one of the tastiest morsels may just be the noticeably more diverse hardware it will support. The new platform won't just support dual-core processors -- it will support as many as 64 cores, should such massively parallel chips come to exist in the platform's lifetime. Also gone is that long-criticized 800 x 480 display resolution ceiling: if phone builders like, they can either opt for the increasingly common 1280 x 720 or a rarer 1280 x 768. A few subtler feature parities are coming with the upgrade, such as NFC for tags and payments as well as a long, long requested support for SD cards beyond the crude initial expansion. All told, Microsoft just brought Windows Phone right up to hardware parity with its biggest rivals, and possibly a bit beyond. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog! Windows Phone 8 to support multi-core CPUs, HD resolutions, SD cards and NFC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Microsoft unveils Internet Explorer 10 for Windows Phone, very similar to the desktop Jun 20th 2012, 16:28  How do you perfectly compliment a brand new mobile operating system? Why with a brand new browser designed to handle the moder web. Microsoft just took the wraps off Internet Explorer 10 for Windows Phone and it looks to be a significant upgrade over the version that came bundled with Mango. In fact, it borrows quite heavily from its desktop sibling. The SmartScreen anti-phishing filter has finally been ported to the mobile space and performance is through the roof. Javascript performance has improved four-fold compared to Mango and HTML5 performance has doubled since Windows Phone 7.5. Microsoft was even willing to put the browser through its SunSpider paces on stage, hitting a blindingly fast 1,200ms. By comparison, the Galaxy S III only managed 1,460ms in our review. Perhaps most importantly for a primarily touch-driven device, though, IE 10 now includes touch support for HTML5 apps. We'd say that Microsoft has more than closed the mobile browser gap. Microsoft unveils Internet Explorer 10 for Windows Phone, very similar to the desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 share lots of code, NT kernel Jun 20th 2012, 16:20  It's not a complete surprise, but it's still a little bit shocking that it's actually happening -- Windows Phone 8 will be borrowing much of its code base, including the kernel, from Windows 8. At the heart of the latest mobile OS from Microsoft is the full-fledged NT kernel. It's not just a kernel though, the so-called "Shared Windows Core" extends to the file system, security infrastructure, etc... The obvious benefit here is to streamline the creation of a coherent ecosystem. Developers will be able to easily create apps and drivers that can jump from the phone, to the tablet and to the desktop. Only having to write a driver once should also simplify the process of building hardware, meaning manufacturers won't have to tailor GPU code to a phone and start again on the desktop. They OSes even share a substantial chunk of browser code, finally bringing Windows Phone up to parity with its desktop IE progenitors. For enterprise users and IT departments, Microsoft has brought over Secure Boot, BitLocker and some serious encryption. We'd say it's about time that Redmond finally brought all its Windows power to the mobile space. Thanks to the sharing of C and C++ libraries, Direct X components and SQLite support, developers can actually write an app once and move it from one platform to another with only a few code tweaks. In fact, thanks to the Shared Windows Core, pretty much the only major difference for coders is screen resolution and size. Obviously, a 4-inch 720p display isn't the same as a 1080p 10-inch tablet, but the Direct X graphics engine is -- and that, friends, can make all the difference. Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 share lots of code, NT kernel originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Microsoft introduces Windows Phone 8 for fall release, incompatible with current devices Jun 20th 2012, 16:18
 Microsoft has finally and officially removed the wraps from the OS formerly known as Apollo. It's now just Windows Phone 8 and, at their "sneak peek" event we're learning a good bit about that OS, and some of the great new hardware support that it offers. But, there's one thing we want to make clear right away: if you're currently holding a Windows Phone device you won't be getting a taste of this action. Well, not unless you buy a new phone, that is. That back and forth about upgrade paths has been proven to be incorrect, as the hardware requirements for WP8 preclude its running on any current WP device -- even that hot blue Lumia 900 you got for a steal. And what are those hardware requirements? As detailed here, multi-core processors (up to 64) are now allowable, displays up to WXVGA (1280 x 768) and external storage on SD. This better, faster hardware will enable new, faster games and other demanding apps which, for the first time, can be written in native code. (Well, it's C/C++, which at least lets developers get out of CLR land.) All this will run on a kernel shared with Windows 8 and Windows RT. In other words: yes, Microsoft has managed to get one platform running on desktops, laptops, tablets and phones, the idea being that apps can be more easily ported from one to the next, promising "games we've never seen before" running on your phones. There's also a new wallet functionality thanks to the NFC support, as detailed here, but reliant on an augmented SIM, not hardware on the phone itself. This means carriers won't have to remove apps (as we've seen with Google Wallet in the past) but they can block support altogether. Nokia maps is now built into the OS, including offline map support. This is a big step forward on many levels, but Microsoft is naturally sticking to its roots, promising enterprise-ready security and support, enabling admins to deploy and restrict apps on corporate-provided phones and manage them remotely. There's also encryption and secure booting integrated. It's all set to arrive this fall, which just so happens to be when Windows 8 (and those fancy new Surface tablets) will start shipping, too. Follow the liveblog of the event here! Microsoft introduces Windows Phone 8 for fall release, incompatible with current devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Mischo Erban breaks skateboard speed record, captures the run with camera-equipped Recon Jun 20th 2012, 15:55  We know Quebec well for its maple syrup, poutine and fresh mountain air, but the French Canadian province also has a more sprightly side, renewing our neighbor to the north's status in the athletic arena from time to time as well. This month, it's BC native Mischo Erban, who broke a Guinness World Record for the "fastest skateboard speed from a standing position" with a 129.94 km/h (80.74 mph) downhill run. Better yet, Erban caught the record-breaking journey with his custom-built Recon heads-up display / camera combo mounted inside a rather beastly jet-black helmet. The Android-powererd HUD theoretically enabled Erban to know he broke the record before he even came to a stop, while also motivating him to keep pushing as he approached that 130 kilometers-per-hour top speed. There's no way to replicate the feeling of flying down a hill aboard a skateboard at 80 miles-per-hour without hopping on some wheels of your own, but you can get a taste of the action in the new record holder's POV video after the break. Continue reading Mischo Erban breaks skateboard speed record, captures the run with camera-equipped Recon Mischo Erban breaks skateboard speed record, captures the run with camera-equipped Recon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Dolphin launches Engine browser beta, claims it's got what it takes to be number one in speed stakes Jun 20th 2012, 15:20  Dolphin reckons the beta version of its new browser is the fastest HTML5 browser on Android. While the app looks largely unchanged, its creators have added in a raft of enhanced features behind the scenes, including text rendering, GPU accelerated canvas rendering and optimizations for CPU and GPU team-ups. They claim that Dolphin Engine runs up to ten times faster than the default Android browser, while it'll also perform 100 percent faster than Chrome, if the timing's right, with the beta peaking over 450 on a web-based HTML5 test, leaving rival Android browsers choking on its rich web fumes. You can give it a try yourself now -- the APK can be plucked from the source link below. Continue reading Dolphin launches Engine browser beta, claims it's got what it takes to be number one in speed stakes Dolphin launches Engine browser beta, claims it's got what it takes to be number one in speed stakes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  MobileBurn |  Dolphin | Email this | Comments | | Amazon plans for European Appstore launch, coming this summer Jun 20th 2012, 14:22  It looks like those rumors were right on the money. Amazon has announced that developers can now start submitting apps for several European countries, ready for "distribution" this summer. While there's no news whether this will tee up a European launch for the Kindle Fire in the following months, it's good news for those who have jealously eyed up those daily specials from the other side of the Atlantic. Distribution is currently pitched at the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, while more are likely to join "in the near future." Continue reading Amazon plans for European Appstore launch, coming this summer Amazon plans for European Appstore launch, coming this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 review: Android media player that needs more of a voice Jun 20th 2012, 14:00  It wasn't all that long ago that one of the pinnacles of the gadget world was the PMP. How many gigs has yours got? Mine plays FLAC. Whoa, iPod video! These are sentences that are largely consigned to the digital mists of time. Now that your phone, watch and pretty much any other gadget can fill the shoes of the media player, its days among gadget nobility are numbered, and its rank slipping ever lower. There will always be a corner of the gadget realm for them but it's more of a country cottage, compared to the sprawling manor of yesteryear. Why all the nostalgia? Samsung's Galaxy Player 4.2 is the latest descendent of the Android media player lineage, and the company's rightful heir to its PMP kingdom. As you can see, a full-fat media player in 2012 wears a very different uniform than its forefathers, and definitely fights a different battle. Can what is essentially a phone-without-a-phone, hold its territory and prevent the mobile bandits from scaling the walls? We spend some time with it in the trenches to find out. Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 review: Android media player that needs more of a voice Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 review: Android media player that needs more of a voice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | ICS coming to Samsung Galaxy Tabs 10.1, 8.9, 7.7 and 7.0 Plus starting in July Jun 20th 2012, 13:42  Ice Cream Sandwich has been in the cards for Samsung's older Galaxy Tabs for a while, but impatient owners can soon wind down their foot tapping: the rollout date is indeed on the horizon. According to SamMobile, Android 4.0 will make its way to the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9, Tab 7.7 and Tab 7.0 beginning in July. Yes, that's next month -- though the site clarifies that most devices will see the switchover in August. If you've held out this long, what's a month or so more, right? ICS coming to Samsung Galaxy Tabs 10.1, 8.9, 7.7 and 7.0 Plus starting in July originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Pocketnow, Unwired View | SamMobile | Email this | Comments | |
