Posts tagged Windows Mobile
Microsoft claims Windows Mobile browsing better than iPhone
Jul 31st
Microsoft guarantees improvement in Windows Mobile development, and yet it provides better functionality and browsing features in upcoming version of Windows Mobile than iPhone.
This Thursday at Microsoft’s annual Financial Analysts Meeting, Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division, said:
it has been “a challenging year” for Windows Mobile, but help will arrive this fall when Windows Mobile 6.5 devices start hitting the market.
Bach told analysts:
You will have a very rich browsing experience on [Windows Mobile] 6.5 devices that will give you access to more Web sites than you will be able to get to on an iPhone that will work actively and work well. It really is a much better experience
But the above mentioned statement seems to be very peculiar as there has been no product launched by Microsoft whereas iPhone has already gained the popularity in this course.
Another out of the odd is that Microsoft has described for the new version, as a stop-gap release until Windows Mobile 7 reaches completion. But the announcement of Mobile 7 is being repeatedly delayed and expected to be coming till 2010.
However Microsoft dreadfully is in the need of home run-type of device to keep pace with the likes of the iPhone, Palm Pre, and BlackBerry.
Microsoft Mobile struggles are overblown by the positive response of Windows 7. But with the on going PC Market limitations Microsoft will have to figure out its mobile problems soon so as not to fall irreversibly behind in this space.
Fennec Alpha 2 for Windows Mobile released
Jun 28th
Fennec, the mobile version of the popular Firefox browser, has been updated. While until now Windows Mobile users were able to enjoy the Alpha 1 release of the software solution, the Alpha 2 version has been released into the wild, and is now available for download. At the same time, the development team also updated the Fennec version for Maemo, as well as those for Windows and Linux PCs and for Macs.
Fennec 1.0 Beta 2 for Maemo and Fennec 1.0 Alpha 2 for Windows Mobile. Download desktop builds for Windows, Mac, and Linux are also available.
The Windows Mobile Fennec now in Alpha 2, has more improved panning performance, newly designed themes, the JavaScript error console, improved add-on support, major bug fixes, and an improved UI polish.
The Fennec version for Maemo has been updated as well, and now the Beta 2 version is available, which comes with about the same improvements as the Alpha 2 version for Windows Mobile. The release can be downloaded for the Nokia N810 Internet Tablets, yet those that do not own such a device but would like to take a look at the browser should know that they can try it on their desktop PCs. The browser is available on Softpedia as well, just follow the links.
Fennec Add-ons being built by the community, including things like GeoGuide which will use the new Location Aware APIs to show you things like maps and weather near where you currently are, and other things like GraffiTwit, a Twitter client that lets you not only write tweets but also post images you’ve drawn.
Bing Mobile Application coming very soon
Jun 22nd
Prior to Bing, Microsoft provided search facilities through its search engine named Live Search. Its mobile version was also available for users to use on their mobile phones. The mobile application was titled Live Search Mobile application. The mobile version of Live search provided Voice based and location based search capabilities. Since Bing has replaced Live Search quite successfully (which is safe to say at the current time), there arises a question when will be the Mobile version of Bing become available for use. That is where Long Zheng of istartedsomething comes to the rescue.
According to Long Zheng, the mobile version of Bing is just around the corner and is expected to be released and made available very soon. The mobile edition of Bing is not a mere rebranding of its predecessor Live Search Mobile. The mobile version will be supporting not only Windows Mobile and Blackberry based smartphones, instead the support has been extended to include Sidekick and BREW supported phones. The Bing application for mobile phones is expected to be rolled out in November for all Verizon BREW phones.
Furthermore the service has been extended and expanded to the European Market, with plans of distributing local content to the UK, French and Italian users. Modifications to the design of the applications are also expected. Shown below are a few images which were taken during the late part of April 2009.
A big thanks to Long Zheng for providing us with these cool pics and information.
Windows Mobile to have Facebook application
May 8th
Well well well, I have got news that will give you a very pleasant surprise. I was just about to sign off for today when all of the sudden I came across this news and I thought that I should share it with you guys. The news is that there will be an official Facebook application for Windows Mobile. Wait there is more, this application will be available as a free download very soon (exact date yet to be announced).
The next thing that probably would come to your mind is what features will this application provide. Well luckily I got that answer too. The features that this application boasts of include:
- Profile – View your profile, update status, write on wall, add photos and videos, and send messages
- News feeds – Compose, view, reply and delete items
- Status updates – View, update and change picture
- Photos and videos – Upload and view pictures, people tag, geo tag, auto upload to Facebook, read photo details, and make comments. The application will be the only version on the market offering the ability to upload video right from the phone.
- Wall – Post and delete items
- Friends profile – Invite, comment on status, view full profile, and email, SMS or call from profile
- Email – View, send and reply
- Notifications – View, poke and accept notifications
- Requests – Confirm friend requests and invites
Microsoft opens Windows Marketplace for Mobile to developers
May 3rd
Microsoft yesterday opened up its Windows Marketplace for Mobile to developers. This move brings and places Windows Marketplace for Mobile in a similar position to that of Apple’s App Store and Android Market. The application store is intented to provide developers of Windows Mobile applications an opportunity to earn revenue from their applications.
In Microsoft’s opinion the process is quite simple for willing developers. They just have to possess a Live ID and have a sign up money of $99. To be able to receive payments developers are required to provide bank account and Tax identification details.
The Marketplace is built for Windows phones running Windows Mobile 6.5. According to Microsoft, developers will receive 70 percent of the revenue on the sales of each application. It will be in the hands of the developers to set the price for their application.
It is worth mentioning that the annual registration fee ($99) allows developers to put forward up to five submissions per registered year, to add more submissions, they will have to pay another 99 dollars. However there is good news for developers who happen to be student as well, their registration fee can be waived provided they enroll in Microsoft’s DreamSpark program.
Good luck to all the developers who intend to become a part of this program.
iBrowz – RSS feed app for Windows Mobile
May 3rd
Using feeds to be aware of the latest updates related to various subjects is becoming more and more popular. Just now I came across a RSS reader application targeted for the Windows Mobile platform.This application titled iBrowz claims to provide a better way of organizing your favorite content and applications on your smartphone. Here is how it is introduced at its own site
Ever wish you could zip through your news, stocks, sports scores and podcasts without waiting for wireless downloads? Wouldn’t it be great if all of your important business documents were with you whereever you go and instantly available?
Introducing iBrowz – the one mobile app you won’t be able to live without whereever your business or personal life takes you
The feeds are organized into various categories namely
- Tech
- Sports
- Search
- Automotive
- Finance
- Gaming and many more
Each category has its own unique color icon associated to it. In order to read your feed, you first tap your desired category, then tap to see the headlines, tap for the third time to read a particular story in detail.
The application allows you to manage your subscriptions via the application as well as through a web interface. Whatever changes you make using the web interface are synced with the application with minimum or almost no delay.
Coming to the drawbacks part, one drawback is that this application does not provide you with the option to add in your own custom feeds. You have to stick with only those provided by default.
The features provided by the application include
- Post message to a friend’s Facebook wall.
- Search Yelp
- Manage Neflix queue.
- Synchronize at a lightning pace
- Keep in touch with dozens of content partners (such as CNN, ESPN,AOL Sports and so on)
