Emoticons are an quick and fun way to express yourself in text messages. As we are now finding out via Microsoft’s Windows Phone team memeber Michael Stroh, there are tons of cool emoticons in Windows Phone 7.5. On the last two Windows Phone Blog Tip Tuesdays, Michael Stroh has posted key combinations of the vast array of emoticons available in two parts. Michael warns that due to a lack of global standards, some character combos might bring up different images if sent to none Windows Phone or Windows Live Messenger users. Qudos to Michael Stroh for sharing some serious Windows Phone fun. So give the Windows Phone emoticons a try and let us know what you think. [click to continue…]
Make no mistake about it, Windows Phone Mango gives Microsoft some level of parity with iOS and Android. The development team has gone a long way to blur the lines between application and platform with an elegance not seen on other platforms. This is not to say, however, that Windows Phone Mango is perfect.
Here is our list of 18 things Mango didn’t add to Windows Phone 7 that we’d like to see come in future updates…
Windows Phone users have the luxury to have on of the best note taking apps in OneNote integrated into the OS however Evernote has finally released their popular cross platform app on Windows Phone. All the core Evernote features are available in the Windows Phone version but the time it took Evernote can be seen in the gorgeous Metro UI design.
There is a truth in the statement, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Just as Bill Gates appeared at MacWorld in the late 90′s to offer Apple a helping hand Steve Ballmer made an appearance at BlackBerry World announcing a RIM and Microsoft partnership. I don’t know how much it is costing Microsoft to “partner” with RIM but this is a winning situation on both sides. RIM will likely get cash in this deal where Microsoft will get search traffic and millions of location aware search devices.
During Nokia’s quarterly financial reporting, Stephen Elop has confirmed that the deal between Microsoft and Nokia is signed. A few months ago, Microsoft and Nokia first announced their partnership, which would see Nokia build phones based on the Windows Phone 7 platform. The agreement between the companies will benefit both. Of course the Windows Phone 7 Platform for Nokia and Microsoft benefiting from Nokia’s phone expertise and their Navteq maps.
AllthingsD reporter Ina Freid, reported Nokia employees were already using prototype devices running Windows Phone 7. With Nokia saying that their big phone push would be in 2012, this is good news because Microsoft needs more Phone 7 devices on the market.
Samsung is promising a 2 GHz smartphone by 2012 and now they are going to launch a 16 megapixel Windows Phone device, WOW. Hopefully at the phone will have a boat load of memory or support a microSD card as the image size is going to be insane. [click to continue…]
Today Major Nelson announced that Microsoft has added Netflix support to fastest selling electronic device ever, XBox 360 Kinect. Much like ESPN today you will be able to navigate the NetFlix queue by voice commands or hand gestures. You will be able to play, pause, fast forward and rewind all with voice and gestures. Major Nelson says, “Kinect support for Netflix on Xbox LIVE will also feature an exclusive new recommendation channel that is controller-free and uses a smart engine to suggest movies or TV shows based on your viewing habits and instant queue.”
If you don’t have Kinect for your XBox 360 it may be time to buy one.
I am a huge fan of Bing on my Samsung Focus Windows Phone 7 device and don’t seem to understand why some people complain it is inferior to Google’s search. I have always maintained that searching on Bing is great and it may turn out I am right. According to Experian Hitwise, which is an internet marketing research group, announced that Bing’s search share in the market rose above 30% last month. IF you watch TV you have seen how hard Microsoft has been working to promote Bing search. A deal with Yahoo and rival smartphone platforms using Bing has definitely helped the search engine out.On the other side of this report, Google’s share declined 3% to 64.42% for the month, however, Google still owns the majority of search traffic on the internet.
Another interesting stat from the research company was the fact that 80% of searches, performed with Bing and Yahoo, result in a click to the website while Google only has 65.91%. Therefore enough with the Bing is no good talk.
Call me a sucker for well-designed apps but Bing for the iPad is likely one of the most elegant and functional apps available. Tap, Slide, and pinch, your way to more information. While Bing for iPad is a search app there is so much information at a glance you almost forget as you browse and read.
In a press release today, Microsoft and Nokia announced their partnership to make Windows Phone Nokia’s principal smartphone strategy. While this announcement will quickly increase the market share for Windows Phone, Bing and adCenter will also get a bump by providing search and ad services on Nokia devices. Nokia is a premier hardware maker so this relationship will greatly help both companies.
Nokia’s Ovi Maps will become part of Bing and Nokia’s app store will become Microsoft’s Market. This would explain Nokia dropping their comes with music program since they will now have Zune Music store. Xbox live is about to get much bigger.
This announcement does not guarantee success but this is a huge announcement.
