Windows Phone 7 apps: it's all about the money
Microsoft's Marketplace app store may not be able to compete with its Android and iOS rivals in terms of apps available, but MS says it's quality, not quality that matters.
Windows Phone Developer Experience boss Brandon Watson reckons high-calibre apps deliver a better-quality experience for the end users, and allow developers to earn more from fewer downloads.
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There's no question that the digital video recorder is the enemy of TV advertising, allowing you to easily skip past those annoying messages companies spend so much money running. However, a US media group reckons smartphones and their ability to distract our attention while watching TV pose an even bigger threat. Engadget has more details.
Xperia Play finally lands on O2 in choice of black or white
O2 has finally started selling the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play after sorting out a software glitch that had delayed the gaming phone's release for two months.
The network had been promising an early-June launch, but it seems things have gone better than planned and O2 customers can get their hands on the PlayStation phone - including the exclusive white version - a week ahead of schedule.
Click here to read more...Since Bill Gates stepped down from active duty, Steve Ballmer has established himself as very much the public face of Microsoft. But according to Reuters, dissatisfaction with the CEO's performance is growing, with one investor sasying Ballmer is stuck in the past and should step down.
We don't have the exact figures, but it's pretty clear Microsoft has pumped plenty of money into Windows Phone 7 in squeezing a few crumbs of smartphone pie out of the greedy hands of iOS and Android.
And now we know where that cash is coming from: Android. According to Citi analyst, a patent deal between HTC and Microsoft sees the Big M make $5 for every HTC Android phone sold.
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Windows 8 getting a public demo on a tablet next week?
Windows 8 has been in the spotlight a fair bit this week, what with Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer's comments – quickly played down by a company spokesperson – that the next-gen version of Windows would officially be landing next year.
But there's a second strain of Windows 8 news doing the rounds, and that's that a version of the OS running on a tablet is being lined up for a demo not next year, but next week.
Click here to read more...So what's the most eco-friendly smartphone on the market right now? Actually, there are two, and they're both Nokias. Mobile network O2 has put the Nokia C6-01 and the Nokia E7 top of its eco pile in its second annual Eco rating awards.
Elop promises Symbian support until 'at least 2016'
Symbian may have become a bit of a mobile punching bag of late, but in the global context it remains a hugely popular operating system used by millions of people.
Nokia certainly hasn't forgotten that, either, and boss Stephen Elop has just announced software support for the platform will continue until “at least 2016”.
Click here to read more...The iPad itself isn't 3D-capable, but that hasn't stopped Cooliris from developing the first ever 3D ad for the Apple tablet. Want to know how they did it? The BBC reveals more.
Google Wallet takes a bow
As expected, Google has launched its NFC service Google Wallet, teaming up with various retail and financial partners to make mobile payments a reality.
The service will allow you to pay for things simply by giving your phone a tap against an NFC reader - or at least it will once Wallet makes it to the UK, as it's strictly US only for now.
Click here to read more...There are a good few of those Samsung Galaxy phones around these days, and one of them – the Galaxy Gio – has just popped up SIM-free on Expansys for £161.99, Unwired View tells us.
LG Optimus 3D now up for pre-order
We can just about remember the Optimus 3D. It was back in February we saw it, right? Has 3D on board or something? Anyhow, looks like our long and painful wait will soon be over and the Optimus 3D will be with us soon. At long last.
Don't believe us? Well, we have it on good authority that the Optimus 3D is shipping next month, and the first deals have started popping up online, and it looks like a slice of mobile 3D won't be quite as pricey as we were fearing.
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Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer caused some serious ripples in the tech press this week when he revealed that Windows 8 was down to launch next year.
However, it seems old Steve jumped the gun just a little bit on heralding Windows' big push into the tablet space, as Microsoft has come out and labelled his comments a "misstatement".
Click here to read more...It's not quite the industry-saving phoenix NewsCorp said it would be, but nonetheless we can't help but be impressed after reading The Washington Post's piece that the iPad-only news publication The Daily is closing in on a million downloads. Now if we could just have it in the UK too, please...
Microsoft to launch web-based Marketplace for Windows Phone 7
We're still digesting that large hunk of Mango that Microsoft tossed our way a couple of days ago, and now we've just been given something to wash it down with – the news that a web-based version of the app Marketplace will launch alongside it.
The browser-based store will allow you to browse for apps at your leisure, then transfer any that take your fancy to your Windows Phone over the air.
Click here to read more...It's taken its sweet time to get here, but Pocket-lint reports that the BBC News app for Android has finally launched, almost a full year after the iOS app touched down. The bad news is that Android Honeycomb isn't supported, so you tablet types will just have to do without news for now.
Flurry of Nokia Windows Phone handsets on their way once debut handset has touched down
So the Mango update to Windows Phone 7 has had its grand reveal, and now we're waiting on some handsets to appear running it.
Of course, a good few of them are expected to be coming from Nokia, and the good news is that it appears the company is bang on schedule to meet CEO Stephen Elop's proclaimed goal of getting at least one WinPho handset on the market before the end of the year.
Click here to read more...Here's an interesting little snipped of info spotted over on Total Telecom: according to analyst firm The Mobile World, there are now more phone connections on the planet than there are people. There are some 5.6 mobile phones in circulation, and together with an estimated 1.32bn landlines, the total now stands at over 6.92 billion connections, which is the estimated population of the world according to the USA Census Bureau.
Is Apple cutting off older iPhones from future iOS updates?
Think of dramatic headline-grabbing claims about the mobile industry from way out in the left field and there's only one name that comes to mind: Eldar Murtazin.
And the godfather of insider gossip is in fine form in his latest shock announcement – that Apple is planning on drawing a line in the sand with iOS 5, and close off the upgrade path to all older iPhones right up to the iPhone 3GS.
Click here to read more...If you're tired of living your life in shades of grey, maybe you should head over to Vodafone and check out the red HTC Desire S. According to Unwired View, the red handset is a Vodafone exclusive, though aside from the colour it's completely unchanged from the regular Desire S.
