Dell Venue Pro Price Drops To £434.39, to launch in 3 days

The Venue Pro, Dell's first Windows 7 Phone smartphone, is believed to be launching in the next few days after the delays meant it missed its pre-Christmas deadline.

The countdown to the release of Dell Venue Pro after listing on the eXpansys showed smartphone will be available in the next three days.

The device shows up on retailer eXpansys's website and is available in the next three days, and while Dell has yet to issue an official statement, it looks like Windows 7 Phone fans will finally be able to their hands on Dell's take on the platform.

The Venue Pro is Dell's first Windows 7 Phone smart phone and was due for a Christmas release, but unspecified delays set back the launch.

Originally scheduled to launch before Christmas, unspecified questions - plan to deal with issues sourcing sufficient quantities of AMOLED display panel used in the device - thought that Dell was forced to push back the launch.

Dell has yet to announce the new release date officially, but it seems likely that users will be enjoying 4.1in WVGA AMOLED display and QWERTY keyboard before the end of this week.

At the launch, Dell Venue Pro will become the second largest Windows 7 Phone handsets on the market, with its large 4.1in WVGA AMOLED display that offers a large display area - and a protected one, too, with the same Gorilla glass technology that Dell used in its 5in Streak tablet.

Other features of the Pro Venue - the second largest Windows 7 Phone handsets on the market - with a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, 8 GB of internal storage and Wi-Fi connection.

The package is completed with 8 GB of internal storage, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection.

Support for Microsoft's Xbox Live and Zune Services are also included on the Pro Venue, along with access to Windows Phone Marketplace for additional applications.

As with other Windows 7 Phone devices already on the market, Dell Venue Pro has built in support for Microsoft's Xbox Live and Zune services and access to Windows Phone Marketplace for additional applications. EXpansys lists phone £ 439.99 SIM free.

Windows Phone 7's First Update Delayed

Microsoft confirmed in Oct 2010 that the copy and paste would come on the platform, and it would happen in early 2011. Naturally, early does not equate to January, but the date fixed, at least in online reporting. In early December, gotten developers a preview of the update, and it included the copy and paste, and some minor updates. A January release does not seem unreasonable. Because Microsoft never really committed to in January, would not be too upset if the real release was February, or maybe even March. I'm not sure that being 25 percent over the year is early, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. I would not trust March though. Wednesday said Microsoft's Greg Sullivan update would come in a few months. It excludes February as it is next month. Tech in March are a couple of months away, not a couple. Are we really looking at April for this? Apple launched the iPhone 4 in June.

These were minor bug fixes, but addresses the same. In September, was a semi-major update released as 4.1, which included Game Centre and HDR images. November and then brought us 4.2 and earlier this month, the beta for 4.3 was released. Apple is averaging one update every two months or so. That keeps the user base excited and fresh platform. Phone Windows 7 is now four months old, without so much as a bug fix. For some, like unable to connect to a WiFi router with a hidden SSID is a show stopper.

This was discovered by users very early and it remains unfixed. Copy and paste of course, is still missing in action. I do not care what language was used when the update was first discussed, no one ever thought it would be six months later, or more, before it was released. Staying in the game, Microsoft not only must have a compelling OS, which according to 93 percent of current owners, it does.

Sony Ericsson Windows Phone 7 “in the pipeline”

By Mat Smith on Monday, January 24 2011Though we have not seen anything Winpho7 from Sony Ericsson yet, sources say the company is preparing Windows phones along with their future Android additions.Though there have been occasional rumors since last summer, these latest ones, according to sources from Taiwan-based handset makers.It remains to be seen where this is the phone previously codenamed \Julie \\ u0026quot;, which came with a sliding keyboard and multi-touch screen, or something completely different.Back then, there was no image evidence then, and it all fizzled out, until Sony Ericsson now.Forthcoming Android phones include curvey Arc, and that the rumor-ridden PlayStation phone, which, like these seven Window Phone models are not yet officially announced.The typical pinch- of salt-rule, but it might be worth waiting for the Mobile World Conference next month if you are desperate need of a WP7-toting Sony Ericsson phone.Via, Digi Times, via BGR.
The last we heard from Sony Ericsson in the form of Windows 7 Phone was back in mid-January and it was a pretty generic sounding at roadmap.Well, flash forwards to today and it looks like they may have been a little more prepared to launch a device that they originally let on - that's assuming we believe this latest report is accurate.First things first, the report is going through the sometimes accurate and sometimes not as accurate DigiTimes.That said, according to the story, which for these sources, a general sounding Taiwan-based handset makers.But goes back to January, and this seems to fit, after all, while it seemed that Sony Ericsson was not prepared to give out anything on this time.Or even have to make an announcement at the time, they have never said that they would not release something with Windows 7 Phone. In fact, at the time they not only that they were on the roadmap, but that they were not going to be in the first wave.
Otherwise, the digital hour also failed to provide any more solid, not even a rumoured time frame or unit codename.That said, we must be on the lookout, who knows, maybe an announcement comes with a device launch is still a couple months out. If nothing else, after seeing that Sony Ericsson Arc and design that is sport, a new device with Windows 7 Phone can make quite a splash.

Amazon Kindle Arrives on Windows Phone 7

One thing that has been missing since the launch of Windows 7 Phone is an eBook reader.Despite some well-intentioned but confusing attempt to combine social networking with e-books (Windows 7 Phone perhaps the most social phone ever, Copia, but it was just incomprehensible! ) Amazon has finally gotten his finger out and released a Kindle app for the new Microsoft mobile platform.Offering the kind of UI integration you'd expect on a Windows 7 Phone handsets, the Kindle app access to the Amazon Kindle library of applications and the large number of books available from Assignment Gutenberg.EBooks from the long-term digitization project will be presented free of Amazon Kindle store, and everything you need to get access to them or start browsing the rest of the massive selection of ebooks offered for Windows 7 Phone handsets an Amazon login.
One would expect Samsung to offer a more comfortable reading experience, though different reading modes are available ... The Amazon Kindle app for Windows 7 Phone is waiting for you, either via the Market Place on your phone or your Zune desktop client - and free! .

ScoreMobile app now available for Windows Phone 7 devices

The leading app, scores mobile, is now available on Windows ® Phone platform, and was the first comprehensive multi-sport app to launch for Windows 7 Phone. With over 2 million monthly unique visitors, the scores mobile users with simple and easy access to real-time sports scores, stats, standings, video comments and major league sports information.
Users will be able to adjust their scores mobile dash with one of four unique wallpapers offered to suit individual tastes.We're pleased to see scores mobile, one of the most popular mobile sports applications on the market at that increasing number of top-notch applications available for Windows 7 Phone, said Tim Darling, Windows Phone Lead, Microsoft Canada.Today, over 20,000 developers is to bring an average of 100 new applications for Windows Phone Marketplace every day. Score Mobile is a great score for all sports fans enjoying Windows 7 Phone devices.For more information about the scores mobile, visit: www.thescore.com / scores mobile / Want to keep in touch with theScore? http://twitter.com/ # / the_scorehttp: / / www.facebook.com/ # / thescoremediarelations@thescore.comhttp: / / www.thescore.com / About Score Media Inc.Score Media is a media company committed to deliver interactive and authentic sports entertainment.
Score Media's primary asset, theScore Television Network (theScore), is a national speciality television service providing sports news, information, highlights and live event programming in more than 6.8 million homes across Canada.The company's digital media assets include theScore.com, theScore iPad Edition and the mobile sports scores mobile applications and mobile FC scores available on BlackBerry, iPhone, Android and Windows 7 Phone devices. Score Media also operates theScore Satellite Radio is available across North America on SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 98
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Growing from a team of 60 in 1997 to over 270 employees in 2011, Score Media is a revolutionary interactive media company.About Windows 7 Phone Windows 7 Phone is another type of phone that is designed to bring together what you care most about. There is a phone that can find information and present it at the right time, making it glanceable. A phone that organize what you love, so to find these things are easier and faster. Windows 7 Phone simplifies basic everyday tasks - such as managing e-mail or take and share photos - so you can do more in fewer steps. With Windows 7 Phone are the things that matter most to people, such as games, music, video, photos and office productivity products through integrated experiences known as Huber and run by the rich experience from Xbox LIVE, Zune, Bing, and Office.

Dell hints at more Windows Phone 7 models

BBC reporter Tim Weber has just revealed through a tweet that Dell plans to release more Windows-powered 7 Phone handsets.The news came from Michael Dell himself, who wore a WP7 and Android phone and said, \multiple \new Windows 7 Phone smartphones are coming.Thus far, does Dell just Venue Pro with Microsoft's new mobile OS.During conversation with Dell at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Weber reported the company also plans to release Android 3.0 tablets that will compete with the 9.7 -inch Apple iPad in relation to screen size.
Dell is certainly a goal to do well in the market for smart phones, but works closely with Microsoft and Windows phone 7 is perhaps not the smartest move since their market share is also the lowest, compared to Ios and systems.Still Android operating system, Dell plans to deploy multiple Windows 7 Phone handsets with permission from the demand they have experienced with Venue Pro, which is also powered by Windows 7 Phone. Looks like the Venue Pro has been a pretty successful experiment for Dell, and they want to continue on the road in the direction of future releases.Good luck Dell, other hardware manufacturers will take up the Windows 7 Phone Case with equal or perhaps more, shine?.

Nokia's CEO hints about supporting a 3rd party OS, possibly Windows Phone 7

The world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia, issued its third profit decline in a row yesterday as it struggles in the booming smartphone sector.Net sales for the Finnish group was up 6% to € 12.7bn (£ 10.9bn) in the last fourth of 2010, while those of their mobile phones and services division, the largest part of the company, grew only 4% to € 8.5bn - which after adjusting for currency fluctuations, amounted to zero growth.Pre tax fell by 22% to € 833m, and underlying earnings per share fell to € 0.22, excluding a boost from lower than expected taxes.Nokia also warned that results in the next quarter would be weak, with operating profit margins are expected to fall to between 7% and 10%, down from 11.3% in the last quarter.That concerned analysts, who warned that the company was under attack on both ends of the phone market.At the lower end Nokia faces generic manufacturers to produce cheap phones, especially in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Nokia's global share of the valuable smart phone market continued to fall, down to 31% in the quarter, compared with 38% in the previous three months.Stephen Elop, the former Microsoft executive who took over as Nokia's CEO in September, praised the solid performance and encouraging growth in mobile devices.But he added that Nokia is facing some major challenges to our competitiveness and our execution.In short, changed the industry, and now it is time for Nokia to change faster.He has promised to unveil a new strategy for the company the 11 February, before the Mobile World Parliament event in Barcelona.Analysts, but warned that Nokia has big challenges.Geoff blab of CCS Insight said: Disappointing total volume, including smart phones, emphasizes that these are dark days for Nokia.In 12 months Nokia has gone from 38% to 33% market share [in smartphones] and is under sustained attack over all segments.
Even more dramatically than the percentage loss in smartphones is the slide in market share in the standard phones.They seem to be affected by a massive attack in lower price tiers.Nokia sold a total of 123.7m mobile phones in the quarter, to 95.4 m which was the standard handset and 28.3m was smartphones.It is still the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, ahead of Samsung, LG, Apple (who sold 16.2mi same period) and RIM (sold 14.2m). But these figures were only up 7% from the previous quarter, despite the launch of the N8 and C7 phones that were meant to strengthen the company's reputation for high end.However, dropped the average selling price of Nokia's smart phones in annual comparisons to € 156 from € 186 , a 17% decrease; Nokia's smart phone business had a turnover of € 4.41bn in the quarter.
nu
There is a large installed base of Nokia users, but the company needs to win back the cool people who have gone on to other platforms.Once it's just a touch-screen, it's not about design - it's about software.And for Nokia to expand, it must attract my daughter, not my mum.A key part of Apple's success with the iPhone app has been in the ecosystem, which has led more than a billion dollars of revenues to the App Store and a stronger connection to users' phones. Nokia has struggled to have similar effects with its own Ovi Store.Nokia's shares fell by more than 6% when the results were published, but they recovered after Elop's call to close 0.8% lower.

The Moron Test is coming to iPad, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7

By Thomas Newton Thursday
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January 27 2011DownloadsPatience testing game / torture device The Moron Test will be winging his way to BlackBerry and Windows 7 Phone phones and iPad time this year.Makers Distinct Dev is hard work porting the game
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who has been a hit on the iPhone and Android phones
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to as many platforms as possible in 2011.A version for non-touch screen blackberry is allegedly pipeline.So if you have access to the BlackBerry App World, but do not own a Storm or a flashlight
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you will still be able to get involved.The Moron Test is an addictive game that throws the deceptively simple-looking puzzles on your way
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which you must respond within a specified time limit.It enough.But sounds simple more oftentimes than not you get caught out by a random curve ball
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and you have to start all over.No release dates or prices have been announced yet
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but we are told that The Moron Test comes to all these platforms during the first half of 2011.The Moron Test is available for download on the iPhone and Android phones now for £ 0.59.

HTC HD7 Review

You may or may not be aware that HTC HD2 smartphone can now dual boot on Android and Windows 7 Phone operating systems, so the user can at least have a choice
HTC HD2 has been hacked and it can now have a dual boot option to run Windows 7 Phone and Android.The good folks at XDA-Developers have sussed out a way to install both OS on an SD card, effectively giving users the choice of which OS to run at startup, type PocketNow.Full procedures can be found on the XDA thread here.Video tutorial on how to dual boot Android and Windows 7 Phone HTC HD2 is built below.Tweet0savesSaveIf you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to get future articles delivered to feed reader.Do you like this story?.
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but how do you get your HTC HD2 to dual boot? Well there we have the experience today is a couple of tutorial videos on how to partition an SD Card to run Android, and Windows 7 Phone
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that comes our way courtesy of the guys over at PC World and in the form of XDA-Developers posted by YouTube user Vgeorom.As you probably know HD2 HTC runs Windows Mobile 6.5
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so we're talking old and outdated OS here who need to have some alternative such as Windows 7 or Android Phone to keep pace with today's latest devices on least.And the process of Android and Windows phone 7 to dual boot on HTC HD2 not a single step process XDA guys did this tutorial.So useful if you own a HTC HD2 and really do not want to have Windows Mobile 6.5 more
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head and down
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mash that play button
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Cheque out the video and get the dual boot on the device ... joy
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and feel free to let us know how you get on if you try it.

Windows Phone 7 and Tethering

If you keep Windows 7 Phone (trying to), you know that there has been, on and off of relationship with tethering.I is not personally interested in a WP7 phone itself, but if I were a lack of tethering would put a serious damper in my thinking.I carry enough gear without a MiFi or something too, since many phones have tethering (albeit with draconian carrier leeching) Wi-Fi or USB.Some feel differently about it and I can see the point, but I want my phone to still be the catch-all for my mobile internet.Thanks to dfvn of XDA-Developers, the WP7 users will be able to have their cake and eat it too.

Microsoft Says It Is Early Days for Windows Phone 7

I love it when people agree with me.My column complaining about Microsoft's deceptive sales figures for Windows 7 Phone devices were quickly followed by several e-mail and phone calls from people in the Windows phone-o-sphere, most of which I wish would been willing to be quoted defending platform.Come on guys, get proud.The gist of it all is that they agree with me: Microsoft is not focusing on selling zillions of phones yet, because it is early days for Windows 7 Phone. As I said this morning, Microsoft is rich, patient and committed to building an ecosystem here, and in early 2009 it looked like the Android was a big bucket of vaporware.We all know what happened there.Sales is an important measures, but there are other things that are probably more important in the immediate term, said Windows Phone product manager Greg Sullivan, a guy I could quote.Our plan all along ... was to send a phone that was very well regarded, that people liked, and we've done it.
You can say, for example, that Microsoft is trying to divert attention from poor sales by talking about the customer satisfaction.But after talking with them, I do not think that is what is happening here at all, rather, they're trying to build customer satisfaction before they focus on mass sales.So what about that two million numbers, which sounds like a consumer selling price, but is not? Because it is the number of licenses sold, which has a direct impact on Microsoft's revenue, it is something that is reported in the Company's financial performance that because it is a number, it was everyone's headline.But Windows phone team did not go around trumpeting it.Microsoft player not a numbers game at this stage of Windows 7 Phone. The company is not trying to out-sell the iPhone, it does not even have a version ready for Verizon and Sprint yet.I'm going to repeat what I think Microsoft should say, because after talking with them Today, I'm pretty sure that's what they think.
This is a long-term play for us, and we see great opportunities opening up as Sprint and Verizon have their phones this spring.We have put the full weight of Microsoft behind this platform, which means that we can afford to be patient. We'll learn more in Steve Ballmer's speech at the Mobile World Parliament on Feb.14th, that's for sure.

Microsoft shipped 2 million copies of Windows Phone 7

A Microsoft executive said this week that the company delivered more than 2 million copies of its renewed operating system, Windows 7 Phone, in the last quarter.The careful recording of a time triggered another spasm of misconstrued, misinterpreted, mistaken and misanthropic speculation on success or failure of Microsoft's smartphone platform.The same executive, Greg Sullivan, a senior product manager at Microsoft, in a storey reported by Bloomberg, quoted the results of Microsoft's internal surveys of customer satisfaction and brand names awareness.Customer satisfaction for the product is at 93% and brand awareness has jumped 22 points to 66% since it was published, the story reported.The 2 million figure represents Microsoft's firmware shipments for the last quarter, not unit sales of handsets running as firmware.In U.S., the handset went on sale in November
Software Developer, Microsoft has revealed that it shipped more than two million Windows 7 Phone (WP7) handsets to mobile operators in the last three months.Microsoft has been very quiet about WP7 sales to consumers and the last figure of two million units - not sold - is something of a disappointment.Further comments by Greg Sullivan, a senior product manager at Microsoft, will do little to remove the suspicion that Microsoft's last ditch effort to save themselves from disappearing in the market for smart phones floundering.Sullivan told Bloomberg that Microsoft isn'h using sales as a barometer for success, rather it has decided to use the customer satisfaction.Sales is an important measure, but for a new platform that we believe customer satisfaction and active developer support several important indicators of how sales will be in the long term, said Sullivan.
Yet there was a distinction lost quickly in both mainstream publications running Bloomberg story, and in a wave of Internet posts that oftentimes seemed to deliberately misunderstand it.Businessweek's editors abbreviated heading to Microsoft ships two million Windows 7 Phone Units create impression that Microsoft had sold handsets.Redmond Pie is the headline was misleading on two points, conflating OS phone shipments of retail, and the time frame: Microsoft sold over 2 million Windows 7 Phone Handsets Since Launch.WinRumors: Microsoft has now delivered two million Windows 7 Phone devices.The new route of confusion mirrors that in December, when Microsoft said that carefully handset manufacturers had sold 1.5 million Windows 7 Phone handset ... to mobile carriers.At time, said Business Insider's Dan Frommer Windows 7 Phone is toast.
Of course, Sullivan was quick to predict that sales will grow WP7 and one would hope that, given the amount of cash Microsoft throw at marketing WP7.It should be noted that Sullivan said of WP7 units sold, not sold.The difference in numbers between WP7 units delivered and sold is anyone's guess, as Microsoft has been a buy-one-get-one-free promotion in the U.S. for a set time now.To WP7 Microsoft's sales in perspective, Apple managed to flog over 16 million iPhones in the three months Christmas.With until they somehow figure to beat, it is not surprising that Microsoft does not want to use sales as a measure of success.μ.
Microsoft clearly trying to avoid direct comparison
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at least for now
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with the reported retail sales for Google's Android and Apple's IOS devices.Bloomberg reported that Apple sold 16,200,000 iPhones alone in its last quarter. (And IOS platform has been the main driver of Apple's profitability
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According to an analysis of Asymco's Horace Dediu.Since introduced the first iPhone in 2007
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days IOS powers about 70% of Apple's current gross profit
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Dediu write.) In an e-mails
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Bloomberg reporter Dina Bass confirmed that Sullivan refused to comment on how many of these shipments were in OS phones that is actually used by mobile subscribers.The story also notes he declined to forecast specific future sales.Sales is an important measure
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but for a new platform, we believe the customer satisfaction and active developer support several important indicators of how the sale will be in the long term
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Sullivan was quoted as saying the online saying.He Windows phone market has 6500 applications
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and 24,000 programmers have registered as a Windows phone developers.

Smartphone landscape in 2011

What in store for smartphones in 2011, you could be forgiven for thinking that innovation in smartphones have reached saturation point, what's left to explore? Manufacturers continue to push the envelope, however, announced smarter smart phones for years to come.

The trends and predictions for smartphones in 2011 gotten a kick start to the CES in January and there will be another series of energy at the Mobile World Cong next month.
So just what are the trends to follow when it comes to smartphones and their OS, hardware and software in 2011? You can download e-books from Amazon about tablets here.

Smartphone OSRight now smartphone OS is super live, active between Google Android and Apple the IOS.

While IOS has the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad in its portfolio, Android has emerged as a hot favourite with the likings of Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG and other leading equipment manufacturers, including Shanzhai.

Apple's hold on the smart phone market had grown to 16.7% in 2010 but is facing tough competition from Android on all fronts.

The rumour mill says there will be a new iPhone this year, and Apple is going to take the competition to a new level.

Insiders suggest that Apple will react in a big way in 2011, comprises a rumor a Verizon iPhone.

Who knows, maybe Apple introduces cheaper iPhone to compete with the droid, Galaxy and HTC phones.

Smartphone OS game is going to be hard in 2011 with Gartner estimating that by Q3 Android will have a 25.5% market share.

Android, with its current growth rate, can catch up with Symbian's 36% share in 2011 to become the almost popular smartphone OS over the world.

Microsoft Windows 7 Phone, which was launched in 2010, will also be looking to increase its market share in 2011.There are also some rumors doing the rounds of an alliance between BlackBerry and Microsoft.

The rumor has it that BlackBerry smart phones will run Windows 7 Phone, with seamless access to both Microsoft Exchange and BlackBerry messaging.

The new version of Palm WebOS is also rumoured to be coming soon.

HP is also preparing to unveil a brigade of WebOS powered devices in 2011, with a powerful interface and features.

Android, Apple, Blackberry, Windows 7 Phone and WebOS ... I miss something? Oh yes ... MeeGo.

It is high time Nokia introduced MeeGo in the smart phone market before it is too late. Hardware trendsSmartphones has already begun to enter the segment of netbooks, laptops and desktop computers, and this has become deeper with the influx of dual core processors in smartphones.

More than 25% of smart phones to be shipped by the end of 2011 expected to have a dual core ARM chips on board.

The dual core processors will bring faster browsing, seamless flash content, responsive gameplay and better video capabilities of smartphones.

Sony Ericsson is rumored to launch a PlayStation phone soon.

There is speculation that Nvidia will also tailor its Tegra line of processors to enable high-end gaming in smartphones.

Dual cameras will also be a trend in 2011, and also error-free recording in hi-definition 1080p mode.

They may also include HDMI video output to view videos on hi-definition TV and external monitors.

This will be followed by a transition to portable HD mobile home, with fast video streaming and download courtesy 4G network.

Android Gingerbread 2.3 pre-empted the next hot trend of mobile technology, near field communication (NFC) or short-range wireless technology.

NFC failed to get picked up as well in 2010, due to the lack of compatible devices, but 2011 could see several devices that support NFC, iPhone 5 may be one of them.

The dual SIM has become the norm for mobile phones all over the world thanks to Shanzhai and it is likely that this year dual SIM functionality will be a hot trend in branded smartphones.

Remember Intel? It is a company that is not oftentimes in the picture when it comes to smartphones, but they can also take a line on it in 2011! Intel CEO Paul Otellini has announced that smart phones that run on Intel's smart phone processor, which is now in the customer sampling stage, coming out in the second half of 2011. Intel chips are expected to support all the popular smartphone operating systems like Android, Windows and MeeGo.

Software trendsThe key trend in 2011 for smart phones will be mobile applications.

Apple has more than 3 million apps, Android has more than 2 million, and even the late-comer, Windows 7 Phone, has over 1,600 apps.

The app stores are now inseparable from smartphones and this binding is only going to get stronger in 2011.Location based networking applications is going to be the next big thing in smart phones to find restaurants nearby, for business promotion.

Social networks will also continue to grow larger and can become a primary way of sharing information between smartphone users in 2011. It may be a consolidation of mobile devices and the development of mobile to mobile communication technology that face time, Skype and messaging applications.

Next we will see the incorporation of mobile tools in smartphones.

Microsoft may launch mobile office for all the smartphone platforms, Apple and Google to introduce desktop-equivalent browser for their respective platforms.

There are some exciting units lined up for 2011 ... Verizon iPhone a possible 5, LTE-enabled smart phones from Motorola and HTC, Sony Ericsson PlayStation phone, really capable of playing smartphones, and more.

Developer Choose Android and iPhone iOS, Tablets & Windows Phone 7, Says IDC ...

Android handsets are almost as popular as the iPhone among mobile app developers, according to a new study.
The latest mobile survey by IDC and Appcelerator - the outfit that Titantium kit allows developers to build mobile applications with traditional Web tools - shows that 87 percent of mobile developers are very interested in developing for Android phones, compared with 92 percent, which shows similar interest in the iPhone.
Conducted between January 10 and 12, the survey tapped the brains of 2235 Titanium Appcelerator developers.
Interest in Microsoft's Windows 7 Phone topped out at 36 percent, but it's an 8 percent increase since the previous IDC Appcelerator study was launched three months ago.
Obviously, the devs happy with the new Windows phone UI.
Microsoft actually made a reasonably good over the holidays, says Appcelerator vise president of marketing Scott Schwarz Hoff The Reg
We have not hard [sales] figures from Microsoft, but the early read from the developers is that Microsoft did enough to keep them under review, at least in relation to suppliers such as Nokia and Palm.
The new survey also shows growing interest in Android tablets among developers, with 74 percent saying they were very interested in developing for Android tablets, compared with 87 percent eyeing Apple iPad.
There is a 12 percent leap for Android tablets.
Since the last study, released Samsung's Galaxy Android tablet, and dozens of other tablets Android was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Developers, according to the survey also shows more interest as-yet-unreleased BlackBerry playbook.
Play Book of interest almost doubled, from 16 percent to 28 Interest in as-yet-nonexistent WebOS tablet stayed flat at 16 percent.
But while the respondents show great interest in smartphones and tablets, they show less in the new age connected television platforms.
Interest in Google TV rates dropped 11 percent to 33, and Apple TV rates fell 10 percent to 30 ®.

How good is Windows Phone 7? Depends what country you're in.

Last week V3.co.ukpublished a storey based on a report from analyst firm Ovum which says that Windows 7 Phone (WP7) would be the fastest growing platform in 2011.Given the strong competition in the smartphone market from Android, Apple and BlackBerry this seemed like a bold claim to us, and sure enough the story caused intense debate among V3.co.uk readers.
Hoopla about Skype going mobile, can be centred around the iPhone, but there are other smart-phone users out there.
As such, we track down who made the claim analyst, Tony Cripps, to ask him if he stood by his opinion.
For example, there are people who prefer the lately launched Windows Phone 7 over to the iPhone or Android phones.
Based solely on percentages, it is most inconceivable that WP7 will not be the fastest growing platform on the market in 2011 - in fact if not it will have been a huge flop, and it will tell us something about the market we do not yet know, he said .
But one of the problems with Windows phone are the tools Microsoft makes available for third party developers.
We have no precise predictions we work with how the phone will act in the market, which we will release in a few weeks, but it seems likely that the trademark Microsoft brings to market will make the platform popular.
The question has certainly been one of the main reasons that Skype has developed a mobile app for the Windows platform phone.
Cripps explained that he felt the platform could end up performing very well due to a number of key differences.
With no future app development in the area, took some clever Windows phone users on how to connect their phones with Skype.
The WP7 platform brings something different to the market.
The developers have come up with a VoIP app that, among other things, pulling your Skype contacts to your phone.
It is very easy to use and has a very nice overall user experience that is very important, as it undoubtedly has the potential to achieve market position in 2011, he said.
But like many hacks there is a problem.
While it seems unlikely that the platform would encourage as many developers as other operating systems such as Apple and Android, the quality of apps designed to be equally important.
The app does not allow you to make voice or video calls.
Readers of the original story had expressed mixed opinions about the claims, with some rubbishing the idea and the platform while others defended it.
When you factor in the quality of the iPhone hardware, innovative design and the large number of useful apps, the clear winner is the iPhone, says reader Marco Moser.
If it comes from nothing - so yes - the Microsoft platform can have the almost growth - but it is so far behind it's not even funny.
But reading Julian disagreed and the reasons why he believes Microsoft may have a winner on its hands.
When you consider Microsoft is a leader in the Cloud, UC, productivity apps, [...] and most importantly, the largest IT developer / partner network on the planet - with WP7 and next versions, the last connection is needed to exploit the combined power stack, he said.
When used and scaled by their developers and partners to network I think we will see them take the smart phones to a whole different level.
No doubt Microsoft will just be glad to see that its platform is causing a stir in the market for smart phones, rather than being simply ignored by all concerned.

Dual-Boot Windows Phone 7 and Android on the HTC HD2

You may have heard that HTC HD2 can be hacked to run both Windows 7 Phone OS and Android OS.
The versatile HTC HD2 phone can now add a skill to his growing resume of running homebrew operating system - or should we say operating systems.
But now you can run both ... simultaneously! Okay, not really at the same time (I'm sure you can imagine a kind of crazy WinPho7 Android-mash-up), but from the same partitioned SD card.
This time, some clever folks at XDA come up with a solution that allows you to dual trunk WP7 OS and Android OS.
The cool kids over at XDA-developers have set up a tutorial on how to partition an SD Card to run both Windows and Android Phone 7.
Impressive.
It is not just a one-step process, so they went ahead and made a video: The HTC HD2, introduced in April last year for T-Mobile, running traditional Windows Mobile 6.5.
Given when the phone's versatility - users have been installing all kinds of mobile OS on the HTC HD2. The long list ranges from the classic Windows Mobile 6.5, Eclair, Froyo, gingerbread and even MeeGo.
Yes, I bet you forgot that even existed.
If you find it increasingly difficult to choose which OS you want to start on the phone, dual-boot solution fits you well.
Well, it also has a Snapdragon processor, a 4.3-inch touchscreen, and 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash.
This is by no means an easy task.
Oddly enough, it has not received an official upgrade to Windows 7 Phone, perhaps because Microsoft has just decided to let the hackers do it. [XDA developers via Engadget] Follow Sarah on Twitter (@ geeklil) or on Facebook.
To get all the details about dual-boot solution you have to go to XDA for the details, but here is a bit of summary of what is required.
Get tech geek on: Twitter - Facebook - RSS | Tip us off.
What seems to be the almost obvious, you're going to need two microSD cards to pull off of this trick.
As always, we never tyre of reminding our readers to take caution while doing so.
Understand that there will be risks involved.
So if you're cool with it and ready to take the plunge, we wish you luck.
[Via engadget] Related Articles: Tagged as: Android, HD2, htc hd, HTC HD 2, HTC HD2, HD2 WP7 HTC, htc phone windows 7, Windows 7 Phone, WP7.

HTC to launch new Windows Phone 7 phone in UK

Two new HTC smartphones - HTC 7 Pro and HTC Gratia - will be launched in the UK from February.

HTC's new distribution partner, Brightstar will distribute both Windows 7 Phone Powered 7 Pro HTC and Android HTC gratia range of smart phones, will also distribute HTC Bright Point 7 Pro. Jon French, HTC CEO said: We are proud to add two new phones to our already diverse product portfolio, UK.

Both phones have a stand-out design and innovation that HTC has been known. With the fresh and exciting mobile experience of Windows 7 Phone platform, 7 HTC Pro is for users who want to combine the ultimate in efficiency with the ability to take full advantage of their free time.

The stylish HTC Gratia selection is designed for those looking for a compact but powerful Android smartphone. HTC 7 Pro comes with a tilting 3.6-inch screen, a 1Ghz processor and cutting edge technology such as Dolby Mobile and SRS WOW HD.

It has a slide out full QWERTY keyboard and gives users access to their Outlook e-mail and open and edit Office documents.

It also integrates Microsoft services like Xbox Live, Windows Live, Bing and Zune. HTC gratia comes in Pearl White. The petite handset measuring just over four inches in length, weighs 4.06 ozs and has a seamless, rubberized and tilted back cover that opens to display a bright yellow inner chassis. The phone runs on Android 2.2 and comes with HTC Sense overlay.

Gratia comes with colleague Stream that brings Facebook, Flickr and Twitter updates in a single, organized flow of updates.

Windows Phone 7 Needs A Droid

In early October, Microsoft had a big launch party in NYC. Steve Ballmer was on the Today Show, and coming out party for Windows 7 Phone was started.

Local AT&T dealers in my area had a handful of each unit, more than enough to meet demand, which was minimal.

LG, who joined the HTC and Samsung launch the WP7 partners, have indicated that sales were disappointing.

Although it is fashionable to blame Windows 7 Phone, it is the flagship phone that is the missing ingredient. Let's take a look at the other platform with the green guy.

It took years for Android to take off, but look no further than the droid for why it took off. It is marketing and positioning. For Verizon customers, the Android alternative to the iPhone.

What Verizon did with Motorola Droid was to create a flagship phone for the Android platform.
Outside of tech blogs and phone geeks, regular people were not talking about the Android phones. The Droid commercials changed fortunes for Android.

If you were sticking with Verizon, you probably left one of their stores with an Android phone. Until the immensely successful Droid campaign, it could have been with HTC's Droid Eris.

Sales volume has increased and so has the developer interest.

That's not to say the sale would not have been strong.

Android was placed firmly against dated OS on RIM 's BlackBerry line and the Droid ship had sailed by the time the WebOS phones hit Verizon. Let us now shift gears to go back to Windows 7 Phone launching on AT&T, which is the larger of the two carriers where you can buy a Windows phone device.

Immediately, you are in competition with the iPhone, not to mention a handful of Android devices as Samsung Captivate.

When you look at the units, there is no clear horse to come back.

Almost pundits wrote the Samsung Focus as the best of the AT&T-units, but it was just another phone from a table of phones in front of Steve Ballmer.

people do not see those commercials and think, I want that Samsung or HTC Focus Surround.

There is almost no differentiation between the two, at least from the 60 second ad clip.

They see Windows 7 Phone, which is the purpose of Microsoft's campaign.

There is no hardware that sells the platform, no flagship phone that stands above the rest.

Do not get me wrong, I think the current line of devices very well, but just how they were lost on the table in front of Ballmer, they get lost on the shelves at AT&T.

Now that Verizon will have the iPhone, the course of marketing dollars from mobile phone manufacturers be heated.

For Microsoft, they just make the OS, so they are somewhat removed from this process.

The last time they worked with Verizon was KIN and that did not work so well.

Phone Windows 7 is not KIN, but at least the marketing unit was determined.

Something they need to cooperate with the HTC, Samsung or LG to make a phone that will be worthy Verizon marketing dollars.

Verizon has an impressive lineup because of this year, so the challenge is becoming greater.

Verizon will have iPhone on February 4, 10 and large releases Android HTC Thunderbolt and still unnamed LTE compatible Samsung phones.

For the first time, AT&T has one of the hottest Android phones Motorola Atrix.

The time for a flagship Windows 7 Phone device is overdue and it may just be the reason why sales are not impressive.

No operating system, it is to deliver a Windows phone that stands out from the rest of the table.

While the table of the devices will help drive adoption over time, is the flagship phone that will get them back in the race.

Intel intends to develop Windows 8 based phones

Earlier this month Microsoft announced that the next version of Windows, probably Windows 8 will have ARM support in addition to the x86 instruction set supports it today.

In recent lecture at the International CES 2011, Intel has claimed that it has the ability to build Windows 8 powered phones.

The last time Microsoft supported a completely different type of processor for client systems was when Windows NT 4 had support for x86, MIPS, Alpha and PowerPC processors.

After the announcement of Windows 8 to support ARM-based chipsets, Intel's CEO showed some sings of being taken advantage of this move by Microsoft.

The press release states: Oddly enough, the Intel even though there are plans for a Windows phone 8, on the x86 chip not less.

Plus for Intel is that they unify its operating systems, we now have the opportunity for the first time ... to have a designed-from-bottom, touch-enabled operating system for tablets that run on Intel that we have today, Intel CEO said, noted by PC Pro.

Intel says Atom processor running a trimmed down version of Windows 8 will outperform an ARM processor running on the same platform.

Secondly, we have the opportunity to put our low-power Intel processors running Windows 8 - or next-generation Windows'- into the phones, because it's the same operating system stack.

It also has several advantages. And I see it as an upside opportunity for us.

Tiny screens and limited hardware support aside, one could almost any desktop app theoretically run on such a device, while an ARM device must have software for compiling it.

Steven Sinofsky introduced a technology preview of Microsoft's Windows ARM support for the next generation of Windows at CES 2011. Sinofsky also answered some questions about how Windows phone will fit into Microsoft's Windows ARM plans: I'm not going to speculate about our product range right now.

Of course there are downsides.

I would say that the form of Windows 7 Phone is uniquely focused on the small form factor that Windows does not focus on.

There are reasons there is Atom-based phones out there.

It is always important to remember that at least two of the other players in this room also has two operating systems each.

More processing power means more power consumption.

So to find out where it seems the boundaries are and what scenarios are something that our entire industry has kind of thinking.

As battery technology advances, all else being equal, should an ARM device gives the user more battery life than a nuclear device.

At least with us we are very very clear right now, the small screen Windows phone screens and these (pointing to the laptop), Windows 7.Sinofsky not denied the possibility of porting Windows 8 on the smart phone type of device and allow to explain that it's completely new concept for the industry and people working on it, but we have a whole new OS for their own phones ie

I'm not so sure that the market needs a phone, even with the power of a desktop.

Windows 7 Phone and currently performing very well and meet all the company's standard source.

It is not the first time this has been tried, but it could be the first time that the technology of the OS and hardware may be able to handle it.

Windows 8 may be out as late as this year, just two years after Windows 7 was launched.

Crysis coming to iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7? Crysis coming to iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7? NoMatchingStoryFound

Crytek, the development studio behind the PC first-person shooter Crysis, is looking for someone to develop for the iPhone and iPad with experience of Android and Windows Mobile is a preference, a recent job posting has indicated.

The company is looking for someone with experience in designing and developing complex, integrated iPhone and iPad applications.

Crytek have seen on the App Store in the past, but Cevat Yeril, CEO of the company, felt the low pricing of apps and games distorts the perception of what a game should be priced at.iPad and iPhone are both doing a real disservice to the game rates to allow betting on such a low price point - there is a problem that the industry has to take at some point, he told Develop.

In light of Infinity Blade's recent success, an Unreal Engine-powered RPG that was released in the wake of an impressive tech demo, maybe Crytek is looking to make money in a market that definitely willing to pay more for graphically impressive, more immersive games.

Although it is clear Crytek is more serious look at mobile platforms, exactly why is not yet clear.

It would make sense for the company to licence its CryEngine graphics engine and / or create a game that would likely be Crysis, but we can not be sure.

Whatever happens, we are confident that in-game worlds by iPad and the iPhone is about to get much prettier.

Ballmer: we've shipped 1.5m Windows Phone 7 phones

Steve Ballmer has defended Microsoft's technology, games and claimed the Windows 7 Phone handsets are the best on the market.

Microsoft has been very cagey about the true sales figures for its new mobile platform since the launch of Windows 7 Phone in October and November 2010. In a recent interview with USA Today, but revealed Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer what is likely to be the only figure someone comes to hearing about for a while - that 1.5 million mobile phones were sold to carriers.

Microsoft's CEO is under increasing pressure, with a number of executives leaving the company and the rumors about his departure.

There is obviously a significant amount, but with a number of different phones (each sharing a minimum spec) from manufacturers such as HTC, Dell, LG and Samsung some real sales figures based on the phones that are in the hands of consumers will come in handy route about now only so we can judge exactly how well received platform.

But in an interview with an American newspaper, he sounded bullish about Microsoft's mobile success and his company's tech decisions.

Ballmer is obviously very proud of Windows 7 Phone, describes the phones as the best-looking phones on the market, and he's probably right, with a user interface that is significantly faster and more efficiently than any other.

We have the best-looking phones on the market There are a lot of competition, but we've gotten the best looking phones on the market, he said USA Today.

Remarkably for a man who once led many buy outs of Microsoft as the company extended its monopoly in the 1990s, has Steve Ballmer also turned down the chance to buy Research in Motion in favor of Microsoft to develop Windows 7 Phone as a quality product to sit alongside the Xbox 360 and Kinnect.

We have the widest range of options, phones, software, crafts.

Let's hope he can be proud of the sales figures when they finally revealed.

It is just as good or better than anything else out there.

We have much work to do, he admitted.

However, we are in the game.

We sold 1.5 million of operators [via OEM, that Microsoft provides with OS licenses].

Windows 7 Phone launched in October last year, and neither Microsoft or the mobile operators has revealed how many phones have been sold to customers.

In comparison, Apple sold 1.7 million iPhone 4 handsets in the first three days of availability.

Bing as a weedBallmer also quoted search and game two of their successes, next to the business market.

We have made bold technology bet, said Ballmer.

We have invested in the cloud, and our enterprise business, it's going great.

We made the game on the Xbox, we did invest in Kinect.

We focus on Bing and growing like a weed in that business, he added.

So I feel pretty good about the game.

Starting this month, Bing 3.3% global market share, according to Net Applications, but the search engine is also used by Yahoo, which has a 6.7% market share.

Windows Phone 7 Launch Fails To Meet Expectations according to LG

Windows Phone 7 launch disappointing, according LG. With Microsoft refused to disclose the exact sales figures for its Windows 7 Phone range, speculation gathers about underwhelming record of devices and subdued interest in the nascent mobile platform.

Microsoft had launched the much-hyped smart phone platform in the high-end phones made by Dell, Samsung, LG and HTC.

To give credence to that conjecture, one of the handset OEMs expressed concern for post-launch phase on record to Pocket-lint.

But a month after launch, the companies had been suspiciously silent about sales figures.

Two months after debuting its mobile OS, Microsoft had shipped 1.5 million Windows 7 Phone devices to retail, an overview LG's James Choi displayed a bit disappointed: From an industry perspective, we had high expectations, but from a consumer point of view visibility is less than we expected.

Choi said that when Microsoft will release some updates, and do more to attract customers to its platform, so sales will start picking up.

For individuals at halfThe marketing strategy and planning team director for LG pointed out two areas of weakness in Microsoft's latest mobile operating system to explain away the teething problems.

There is much skepticism at the moment, but when Windows 7 Phone handsets that are mid-tier to the low level start to appear market share will grow.

According to Choi, Windows 7 Phone very intuitive and easy to use - compared to Google's Android OS extremely complicated - even though it's very simplicity could count against it, among some key demographics that label it boring.

Right now it's only exclusively present in a high level, because of its hardware, and it is to limit growth, said Choi.

Microsoft's insistence on strict minimum hardware criteria, such as 1 GHz microprocessor, and a WVGA resolution screen, is mentioned as the second most important factor for the low of the market: There is much skepticism at the moment, but when Windows 7 Phone handsets that are mid- tier to the low level start to appear in market share will grow, said Choi.

Right now it's only exclusively present in a high level, because of its hardware, and it is limiting growth.

Do not pull outNot that some of this concern or fear will affect LG's approach to supporting Windows 7 Phone in 2011, with electronics giant committed to balance our portfolio by supporting Microsoft's mobile operating system Android together.

And speaking of the future, Choi would not be drawn on the next wave of LG Windows phone devices, although the suspicion remains that the successors to Optimus 7 and Quantum may be published on February Mobile World Congress.

Sony Ericsson Sticking With Android For Now But Leaves Door Open for Windows Phone 7

Several hardware manufacturers have committed to Windows 7 Phone, but it seems Sony Ericcsson is not ready to build a Windows 7 Phone device.

The company seems ready to stick with Android phones in the near future, but leaves the door open for Windows Phone 7.

And as per Steven Walker, director of global marketing at Sony Ericsson, they will stick to the Android platform for quite some time.

We have launched a series 6.xx products, but we took a decision not to bring a product to market in the first wave.

Even then, it does not mean they have ruled out Microsoft's Windows 7 Phone competely.

We certainly hold to keep an open mind for Windows 7 Phone. We continue to engage in a relationship with Microsoft, but we have not made any specific announcements about when and how we would introduce Windows 7 Phone portfolio.

Not an Android Fanboy thisIn an interview with Pocket-lint, Steven said: We have done much work with Microsoft over the years.

Sony Ericcson has not been wildly successful with Android, nor do we remember some breakthrough phones from their Windows Mobile days.

We have launched a series 6.xx products, but we took a decision not to bring a product to market in the first wave.

The real question is when Motorola will decide to jump back on board with the Windows phone.

We certainly hold to keep an open mind for Windows 7 Phone. We continue to engage in a relationship with Microsoft, but we have not made any specific announcements about when and how we would introduce Windows 7 phone in the portfolio.

He clearly said that although Sony Ericsson is still concentrating on the Google operating system, the doors to Microsoft's Windows 7 Phone open.

They are not intended to be Android For ever Motorola and make changes as needed.