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Microsoft To Windows 6 Lovers: The End Is Near

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Despite experiencing less than stellar sales, Microsoft is committed to Windows Phone 7 which they believe is their ticket towards combating the rise of Android (which ironically is making more money for them than WP7).

As far as Windows 6.x devices however, it looks like Microsoft has decided to slowly starve their archaic OS, starting with their app store.

Last week Microsoft began notifying Windows Mobile 6.x developers that the company will no longer accept new Windows Mobile applications for the Windows Marketplace for Mobile starting July 15, 2011.

The company also announced a transition plan to move Microsoft My Phone customers onto Windows Live SkyDrive storage service. (Redmond Developer News)

Microsoft plans on cutting support for customers on Windows Mobile 6.x in January of 2013 and will end distribution for the software on Halloween of the same year.

Since the mobile OS is no longer noteworthy, Microsoft should try to convince customers still running devices powered by Windows Mobile 6.x to upgrade to a WP7 smartphone (perhaps by giving them a 50% discount to help sweeten the deal).

For those of you who grew up on Windows Mobile, what are your thoughts of Microsoft beginning to phase out the OS? Also, was Windows Mobile your first smartphone device?

Originally posted on June 17, 2011 @ 9:01 am

Will Nokia Sue Android?

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Apparently Apple isn’t invincible after all as it looks like the dying brand known as Nokia has actually beaten the Cupertino giant at something.

Apple has settled a lawsuit with Nokia, infusing the company with some fresh cash as well as future earnings via royalties paid out by the Cupertino giant.

While this episode concludes the Apple-Nokia war that seemed destined to drag on into the next decade, it may embolden Nokia to go after Android manufacturers according to FOSS Patents (who predicted Apple would settle).

Although Google is already embroiled in several Android lawsuits (including one with Oracle), Nokia may limit their targets to companies who have yet to embrace Windows Phone 7 as Microsoft is known to protect OEM’s from legal attack (to a certain extent of course).

Currently HTC, Dell, Samsung, and LG all sell Windows Phone 7 devices as well as Android, which means that unless Nokia wants to disrupt their relationship with Microsoft the Finnish company may have to “overlook” patent infringements from at least half of the Android industry.

Even though Nokia could go after companies like Motorola for violating their IP, it might be wiser for the company to focus their energy into making a decent smartphone as the latter will help boost Nokia’s global image (not to mention their coffers as well).

(Image Credit: Android Headlines)

Originally posted on June 14, 2011 @ 2:56 pm

Ex-Microsoft VP Blaming Others For Windows Phone 7 Failures?

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As an iOS fan boy I’ll be the first to admit that Windows Phone 7 (or WP7 for short) is an impressive OS.

In fact every single one of my friends (both geeks and non-geeks) who have tried a WP7 device have become addicted to it, with a few ditching Android in order to partake of it’s glory.

That said, this former Microsoft VP’s behavior of blaming others for poor sales is at best pathetic. [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 15, 2011 @ 11:27 am

Will iPad Apps Overtake Android Apps?

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Today at WWDC, Apple unveiled slew of new products and features ranging from iCloud to Twitter integration (which explains why Twitter was eager to partner with Photobucket for image hosting).

While Apple did reveal that it boasted over 425,000 iOS apps, the mobile giant also disclosed how many of those were designed to work with the iPad. [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 6, 2011 @ 5:52 pm

Google To Challenge iPhone 5 With Nexus 4G?

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Even though Android has already proven itself by dominating the smartphone market, Google has yet to realize a single Android device that can match iPhone sales.

That could potentially change as Google is rumored to unveil the Nexus 4G phone, which could help the search giant launch a device that can go head-to-head against the rumored iPhone 5 and win.

We have been told that the Google Nexus 4G will feature a next-generation dual-core 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz CPU, and contrary to reports about it featuring an NVIDIA Kal-El processor, our source indicates it’s most likely an OMAP 4460 or a, ultra low-power 28nm Krait-based Snapdragon. The display is said to be a 720p HD “monster-sized” screen, and it won’t feature physical Android menu buttons below the screen anymore — everything will be software-based. (Boy Genius Report) [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 16, 2011 @ 2:25 pm