Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"When Windows Phone 7 is released, users will be able to enjoy the fact that the hardware requirements for the phone include an accelerometer. Some applications are naturally inclined to work well with accelerometer input. Imagine a "Labyrinth" style game where you can now just rotate or tilt the device instead of simulating the tilting of the table using some buttons or sliders? Just rotating the device from portrait to landscape can re-flow the screen in the right orientation without the user selecting their preferred orientation."

Windows Phone 7 hardware requires an accelerometer, and I for one am interested in seeing what developers will do with that requirement. Over at The Windows Phone Developer Blog Dave Edson has written a fairly detailed post about the ways the accelerometer API can be used. The post includes code snippets that illustrate key aspects of the API. Now would also be a great time to get started developing an accelerometer-leveraging application - it appears Windows Phone 7 release day is just around the corner. Get coding!

"While the exact date has been up in the air, October and New York have been been assumed to be the time and place for the big launch--after all, it was exactly one year ago (October 6th, 2009) in New York City that Microsoft launched Windows Mobile 6.5 (see our earlier coverage of that, to relive some memories), so it makes sense for them to repeat that event."

WMExperts have picked up a rumour that D-Day is going to be Monday, October 11th for Windows Phone 7, with the hardware hitting the streets later in the month. It's been a looong time coming, and I'm jittery with the waiting. While we've seen some of the devices that will be on hand for the launch, I'm fairly certain there are going to be some surprises (HD3 anyone?). My wallet's waiting, Microsoft!

T-mobile announced that until November 2nd, 2010, families wishing to add to qualifying two-line family plans can get up to three lines added for free. This will eliminate the monthly voice and messaging charges for the three lines until 2012. Additional fees and taxes are applicable, including a $1.41 per line/month regulatory programs fee (not to mention activation fees). This sounds like a great deal for those families wanting to stay connected. Data charges are separate however, and those charges will add up if parents spring for those new Windows or Android smartphones.

According to Smarthouse.com.au (and confirmed on Twitter), HTC will reveal multiple devices at a press conference in London on September 15th, 2010. Among the rumored devices to be released is the much anticipated HTC HD3. While the probability of the HD3 being announced is high, the odds that the rumored specs are accurate is not. The rumored device is said to have 4.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen (with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels), a dual core 1.5GHz ARM-based processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage, Wi-Fi, 4G, an 8-megapixel camera with two LED flashes, HDMI port and HD recording capabilities, a 1800mAh battery, all in a 10mm thick enclosure. As amazing as this sounds, there is no evidence that any of these specs are legitimate. We will have to wait until the event on the 15th to find out.

"Microsoft UK has announced, via Twitter, a "special event" on October 5th in London for developers in which the company will talk about "Windows Azure, Windows 7 and the soon-to-be-released Windows Phone 7 and IE9". Interestingly Steve Ballmer will introduce the opening keynote for the special event and it will be held in the large International Conference Centre (the G20 was held there last year and Microsoft has used the venue before)."

Want some rampant rumor and speculation to add to your Tuesday? Here's a twitter post that's got some sites a flutter wondering if we're going to hear Fearless Leader Steve B. say something about the launch, or maybe announce the launch, or maybe use the word launch, at this MS Tech Days event. WP7 is about the worst kept secret at this point, with ads coming out and devices given to a select few. So does it really matter when the "launch" announcement comes? What I think we all want to know is "When will I be able to walk down to the store and buy one?!?"

Yes, I know Windows Phone went Gold last week as the platform was released to manufacturing, putting it in the hands of carriers and handset makers, but in the modern world of smartphones, that isn't enough. Rest assured though the platform is now complete as we have an announcement that a fart app called Simply Farts and allows you to compose a fartaciluar piece on the fart piano interface.

Windows Phone 7 users won't have to play number two to the other big smartphone platforms. Check out the video at the source link below. It's a gas.

"The impending launch of Windows Phone 7 handsets before Christmas period represents another rich option for Australian mobile application and game developers. But what is it like developing for the new Microsoft platform?"

ITWire has a nice interview with a number of Aussie developers who have embarked on Windows Phone 7 development. Their impression? A nice and relatively straight-forward platform to develop for. Amongst the things that have attracted the developers has been the desire to get building mobile applications as they see the overall market growing, the impression that it would be fairly easy to build on the Windows Phone 7 platform, and the relative speed with which they could develop their apps. Hit the Read link to pop over to the ITWire site and read the full interview.

The symbology is stirking: out of the desert a revolution is coming. The hype is only just beginning, and this one's a good start. Let us know what you think.

LG's Optimus 7, now making the rounds as a developer handset, will feature DLNA onboard when it ships as a WP7 production set. For those of us who aren't quite up to date on the latest ion consumer electronics technology (like me), DLNA offers a simple, mostly trouble-free way of sharing your media across different devices - think bluetooth or wifi, but without jumping through the hoops (more detail here). Anyone here who's intrigued by this capability?

"BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced it will be expanding its portfolio of prepaid offerings to include a new 3G Prepaid data package that lets customers access unlimited data on select 3G Smartphones and Multimedia phones for $30 monthly access. Multimedia phone customers also have the option of selecting a new $10 monthly data package for 25 MB per month ($.20/MB overage). These new prepaid data packages will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Store today and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Sept. 28."

Verizon still has Windows Mobile devices (Although perhaps not for long), yet those don't get in on this $30 a month prepaid unlimited data offer. I'm not sure what their reason for snubbing WM here is - I can't imagine it costs them any more money to add it to the other smartphones in their line, and perhaps they just didn't mention the WM devices in the press release. Perhaps some brave soul should test it out when it becomes available!

However it looks like most, if not all, of the Android offerings do (Oh yea, those blackberries and palm devices are eligible too...). Not a bad price if you just want a non-contract data device lying around. Anyone Android-fan going to take Verizion up on their deal?