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

"The TechnologyGuide.com editorial staff is pleased to announce the Brighthand Mobile Film Festival, which will showcase some of the most creative made-for-mobile content. This two-day event will be held at CTIA Wireless 2010 next month in Las Vegas. It is for videos designed for display on small-format wireless cell phones, smartphones, and other communications-enabled devices."

Are you an aspiring movie maker looking to break out on the big small screen? Then the Brighthand Mobile Film Festival may be just the thing you're looking for. It's never been cheaper to make high-quality movies than it is right now, so if you've got the passion to make movies, this is an opportunity for you to shine. Check it out!

"An international trade group representing wireless device makers has announced it was backing a drive to standardize audio and USB plugs for laptops and other mobile gadgets. CTIA Wireless Association said it is behind an initiative to make 3.5mm plugs the standard for earphones, headphones and micro-USB connections in mobile devices introduced to the market after January 2012."

Assuming manufacturers get behind this initiative, perhaps, finally, we can wave goodbye to the loathed ExtUSB and 2.5 mm, and welcome 3.5 mm with open arms.

"Well, Qualcomm owns Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, which has been pushing its mirasol display tech for several years now; the main draw is that it's super high-contrast which eliminates the need for a backlight in many situations where a traditional LCD would need a little help, and the WinMo-powered V112 uses a small mirasol strip as a secondary display surrounded by nav controls. Even though we weren't getting any Windows Mobile action, we did manage to engage the mirasol display (also known as "the cool part") where we saw an example of what the V112 might be able to do without turning on the battery-destroying LCD up top: show basic status information and the current time."

We first talked about the V112 and it's secondary mirasol display a couple of months back. Engadget managed to snag a quick hands-on with the smartphone during CTIA, and had mixed feelings about the display - it works as advertised, but has little tactile feedback. WMExperts also managed to get some time with the V112, and unlike Engadget managed to access the full screen as well. In short, mirasol shows some promise - but let's get some colour action, shall we?

"There's a reason companies around the world often go to HTC when they need to outsource handsets - they're without a doubt among the best when it comes to build, form and design. This year at CTIA, the HTC Snap announced this morning was the only new addition the company showed off, but that doesn't mean we can't take another look at two of the most exciting upcoming handsets currently on deck too, right? Hit the jump and get your gawk on."

Want to have a look at some of the new models HTC have come up with? Boy Genius Report dropped in at the HTC booth at CTIA and took some nice snaps (pun intended) of three upcoming models, including the Snap, Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2. Hit the link for the gallery.

"International CTIA Wireless 2009 is where broadband communications come to life. From April 1 to 3, more than 1,000 exhibiting companies and tens of thousands attendees from more than 125 countries will converge to do business, discuss innovation and exchange ideas. Join us for four days to learn more about the emerging technologies that enable us to work toward the common goal of taking wireless and broadband communications to yet another level."

Earlier in the day, we gave you a look at what Microsoft has in store for CTIA Wireless 2009. Robbie Bach is scheduled to unveil it all in a little under fourteen hours - 10AM, PDT to be exact. As always, there's the opportunity to watch it live (world times listed below). But if you prefer to digest it all in one go, keep your eyes peeled for our post-keynote report.

• Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle: Thursday, 10:00 AM
• Chicago, Houston: Thursday, Noon
• New York, Washington, DC: Thursday, 1:00 PM
• London: Thursday, 6:00 PM
• Paris, Berlin: Thursday, 7:00 PM
• Moscow: Thursday, 9:00 PM
• Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Perth: Friday, 1:00 AM
• Tokyo: Friday, 2:00 AM
• Sydney, Melbourne: Friday, 4:00 AM
• Auckland: Friday, 6:00 AM

CTIA was where it all happened - the unveiling of Windows Mobile 6.1, the parade of devices running said OS, and the showing off of other bits and pieces that you'd expect to see at a mobile and wireless trade show. Robbie Bach, and a few others, were at CTIA to do the unveiling, so if you're interested in reading or watching the keynote, click here. It's a little over 26 minutes long, or however long it takes you to read a lengthy article, if videos just aren't your thing.

CTIA was Microsoft's playground for the unveiling of Windows Mobile 6.1, and Microsoft's hardware partners certainly weren't afraid to make a showing. Phone Scoop, in their ever-so-thorough ways, have covered CTIA from top to bottom, and there's plenty of Windows Mobile content for your perusal. Obviously, there's coverage of 6.1 and plenty of eye-candy to drool over if you're a Standard (Smartphone) user. Yes, Professional (Pocket PC) users - you have a reason to be jealous. Moving on, there's more eye-candy and a video of the HTC Touch Dual that's set to invade Best Buy stores this quarter. There's Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 in all its glory, and it too is running Windows Mobile 6.1 (a little known fact back when the X1 was first introduced due to NDAs and the like). And then there's a lengthy article on Velocity Mobile, a new entrant into the Windows Mobile market. More on that after the break. Read more...

"As CTIA kicks off today in Las Vegas, Microsoft revealed the new version of their mobile operating system, Windows Mobile Photon. This new version of Windows Mobile is lighy-years more advanced than previous versions of Windows Mobile. Equipped with a full standards compliant web browser as well as front facing cameras on all devices for video conferencing!"


[Windows Mobile Photon shown on an HTC S730!]

Well not only does Microsoft release the much anticipated Windows Mobile 6.1 today, they have also revealed the next version of Windows Mobile, dubbed Windows Mobile Photon! My only guess is that Windows Mobile 7 was a confusing codename since they are already creating a Windows 7 operating system for the desktop. I for one dig the Photon name a lot more! As you read above, the new device will sport a complete standards compliant web browser. On the Windows Mobile Standard devices, you will be able to zoom in and out on web pages using the volume up and down keys. Very smooth in the video presentation that was shown. Also it was noted that all devices will include one front facing camera for video conferencing! Now that is what I call neat!

Watch the video of the announcement here!