Gear Diary » Microsoft Windows Phone Devices http://www.geardiary.com Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Checking Out Windows Phone Speed, Apps, Camera, Music Player and Gameshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/checking-out-windows-phone-speed-apps-camera-music-player-and-games/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/checking-out-windows-phone-speed-apps-camera-music-player-and-games/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:00:51 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179112

Judie: Our saga began when Dan and I received HTC Titans at a Microsoft sponsored dinner while attending CES; it's hard to believe that on the 11th it will have been one month ago. You can catch up on our previous posts before starting with this one by clicking the following links: Considering the Move from an iPhone 4S to Windows Phone Titan Comparing the iPhone 4s Hardware to the HTC Titan and Dipping into the Windows Phone User Interface In that month, my iPhone has never left my gadget drawer. Although I can think of a few times I wished I had it -- mainly when writing up a cool accessory I had just discovered that was 'iPhone only' or when feeling the absence of a favorite app -- not once have I missed it enough to retrieve it from the drawer. That's better than I can say for any other phone running any other operating system that I have tried in the past ... but I'm not sure if I'm ready to list the 4S on eBay just yet! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/checking-out-windows-phone-speed-apps-camera-music-player-and-games/feed/ 14 Comparing the iPhone 4s Hardware to the HTC Titan and Dipping into the Windows Phone User Interfacehttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/comparing-the-iphone-4s-hardware-to-the-htc-titan-and-dipping-into-the-windows-phone-user-interface/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/comparing-the-iphone-4s-hardware-to-the-htc-titan-and-dipping-into-the-windows-phone-user-interface/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:00:31 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181747

There's a dramatic difference between 4.7" and 3.5"!

Judie: For those of you who missed it, in our last article, Dan and I talked about the circumstances behind how we -- two iPhone 4S users -- each came into possession of an HTC Titan [you can click here to read it]. We also gave some of our initial thoughts about the operating system and why we might have been hesitant to make the change. In this installment, we dig in further into what we like and don't like about the Titan specifically when it's compared to the iPhone. Because our Windows Phone experience is occurring on the Titan, the hardware is directly influencing how we perceive everything ... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/comparing-the-iphone-4s-hardware-to-the-htc-titan-and-dipping-into-the-windows-phone-user-interface/feed/ 15 Considering the Move from an iPhone 4S to Windows Phone Titanhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/considering-the-move-from-an-iphone-4s-to-windows-phone-titan/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/considering-the-move-from-an-iphone-4s-to-windows-phone-titan/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181543 Judie: I recently reviewed the Nokia Lumia 710; even though the lower-end phone's hardware wasn't the greatest, I came away with a new respect for the Windows Phone operating system. About a week later, Dan and I were at a Microsoft-sponsored CES dinner where we were both given an HTC Titan to try. Maybe it's because at 4.7" the Titan's screen was so amazingly large when I laid it to my iPhone with its 4S 3.5" screen, maybe it's because I was at CES and had been looking at new phones for days, or maybe it's because I was looking for an excuse to use something different from the iPhone OS which has basically become Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/considering-the-move-from-an-iphone-4s-to-windows-phone-titan/feed/ 40 Nokia Gobbles Up Nearly Half of ’2nd Gen’ Windows Phone Market Share!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/23/nokia-gobbles-up-nearly-half-of-2nd-gen-windows-phone-market-share/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/23/nokia-gobbles-up-nearly-half-of-2nd-gen-windows-phone-market-share/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:35:57 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180186

Over the last week or so we have seen evidence that Windows Phone sales might be picking up ... and in no small part thanks to Nokia! Sales of the Lumia 800 and 710 were reported at ~1.3 million for 2011 in spite of only having the phones for part of the fourth quarter. But that was enough to earn them 45% of all 'second generation' Windows Phone devices. HTC holds 40% of the market with their Radar and massive Titan devices (which Dan & Judie love), and Samsung has 12% with the Focus. The remaining 3% is split amongst minor players. In terms of ALL Windows Phone devices, HTC still holds Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/23/nokia-gobbles-up-nearly-half-of-2nd-gen-windows-phone-market-share/feed/ 3 Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Is Impressive!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/22/corning-gorilla-class-2-is-impressive/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/22/corning-gorilla-class-2-is-impressive/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:00:45 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179869 Corning Gorilla Glass. You know the name. You know it is strong. You know it is on dozens of smartphones and a growing number of notebooks. [600 different devices and 600 million total devices sport it!!] And you likely know that Corning announced Gorilla Glass 2 during CES. Geardiary ces2012 gorillaglass 004 But until you see it in action you can't really appreciate just what it is. Seriously, Judie and I were impressed, and we think you will be too! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/22/corning-gorilla-class-2-is-impressive/feed/ 0 iOS, Android and Windows Phone… Where is the Market Headed? An Open Discussionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/14/ios-android-and-windows-phone-where-is-the-market-headed-an-open-discussion/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/14/ios-android-and-windows-phone-where-is-the-market-headed-an-open-discussion/#comments Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:12:22 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179128 Judie and I both got HTC Titans the other day and have jumped into using them. Our initial thoughts? We both like them… a lot! We've been discussing a great deal of this behind the scenes. One discussion began with my posting
So I really have to say that I am loving the hell out of the HTC Titan (even with its now slightly dented corners):-] I'm still learning how to get around but it is polished, tight, and a pleasure to use. Best onscreen keyboard ever! No matter how good the hardware o do t think I would like an Android phone long term. Not do here. It needs more apps but Microsoft killed it with the OS.
It sparked a lot of private discussion that we will share soon. In the meantime Mike wrote/asked...
Along the WP7 lines ... here is my topic for debate: Android has almost no inherent loyalty base, and if WP7 and Nokia gets traction, we will see Android plummet almost as fast as RIM, while iOS hold happy at ~28%. Thoughts and comments?
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/14/ios-android-and-windows-phone-where-is-the-market-headed-an-open-discussion/feed/ 25 When THIS Happens … We ALL Winhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/when-this-happens-we-all-win/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/when-this-happens-we-all-win/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:15:10 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=178064

If you search around the internet based on the images in this post you will find loads of prognostication - Android fans calling it meaningless (despite foretelling the death of iOS with each percentage Android gains at the expense of RIM), iOS fans calling it the 'Android plummet' (in spite of arguing that short term shifts are meaningless), and so on. What I see - particularly when I look at the next image - is a market that is moving more rapidly than ever before. Smartphones accounted for over TWO THIRDS of all mobile phone sales in October and November of 2011!

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/when-this-happens-we-all-win/feed/ 6 Nokia Introduces the AT&T 4G Lumia 900 to the United Stateshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/nokia-introduces-the-att-4g-lumia-900-to-the-united-states/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/nokia-introduces-the-att-4g-lumia-900-to-the-united-states/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:45:49 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177991

This afternoon I attended a standing room only event in the impossibly small Ballroom A at the Venetian. The purpose was to hear about Nokia's latest announcement for North America, and what I was hoping for specifically was news that the Lumia 900 (the North American version of the Euro Lumia 800) would soon be available. I wasn't disappointed. The front of the room was decorated with color tiles on the wall reminiscent of the live tiles in Windows Phone 7; if there were any doubts about what we were there to see, these should have removed them. Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia, came out and mentioned the first pillar of their global Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/nokia-introduces-the-att-4g-lumia-900-to-the-united-states/feed/ 1 HTC Announces Titan II, AT&T’s Tablet-Sized 4G LTE Windows Phonehttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/htc-announces-titan-ii-atts-tablet-sized-4g-lte-windows-phone/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/htc-announces-titan-ii-atts-tablet-sized-4g-lte-windows-phone/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:30:31 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177930

Wow, I am glad that I hadn't already spring for a Titan from AT&T; today saw the announcement of the Titan II, and this model appears to be even more impressive than the first!
Today, at the 2012 International CES, HTC introduced the HTC TITAN II as the company’s first Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) device to run on a 4G LTE network. Expected to become available in the U.S. exclusively to AT&T customers in the coming months, the new smartphone is designed to help consumers stay connected while on-the-go with the largest display among Windows Phones, an advanced digital camera and access to 4G LTE speeds. Equipped with a brilliant 4.7-inch super LCD display, the HTC TITAN II offers
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/htc-announces-titan-ii-atts-tablet-sized-4g-lte-windows-phone/feed/ 0 Another Alarming Windows Phone 7 Fact: Most Apps STILL Don’t Multi-Task!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/07/another-alarming-windows-phone-7-fact-most-apps-still-dont-multi-task/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/07/another-alarming-windows-phone-7-fact-most-apps-still-dont-multi-task/#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:00:15 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177097

... and according to some developers the problem is that only 40% of the user base has updated to Mango! WMPU (Windows Mobile Power User) noted the multitasking shortage last week:
Fast Application Switching, otherwise referred to as multitasking, was a new feature added in Mango. Three months later, and you still can’t use this feature most of the time! The sad truth is that only 30% of the top 20 apps in the Marketplace support multitasking. To make things worse, 19 of those 20 games are endorsed by Microsoft themselves. The top 20 free apps are quite better, but still not acceptable, with 20% not supporting Mango. With so few
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/07/another-alarming-windows-phone-7-fact-most-apps-still-dont-multi-task/feed/ 2 T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 710 Windows Phone Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/t-mobile-nokia-lumia-710-windows-phone-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/t-mobile-nokia-lumia-710-windows-phone-review/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:00:22 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177280

Nokia has long been one of my favorite hardware manufacturers because they consistently have devices with a better than usual build quality, their phones typically have strong radios, and they usually throw in a few excellent features not easily found elsewhere  -- like the built-in FM radio transmitters and Zeiss optics cameras many of their media phones sport. Like everyone else, I watched with interest when Nokia and Microsoft partnered up in February 2011; I wanted to see what types of designs these two titans would create, and I hoped that this would mean a bigger (and better) selection of Windows Phones from which consumers could choose Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/t-mobile-nokia-lumia-710-windows-phone-review/feed/ 2 Windows Phone Advertising – Doing Better By Pretending it Doesn’t Exist?http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/08/windows-phone-advertising-doing-better-by-pretending-it-doesnt-exist/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/08/windows-phone-advertising-doing-better-by-pretending-it-doesnt-exist/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:45:57 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=167018

After a first year that can most generously be called "disappointing", Microsoft and their key partner Nokia have been working hard to make this second year a success. Microsoft started with an amazing launch of Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango', which rolled out to all phones worldwide within only a few weeks - and that is counting a specific technical issue with an EU carrier that delayed roll-out for a couple of weeks! Nokia introduced their first two Windows Phone 7 devices recently, and while many had hoped for powerhouse phones (or a front facing camera), what Nokia is delivering is a stylish package and reasonable hardware that will work well Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/08/windows-phone-advertising-doing-better-by-pretending-it-doesnt-exist/feed/ 1 Nokia Announces Two New Windows Phones, the Lumia 800 and 710; Will You Be Buying One?http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/26/nokia-announces-two-new-windows-phones-the-lumia-800-and-710-will-you-be-buying-one/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/26/nokia-announces-two-new-windows-phones-the-lumia-800-and-710-will-you-be-buying-one/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:30:20 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=166152

On February 11, Nokia and Microsoft made a major announcement that Nokia would be adopting Windows Phone as its primary smartphone strategy which meant they would be building hardware that would run the Windows Phone Operating System. This was huge news for both Nokia and for Microsoft, and now things are finally starting to happen. Early today, Nokia World 2011 kicked off in London. First up was the introduction of four "Asha" or "Hope" models aimed at consumers in developing countries that want smartphones but don't have a lot of money. Nokia's goal is to help a billion extra people who who don't currently have access connect to the internet using phones that look Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/26/nokia-announces-two-new-windows-phones-the-lumia-800-and-710-will-you-be-buying-one/feed/ 7 Windows Phone 7.5 ‘Mango’ Arrives …But Will It Be Enough?http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/28/windows-phone-7-5-mango-arrives-but-will-it-be-enough/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/28/windows-phone-7-5-mango-arrives-but-will-it-be-enough/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:15:13 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154438

I recently wrote about my initial experiences with the HTC 7 Pro from U.S. Cellular and commented on some early concerns about Windows Phone 7.5, aka the 'Mango' update that some are touting as what will save Windows Phone and enable Microsoft to lead the smartphone market. Despite early concerns and more recent issues with Windows Phone Marketplace 'spam', most early reports indicated that Mango is what Windows Phone 7 SHOULD have been a year ago. No one really knows exactly what the mobile market will look like five years from now - and certainly any analysts in 2006 making predictions of the 2011 mobile market would have been totally wrong Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/28/windows-phone-7-5-mango-arrives-but-will-it-be-enough/feed/ 8 Let the WP7 ‘Mango’ Feature Cutting Begin: No In-App Purchaseshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/21/let-the-wp7-mango-feature-cutting-begin-no-in-app-purchases/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/21/let-the-wp7-mango-feature-cutting-begin-no-in-app-purchases/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:30:39 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154270

When Windows Phone 7 launched a year ago, it had lost several features from when it was announced. Those features were promised within a month ... and ended up coming within 6 months via the disastrous 'minor update' and later NoDo update. I say disastrous since it was rolled out slowly yet bricked devices, failed installs, was pulled and relaunched several times, and just overall was worse than any update of a modern mobile OS (webOS, iOS, Android) in recent years. Of course, many features didn't that update and were promised for the Windows Phone 7.5 update known as 'Mango'. The core features Mango will bring include Multitasking, Internet Explorer 9 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/21/let-the-wp7-mango-feature-cutting-begin-no-in-app-purchases/feed/ 0 First Impressions: U.S. Cellular HTC 7 Pro Windows Phone 7 Smartphonehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/13/first-impressions-u-s-cellular-htc-7-pro-windows-phone-7-smartphone/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/13/first-impressions-u-s-cellular-htc-7-pro-windows-phone-7-smartphone/#comments Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:00:00 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=152913

  I am very fortunate to have landed a review HTC 7 Pro unit from U.S. Cellular. A month or so ago I wrote about the 7 Pro launching as the first Windows Phone 7 device on U. S. Cellular. I will be doing a full review in the coming weeks, but wanted to give a few first impressions on (a) the phone, (b) the operating system, (c) the apps and (d) the service based on several hours of use this weekend. The Carrier - U. S. Cellular It probably would have made sense for me to check out the plans in my area BEFORE I got Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/13/first-impressions-u-s-cellular-htc-7-pro-windows-phone-7-smartphone/feed/ 0 HTC Introduces the EVO 3D, the EVO View 4G, and the HTC HD7Shttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/22/htc-introduces-the-evo-3d-the-evo-view-4g-and-the-htc-hd7s/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/22/htc-introduces-the-evo-3d-the-evo-view-4g-and-the-htc-hd7s/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:45:03 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=136903 HTC HD7S [AT&T] I'm glad to see an upgrade to the HD7 being released, but I'm surprised that this was the only Windows Phone 7 HTC announced -- and it was on AT&T instead of T-Mobile (the carrier that the original HD7 debuted on). I guess if you aren't on AT&T, there is no upgraded HTC Windows Phone goodness for you ... yet, anyway!
The
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/22/htc-introduces-the-evo-3d-the-evo-view-4g-and-the-htc-hd7s/feed/ 1 Gear Deal: T-Mobile Makes it Easy to Score on Valentine’s Day with Free Smartphoneshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/11/gear-deal-t-mobile-makes-it-easy-to-score-on-valentines-day-with-free-smartphones/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/11/gear-deal-t-mobile-makes-it-easy-to-score-on-valentines-day-with-free-smartphones/#comments Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:27:45 +0000 Francis Scardino http://www.geardiary.com/?p=131187

Image courtesy of T-Mobile

Sometimes the best things in life really are free. T-Mobile has a promotion running on February 11th and 12th that is one of the best I've seen yet from a mobile provider. Sign up for a 2 year agreement, or add a line, and get ANY smartphone in the T-Mobile lineup for free. TmoNews has a screen snap of the rebate form showing a few handsets that will cost you a little up front, but will be refunded in some form or fashion. It's a great way to get your guy or girl a brand new Smartphone for absolutely nothing, and show your level of commitment by having a joint plan together Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/11/gear-deal-t-mobile-makes-it-easy-to-score-on-valentines-day-with-free-smartphones/feed/ 1 Nokia and Microsoft Get in Bed Together to Produce Prettier and Presumably Smarter Babieshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/11/nokia-and-microsoft-get-in-bed-together-to-produce-prettier-and-presumably-smarter-babies/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/11/nokia-and-microsoft-get-in-bed-together-to-produce-prettier-and-presumably-smarter-babies/#comments Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:31:53 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=131502

This is so good, it's almost hard to believe: Microsoft and Nokia have just formally announced their "Broad Strategic Partnership" as they "combine assets and develop innovative mobile products on an unprecedented scale."  The joint press conference occurred at 2:00 a.m. PST/5:00 a.m. EST, and unfortunately (or is it fortunately?) I was still awake trying to catch up on things when the news came out. From a post titled "Open Letter from CEO Stephen Elop, Nokia and CEO Steve Ballmer, Microsoft" on the Official Microsoft Blog, here is a summary of what the two companies hope to achieve. (Note that the emphasis was added by me):
•
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/11/nokia-and-microsoft-get-in-bed-together-to-produce-prettier-and-presumably-smarter-babies/feed/ 3 Gear Diary 2010 Gear of the Year and Predictions for 2011http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/02/gear-diary-2010-gear-of-the-year-and-predictions-for-2011/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/02/gear-diary-2010-gear-of-the-year-and-predictions-for-2011/#comments Sun, 02 Jan 2011 21:00:52 +0000 Joel McLaughlin http://www.geardiary.com/?p=124256

The past year has seen interesting developments in the gear we all use: the term iOS replaced iPhone OS as the OS that started on iPhone was also on the new iPad when it took the world and Gear Diary writers by storm, Android phones blossomed and became real competitors to the iPhone, and the iPad got its first real competition in the Samsung Galaxy Tab just a few months before 2010 drew to a close.  While there's much more that happened in the past year, I thought let's ask the following questions of the Gear Diary Team. 1. What was your favorite gear in 2010 and why? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/02/gear-diary-2010-gear-of-the-year-and-predictions-for-2011/feed/ 5 The Windows Phone 7 Dell Venue Pro is Now Availablehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/the-windows-phone-7-dell-venue-pro-is-now-available/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/the-windows-phone-7-dell-venue-pro-is-now-available/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:20:39 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=119684

The Dell Venue has been one of the more highly anticipated Windows Phone 7 devices, and now you can order your own! $99 with a two-year T-Mobile contract, or $449 contract free, the Dell Venue offers a unique form factor, a huge screen and a possibly triumphant return of Dell in the Windows mobile device space; past-Axim owners rejoice!
Introducing the definitive Windows® Phone 7 experience with a 4.1-inch sliding touch display and full QWERTY keyboard.  Features include:
  • The stunning 4.1-inch WVGA AMOLED capacitive, multitouch display enables easier navigation.
  • With Office Mobile built in, you can operate on-the-go as seamlessly as you would at the
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/the-windows-phone-7-dell-venue-pro-is-now-available/feed/ 1 Don’t Believe Me? Bing It!http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/09/dont-believe-me-bing-it/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/09/dont-believe-me-bing-it/#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:30:56 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=116915

It's not like you could possibly miss it, but if you were watching  last night's Hawaii Five-0 episode, then you likely saw the scene where ... oh heck, just watch!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Chin Ho Kelly challenges Kono Kalakaua to perform the search while they are looking at a sculpture, when she reaches into her bag and pulls out the LG Optimus 7 -- the first time I have seen one in the wild, even if only on TV. Larry has pointed out Apple's movie and television product placements, and it looks like Microsoft is taking a page from their book; the one which says Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/09/dont-believe-me-bing-it/feed/ 6 Rounding Up the Earliest Windows Phone 7 Reviewshttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/21/rounding-up-the-earliest-windows-phone-7-reviews/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/21/rounding-up-the-earliest-windows-phone-7-reviews/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:00:40 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=114589

The earliest devices were seeded to select reviewers a few weeks ago, and yesterday evening the Windows Phone 7 reviews began appearing; there are features to each new Windows Phone 7 device that I find compelling, and I'll admit that my curiosity is running wild! I've put together a review roundup of reviews, choice quotes and videos for you to enjoy, but you'll want to click through to the original sites for their full stories. I am considering using my extra AT&T voice line to upgrade into one of the new Windows Phone 7 devices, perhaps the HTC Surround, but probably the Samsung Focus. My other option is getting a T-Mobile line so Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/21/rounding-up-the-earliest-windows-phone-7-reviews/feed/ 7 Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Commercials: Folks At Home … Is It Me?http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/14/microsofts-windows-phone-7-commercials-folks-at-home-is-it-me/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/14/microsofts-windows-phone-7-commercials-folks-at-home-is-it-me/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:00:30 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=113487

Yesterday Microsoft launched Windows Phone 7, the ground-up reboot of the failed Windows Mobile platform. By all accounts the hardware and software look solid and intriguing, with reports of great performance and an interface built around a quick look at lots of information rather than being largely app-centric like iOS and Android. Of course, only time will tell how it will all shake out. In the mean time, Microsoft has released two advertising spots for the new phone OS, one called 'Really?' and the other 'Season of the Witch'. Each of the ads is focused around the tag line:
It’s time for a phone that saves us from our phones.
Before I say any more Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/14/microsofts-windows-phone-7-commercials-folks-at-home-is-it-me/feed/ 6 Windows Phone 7: Too Little Too Late? Or Just In the Nick of Time?http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/14/windows-phone-7-too-little-too-late-or-just-in-the-nick-of-time/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/14/windows-phone-7-too-little-too-late-or-just-in-the-nick-of-time/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 07:00:50 +0000 Francis Scardino http://www.geardiary.com/?p=113388

Francis: Monday's press conference marked the official announcement of Microsoft's highly anticipated Windows Phone 7. Microsoft has officially been tooting their own horn in the past months about their new phone OS and hardware, claiming that this is the new vision of Microsoft Mobile devices. Judie: If you are one of the few who haven't yet watched Steve Allen and company present Windows Phone 7, we've posted it here, or you can read the press conference transcript here. [iframe http://www.microsoft.com:80/presspass/silverlightApps/videoplayer3/standalone.aspx?contentID=wp7_unveil01&src=/presspass/presskits/windowsphone/channel.xml 640 360] The dust is finally Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/14/windows-phone-7-too-little-too-late-or-just-in-the-nick-of-time/feed/ 12 Gear Diary First Look: Motorola ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistanthttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/05/gear-diary-first-look-motorola-es400-enterprise-digital-assistant/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/05/gear-diary-first-look-motorola-es400-enterprise-digital-assistant/#comments Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:00:03 +0000 Jason Reese http://www.geardiary.com/?p=112359

The regular onslaught  of weekly smartphone announcements highlighting the latest offerings running Android or the upcoming Windows Phone 7 OS, it's very easy for Motorola's ES400 to get lost in the mix.   The device doesn't immediately scream 'sexy' and it's running Windows Mobile 6.5.   Yes, I said 6.5!

So why on earth should you even care about the ES400?   Read on to see why this semi-rugged and enterprise-ready handheld may be exactly what your business needs.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Let's be clear who the target audience for the Motorola ES400 is.   It's not the tween texter.  It's not

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/05/gear-diary-first-look-motorola-es400-enterprise-digital-assistant/feed/ 2 Windows Phone 7 Integrates Voice; but How Good Could It Possibly Be??http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/06/windows-phone-7-integrates-voice-but-how-good-could-it-possibly-be/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/06/windows-phone-7-integrates-voice-but-how-good-could-it-possibly-be/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:00:47 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=104555 My first smartphone was a Window Mobile smartphone -- a Motorola MPX220. My second smartphone was also a Windows Mobile Smartphone -- an iMate Jam; my third and my fourth smartphones were Windows Mobile devices as well. And then… I was done with Windows Mobile. Say what you want, but my experience with Windows Mobile was never all that good. Too often I found myself doing more to get and keep the phone up and running than I was actually using it. BlackBerry was next, and then the iPhone came along. When Android entered the fray, I felt that Windows Mobile was heaving its last gasp. Now Microsoft desperately wants back in the game, and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/06/windows-phone-7-integrates-voice-but-how-good-could-it-possibly-be/feed/ 5 Remember NTP? They’re back and they are suing everybody.http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/09/remember-ntp-theyre-back-and-they-are-suing-everybody/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/09/remember-ntp-theyre-back-and-they-are-suing-everybody/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:15:01 +0000 Joel McLaughlin http://www.geardiary.com/?p=100493

To refresh your memory, NTP is the company that in 2006 sued the creator of the Blackberry, Research in Motion, otherwise known as RIM. RIM settled out of court with NTP for 612 million. Not chump change.  RIM is still around and they are not being sued again by NTP, but almost everyone else is.  Companies affected are Google, Apple, HTC, LG, Motorola and Microsoft. The patents involved are the same ones that were involved when they sued RIM; the patents involved all cover the wireless delivery of e-mail. NTP, themselves, is merely a patent holding company. They are holding the patents and are not doing a danged thing with Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/09/remember-ntp-theyre-back-and-they-are-suing-everybody/feed/ 3 Rumor: Is AT&T Planning an Early Release of a Win Phone 7 Device? How Far Back Will the Line Start?http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/06/rumor-is-att-planning-an-early-release-of-a-win-phone-7-device-how-far-back-will-the-line-start/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/06/rumor-is-att-planning-an-early-release-of-a-win-phone-7-device-how-far-back-will-the-line-start/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:15:32 +0000 Francis Scardino http://www.geardiary.com/?p=100000

Image Courtesy of Microsoft

For the vast majority of Smartphone users, Android and iPhone have been doing quite nicely with a little RIM and WebOS thrown in for good measure. The Windows Mobile fans have been left with broken hearts -- and dreams of one day seeing a super comeback from Microsoft's mobile platform.  With the announcement of Windows Phone 7 in the past year I think some of that fire has been rekindled, but for most has left a sour taste from the likes of WinMo 6.1, and 6.5. I currently use a HD2 running a heavily customized 6.5 ROM, which is really the only way I feel that WinMo is usable. I have some interest Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/06/rumor-is-att-planning-an-early-release-of-a-win-phone-7-device-how-far-back-will-the-line-start/feed/ 4 Huge Price Break on Navigon MobileNavigatorhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/05/13/huge-price-break-on-navigon-mobilenavigator/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/05/13/huge-price-break-on-navigon-mobilenavigator/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 18:33:02 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=93274

You know, I thought I would make some kind of joke here like, "Trying to navigate to your mom's house in less than 12 parsecs?" or some such, but I'm tired from my first day of C25K.  So instead, I'll just stick with the facts:
On May 14th MobileNavigator (full North American version) will be on sale for $49.99, a $30.00 price reduction until June 11th. Also, in line with the upcoming WWDC, stay tuned for another promotion on the three versions of MyRegion.
In addition to being a pretty low price in and of itself based on the prices of other navigators I've seen, that's also a pretty huge reduction.  Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/05/13/huge-price-break-on-navigon-mobilenavigator/feed/ 6