Microsoft rumored to be developing its own phone

Rumors have been slowly circulating for a while now that Microsoft might be making its very own smartphone, but nothing has really materialized from those rumors. However, there is now a new report saying that Microsoft is indeed developing its own phone that will run off its in-house mobile OS, Windows Phone 8.

WPCentral says they’ve been in touch with anonymous sources that are saying Microsoft has their own Windows Phone hardware in the works, and that it already exists and is even in its testing phases. However, details such as hardware specifications and launch dates are unknown, but the sources say that the phone’s design is “unique” from current Windows Phone 8 hardware.

While Microsoft developing their own phone may not sound like a huge surprise, it actually is in a way. The company has spent a lot of time and resources pushing Nokia, HTC, and Samsung to build quality Windows Phone 8 devices. So, if Microsoft is thinking about doing things on their own, it may show that they’ve lost confidence in their partners and are giving up trying to improve the situation.

Then again, even if the rumors turn out to be true, there’s no guarantee that consumers will ever see the device. It may end up just being an smartphone that’s used for testing purposes only and one that only stays within the walls at Microsoft. Either way, we’re curious as to what a Microsoft-designed phone would actually look like.


Microsoft rumored to be developing its own phone is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Report: Microsoft Is Developing Its Own Phone [Windows Phone]

Microsoft has tried it everyone else’s way, and Windows Phone still hasn’t made much headway. That could still change, but two separate reports, from WPCentral and BGR, are claiming that Microsoft’s taking the next step and making a phone on its own. More »

What happened to the HTC Hero Device strategy?

Back in January of 2012 a message was released by HTC’s UK chief Phil Robertson that made it clear how the manufacturer would be limiting the amount of devices they’d release in 2012 – what happened to that promise? The words relayed back then made it seem as though HTC would be going Apple’s way with a strategy that focused on a single phone – or perhaps a small collection of phones – that would be supported in ways that simply are not allowed by a strategy that includes phone after phone released in tight succession. This was an amazing opportunity for HTC – what happened?

Today HTC announced three more new phones, two of them part of the HTC One series – the HTC One X+, VX, and Windows Phone 8X – revealed earlier internationally, here coming to AT&T for the first time. The HTC One X+ is essentially a boosted version of the HTC One X, the One VX is essentially the equivalent of the One V, and the Windows Phone is a whole new device. Each of these devices look and feel nice, but they’re heartbreakers, each one of them – not in their quality, but in that they represent additional frays from the single device strategy.

“We had a fantastic year, with 65% growth year on year in the UK. But in Q4 we delivered a lot more products than in the past. Now we want to create more of a ‘hero’ approach. We make great phones, but it is hard to do that when the portfolio is spread too much. … So 2012 is about giving our customers something special. We need to make sure we do not go so far down the line that we segment our products by launching lots of different SKUs.” – Robertson

The closest we’ve gotten to a hero strategy as it was described earlier this year was the HTC One series as it stood in its first set of three, the HTC One X, V, and S. Then came the HTC EVO 4G LTE and the DROID Incredible 4G LTE and the whole show went down the drain. It should be clear why this happened – Sprint has the “EVO” brand that HTC relies on for sales on that carrier, the same being true of Verizon with both the “DROID” and “Incredible” brand names.

HTC has a hero strategy in place that’s different for each carrier. If they’d release one device – or even three devices like they did at the start of the One series, they’d have the power that not just Apple has with their iPhone, Samsung and their Galaxy S III and their Galaxy Note series as well. Make one phone and the money will flow.


What happened to the HTC Hero Device strategy? is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Windows Phone 8X by HTC hits AT&T with Beats equipped

AT&T is bringing on the HTC heat this season with not one, not two, but three new smartphones ready to keep you in the fold with One love. Of course the HTC One series name is relegated to the Android universe, but for Windows Phone 8, this is the closest you’re going to get: the Windows Phone 8X by HTC, arriving in November. This device comes with a 4.3-inch 720p display, 8 megapixel rear-facing camera, and Beats audio.

Windows Phone 8X is a smartphone that reminds the world that HTC hasn’t given up on Beats Audio, it being the first ever Windows Phone to work with the audio technology. Beats Audio by Dry is what they maintain as studio-quality sound working with a unique audio amplifier attached to this device’s 3.5mm audio jack as well as the speaker. You’ll be blasting heavy sound for your music, video, and gaming experience.

This device has a rather similar look to Nokia’s offerings in the market, here though embodying what Microsoft notes is the “signature handset” of Windows Phone 8. You’ll have the operating system’s spirit “embodied” in your hand, complete with a possible collection of colors on the back. This device is both suitably bright up front and on back and will surprise you with is sleek body.

This HTC handset will be hitting AT&T in retail stores and online in November equipped with no less than AT&T 4G LTE connectivity onboard. At the moment we’ve not got final details on pricing, but you’ll know soon! Meanwhile have a peek at our early hands-on with the international edition of the Windows Phone 8X from just days ago – it’s pretty nice looking stuff!


Windows Phone 8X by HTC hits AT&T with Beats equipped is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


HTC teases Windows Phone 8X in promo video, wants you to look no further

HTC teases Windows Phone 8X in promo video, wants you to look no further

While we’ve already shown you our own detailed preview of HTC’s upcoming Windows Phone 8X, now it’s the company’s turn to put its own spin into it — and, well, what better way to do so than by posting a “first look” promo video. The short teaser itself doesn’t reveal any details we weren’t aware of, with the Taiwanese outfit placing focus on the device’s variety of color assortments, seamless integration with Skype, the track selection from Xbox Music and, of course, that built-in Beats Audio technology. Unfortunately, there’s no mention of an exact release date anywhere to be found in the video, although this shouldn’t come as a surprise given the fact we’re still waiting for Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 launch to become officially official. Regardless, head on past the break to see what HTC has in store for you.

Continue reading HTC teases Windows Phone 8X in promo video, wants you to look no further

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HTC teases Windows Phone 8X in promo video, wants you to look no further originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSN portal takes giant Windows 8 touchscreen cue

If you’re a Windows user who makes MSN their homepage on the regular, you’ll be glad to hear that they’ll be getting a giant re-design optimized for the touchscreen environment this Autumn. This change comes at the same time as Windows 8 is released, with a jump-off date of October 26th in the mix. This update brings Windows 8 and Windows RT users using Internet Explorer 10 the chance to keep their touchscreen-usefulness at its hight.

This new interface for the MSN-laden web is being shown off this week at New York’s Advertising Week. This new version of MSN online will be shown right alongside a collection of advertisements for Windows 8 and Windows RT that are touch-centric in nature as well. This release will not be viewable to the general public until the 26th of October when Windows 8/RT goes on sale to the general public.

MSN update on a mocked-up tablet device.

This update will have what was up until recently called a “Metro” look and feel with buttons large enough for the finger to tap in any situation. This update will only be shown to Windows 8 and Windows RT users working with Internet Explorer 10 specifically at the start, but it may be expanded to other systems in the future. Advertisements for Windows 8/RT with touch-centric goals will be released throughout the week.

This new portal will have MSN News from AP and Reuters news sources alongside Microsoft’s own staff of in-house writers. The updated MSN homepage will have Sports, Entertainment, and Money subsidies as well – as the current homepage does already. This new portal is going to be used – in one way or another – as an interface for the new Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 apps that will be released in 2013 – more than likely. There’s a Windows 8 Bing News app in the Windows Store right this minute, and it’s currently unclear if one will replace the other.

[via Microsoft]


MSN portal takes giant Windows 8 touchscreen cue is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


How would you change Nokia’s Lumia 900?

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While this regular feature is called How Would You Change, in the case of Nokia’s Lumia 900, it seems more apt to change the question to “What Killed It?.” The flagship was designed to break the US from its traditional indifference to the company, yet only 600,000 users took the plunge. Firstly, despite its low price and smooth performance, it had mediocre specs and a middling display, while customers were outraged when the incompatible Windows Phone 8 and the Lumia 920 supplanted it half a year later. This week, we’re asking you to play armchair Elop and tell us what you’d have done differently if they’d asked you.

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How would you change Nokia’s Lumia 900? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Sep 2012 22:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European Lumia 920 prices surface

Like most major announcements these days, details about pricing and release dates were absent from Nokia‘s reveal of the incoming Lumia 920. That all changed today, with Nokia posting Lumia 920 prices for some European regions. Reuters reports that these prices weren’t actually set by Nokia, but rather by the retailers who purchase the phones in bulk from the company.


In some places, the Lumia 920 is more expensive than the Galaxy S III, but less expensive than the iPhone 5. We weren’t expecting it to cost more than the iPhone 5 naturally, but some analysts are worried that the Lumia 920 might be priced too high for a Windows Phone 8 device. For instance, in Sweden, the 32GB Lumia 920 will run 5,700 crowns ($860), which compares to the 4,515 crowns the 16GB Galaxy S III is going for at Expansys, and the 6,995 crowns the 32GB iPhone 5 is set to debut at.

In Italy we get a similar pricing structure. There, the phone with cost €599 ($770), with the 16GB S III selling for €529. It’s worth pointing out that one of Italy’s biggest carries, TIM, will be offering the Lumia 920 for less than the price of a Galaxy S III, but in many cases, we’re seeing retailers and carriers stick the Lumia 920 with a more expensive price tag.

According to some analysts, like Ovum’s Nick Dillon, that could be bad news for both Windows Phone 8 and Nokia. Users will probably expect to pay less for a Windows Phone 8 handset, he says, because they perceive it as a risk when compared to opting for an iPhone or Android device. Nokia is also relying on these new Windows Phone 8 handsets to pull it out of the financial rut its currently in, but with prices as high as the ones mentioned above, it might be difficult to get consumers to bite.

Whether or not the US will see similar prices is currently up in the air, but don’t expect the Lumia 920 to be cheap when it arrives Stateside. It is Nokia’s new flagship device after all, and historically flagship devices normally cost quite a bit of money. Will these prices dissuade potential buyers from picking up a Lumia 920 and adopting Windows Phone 8 as their new mobile OS? We shall see soon enough, as the Lumia 920 is scheduled to launch in Europe sometime in November.


European Lumia 920 prices surface is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


US pricing leaks for incoming Xbox Music service

US pricing leaks for incoming Xbox Music service

Following those British-based leaks yesterday, a second mole has now offered us a glimpse at Xbox Music pricing across the Atlantic. It looks like the Zune successor will offer a longer 30-day free trial, alongside $10 per-month and $100 annual subscriptions. Surprise — looks like Americans are getting a better deal.

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US pricing leaks for incoming Xbox Music service originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Lumia 920, 820 get official European prices, launching in November

The optical nous of the Lumia 920 won’t just be visiting Australia soon. Nokia has revealed that its Windows Phone 8 flagship will arrive in Europe priced at 649 euros ($836), while the Lumia 820 will arrive several hundred euros cheaper at 499 euros ($643). Both will arrive in Italy and Germany some time in November, although the company weren’t pointing to any specific launch date just yet. Further east, Russian Nokia fans can already put in their preorder, with the devices there arriving at some point in Q4.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Nokia Lumia 920, 820 get official European prices, launching in November

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Nokia Lumia 920, 820 get official European prices, launching in November originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhoneArena, The Verge  |  sourceNokia Russia, Plaffo, Nokia Germany  | Email this | Comments