Hasta La Gadget!

Last week, if you recall, Microsoft announced Skype for Windows 8, a touch-friendly app that appeared in the Windows Store the same day Win 8 went on sale. Now, with Windows Phone 8 getting its big reveal, the company is following up with a WP8 version, which Microsoft says is coming soon. Like the new Windows 8 app, it runs in the background, delivering push notifications even when you’re looking at something else. In particular, now that Windows Phone allows for three different tile sizes, you can view the Skype tile in small, medium or large formats, with the largest displaying your latest message. (All tile sizes show an unread message count.)

There are other similarities to the Win 8 app, too, despite the fact that these phones have smaller screens. There’s a favorites list, for one, along with a shortcut that makes it easy to toggle between open IM conversations. As on Windows 8, the app is deeply integrated with the People Hub, so that Skype handles appear on contact cards and incoming Skype calls look the same as any other. On the messaging side, there’s an impressively large collection of emoticons (TMI-face, anybody?). It’s also possible to start group chats, as well as change the conversation topic. So far, it’s unclear when, exactly, the app will be available for download, but in the meantime we’ve got a short video demo waiting for you after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft announces Skype app for Windows Phone 8 with new UI, deep People Hub integration (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft

Microsoft announces Skype app for Windows Phone 8 with new UI, deep People Hub integration (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft may be readying an all-out marketing blitz to get Windows Phone 8 all up in your cranium, but those loyal to Sprint won’t be getting anything but perturbed. During today’s Windows Phone 8 event in San Francisco, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile were “all in” for Windows Phone 8. Strangely, however, America’s number three carrier is evidently “all out.” While Sprint was a carrier for Windows Phone 7 handsets like the HTC Arrive, the carrier was showing cold feet as far back as January of this year. Given that the Arrive was its “most returned phone,” though, it’s hard to cast blame.

It could very well be due to the way Sprint’s 4G drama has gone done — at the time, Microsoft likely didn’t want to create WP8 devices that supported by WiMAX and LTE, and now that Sprint has foregone the former in order to grab the latter, it’s all a bit too late. Of course, it comments made to PhoneScoop earlier this year by spokesperson David Owen are to be believed, Sprint may join the WP8 party early next year. Sort of seems like a familiar refrain, actually.

For more, check out our Windows Phone 8 event liveblog!

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Sprint

Sprint sits out Windows Phone 8 launch in the United States after tepid WP7 reaction originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two years ago, the mobile landscape was quite different than what it is today. Android flagship phones sported 1GHz single-core CPUs and were in the process of upgrading to Froyo, the iPhone 4 was the Apple phone of choice and the word “phablet” was sure to be followed by a “Gesundheit.” (It still is, arguably.) This is just a brief glimpse at the world in which Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 was born. Destined to be the replacement solution for an obsolete Windows Mobile 6.x platform, WP7 did its best to disrupt the industry by offering its unique Metro user interface and slick performance across the board.

There was one growing problem, however; the mobile industry was rapidly changing, and the Windows Phone honeymoon didn’t last as long as Microsoft would’ve liked. Today, the company enjoys less than 5 percent of the world’s smartphone market share as it prepares to launch its next major revision, Windows Phone 8. The new firmware promises to resolve concerns surrounding hardware limitations and the platform’s ecosystem, add a plethora of long-awaited features and integrate the OS with Windows 8. It’s a hefty task for Microsoft to undertake, to say the least, but we’re hoping that two revolutions around the sun were enough for the software giant to impress us with its struggling mobile platform. Did it pull it off? Take a look at what makes Windows Phone 8 tick after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone 8 review

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft

Windows Phone 8 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever dreamed of having more than one user account on your smartphone? Microsoft’s making that a reality with Kid’s Corner for Windows Phone 8. If you’re not a parent, don’t let the name deceive you: this particular feature is great for both the tiny tots and all of your grown-up friends, as it allows you to choose which apps, games, music and videos show up when the device is in that particular mode. It’s a feature that has strangely eluded the other major platforms, and it absolutely gives WP8 an edge for those concerned about youngsters (and potentially even colleagues) getting into trouble with your phone.

For more, check out our Windows Phone 8 event liveblog!

Continue reading Microsoft brings guest user account to Windows Phone 8 via Kid’s Corner

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft

Microsoft brings guest user account to Windows Phone 8 via Kid’s Corner originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Windows Phone 8, but Microsoft’s event will unveil any and all secrets that the company’s held close ever since the new platform was introduced in June. So what does Microsoft have up its sleeves? Join us as we finally get the opportunity to see all of the latest version of Windows Phone!

Filed under: Announcements, Mobile, Microsoft

The Windows Phone 8 event liveblog! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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