Sep 15

Nokia: first Windows Phones still shipping by end of year

Posted in: mango, Microsoft, mobilepostmini, nokia, Today's Chili, windows phone, WindowsPhone
Somewhere in the world, sometime between October 1st and December 31st, somebody will be able to purchase a Nokia-branded Windows Phone. Exactly where, when, or who is still in question. But Nokia at least took to the Twittersphere to reassure the masses that the company is still aiming to release a Windows Phone by the end of the year, though we likely won’t be seeing it ship in large volumes until early next year. Curiously enough, Nokia Australia’s Twitter account was included within the short message, which makes us wonder if they’re tossing a little clue our way. We’re hoping to have another entry on our Black Friday shopping list — not that it’s short as it is, of course.

Nokia: first Windows Phones still shipping by end of year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

MasterCard demos Google Wallet, QkR platform for mobile payments

Posted in: Android, app, apps, BlackBerry, Google, GoogleAndroid, ios, mango, Microsoft, mobilepostcross, nfc, Sprint, Today's Chili, video, windows phone, WindowsPhone

You’ve most likely heard plenty about NFC-capable smartphones, but little in the way of actual real-world uses for the chip. Well, MasterCard’s looking to change all of that, and throw in a few innovations of its own courtesy of its in-house R&D labs and Google. Shown off at an event today, the company demoed the Google Wallet application we first learned about back in May — which is gearing up for an official launch sometime “soon.” Running on Sprint’s Nexus S 4G — with a planned expansion to multiple devices — users can connect a Citi MasterCard account to the service, and tap-to-pay at any retail location outfitted with a PayPass station. The transactions take place as instantaneously as you’d expect, with spending alerts notated automatically in-app, as well as via text message. If you’re the paranoid type or just a spendthrift, the app offers plenty of options to set spending limits, approve / block purchases via category (i.e. dining, entertainment) and enable alerts for overseas activity. Currently, the Google Wallet service is Android-only, and that’s probably a direct result of the AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile backed mobile payment rival, ISIS.

But the company’s also got one eye fixed squarely on the future — scheming up alternate implementations for payment on-the-go through its MasterCard Labs division. Focusing on its QkR platform (an obvious play on QR codes), these concepts ranged from television audio signals encoded with purchase data, audible to a phone running the QkR app, or fast-food tabletops embedded with NFC and QR codes that’ll allow customers to scan for coupons, order remotely and apply the discount — all without leaving their seats. The most interesting use of the new platform, however, had nothing to do with mobile phone use and everything to do with an Xbox Kinect. Utilizing the gesture recognition tech, items could be selected on-screen by holding your hand over an item and navigating through the checkout process. We know, yet another great proof-of-concept, but tuck away that cynicism for a second — a company representative confided to us that soft-pilot testing of QkR is already underway, with an official announcement slated in the next two weeks. And don’t worry about it being a Google OS-only affair, QkR’s been tested across iOS, Windows Phone Mango and even BlackBerry. Whether or not the innovative payment system’ll launch with all of these mobile OS on-board wasn’t clear, but we were assured there’d be at least two partners on board. Jump past the break to get a close-up view of our hands-on with the future of payment.

Gallery: Hands-on with Google Wallet and MasterCard’s QkR App

Continue reading MasterCard demos Google Wallet, QkR platform for mobile payments

MasterCard demos Google Wallet, QkR platform for mobile payments originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 15

Tango video calling demoed on Mango-based HTC Titan (video)

Posted in: app, application, HTC, mango, Microsoft, mobilepostcross, Today's Chili, video, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7

Looks like Mango’s got yet another trick up its sleeve — at least, a trick that’ll be noticeable on HTC’s looming Titan. Windows Phone Director Aaron Woodman — the same Aaron that stopped by our own Engadget Show a few months back — recently paused to show off a Tango video calling application on the aforementioned handset. We knew good and well that the front-facing Titan camera would be put to use by something, and now you know. ‘Course, the “demo” looks pretty well scripted — don’t expect an accurate representation of video quality over a crowded 3G network — but it sure serves to make the wait that much harder. Have a peek yourself just after the break.

[Thanks, Stephen]

Continue reading Tango video calling demoed on Mango-based HTC Titan (video)

Tango video calling demoed on Mango-based HTC Titan (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 14

Windows Phone Mango demoed by Microsoft in dramatic fashion (video)

Posted in: app, apps, developer, developers, mango, mobilepostmini, Today's Chili, video, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7

Sure we’ve seen plenty of Windows Phone Mango demos — heck, we’ve done a few hands-ons ourselves — but so far as slickness is concerned, few can compare to this latest offering from Microsoft, which looks to bring developers on board, while showing off some key features like Live Tiles and speedy switching between apps in dramatic hands-off fashion. The Mango is so close we can taste it. Video after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone Mango demoed by Microsoft in dramatic fashion (video)

Windows Phone Mango demoed by Microsoft in dramatic fashion (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 13

Windows Phone Apollo to feature speech-to-text for email, low-end Tango gets split in two

Posted in: mango, Microsoft, mobile, mobile phone, MobilePhone, mobilepostcross, phone, Phones, Today's Chili, windows 8, windows phone, Windows8, WindowsPhone

If this hodgepodge of sorta, kinda official confirmation is to be believed, Windows Phone users can look forward to deeper integration of voice command functionality built-in to the Apollo update. Nokia US’ CEO, Chris Weber, first spilled the speech recognition beans in an interview with VentureBeat back in early August, referring to the tech as a killer WP feature. Now, a report over on ZDNet backs up that leaked info with resume tidbits from former MS Windows Phone / Mobile Communications team members that had a hand in creating the so-called “Voice-Compose” and “Read-Aloud” features for native email clients– even tipping us off to a possible Windows 8 and WP 8 convergence. There’s also mention (gleaned from a company job listing) of MS’ lower-end mobile OS splitting into two separate versions — Tango1 and Tango2. We know what you’re thinking. It’s hard to get excited about far-off OS updates when we’re still waiting on Mango’s release. Still, it’s good to know Ballmer and co. aren’t just resting on their Windows laurels.

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Windows Phone Apollo to feature speech-to-text for email, low-end Tango gets split in two originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 12

AT&T to Debut Three Windows Phone ‘Mango’ Devices

Posted in: HTC, mango, Phones, samsung, Today's Chili, Windows, windows 8, Wp7

The HTC Titan is one of a crop of Windows Phone Mango handsets that will debut this fall. Image: HTC

AT&T announced today that it is getting three new Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) handsets sometime this fall.

The three smartphones, the Samsung Focus S, Samsung Focus Flash and HTC Titan, are 4G. The Focus S features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display and a 1.4 GHz Snapdragon processor. The Focus Flash has the same chip but a more pocket-friendly 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screen. The S has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, while the Flash has a 5-megapixel front-facing cam.

Microsoft’s Windows Phone Mango is expected to bring much needed updates and social networking integration to Windows Phone 7. One key feature of the Mango update is its streamlined “People” hub, an all-in-one contacts list with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn integration. The OS refresh will also allow for multitasking. Windows Phone 8 also is set to debut soon, rumored for a 2012 release and a possible giveaway for developers at the BUILD conference. But as of now, it looks like it’s designed more specifically for tablet and desktop PCs.

At the IFA electronics showcase in Berlin, HTC showed off the Mango-running Titan and Radar smartphones. The Titan, coming to AT&T, has an almost-monstrous 4.7-inch display. It also features a 1.5 MHz processor and an 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash.

The precursor to the Samsung Focus S is the Samsung Focus, released in 2010 and one of Wired.com’s 10 most significant gadgets of the year.

AT&T also will provide Mango updates for several Windows Phone 7 handset models, including the Samsung Focus, LG Quantum, HTC Surround and HTC HD7S.

So far, Windows Phone 7 hasn’t gained a lot of traction despite fairing well critically. Recent stats show it has about 9 percent of the mobile OS market in the United States. With Nokia’s adoption of the Windows Phone 7 platform and abandoning of their Symbian OS, Windows Phone could start taking a bigger chunk of the market… if consumers warm up to it.

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Sep 12

AT&T announces Windows Phone Mango lineup coming this fall, existing devices to be updated

Posted in: att, breaking news, firmware update, FirmwareUpdate, LG, mango, mobilepostcross, refresh, software update, SoftwareUpdate, Today's Chili, update, Wp7

In the first of what we expect to be many announcements related to Windows Phone Mango devices, AT&T stepped up to the plate this morning by unveiling three new “4G” handsets that use the latest version of Microsoft’s OS: the HTC Titan, Samsung Focus S and Focus Flash. We already know quite a bit about the Titan, but details on Sammy’s selections are slim for now — images aren’t even available for either phone, though it’s likely we’ve seen at least one of them before. In addition, the carrier’s also planning to update its entire existing lineup with Windows Phone 7.5.

As for the fall lineup, there doesn’t seem to be a slacker in the bunch. The Focus S will have a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1.4GHz CPU and an 8 megapixel rear camera that accompanies a 1.3 megapixel front-facing cam for video chat. Also bearing Mango is the Samsung Focus Flash, considered the lower-end offering by Sammy, which still brandishes a 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screen — no Plus involved on this one — as well as a 1.4GHz CPU and 5 megapixel rear shooter and front-facing camera that for now has no specified resolution. Each of the phones are expected to arrive in the fourth quarter, and the existing lineup should be on the receiving end of the update sometime “this fall.” This is just the beginning of the impending flood, so we can’t wait to see what else is around the corner.

Continue reading AT&T announces Windows Phone Mango lineup coming this fall, existing devices to be updated

AT&T announces Windows Phone Mango lineup coming this fall, existing devices to be updated originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 08

Samsung High Fidelity Position app gives Mango GPS a Russian boost

Posted in: app, AppStore, mango, mobilepostcross, nav, navigation, samsung, Today's Chili, windows 7, windows phone 7, Windows7, WindowsPhone7
Using your phone’s GPS to guide you down city streets can sometimes be a harrowing experience, especially in signal blackspots (or when there’s a mild breeze). Fortunately, there’s a fancy new solution — for some of you at least. High Fidelity Position is an app specifically for Samsung Mango phones that supercharges the GPS module with two upgrades to help positioning. The first leverages the on-board accelerometer and compass to help the Windows 7 device orient itself on congested city streets. Second is that it will now access GLONASS — Russia’s equivalent to GPS — pinpointing your location to within a few feet. When installed, the app is only visible in the settings menu, where you will need to activate it. We can also expect to see more of GLONASS in the future, since Russia’s imposing import taxes of about 25-percent on any device that’s incompatible with the Soviet standard, and manufacturers won’t want to take a hit of that magnitude on a feature they can use. Samsung WP7.5 owners who want every excuse to celebrate the triumphs of Gagarin, Sputnik and Laika can find the app available at the source link below.

Samsung High Fidelity Position app gives Mango GPS a Russian boost originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 04

Acer W4 hands-on (video)

Posted in: hands-on, Ifa2011, mango, mobilepostcross, Today's Chili, video, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7
Hey, it’s our old pal, the Acer W4. We’ve heard tell of the device and seen our share of mockups, and this week at IFA, we actually got to play with the thing. The 3.6-inch handset is fairly compact, and pretty slick looking, with its black front and curved white backing. It’s not particularly exciting on the spec side, with its 1GHz Qualcomm processor. Nope, what’s most exciting here is the inclusion of Mango, which should look rather familiar to Windows Phone 7 owners, while adding some welcomed updates to the mix.

According to Acer, the handset should be arrive some point next month, though the company isn’t offering up much in terms of pricing. Check out a hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Acer W4 hands-on

Acer W4 hands-on

Continue reading Acer W4 hands-on (video)

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Acer W4 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 04

Tango video calling en route to Windows Phone Mango?

Posted in: mango, Microsoft, mobilepostmini, Today's Chili, windows phone, WindowsPhone, Wp7
Good news, folks — Tango is about to reach Windows Phone. No, not that Tango. We’re referring to the video calling service that’s already popular on iOS and Android devices, but has had absolutely no presence on Microsoft’s platform at all. Of course, there’s a blatantly obvious reason for that: the OS didn’t support front-facing cameras until Mango came along. At this week’s unveiling of HTC’s first WP7.5 devices, someone perusing the Radar’s software happened across a Tango app in the Start menu, indicating users will have more video chatting options to choose from than just Skype. Better yet, it appears to offer cross-platform compatibility to ensure you can see your Android-toting pals and your iPhone-equipped in-laws up close and personal. We’re ecstatic to see the feature finally ready to go with Mango’s debut, but unfortunately it’s only a matter of time before the name confusion settles in.

Tango video calling en route to Windows Phone Mango? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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