Hasta La Gadget!

It’s staggering to think how much things have changed in the cellphone industry over the last few years. Where vendors once measured success largely in terms of units shifted, future success is now measured by the number of apps, games, and devs attracted to each opposing platform in a burgeoning smartphone marketplace. Just last week, Nokia announced that it had lured in some 400,000 new developers over the last year. Now Microsoft is touting a rather meager (by comparison) 15,000 Windows Phone developers “signaling their intent to bring exciting content to Windows Phone.” Enough implied manpower to push well beyond the 3,000 apps and games expected to be populating the Windows Marketplace by the end of this week. Of course, objectively measuring a developers intent to develop on a platform is difficult. And really, platform potential is not the primary thing driving the purchasing decision of most consumers — not with so many viable handsets available today. Still, it’s good to see such optimism coupled with the fact that the vast majority of people around the world — gasp! — don’t use smartphones.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Windows Phone 7 Marketplace hits 3,000 apps and games, attracts 15,000 developers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Windows Team Blog  | Email this | Comments

Check it Microsofties, it’s time to get back into the game. While some phones have already launched in Europe and beyond, today is the first day that you can put down cash in the US for a Windows Phone 7 device all your own. The Microsoft online Store just loosed the HTC HD7 (T-Mobile), HTC Surround (AT&T), and Samsung Focus (AT&T). Rumor has it that the 4.1-inch Dell Venue Pro (T-Mobile) will be out on shelves at Microsoft retail locations today as well. So why not use that extra hour of wakefulness that Apple provided to think it over?

Update: Prices drop to as low as $149.99 at Dell Mobility (which still doesn’t list its own Venue Pro) and $99 at Amazon Wireless when purchased with new service plans. The LG Quantum is up for pre-order too with Amazon claiming an 8 to 9 business day delivery.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 now on sale in the US

Windows Phone 7 now on sale in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Microsoft Store  | Email this | Comments

Why yes, yes it is another Windows Phone 7 device review. Not that we’re complaining. It’s not everyday that a new mobile operating system this polished arrives at our doorstep. Having already gone in depth with Microsoft’s entirely new OS and half dozen or so other WP7 devices, it’s now time to dive deep into the life and times of the HTC Trophy (codenamed, Spark). And it’s about time. We first saw the words “HTC” and “Trophy” on the same page in a roadmap leak all the way back in 2009. Several of the leaked handsets eventually launched — but not the 3-inch portrait QWERTY Trophy running Windows Mobile 6.5. Perhaps that original design was scrapped along with WinMo’s relevancy to the consumer smartphone market. We don’t know and we may never know. What we can tell you is what it’s like to live with a production HTC Trophy for a week — an average speced touchscreen slate offering anything but a middle-of-the-road experience.

This review is primarily of the HTC Trophy hardware. Check out our full review of Windows Phone 7 for our thoughts on the OS.

Continue reading HTC Trophy review

HTC Trophy review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

You asked for it and it’s back… The Engadget Show returns to you next Saturday, October 23rd at 6:30pm! To get things started, we’ll be taking a first-hand look at the myriad Windows Phone 7 devices with Microsoft’s Aaron Woodman. We’ll also be taking an inside look at Google TV and Engadget’s own Darren Murph will be joining Josh, Nilay, and Paul on stage, Guinness world record in hand. What’s more, we’re ending the night with our first ever Halloween costume contest! Yep, you heard that right and there will be giveaways for the best costumes, so get to work on your winning masterpiece now! We’ll also have music from Kris Keyser and visuals from noteNdo and plenty of other giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. We have a new ticketing policy, so if you’re coming to the live show, be sure to read about it below. If you’re geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream right here on Engadget.

The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are — as always — free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served… so get there early! Here’s the updated info on our new ticketing policy that you need to know:

• There is no admission fee — tickets are completely free
• The event is all ages
• Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:00PM on Saturday, October 23rd, doors will open for seating at 5:45PM, and the show begins at 6:30PM
• We now have assigned seating, so the first people to get their tickets — and the Sprint text-to-win winners (see below) — will get priority seating. This also means that once you get a ticket, your seat is guaranteed — you won’t have to get back in line to get a good seat.
• Ticketing will continue until all tickets are given away
• You cannot collect tickets for friends or family — anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
• Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we’re full, we’re full
• The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
• The show length is around an hour

If you’re a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we’ll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

Sprint is offering 50 guaranteed tickets to the Engadget Show taping to the first 50 entrants who text “ENGADGET” to 467467 or enter online! Standard text messaging rates apply. Click for the Official Rules and see how to enter online.

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.

Continue reading The Engadget Show returns next Saturday, October 23rd with Microsoft’s Aaron Woodman, Google TV devices, and our first Halloween costume contest!

The Engadget Show returns next Saturday, October 23rd with Microsoft’s Aaron Woodman, Google TV devices, and our first Halloween costume contest! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Steve Ballmer’s already working the salesman magic, but Microsoft won’t try to sell you Windows Phone 7 solely on stage — find a pair of familiar-looking debut TV spots for the new platform right after the break.

Continue reading First (legitimate) Windows Phone 7 television ads unveiled (video)

First (legitimate) Windows Phone 7 television ads unveiled (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments