Hasta La Gadget!

It’s raining Mango, Hallelujah! Windows Phone 7.5 is now officially ready to get pushed to existing devices, and in a big way. Taking lessons Microsoft learned from the update debacle that was NoDo, the company’s eager to do a much more efficient (and quick) job of rolling out its latest revamp. While Redmond didn’t offer any exact details on which phones would be the lucky recipients right away, it’ll be keeping the masses posted through its “where’s my phone update” page. If your handset is listed, hook it up to your computer, load the Zune client and there should be a lovely message waiting for you. As always, don’t feel too discouraged if your device isn’t available right away, since these rollouts have a habit of taking a bit of time to get to everyone.

In addition to the rollout, the Web Marketplace will also make its debut, giving Windows Phone users the opportunity to do what Android users already enjoy — the ability to surf for apps online and have them downloaded directly on the phone with no sideloading required. There’s one bit of sad news to relay to anyone that already has a Windows Phone, however: Microsoft confirmed to us that Internet Sharing — the long-awaited mobile hotspot functionality — will not be available for existing devices. There’s no word on if this will be offered through a future update or if it’s a permanent deal, but at least it’s only a single thorn in an entire rose garden of good news.

Windows Phone 7.5 ‘Mango’ update begins rolling out today originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

With Mango finally on its very official way — that’d be one day away for certain AT&T owners — it’s hardly surprising to see OEMs jumping on Redmond’s mobile bandwagon. ZTE’s joined the allied Windows Phone 7.5 ranks, outing its Tania phone at the China International Postal and Telecommunications Exhibition 2011. The modestly specced 4.3-inch device runs Microsoft’s latest OS atop a single-core 1GHz processor, with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and a 5 megapixel rear camera on-board. It’s certainly no HTC Titan, but then again, not every smartphone needs to be a roided-up beast. Let’s just hope MS gets those regional marketplace availability issues squared away before this handset’s Chinese launch. After all, what fun is a live-tiled phone without the apps?

ZTE Tania joins Windows Phone Mango brigade, says Ni Hao to Chinese market originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PocketNow  |  XDA.cn (Translated), Engadget Chinese  | Email this | Comments

Samsung just took the wraps off its Omnia W, which looks like a non-US variant of the Focus Flash we’ve already heard about via AT&T. The handset will debut in Italy and start spreading across the Old World and Latin America from next month. It’ll sport Windows Phone 7.5 out of the box, a 3.7-inch 800×480 Super AMOLED display, 1.4GHz processor, VGA webcam on the front and rear 5MP shooter with 720p video recording. We expect it’ll go head-to-head with HTC’s 3.8-inch Radar when the War of the Mangoes finally kicks off.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Samsung’s Omnia W: Mango, 3.7-inch Super AMOLED, 1.4GHZ processor

Samsung’s Omnia W: Mango, 3.7-inch Super AMOLED, 1.4GHZ processor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET, Engadget (Chinese)  |  Samsung Mobile Press  | Email this | Comments

The man who previously led the development of IE Mobile for Windows Phone is no longer with Microsoft, whose termination followed a series of tweets regarding one of Nokia’s unreleased Mango handsets. A representative of Ballmer & Co. has confirmed to us “that Joe Marini no longer works at Microsoft,” and while the company refuses to discuss the details of his termination, you be the judge. In his first tweet, Mr. Marini expressed glowing enthusiasm for the device, having called it one of Nokia’s slickest ever. Then, however, he went on to give the phone an “8” (to summarize his 144 character review), criticize the camera as being good, but not great, and bemoan its screen size. Oops. If anything, unbridled enthusiasm is encouraged at Microsoft (just think back to Steve Ballmer’s monkey dance if you had any doubt), but when sheer excitement erupts into stunning frankness regarding unreleased products from partner companies, perhaps this ex-Microsoftee should have kept his thoughts offline. We wish you luck, Joe, but next time, just remember that review scores are a relic of the past. Instead, just let the words speak for themselves.

Microsoft boots Windows Phone manager following mini-review of Nokia’s Mango handset originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WPCentral, TNW, GeekWire  |  Twitter  | Email this | Comments

There’s nothing worse than that “womp womp” moment for Windows Phone users when they find out a favorite website doesn’t have an optimized mobile app. Seriously. It’s proven. Now, however, WordPress aficionados can spread the love with the Windows Phone Starter Kit — a package that promises quick and easy development for Microsoft’s mobile marktplace. With the included skeleton code, admins only need to replace one line, insert the blog URL and tweak some settings in the CMS until presto — the app’s finito. Like other WordPress dev kits, this one allows users to view posts and moderate comments. Hopefully, the promise of a super simple platform will be enough to entice developers to sit at Ballmer’s table and fatten up the app store, particularly with Mango positioned as the next course.

Windows Phone Starter Kit for WordPress hopes to lure developers, beef up marketplace offerings originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WP Central, Nanopho  |  MSDN  | Email this | Comments