Hasta La Gadget!

From the looks of it, a job posting on Microsoft’s career site has informally confirmed that Windows Phone is on track to receive “major yearly releases.” The idea of pushing a hefty Mango-sized package of features to its phones once a year shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as both iOS and Android aim for the same goal, but it’s nice to see that the folks in Redmond have a good feel on exactly where the platform is headed. Now, update fans need not be worried about refreshes only coming once a year; the listing asks for someone to head up work on minor amendments in between these releases, which means we should look forward to NoDo-style maintenance updates on a regular basis. Or it could all amount to absolutely nothing. Your move, Ballmer. Your move. Head to the source link for the job listing.

Microsoft job listing hints at annual Windows Phone updates originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already had a chance to try out Immersive Motion from Aiken Labs at CES, but now the nine-axis modular sensing system is making its way to Android and other mobile platforms, including iOS and Windows Phone. The more compact battery-powered server brings motion-controlled gaming to mobile environments, capturing position data from matchbox-size modular sensors that you can tape to a wooden sword or Viking helmet for live-action outdoor role-playing, or on you paws and dome during a virtual jam session with friends, for example. The mobile kit includes a pair of wireless sensors with a 50-foot range that you can attach to literally any accessory or appendage, and is expected to sell for about $300 when it ships later this year. You’ll also be able to connect up to two smaller wired sensors to each wireless sensor, for about $50 a pop.

The kit’s price tag makes it cost-prohibitive for all but the most hardcore gamers and devs (there’s an SDK available as well), but Aiken hopes to make its flagship product more affordable if its able to sell the kits in high volume. The tool has applications in other industries as well, including research and Hollywood, where it could be used as a (relatively) low-cost outdoor motion-capture suit. The early version we saw at E3 today is definitely not ready to head to production, but we’re still months away from an actual release, giving Aiken some time to improve accuracy, and perhaps find a way to reduce that price. Jump past the break to see how it works.

Tim Stevens contributed to this report.

Continue reading Aiken Labs brings 9-axis modular motion sensing to Android, we go hands-on (video)

Aiken Labs brings 9-axis modular motion sensing to Android, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already knew Windows Phone Mango would include SkyDrive functionality, but Microsoft has now released a few more details on some of the cloud storage features we can expect to see when the update rolls out, later this year. With the update, SkyDrive users will be able to share their stored photos via text message, e-mail or IM, and to upload their videos to the cloud with the touch of a button. They’ll also be able to browse, share and edit uploaded MS Office documents directly from their handhelds, while searching through their entire SkyDrive via the Office Hub. Storage limits remain capped at 25GB, though Microsoft says we should expect to see more cloud-based features roll out in the near future (including a revamped, HTML5-based SkyDrive web interface), so more changes may very well be on the horizon. Soar past the break for some demo videos from Redmond, along with a hands-on clip from WinRumors.

Continue reading Microsoft details SkyDrive integration with Windows Phone Mango (video)

Microsoft details SkyDrive integration with Windows Phone Mango (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We don’t envy AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega’s job one bit, nor the amount of time he spends on the hotseat. We do, however, admire his willingness to open his mouth and reveal interesting tidbits. Interviewed after his D9 appearance, de la Vega fielded questions about Windows Phone, confirming what we have suspected for quite some time: the platform hasn’t been selling as well as AT&T or Microsoft would’ve liked. He didn’t divulge numbers or get any more specific, but he did sound optimistic looking to the future. When asked if WP7 is a hard sell, de la Vega noted that it’s a brand new OS, and the growth both companies are hoping for will come once the Mango update is readily available; consumers are looking for a bigger app store, more functionality, and a larger number of features. So adding more functionality will make phones more appealing to consumers? Crazy thought. If you’re interested in seeing what else Ralph had to say in his one-on-one, head to the source link.

AT&T’s Ralph de la Vega: Windows Phones ‘not selling as well’ as hoped originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone Mango last month, the company spent a lot of time walking us through some of the 500-plus changes to the OS — most notably, conversation threads, people groups, enhanced search functionality, Twitter and LinkedIn integration, IE9, and the instantly responsive Bing Vision. It’s no wonder, then, that Redmond didn’t have much time to talk multimedia. Well, the company just spilled the beans in a blog post, laying out a raft of new features that run the gamut from podcasts to improved playback controls. We’ve got a lot to recap, so join us past the break, won’t you?

Continue reading Microsoft outlines new features for Windows Phone Mango’s Music and Video Hubs

Microsoft outlines new features for Windows Phone Mango’s Music and Video Hubs originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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