Microsoft serves up a ‘NoDo’ update schedule for Windows Phone 7 devices

Where is your Windows Phone 7 “NoDo” update? That’s the question Microsoft is aiming to answer with a new spreadsheet it has cobbled together to detail the software status of all WP7 handsets released so far. A February preparatory patch and the long-anticipated first proper upgrade to the OS, herein titled merely “March update,” are sat side by side, with a set of delivery states under them for each WP7 phone. Things aren’t looking awesome in the US, where AT&T’s batch is still undergoing carrier testing and T-Mobile’s pair of phones are “scheduling” (which Microsoft says takes no more than 10 days), but news is better overseas, where most have received the February OTA and are mere days away from the final NoDo goodness. Sprint’s HTC Arrive and AT&T’s upcoming HD7S will both have that software preloaded, so at least new buyers won’t have to fret unduly.

[Thanks, Arty]

Microsoft serves up a ‘NoDo’ update schedule for Windows Phone 7 devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon renews HTC Trophy offer for Microsoft employees

Early 2011” is rapidly passing us by — as, for that matter, is March — but we still wouldn’t rule out a Verizon Wireless launch of the HTC Trophy smartphone. You see, the carrier’s seemingly still advertising the Windows Phone 7 device inside Microsoft itself, in a likely attempt to gather preorders before the device hits shelves. We can’t say for sure when the phone will actually arrive, of course, but if we were the gambling type, we’d toss some horseshoes in the general direction of April Fools’ and pray they find a mark.

Verizon renews HTC Trophy offer for Microsoft employees originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC HD7S hands-on

HTC’s HD7 was certainly one of the most handsome devices to be launched back at Windows Phone 7’s retail introduction late last year — and really, when you take the HD2’s heritage as your starting point, it’s hard to go wrong. Of course, in the last year and a half, mobile display technology has advanced by leaps and bounds — and the original HD7 was using nothing more than a standard, old-school TFT LCD with less-than-perfect contrast and viewing angle specs. Well, that’s where the HD7S comes into play: the “S” in the name presumably stands for Super LCD, the newer type of display that HTC’s been using on recent 4.3-inch models like the Thunderbolt. It’s quite pretty, but otherwise, it’s the same HD7 as usual — and really, considering how nice this hardware is, that’s just alright by us. The phone also comes with the so-called “NoDo” update of Windows Phone 7 preinstalled, a fact we were able to verify with a quick look of the version number being reported in system settings. Check it out in the gallery!

HTC HD7S hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 ‘NoDo’ update starts rolling out, brings copy / paste and other fun additions

Don’t mind that ruckus over in the corner — that’s just millions of Windows Phone 7 users jumping around in boundless celebration. After hearing that the so-called NoDo update would be splashing down on WP7 phones in early February, it seems as if the coders at Microsoft took a few extra weeks to get things just right. Today, the company updated their Windows Phone update history to describe the new features that are rolling out in staggered fashion to phones around the globe, and the standout addition is the copy and paste functionality that AT&T’s HD7S will ship with later in the year. You’ll also see your apps and games load faster, your marketplace searches refined and your WiFi performance improved. There’s also a host of Outlook, messaging, Facebook, audio and camera improvements, though it remains unclear if said video camera now retains your shooting preferences even after you exit the app. Hang tight if you haven’t seen your update notification just yet, and be sure to let us know how the new build is treating you down in comments below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 ‘NoDo’ update starts rolling out, brings copy / paste and other fun additions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 hack brings instant app resumption, mobile multitasking to the masses

Looking for a little snappier response when jumping to and fro between apps on your WP7 device? Well, do we have just the hack for you — a dev from Windows Phone Hacker, Jaxbot, did some poking around in the Window’s Phone registry and found a way to instantly resume apps, no muss, no fuss. By setting the “DehydrateOnPause” registry key value to zero, he got rid of that pesky app dehydration / rehydration process altogether. Keep in mind there may be some “undesirable” side effects from force-feeding your device multitasking (ADD?) ahead of schedule and you’ll need a developer-unlocked device to access the registry, so only advanced users need apply — you taking notes, Mr. Ballmer? Hit up the source link for the full monty, and check out the hack in action after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 hack brings instant app resumption, mobile multitasking to the masses

Windows Phone 7 hack brings instant app resumption, mobile multitasking to the masses originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Arrive now available for $200 from Sprint (update: $50 at Amazon)

It’s March 20th and, right on schedule, Sprint has started taking orders for its first Windows Phone 7 handset. The HTC 7 Pro, renamed the Arrive on the Now Network, can now be had for $200 after rebate when bought with the customary two-year contract. Amazon’s doing its usual thing of undercutting carriers’ own pricing by offering it up for 50 greenbacks less at $150, and we suspect other online retailers will follow suit. So affordability shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re still wondering if the investment will be worth it, we’ll have our review of this handset early next week — just before Sprint makes it irrelevant by blowing the doors off CTIA.

[Thanks, Justin]

Update: That was quick, Amazon’s dropped its price to just $50.

HTC Arrive now available for $200 from Sprint (update: $50 at Amazon) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Arrive now available for $200 from Sprint, $150 at Amazon

It’s March 20th and, right on schedule, Sprint has started taking orders for its first Windows Phone 7 handset. The HTC 7 Pro, renamed the Arrive on the Now Network, can now be had for $200 after rebate when bought with the customary two-year contract. Amazon’s doing its usual thing of undercutting carriers’ own pricing by offering it up for 50 greenbacks less at $150, and we suspect other online retailers will follow suit. So affordability shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re still wondering if the investment will be worth it, we’ll have our review of this handset early next week — just before Sprint makes it irrelevant by blowing the doors off CTIA.

[Thanks, Justin]

HTC Arrive now available for $200 from Sprint, $150 at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Ignite, Prime, and Pyramid renders surface?

Even before the Incredible S was announced as the company’s new top-of-the-line set back in February, the rumored Pyramid was the upcoming HTC phone that was capturing everyone’s imagination thanks in no small part to its promise of a dual-core processor — something the Incredible S notably lacks. We hadn’t seen what this beast might look like, though… until today. Chinese site xda.cn has posted alleged renders of the Pyramid’s front and rear, showing a careful evolution of HTC’s current design language along with claims of a 4.3-inch 960 x 540 display, 8 megapixel primary and 1.3 megapixel front cameras, 768MB of RAM, and Android 3.0 (that last bit doesn’t sound right to us, though — Android 2.x with Sense would be more plausible). Rumors have this one pegged for launch on T-Mobile at some point this year; it’d be nice if that happened at CTIA next week, but considering how tied up they might be with Sprint at the show, it’s hard to say if that’ll happen.

Moving on, we’ve got some visual evidence here that HTC’s pressing on with its Windows Phone line. The first of the two, the Ignite, looks like a midrange slate thanks to an 800MHz Qualcomm processor (clocked slower than the current batch of 1GHz units that are out there), a mere 3.7-inch display, and a 5 megapixel camera around back. The Prime, meanwhile, looks like a little brother to the 7 Pro thanks to a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and similar specs to the Ignite — not blockbusters by any stretch, but HTC (along with other OEMs) might be waiting to pull out the big guns until Mango. Check out those renders at the source link.

HTC Ignite, Prime, and Pyramid renders surface? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PocketNow  |  sourcexda.cn  | Email this | Comments

HTC Arrive up for $50 pre-order at Wirefly, requires new Sprint account and two-year contract

HTC’s first Windows Phone 7 QWERTY slider handset is a mere five days away from its launch on Sprint, but already there’s an online retailer keen to undercut everyone else for your business. Wirefly is currently offering the HTC Arrive (aka the 7 Pro outside the US) for $49.99 in upfront costs when bought in conjunction with a new two-year service plan from Sprint on, importantly, a new account. Eligible upgraders will have to shell out $149.99 for the privilege, though that’s still less than Sprint’s own $199.99 pricing. If you find it any cheaper elsewhere, do make sure to let us know.

HTC Arrive up for $50 pre-order at Wirefly, requires new Sprint account and two-year contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Windows Phone Thoughts, everythingwm  |  sourceWirefly  | Email this | Comments

Windows Phone 7 Marketplace hits 10,000 apps, Microsoft WP7 updates still way outnumbered

It’s a milestone in the life of any OS: the day you reach that magical 10,000 app number. Windows Phone 7 is the latest kindred soul to achieve the feat, accomplishing the task in just over four and a half months — that’s faster than both the Android Marketplace and iTunes App Store. Microsoft’s been adding around 1,000 apps a week since it hit 5k right before the New Year, and as of late that rate’s been picking up. Congrats WP7 devs, you’ve officially issued more software updates than Microsoft itself. Your move Microsoft, we’re still waiting for copy & paste.

Windows Phone 7 Marketplace hits 10,000 apps, Microsoft WP7 updates still way outnumbered originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWindows Phone 7 Applications  | Email this | Comments