Hasta La Gadget!

The whole world and his neighbor’s dog may already know when Windows Phone 7 will be announced, but when are the actual phones going to hit actual shelves? If you’re in the US, that time still looks to be a month away, but the UK release window has just been narrowed down from late October to a single, albeit still speculative, date: October 21. Our tipster forwards the above snapshot from a Three UK document showing a “Windows 7Phone” nestled in between the BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Europa. Its Super AMOLED display tells us we’re definitely looking at a Samsung handset, while the 4-inch diagonal suggests it’ll be the Cetus (SGH-i916/7). This sheet of revelation also finally gives us a hint as to the number of apps WP7 will start off with, enumerating them at “over 2,000 at launch.” We don’t know why Microsoft’s been so shy about that number — 2,000 good apps are more than enough.

UK carrier’s roadmap points to October 21 release for Windows Phone 7, over 2,000 apps at launch originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 08:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not that the connection between AT&T and HTC’s Mondrian WP7 handset was under much doubt anymore, but here’s the first image purporting to show the carrier-branded version of the device. The render is provided by 911sniper, whose long and distinguished record of leaking legit HTC ROMs leads us to believe it is indeed the real deal. It’s curious then to juxtapose the somewhat bulky Mondrian on show here against the press imagery recently unearthed by BestBoyZ — are we still looking at the same device? Our eyeball geometry would suggest not. Anyway, there’s not too long left to go until Microsoft tidies this alphabet soup of codenames up for us, and until then we suggest just enjoying that tantalizing tile titled AT&T U-verse Mobile.

[Thanks, Kamal]

HTC Mondrian render teases AT&T U-verse Mobile for Windows Phone 7, looks fatter than last time originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 06:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In case you somehow missed it, Microsoft lodged a complaint with the ITC on Friday, alleging Motorola’s Android smartphones infringed on nine of its precious patents. You might imagine that’d sting the pride of Moto’s chief exec Sanjay Jha, but nothing could be further from the truth. Describing such turf wars over intellectual property as “part of business,” Sanjay explains that his company is willing to work with Microsoft on developing a handset based around its new OS, so long as the offering is “compelling.” He notes that the first call he received upon becoming co-CEO and handset division chief back in 2008 was from none other than Steve Ballmer, but Microsoft’s failure to deliver a new OS in ’09 is what compelled him to go the Android route (we doubt he regrets doing it, mind you!).

It’s no coincidence to our eyes that Microsoft went after the one top-tier Android phone maker that didn’t sign up to the Windows Phone 7 utopia project. We recall HTC was in hot water with the Redmond team back in April for similar reasons, and its resultant licensing of Microsoft’s patents seems to have been embedded into the WP7 partner agreements — which is why we’re not seeing the likes of ASUS and Samsung being served with similar complaints. So basically, if things get too hot and steamy, Moto could just kick out a token Windows Phone handset, get the accompanying licenses in order, and this whole thing blows over nice and peacefully. Marvelous.

Motorola is ‘open’ to developing Windows Phone 7 devices, but only if the OS proves compelling originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 08:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We love a nice pre-release leak as much as the next tech blog, but come on, aren’t you starting to feel sorry for these Windows Phone 7 guys? By the time Steve Ballmer takes the New York stage on Monday, we‘ll be more familiar with the stuff he’ll be showing off than the big Microsoft boss himself. Today, LG’s Optimus 7 handset has suffered the only indignity left, after being videoed, pictured, and handled many a time — it’s had its official press shots unleashed unto the world. It’d be hard for them to tell us anything we don’t already know, but at least they’re nice and neat. More at the source link.

[Thanks, Ravi]

LG E900 (aka Optimus 7) finds its official press pictures unofficially leaked originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 02:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is so bad, it’s hilarious. As if the HTC Mozart needed any further confirmation of its existence and imminent arrival to British shores, Orange’s official web portal has decided to instruct us on how to replace the internal bits of this unannounced Windows Phone 7 handset. That’s right, even though HTC and Microsoft are acting all cloak and dagger about it, the freaking phone’s name and likeness are hanging out on Orange’s official website. Have we said the word “official” enough times already? Skip past the break for a couple more image grabs which are sure to disappear just as soon as Orange finally figures out what day of the month this is.

Continue reading HTC Mozart slips out on official Orange UK website, shows us how to replace its SIM and battery

HTC Mozart slips out on official Orange UK website, shows us how to replace its SIM and battery originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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