The Engadget Show returns this Saturday, Feb. 27th… now with live streaming!

We’ve heard your pleas, citizens of Engadget, and we are pleased as punch to announce that The Engadget Show taping this Saturday, February 27th at 5pm will be streaming live, direct to you via the internet! We’ll be sitting down with Avner Ronen, creator and CEO of Boxee and taking a look at the forthcoming (and very anticipated) Boxee Box. Not only that, but we’ll have a Windows Phone 7 Series device on hand for a demo and discussion, you’ll be meeting our new investigative correspondent Rick Karr, and we’ll have more of the classic Engadget Show shenanigans you’ve come to know and love. You can also expect good, clean music from Nullsleep, and stunning visuals from Outpt and Paris. We’ll be doing giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person! If for some reason you live in not-New York, you can catch the show streaming live, right here on Engadget — and you’ll be able to tweet comments directly to the show stream! Like Josh said, if you miss this one, you’ll basically have zero good stories to tell your grandchildren.

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 all the info you need:

  • There is no admission fee — tickets are completely free
  • The event is all ages
  • Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:30PM on Saturday, doors will open for seating at 4:30PM, and the show begins at 5PM
  • 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.

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 this Saturday, Feb. 27th… now with live streaming!

Filed under:

The Engadget Show returns this Saturday, Feb. 27th… now with live streaming! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

LG not interested in proprietary smartphone OS, likes Android and Windows Phone 7

LG has told the press at MWC that it will not be developing its own smartphone platform “at least for the next two to three years.” We think companies should focus on what they do well, and given our ambivalence toward the S-Class UI, it’s probably a good thing that LG will narrow its operation down to churning out delectable slabs of electronics and leaving the software side to the geeks over at Google and Microsoft. The head of the company’s handset unit, Skott Ahn, has indicated that the future of LG smartphones will be shared between Android and Windows Phone 7 (sorry, Symbian lovers). It will have taken plenty of restraint to not respond to local nemesis Samsung — who has just introduced its first Bada handset — but LG appears to be of the opinion (which we share) that the smartphone OS sector is already overcrowded, and its expectation is that over the next couple of years the market will distill itself down to just three predominant operating systems.

LG not interested in proprietary smartphone OS, likes Android and Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Arena  |  sourceFierce Wireless  | Email this | Comments

Windows Phone 7 development policies and guidelines leaked?

We expect to learn a lot more about Microsoft’s plan to entice developers to Windows Phone 7 at the MIX 2010 developers conference. Until then (March 15-17), aspiring WP7 devs have to rely upon rumor and innuendo to feed their curiosity. So here you go: three purportedly official Microsoft docs from January that provide a glimpse into Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS 7.0 Application Platform. First up, the docs claim that WPOS 7.0 is built around Silverlight, XNA (like the Zune HD), and the .NET Compact Framework — a mostly clean break from WinMo’s past as far as developers are concerned. Native apps are restricted to OEMs and mobile operators in order to extend the experience and functionality specific to a phone or network. Even then, they’ll be limited to a set of managed APIs that Microsoft will audit during the app submission and provisioning process. Sound familiar?

As you’d expect, the OS supports preemptive multitasking — not that Microsoft will necessarily allow its devs (OEMs, mobile operators, and independent software vendors) to send their apps to the background. The primary development tools include Microsoft’s Visual Studio 2010 and Express Blend used in combination with a Windows Phone emulator. Check the docs in the gallery for the full read and be sure to hit up XDA-Developers if you want to commiserate with your like-minded peers.

Windows Phone 7 development policies and guidelines leaked? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WMPoweruser  |  sourceXDA-Developers  | Email this | Comments

Windows Mobile 6.5 to be redubbed Windows Phone Classic?

What, you didn’t think Microsoft would really keep up with the non-parallel syntax of “Windows Phone 7 Series” and “Windows Mobile 6.x,” did you? We knew Windows Mobile 6.5.3 would continue its admittedly less chic existence, but now comes word via I Started Something that it’ll be rebranded as Windows Phone Classic. The name change apparently won’t take effect until the 7 Series devices start hitting consumer hands — can’t have a classic without something newer to take its place, right? No worries, Sense UI fans, it looks like you’ll still have plenty of WinMo support, even if that portmanteau goes the way of the dinosaur.

Windows Mobile 6.5 to be redubbed Windows Phone Classic? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink jkOnTheRun  |  sourceI Started Something  | Email this | Comments

Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know

Microsoft just planted a massive flag in the ground with the debut of Windows Phone 7 Series. The company’s new mobile operating system is a radical and potent departure from the past, and there’s a lot to take in — so we’ve gathered together all our knowledge and impressions of the device so far and rolled them into a single, concise guide. Of course, there will be plenty more to learn in the coming months, and we’re going to be beating down Redmond’s door for more details on this thing, but for now let’s dive into what Microsoft has revealed so far about its latest and (potentially) greatest phone operating system.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know

Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Switched On: Making it different versus making a difference

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

How many apps does it take to screw in a light bulb? That was the question facing Microsoft as rival mobile operating systems backed by Apple and Google added tens of thousands of applications giving users stylus-free access to a wide range of capabilities. For a company whose co-founder trumpeted the notion of information at your fingertips, it was a bitter position. The light bulb wasn’t screwed, but Microsoft looked as though it was.

Finally, though, the light bulb has turned on, and it has lit a path in the opposite direction from the guiding user interface philosophy that characterized Windows Mobile, née Windows CE, since it powered devices known as Pocket PCs. With its miniature Start menu, menu bars and icons, Windows Mobile had been designed to present a familiar interface to those used to using Windows 95. In this case, however, familiarity bred contempt. As Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore repeated several times during his introduction of the new Windows Phone 7 OS, “the phone is not a PC.”

Continue reading Switched On: Making it different versus making a difference

Switched On: Making it different versus making a difference originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

The Engadget Show returns February 27th with Boxee’s Avner Ronen, Windows Phone 7 Series, and more!

If you’re a fan of entertainment of the digital variety, you’d be a fool to miss the next live taping of The Engadget Show. We’ll be sitting down with Avner Ronen, creator and CEO of Boxee and taking a look at the forthcoming (and very anticipated) Boxee Box. We’ll also be discussing Avner’s strategy for taking on the networks and cable providers, and the best methods of defending oneself from Jeff Zucker. Not only that, but we’ll have a Windows Phone 7 Series device on hand for a demo and discussion, plus the regular kind of Engadget Show zaniness you’ve come to know and love. You can also expect good clean music from Nullsleep, and stunning visuals from Outpt and Paris. If you miss this one, you’ll basically have zero good stories to tell your grand children.

The 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 all the info you need:

  • There is no admission fee — tickets are completely free
  • The event is all ages
  • Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:30PM on Saturday, doors will open for seating at 4:30PM, and the show begins at 5PM
  • 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.

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 February 27th with Boxee’s Avner Ronen, Windows Phone 7 Series, and more!

The Engadget Show returns February 27th with Boxee’s Avner Ronen, Windows Phone 7 Series, and more! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Commodore PET caught running Windows Phone 7 Series?

We’re not sure what to think of this one, but it would be remiss of us not to pass it along to you. On one hand, pics like this can be faked pretty easily these days. Yet again, the tipster seemed pretty convincing: he used the term “datassette” like he knew what he was talking about. We’ll let you be the judge, OK?

Update: We have received one further image, which seems a little more… plausible? Not really — but you can scope it after the break nonetheless. Thanks, Lincoln!

Continue reading Commodore PET caught running Windows Phone 7 Series?

Commodore PET caught running Windows Phone 7 Series? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Windows Phone 7 Series Marketplace gets pictured

Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore did a really thorough job yesterday of walking us through the key hubs on the shiny new Windows Phone 7 OS, but one area that was conspicuously missed out in the overview was the Marketplace. Well, let us fill in that gap of knowledge right quick with the above image of the interface. As you can see, the first thing visible when you enter the hub is a full-screen feature for individual games or applications — this could either work as with the music hub, wherein you see the last bit of content you accessed or, less awesomely, could function as a promotional (read: advertising) spot before you get into the market proper. The Marketplace is then fragmented into its constituent elements, with apps, games, music and podcasts leading you into their respective subsections. We’ve grabbed an image of how the Applications section will look as well, which you can see for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series Marketplace gets pictured

Windows Phone 7 Series Marketplace gets pictured originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pocketnow  |  sourcePeter Wissinger  | Email this | Comments

Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 7 Series

Microsoft took a dramatic step with Windows Phone 7 Series this morning at MWC in Barcelona, and obviously we’ve been talking about it all day here at Engadget HQ. Just like with the iPad and the Droid, opinions on the staff are all over the map — it’s not every day that a company reboots an entire OS — so we’re going to let everyone speak for themselves, starting with the people who’ve handled Windows Phone 7 Series in person: Josh, Chris, Thomas, and Sean.

Josh:

The most astonishing thing about Windows Phone 7 Series is how completely it’s managed to obliterate its Windows Mobile roots. Let’s just be crystal clear about it: this is unlike anything the company has ever done, both in distancing itself from its past, and in the clarity of its vision. From the floor to ceiling, 7 Series is just a very new operating system with very new ideas about how users should be involved with their devices. What people should recognize is that the Windows Mobile team has made a huge gamble that upending its ailing OS was the only solution… and from the looks of things, that gamble has paid off. But this isn’t a battle already won — it’s a battle yet to be fought. There’s still much we don’t know about this OS, and plenty to be concerned about when it comes to turning what looks nice in a demo into a daily use smartphone. There are huge questions to be answered. How are notifications handled? What kind of SDK will be made available to developers? How rigid will the user experience guidelines be? What is the real story on multitasking? Will the phone support third party browsers, email clients, or messaging applications? Can hardware manufacturers differentiate their products enough? Will the basic phone experience be useful to enterprise users or others looking for a workhorse and not just a pretty face?

Honestly, those are just a few of the questions I have — but I also continue to be impressed with Microsoft’s fierceness of conviction on this platform. If the company can hew close enough to its promises and deliver on the tall order it’s set out for itself, then hope for Windows in the mobile space is far from dead. It’s about to be reborn.

Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 7 Series

Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 7 Series originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments