Since last week, Microsoft has been pumping out apps for their own Windows Phone 7, but surprisingly, they have also launched a few apps for Apple iOS devices. Last week, Microsoft launched the new Xbox 360 dashboard and with it a few apps. Windows Phone 7 has had an Xbox Live app since its launch, but Microsoft took it to the next level with the Xbox Companion app. The app allows users to control the Xbox 360 from their phone. –> Read more
List/Grid Author Archives: Charles Puls
Microsoft Shows Apple Users Some Love
YouTube And Other Services Launched On Xbox 360 Today
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Last week, Microsoft pushed out the Fall 2011 Xbox update which visually revamped the entire console and launched a slew of new services. Today YouTube, among others, joins the console as a new way to access content. Microsoft continues to push the Xbox 360 into new territory and wants it to become the single most important item in your living room. It is no longer just for gaming, but accessing all sorts of video, music, tv, and –> Read more
Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update–No Where To Be Found
Today at 10 AM Eastern time, Microsoft was set to unleash the flood gates and send out an update to the Xbox 360’s around the globe. Obviously that time has long since past and still no updates. Microsoft has been silent about the update besides Major Nelson saying it might happen this afternoon and be patient (from his Twitter). Microsoft was also set to launch a “Xbox Companion” app for their Windows Phones. It has yet to show up in the –> Read more
New Xbox To Launch In 2013 According To Reports
Reports are coming in from across the gaming industry that indicate 2013 for the next generation Xbox to debut. The sources are chip manufacturer and middleware firms, so the people actually producing the hardware and they obviously have their time tables for production. The reveal is said to take place at E3 2013, with a late 2013, holiday, launch. –> Read more
Xbox Dashboard Update Landing November 25th
According to some reports the next major overhaul to the Xbox 360 is going out on Black Friday. The update will bring a host of new features to the gaming console and entirely new UI. More info after the break.
The UI design follows the direction that Windows Phone 7 and now Windows 8 have set forth, Metro. The update will include HBO, Verizon apps in the US and a BBC iPlayer in the UK. There is also talk of partners such as Comcast, Syfy, and Bravo. The update will also bring Microsoft’s search engine Bing to the console, which can be used to search across the entire library of games, music, music videos, TV, movies, and channels available on the console. –> Read more
Microsoft Reportedly Adding Comcast, Verizon Pay TV To Xbox Live + Other Services
Microsoft is said to be in talks with almost two dozen providers of music, sports, movies and TV shows in the US and Europe to bring more entertainment to the Xbox 360. There could even be an announcement as soon as next week on new services coming Xbox Live.
These new services would function much like the current ESPN service on Xbox Live. Customers must prove that they are existing customers to a cable company that supports ESPN3 in order for the ESPN channel to function on Xbox Live. Microsoft is supposedly in talks with Verizon, Comcast, HBO, Crackle, Bravo, Syfy and UK service Lovefilm. Sky TV is currently available to UK residents. –> Read more
Amazon Refreshes Entire Kindle Lineup + Introduces Kindle Fire
This morning Amazon layed all its cards on the table and finally unveiled four new Kindles. Amazon introduced the new basic Kindle starting at $79, Kindle touch at $99, Kindle Touch 3g at $149, and the new tablet, Kindle Fire at $199. You check out order info, specs, and videos after the break.
The Kindle e-readers have all new designs, which are much more streamlined and but still feature the e-Ink technology that allows the Kindles to be such a great e-readers. The Kindle is available for order today, and both variants of the Kindle Touch are available for pre-order and will ship November 21st. –> Read more
Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) Reviews
The embargo has been lifted, the updates are being pushed out and the reviews are in for the latest update to Microsoft Windows Phones. Past the break are a ton of reviews and their final impressions. –> Read more
Mango Update To Windows Phone Is LIVE (Plus A Ton Of Other Features)
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Microsoft has officially released the Mango update! It is now up for the carriers to actually roll it out to the phones. It is a staggered released globally, but it seems the majority of carriers have at least prepared for this update and are pushing the update out starting today.
Here in the US, Sprint has stated they will deliver the Mango Update to the HTC Arrive today. Sprint’s support pages for Windows Phone Mango update is now live here. Sprint has listed the Windows Phone Mango features and the instructions to update the phone on that page. The release date has been marked as 27/9, so expect it later today.
AT&T has also updated their Windows Phone Mango update support pages. The pages discusses the Mango update features and how to obtain the update. The update will roll out to the LG Quantum, HTC Surround and Samsung Focus starting today. For some reason the HTC HD7S will not be updated until the end –> Read more
Confirmed: HTC Radar 4G Coming To T-Mobile
TmoNews received convincing and confirming shots that the upcoming HTC Radar running Windows Phone (with Mango update) will be running on the T-Mobile network. The phone is clearly decked out with T-Mobile branding, boot screen, TV app and mention of T-Mobile in the “about” section of the phone.
There is word on when it will actually launch or for how much, but it will sporting 4G and the rest of the specs can be found here.
Check out all the photos at TmoNews.
I’ve also included a promo video from HTC showcasing the HTC Radar, check it out after the jump. –> Read more
HP Names Meg Whitman The New President And CEO
That’s right, just months after HP’s CEO Leo Apotheker announced HP was basically killing WebOS, selling its consumer computer division, and buying Autonomy, HP’s board has given him the boot. He held the position of CEO a less than a year and had just enacted a potentially irreversible shift to the company’s business model.
Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman has been named the new President and CEO of HP. She was an integral part of the growth at eBay when it first launched to becoming one of the most well known and popular websites on the internet.
In a statement, Whitman said, “I am honored and excited to lead HP. I believe HP matters – it matters to Silicon Valley, California, the country and the world.” –> Read more
Mango Update Coming To Existing Windows Phones
Microsoft has confirmed that the much talked about update, Mango, is coming to Windows Phones in the next TWO weeks. Microsoft has stated repeatedly the update would be coming in the “Fall.” I guess Microsoft considers October to be fall. Good news for the small percentage of users, as the update brings over 500 changes to the operating system. I’ve included a Microsoft video going over some core changes of the system after the break. –> Read more
Windows 8 Slate Hands On
Well the embargo has been lifted and all the big tech sites that actually got demo units from Microsoft have posted up their thoughts and videos. Right now the press conference is still going on and the live feed can be watched here. Videos after the jump. –> Read more
Microsoft’s Build Event Is Today
Today starting at 9 AM Pacific, Microsoft will host their build event. The event is expected to showcase Windows 8, the upcoming Windows operating system. There is a lot of excitement about the upcoming Windows due to its new interface and ability of running on desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablets. Everything. There is even some info floating around the Windows Phone 8 will be running on the same kernel as Windows 8. Simply put, Microsoft is combining all of its services and making them capable of running –> Read more
AT&T Announces Fall Windows Phone Lineup
Today AT&T announced three new Windows Phone devices coming to the carrier this fall. All three phones will be packing the latest update to Windows Phone, known as Mango or Windows Phone 7.5, both names are thrown around interchangeably. All three phones will be 4G handsets and they are as follows: HTC Titan, Samsung Focus S and Focus Flash. Details after the break.
The HTC Titan was unveiled just recently and we covered the specs here.
AT&T currently sells the Samsun Focus, so we can assume the Focus S is an updated version of the handset. It will have a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1.4Ghz CPU and an 8 megapixel rear camera, with a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. –> Read more
Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) Might Be Released September 15th
According to the latest round of rumors, Windows Phone 7.5 (codename Mango) could be released September 15th. It has been previously reported that it would be released the 1st of September, so we shall take these rumors with a grain of salt. This is the second time that rumors have pointed towards the 15th though. More and video after the break.
Mango brings over 500 updates to the Windows Phone from Microsoft. Of course the phones run Microsoft’s search engine Bing, and it receives tons of updates that make it the go to app on the phone with features such as: Local Scout, Bing Vision (think Google Goggles), Bing Audio (like Shazam, but baked into Bing), interior maps, Turn-by-Turn Bing Maps navigation, etc. –> Read more
Google Just Bought Zagat
“Google just got ZAGATRated!”
Google announced from their official blog they have just acquired Zagat. Google states “Zagat will be a cornerstore of our local offering—delighting people with their impressive array of review, ratings and insights, while enabling people everywhere to find extraordinary (and ordinary) experiences around the corner and around the world.”
This seems like a natural fit with Google search and maps combined with Zagat reviews. Yelp should be worried.
Microsoft Continues Patent Licensing Deals, Adds Acer And Viewsonic
This morning, the guys in Redmond announced two new licensing agreements with Acer and Viewsonic. This adds to the growing list of companies that are licensing patents from Microsoft. Just a few months ago, Microsoft struck similar deals with Itronix and Velocity Micro. These deals ensure Microsoft receives royalties from the Viewsonic and Acer, due to patent infringement that pertains to both companies’ Android smartphones and tablets.
Fall Release For Ice Cream Sandwich Confirmed By Eric Schmidt
At a DreamForce conference, Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, let it slip that Ice Cream Sandwich will be coming in October or November. Ice Cream Sandwich is the forthcoming update to the Google’s Android mobile operating system, that will combine Gingerbread (phones) and Honeycomb (tablet) into one unified operating system. Video after the jump.
Microsoft Confirms Hyper-V Is Built Into Windows 8, Infinitely Backwards Compatible
Microsoft revealed the support of Hyper-V at the official Windows 8 blog. Hyper-V is important as it allows the end users to run more than one 32-bit or 64-bit OS at the same time on the same computer.
“In building Windows 8 we worked to enable Hyper-V, the machine virtualization technology that has been part of the last 2 releases of Windows Server, to function on the client OS as well,” said Hyper-V program manager Mathew John. Video after the jump. –> Read more
