Rumors

With Nokia’s first desktop app coming could this be a sign of a Nokia Win 8 Tablet?

By Daniel Rubino, Monday, Jan 28, 2013 at 12:32 pm

This morning we posted Nokia’s brief demonstration of Music+ for Windows Phone, HTML5 and Windows 8. We expect to hear a lot more on this and other Nokia news in the coming weeks at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (we’ll be there in force to cover it), so we forgive their brevity on the new music service. Consider it a tease.

What’s not said though is how significant it is that Nokia is making their first Windows 8 and RT app.

Granted, writing an RT app once you have a Windows Phone compile is supposed to be easier. But writing a native Windows desktop client? That's a little trickier. That raises some interesting questions including just how large is Nokia’s Windows desktop team? Is it a 3 man crew or a whole group including engineers?

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Verizon Nokia 'Laser': A rumored Lumia 920 variant coming soon

By Sam Sabri, Thursday, Jan 24, 2013 at 6:02 pm

Here in the US, the only way to get a top notch Nokia device has always been with AT&T. That’s about to change with Verizon rumored to be getting two killer devices from Nokia. We’ve already covered some rumors in the past regarding Big Red and Espoo, but here’s another to get you stoked for the coming year.

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Specs of next generation Xbox supposedly leaked, includes everything and the kitchen sink

By Rich Edmonds, Monday, Jan 21, 2013 at 4:28 pm

Specifications have been leaked for the 360's successor.

With E3 approaching closer as each day passes, there's going to be more and more salt being thrown at consumers from sources who wish to either leak valid details about Microsoft's next generation Xbox console, or stir up false rumour. The latest information comes from VGleaks, who doesn't have a significant track record, but has published detailed articles surrounding the Playstation 4, WiiU and Xbox.

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Android fans rumored to be getting bigger, more powerful HTC 8X clone with the M7

Rumors

By Daniel Rubino, Monday, Jan 21, 2013 at 11:56 am

Here’s an interesting twist: An HTC Windows Phone design is evidently being reused for a new Android phone. Yes, after a few cycles of having it in reverse it appears now that HTC will take their highly praised 8X design and recycle it for a new Android M7.

The images come via Android Police and while this is far from official (or 100% confirmed), the phone looks different enough from the 8X to be legitimate.

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January 31st aiming to be official start of Windows Phone 7.8 update program by Microsoft

By Daniel Rubino, Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 12:53 pm

Although Microsoft itself has been officially mum on when the Windows Phone 7.8 update will go out to the masses, the end of January is coming into focus as the target date.

On the face of it, Windows Phone 7.8 is a minor update bringing only the ability to use three different size tiles on the Start screen, reflecting the Windows Phone 8 paradigm in addition to some smaller, device specific enhancements. But based user experience, 7.8 really does make a difference in perception, making older devices feel more modern.

Huawei Ascend W1, the cheapest Windows Phone ever?

By Chassit, Saturday, Jan 19, 2013 at 9:56 am

As one of the launching OEM partners of Microsoft, Huawei is terribly late with their Windows Phone products. It took them awful lot of time to bring Ascend W1 to the market. The device is barely unique by any means so far. But if the picture above is to be trusted, things might start to turn in Huawei's favor.

Hope for Windows Phone 7.8 as O2 says it’s due by the end of January

By Daniel Rubino, Friday, Jan 18, 2013 at 1:36 pm

We know a lot of people are anxious for Windows Phone 7.8, the OS update for current Windows Phone 7.xx users who want the new “look” of 3 Live Tile sizes, in addition to some other minor enhancements.

O2, via Twitter support, has responded to one customer by stating the update will come by the end of January and will be delivered by Zune desktop.

We should caution that O2 Twitter is not exactly an official announcement and we have seen some false information come from carrier support before, but the detail and confidence by which O2 responded here gives us some hope.

Late but never out, Samsung ATIV Odyssey to launch on January 24?

Rumors

By Sam Sabri, Thursday, Jan 17, 2013 at 7:48 pm

Here is some good news for everyone on Verizon who can’t wait to get their paws on the Samsung ATIV Odyssey, it could be a week away. This little nugget of information comes from Twitter leakster @evleaks, who has a solid history of being accurate. He (she?) has shown off things in the past like these renders of the Lumia 920 or these of the Lumia 822 and charging pad.

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Microsoft reportedly putting Skype at center of communications for all devices and services

By Daniel Rubino, Thursday, Jan 17, 2013 at 4:46 pm

We can file this one under “saw it coming from a mile away” but Computer and Video Games (CVG.com) has quoted an unnamed source who states Microsoft will be "consolidating all their communications technology" around the Skype platform. That includes the next generation Xbox, PCs, Tablets and in a way, even on our phones.

LG to return to the Windows Phone 8 fold in 2013? Korea Times says yes.

By Daniel Rubino, Wednesday, Jan 16, 2013 at 12:34 am

Could LG be releasing some new Windows Phone 8 hardware this year? According to the Korea Times, citing a senior executive from one of LG’s local partners, the answer is ‘yes’.

The paper reveals the tidbit under the bigger news of LGs ambitions for 2013, including the goal of selling 75 million handsets, which is no small feat even with Android seemingly doing so well.

LG famously had cold feet with Microsoft last year over the new OS and although they were initially expected to release new hardware they backed out. That was even after Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reportedly try to persuade the massive Korean company otherwise.

Huawei Ascend W2, the thinnest Win Phone coming to MWC?

Rumors

By RedNBlack77, Monday, Jan 14, 2013 at 12:17 pm

Richard Yu, head of Huawei's mobile division, said that the company will be presenting their flagship Windows Phone 8 device, the Ascend W2, at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress in February. The comment came via Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter. We got a taste of Huawei's Windows Phone expertise at CES with their Ascend W1, but the W2 promises to be a bit more intriguing, as it looks to be the thinnest Windows Phone 8 device yet.

The story behind the difficult birth of the Huawei Ascend W1 Windows Phone

Rumors

By Chassit, Saturday, Jan 5, 2013 at 11:29 pm

Hello everyone. We just spotted this story behind the very much postponed product from one of Microsoft's most reluctant OEM: Ascend W1 by the Chinese phone maker Huawei. Huawei is expected to be formally (and finally) announcing the W1 on the upcoming CES 2013. I'm not sure how many of you guys are actually waiting for it, but in case you are hot in anticipation indeed, the following story will probably explain all the quietness and terrible delay that paved a bumpy road for this phone.

Windows Phone 8 Portico: Now going out to HTC 8X devices in Spain

By robert brand, Friday, Dec 21, 2012 at 9:01 am

We have been tipped off that the first over the air update ‘Portico’ for Windows Phone 8 might be hitting devices on Vodafone Spain.

One of our readers was informed by push notification last night that the update was available and is now sporting 8.0.10211.204 on his HTC 8X.

Elop: Nokia planning exciting things with Verizon. Flagship Windows Phone?

Rumors

By Rich Edmonds, Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 7:42 pm

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has hinted in an interview with CNET that the Finnish company could be planning a flagship Windows Phone for US carrier Verizon. Much like the Lumia 920 deal with AT&T (and EE here in the UK), Nokia may have a device in the works that could well be exclusive to Verizon.

Nokia reportedly not coming to CES 2013, waiting for MWC instead

Rumors

By Chassit, Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 10:41 am

According to the latest rumor, Nokia has just cancelled its plan of showcasing new products at the upcoming CES in January 2013. Instead, the Finnish phone maker is now cooking up some surprises for Mobile World Congress 2013, about one month after the CES (Windows Phone Central will be at both events).

People have been expecting Nokia to bring up the next wave of Lumia devices, and probably more powerful Pureview goodies, for CES 2013. The month-long postpone could be a sign that Nokia indeed has something up its sleeves, and is needing a little bit more time to polish it. Let's just be patient.

Meanwhle, Huawei's first ever Windows Phone device the Ascend W1 is expected to be revealed on CES 2013.

Source: WPDang

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HTC reportedly cancels large-screened Windows Phone amid resolution issues

By Daniel Rubino, Monday, Dec 17, 2012 at 11:13 am

One step forward and two steps back. Sometimes that old saying can be applied to Microsoft, who despite doing their best to stay ahead is often slightly behind.

Such is the case with Windows Phone 8 and the ability to now have 720P and 763x1280 resolutions. On screens that are 4.7” or smaller, it’s simply stunning and a nice treat to have but its apparent limits may now be its undoing as HTC has reportedly cancelled a new Windows Phone because of it.

The phone, possibly the rumored HTC Zenith, has allegedly been abandoned due to the fact that Windows Phone 8 cannot do 1080P resolution, which would scale nicely on post 4.8” devices. The boundary, something for which Android has no problem with, is said to have been the deciding factor for HTC as anything less than 1080P would not be as competitive.

Images leak of unknown mid-range Nokia Lumia phone

By Daniel Rubino, Friday, Dec 14, 2012 at 10:53 am

New images of what looks to be an unidentified Nokia phone have shown up on the web today. Not much is known about the device revealed in these photos, except that they are of a Nokia phone running Windows Phone 8 at 800x480 resolution. The device lacks the famed polycarbonate body of the high Lumia 9xx series and that resolution makes this a mid-range device, at best.

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Nokia reveals inbound Windows Phone 7.8 features

By robert brand, Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 11:00 am

Nokia appears to have revealed the highlights of the coming Windows Phone 7.8 update scheduled for the previous version of the operating system.

It is well known that the home screen will be updated to allow the three new tile sizes and remove the familiar side gutter but looks like much more is coming.

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Microsoft & Apple tussle over SkyDrive, Xbox Music and Office for iOS cash grab?

Rumors

By robert brand, Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 10:43 am

Today there has been a report that Microsoft and Apple are currently at a stalemate with a supposed app update to SkyDrive on iOS. Apple has allegedly blocked the update as they are now demanding a 30% cut of revenue from SkyDrive subscriptions.

It is not possible to purchase more storage from within the SkyDrive app, if the report from TheNextWeb is true this could mean bad news for iOS versions of the Office Apps.

A Windows Phone Watch? New Kickstarter project looks good but may be unrealistic.

Rumors

By robert brand, Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 12:45 pm

What could be better than having a little bit of Windows Phone 8 goodness strapped to your wrist? If the Kickstarter project Gnomio ever comes to fruition then we might just get a device that works via Bluetooth to send alerts for all kinds of things to your watch.

The devices are purportedly being ranged in some Windows Phone 8 friendly hues called the Gnomio Fresh or a sturdier metal finished ‘Strong’ variant. Could this be the ultimate Windows Phone accessory?