ces2011

I don’t believe Microsoft could have fit anything else into CES this year without the entire building expanding, providing the audience with insights into what’s coming and what’s to be expected. There were many key products announced while all things Windows Phone 7 left many slightly disappointed.

A Microsoft employee threw some comments about where the mobile platform may head from here on out. A feature that was discussed is an application sharing the same concept as FaceTime. However, the obvious observation being that no WP7 device currently has a front-facing camera. Could be a new feature for future WP7 devices, or a WP8 requirement? A front-facing camera for WP8 has been hinted at.

One feature of the iPhone that owners are extremely pleased with (and is the reason as to why some wont switch) is FaceTime – a family member came round my house with her new iPhone 4 the other day needing assistance with setting it up. It is pretty impressive, wandering around talking and watching someone who is doing the exact same thing, only thousands of miles away.

Microsoft may be slightly behind in the smart phone marathon, but they are pulling out all guns and a FaceTime feature for Windows Live wouldn’t be surprising, which would make a partnership with Skype less likely. The service they offer through Live is growing along with its user-base (I, myself have barely used it prior to WP7) and integrating services such as this would be a huge plus, especially for the platform itself.

Source: NeoWin

CNET managed to get some more information from Microsoft regarding the upcoming January/February update to Windows Phone 7, described by Ballmer during his keynote. While we know about copy and paste but the other new feature quoted as a "significant improvement in performance when loading or switching between applications" was left a little vague.

Aaron Woodman, director of Microsoft's mobile communications business, went over some of the details with CNET and it turns out to be pretty interesting. In short, front-loading, graphic intensive apps will see the most, maybe even dramatic, improvement, while more text-based apps won't see as much. Basically, things like XBox games and apps with locally stored information will get a huge boost. However, apps like Flixster won't see much of an improvement, only because they pull down their data from the web and that's a different thing altogether.

When given an example like Bejewled, the comparison between an updated and non-updated device was given to CNET. Evidently, the updated device loaded Bejeweled a full 15-20 seconds faster than the non-updated version, which Woodman appropriately called "dramatic". What is nice of course is the fact that developers need not make any changes to their coding--this is all on Microsoft's memory architecture and how it allocates resources, so technically every app will see a gain, just some more than others.

Finally, you can also sense the nervousness of Microsoft regarding app-updates. While there are many "unknowns" about the whole process, the feeling from this and other interviews on the matter is Microsoft doesn't know either: they taking baby steps to make sure it all goes smoothly and they are leaving themselves wiggle room to adjust if needed.

Source: CNET

San Francisco based startup AppMakr announced today at CES that it will be bringing its application-building platform to wannabe WP7 developers in the near future. AppMakr, which is currently only available for iOS, "enables anyone to build rich content based apps using a point and click solution," regardless of programming experience or know-how. The company also revealed that they will be launching Android support at the time as the Windows Phone version in February, boasting the "industry’s first 'No Coding Required' mobile application platform for multiple mobile OS."

AppMakr co-founder, Daniel Odio, expressed cautious optimism at the quick success of WP7: “We’re definitely making a little bit of a bet here, but we see it paying off early.” The company also extended the opportunity to beta test to anyone who wishes to sign up at: http://go.AppMakr.com/beta

Here's to bringing geekdom to the people. And probably more fart apps, flashlights and tip calculators. Come on people! Enough already!

Source: AppMakr; via: BizJournals

Today, AT&T unveiled it's plans to deliver the "Nation's most advanced mobile broadband experience" by adding 4G. The announcement came today at AT&T's Developer's Conference that leads up to the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show.

The initiative includes three areas of concentration.

• AT&T plans to accelerate its LTE network build and launch the services mid-2011. The network is expected to be largely completed by year end 2013.  AT&T is quickly expanding ethernet and fiber to cell sites nationwide as well as adding new cell sites to the network.  By the end of the 2011, AT&T expects that nearly two-thirds of its mobile broadband traffic will be on expanded backhaul.

• AT&T plans to introduce 20 4G compatible smartphones by the end of 2011. Some of these phones will be exclusive to AT&T. Five to seven of these devices are expected to be available by the first half of 2011.

• AT&T also plans to provide customers access to more mobile applications. The wireless company plans to expand it's leadership in apps with new initiatives to speed collaboration with developers.

Android will likely lead the charge with the initial 4G push by AT&T and maybe a few Windows Phones will surface within the twenty expected devices that are 4G capable.  The twenty new devices sounds promising but it's our understanding this includes not only smartphones but also wireless devices such modems, air cards, etc.

Hopefully more will be revealed on AT&T's push for 4G in the coming days at the 2011 CES.

Source: AT&T; via: BGR