smoked

Microsoft has pushed out yet another update for their Insider app--the app that gives you free Bing wallpapers, ringtones, tips and more from the Windows Phone Team.

What's unique about this update though (and smart) is the inclusion of the Smoked by Windows Phone logo/wallpaper which you can then use for your Lock screen. Pretty cool idea, although if we could offer some criticism: the text on the wallpaper overlaps with the Lock screen info, making it perhaps not the smartest decision for reading visibility.

A smaller, notable change is also the new Bing logo in the wallpaper info-bar area. Don't worry, it doesn't save like that.

The Insider app is updated about once a month to include new ringtones and wallpaper and seeing as its free, we see no reason to not have this on your phone (we really like 'Aphex' for our ringtone). Pick it up here in the Marketplace. Thanks, @WobblyChair, for the tip!

AndroidCentral's Phil Nickinson feels the burn

What we thought may be a one-off contest has seemingly turned into a viral campaign by Microsoft. The "Smoked by Windows Phone" contest was started back in CES in January and has since gone to the road with tours and most recently showed up at Mobile World Congress in 2012 and Hong Kong.

Now Microsoft is looking to the expand the coverage and even pushing it to TV--that's right, soon we'll all be able to see Microsoft "picking a fight" with Android and iOS broadcast everywhere. In an interview with Bloomberg, Aaron Woodman, director of Windows Phone revealed as much:

“It doesn’t feel like we’re really pushing apart from the competition,” Woodman said. “We need to go pick a fight.

We’ll do TV spots, the question is where. Microsoft is patient and willing to use deep pockets, but we’re also respectful of shareholder value so we want to pick appropriate countries and spend levels.”

Hopefully we won't be waiting too long as we think this is an effective strategy and would certainly like to see more.

Source: Bloomberg; Thanks, Stephen M., for the heads up

Looks like the Smoked by Windows Phone phenom is spreading to the Far East. Starting yesterday and continuing through the weekend, over in Hong Kong the Windows Phone team is taking challenges to their OS--from iPhones to Android phones, all are fair game. From Simon at We Love Windows Phone:

"The “Smoked by Windows Phone” Hong Kong version (「挑戰」, a local Hong Kong slang meaning challenging each other) was organized by Microsoft HK starting from yesterday (Friday in Hong Kong) to Sunday. The event yesterday was held for 2 hours and for the remaining two days it would be held for 4 hours each day. Challengers using iOS, Android or Blackberry devices are all welcomed to join the challenge. There are more than 5 challenge tasks that people can randomly choose from to compete with Windows Phone (details of tasks would be shown after the series of event is finished by our site in order to increase the excitement for contestants)...If the challenger wins, they can get HK$1000 (~US$130) in cash as a reward; while if they lose, they get a specially designed Windows Phone tee!"

So far it's going well as yesterday that had 11 challenges and 0 losses, which ain't too shabby. For more photos and details, head to We Love Windows Phone!

Remember the Smoked by Windows Phone event at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show? Well it appears that Microsoft may be taking the same challenge on the road. Two videos have surfaces that have "Brian from Windows" bringing the challenge to carrier retail stores.

Brian challenges the retail store representatives to see who can take a photo and upload it to Facebook the fastest. If the store rep's phone beats the Windows Phone, they get a gift card and if they lose, the rep has to admit they were smoked by a Windows Phone. In both instances, the Windows Phone clearly beats the competition and from the looks of it, the store reps are somewhat surprised.

It is nice to see the challenge move beyond the 2012 CES.  We aren't sure if the Smoked by Windows Phone challenge will hit nationwide or if this was just a local attempt to demonstrate the speed of Windows Phones.  But wouldn't it be nice to see the challenge hit more retail stores?  Hit the break to see the other Windows Phone challenge video.

Yesterday we covered the $100 challenge happening here at CES 2012. Basically, you can challenge Ben "the PC Guy" Rudolph from Microsoft to a speed test with your current phone versus his HTC TITAN. The task involves any "everyday" type of action that regular users may attempt and has resulted in quite a lot of media coverage due to its ingenuity.

Now Microsoft has put up the fruit of their labor by showcasing all the challenges from yesterday in a great montage. Needless to say, it is quite inspiring and humorous to watch.

We met up with Ben yesterday and watched a few of these challenges. Everyone was certainly having fun and the fanboyism was no where to be seen--just good, honest competition with everyone being a fair sport. We asked Ben if this would be a regular event but it looks like it might not be--the longer this is out there, the more people can game the system (including potentially scripts and custom ROM advantages, which takes the "regular user" dynamic out of the equation).

Speaking of, we may send Phil over from Android Central to see if he can best Ben and his phone. So far though, the only winner has been an iPhone 4s and no Androids.

Thanks, Vernon S., for the tip!