On February 11, Nokia and Microsoft made a major announcement that Nokia would be adopting Windows Phone as its primary smartphone strategy which meant they would be building hardware that would run the Windows Phone Operating System. This was huge news for both Nokia and for Microsoft, and now things are finally starting to happen. [...]
Windows Phone 7.5 ‘Mango’ Arrives but Will It Be Enough?
I recently wrote about my initial experiences with the HTC 7 Pro from U.S. Cellular and commented on some early concerns about Windows Phone 7.5, aka the ‘Mango’ update that some are touting as what will save Windows Phone and enable Microsoft to lead the smartphone market. Despite early concerns and more recent issues with [...]
Let the WP7 ‘Mango’ Feature Cutting Begin: No In-App Purchases
When Windows Phone 7 launched a year ago, it had lost several features from when it was announced. Those features were promised within a month … and ended up coming within 6 months via the disastrous ‘minor update’ and later NoDo update. I say disastrous since it was rolled out slowly yet bricked devices, failed [...]
First Impressions: U.S. Cellular HTC 7 Pro Windows Phone 7 Smartphone
I am very fortunate to have landed a review HTC 7 Pro unit from U.S. Cellular. A month or so ago I wrote about the 7 Pro launching as the first Windows Phone 7 device on U. S. Cellular. I will be doing a full review in the coming weeks, but wanted to give [...]
HTC Introduces the EVO 3D, the EVO View 4G, and the HTC HD7S
Here’s a change from what we saw at Mobile World Congress, HTC has today announced three new US devices, and one of them happens to be a Windows Phone 7. Two of the devices are for Sprint, and only one is for AT&T. Let’s take a look at the HTC HD7S first, and then we’ll [...]
Nokia and Microsoft Get in Bed Together to Produce Prettier and Presumably Smarter Babies
This is so good, it’s almost hard to believe: Microsoft and Nokia have just formally announced their “Broad Strategic Partnership” as they “combine assets and develop innovative mobile products on an unprecedented scale.” The joint press conference occurred at 2:00 a.m. PST/5:00 a.m. EST, and unfortunately (or is it fortunately?) I was still awake trying [...]
Gear Diary 2010 Gear of the Year and Predictions for 2011
The past year has seen interesting developments in the gear we all use: the term iOS replaced iPhone OS as the OS that started on iPhone was also on the new iPad when it took the world and Gear Diary writers by storm, Android phones blossomed and became real competitors to the iPhone, and the [...]
The Windows Phone 7 Dell Venue Pro is Now Available
The Dell Venue has been one of the more highly anticipated Windows Phone 7 devices, and now you can order your own! $99 with a two-year T-Mobile contract, or $449 contract free, the Dell Venue offers a unique form factor, a huge screen and a possibly triumphant return of Dell in the Windows mobile device [...]
Don’t Believe Me? Bing It!
It’s not like you could possibly miss it, but if you were watching last night’s Hawaii Five-0 episode, then you likely saw the scene where … oh heck, just watch! Chin Ho Kelly challenges Kono Kalakaua to perform the search while they are looking at a sculpture, when she reaches into her bag and pulls [...]
Rounding Up the Earliest Windows Phone 7 Reviews
The earliest devices were seeded to select reviewers a few weeks ago, and yesterday evening the Windows Phone 7 reviews began appearing; there are features to each new Windows Phone 7 device that I find compelling, and I’ll admit that my curiosity is running wild! I’ve put together a review roundup of reviews, choice quotes [...]
Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Commercials: Folks At Home … Is It Me?
Yesterday Microsoft launched Windows Phone 7, the ground-up reboot of the failed Windows Mobile platform. By all accounts the hardware and software look solid and intriguing, with reports of great performance and an interface built around a quick look at lots of information rather than being largely app-centric like iOS and Android. Of course, only [...]
Windows Phone 7: Too Little Too Late? Or Just In the Nick of Time?
Francis: Monday’s press conference marked the official announcement of Microsoft’s highly anticipated Windows Phone 7. Microsoft has officially been tooting their own horn in the past months about their new phone OS and hardware, claiming that this is the new vision of Microsoft Mobile devices. Judie: If you are one of the few who haven’t [...]
Motorola ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistant First Look
The regular onslaught of weekly smartphone announcements highlighting the latest offerings running Android or the upcoming Windows Phone 7 OS, it’s very easy for Motorola’s ES400 to get lost in the mix. The device doesn’t immediately scream ‘sexy’ and it’s running Windows Mobile 6.5. Yes, I said 6.5! So why on earth should you even [...]
Windows Phone 7 Integrates Voice; but How Good Could It Possibly Be??
My first smartphone was a Window Mobile smartphone — a Motorola MPX220. My second smartphone was also a Windows Mobile Smartphone — an iMate Jam; my third and my fourth smartphones were Windows Mobile devices as well. And then… I was done with Windows Mobile. Say what you want, but my experience with Windows Mobile [...]
Remember NTP? They’re back and they are suing everybody.
To refresh your memory, NTP is the company that in 2006 sued the creator of the Blackberry, Research in Motion, otherwise known as RIM. RIM settled out of court with NTP for 612 million. Not chump change. RIM is still around and they are not being sued again by NTP, but almost everyone else is. [...]
















