Microsoft Shows Windows Mobile 6.5 Smartphones

Microsoft smartphone partners are expected to deliver about 30 new Windows Mobile 6.5 devices by the end of 2009, including and Toshiba shown for the first time at a Microsoft Open House in New York City today.The 30-or-so Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones will be sold in approximately 20 different countries, said Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft’s entertainment and devices division, speaking at a Microsoft open house.

Windows Mobile devices getting first-time looks encompassed the HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T, the HTC Imagio from Verizon Wireless, and an as-yet-unnamed device built by Toshiba and anticipated for sale in the Japanese market.

In his keynote, Bach suggested this kind of hardware diversity is a key selling point for Microsoft in its struggles with Android, iPhone, Palm, and others for greater consumer mindshare. Apple’s iPhone, after all, has been available in very limited form factors, and the same has held true so far for Android phones promulgated by Google. Bach noted that while some users like large touchscreens, some practically can’t live without keyboards, and others prefer slider architectures that give them a choice of using a keyboard.

True to Bach’s words, the Windows 6.5 smartphones displayed later in the day — hung in and around artificial

trees in a mock treehouse set up for the occasion — sported a variety of different form factors.

Although pre-loaded this time around with Windows 6.5, the Tilt 2 looks and feels quite similar to the original Tilt, a device known for its slider architecture, powerful speakers, and solid video performance. While it’s about the same size as the Tilt, and its screen size is a comparable 3.6-inches, the Imagio seems slightly thinner, and lacks a slideout keyboard.

The as-yet-unnamed smartphone from Toshiba — so far codenamed the TG0I — boasts a much larger screen, estimated by one Microsoft rep at 4.2 inches. But it also lacks a slider. Windows Mobile pointed to another type of differentiator for Microsoft. Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s App Store; a mobile browser based on Internet Explorer (IE) 6.0; Theme Creator; and new, user-friendly screens such as the Today Screen, for accessing e-mail, calendar items, photos, favorites, and other frequently needed items from the same place.

MyPhone’s phone-finding capabilities will work even when the smartphone has been turned off, according to Sloan. Microsoft can use GPS to locate a missing phone, and then “wake it up” remotely.Microsoft is offering

the phone-finding service free of charge for the first month. After that, the user will be charged $4.99 per incident.

Microsoft smartphone partners are expected to deliver about 30 new Windows Mobile 6.5 devices by the end of 2009, including and Toshiba shown for the first time at a Microsoft Open House in New York City today.The 30-or-so Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones will be sold in approximately 20 different countries, said Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft’s entertainment and devices division, speaking at a Microsoft open house.

Windows Mobile devices getting first-time looks encompassed the HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T, the HTC Imagio from Verizon Wireless, and an as-yet-unnamed device built by Toshiba and anticipated for sale in the Japanese market.

In his keynote, Bach suggested this kind of hardware diversity is a key selling point for Microsoft in its struggles with Android, iPhone, Palm, and others for greater consumer mindshare. Apple’s iPhone, after all, has been available in very limited form factors, and the same has held true so far for Android phones promulgated by Google. Bach noted that while some users like large touchscreens, some practically can’t live without keyboards, and others prefer slider architectures that give them a choice of using a keyboard.

True to Bach’s words, the Windows 6.5 smartphones displayed later in the day — hung in and around artificial trees in a mock treehouse set up for the occasion — sported a variety of different form factors. Although pre-loaded this time around with Windows 6.5, the Tilt 2 looks and feels quite similar to the original Tilt, a device known for its slider architecture, powerful speakers, and solid video performance. While it’s about the same size as the Tilt, and its screen size is a comparable 3.6-inches, the Imagio seems slightly thinner, and lacks a slideout keyboard.

The as-yet-unnamed smartphone from Toshiba — so far codenamed the TG0I — boasts a much larger screen, estimated by one Microsoft rep at 4.2 inches. But it also lacks a slider. Windows Mobile pointed to another type of differentiator for Microsoft. Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s App Store; a mobile browser based on Internet Explorer (IE) 6.0; Theme Creator; and new, user-friendly screens such as the Today Screen, for accessing e-mail, calendar items, photos, favorites, and other frequently needed items from the same place.

MyPhone’s phone-finding capabilities will work even when the smartphone has been turned off, according to Sloan. Microsoft can use GPS to locate a missing phone, and then “wake it up” remotely.Microsoft is offering the phone-finding service free of charge for the first month. After that, the user will be charged $4.99 per incident.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/

Help us find the most reliable games console and win £200 of gadgets!

Xboxes go wrong, while Wiis and PlayStations are virtually indestructible — that’s the myth. We’re hoping to find out whether there’s any truth to it — and we need your help.

We’re running a short survey on the site to try to find out what the most reliable games console is, and to see how many of you have experienced the dreaded red ring of death.

So if you have a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii, please fill out our games console survey and tell us if it’s ever gone wrong. We’ve kept the questions to the bare minimum, so it will only take a few minutes. We’ll share the results with the world here in a few weeks, so be sure to check back soon.

You can also enter a competition to win £200 worth of gadgets at the same time if you want. We’ve got a wireless retro Wii games controller, a Bluetooth stereo speaker system, a SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 player, a Bluetooth music receiver that plugs into existing hi-fis, an in-car wireless music sender/charger for iPods, a Bluetooth headset, and component video cables for the PS3 and Wii, all of which will go to one lucky person who fills out our survey. A note on age limits — if you are under the age of 15, you need to seek the permission of a parent or guardian to complete the survey. Providing this has been sought and approved, you may also enter the competition.

Source: http://news.google.co.uk/