The launch event will take place in New York and other not yet disclosed main locations across US. Windows Phone 7 will be Microsoft fresh start to take back share in mobile arena after falling behind to competitors.

The new mobile OS features a Zune-like UI called Metro with continuous  update of pertinent information on its home screen. Integration with enterprise features are the given, but the integration with Xbox live would be an important differentiator. The OS is said to be limited in functions (multi-task, copy & paste, custom UI. etc.) at launch to maximize customer experience.

So far the OS has been going through critical analyst reviews with flying colors but its future success will depend heavily on many other factors residing outside the hardware and the OS. The criteria’s such carrier adoption, mobile app developers, media store, mindshare, corporate adoption.. could go beyond the already humongous Microsoft marketing budget.

Microsoft is using a model similar to Android to license its software to many phone makers, but unlike Google giving out free license, Microsoft charges a fee to the manufacturer, the fee would put pressure on already slim profit margin of this class of device. However, in exchange, the hardware phone makers will be shielded by Microsoft for any potential patent infringement lawsuits by other companies.

AT&T seems to be ready for the rumored lost of exclusivity of the ever popular iPhone by partnering with Microsoft for exclusivity at launch. In the other hand, Verizon has been in close tie with both Google Android and RIM. The company just went through a sour experience with the Microsoft KIN phones that were discontinued after just 2 short months on the market. Ultimately all carriers GSM and CDMA will carry Windows Phone devices as promised by Microsoft.

Microsoft is flexing its muscle in anticipation of this important launch with appointment of: Andy Lees, who has been SVP of Microsoft’s mobile communications business, will now be president of the mobile communications business; The software giant is gathering back the forgotten evangelist Mobile MVP’s (Most Valuable Professional); Developer classes have been delivered at many locations and aggressive courtship with prominent developers for popular apps such Twitter, NetFlix, Open Table, Seesmic, is underway.

Microsoft is another heavyweight player in a very crowded competitive landscape, the addition will push further innovation and competitiveness, let’s celebrate it! 

Regardless of your phone’s storage capacity or desktop media player, Didiom Pro seamlessly scans your computer for audio files and playlists in the most popular formats, and makes them available for wireless streaming to your phone in just seconds.

iPhone and iPod Touch owners that just want access to five tracks can simply download Didiom Lite from Apple’s App Store, for free.

Ready to go pro? Download Didiom Pro from Apple’s App Store for only $9.99 a year, and get unlimited, on-demand access to your audio collection with the ability to shuffle your music, podcasts, and audiobooks on the go.

Didiom Pro is also available for download to BlackBerry and Windows phones.

Sponsored link

Whether you are interested in oracle training or looking for 000-106, using 642-974 passes your certification exam on first try of 70-663 dumps, 650-575 exam is a superb job.

SMS Replier with its proprietary DriveReply technology automatically sends a fully-customized response to all inbound calls and text messages while a user is operating a motor vehicle.  In addition to 52 preset convenience messages (e.g., I’m Driving, I’m in a Meeting, I’m at a Movie, I’m Doing Homework, I’m Sleeping, etc), SMS Replier Pro enables users to drive anxiety free while handling communications with inbound callers and texters, and to send personalized messages to suit their particular needs and circumstances.

Read more HERE!

The device fills in the gap between smartphone and  the current Apple iPad, which features 3.5-4.3” and 9.7” display respectively.

Apple is also rumored to introduce a similar 7” iPad in near future, but there is no known release date.

Timing could not be better for Samsung to address the need for a lighter and a tad smaller iPad on the go. While the presence of the front facing camera and 70,000 apps available (versus 250,000 on iOS platform) could match or perhaps exceed the Apple iPad capability, the UI could be a major decisive factor for the success of this device.

The Galaxy Tab features a Samsung in-house developed processor, Android 2.2 operating system and 7-inch display.

Since Samsung skipped the 10-inch panel format and jumped directly to 7-inch panel, the sources believe the company is actually aiming at Apple’s upcoming 7-inch iPad for competition and not the current model.

Due to a drop in netbook sales in Europe market, Samsung is putting more focus on tablet PC R&D and hopes the segment to help cover the drop, noted the sources adding that the company is expected to ship 100,000 tablet PCs per month initially.

The report said that the new iPad will also use an in-plane switching LCD display for wide viewing angles. The touchscreens will reportedly be supplied by Chi Mei and LG, while AUO and Sintek will provide the digitizers.

[Source Digiimes]

Dialing a phone number works just like a normal phone. Just click “Call phone” at the top of your chat list and dial a number or enter a contact’s name.

If you have a Google Voice phone number, calls made from Gmail will display this number as the outbound caller ID. And if you decide to, you can receive calls made to this number right inside Gmail (see instructions).

Google is rolling out gradually this feature to U.S. based Gmail users over the next few days, so you’ll be ready to get started once “Call Phones” shows up in your chat list (you will need to install the voice and video plug-in if you haven’t already).

[Source Google Gmail Blog]

The iPhone has been ubiquitous synonym of perfection in design and quality, praised by the tech pundits, the press and proven by its revenue growth ..Until the generation 4, where a glitch in cell signal reception attenuation has been widely and negatively publicized.

Apple initially addressed the issue by changing the display of reception bars differently in a upcoming OS released dubbed as iOS 4.0.1. The news did not address the root cause. The latest Consumer Reports refusal to  put its seal of approval, in addition to other national Television networks used the issue in their daily jokes further damage the image of the brand.

Similarly to every Apple events, no one really knows how Apple will address the issues in their press conference. Many predict the a recall, free bumper case, extended guaranty, etc…  But we know for sure, what we will be talking this weekend!

[Via D All Things Digital]

While we have seen the cost of each app tends to decrease overtime as app developers want higher volume versus higher cost per copy, there are also well worthy free apps that developers use to springboard to others purposes (e.g. Bing, Facebook, Google,…)  

PC Magazine just issued the list of best free apps per platform. Their list totals 100 apps: 40 for the iPhone, 20 each for BlackBerry and Android, 10 for Windows Mobile, and 10 combined for Palm WebOS, Symbian, and non-smartphones.

• The Top 40 Free Apps for iPhone
• The Top 20 Free Apps for BlackBerry
• The Top 20 Free Apps for Android
• The Top 10 Free Apps for Windows Mobile
• The Top 10 Free Apps For Other Phones

[Source PCMag]

And similar to FaceTime, Fring support iOS4 multitasking, meaning it can run in the background to intercept incoming call, while you are doing other things. Fring also adheres the favor du jour with the addition of  Social Networking status from Twitter and Facebook.   

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUaFaKApPX4[/youtube]
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Unlike the previous model of making just software, the company follows Apple and Google to exploit the yet untamed advertising market on the mobile devices.

In his words:

"(WP7 is) an extra move on our NUI (natural user interface). We’re trying to get technology out of the way of people.…. For consumers, what this means is basically seamless experiences, seamless social connectivity – not just about applications, obviously about the phone, obviously about media…For marketers … this is actually turning out, in my view, to be an ad-serving machine," he continued. "It basically enables advertisers to connect with consumers over time."..

The upcoming Windows Phones 7 will enable advertisers to push notification by using the new API called “Toast” to send ads dynamically to the homescreen tiles or the slide down banners  Thankfully, users will be able to opt-out if they choose so.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1wODZIMllY[/youtube]
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On an unrelated subject, we learned Windows Phone 7 might be launched in October and the KIN studio-like will be featured on the new platform.

Microsoft gave another presentation evangelizing to app developers last March, check it out HERE! 

[Via WMPowerUser]

Faced to sharp criticism from Apple for being slow, resource hog and lack of security, Adobe today claims its mobile Flash player 10. is ready to confront these challenges.

“Redesigned from the ground up with new performance and mobile specific features, Flash Player 10.1 is the first release that brings the full Web across desktops and devices. Mobile users will now be able to experience millions of sites with rich applications and content inside the browser including games, animations, rich Internet applications (RIAs), data presentations and visualizations, ecommerce, music, video, audio and more.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26ioxdpzOeQ[/youtube]
Video link Video courtesy of 7Slate

[Source Adobe]

Google Voice is touted as “one number to ring all your phones”, but the service can also transcribe your incoming voicemails to email and can provide free text message to the U.S. and Canada, low-priced international calls.

The Google Voice client for Android phone is straight forward but iPhone users still have to rely on Web-based app to place out-going call so the caller-Id will reflect Google Voice number instead of your cellphone number.

Over the past year, Google has introduced an integrated voicemail player in Gmail, the ability to use Google Voice with your existing number, SMS to email and a Chrome extension..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOZU7BOeQ58[/youtube]
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[Source Google]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpLZgCvICI0[/youtube]
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Feature Highlights:

• Text to speech – "turn right on Central Avenue"
• Lane Assistant Pro
• Reality View Pro (on devices with landscape format support)
• Quickest, shortest and optimal route
• Real Signpost Display
• Speed Assistant
• "Go home" function
• 2D/3D view
• Route planning with diverse reference points
• Importing of contact addresses from MS Outlook
• Door-to-door navigation
• Logbook
• POIs on the route
• Intuitive user interface
• Precise audio instructions
• Map view

Mobile Navigator is available HERE!

The only information we share is the name and price of the apps you purchase – no other personal information is ever shared.

To get started, go to www.blippy.com, signup, and connect to MobiHand from the Accounts page. If you’d like a preview, here’s what other MobiHand customers are currently sharing.

Of course, some of you will think revealing what you’re buying is crazy. If you’re one of these people just don’t signup (or signup, don’t link your MobiHand account, and just watch what your friends are buying). Blippy does give you the ability to temporarily turn off sharing, or to only show your purchases to approved friends.

When this feature is gone, rest assured, you still can personalize your Google home page with your own favorite photos. Google lets you choose a photo from your computer, your own Picasa Web Album or a public gallery hosted by Picasa which includes a selection of beautiful photos. (click on the lower left corner to change).

If you find this feature is distracting, click on the lower left corner, select Editor’s pick, scroll to the bottom and select White.

[Via Google Blog]

At lauch, Google Buzzt was only available for devices running Android 2.0+ and iPhone. Not any more! Today we’re a releasing an XHTML version of the Buzz website which can be accessed from many other mobile devices (by going to buzz.google.com in your phone’s browser). , including those running Android pre-2.0, Blackberry, Nokia S60, and Windows Mobile.

Just log-in with your Google (Gmail) ID and password, you will be able to view the stream of buzz posts, post publicly or privately, comment or like a post, and more. On the BlackBerry platform, you can also enable location through your browser settings. This will allow you to get to the Nearby view, where you’ll find geo-tagged posts near you. In addition, you can tag your post with your location. Please note that location features might not work on some devices.

[Source Google]