Engadget is reporting that USB tethering can be enabled with some keypad magic. So far only available for Samsung devices...fingers crossed its not too long before other devices are figure out too.
Click here for the Engadget instruction.
11 November 2010
Battery Improvements
The weirdest thing is going on. I've never experienced this before.
But after nine days of charging each night, it seems like the battery is "conditioned" and the charge is lasting longer in daily use.
It may be that I was playing more with my Optimus 7 in the early days. But I think my daytime use is pretty consistent. Approximately 70-90 mins of surfing and fiddling in things like Facebook, checking emails all day and maybe a couple of dozen of fairly short calls.
Anyway, yesterday was a long work day. Left home at 8am and got him 10:30pm. I was concerned that I wouldn't have juice to call a taxi to get home, but the trusty Opti7 lasted 14 hours with juice to spare.
Of course I don't know how much spare juice, because there is no % Meter. Lets hope MSFT fixes that in a future update.
But after nine days of charging each night, it seems like the battery is "conditioned" and the charge is lasting longer in daily use.
It may be that I was playing more with my Optimus 7 in the early days. But I think my daytime use is pretty consistent. Approximately 70-90 mins of surfing and fiddling in things like Facebook, checking emails all day and maybe a couple of dozen of fairly short calls.
Anyway, yesterday was a long work day. Left home at 8am and got him 10:30pm. I was concerned that I wouldn't have juice to call a taxi to get home, but the trusty Opti7 lasted 14 hours with juice to spare.
Of course I don't know how much spare juice, because there is no % Meter. Lets hope MSFT fixes that in a future update.
Bing Visual Search for Windows Phone 7 Apps
Over on Bing, there is a Beta version of Visual Search available for the WP7 app store.
Its a pretty cool way to search for apps, easier than the Marketplace at least!
Check it out here
Its a pretty cool way to search for apps, easier than the Marketplace at least!
Check it out here
10 November 2010
How To: Get your files onto WP7
We've all got the same problem - unlike WinMo and other mobile OS, Zune software doesn't allow you to sync docs directly with your Windows Phone 7.
The often-cited workaround is to email them to yourself, save them and sync them with Skydrive.
Well, Maurauderz has developed a little webserver application, that allows you to access files via IE on your phone and then save them...much preferable if you have a lot of files you want to transfer.
You can find his web page, download and instructions here.
The often-cited workaround is to email them to yourself, save them and sync them with Skydrive.
Well, Maurauderz has developed a little webserver application, that allows you to access files via IE on your phone and then save them...much preferable if you have a lot of files you want to transfer.
You can find his web page, download and instructions here.
WTF? $750 app for WP7?!?
Browings the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace today I stumbled across what is possible the most expensive app on the store...
Click for pix
Click for pix
09 November 2010
Windows Phone 7: Omnia 7 Vs Optimus 7 comparison review
So I went to the store today and had 15 mins browsing on the Samsung Omnia 7.
With the Omni7 in one hand the the Opti7 in the other hand I was able to do a direct comparison between the two phones.
I set the theme and brightness the same to get a better comparison between the two screens.
Click to read more:
With the Omni7 in one hand the the Opti7 in the other hand I was able to do a direct comparison between the two phones.
I set the theme and brightness the same to get a better comparison between the two screens.
Click to read more:
Unlocked is only half unlocked: MMS Settings cannot be configured
OK so a little issues has become apparent today...if you take an "unlocked" phone and use a SIM from another carrier you probably will not get MMS functions.
Click thru to see why...
Click thru to see why...
08 November 2010
Top Five Peeves
OK so after six days my top peeves:
1) Power button only to turn on
2) Bing Maps (outside of USA/UK)
3) Camera doesn't remember settings
4) No contact sharing
5) Proximity Sensor...when in a call and you need to enter a number on the keypad, the proximity sensor and keypad animation takes too long...end up waiting to press 1...should be instant IMHO. Navigating my Bank's phone menu's takes forever!
06 November 2010
Bings maps the Great Locale Debate
When PocketNow demonstrated Bing Maps, I think we all wet our pants a little bit.
You can get local results pinned on a map, click to route from my current location, voice search and some other really cool stuff.
But now that WP7 has gone retail...well the truth for many people is that the experience is not at all as advertised. Especially on the Little Red Dot that is Singapore...and yes, Singapore is an official 21st October launch partner.
Read on to see why...
You can get local results pinned on a map, click to route from my current location, voice search and some other really cool stuff.
But now that WP7 has gone retail...well the truth for many people is that the experience is not at all as advertised. Especially on the Little Red Dot that is Singapore...and yes, Singapore is an official 21st October launch partner.
Read on to see why...
04 November 2010
Direct from my Opti7
Just posting from my Opti7 WP7.
Checking to see how well the blogspot site works for Windows Phone. Apparently all good!
Checking to see how well the blogspot site works for Windows Phone. Apparently all good!
LG Owners to Get Free Access to Popular Windows Phone 7 Applications
Cool news for LG WP7 owners - freebies from LG!
See the press release from MSFT here.
Looking at the LG apps store from my Opti7, there are the following already available:
See the press release from MSFT here.
Looking at the LG apps store from my Opti7, there are the following already available:
Living with the LG Optimus 7...Day 2
OK, after another 24 hours I can report:
All of my initial observations are correct...
No way to share contacts
'Me' page does not have profile information, even if your Live account has the details, and no way to link it with your FB/Live information if you have it your details on exchange or even if you create a 'Me' contact.
The MSFT Social answers site is a good place for discussion on problems, go to the WP7 section.
In hindsight, I think "Windows Phone 7" is a terrible name, because doing web searches for information on the phone brings up all sorts of Windows 7 information not relevant to the phone...you have to get a bit boolean about WP7 searches. ;)
More after the break...
All of my initial observations are correct...
No way to share contacts
'Me' page does not have profile information, even if your Live account has the details, and no way to link it with your FB/Live information if you have it your details on exchange or even if you create a 'Me' contact.
The MSFT Social answers site is a good place for discussion on problems, go to the WP7 section.
In hindsight, I think "Windows Phone 7" is a terrible name, because doing web searches for information on the phone brings up all sorts of Windows 7 information not relevant to the phone...you have to get a bit boolean about WP7 searches. ;)
More after the break...
Living with the LG Optimus 7...Day 1
I picked up my Optimus 7 yesterday and here are my first impressions:
Hardware
I quite like the LG hardware. The brushed metal backplate looks good, the dimensions are the right size of screen real estate and hand-hold friendliness (for me). The responsiveness is great and takes only light touches to manipulate. The only thing I don't like is the the side mounted USB port (I mean, why?!) and its little flimsy cover...can't see that lasting very long. I really like the raised hard keys at the bottom in chrome, they look and feel good. One thing I have to get used to is using the power button rather than any other hard key to wake the phone up...too many months on a fruity device, habits are hard to break!
Follow the link for my full Day 1 lowdown...
Hardware
I quite like the LG hardware. The brushed metal backplate looks good, the dimensions are the right size of screen real estate and hand-hold friendliness (for me). The responsiveness is great and takes only light touches to manipulate. The only thing I don't like is the the side mounted USB port (I mean, why?!) and its little flimsy cover...can't see that lasting very long. I really like the raised hard keys at the bottom in chrome, they look and feel good. One thing I have to get used to is using the power button rather than any other hard key to wake the phone up...too many months on a fruity device, habits are hard to break!
Follow the link for my full Day 1 lowdown...
15 October 2010
Phone Comparisons
From our friends at Engadget we have some brief specs on each of the launched WP7 phones:
I am afraid that nothing from HTC has impressed me. Only some versions of the HD7 coming with 16GB storage...its not even certain on the HD7 "flagship" device! The Surround seems a big gimmicky to me, I mean how "surround" will audio be from tinny little phone speakers? Headphones are always going to win out.
The Mozart at least has an 8mp camera. I am not that fussed I use a proper camera for pix, but I can see how this is a big deal for some people who aren't happy to carry another (one or more) cameras around.
Really, the HD7 should have debuted with a faster processor, bigger storage and something to make us go WOW!
I am not a big fan of LG generally...hard to think it comes from the same family as my fridge (same goes for Samsung) but due to early availability where I live I am seriously considering the LG Optimus 7. It's got 16GB storage unlike a lot of other models and so far is the only model crowing about DLNA integration as well "scan search" which is a bit like google googles combined with Bing location information. Looks cool if you nosy on the LG website.
Meh, I am not into keyboards, but the Dell looks nice. Everything else is minimum specs like a lot of these phones.
Without a doubt these will have the best screens at launch. The Omnia7 is a very close second for me, just for the screen. If they had made that with 16GB and DLNA I would have paid A LOT for it! Samsung has a history of enabling DLNA on its mobile devices, I am very surprised to have seen anything about it on the WP7 phones. I bet it will come...
Another nice looker from Asus, but not available at launch. No other info available.
You can check out the original article at Engadget to see where each of the phones is being launched. But if you are interested enough to follow this blog, you probably already know.
HTC | |||||||
| Front | Back | Model | CPU | Screen | Storage | Camera | |
 |  | 7 Mozart | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 | 3.7" 480 x 800 | 8GB | 8MP, AF, Xenon flash, 720p | |
 |  | Surround / 7 Surround (Mondrian / T8788) | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 | 3.8" 480 x 800 | 16GB | 5MP, AF, LED flash, 720p | |
 |  | 7 Pro | 1GHz | 3.6" 480 x 800 | 16GB | 5MP, AF, LED flash, 720p | |
 |  | 7 Trophy (Spark) | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 | 3.8" 480 x 800 | 8GB | 5MP, AF, LED flash, 720p | |
 |  | HD7 (Schubert) | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 | 4.3" 480 x 800 LCD | 8GB / 16GB | 5MP, AF, dual- LED flash, 720p | |
I am afraid that nothing from HTC has impressed me. Only some versions of the HD7 coming with 16GB storage...its not even certain on the HD7 "flagship" device! The Surround seems a big gimmicky to me, I mean how "surround" will audio be from tinny little phone speakers? Headphones are always going to win out.
The Mozart at least has an 8mp camera. I am not that fussed I use a proper camera for pix, but I can see how this is a big deal for some people who aren't happy to carry another (one or more) cameras around.
Really, the HD7 should have debuted with a faster processor, bigger storage and something to make us go WOW!
LG | |||||||
| Front | Back | Model | CPU | Screen | Storage | Camera | |
 |  | Optimus 7 (E900) | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8650 | 3.8" 480 x 800 LCD | 16GB | 5MP, AF, LED flash, 720 at 24fps | |
 |  | Quantum / Optimus 7Q (C900) | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8650 | 3.5" 480 x 800 | 16GB | 5MP, 720p | |
 |  | GW910 | ??? | ??? | ??? | 5MP, flash | |
I am not a big fan of LG generally...hard to think it comes from the same family as my fridge (same goes for Samsung) but due to early availability where I live I am seriously considering the LG Optimus 7. It's got 16GB storage unlike a lot of other models and so far is the only model crowing about DLNA integration as well "scan search" which is a bit like google googles combined with Bing location information. Looks cool if you nosy on the LG website.
Dell | |||||||
| Front | Back | Model | CPU | Screen | Storage | Camera | |
 |  | Venue Pro(Lightning) | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 | 4.1" 480 x 800 AMOLED | 8GB | 5MP, AF, flash, 720p | |
Meh, I am not into keyboards, but the Dell looks nice. Everything else is minimum specs like a lot of these phones.
Samsung | |||||||
| Front | Back | Model | CPU | Screen | Storage | Camera | |
 |  | Focus (Cetus / i917) | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 | 4" 480 x 800 Super AMOLED | 8GB (microSD expansion up to 32GB by factory) | 5MP, LED flash, 720p | |
 |  | Omnia 7 (i8700) | 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 | 4" 480 x 800 Super AMOLED | 8GB | 5MP, LED flash, 720p at 25fps | |
Without a doubt these will have the best screens at launch. The Omnia7 is a very close second for me, just for the screen. If they had made that with 16GB and DLNA I would have paid A LOT for it! Samsung has a history of enabling DLNA on its mobile devices, I am very surprised to have seen anything about it on the WP7 phones. I bet it will come...
ASUS | |||||||
| Front | Back | Model | CPU | Screen | Storage | Camera | |
 | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? | |
You can check out the original article at Engadget to see where each of the phones is being launched. But if you are interested enough to follow this blog, you probably already know.
01 October 2010
28 September 2010
How To: Move your contacts from outlook PC to Live Hotmail, ready for your WP7
I’ve seen a few posts around the interweb from people regarding the lack of synchronisation between WP7 and desktop versions of outlook. The problem is people are used to plugging into their PC to sync their outlook email/calendar/contacts with their phone. With WP7 this is no longer necessary, even if you don't have an Exchange server at home. Everybody knows that WP7 synchs with Outlook Exchange already, right?
Full details after the jump...
Full details after the jump...
Leaked AT&T WP7 HTC Mondrian ad #1
Here is one that escaped earlier. An unreleased ATT advert for WP7, featuring the HTC Mondrian.
HTC Mozart
A look at the HTC Mozart (or Schubert?). Again, no specs available.
It may be that this phone is a basic model and the Mondrian will be the HTC flagship WP7 device. We will see...
It may be that this phone is a basic model and the Mondrian will be the HTC flagship WP7 device. We will see...
Samsung GT i8700
Courtest of Mr blurrycam, here is a preview of the Samsung GT-i8700.
This is my favourite looking WP7 phone to date in terms of hardware looks.
At the end of the day, it rather depends on what the internal specs are...
This is my favourite looking WP7 phone to date in terms of hardware looks.
At the end of the day, it rather depends on what the internal specs are...
Leaked AT&T WP7 HTC Mondrian ad #2
Another leaked ATT advert featuring the HTC Mondrian.
Looks like MS is pushing for the "phone to save you from your phone".
Looks like MS is pushing for the "phone to save you from your phone".
Samsung Cetus i917 Windows Phone 7 handset
This isn't so much of walkthrough of the phone as it is "in the wild" in the hands of an MS exec.
Here he shows a cool app for controlling home automation.
Here he shows a cool app for controlling home automation.
LG E900 / Optimus 7
This is a nice looking phone from LG.
Specs: 3.7" Screen / 16GB flash drive
To date, this is the largest flash drive of any previewed WP7 device.
Video after the jump
Specs: 3.7" Screen / 16GB flash drive
To date, this is the largest flash drive of any previewed WP7 device.
Video after the jump
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