News - Cash for apps, from Microsoft

[HEXUS]

Up to $600k incentive to make an app for Windows Phone.

Read more.

[aidanjt]

Make way for the Microsoft steamroller!

[crossy]

The 800MHz CPU equipped Nokia 610 will run a reduced feature version of Mango called Tango.

So if you buy the "cheap" phone you get a cut-down version of the OS - and I'm guessing that there'll be some apps that need features that are missing in the "lesser" version? To me this sounds a moronic as it's surely the kind of unnecessary fragmentation that Android's been accused of.

Not impressed - although the full Mango phones I was looking at today seemed pretty nice to use.

[Brewster0101]

So if you buy the "cheap" phone you get a cut-down version of the OS - and I'm guessing that there'll be some apps that need features that are missing in the "lesser" version? To me this sounds a moronic as it's surely the kind of unnecessary fragmentation that Android's been accused of.

As oppose to Android hardware/software where you have no idea what works on what properly. At least Microsoft are being honest and open about the variations and the reduced capabilities.

My desire HD is due for replacement and I am very much considering the Nokia Lumia 900 which is due for release in the UK shortly and is rumoured to be alot cheaper than Galaxy 2 or other high end phones.

Love playing on the Lumia 800 in my local phone shop. Its feels so much more slick and professional than Android.

[Spud1]

As long as they hold back the OS in the rest of the world (i.e. outside the US) buy limiting it to Bing integration only w/r to search, I doubt MS will see things turn around, which is a big shame.

The hardware of my device (HTC Titan) is great. The OS itself is great to use - love the live tiles, I've got used to the metro styling, and its quick/responsive/largely bug free. The only thing that completely kills it and has made certain I won't buy another, is that it forces you to use bing without going to a lot of effort. There is a whole feature and hardware button dedicated to search - but it will only ever let you search with Bing (and can't be re-mapped), because it is supposed to give you a whole host of other features (fully integrated maps, local search, local prices etc etc), however none of those nice things work outside of the USA. Then there are the awful search results that you get..argh!

The only way around it is to load IE, go to google.com, and then select "classic"..then search. This is painful after a while Much bigger issue than the supposed lack of apps, which isn't a big deal imo since most of the ones that you would expect are now there.

[miniyazz]

You can easily automate that: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2010/11...one-7-but-why/

Or if you're feeling a bit more adventurous: http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/...hone-7-how-to/

[Spud1]

Good spot - i've downloaded the google app which will do the job for now, as I don't want to have to jailbreak/unlock this phone.

Not enough to convince me that it's worth having another WP device but it certainly makes things a bit better - thanks!

[crossy]

As oppose to Android hardware/software where you have no idea what works on what properly. At least Microsoft are being honest and open about the variations and the reduced capabilities.

That's exactly my point - at the moment you can buy a WP7 phone and if a piece of software says "for WP7" then you know it'll work. On the other hand, if you've got one of those "WP7-Lite" (or whatever they call it) devices then you're going to have to carefully check whether your desired app supports the "Lite" level or not. Still seems like unnecessary complication - heck, it's not as if phone hardware is getting noticeably more expensive. In which case just define the current level as "base" and leave the <£100 market to nasty Android phones and the odd wierdo (e.g. Symbian).

Also not convinced that the Mango front end was any better than a good 'droid phone - e.g. SGS2. That said, I really do like the looks of the L800.