Database Users

Windows Mobile 7 announced for the HD ?

Hello all, Windows Mobile 7 is announced to be available this year. It seems that it will be a lot more "finger friendly". The Touch HD would fit it very well.
In fact, I'm currently a Kaiser owner, and I planned to buy a Touch HD but I'm a bit disapointed (as always with HTC !!!) about its graphical performances.
Touch HD owners still need to convert video files for the Touch HD to read them at a good speed ... A shame !!!! I had an Axim x50v 4 years ago which was able to read any VGA DivX without any convertion and it was really fast, no lags.
So I can deal with the bad video performances (I already do with my Kaiser ...) but I need a major change in the general usage of the device compared to my Kaiser.
That's why I would be glad to see Windows Mobile 7 announced for the Touch HD, it may be the thing which would decide me to buy a Touch HD.
Does anyone know if HTC plan to upgrade the Touch HD with Windows Mobile 7 when it will be available ?
Thanks !

Windows 7?
Where? I thought was delayed for 2010 and that they will release soon windows 6.5... Did I miss something

In fact Windows Mobile 8 was delayed for 2010 (and maybe later !). What I read so far is that Windows Mobile 7 should be available in the middle of 2009.
EDIT : New news -> you're right, wm 6.5 announced to come before 7 ... 7 delayed for 2010 ...

dizzy33 said:
In fact Windows Mobile 8 was delayed for 2010 (and maybe later !). What I read so far is that Windows Mobile 7 should be available in the middle of 2009.
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what you read is incorrect. WM7 is for 2010, Q4 of 2009 at the EARLIEST. and to your original question. WM7 may require a different set of hardware to be completely finger friendly, ie no more resistive touch screen. but that's not to say people here can't hack it and port it to a legacy product (ie. touch HD) by the time WM7 comes out

About the date for WM 7, take a look at my EDIT section in my previous post ...
I've already noticed it changed, but thanks anyway ...
About the hardware, I'm not sure it may need a different hardware because it is said that Microsoft developped an application which use the camera as a G-Sensor ... So they may do their best for this O.S. to be compatible with old style hardware ...
So now the question is : will HTC offer a WM 6.5 upgrade for the Touch HD ... Not sure cause it may be there too late ...

Hm, i think the 6.5 will be published in Spring/Summer 09, so it could be possible.
Greets
John

i think htc will offer a update cause t-mobile will release the HD with android so they have to do sth for satisfy the customers with win mobile

kerni said:
i think htc will offer a update cause t-mobile will release the HD with android so they have to do sth for satisfy the customers with win mobile
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Click to collapse
Where did u see this.

And sorry to take the air out your balloon
Turb0wned said:
Where did u see this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fact:
He totaly made that up, there have been some renderings of what the G2 MAY look like and many people took it upon themselves to photoshop The Beast running the Android OS. Don't get your hopes up.
(My) Sepculation:
You'll probably see the G1 come out with 5 more colors, and 10 more OTAs before you ever find out what a G2 looks like.
Sources:
http://twitter.com/htc/statuses/948774282
Not to mention that HTC specifically said that they did not manufacture the Black Stone with a radio module supporting the US 3G frequencies. So I doubt T-Mobile would Market any device going foward as running on G2/Edge
I hope you find this helpful (And sorry to take the air out your balloon)

dizzy33 said:
I'm not sure it may need a different hardware because it is said that Microsoft developped an application which use the camera as a G-Sensor
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Click to collapse
Hmm. Camera tracking applications kill the battery _very_ quickly and obviously don't work in bad light conditions or against blank surfaces with no pattern.
The HD has a g-sensor anyway, so that shouldn't be an issue.

i've also read on numerous websites that theres the chance that t-mobile may be running android on touch HD.
also the HD is definitly coming out on t-mobile in the next 2 months

dizzy33 said:
About the date for WM 7, take a look at my EDIT section in my previous post ...
I've already noticed it changed, but thanks anyway ...
About the hardware, I'm not sure it may need a different hardware because it is said that Microsoft developped an application which use the camera as a G-Sensor ... So they may do their best for this O.S. to be compatible with old style hardware ...
So now the question is : will HTC offer a WM 6.5 upgrade for the Touch HD ... Not sure cause it may be there too late ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the time stamp sais your last edit was after my post. but regarding the hardware difference: microsoft never specifies the HW requirement to end customers because we don't get to purchase the OS. they do specify to the manufactures of the phones. it's the same reason why your PC hardware requirement changes for Windows 2000 and Windows Vista. I'm sure you can some what run Vista on a machine built for Win 2K, but your experience will be limited. So I was just saying that some hackers here can port the WM7 to Touch HD, even though Touch HD is not designated to run WM7.
Requirement wise, I am _speculating_ that it will need a better CPU/graphics chip, amongst other things. the current Qualcomm chip 's graphic capability just plain sucks, the CPU power also isn't the best. Horse power by horsepower, a Qualcomm 500 MHz is much slower than a Marvel/Intel PXA 500 Mhz. I believe WM7 will have more graphics requirement: here's my logic:
- Up till WM6.1 (possibly 6.5), the max resolution supported is 800x480 (which is ok), but he color depth is only 65000, which is low. Iphone supports 262000, i'm sure MS will be going after at least that.
- ever since phones/PDA moved form QVGA to VGA and WVGA, the graphics suffered, and understandbly so. though not microsoft's fault directly. people started saying "my WM phone/PDA is slow" and put the blame on MS. So MS will be clearing their name and restricting manufactures from putting their OS on a non-suitable device
so the above two points just to show you in the graphics department there may be a HW requirement. can you run it on a phone that doesn't fit the requirement? suuuuure, just that the experience won't be as good.
and finally, the news yesterday confirmed my suspicious is that HTC just dumped Qualcomm (not 100% dump though) as the sole CPU/chip provider due to their performance. Given that a product stays in incubation (for prototyping QA, testing, beta, etc etc) for 6 to 8 month before it hits the market. I believe HTC is prototyping the new devices with WM6.5 and perhaps even WM7, and found the performance with Qualcomm chip lacking. hence hardware requirement.

Site your sources.
adsno_1 said:
i've also read on numerous websites that theres the chance that t-mobile may be running android on touch HD.
also the HD is definitly coming out on t-mobile in the next 2 months
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I don't mean to be rude, but what part don't you understand that the the Touch HD has hardware limitation not allowing it to take advantage of US 3G frequencies
If you read my previous post you'll see an official announcement from HTC themselves supporting my comment.
The HTC will not see the light of day in the United States, In the US there are 2 GSM Carriers ATT and T-Mobile
ATT won't relesase because it directly competes (and probably breeches) their contract with Apple
And, when was the last time you seen T-Mobile release a beefy smartphone, the smartest phone they have is the Wing, and that's a joke in terms of Harware.
Site your sources before you make such claims sir.

adsno_1 said:
also the HD is definitly coming out on t-mobile in the next 2 months
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That comment is a joke, where are you sources.

I guess there are a lot of Wishful thinkers on this thread.

fnordelus said:
I don't mean to be rude, but what part don't you understand that the the Touch HD has hardware limitation not allowing it to take advantage of US 3G frequencies
And, when was the last time you seen T-Mobile release a beefy smartphone, the smartest phone they have is the Wing, and that's a joke in terms of Harware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What makes you think he is talking about the US market? There are other countries out there you know
I was told by around 5 people from T-Mob UK retentions that it was in the testing phase, and they could offer it to me around March. This could possibly have been conjecture to try and get me to stay, but if you look at the link below, you will see a trend.
As an aside, T-Mob UK have released all major "beefy" smartphones. - http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/phones/pay-monthly/all/all/

Schooleydoo said:
What makes you think he is talking about the US market? There are other countries out there you know
I was told by around 5 people from T-Mob UK retentions that it was in the testing phase, and they could offer it to me around March. This could possibly have been conjecture to try and get me to stay, but if you look at the link below, you will see a trend.
As an aside, T-Mob UK have released all major "beefy" smartphones. - http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/phones/pay-monthly/all/all/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're absolutely right, that's my bad!
I actually did forget that T-Mobile is outside of the US, please excuse my stroke of ignorance.
I feel extra stupid because I actually have a German-T-Mobile Branded MDA Pro that I had to replace the keyboard for (to a qwerty keybord)
Me <---- Fail!

Schooleydoo said:
What makes you think he is talking about the US market? There are other countries out there you know
I was told by around 5 people from T-Mob UK retentions that it was in the testing phase, and they could offer it to me around March. This could possibly have been conjecture to try and get me to stay, but if you look at the link below, you will see a trend.
As an aside, T-Mob UK have released all major "beefy" smartphones. - http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/phones/pay-monthly/all/all/
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Click to collapse
Aditionally, you're double right!
Becuase T-Mobile UK does have a history of releasing beefy smarthphones, I just got my ass handed to me.
When it comes to mobile devices (my passion) it SUCKS to be an American.
Everytime I wip out my BlackStone, or even my XDA iis I get some ****-head who says "is that an iPhone?" or even worse "Is that an iPhone imitation?"
So, again, excuse my stroke of ignorance.

fnordelus said:
Everytime I wip out my BlackStone, or even my XDA iis I get some ****-head who says "is that an iPhone?"
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Click to collapse
HAHA oh man I get the same thing all the time!
The annoying thing is it's surprisingly hard to say "HTC Touch HD" properly coherantly without sounding weird due to the cacophony of hard syllables!
Something interesting to note about WiMo 6.5 and the Touch HD is in reference to Pocket Internet Explorer 6. Microsoft have stated that their new mobile browser won't be released for use on any device due to hardware limitations of current devices - but there HAS been a ROM released by a microsoft developer for the Touch HD ONLY that DOES include the new Pocket IE...
My theory is that 6.5 will be held by microsoft for use on higher spec future handsets only, but the Touch HD will be allowed a possibly semi-official update. (maybe in the guise of a ROM by a microsoft developer like PIE6)
Something else to bear in mind, the Hermes was in mid life cycle when WiMo6 was released and HTC duly released a free upgrade from the pre-existing version 5 so there's a possibility they might do something similar for the HD.
All speculation and hope of course...

Here are some images of what WM7 might look like. Check out the Word 2007 picture. It looks like it has a lot of menu options.
http://cybernetnews.com/2008/01/07/windows-mobile-7-images-leaked/

Windows Mobile 6.5 next month!

"Software giant Microsoft is apparently getting ready to drop its trousers and unveil its assets at the Mobile World Congress event at Barcelona next month. "
"Microsoft is also expected to unveil Windows Mobile 6.5 with the new UI at the Mobile World Congress. "
XPERIA will get the upgrade i am sure!
Hurrah - "new UI" hopefully more easy to use!

This post does not help anybody for some reasons:
1) You did not state the source of your informtion
2) Most people may already have known this
3) this is only speculation (anyway I am expecting the announcment soon too)
4) no one knows what to expect from WM6.5 except Skynet...
sorry, i hope to not offend you but thats what came up in my mind...

It will be interesting to see if Xperia actually gets the update to WM6.5, but I'm not so sure. One can only hope... In any case, surely the developers at XDA will cook something up

Here: http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=2485
Nothing has been said about a new XPERIA. SE haven't announced its new partner yet and previous reports state that the new XPERIA should be unveiled late 2009...

Comeradealexi - Thanks for letting us well me know as it means I've got something to google now on my lunch break.

here it is if you don't want to click
"Neowin, quoting unnamed sources close to Microsoft, is claiming Mobile World Congress (February 16-19th), will not only be bringing Windows Mobile 6.5, but also a slew of Microsoft services rumoured previously to the Windows Mobile platform.
“SkyBox” is a service for users to sync a phones information with the web. Microsoft will be offering automatic backup and restore services, access and management of phone data and provide easy communication and sharing with others. The service will also allow syncing of contacts, email/SMS, calendar items and pictures into the cloud. Neowin adds a new detail, not rumoured previously, that this service will be available not only on Windows Mobile, but also for other phone OS’s.
“SkyLine” will be aimed at small businesses. Offering similar functionality to SkyBox, businesses will be able to setup their phones with Microsoft’s Exchange hosting with their own domain names.
“SkyMarket” is Microsoft’s mobile marketplace, a competitor to Apple’s AppStore and RIM’s Blackberry application center.
Neowin also claims that their sources confirm the leaked screenshots from earlier this year are in fact real, despite being panned for having icons stolen from the Apple OSX desktop, and that they represent design concepts.
Looks like we do have quite a bit to look forward to in a months time after all."
so make of that what you will

could have sworn i posted this yesterday..

i think x1 will work slower after upgrade.
because it's windows : )

Ethermind said:
i think x1 will work slower after upgrade.
because it's windows : )
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Click to collapse
After having played with Windows 7... i can say that Microsoft is finally taking things in the right direction. So i expect WinMo 6.5 to be way better.

msalmank said:
After having played with Windows 7... i can say that Microsoft is finally taking things in the right direction. So i expect WinMo 6.5 to be way better.
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I think you meant hope.. ;P

fards said:
I think you meant hope.. ;P
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LOL LOL
Ah... Microsucks...

well... let's better hope we get "some" update "some" day... as things are going till now... maybe this will be the first PDA without official rom updates... ¬¬

msalmank said:
After having played with Windows 7... i can say that Microsoft is finally taking things in the right direction. So i expect WinMo 6.5 to be way better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"The day Microsoft makes a product that doesn't suck is the day they start making vacuums." -Old forum posting
All joking aside, I am looking forward to any updates made to Windows Mobile Professional. Standard got a real nice interface boost with 6.1, and we didn't get squat in the "looks" department.

fards said:
I think you meant hope.. ;P
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Click to collapse
Actually... i meant EXPECT!

NotATreoFan said:
"The day Microsoft makes a product that doesn't suck is the day they start making vacuums." -Old forum posting
All joking aside, I am looking forward to any updates made to Windows Mobile Professional. Standard got a real nice interface boost with 6.1, and we didn't get squat in the "looks" department.
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Click to collapse
Just go and play with Windows 7 and you'll be sitting right here beside me saying that you EXPECT Windows Mobile to be taken in the right direction...

msalmank said:
Just go and play with Windows 7 and you'll be sitting right here beside me saying that you EXPECT Windows Mobile to be taken in the right direction...
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Click to collapse
I've been running Windows 7 for about 2 weeks now, and I'm with you 100%. I'm not running it as my full time OS, but it is definitely running better than Vista did in beta/pre-SP1.

yeah - they've done it right with windows 7 - they'll have done it right with mobile 6.5/7

It seems somewhat likely that the X1 will get the update as we haven't heard a word from sony about any software updates whatsoever. What's the use of the software update utility if no updates are made? Maybe they haven't released anything because they have to wait until 6.5 is announced.

NotATreoFan said:
(windows 7) is definitely running better than Vista did in beta/pre-SP1.
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Click to collapse
Windows 7 beta 1 is better than Vista full stop
Cant wait for WM7... getting bored of the same old same old now.....................

n4v1n said:
It seems somewhat likely that the X1 will get the update as we haven't heard a word from sony about any software updates whatsoever. What's the use of the software update utility if no updates are made? Maybe they haven't released anything because they have to wait until 6.5 is announced.
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Click to collapse
More likely, since they've parted ways with HTC, they've abandoned updating the Xperia X1, so not only will we not see Windows Mobile 6.5, we won't even get any firmware updates, like the retarded problem where turning off WIFI also turns of Bluetooth at the same time, or where Bluetooth keeps turning off by itself (workaround is Mortscript, but why do we need workarounds?!), etc. etc.
The HTC Touch HD has ALREADY had 2 or 3 updates, and it was released later than the Xperia X1. Where are the Xperia updates? NONE. NADA. ZIP.
I have an Xperia X1 but I'm starting to feel mighty bad here... I'm not feeling any love from HTC or SE and I doubt (and I hope I'm wrong) that we will see any updates, ever, for our machines.

Microsoft to launch Windows Mobile 6.6 in February

Microsoft reportedly plans to launch Windows Mobile 6.6 (codenamed Maldives) in February 2010 to strengthen its competitiveness against iPhone- and Android-based platforms, according to industry sources.
Sales of Windows Mobile 6.5 have been flat since the platform was launched in the fourth quarter of 2009, pushing Microsoft to bring forward Windows Mobile 6.6, which supports capacitive touchscreens, the sources noted.
However, Microsoft may now delay the launch of Windows Mobile 7 to 2011, instead of the end of 2010 as originally planned, the sources indicated.
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100114PD216.html

I cannot imagine how good must WM 7 be, to compensate for all the delays... WM 6,5, even with all the HTC tweaks, is still far behind Android in terms of user-friendliness and usability. Microsoft really need to work hard on WM 7 if they want to remain a leader in mobile software industry.

Bad news
Thanks for this information, Bro
See you
Franky

Here's a great article that puts together all of the current rumors:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/01/14/urnidgns852573C400693880002576AC00211326.DTL
Never heard of WM 6.6, but I'm assuming it's either that or Windows Phone(WM7) that's going to be announced in February.
EDIT: Update! http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft-We-werent-talking-about-Windows-Mobile-7-at-CES/1263586701
Starting to have a bad feeling about WM 7 actually making it to our phones in 2010.

Am I the only one who thinks ms are trying to blow smoke up our collective bums? How can a ms rep say "we were not speaking specifically of Windows Mobile 7" about an interview they'd given and then follow it up by "not going into further detail as to which product the interview did concern.".....Wogan said it best..."Is it me?"

As it was to be expected.
Another incremental polish of a mobile os of the past.
Wasit it originally intended for those pda`s and low power mobile pc things.
But on the other hand .,. we do got the win mo 7 for the HD2. the bad thing is...
We dont know when.
And the HD2 being the first phone up to the standards of microsoft. If it would take another year for microsoft to do something and get going. Dont you thing HTC will have another range of phones ready by then ?? And moest of the customers I know got a one or two year post pay plan. and when they resign the plan contract for two years they get another phone.
Uhmm dont get me wrong here im trying to make this example.
I got the MDA vario then a tytn then a diamond and now im a happy HD2 user.
Most of the time a phone lasts about 1 or two years. .
So when the microsoft dudes are finally ready.. The HD2 will be obsolete.
And HTC told us there will be a free update available to win 7.
But after a year delay.. it seems stupid to take along HD2 in the update programm, after a year maybe more.
Or am i totally wrong here ??

Enonoid said:
So when the microsoft dudes are finally ready.. The HD2 will be obsolete.
And HTC told us there will be a free update available to win 7.
But after a year delay.. it seems stupid to take along HD2 in the update programm, after a year maybe more.
Or am i totally wrong here ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is totally spot-on. Even if WM7 comes out at Q3/4 of this computer, there bound to be some faster and better spec phones around to utilize the new OS and our HD2 will probably be left in our houses as lab-rats for home cookings!
I also believed that by the time WM7 really comes out, most of us would have moved on to Android with our HD2 already!

I don't see why people are dragging WM7 into this. As far as I'm concern (and anyone with the least bit of common sense), WM7 is not coming out until the end of this year/early of next year. Until then, MS could release version 6.99999 and I wouldn't give a crap.

^^ Haha well said! I just dont believe people actually think WM7 will be released just 2 months after release of WM 6.5!!

true
Well we arnt dragging win 7 in,, Its already there.
Well i know it would be to much to ask of em. the microsoft guys.

dj_ghosie said:
I also believed that by the time WM7 really comes out, most of us would have moved on to Android with our HD2 already!
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I hope someone is able to port the latest Android to Leo. I just love the hardware specs of Leo (specifically the screen size) to go with Android OS. Winmo 6.6 or 6.9999 do not interest me.

Not that this helps, but I was in a Microsoft presentation and their own slides are still showing H1 2010 as the release date. The bad news is that the Microsoft person giving the presentation had betas of every product but didn't have or hasn't seen Win Mobile 7 yet

windows 6.5.3 = 6.6

Xperia X2 software support schedule

I saw this link over at gsmarena.com which lead me here: http://xperiancers.com/2010/02/02/x...&utm_campaign=Feed:+Xperiancers+(Xperiancers)
Xperia X2 software support schedule
// February 2nd, 2010 // X2, X2 News
As the X2 begins to roll out globally, it’s only fair that customers know what kind of support we’ll be giving the phone in the months to come. It’s not news to say that we attracted some criticism for this on the X1 and we’re not going to go there again with the X2. So, for the record, this is what X2 customers can expect in terms of software upgrades.
In March, we’ll launch our first upgrade (MR1). It will upgrade Windows Mobile from 6.5.1 to 6.5.2 (which will improve both the stability and usability of the device), it will bring in the use of video telephony, an FM radio and it will introduce fast GPS to get a quicker fix. As well as all this, MR1 will upgrade a lot of the applications in the phone to improve speed, usability and fix any bugs we find.
The second update will go live in May and this will be a big one as it moves Windows mobile onto 6.5.3. This is a significant upgrade in terms of usability, performance, power management and the browser experience.
That’s the extent of our plans at the moment but I’ll update this post as we make any more decisions.
(ps. Before anyone asks, no it won’t ever go onto Windows Mobile 7, it won’t support the hardware.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

lol hope there will be an xperia with hw keys when win 7 releases

Sounds nice

wow. im very impressed with this. nice to see that theyre taking the X2 seriously and have a plan in place. looking forward to march and seeing the first update

I'm gonna get it soon.

i wish they took x1 seriously

sx1-doc said:
i wish they took x1 seriously
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Click to collapse
don't we all?
but as fair is fair, i don't take SE seriously any more...
at least they acknowledge their mistake and promise to do better.

Is it possible to update my x2 through online once the update is launched? Thanks

yes it should be through the sony update service since they are official updates.. you can download the update software from sony ericssons website. im sure someone will post on here when they become available. or just randomly try and update your phone every few days during march until something happens...

anothadave said:
yes it should be through the sony update service since they are official updates.. you can download the update software from sony ericssons website. im sure someone will post on here when they become available. or just randomly try and update your phone every few days during march until something happens...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if something happens wrongly?
I would like to ask. Am I able to install Java programs in my X2 & use? Thanks

lostsouls said:
What if something happens wrongly?
I would like to ask. Am I able to install Java programs in my X2 & use? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Almost everybody does upgrade this way!
Fear not, it's a stable process.
Of course you can install Java,
in fact X2 has best Java results.

lostsouls said:
What if something happens wrongly?
I would like to ask. Am I able to install Java programs in my X2 & use? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol all i meant was you just connect to the update software every few days and see if it tells you if theres an update available. if theres no update then nothing happens. even if there is a newer update you still have the option to stop before anything happens.
remember to always make sure everything important is backed up before starting an update.
its a shame that sony dont have something on their website to inform people when a new update is out. would save having to connect to the update software to check. or even if they let us register and then they could email or text us...

anothadave said:
its a shame that sony dont have something on their website to inform people when a new update is out. would save having to connect to the update software to check. or even if they let us register and then they could email or text us...
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Click to collapse
Well, for that there are sites like USEB or Engadget Mobile, no need for SE to do anything

What's New in Windows Phone 8.1

This article describes key new features and improvements in Windows Phone 8.1.
"A must read" for all WP developers (but not a hackers of course )
There are lot of "tasty" features in WP 8.1; as for me, it sounds like a great platform improvement without having to upgrade hardware. Hope to get dev preview of WP 8.1 very soon

I've been looking all morning for this article...thanks.

Didn't the leaked SDK contain all this a few months ago?

Sunius1 said:
Didn't the leaked SDK contain all this a few months ago?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, some things were hidden.

Hi,
An post, talk already of Windows Phone 8.1, on XDA Portal.
http://www.xda-developers.com/andro...tion-center-windows-to-bring-back-start-menu/

anaheiim, this topic is a little bit different. Article I've posted shortly describes new APIs for developers; it's not a discussion about user experience
P.S. Joke:
- Did you heard: Cortana will marry Siri?
- Are you kidding? It's not possible!
- No, it's possible in 17 states...

sensboston said:
anaheiim, this topic is a little bit different. Article I've posted shortly describes new APIs for developers; it's not a discussion about user experience
P.S. Joke:
- Did you heard: Cortana will marry Siri?
- Are you kidding? It's not possible!
- No, it's possible in 17 states...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, I did not see your link to MS dev blog in your first post.
Dev Preview of 8.1, will be released, of microsoft source during the first half of April.
And WPCentral source, announce April 14.
And for those who did not know (but I think you're all aware), the WP8.1 SDK is officially available in Release Candidate.
http://dev.windowsphone.com/en-us/downloadsdk

Yikes! This Windows Phone 8.1 Update seems to be a whole new OS with a ton of new features and improvements in UI and API.
Still didn't get: do they at MSFT plan to make the Update freely available through Windows Update to exiting Windows Phone 8 customers?

Luxon said:
Yikes! This Windows Phone 8.1 Update seems to be a whole new OS with a ton of new features and improvements in UI and API.
Still didn't get: do they at MSFT plan to make the Update freely available through Windows Update to exiting Windows Phone 8 customers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes! All Windows Phones can get updated to 8.1. It depends on when (and sadly, if) your carrier releases it. However if you want to get past that, you can just join the dev preview and it'll be downloadable sometime this month. Sources have been saying either the 10th or the 14th. So lookout

desolateone1 said:
Yes! All Windows Phones can get updated to 8.1. It depends on when (and sadly, if) your carrier releases it. However if you want to get past that, you can just join the dev preview and it'll be downloadable sometime this month. Sources have been saying either the 10th or the 14th. So lookout
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought MSFT had complete control over which devices get upgraded?
I saw in build conference that they had upgraded even the lowly 520 to 8.1!
Cheers!

desolateone1 said:
Yes! All Windows Phones can get updated to 8.1. It depends on when (and sadly, if) your carrier releases it. However if you want to get past that, you can just join the dev preview and it'll be downloadable sometime this month. Sources have been saying either the 10th or the 14th. So lookout
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Joe posted in twitter, that they don't know exact date. It'll be first part of April.

-W_O_L_F- said:
Joe posted in twitter, that they don't know exact date. It'll be first part of April.
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and he didn't mention the year

ceesheim said:
and he didn't mention the year
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I really thought they said (at build) that 8.1 preview was supposed to be available for download today 4/8.

They do. What part of @desolate1's post suggested otherwise? Join the dev preview program and get the update straight from Microsoft (as soon as it releases) while the bits are fresh!
It's only if you want to get it through your OEM and/or carrier that you'll need to wait, and risk disappointment. Reading comprehension, yo!