Archive for January, 2010

Zune HD Delayed Facebook App

There is a bad news for Zune owners of high definition. It seems that the Facebook application for the Zune HD has been delayed. The news come via the official Zune account on Facebook. The application was originally scheduled to be released in late January, but as of yesterday, that is not happening anymore.

This is not the end of the world. Well, it could be for some FB addicts, but Microsoft is asking Zune users to be a little patient. The company did not specify exactly when he will officially unveil the request. They just tell us that they “want to offer the best application for you and it will take a little longer.”

Do not you worry, we’ll be keeping an eye on that for you. You just go about doing your thing, or if you want you ca tell us how you feel about this delay in the comments below.

Microsoft’s ’3 Screens’ Wish , Zune Phone Could Fulfill

Windows Mobile news site, WM Experts, reports that WinMo May 7 comes with two different versions: one for businesses, one for consumers. The WM Experts site noted that Microsoft has not confirmed the dual flavors of WinMo 7 and that the information comes from anonymous sources.

That said, the business edition outlined in the WM Experts story will be a stripped down version of the OS built around compatibility with Microsoft Office and will incorporate multimedia. The consumer or “means” WinMo7 version will be fully equipped with high definition video as a music player Zune, Facebook and Twitter integration, Silverlight and the Microsoft IPTV software, MediaRoom for TV transmission on the mobile device.

It was unclear whether the Xbox Live is integrated with WinMo 7, but no doubt it would make sense as part of Microsoft’s “3 screens and a cloud” strategy.

Which brings us to the next WinMo 7 rumor: the revealing of a Microsoft branded Zune like phone in the next month or two.

All Things Digital, the leading high technology in the Wall Street Journal, citing an analyst note to Microsoft is preparing to launch its own phone running Windows Mobile 7, which would be the fulfillment of its elusive “Pink” phone project.

“Our recent checks indicate the industry that Microsoft will be debuting its own phone sometime in the next two months,” writes Jefferies & Company analyst Katherine Egbert. “We hope the new phone to debut soon, at either the Feb 15-18 Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona Spain, or possibly at CTIA in Las Vegas one month later.”

The device would be similar to the Google Nexus One phone, according to Egbert, in that it would be the result of a partnership with a phone manufacturer (HTC produced the Nexus One phone). Egbert believes the Microsoft-branded phone will push multimedia features like a five megapixel camera, 720p HD video and a sort of music service subscription.

Microsoft Zune phone would complete Redmond’s vaunted “3 screens and a cloud” strategy, which promises to provide seamless connection between Windows on a computer, Xbox on TV and Windows Mobile on a phone.

Unfortunately, Microsoft is backing away from discussion of Windows Mobile 7, and refutes the claim that will be discussed on 7 Windows Mobile at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month.

It would be a shame, because the “3 screens” strategy, when implemented and understood by the general public, could be a boon for Microsoft. It would bring cohesion to the company’s disjointed ecosystem.

But until Microsoft bares its WinMo 7 soul, “3 screens and a cloud” is just a catchy slogan.

References In PMX, Zune Code

It seems that somehow the Zune phone rumors do not seem to stop. Although Microsoft denied again and again, folks still manage to find hints and leaks that indicate we might be seeing a Zune phone sometime in the future. It seems that the latest Zune HD update has over one or two indications of a Zune phone.

In the hardware list, people have found references to some of the additional devices called “PmxPure” and “PmxTurtle”. If you are wondering what this is about the PMX (Premium Mobile eXperiences) team were formed after Microsoft took over Danger, and apparently together with Sharp, they came up with some renders. They were tagged “Turtle” and “Pure” back then, under Project Pink.

Text in the code also states “View and manage photos and videos taken with your phone at the Studio”, so either there is a lot of phone code leftover or doing nothing in there, or maybe we have a Zune phone coming along? Could there be anything else other than the announcement of Windows Mobile 7 at Microsoft Mobile World Congress ?

Microsft doesn’t say a word about for Zune phone

According to an analyst, a Zune Phone, created by Microsoft, will be launched in two months and it’s not a rumor, it seem like more evidence. The company has established three mechanisms: the software comes with USB drivers for three separate, and unreleased Zune phones. The hardware identification, because it’s possible to learn the manufacturer is registered to Microsoft.

Microsoft decided to take down all the Zune services because it does not seem to require bug fixes only. It was supposed to take a full day in order to take down the services. The company launched Zune PC software 4.2 within a short period of time.

It must be said that the driver references Microsoft not as a manufacturer but as a vendor. It’s difficult to believe that the Zune phone rumors soon become a reality. It’s still impossible to know if this’s a mobile phone but it looks like the Zune HD media player or a mobile phone that is based on Windows Mobile 7 that will come with Zune media services.

But as matter of fact Microsft doesn’t say a word about the coming Zune phone, moreover, it says that there is no Zune phone and still no plans to develop such a device.

Rumors of a Zune phone

We like comparing Apples and Oranges, or at least Apple and Microsoft at TG Daily, and with all the rumors about the iPad, it seems that Microsoft has been trying to generate some of its own buzziness with Zune phone rumors.

News sites and analysts alike have been propagating the a phone rumors with the look and feel of a Zune HD, running on Windows Mobile 7 to be launched at Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona in a few weeks time, but sources of TG Daily in the know say there is no Zune phone, or at least, not in the sense people are expecting.

Some of these rumors have been based on the fact that an updating for the pretty Zune desktop software includes a rather telling hint in the Zune.inf file. Apparently the Microsoft.NTx86 and Microsoft.NTamd64 sections have a listing for “Phone.Device,” which according to the global twitterati and bogosphere is definitive and damning proof.

However, a source in the know on the subject told TG Daily “there won’t be a phone the thingy version.”

“Microsoft has other plans,” he added.

Asked what the plans were, our source said rumors and leaked pictures of Microsoft’s Project Pink, says “these are accurate, and this is the so called because it is running the Zune software.”

Our source tells us the “release date is hyper secret, but not always there,” and just because the phone is not integrated into a new Zune player, “ I guess that no Zune means no Tegra, oh no… MS loves Tegra.” Looks like another win for Nvidia then. Or is that an Nvidia for Winmob?

He also said the Pink will probably come with a 5 MP camera, and will support 720p. Oh, and of course, including the Zune means that services will be able to connect to the Zune App Store too.

Coming Zune to a phone retailer near you.