Tech News Updates

How would we like to replace the UI on our Windows Mobile 6.5 phone with the Kin UI? Well, we never really thought about it, we suppose… and frankly, we’re not sure why anyone else did, either. Alas, KinLauncher is here, delivering a pretty authentic Kin-esque home screen but not much else — as soon as you touch anything, you’ll be dumped back into the cold comfort of WinMo (or Sense , as the case may be). It’s available for download, if you’re really into that sort of thing — but if you’d rather enjoy the carnage from a safe distance, there’s a video after the break. Continue reading Kin skin for Windows Mobile 6.5 leads to more questions than answers Kin skin for Windows Mobile 6.5 leads to more questions than answers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

After having gone to public beta late last year, Office Mobile 2010 is now available in conjunction with the retail release of the full desktop version of Office 2010, bringing comprehensive Word, Excel, and PowerPoint editing capabilities to the pocket — on Windows Mobile 6.5, that is. Yes, granted, Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft’s biggest mobile news this year, but there’ll be a huge legacy base of 6.5 users out there for a long time to come, and they’re pretty much the core audience for the sorts of features that Office Mobile 2010 is offering: SharePoint integration for grabbing documents from the office, a nifty Bluetooth controller mode for PowerPoint presentations, and so on… you know, suit-and-tie stuff. The download is available today from Windows Marketplace for users of 6.5 devices with an older version of Office Mobile installed — so go on, Tiger, whip up the hottest quarterly reports the world has ever seen. We know you have it in you. Follow the break for Redmond’s full Office 2010 press release. Continue reading Office Mobile 2010 released, free upgrade for WinMo 6.5 users Office Mobile 2010 released, free upgrade for WinMo 6.5 users originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Well, we’d already had a pretty clear indication that the HTC HD2 would be launching on T-Mobile on March 24th (or possibly the 23rd), and Laptop Magazine is now reporting that a ” very close T-Mobile source” has confirmed that the 24th is indeed the date, and that the phone will run $199 on a two-year contract (or $449 off-contract). The March 23rd date that recently cropped up is apparently just the day the MobiTV software will go live. Just as notably, Laptop also says that it has confirmed that the phone won’t be upgradeable to Windows Phone 7 Series — although, at this point, we’ll have to hear that first-hand to truly put an end to the speculation. Thankfully, that should happen in just a few days . HTC HD2 said to be launching March 24th for $199, no Windows Phone 7 support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like the wait for OnLive is finally coming to an end: the service is now officially slated to launch on June 17 in the 48 contiguous states. The game streaming service will run users $14.95 a month, though buying or renting games is an additional cost (it’s unclear exactly what that cost might be). Luckily there will be lower prices available for multi-month buys, and the first 25,000 people to sign up will get their first three months free. Service includes free instant-play demos, multiplayer and an “instant video-based social network,” whatever that means. At the outset the service will run on Mac and PC as a browser plugin, but the MicroConsole TV adapter will be released later this year, with other devices to be added “over time.” Initially the service will run at 720p, but 1080p / 60 fps will be added once the bandwidth becomes available. Out of the gate there will be somewhere between 12 and 25 titles available, including Mass Effect 2 , Borderlands , Assassin’s Creed II , Dragon Age Origins , and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands . There are five different data centers set up to serve up the games, strategically placed to reduce lag… let’s hope they work ! OnLive Game Service to launch on June 17 in the US for $15 a month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Chuck Thacker may not be quite the same household name as some other computing pioneers, but it’s pretty hard to overstate the influence he’s had on the industry, a feat for which he’s now be honored with the A.M. Turing Award — widely considered to be the “Nobel prize of computing.” While Thacker is now a “Technical Fellow” at Microsoft, he first made a name for himself at Xerox PARC, where he not only helped design and realize the very first modern computer, the Alto, but co-invented Ethernet, and contributed to a range of other projects that have had a lasting impact on computing to this day. Later, while at Microsoft Reseach, Thacker oversaw the design of the very first Tablet PC prototypes, and he continues to lead up a computer-architecture group at the company and be involved with various research efforts. Of course, that’s only scratching the surface — hit up the links below for a more complete background of the man’s work, and head on past the break for a short video put together for the occasion by Microsoft. Continue reading Computing pioneer Chuck Thacker wins Turing Award Computing pioneer Chuck Thacker wins Turing Award originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

As Windows Mobile 6.5-based handsets go, LG’s eXpo unquestionably stands near the top of the pile thanks to its WVGA display, 1GHz Snapdragon core, and optional pico projector hump for the rear — but there’s a problem: it’s really, really hard to find. Nigh impossible, actually, especially now that AT&T has pulled it off its online store altogether (it had been showing out of stock for weeks anyway). The reason for that isn’t entirely clear — LG and AT&T are happy to cite “strong demand,” naturally, but the company that supplies the eXpo’s fingerprint sensor says there are actually some outstanding antenna problems that have the production line backlogged. So when’s it coming back? “Soon,” according to LG, but in this business we’ve seen “soon” mean anything from a few minutes to a few years, so that doesn’t mean much — and in the meantime, we’re thinking T-Mobile’s HD2 stands to eat its lunch. [Thanks, Luda] AT&T’s LG eXpo pico projects itself right out of stock, production problems to blame? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Hey remember that feel-good iPad introduction video with the Ben Folds cover of “In Between Days” Apple posted on launch day? Yeah, well you’re going to remember the hell out of it once you watch it with Google’s auto-transcription enabled on YouTube. Trust us, you owe yourself these few moments of absurdity. Update: Video after the break! [Thanks, Jeff] Gallery: The iPad introduction video, as captioned by Google Continue reading The iPad introduction video, as captioned by Google The iPad introduction video, as captioned by Google originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

We’re not sure we’d be able to find a piece of hardware that made us adore Windows Mobile 6.5 the same way we adore puppies or a hot cup of cocoa, but that doesn’t mean that the usual suspects — HTC, Samsung, LG, and the like — aren’t producing some magnificent hardware on which to run it. Today we’ve had a chance to give LG’s new eXpo for AT&T a quick once-over, and on paper, this is a hell of a handset: 5 megapixel autofocus cam, a fingerprint sensor that doubles as a d-pad, Snapdragon power, a WVGA display, full QWERTY, and most notably, support for an optional microprojector add-on. Sadly, a ship date hasn’t yet been assigned to the PJ, but does the basic package hold its own against the similarly-spec’d Tilt2 ? Let’s check it out. Gallery: LG eXpo unboxing and hands-on Continue reading LG eXpo unboxing and hands-on LG eXpo unboxing and hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

The projector phone mishmash idea has been around (and even demonstrated ) for quite some time now, but only recently have we seen one of these two-pronged, hunchbacked monsters land on a major US carrier. LG’s eXpo is carrying that crown (or burden, depending on perspective), and while we’re itching to get one into our own labs for testing, we’ll happily pass along what looks to be the world’s first real good look at this handset in action. Make no mistake — the DLP-based beamer affixed on the back adds quite the bulge, but the actual video performance looks about as good as any dedicated pico projector that we’ve seen to date. Have a peek past the break to see for yourself. Continue reading LG’s projector-laden eXpo smartphone gets demonstrated on video LG’s projector-laden eXpo smartphone gets demonstrated on video originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

We know, today is totally Android 2.0’s day to shine , but what would a Friday night be without a little diversity? Windows Mobile 6.5 officially landed on a gaggle of Windows Phones back in early October (a month ago to the day, in fact), but by and large, all of ‘em have seemingly drifted off into some forgotten corner while Motorola’s DROID has taken over the hype. Still, we’ve got a feeling at least a few of you loyalists went out and gave Sir Ballmer a few more of your nickles, and now we’re eager to hear if you’re loving or regretting that choice. Is 6.5 really a worthy update over 6.1? Are you waiting for WinMo 7 instead? What would you change about 6.5 in order to make 7 the best mobile OS of all time ? Sound off in comments below! Filed under: Cellphones , Software How would you change Windows Mobile 6.5? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink