windows phone 8

Qualcomm's Q4 shows gap between mobile, PC chipmakers

In case the market needs more evidence of the strength of mobile versus PCs, all it has to do is look at Qualcomm.

The wireless-chip maker, which helped popularize the CDMA technology used in cell phones, today reported quarterly financial results that were better than it had anticipated, and it provided bullish projections for the current period and year.

Its strong results -- which sent shares up about 8 percent in after-hours trading -- contrast pretty sharply with the dismal forecasts from many other semiconductor companies, most notably PC chip giant Intel. Intel last month gave a fairly grim outlook … Read more

AT&T drafts behind Microsoft's Windows 8 media blitz

AT&T hopes the third time's the charm when it comes to Windows Phone.

While the company isn't putting all of its marketing muscle behind its lineup of Windows Phone 8 devices, it expects to benefit from the massive promotional push of Windows 8 from Microsoft. The telecommunications provider believes the proliferation of Windows 8 computers and tablets in the market will drive previously unseen demand for the smartphones.

"We are coordinating together to make sure we have an effective launch," said Ralph de la Vega, head of AT&T's mobile arm, in … Read more

Microsoft releases SkyDrive App for Windows Phone 8 devices

Microsoft has released a SkyDrive app for Windows Phone 8 devices.

SkyDrive lets you store files in the cloud, so you can access them from anywhere, virtually on any device regardless of platform. The free app also lets you share your files with other users and manage and edit files. It can automatically upload pictures that you take to SkyDrive.

The new version released by Microsoft works for Windows Phone 7.5 or higher and includes a new search function for files and folders; new settings for photo upload and download size; and a new look for icons and visuals, … Read more

Microsoft's Ballmer on Windows Phone 8: Small but growing

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer acknowledges that Windows Phone remains "relatively small" in the smartphone world but predicts that the launch of the latest version of its operating system will spark sales.

"I expect the volumes on Windows Phone to really ramp quickly," Ballmer said today during a launch event for Windows 8 in Israel. The presentation was covered by Reuters.

Microsoft formally launched the Windows Phone 8 platform last week, just days after the launch of its Windows 8 platform for desktops, laptops, and tablets. The company hopes to tie the two together, along with its … Read more

Windows Phone 8 notification center may be in the works

It appears Windows Phone 8 could eventually get a notification center similar to the ones found on the iPhone and on Android smartphones.

A Microsoft executive conceded that the company "ran out of time" when putting together the latest version of its mobile operating system, but said that such a feature was of great interest and something that is "very very important to me," The Verge reported.

The notification center, which appears as a pull-down menu on iOS and Android, gives apps a central location to alert users about new software updates, messages, or other information. … Read more

Nokia Lumia 920 camera vs. HTC Windows Phone 8X vs. iPhone 5

Nokia has trumpeted the ability of its Nokia Lumia 920's 8.7-megapixel camera with image stabilization, low-light enhancements, and PureView algorithms. Photo quality was strong and fairly consistent, though photos had a blue cast to them and the Lumia 920 had problems with contrast and absolute sharpness compared with the others.

In the meantime, HTC's 8-megapixel Windows Phone 8X took some pretty nice photos as well, though there was more swing between the highs and lows. For its part, the 8-megapixel iPhone 5 won some and lost some, but retained the most consistent.

Don't just take my … Read more

Microsoft upgrades Windows Phone sync app for Mac users

Mac owners who use a Windows Phone device now have a new and improved app for syncing their information.

Released yesterday in the Mac App store, the Windows Phone 3.0 app lets users sync movies, videos, documents, and other files between their Macs and Windows Phone handsets. The latest version now supports Windows Phone 8.

Users can drag and drop files between their Windows Phone 8 devices and the Mac desktop or the Finder file manager. They can see the state of the phone's battery charge and take advantage of better support for ringtones. The new app also … Read more

Skype for Windows Phone 8 has some smart moves (hands-on)

Skype's VoIP app is "coming soon" for Windows Phone 8, but when it arrives, it'll be outfitted with more options than its Skype sibling for Windows Phone 7.5.

Written in native code, the app integrates into your address book and partially into the dialer, so you can receive incoming Skype calls the same way you would receive a cellular call. You'll be able to answer with a video chat in addition to voice. Skype contacts also integrate into your address book, so you can find your buddies from your contacts screen, not solely from … Read more

Microsoft to developers: We have a gift for you. It's an SDK!

After a couple of delays, Microsoft finally has made available to the public the Windows Phone 8 software development kit (SDK) -- a day after launching its next-generation smartphone platform.

Microsoft made the SDK, along with a free version of Visual Studio Express 2012 and Blend 5, available to MSDN subscribers and to the public for download on October 30.

The public Windows Phone 8 SDK is available for download from Microsoft's Web site. The MSDN version of Windows Phone 8 SDK is here.

Microsoft made the announcement at its Build 2012 developer conference, which kicked off in Redmond … Read more

Verizon's Windows Phone 8X will get wireless charging

The Verizon Wireless version of HTC's Windows Phone 8X may have one advantage over the AT&T version: support for wireless charging.

Verizon confirmed to CNET that the Windows Phone 8X will indeed get wireless charging capabilities. The Verge first reported on the feature and that it would be exclusive to the carrier in the U.S. The wireless charging addition will be built into the phone, and wouldn't be noticeable to users.

Wireless charging, which has been sold through third-party retailers and famously touted in Palm's smartphones, is making a bit of a comeback. Nokia's Lumia 920, … Read more