Windows Mobile

Qualcomm CEO says Windows legacy apps have to go touch

Older Windows programs will have to be updated to incorporate touch capabilities, Qualcomm's chief executive said. And that's something that should help adoption of the newest version of the operating system.

Paul Jacobs, speaking today during a small press roundtable in New York before tomorrow's Windows 8 launch, said there will be "FUD" -- fear, uncertainty, and doubt -- around legacy applications when Windows RT first launches, but the capabilities offered by the new system will ultimately win over consumers.

He noted that older applications will have to be updated to take advantage of the … Read more

Trouble in paradise? Cracks show in Microsoft-Intel alliance

When Microsoft unveiled its Surface tablets earlier this year, Intel executives were shocked.

Microsoft started developing its self-branded tablets -- including one that uses an Intel chip -- without notifying Intel or asking for help. Intel, like many of Microsoft's other partners, didn't find out about Surface until shortly before the event, and it did not play a role in the announcement. Microsoft decided to go it alone, much like rival Apple has done.

Microsoft's decision represents new territory for the software and chip giants -- collectively known as the Wintel alliance to many in the industry … Read more

Microsoft finalizes Windows Phone 8 OS, say sources

Chalk up another one for those Windows Phone tipsters.

Back in July, I heard whispers that Microsoft would release to manufacturing (RTM) the Windows Phone 8 operating system in September. The plan, as of then, was that the first Windows Phone 8 devices would ship in November 2012.

On September 14, Microsoft's phone team shipped the OS, codenamed "Apollo," according to a couple of my contacts. WPCentral is reporting they are hearing the same. And WMPoweruser has posted pictures via LiveSino.net of what appear to be Windows Phone team members signing an RTM wall.

I asked … Read more

Full developer kit for Windows Phone 8 due 'later this year'

Microsoft's promised delivery of its Windows Phone 8 software development kit (SDK) some time "this summer" has now shifted to "later this year."

In a September 5 post on the "Windows Phone Developer" blog, Microsoft officials acknowledged the new, later timing. The new estimated delivery time for the full SDK is at the same time as when Microsoft launches Windows Phone 8. The Windows Phone 8 launch date is October 29, according to my sources. (Microsoft still hasn't officially confirmed the October 29 date, but I'm feeling pretty darn confident of … Read more

Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 launch dates revealed

We Microsoft watchers already knew October was going to be a crazy month, given Windows 8's general availability date is October 26.

But until this week, I didn't realize just how jam-packed that month is really going to be.

A source of mine privy to Microsoft's event plans, who asked not to be named, just shared with me dates and tentative locations for a number of Microsoft's upcoming launches. Some of these we suspected; a few we knew.

Windows Phone 8's build-up to launch started today, with Samsung showing off what's officially the first Windows Phone 8 device (… Read more

Nokia CEO: We're sticking with Windows Phone

Nokia is sticking with Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, the mobile phone maker's chief executive, Stephen Elop, has said, with a new smartphone expected soon.

"In today's war... [between] Android, Apple and Windows, we are very clear, we are fighting that with the Windows phone," Elop said, according to Reuters.

Elop also said that Nokia will launch its next Windows Phone 8 devices soon. A debut is expected at or around Nokia World 2012 in September, which is expected to be a scaled-down event compared with previous years.

Although Elop has reiterated Nokia's commitment to … Read more

New app publishing suspended on Windows Phone Marketplace

Microsoft has temporarily ceased publishing of new apps to the Windows Phone Marketplace while it grapples with a bug that is preventing some users from downloading or updating apps.

An issue with the digital certificates used to sign apps has prevented some phones from installing some apps for the past several days, the company said today.

A Microsoft investigation revealed that the issue affects only phones that were upgraded to Windows Phone 7.5 from an earlier version of the operating system, Mazhar Mohammed, Microsoft's director of program management, said in a Windows Phone blog post. Phones purchased with … Read more

Windows Phone 8: Get your in-app buying here (not in 7.8)

Windows Phone developers who want to add in-app purchases to their products can do so, but only on Windows Phone 8.

Guidelines recently posted by Microsoft confirmed that developers "can only add in-app products to Windows Phone 8 apps." This means that users and developers alike using Windows Phone 7.8 will probably be out of luck.

App makers who want to take advantage of the new feature are advised to explain the "fundamentals" of the in-app product, such as alias, price, type, and languages. They also need to provide Microsoft with a name and image … Read more

Microsoft overhauls Windows Phone Dev Center, adds PayPal support

Microsoft has completely overhauled its Windows Phone Dev Center and added some extra ways for developers to get paid.

The company today announced the changes in a blog post, saying that the site, which allows developers to do everything from submit applications to download software development kits, was completely rebuilt "from the ground up." The design itself comes with a healthy amount of white space and a streamlined, basic feel. According to Microsoft, the redesign aims "at providing faster access to common tasks."

For developers, however, the key additions come by way of availability and payments. … Read more