There's a certain class of mobile game that's often ignored. One that gets overlooked in favour of all-singing, all-dancing 3D-rendered RPG slash-em-ups and orgies of feathered destruction. It's not - quite - casual games. It's not - quite - sports games. It's not - quite - board games. Though many of those titles qualify. I'm talking about infinite games. By which I mean mobile games that you can happily play every day - forever - literally.
Everyone loves a good head to head. Especially when it involves current champions from three different mobile ecosystems, in this case Symbian, Android and Windows Phone. Leaving aside the slightly larger form factor of the One X, how well do these three phones with exemplary build quality compare?
The launch of the Nokia Lumia 900 is a big moment for Nokia, Microsoft, AT&T, and Windows Phone as a whole. There is a lot riding on it, and it's a handset that deserves careful consideration. We'll be doing that over the next week or two, but to start off our coverage, here are ten quick thoughts on the Lumia 900 as it arrives in the All About Windows Phone office.
With the Nokia Lumia 900 gathering reviews ahead of its public availability next week, I want to return to my thoughts from last month. You might recall that I discussed the idea that the launch on AT&T might be a very important one for Nokia, Microsoft, and Windows Phone - but the whole ecosystem would not rest on this one launch. So here's a question... if Microsoft is in the smartphone game for the long term, how long should we give them?
Now I appreciate I'm not a world expert on Windows Phone, the OS. But maybe my background in Symbian and Android places me in a good position to make a very pertinent complaint about 'multitasking' as implemented in Windows Phone. We know why the new 'Fast App Switching' is a very good compromise - so why on EARTH isn't it used when you tap on an application's icon from the Start menu or live tile? This is UI crippling for no technical reason whatsoever, as far as I can see.
Windows Phone has a number of advantages in the marketplace, and they are not always apparent. With the launch of the HTC Titan 2 and the Nokia Lumia 900, many people are thinking that this moment is 'it' for Windows Phone. I think that idea is wrong. Unlike other companies in the recent past who have failed to establish a new smartphone platform with a new operating system, Microsoft has something the others didn't have. Staying power.
The humble SIM card is changing – more devices are beginning to require Micro SIM instead of the usual “Mini” size we all use. Cutting a Mini SIM down to the Micro size isn’t too difficult, but returning a one to Mini size requires the use of adapters. If you’re not careful, these can damage your phone’s delicate connectors. What follows is an account of my adventures (and misadventures) using Micro SIM adapters.
What do you do when you find a band you might like? With the modern web, it's a simple matter to head online to their website, grab some YouTube videos, and find out a bit more. But music is such personal experience, so how can you have that intimacy with your smartphone? For many of us with Windows Phone, the answer is simple. Zune Pass.
I'm at SXSW all this week, and that means Windows Phone is working hard to keep me up to date with the online world, as the social networks, emails, Facebook updates and Twitter replies all come pouring in. Compared to previous years at SXSW, Windows Phone is making some things a lot easier. Here are five areas where I'm finding my smartphone making my life a lot easier in Austin during the conference.
At Mobile World Congress a few weeks ago, Rafe sat down with Aaron Woodman, Director for Windows Phone at Microsoft, to talk about Windows Phone 7.5's new reduced hardware requirements, the entry into new countries (most notably China), the partnership with Nokia and future directions for the platform, and a potential direction for Microsoft's Windows Phone marketing.
