Category: Microsoft Windows

I admit it: I abandoned ship.

I don’t apologise. I don’t regret it. As I am fond of saying, it is what it is.  I left Windows Phone and the community I had been a part of for nearly a decade in March 2012. My frustration had finally boiled over. I was frustrated with Windows Phone 7 and at that point it was being made clear that there would be no upgrade path to Windows Phone 8. The devices were slow. The App Store a mess and woefully lacking. All this and the shiny object that was iOS was so much easier to deal with on a day-to-day basis. So I left and I thought for good.

But then something funny happened.

At the 2012 International CES, HTC Corp. today introduced the HTC TITAN II as the company’s first Windows Phone to run on a 4G LTE network. Available in the coming months to AT&T customers, the smartphone includes the largest display among Windows Phones, an advanced 16-megapixel digital camera and access to 4G LTE* speeds.

“HTC’s history of innovation in 4G technology includes delivering the first 4G-powered devices to each major carrier in the U.S., so it is exciting today to continue that leadership with our first 4G LTE Windows Phone, the HTC TITAN II,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corp. “This full-featured smartphone combines HTC’s design with AT&T’s high-speed 4G LTE network and Microsoft’s powerful Windows Phone software, giving people more of what they crave.”

The HTC TITAN II comes equipped with a brilliant 4.7-inch super LCD capacitive touchscreen display for an optimized viewing experience when watching movies, playing games or enjoying photos and videos. The HTC TITAN II offers quick and easy access to the latest movies and TV shows via HTC Watch and on-the-go gaming with Xbox LIVE.

Packed with advanced imaging technology, the HTC TITAN II features a 16-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens, autofocus, dual LED flash, red eye reduction, image stabilization, a backside-illuminated sensor and a physical camera button, offering a viable replacement for digital point-and-shoot cameras. The HTC TITAN II delivers a number of features that HTC has developed to help consumers capture photos in a variety of conditions; for instance, panoramic shot for sweeping landscapes and burst shot for action photography. The smartphone also enables 720p HD video recording with the rear-facing camera, as well as on-the-go video chat over Wi-Fi with its 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.

Access to AT&T’s speedy 4G LTE network paired with Qualcomm’s 1.5 GHz Snapdragon™ S2 processor, enables the HTC TITAN II to deliver fast Web surfing, streaming and downloading. This new powerful smartphone will also feature a 1,730mAh lithium ion battery to support the robust mobile experience on one of the fastest 4G LTE networks.

Featuring the latest version of Windows Phone, the HTC TITAN II enhances connectivity, efficiency and productivity for busy consumers with its large on-screen keyboard and instant access to Windows Phone Office Hub, Microsoft Exchange 2010 and Outlook Mobile. The Live Tile display brings friend and family groups to life and delivers the latest updates and news from popular social networks directly to the home screen. HTC TITAN II customers will also be able to download a number of exclusive HTC applications for free within Windows Marketplace through HTC Hub.

The HTC TITAN II is expected to become available exclusively from AT&T in the U.S. in the coming months.

*Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets.  4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available.  Deployment ongoing.  Compatible data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.  Learn more at att.com/network.

About HTC

Founded in 1997, HTC Corp. (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by HTC Sense™, a multilayered graphical user interface that vastly improves user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.

If you have been wanting a Nokia Lumia 800 then you are in luck.  Amazon has dropped the price down to $535.87, 40% off the regular price.  The price is on the 16GB black model.  Here are some of the other specifications:

• GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• 3G/HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100
• HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps.
• 1.4 GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset, 3D Graphics HW.
• 8 MP Camera, 3264×2448 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, dual-LED flash

At the time of this posting there were 10 units in stock.

US carrier T-Mobile has now put up on their website the Lumia 710 from Nokia.  The new Windows Phone was the subject of some outstanding deals this holiday season, going for $49.99 with a 2 year contract and really aims to be the low cost offering from Nokia in their Windows Phone lineup.

T-Mobile Website Screenshot

As you can see from the screenshot of the T-Mobile site I captured this morning, the Lumia 710 is being made available in Black and White models but there is no pricing information, only that it is “coming soon”.  Hopefully it will be that same low price as during the holidays for T-Mobile users who want a Lumia 710 or for those who are thinking of moving to T-Mobile.

Digitimes has posted what they expect for the smartphone market in 2012 and they see Windows Phone taking a sizably bigger chunk of the market than it did in 2011.

While the market is still dominated by Android-based devices, Windows Phone is expected to take 6.2% of the smartphone market in the coming year.  Given that Windows Phone currently sits at about 1.5% of the market, that is a monumental leap forward – 242% increase to be exact.  Is it possible?  Absolutely.

2012 is going to the year that sees Nokia bring their full Windows Phone line to market.  Remember that Nokia is still the #1 selling brand of phone in the world.  They know how to sell devices and it is evident in their marketing plans for the Lumia 710 and 800 that they mean business with their new Windows Phones.  In January we should see the first Nokia Windows Phones here in the US which I personally expect to see a huge amount of marketing around it both from Nokia themselves and the carriers.

With the push that Nokia is making it is well within the possibility that Windows Phone could end 2012 with over 6% marketshare.

Read the full post over at Digitimes then tell me what you think?  Do you think 6.2% for 2012 is possible?  Ludicrous?  Selling it short?  Comment here or send me a Tweet.

If there is any doubt that both Microsoft and Nokia about seeing success for Windows Phone, this should put those doubts at ease.  Beginning January 11, 2012 the Nokia Lumia 710 will be available for an incredible $49.99 from T-Mobile.  For those who have forgotten about the Lumia 710 in the midst of all of the hype around the Lumia 800, this is the mid-range phone that Nokia is offering in their Windows Phone line up.  But don’t let that fool you. Here are the key specifications.

• 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 processor
• Adreno 205 GPU
• 512MB of RAM
• 3.7” WVGA 480×800 display
• 8GB of internal storage, with microSD card slot that supports up to 24GB in total
• 5MP rear-facing camera
• Windows Phone 7.5
• 3G HSPA+ connectivity
• Dimensions: 119 x 62.4 x 12.5mm
• Weight: 126g
• 1300mAh battery that supports 7.6 hours 3G talk time, 400 hours maximum 3G standby time

How this will work from T-Mobile is the Lumia 710 will be $99.99 with a $50 mail in rebate.  You’ll be required to have a qualifying data plan per the norm.

If you are T-Mobile or looking for a new carrier, come January 11th you can get a great deal on a great phone, the Lumia 710, from them.