Microsoft: Windows Phone News and Discussion Thread
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,046
Likes: 11,807
From: Florida
WP7 just got unlocked/jailbroken/rooted whatever you want to call it.
go to www.chevronwp7.com and download the simple tool that unlocks the phone. currently it only allows you to sideload apps, but now you can run apps that use private APIs and have more functionality than what's currently allowed on the Marketplace. Probably could enable multi-tasking since the OS supports it just 3rd party apps aren't supposed to yet.
www.chevronwp7.com
go to www.chevronwp7.com and download the simple tool that unlocks the phone. currently it only allows you to sideload apps, but now you can run apps that use private APIs and have more functionality than what's currently allowed on the Marketplace. Probably could enable multi-tasking since the OS supports it just 3rd party apps aren't supposed to yet.
www.chevronwp7.com
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 13
From: Chicago
Anachostic, the Dell looks awesome but I am on AT&T so...Tell us what you think.
I couldn't be happier with my purchase, bought the Samsung Focus about 4 weeks ago and then AT&T offered a buy one get one free during thanksgiving weekend so I called them back and go the wife one too (they honored it because I was within the 30 day window, pardon the pun).
She wanted an iPhone but absolutely loves it. I was debating between android, wp7 and the torch and glad I went with this one. The interface is appealing, fast but I have to say I did miss copy and paste about twice in 4 weeks, could have been handy but it's not the end of the world. Plus, it's coming. Couple of nuances around multi-tasking would be nice too and the Zune interface is just so much better than iTunes (I own an older Zune as well).
Battery life is decent but have a charger handy for smartphones in general or if you use the zune function a lot like I do. My wife's phone lasts much longer than mine cos' all she does is make occasional phone calls and her email. She can go on for a few days without charging.
I am pleasantly surprised and it beats my old palm and blackberry hands down. As for AT&T's blazing 3G network, no comment.
I couldn't be happier with my purchase, bought the Samsung Focus about 4 weeks ago and then AT&T offered a buy one get one free during thanksgiving weekend so I called them back and go the wife one too (they honored it because I was within the 30 day window, pardon the pun).
She wanted an iPhone but absolutely loves it. I was debating between android, wp7 and the torch and glad I went with this one. The interface is appealing, fast but I have to say I did miss copy and paste about twice in 4 weeks, could have been handy but it's not the end of the world. Plus, it's coming. Couple of nuances around multi-tasking would be nice too and the Zune interface is just so much better than iTunes (I own an older Zune as well).
Battery life is decent but have a charger handy for smartphones in general or if you use the zune function a lot like I do. My wife's phone lasts much longer than mine cos' all she does is make occasional phone calls and her email. She can go on for a few days without charging.
I am pleasantly surprised and it beats my old palm and blackberry hands down. As for AT&T's blazing 3G network, no comment.
Last edited by home4sale2; Dec 19, 2010 at 05:09 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,845
Likes: 145
Shit, I'm still waiting on my phone to ship. If the iPhone is the JesusPhone, the Venue Pro is the DramaPhone. Anyway, it's giving me lots of time to polish off my first WP7 app: a tracking program for car service/fueling/maintenance/etc.
I am in love with the Metro design language and enjoy coding for it. I'll have more to report once I actually have a phone in my hands.
I am in love with the Metro design language and enjoy coding for it. I'll have more to report once I actually have a phone in my hands.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,845
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Most every phone, going back to modem days, will interpret a comma as a pause.
http://lifehacker.com/5643728/insert...riendly-pauses
http://lifehacker.com/5643728/insert...riendly-pauses
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 13
From: Chicago
Are you saying you don't have the comma on the keyboard when you edit a contact? It's right below the space key and next to the 9 key on the right. But, just in case, do it in your favorite program (ex. outlook or in live) and have it sync down. Assuming you have a comma on your keyboard on the PC 
. By the way, I have already tried putting in p and w using that trick, no love there. Just use commas for pauses.
. By the way, I have already tried putting in p and w using that trick, no love there. Just use commas for pauses.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 13
From: Chicago
you normally put wait states in a contact which is then stored in your phone book. Once you retrieve it, it dials the string of numbers, including pauses and so on.
Why would you want to add pauses on the live dial pad? If you want to wait 10 seconds then wait ten seconds and enter the remaining numbers. Not to be rude but what are we missing?
Why would you want to add pauses on the live dial pad? If you want to wait 10 seconds then wait ten seconds and enter the remaining numbers. Not to be rude but what are we missing?
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 13
From: Chicago
I remember my old phone differentiated between "p" and "w" so old habit of calling the "w" wait state. The P acted like a comma (wait a pre-determined 5 seconds) while w waited till you hit send. Glad the "p" option worked.
Yesterday I was at best buy and one of the guys who works there showed me his personal Win7 phone... I don't know which one it was... but that thing was fast and really had a great looking interface... the FB and Zune apps were really cool... for anyone wanting a really fast, slick interface... I say go for it!!!!
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,046
Likes: 11,807
From: Florida
News is that the Copy and Paste update should be finalized in a few days and should be released next month after further testing.
CDMA I believe is what's holding back Verizon and Sprint from jumping on board
http://windowsphonesecrets.com/2011/...dates-in-2011/
The first update: “No Donuts”
The first Windows Phone 7 software update, codenamed “NoDo,” will RTM in January, possibly this very week and in time for the CES keynote. But it won’t ship to users until early February, once the carriers sign off on it. This update will include the famed copy and paste functional addition, support for the Qualcomm 7×30 smart phone chipset, a CDMA location stack, and a number of software fixes.
Fun fact: “NoDo” stands for “No Donuts” and could be so named because the a minor Android update was called “Donut.”
The first Windows Phone 7 software update, codenamed “NoDo,” will RTM in January, possibly this very week and in time for the CES keynote. But it won’t ship to users until early February, once the carriers sign off on it. This update will include the famed copy and paste functional addition, support for the Qualcomm 7×30 smart phone chipset, a CDMA location stack, and a number of software fixes.
Fun fact: “NoDo” stands for “No Donuts” and could be so named because the a minor Android update was called “Donut.”
Major update: “Mango” … Sort of
While I’m not sure on the timing, the first major Windows Phone 7 update contains a piece called “Mango” internally; this will add Internet Explorer 9 with with the Trident 5 rendering engine, HTML 5 and Silverlight, and gesture support. This is the “75xx” code branch, which suggests that it could be called Windows Phone 7.5. (But probably won’t be … It actually calls itself Windows Phone 7.2 at this time.). Internally, this code branch is referred to as the “entertainment” branch, which suggests other, non-IE functionality as well.
Note that Mango isn’t the “next” Windows Phone update after NoDo. It’s part of a future major update, and there could be other updates between NoDo and Mango.
While I’m not sure on the timing, the first major Windows Phone 7 update contains a piece called “Mango” internally; this will add Internet Explorer 9 with with the Trident 5 rendering engine, HTML 5 and Silverlight, and gesture support. This is the “75xx” code branch, which suggests that it could be called Windows Phone 7.5. (But probably won’t be … It actually calls itself Windows Phone 7.2 at this time.). Internally, this code branch is referred to as the “entertainment” branch, which suggests other, non-IE functionality as well.
Note that Mango isn’t the “next” Windows Phone update after NoDo. It’s part of a future major update, and there could be other updates between NoDo and Mango.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
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Wait, so what's the deal with WP7 and Verizon/Sprint? Coming soon still, right? 
Or is a device already out on one of those providers?
Nevermind, I reread the last page past all the BS. Now to scope out the handsets and see which one would suit my needs best
I'll be watching this thread closely from now on... tired of my iPhone's crap.
Or is a device already out on one of those providers?Nevermind, I reread the last page past all the BS. Now to scope out the handsets and see which one would suit my needs best
I'll be watching this thread closely from now on... tired of my iPhone's crap.
Last edited by Costco; Jan 4, 2011 at 09:12 PM.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,670
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From: Northern VA
WP7 is coming to Verizon/Sprint Q1 2011. There were rumors an announcement is going to be made at CES which starts this week.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Windows-...news-9414.html
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Windows-...news-9414.html
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,869
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save me, WP7!I don't see any battery capacity listings? Kinda confused on how to see what battery life is like, will I have to just average it out from several reviews on tech websites? Dunno if the mAh number matters too much...
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,046
Likes: 11,807
From: Florida
MS showed off copy and paste today at the CES keynote and made a couple announcements. The update that has C&P will also dramatically improve App load times and switching between apps. They did say that CMDA support will be coming in the first half of 2011 which seems a little later than was originally though which was 1st Quarter. IDK if they're practicing the under promise and over deliver mentality, we'll see......
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 72
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From: Chicago
Agreed, where the heck did you get that graphic?
Costco, I have a Samsung Focus and the only time I have to worry about battery is when I overlisten to music, over play games or over talk on the phone. If I talk my 30-60 minutes on the phone per day, check email, lightly surf the web, the phone lasts me a good couple of days. My wife's phone can go many days but she doesn't use it much. As with any smartphone, have a charger handy though.
Costco, I have a Samsung Focus and the only time I have to worry about battery is when I overlisten to music, over play games or over talk on the phone. If I talk my 30-60 minutes on the phone per day, check email, lightly surf the web, the phone lasts me a good couple of days. My wife's phone can go many days but she doesn't use it much. As with any smartphone, have a charger handy though.
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,046
Likes: 11,807
From: Florida
I saw the pic on a couple sites.
www.windowsphonesecrets.com
www.wpcentral.com
WPC has pic of the HTC Pro coming to Sprint
Also Cnet got a little more info about what steve ballmer meant when he said that the update would provide "significant improvement in performance when loading or switching between applications".
http://wpcentral.com/windows-phone-7...-gets-detailed
www.windowsphonesecrets.com
www.wpcentral.com
WPC has pic of the HTC Pro coming to Sprint
Also Cnet got a little more info about what steve ballmer meant when he said that the update would provide "significant improvement in performance when loading or switching between applications".
Originally Posted by WPC
When given an example like Bejewled, the comparison between an updated and non-updated device was given to CNET. Evidently, the updated device loaded Bejeweled a full 15-20 seconds faster than the non-updated version, which Woodman appropriately called "dramatic". What is nice of course is the fact that developers need not make any changes to their coding--this is all on Microsoft's memory architecture and how it allocates resources, so technically every app will see a gain, just some more than others.
COTM Coordinator
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,211
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From: Apple Valley, Ca
Looks like the HTC Trophy with WP7 will be headed to Verizon in early 2011 according to this promo
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/h...in-early-2011/
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/h...in-early-2011/
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,046
Likes: 11,807
From: Florida
This is very interesting. That Chevron app I posted about on above that allowed you to unlock the phone and sideload apps and create apps the use private APIs got pulled from the site at MS request very shortly after it went live. Now MS has flown the Chevron developers out to Redmond, WA to discuss the possibility of homebrew on WP7! Never that I can think of has a company embraced or even discussed homebrew as a possibility before. This really shows the lengths that MS is willing to go to get back in this race. This is like Apple supporting jailbreaking and the Cydia app store. now nothing has happened yet just the fact that they're willing to meet to discuss the possibility is pretty cool. I hope something good comes out of this......
http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2011...cuss-homebrew/
http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2011...cuss-homebrew/
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,046
Likes: 11,807
From: Florida
Holy shit this is crazy!
Brandon Watson director of WP7 just offered to give Geohot a free WP7 so he could jailbreak it!!!!!
If you don't know Geohot was the first person to JB the OG iPhone, he also created limera1n which the current exploit being used on iOS devices to JB them and he just recently JBed the PS3 and now Sony is sueing him. Also Apple is trying to make JBing illegal.
So MS is encouraging JB on their platform while Apple and Sony are trying to make it illegal.
http://www.redmondpie.com/geohot-wan...open-about-it/
Brandon Watson director of WP7 just offered to give Geohot a free WP7 so he could jailbreak it!!!!!
If you don't know Geohot was the first person to JB the OG iPhone, he also created limera1n which the current exploit being used on iOS devices to JB them and he just recently JBed the PS3 and now Sony is sueing him. Also Apple is trying to make JBing illegal.
So MS is encouraging JB on their platform while Apple and Sony are trying to make it illegal.
http://www.redmondpie.com/geohot-wan...open-about-it/
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
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Jailbreaking is a misnomer. Jailbreaking implies that you get some increased functionality, which you don't on WP7. What you do get with Chevron is the ability to install applications without having them go through the marketplace.
This is good because it can create an unencumbered free market where porn can flourish. i suppose you could have other applications that might get rejected from the marketplace due to content as well.
With unreviewed apps comes the possibility of malware and/or poor performance. The marketplace approval ensures a certain level of consistency and quality. This is a positive thing, especially with a fledgling marketplace. There is a measure of fear with supporting VB in WP7 Silverlight, because some developers don't think VB programmers can code at all.
In phase one of this hack, you'd have to use Visual Studio to deploy the application to the phone. This is good because it ensures open-source. This is bad because it's too much for the average user to deal with. When they get to the point of being able to deploy compiled XAP files, that will make it easier for the average user, but brings it closer to being able to pirate XAP files downloaded from the marketplace.
This whole thing has been done once already on the Zune. I think the user was NotABigTruck who created a way to deploy a homebrew app without using Visual Studio. Not sure what came of that since I dropped out of that circle.
This is good because it can create an unencumbered free market where porn can flourish. i suppose you could have other applications that might get rejected from the marketplace due to content as well.
With unreviewed apps comes the possibility of malware and/or poor performance. The marketplace approval ensures a certain level of consistency and quality. This is a positive thing, especially with a fledgling marketplace. There is a measure of fear with supporting VB in WP7 Silverlight, because some developers don't think VB programmers can code at all.
In phase one of this hack, you'd have to use Visual Studio to deploy the application to the phone. This is good because it ensures open-source. This is bad because it's too much for the average user to deal with. When they get to the point of being able to deploy compiled XAP files, that will make it easier for the average user, but brings it closer to being able to pirate XAP files downloaded from the marketplace.
This whole thing has been done once already on the Zune. I think the user was NotABigTruck who created a way to deploy a homebrew app without using Visual Studio. Not sure what came of that since I dropped out of that circle.
Android devs /peeps are laughing at this stuff...
... root and move on... no bricked devices, no lawsuits... Palm had a really good pot of homebrew cooking there for a while...
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,046
Likes: 11,807
From: Florida
I believe with chevron it gives you full acces so you can write apps that use private APIs much like a lot of the apps on Cydia for iOS. So chevron allows you to load apps to your phone that would never be approved by MS. There's still no JB app store yet where you can download such apps directly to your phone but you can sideload them thanks to chevron.