Will you pay for games and apps 3 times ?
In a demo a Tech.Ed Middle East, Eric Rudder showed how a single project (in this case a game) could be published and run on 3 entirely different platforms. Running on Windows, Xbox and Windows Phone 7 which all have different input mechanisms – keyboard and mouse, controller, touch-screen and accelerometer, this begins to get very interesting.
This gets a whole lot more awesome when you find out that your game/app can sync across platforms. So hit the save point on the Xbox, run out the door and continue playing on your phone. Someone should sort through the old beyond 2000 footage, this technology is probably in there somewhere. It sounds like futuristic and probably will be some ways off before you get a triple-platform app in your hand.
My biggest question out of this is the pricing model. Are we expected to buy the game 3 times to get ultra-portability ? It’s important to also recognise that this isn’t functionality everyone wants. So building it into the price of the first purchase will hurt those who only want it on one platform. For the right price, those that want ultra-portability should pay for that feature, but at a subsidised price. Maybe after the primary purchase, you could then pickup the same app/game on the other platforms for 5-10% of the original cost. I think that’s a model that would work.
For a $100 Xbox 360 game, you should be able to get the PC version for an additional $10 and maybe an additional $5 for the mobile version. Currently pricing models don’t recognise that people game in different places, when in reality that’s very true. Imagine if you didn’t have to make the console vs PC choice, but could have the game on both for an affordable price. Crazy thought right ?
More @ Engadget
Windows Mobile 7 has Zune integration
During the Microsoft keynote at MWC, it was confirmed that Windows Mobile 7 will indeed have the Zune service integrated. Containing Music, Videos, Podcasts, Radio and the Zune Marketplace, this surely means the world-wide release of the Zune services.
In Australia we can of course download the Zune application, or rent movies through Zune Video marketplace, but if you wanted to use Zune Maketplace to purchase your music or videos, your out of luck. For the new Windows Phones to seriously compete in Australia, where smart phones have been very successful, the full Zune service (hopefully including subscription-based music) needs to be available.
Windows Phones 7 Series get slick Zune UI
Microsoft have revealed Windows Phones 7 Series which contains a number of phones from a multiple manufacturers, but run a brand new interface. This group of devices run Windows Mobile 7 which as you’ll see from the screens below has drawn strongly on the popular ZuneHD user interface.
The home page (above) is made up of a number of ‘tiles’ that contain information from data sources online. Facebook, Xbox Live for example, as well as other updates like SMS, email, and phone calls. These are customisable so your experience with the phone suits the services you use most.
Naturally Microsoft have a key arm to their mobile strategy that has really been under-utilised. That is full Microsoft Office support on a mobile device. While today’s keynote was very consumer orientated, a more important play is the business market, which can also take advantage of SharePoint integrations.
In the Q&A after the keynote, it was confirmed by Steve Ballmer that devices will not ship with Adobe Flash support “out of the gate” but added, they are not against having it on Windows Phones. With many months between now and launch, I’d expect Adobe will work with Microsoft to make this happen before launch.
Windows Phone 7 Series devices will be out before Christmas this year.
You can watch the full MWC Microsoft keynote video here.
HTC HD2 launches with fanfare, best WinMo phone available ?
Today was the Australian launch of the HTC HD2 Smartphone. Running Windows Mobile 6.5 it’s receiving a surprising amount of commendations. Whilst HTC have added their own UI layer with TouchFlo 3D, the overall user experience is reported to be the best of any Windows Mobile device on the market.
Not entirely surprising when they’ve taken so many cues from the industry leader in user experience – the iPhone. The elimination of a physical keyboard, the use of a capacitive, rather than resistive touch screen, accelerometer, disabled screen when in calls, are all similarities. When there HD2 has it over the iPhone, is the high res screen, faster processor, better camera and wi-fi hotspot features.
The HD2 features:
- 4.3” capacitive multi-touch screen (480 x 800 res)
- Windows Mobile 6.5 w/HTC Sense (Windows Mobile 6.5.3 not yet available)
- TouchFlo 3D user interface
- 5-megapixel camera (autofocus, dual LED flash)
- Wi-Fi sharing (becomes a hotspot for other devices)
- 1Ghz Snapdragon processor
- 448 MB RAM
- Tethering via USB or Bluetooth
- Digital Compass
- G-Sensor
- Proximity Sensor
- Standard 3.5 mm stereo audio jack
- Battery life (Up to 8hrs video, up to 12hrs audio, talk time: 320-380mins, standby: 390-490mins).
Despite all these features, it’s still hard to get around the App Store issue. Whilst WinMo has a massive amount of apps, the number of apps is essentially irrelevant, the number of high-quality apps is the number that’s important.
Long Zheng over at the istartedsomething blog has been hands on with the device all day and suggests its time to “stop generalizing Windows Phones”. Recognising that far to often the experience of a WinMo phone has been an ordinary one, Microsoft and HTC now have a phone to be proud of.
It still remains to be seen if this phone is upgradable to Windows Mobile 7, but we’ll have to wait to Mobile World Congress in February before we have that confirmed.
Telstra currently have an exclusive on the phone, but that’s got a limited timeframe, so if your on another network, its just a matter of time. The HD2 is currently selling for A$829 outright or $0 on an $80 per month plan for 24-months.
More @ HTC
Google Nexus One, shipping to Australia ? A: No.
Image credit: Engadget
The latest and greatest Smart Phone is about have its very own launch event in the US. If your really keen, you can tune into the Gizmodo Liveblog at 1PM US Eastern Time (Around 8am AEDST) tomorrow morning to get all the juicy details.
The Nexus One is particularly interesting as it’ll be the first phone to run Android OS 2.1. Pricing leaks indicate a US$530 unlocked. Don’t bother with a US-to-Aus converter, we’re all familiar with the Australian Electronics tax. My guess is you should expect around the A$700-A$800 range. I wouldn’t expect any Australian carrier support and subsidy tomorrow, although that may come in the future. Engadget got hands on with what they believe to be the production model and just posted a very timely review [Engadget].
What is interesting, is that the leaked Nexus One documentation, is this little gem – “There is language in the agreement of shipping outside the US”. Can we conclude from this that the Nexus One will be available via Google’s website with delivery options for Australia ? It’s hard to be sure at this point. Good news is we’ll know soon enough – tomorrow.
I love my iPhone, but I also really want there to be a viable alternative.
Update
Overnight the Google event happened and the official site is now live – http://google.com/phone – you’ll notice when visiting the site from an Australian IP, the right hand side of the page has this message – “Sorry, the Nexus One phone is not available in your country.”
As pointed out by GDGt’s coverage – “As of today Google is shipping to US, UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong.”
Microsoft actually make a funny video – Inside the Microsoft Apps Lab
Who knew, Microsoft can actually make a funny ad. Traditionally Microsoft (or the advertising companies they hire) have attracted hideous amounts of criticism for missing the mark.
In the rare exception this video is actually quite funny. It’s a parity on the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, including so apps that didn’t quite make it.
New 21:9 LG Chocolate BL40 preview [Video]
My last phone (before the iPhone) was an LG Chocolate. Whilst it wasn’t amazing on the spec front, the device sure was sexy. Shiny, black and touch controls that illuminated.
All that seems very dated now, with LGs latest chocolate offering, the BL40. The 40 in the name is derived from the 4.0” multi-touch screen that’s in the ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio. It’s usefulness looks great for navigating the user interface elements, but you’ll end up with black bars beside any videos in the 16:9 standard.
Check out the impressive preview video below.
As impressive as this device looks, I really this (and the 21:9 Phillips TV) doesn’t create a new video standard. We already have far too many. Obviously 21:9 is used in films, but doesn’t mean there’s any good reason to filter that to consumer devices.
More @ Engadget