WP7

A new piece of software is promising to give Windows Phone 7 owners an alternative to Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace when it comes to installing applications.

The third-party tool, dubbed "ChevronWP7," was released late last week, and opens up the phone for the side-loading of applications. That means end users can add applications to their phones directly, instead of having to go through Microsoft's Zune software, or the phone's built-in application directory and installer. That said, it's not a third-party application repository, or an alternative to the application storefront Microsoft currently offers.

The three … Read more

Good news for those who were worried about getting bottlenecked roll-outs of system software updates on Windows Phone 7 devices: Microsoft, and not the carriers or the device manufacturers, will be in charge of that duty.

In an e-mail exchange with ZDnet, Microsoft reiterated that it will "push Windows Phone 7 software updates to end users," while adding that "all Windows Phone 7 devices will be eligible for updates." These are two very big things that bode well for early adopters of the handset, but also put pressure on Microsoft to keep that promise as the … Read more

Microsoft's new smartphone platform is off to what could be considered a slower start than expected in North America. That's according to The Street, which has released a report saying that the company sold some 40,000 units on its first day on the market.

That number does not come from Microsoft, which has not yet released sales numbers and refused to comment to both The Street and CNET, but rather a source in a market research firm.

Windows Phone 7, which is the follow-up to Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5 platform, hit shelves in the U.… Read more

Updated at 2:12 p.m. PT, with additional comment from Microsoft.

Microsoft has joined the ranks of Apple and Google in placing what, to some, is considered a controversial security measure into its mobile application platform.

Built into Windows Phone 7, and the apps made available through the included marketplace application, is a layer of security that lets Microsoft disable or remove entirely an application from a user's device. The safety feature, it turns out, was also included in Windows 6.5 through the Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

According to a PC Pro interview with Todd Biggs, Microsoft'… Read more

The choice of which Windows Phone 7 handset to buy has just gotten a bit more complicated, but in a good way. Electronics maker LG has worked out a deal with Microsoft to subsidize the cost of what is says will be "popular" third-party software that users will be able to download free of charge during a two-month period.

In a release announcing the deal, Microsoft put the value of the yet to be announced software package at "more than $30," which is spread out across 10 applications. Microsoft says that lineup of free applications will … Read more

I dare say I'm pretty good at avoiding running into lampposts and people while my eyes are glued to my mobile phone screen. Of course, being able to see what's ahead while furiously punching out a text message would be icing on the cake.

Well, it turns out LG has a solution with its free Look n Type app for the Optimus 7. The app activates the phone's camera so that instead of a nondescript black background, you get a good view of your immediate vicinity. You can pick from 12 available fonts, as well as color … Read more

Around this time last year, I was reviewing the Zune HD, Microsoft's last valiant effort to unseat the iPod as the dominant portable media player. This year, instead of a shiny new version of the Zune HD for the holidays, Microsoft is keeping last year's model on store shelves (though a 64GB version was added this year) and focusing its attention on Windows Phone 7. Arguably, it's the right move for Microsoft, especially considering that even Apple admits that iPod sales are on the decline while iPhone sales are skyrocketing.

But as the Zune HD hardware fades … Read more