Mobile World Congress: Microsoft introduces new mobile phone platform

Live from the 2010 MWC, Microsoft’s CEO and Senior Executives keynote launched the new series of Windows mobile phones – 7 Series.

Completely starting from scratch with the Microsoft Windows Mobile software… and the look.

A stylish streamlined design, with just three buttons on the front (start, search, back) and the rest for the capacitive touchscreen. With an interface similar to the new Windows 7, with features such as pinch to zoom, and an advanced browser also based on the current desktop IE version, with Bing and Bing maps as the default search and maps.

Graphic tiles arrange pieces of information on each page, but not in small icons. Instead in large colourful tiles.

Your personal data is organised into “hubs”, with real-time data intergrated and updated, for eg:

• People – with combined details of all your special peeps at your fingertips – their contact details, facebook and other social networking pages etc. Constantly updating. Contacts etc also sync over the air.
• Pictures – categorised into existing library, recently synced and what’s new (again, from social networking arenas). Also has a Facebook picture upload built-in.
• Office – integrating One Note, SharePoint, Recent Docs etc, plus a new look easy to read Outlook.
• Music and Video – all 7 Series will have a Zune onboard, partnership with Pandora Radio and easy syncing for your music and videos.
• Games – wait for it… Xbox LIVE as a built in part of the 7 Series, but not much mention of games as yet (see more info below)
• Marketplace – similar to iTunes? Inforamtion sketchy at this stage but guess more will be know far before the launch.

“What else is coming for the 7 Series?”

Microsoft apparently recognises the need for more hardware consistency and plans to work closely with hardware manufacturers to make sure there is commonality in devices.

“There are more than a billion phones sold every year, and a massive shift over to smartphones. Partners can meet the diverse needs of customers. One size does not fit all. People want different phones, different form factors.” “We want to strive for synergy where the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts.”  Andy Lees, Senior Vice President, Mobile Communications Business.

Hardware partners? Deals struck with Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, LG, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba.

Next a review of the Service Provider partners.  Among others, Telstra is listed.

“Available when and where?”

Windows Phone 7 Series will be available the 2010 ‘holiday season’. Where though, as usual, is anyone’s guess.

… The PC, now mobile. We hope 7 is our lucky number!” Steve Ballmer, CEO

Get More Information

• CNET: How Xbox Live will work
• Gizmodo: Windows Phone 7 Series

Imagine doing Wii Hoola-Hoop after a few cocktails – in public?!

That may sound a little like a bad dream to some (like the one where you forgot your undies), but it can soon be your reality.

Four local gamers are set to open a new nightclub, Mana Bar, in Brissy’s Fortitude Valley, where you sip on some awesome cocktails whilst partaking in PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii games – particularly the more social ones like Wii Sports and Guitar Hero.

Mana Bar director Guy Blomberg said the next gen video gaming venue would be the first of its kind in the country and would offer a wide selection of video games at five terminals, including several titles available in the bar “weeks before they’re available to the public”.

Impressive!

Playing games will be free in the venue, with no bookings taken, so patrons will have to wait their turn and then “socially interact with everyone else”, Mr Blomberg says.

More info

Interested to know more? Check out their forum, the Mana Bar Facebook fan page and their interview with Rave Magazine.

The club will open in February at 420 Brunswick St, so get ready to bowl, dance and sing your little hearts out <3

Uni students pulling all night essay marathons may need to share their Coke with their phone …  That is, if they want to keep their mobile charged to browse the net for their much needed essay filler information. 

“What?” you ask

A conceptual mobile phone has been developed, in partnership for Nokia, powered by Coca Cola or similar sugary soda drinks.

The Chinese inventor, Daizi Zheng, says:

“Through out my research, I found that phone battery as a power source, it is expensive, consuming valuable resources on manufacturing, presenting a disposal problem and harmful to the environment.

The concept is using bio battery to replace the traditional battery to create a pollution free environment.”

Using the eco-friendly bio battery, which generates electricity from the carbohydrates and utilizes enzymes, has the potential to operate three to four times longer than a conventional battery’s single charge AND could be fully biodegradable.

Remember, we’ve seen something a little similar, charging with an energy drink and onion, but this puts the theories to practical – and possible – use.

A battery powered by soft drink? Now that’s sweeeet…

Source: Mashable – “Forget the Nexus One, We Want the Coke-Powered Phone“

Snap yourself an iTunes bargain at Coles!

It’s about time we got some sort of benefit from the excrutiating hike in grocery prices…

Coles Supermarkets are currently offering a 50% discount on iTunes Gift Cards when you spend $100 or more on groceries in a single transaction.

Sure no gift cards, iTunes, recharge cards or tobacco can be included in that total, but with the price of a normal family weekly shop, it’s pretty easy to qualify for the discount.

The deal is one per transaction and “while stocks last”, but if you’re already buying iTunes credit that way, then it really is something for nothing?

Then all that is left to do is hop along to the iTunes store and start spending…

Go To: