Nokia To Launch Four Nokia Windows Phone 7 In Early 2012

There has been a lot of debate over the Nokia and Microsoft Partnership, especially regarding when Nokia will start the production of the Windows Phone 7 devices. While the exact dates are yet to be announced, Mobile Review revealed that we can expect at least 4 devices in early 2012.

Another area Nokia and Microsoft are having a challenge in agreeing is the naming convention of the new phones. It will be difficult for both to modify their existing conventions to please the other, but at large the Nokia Windows Phone devices will be carrying a "W" prefix. This will be the link factor for the Nokia phones running on the Windows operating system.

As per the details made available, Nokia will be releasing the first handset in early 2012, which will be a modified version of the Nokia X7. It will have an 8MP camera, a Qualcomm QSD8250 chipset and a WVGA screen. A Windows Phone version of the Nokia N8 will also be in the markets towards the end of the first quarter or early in the second one. It will, like the N8 have a 12MP camera and also boast a Dual-Core Qualcomm processor.

From the specifications of the sets mentioned, it appears that Microsoft and Nokia are both in harmony to continue with the focus on camera phones. One interesting thing to note here is how Nokia is being made to adopt the Qualcomm processor to power its devices, the credit of which largely goes to Microsoft.

There are two more, one that will be a touch screen QWERTY phone and another low priced model aimed to cater to the lower tier of the smartphone market. While the 4 are just the beginning, Nokia will be releasing at least a dozen Windows Phone 7 devices. There is a lot more to come from this Nokia/Microsoft handshake for sure. Let's wait and see how 2012 shapes for both the giants and how they can benefit from each others’ position.

UNO HD Offered as Windows Phone 7 ‘Deal of the Week’

his week’s ‘Deal of the Week’ promotion on Windows Phone 7 is the successful UNO HD. Original launched alongside the Windows Phone 7 handsets, UNO HD is now available at a reduced price for one week only.

            The world-famous card game is faithfully reproduced for mobile and also features exciting new rules. Match colours or numbers with all your favourite cards or challenge yourself with increasingly difficult games in Tournament Mode. UNO HD features intuitive touchscreen controls: simply drag and drop cards using your finger on the screen and be the first to get rid of all your cards

Players can also customise their games with varied rules including 7-0 and Jump-In. UNO HD is available now on the Zune Marketplace for Windows Phone 7, priced at £2.49. Next week it will revert to its original price, and a new Deal of the Week promotion will be available, with which Electronic Theatre will keep you updated.

TuneIn Makes Good Use of Windows Phone 7 FM Radio

TuneIn, already available on most smartphone platforms, today launches as a free mobile application for Microsoft Windows Phone 7 handsets. The software streams Internet radio from more than 50,000 AM and FM radio stations over Wi-Fi or a mobile broadband connection. One key difference in the Windows Phone 7 version is that the application integrates with the handset’s internal FM radio to save battery life or listen to local radio programs that could be blocked on the web.

TuneIn is now available on practically all mobile platforms: iOS, BlackBerry, Android, Palm, and even Samsung’s Bada operating system. But among those, Windows Phone 7 is the only smartphone platform that requires an FM radio tuner in handsets. The radio requirement is a “nice to have” feature in my opinion, although some likely couldn’t do without it, and the younger generation wonder how we ever lived before iTunes. It’s clever of TuneIn to leverage the lower-powered radio, so users can shift from Internet to local airwaves and listen longer. And the app can be used exclusively with the integrated FM radio without using up mobile broadband data.

Aside from the new hybrid listening feature specific to Microsoft smartphones, TuneIn offers several key features for all platforms. Search for an artist or song, for example, and the software returns all of the stations currently playing either. A handset’s GPS will find local stations — useful while traveling. Podcasts too are supported by the app, so you can carry around and listen to your favorite mobile technology show.

An app that uses the FM tuner of a smartphone isn’t going to set Windows Phone 7 handsets apart from the pack, or boost handset sales, by any means. However, I do wonder if the FM radio will make a comeback in future phones on other platforms. Internet radio is certainly ubiquitous these days, but as we begin to pay for the data that we use, thanks to tiered data plans, that good ol’ fashioned traditional radio could rise in value.