WP 7.8 update might come in a few weeks, WP7.9 in the works?

Nokia can't (or more likely doesn’t want to) keep Windows Phone 7.8 info under wraps - new info coming from the "head of Nokia Asia Pacific Developer" suggests we will see the update much sooner than the previously rumored Q1 2013 timeframe.

Microsoft never really announced a solid launch date for the update, which caused all this guessing.

Anyway, the WP7.8 update was reportedly RTMed and it should start rolling out in a few days to weeks. This comes soon after the leaked Nokia materials that detailed what changes the update will bring (Microsoft was vague on this one too).

Windows Phone 7.8 will not be the end of it though - another rumor (this one coming from Nokia Germany) suggests there will be another update for the first generation of Windows Phone handsets (the ones not getting WP8).

The rumor doesn’t offer any more info, but that there might be an update at all is quite interesting in itself. Microsoft made a commitment of supporting WP8 devices for at least 18 months after they're released, but it would be nice to see it hasn’t forgotten about the users it attracted with WP7.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/wp_78_update_might_come_in_a_few_weeks_wp79_in_the_works-news-5098.php

Read More

Motorola gives you the keys to its Atrix HD with the new Developer Edition

Motorola has announced a special Developer Edition of its Atrix HD Android phone. Designed for those who want to customize their Atrix HD, it comes with the option of unlocking the bootloader, allowing the installation of custom software.

Motorola is sure to please developers and those amongst us who like to customize our Android phones with its latest device, the Atrix HD. “Hold on,” you’re probably thinking, “that’s already been announced once.” Indeed it has, but this time it’s a special Developer Edition.

What makes the phone special is its unlockable bootloader, which in English, means once Motorola has provided a unique code to unlock the handset, owners are free to install their own custom versions of Android, run test versions of apps, and generally customize the phone to their heart’s content.

This isn’t the first time Motorola has offered such a phone either, with both the Razr, Razr M and the Razr HD all receiving Developer Editions in the past. Being given the keys to the Android kingdom isn’t without its price though, as once you’ve started fiddling with the bootloader, you can say goodbye to your warranty. Our advice is, be sure you know what you’re doing before you start.

Motorola’s Atrix HD was announced in July this year, and we gave it an impressive 8/10 in our review, highlighting in particular the excellent $100 price tag with AT&T. For that you get a 4.5-inch touchscreen with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, a 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor and an 8-megapixel camera. A relatively untouched version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is installed as standard, but there’s no word on when 4.1 Jelly Bean will arrive.

Don’t expect to pick up the Developer Edition as cheaply as AT&T’s deal though, as it’s not available on contract. It won’t be priced as low as the new Nexus 4 either — a phone that’s also easily unlocked.

Motorola hasn’t provided a release date or a price for the Atrix HD Developer Edition, and suggests those interested should register for updates on its website.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/motorola-releases-unlocked-developer-edition-of-its-atrix-hd/

Read More

Mobile developer Red Robot Labs snags industry vet John Davison

Mobile games developer Red Robot Labs welcomes their new Director of Content and Publishing John Davison. His history with the gaming industry bring a lot to the table for the start-up.

Mobile games developer Red Robot Labs focuses many of its games on location-specific elements, but with its latest hire, the company may be looking to relocate itself to the top of the gaming world. John Davison, a 20-year veteren of the video game industry, will call Red Robot Labs his new home as he settles into a role as the start-up’s Director and General Manager of Content and Publishing.

Davison’s most recent position prior to this announcement was Vice President of Programming for CBS Interactive Games, which left him as overseer of content for GameSpot and Metacritic. He had also served as editor for Ziff Davis’ network of tech and gaming sites. Essentially, if there is anyone that knows the gaming world, it’s John Davison. 

Red Robot Labs, the team behind the well-received Life is Crime and Forever Drive–both available on iOS and Android–are happy to welcome Davison in from the world of covering gaming and into the world of making them. In a press release from the company, CEO Mike Ouye stated, “As a video game industry veteran with a proven entrepreneurial track record, John is the perfect addition to Red Robot as we aim to disrupt and innovate the mobile space for gamers.”

Davison is already staking his claim for what he plans to bring to Red Robot Labs and the gaming landscape as a whole. “There is a huge opportunity to build new products around the ways that gamers interact and discover content, and the team at Red Robot understands this better than any group I’ve ever come across. We want to empower gamers with technology designed specifically for them.”

Considering both Red Robot Labs’ and John Davison’s track records of innovation, creativity, and community, there’s a lot of promise in this partnership. Gamers everywhere should be on the lookout for whatever may come next from this team.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/mobile-developer-red-robot-labs-snags-john-davison/

Read More

Motorola DROID RAZR HD developer edition gets outed

In a quiet fashion Motorola has released a developer edition of its latest and greatest DROID RAZR HD smartphone, sporting a bootloader which can be unlocked. The handset is destined for users with a knack for flashing custom ROMs, as well as those who don't like Verizon's take on Android.

There is no release date set for the headset. A sign up page however is up and running for the overly anxious. Expect a hefty price tag and lack of warranty when the Motorola DROID RAZR HD Developer Edition becomes available.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_razr_hd_developer_edition_gets_outed_-news-4806.php

Read More

Droid Razr M and Razr HD developer's editions incoming

The new Droid Razr M makes for a compact developer device

On top of announcing three new consumer model Android smartphones for consumers, Motorola has unveiled two new handsets for developers.

Developer editions for both the Droid Razr M and Droid Razr HD are on the way. Both developer editions are identical to the consumer models, with the added bonus of an unlockable bootloader to dive into the device's code.

As announced earlier, the Droid Razr M sports a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB of storage, NFC support, and an 8MP camera capable of 1080p video capture.

The Droid Razr HD packs a 4.7-inch HD display and is only 8.4mm thick. It is built for speed and battery life, with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and a 2500mAh battery that boasts 16 hours of talk time, 10 hours of video, and 6 hours of web searching.

Droid for devs

Developers can already place their order for the Razr M developer edition directly through Motorola and will start shipping September 13. At $549.99, it is a little bit pricier than the $99 consumer model, but makes up for the difference with the unlockable bootloader.

The Droid Razr HD developer model will be a longer wait, with no information announced about its release date or final price. Those interested in snagging one though can register online through Motorola for updates when the handset is available to order.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/droid-razr-m-and-razr-hd-developers-editions-incoming-1095004

Read More