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Microsoft To Employees: Can You Build A Windows 7 App For Us For Free?

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With Windows 7 mobile launching in October of this year, Microsoft has been busy putting on the final touches of their favored smart phone.

After giving all of their employees a free Windows 7 phone, Microsoft is now asking them to create apps for the Windows Market in their “spare time.”

Understand the unique value of Windows Phone 7 and evangelize to your customers, partners, friends and family! […]

Develop! With the help of the developer division, we just shipped the Final Beta of the Windows Phone Developer Tools. They absolutely rock, and you should download them now http://developer.windowsphone.com/. The package includes everything you need to start building apps. In addition, we’ve introduced a new employee developer program which makes it much easier for you to develop apps for Marketplace in your spare time. (TechFlash)

Note: Emphasis mine. [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 23, 2010 @ 4:08 pm

Blackberry To Release Its First Decent Smartphone?

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Despite being adopted by every corporate exec under the sun, I have always found Blackberry smartphones to be annoying at best, and frustrating at worst (hence the reason why I always avoided owning one).

However it looks like the boys and girls at RIM are about to unleash an impressive Blackberry to the masses, one that will appeal to touch screen addicts as well as those embracing physical keyboards. [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 7, 2010 @ 3:43 pm

Will Apple Give Out Free iPhone 4 Bumpers Tomorrow?

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Despite their glorious iDevice being second to none, it looks like Apple will be holding a press conference tomorrow (at 10 AM PDT) in order to address the antennae issue in an attempt to salvage their brand after Consumer Reports gave the iPhone 4 the kiss of death.

The only questions that remain are “what will Apple say? And can I have a free bumper with that?”

Apple on Wednesday invited select press to a special press conference to be held this Friday in California.

Apple would only say that the press conference would be regarding the iPhone 4. No other information was available when I spoke with them tonight. (The Loop) [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 15, 2010 @ 2:10 pm

RIM Accuses Steve Jobs Of Lying About Blackberry’s Signal Woes

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RIM isn’t too thrilled with Apple’s latest press conference in which Steve Jobs was able to “duplicate” antennategate upon a respective Blackberry device.

RIM’s co-CEO’s Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie decided to issue a joint statement which accuses Steve Jobs of lying about Blackberry’s signal woes (at least when compared to the iPhone 4).

Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage.

One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry® smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple. (Inside Blackberry) [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 19, 2010 @ 9:01 am

Google Panic: Facebook May Dethrone Orkut In The Nation Of A Billion Minds

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Poor Google. Despite launching a social network dubbed Orkut many moons ago, the site failed to take off anywhere outside of Brazil and India (despite its original focus being upon the US).

Although the social did very well in both of those nations, it looks as if the search engine giant may need to come up with a new strategy, as Facebook may have captured the nation of a billion minds. [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 8, 2010 @ 12:59 pm