Microsoft Certified 75,000+ Windows Phone 8 Apps in 2012
Dec. 27, 2012
PCMag
"Despite Windows Phone 8 hitting the market just seven weeks ago, Brix said Redmond has already seen a 40 percent increase in month-over-month developer revenue in the 30 days since the current SDK release."
Windows Phone 8 Arrives: What You Need to Know
Oct. 30, 2012
ChipChick
"Most importantly, Windows Phone 8 aims to create a unified design philosophy and user experience across all Windows devices. In that, Microsoft has doubtless succeeded. And they have succeeded in creating the most customizable and personalized smartphone OS."
Windows Phone 8 First Impressions: Snappy Redesign
Oct. 30, 2012
InformationWeek
"Windows Phone 8 is snappy and fast. The units on hand at the Microsoft event in San Francisco on Monday all showed that the user interface is incredibly quick and smooth. The new flexibility of the home screen's Live Tiles makes a huge difference in the amount of content that's visible on the home screen and how users interact with it. The Live Tile concept finally hits is stride with WP8, especially because the Tiles can be resized and offer even more interactive content."
Style, Surprises Liven Up Latest Windows Phone
Oct. 30, 2012
Wall Street Journal
“Someone who glanced over my shoulder and looked at the user interface of Windows Phone 8 said, ‘That's a really pretty phone.’ He was right. Its combined good looks, functional features and sexy new hardware make it a winning smartphone.”
5 Awesome Windows Phone 8 Features You’ll Love
Oct. 29, 2012
Evolve
"Backed by HTC and Nokia, the new line of Microsoft phones are housing the latest hardware, stunning designs, and some amazing new software features just recently announced today at the company’s WP8 San Francisco event."
HTC Debuts Stunning Windows Phone 8 Devices
Sept. 19, 2012
Wired
"Beyond specs, though, what really sets the 8X and 8S apart is HTC’s exciting design. ...both devices are stunning. The handsets’ polycarbonate unibodies feature a soft, matte finish that looks and feels more substantial than most plastic phone bodies. And the curved backs fit very nicely in the contours of a palm."
HTC Rekindles Its Old Microsoft Romance and Bets on Windows Phone 8
Sept. 19, 2012
The Verge
"Speaking to The Verge recently, HTC's Graham Wheeler, tells us that the company is 'super excited' about Windows Phone 8. 'Our first phones were Windows devices, we've been there with every major launch,' says the EMEA Director of Commercialisation Product Management."
Nokia Lumia 920 Brings Raft of Killer Features to Windows Phone 8
Sept. 5, 2012
PCWorld
"Nokia today announced its new flagship Windows Phone 8, the Lumia 920, with a powerful PureView camera as the centerpiece. ...At a press conference in New York, Nokia focused on features, design, and technology that goes beyond raw performance."
Hands-On With the Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8 Phone
Sept. 5, 2012
PC World
"All in all, the Lumia 920 looks lovely, performs smoothly, and has a deluge of features — especially if your smartphone doubles as a camera. ...The predominant question about the Lumia 920 among people in the demo room seemed to be when they could get one."
Nokia Gears Up for Windows Phone 8 With Lumia 920 and 820
Sept. 5, 2012
Wired
"Photography is a big part of Windows Phone 8. The Camera app has been revamped to support pinch-to-zoom and features a new lenses button. Third-party developers can create lens applications that integrate with the Camera app."
Nokia Debuts Lumia 920 With Windows Phone 8, Wireless Charging
Sept. 5, 2012
AllThingsD
"Along with the Lumia 820, the Nokia Lumia 920 will be one of the company’s first devices to run Windows Phone 8, Microsoft’s updated mobile operating system, and comes with an enhanced 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ touchscreen. ...On back of the device, you’ll find an 8.7-megapixel camera that’s capable of recording 1080p HD video and offers more advanced capabilities for capturing better pictures without having to fuss with settings."
Nokia Lumia 920, 820 Boast Windows Phone 8, Camera Display Advances
Sept. 5, 2012
eWeek
"In a demonstration, the camera technology in particular — which uses stabilization technology that allows the camera's shutter to stay open longer and so offer brighter, crisper shots at night, without introducing blur from finite hand movements — was impressive."
Nokia Lumia 920 Hands-On Preview, Pictures and Video
Sept. 5, 2012
The Verge
"In a video showing a couple on a bike ride, footage went from headache-inducingly shaky to clear and still with the flip of the stabilization switch. The eight-megapixel camera also does remarkably well in low light, a factor reps contribute to a combination of the Carl Zeiss lens, the image stabilization, and some Nokia software in the device."
Samsung Unveils ATIV S, World's First Windows Phone 8 Device
Aug. 29, 2012
CNET
"If you've been wondering what the first dual-core Windows Phone would look like, this is it. Today, the Korean electronics giant took the wraps off the Samsung ATIV S, the world's first smartphone running Windows Phone 8."
Windows Phone 8 Technology Is Impressive: 10 Reasons Why
June 21, 2012
eWeek
"The operating system marks a significant shift for Microsoft, which has tied it in with the NT kernel, effectively making it a Windows-based device. Even better, it now supports dual- and quad-core devices and can scale to up to 64 cores whenever mobile devices hit that milestone. Simply put, Windows Phone 8 is ready for primetime and it’s about time everyone understands why."
Windows Phone 8 Heads Off to Work
June 26, 2012
WindowsITPro
"Put simply, Windows Phone 8 is the smartphone OS for which Microsoft-based businesses have been clamoring. ...Windows Phone 8 will share many of the same proven and well-understood technologies from Windows, as well as the same drivers, support for the same services, and more."
Windows Phone 8 Seen Cementing Developer Loyalty to Microsoft
June 22, 2012
NetworkWorld
"For these code writers, Windows Phone 8 brings two broad benefits: new hardware options, and a more extensive software infrastructure that can support an array of sophisticated and highly integrated mobile applications."
Windows Phone 8's New, Even More Personal Start Screen
June 20, 2012
Ars Technica
"Windows Phone 8 will sport a new Start screen that builds on the personalization features of the Windows Phone 7.5 interface, making it even more customizable and personal. …The result is greater flexibility for users, and more options for developers."
2 Underdogs Produce, But in Time?
New York Times
"This Nokia phone and its Microsoft operating system are truly lovely — more beautiful than the iPhone or Android software, and, for most functions, just as powerful."
Nokia Lumia 900 Reviewed: The Windows Phone to Get
April 3, 2012
"Right now, I can’t think of a better Windows Phone to try out or buy. ...The phone also illustrates that Windows Phone is a very competent operating system with a fast-growing ecosystem."
Talk Is Cheap and Reliable on Nokia’s $50 Phone
Jan. 18, 2012
All Things D
"After a week of testing the Lumia 710, my verdict is that it’s a good value for the money, and a good choice for people moving up to their first smartphone, or those looking for an alternative to Android and Apple."
Why Windows Phones Are the Most Exciting Handsets at CES
Jan. 12, 2012
Wired
"Headlines like 'Why Windows Phone is Making Waves at CES' and 'How Nokia’s Lumia 900 Windows Phone Won CES Before It Even Started' are key indicators of the excitement surrounding Windows Phone’s big leap into relevance in the smartphone market. Before the show even started, Nokia’s next-gen Lumia handset, in particular, was on the receiving end of a tremendous amount of anticipation and praise. And for good reason."
CES: Windows Phone Outpaces Rivals in Microsoft Speed Challenge
Jan. 12, 2012
GeekWire
"At the company’s CES booth, Ben Rudolph of the Windows Phone team is challenging users of other smartphones to duels in which they race him to complete everyday tasks such as checking the weather, posting to Facebook and Twitter, and snapping/sharing a photo. Anyone who beats him gets 100 bucks. ...Summing up the Day 1 results in a blog post, he reports 21 wins, two losses, and a tie — underscoring the company’s point that Windows Phone is faster at many everyday tasks."
Why Windows Phone Is Making Waves at CES
Jan. 10, 2012
GigaOM
"Even before Steve Ballmer’s Monday night keynote address, I’m hearing 'Windows Phone' in various conversations everywhere I travel. ...The hardware side of things is starting to catch up with better camera sensors — the Titan II has a 16 megapixel camera — and high-quality, industrial design such as that found in Nokia’s smartphones."
How Nokia’s Lumia 900 Windows Phone Won CES Before It Even Started
Jan. 10, 2012
TIME
"In short, Nokia’s Windows Phones exude style, and that goes a long way toward impressing tech journalists overwhelmed by dozens of aesthetically similar phones and tablets at CES. There’s more: In mobile, Microsoft has become the beloved underdog of the tech press. Windows Phone is fun, and it’s silky smooth like an iPhone without mimicking Apple’s interface of apps and nothing else."
Microsoft and Windows Phone Partners Declare Mobile War
Jan. 10, 2012
Forbes
"Microsoft is staking a lot on its very different user interface. The live-tile design is strikingly different from the icon-based environment we find on Android devices and the iPhone. ...Only time will tell. But for consumers, the entrance of a third major competitor would be only good news."
The Critics Rave … for Microsoft?
Jan. 7, 2012
The New York Times
"Microsoft actually has a hit, at least with the technorati. It’s cellphone software called Windows Phone — and they need it to be a blockbuster here at Microsoft Central."
Survey: Windows Phone No. 1 in User Satisfaction
Jan. 4, 2012
Redmond Channel Partner
"In a scale of 0 to 2, where 0 means 'unacceptable' user experience, 1 means 'satisfactory' and 2 means 'delighted,' Windows Phone scored 1.31 among reviewers. It was followed by BlackBerry (1.28), iOS (1.26), Android (1.18) and Symbian (1.01)."
Why I Don’t Want an iPhone Any More
Nov. 28, 2011
CNET
"Windows Phone strikes the perfect middle ground between the two. The slick, instantly recognisable and totally intuitive live tile interface is playful without being toylike, knocking Apple’s once-revolutionary front end into a cocked hat."
Spotify Tunes Into Windows Phone Mango
Nov. 8, 2011
ZDNet
"By a delightful coincidence, Windows Phone 7 is our seventh mobile app. Created with our friends at Microsoft, this app will give you an outstanding music experience on your Windows Phone 7," the company said on its blog.
Microsoft Touts UC Apps on Windows Phone
Nov. 7, 2011
InformationWeek
"This isn’t little SharePoint, this isn't a copy of SharePoint. You don't lose any capabilities. And this isn’t a subset of capabilities of Lync. This is Lync for your phone," Glenn Gerlach, senior mobility strategist, told the audience at the Sprint Open Solutions Conference last week in Santa Clara, Calif.
Five Unique Features That Set 'Mango' Apart
Oct. 5, 2011
PCWorld
"With ’Mango’, Windows Phone has matured, and now Microsoft is ready to go head to head against iOS and Android. Here are five key features of ’Mango’ that make it worth taking a closer look before you upgrade your iPhone 4 to an iPhone 4S, or jump ship to get an Android device like the Samsung Galaxy S II."
Tasty Mango Upgrade Should Bring New Windows Phone 7 Users to the Table
Oct. 5, 2011
The Boston Globe
"...Microsoft has found its way. The company has tweaked the powerful, elegant system it delivered last year in ways that I find pretty near irresistible. Already blessed with a gorgeous user interface, Windows Phone 7 has added valuable search features, more efficient ways to stay in touch with friends and colleagues, and a smart method for accessing the software apps you need, even if you don’t know you need them."
Real Competition From Redmond: Windows Phone 7 'Mango' Reviewed
Oct. 2, 2011
Ars Technica
"With Mango, Microsoft has got the smartphone operating system right. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s easy to use, it does everything you need, and it looks great. It takes the things that made the original release unique and makes them better, and it addresses nearly every criticism made of that version. As a piece of software, it’s a triumph, and it’s more than good enough to take on Android and iOS."
Mango Is a Sweet Upgrade for Windows Phone 7
Sept. 29, 2011
USA Today
"Windows Phone 7 software is punctuated by a bold interface called Metro that is built around rectangular live customizable 'at a glance' tiles. Tap a tile to jump to pictures, your calendar, the Internet Explorer browser, Xbox Live, a Music + Videos hub, and more."
Windows Phone 7.5 Review: Second Best Isn’t Half Bad
Sept. 27, 2011
Gizmodo
"It's more or less a complete thing now. A real boy. Or whatever. And frankly, it's about time for another major phone platform, one that actually feels like it's in the same class as iOS."
Windows Phone 7.5 Mango Review: Up to Speed
Sept. 27, 2011
CNET
"With version 7.5, Microsoft attempts to build on its metaphor for simple, straightforward features that get you in and out. This time, though, the goal was to make everything smarter and more social, now that Windows Phone must graduate from simply being something new, to something different. In this, Microsoft largely succeeds. …keep an open mind and you just might be pleasantly surprised by Microsoft's elegant, daring, and simple take on smartphones."
Mango Is a Fresh New Flavor for Windows Phones
Sept. 27, 2011
Wired
"Overall, the Mango upgrade presents Windows Phone owners with a more complete package than the launch version. Interface details have been well-thought-out and executed. I see no reason not to upgrade. And if you don’t have one, consider checking one out."
4 Reasons Windows Phone 7 Will Beat iPhone and Android
Aug. 8, 2011
NetworkWorld
"...IDC is so bullish on the future of Windows smartphones that it predicts Microsoft will capture more than 20% of the market by 2015, moving ahead of iOS and behind only Android. Here are four reasons why Microsoft will be a major smartphone player in a few years."
Mango Phone: a Peach of a Late Bloomer
June 21, 2011
All Things D
“With the help of Mango, the Windows Phone has grown up into a device that can be considered a real competitor for Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android devices…”
The Next Windows Phone: It’s Pretty Great
June 21, 2011
Gizmodo
“Pending some killer Nokia hardware or radical Android redesign, I think the choice this fall for all but the nerdiest of nerds is going to be very simple. iPhone or Windows Phone. Nothing else is that pleasant.”
Windows Phone `Mango´ preview
June 21, 2011
This Is My Next
“Regardless of Mango’s ultimate success at the register, though, I like more about Windows Phone in Mango than ever — and I’m definitely looking forward to playing with some final software and hardware.”
Microsoft’s `Mango´ – Making Smartphones Smarter
May 25, 2011
CoolestGadgets.com
"Mango will deliver more than 500 new features that will actually integrate the entire smartphone experience including all your communications, apps and the Internet. The new Mango release organizes information around the person or the group that we want to interact with, not the app we have to use."
Microsoft Windows Phone Mango Update Is Major Upgrade
May 24, 2011
eWeek
"Information from Twitter and LinkedIn will display in the `People´ Hub, along with new images added by friends. Windows Phone users will also have the ability to consolidate their friends and colleagues into Groups, the easier to send mass-messages and emails. Visual voicemail and the ability to see `threaded´ conversations in emails buttress Mango’s communications enhancements."
Microsoft Wins Over Developers
March 31, 2011
Bloomberg Businessweek
"About 36,000 developers have registered with the company, Microsoft said in a blog posting Mar 31. A total of 11,500 apps are available and customers on average download 12 a month."
How Microsoft Hit CTRL+ALT+DEL on Windows Phone
Nov. 8, 2010
WIRED
"The reset was no simple task: It involved bringing in new managers, reorganizing the Windows phone-design department and opening new test facilities dedicated to mobile hardware."