HTC Omega/Radar Shows Up For Auction (with pictures)

We recently featured the first leaked photo of the HTC Omega (Radar, if you prefer) and today the white beast has shown up for auction on an Algerian site. The guys at OuedKniss have provided the first 'real' pictures of the handset HTC is expected to unveil next month.

The ROM on the phone seems to be Orange branded and the French setting might indicate it launching in France first, but guess we will have to wait for the dual camera toting phone to become official first.

[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi

HTC Omega/Radar powered by 1.5 GHz Snapdragon and 8 MP Camera

What's a day without a phone leak ? Here we have the HTC Omega, whose aluminium white chassis is gracing the web thanks to a leak by the guys at PocketNow. The name is still not confirmed as some sources say it might be called the HTC Radar on launch.
It will most likely be powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 (single core), have 512 MB of RAM and come with a 3.8" SLCD. It will have dual cameras - an 8 MP shooter at the back and a front-facing camera - which will come with Skype integration as we recently learned. The growing number of leaks surely points to an approaching release of Mango and we can't wait.

[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi

Two Mango Phones Caught in the Wild. Acer M130, Asus

Windows Phone NZ reports that during Windows Phone WPC, two new Windows Phone devices were seen.

First, is an Asus device. The reporter calls it a:

tidy looking handset with a matt black finish and it appears to be an engineering sample with non-final code on it.

The other device is the Acer M130, and the reporter says it "looks final" calling it a:

a good basic handset overall with a black shiny look and bevelled edges. This handset has something we haven’t seen on Windows Phone handsets before – video output to HDMI. It also includes DLNA support to play over WiFi to a network connected TV, Xbox, or other DLNA supported device

With Mango phones popping up in the wild, that could only mean that the days of new hardware are near. Check the source for the full report from Windows Phone NZ.

Source: Windows Phone NZ via: @paulspain, @MaryJoFoley

By Andy Babbitt

Leaked Road Map confirms Samsung i8350 Omnia W October launch

Samsung i8350 Omnia W has popped up on several websites in past weeks. Blog of Mobile spotted Omnia W receiving bluetooth certification. So it's existence has been confirmned for quite some time . The unknown variable have been target release date, specifications and pricing. Telefonino ( via GSMArena ) got access to Samsung Roadmap for 2H 2011 and it unsurprisingly has load of Android phones coupled three Bada devices and just one Windows Phone 7 device. More after the break.

By Rahul Mathur

Mystery Windows Phone device Nokia 800 and Acer M310 spotted

Star Windows Phone indie developer Elbert Perez is not only famous for his exceptionly well made free games but also for revealing statistics (a post mortem for serious folks) post release. The analytics or the reporting page (as he calls it) shows a list of devices running running his games. He spotted two new devices that we have never heard before. Nokia 800 and Acer M310. Acer M310? Is it a less sophisticated name of previously reported Acer W4 or is this something new coming from Acer? Most importantly, what about Nokia 800? If you remember, Nokia Simplified it's naming conventions, starting with Nokia 500, so this may very well be Nokia's Sea Ray mango device which was unveiled by Stephen Elop some time back.

Source:  @mechaghost 

By Rahul Mathur

WPAPPITUP winner receives HTC Mazaa running Mango RTM ! [Update: HTC Mazaa in action]

Microsoft held a special contest for Dream Spark registered students called WPAppitUp. The idea was simple: make a prototype that impresses Microsoft using Sketchflow Template for Windows Phone and 50 great designs will win a developer device running Mango.

By Rahul Mathur

All you need to know about Fujitsu - Toshiba 's first Windows Phone Mango device IS12T

Futijsu - Toshiba in a press conference in Tokyo early today announced their first Windows Phone powered smartphone running Mango (first officially unveiled Mango device) called IS12T exclusively available on Japanese carrier KDDI. A bit awkward by all standards and most probably  "IS12T" will probably be the final product name when it launches later in September this year. PR, specs and video walkthrough after the break. This doesn't come as a surprise, fyi. We reported about this joint launch exclusively with KDDI some time back. 

By Rahul Mathur

HTC Mozart gets a huge price drop at Flipkart, now available in India for just Rs 16,499

Wow. Here's a quick heads up everyone. I just literally woke up to an email from Flipkart reminding me that HTC Mozart is finally in stock. To my surprise, HTC 7 Mozart is now available for just Rs. 16,499. I bought Mozart around 4 months back for a price  > 24,000 Rupees so this price reduction makes me both happy and sad at the same time. I have to give it to HTC though, remember the promise of cheap Windows phone 7 device? Well, it's now already available in mid range category and in near future, we might see more mid range WP7 devices in the market. I, in my mind, have no doubt that at this price - HTC Mozart is the best phone your wallet can buy. Close your eyes and buy this beauty. It's also available with an Option to pay cash on delivery (I love Flipkart!). This is the cheapest price available both offline and online so better hurry up and  grab the device before they change their mind. We currently don't have confirmation if it's an official price directly from HTC or it's just flipkart. I expect it to be a price drop directly from HTC since an Indian digital store called Sosasta also sold Mozart at nearly the same price, but it's out of stock now. We'll keep you updated on prices of WP7 devices in India. For those of who follow the blog regularly, Dell Venue Pro went for a similar price reduction some time back.

By Rahul Mathur

Upcoming Windows phone handsets in 2011

Which mill never closes down, even in the worst of economies? The rumor mill. The juicy rumors that have caught our eye are those regarding new WP7(.5) hardware. From the new OEMs announced at Microsoft's latest event to the desperate Nokia, here's a list of all the rumored upcoming handsets on OEM road maps

Look who joined the new kid in the block.


Nokia:

Will they look like this??

Ever since Stephen Elop's memo to the employees at Nokia and his decision to choose WP over Android as their main OS (woohoo!), new hardware has been imminent. Images have been leaked and so have some tasty rumors regarding them. Here are the cold facts
1. Nokia will be launching their first WP devices in the UK around fall. Whether the US will get Nokia's or not is still shrouded in darkness
2. All their phones will run Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) and might have a bit of a custom overlay on top of them along with their Ovi services, now renamed to ‘Nokia Services’
3. There is a high possibility of them releasing phones in quick succession to regain market share.

Gorgeous screens, great hardware and a great OS. Can Nokia make a comeback with these

Now to the rumors, expect Nokia to meet all the minimum requirements and put out a high end device. They also suggest the phones will belong to a 'W' series starting with the W7 and W8. They are also rumored to have an AMOLED screen with Nokia's Clear Black Display coating on it.
Whether they will have Nokia's EDoF camera technology or not is any one's guess, but for their flagships Nokia has usually gone with Carl Zeiss (which is better) for it's camera requirements.

HTC:

Can HTC’s camera troubles end with this phone?

The Taiwanese company had announced it's decision to launch WP7 devices last year and kept to it's promise with a set of quality phones. AT&T's road-map conformed the HTC Brandon, a previously rumored Windows Phone device with a monstrous 16MP camera. Later evidence (the pictures above) suggest it was of the resolution 4000x3000p making it a 12MP camera. HTC isn't exactly known for it's camera quality but this might prove to be a turning point. Different sensors and lenses perhaps (high grade hopefully).
With HTC's track record expect to see a few more phones after Mango's official release.


Acer:

Will the dummy get smart?

It's one of the new OEMs who have decided to board the WP train. A few months ago, at Computex 2011, an Acer WP device was spotted -Acer W4 . It was a dummy though, but at least the specs were displayed beside it. It sports a 3.6" WVGA (480x800) LCD display. It doesn't seem to be a global phone as there are two different models according to the specifications given above. Other specifications were the Microsoft standard and nothing hair-raising.

Asus:
Is that a front-facing camera up there?

Although there has been no news regarding an Asus WP device, expect one because it was an Asus device that was used to demo the new OS at this year’s Windows Phone Event. Regarding the specifications nothing is known, but since it has been used in this years event it will probably follow the requirements to the last letter.


Sony Ericsson:

Will Sony Ericsson release another phone with a Microsoft made OS?

Prototypes of Sony Ericsson WP devices were leaked last year but Sony vehemently denied any truth in them (possibly because WP supports Xbox Live and promoting that might seem like weakness to the PlayStation makers). But if a device was ready it would be having a screen powered by Sony's Bravia technology. Software-wise don't, expect Microsoft to be lenient about the version running in the handsets

Regarding other OEMs nothing is known just. Rumors will increase as we inch closer to Mango's release date. Maybe a SUPER AMOLED PLUS display in Samsung's next or NOVA technology in LG's next.
When will the new ones come out?

Keep your eyes and ears peeled and keep visiting us for news folks.

By Sameer

Dell Venue Pro gets massive price drop at Flipkart, available for Rupees 23,999

Following the generous price cut from LetsBuy, Flipkart has now slashed the price of Dell Venue Pro to Rupees 23,999. Dell Venue Pro, touted as best looking Windows Phone device, is Dell's only phone running Windows Phone 7 OS. For complete specs, click here. Dell Venue Pro has a physical portrait style keypad which makes it consistent with the portrait heavy experience of Windows Phone OS.

By Rahul Mathur

Detailed overview of officially available Windows Phone devices in India

The exponential growth of the mobile phone market over the past few years is largely due to the wide variety of handsets available. The handsets differ in their hardware, their design, their working and most importantly the Operating System. Every OS has its ups and downs. Some have more ups and some more downs. Most of the Major OSes have an App Store that allows you to install/buy new apps that help improve the functionality of the device. Microsoft’s latest OS- Windows Phone 7 Operating system, has a thriving ecosystem with a variety of handsets from various manufacteres and a growing App Store. So when it comes to deciding which WP7 phone you want you’d have to make some decisions.

All WP7 phones work in the same way due to certain restrictions by the folks at Redmond.Microsoft has forbidden OEMs to customize their handsets thus eliminating the problem of fragmentation but unfortunately not leaving much room for manufacturers to differentiate their handsets. So as a customer you will be treated to the following irrespective of the handset.

1. A minimum of a 3.5” screen of WVGA resolution (800x480p)

2. A 1GHz Snapdragon Processor

3. 512 MB RAM and a minimum of 8GB of storage.

4. A 5MP auto-focus camera with a LED flash capable of 720p video recording and also a 2 step camera button.

5. 25 GB of free storage in Microsoft’s cloud, i.e. Skydrive.

Here’s a list of handsets and their prices in India and/or their unsubsidized prices.

1. HTC Mozart

The HTC Mozart is a quality handset with a cheesy namefrom the Taiwanese manufacturer. With a sleek brushed aluminum unibody it is a tough cookie. It also comes with a 3.7” S-LCD screen which claims to be more power efficient and much better viewing angles and contrast. It comes with HTC’s hub and Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancements. The camera is advanced to 8MP and comes with a powerful Xenon flash but performs worse than what is found in the Trophy and other handsets.

With 8GB inside and no microSD card slot you might find the memory a bit low. But as a handset it is quite flawless and there are no problems with updates that some phones have faced. Call quality is again reported to be quite decent with not much trouble catching signals. Battery life is said to be decent and might take you through a whole day’s of use

In India the official price is Rs. 26,000 and the unsubsidized price in the US is $550.

Rating in different sites:

Cnet: 3.5/5

TechRadar: 3.5/5

Engadget: 7/10

2. HTC HD7

The sequel to the widely successful HTC HD2 is this mammoth handset. With a massive 4.3” LCD screen it is definetly not meant for those with tiny hands. Unfortunately the screen is not to sharp or of good contrast and viewing angles.(A model with a S-LCD screen is coming exclusively to AT&T). It comes with a 5MP camera with dual LED flashes and kick stand (which doesn’t protect the lens). The Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancements make it an excellent device to watch movies on. HTC’s hub provides some nice apps.The memory on this device is 8 or 16GB depending on which you choose or is available. Performance is reported to be up to the mark of other handsets. Call quality is said to be decent but signal strength might suffer a bit if you hold it ‘wrong’. There have been no problem whatsoever with updates. The battery is questionably small. It appears to be incapable of carrying through the day without a recharge in the middle

It’s price in India is a whooping Rs.30,000. Outside it is available unsubsidized at $840.

Rating in different sites:

Cnet: 4.0/5

TechRadar: 4.0/5

Engadget: 6/10

3. Dell Venue Pro

Dell and Windows aren’t exactly a new combination. With certain hot notebooks under their belt, Dell’s consideration of WP7 wasn’t exactly a surprise. Dell’s first WP7 phone has a few cool features making it a good choice. With a potrait-keyboard and 4.1” 480x800 AMOLED display and end-to-end glass it is definitely one of a kind. However, unlike HTC handsets there is no sound enhancements of any sort and the camera fits the minimum requirement. There are two models 8 and 16 GB. Battery life is quite good and will be enough to last a day or so depending on the usage. Call Quality is reported to be good with no problems of any sort. There are no issues of the phone getting bricked while updating to NoDo. 

//Rahul- Certain firmware issues are reported constantly though and Dell hasn't released a fix yet.
It costs a sky high Rs.34,900. Letsbuy on the other hand, offer DVP at just 23,999!
Cnet: 4.0/5

There are just three devices officially available in India and none of the above three devices have been marketed well (probably not even marketed at all!) so there is no surprise that Windows phone hasn't picked up in India. Another contributing factor would be lack of marketplace availability in India. Marketplace is supposed to launch this fall along with Mango update.
We will continue to provide you more information on Windows Phone devices making an entry into India. Do let us know what you think of our overview.
- Sameer Ramesh 

By Rahul Mathur

Dell Venue Pro now available at LetsBuy.com for just Rupees 23,999 !

Talking about discounts - Letsbuy.com is giving you a whopping 31% discount on Dell Venue Pro ( ~ 11k rupees off on 35k Rupees device). I admit 35,000 ( close to initial launch price )  rupees for Dell Venue Pro is ridiculous but what's important is that you can buy Dell Venue Pro for just 23,999 Rupees which makes it even cheaper than HTC 7 Mozart and HD7. If you love Qwerty, this beautiful attention seeking device needs to be considered since it's the only Windows Phone device with physical keyboard. Online competitors like flipkart and Infibeam are selling it at a steep price of Rupees 30k and 29k respectively, so Letsbuy.com is clearly providing you a killer deal at the moment. Oh, they also have Cash on delivery system so if you aren't too sure of their online payment, opt for the COD method.

List of Windows Phone 7 devices officially available in India:

1. HTC 7 Mozart
2. HTC HD7
3. Dell Venue Pro
4. Oh wait..that's it. 

p.s - I love rounding off figures. 

By Rahul Mathur

Acer's First Windows Phone With Mango : Acer W4

After Microsoft announced at the Mango event about the new OEMs - Acer , ZTE and Fujitsu , we already have the first device from Acer's stables at Computex, the W4. Its a Chassis One device, nothing about NFC support or dual-cores for now, but don't worry other manufacturers (psst...Nokia) won't be far behind in announcing their second generation of Windows Phone device with Mango.

Acer W4's specifications :

3.6" WVGA capacitive touch-screen

480 x 800 resolution

Up to 8 GB of built-in storage

Qualcomm MSM8255, 1 GHz processor

5 megapixel auto-focus camera

HSPA 850/1900 or 900/2100

GSM Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

DLNA Support (DMC)

[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi

ZTE bringing Mango powered Windows Phone devices to Europe in Q3

According to Reuters, ZTE Corp, one of the three new OEMs for Windows Phone, plans to launch Mango powered Windows Phone devices in Third quarter of this year. Mango was officially unveiled last night at a VIP conference. Complete coverage here.

ZTE is China's no.2 handset maker and 4th largest in the world hence ZTE's push is extremely essential for Windows phone growth. Currently, ZTE is already working on Mango based smartphones and plans to keep the Q3 launch limited to Europe which is surprising. I would have loved to see these devices come pouring in Asia this year. Can we expect cheaper handsets coming from ZTE? We'll soon find out. 

By Rahul Mathur