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

Rumor Roundup: Second Generation Windows Phone Handsets

Rumors suggest that 2nd Generation handsets are expected to arrive by mid-September. With Mango already in the hands of the manufacturers it's only a matter of time before they flood the Market.
Fujitsu has already unveiled the worlds first 2nd generation handset in Japan and ZTE are expected to follow suite soon.

By Sameer

Fujitsu Recycling Design For Their First Windows Phone

Rumors of Windows Phone devices aren't rare. The popularity of the renowned Metro UI and the imminent Mango update have brought interest in handset makers like Acer and Fujitsu who didn't bet on Windows Phone 7 months ago. Acer, Samsung, HTC, Nokia devices have been seen and conformed to run mango. This time it's Fujitsu's turn. 


Their handset closely resembles one of their Android Models (released in Japan only). The REGZA T-01C  on NTT DoCoMo to be precise. The Android handset has 4" LCD display with Toshiba’s Mobile REGZA Engine 3.0 graphics processing system, a 12.2-megapixel autofocus camera with 720p HD video capture, NFC and DLNA support. It is also water-resistant for a 1 meter depth.


Fujitsu's crash-course on how to improve your Android handset!


Japanese site Nanapho posted some pictures online comparing the two handsets. The distinctive ring around the camera is similar to the one present on the Android handset. Liveside further brought more proof of it with side-by-side pictures of the two handsets.

On the software side, there appears to be an icon hinting at the Japanese NAVITIME app on the handset. This could be there customization to the Windows Phone platform.

Surprisingly, Nokia has taken a similar route by using the chassis of the Meego-powered N9 and expected to add OVI Maps (amongst other services) as their customization.




[Source]

By Sameer

Tango Before Apollo Update?

What do you do after a Mango? I usually sleep, but Microsoft has decided to Tango. Before Windows Phone 8, a major update similar to Mango (maybe, that's why the name) will be released, say DigiTime's sources. This is in with accordance to the rumors that Microsoft would be providing a major update to the OS every year. Furthermore, news has been leaked that Microsoft is already signing license agreements with OEMs, Compal being one of them. Compal is the company that is rumored to be developing Nokia's and Acer's first WP handsets.

Will they be made by Nokia or not?

Nokia is also expected to start manufacturing its own handsets in 2012 which conveniently coincide with the Apollo update.

In terms of functionality not much is known, but a lot is hoped for. Perhaps dance lessons with dual cores? But first, let us have our Mango Microsoft!

By Sameer

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

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