Wish List for next Windows Phone update codename Tango

Windows phone is certainly turning quite a few heads and is commanding respect from critiques and fanboys alike. Though the OS is packed with features certain necessary functions and features are missing.

I'm not gonna waste your time with the usual 'integrate skype, bring in dual cores, get more apps'. Instead there are a few other vital changes that could enhance the overall user experience and improve functionality. So here's my wish list:

By Sameer

Windows Phone Mango Update and Handsets Coming In September

The imagine cup turned out to be a treasure trove for us bloggers. Nuggets of information were found in Ballmer's keynote referring to the release date of Mango. Further information was found in his keynote at the WorldWide Partner Conference.

Today an informative tweet by the Imagine Cups official account (@imaginecup) promised a windows phone device to all finalists, by September. These won't be any Windows Phones, they will among the first to run  the all new Mango.



An informative tweet


The manufacturer is unknown but Nokia, HTC or Samsung will be the probable manufacturers of the prize. So winners, are you excited?











[Source]

By Sameer

Ballmer: Mango Devices Coming By Christmas

Steve Ballmer kicked off the Imagine Cup 2011 with his keynote, praising the excellent work done by all the contestants and for showing everyone what they could do with Windows Phone. 

Excellent Work contestants 

Things got interesting (matter of opinion) when Ballmer started talking about the Mango devices and Nokia and  hinted at Mango devices being available by Christmas.

"Windows Phone. You know, a year ago we didn't have a phone in the market. Now, we're charging forward with Nokia. We have the second generation of our phones coming out this Christmas, and people are starting to do things they had never imagined before. I love the applications that I saw for the Windows Phone from the people in this room, and the way you're pushing that device, and using that device. It was really exciting for me."

Was Ballmer hinting at a delay in the Mango release date?   No. The hardware release cycle has always been much more flexible and is not directly connected to the software release date. Also the 1st generation of devices have been reported to be running Mango smoothly without any problems, so Microsoft don't need to rush OEMs to pump out  half-baked 2nd generation devices.  

Rumors have been hinting at new devices (HTC Nokia Samsung) coming soon with Mango running. The timing was not known but this sort of conforms it. 

By Sameer

Iraq Team Hawk Makes App for Refugees in Microsoft Imagine Cup 2011

The Imagine Cup is always a platform for bright minds to show their creativity, and with Windows Phone added to the competition recently it has only gotten more awesome for us.

This year, Team Hawk from Iraq, a finalist in the Cup have made a Windows Phone app for easily registering and tracking refugees. The trio's app helps refugees get registered and become official and get aid because they are considered non-existent until they are. Its better than paperwork which is slow, cumbersome and has high chances of getting damage. Their app stores all the data in a secure server which can be accessed with login credentials.

You can vote for them for the People's Choice Award. Find a video interview of the trio below :


[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi

Microsoft Imagine Cup: How Windows Phone Is Helping Change The World

So it was July 10,2011 13:02 at New York City when I was sitting in New York Marriott Marquis and listening to iDoc present their project, The Internet Doctor. I was very excited about the fact that this team of 4 students had taken up the challenge of collecting and providing right information about medical institutions in emergency. What excited me even more was that their friend, who was visually challenged, came all the way to support the group. It made me salute the passion and dedication they had put in this team.



This team from Cyprus has that look on their face which can’t be described in words. It demonstrates a connection so deep with the project that tells me that they KNOW they are going BIG. They demonstrated their project to the judges using Windows Phone 7 which is a hot selling product right now. This application connects the user to precisely the exact kind of medical assistance they need.

What I loved about this application was, the team plans to release it FREE Of COST and available to all. This mobile app is also connected to emergency calls to 911 and other emergency number and is for GLOBE, not just one country. The user just need to match WP7 and the symptoms and the app provides them a very appropriate and useful list of who they can approach.

Keeping a very nominal fee for Institutions, iDOC is targeting a global crowd. I heard them saying its only $60 for doctors and they need money just to keep the application running. Now this is what I call selfless service.

By Shantanu Pandey