The developer known as Jaxbot is becoming quite familiar around these parts, who's known for bringing instant app resuming and multitasking to Windows Phone -- long before these features had gone mainstream. Now, he's back at it with WindowBreak, a project that seeks to deliver an interop unlock tool that can be used on any Windows Phone. As you can see in the video after the break, his tool already works on Samsung phones, and now, Jaxbot needs the help of like-minded hackers to perform similar feats with HTC and Nokia handsets. If you're willing to give 'er a go during the holiday weekend, just check the source links below.

Continue reading WindowBreak Project seeks universal developer unlock tool for Windows Phone (video)

WindowBreak Project seeks universal developer unlock tool for Windows Phone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The great thinkers of the world have long known a secret that we're now happy to disclose: it's not necessity that's the mother invention, but rather laziness. Fortunately, expending a great deal of effort on a project -- simply to perform a task effortlessly -- sometimes brings very cool results. A concept app known as ZuneVoice easily passes muster in this realm, which is used to control Zune software on the PC with only a standard microphone and spoken commands. As you can see in the demo video, its creator, keyboardp, is able to play individual songs, issue commands such a "pause" or "next song", and even display full-screen music videos from YouTube. The developer even crafted an app for his Lumia 800 known as PhoneZune, which serves as a remote control for times when he's away from the box. Neither application is yet publicly available, though feedback is welcome. Next, we're told to expect Kinect integration. Perhaps one day, these gems will see the light of day.

Continue reading Developer teases voice control of Zune, using PC and Windows Phone (video)

Developer teases voice control of Zune, using PC and Windows Phone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Downloaders of the Windows 8 Developer Preview have been proving their mettle the best way they know how: by getting it to run on systems it was never really intended for. Brent and the folks at Codesnack win the Real Utility trophy for their successful Boot Camp installs. Josh Blake gets the Damn I Look Good By Candlelight trophy for making the OS run on the MS Surface in his living room. Meanwhile, Marcin Grygiel has awarded himself the I'm HARDCORE!!! title for somehow getting it to run on a PC with just 128MB. Treat yourself to some intimate video evidence after the break.

[Thanks, Prashanth]

Continue reading Windows 8 ain't fussy: runs on Macs, Surface, 128MB RAM, banana peel (videos)

Windows 8 ain't fussy: runs on Macs, Surface, 128MB RAM, banana peel (videos) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Codesnack, Marcin Grygiel (YouTube), Josh Blake (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

Reports of a Windows Phone 7 OS update trickling out to developer phones first surfaced over the weekend. As part of that update, it looks like a very highly anticipated feature has finally made its way to Windows Phones — copy/paste. Microsoft admitted months before Windows Phone 7 launched that it would have to omit copy/paste functionality from the release version of its new mobile OS, but it also said an early update would add the feature. Thankfully, it looks like Microsoft will be true to its word and its first OS update with copy/paste in tow appears to be imminent. Unfortunately, however, it also looks like rumors from last month suggesting Microsoft’s first Windows Phone 7 update would be “massive” are false, as this first update is reportedly rather minor aside from the addition of copy/paste. Hit the break to see a video of copy/paste in action on a Windows Phone 7-powered developer phone.

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Microsoft has been talking about Windows Phone 7 updates since long before Windows Phone 7 was even released. While the OS’ launch was a bit rushed, we have to commend Microsoft for taking a pretty open stance and choosing to talk about upcoming functionality instead of shrugging off inquiries as most companies do. WP7 users should be happy to learn that many of the upcoming features Microsoft has been discussing could be coming as soon as January in a major update. According to Windows Phone 7 developer Chris Walsh, who claims to have inside knowledge of the update, Microsoft’s upcoming software bump will be “massive.” Expected features include copy/paste, free voice-guided Bing navigation, custom ringtone support, a third-party multitasking solution and more. Needless to say, all of this functionality is sorely missed in Windows Phone 7 as it stands today.

[Via Windows Phone Central]

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Following concerns that Windows Phone 7 wouldn’t have enough titles support to satisfy the new wave of app-hungry smartphone users, Microsoft confirmed Monday that developer support has exceeded expectations. In a post on The Windows Phone Developer Blog, Microsoft’s Todd Brix announced that the Windows Marketplace for Mobile is now home to approximately 2,000 apps and games compatible with Windows Phone 7 devices. The figure is nearly double the company’s target, which was set last month. Microsoft also announced that the Marketplace is fully open to app submissions, and that it currently has 13,000 registered Windows Phone 7 developers. Windows Phone 7, which launched Monday in the U.S., is Microsoft’s attempt to reclaim consumer interest in its smartphones. Continued developer support is one of several keys to the success of the platform, and Microsoft certainly has an uphill battle ahead of it considering the massive app war chests held by Apple and Google.

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So the ROM included with the Windows Phone 7 Developer Tools refresh that was launched this week (to get it up to speed with the final release of Visual Studio 2010) has already been unlocked and torn apart over on xda-developers, and as you might expect, there are quite a few changes and additions in here versus what we've seen in the previous release. The most notable change appears to be the inclusion of Office, but we've also got dialer and in-call user interfaces, call history, call notifications (using Windows Phone 7's standard notification paradigm, of course), and a method for uninstalling apps. Clearly, we're still a long way from going final with this thing -- and fortunately, Microsoft has given itself basically the rest of the year to get it good and solid. Andele, ladies and gentlemen.

Latest Windows Phone 7 emulator ROM unlocked, has Office and other goodies originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 May 2010 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Windows Phone Developer Blog, The Gadgets  |  xda-developers  | Email this | Comments