Xbox 360 Surpasses 2.5 Million Kinect Sensors Sold

Xbox 360 Surpasses 2.5 Million Kinect Sensors Sold: "

Microsoft Corp. today announced that strong demand over the Black Friday weekend has propelled retail sales of Kinect for Xbox 360 to more than 2.5 million units worldwide since it launched just 25 days ago.

'We are thrilled about the consumer response to Kinect, and are working hard with our retail and manufacturing partners to expedite production and shipments of Kinect to restock shelves as fast as possible to keep up with demand,' said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. 'With sales already exceeding two and a half million units in just 25 days, we are on pace to reach our forecast of 5 million units sold to consumers this holiday.'

News Source:

Microsoft PressPass

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Substantial Windows Phone 7 update on the way

Substantial Windows Phone 7 update on the way: "

That is the story if the tweets from Chris Walshie of the ChevronWP7 unlocker tool fame turn out to be true. I’m really excited about this because he goes on to tweet that

Lets just say, they could have called it Windows Phone 8

More interestingly he tweets that

MS took 3 months to do what it took Apple 3 years. :-;

All this development dovetails nicely with Paul Thurrott’s latest post, How would you fix Windows Phone? It is a massive list that covers everything I can Imagine so I would urge you to check it out. If we go by the tweets, I would assume that the update will bring Windows Phone 7 up to parity or beyond, the iPhone or Android in terms of features and user experience. So what kind of features or fixes would you guys like to see in this coming update?

Via mobilitydigest

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Guide: How to Jailbreak / Unlock Windows Phone 7 (ChevronWP7 Unlocker)

Guide: How to Jailbreak / Unlock Windows Phone 7 (ChevronWP7 Unlocker): "News from DailyMobile.se:

The guys at RedmondPie have published a guide on how to jailbreak and unlock Windows Phone 7 (Samsung Omnia 7) using ChevronWP7 Unlocker. Head over to this post to read the guide.

Copyright © DailyMobile.se. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is limited to personal use. Publishing of this feed is not allowed."

Controlling a Missile Launcher with Windows Phone 7 device

Controlling a Missile Launcher with Windows Phone 7 device: "News from DailyMobile.se:

This guy developed a Windows Forms application that exposes some web service operations that control the missile launcher via his Windows Phone 7 device. Check out the video demo after the break.

[Via]

Copyright © DailyMobile.se. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is limited to personal use. Publishing of this feed is not allowed."

Windows Phone 7 gets unlocker, enables app sideloading & home-brew software

Windows Phone 7 gets unlocker, enables app sideloading & home-brew software: "

Posted on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 11:47:00 EST by Daniel Rubino

We knew it wasn't much in terms of security, so unlocking Windows Phone 7 to 'developer mode' to enable is now a done deal.

What this means for the community is now you can install unapproved applications onto your device, such as apps that modify the UI or access lower level functionality like the phone. The first recent example of such software was this augmented reality app that accessed the camera API.

Of course we still need an alternative Martketplace to distribute said software, much like Apple's Cydia. We imagine that this won't take too long, leading to rapid growth in the home-brew community for Windows Phone 7.

The unlocker, called ChevronWP7, was completed by Rafael, Chris Walsh and Long Zheng, with the latter two becoming household names by now. To enable the unlocked, developer mode, you simple download the file, connect your phone to your computer and run the installation. Seems easy enough and we're told there's no risk.

Couple of tips:

• You may have to install the registry file on ChevronWP7.com, we did


• Make sure the lock screen is not on when you try or you'll get an error


• Yes, you an re-lock the device if you want to

Source: ChevronWP7; via Addictive Tips; Thanks, Ali W., for the tip!

"

A Quick Look at Photo Stylist App on LG Optimus 7

Microsoft Enabling Windows Phone 7 App For Use On Xbox 360 Consoles

Microsoft Enabling Windows Phone 7 App For Use On Xbox 360 Consoles: "

Today Microsoft has been advertising for a software developer to help bring Microsoft’s Silverlight technology to the Xbox 360.

When this eventually happens the Xbox 360 would then be able to use Windows Phone 7 applications that would then be cross compatible between both devices.

Microsofts advert:

“looking to hire motivated developers with a passion for creating ground breaking multiscreen platform experiences now targeting the XBOX… As a developer you will be responsible for delivering features for Silverlight on the XBOX as part of the next wave. Candidates must have 5+ years of professional development experience in C++ and a willingness to work on new operating systems and languages.”

Microsofts Silverlight technology is already the development basis of Windows phone 7 and already runs on computer desktop by adding Silverlight support to the Xbox 360 will effectively bring the platform to the TV opening up a huge market for Microsoft to sell apps.

Via WPower User

This is a post from Geeky Gadgets, who bring you the latest Gadgets and Technology News.

Microsoft Enabling Windows Phone 7 App For Use On Xbox 360 Consoles (C) 2010 Geeky Gadgets

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Windows phone 7 on HTC HD2 runs into cloud services snag

Windows phone 7 on HTC HD2 runs into cloud services snag: "

Famous ROM hacker Cotulla has announced on Twitter that the Windows phone 7 hack for the HTC HD2 is close to release, but it might not matter much.

He notes that "GSM, GPRS, Camera, GSensor, USB, SD, BT, WLAN, etc" were working, but that, due to Microsoft’s hardware locking of the OS to the motherboard, none of the cloud services, like Zune, marketplace and Xbox Live was working.

Calling it mostly a demo, he notes "It will be released soon, but don’t expect anything from it – without Live services it’s not really usable ".

It seems to get a fully functioning port much more than a leaked ROM image will be needed, but more likely a fully functioning low level jailbreak.

Follow Cotulla on Twitter here.

Via Pocketnow.com

"

Microsoft promises heavy Windows Phone 7 apps promotion, 3000 apps by the end of the week

Microsoft promises heavy Windows Phone 7 apps promotion, 3000 apps by the end of the week: "

It its latest Windows phone 7 blog post, Microsoft discussed how it is promotion Windows phone 7 apps into the holiday season. The effort consists in part of heavily exploiting their own properties, such as the sign on page on Xbox 360, showcasing apps on Bing Visual Search, and promoting apps in the Zune marketplace.

In the same blog post Microsoft also spoke about the momentum of the app store, noting their were now 15,000 registered developers, 80% more than September, and that there should be around 3000 apps in the store by the end of the week.

The number of apps in Marketplace has been rising rapidly, and currently stands around 2650, so another 350 by the end of the week seems pretty likely.

Read the full post here.

Thanks MobilePaddy for the tip.

"

Redsn0w iOS 4.2.1 Jailbreak For Mac And Windows Released

Redsn0w iOS 4.2.1 Jailbreak For Mac And Windows Released: "

Yesterday Apple finally released iOS 4.2 for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, and now the iPhone Dev Team have released the latest version of their Redsn0w jailbreak for iOS 4.2.

The Redsn0w iOS 4.2 jailbreak is available for both Mac OS ZX and Windows, and you can find the download links over at the iPhone Dev Team website.

via Gadget Venue

This is a post from Geeky Gadgets, who bring you the latest Gadgets and Technology News.

Redsn0w iOS 4.2.1 Jailbreak For Mac And Windows Released (C) 2010 Geeky Gadgets

"

AsciiCamera comes to iPhone and Windows Phone simultaneously, better on WP7

AsciiCamera comes to iPhone and Windows Phone simultaneously, better on WP7: "

The above app by GoldRushComputing, which converts photos into ASCII art, is interesting enough in itself, but what is more interesting is that the app has come to Windows Phone 7 and iPhone simultaneously, a development we will certainly encourage.

Even more interesting is that the software has more features on the Windows Phone 7 version, including the ability to upload pictures via twitter and do colour ASCII art.

Microsoft has long touted the ease of development on the Windows Phone 7 platform, which will hopefully lower the barrier for developers who wish to expand their portfolio to multiple platforms.

ASCIICamera for Windows Phone 7 can be downloaded from Marketplace here.

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Microsoft has a Genuine Software checker for Windows Phone 7; complicates custom ROMs

Microsoft has a Genuine Software checker for Windows Phone 7; complicates custom ROMs: "

Posted on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:44:00 EST by Daniel Rubino

Although there have been reports of people porting over WP7 to the HTC HD2 and some chatter of people being able to make ROMs (though not load them), there may yet be one final hurdle that could be very difficult to overcome: PVK.

PVK are the private keys Microsoft evidently uses to sign off on the OS that is also tied to the hardware. Specifically, some aspect of the OS looks for and then pulls these keys from the device motherboard for verification. If the keys cannot be found, the motherboard must be replaced or serviced. While elements of the phone/OS might still work without the PVK key, core elements such as Xbox, Marketplace, Windows Live or Zune...basically any 'cloud service' will not.

The challenge to developers/hackers would be to circumvent this security, much like folks have managed to get around Microsoft's Genuine Software checker for Windows 7 and Office products. No easy task, we imagine.

In addition to the above image, there is an accompanying 'Service Advisory' on one of the HTC internal sites that reads:

Description:

This Service Advisory aims to resolve invalid PVK or PVK missing issue for any returned WP7 units

Condition(s) to follow this service advisory:

1. When customer complains about can not access Microsoft services such as XBOX, Marketplace, Windows Live and Zune on the WP7 devices.

2. When ASP performs diagnostic program test, ASP needs to follow the below repair actions if the diagnostic program detects invalid or missing PVK.

If the PVK is invalid or missing, there will be message on device as following when user try to login to Windows Live service.

To all of this we say good on Microsoft for throwing down some serious security, but alas, the ROM community now has a serious challenge ahead of itself. Of course, this is probably more motivated by piracy concerns than ROM cookers, but we imagine Microsoft welcomes that as a wanted side effect as well. Combined with the Xbox Live security (see earlier coverage), cracking this OS wide open may be far off.

Thanks, Conflipper, for the info

"

New videos show the power of Zune on the Phone, PC and Xbox

New videos show the power of Zune on the Phone, PC and Xbox: "

The Zune HD and software have always been an underrated but excellent media platform. With the introduction of WP7, that is set to change and I hope that Microsoft will spend some of that $500 million budget putting ads like the one on the video above on TV in addition to all the WP7 ads now playing. The ad does a great job showing the Zune player and WP7 in a compelling way that will certainly make any casual observer want to try it out. The videos are currently only available on the Zune.net website and there is no way to embed them as far as I can tell. Click on the links for a higher quality versions of Zune on WP7, Zune on the PC and Zune on the Xbox 360. You need to have Silverlight installed to view the videos.

Thanks to @gilly2468

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Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework: A Developer's Painkiller - Busted K...

LG E-Note H1000B Windows 7 tablet gets official

LG E-Note H1000B Windows 7 tablet gets official: "

The LG E-Note H1000B tablet spotted crossing the FCC earlier this month has made its official debut in Korea. Fronted by a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 resistive touchscreen (complete with a stylus), the H1000B runs Windows 7 Starter Edition on an Intel Atom 1.1GHz Z510 or 1.6GHz Z530 processor, paired with 1GB of RAM, a 16GB SSD and optional WiMAX (sadly not integrated, but bundled as a separate modem).

There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, an SD card slot and two USB ports; since this is basically a full netbook in tablet clothes, you can plug in a USB keyboard, mouse or any other peripheral. The whole thing weighs 850g with the standard, removable 4-cell battery, and measures 278.5 x 180.5 x 14.5 mm.

Options include Windows 7 Professional and a docking-station stand (as shown in the gallery below). Frankly, we’re not too impressed by the specifications, and can’t imagine battery life being particularly impressive either. The LG E-Note H1000B is priced at 961,000 won ($847) from Korean carrier KT, complete with the WiMAX modem.

[via NetbookNews]

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USB Audio and Video out coming to Windows Phone 7

USB Audio and Video out coming to Windows Phone 7: "

Paul Thurrott has posted on the various car technologies supported in Windows phone 7, which unfortunately excludes Audio Out via the USB port.

Paul does however note that this feature is in fact on its way.

He writes:

However, I know that Microsoft is using USB audio- and video-out with their own devices, in fact, that’s how they’re doing all of their onstage public demos. This internally developed software is very buggy and it’s not clear what form it will take when it reaches the public, but I’ve been told it’s coming.

This is indeed welcome news, as it opens up the options for accessories such as bedside docks and of course car kits. The Zune, which much of Windows Phone 7 technology is based on, of course does already support Audio and Video out via its standard connector.

Read more about car kit support at Windows Phone Secrets here.

"