Windows Phone 7

iPhone Owners Are More Loyal Than Android Owners

Oliver Haslam ∙ November 25, 2011

We love our iPhones here at iDB, and even if we do play with an Android or Windows Phone 7 device here and there, we always come back to our iDevices without fail.

According to a new study by research firm GfK, we're not the only ones captivated by our fruity phones. The report claims that of the survey's 4,500 participants across Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, China, the United States, and Japan, 84% of current iPhone owners said they would buy another iPhone in the next twelve months.

That number drops to a comparatively low 60% for Android users...

Microsoft: We’ve Had Siri for Over a Year!

Cody Lee ∙ November 23, 2011

Since Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S last month, everyone has been talking about one thing: Siri. The lovable assistant is the product of over 40 years of artificial intelligence research and the US CALO program (Cognitive Assistant that Learns and Organizes).

Siri isn't apparently exclusive to Apple's handset. Microsoft's chief strategy and research officer Craig Mundie recently told Forbes that Microsoft has had similar voice control tech on its Windows Phone platform for more than a year!

We know, we didn't see that one coming either...

Nokia Unveils the Lumia 800 Running Windows Phone 7

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

You don't hear this often at iDB, but Nokia just released an interesting smartphone line. The Lumia 800 and Lumina 710 were announced today, and both phones demonstrate Nokia's attempt at getting back into the smartphone game with the Windows Phone 7 OS.

Focusing on the flagship Lumina 800 handset, Nokia is making some very interesting choices to distinguish itself from the likes of Apple and the iPhone. It's nice to see some attractive handsets out there that may end up offering the iPhone some competition...

Microsoft: The iPhone Doesn’t Give Enough Choice and Android is Chaotic

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated November 12, 2018

Those crazy folks at Microsoft seem quite keen on this new release of Windows Phone 7 they've been working on, and with good reason. Windows Phone 7.5, or "Mango," is starting to find its way onto new and old handsets alike, and people seem rather taken with the changes the Microsoft has made.

With that success behind him, Windows Phone boss Andy Lees spoke to The Seattle Times, and he couldn't help dissing Apple and Google while upholding Windows Phone as the best option out there for consumers...

Europeans Love Android More Than iOS?

Oliver Haslam ∙ September 14, 2011

Everyone loves sales numbers, right? If that's true, everyone really loves sales numbers that claim that either Android or iOS is winning the mobile war.

It seems different numbers point to a different winner in this war, or at least a different winner in each battle. And this time around it's Android's turn to be the victor...

Nokia Executive Thinks Apple’s Focus on Apps in iOS is “Outdated”

Cody Lee ∙ August 11, 2011

Nokia is in an interesting position right now. Just a few short years ago they found themselves as nearly untouchable at the top of the wireless industry. But the Finnish company has struggled to keep up with new competition from Apple and Android handset-makers.

Bleeding smartphone sales, CEO Stephen Elop and company were forced to make a drastic decision. After several years of development, Nokia announced earlier this year that it would be dropping Symbian OS in favor of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.

Given the fragile state of the company, it was surprising to hear Nokia's U.S. President Chris Weber slamming his opponents...

25,000 Apps in the Windows Phone Marketplace

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

It was recently announced that the there are now 100,000 apps made specifically for the iPad in Apple's App Store, and there are 500,000+ apps available to iOS users.

On the opposite side of the numbers spectrum, Microsoft just hit 25,000 apps in its own Windows Phone Marketplace. Sounds like there's still a lot of catching up to do...

Microsoft Invites Hackers to Jailbreak Windows Phone 7

Alex Heath ∙ June 20, 2011

Talk about a change of pace. Instead of the cat-and-mouse game that Apple has been playing with the jailbreak community for years, Microsoft has decided to go the opposite route and actually invite hackers to jailbreak the company's own mobile platform, Windows Phone 7.

ChevronWP7 is doing something unprecedented by developing non-approved apps and services for a closed source OS. Microsoft is allowing this initiative in an attempt to make "Windows Phone development more accessible."

Microsoft Buys Skype for $8.5 Billion

Alex Heath ∙ May 10, 2011

In a shocking report, The Wall Street Journal has confirmed that Microsoft has purchased Skype in a 8.5 billion dollar buyout. This deal gives Microsoft complete ownership of Skype Technologies SA, and this buyout is one of Microsoft's biggest purchases to date.

Skype has been a key player in the desktop and mobile space as one of the most popular VoIP services in existence. On iOS, Skype has always been a wonderful service for those wishing to make calls (both audio and video) over 3G and Wi-Fi.

Clorox Employees Prefer the iPhone By a Wide Margin

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 8, 2011

If this isn't telling about the state of the smart phone industry, I don't know what is. It's particularly bad news for the folks at RIM -- the company behind the BlackBerry brand.

Sensing that his employees were unsatisfied with their company issued BlackBerry smartphones, Clorox CIO Ralph Loura decided to give his employees a choice.

They could choose between three different smartphone brands: the iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone 7.

Guess which platform the smart folks at Clorox selected en-masse?

Can Windows Phone 7 Overtake the iPhone?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 24, 2017

For those who didn't know or can't remember back that far, Microsoft was once a major player in the mobile platform game. It was one of the first mobile operating systems to feature a touch screen (although it required a stylus). The Palm Treo and multiple Windows Mobile handsets actually ruled the smartphone market for quite some time.

Then came innovations from companies like BlackBerry and Apple, and Windows Mobile's aging design just couldn't keep up. Last year, after almost a decade, Microsoft unveiled a completely new mobile OS to the world.

Although their initial launch was hindered by bad memories of the old, buggy Windows Mobile software, things are certainly looking brighter for Microsoft's Windows Phone 7....

Simulate Android and Windows Phone 7 on the iPhone With OSFaker

Alex Heath ∙ March 8, 2011

A genius jailbreak app called "OSFaker" allows you to replicate the Android and Windows Phone 7 OS on the iPhone. That's right, now you can easily show off your iPhone's chameleon abilities to your awestruck friends.

OSFaker isn't a complete OS simulator by any means, but it still gives you a nice taste of what Android and Windows Phone 7 feel like. Let's take a closer look...