MotoQ.org

Visual Basic is one of the most popular, and arguable easiest to learn, programming languages on the planet, and it’s going to plug in very nicely to Windows Phone 7. This is a CTP (community technical preview) of Visual Basic for Windows Phone 7, and should lower the barrier for developing a WP7 app even further. The other cool thing, is that older versions of Windows Mobile used VB, so it may be possible for developers to port the core of apps into the new OS.

The build of VB isn’t final yet, so it might be a little while before we see a torrent of apps from the language, but the more the merrier, either way.

Earlier this week we heard a rumor that WP7 might have free USB tethering, which caused us all to jump with joy, until it turned out to be a misunderstanding. What has been confirmed is that WP7 will be able to support tethering, but it will rely on the carrier to enable it. Just like every other smartphone in existence.

Not quite what we were hoping for, a free compulsory service, but hardly unexpected. Free tethering could have been a killer feature, but I guess it isn’t happening. We’re stuck with carrier’s high priced tethering fee.

We’ve heard plenty of speculation and now sources of Neowin are saying that October 21st will be the release date for Windows Phone 7 devices. That jives with what we’ve heard about the HTC HD7 release date. Microsoft will hold several worldwide launch events. They are also supposed holding an open house event in New York City on October 11th. While devices will hit the UK, France, German, Italy and Spain on the 21st, it’s not clear if we’ll see a launch here in the US on that date.

Update: According to Paul Thurrott, who is well-connected, the US launch date is November 8th.

It’s almost time folks. We suspect rumors will ramp up as we get close to the launch date.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

TechbloggerSeptember 26, 2010 at 11:42 pm

Is this confirmed? Well, lets get the conversation started.

Christopher MeinckSeptember 27, 2010 at 12:33 am

Looks like Paul Thurrott has splashed a bit of cold water on this rumor, saying his sources say November 8th.

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Recent CommentsMorgan Mallory on LG E900/Optimus 7 Gets 20 Minutes Of AirtimeMorgan Mallory on LG E900/Optimus 7 Gets 20 Minutes Of AirtimeChristopher Meinck on Microsoft To Launch Windows Phone 7 Devices on October 21Techblogger on Microsoft To Launch Windows Phone 7 Devices on October 21CharlieMason on LG E900/Optimus 7 Gets 20 Minutes Of Airtime

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Microsoft is holding a press event on October 11 in the UK, a full 10 days before the rumored launch of Windows Phone 7. The London event will start at 9AM Eastern time, and will doubtless be a major introduction to the new OS, the launch models, features, apps, and all sorts of other cool things for Windows Phone 7. Then, all of us in the USA will have to wait for a month before we can get our greedy little hands on a WP7 phone to play with.

Microsoft has been sending out press invites for the event, so you know all the big names will be there — not us unfortunately. We’ll be sure to bring you all the news from the event, regardless.

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Here’s a two-for-one: two vaguely rumored devices that we know almost nothing about. This incredibly blurry picture above? It’s supposedly of an unnamed LG Windows Phone 7 device for Sprint. We literally know nothing else, and that photo is way too blurry to make out details.

The text above was pulled from a LinkedIn profile, and is the first rumor we’ve seen of an Acer device for the new OS. Again, very scant info, but the beginnings of something more substantial.

There you go, two new devices which may or may not even exist.

Tagged as:Acer, LG, Rumor, Sprint

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Ooh, chalk this rumor up to something we’d be very, very glad to see. A tweet went up yesterday which has since been pulled, saying:

Official word–Windows Phone 7 will support USB tethering, carriers can NOT charge extra, above the data plan.

However, the guy behind it, Richard Dudley recently pulled the tweet, saying:

Correction to #WP7 tethering–that is not official, may not happen. I misunderstood a discussion. Tweet removed. My apologies.

It may or may not happen, but if it does, that would be absolutely amazing. Hardwired tethering that the carrier wouldn’t be allowed to charge for. Verizon and AT&T would probably have kittens if this went through.

We’ve talked about Seesmic before, we even saw a brief video demonstration, but this preview blows that away. Seesmic is looking like an excellent Twitter app for WP7, fully featured in every way imaginable, and it gels with the Metro UI perfectly. It integrates with both Twitter and Facebook, offers searches, customizable interface, geolocations, the whole shebang.

Color us very interested, especially as WP7 doesn’t look like it has native Twitter support at present (despite seamlessly connecting with Facebook). (They do now)

As soon as I say Microsoft isn’t making an official Twitter app for WP7, I’m proven wrong. Microsoft has just announced that the developer tools for WP7 are finalized, and handful of very cool apps have just been unveiled too.

Twitter, Netflix, OpenTable, Travelocity, and Flixster will all be available soon, and you can see them demoed here (which Silverlight won’t let me embed for some reason).

With the dev tools finalized, app creators know that they’re working the version of the code that will work on all devices. With the launch suspected to happen next month, you can bet there will be plenty of apps available as soon as it goes live.

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This video alleges to the be the mooted Sense UI that HTC wants to slap over the top of WP7. We don’t know if it’s the real thing, a mockup, or an incredibly well done hoax. So far everyone seems to love the idea, and it does look pretty. But I’m going to say no.

You know why? Because it will be a beast of bloatware. It doesn’t match the WP7 native Exchange UI, and all those nifty animations and moving clouds are bound to put major stress on the processor. Look at the state of Android right, where OEMs and carriers put layers upon layers of useless crap over the top of the native OS, and it slows it down, kills the user experience, and limits what you can do with the device. Lets keep that nonsense of WP7, shall we? Even if it is pretty.

[Mobility Digest, via WMExperts]

Tagged as:HTC, Rumor, Sense

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This is not a doomsday post, but still not great news for those of you waiting for a Windows 7 Phone on Verizon. According to Bloomberg, Verizon will be one of the launch carriers and thus will not release a phone powered by Windows Phone 7 this year. Brenda Rainey, a Verizon spokesperson, did confirm plans to support the new operating system and “will probably release a phone in 2011″. Despite the debacle that was the KIN, Rainey confirmed their relationship with Microsoft is “solid“.

If you are a Verizon customer, you’ll have to wait it out a bit longer. This isn’t uncommon. Both Verizon and Sprint took their time releasing Android devices and now it’s surprising if a week goes by without a new Android phone. In all seriousness, this allows the carriers to flush out any issues with the OS. Regardless, this isn’t just about Verizon and Microsoft. Microsoft doesn’t make phones. HTC, LG and Samsung make phones and they are all on board with Windows Phone 7. Expect Verizon to get on board early next year.

Tagged as:HTC, LG, Samsung, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, Windows 7 Phones, Windows Phone 7

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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

David CSeptember 16, 2010 at 9:30 pm

Ouch!

Verizon was one of the Windows Phone 7 original partners. Now Verizon is stepping away from the launch, and taking a wait-and-see approach.

Yes, it allows Verizon to “flush out any issues with the OS” by letting AT&T dive in first. Verizon will then sit back and gauge what kind of market there is.

Christopher MeinckSeptember 16, 2010 at 9:35 pm

They might also have a full portfolio with Droid devices and pushed it to 2011. Maybe it’s a manufacturer issue? Android was stuck on T-Mobile for what felt like an eternity. Not so much anymore. Verizon and Sprint have become Android central.

Jim HarrerSeptember 16, 2010 at 11:28 pm

Verizon probably trying to figure out how to turn off half of the bluetooth features in the OS and how to make room for all of their crapware.

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