Those of you brave enough to try the Beta 1, Beta 2 or even the RTM version of Windows Phone know that one of the steps needed to achieve this is the installation of a beta Zune client that supports connecting Mango-based phones.
Microsoft has just updated its Zune client to version 4.8.2345.0 and the update will hit both those running the old "final" version 4.7 and those who installed a previous beta of 4.8. After installation, Mango-based devices can connect to Zune and successfully sync. This is just normal as we're just hours away from theJapanese Fujitsu-Toshiba IS12T Windows Phone on KDDI.
Update: Other changes in the Zune software include renaming Zune Pass to Zune Pass Music, some UI enhancements, 48-hour movie rentals, support for M-rated (Mature) content, the option to hide purchase confirmation dialog for faster app checkout and the ability to see what apps are compatible with the Windows Phone you own.
Additionally, you can skip the phone back-up process but if you choose to go with it, the back-up files will eat less hard drive space and the update process itself only needs one press of the Update button, as subsequent updates, if available, will install automatically.
You can check with Windows Update to get the new version, check for updates from the old Zune client or head over to the Microsoft Download Center and install the refresh.
For as much as we know about Windows Phone Mango, its supposed follow-up, Tango, is largely a mystery. One rumor from earlier this month said that Microsoft would be using the update to help bring Windows Phone to lower-tier hardware, in an effort to attract users in markets with more of an eye to budget-priced smartphone. Now we hear that Microsoft has essentially confirmed that aspect of Tango, commenting on the update at a Hong Kong seminar.
Working past the translation issues, the key points Microsoft hit on seem to be that Tango is definitely not going to be a major update like Mango, and instead will be a follow-up release under the umbrella of Mango-related updates. Apollo is still planned to be the next major release after Mango.
Microsoft confirmed that Tango is aimed at developing nations, singling out China and India. Its hardware partners will come out with cheaper devices running Tango that will let users in those countries check out Windows Phone affordably. Microsoft will also give those users a chance to access online components of the Windows Phone experience, bringing more Bing services to their countries.
We still don't know just what this new hardware would be like, or what changes would come with it necessitating a new OS release, but at least we know what page Microsoft is on.
As usual for a Droid, we've got the big old red eye manning the boot animation, this time looking like some sort of plasma ball with LED chasers. The phone's running the latest Blur (or whateverMotorola wants us to call it nowadays), which is supposedly nice and responsive – it does look pretty spry here.
Connected over VerizonLTE, a speed test shows the Droid Bionic pulling down about 4.5 megabits a second, while managing to upload a little under 2. For LTE, those speeds aren't very impressive at all, but wireless connectivity is a fickle beast; you might see much higher speeds in your area, or even just by going outside. To be fair, this test was done with only one bar of signal, considering which, it didn't do half bad.
We continue to see confirmation after confirmation backing-up the rumored September 8 Droid Bionic release date. While Verizon's yet to make an official statement, it's pretty much locked-up at this point.
While you've got tons of options for cases, and plenty of decals to help give your phone a new facade, when it comes to smartphones, there's often very little variety as to what colors the phones themselves are available in. Sure, there are exceptions, but more often than not you'll be wanting for options. Last month we looked at the work of one HTC EVO 3D user, who attempted to make up for the lack of color choices (as well as repair a little inadvertent cosmetic damage) byturning his handset into a non-existent white version. While that project gets five stars for effort, most of us would prefer the path of least resistance; for us, Radio Shack has announced that it will be carrying an official white EVO 3D, starting next month.
As of September 9, you'll be able to grab an EVO 3D on Sprint all decked out in white. Like many such white editions, the black bezel around the screen remains intact. The ring surrounding the dual camera sensors, red on the original Sprint EVO 3D and gold on the GSM version, is getting replaced with a silver component, which looks quite sharp against the black and white and helps maintain a neutral appearance.
Radio Shack hasn't yet revealed what the new white EVO 3D will cost, but we'd be surprised to see it deviate from the $200 mark where the original model lives.
Before you start getting excited about buying a device like this, these are just concept designs from freelance industrial designer, Kevin Zhou. These aren't leaked images of a new WindowsPhone 7 from HTC and the designer does not work for HTC so they probably won't ever be produced. That said, we think this device looks pretty cool. The 3D renderings certainly look very realistic and the design aesthetics even go along with HTC's current creative direction. Would you buy an HTCWindows Phone that looked like that?
