Di certo ci sono gli ultimi nuovi ''cloni'' dell'applefonino come il BlackBerry Storm,il Nokia 5800, il Samsung Omnia... e secondo voi  Microsoft  vuole rimanere ...''ultimo''?

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Thanks Luca per la segnalazione

Fonte:concept-phones

Ecco la risposta di Microsoft all'iPhone della Apple: si chiama ZunePhone ed è il telefono cellulare di cui non riusciremo più a fare a meno! Ha tutte le funzioni dell'iPhone, ma con quel "tocco magico" che caratterizza tutti i prodotti Microsoft. Il "rivoluzionario" ZunePhone non è stato messo in commercio perché, come spero abbiate capito guardando il video, è solo una parodia dell'iPhone... ma se esistesse e venisse davvero messo in vendita, costerebbe moltissimi soldi: infatti per ideare male un oggetto (una dote attribuita da alcune persone alla Microsoft) sono necessarie tantissime ore di lavoro e un'elevatissima specializzazione dei progettisti. Nel mio prossimo articolo parlerò di un altro rivoluzionario prodotto Microsoft, ma non vi anticipo nulla ;-)

b1tsh4rk

Το ενδιαφέρον στοιχείο εδώ είναι, ότι Nokia δεν υποστηρίζει καν τα Windows Mobile στα κινητά της! Η ίδια πηγή πάντως διαψεύδει τις φήμες που θέλουν τη Microsoft να ετοιμάζει κάποιο Zune phone: "Αν υπήρχε κάποιο Zune phone, θα το γνώριζα" είπε σχετικά. Ανέφερε επίσης, ότι η συμφωνία με την Nokia δεν είναι αποκλειστική. Αυτό που προκύπτει από την εικόνα που έδωσε η "πηγή" στο Zunescene είναι ότι το περιεχόμενο και οι υπηρεσίες που προσφέρει το Zune Marketplace θα επεκταθούν σε πολλές συσκευές στο μέλλον όπως σε κινητά τηλέφωνο (smart phones αλλά και σε απλούστερα), σε PCs, στο Xbox360 κ.α.

Update: Σύμφωνα με την άποψη αυτού του αναλυτή, το παραπάνω είναι απίθανο. Ωστόσο γράφει για ένα site που ονομάζεται MacDailyNews ;-)

Some speculate that a Zune phone platform would cannibalize Windows Mobile. The images above show the same imaginary device in Zune mode and phone mode. Yes, it looks like an iPhone, but the Zune 30 looked a little like the iPod 30 so anything is possible.

Specifications:

The Zune 3 is also a phone with all the features of the Zune 80, with new features such as internet explorer, wifi marketplace, common phone apps, and more.

The Zune 3 is fully touchscreen, however, the lower panel buttons are touch "sensitive" play/pause/call, zune, and back/hang up buttons that glow, they are permanent (similar to the chocolate's buttons).

The Zune 3 is available in 16GB, and 32GB flash memory sizes.

Navigating the Zune 3 is similar to the 80's squircle except on the touch screen.

The screen itself is a high quality, scratch resistant, touch-sensitive glass that covers most of the front of the device.

Around the perimeter of the glass is a glowing light that can be customized to the color of the user's choice through the settings menu.

The remainder of the device's exterior is similar to the Zune 80's finish, including the hold switch to de-activate touch.

Video's are now presented in high-quality widescreen format.

The Zune 3 is not restricted to any particular network.

The device has external speakers for speakerphone functionality and to share music with your friends!

Now we would have to wait and see if ZunePhone would be a winner for microsoft in the Phone Market.

Nokia, Motorola, Siemens are you guys hearing!! You have now two big software / tech firms for competition and they are in your market!! Gear up Guys!! ...  anyways I am happy with my Iphone and I just wish the diesel prices go down !! :)

Did I mention how sick I am of Apple commercials? They make me want to hate them. Recently I've been thinking about getting a Microsoft Zune player instead of an iPod. The Zune has a subscription model that lets you download tons of songs every month wirelessly via WiFi, is video and picture capable, and even has an FM tuner. I can't find my CD's anymore (since moving and having a baby who knows where half of my previously beautifully organized collection is, in boxes, case logic cases, ripped to this computer but not that one, etc...) and I don't want to keep buying music be it CDs, MP3s or whatever if I am going to keep losing the discs and changing computers, etc. Zune will just let me get what I need that month from month to month without having to find it physically or on one of numerous computers. Ever again.

By the way, I tried using my Blackberry 8830 from Verizon as an MP3 player for a while as it takes a micro SD card, but it kind of sucked. The sound was tinny, it requires the micro plug headphones, and the player makes it impossible to go back and forth quickly from email to music controls. Also, the video function is limited to a file format nothing is in. If corporate users become more and more demanding and want to converge devices, they might start thinking about the iPhone -- perhaps Apple should add a keyboard for a corporate model, then we're talking. However, what would be really interesting is a hybrid Zune/Microsoft Mobile phone with push email and a keyboard. I want my ZunePhone, please make it for me MSFT -- I volunteer to beta test and promote it!

D

Et si Microsoft avait inventé son propre Iphone ?

- First up: Expect "Fiji," the new version of Windows Media Center, to resurface. Fiji, which probably now has a boring codename like Windows 6.5, will reemerge from information lock-down in early 2008. I wouldn't be surprised to see Microsoft field a private test build of Fiji as soon as January (timed with the Consumer Electronics Show). Because Fiji allegedly requires Vista Service Pack 1 to work, a public beta is probably unlikely until spring. Final Fiji release: I'm betting late summer 2008 (in time for Holiday 2008 preloads).

- Apple is none too happy when it can't maintain its shroud of secrecy. That's why Apple still hasn't announced -- even though it would make many business customers happy -- that it licensed the ActiveSync protocol from Microsoft that will make it easier to sync the iPhone with Exchange Server.
But Apple can't hold off forever. CEO Steve Jobs might admit Apple inked the licensing agreement with Microsoft at Macworld in January. Or he might wait until later next year to acknowledge the deal. But in 2008, Apple will admit publicly that it has sought Redmond's blessing, yet again.

- Ever since Microsoft brought in Electronic Arts executive Don Mattrick to run its Interactive Entertainment Business, there have been a lot of changes on the gaming side of Microsoft. That's no coincidence: Mattrick is cleaning house, sources say. And one of the next casualties could be Shane Kim, Corporate VP of Microsoft Game Studios. Expect more game-related shake-ups at Microsoft in 2008.

- Now that Facebook has opened up its development platform to other social-networking vendors, it seems obvious that Microsoft would want to get onboard. So far, other than fielding a Facebook development toolkit, Microsoft hasn't talked about its dev strategy for Facebook. But in 2008, watch for the Redmondians to announce more tools to help Facebook combat Google's (still-vaporish) OpenSocial. (And don't be surprised to see some patent-sword rattling by Microsoft regarding OpenSocial, in the process.)

- When Roz Ho left her post as head of the Microsoft Mac Business Unit earlier this year, she disappeared into the depths of the Mobile and Entertainment Division. Word is Ho is heading up the mysterious "Pink and Purple" project, which is all about bringing Zune features and functionality to Windows Mobile devices. It sounds like Ho also is part of the oft-denied skunkworks project to create a Microsoft ZunePhone. Word is some of the new Windows Mobile music features will see the light of day (in beta or final form) in 2008.

- Even though Windows 7 isn't expected to ship until 2010, word is that Office 14 is still on track to be released to manufacturing in 2009. If Microsoft sticks to schedule, the company could field Beta 1 of the product in 2008.

- Microsoft is slowly but surely fielding more Microsoft-hosted enterprise services that it is marketing to large enterprises. In 2007, Microsoft made a push for Microsoft-hosted Office Communications Server, SharePoint and Exchange. In 2008, expect Microsoft to add Forefront security and a business-intelligence bundle to its Office Online price list.

- In February, Microsoft's Open Office XML will be up for ISO standards consideration. Despite the best attempts of Microsoft's adversaries and critics to derail it, OOXML is finally going to get the ISO nod. That doesn't mean the OOXML vs. ODF/CDF battle won't continue, given that big government contracts stipulating "open" formats are at stake. But one more hurdle for OOXML's acceptance will be behind Microsoft in the new year.

- Windows 7 exists. Folks inside Microsoft are running early builds already. Does that mean we can count on seeing test builds of Windows 7 in 2008? I bet not. I'd be very surprised to see any kind of broad tech preview out next year. The only thing that would surprise me more: Istartedsomething.com blogger Long Zheng being appointed as Microsoft's new Director of Windows Client Disclosure. Bottom line: If you're hoping to see 7 in 08, don't hold your breath.

- Bruce Chizen, Adobe's CEO who abruptly resigned in 2007, has been mum on his future plans. But sources say Chizen is going to join Microsoft to run the Expression team in the new year. As Microsoft watchers know, Adobe and Microsoft are competing head-to-head in the design-tool space. If the sources are right (and there are no non-competes in the way), Chizen may have a new roost to rule soon.

Video uno... Solo algunos agraciados usuarios tienen en su poder el nuevo ZunePhone.

Video 2... Tras el rotundo exito del ZunePhone ya estan preparando el ZunePhoneServicePack1

[dailymotion id=2JxDZqWb8LGc0jYDN]

Η απάντηση της Microsoft sto ipod; To Zune!
Η απάντηση της Microsoft sto iphone; Το Zunephone!!!

Αν και οι φήμες κυκλοφορούν για περισσότερο από έναν χρόνο και έχουν διαψευσθεί από τον ίδιο τον Steve Ballmer, για πρώτη φορά στέλεχος της Microsoft δηλώνει πως ένας συνδυασμός Zune και κινητού τηλεφώνου δε θα ήταν παράλογος. Το στέλεχος αυτό ήταν η Mindy Mount, διευθύντρια του οικονομικού τμήματος του τομέα ψυχαγωγίας και συσκευών της Microsoft, σε μια ομιλία της προς επενδυτές.

Ανεξάρτητα από αυτές τις δηλώσεις, πριν από μερικές μέρες η Microsoft ανακοίνωσε νέες τιμές για το Zune στα 199$.

[via]

That said, as I think of all the attention about the iPhone's potential as an open platform, I do wonder why nobody mentions the Microsoft-powered smartphone platform as a current shipping mechanism for "open" application distribution (which in my mind, is a legitimate claim).  Is it some underlying flaw in the platform itself that prevents it from getting more credit as an open platform?  Is it because it is pretty old news?  Or is it because of the utilitarian UI it employs, which, while somewhat evolved, is the antithesis of the iPhone experience?  That's my view - sex does sell, and the iPhone is the epitome of mobile sex appeal.  As a developer, when I see the form factor, the multi-touch input capabilities, and UI of the iPhone, I am really drawn to it as a great way to showcase my stuff.  If Microsoft is to offset the momentum that the iPhone is generating, they need a change in the playbook.

There is the ongoing rumor of a phone project in Robbie Bach's area (sometimes referred to as the "Zunephone"), which I think is a great organizational move by Microsoft.  Keep the current Windows Mobile/Smartphone team on mission to evolve the current shipping platform, but make a more radical move to attempt a new integrated (hardware and software) experience to hedge your bets in the space.  It took 3+years of iPod success before the tiger team for Zune got chartered.  This time out, get going now, even if does mean spotting Apple a year lead.  When Microsoft chose the Toshiba hardware as the platform to get Zune to the market, it showed a willingness to take a non-traditional approach.  I think they get props for the approach, but in their hardware selection they way underestimated how much the physical form factor of a device matters in CE plays like this.  I am not sure there is an analog yet in the mobile space that Microsoft could use to jumpstart their efforts (the LG Prada isn't the answer here - it doesn't match up well feature-wise against the R1.0 iPhone), but I do hope Microsoft accelerates its efforts here - it will help evolve carrier thinking tremendously.  But at the end, as both Steve and Bill mentioned - both Apple and Microsoft view themsleves as software companies at their core, and it will take just as much or more effort by Microsoft to let go of the UI metaphor nutured by their teams over the last 6 years and innovate their software as it will to identify the right hardware platform. 

We're all well served by choice, and as a member of of the team that tore down one of the last walled gardens in my prior role, we learned that playing defense is never a winning playbook.  An improved Microsoft offering, matched head to head with Apple, is a sorely needed catalyst to drive mobile software to its next level.

Da indiscrezioni apparse su Crunchgear,  Microsoft lavora freneticamente per introdurre  sul mercato il concorrente del neonato iPhone, lo  ZunePhone. L'uscita sarebbe prevista  per il prossimo Natale,  a distanza di un'anno dal lancio del lettore Zune.

Sicuramente sarà uno smartphone basato su Windows Mobile, e pare  potrà  sincronizzarsi e interfacciarsi con la Xbox 360....

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Fonte:Crunchgear

Magari RIM, visto il successo di Nokia con potenti lettori player incorporati , sonyericsson con i walkman phone, che stia pensando di 'contrastare' l'arrivo dell'iPhone (e contemporaneamnte il successo dell'iPod) e il 'rumoreggiato' ZunePhone?

Certo se consideriamo le 'doti' audio dell'ultimo nato in casa RIM, il Pearl potrebbe essere già pronto un musicphone 'targato' BlackBerryGremlin....qualcuno ha detto BBPhone o meglio iBerryPhone...voi cosa ne pensate?

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Fonte:Crunchgear

I say wait for the forthcoming ChocoNokiSonyRolaSon ;)

It will no doubt have a SIM card welded into it, allowing you to make calls to people within a ten metre radius. ;) Woo!

ZuneStone.com

Fonte:Gizmologia

Alcune indiscrezioni dal mondo Apple, parlano di una possibile uscita di iPhone per il prossimo gennaio 2007. iPhone è il nome del futuro cellulare di casa Apple, che per il momento non ha fatto ancora il suo ingresso nei mercati mondiali. Secondo queste indiscrezioni, il telefonino dovrebbe essere realizzato in tre modelli, però solo uno di essi, vedrà la luce durante la prossima edizione del MacWorld. iPhone potrebbe disporre di una fotocamera digitale con una risoluzione nativa da 3 Megapixel, un display a colori ampio 2,2 pollici ed una memoria abbastanza ampia da contenere fino a 100 canzoni.

Un breve riepilogo:
· Tre modelli nel 2007, di cui uno farà la sua apparizione a gennaio al Macworld 2007
· Fotocamera digitale da 3 Megapixel
· Display a colori ampio 2,2 pollici
· Servizio iTunes integrato, fino a 100 canzoni scaricabili

Fonte:Gizmodo

Mobinaute e Engadgetmobile pubblicano al riguardo notizie del probabile arrivo...sarà vero? :-)

Fonte:Mobinaute Engadgetmobile