Best Windows 10 apps this week

Two-hundred-and-sixty-two in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Windows Store in the past seven days.

Google put an installer for its Chrome browser in the Windows 10 Store for a few hours before it was removed by Microsoft. Mihaita has the details on that.

As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email.

Discounts this week

The following list is a selection of the best deals. Make sure you check out the Store for all offers.

Some apps are discounted for more than one week. Only new apps and games are listed below. Check out the previous post in the series for past offers that may still be valid.

Fluently, calendar app with pen support, for $0.49 (next 2 days)

Get The Robot, a strategy game, for free (next 9 days)

Mind Maps Pro, mindmapping app, for $4.99 (next 10 days)

Paint.net, image editor for $2.99 (next 15 days)

WolframAlpha, knowledge engine app, for free (next 15 days)

Microsoft Edge extensions

Cyclonis Password Manager

Cyclonis Password Manager is a free password management extension for Microsoft Edge. It protects the data with AES 256-bit encryption, and comes with all the niceties you'd expect.

It can sign you in automatically, generate strong passwords, and sync data across devices. The extension is available for other browsers such as Chrome and Firefox as well.

New apps and games

BitPics

BitPics is a free application that applies retro effects to photos and images.

The app supports color schemes of 15 different classic systems such as the Gameboy, C-64, Nintendo Entertainment System or MSX.

All you need to do is load an image, and pick one of the available systems to apply the effect to the image.

You can make edits, for instance changes to the aspect ratio, contrast or resolution, and save the processed image to the local system or share it directly.

Guess the Series

If you like watching TV series and quizzes, this app may be for you. It is a quiz app that is all about TV series.

It displays a capture of a TV show on the screen, and asks you to identify it by picking one of the four multiple choice answers it displays to you on the screen.

There is no multiplayer at this point in time unfortunately.

Smakoon

Smakoon is a restaurant finder that returns restaurants to you based on your location or searches.

The app supports restaurants worldwide, and lists each with ratings, address information, opening hours (if provided), and price rating.

A click on any restaurant opens a profile of it in the app. It features a map, and additional information such as a phone number, specialties, services and payment options.

Velvet

Velvet is a free cryptocurrency portfolio and trading application. It supports over 1500 coins at the time of writing, and trading through the Brittex exchange.

The developer promises to introduce support for other exchanges in future releases.

Notable updates

Amazon app (more of a wrapper) finally supports clickable live tiles.

Netflix app supports HDR now.

Saavn Music & Radio update adds new browse and discover channels to the app to improve content discovery.

Source: Best Windows 10 apps this week

DigitalGenius raises $14.75m to develop AI customer service tools

DigitalGenius was founded in London in 2013. It's working to bring automation and machine learning to the customer service industry, pitching its products to companies struggling to respond promptly to support requests. The company's AI interfaces with existing customer service platforms to help frontline staff fulfil customer queries. DigitalGenius analyses transcripts from previous customer service conversations to train its AI assistance tech for each new role. After it's been trained, the AI can start to make real-time predictions about support cases as they unfold. Customer service staff are shown data that may be relevant to the case earlier in the conversation, allowing them to provide more efficient help. The technology can also intelligently route customer service queries to the staff members best suited to handling them. A support worker specialised in one area of a company's products could automatically receive calls about their area of expertise. This further cuts down the time between a customer making a support request and receiving effective assistance to help them solve the problem.

DigitalGenius provides AI customer service tools

DigitalGenius

READ NEXT: Demand for digital insurance drives industry transformation VentureBeat reports DigitalGenius' new $14.75m funding round was led by Global Founders Capital. Additional contributors included previous investors Salesforce Ventures, Runa Capital, RRE Ventures, Lumia Capital, Compound and Lerer Hippeau Ventures. The company's now raised a total of $26 million, allowing it to continue developing its technology as the AI market becomes more competitive. Efforts to infuse customer service with AI-based predictive tech are starting to become more common. Companies are beginning to appreciate how AI-powered bots can benefit their business and their customers, increasing demand for services like DigitalGenius. The company was one of the first on the scene but is now facing competition from chatbot providers such as LivePerson and Mattersight. Some of DigitalGenius' existing clients include Eurostar, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Unilever. The company has around 60 employees and 30 customers, reportedly up from just two a year ago. The new investment will allow DigitalGenius to continue scaling its technology, giving the company an opportunity to consolidate its market position as AI-augmented support becomes more common.
Source: DigitalGenius raises $14.75m to develop AI customer service tools

Windows Phone Supposed to “Keep Windows Mobile Alive and Kicking” Bites the Dust

Windows 10 Mobile is currently in maintenance mode, with Microsoft saying that no new updates and hardware are planned for the platform, but there still are companies that think they can save the operating system.

One of them is TREKSTOR, the company that recently took to IndieGogo in an attempt to raise the necessary funds to mass-produce the WinPhone 5.0 Windows 10 Mobile device.

TREKSTOR needed 500,000 Euros to make this happen, and unsurprisingly, the campaign failed miserably (via AAWP), with only 11 percent of the goal actually reached. A total of 52,928 Euros were donated by the backers.

Mid-range specs

Somewhat surprising is that despite the collapse of Windows phones, TREKSTORE was very confident about its fundraising campaign, saying before its kickoff that it considered mass production of the WinPhone 5.0 as a result of user feedback.

"Originally developed to accompany our B2B Smartagent, the device attracted some press interest during the 2017 IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) in Berlin," the company said.

"And the press coverage lead to a large number of inquiries from individuals looking to replace their current Windows Mobile based smartphone, but who were not satisfied with the options available in the consumer market. Some people even suggested to put it on Kickstarter. As TREKSTOR, priding ourselves for listening to our customers, we did just that."

The project failed, but no word has been said on whether TREKSTOR still plans to build the WinPhone 5.0 using its own funds or a different source of money.

Described as the project that tries to "keep Windows Mobile alike and kicking," WinPhone 5.0 was supposed to come with a 5.0-inch IPS display covered by Gorilla Glass 3, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 chip paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, a 13-megapixel primary camera, Wi-Fi, microSD, and Bluetooth 4.0 support.

Time will tell if another Windows phone can make it to the market given the current state of the platform, but by the looks of things, not even diehard fans are willing to make it happen anymore.

Source: Windows Phone Supposed to "Keep Windows Mobile Alive and Kicking" Bites the Dust

Save $10 on the fast wireless charger your new iPhone deserves

Unless you want to dump over $80 on this convertible fast wireless charger from Samsung, then there's only one charging pad you should even bother considering for your new iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone 8. It's the RAVPower Fast Wireless Charger, and it's worth every penny at $50 thanks to its sleek design and premium metal material. Until the end of the month, however, you won't have to pay anywhere near $50 — just use the promo code TV2PAH4O at checkout and you'll get this great charger for $39.99, its lowest price ever.

Here are some details from the product page:

Note: Whether your iPhone is being standard charged, fast charged, or fully charged, the LED will stay orange and NOT turn green as iPhones do not send any signal to the wireless charger. Please do not place anything between your iPhone and charger, or the latter will not work.

7.5W wireless charging for newest iPhone X / 8 Plus / 8 is enabled in the latest iOS 11.2 update – faster than traditional 3.5W-5W wireless chargers

Compatible with All Qi-Enabled Phones: Includes iPhone X, iPhone 8, 8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus; non-Qi enabled phones are still compatible but will require a Qi wireless charging cover to power up

Fast & Free 24W QC 3.0 Adapter: Includes a powerful Quick Charge 3. 0 adapter that boosts the max output to 10W so selected Samsung Galaxy, Google Nexus, or Microsoft Lumia phones can charge even faster

Portable, Practical, Stylish, and Safe: Lightweight, take anywhere size with silicone anti-skid design to prevent sliding; smart battery indicator; built-in over-current, over-voltage, and over-temperature protection systems

Follow @BGRDeals on Twitter to keep up with the latest and greatest deals we find around the web.

BGR Deals content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and BGR may receive a commission on purchases made through our posts.

Source: Save $10 on the fast wireless charger your new iPhone deserves

Windows Phone Reviews

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Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Microsoft's first flagship Windows phone in some time sports a 5.7" QHD AMOLED display, the top of the line Snapdragon 810 CPU and it has a Windows Hello camera that knows you when it eyeballs your eyes. The larger companion to the Lumia 950 is the bigger, faster model for those who want the best Microsoft and Windows 10 for phones have to offer. It has a removable battery, 32 gigs of storage, a microSD card slot and one of the better cameras on the market. This is an unlocked GSM phone that Microsoft sells direct and it has two SIM card slots. Unlocked GSM Jan. 2016 Microsoft Lumia 950 It's been a long time since we've seen a high end Lumia phone. More than a year, in fact. Microsoft is back at it with the Lumia 950, a 5.2" smartphone that's the first to run Windows 10 for phones. The Lumia has a pleasing AMOLED display and it runs on the same 1.8 GHz Snapdragon 808 CPU as many of today's popular Android phones. It has an ample 3 gigs of RAM, 32 gigs of storage and there's a microSD card slot to expand storage. The Lumia 950 has an excellent 20MP rear camera with Zeiss lens, and it supports Microsoft Continuum that allows you to turn your pocket-friendly phone into a desktop PC stand-in. The phone is $550 unlocked for use on GSM networks and AT&T also sells it. AT&T and unlocked GSM Dec. 2015 Microsoft Lumia 640 XL This big screen Windows Phone is easy on the wallet, selling for $249 full retail and 99 pennies with contract. The 640 XL has a 5.7" display, a removable 3,000 mAh battery, 4G LTE and a microSD card slot. It runs Windows Phone 8.1 update 2 on the quad core Snapdragon 400 and it's upgradable to Windows 10 for phones. It has a 5MP wide angle front camera and a capable 13MP rear camera. We look at the AT&T version in this review. AT&T July 2015 Nokia Lumia 830 Think of the Lumia 830 as the affordable and slightly more pocketable version of the excellent Nokia Lumia Icon and Lumia 930. It has the same elegant design with a metal frame, but it adds goodies like a removable battery and microSD card slot. The specs are dropped down from the more expensive Lumia Icon, and the Lumia 830 has a 5", 1280 x 720 IPS display and it runs on the 1.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 400 with Adreno 305 graphics and 1 gig of RAM. The real star of the show beyond the classy chassis is the 10MP rear PureView camera with a fast Carl Zeiss lens and OIS (optical image stabilization). That might not be a class-leading camera resolution, but the photos and videos are quite good for a midrange phone. AT&T Nov. 2014 HTC One M8 for Windows The HTC One M8 for Windows: it's everything you loved about the HTC One M8... unless you're an Android person that is. Given the name, you've already figured out this is the Windows Phone version of the M8, and if you're a fan of that elegant smartphone, you'll be thrilled to hear the hardware hasn't changed a bit. The HTC One M8 for Windows has a 5" full HD display, a quad core Snapdragon 801 CPU, 32 gigs of storage plus a microSD card slot and of course HTC BoomSound stereo front-facing speakers. It runs Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 and is initially exclusive to Verizon Wireless, though it will be coming to AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Aug. 2014 Nokia Lumia 635 This is a wildly affordable 4G LTE Windows 8.1 smartphone that's available on AT&T and T-Mobile for just $99 to $168 full retail. It has a 4.5" IPS display, removable battery and swappable back cover shells. The phone runs on a quad core Snapdragon 400 CPU with 512 megs of RAM and 8 gigs of storage, expandable via microSD cards. It has Cortana, Microsoft's new voice assistant, a 5megapixel rear camera and a GPS with GLONASS. AT&T GoPhone, Sprint and T-Mobile July 2014 Nokia Lumia Icon The Nokia Lumia Icon has a striking 5" full HD Clear Black OLED display with outdoor brightness mode and heightened touch sensitivity for gloves. Like the Lumia 1520 and top Android smartphones, it runs on a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core CPU with Adreno 330 graphics and 2 gigs of RAM. It has has dual band WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS and a front HD webcam. The 20MP PureView camera that can shoot DNG RAW files? It's every bit as good as the excellent Lumia 1520 camera. Verizon March 2014 Nokia Lumia 1520 And now for those who want something smaller than the Nokia Lumia 2520, we have the Nokia Lumia 1520 smartphone, released at the same time as Nokia's first Windows tablet. The Lumia 1520 has a few firsts as well: it's the first Windows phone phablet, the first with a full HD display and the first to sport a quad core processor. Nice! Though the 6" Lumia 1520 might be too big for some, there's no denying the temptations of a Windows Phone that finally competes spec for spec with flagship Android phones. And the Lumia manages to beat most with its 20 megapixel main camera with dual LED flash and Carl Zeiss lens. AT&T Dec. 2013 HTC 8XT Finally, Windows Phone 8 comes to Sprint in the guise of the stylish HTC 8XT. A close relative of the HTC 8X and 8S, the Sprint version has a colorful though not particularly high resolution display, that unique tapered HTC design and a boldly colored soft touch casing. The phone has a 1.4GHz dual core Snapdragon 400 CPU with a gig of RAM and 8 gigs of internal storage. It has a microSDXC card slot for storage expansion, LTE 4G, and a very capable 8 megapixel rear camera with a backside illuminated sensor and 1080p video recording. Sprint Aug. 2013 Nokia Lumia 1020 The Nokia Lumia 1020 is the latest, greatest Windows Phone 8 flagship smartphone, and it's got something very special: a 41 megapixel Nokia PureView camera that reinvents zoom. It's not as bulky as the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and it looks much like the Lumia 920, complete with a curved polycarbonate unibody design, curved Gorilla Glass 3 display and 4.5" ClearBlack AMOLED display that's outdoor viewable and glove friendly. The Lumia 1020 is exclusive to AT&T in the US right now, and it's available in matte white, black and yellow. It has 4G LTE, dual band WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC and a GPS with GLONASS. The camera has a Xenon flash, Carl Zeiss Tessar f/2.2 6 element lens and a backside illuminated sensor. Does it steal the show? If you're a shutterbug, the answer is a definite "yes". AT&T July 2013 Nokia Lumia 928 Verizon Wireless customers who had a crush on the Nokia Lumia 920: it's your turn now. The new Nokia Lumia 928 is now available for $99 on contract, and it's every bit as good as the 920. Nokia has updated the styling with straight sides and the phone has lost a wee bit of weight, but it keeps the 4.5", 1280 x 768 display spec, very good 8.7MP PureView camera and 32 gigs of internal storage. The Lumia 928 has an AMOLED ClearBlack display and it runs on a 1.5GHz dual band Snapdragon S4 CPU. Verizon May 2013 Samsung ATIV Odyssey The Samsung ATIV Odyssey is the manufacturer's first US Windows Phone 8 smartphone. Available on Verizon Wireless for $49 with contract, Samsung obviously wasn't shooting for a flagship device, and they've yet to bring the higher end ATIV S to the US. The ATIV Odyssey is akin to the Galaxy S III Mini and it has a colorful 4" Super AMOLED display running at 800 x 480 in a very compact form. The smartphone runs on the standard Windows Phone 8 internals: a 1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with a gig of RAM. It has 8 gigs of internal storage and a microSD card slot. It has 4G LTE and a 5 megapixel rear camera. Verizon Feb. 2012 HTC 8X The HTC 8X Windows 8 smartphone is one of the best looking and pleasing phones to hold in the hand. The soft touch finish and pyramid design with tapering sides is comfy and grippy, and the phone looks like none other on the market. The HTC 8X has a 4.3" Super LCD II display with Gorilla Glass running at 1280 x 720 and it runs on a capable 1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU with Adreno 225 graphics. The phone has an excellent 8MP rear camera with backside illuminated sensor and it uses HTC's ImageChip. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Dec. 2012 Nokia Lumia 822 The stylish HTC 8X Windows 8 smartphone has some competition from the much less expensive Nokia Lumia 822 on Verizon Wireless. While the Lumia lacks the HTC's keen styling and vibrant color options, it's half the price and offers Nokia's value added apps that verge on must-haves. Inside it's all good with the same 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core CPU that you'll find in the flagship Nokia Lumia 920, HTC 8X and high end Android phones. It has a gig of RAM and 16 gigs of internal storage. The phone has a capable 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss lens and a microSD card slot. Verizon Dec. 2012 Nokia Lumia 810 The Lumia 810 is a close relative to the Nokia Lumia 822 on Verizon and the Lumia 820 on AT&T. It has a 4.3" ClearBlack AMOLED display running at 800 x 480 resolution. The display's colors, black levels and touch sensitivity are impressive, and like the flagship Lumia 920 on AT&T, it works with gloves and fingernails. This Windows Phone 8 smartphone runs on a 1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU with 1 gig of RAM. It has 8 gigs of storage, and you can use a microSD card to store your music, videos and documents. The phone has a very good 8MP rear camera with Carl Zeiss lens. T-Mobile Dec. 2012 Nokia Lumia 920 The Windows Phone 8 flagship smartphone for the launch of Microsoft's newest phone OS has a great combo of features. From the super-sharp and bright 4.5" IPS display to an iconic polycarbonate housing in your choice of 5 colors, the Lumia 920 is a sweet smartphone. It runs on a 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon S4 CPU with a gig of RAM and 32 gigs of internal storage. It has LTE 4G, dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and NFC. The 8.7 megapixel PureView camera takes excellent photos and 1080p video and features optical image stabilization to take the blur out of shaky-handed shots. The phone is fast, fun and easy to use and it won't break the bank either. AT&T Nov. 2012

 

Windows Phone 7

Nokia Lumia 920 The Windows Phone 8 flagship smartphone for the launch of Microsoft's newest phone OS has a great combo of features. From the super-sharp and bright 4.5" IPS display to an iconic polycarbonate housing in your choice of 5 colors, the Lumia 920 is a sweet smartphone. It runs on a 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon S4 CPU with a gig of RAM and 32 gigs of internal storage. It has LTE 4G, dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and NFC. The 8.7 megapixel PureView camera takes excellent photos and 1080p video and features optical image stabilization to take the blur out of shaky-handed shots. The phone is fast, fun and easy to use and it won't break the bank either. AT&T Nov. 2012 Samsung Focus 2 The Focus 2 is Samsung's first LTE Windows Phone, and it's more portable and affordable than the Nokia Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II LTE Windows Phones on ATT. The Focus 2 has a 4" Super AMOLED display running at the usual 800 x 480 resolution, and it's powered by the same 1.4GHz Snapdragon second generation CPU used in many current Windows Phone 7.5 Mango smartphones. The Focus 2 fights the popular Lumia 900 with its low $49.99 price tag with contract. AT&T May 2012 Nokia Lumia 900 This is Nokia and AT&T's latest flagship phone, and it's refreshing to see Windows Phone get the leading role. The Lumia 900 looks a lot like its little brother the Lumia 800 that's sold overseas. The Lumia 900 stretches the luscious ClearBlack AMOLED display to 4.3" and adds LTE 4G for fast data. The Nokia is distinctive, attractive and durable thanks to a sculpted unibody polycarbonate housing and Gorilla Glass display. It runs Windows Phone 7.5 Mango on a 1.4GHz Snapdragon CPU with 16 gigs of storage, and it has a front video chat camera and an excellent 8MP rear camera. The smartphone sells for just $99 with contract. AT&T April 2012 HTC Titan II Sequels aren't always that exciting, but when you take an already popular and solid smartphone and add exciting features like LTE 4G and a whopping 16 megapixel camera, you've got our attention. The second generation Titan on AT&T still features a 4.7" Super LCD and a 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU, but the exterior has gotten a cosmetic lift with pleasing and un-slippery soft touch finishes and a curved chin with curved glass. The Titan II has a front video chat camera, and the usual WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and FM radio. But it's that big screen and 16MP camera that really steal the show. AT&T April 2012 Nokia Lumia 710 The Lumia 710 might not be Nokia's flagship Windows Phone, but it's a great phone for $49 with contract. This Windows Phone 7.5 Mango smartphone has a sharp 3.7" ClearBlack display, a 1.4GHz Snapdragon CPU and a very good 5 megapixel camera. The Lumia 710 is available on T-Mobile and it has quad band HSPA+ 4G along with WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. The design is distinctly Nokia, and we like the rounded corners and complex curves that you don't usually see on a budget-priced smartphone. T-Mobile Jan. 2012 HTC Titan HTC knows about livin' large, after all they created the at the time mammoth and ground breaking HTC HD2 and HD7S. Now that big phones are the trend, they've once again made one of the largest screen phones on the market: 4.7". The Titan joins the Samsung Focus S and the Samsung Focus Flash on AT&T as their first wave of Mango smartphones. It has a 1.5GHz Snapdragon CPU, an excellent 8 megapixel rear camera and a front 1.3 megapixel video chat camera. Like the Focus S and Focus Flash, it has HSPA+ 4G 14.4 and the usual WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS that works with Bing Maps and AT&T Navigator. AT&T Dec. 2011 HTC Radar 4G The HTC Radar 4G is T-Mobile's first Windows Phone 7.5 Mango smartphone. This is a second generation Windows Phone with middle of the road specs and a price to match. It's $99 with contract and it has a 1GHz second gen Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with 8 gigs of storage and HSPA+ 4G. The phone has a front video chat camera that works with Tango and a rear 5 megapixel camera with a fast f2.2 lens with an illuminated backlit sensor. This is a video review. T-Mobile Dec. 2011 Samsung Focus S The Samsung Focus S is one of three new Windows Phone Mango 7.5 smartphones on AT&T. It joins the HTC Titan and the smaller and more affordable Focus Flash, and it features Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus display for super-rich colors and deep blacks. The Focus S shares a lot of DNA with the Samsung Galaxy S II on AT&T, and like the GS II it has a 4.3" display, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a very similar casing. The phone is only 0.33" thick and it weighs just 3.9 ounces. The Focus S has HSPA+ 14.4 for "4G" on AT&T, Zune music and video, XBOX Live gaming, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS that works with Bing and AT&T Navigator. AT&T Dec. 2011 Samsung Focus Flash The Samsung Focus Flash is AT&T's most affordable second gen Windows Phone running OS 7.5 Mango. At $49 with a 2 year contract, it's a bargain. You get the same 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU found in the $199 Samsung Focus S, and the usual Windows Phone standards like an 800 x 480 resolution touch screen, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, a front camera and a GPS that works with Bing Maps and ATT Navigator. This is a video review. AT&T Dec. 2011 Nokia Lumia 800 Love the Nokia N9 but afraid of the high price tag, new OS and dead end path? Not problem, the N9's twin is here as the Nokia Lumia 800 running Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. It shares the same physical design, polycarbonate unibody design and luscious AMOLED display too. We take the Euro unlocked version for a spin, which happily has AT&T 3G HSPA 14.4 for good data speeds. The phone has a 3.7" AMOLED Gorilla Glass display that runs at 800 x 480 resolution, and 8MP camera and a 1.4GHz CPU. Unlocked GSM Nov. 2011 HTC HD7S AT&T's fourth Windows 7 device comes almost 8 months after they launched their intial trio of Microsoft's completely new smartphone lineup. The HD7 is an improved version of T-Mobile's HD7 with an upgraded 4.3" Super LCD, a tweaked 5 megapixel camera and the "no do" OS update pre-installed. We definitely love the large display for gaming and video watching too with the kickstand deployed. The HD7S is a great Netflix phone, an impressive XBOX gaming smartphone and it handles music beautifully. Since it's a Microsoft OS, you can count on MS Exchange and a solid MS Office suite. As always, we thoroughly enjoy the Metro UI, and HTC's elegant and robust industrial design. AT&T June 2011 HTC Trophy Verizon's first Windows 7 phone is solid: it has HTC's usual elegant styling and good build quality, world GSM roaming capabilities and Redmond's new phone OS that we really like. The Trophy has a 3.8", 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen, a 1GHz CPU, 16 gigs of storage and a 5 megapixel camera. It has 3G on Verizon along with WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo and a GPS. Like all Windows Phone 7 smartphone, it has XBOX gaming and Zune music and video services. Verizon May 2011 HTC Arrive Sprint's first Windows Phone 7 smartphone is one of our favorites. The hardware design and quality are typical top-notch HTC and the unique hinge is robust. The Arrive runs the updated version of Windows Phone 7 that adds copy and paste along with a few other improvements, and it has 3G EV-DO. Rev. A. Specs are typical for the platform with a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 16 gigs of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, a GPS and a 5 megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video. The Arrive has a 3.6" display and a very good QWERTY keyboard. Sprint April 2011 HTC Surround If you're an HTC fan and an AT&T customer, you'll likely be considering the Surround as your first Windows 7 phone. The Surround features HTC's usual excellent build quality and stately design, but it's a tad heavy and thicker than skinny smartphones like the Samsung Focus since it has a slider. No, it's not a keyboard slider but rather a slider for the stereo speaker bar amped up with Dolby Virtual Mobile and SRS Wow. If you want your Zune phone to sing it loud to the masses, the Surround is for you. Otherwise, it's your standard Windows Phone 7 smartphone, and that's not a bad thing given the high baseline specs: 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 16 gigs of storage, WiFi, 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth, GPS and a 5 megapixel camera that shoots HD video. AT&T Dec. 2010 HTC HD7 The first Windows 7 phone on T-Mobile has a lot in common with the older HTC HD2: it has a huge 4.3" display, 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus lens and dual LED flash and 16 gigs of storage. The software similarities are nil however, since the HD7 runs the brand new, start from scratch, Windows Phone 7 OS. The usual niceties are here including a GPS that works with Bing Maps and TeleNav, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth and an FM radio. A good start for Windows Phone 7 on T-Mobile. T-Mobile Nov. 2010 Samsung Focus The Focus is the hottest Windows 7 Phone on AT&T thanks to its stunning Super AMOLED display, slim design and user accessible microSD card slot. The display has eye-popping colors, is sharp and is quite viewable outdoors. The Focus, like all Windows 7 phones has a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU with graphics acceleration, plenty of internal storage, a 5 megapixel camera that takes very nice shots, a GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11n. Of the first launch group of US Windows 7 phones, the Focus is our favorite. AT&T Nov. 2010 LG Quantum Among US launch Windows 7 phones, the LG Quantum is the only model with a hardware keyboard. The Quantum is a horizontal slider with a wide QWERTY keyboard and a 3.5" 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen. Like all Windows Phone 7 smartphones, it has a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, plenty of internal storage, 3G HSDPA, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, a GPS and a 5 megapixel autofocus camera. AT&T Nov. 2010

 

Windows Mobile Pro - Touch screen Models, OS 6.5 and older

LG Fathom If you're a long time fan of Windows Mobile and are the kind of person who turns off TouchFLO 3D on HTC phones to get back to that classic WinMo experience, the Fathom is your kind of phone. We're not sure how many of you are out there, but we know there are a vocal few. The Fathom features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Windows Mobile 6.5.3 and the same 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU that powers some of our favorite high end smartphones. The Fathom has a high res 800 x 480 touchscreen, 3G EV-DO Rev. A for Verizon and world GSM roaming capabilities too. Is it sexy? Nope, but it is speedy and stable.

Verizon

May 2010

HTC HD2 T-Mobile has a super-phone on their hands and it's good enough to compete with the Nexus One and Nokia N900. The HD2 has a wondrous 4.3" capacitive multi-touch display and a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, and that means it can stand tall with the best portable media players. Yet it's thin and pocketable and it looks sharp. The HD2 has 3G HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. Google Maps, TeleNav, Opera and Blockbuster are on board. The phone supports pinch zooming, has a 5 megapixel camera and a good on-screen keyboard. It runs Windows Mobile 6.5 but you won't see much of it thanks to HTC's Sense UI. Editor's Choice 2010.

T-Mobile

April 2010

HP iPAQ Glisten The HP Glisten is a Windows Mobile Pro QWERTY bar smartphone that calls to you business and messaging types. What does it have over a BlackBerry? It has both a QWERTY keyboard and a touch screen. The Glisten is solidly built and it has a fairly high capacity battery to accompany a full compliment of wireless: 3G HSDPA, GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi. It runs Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro on a 528MHz Qualcomm CPU and it's offered by AT&T in the US.

AT&T

Feb. 2010

LG eXpo The HTC Tilt 2 has a competitor among AT&T's Windows Mobile touch screen, high-end QWERTY sliders. While the eXpo doesn't do much to change the standard Windows Mobile 6.5 user interface, it goes for high end hardware with gusto. The eXpo is one of the very few US smartphones with Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, and the LG is indeed fast. It has a very capable 5 megapixel camera with autofocus lens, a biometric fingerprint scanner, a GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi. Even more interesting is the optional pico projector that turns the LG eXpo into one of the world's smallest presentation computers.

AT&T

Jan. 2010

HTC HD2 HTC's dream machine is here. Their follow up to the HD makes the HD look old and tired. Think of it as that flat panel and Blu-ray home theater upgrade you've dreamed about. The HD2 has a wonderful 4.3" capacitive multi-touch display, HTC's Sense UI (their update to TouchFLO 3D) and a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU. Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro is under the hood, though HTC improves on most of it, and the smartphone has WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS. Despite the huge display, the HD2 is only 0.43" thick and it's not that much bigger than the iPhone 3GS. The drawbacks? It's expensive since it's sold as an unlocked GSM phone through importers and there's no US 3G.

Unlocked GSM

Dec. 2009

Samsung Omnia II The sequel to the Omnia i910 on Verizon Wireless is finally here. The Omnia II features Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional with Samsung's TouchWiz 2.0 UI to spiff things up. The phone has a 3.7" AMOLED touch screen that's vivid and eye-catching, though it's not capacitive like the iPhone and Android phones. It has 8 gigs of storage, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus lens, WiFi, EV-DO Rev. A and Bluetooth with A2DP stereo. This is our first look review with a 12 minute video review.

Verizon

Dec. 2009

HTC Tilt 2 AT&T's last to the race with their version of the HTC Touch Pro2 Windows Mobile Pro smartphone, but they're the first to offer it with Windows Mobile 6.5. The Tilt 2 boasts the same feature set as the Touch Pro2 on the 3 other major US carriers, but it ships with the newer Windows OS for phones and changes the keyboard layout a bit. It has an 800 x 480 touch screen, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and an awesome slide-out and tilt QWERTY keyboard. This review includes a 10 minute video review.

AT&T

Oct. 2009

Samsung Intrepid Sprint's first Windows Mobile 6.5 touch screen phone, the Intrepid has a QVGA 320 x 240 pixel color touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard. It has a BlackBerry-like form and targets business users and messaging-oriented folks who need a good keyboard, MS Exchange support with Direct Push, texting and IM. It has a GPS, 3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, WiFi and can roam on GSM networks abroad. This is a video review.

Sprint

Oct. 2009

HTC Imagio Verizon's got a blockbuster Windows Mobile 6.5 touchscreen phone in the HTC Imagio. The phone features a 3.6" display with HTC's TouchFLO 3D UI, a slim and sexy design and Mobile TV. That's broadcast TV over the air, not streaming video, and it works well. The Imagio also has V Cast Video and Music, a capable non-streaming media player, YouTube, WiFi, Bluetooth, EV-DO Rev. A and a GPS. If that's not enough to keep you entertained, it has a 5 megapixel camera too. We like. This review includes a video review.

Verizon

Oct. 2009

HTC Pure AT&T's first Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro smartphone is here with HTC's TouchFLO 3D goodness. This small and light full-featured smartphone features a 3.2" resistive touch screen, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus lens, very good video playback performance, WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS all at a reasonable price. It's the close relative to the HTC Touch Diamond2 sold overseas. If you're looking for an HTC WinMo phone with the latest OS that won't break the bank or your pants pocket, the Pure is worth a look. This review includes a video review.

AT&T

Oct. 2009

HTC Touch Pro2 (Verizon) Starting this summer, the HTC Touch Pro2 began making its way around the world. Now three US carriers offer it, Verizon being the latest. This flagship Windows Mobile Pro touch screen phone gives Verizon's smartphone lineup a much needed shot in the arm, and we find it hard not to love the Touch Pro2, no matter how many times it visits our office. It features a roomy sliding keyboard and tilting 800 x 480 display, GPS, WiFi, TouchFLO 3D and GSM world roaming for travels outside the US.

Verizon

Sept. 2009

HTC Touch Pro2 (Sprint) Sprint's flagship Windows Mobile Pro phone is here. Joining T-Mobile and eventually all carriers in the US, Sprint has upped the temptation to spend some serious bucks on a serious business phone with a decided fun side. The Touch Pro2 on Sprint delights us as just as much as the unlocked GSM and T-Mobile version did thanks to Sprint's fast EVDO data connection, the large 3.6" high resolution touch screen, capacious offset QWERTY slider keyboard and strong Office and Exchange support. Better yet, the Sprint version adds a 3.5mm stereo jack for those of you who don't think wired is tired.

Sprint

Sept. 2009

HTC Touch Pro2 (T-Mobile) In June, we reviewed the unlocked GSM import HTC Touch Pro2 and loved it. Now it's come to T-Mobile, which means two things: a subsidized price and US 3G HSDPA. Yes! The Touch Pro2 is a powerhouse Windows Mobile pro 6.1 touch screen phone. It features a 3.6 inch 800 x 480 pixel display, HTC's TouchFLO 3D user interface spiffying up WinMo, and a tilt-an- slide hardware QWERTY keyboard of the most wondrous proportions. Other niceties include a GPS, 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera, one-touch speakerphone, WiFi, Bluetooth and an SDHC microSD card slot.

T-Mobile

Aug. 2009

HTC Touch Diamond2 Into Windows Mobile touch screen phones or don't want to go with a contract or an iPhone?. HTC's revision of the Touch Diamond offers some impressive specs including a 480 x 800 pixel touch screen and a much improved TouchFLO 3D user interface. The slab design is modern and less plasticky than the first Diamond's and the display is a bit larger at 3.2". This is a quad band GSM unlocked phone with EDGE for data in the US and it has a GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, an SDHC microSD card slot and a 5 megapixel camera.

Unlocked GSM

July 2009

HTC Touch Pro2 HTC's new flagship QWERTY touch screen slider has just started to hit the overseas market. This import unlocked GSM Windows Mobile Pro 6.1 phone really rocks. Forget the Fuze and original Touch Pro-- this is the real deal with fantastic good looks, a 3.6" 800 x 480 display with haptic feedback, the latest version of HTC's TouchFLO 3D that almost completely remakes Windows Mobile and one of the best hardware keyboards on the market. The Pro2 has a GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, WiFi, 512 megs of flash storage, a microSD card slot and a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera. Sorry, the import version is EDGE-only in the US, but we're sure US carriers will come out with their own versions sporting 3G.

Unlocked GSM

June 2009

Palm Treo Pro for Sprint The Treo Pro has finally made it to a US carrier: Sprint. This Windows Mobile 6.1 touch screen phone is the first to come with Internet Explorer Mobile 6 with Flash Lite support. It features a front-facing QWERTY keyboard, 320 x 320 pixel display, a 528MHz CPU and 512 megs of flash storage. The Treo Pro has WiFi, Bluetooth with A2DP support and EVDO Rev. A for fast data over Sprint's network. It's got a good GPS and Sprint Navigation to keep you on the right track and a 2 megapixel camera.

Sprint

March 2009

E-TEN Glofiish X610 An entry to mid level Windows Mobile Pro 6.1 touch screen phone, the X610 packs pretty much every feature except 3G and lots of memory. It has a 2.8" QVGA display, quad band GSM with EDGE, FM radio, SiRF III GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, camera, microSD card slot and a 400MHz CPU. The slate design phone has a flush touch screen and is relatively thin and light for a PDA phone. As usual with E-TEN, we wish for a little more styling and memory to keep things running quickly, but it's nonetheless an OK unlocked GSM smartphone. The Glofiish line is available unlocked with no contract from importers and online retailers.

Unlocked GSM

Jan. 2009

Samsung Omnia (Verizon) One of our favorite Windows Mobile touch screen phones has finally made it to the US! We reviewed the import GSM Omnia i900 back in August 2008, and our two biggest complaints were the high price tag and lack of 3G. Verizon has taken care of both problems, and their version of the Omnia i910 retains just about everything we liked in the original version while adding EVDO Rev. A high speed data and a subsidized price. The Omnia features a 240 x 400 pixel touch screen with haptic feedback and an accelerometer, a fast CPU, 8 gigs of storage and a very good 5 megapixel autofocus camera. Top that off with WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS and you've got one heck of a smartphone.

Verizon

Jan. 2009

HTC Touch Pro for Verizon Third time's a charm? We've reviewed the Sprint Touch Pro, AT&T's version as the HTC Fuze and now Verizon's in the game with their own Touch Pro. Like the others, the Verizon Touch Pro features a VGA flush touch screen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and many high end trimmings: GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and a good 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus lens. It's certainly the slickest Windows Mobile device Verizon has offered, though it's missing some of the multimedia applications found on its cross-carrier competitors.

Verizon

Dec. 2008

Sony Ericsson Xperia It's finally here! Sony Ericsson's first Windows Mobile touch screen phone running their panels user interface. The pricey but feature-rich Xperia X1a is the US version sold at SonyStyle stores and it has US 3G on the AT&T bands. This quad band unlocked GSM world phone has an amazing 800 x 480 touch screen, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus lens, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and an FM radio. It's stylish metal body features a unique arc that fits the curve of one's hand. It certainly looks slick and classy enough for a Bond flick.

Unlocked GSM

Nov. 2008

LG Incite A new slate design touch screen Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional phone from AT&T. The Incite is something a little different from the world of HTC and Samsung touch screen PDA phones that have dominated this year. it's small and light, has a very sharp and bright 240 x 400 pixel display and a touch-customizations. We like the accelerometer and adore the proximity sensor (the iPhone isn't the only kid on the block with that feature now) that turns off the screen when the phone is against your face and turns it back on if you move the phone away. The Incite has a GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, an FM radio and a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus lens.

AT&T

Nov. 2008

HTC Touch HD HTC's counter to the iPhone sports some impressive specs including a 3.8" touch screen with a huge 480 x 800 resolution. The HD runs TouchFLO 3D, and is an elegant looking phone in terms of both hardware and software. Think of it as an HTC Touch Diamond with a super-sized display and a very impressive 5 megapixel camera tacked on the back. This is an unlocked GSM world phone that will work in the US, but 3G is overseas-only. It has the usual laundry list of high end features including Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with stereo A2DP, a GPS, music player and video with YouTube support.

Unlocked GSM

Nov. 2008

HTC Fuze The TouchFLO 3D invasion continues, and now we have AT&T's answer to the Sprint Touch Pro with the HTC Fuze. The Fuze has the same set of features, but the casing is classic GSM Diamond, with a gloss black faceted back and angular lines. The Fuze is a quad band GSM phone with triband 3G HSDPA for the US and overseas. It runs HTC's TouchFLO 3D UI on top of Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, and it has a wonderful VGA touch screen. Like the HTC Tilt it replaces, it has GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth with A2DP stereo too. The Fuze has a side-sliding QWERTY keyboard and support for email including push email, SMS and IM.

AT&T

Nov. 2008

HTC Touch Pro for Sprint Sprint's flagship PDA phone with a keyboard is a hard act to follow. The Touch Pro, like the Diamond, has a fantastic VGA flush touch screen with TouchFLO 3D reviving tired Windows Mobile's look and feel. The Pro has it all: GPS, Sprint TV, YouTube, email, serious web browsing with Opera, WiFi, Bluetooth with A2DP and an SDHC microSD card slot. It runs on a 528MHz processor with 288 megs of RAM and 512 megs of flash memory for storage. It sports a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, a 5 row slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Windows Mobile 6.1.

Sprint

Nov. 2008

Samsung Epix Think of it as the Samsung BlackJack II on steroids. The Epix i907 on AT&T is a 3G QWERTY bar Windows Mobile Professional phone with a 320 x 320 pixel flush touch screen. It has a fast 624MHz CPU, yet it's got very good battery life. There's plenty of memory on board along with WiFi, a strong GPS, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo and a 2 megapixel camera. It plays CV, AT&T's streaming media service, and comes with a nice bundle of Samsung applications. One of our Fall favorites.

AT&T

Oct, 2008

Palm Treo Pro It's been a while since the Treo 750 came out, and now we have Palm's successor, which loses the Treo 850 handle and instead goes under the name Treo Pro. The Treo Pro looks more like the Palm Centro, but it has Pro features inside: GPS, WiFi, 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR and a 400MHz processor. No US carrier has picked up the Treo, so it's sold as an unlocked GSM phone with no contract in tow. The Treo runs Windows Mobile 6.1 and features a flush touch screen for easier access to the display.

Unlocked GSM

Sept. 2008

Windows Mobile Standard - Microsoft Smartphone

HTC Snap Three out of four major US carriers now offer a version of this phone, but Sprint's the one that stuck with HTC's original name. This Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone is slim, light and good looking. It has a landscape QVGA non-touch screen display and a roomy QWERTY keyboard. Sprint 3G EVDO Rev. A is on board, along with a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and a microSD card. If you like WinMo and dig QWERTY-bar phones, this one deserves a serious look.

Sprint

Aug. 2009

T-Mobile Dash 3G by HTC The Dash was an exceptionally popular Windows Mobile smartphone thanks to good looks, great ergonomics and a reasonable price. Things just got better with the Dash 3G: it upgrades wireless data to 3G HSDPA, has a GPS with TeleNav that also works with Google Maps and other mapping applications, a YouTube player, plenty of IM clients and an improved version of Internet Explorer Mobile. And it has a great QWERTY keyboard too!

T-Mobile

July 2009

Samsung Jack If you don't know Jack, it's worth getting to know him if you're the card carrying QWERTY-bar messaging type. This affordably priced Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard smartphone brings a new BlackBerry-esque look to the BlackJack line with more curves and an improved keyboard. The Samsung Jack is offered by AT&T and It's got a 528MHz CPU, 3G HSDPA for the US and Europe, a 3 megapixel camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and a QVGA non-touchscreen display. This review includes a video review.

AT&T

June 2009

Pantech Matrix Pro The successor to the Pantech Duo shows a great deal of improvement. The smart cousin to the Pantech Matrix feature phone on AT&T, the Matrix Pro runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard Edition and offers more robust email, syncing, web browsing and 3rd party application expandability. This QVGA non-touch screen phone features a dual slider: one for the number pad and another for the full QWERTY keyboard. It has 3G, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2 megapixel camera and a good GPS.

AT&T

Feb. 2009

T-Mobile Shadow 2 T-Mobile simply calls this Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone the "new Shadow". It's feature set is nearly identical to the original Shadow by HTC but the casing and design are all new. Also new is UMA WiFi calling for unlimited domestic calls over WiFi if you add T-Mobile @Home service. The Shadow 2 features a slide-down SureType 20 key keyboard with predictive text, a QVGA display, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo and WiFi. It's a quad band GSM world phone with EDGE for data and it's available exclusively on T-Mobile.

T-Mobile

Feb. 2009

HTC S740 / HTC S743 This is a video review of HTC's sexy Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone that takes the reigns from the HTC S710. It looks like a normal candybar phone, but it hides a roomy side-sliding full QWERTY keyboard. It resembles the overseas GSM HTC Touch Pro and HTC Fuze but it's much narrower, though taller. It's ripe with features including a 528MHz CPU, 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR. The S740 has Euro 3G HSDPA while the HTC S743 has US 3G HSDPA on AT&T's bands. The S740 and S743 are unlocked GSM world phones.

Unlocked GSM

Dec. 2008

Motorola Q9c The Moto Q9m is reborn on Verizon as the Motorola Q9c. The Q9c leaves out access to the Verizon music store, but adds a GPS that works with VZ Navigator. The Moto is a CDMA phone with EVDO rev. 0 for fast data and it runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition. Other than the GPS, the Q9c is similar to the model it replaces: it has an excellent QWERTY keyboard, a MiniSD card slot, a 312MHz processor and a 1.3 megapixel camera.

Verizon

July 2008

Samsung Ace (SPH-i325) The Samsung BlackJack comes to Sprint as the Ace. This a both a Sprint CDMA phone and a GSM world phone. The GSM works only overseas, not on US bands, so get this phone if you're a Sprint customer with world roaming needs, not because you wish to use GSM in the US. The Ace is a super-slim Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition smartphone with a front-facing QWERTY thumb keyboard and a landscape QVGA display. It runs on a responsive XScale 312MHz processor and has a microSD card slot for expansion. The Samsung Ace has a 1.3 megapixel camera that takes above average photos, EVDO for data and it supports Sprint TV. Sorry, no WiFi or GPS here.

Sprint

March 2008

Verizon SMT5800 Verizon is the first US carrier to get HTC's candy bar side-slider Windows Mobile 6 smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard. The SMT5800 is the CDMA cousin to the GSM HTC S710 and HTC S730, and it shares their good looks and quality build. The smartphone has EVDO rev.0 for fast data, a sharp QVGA display that works in both portrait and landscape modes and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard plus front number pad. Though not thin, the SMT5800 is both very compact and light-- worlds smaller than the Samsung i760 and XV6800 on Verizon.

Verizon

Jan. 2008

Pantech Duo The first 2-way slider Windows Mobile smartphone to hit the US, the Duo pays homage to its distant relative the Helio Ocean. The Duo is one of the smallest Windows Mobile 6 smartphones on the planet, if not the smallest. Though by no means thin, it's small in every other way and weighs only 3.9 ounces. AT&T offers the Duo which features HSDPA for the US, quad band GSM and support for CV streaming video, XM radio and MP3 playback. It's got a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 1.2 and a 416MHz processor. With both QWERTY and number pad sliders, the Duo also has very good ergonomics.

AT&T

Jan. 2008

Samsung BlackJack II The follow-up to the extremely popular Samsung BlackJack for 2008 doesn't mess too much with a good thing. The II keeps the original version's excellent slim form factor and light weight while adding a GPS, more memory, a 2 megapixel camera that takes much better shots, Windows Mobile 6 and a wee bit larger display. The BlackJack II is offered by AT&T in the US and it's a quad band GSM phone with EDGE and triband 3G HSDPA. It has MS Direct Push email support, a microSD card slot that's compatible with high capacity cards and CV streaming video service along with XM Radio.

AT&T

Jan. 2008

 

 

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Source: Windows Phone Reviews

DigitalGenius raises $14.75 million Series A for AI-based customer service solution

When DigitalGenius participated in the TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield competition in New York City in 2015, there weren't a lot of companies working on AI and machine learning. Today, it's become much more commonplace, and the company announced a $14.75 million Series A.

Global Founders Capital led the round. MMC Ventures, Paua Ventures and several other unnamed new investors also participated They also got help from previous investors Salesforce Ventures, Runa Capital, RRE Ventures, Lumia Capital, Compound and Lerer Hippeau Ventures. Today's investment brings the total to $26 million, according to the company.

DigitalGenius may have been ahead of its time, but the market is finally catching up. Company president and chief strategy officer Mikhail Naumov says the startup has been growing in leaps and bounds going from just two customers last year to 30 this year.

Customers include KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Unilever, Eurostar and Soylent. Just this year, the company landed its first government customer, which hopes to use DigitalGenius to improve its citizen outreach.

The product uses machine learning and natural language processing to build a lexicon of common customer service interactions for each business using old text and email interactions as training material. In this way, it learns typical kinds of questions and can begin to build reasonable responses.

But DigitalGenius doesn't see the technology as the be all and end all here. A customer service representative can work with DigitalGenius technology to form a human-technology team. The technology can take the interaction as far as possible before passing off to a human or it can work with the human in the customer service software, offering responses and allowing the CSR to customize the response before sending the email or text.

The company, which has offices in the US and London, wants to use the new capital infusion to expand further. Naumov says the company has hired a chief revenue and they want to grow the number of employees from 60 by around 30-50 percent in the coming year. The exact number will depend on how well they continue to grow, he said.

Source: DigitalGenius raises $14.75 million Series A for AI-based customer service solution

How to scan old photos on your Windows 10 Mobile phone

Published by Steve Litchfield at 8:10 UTC, December 19th 2017

Now that most of us have been firmly in the digital photography domain for well over a decade, old paper prints are quite a long way in our rear view mirror. Yet, when we do go through old albums (say, pre-2005) which of us hasn't wanted to quickly get favourite snaps in digital form, to be preserved and shared? Here are some tips for doing this with your Lumia or other Windows 10 Mobile phone.

If there's a resurgence in doing this, by the way, it's because Google recently released and has started to promote a utility called 'Photo Scan'. Actually quite clever, this leads a user through taking four photos of the same print from slightly different viewpoints and then the software auto-magically combines these to good effect.

Of you could just use a phone with a decent camera in the first place, along with a little expertise. Which is where this feature comes in.

From the late 1950's, an action snap of my parents' wedding, captured here on my Lumia 1020. Note the grain of the physical print, but still a candid moment!

The scenario then. You have an old photo, often in an album, and you're struck by how many memories it brings back. Not just an old snap, this is worthy of a little effort by you in order to try and make it 'digital' and thus trivially copied and backed up. Here's what to do (and I've done it multiple times, so I'm speaking from experience):

1. Isolate the photo, if needed

If in a physical photo album then take it out from whatever corner or plastic layers are holding it in place. Don't just be lazy and try to snap it in situ.

2. Place the photo in a flat, well lit place, ideally daylight

Suitable places include a carpet next to french windows or a wide window ledge. Try to find the side of your house that's brightest, depending on the season and where the sun is in the sky. However, avoid direct sunlight, since that will introduce contrast and colour balance issues. So if the sun is streaming in, find a flat spot just out of direct sunlight. If you're forced into doing this at night, try a kitchen or office with fluorescent (strip) light, since this is whiter and less 'yellow'.

3. Set up your phone

Take your Lumia 950 XL or 950 (ideally, though lesser phone cameras may also be sufficient) and head into Camera as usual. Set it at a lower/oversampled resolution if applicable, since the actual printed resolution of the print will be a lot lower than that of your camera sensor, so it makes no sense to shoot in a high resolution mode. On the 950 range you then also get extra purity per pixel etc.

4. Positioning

With the photo flat and well lit, position your phone camera in the right aspect ratio (portrait/landscape) and with the centre of the camera over the centre of the photo. Make sure to get the whole snap in frame and double-check that the photo is properly focussed. You don't need to try and get super-close, it's OK to have some carpet or window ledge either side of the photo - you're going to be cropping the photo anyway and if you get too close then extra optical 'macro' distortion may be an issue.

5. Avoid glare and reflections

Now, this is vitally important - as you take the photo, watch out for reflections and glare - these are often an issue with modern 'gloss' prints. If glare is an issue then you may find that changing your shooting angle, even by a couple of degrees, will fix things. Or perhaps move the print slightly as well.

6. Crop

With the print now snapped, wait a few seconds for any post-processing in Windows 10 Camera and then tap on the 'Edit' tool. Crop the photo down as needed (usually to its original boundaries). Don't worry about the drop in resolution - whatever you do, the limiting factor on quality will be the original (e.g. 6" x 4") print, not the resolution of your phone-shot photo. 

7. Enhance

Once cropped, you'll usually find that extra contrast and saturation will help, especially if the original print had perhaps faded. If on a Lumia then you may well have Lumia Creative Studio built in and this is ideal to tweak an image, keeping the resolution. If on a non-Lumia, then a utility like Tapershot can help.

Another example from that wedding, here for a more formal shot. Given that the original photo was taken almost 60 years ago on goodness knows what camera hardware, this came out pretty well. 

The process can take a couple of minutes per print if you're taking care, which is why many people don't bother if they have dozens of prints and farm the process out to a specialist shop. But if its just a few photos and you're encountering them on-the-fly (for example, at a relative's house) then being able to press your smartphone into service as a makeshift photo lab is a very useful option.

PS. You don't have to go back as far, many of us have decent colour prints from the 1980s and 1990s, of course. Or perhaps you can give examples, snapped on Windows Phones, from much earlier? Anyone got a good example of a Lumia-shot print pre-World War 2?

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