Camera on Windows Phone 7 platform allegedly tracks users’ location

A lawsuit was filed against Microsoft in a Seattle federal court. Allegedly, their Windows Phone 7 handsets tracked users’ locations when the camera application was activated. The complainants even suggest that WP7 handsets continue to track locations, despite users asking to terminate the tracking software.

This could do a lot of damage to the operating system. Since Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are constantly growing in popularity, this could get in the way of Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform in gaining a foothold on the market.

The complainant is an actual Windows Phone 7 handset user. This individual claims that accurate longitude and latitude is broadcasted every time the camera application is turned on.

In the past, Apple was in a similar situation. The Cupertino firm was also tracking locations, which was uncovered by two developers. These developers uncovered the use of location storage files on iPhones. Apple was quick to respond by saying that the files were used to assist the iPhone locate hotspots and cell towers.

If proven guilty, this could mean Microsoft was gathering phone locations for marketing purposes, which, according to former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Android is already doing.

Of course, Microsoft is refusing to comment. We’ll keep you posted once we know more.

Tags: lawsuit against Microsoft, windows phone 7, Windows Phone 7 camera application, Windows Phone 7 location tracker, WP7 camera application, WP7 location tracker
Category App News |

Xbox Live games making their way to Windows Phone 7 handsets

Microsoft has just announced that a number of game titles on the Xbox Live marketplace will be making their way to their Windows Phone 7 smartphones in a few months’ time.

On a gaming event held in Cologne, Germany, GamesCom, Microsoft announced that its Windows Phone 7 handsets would be getting games such as Splinter Cell: Conviction, Burn The Rope, and Kinectimals. Aside from more games, there are also a number of additional features that have been added to the service. These are a selection of clothes for Xbox Live avatars, purchasable game add-ons, and a parental lock for mature game content.

With the ever-growing popularity of mobile gaming on the Android Market and the Apple App Store, handheld gaming platforms from Sony and Nintendo are losing their grip on gaming markets. With Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 smartphones claiming their cut of the pie, console gaming might be a thing of the past.

The once pricey Nintendo 3DS had to cut its price down to half in the attempt to cope with the cheaper games across app offerings. The Sony PlayStation Vita is scheduled to make an appearance early in 2012. However, we’re not sure if it will be a hit with the cheaper games on the Android Market, the Apple App Store, and now Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 handsets.

Tags: Microsoft, windows phone 7, Windows Phone platform, WP7, Xbox Live, Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 handsets
Category App News |

Did Nokia bet on the wrong horse and should have gone with Android instead?

In the 2^nd financial quarter of 2011, the Finnish phone giant Nokia shipped a whopping 97.9 million devices. You may think that Nokia generated revenues with this massive shipment, but, in truth, it actually lost massive market shares.

Stephen Elop, Nokia CEO, said that “we took action in China and Europe to address an inventory build-up that occurred in the first quarter of 2011.” By definition, an inventory build-up refers to an excessive amount of products in stock, but no actual buyers.

According to technology research firm, Gartner, true, more and more people are buying smartphones. However, we’re not buying Nokia, and the figures are proof of that. In 2010, Nokia held 40.9% of the mobile phone market share. This year, their cut of the pie fell to 22.1%. In 2010, the Android OS only managed to grab 17.2% of market shares. This year, Android now holds 43.4% of shares. The iOS sits still at 18.1%. The Windows Phone platform’s market share isn’t worth mentioning.

These figures are proof enough of Android’s success. There are some analysts who believe that the Windows Phone platform will make a rally with their Mango iteration. However, this remains to be seen.

If Nokia took on Android, then they would have been anything but ailing. It is questionable whether the Finnish phone manufacturer would be as successful as HTC or Samsung, but at least their market shares wouldn’t be spiraling down.

Then again, this is Nokia we’re talking about. They’ve been in the industry for so long that they still have a number of tricks up their sleeve. There’s no way of telling how successful they would have been if ever they chose to go with Android.

It’s questionable if Nokia’s choice to go with Microsoft would grab back lost glory. Is it too late for Nokia, or is the fat lady still singing? Let us know what you think.

Tags: Android, Android Nokia, Microsoft, Nokia, Nokia Windows Phone handsets, windows phone 7, Windows Phone Mango
Category OS News |