Just a very quick progress report this week.
We�re now scheduling the February and March updates for the HTC Surround on AT&T and for customers of Deutsche Telekom in Europe. We�re also scheduling the March update for Optus customers in Australia. Where�s my phone update? has the latest status.
We understand there�s still more to do. We�re not resting until we get this done globally.
Remember to visit Update Central for step-by-step installation instructions, troubleshooting steps for common errors, and other updated-related info.
Eric Hautala, GM, Customer Experience Engineering
[This is the first in an occasional series of tips and tricks from the engineers who create Windows Phone.-ed]
One question I frequently get from people when they learn I work on Windows Phone is, �What�s your favorite feature?�
I have many, but since I work specifically on Internet Explorer Mobile, today I thought I�d share a few of my favorite browser tips. None of these are hidden, exactly. But people are often happily surprised when I point them out.
You probably already know you can pin things to your phone�s Start screen, including a shortcut to the web page you�re viewing. But did you know you can customize these shortcut tiles, too?
Personally, I like to zoom in on a site�s logo so it�s easier to see at a glance. Some of my friends use this trick as a way to decorate their Start screen�for example, positioning a web page so certain colors or pictures show up more prominently in the shortcut tile. Here�s how to do it.
First, browse to the site you want to pin (left), then use your fingers to zoom in or reposition the page to the part you want to show up in the shortcut tile (right).
Tap More (�) and then tap pin to start. Your shortcut tile appears on the Start screen.
Recently I was browsing a news article on my phone that mentioned a trail I�d never heard of before. I could have tapped the Search button, and then typed the name into the Bing search box.
But there�s a faster way to look up new or unfamiliar terms. Just tap a word to highlight it (left), then press the Search button on your phone to find out more with Bing.
Once your phone has been updated to include the copy and paste feature, you can also highlight and search for phrases. Here�s one final time-saving trick. The browser address bar also doubles as a search box. When you want to find something, just tap inside the address bar, type a keyword, and hit Enter.
Have you ever used your phone to visit a site, only to discover it looks different from what you�re used to seeing on your desktop PC?
Many popular sites detect when someone is browsing on a phone and serve up a mobile-optimized version of the site in response. Some people prefer these sites because they can load faster and require less zooming and panning to read on a smaller screen. (You can see the difference between Amazon�s mobile-optimized site and its standard site below.)
But sometimes you might want to see the desktop version of a site on your phone, because it has content the mobile version lacks, or just because you prefer it. Some sites provide a link to switch between the mobile and desktop versions. But Internet Explorer Mobile offers another option. In Settings>Internet Explorer, look for Website preference, then just tap the type of site you prefer to see.
Li-Juan Qin, Senior Program Manager, Windows Phone Engineering
Deal hunters rejoice: the official Groupon app for Windows Phone arrived today in Marketplace. Nab nearby deals, see what Groupons you�ve picked up, and redeem them electronically. The app, natch, is free. Download Groupon from Marketplace
Yo, it�s hammer time. Groupon wasn�t the only brand-name arrival this week. Yesterday, the official Home Depot app landed. Find the closest store�or research and buy more than 100,000 products directly from within the app. Download Home Depot from Marketplace
Happy Friday! Windows Phone Radio number 24 is ready for download in Zune Marketplace, iTunes and direct from the Web here. This week we talk about the latest on phone updates, the recent Nokia deal, our awesome contest results and a gaggle of other topics. Thanks for listening and enjoy!
Here are the winning contest entries:
@TheCheeseManCan � Entry
@MasterDevwi � Entry
@DataQ - Entry
Many of you may have already seen the news announced earlier this morning, Nokia and Microsoft signed the definitive agreement for a strategic partnership between the two companies. You can get more information on this announcement from a joint blog post by Kai Oistamo, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Nokia and Andy Lees, president of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business. You can also head to the Microsoft Press Center to see the press release, or you can watch this video with Waldemar Sakalus from Nokia and Matt Bencke from Microsoft.