Nokia Drive hacked, takes trip abroad to rival Windows Phones

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While we knew that Nokia Maps would be arriving on the full range of Windows Phone devices, Nokia indicated that its Drive voice navigation feature would stay an Espoo hardware exclusive. Alas, it seems that enthusiastic WinPho meddlers had other ideas, already managing to transplant the Lumia series' voice navigation functionality to Samsung's Omnia 7 -- and presumably any other handsets they'd like. No video proof's been unearthed just yet, but it looks like Nokia's first foray into a shared OS may require a tougher software lock-down.

Microsoft-approved Windows Phone 7 unlocker goes live

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Let the great Windows Phone 7 unlocking begin! ChevronWP7, the Microsoft-sanctioned Windows Phone unlocker, went live today. The project is aimed at "hobbyist developers," giving owners of WP7 handsets the ability to run and test unsigned apps on their phones. Interested parties need a Windows Live ID and $9 to sign up -- that price'll give you unlimited unlocks on a single phone. You can grab more info and an unlock token at the source link below.

T-Mobile Samsung Omnia 7 I8700XXKH2 ROM

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SamFirmware has released two unofficial ROMs for the Samsung Omnia 7, one for NoDo and the other for Mango. Check out the listed known features in this post for more info and remember that you flash your Windows Phone at your own risk.

Firmware: I8700XXKD1. (NoDo)
Filesize: 196+/- MB (.rar file)
XX = Europe
K = 2011
D = April
1 = Version
Firmware: I8700XXKH2. (Mango)
Filesize: 355+/- MB (.rar file)
XX = Europe
K = 2011
H = August
2 = Version

Darks Forces Team releases Mango 7713 Custom ROM for HTC Windows Phones

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Last weekend was the release of DFT's HSPL/RSPL tools, tools which would enable one to begin the process of making a custom ROM for their HTC Windows Phone (first generation, except for the Sprint Arrive and Verizon Trophy). A few days later, we had a custom ROM for the HD7. Flash forward to today and DFT have released their "Freedom ROM" featuring Mango build 7713 (that's one more than 7712 which developers got, but still not the RTM'd 7720).

The ROMs are ChevronWP7 unlocked, lack carrier customizations but do include your standard HTC apps. Other than that, we're talking a pretty straight port with no other discernible difference. Still, this is more about a proof-of-concept and a first step than anything else and for that, impressive.

Using Windows Phone Device As USB Storage Device

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As you all know we can’t use Windows Phone devices for USB storage. You need Zune client for simple photo or music transfer. The same case goes for Zune HD too, but there are couple of registry hacks which would enable us to use them as USB device. There is no working solution for this problem currently for Windows phones. Den Delimarsky, a Microsoft stack developer from dzone has developed a hack which would enable USB storage file storage on Windows Phones.

ChevronWP7 Labs to unlock your Windows Phone 7 handset for $9, hackers not welcome

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Need a little extra unlocked WP7 incentive to keep you from buying those oh-so-distracting iOS and Android devices? Well, that official homebrew love is going to cost you -- $9 to be exact. We already knew the Microsoft-sanctioned ChevronWP7 Labs would be open for business soon, but recent tweets from the jailbreaking outfit's Chris Walsh have shed a little more light on the process. In addition to the nominal fee users will have to fork over for the official unlock, Walsh also points out that software updates to Mango and Nodo will close any security holes in the platform.

WP7 to feature Gameboy emulator [Homebrew]

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You could well have Pikachu following Ash around Pallet Town soon enough with the actively developed project Wario's Jewels 7 (WJ7), the first Windows Phone 7 Gameboy emulator. XDA Developers Forum member Badcam3 is collaborating with other developers including Samuel Blanchard to turn this idea into reality.

We know Microsoft doesn't play ball with emulators in the Marketplace (for a good number of reasons), but this is the first sign of light for the homebrew community. To find out more information, check the link below or follow the team on Twitter. The video below shows how you can create your game lists.

ChevronWP7 Labs will jailbreak your Windows Phone with Microsoft's approval

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Microsoft just earned itself a boatload of geek-cred and made Apple and Sony look pretty bad in the process. We knew the Windows Phone team was playing nice with the jailbreakers from ChevronWP7, but we didn't realize just how cozy the two were going to get. Today the devs announced that ChevronWP7 Labs would open up soon, with the approval of Redmond, allowing users to load homebrew apps on their handsets. Unlike tools from the iPhone Dev Team, this service won't be free.

Walsh update fix tool approved

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We've been covering the "Walshed" device situation where attempting to install the May security update failed for many users who used the work around to receive NoDo using the Chevronwp7.updater. A while back Chris posted on his blog that a fix was being approved by Microsoft. This tool has now been released and is available on his blog.

Microsoft stops spying in Windows Phone 7

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Not that it ever did

Software giant Microsoft has changed its software on Windows Phone 7 handsets so that it strips identifiers from location software.

Although Redmond insists it never used the data to track users movements, cynics of things Microsoft might say “yeah right”. Writing in his bog. Windows Phone chief Andy Lees said the data Microsoft collected from the smartphones was for identifying local "landmarks" such as Wi-Fi access points and mobile base stations.

Microsoft Validating Fix Made By Chevron To Fix Stuck Phones

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Microsoft is allegedly working on validating a fix, according to a tweet, for Windows Phones that are stuck and can't receive new updated due to the ChevronWP7.Updater used to force the update to NoDo.

To refresh your memory, Chris Walsh of the Chevron Team wrote a custom homebrew updater which helped install the latest ROM to Windows Phones. Following that, Microsoft seriously warned about using this method and Chris Walsh pulled the ChevronWP7.Updater with Microsoft officially explaining the risks of using it.

ChevronWP7-Updated Phones Will Not Get Updates Past NoDo

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Plenty of Windows Phone 7 owners were feeling a little bit let down after watching all the happy WP7 users in Europe get their NoDo updates, while those stuck on carriers in the States waited it out. Then, like a miracle, Chris Walsh released his ChevronWP7.Updater, forcing NoDo upon phones, carriers be damned. Microsoft started freaking out, warning that anyone using the tool was in for trouble later down the road, and it was swiftly pulled. Now we have a better understanding of what Microsoft was warning us about, as the company's revealed that phones which used the tool won't updated past NoDo.

Hacked the NoDo update and think you're safe? Think again

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Back amongst the chaos of complaints, rants, tantrums and media surrounding the NoDo update process, Chris Walsh released a tool that forces a Windows Phone 7 device to update to NoDo - this hack was later regarded as a life-saver for all users who were impatiently awaiting the update notification.

Since then, there have been numerous reports and articles suggesting the tool (if used to forcefully update your handset) could cause problems down the road with future updates from Microsoft.

Microsoft warns against homebrew on Windows Phone 7

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Makes you go blind

Software giant Microsoft has warned against using "homebrew solutions" to force an upgrade for Windows Phone 7 devices. Writing in his blog, Eric Hautala said that as an engineer and a gadget lover, he totally understood the impulse to tinker, but in this case his strong advice was to wait.

Microsoft is currently rolling out an upgrade to Windows Phone 7 devices that will bring features like cut and paste functionality. The two-part update started in late March. The first one updates the device registry, while the second update adds the meatier features like cut and paste, improved marketplace search, a fix for increased data consumption related to Yahoo Mail, and different background images while connected to Wi-Fi.

HTC 7 Pro (Europe) 'NoDo' ROM leaked on XDA

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Although the Sprint HTC Arrive (aka CDMA 7 Pro) comes with 'NoDo' built in, thankfully avoiding any needed "updates", the European 7 Pro which came out a a few months ago, obviously does not.

Keeping up with the unlocked HD7, Trophy and Mozart leaked ROMs, the 7 Pro evidently now has it as well. According to forum member Football (who hails from Moscow and seems to have a solid rep at XDA), this ROM version has a filename of:

RUU_Gold_HTC_Europe_1.24.401.01_Radio_5.64.09.20_2 2.42.50.15_Signed

HTC YouTube app hacked for all [Homebrew]

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Although we've seen quite a few OEM apps ripped from their exclusive hardware (see Samsung, LG) there was one HTC app that proved extremely difficult: YouTube HD.

The app had unique tie ins to the hardware and some real custom programming that made ripping a functional app impossible. However, it has finally been done by Tom Hounsell, who's been very big on the XDA seen and led the charge on making these apps available for all (who have a developer unlocked device).

Kinect hackers give us iOS-friendly dodgeball and Human Tetris

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Remember that Microsoft Rally Ball demo from a few days ago that showed Windows Phone 7's integration with Xbox? Well, the gang at Supertouch has stolen a bit of Ballmer's thunder with a new Kinect hack that lets you hurl digital orbs at your Kinect-controlling friend using an iOS device instead of a WP7 handset.

Samsung Focus Registry Hack Increases Speed, Fixes Issues

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As anyone who has looked into upgrading their Windows Phone 7 device's MicroSD card has discovered, Microsoft did not intend for these cards to be removed or swapped out until WP7-certified cards have been released. Those who tried anyway ran into a range of issues such as rebooting, data loss, and poor performance.