Microsoft has officially announced that the next skin point release for their handheld operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5, will launch on Oct. 6 and include App Store Windows Marketplace for Mobile (catchy!) and MobileMe MyPhone services. WMExperts asks the impertinent question:

Will Windows Mobile 6.5 be available for any phones on that date? Will we see new phones released with WinMo 6.5?

We shrug in sympathy. Typically it takes a while to go from release to manufacturers to release to consumers. What benefits the split platform strategy has in consumer choice, it lacks in speed to consumer market.

When it does arrive, WinMo 6.5 will support both physical and virtual keyboards, no-touch and touch screens (resistive only?!), GPS, accelerometer, high res cameras, and likely spinning, multihued beechball wheels of wait (our Macs sympathize).

That the same company can ship the Zune HD before Windows Mobile 6.5, however, still puzzles us. That they’re arguably shipping both years too late to be competitive… well, that just frustrates us no end.

Throw a couple billion at Windows Mobile 7, would you please, and get her out asap?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

The Competition: Windows Mobile 6.5 Launches Oct. 6

Rockstar Games announced yesterday that it will be porting one of their most popular games over to the iPhone platform. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will make its iPhone debut sometime before the year is over (price still to be determined).

This is simply more verification that Apple’s iPhone OS can pull its weight in the handheld gaming wars. If you can’t wait until GTA’s release, Gangstar: West Coast Hustle from Gameloft [iTunes Link] should be good enough to hold you over.

According to Rockstar, screen shots will be coming soon but until then feel free to take a look some Sony PSP images after the break.

[Via Rockstar Games]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Grand Theft Auto Coming Soon to iPhone/iPod Touch

Learn that Name for the iPhone, coming soon to the iTunes App Store for $2.99, beat out 14 other apps and walked away with top honour at the Startup Weekend’s 54-hour coding marathon. Oh, and did we mention the event was sponsored by Microsoft, held on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, and was the only app NOT built on Microsoft’s platform.

Said organizer Clint Nelson upon naming the top vote getter:

“Awkward.”

Yeah, that’ll do it.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone App “Learn that Name” Wins at Microsoft-Sponsored Event — Awkward!

Apple went ahead and gave the green flag for the music streaming service Spotify, whose biggest selling point is the fact you can create playlists in a free desktop app, and then listen to those playlists via your iPhone at any point in time, with or without a data connection. Apple told the developer:

"The current status as of right now is it's been approved, and we hope to add the app to the more than 65,000 apps on the app store very soon, We've been in constant communication working with the developer and have already notified Spotify that the app will be in the app store very soon."

The good news is Apple approving this application for iPhone owners. The bad news being it is currently only available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Britain, France and Spain. The weird news is that we still don’t see it actually in the App Store in those countries?

Spotify’s popularity has grown to over 2 million subscribers in Britain and they hope to have their service available here in the US before the end of the year. Perhaps this approved iPhone app will help things move along quicker. Music lovers can only hope.

Would any of our readers be ready to lay down their hard earned money for a service such as Spotify?

[Via Wired]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Approves Spotify for iPhone

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard does indeed have some “refinements and enhancements” for the iPhone, namely a brand spanking new iPhone logo in System Preferences > Network when you’re tethered via the iPhone.

Yeah, okay, we know — AT&T users need do nothing but raise their fists and yell out a “KAAAAAAHHHHHHNNNN!” like scream at the gaping lack of functionality they’re still enduring. But at least you can take the smallest, most infinitesimal comforts in knowing that — if you’re a Mac — you’ll get a spiffy new icon to go with your no doubt exorbitantly overcharged tethering option.

If it ever becomes available.

[Via jpcaine]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Snow Leopard Shows iPhone Love… For Tethering!