Home › News ›

Microsoft Unveils Kin Social Networking Platform

Apr 12, 2010, 12:05 PM by Eric M. Zeman
updated Apr 12, 2010, 12:06 PM

Today at an event in San Francisco, Microsoft showed off two new handsets that will be sold under the new "Kin" brand. Both phones run the same platform that shares its base DNA with Windows Phone 7. It is based entirely on Silverlight and uses many of the same web technologies seen in Windows Phone 7, including the browser and media software. Kin is aimed squarely at heavy social network users, and features a graphical user interface meant to make sharing via Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace as easy as possible. It uses a central icon called a "Loop" that lets users drag-and-drop content and feeds into the Loop for sharing via social networks. Kin has deep integration with Zune, and users will be able to search for and download music from the Zune market. Kin is also supported with a browser-based dashboard for interacting with and controlling user content. All user content is automatically synced with the browser-based client, including music, phones, contacts, pictures, videos, messages and feeds. The service will be free to use with the phones. Other features supported by Kin include email, MMS, SMS, and video capture. IM is not supported, according to Microsoft. Microsoft called Kin "the next chapter in the Windows Mobile story", but the way Kin works is different from Windows Phone 7, and is more for consumers than for business users.

Related

Samsung Refreshes Galaxy S Series with S Pen, New Cameras

Feb 9, 2022
Samsung today announced its lineup of flagship phones for 2022: the Galaxy S22 series. The top-end S22 Ultra sees the biggest changes as it essentially absorbs Samsung's Note series with an integrated S Pen stylus and a more Note-like shape and design, instead of the Contour Cut design of the other models.

Google Teases Pixel 7 Series, Pixel Watch

May 11, 2022
At its I/O developer event today, Google gave the world a teasing glimpse of its forthcoming Pixel 7 phones and all-new Pixel Watch, both coming this fall. The new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will feature an evolution of the Pixel 6 design that includes a 100% recycled aluminum frame that wraps uninterrupted around the sides and across the camera bar.

Samsung Refines its Foldable Phones

Aug 10, 2022
Samsung has announced its newest generation of foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4. Both have similar designs and features compared to their predecessors, with a slew of small updates and refinements across the board.

iPhone 14 Plus Offers a Big Screen For Less

Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.