Original Kin series features Microsoft Kin

1 original kin series features

1.1 social networking
1.2 spot
1.3 cloud storage
1.4 camera
1.5 media playback
1.6 applications
1.7 missing features
1.8 network charges
1.9 relationship windows phone

original kin series features

microsoft described kin devices social phones , straddling feature phone , smartphone markets, emphasis on social networking , sharing of content, without downloadable apps or games.

social networking

the home screen on kin called loop, , served aggregator social networking connections facebook, twitter, windows live, , myspace web content web feeds.

commentators noted loop s 15-minute delay updates, cnet s ina fried described odd . pc world argued delay @ odds microsoft s claim phone always-connected . users not adjust interval, although updates manually triggered on-screen refresh button, or locking unlocking phone. microsoft cited battery life , immature social networking apis reasons delay; engadget speculated microsoft may have been using delayed messaging encourage verizon offer lower-priced data plans, attractive platform s teenage target audience.

kin did not support uploading photos or videos twitter. retweets, direct messages, viewing single person updates, , opening twitter links loop not supported.

spot

spot feature allowed users add e-mail address or telephone number sms or mms, or attach content (e.g., text, urls or photos) emails.

the spot represented omnipresent colored dot near bottom center of screen. add address field, user dragged recipient s photo spot, clicked on spot, opening page allowed user create new email, sms or mms.

the spot used set e-mail attachments, user dragging content spot, dragged recipient s photo spot, after email sent containing attachments. however, kin did not support attachments non-e-mail media such mms , not used send content social media sites.

cloud storage

content kin phone, such photos, videos , messages, automatically synchronized cloud service called kin studio, , accessible via browser on other devices. kin studio website written in silverlight , appearance similar kin ui, including spot sharing content. kin studio shut down in january 2011.

camera

the kin 2 included 8 megapixel camera.

the kin 1 had five-megapixel camera standard-definition video recording capabilities. kin 2 included eight-megapixel camera 720p video recording. photos automatically geocoded on original phones, feature disabled on m phones. there no photo editing software kin.

media playback

for media, kin devices synced zune desktop software. in addition, phones compatible zune pass. contemporaneous zune devices, kin phones stream music on wifi connection in addition 3g on carrier s network. mac users, microsoft in collaboration mark/space provided media syncing tool pulled audio , video files itunes , photos iphoto. kin did not support playing video sites such youtube or hulu, although devices watch youtube videos browser through wifi or 3g.

applications

kin had no app store , no third-party apps installed on phones. pc world described baffling . further, web browser did not support flash web applications, , there no games phones. microsoft had stated intention merge kin , windows phone platforms, downloadable apps being available combined platform.

missing features

reviewers highlighted number of notable omissions kin s initial feature set:

contact lists copied phone verizon store employees. there no way consumer known means (over air, via memory or sim card, wirelessly via bluetooth , vcard, or via direct usb cable connection).
kin had no calendar or appointment application, nor ability sync outlook calendar or google calendar. commentators suggested social phone should able share social events calendar.
kin unable instant message (im), or use im client, considered odd phone built messaging , aimed @ youth market. discovered rom inside phones contained foundation im system supporting aol instant messenger, windows live messenger, , yahoo! messenger, never made operational. speculated future revisions of software have enabled instant messaging.
there no spelling correction or predictive text input.

network charges

in united states, cellular telephone provider verizon wireless sold kin phones voice plan starting @ $39.99 per month. optional zune pass cost $14.99 per month music access.

after kin.com website discontinued in january 2011, original kin 1 , kin 2 did not require data plan, although optional zune pass still available.

relationship windows phone

the microsoft kin has been described close cousin windows phone, shared user interface characteristics. according microsoft:

both kin , windows phone share common os components, software , services. seek align around single platform both products consistent hardware specifications.

microsoft said underlying fundamentals of kin , windows phone held similar core technologies. both operating systems ran same silverlight platform, microsoft s stated intention being merge windows phone kin.