Hack to Force Nodo Update

One of our readers Mike, found this on the Intertubes:

If you are still waiting, here is how to force the update as per http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1015131
1. Start Zune
2. Turn off Data connection and Wifi on the Phone  Simply turn airplane mode on
3. Connect the Phone with the PC (USB)
4. Start the update search in Zune
5. About 3 seconds later, disconnect your PC from the internet (Turn WLAN off).
6. Zune finds NoDo-Update. Press Update.
7. Connect to the internet again and install the update.

Thanks Mike!

I am trying this myself but I think I couldn't get the timing of #5 to work

Over at WPCentral, the success rate from the comments looks to be around 50%.  The disabling of WLAN from the Intertubes ranges from turning off WiFi on your laptop, yanking the WiFi dongle, yanking the network cable, and disabling the WiFi connection from Windows.

Couple things that you will need is that you must have the Feburary update (build 7008) and your carrier/phone update delivery status has to be in "Delivering Update" stage.

Feel free to share whether or not it works for you.  I'll continue to try..

Big Thank You to Mike again!  By the way, Mike has a branded Telus HTC Surround locked to Telus.

*Update* - finally got this hack to work this morning.  I have an SIM unlocked HTC Surround.  Also, you do not have to repeat all these steps.  If step #5 fails, just restart the update search (turn your WLAN on again) and repeat #4 and #5.  I have a wifi connection so I clicked up, move my mouse to the wireless connection icon in the system tray, click that open, click my wireless connection and click "Disconnect".  Did this a couple of times and it worked.  I tried pulling my wireless dongle yesterday and that didn't work for me at all.

Make sure you have enough harddrive space as I think Zune creates the backup on your C: drive.  Good luck to all!

ESPN ScoreCenter

Finally a major North American sports network has released a sports scores and news app for WP7. 

ESPN has finally released a pretty good sports scores and news app.  After my brief time with it, you can pick from A LOT of leagues around the world be it soccer, hockey, and even you guessed it, volleyball.

For Canadians, first thing I went through was of course to attempt to locate this football league we called "CFL" and lo-and-behold, it is missing.

It does load the scores pretty quickly (quicker than TheScore sports app), but my favourite feature with it is that you can pick and choose all your favourite teams.  Once you have done that, it has a view that shows only the scores for your favourite teams in one convenience page.  True "glance-n-go" feature.

It's pretty cool and it's free so go download it and check it out! 

I don't think we TSN is too far away from releasing their own app soon.  Last time ESPN ScoreCenter was released on the iPhone (when I had my iFone 3G), I think it was within a month before the TSN version appeared.

WP7 Nodo update chart... errr.. updated...

Fresh off the WP7 blog site.  All Canadian carriers are now in the process of delivering the Nodo update.

For our International readers, go here for your update status.  Looks like the majority of the global carriers are rolling out the update

For our U.S readers here is your status.  Some T-Mo customers has already seen the update.  Looks like AT&T would get the updates sometime in April

Rogers Nodo update available!

Some of the Samsung Focus users are starting to get their Nodo updates.  If you are using a SIM unlocked version, try plugging your phone into your Zune Desktop.  If you are on Rogers and your update is ready, you *should* get a notification.

I have to stress that patience is required at this moment as Microsoft is staggering their updates.  Don't be sad if you don't get the update right away, just know that the process as started and it will be your turn eventually.

This staggering update release strategy is interesting as some of you know that Nodo was actually released last week to the un-branded unlocked phones.  So far it's been pretty quiet which pretty much means the update for those guys were successful.

Only Bell is left.  If you have a Bell WP7 handset and have received the update, feel free to share.

Telus NoDo Available Now!

The future is indeed friendly.  One of my HTC Surround wielding wp7 friends has informed me that the Nodo update is rolling out from Telus.

I will have to wait till I head home tonight and check whether or not I am one of the lucky (or unlucky guinea pigs) for the update.

Either way, if you are brave enough to upgrade, plug your phone into Zune Desktop as soon as you can.  Otherwise, you can wait for my analysis after I do my update tonight.

It is possible that the update is also out for your LG Optimus 7 users.

I'll try to dig up more information for you Bell and Rogers handset users.  If you happen to be one and have received an update or have installed the update, drop a comment here so we can spread the goodness.

*Update 1* - No Nodo yet for me.  My friend however has successfully updated his HTC Surround.  Smooth process, no problems what-so-ever.  He was copying and pasting in front of me as if to taunt me, and showing off his MAC address (damn guy). App startup seems to be faster, game starts are waaaaaaayyy faster.  Browser speed is about the same.

The Canadian map search problem, remains as I was playing with his updated phone.

HTC Compass App now available!

In a previous post, I was bitching about how HTC and Samsung hasn't shown any love for their WP7 adopters like LG has.

At least for HTC, a new app has appear.  It's a compass app.. errr... yay (pretend high fives all around).  Still better than no love.

This Compass app is a bit more interesting than just showing off the compass inside your WP7 handset.  You can set a destination on a map (inside the app) and using the compass overlay, you can follow the pre-routed route, adjust your heading using the compass, and start walking.

It is FREE of course.  But unfortunately, it's only for HTC WP7 handsets.

Last I checked it hasn't showed up on the HTC Hub yet.  But you can go to the Marketplace on your HTC handset, search for "HTC" and you will find this compass app.  (Obviously you cannot find this on your Zune Desktop as it is DRM to HTC).

Contest for Canadian App Developers

If you are a WP7 app developer in Canada, Microsoft is currently having a contest for the best new app for Windows Phone 7.

Prizes includes $10,000 (cash), Xbox Kinect Consoles, WP7 handsets, Dell Alienware Laptop Bundle, etc.

Competition closes on April 30, 2011

For more information on how to participate, go to http://www.greatcanadianapportunity.ca/

Source: Microsoft