Three months ago Windows Phone Marketplace had just over 11k apps. That took over 5 months to accumulate. Windows Phone Marketplace has reached 25k apps and rate at which it grows is steadily increasing. Mango it’s on its way and that solidifies the prognosis of app growth sharply increasing.

Windows Phone MIX has compiled a series of 20 best windows phone apps.

Internet based Windows Phone Marketplace is to be online soon.

engadget

Ever since the buzz for the Windows Phone 7, competitions are now up for students and for the rest of the UK. If you are a student, you are lucky since you can participate in both the competitions. On top of that, you can send your entry on both programs so all you got to do is focus on one.

For the student contest, all you need to do is publish an application on the WP7 Marketplace. All you have to do is send in the details via email (ukstucom@microsoft.com) which includes the following details: publisher name, app title and a screen shot. That will be all the details that you need to send in. they will manage the other works. If you win, you will bag the Microsoft LifeCam Show and you can also win t-shirts on each of the 6 rounds. The grand winner will win an HTC 7 Trophy. Of course, it does not stop there. Let us here about the incentives program now.

The next one is open for all. The Microsoft team is in search of something very unique, functional and original. Of those who will win, the prizes are amazing. You can get an Xbox 360, LCD TV screens, home theater packages and so much more. Of course, it also gives a chance to everybody so your 1 entry can serve as a raffle entry to win on the weekly draw of Alienware, Dell or Acer Laptops. These are really a lot of prizes to be won and if you are in the UK, you have an idea for an app and you want to show the world that you can enrich the app world, and then this contest is for you. There is nothing wrong with trying. Who knows? Your app might be the next big thing that will elevate the WP7 to the fame it rightfully deserves.

For more information check out Microsoft UK Student blog

Windows Mobile 6.5 is the second dot upgrade to the Windows Mobile 6. The OS is still based on Windows CE 5, so do not expect huge changes. Having said that, it does bring some noticeable improvements in design and in some applications.

Let me enlist the major changes that the Windows Mobile 6.5 will bring in the hand of its user:

• Internet Explorer Mobile 6
• Windows Marketplace: A central hub where the people can shop for the Windows Mobile application, much like the Apple Appstore for iPhone.
• New lock screen
• New start ‘menu’: Actually, there  is no menu now
• NEW TODAY SCREEN: sliding panel interface now comes from Windows Mobile standard to Windows Mobile professional

The first thing that I noticed is the new Startmenu and big close button (shown later). Also, the home screen is not so new for the people who have used Windows Mobile Standard devices before (yes, the ones that do NOT come with touch screens). However, the sliding panel interface is surely new for the Windows Mobile Professional users (touch screen based windows mobile devices).

Pressing menu does not reveal a menu anymore. Instead, it reveals the new honey comb interface Read the rest of this entry