Fry throws Twitter might behind Microsoft’s Phone 7
When a new phone release can be made or sunk by a mere string of 140 characters, having Twitter don Stephen Fry on stage to judge your product might have been considered risky.
An avowed Apple fanatic and Microsoft baiter Fry might have been presumed to stick the boot in but it seems the software giants latest effort has brought about a near damascene conversion in the technology pundit.
Fry praised the device at its official launch and later headed off claims that he was a “traitor” on Twitter by stating that he was “all for biodiversity in the smartphone market”
The praise came as the software giant unveiled five mobile phone rivals to Apple’s iPhone, all of which are powered by the Windows Phone platform.
Their key selling point is an innovative interface which dispenses with Apple’s “grid” for a sequence of “tiles” organised around a series of “hubs.”
This organises information around themes such as people and multimedia, providing single touch access to contacts and data which Microsoft claim offers “less clutter, more clarity.”
Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer said: “We want to get you in, out and back to life as quickly as humanly possible.”