Not yet released for Google Maps Mobile, Google has just released biking directions for Google Maps. However, like before with walking directions for Google Maps, Google has already announced that it will put this new and handy navigation feature into a future version of Google Maps Mobile as well. Google Biking directions which is - at the moment - available in the the U.S. only has been - according to Google - the most requested addition to Google Maps. This new feature includes: step-by-step bicycling directions, bike trails outlined directly on the map and a new "Bicycling" layer that indicates bike trails, bike lanes and bike-friendly roads.

In the recent days, Microsoft made several times clear that none of today's Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones will get a Windows Phone 7 Series update because today's 6.5 smartphones don't support the 7 Series requirements and users have to wonder why Microsoft is so strict? While the exact feature-requirements are yet to be announced, let us have a look at one of the obvious differences between Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Phone 7: The buttons and the button layout. As a matter of fact, Microsoft confirmed in Barcelona that Windows Phone 7 Series devices require the Windows, back and search keys as well as a camera key, in addition to the volume rocker and power button.

In a recent blog posting, Microsoft's Charlie Kindel wrote about the Windows Phone 7 Series application development and he explains that Microsoft had to change its strategy to accommodate what developers have been asking for. Specifically developers told Microsoft to focus on the end user experience and take more responsibility for delivering integrated end user experiences, invest more deeply in the developer platform and developer experience as well as driving a standardized hardware platform creating a simpler ecosystem and a larger - consistent - opportunity. And therefore Windows Phone 7 developer experiences will build upon the following technologies:

Following yesterday's news about Pink, even more information about Microsoft's rumored project popped-up. First of all, a very blurry picture of the smartphone - code-named "Pure" - made its way to the Internet and in addition, the first Pink screenshots hit the web too. While the blurry photo seems to show a kind of homescreen or menu (featuring Windows Phone 7-similar tiles) the screenshots are about the dialer, unlock screen and the camera quality while nothing else is shown. Nevertheless, it seems to be confirmed now that Pink is really coming to Verizon Wireless, because the screenshots show the carrier name and the FCC approved two "Pink-looking" phones some time ago with support for CDMA.