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We realize it's still early in the year, but we don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that Windows Phone 7 Series is one of biggest mobile tech stories to come out of 2010. Finally, Microsoft delivered a mobile operating system that not only looks completely new and compelling, but also functional and competitive.

However, there are still a number of unanswered questions and ever since the big reveal at Mobile World Congress 2010, we've gotten a steady stream of reader e-mails about Windows Phone 7 Series.

Instead of trying to answer each one individually, we decided to compile some of the most frequently asked questions and sent them to the Windows Phone team in hopes of getting some more specific answers for you. Unfortunately, at this time, Microsoft remains mum on a number of issues, but we've incorporated their responses below. In addition, we've included some of the latest information and rumors we've seen from around the Web.

We'll be updating this FAQ regularly as more details are revealed throughout the coming weeks and months. In fact, you might want to go ahead and mark your calendar for March 15, which is when Microsoft's MIX10 conference begins and where the company is expected to release more details about Windows Phone 7 Series. Also, keep sending in your questions and we'll do our best to get them answered for you. Now, without further ado, your Windows Phone 7 Series FAQ.

When will we be able to get Windows Phone 7 Series devices?
Unfortunately, Windows Phone 7 handsets won't hit store shelves till the holiday season. LG recently raised some false hopes after the company told Engadget Mobile China that it would release its first Window Phone 7 smartphone as early as September. However, LG has since backed away from that statement and said its goal is to ship devices in Q4.

Who will make the devices and which carriers will offer them?
Microsoft revealed its Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and carrier partners at Mobile World Congress 2010. Hardware partners include Dell, HTC, Garmin-Asus, HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba. Qualcomm will be the chip provider. Carrier partnerships include AT&T, T-Mobile USA, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Deutsch Telecom, Orange, Telecom Italia, SFR, Telefonica, Telstra, and Vodafone.

At the official unveiling event, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer added that the company is working closely with AT&T and Orange, in particular, to have devices at launch.

Windows Phone 7 Series FAQ (photos)

What will the hardware be like?
While the new user interface was certainly exciting, one of the most interesting things we took away from the press conference was the fact that Microsoft is tightening its grip on what OEMs can and cannot do with hardware and software. With Windows Phone 7 Series, each handset will be required to have a Home, Back, and Search button, and they won't be able to replace or skin the UI.

Microsoft said the reason behind this is to provide a consistent user experience across all of its phones, but added that their partners will still have opportunities to customize devices, as long as its "synergistic with what we have provided." In fact, when we asked HTC about this at Mobile World Congress, the company said that you will still see HTC Sense on its Windows Phone 7 Series mobiles, but just not in the way you're used to seeing it now.

All that said, there are reports that Windows Phone 7 Series hardware will come in three models. Chassis 1 will have a full touch screen, 1GHz processor, and dedicated graphics accelerator. Chassis 2 will feature a touch screen and a dedicated keyboard (a la Palm Treo), but as SlashGear points out, the Treo comparison is somewhat strange since Microsoft has specific requirements for screen aspect/size. Finally, Chassis 3 is a mystery, though some suspect a candy-bar-type form factor. When asked about this, Microsoft said it does not comment on rumors or speculation.

Will Windows Phone 7 Series support nontouch devices?
No, it will only support capacitive screens and multitouch.

How will Windows Phone 7 series handle multitasking and notifications?
Microsoft didn't get very specific about the multitasking capabilities of Windows Phone 7 Series but did say that the OS was designed to provide a great user experience so you can do things like listen to music and search the Web. Additional details about multitasking and notifications will be revealed at the MIX conference later this month.

Will Windows Phone 7 Series support Flash?
Adobe has already gone on the record to say that it is working closely with Microsoft to bring Flash to future Windows Phone 7 Series phones. However, it most likely won't be ready when the first batch of phones ship during the holiday season.

Editor's note: In the interest of not sounding like a broken record, I've combined the next three questions into one since they all have the same answer.
Will developers have to completely rewrite their apps for Windows Phone 7 Series?
Will users be able to use apps they've purchased from Windows Marketplace for Mobile on the new devices?
Will you be able to side load apps with Windows Phone 7 Series?
Microsoft is not sharing full details about the Windows Phone 7 Series Marketplace or the development platform. However, at a briefing with journalists on March 4 in San Francisco, Microsoft's Charlie Kindel revealed that XNA and Silverlight will be the main means of writing software for Windows Phone 7 series. "Overnight those developers become Windows Phone developers," Kindel said. "One of our principles is to build on the shoulders of giants."

CNET News reporter Ina Fried has the full story from the event, and you can read more about Windows Phone development in Kindel's blog here. Further, additional information about developer tools and opportunities will be announced at MIX in March.

Will Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones be upgradable to Windows Phone 7 Series?
This has been a hot topic of debate. Some say it will be up to the OEMs, while others say it's flat-out just not happening. For the record, here's Microsoft's official statement on the matter: "For Windows Phone 7 Series, we are enforcing a strict set of hardware requirements to ensure a consistently great experience for end-users and developers. While we cannot confirm that WM6.X phones that satisfy those requirements will be upgradeable, every Windows Phone 7 Series device will be upgradeable with improvements and features we deliver with subsequent Windows Phone 7 Series releases."

Somewhat of a nonanswer, but if we were to read between the lines, it sounds like even though a device, such as the HTC HD2, meets some of specifications (1GHz processor, capacitive touch screen, multitouch) since it doesn't have the three hardware buttons, it wouldn't meet all the requirements of Windows Phone 7 Series.

Microsoft has now confirmed our suspicions. Following the aforementioned March 4 event, the company held a Q&A session via Twitter and responding to a user question, wrote "we have no current plans to support updating the HD2 to Windows Phone 7 Series." Kindel also wrote in his blog, "To enable the fantastic user experiences you've seen in the Windows Phone 7 Series demos so far we've had to break from the past. To deliver what developers expect in the developer platform we've had to change how phone apps were written. One result of this is previous Windows mobile applications will not run on Windows Phone 7 Series."

What will happen to current Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones?
Microsoft will continue to support Windows Mobile 6.5 devices when Windows Phone 7 Series handsets are available. In fact, Kindel said that the company will work with its partners to release new smartphones based on Windows Mobile 6.5 for years to come and writes in his blog, "it's not as though one line ends as soon as the other begins."

The company, however, has not made any rebranding decisions for Windows Mobile 6.5. In other words, it may or may not be called Windows Phone Classic.

Will Windows Phone 7 Series work with Zune Pass?
Microsoft has not shared details about the full Zune experience for Windows Phone 7 Series. Generally speaking, the Music + Video hub will allow you to access content from your PC, online music services, and even a built-in FM radio in one place. You will also be able to use Zune Social to share your media recommendations with others.

Will users be able to sync their music from Windows Media Player?
Windows Phone 7 Series will require the Zune client to sync content to the phone. Microsoft has not commented on Windows Media Player.

Do you sleep with your iPhone? A recent survey found a lot of people who do.
Among 200 Stanford University students questioned about their iPhone habits, 75 percent said they fall asleep with their iPhones snuggled next to them. But they're just as attached to their phones in the daytime.

When leaving for school in the morning, 69 percent said they're more likely to forget their wallets than their iPhones. The phone has also pushed aside other devices--84 percent of the students said they use it as their watch and 89 percent use it as an alarm.

But the relationship goes even deeper, at least for some. A quarter of the students said they see the iPhone as an extension of their brain or being. Almost 10 percent said they sometimes pat their iPhone, 3 percent have named it, and 8 percent have suspected at one time that their iPod is jealous of their iPhone.

The iPhone also seems to have an interesting effect on the social lives of the students. Many said their social lives would be affected if their iPhones were lost or damaged. But almost three-quarters admitted that they've used their iPhone to avoid making eye contact with others.

So are these people iPhone-addicted? Many of them think so. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being "Yes, I'm addicted," only 6 percent said they definitely weren't. Among the rest, 10 percent gave themselves a 5, while 34 percent rated 4 on the scale. Of all the students, 32 percent said they're worried about becoming iPhone addicts and 25 percent called the phone "dangerously alluring."

But on the positive side, 72 percent said their iPhones make them happier and 37 percent said it makes them more playful. But the biggest benefit seems to be the cool factor, as a majority of the students said that buying the phone simply made them feel cool.

The survey was taken by students in a graduate research methods class at Stanford. Questionnaires were given to 200 randomly selected undergrads at the university in May. All the students interviewed owned iPhones, with 70 percent of them owning one for a year or less.

Secret Exit, maker of the popular and very odd iPhone game Zen Bound, announced Friday that not only is it porting the title to the iPad, but it's enhancing the game for the new hardware and including new levels and controls.

Zen Bound 2 is being billed as "both a sequel and a revision" to the original, which sounds interesting. Rebooting games for the iPad seems like a no-brainer for iPhone game developers, and Apple has said that it expects many developers to create updated versions of their games to take advantage of the tablet's larger display.
There's been lots of anticipation around the arrival of iPad games, but this is the first set of actual screenshots of such a game we've seen (hat tip to Kotaku, which on Friday printed a bunch of work-in-progress images provided by Secret Exit).
In Zen Bound, wooden sculptures are entangled in a piece of rope, and you rotate the objects in various ways to "free" them from the ties that bind them. It's a zen-like exercise that's supposed to calm you and help you reflect. And playing this on the iPad looks like fun and a relaxing way to unwind. Expect Zen Bound for the iPad to drop around April 3, when Apple's tablet goes on sale in the U.S.

Cute. Clever. Whimsical. No, no, I'm not talking about me, but how sweet of you to think that! I'm referring to ForkedUpArt's iPhone stands made of forks and spoons. I think the photos speak for themselves; these things are just adorable.

(Um, did I just use "sweet" and "adorable" in the same paragraph? I meant to say "killer" and "bitchin'." There, manhood restored.)
As you can see, there are two versions, the aptly named Fork Head and Spoon Head. Both use a combination of forks and spoons, and both are clearly, undeniably handmade.
In fact, the artist bends, welds, and buffs each stand by hand, and uses a special stainless-steel welding wire to avoid corrosion.
There's good news and bad news about these "silverware dudes." The good news is that the stands can hold devices other than iPhones, and in fact the artist will accept custom measurements if you have a specific item in mind. (Ooh! Can I get one that holds salt and pepper shakers? What, too on the nose?)
Unfortunately, both stands are sold out at the moment, though the seller is working hard to fill orders and meet increasing demand.
When his store does get more, plan on spending around $40 (plus shipping) for each stand. That strikes me as a little pricey, but these guys are so unique and endearing, I say go ahead and splurge.

Talk about "spooning" your iPhone!
(Credit: FolkedUpArt)
Etsy (aka "the Web's craft store") is actually home to all kinds of custom holders, cases, stands, etc., for the iPhone. To get an idea for what's out there, just do a little browsing and searching.
You can also check out Quest Twenty Eight's recent roundup of top-10 Etsy iPhone cases. Neat stuff.

Powerline networking adapters tend to suffer from slow speeds, especially when compared with regular wired Ethernet connections. However that's about to possibly change with two new products from Netgear.The company announced this week at CeBIT two new HomePlug AV-certified Powerline kits, including the Powerline AV 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5001) and the Powerline AV+ 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5501).

Powerline networking kits allow you to expand your local network via the electrical wiring, sparing you from having to run network cable to a far corner of the house. This is especially helpful when the corner is so far away or obscure that the wireless signal can't get to it.
Netgear claims that both of these kits offer speeds up to 500Mbps. To put this in perspective, wired connections have speeds of 100Mbps (for Ethernet) or 1,000Mbps (for Gigabit Ethernet). This is about 2.5 times the speed of the previous generation of HomePlug AV products, such as the PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit PLK300 from Linksys .
Though they share the same throughput speed, the two new Powerline kits have some major differences. The Powerline AV 500 Adapter Kit is really compact; it's smaller than a deck of cards. According to Netgear, it's about 50 percent smaller than competing products.
The Powerline AV+ 500 Adapter Kit, on the other hand, is bigger, but it comes with an integrated filtered power socket for "pass-through" capability, which means you can still use the wall socket to power another product. Note that Powerline adapters need to be plugged directly into the wall socket to work properly.
Netgear says that both new adapter kits are compatible with the draft international IEEE P1901 Powerline standard. This means they provide greater speeds for bandwidth-intensive applications such as lag-free Internet gaming, voice-over IP (VoIP), large file transfers to networked devices, and even simultaneous 1080p HD video streaming to multiple devices.

While it lacks the bombast and sheer size of major technology trade shows such as CES and the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the annual Game Developers Conference has quietly become one of the most important events on gaming's calendar.

This relatively small conference, held in San Francisco, is where game designers and programmers, as well as publishers, developers, and the third-party technology companies they work with, come together for panels, classes, and keynotes. As the show has traditionally been (until a few years ago) largely under the press radar, you're just as likely to rub elbows with actual game auteurs such as Cliff Bleszinski or Sid Meier than a phalanx of PR people.
Of course, now that GDC is a bigger, better-attended show, the major console makers and game publishers all use it to reveal, unveil, and otherwise promote their latest wares. Here are some noteworthy developments we virtually guarantee you'll hear more about this week.
Sony's Motion Controller
The biggest story of the week will be the official coming out party for Sony's Wii-like motion controller device. Briefly glimpsed at E3 last year, its capabilities and details remain largely unknown. Look for it at Sony's March 10 press conference. Not expected to make a big showing is Microsoft's Project Natal -- another entry in the motion-control gaming sweepstakes. Microsoft recently wheeled out the system in NYC for hands-on press and industry demos (we'll detail our hands-on impressions later this week), but the company says it's not showcasing any new developments at GDC.
Don't count PC gaming out yet
Discussing the death of PC gaming is one of the all-time great tech fan arguments, and an easy way to inflame passions on both sides. While the glory days of Quake and Unreal may by long gone, companies such as Intel, Nvidia, and ATI are not going to let the PC gaming market simply vanish beneath the waves. While these companies may not have much in the way of new public product announcements (they largely attend GDC to brief the industry on background about upcoming hardware developments), we're particularly interested in talking to chip-maker Qualcomm about its laptop-lite Smartbook platforms, which seem like a natural growth area for gaming.
Hands-on with Holiday 2010 games
This is where the big titles we've seen briefly at past events get their first hands-on stress-tests in anticipation of the all-important Holiday season. We're especially keep to see more of Star Wars: The Old Republic (a Lucas-themed MMO), Mafia II (a 1950's GTA-style game), and the latest life-extending DLC add-ons for powerhouse titles Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2.
Stay tuned for news, photos, and video all week long from the 2010 Game Developers Conference. For a look back at scenes from last year's show, check out the photo gallery below.

After devoting last year's installment of the Rock Band franchise entirely to The Beatles, Harmonix and MTV Games are getting back to their roots. The pair announced via Facebook today that Rock Band 3 is set for release this holiday season.

Electronic Arts will once again be handling distribution duties.
EA, MTV Games, and Harmonix are ready for an encore.
The Facebook status update promises that Rock Band 3 "will innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again," but provides no other details. Platforms, new features, song lists, and other details will be revealed at a later date.

While it will have been two years since Rock Band 2 hit shelves, the rhythm franchise has not been inactive. In addition to the Beatles game and weekly updates to the downloadable catalog of songs, last year saw the series try to broaden its appeal with Lego Rock Band, and this year will see punk act Green Day receive its own dedicated game. Harmonix also just launched the Rock Band Network, a separate (and more open-ended) online storefront that allows all manner of independent artists (and some of their studio counterparts) to make their songs downloadable, provided they take care of the developmental heavy lifting.