The Sunday Paper - August 7th, 2011

Welcome to The Sunday Paper! If you've been too busy to check out Windows Phone Daily this week, the first week of August officially came to a close. Anticipation continues to build for Mango hardware with rumors of Nokia teasing a new device later this month and Qualcomm confirming that they don't have an exclusive Windows Phone deal. But for once it wasn't all about Mango either thanks to the first custom ROMs for Windows Phones being available to download and what might be our first look at one of Tango's new features. All of this and more awaits you below.

Featured
Thought: Microsoft is going to lose this Fall (unless Nokia does something about it)
Outside of this wonderful Windows Phone bubble we live in, there's been a lot of talk about the prophesied iPhone 5 lately. Not only will Apple suck the wind out of everyone by September/October, others are rushing to get their products out before then. Whatever the case, one thing is assured: Microsoft is screwed on its own. But there's one little thing that may just save them from the all-out war about to break out this holiday season: Nokia.

We are now www.WindowsPhoneDaily.com!
Yeah, you read that right. I finally decided to stop being a cheap ass and I bought a proper domain name. What was once a Blogger-hosted site is now www.WindowsPhoneDaily.com!

News
DFT releases Custom ROM tools for HTC Windows Phones, enters unknown territory
Some huge news out of the Windows Phone development world today: the Dark Forces Team (DFT) have released RSPL/HSPL tools for a slew of HTC Windows Phones. For the common Joe that may not mean much, but these tools should be the gateway for developers to create custom ROMs for Windows Phone.

First Custom ROM crashes the scene, allows HD7 to upgrade to Mango Beta seamlessly
Exciting news Windows Phone fanatics! DFT's hard work to create the RSPL/HSPL tools for custom ROMs on HTC Windows Phones appears to have finally paid off. Ansar of XDA-Developers has delivered the very first Windows Phone custom ROM for the HTC HD7!

DFT releases "Freedom ROM", independence for all supported HTC devices
Just a few days ago we had the very first custom ROM for the HD7 come from ansar of XDA-Developers and now DFT (the ones behind the tools that make all of this possible) have decidedly one-upped ansar's effort and have revealed their own "Freedom ROM" for all supported HTC devices.

Windows Phone 7.10.8200 spotted, Tango already in the wild?
We knew Microsoft was thinking long-term with Windows Phone, but if this story is true they're really ahead of the curve.

Tango seen in new photo with Content Search, makes us lust for more
Content search (or more commonly known as universal search) is one of the most defining parts of any smartphone OS, and somehow Microsoft has yet to incorporate it into Windows Phone. However that photo hints the feature is likely on its way in the next update.

Rumor: Nokia Windows Phone to debut on August 17th?
Partaaay! According to an invitation received by the::unwired, Microsoft and Nokia are holding a little shindig at Germany's GamesCon 2011 on August 17th.

Chances of Nokia announcing new hardware at GamesCom? "No dice."
Yesterday the image above from the::unwired began circling around the 'net and many speculated that the party the invitation was sent out for could be the official unveiling of Nokia's first Windows Phone. Well according to This is my next's Chris Ziegler, "no dice".

Qualcomm doesn't have exclusive Windows Phone deal, dual-core Nokia on its way after all?
Well, well, well. You were so adamant to proclaim yourself as the sole chipset provider for upcoming Mango handsets, weren't you Qualcomm? As it turns out, The Inquirer has uncovered your dirty little secret: you don't have an exclusivity agreement with Microsoft!

Apps and Games
XBL Wednesday: Cro-Mag Rally
This week’s new Xbox Live game is Cro-Mag Rally by Pangea Software. For those who don't know, this prehistoric kart racing game has been around for a long time now. Since its debut in 1998 on the Mac the game has become quite popular and is now making the transition to Microsoft's newest platform.

XBL Deal of the Week: ilomilo
This week's Deal is ilomilo by SouthEnd Entertainment. This game was one of the most hyped before its release shortly after the launch of Windows Phone 7, and it turned out to be a phenomenal game. Rich graphics, a quirky art style, and deceivingly hard gameplay.

GameHouse announces five Xbox Live games in the works
We complain about Xbox Live quite a bit, but one thing that's remained pretty consistent is the release-after-release schedule Microsoft has managed to maintain every single week since launch. Now we hear that  GameHouse (developer of Doodle Jump and Sally's Salon) is planning an additional five Xbox Live games to be released for Windows Phone in the future. Whoa!

Trio of Xbox Live Indie Games headed to Windows Phone
Want some real gaming meat? Look no further than Xbox Live Indie Games developers. WP7 Connect sat down with three teams at the Indie Games Uprising event and discovered that all three are planning to port their already XNA-complete titles to Windows Phone's open arms.

SupterTube leaps to v1.9, syncs downloaded videos with PC
Despite our reservations about its interface, there's no denying how feature-rich SuperTube is for the money. One of its biggest selling points is the ability to download YouTube videos for offline viewing pleasure. With the latest SuperTube v1.9 update, FastCode has added a much sought-after feature to those downloaded videos: wireless PC syncing.