What is the Microsoft Kin?

In a Digital Age where people young and old alike are relying on electronic devices to communicate, share information, and interact socially, the Microsoft Kin is poised to bridge what may be the most significant gap between digitized trends: A cell phone specifically designed to facilitate social networking.
And in a nutshell, that is the short, sweet, and simple answer to what is the Microsoft Kin: A cell phone by Microsoft. But considering its ambitious intent, its niche that has arguably already been met, and the technical specifications that have been leaked, the Microsoft cell phone deserves a closer look.

The Loop
The Microsoft Kin cell phone will have a user interface that will prominently feature a main screen called the KIND Loop, where the user will actually be able to directly and immediately update his or her social media accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter, although support for other social networking areas such as Bebo, MySpace, and Orkut are expected to be streamlined into the unit operation as well.
This is a significant advancement because, although prior phone models from other companies definitely had the capability to use mobile versions of those social networking sites and applications, the Microsoft Kin cell phone may be the first phone specifically primarily designed for optimizing the social networking experience on a mobile phone device.
The Features
Previously referred to in testing as Project “Pink” codename or phone-specific names like “Turtle” or “Pure,” the Microsoft Kin phone will arrive in two versions: Microsoft Kin One and Microsoft Kin Two. While the simplest difference is that Microsoft Kin Two is larger, there are a few more specifics in their deviations:
- One uses a compact keyboard for one-handed texting, while Two uses a larger keyboard for two-handed typing

- One has a 5-megapixel camera with flash that shoots SD video, while Two has an 8-megapixel camera with flash and SD-capability as well

- One uses a mono speaker, whereas Two uses stereo speakers without headphones

- One has 4 GB of memory, while Two has 8 GB.

Otherwise, the two are fairly similar: Both have a pan/scan/zoom-capable touchscreen, both hold a Zune-powered media player, both will boast the Verizon network, both use a version of the Windows Mobile operating system, and Microsoft Kin is expected to be available in the American market in May, then release in Europe by the end of the year.

Since the announcement of the Microsoft Kin cell phone on April 12, 2010, when Microsoft's Robbie Bach and Derek Snyder held a press conference in San Francisco, the internet has been abuzz with videos, transcripts, specifications, and other information tidbits concerning the Kin line of Microsoft cell phones. Although Microsoft has a somewhat spotty track record with its products overall, there is no denying its immense sway over the technology industry, and consumers can only hope that the Microsoft Kin delivers what it promises; in which case, millions of users will be sure to enjoy its social-networking emphasis and be able to interact with their friends with even more efficacy.