Microsoft launches Kin phone line

On 12/04/2010, Microsoft unveiled the Kin product line, a pair of mobile phones designed for users focused on social networking and sharing. Developed in partnership with Sharp and Verizon Wireless, the Kin devices targeted teens and young adults with an interface centered on social feeds rather than traditional app ecosystems. The announcement introduced Microsoft’s effort to create a phone experience built primarily around communication, media sharing, and cloud-backed services. Microsoft introduced two models with slide-out QWERTY keyboards. The Kin One featured a compact rounded design and a 5-megapixel camera, while the Kin Two offered a larger form factor with an 8-megapixel camera and support for HD video recording. Both devices included Microsoft’s custom interface built around “The Loop,” a home screen that aggregated updates from services such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. Another feature, called “The Spot,” allowed users to drag content like photos, links, or messages to a shared area for quick posting or sending to contacts. The Kin phones also integrated Zune media capabilities for music and video playback, along with Kin Studio, a cloud-based service that automatically backed up photos, videos, and messages to an online timeline. Microsoft positioned the devices as social-first phones that combined messaging, media, and sharing tools into a simplified interface. The April 2010 unveiling preceded the later retail release through Verizon Wireless.