Windows Phone Central Rum'o'meter

Find out what our Rum'o'meter is all about

We tackle not only Windows Phone news stories, but also rumors that flood in from all directions – be it tips, other sources or social media in general. While we attempt to filter through and file those that have some merit against FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) and simply barking up the wrong tree, it's also been our aim to clearly distinguish how trustworthy each rumor we published here at Windows Phone Central is. This is where the Rum'o'meter comes into play.

Should you be in the position, reading through an article on our website, where you wanted to know just what each number on the Rum'o'meter means and how this reflects on said story, you're in the right place. You'll notice said image on every rumor article (whether you're browsing via a web browser, or reading articles using our Windows Phone app) that shows a counter, 1 - 10. The numbering is pretty straight forward, with 1 being rumors that are least likely to see the light of day, while 10 is awarded to confirmed rumors that are simply too juicy to ignore.

It's a simple, yet effective way for our readers to know what's likely, and what's just for the lulz. That said, should you know of a rumor published elsewhere but haven't seen it on our website, this may be down to our team believing there's no point in debunking the rumor, it's not because we're ignoring the story or behind the times.

Check out our meters below for a quick look at what each number represents.

The juiciest rumor around! A ten (10) is only awarded to those rumors that require your upmost attention and will most likely become reality in the near-to-distant future.

This rumor should be trusted as we've managed to back up said claims and speculation through multiple sources who are deemed trustworthy.

Working our way down the counter is number eight (8), which is still a steaming hot rumor and should be enjoyed without any added salt. 

Closely reaching the uncertainty level, rumors labeled with a seven (7) should be taken as is, but with an ounce of skepticism.

We start to lean on rumors that are six (6) or higher. Anything rated below this level of the Rum'o'meter should be taken somewhat lightly. 

The middle ground. When we're unsure whether to go with a rumor or to trash it, we slap a unhelpful five (5) on it.

It's really not looking likely from here on out. Rumors with a four (4) or below should not be taken without varying levels of salt. 

If you're into betting, this rumor would be classed as the unlikely underdog. We wouldn't recommend looking too much into this story, but there's a chance we could be proven wrong.

Rumors with a rating of just two (2) on our Rum'o'meter aren't backed by viable evidence or trustworthy sources. It's almost laughable to believe it's a possibility. 

You should not believe this rumor. Just save yourself the embarrassment as we have. These aren't the rumors we're looking for. Move along, move along.

Be sure to head on over to our Rumors section to read up on the latest gossip.

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.