Thursday 31 July 2014

Joe Belfiore confirm that WP8.1 Developer Preview users will automatically get WP8.1 Update 1

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A vast number of our users are on the Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview.
The good news is that next week you should automatically be prompted to update to the next version of Windows Phone 8.1, Update 1, which brings numerous new features, including new folders, SMS improvements and much more.
Of course you would still be lacking some hardware features such as Bluetooth LE support, and it may make a lot more sense to actually downgrade and next week install the new developer preview.
What will our readers be doing? Let us know below.

Via: WMPowerUser
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BBM Beta goes public, available for everyone

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Right on schedule, and as promised still in July, Blackberry Messenger for Windows Phone is now available for all to download.
It would appear that the public beta version of BBM is a different one than what was released for the closed beta testers earlier in the month. In any case, this version is apparently the one that BlackBerry is letting any Window Phone users try out.

Here's a quick description for version 1.0.0.0:

  • Chat with friends on Windows Phone, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry:
  • Know when messages have been delivered (D's) and read (R's)
  • Quickly share photos, voice notes, BBM contacts and your location
  • See when contacts are responding to your message
  • Emoticons for every mood and emotion let you express yourself

Blackberry promises to continue adding features and move to the BBM version 2 soon.
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VLC for Windows Phone is almost ready, check out the new screenshots

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The team at VLC is working hard to bring the popular multimedia player to Windows Phone. Thomas Nigro, the designer/developer for VideoLan has shared some details with screenshots of the upcoming VLC app for Windows Phone.


This includes the XAML UI of the app, which is designed to be responsive, meaning the app fits itself to the shape and size of the window, making it ideal not just for full screen tablets and phones, but also for future windowed metro apps strongly rumoured for Windows Threshold.
Thomas also writes that the current version is somewhat slow, but that the VLC wrapper was recently upgraded from DirectX2D to DirectX3D, which should offer performance improvements. The current version also lacks DLNA support on Windows Phone, but this may change in the future.
Unfortunately he also writes that there are still some remaining issues with the ARM compiler which is delaying the Windows Phone app, but as soon as this is resolved they are ready to publish the app.
The screen shots certainly make it look like it is worth the wait. See more at Thomas’s blog here.
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Wednesday 30 July 2014

Microsoft reveals Update 1 for Windows Phones, Preview for Developers next week

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As expected, Microsoft has revealed Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 also known as GDR 1.  The news comes out of Beijing, China where Microsoft's Joe Belfiore announced the release during his keynote, in addition to the expansion of Cortana to the UK and China.
Update 1 is relatively minor in comparison to what 8.1 delivered this spring, but it still contains numerous new features for consumers, and hardware manufacturers. Leaks of these features in Update 1 came over the weekend and were accurate.
Additionally, starting next week, those enrolled in the free Preview for Developers program are slated to get an update to their phones to take advantage of the new OS refresh.

Live Folders:

As accidentally leaked by Microsoft, the new Update will feature Live Folders which allows users dynamically to create folders on the Start screen. Microsoft calls these "Live" folders because whatever app or game is included in the folder still has their Live Tile enabled. In other words, your group of Tiles in the Folder Tile still reflect pushed updates, making them highly dynamic.
Folders get created by dragging and dropping Tiles on top of each other, and they can later be renamed or rearranged according to user's needs.

Xbox Music Live Tile and other improvements:

Microsoft is continuously, working hard to make Xbox Music more personal and user friendly. Starting with Update 1, the new OS allows the Xbox Music team finally to implement a Live Tile and Kid's Corner, which are features due in a couple of weeks.
For users who do not enroll in Update 1 Preview, they can continue to get the bimonthly updates, including one due this Friday that brings some significant performance improvements and a "quickplay" of recent playback activities.

SMS merge and forwarding, Live Tile for the Store:

Update 1 also brings a few other improvements, including SMS merge and forwarding, which gives users "the ability to select multiple SMS messages for deletion and forwarding."
In addition, the Store Tile is now a Live Tile, delivering info about the latest apps and games every six hours throughout the day. This behavior now reflects the Store Live Tile for Windows 8.1.

Apps Corner:

One of the most interesting and secret feature will be the apps corner on Update 1, which Microsoft describes as a "sandboxed" mode for users to show only a select amount of apps. Considered more for businesses and retailers, Apps Corner lets employees hand their Windows Phones over to customers without fear of exposing personal data, launching unauthorized apps or where there is no Master Data Management (MDM).

VPN through Wi-Fi hotspots, High-voltage charging and more:

To close, Update 1 brings a new assortment of options and improvements, including VPN functionality through a public Wi-Fi hotspot, and improved IE rendering of mobile websites. The latter works by changing the user-agent string to let websites connect Internet Explorer as if it were a different mobile browser, greatly enhancing mobile usage and compatibility for Windows Phone users.
Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 support for Snapdragon 800 processor is included, letting Windows Phone users with the appropriate chipset take advantage Qualcomm's rapid, high voltage USB charging. Consequently, charging times should be upwards of 75% faster. Citing Qualcomm's data for a 3300 mAh battery.
Support for Smart covers, like HTC's Dot View case, lets OEMs create unique flip cases that activate an app or Live Lock screen when open or closed.
Update 1 also brings advanced support for Bluetooth standards PAN (personal area network) 1.0 profile, aptX codec support for A2DP, and browsing support for AVRCP. These new standards give customers better streaming and compatibility for Windows Phone media.
Finally, more support for device resolutions are in Update 1, including 1280 x 800 WXGA, 540 x 960 native qHD and screen sizes of 6.01" to 7" for the 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution.

When will it come?

Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 for the Preview for Developers program is expected to begin sometime next week. Keep checking our site for all the info on it.

Source: WPCentral
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Video: WP8.1 Live Lock screens set to bring amazing lock screen weather animations

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Just as we got the new animated live lockscreen from Microsoft, developers have taken this as a new opportunity and used the live lockscreen in their apps. Windows Phone India Enthusiasts showed how the developers of the popular tool app,  #1 Toolkit used the APIs in their weather app, #1Weather.
See another demo of the great looking app after the break.



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Tuesday 29 July 2014

Nokia Superman and Tesla apparently confirmed, will be launching soon

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A report has been breaking through our mailbox regarding the new leaked devices which are near completion. According to The Verge, citing unnamed sources, claims that Microsoft's devices leader Stephen Elop showed off the two phones, via a video presentation, at an internal Microsoft meeting earlier this week. One of the devices, which was previously rumored earlier this year under the code name "Superman", has a five megapixel front facing camera and a 4.7 inch display. Elop reportedly described the device as a "selfie phone" during his presentation.
The other new Windows Phone product will reportedly have a PureView rear camera but will be priced lower than previous Lumia smartphones with those high end lenses. Images of this phone may have already been leaked several weeks ago. The Verge's report did not have information on when exactly these two phones will be announced nor their specific price points.
Some high end devices are expected to arrive “very soon” according to an internal memo by Microsoft’s Jo Harlow and will probably launch with Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1.
A couple of weeks ago, Elop stated in an email to the Device Group that Microsoft will concentrate their near term efforts "by targeting the more affordable smartphone segments, which are the fastest growing segments of the market, with Lumia." This report would seem to be in line with Elop's vision.
What do you think about these new reports and is Microsoft doing the right thing by launching cheaper Windows Phone products?

Source: The Verge; Thanks to everyone for the tips; Image via WMPowerUser
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Windows Phone 8.1 + Cyan hits Lumia 1320 in India

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We were getting big amount of tips from our readers especially living in India that Lumia 1320 is receiving the Windows Phone 8.1 + Cyan update and now we are able to confirm as one of our readers have send us the images of the update.
If you're rocking the Lumia 1320, you can check manually for the update by going to Settings > Phone Update > Check. As we've stated before, you need to rollback the Preview for Developers for you to be able to install the Cyan update, if you have the preview installed.
Note that these units may well be unbranded ones, with carriers to follow suit. Lumia 1320 users, are you able to install the Lumia Cyan update? What features are you liking the most? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks to everyone for the heads up.
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AdDuplex founder Alan Mendelevich teases HTC device for Verizon

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We are seeing many leaks of the HTC One M8 which will be coming with the latest Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box. Engadget has reported that the name of the phone is called "One (M8) for Windows," which is a little awkward, although if you drop the M8 it has a nice ring to it.
Engadget reports that they phone should launch by on "Verizon during the third quarter, or no later than the end of September" although our sources tell us that Microsoft Stores have a planning date of August 20 with a launch on the 21st. The off-contract, full price of the phone is listed at $610 with on-contract price most likely nearing $199.
After these details, Alan Mendelevich teases that he has seen many phones with codename "HTC6995LVW" and it might be the HTC device for Verizon. No details have been leaked on the international version of the device.
So, what do our readers think on this? Will you be picking a HTC device running on Windows Phone OS? Sound off below.

NOTE: The image shown above is just a mock up image of Android version of HTC One M8. Original device may differ.
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Monday 28 July 2014

Follow Indian celebrities with the new Follo app for Windows Phone

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Follo (follo.co.in), a Times Internet service, is a celebrity connect service that enables fans to connect to their favorite actors, actresses, models, et al. You could read their updates, view extensive multimedia content, or listen to their voice feeds.
By follo-ing a celebrity, you could stay updated about their work and personal endeavors - breaking news, exclusive quotes, celeb gossip, trade news, event photos, candid shots, video interviews and more. Follo features celebrities from Bollywood and cine stars from regional cinema as well as Indian cricketers.
While you can look at celebrity streams and photo galleries on firing the app, you'll need to sign in to follow a celebrity and get their updates or like, comment, and share those. If these are Twitter updates, you can reply to the tweet or retweet it as well.
While the app isn't very nicely designed, and the UI is pseudo-modern, it works all well and should appeal to a lot of fans and celeb-followers.
Download the Follo app for free for Windows Phone 8 devices from the Windows Phone Store.

Source: WPCentral
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High quality Bluetooth Audio coming to Windows Phone soon

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A2DP is an increasingly popular way to play back music, mainly due to the rise of Bluetooth speakers. With the wide diversity of smartphones it is the one standard which works for all operating systems.
Unfortunately A2DP transfers audio in a compressed format which reduces sound quality.
The answer is aptX, a higher quality codec often used in professional products and increasingly for Bluetooth Audio also, allowing steaming of high quality music.
The leaks of today confirmed that Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 will support aptX, and will also support AVRCP 1.4, which allows speakers (and Bluetooth stereos) greater control over the music streamed from a smartphone.
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) 1.4, lets users browse media on your phone remotely, supports meta-data including the Now Playing list and supports basic search features.
The improvements should mean Windows Phone users get to enjoy the A2DP capabilities of the handsets even more, and have more access to the full range of the capabilities of their existing A2DP accessories.

Source: WMPowerUser
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HTC is working on the Windows Phone version of One M8

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It not new news, but Tom Warren has once again confirmed that HTC is working on a Windows Phone version of the HTC One M8.

The HTC One M8 features:

  • 5.0 inches Full HD LCD3 Display 1080x1920p Resolution
  • 2GB RAM
  • 2.3GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801 Processor
  • 128GB microSD Support
  • Weight- 160 g
  • Battery- 2600 mAh
  • All-metal Unibody
  • Duo Ultrapixel Camera
  • Built-in Amplifier Speakers
  • IR Blaster


The Windows Phone version will hopefully retain much of those features and with the new support for active phone cases the Windows Phone version could also support HTC’s Dotview Case.
What do you think about this? Share below.
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Sunday 27 July 2014

Hardware Requirements for WP8.1 GDR1 revealed

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It looks like today is the day for Windows Phone 8.1 update and we have seen many new information today. Microsoft's OEM website continues to be a rich source of information on the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 update.
The latest to arrive is the Hardware Requirements for handsets running the OS. Most of the features remain unchanged from earlier versions of the OS, but there are a few surprises.
One of them is that Windows Phone now supports qHD resolution (960 x 540) scaled from 720P. The OS still does not support the newer super high resolutions however, being limited to Full HD (1080p)
Also interesting is that a proximity sensor is now a hard requirement, surprising given that the Nokia Lumia 630 and 530 does not feature one.
Also unfortunate is that there does not appear to be any support yet for the newer Snapdragon 810 processors.
Microsoft has dropped performance requirements for MicroSD cards in WP8.1, and can compress the OS partition to enable more free space in 4 GB handsets.

See the full list of specs after the break.


"
Applications processor"Phones designed for Windows Phone 8.1: Qualcomm MSM8x10, MSM8x12, MSM8x26, MSM8926, MSM8x28, MSM8928, MSM8974 or MSM8974Pro Qualcomm MSM8260A, MSM8660A, MSM8960, MSM8230, MSM8630, MSM8930AA, MSM8930AB, MSM8227 or MSM8627
RAMLPDDR2 or LPDDR3
MemoryFlash user partition  e MMC
PowerMonitor gauge Required
Display ResolutionWVGA, FWVGA, WXGA, qHD, 720p (HD), or 1080p (FHD)
Bit depth16 bits of color per pixel minimum
Touch supportTrue multi-touch
CameraRear-facing camera Required
Forward-facing camera Optional
AudioPrimary microphone Required
Secondary microphone Optional
Dynamic noise suppression Optional
Loudspeaker Required
Earpiece Required
Wireless2/2.5G cellular radio Required
3G/4G cellular radio Required
Bluetooth Required
Wi-Fi 
802.11b/g 
802.11a/n
FM radio Optional
NFC Optional
A-GNSS Required
SensorsAccelerometer Required
Magnetometer Optional
Ambient light sensor Optional
Proximity sensor Required
Gyroscope Optional
NotificationsVibration mechanism Required
NLED Optional
ControlsStart Required
Back Required
Search Required
Power Required
Volume Up Required
Volume Down Required
Camera button Optional
ConnectorsMicro-USB 2.0 or 3.0 Required
Headphone/headset jack 
3.5-mm stereo headset jack with 3-button detection support
Micro SD card slot Optional
One SIM slot if the phone supports a single SIM card. 
Two SIM slots if the phone supports dual SIM.
Video out NA
In-box cables & accessoriesUSB sync cable Optional
Power adapter Optional
Headset Optional
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More features of Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 leaked online

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Today we reported Microsoft's OEM website showing the documentations for Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 update. Now NokiaPowerUser reports some new leaked features from their sources.
According to their information WP8.1 GDR1, the next minor version of the OS, will support Network Time Protocol, when Network Identity and Time Zone, the carrier’s time system, is not working.
Their leak also reveals support for WXXGA (800×1280) resolution by the use of black bars, the ability to activate Cortana from the phone kit in the car by giving it a phone book entry ( a much needed capability) and also Dual-SIM capability with both GSM + CDMA networks.
We have also of course heard earlier GDR1 will feature new folders and Voice over LTE support.
NokiaPowerUser has also leaked some more new WP8.1 GDR1 features.
Most of them are rather mundane, meant for OEMs rather than user features, but there is one rather interesting feature.
In WP8.1 GDR1 OEMs can create and register a phone cover app, which allows partners to create a user experience with their Windows Phones phone cover like on other platforms. This is likely in response to OEMs like LG and HTC who has been using phone cover apps as differentiating features on their handsets.
Other new items is that the Store tile, when medium-sized, is now a live tile. It shows both the Store logo and the name
Manufacturers can change start tile layout in some cases
Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 supports entity extraction in the Messaging app (which is also shared with the Email), meaning OEMs can specify what type of number they think is a phone number.
By default, when a user calls the voicemail number, the number dialed is displayed below the Voicemail. It can be disable in GDR1.
For phones that support an SD card, OEMs can either allow or block the use of the SD card for phone updates.
OEMs can show or hide the “auto scan for updates” setting on the phone.
Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 user-captured MP4 video contains metadata for date taken and location.
The details all come from Microsoft’s Dev centre, before they locked it down, and are therefore 100% reliable, and should hit our handsets in a few months.
So, what are your reactions on this information. Tell us in the comment section.

Source:  NokiaPowerUser
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References of Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 found in OEM Documentation

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We are getting nearer to the first update of Windows Phone 8.1 as new update on the Microsoft's OEM website shows documentations for Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1 update. However, if you try to click the links you are asked to log in, making this restricted to just OEM partners.
While Windows Phone 8.1 is still in the early rollout stage, this seems an interesting step from Microsoft. Windows Phone 8.1 Update so far is a bit of a mystery in terms of features for consumers, although native Folder support on the Start screen is confirmed as one of those additions. GDRs though are typically light on features and focus more on underlying fixes and improvements. We reported previously that Microsoft is planning on two OS updates this year for Windows Phone 8.1.
Finally, Microsoft is expected to release GDR1 through their Preview for Developers program as they have in the past e.g. Windows Phone 8.0 Update 3.

Source: Microsoft OEM website; Via: WPCentral
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Saturday 26 July 2014

Review: First look at 1Mail Mailing Client for Windows Phone

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When it comes to Mailing Clients then we find shortage of them on Windows Phone. We have a few Mailing Clients which a useful than the stock inbox on Windows Phone. Today, we are getting our hands on a beautiful Client which is under development for Windows Phone. The app is still in Beta state and supports only Gmail now but it is worth to look at. So let's head down and take a brief look at 1Mail for Windows Phone.
As said above the app is a Mail Client and supports Gmail at the current time. The app is based on the Windows Phone interface and uses various gestures (Trust me, I felt in love with how neatly the gesture are placed in the app). The app has various lanes (Folders) which sorts the Emails. You can also add multiple accounts (Currently only Gmail supported) and manage them. Being in Beta state, the app lags a bit but it is tolerable. The design of the app is something to fell in love with. You can customize the app by selecting the lanes (Folders), you want to see. Also, you can define the colors of different lanes. The app also supports lockscreen and transparent live tiles for the best experience.
This was a quick review of the new app for Windows Phone. We hope to see more services added to it soon. Check the store description below:

Fly through your email with 1Mail.  This redesigned inbox is light, fast and mobile-friendly.  Organize your messages across customizable lanes, and we’ll provide the intelligent previews.  Easily stay on top of your inbox using swipe gestures to archive or delete.  Navigating lanes and emails has never been simpler, just swipe from the bevel.
Features:
* Full support for Gmail (other providers coming)
* Multiple accounts with single click to switch
* Pinnable accounts with live tile updates
* Intuitive navigation paradigm, swipe along the bevel to switch lanes and read through emails
* Lane support (we provide defaults, however give you the power to customize adding label-backed lanes or providing advanced IMAP filters)
* Lane look and feel (change the color, order, and headers)
* Unlimited scrolling for each lane
* Message sender profile pictures, and intelligent email thumbnail previews
* Support for managing threads
* Search support for local stored and online messages
* New email experience, leveraging your contacts
* Share integration to easily send content
Find the screenshots after the break:






Liked the app? You can download the Beta from Windows Phone Store Here
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Indian Air Force Releases Air Combat Mobile Game ‘Guardians’ For Windows Phone Devices

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Indian AirForce has released a new advanced combat military game for Windows Phone devices. The main objective of the game is to drag youth and promote career in Indian AirForce. 

Game Description:
WANT TO BE A COMBAT PILOT? WANT TO FLY FOR INDIA?
This is the Official Indian Air Force 3D Air Combat Mobile Game. Live the life of an Indian Air Force Combat Pilot and Fly for India!
THE GAME!
‘Guardians’ puts the player in the hot seat as an Indian Air Force Combat Pilot and takes you through one training and ten combat missions. The player learns to fly the SU 30 high performance jet and subsequently flies as a Mi 17 pilot. While the training mission teaches the player the basics of flying training, the two operational missions lay down the foundation for the story in which war clouds are hanging over India and Zaruzia, a country planning to wage war on India. The eight subsequent missions will see a full fledged air war between Zaruzia and India and will feature all operational mission profiles as flown by the IAF and feature the SU 30, M2000, Tejas, Phalcon AWACS, C130, Mi 17, Mi 35 and ALH Dhruv aircraft.
 Download it Here from Windows Phone Store for free.
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Microsoft's live lockscreen app now available for download

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As teased  by Microsoft during Build 2014, the animated lockscreen app is now available for download from the Windows Phone Store.

Store Description:
Want to truly personalize your lock screen? Live lock screen lets you choose from 6 new lock screen layouts to add a distinctive touch to your Windows Phone. Each layout has a revamped design for the time, date, and notifications, as well as a unique unlock animation. You can also cycle through multiple background images throughout the day to keep your lock screen fresh—or just get the latest incredible image from Bing every morning.
Note this app requires Windows Phone 8.1 to work on and wait we have some great news for 512 MB users also. Microsoft managed to make it work on low end devices also and the app is working fine on my Nokia Lumia 520 also.
Take the Live Lock Screen app for a spin and let us know what you think of the app.
Have a favorite Live Love Screen out of the included six? Let us know which one it is.

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VLC Media Player coming as a Beta soon to Windows Phone

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The highly anticipated and waited app for Windows Phone is finally ready for private Beta. The developers behind the popular Music App told that they will release the Beta app in August followed by official launch in September. Sadly, as confirmed now they will not take any Beta Testers from outside.
VLC Media Player could be a healthy replacement for Xbox Music App which still lacks to fulfill the user requirements.
What do you guys think about it?
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Friday 25 July 2014

Windows Phone 8.1 enabled LG device teased

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Popular cross-promoting website, AdDuplex founder, Alan Mendelevich has teased a new Windows Phone 8.1 device by LG. According to the tweet made by him, the device will have Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box. The handset will feature a 5" screen with a resolution of 720p. The tweet also mentioned the model number of the device as LG D635. We don't have more info on this now but as announced back in CES 2014 by Microsoft, it was sure to see LG back in Windows Phone business. As it is a raw information now, so take it as a pinch of salt and give us sometime while we dig more about the handset.
Grab the comment section and let us know what do you think about LG making a return in Windows Phone market.

Source: Twitter (@ailon)
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Thirteen new Microsoft Stores coming to the United States and Canada

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Have a Microsoft Store near you? Then you're a lucky duck and get to check out some of the hottest gadgets, like the Surface Pro 3, whenever you want. Don't have one nearby? Then you might be in luck since Microsoft is looking to open thirteen new Microsoft Store's in the United States and Canada in the coming months. Read on to see if you're getting a Microsoft Store near you.

Here's the list of thirteen upcoming retail locations:

  1. Chinook Centre in Calgary, AB Canada
  2. The Streets at Southpoint in Durham, NC
  3. Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park, CA (opens September 21st)
  4. Baybrook Mall in Friendswood, TX
  5. SouthPark in Charlotte, NC
  6. Destiny USA in Syracuse, NY
  7. NorthPark Center in Dallas, TX
  8. Chandler Fashion Center in Chandler, AZ
  9. Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, LA
  10. Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, MD
  11. Los Cerritos Center in Cerritos, CA
  12. Toronto Eaton Centre in Toronto, ON Canada
  13. Woodland Hills Mall, Tulsa, OK
Did you make the cut? Sound off below if you're getting a Microsoft Store near you.

Via: WPCentral
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AT&T announce the Nokia Lumia 1520 WP8.1 update

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True to their word, AT&T has announced that the Windows Phone 8.1/Lumia Cyan, which they said would be released as soon as this week, is now available to download for the Nokia Lumia 1520.
Starting at 1PM ET today, AT&T has announced that the Lumia 1520 is cleared to receive the Windows Phone 8.1 and Lumia Cyan update. AT&T did not comment on timelines for their other Lumia phones, though presumably they are not too far behind the Lumia 1520.
To see see if the update is available for your handset, go to Settings > Phone Update and Check for Updates.

P.S.- WPCentral notes that if you have Windows Phone 8.1 Developers Preview installed then you need to downgrade before you can get the Lumia Cyan update.

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The next version of Windows Phone 8.1 will support Voice over LTE

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Tom Warren, Senior Editor at the Verge, has revealed the next minor version of Windows Phone 8.1, Update 1, will bring support for more VoLTE standards, which suggests we may start seeing the technology showing up in the wild.
So now what exactly is Voice over LTE. Actually Voice over LTE means, a VOIP standard which means voice calls will become IP based, with the promise of improved quality and higher bandwidth.


The technology is particularly relevant on Verizon, which uses LTE, but still relies on their old CDMA network for voice calls, which prevents simultaneous voice calls and data transfer. It is also known as VoLTE.
He also confirmed that the OS Update will come with improved app folder feature, but of course we knew that already.
Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 is expected to start arriving in August, but of course may take a lot longer to show up on handsets.

Source: Twitter
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Thursday 24 July 2014

Microsoft updates MixRadio, Display and Network+

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Microsoft has pushed new updates for some of its apps with mysterious improvements. The update list includes two being Lumia system apps affecting how the Windows Phones operate. The MixRadio music service by Microsoft is joined by Display and Network+.

MixRadio:

The popular streaming service got another update for Windows Phone devices, but unfortunately the change log is an old one and we're not entirely sure what's new. Version 4.5.1.448 is only a minor bump since recent updates, the last major one removing 'Nokia' branding. Let us know if you notice anything new in this latest release that we've somehow missed.

Network+:

Next up is Network+, Microsoft has failed to provide a log of changes for Network+ on Lumia hardware. The changelog present on the store covers 2.1. Today, version 2.3 was released to the store with unknown improvements and/or changes. Again, be sure to hit us up in the comments should you notice anything we've somehow overlooked.

Display:

Just like Network+ and MixRadio, Microsoft has failed to provide a log of changes for Display on Lumia hardware. The changelog present on the store covers 2.1. Today, version 2.3 was released to the store with unknown improvements and/or changes. Again, be sure to hit us up in the comments should you notice anything we've somehow overlooked.

Via: WPCentral
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Wednesday 23 July 2014

Entry Level Nokia Lumia 530 announced

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Nokia (now Microsoft) has introduced another low end Lumia smartphone today. Nokia Lumia 530 which was leaked a few days ago is now official.
At the heart, the Lumia 530 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 4-inch LCD display. Nokia Lumia 530 comes with Windows Phone 8.1 right out of the box. Nokia Lumia 530 has a 4 GB internal memory which can be expanded up to 128 GB. It also has a 5MP shooter, 512MB of RAM. The Lumia 530 will be available in two editions, both single and dual-SIM (3G).


The Lumia 530 Single SIM and Dual SIM are expected to be priced under €100 before taxes. The device comes in bright orange, bright green, white and dark grey colors and will be available globally, starting with select markets in August.
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Tuesday 22 July 2014

Surface tablets passes through BIS Certification in India

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This is a great news for you if you are living in India as Microsoft is rumored to launch Surface Tablets in India. Recently, Microsoft Surface and Surface Pro 2 tablets have passed BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) procedure to import inside India. As you can see in the image above, Maintek Computer (A unit of Pegatron) has shipped them to India. Microsoft has provided the following statement regarding this import process.
As per BIS processes, certification is mandatory for this category. For Microsoft, we do go through these processes from time-to-time, as part of any market assessment perspective. But, at this stage, we have no announcements to offer for launch timing of the said model or other models of Microsoft Surface in India.
There are two possibilities, either Microsoft Surface tablets launch is imminent in India or Microsoft has imported them for internal company purposes. Recently, Microsoft Mobile(Nokia). also imported Lumia 2520 tablets in India.
What do you readers think about this. Sound off below.

Via: Microsoft News
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Video: Sneak peek at the Lock screen apps on Windows Phone 8.1

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The most exciting and interesting part of Build 2014 was custom animated lockscreen apps for Windows Phone 8.1 devices. Joe Belfiore said we can expect the first beta of lock screen apps to show up on our handsets in 1-2 weeks. 
Developer David Lorenzin has jumped the queue slightly by giving us a preview on video of the apps he will be publishing to the Windows Phone Store.
According to the video his lock screen app will feature 3 styles of unlocking –  Classic,  which features diagonal sliding lines, Clock Plus, which features text revolving around a circular hub, and  Stripe, which features sliding horizontal sections. Check the video after a break.


Watch that YouTube video above to preview those new Lock screen APIs in action. Those are animated Lock screens that will apparently be published sometime soon this week and you'll be able to nab.
Joe Belfiore also informed via Twitter last week that the Lock screen app will be in English and require 1GB of RAM at launch.
Watch the video and let us know if you like Classic, Clock Plus or Stripe.

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Monday 21 July 2014

Tweetium For Windows Phone Beta Now Available In Store

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If you are a Windows 8.1 user, you must be aware of the popular Twitter client called Tweetium. The developer behind the app has now created a Windows Phone version of the same app that is now available in beta in Windows Phone Store. If you have already bought Tweetium on Windows, you will not be charged when installing this app from the phone store.

Also, if you are a Tweetium Pro subscriber via the Windows app, then your Pro subscription carries over as well. Another great this about this client is that you Tweetium settings, read stats, etc will roam across all Windows devices.

Download it here from Windows Phone Store for $2.99.
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Microsoft launches a How-To website for new switchers

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Not sure how to use Windows Phone? Are you migrating from a rival operating system like Android, iOS, or BlackBerry? Microsoft is now launching a new training portal to help new users to the platform get acquainted with Windows Phone with an interactive tutorial filled with videos.
Microsoft has launched a new website for new Windows Phone users which uses a a large number of videos to give users a visual How To on a wide range of topics, including Personalization, travel, gaming, work and even Cortana.
If you need help getting started with a Windows Phone or want to learn more about the platform, be sure to click on the source link at the bottom.

Source: Microsoft
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Flipkart releases major update for Windows Phone devices

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Indian e-commerce website Flipkart has pushed a major update for Windows Phone Store today. The new version brings plenty of new changes and updates to the app.
It's quite the substantial update and one we're sure many of you shoppers will enjoy. If you're not familiar with the name, Flipkart is essentially the Amazon of India. Check out the full change log below:

  • Personalized Notification Center- Your personal shopping assistant that alerts for personalized offers, order status, exclusive launches and more
  • Live Tiles – keeps you updated on your new notifications
  • Pin Products to start screen – Price & availability updates of your favourite products on start screen
  • Share Products and Product Images – Share with your friends, spouse or anyone to find out their opinion
  • Flipkart First – Premium service
  • Fast App Resume – App takes less time to open now
  • Access all Product Reviews – Read all reviews for any product

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Sunday 20 July 2014

Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 build bumped to a new version

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Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 build has been bumped to a new version according to WPBench.
The software now has build 8.10.14140.0, a small increase from 8.10.14130.0 we reported on 2 weeks ago, and of course a completely different branch from  Build 8.10.12397.895, which is what’s running on Windows Phone 8.1 handsets currently in the market.
Update 1 for Windows Phone is rumoured to be nearing release, with the roll-out expected to start as early as Mid-August, and is expected to bring new features to Windows Phone such as native folder support and more.

Source: WPBench; Via: WMPowerUser
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TimesCity gets a major update for Windows Phone

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TimesCity.com, a Times Internet service, allows you to access information about restaurants, nightlife spots and movie theatres around you. Available for eleven cities in India as of now, the app helps you search and find restaurants and pubs to decide where to eat and party as well as the latest movie showtimes.
The official TimesCity app arrived on the Windows Phone Store in April this year, and has just been bumped to v2.0.0.0.
The new version introduces table booking powered by BookyourTable from within the app. Once you pick up a restaurant, you need to specify number of people, date, meal type (like a buffet or brunch), and the corresponding time. Once the table is found available, you'd be asked to specify your mobile number to send the confirmation SMS. If you aren't logged in, you'd be asked to login via your Facebook or Google account.
The latest update also brings better functionality and an improved experience to search. QuickFinds make it very easy to help find what's around as well as the popular search keywords. Once you've searched for your preferred restaurant, pub, or club, you can decide quickly with the help of offers indicator on each listing.

Download the free TimesCity app for Windows Phone 8 devices from the Windows Phone Store.

Via: WPCentral
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Saturday 19 July 2014

App Update Roundup: Xbox Music, Xbox Video and Twitter got updated

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It is another morning and we are back to work with some more new updates to the well known apps. Microsoft is on a tight schedule, delivering updates to those apps every two weeks in an effort to bring them to par.
Heading to the Store and version 2.6.155.0 for Xbox Music and 2.6.154.0 for Xbox Video are now live for downloading and updating.

Xbox Music 2.6.155.0


  • It's faster to load your collection, particularly the collection lists and artist details
  • Scrolling in your collection album and artist lists is smoother
  • While your phone is charging, the app will opportunistically sync with your cloud collection
  • Better messaging as your collection builds and syncs with the cloud

A number of bugs fixed:


  • Album art not appearing (or incorrectly using the Xbox Music catalog version) when present in local MP3s
  • Scrolling through a playlist being jerky and seeming to scroll infinitely
  • Shuffling your collection having too few songs, and including duplicates
  • 'New music' items showing either twice or not at all

Xbox Video 2.6.154.0



  • Quicker loading for personal video, movie and TV show collections
  • Expired rental downloads are now automatically cleaned up to free up disk space
  • Additional bug fixes

Twitter:


Last week, the official Twitter application for Windows Phone got a major update, featuring multi-photo uploads and inline previews for Twitter photos, Vine videos and other select content. Today, the app has received another update, but don't get too excited. We don't notice any new features. 
The latest version is 3.2.0.1. If you're curious to have it now on your device, head over to your Windows Phone Store app and force the update. 
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Friday 18 July 2014

Microsoft kills 3D Touch Windows Phone codenamed "McLaren"

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Starting this fall, Microsoft was poised to release a new high-end Windows Phone featuring their new gesture technology dubbed 3D Touch. The project originally went by the name 'Goldfinger' but later moved to the prototype device stage under the moniker 'McLaren'. It was to be released on at least three US carriers simultaneously in addition to wider availability.
In effect, this leaves Microsoft in a potentially vulnerable position this fall as the hardware and services company does not have any flagship Windows Phones, to our knowledge, in the pipeline.
Although the timing of this report coincides with the recent layoffs and reorganization plans at Microsoft, the decision to cancel McLaren was made within the last few weeks, prior to yesterday's news. The reasons for canceling McLaren range from cost to Microsoft being unable to move beyond the proposal stage for interactive usages with the technology. The news of the cancellation is so recent that current GDR2 roadmaps still show McLaren and 3D Touch slated for later this year.
Although the idea of using touchless "3D" gestures to interact with a smartphone is enticing, the question of whether it is more than a gimmick constantly hounded the development process. Companies, including Samsung, had explored touchless gesture technology before but never to the level in which Microsoft took it. However, it seems that Microsoft was unable to move the project further to guarantee a consistent, workable, and usable consumer experience.
Interestingly, Microsoft and touchless gestures go back to 2008, meaning none of this is particularly new. However, this was the first time that Microsoft took the project all the way to the prototype phase, including making tentative deals with carriers to launch the phone this November. In fact, Nokia had initiated some advances in this area, including their "peek" function for Glance, which lets users turn on the display clock by hovering their hand over the display.
All of this is not to say that Microsoft has given up on 3D Touch as the company is still actively researching the technology. Nevertheless, these touchless gestures are evidently not ready for developers or consumers, and Microsoft is holding back until they feel the innovation is more than just a novelty.
Additionally, Windows Phone has recently seen much more success at the entry level price range rather than high-end, so it remains to be seen if this decision damages further Windows Phone adoption by the public.
Combined with the recent Kinect setbacks with the Xbox One, it is clear that the public – or perhaps the technology itself – is not quite yet ready for mass adoption. Microsoft has learned some hard lessons over Kinect as the state-of-the-art accessory has not exactly caused a revolution in game interaction.

Although McLaren is dead in the water for now, the thinking lives on and may see another day in future handsets.

Via: WPCentral
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Thursday 17 July 2014

Microsoft officially increases free OneDrive space to 15GB

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As promised last month, Microsoft has now turned on the switch and has expanded the free storage space on its OneDrive service from 7GB to 15GB for everyone who has an account.
The decision to double the free space on OneDrive was announced back in June but was not implemented at the time. Today's move means that anyone with a free Microsoft Account can access 15GB of space for storing documents, photos and videos and share them with others.
Microsoft will also let anyone purchase 100GB of OneDrive space for $1.99 a month and 200GB of space can be bought for $3.99 a month.
Today's move follows Microsoft's decision on Wednesday to activate the promised 1TB of free OneDrive storage space for anyone who has a paid Office 365 subscription.
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Cortana brings detailed stocks in the latest backend update

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Microsoft has updated Cortana to include detailed stock profiles. Instead of just showing whether your favorite stock has risen or declined, it will track changes over time and display them in a simple and clean graph.

As the Cortana team promised, Cortana will be updated twice a month using back-end updates to provide easy and quick improvements to their voice assistant.

Previous updates have brought voice improvements, World Cup Predictions, and much more.

What are some other improvements you would like to see in future Cortana updates?
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Wednesday 16 July 2014

Nokia Creative Studio app updated to version 6.0

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The Nokia Creative Studio photo editing app for Windows Phone Lumia devices just got updated to version 6.0 by Microsoft. While the name of the app remains the same (Microsoft didn't remove the "Nokia" branding this time), it does have a new design along with some additional features.

Microsoft actually revealed plans to update Creative Studio back in May, but the official change log for version 6.0 shows that the app has these new additions:

  • Redesigned for ease of use and flexibility
  • High resolution Reframe from Lumia Camera
  • Save a copy
  • New professional filters
  • Auto-fix your photos
  • Edit freely without losing your original photos
You can download the Nokia Creative Studio app right now in the Windows Phone Store
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Tuesday 15 July 2014

Windows Phone 8.1 tracker page now live

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As usual Microsoft has set up a official Tracker page for the users to see the live status of the update in their respectively countries and models. As Microsoft has already announced that from today onward all the existing Lumias will receive the new update. The tracker page is very useful for determining the update status on a particular model. We suggest you to go through the page and see the status of your device.
Open the tracker page from Here
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Nokia Lumia phones will receive the Cyan update starting today

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Finally the day has came. Nokia has posted details on their very own Conversations Blog that the roll out of Windows Phone 8.1 and Lumia Cyan will began from today for all the existing Lumia devices running on Windows Phone 8 OS. The latest OS was announced back in build 2014 and is coming out of the box in two of the Lumia devices, Lumia 630 and Lumia 930. The roll out will began from today and will continue till August. The update will bring a big list of new and great features to Windows Phone and we will be detailing them below.

  • Action Center, is the key to all your settings and with one swipe, acts as a mini dashboard to make your Lumia experience even faster. You can customize your settings and app notifications as well as change settings such as Wi-Fi and Flight mode. And yes, you can still make changes even when your phone is locked or if you’re using a third-party app.
  •  Cortana is the virtual assistant built around you. She tracks what you care about, helps you become more productive, and even gets better at her job the more she learns about you. She is also pretty good at football predictions. 
  • Wi-Fi Sense automatically connects your Lumia to free Wi-Fi hotspots around the world and even takes care of the annoying part of putting in your details for you.
  •  Word Flow, the most intuitive smartphone keyboard out there. Just glide your finger over the letters on the screen and your Lumia will do the rest. Word Flow will also correct words as you “type” and predict your most frequently used expressions. It’s lightning fast.
  • The updated native Calendar tracks not just your appointments, but also the weather, so you know when to bring an umbrella or a jacket in case of inclement conditions.
  • There are also several new enterprise features you should know about. With Windows Phone 8.1, you can send digitally signed and encrypted emails to people outside your company (S/MIME), and you can set your Lumia to automatically access your company’s virtual private network (VPN).
So here was a quick look at the features of the new OS. Note, Cortana is only available in US but you can get her in any part of the world by a simple trick. Check the trick Here. Also we are making you one thing clear here is that all the Windows Phone 8 devices can be updated to Windows Phone 8.1 and the users with Windows Phone 8.1 Dev Preview can also get the official update by Checking for Updates in Settings.
Happy Updating!

Source: Conversation Blog; Thanks to Toine for the heads up.
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Monday 14 July 2014

Cortana goes right with the Final Match, makes 15 out of 16

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Microsoft has created an amazing prediction system for the FIFA 2014 World Cup that went right with a percentile score of approx. 93.75% with one match going in the wrong way.
To help its near-accurate predictions, Cortana relied on the power of Bing to help it analyze how each team will perform. Though the World Cup pertains to soccer, it would be interesting to see how Cortana will be able to predict wins and losses in other sports.

This is how the magic of Cortana works:

It looks at the strength of each team through a variety of factors such as previous wins/losses/ties in qualification matches, other international competitions and margin of the victories in these competitions. Then other adjustments are made related to other factors that might give a team advantages over others like home field advantage (for Brazil), proximity (for South American teams like finalist Argentina), playing surface (hybrid grass), game-time weather conditions, and other factors. The data can also be tuned based on win/lose/tie probabilities captured by the people wagering on the outcomes. This model doesn't rely more heavily on any one element but rather has the advantage of dynamically and continuously adapting up until game time in an innovative way to give users the best possible prediction.
Now it is a big question, if Microsoft implement this system in other games also or it will be exclusive to Football only. So, are you guys impressed with this system. 
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Sunday 13 July 2014

Official Windows App Mania app hits a major update

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Good Morning and Cheers everyone as we take our app to a new level with the latest update. New update hits a new interface for our readers ensuring they have a lag free and smooth experience. The new update introduces the whole new design as requested by many of our readers. So let's show you the new design with the download link.


As requested by our readers we divided our app on the basis of sections and you all can jump directly to the section you want. Also we have fixed many bugs in the app so it should be smooth now. We are still in search of your suggestion to improve it more so keep sending us. You can download the app from the download link below. Don't forget to rate the app.

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Saturday 12 July 2014

Microsoft Research releases Climatology app for Windows Phone too

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Earlier today, the internets become enraged as Microsoft Research released a new app called Climatology. The app focuses on environmental averages and statistics around the globe culminated from MSR's FetchClimate project, and while interesting, it is not exactly the must-have app for 2014. However, what set people off was the release of the app on the Android OS and not Windows Phone. Immediately plans for a protest against Microsoft were fomenting with online petitions and Twitter campaigns.

The only problem? Microsoft released the app for Windows Phone too.

In the Store, version 1.0 of Climatology is now available to download. The app boasts that it can give "…you climate information for anywhere on Earth: temperature, rain and sunniness. Whether finding where are the warm, dry places to go on holiday in December or avoiding rain for your wedding, to finding out what the climate is like in Kazakhstan in April, Climatology allows you to discover the information you want."

Truth be told, the app itself gets a big shrug from us in terms of actual usefulness. Although interesting, the app UI is underwhelming as are the lack of settings e.g. Imperial instead of Metric. Nevertheless, the real story here is not the quality of the app but the message – or at least a perceived one. Microsoft, at least in this case, has not besmirched the Windows Phone name by prioritizing Android over its homebrew OS. Instead, they were merely a few hours behind. Maybe the real story is people should have patience before jumping to conclusions?

If you are interested in Climatology or a mediocre app, you can grab it now below.


Source: WPCentral
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Friday 11 July 2014

BBM Beta already filled up

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BBM has stopped accepting requests for the BBM Beta, which had gone live in the morning today. The status of the registration has gone to waitlist which means the registration is closed (at least for now).
This news, which was not unexpected, comes less than 24 hours after BlackBerry started taking signups for the Windows Phone BBM beta test. It's currently unknown just how many people were accepted into the beta test.
While the app is available in the Windows Phone Store only people who have been picked to participate in the closed beta test will be able to download and use the app. So far, there's no word on when the actual beta test will begin. We hope to get access to the early version of the BBM in the very near future for our own hands-on impressions.
Below is a small poll for our readers. Be sure to participate in it.

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ProShot gets a new update

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ProShot is one of the best Photography app made till date on the Windows Phone platform. Recently, the app hit the v5 which was the biggest update from the developers. Today the app has been bumped to v5.1 which introduced plenty of new features. The latest release brings handful of new features and bug fixes, including support for HTC devices, more resolution options for high-end Lumias, UI tweaks, and much more.
Checkout out what’s new in this latest release below.

  • Added support for HTC 8XT devices
  • Added more resolution options for Lumia 1020, 1520, ICON, and 930 devices
  • Added finer control to contrast / saturation sliders
  • Increased max zoom to 7X
  • UI tweaks
  • Improved UX when switching resolutions and aspect ratios, menu no longer closes
  • Fixed HDR bug on Lumia 1020 and Samsung devices
  • Improved stability and exposure compensation control on Samsung devices
  • Improved some translations
  • A lot of other bug fixes
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OneMusic receives a major update

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It is not a long time ago when we shared details on OneMusic, which is a healthy alternative to the stock Xbox Music. The app just got a new update and you can now find version 2014.710.1252.2122 sitting on the Windows Phone Store. Today we're looking at a really nice update introducing a new white theme and other changes. If you're a big fan of the app, head past the break to see what's new in this latest release.

New in this version:

  • White theme
  • Set startup page
  • Go to album/artist from now playing screen
  • Small UI improvements
  • Added info screen when launching the app for the first time
  • Folders which contain album images will be added to the album's tracks
  • General bug fixes
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Blackberry opens up sign-ups for BBM beta app

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It was a few days ago when the BBM Beta App popped on Windows Phone Store and as expected Blackberry has started taking registrations for the Beta App.
BlackBerry has designed their upcoming app to have a native user experience that embraces the clean, modern design of Windows Phone. There are three areas core to the BBM experience that you'll find in this app: Contacts, Chats and Feeds.
Contacts is a single list where you'll be able to view all BBM contacts (individuals and groups). Chats is the single destination for all BBM Chats including group chats, multi-person chats and one-to-one BBM Chats. Feeds is where you'll see what all your BBM Contacts are up to. Status updates and profile photo changes can be viewed here.
We just signed up for the beta and hope to do a hands-on when we get in. How about you? Looking forward to BBM on Windows Phone?


Note: Some of you may have get problems while signing up as the process is a bit complicated. So below are all the steps. Read them carefully.
  1. Open the above link.
  2. You will be asked to either Sign In with your existing BBM ID or create a new one
  3. After signing up or creating a new ID you will be taken to the Beta page. Login if you are a existing Beta user or Select Sign Up for a new user.
  4. Complete the form and Accept the terms of Blackberry.
  5. Now you will be on your Beta profile.
  6. Find Eligible program on the profile page and under it find BBM for Windows Phone.
  7. Click and complete the form given to you with original and exact details. Submit the form and  you are done.
P.S- The BBM page is not supported on Mobile version so do it with your PC or Laptop.
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Thursday 10 July 2014

Subway Surfers receives the monthly update, added 512 MB support

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Finally, the day is here. Subway Surfers receives the new update with 512 MB RAM support and is live on the store now and heads to the city of love aka, Paris in the new update. Although the store description doesn't confirm the support but I can confirm it as I download it on my Lumia 520. So head below for the store description and see the download link after a break.

Presented by Kiloo Games and Sybo Games. 

DASH as fast as you can! 
DODGE the oncoming trains! 

Help Jake, Tricky & Fresh escape from the grumpy Inspector and his dog. 

- Grind trains with your cool crew! 
- Colorful and vivid HD graphics! 
- Hoverboard Surfing! 
- Paint powered jetpack! 
- Lightning fast swipe acrobatics! 
- Challenge and help your friends!
- The Subway Surfers World Tour visits France
- Take Coco, the lovable mime, for a surf in the stunning metro of Paris
- Zap from side to side on the new sci-fi Teleporter board
- Add colour and style to your collection with new Outfits for Coco and Prince K
- Earn new Awards by picking up powerups high and low

Source: Twitter (@Nawzil8)
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