Friday 11 October 2013

Nokia releases Glance

Background beta; allows you to

add awesome photos to the

Glance Screen

Have you looked at the Glance Screen on your Nokia windows Phone and wondered what it would look like if you added a background image? Nokia has released a beta app that enables you to achieve just that. Glance Background is a new app for Nokia hardware that allows you to pick and choose images to have set as a background when the Glance Screen is active.

ditch back button, increase

screen size support past 7-

inches

Microsoft guru Paul Thurrott is reporting on some new information regarding the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 update aka ‘Blue’. He notes that the info comes from a single source, though he has confidence in the information revealed.

Windows Phone 8 GDR3 and

Bittersweet shimmer begins to

complete the picture

News this morning has come out regarding some more changes coming to Windows Phone 8 General Distribution Release 3 and Nokia's Bittersweet shimmer. Most of these features we have been aware of for some time, in fact we re-capped them on Saturday with the Glance screen information, but there are a few new tidbits to give a clearer idea of the big picture.

The info comes by way of Nawzil, who has been posting quite a bit of information regarding Microsoft and Nokia’s plans for the upcoming OS and firmware update. We have heard that GDR3’s features have been briefed by Microsoft with various people recently, so we’re not too surprised to hear information is now coming forward—leaks are leaks.

XBOX

By Michael Archambault, Thursday, Oct 10, 2013 at 1:15 pm

Just because Microsoft’s latest game console, Xbox One, is on the horizon doesn’t mean the company has forgotten about the Xbox 360. The company has announced three holiday value bundles for their customers in India - and they are sweet deals.

Lumia Windows Phones with

unknown improvements

Nokia has once again updated its Cinemagraph app for Lumia Windows Phones. The app enables you to record footage with the camera, edit the recording and save the result as an animated, GIF-like clip. Perfect for quickly sharing on social networks.

So, what's new in version 3.5.7.4? We're not entirely sure. We've had a quick play after updating and can't notice anything that has arrived with the update (the changelog is from an earlier version). Be sure to hit us up in the comments should you find anything new.

You can download cinemagraph from the Nokia Collection of the Windows Phone Store (note that this app is exclusive to Lumia Windows Phone 8 handsets).

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Indulged brings Flickr to life on

Windows Phone 8

Being the OS in third place means Windows Phone is slowly gaining major apps from big brands and companies. If those apps aren’t “officially” on Windows Phone the development community steps up and produces solid third-party offerings. And often those third-party apps are equal or better than the official apps.

Flickr is one of those apps where the official offering is lagging behind what the community deserves from an app. So join me in welcoming Indulged to the Windows Phone platform. It’s a brand new app for us that is poised to be an excellent way to experience Flickr on Windows Phone. Let’s check it out.

fans worldwide follow their

favorite teams every game

Here’s an app that all sports fans can get behind. One that isn’t focused on one region, but the planet as a whole. It’s called SofaScore LiveScore and it’s really awesome. It’s been out for Windows Phone since mid-summer, but we recently caught wind of it and the app itself received an update. What better time to talk about it. Let’s check it out.

holders for both the Lumi 1020

and Lumia 928, your next road

trip is going to be awesome

Your Windows Phone devices comes with some pretty stellar options for car navigation software. If you’re in the Lumia family you’re rocking out with Nokia Drive, otherwise you’ve got solid options which you can read in our recent roundup of navigation apps for Windows Phone. But what do you use to keep your phone locked and secure in your car? We’re been big fans of ProClip for a long time. So we’re super stoked they now carry phone holders for both the Lumia 928 and Lumia 1020.

Russia in October; priced to take

on Nokia

Earlier this year, we saw Huawei's Ascends W1 Windows phone launch in Russia at a very wallet-friendly price of 11,990 rubles, which at the time was the same price as Nokia's Lumia 620. Now Hi-Tech@mail.ru is reporting that later this month, Huawei's other Windows Phone device, the Ascend W2will follow suit, heading to Russia at the Lumia 620's current price of 8,990 rubles ($279.00).

sorting and actionable

notifications revealed in alleged

screenshots

New screenshots reveal more on the Notification Center, actionable notifications and a Battery percentage option in Windows Phone 8.1

More information is coming forward regarding the forthcoming Windows Phone 8.1. This time, alleged screenshots from build 8.10.12166.0 were posted in the our forums by user qXerro. Although we have not verified the screenshots (they can be easily faked), we can confirm that the information revealed by them is accurate for the upcoming Windows Phone overhaul due early next year. In fact, the grammar error suggests they are re-created.

In three screen captures, posted below, we can see more detail about the Notification center and sortable items in the App list in addition to a new battery display option.

The Facebook notifications have not be verified, but app list sorting is accurate

teased on the TELUS website

We've previously looked at the Nokia Lumia 1020 heading to Canada, and how the Windows Phone will not be exclusive to Rogers. TELUS has now teased the Lumia 1020 on the mobile operator's website, highlighting the camera, as well as Windows Phone 8. When will the new Nokia Windows Phone be arriving? No date has been provided, but we can't imagine it being long now.

game that will drive you crazy

I am Box is one of the simplest Windows Phone games out there. But you shouldn't mistake simple with easy because I am Box can kick you to the curb.

I am Box is a fast paced game of survival calling you to catch incoming colored arrows with the side of a box that has the matching color. The longer you survive, the better.

coming to existing Lumia

devices

Nokia have just a announced through their Conversations website that existing Lumia phones will get some sweet new feature updates. The new features announced will include addition Bluetooth capabilities, a ringtone maker and of course the new Windows Phone 8 start screen aka the 7.8 OS refresh.

Nokia are not forgetting about their existing customers, they made this clear at the launch of Windows Phone 8 and now we’re seeing them keep to their word.

Here is the list of new features announced:

In a new job posting and an employee posting, Windows Phone 9 gets name dropped for the first time publicly. The exact relationship between Windows (Phone) Blue and what is being referred to now as Windows Phone 9 is not too clear—for instance is Windows Phone 9 just what people are expecting Blue to be renamed to or is it another milestone OS upgrade?

Vine app coming to Windows

Phone

Earlier today Nokia took the stage to show off the Lumia 1020 and some exclusive apps. Those apps include the likes of Path, Flipboard, Panagraph, Oggl Pro, and Vine. No, we weren’t watching some special live stream where they announced Vine, but they did. Details after the break.

Head on over to the press release that Nokia released and read this beautiful snippet:

“Hipstamatic showcased Oggl PRO, an exclusive application for the Nokia Lumia 1020 offering the most advanced smartphone camera controls for their creative community. It was also announced that popular applications Vine, Path and Flipboard will soon be available on Windows Phone.”

So why didn’t Vine get announced on stage? We’re not sure. Could it be a typo in the press release? Maybe. We’ll be sure to find out what the deal is with Vine. But you might get an official one sooner than you think.

Ninja update: The Windows Phone Blog is saying the same thing. That Vine is coming to Windows Phone. We'll find out if this a Lumia exclusive or will be available for all devices.

Update: We can confirm Nokia is working with Vine on the app. No info on dates for release or exclusivity, but it is on the way!

Monday 30 September 2013

What does the internet think of

'Windows Phone'? The results

may surprise you

What Does the Internet Think about Windows Phone

When it comes to the brand ‘Windows Phone’ everyone has an opinion and everybody is also a self-appointed expert on marketing.A lot of comments lean towards the idea that Microsoft's brand is baggage, a discussion that is amplified with the proposed purchase of Nokia and the future of the Lumia trademark. The reason for then negative perception most often proposed? Its deleterious association with Windows desktop, of course.

stunning results

As if you needed more proof that the Nokia Lumia 1020 has the best camera on a smartphone. We’ve seen it pushed to the limits with a photographer for National Geographic. And just earlier today we saw the results from giving snapping on a macro lens to the already impressive camera magic in the Lumia 1020. So what happens when the Lumia 1020 is put in a studio setting? Very impressive results. Check them out below.

Nokia’s resident camera expert, Ari Partinen, took the Lumia 1020 into the studio. Shooting in the studio is great because the photographer can control literally everything, especially the lighting. Along with colleague Marko Saari, Ari used various soft boxes and external flashes for the shoot. The Pro Cam app on the Lumia 1020 allows users fine control over various settings. For the photo shoot, white balance was set to daylight, ISO was at 100, and the exposure time set to 1/200.

high resolution image files

Question. How do you go about deleting the high resolution image files from you Nokia Lumia 1020Windows Phone without deleting the 5MP, lower resolution copies?

That's a question Windows Phone Central reader Binson#WP has tossed out over in the WPCentral Forums. There's no way to sync just the low resolution images and you can't see the high res image file from your phone. So what's the solution?

Lumia 525, codenamed ‘Glee’

Next month in Abu Dhabi, Nokia is expected to unveil quite a few new devices including a phablet and tablet. Now leakster Twitter account Evleaks is claiming that the ‘Nokia Glee’ is really the Lumia 525, a follow up of sorts to the Lumia 520.

Verizon Nokia Lumia 929

coming in early November in Black and

White, $500 off-contract

Verizon is expected to launch the new Nokia Lumia 929 in early November, sources familiar with the matter have revealed to us. An inventory date of November 6th is listed for the phablet device, which may range in the 5-inch range as opposed to AT&T’s expected 6-inch device codenamed “Beastie” (also known as the Lumia 1520).

with support for AT&T and

Verizon LTE

Nokia has a strong following who still look forward to a Windows tablet. Speculation and rumours have been in the spotlight since the company started making Windows Phones and Microsoft releasedWindows 8 to the world. Currently being purchased by Microsoft, should the deal go through, we'll see future handsets be released by Redmond, but that doesn't stop Nokia from innovating and launching new hardware in the mean time.

The FCC has now approved a mysterious device, the RX-114. Require some proof that this is indeed a Nokia tablet? Feast your eyes on the above image pulled from the documentation, courtesy of Engadget. While the details are rather pixelated, it's clear to see exactly what we're looking at with multiple references to "tablet" alone. This could well be the tablet we've been covering the past months.

Mugen Power to launch

4800mAh wireless portable

charger with Qi standard

support

Portable chargers are becoming more and more popular, especially with Windows Phones. Nokia is pushing forward with wireless charging and its own family of chargers that can be carried along for the ride. The Lumia 1020 also has a portable charger inside its camera grip accessory. Now Mugen Power will be unleashing a 4800mAh wireless portable charger, and it supports the Qi standard.

and 14 more games for

Windows Phone 8 and

Windows 8 [Updated]

As mobile Xbox gamers probably know, Halfbrick recently released a new version of Fruit Ninja and Square Enix’s Chaos Rings became available to all Windows Phone 8 users last week. Beyond that however, we aren’t aware of too many game developers with plans to support Xbox Windows Phone in the future. Microsoft has been dark on the subject all year, and nobody else is really talking…

Nobody except Gameloft, that is. Last year, the publisher announced 12 Xbox Windows Phone 8 games – 10 of which have launched so far. Today Gameloft has reaffirmed its commitment to mobile Windows platforms by promising 15 more games for Windows Phone and Windows 8! Only four new Windows Phone games have actually been revealed, but it’s exciting news regardless… especially for Windows 8, which will be seeing much more support from Gameloft in the near future.

Head past the break for exclusive details on today’s announcement!

Coming to Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 in 2013

As I just mentioned, Gameloft has largely been cool towards Windows 8 since the tablet and PC OS launched last year. The publisher has released only one game so far: physics puzzler Shark Dash. Arcade racer Asphalt 7: Heat is due out this month as well. After that, the 15 games in the announcement will follow.

News of those games coming to Windows Phone and Windows 8 would be great enough on its own, but it doesn’t stop there. Gameloft also promised that several of the announced games will feature cross-platform multiplayer between phone and tablet! We don’t know if Play/Pause/Resume support via cloud saves is on the table, but let’s hope so. And let’s also hope that hit MMORPG Order & Chaos Onlinemakes its way to Windows 8 with cross-platform multiplayer. Dare we dream?

WINDOWS 8 APPS+GAMES

By Michael Archambault, Monday, Jul 8, 2013 at 4:25 pm

Windows Phone Central Roundup: Windows 8 Games

Last week we checked out the Top Windows 8 games for the “hardcore” gamer; this week, we are heading in the opposite direction and taking a look at the top Windows 8 games for those of you who just want to kick back. Cue the relaxing playlist on Spotify, grab a glass of California Merlot, and turn on that foot massager – we are counting off some of the Top Windows 8 games to sit back and relax.

Microsoft Mahjong

Microsoft contributes a few titles to our list today and the first is a remake of the Chinese game, Mahjong, from 500 BC. The boys in Redmond are definitely not the first to create a virtual game of Mahjong, but they sure got it right.

For the few of you who are unaware of how Mahjong is played, it is simple. A stack of tiles with various designs are laid out in front of you and your objective is to match identical tiles you see. Once you make a match, you remove the two tiles from the surface. Your goal to win is to clear the entire surface of tiles. The most important rule is that you cannot match tiles that are covered by other tiles or surrounded on both sides.

Players can choose from four relaxing surface (background) themes including “Tranquility” (a Zen garden), “Autumn Glade” (a lake in autumn), the cosmos, and underwater.

The game is simple to control via touch screen or mouse and offers a collection of Xbox Live achievements to collect. Difficulty can be selected and varies between Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert.

A daily challenge can be played to unlock monthly badges and prizes.

Download: Microsoft Mahjong (Free)

, upcoming app for Nokia’s tablet

In about three and a half weeks we’ll be live from Abu Dhabi where Nokia is expected to release a handful of new devices for Windows Phone and even Windows 8. Of course there will be some Asha devices as well, but you really want to know about the higher-end hardware. Nokia is also known for releasing new software and apps alongside devices. And it looks like an app called StoryTeller is coming for both Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8.

Surface Pro 2 for free at your

local Microsoft Store

Microsoft announced the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 last week at an event in New York City. The two devices, along with their new accessories, are due out on October 22th. Pre-orders started last Tuesday online and in-person. If you wanted to pre-order online you’d have to pay the full price of the device or accessory. However, if you did the pre-order in person at your local Microsoft Store you had to put at least $50 down to reserve your device.

Starting today, you can reserve your Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 without paying until you pick it up.