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!