Hasta La Gadget!

Consumers like seamless flow of data, it makes things so much easier, and doesn’t require having to punch in all the details once again on another device. This ease of use feels much more natural, and also ends up saving a lot of time. Microsoft today released updated versions of its Bing Windows Phone apps. These apps are now capable of syncing with their Windows 8 counterparts, so if you start something on Windows Phone, you can pick it up right where you left off on your Windows 8 machine.

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Bing Windows Phone Apps Now Sync With Windows 8 Counterparts original content from Ubergizmo.

If you have ever used a feature phone, chances are you are familiar with the T9 keyboard layout (pictured above). Smartphones these days now provide full QWERTY keyboards and the way phones have been designed, the need for T9 keyboards has pretty much been done away with, save for feature phones which still relies on the feature. That being said, could a T9 keyboard be making its way back into Windows Phone? Well according to the MUI files extracted from the Windows Phone 8.1 emulator by Windows Phone Lover, the answer is yes, it would seem that there is evidence that T9 keyboards could be making an appearance in Windows Phone 8.1.

We’re not sure why would Microsoft include such a keyboard given that a lot of people have gotten used to QWERTY already, but perhaps this is an option targeting those who are using smartphones for the first time, like those in emerging markets whom Microsoft will probably want ot target with low-end devices, so by having a T9 keyboard, it will give these customers something familiar to work with. Of course it could be fun to use it anyway as it is a hark back to the good old days, but what do you guys think? Yay for the T9’s return?

T9 Keyboard Could Arrive In Windows Phone 8.1 original content from Ubergizmo.

In a Reddit AMA session today, HTC employees confirmed that the company’s 8X Windows Phone handset will receive future firmware updates. This indicates that the company is working with Microsoft to bring Windows Phone 8.1 to the device. Windows Phone 8.1, also known as Windows Phone Blue, is a upcoming set of updates to the Windows Phone platform expected to land in April.

The as-yet unannounced Windows Phone 8.1 has been bouncing around the news lately. Not that Microsoft likely minds too much. Having the media pick over what is coming next for Windows Phone helps keep the enthusiasts enthused, and earns the platform coverage that it can repeat when the features are ‘officially’ released. Less of a bang at the end, but if you need to stay relevant, well, it’s an option.

Here’s HTC confirming that Blue is coming, and that they are working with Microsoft to deliver it to 8X customers:

So, that’s happening. Microsoft declined to comment.

Before I let you go for the weekend, keep the lower branches of that statement in mind. We know that a number of OEMs are either considering, or perhaps even now working on, getting into the Windows Phone game. Could HTC jump back in? I had an 8X for a while and can say that it was a fine piece of hardware. Windows Phone as a platform could use more like it. And HTC left the door plenty open in its statement on Reddit.

Something to think about.

Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform might not necessarily be the most popular smatphone platform at the moment, but it does have its loyal users, especially in emerging markets where we can see handsets like the Nokia Lumia 520 dominating. That being said, while in general iOS and Android are two of the more popular platforms at the moment, there are some markets in which Windows Phone is doing well, and one of them is Brazil where the IDC has recently confirmed that the Windows Phone platform has managed to overtake Apple’s iOS platform to steal the number two position.

Unfortunately despite Windows Phone having overtaken iOS in Brazil, it does not necessarily mean that the platform is catching up. The IDC reports that Android and iOS still account for over 90% of all smartphone shipments, 95.7% to be exact, in Q4 2013. Of course smartphone shipments does not necessarily translate into sales as the sales figures could always end up being significantly less than its shipping numbers, but it does indicate some level of demand. After all why would companies bother shipping to a market if there was no demand for their products, right? In the meantime what do you guys make these numbers? Is it all that surprising to see Windows Phone beat out iOS in emerging markets?

Windows Phone Steals Second Place From iOS In Brazil original content from Ubergizmo.

It has been rumored multiple times that Microsoft may be working on a long term plan to merge Windows RT and Windows Phone in a couple of years. Windows Phone 8.1, a major update for Microsoft’s mobile platform, is expected to be released in the near future and it may bring one of the first few subtle signs of this merger. A slide has leaked online, apparently belonging to an internal Microsoft presentation, which hints at “Universal Store” applications, basically single apps that developers can create which target both Windows Phone and Windows.

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Leaked Slide Hints At ‘Universal Store’ Apps For Windows And Windows Phone original content from Ubergizmo.