Mar 21
Slow and steady and also yeah really slow but hey whatever—Pandora’s here for Windows Phone 8! And actually, it’s probably the best mobile version of Pandora out there. So that’s something. More »
Mar 21
For those unfamiliar with other VOIP apps other than Skype, there is also the popular option of Viber which is available on both iOS and Android. Viber, like Skype, offers VOIP calls and messaging, meaning that if you have WiFi or 3G/4G coverage, you can make calls to other Viber users and not have to spend your minutes or credit if you’re on prepaid. Of course it eats up data but it helps when you’re in a foreign country without roaming or a local SIM card.
Now the good news is that if you have recently made the jump to Windows Phone, or if you have been using Windows Phone for a while, Viber’s CEO has tweeted that the app with VOIP capabilities will be arriving for Windows Phone 8 either March (this month) or April.
Viber’s CEO then goes on to state that the app has been extensively tested on Nokia’s Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8 device, but it should be noted that the app will not be a Nokia exclusive, so rest assured owners of other Windows Phone 8 devices like the HTC 8X. No specific dates were mentioned apart from the rough timeframe given above, but rest assured we will keep our eyes peeled for more information along the way.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google Now For iOS Being Held Up By Apple, According To Schmidt, iPhone 5S Will Launch With New CPU, Camera In Q3 [Rumor], 
Mar 20
Remember the marketing campaign called the “Windows Phone Challenge” (also known as “Smoked by Windows Phone”) that put Windows Phone devices up against other smartphones in a series of challenges that ultimately gave Windows Phone the advantage? Yeah, Microsoft is bringing it all back with some new television ads that will air this month during NCAA March Madness.
The first ad to make an appearance in the rebooted marketing campaign puts the Nokia Lumia 920 head-to-head with Samsung’s Galaxy S III in a photo-taking challenge in low-light conditions. The 30-second advertisement demonstrates the remarkable low-light capabilities of the Lumia 920′s PureView camera, while the Galaxy S III’s photo appears really dark.
Of course, it’s not really a fair fight to begin with. The Galaxy S III is almost a year old, while Nokia’s Lumia 920 just came out a few months ago. Of course, we’re not doubting the 920′s amazing photo-taking abilities (take a look at our full review), but how about Microsoft waits until next month when the GALAXY S 4 comes out for a true fair fight?
At the end of the advertisement, you see the Galaxy S III owner trade in the Android phone for the Lumia 920. Obviously, the commercial targets Samsung’s last-generation flagship directly, and suggests that the device takes “bad smartphone photos.” Of course, we’ll leave that judgement up to you, but we’d be more interested to see a Lumia 920 vs. GALAXY S 4 challenge more than anything.
Microsoft bringing back Windows Phone Challenge with new TV ads is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 19
Microsoft is offering new incentives to get more developers to create apps for its struggling Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 platforms. Microsoft says that for every app that you develop (and that gets approved), you will get $100. You can make up to 10 apps for Windows 8, and 10 apps for Windows Phone 8 for a grand total of $2000. You won’t be paid with direct deposit, or by paper check, but instead with a virtual Visa card.
Microsoft offers you a bunch of great tools and services to help you get started. There are several training events in a city near you (or at least in your state) filled with experts that can guide you through your app development process. There are also several tools that can help you get started on your app development, such as appMobi, which helps you create a high-speed mobile app using HTML5.
Along with the $100 per app incentive, Microsoft is also enticing app developers with a generous revenue share from their apps. App developers who generate $25,000 or more with their apps will be able to receive up to an 80% cut of the revenue generated. That’s 10% higher than what’s offered at both the Apple App Store as well as Google’s Play Store. It also says that your apps will be reached by the 60 million Windows 8 and Windows RT users out there, and that over 100 million of its apps have already been downloaded.
Microsoft believes that its platform would be a great place to make your app its home. The Windows Store is available in over 200 markets, and the Windows platform is available in a myriad of devices, ranging from laptops, PCs, tablets, and mobile phones. If you were to develop your apps for Window’s platform, you two would benefit mutually from the relationship. Chances are Windows would benefit more, seeing as it needs a ton of more apps in order to compete with Apple and Android.
[via Microsoft]
Microsoft offers Windows developers $100 for their apps is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 19
Microsoft has started a new marketing campaign in the US geared primarily towards Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 developers. The Redmond based company is offering $100 in cash to developers who will submit new apps for both of these platforms. They can submit 10 apps in each store and earn up to $2,000. The apps have to be submitted before June 30. The cash incentive will be given to the first 10,000 qualifying entries. The rules are quite simple. Developers must submit apps that do more than just launch a web page. Apps strikingly similar to previously published ones are not eligible for this promotion. The apps must be completely new. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft Facing SEC And DOJ Probe Over Foreign Bribery, Samsung VP Confirms Watch,
Mar 19
The newly Microsoft-bought Skype video-chat service has received an update for Windows Phone 8. Users will now be able to call their loved ones and stream over high definition video, so make sure your hair looks good and you have your best smile on. The app also received People Hub integration, meaning that all of your Skype contacts will be available in the Windows Phone People Hub.
This marks the first time that Skype has enabled HD video chatting in its smartphone app, and it’s compatible with any new Windows Phone 8 device that supports HD video recording, like the Nokia Lumia 920, HTC 8X, and the Samsung Ativ S. On devices that don’t support HD video, Skype will automatically use VGA video instead.
The app will also automatically set the video quality based on the speed of your WiFi or data connection, and Skype callers can use either the front-facing or rear-facing cameras, as well as switch between portrait and landscape mode for both cameras. Overall, the addition of HD quality should make calls a lot more pleasant.
The People Hub integration also makes it easier to start a Skype call with someone. All your Skype contacts will automatically be added to the People Hub on your Windows Phone device, that way you can start up a Skype call without having to open up the app in the first place. You can also switch between user accounts for Skype calls.
Skype for Windows Phone 8 updates with HD video is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 18
Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 hit the mobile scene this past November, making it available to consumers for only four months, which means a lot of adopters of the mobile platform will probably not be pleased to hear the company is expected to only support it until July 2014.
Microsoft has always been standoffish when questioned how long they would provide support for its Windows Phone 8 platform, but a recently published lifecycle update confirms the company will only support the mobile platform up until 2014. If you’re a Windows Phone 8 user, expect to be able to receive support up until July 8th, then your guess would be as good as ours as to if or when you’d receive future updates from Microsoft. Windows Phone 7.8 users can expect to receive support until September 2014. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Draw Something 2 Leaked, Google Nexus 5 With Revolutionary Nikon Camera Rumored,
Mar 18
Microsoft has confirmed the dates it will end official software support for Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.8, with both smartphone platforms set to run out of mainstream support in mid-2014. In fact, both phone OS versions will get eighteen months of Microsoft love in total, the company says, with Windows Phone 7.8 ironically outlasting its more capable successor because of its delayed launch.
For Windows Phone 8, which first hit the market – and thus started its lifecycle – on December 14, 2012, Microsoft’s official support will run until August 7, 2014. As for Windows Phone 7.8, that saw its lifecycle begin on February 9, 2013, and so will be supported until September 9, 2014.
As for what “mainstream support” actually means, Microsoft defines it as a period of updates and fixes, though warns that what firmware changes actually arrive on individual phones will depend on manufacturer, carrier, and location.
“Microsoft will make updates available for the Operating System on your phone, including security updates, for a period of 18 months after the lifecycle start date” Microsoft
The decision to detail exactly what Windows Phone users can legitimately expect from Microsoft is a commendable one, though it’s still no commitment to timely updates or, indeed, any guarantee that the smartphone you buy today may get an upgrade to the next version of the platform. There’s also arguably a disconnect between the length of Microsoft’s commitment, eighteen months, and the typical twenty-four month agreement most smartphones are sold with.
Microsoft’s feelings of obligation do differ in that respect from some of the manufacturers. Speaking to Nokia’s smart devices chief Jo Harlow at Mobile World Congress last month, she told SlashGear that the Finnish firm sees its responsibility to users lasting potentially up to twice as long as Microsoft does.
“I think that probably 2-3 years [of software support], certainly within the normal life-cycle that most people would own a phone [could be expected],” Harlow told us. “And that’s kind of how we look at it: for most people it’s two years, because that’s when they renew their plan. And for as long as that phone is being sold in the market, it’s two years from there.”
[via Engadget]
Microsoft details Windows Phone 8′s ticking clock (but Nokia disagrees) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 18
I don’t know about you, but I would like to take this bit of reported information with more than just a pinch of salt – an entire packet might do the trick though. It seems that support will continue to pour through for Windows Phone 7.8 at least until September 2014, while it would be July 2014 for Windows Phone 8.0. Hmmm, something does not sound quite right there, can you put a finger on it?
The table above shows that Microsoft has indicated that Windows Phone 7.8 will continue to receive support until 9.9.2014, whereas folks who are rocking to Windows Phone 8 have gotten the shorter end of the proverbial stick, with support ending at 7.8.2014. The updates that Microsoft will make available for your smartphone’s operating system will comprise of security updates, and the distribution of such updates could very well be restricted by the mobile operator or the phone manufacturer. Does this mean that Windows Phone 7.9 is in for a shout? I really am unable to answer such a question, but we can more or less be sure that Windows Phone 8 has its fair share of variants in the pipeline, ready and waiting to be introduced.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Flickr Rolls Out Hashtag Support For iOS App, Pearltrees Launches its Boticelli Version with Visual Enhancements,
Mar 14
Back in November a couple of years ago, Microsoft devised a new and interesting method of showing off Windows Phone running on any device, using a web browser to achieve their end, and it did not pay regards to whether you are using an iOS- or Android-powered device, it is all the same to Microsoft. In a nutshell, what they wanted to show off was a virtual demonstration on how Windows Phone and its Modern user interface functioned. Well, nearly two years down the road, the Windows Phone blog has dropped an announcement concerning a new update to the simulation which will show off just how information from your Facebook account is shown on the Windows Phone 8 Start screen, in addition to the People and Photo hubs.
Heck, you can even choose to post the whole Windows Phone simulation on your Facebook timeline if you want to, and I believe that this is Microsoft’s secret hope that you do so anyways. It does seem as though Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform is gaining its fair share of users in time, and special mention must be made to Nokia’s new range of Lumia devices that helped push the sales of Windows Phone devices for sure.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Sony Xperia SP Render Spotted?, Windows Phone 7.8 Update Build 8860 Could Have Tile Bug Fix,
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.