Nov 28
After users reported that their Windows Phone 8 handsets were randomly rebooting, Microsoft claims to have found the cause of the problem—and is planning to roll out an over-the-air update in December. More »
Nov 28
YouSendIt, a cloud-based collaboration platform, has announced the launch of its Windows Phone 8 app, which is presently available exclusively on Nokia’s Lumia 820 and 920 handsets. With the YouSendIt app, Nokia users can perform a variety of cloud collaboration actions from their phone. As a bonus, the app supports NFC, allowing users to share files with a quick gadget-tap.
According to the press release, the near field communication feature is available exclusively on the Lumia phones for “the next several months.” Other features include the ability to invite other users to collaborate with content via a shared folder. Files, including shared files, can be viewed and tracked by users via the app.
Users can sign files that they receive, and then send the files off again to other users. YouSendIt files can be opened in third-party applications, although the announcement doesn’t specify what these apps are. Those with enterprise authentication can manage a centralized file policy, as well, which controls the files regardless of what device they happen to be on.
Never heard of YouSendIt? The company was founded in 2004, originally functioning as a means of sending files that were too large to be attached to emails. Since then, the company has grown into a cloud-storage service with 37 million users scattered amongst 193 countries. This feature gives the service a new level of functionality, although there’s no word on when it will be available on other WP8 devices.
YouSendIt provides Windows Phone 8 app exclusively on Nokia devices is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nov 27
Bing Translator gets updated for Windows Phone 8, available now in the Store
Posted in: Today's Chili 
The Bing Translator app has been helping Windows Phone users avoid cross-cultural mishaps since April of last year, adding augmented reality and offline capability along the way. Naturally, Microsoft has updated this utility for Windows Phone 8. The latest version of Translator supports six languages (Chinese, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) and features a new “lens” for translating text via a smartphone’s camera. The app is available as a free download in the Store. Head past the break to see it in action.
Continue reading Bing Translator gets updated for Windows Phone 8, available now in the Store
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Windows Phone Blog, Windows Phone Store
Nov 27
Remember a week ago when we talked about how YouSendIt is a Windows Phone 8 exclusive app? Well, the leading cloud file collaboration service has just been announced to be made available officially, being available only on both the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 smartphones as at press time. In short, those who own either one of these two Nokia devices are able to synchronize, store, sign and share cloud content from anywhere. This Windows Phone 8 app will also carry Near Field Communication (NFC) capability, enabling users to share content with but a simple tap between handsets. This NFC feature will remain exclusive to Nokia devices for the next several months.
Among the key features that customers and businesses might be interested in include Receive and Track Functionality that allows one to view/track sent files and view/store received files, the ability to share, store, Electronic Signature authentication so that you can e-sign documents on the Nokia Lumia touchscreen, and a centralized file policy management among others. [Press Release]
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nokia attempting to block Blackberry phones in the US, US DoJ and FBI investigating T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger, asks FCC to put review on hold,
Nov 27
It was just last week when we mentioned that Microsoft is launching an investigation to finally fix the reported random boot issues on some Windows Phone 8 devices. Microsoft seems to have already identified the problem and is now zeroing on it. According to AllThingsD, the Redmond-based technology giant thinks that it has already spotted the root cause of the problem and it plans to push an over-the-air software update next month to fix it. “We’re continuing to investigate some reports of phones rebooting and have identified a cause with our partners,” Microsoft allegedly said in a statement on Tuesday. “We are working to get an over-the-air update out in December.” However, the company did not reveal the details of the problem, nor did it point out the exact Windows Phone 8 devices affected.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nokia attempting to block Blackberry phones in the US, US DoJ and FBI investigating T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger, asks FCC to put review on hold,
Nov 27
We reported last week that Microsoft was looking into complaints stating that HTC and Nokia handsets running Windows Phone 8 were randomly rebooting. The company didn’t have much to say on the issue aside from that it was “currently investigating reports of these incidents.” Now, a little over a week later, Microsoft says that it has pinpointed the problem and will have a fix out soon.
In addition to randomly rebooting, Windows Phone 8 users are also having issues with email syncing. These trail on the recent launch of the mobile OS, which already has an uphill battle against the powerhouse likes of Android and iOS. The longer it takes for Microsoft to push out a fix, the more it could suffer in the long run as consumers shy away from the buggy system.
Microsoft plans to roll out an over-the-air fix sometime in December, but did not specify what problem is causing the random rebooting and email syncing issues. “We’re continuing to investigate some reports of phones rebooting and have identified a cause with our partners. We are working to get an over-the-air update out in December.”
There’s no word on whether the update will be pushed out to all Windows Phone 8 users, or if it is only for those with certain handsets. Until the fix is released, users experiencing this issue may alleviate the problem by uninstalling Skype, something that has been reported to lessen the number of random reboots. Those experiencing email syncing issues, however, are out of luck for awhile.
[via AllThingsD]
Windows Phone 8 random reboot fix coming soon is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nov 27
With Windows Phone 8 getting so much attention around the Internet, it’s only natural that rumors of a Microsoft-branded smartphone are beginning to pop up as well. We heard about a Microsoft smartphone earlier this month, but now the phone has crept its way back into headlines, with DigiTimes reporting that infamous manufacturer Foxconn will be making the new device. The phone will apparently be set to ship in mid-2013, so if it actually exists, it may not be much longer before we get official confirmation from Microsoft.
With Surface marking Microsoft’s first foray into the tablet space, it isn’t hard to imagine the company making the jump to smartphones too. Windows Phone 8 on a Surface-branded smartphone seems like something too appealing for Microsoft to resist, so we wouldn’t be all that surprised to learn this rumor is true. Specifically, Foxconn International Holding is said to be putting this phone together, but neither it nor its parent company, Foxconn Electronics, would comment on the rumor.
In an interesting twist, Foxconn International Holding is said to be manufacturing an Amazon phone as well. We heard rumors of an Amazon phone earlier this year before the company unveiled the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Fire HD, but Amazon was quick to quash those whispers. Maybe Amazon was simply lying so it could reveal such a device at a later date?
The report from DigiTimes doesn’t mention anything about technical specifications, but it does say that both phones should be shipping in mid-2013. It also claims that initial shipments of both devices will be limited, but other than that, we’ve got nothing else to share. Looks like this is another one to toss on the ever-growing rumors pile until either Amazon or Microsoft share some official details. Stay tuned.
Foxconn reportedly making Microsoft’s Surface phone is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nov 27
Most of us would like our phones to run on a lean and mean manner – and this would mean having as little bloatware as possible, especially when your device is tied down to a carrier with a 2-year contract. Well, most of the apps would not come across as something that you need, but for sure there is no denying the fact that Bing Translator on Windows Phone 8 would come across as pretty useful. While the app itself rolled out on Windows Phone 7 a while ago, it was one of the more popular apps due to its slick operation and advanced features, and has carried a similar reputation with the new update to play nice with Windows Phone 8 devices.
This new version allows you to initiate the augmented translation mode through the use of the new lenses feature. Not only do you have options to translate text by using just the keyboard input, but you can also speak straight into the app itself, receiving speech to text translation. Apart from that, you can download full offline translation packs for the following languages – Simplified Chinese, English, French, German and Italian, making them ideal to have on your device before you step on that plane. It will also help you save a chunk of dough off data roaming fees, too.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Meizu MX2 Is Now Official, Nokia Lumia 920 Has Double The Galaxy S3’s Backlog,
Nov 26
It seems that quite a few people are pleased with Windows Phone 8, but unfortunately, the mobile OS didn’t launch with all of its promised features. If you’re feeling a little let down by that, then you’ll be pleased to know that Microsoft is working on a new update to deliver these features. The update is code named Apollo Plus, and it will apparently be launching in Q1 2013.
That’s according to Twitter user @Football4PDA, who tweeted the name and the release window earlier today. The Verge added to that initial tweet by saying that Apollo Plus will add, among other things, VPN support to Windows Phone 8. We’re also reportedly looking at a Wi-Fi fix that allows devices to stay connected to a Wi-Fi network at all times, along with some unnamed and nondescript audio tweaks.
There are probably more fixes and features planned as part of Apollo Plus, but at the moment, that’s all the information we have on them. According to The Verge’s sources, this will be the first OTA update for Windows Phone 8 and it will be revealed at MWC 2013 in February. That means we can probably expect it to roll out shortly thereafter, but when exactly is currently up in the air.
So, it seems that Apollo Plus will be adding some of features that got left behind in the rush to launch Windows Phone 8. If Microsoft is going to hold back official world until we’re at MWC next year, then there are probably more noteworthy features and fixes in Apollo Plus than just the ones we’re hearing about today. We’ll be on the lookout for new details as we approach MWC 2013, so keep it here at SlashGear for more information.
Windows Phone 8 update tipped as “Apollo Plus” is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nov 26
Samsung ATIV S delayed once again
Posted in: Today's ChiliBack during IFA 2012, Samsung revealed its very first Windows Phone 8 device, the ATIV S. The handset will have the familiar Samsung design that you already know and love, but will come running with Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 operating system. However, it looks like the the device has been delayed yet again, with a possible new release date of January 2013.
SamMobile is reporting that Samsung will start shipping the ATIV S during week 52 of 2012, which is the last week of the year. This means that a majority of shipments, as well as stock in carrier stores, probably won’t be available until January hits.
The reason for the delay? While Samsung hasn’t officially said why the new device is being delayed, it’s guessed that it’s because the company can’t get a hold of enough displays for the ATIV S. It uses the same display as the company’s Galaxy S III, which is selling incredibly well right now, and because of that, there’s a shortage of screens.
The ATIV S will have a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD display, the same one that Galaxy S III users have been enjoying throughout 2012 already. The Galaxy S III has sold over 30 million units, so we’re not too surprised that Samsung is struggling to keep up with demand, and it makes sense that they would delay the ATIV S until they know that they can produce more displays without a problem.
[via SamMobile]
Samsung ATIV S delayed once again is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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