Microsoft announces Windows Phone 8 SDK preview program, Windows Phone Store replaces Marketplace

Microsoft announces Windows Phone 8 SDK preview program, Windows Phone Store to replace Marketplace

Naturally, there’s a good amount of anticipation surrounding the release of Windows Phone 8 handsets, but before that day arrives, developers will need proper software to code apps. Microsoft stopped short of releasing the requisite tools, but today, the company announced the Windows Phone 8 SDK preview program — essentially a way for developers to get in line for when the software becomes available. As is, all developers must submit an application to the Microsoft Connect website by Monday, September 17th, at which point, they’ll be provided instructions “the following week” of how and where to download the SDK. As for why the company has stopped short of an immediate release, Microsoft blames it on the fact that not all Windows Phone 8 features have been announced — which gives us reason to hope we’ll see a full disclosure in the near term.

In related news, the Redmond giant has also revealed that the Marketplace will be renamed the Windows Phone Store, which is intended to harmonize the naming scheme with the Windows Store. It’ll first rear its head in both Australia and New Zealand, but the company promises to roll out the new storefront to other countries in the weeks ahead. As for what you can expect, a cleaner design and new menu options are said to be in the mix, along with news and reviews from various technology blogs and journalists. Other improvements will include new search functionality to account for typos, along with suggestions for similar apps, regardless of what’s in the title. Finally, Microsoft will also introduce new categories such as Best Rated, Top Free and Top Paid. We’ll initially see these designations in the online store only, but the company promises to mirror the functionality on its phones later this year.

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Microsoft announces Windows Phone 8 SDK preview program, Windows Phone Store replaces Marketplace originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia reaffirms WP 7.8 support for existing Lumia handsets, announces handful of features

Nokia reaffirms WP 7.8 support for existing Lumia handsets, announces handful of features

Nokia’s legacy Lumia devices won’t be graced with Windows Phone 8, but the company has reaffirmed its support for keeping them fresh with version 7.8 of Microsoft’s handset OS. In addition to a revamped start screen, the introduction of City Lens and other expected perks, Espoo is tossing in a few extras. Among the new additions are the Cinemagraph GIF creator, a ringtone maker app, updates to Smart Group Shot and Bluetooth support for both file transfers and the firm’s Contact Share application. Yearning to load up your smartphone with the raft of new features? Elop and Co. say the upgrades will be be rolled out in phases for the Lumia 610, 710, 800 and 900 models, but promise more details when their ETAs close in.

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Nokia reaffirms WP 7.8 support for existing Lumia handsets, announces handful of features originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia reveals new City Lens augmented reality app for Windows Phone 8 lineup

Nokia reveals new City Lens augmented reality app for Windows Phone 8 lineup

Just last week, Nokia’s augmented reality app known as City Lens broke free of its beta shackles, but its developers are hardly sitting on their laurels as they help prepare the company’s Windows Phone 8 handsets for store shelves. New to the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820, Nokia has announced a refined version of City Lens replete with 3D icons and the ability to disable suggestions that aren’t within the line of sight. Also on deck, users will be able to query their surroundings more quickly by pinning categories to the home screen and storing favorite searches. As one final addition, Nokia will be introducing the ability to use City Lens in both portrait and landscape orientation. Unfortunately, the company hasn’t committed to these new features for the Windows Phone 7.5 version of its app. For a quick peek of what’s next, just hop the break for a video teaser from Nokia.

Continue reading Nokia reveals new City Lens augmented reality app for Windows Phone 8 lineup

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Nokia reveals new City Lens augmented reality app for Windows Phone 8 lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 02:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nielsen: more than half of US teens now own smartphones

Nielsen more than half of US teens now own smartphones, Android stays in front

Yes, we know Android is holding steady at about 52 percent of US smartphone market share. What’s interesting is just who’s driving growth as a whole. According to Nielsen, 58 percent of American teens between 13 and 17 now have a smartphone — that’s a big jump from 36 percent a year earlier and a sign that the youngest owners have a significant sway over where the market is going. Not that young adults don’t have an impact. Although the 25-to-34 crowd isn’t making as big a comparative leap, its smartphone ownership has climbed from 59 percent to a dominating 74 percent in the same space of time.

No matter how much youth set the pace, it’s clear Android is still having an effect. Among the US smartphone buyers Nielsen tracked in the three months leading up to July, 58.6 percent went Google’s direction. Most of that gain came from BlackBerry owners switching allegiances, which doesn’t bode well when RIM is counting on existing owners to fuel BlackBerry 10 demand. We’d be careful about citing a one-point shrink in iPhone sales as a shift in the balance of power, however — while it could be part of a trend, it could also represent the habitual lull in Apple’s sales during the weeks before a major iPhone introduction.

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Nielsen: more than half of US teens now own smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refresh Roundup: week of September 3rd, 2012

Refresh Roundup week of September 3rd, 2012

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it’s easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don’t escape without notice, we’ve gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of September 3rd, 2012

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Refresh Roundup: week of September 3rd, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe Reader 10.1 for Windows Phone brings updated file browser, new search functions and more

Adobe Reader 101 for Windows Phone brings updated file browser, new search functions and more

Judging by WP Marketplace reviews from folks like yourself, the platform’s Adobe Reader application is in much need of a few tweaks — and, well, that’s exactly what the Flash maker’s done. As it did with its Android and iOS counterparts a few months back, Adobe’s now bringing an updated version (10.1, to be exact) of its mobile Reader app to the Windows Phone 7.5 (or later) crowd. Among the most notable features you’ll find are a revamped file browser, new search functionalities that make it easier to find words and phrases within documents, plus the ability to navigate PDF documents using the Page Scrubber or bookmarks you have set. Unfortunately, Adobe Reader 10.1 isn’t up for download just yet, but it won’t be too long before it eventually starts showing up on Redmond’s app market.

Update: As our dear commenters have pointed out (and the Marketplace has since confirmed), the Adobe Reader update is now available for everyone’s downloading pleasure. Enjoy.

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Adobe Reader 10.1 for Windows Phone brings updated file browser, new search functions and more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WMPoweruser  |  sourceAdobe Blog, Windows Phone Marketplace  | Email this | Comments

PayPal arrives on Windows Phone devices running version 7.5 or higher

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eBay’s money-exchanging service has brought its payments platform to Windows Phone 7.5 handsets. PayPal’s new app lets you send and request cash and check your account details (hopefully while laughing maniacally at your own affluence). A “local” feature will also direct you toward vendors who accept the standard, just remember that NFC supporting handsets don’t get here for another few weeks.

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PayPal arrives on Windows Phone devices running version 7.5 or higher originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Interview: Nokia’s Kevin Shields on PureView, floating sensors and the ‘missile’ that is the Lumia 920

Nokia's Kevin Shields talks PureView, floating sensors and the 'missile' that is the Lumia 920

A conversation with Nokia’s Stephen Elop, as we had earlier this week, is quite an experience. He’s kind, friendly, charming and obviously extremely passionate about everything Nokia — but his PR deflector shields are always full-forward. Ask him a challenging question and you’ll be greeted with a very gentle response that sounds like an answer but is actually just a deftly delivered retooling of some standard PR-friendly message you’ve probably already heard.

Interviewing Nokia SVP Kevin Shields is, as we’ve seen in the past, a somewhat more… direct experience. Why did Nokia go with a gloss finish on the 920 instead of the matte we loved on the 800 and 900? “Because it’s awesome.” How durable is the 920? “It’s like a missile.” How confident is he that wireless charging will take off? “We are all in.” Shields was kind enough to give us a few minutes of his time after Nokia’s event this week to talk Lumia and to explain just what “PureView” means now that it’s been applied to a second phone. Click on through to get educated.

Continue reading The Engadget Interview: Nokia’s Kevin Shields on PureView, floating sensors and the ‘missile’ that is the Lumia 920

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The Engadget Interview: Nokia’s Kevin Shields on PureView, floating sensors and the ‘missile’ that is the Lumia 920 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon confirms ongoing talks with Nokia for potential tie-up, declines to kiss and tell

Verizon confirms ongoing talks with Nokia for potential tie-up, declines to kiss and tell

Remember that image sent recently by an anonymous tipster showing two versions of the Nokia Lumia 822 nestled comfortably within Verizon’s device management system? Turns out there is something cooking between the Finnish phone maker and Big Red after all. The Wall Street Journal reports that Verizon has confirmed plans involving a Nokia Corp. tie-up, with sources familiar with the deal saying that the companies have been in talks since the spring. Just exactly what it is they’re working on, however, still remains a mystery. Apparently, Verizon and Nokia are playing their cards close to the vest and refusing to disclose specific details about a potential deal. Still, the betting money is on some sort of tie-up involving Nokia’s Lumia line. The Windows 8 handsets have seen a deluge of news this month, mostly involving the new 920 and 820 models. Whatever Nokia’s got planned, several analysts also said the company needs to act fast. With Samsung’s popular Galaxy S III already out and Apple’s new iPhone expected to launch soon, Nokia’s new phones are expected to see some tough competition.

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Verizon confirms ongoing talks with Nokia for potential tie-up, declines to kiss and tell originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink All Things D  |  sourceWall Street Journal (subscription required)  | Email this | Comments

D-Link Cloud Storage 4000 NAS stores up 16TB, hooks up to your smartphone and tablet

DLink Cloud Storage 4000 NAS stores up 16TB, hooks up to your smartphone and tabletD-Link’s latest storage solution is pitched at small business and households looking to escape into the world of cloud storage. There’s four SATA bays, each of which can carry up to 4TB, with D-Link adding in compatibility with its own cloud cameras (for network video recording) plus connectivity to Android, iOS, BlackBerry and Windows Phone devices. Remote access from your phone or tablet is possible through either the dedicated app or D-Link’s portal website. There’s also a pair of ethernet jacks on the back, for full-speed file transfer and back-up. The Cloud Storage 4000 is priced up at $450 and includes an DLNA server which will hook-up with D-Link’s own BoxeeBox, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 — storage buffs can even setup automatic email and SMS event notifications. Read up on the finer details in the press release below.

Continue reading D-Link Cloud Storage 4000 NAS stores up 16TB, hooks up to your smartphone and tablet

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D-Link Cloud Storage 4000 NAS stores up 16TB, hooks up to your smartphone and tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 23:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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