101 Reasons to buy a Windows Phone: Part 1
May 30, 2012 at 21:26 GMT | By
In response to My Symbian's 101 reasons not to buy a Windows Phone, we have decided to do our own 101 reasons TO buy a Windows Phone. As with all Windows Phone haters, the author displayed a serious lack of knowledge and understanding of Windows Phone. iPhone-obsessed websites such as Phone Arena couldn't resist ingesting and regargitating the nonsense in turn. In all honesty, a portion of the reasons are plausible and legitimate, but unfortunately the majority of them are pathetic, desperate and stupid at the very least. Take for instance reason number ... well, where do I start really? Apparently, none of the current devices are upgradable to Apollo, you can't silence a call, yadda, yadda, yadda... Unfortunately, such negative reporting counts for something. As much as a lot of Windows Phone fanboys bravely argued our corner in the comments section, it's the headline and article that the general public will read.
So, as of today, we are going to start a 101 Reasons to Buy a Windows Phone Series. We are not going to merely bullet-point our reasons like those lazy haters did, we are going to mention them one at time, offering difinitive and compelling explanations to drive the point home.
Number 1. User Interface
The "Metro" user interface on Windows Phone is a joy. It's original, intuitive, innovation, natural, clean and fluid. It is impressively responsive and fast, with everything coming off as a tight, cohesive whole. When using Window Phone, you will not experience any lag, nor will your device crash or slow down (you know who you are) to the point of needing a reboot. Unlike Android, iOS and WebOS (RIP), where you are met with a grid of static icons and countless amounts of "Home" screens, Windows Phone gives you a screen of Live tiles that is customizable. The live tiles are informative and original, delivering updates to the user that can be viewed at a glance without the need to start up an application. All this with devices that run on single core processors and have a measly 512 MB of RAM. Can you imagine how insane Windows Phone 8 is going to be? Still in doubt? Then we suggest you ask Mr Apple himself, Steve Wozniak.
Got any more to add? leave a comment below and dont forget to leave suggestions for the next reasons. We have a long way to go!
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Nokia announces availability of Lumia 610 in the UK, £15 per month on contract
May 30, 2012 at 14:45 GMT | By
Nokia has today announced availability of the Lumia 610 in the UK. The menial 256RAM is proving proving to be a sticking point with some apps, thought the Lumia 610 has some strong points, namely, arriving with WiFi tethering out of the box, a flip-to-silence feature and a whole host of Nokia's exclusive apps.
The Lumia 610 will be priced from £15.00 per month on contract across Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile and Three, in a choice of white, cyan, magenta and black finishes. The device will also be available to phone retailers Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4u.
True, the runt of the litter might not stack up to it's siblings, but at this price, we expect to see many a teenager and geriatrics alike sporting the Lumia 610.
VIA: WPCentral
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Marketplace Deal of the Week: Chickens Can't Fly
May 30, 2012 at 13:05 GMT | By
Marketplace Description
Join the ranks of our scientists and see what chickens are capable of! Chickens Can't Fly takes you in the depths of a secret facility, where you can do some wacky science.
Come in and answer questions such as: Is there life after the butcher? Is Chicken afraid of Ghosts? Does frozen Chicken get dizzy?
Features:
- Play in 5 different Laboratories.
- Conduct over 50 Experiments with varied objectives.
- Gently guide the chicken around obstacles and power-downs.
- Try the Survival Mode to see just how long you can go.
- Take part in the Challenge of the Week.
- Funny and classy Ringtones to light up your phone.
- Xbox LIVE Leaderboards and Achievements.
- Over 9000 more content than Chickens can Dream!
Chickens Can't Fly is available for $1.99 (usually $2.99) for a limited time.
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Photosynth Panorama App finally finds its way to Windows Phone
May 30, 2012 at 12:07 GMT | By
Here's one to cross of the "Windows Phone doesn't have this app" list the anti-Microsoft brigade seem to pull out of their back pockets when they run out of legitimate reasons to "diss" the ecosystem. Photosynth, Microsoft's panoramic camera app has finally arrived in the Windows Phone Marketplace, more than 12 months after making its debut on the iPhone. The app makes it easy to take 3D panoramic photos by taking a series of images and then "stitching" them together.
Marketplace description
Photosynth for Windows Phone is the panorama app that makes it easy and fun to capture and share interactive panoramas of the places, people, and events that are important to you. Using the latest in computer vision techniques, Photosynth is the acknowledged leader in mobile panorama creation. It is the only app available on any mobile platform that allows you to capture 360 degrees horizontally and vertically, making a perfect "sphere."
Once youve created a Photosynth, you can share it as an interactive panorama experience on Facebook and Twitter (using the free Photosynth.net service) or as a simple image. You can also publish your panoramas to Bing where millions of people will see your panoramas, on Bing Maps and in Bing search results for the places you've captured. And check out our featured list, where we show off the best of what you and your fellow users create and share.
Photosynth is FREE to download from Marketplace.
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Latest Xbox LIVE Title: MonstaFish
May 30, 2012 at 11:22 GMT | By
Beware the toxic MonstaFish! Keep the water clean of polluting mutant MonstaFish in four different game modes, where you use various methods of lethal destruction to clear the pool.
In "Fish Hook" mode lower the hook down to rescue the goldfish, or you can play "Fish Hunt" where you have to be as accurate as a sharpshooter with finger taps to hit the fish. Then you have "Time Attack" where it's you and your finger against hordes of fish and the clock! Finally is MonstaFish! mode itself, where your local friendly super-Octopus releases bubbles that you have to use to deflate the cunning MonstaFish. If, after all that frenetic finger fun, you fancy chilling out a bit there's always your Fish Tank, where if you look after it will soon attract new fish for you to care for.
Play all MonstaFish! modes to unlock a devilish array of Xbox LIVE achievements, or just play each game to be the top fish on the four different leaderboards. With beautiful graphics, great sounds and a theme tune that will get in your head (free ringtone included in the full game) this is one water fight you will love to play.
MonstaFish is available for $0.99 with free trial.
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Open letter from a fanboy: Windows Phone 8 must deliver, no excuses
May 29, 2012 at 12:43 GMT | By
I am what people would generally refer to as a Windows Phone fanboy and poweruser to some extent. I have for a long time been obsessed with mobile devices specifically running Microsoft operating systems. I religiously read blogs that are dedicated to Microsoft mobile devices such as wpcentral, 1800pocketpc, pocketnow, wpthoughts, wpdaily, WMPU, etc. At some point, those around me (and admittedly myself) questioned my sanity, suggesting my loyalty and love for Windows Mobile/Windows Phone was unhealthy. I'm sure by now you get what I am alluding to - I have been a long time loyal user of WM/Windows Phone. I vividly recall getting my first WM phone. Over the years, I graduated to WM6.1 courtesy of Samsung's Omnia, then moved to the Omnia 2 which I swore to all my friends was going to be the iPhone killer. On the 21st of October 2011 I took the plunge and got myself the Samsung Omnia 7 before trading it for the HTC Titan.
Being loyal to a Smartphone OS and ecosystem for us fanboys is a bit like supporting a football team, even when they get beat, you still argue that they are the best. For me, arguing for is becoming embarrassing now. When I talk to people about my magnificent phone, the response is always "Windows what, Windows who?" To put things in perspective, I live in a fairly populous city in England and have never come across a single Windows Phone owner. Not any of my 500+ Facebook/Twitter friends own one. Even my wife has the damn-it SGS2.
Android & iPhone
To me, Android is just Windows Mobile done right. Using an Android device always brings back sad memories of WM6.5.5 which packed a mean punched feature wise but had a rubbish user interface. Android is obviously benefiting from the solid support it receives from OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) who regularly refresh their line-ups, equipping them with the best and latest hardware and features. On the other hand, Apple's iPhone is refreshed annually and doesn't exactly boast of record breaking specs but is able to capture peoples' imaginations to such an extent that some of their customers actually believe that their phones are 'magical' (like hypnotised sheep). Admittedly, iPhones are aesthetically pleasing and fairly straight forward to use. When Apple does something, they do it well. Take Siri for instance, which is nothing new. Windows Phone and Android have had speech recognition integrated well before iOS but the way Apple has implemented it is far superior and you can bet your last dollar that they are going to make everyone believe that they invented speech recognition through clever advertising. Windows Phone 8 MUST deliver a lot of features to keep at par with Android and iOS. Early adopters have persevered for 18+ months and cannot be made to endure another few months of being beta testers. Lately, we have caught wind of the features that are supposed to be coming to Windows Phone 8. For the benefit of those that live under a rock, here is what we are to expect:
- Support for multicore processors
- Support for new screen resolutions, a total of four
- Support for removable microSD card storage
- Support for NFC
- Inclusion of Windows' core elements, including kernel, networking stacks, security, and multimedia support
- New data-tracking capabilities, showing users a breakdown of their data consumption by various networks
- Use of a proxy server to deliver pages more efficiently and quickly to Internet Explorer 10 Mobile
- Of special interest to enterprise users: Addition of native BitLocker encryption and Secure Boot
- Of special interest to developers: New app-to-app communication capability that sounds like Windows 8s contracts feature, as Thurrott noted
- A separate but improved Skype application, but not integration of Skype into the operating system
- Replacement of the Zune PC client software with an update mechanism more akin to ActiveSync
It seems everyone but Microsoft can see that Windows Phone is suffering from lack of strong advertising. It's a bit like the Arsene Wenger (football team manager) situation where everyone knows he needs to buy a defender but he doesn't do it either because of stubbornness or plain stupidity. I'm sure the likes of Joe Belfiore & co are very intelligent folks but they all seem to lack common sense that your average fanboy like me and you seem to have. I constantly hear them talk of 'word of mouth'. Apparently, the word will soon get round that Windows Phone is amazing and everyone will get one. Well, its been 18 months now and it doesn't seem to be happening. The first round of adverts put out by Microsoft and its partners when Windows Phone was launched were utter tripe. I'm no PR guru but I can tell you that they were uninspired, uninformative and somewhat confusing. Apple has proved that ads should focus on features and functionality and this should now be a case of 'if you can't beat them, join them' for Windows Phone. Microsoft should put out ads that tell people what Windows Phone can do for them, not their usual noisy and flashy ads that are likely to induce an epileptic fit rather than inspire you to get one. Nokia seem to be doing it right with their Amazing everyday campaign. Their ads are catchy and informative. Ben '@BenthePCGuy' Rudolph's #smoked campaign hasn't done Windows Phone any harm either.
Apps/Games
A lot of Windows Phone haters always remind us how marketplace only has 80000+ apps at present and supposedly this is not enough for Windows Phone to compete against android and iOS. Though this point is legitimate at present, I believe the Apps team is doing enough to reach out to developers and it shouldn't be long when Windows Phone has all major devs on board. Let's not forget that the OS is 18 months old and has already surpassed Blackberry, Symbian and WebOS in real apps. However, attention has to be paid to popular apps such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. I love the integration in Mango but there is still a need in standalone apps. I find it unacceptable that Windows Phone can't collaborate with Facebook in developing a decent app for Windows Phone considering how much Microsoft is invested in Facebook. Bing and Skype are integrated features on FB and i also understand Microsoft is a FB shareholder yet us Windows Phone users have to make do with a half-baked and inadequate third party FB app developed by an inept company called Clarity Consulting who have failed at every level in developing and updating the app. Also, I feel like I'm being mugged when i pay top dollar for apps that are free on Android and iOS like Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds. These are small battles that might lose the war for Windows Phone.
The recent debacle sorrounding the Nokia Lumia 610 not being able to run a handful of games has to be addressed. Like I said earlier, it's no deal breaker but gives anti-Nokia/ Windows Phone websites ammunition to shoot the OS down.
Hardware & OEMs
Time and again we are told that Windows Phone doesn't need dual core CPUs, doesn't need big RAM and so on... Utter garbage! Windows Phone needs them all and more. When people buy gadgets, they like to know and feel they got the best. Take for instance when people buy laptops, they want the biggest specs their money can buy them despite the fact they will never fully utilise them. Motorola came back from death's door with their Atrix which for time they claimed was the worlds' most powerful phone and in the process managed to capture peoples' attention. It's obvious some OEMs don't believe in Windows Phone. Motorola flirted with Windows Phone before jumping straight into bed with Google. Ericcson seems to be bidding their time while others like Dell seem to be losing interest. Samsung see treats Windows Phone like an ugly stepchild that only gets leftovers and second-hand clothes (What Samsung is doing in Europe is confusing). LG remains ambiguous, while HTC is plodding along with the Radar and Titan, which are is not enough to allow them to continue being the strongest Windows Phone OEM. NOKIA, NOKIA, NOKIA, the saviour of Windows Phone. I don't want to speculate as I could be proved wrong when Nokia unveils their Windows Phone 8 device(s). I hope that the rumours of Nokia readying an "iPhone Killer" of a device are correct. What most of us are crying out for is a standout premium device, something you can place alongside an iPhone 5 or SGS3 and not automatically feel inferior.
Conclusion
Despite all the negatives, Microsoft has got it right at times. The Mango update was a smooth and seamless for most of us. The way they it was synchronised the update in different countries via different carriers is impressive. What was more impressive was how they delivered the Mango Beta clean-up update which meant that we didn't need to revert to NoDo to be able to update. It showed that Microsoft is finally listening to their customers. The Mango update went a long way in eradicating the bitter taste left by the NoDo debacle. Now, we wait to see if Microsoft listening isn't selective. Windows Phone 8 has to be delivered to all current device without excuse. I have no doubt Microsoft are in this for the long run and have faith that Windows Phone will not suffer the same fate as WebOS. I'm sure they have a strategy that will gain Windows Phone a healthy chunk of market share. The way Xbox has overtaken Sony's Playstation is reassuring.
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Lightning Nap: A simple one-click nap alarm app
May 29, 2012 at 10:34 GMT | By
Lightning Nap is a simple one-click nap alarm app. Set how long you want to sleep, put in an optional wake up message, and hit "set alarm". The app will take care of the rest.
Features include:
- Non-invasive alarm design, which enables the alarm to function even when the app is closed
- Intuitive alarm page which shows when the alarm will ring and how many hours and minutes remain before it will ring
- Customizable default nap time
- Customizable default wake up message
- Convenient +5 and -5 buttons, which easily add/subtract 5 minutes from your current nap alarm time
Visit www.caveknight.com for more info.
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Editorial: Skype not working on the Nokia Lumia 610 is no deal-breaker!
May 28, 2012 at 16:37 GMT | By
Over the last few days, we've read reports of how the Nokia Lumia 610 would not be able to support Skype, which according to some established technology blogs was unacceptable and likely to be harmful to the ecosystem. It then turned out that a whole bunch of RAM hogging applications would not run on the Lumia 610, namely Angry birds, Tango, PES, ect.
When Windows Phone Refresh/Tango was announced, Microsoft mentioned that Tango devices with low-end specifications would not be able to run 5% of current applications in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Suddenly, everyone is acting surprised and dissapointed because a number of apps are unavailble for the Nokia Lumia 610. Need I remind anyone, the Lumia 610 is a low-end Tango device with 256MB of RAM, meaning that 5% of current apps will be unavailable to the device. So, why act like we are surprise?
Maybe the fact that Microsoft actually own Skype has something to do with the sounds of discontent coming from some Windows Phone users and doom mongers alike. We know that most of these apps can work on low-end devices if they were optimized to do so, so its disappointing that Skype could not be bothered to make their app work on the Lumia 610. While the fact that some apps are not able to run on Tango devices isn't ideal, it certainly is no deal-breaker. After all, a big chuck of Android devices cannot run a big percentage of apps on Android's Play. Also, the iPhone 3GS doesn't have Facetime while the iPhone 4 does have Siri yet you don't hear any of these anti-Microsoft tech site complaining.
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BBC: We have no plans to launch an iPlayer app for Windows Phone
May 28, 2012 at 13:24 GMT | By
Last week, we were excited to report that a native BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) app for Windows Phone. Reports from The Inquirer about the iPlayer app finding it's way to Windows Phone "within weeks" appear to have been misguided.
According to Pocket-lint, the BBC had no knowledge of an iPlayer app for Windows Phone. Pocket-lint claim to have spoken to the BBC and this is the response they received:
"BBC iPlayer is already on over 500 platforms and devices including Virgin Media, BT Vision, FreeSat, Freeview, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and hundreds of mobile phones, tablets, and Internet-connected TVs.
We are always looking at new and existing platforms to bring BBC iPlayer to, but have no plans to launch a BBC iPlayer native app in Windows Phone Marketplace in the immediate future."
This is at the very least confusing and rather disappointing if it turn out to be true. We have reached out to the BBC to verify this and will update you as soon as we receive a reply.
SOURCE: Pocket-Lint
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Windows Phone Market Share now at 7.65% in Finland
May 28, 2012 at 11:07 GMT | By
Though StatCounter is not considered as is the de facto standard in stats, it is still a great tool for watching how markets evolve and how mobile platforms are doing in general. I suppose it can be said it's a case of reading and believing what you want to. Well, that's the case with Windows Phone market share in Finland since the introduction of the Nokia Lumia 800 on the 1st of February this year. It is absolutely incredible that the Windows Phone market share now stands at 7.65% on the strength of one device alone within a short space of time. These are of course special circumstances as Finland is the home of Nokia. Now that the Lumia 610 and 900 are available in Finland, we should see Finland become the first market where Windows Phone finally crosses over the much desired 10% market share.
Here is how they stand in Finland:
- iOS 38.21%
- Android 31.18%
- SymbianOS 17.09%
- Windows Phone 7.65%
- Series 40 1.87%
- MeeGo 1.61%
- Maemo 5 0.54%
- Linux 0.53%
SOURCE: e'sPhoneBlog
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Nokia bringing Superhydrophopic Technology to future Lumia devices
May 28, 2012 at 10:28 GMT | By
Nokia first demoed their Hydrophobic Nanocoating earlier this year and it seems they are now aiming to bring the technology to future Lumia devices though it's still unclear exactly how the technology works and exactly when it will be coming to Nokia devices.
Conor Pierce, VP of Nokia Western Europe unveiled the new "superhydrophopic" technology at the Lumia 610 launch in London last Thursday. Explaining how the technology works, Pierce said, "What happens when a drop of water lands on a lotus leaf has baffled scientists for generations but our team in Cambridge UK found a solution. Nano technology lets us do it. Superhydrophobic technology makes water bounce, it stops it, rolls it off the device and leaves it water impregnant, that's the magic, that's what we're going to bring to the party."
Great news for Windows Phone users as for the first time they might have a choice of a waterproof device. The Fujitsu IS12T is a waterproof Windows Phone but is unfortunately only available in Japan.
SOURCE: the INQUIRER
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BBC iPlayer coming to Windows Phone in weeks, Sky Go in a few months
May 25, 2012 at 15:10 GMT | By
BBC Iplayer will be coming to Windows Phone handsets "in weeks", a Nokia spokesperson has told The INQUIRER. The catch-up service allows viwers to watch their favourite shows from all the BBC televisions channels online.
The Nokia spokesperson said the app will tip up in the Windows Phone Marketplace within the next few weeks. Speaking at the Nokia Lumia 610 launch in London on Thursday, the Nokia staffer said, "BBC Iplayer is expected to arrive on Windows Phone within the next few weeks, a sign that the Windows Phone Marketplace is attracting more developers."
It's unclear as to whether the app will be available for all Windows Phone devices or will be exclusively for Lumia devices. As much as we love what Nokia is doing for Windows Phone, the latter scares me. If it does turn out that the iPlayer app will be a Lumia exclusive, a bunch of alternative Windows Phone owners will be left feeling disillusioned at the very least.
Meanwhile, the spoksperson added that Sky Go won't be coming to Windows Phone for at least "a good few months", which is rather disappointing but encouraging nonetheless. The idea that one is on the way is in itself a positive.
SOURCE: The Inquirer
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Microsoft wins injunction against Motorola in Germany
May 24, 2012 at 23:22 GMT | By
A German regional court on Thursday issued an injunction against Motorola Mobility for infringing one of Microsoft's patents, according to FOSS Patents. The injunction arises from Motorola's infringement of a Microsoft patent covering the transmission of long text messages by breaking them into multiple parts.
Motorola is now banned from selling its Android-powered devices that infringe Microsoft's EP1304891 patent. Patent expert Florian Mueller notes that since the patent covers "operating system-level functionality, the modifications Google would have to make to Android to work around this ruling would lead to significant complications." Also, apps that make use of Android's messaging layer will apparently have to be completely rewritten.
The sales ban, for the time being, is subject to additional confirmation. If confirmed however, it is enforceable with a bond of $31.4 million.
Earlier this month, Motorola was the victor in another German case relating to video compression patents, winning an injunction against Microsoft that could prevent the company from distributing its Xbox, Windows, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player products in the country if Motorola pursues enforcement pending a related US-based case.
One Word, karma!
SOURCE: FOSS Patents VIA: BGR
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Lightning Task: Lightning fast and highly featured task manager
May 24, 2012 at 21:19 GMT | By
Lightning Task is a highly featured task manager/to-do list with a strong emphasis on speed and efficiency. Its user interface is intuitively designed to minimize the amount of tapping and finger work needed to get the job done.
Features:
- Fast multi-view layout that can sort tasks based on category, due date, priority
- Search function that helps find specific active or previously completed tasks
- Smart view headers which tell how many tasks remain that fit a certain sorting criteria
- Smart view headers can also feature a "+" button which can automatically set a new task to fit the respective sorting criteria
- Live tile which indicates how many incomplete tasks remain and the Lightning Apps mascot "Esc" featuring different facial expressions based on the number of incomplete tasks remaining
- Customizable categories
- Automatic alarm reminders
- Macro-selection commands that can apply changes to multiple tasks at once
- Many quick due buttons such as "3 hours from now" or "+1 day" which can set the due date/time to very specific parameters automatically
- Task can have an optional specified location, which can be viewed on a map
- Task can have optional "notes" field
- Option to set how long to keep old completed tasks
- Customizable default due time
Visit www.caveknight.com for more info.
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Windows Phone Facebook app updated to v2.5
May 24, 2012 at 16:33 GMT | By
Last month, the developers of the Windows Facebook app announced that the app will be updated to v2.5 within a few days, leading to some of us who have obsessive traits to religiously check for updates. Precisely a month later, v2.5 has finally hit Marketplace.
Here's what we expect to find in v2.5:
- Threaded messaging: Full Facebook threaded messaging including group messaging, all in a beautiful Metro style design.
- Tagging: Now you can tag friends and locations in your posts in the 'with' and 'at' format .
- Delete posts and comments: Use the tap and hold context menu to delete posts and comments from your wall.
- Active links in posts: Tap on links in posts to go directly to the content.
- Updates to the photo comments and likes page: The photo comments and likes page has been updated to match the posts comments and likes page. You can see a hint of the image at the top of the page, pull down and you can see the whole thing.
- And finally, by popular demand...you can now 'like' comments!
SOURCE: Facebook
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Microsoft Office app for iPad and Android tablets rumoured to be launching in November
May 24, 2012 at 12:35 GMT | By
According to BGR, Office for the iPad and Android tablets may be launching in November of this year. This is not the first time we've heard this as a few months ago a picture surfaced of what was claimed to be an upcoming Microsoft Office for iPad app. Then, Microsoft was quick to state the image was a fake.
BGR claims that the apps will potentially be available to download sometime around November, but there is no indication of the price. They say they've seen Microsoft Office running on an iPad, but the boot up screen showed "Office for iOS." The other information regarding Android is that it's only coming to tablets, not Smartphones.
I guess it was always inevitable that Microsoft was going to bring the Office Suite to mobile devices, since it's too lucrative a market to miss, but we fear the short-term gains will turn out to be long-term pains. We are rather disappointed as we feel that Office can be a major attraction to those looking at getting a Smartphone. I don't see Apple rushing out their iWork suite for Windows Phone or Google bringing Google Docs either.
SOURCE: BGR
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Marketplace Deal of the Week: MONOPOLY
May 24, 2012 at 11:44 GMT | By
This week's XBOX Live deal of the week is MONOPOLY. I must admit that parting an eye-watering $4.99 was a major put off but I was glad I bought the game when I started playing it. The game is fluid, with nice animations that you can disable to speed up play. at $2.99, I reckon it's a steal.
Features
Use your existing Xbox LIVE Gamertag or create a new one via the Windows Phone 7 main menu to track achievements and access leaderboards for this MONOPOLY game.
• TRACK UP TO 12 ACHIEVEMENTS Buy your first property, bankrupt your opponent, own a whole side of the board, and more! Earn achievements and get up to 200 Gamerscore points!
• ACCESS UP TO 5 WEEKLY, MONTHLY, AND LIFETIME LEADERBOARDS See how you stack up against your friends! Who has the most total wins? Spent the most on upgrades? Or earned the most MONOPOLY money?
• SEE YOUR AVATAR Your Xbox LIVE avatar is highlighted when it's your turn in the game, and you can even see the current player to beat so you know the tycoon you need to take down!
EMPLOY HANDS ON MANAGEMENT
Utilizing the 800x480 resolution of Windows Phone 7, the MONOPOLY board looks sharp! Use the multi-touch interface to zoom in, swipe, and spin from Baltic Avenue to Boardwalk!
BUY, SELL & TRADE FAMOUS PROPERTIES
From Marvin Gardens and Water Works to Park Place, own and manage the famous holdings of the MONOPOLY board, which comes to life with animated tokens and interactive features.
CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL AND LOOK
Play through 3 levels of difficulty and save games in progress. Also customize the number of players, "house rules," and even the game environment.
Want to keep up to date with the latest Windows Phone news, rumours, apps, games, etc? Just like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our feed and we will do the rest.
Nokia pulls Skype for Lumia 610 from Marketplace
May 23, 2012 at 15:05 GMT | By
Nokia has announced they are dropping support for Skype on the Nokia Lumia 610 due to a below par user experience of using the Skype app on the device.
According to Nokia, although the Windows Phone version of Skype works on the Nokia Lumia 610, they have found after in-depth testing that the user experience is not on par with both Nokia and Skype's expectations, and as such owners of the Lumia 610 will no longer be able to download the Skype app from the Windows Phone Marketplace. This is hardly a surprise give how the app requires at least 512MB of memory. The below par Skype user experience is obviously due to the Lumia 610 having 256MB of RAM. Here's the official statement from Nokia Hong Kong:
"Nokia attaches great importance to the launch of products and services to bring the user experience, so even if the Skype Windows Phone version on the Nokia Lumia 610 does, but after intensive testing, we found the user experience does not guarantee to Nokia and Skype the expected level. Therefore, we do not recommend users to use Skype on the Nokia Lumia 610. Nokia Lumia 610 users in the Windows Phone Marketplace will not be able to download Skype, Windows Phone version. Skype, Windows Phone version will continue to open to other users to download."
For us, this is at the very least frustrating considering the close relationship between Nokia and Microsoft, and the fact that Microsoft owns Skype, how they haven't managed to get Skype working on the Lumia 610.
VIA: The Verge
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Latest Xbox LIVE Title: Droplitz Delight
May 23, 2012 at 14:35 GMT | By
Can you save the Droplitz? Spin and twirl dials to make paths and help these adorable misfits to safety. There are twists-a-plenty in this humorous carnival of addictive puzzle action! Droplitz Delight 'revolves' around you. Think strategically and work quickly. Don't let your paths drip dry. Spin dials to form paths from top to bottom. Make multiple paths to increase your score and help the Droplitz multiply. Master Chain Reactions for massive scores. Never give up, never surrender!
Visit 6 colorful worlds in 4 brilliant modes. Set the Droplitz free in progressively harder levels with Target Quest. Jump in and challenge the original gameplay in Classic. Play to your heart's content in Free Play. Get the highest score you can in just one minute with Droplitz Dash.
Beginners can find solace with single dropper levels, a quick tutorial, and even hint buttons during gameplay. With more than 40 levels, trophies, and competitive high score tables, Droplitz Delight will have you captivated!
- Guide the Droplitz to safety in this uniquely addictive puzzle game
- Turn dials, create paths, and help the Droplitz from top to bottom
- Complete more than 40 levels in 4 brilliant game modes
- Unlock brilliant trophies and climb the high score tables
- Variety of difficulty levels suit beginner to expert players
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ZTE Tania with upgraded 1.4 GHz processor launching in China later this month
May 22, 2012 at 10:49 GMT | By
The ZTE Tania is getting ready to make its debut in China, with a bigger and better 1.4GHz SoC. The Tania is already available in some European markets, featuring a 4.3-inch WVGA display, 4GB of internal flash storage, a five-megapixel camera, and a 1GHz processor. ZTE's sales director Wei Xiaodong told CNMO that the Tania will be in Chinese stores before the end of this month.
The upgrade could go a long way towards putting the Tania on a more even playing field with phones that are already doing well in China but the 4GB of storage remains it achilles heel. However, the competently priced Tania will be a welcome edition to the Windows Phone lineup as the operating system gears up to take on Android in China.
SOURCE: CNMO VIA: WPCentral
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Sim Free Nokia Lumia 610 Now Available in the UK
May 22, 2012 at 09:52 GMT | By
The Lumia 610 is now available for purchase from UK online retailer, Clove. The all-black version will set you back £180 (including VAT).
Meanwhile, another online retailer, Handtec, announced that they have stock available of the Nokia Lumia 610.They only have the black model available and will cost you slightly less at £175.19.
SOURCE: Clove UK and Handtec
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Microsoft Wins ActiveSync Patent Suit Against Motorola Android Handsets
May 21, 2012 at 10:29 GMT | By
Microsoft claimed victory this weekend as the International Trade Commission (ITC) issued its final determination in Microsoft's Android infringement case against Motorola, ruling Motorola violated a Microsoft patent related to ActiveSync, a mobile data synchronization technology and protocol developed by Microsoft, originally released in 1996. The technology is licensed to a number of mobile device companies, including Apple for iOS.
The ruling affects eight individual Motrola Mobility handsets which run Google's Android operating system, including the Droid 2 and Droid X smartphones, as well as the Backflip, Charm, Clip, Devour, i1 and Cliq XT.
"Microsoft started its ITC investigation asserting 9 patents against Motorola Mobility. Although we are disappointed by the Commission's ruling that certain Motorola Mobility products violated one patent, we look forward to reading the full opinion to understand its reasoning." Motorola spokeswoman Jennifer Erickso told eWeek.
According to the ITC filing, the Commission instituted the investigation on November 5,2010, based on a complaint filed by Microsoft titled In the Matter of Certain Mobile Devices, Associated Software and Components Thereof, 337-744. The final ruling was delivered to President Obama as well as the U.S. Trade Representative, where Obama has the decision to either support or override the decision, based on public policy grounds.
"Microsoft sued Motorola in the ITC only after Motorola chose to refuse Microsoft's efforts to renew a patent license for well over a year. We're pleased the full Commission agreed that Motorola has infringed Microsoft's intellectual property, and we hope that now Motorola will be willing to join the vast majority of Android device makers selling phones in the US by taking a license to our patents," David Howard, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft, said in an emailed statement.
Motorola Mobility could appeal the ruling or cut a licensing deal with Microsoft in order to avoid altering the software on its devices. The company is currently being acquired by Google for $12.5 billion, a move that would give Google a hardware arm, as well as inheriting a broad array of wireless technology patents that could provide useful cover against its rivals' legal assault on Android. "These cases usually end up with the parties settling," Charlie Wolf, an analyst with Needham & Co in New York, told the news service. "I would expect Motorola to get together with Microsoft to resolve this."
SOURCE: eWeek
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Windows Phone Minute: Customizing the Lock Screen
May 20, 2012 at 23:49 GMT | By
Here is Channel9's Laura Foy giving us another edition of Windows Phone Minute, a series of 1 minute video of useful tips for Windows Phone users. This time it's the Lock Screen. Did you know you can set your Lock Screen to display the picture of the artist when playing music? I didn't, and I see myself as a seasoned Windows Phone user.
If you are new to Windows Phone, Windows Phone Minute would be greatly beneficial for tips on how to get the most out of your phone. You can subscribe here.
SOURCE: Channel9
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WhatsApp for Windows Phone hits v2.0, brings minor improvements
May 20, 2012 at 13:16 GMT | By
WhatsApp, the popular multi-platform messaging application has released another minor update for the Windows Phone version. The update brings the app to v2.0, but does not appear to bring any major new features.
Marketplace description:
WhatsApp Messenger is a smartphone messenger available for Windows Phone, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Nokia phones. WhatsApp uses your 3G or WiFi (when available) to message with friends and family. Switch from SMS to WhatsApp to send and receive messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages. First year FREE! ($0.99/year after)
New in version 2.0:
• Set your profile picture
• Several bug fixes
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Nokia Reading now available in Marketplace
May 20, 2012 at 11:58 GMT | By
Nokia announced last week that their digital reading app, Nokia Reading, would be coming to the Lumia range this week and right on cure, the app is now available for download. Unfortunately, the app is not available in the U.S yet. Russia, U.K., Germany, Italy, France and Spain are rumoured to be among the first regions to get the app.
Nokia Reading is a direct contender to the Amazon Kindle app, allowing you to buy, download and read books on your Nokia Lumia device.
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Windows Phone trouncing iPhone in China
May 19, 2012 at 00:06 GMT | By
According to Michel van der Bel, chief operating office at Microsoft for the Greater China region, Microsoft's Windows Phone market share now sits at 7% in China. At last count, Apple's share of the smartphone market in China was 6%, Emerce reports.
"We have only just begun," van der Bel said. He continued, noting that the combination of Windows Phones and Windows 8 tablets will help Microsoft succeed in the Chinese market. "Our smartphone and tablet-pc are hybrid, making them suitable for the consumer, but also easy to insert within an existing company infrastructure. This will allow us to better anticipate the consumerization of IT than many competitors."
Apple's iPhone 4S launched in China earlier this year but despite reports of continuing negotiations, China Mobile - the world's largest telecom carrier - still does not offer Apple's iPhone to its massive subscriber base.
This is music to a fanboy's ear indeed considering that the first Windows Phone-powered smartphone for the Chinese market launched less than two months ago. Android currently dominates China with a market share of around 69%, but at this rate we are confident that it wont be long before we see that figure coming down!
SOURCE: emerce.nl
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Update your phone to 'Mango' or lose Marketplace
May 18, 2012 at 23:15 GMT | By
We would have never thought there would anyone out there still using a pre-Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" device at this day and age, but stranger things have happened. Apparently - according to Microsoft - there are still a few people out there still rocking NoDo. A few weeks ago, Microsoft advised Windows Phone users about a few changes that were going to be coming to the Marketplace. They included removing Windows Phone apps from the PC Zune client among others. Those changes are almost ready to go and Microsoft is giving users another heads-up to ensure continued Marketplace access.
Once these changes go through, only phones that have been upgraded to Windows Phone 7.5 will be able to use the Marketplace. That includes getting updates to existing apps, and searching for them through the web-based Marketplace won't be a work-around; you'll need Mango or better on your phone in order to download and install apps.
Microsoft will be posting one last reminder when these changes are finally ready to go live, so you are best advised to update your device to the latest Windows Phone version that's available for your device if you happen to be one of the few that haven't already done so.
SOURCE: Windows Team Blog VIA: Pocket Now
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SkyDrive Now Has Short URLs For Files
May 18, 2012 at 21:54 GMT | By
The SkyDrive team has linked up with bit.ly to offer new shortened URLs - a lot shorter, 40% shorter to be exact according to the their blog. The previous SkyDrive links were a bit frustrating to say the least, with some too long to fit in to a single tweet, which was a sticking point when trying to share something on Twitter.
Like other bit.ly links, you can also track the stats of your links by adding the + sign to the end of link. You also have the ability to use your own custom domain to shorten the links and the links do support OpenGraph.
According to the blog, Skydrive users had complained that links were too long and too ugly, thus they decided to do something about it. Good to see that they are listening.
SOURCE: Windows Team Blog
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Free Xbox 360 with a PC purchase
May 18, 2012 at 21:22 GMT | By
Microsoft is set to re-introduce its "buy a PC, get an Xbox 360 free" deal. From 20th May, students will be entitled to a free Xbox 360 if they purchase a PC. The deal is applicable only to those residing in the United States or Canada, with American students required to spend $599 or more on a PC to get a free 4GB Xbox 360 console, while Canadian students will need to part with $699.
The student deal can be redeemed through the primary U.S. retailers, such as Best Buy, Dell.com, Fry's Electronics, HPDirect.com, Microsoft Stores, and NewEgg.com, while those in Canada can get their free Xbox sweetener by purchasing a PC or laptop from Best Buy, Dell.ca, Future Shop, Staples or The Source.
The program is scheduled to start on May 20 in the U.S and May 18 in Canada. So what are you waiting for?
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Windows Phone 8 build numbers revealed
May 17, 2012 at 11:50 GMT | By
WP7Forum.ru posted a list of Windows Phone 8 build numbers gathered from a Windows Phone 7.5 apps' logs. Build numbers associated with Windows Phone 8/Apollo start at 8.0.9666, and build up to 8.0.9699.
WP7Forum additionally reports that the major OS update should RTM by July 2012. My guess is that it won't be long before we start seeing some unofficial ROMs pop up, much like pre-Mango. Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later so we can start sampling that "Apollo" goodness.
SOURCE: WP7Forum.ru
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Dear Microsoft: I love Windows Phone, from Apple fanboy
May 17, 2012 at 11:25 GMT | By
Microsoft has published an email on the Windows Phone site which they claim comes from a self-professed fan of Apple products. In short, this Apple user loves his new purchase, the Nokia Lumia 900 and Windows Phone:
From: Scott G.
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2012 1:50 PM
To: Steve Ballmer
Subject: Apple fanboy loves his Windows phone
Mr. Ballmer,
Hopefully this will get to you. Your team deserves credit for producing an excellent product in the newest version of Windows Phone. Yes, I am writing from my MacBook Pro. And I have been a fairly loyal Apple customer over the years. However, I recently bought a Nokia Lumia 900 and intend on keeping it. For full disclosure, I was sure to make sure it could be returned after a dismal experience with an Android phone.
My reasons for switching are:
Call quality. I actually use my phone as a phone. That concept seems to get lost in many product reviews. One of my employees actually thanked me for getting rid of my iPhone as it was so much easier to hear me. I apologize for the tedium but it means a great deal to me and my business.
Simplicity. My family owns five vehicles, including two Fords with Sync. The 4S didn't support all functions in any of them. My Nokia 900 was flawless out of the box. It was refreshing to have something that just worked. I cannot afford to have my primary means of communication be a science experiment.
No junk software. Speaking of science experiments, I also tried a Motorola Razr. Software that cannot be deleted and restarts itself? A company with questionable privacy rules. Software that terrified my poor in-laws? I guess if you like spending your day tinkering with your phone, it's pretty cool. Maybe it beats playing with your Star Wars dolls?
Simplicity again. Everything after set up has been painless as well. Adding apps, setting up email accounts, etc. I thought the iPhone was good. Your set up was actually smoother and took less time. Same for Wi-Fi, in-car Bluetooth, etc.
Speed. The 900 doesn't seem to lag the way the iPhone did at times. Everything seems to execute quickly. That I don’t think about it is probably the best compliment.
Live Tiles. It's a minor thing but the Metro tiles are pretty cool. I just like the look.
Best regards,
Scott G.
I don't for minute doubt that this is a real letter from a real person, but seriously question the intentions and wisdom of publishing it. It reeks of desperation for me. Windows Phone doesn't need such gimmicks (Smartphone Beta Test anyone?).
SOURCE: Microsoft
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Latest Xbox LIVE Title: geoDefense Swarm
May 16, 2012 at 13:26 GMT | By
The Thinking Man's Tower Defense Returns! Introducing geoDefense Swarm, the sequel to the critically acclaimed geoDefense. geoDefense Swarm takes all the dizzying vectorized visuals, vexing challenges and highly kinetic addictive gameplay from the original, and changes the equation - instead of defeating creeps along a pre-defined path, geoDefense Swarm challenges you to use your creativity, building mazes for the creeps to navigate across obstacle-laden open levels. With the ability to compete for the high score with friends on the leaderboards and exclusive Xbox LIVE achievements, this is a tower defense game like no other!
New Features:
- Classic 'Open Field' Tower Defense Gameplay
- 30 Levels, Each With its Own Unique Challenges
- One 'Endless' Level in Each Difficulty Group - the Creeps Keep Comin'!
- geoDefense Swarm is OpenFeint Enabled - Featuring Online Leaderboards
- New Tower, new Creep, new Challenges!
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Marketplace Deal of the Week: BulletAsylum
May 16, 2012 at 12:48 GMT | By
BulletAsylum delivers over-the-top action, melding classic gameplay with next generation visuals and mechanics. With an insane amount of firepower at your fingertips, vibrant graphics, and an all-you-can-shoot buffet of alien hordes to destroy, BulletAsylum will blow you away.
Features:
- Multiple unique game modes, including Arcade, Survival, and Architect
- Dozens of upgrades; because bigger guns are better guns
- Several game modifiers; change the rules - change the game
- Leaderboards; Show your friends just how much better than them you are
- Achievements; 200 Gamerscore up for grabs
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Latest Nokia Lumia 900 TV advert focuses on ESPN Hub App [Video]
May 16, 2012 at 12:11 GMT | By
Just as we were looking forward to the next round of Smartphone Beta Test ads, Nokia disappoint by delivering an ad featuring an out-of-shape middle aged man that's obsessed with his Nokia Lumia 900. The advert seems to focus on the ESPN Hub app, suggesting that the Lumia 900 is the perfect device for sports lovers. The only other feature that's exhibited is how the screen looks great in direct sunlight.
Above all, this is a half-decent generic advert that will probably get a lot of air time on the ESPN sports network.
SOURCE: YouTube
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Samsung Focus 2 Unboxing [Video]
May 16, 2012 at 10:58 GMT | By
Ah Yes, the good old unboxing video... almost as exciting as attending the opening of an envelope. But fret not my dear friends, this is not just another "unboxing" video, it's PhoneDog's Aaron doing it. So, it's worth watching right?
The Focus 2 sports a 1.4 GHz single-core Snapdragon CPU, 4-inch Super AMOLED display with 480x800 pixels, a 5-megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording, a VGA front-facing camera, 4G LTE, and a 1,750 mAh battery. The Focus 2 is coming soon to AT&T for $49.99.
SOURCE: PhoneDog
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LinkedIn App Now in Marketplace, Better Than iOS & Android Versions
May 16, 2012 at 10:04 GMT | By
Windows Phone Marketplace can check another major app off the "Windows Phone doesn't have this app" list, constantly cited by fAndroid and iSheep alike. LinkedIn quietly rolled out the app over the weekend and officially announced the release in a blog post on Monday.
LinkedIn's Windows Phone app takes advantage of the platform's Metro UI and Live Tiles, creating a very different experience from LinkedIn's other app offerings. You can still access all of the same resources, including updates from your connections, your profile, the latest LinkedIn news, groups you follow and your inbox. But the Windows Phone app offers a couple of extra perks.
The Windows Phone version includes "Jobs" and "Companies" tiles, which are missing entirely from the iOS and Android apps. From the "Jobs" tile, you can browse through suggested jobs, search for jobs, and save specific listings.
From the "Companies" tile, you can search for and follow various companies' activities. LinkedIn is an especially useful tool for job hunting and networking, so having the Jobs and Companies tiles available on the Windows Phone app is a big plus.
Overall, LinkedIn for Windows Phone is a speedy, beautiful and useful app for people who want to keep connected to their professional networks. With a few upgrades, it might even compete with the social network's browser-based experience.
The LinkedIn app is available for free from Markeplace
VIA: Wired
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Apple Fixes Siri to give Favourable Answer on Smartphone Question
May 15, 2012 at 19:01 GMT | By
The debate over "what is the best smartphone ever?" took an unexpected twist after Apple's voice-activated assistant Siri appeared to favour the Nokia Lumia 900. Over the weekend, users of Siri were told the answer was the Lumia 900.
But Siri now responds to the same question with a jovial: "Wait... there are other phones?" Nokia has accused Apple of "overriding the software" after the quirk was noticed. The Siri software, which is featured on Apple's iPhone 4S, uses the computational search engine Wolfram Alpha to serve answers to some questions.
For a question such as "what is the best smartphone ever?", Wolfram Alpha would pool available reviews and comment in order to come up with what it feels is the right result. In this instance, the "best" result was determined by reviews on the website of US retailer Best Buy. The Lumia 900 came out on top. However, when asked the same question, the software no longer attempts to search Wolfram Alpha to find its answer, instead producing a default answer.
Nokia spokeswoman Tracey Postill told the Sydney Morning Herald: "Apple position Siri as the intelligent system that's there to help, but clearly if they don't like the answer, they override the software."
SOURCE: BBC
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Windows Phone Market-share Now 3-6% in Major Markets, Nokia Driving Sales
May 15, 2012 at 14:14 GMT | By
Kantar WorldPanel published its mobile operating systems market share research today, which dates a year back to mid-April. The figures show that Windows Phone has been making some headway in gaining market share since Nokia made it it's primary operating system for it's smartphones, rising from less than 2%, to 3-6% this spring.
Windows Phone's share in Germany more than doubled to 6 percent over the past year, and climbed to 3-4 percent in Britain, France, Italy and the United States.
These gains came at the expense of Nokia's Symbian platform and Canadian BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, the biggest market share losers. RIM's share in the U.S. market dropped to just 3 percent from 9 percent a year earlier. Android's run continued unabated, with the 12 weeks to mid-April alone seeing it surge to 72% in Spain, 62% in Germany, and 49% in Italy. Apple also saw a huge boost in market share in the US and UK, thanks to the launch of its iPhone 4S, but continental Europe saw its market share slip, as carriers started to wean it off subsidies.
We admit that these aren't impressive numbers for Windows Phone but do signal a change and prove that the platform is finally gaining some much needed traction, which it has lacked since it's inception.
SOURCE: Reuters VIA: Phone Arena
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Nokia Lumia 900 gains regulatory radio clearance in China, to be available in June
May 15, 2012 at 13:48 GMT | By
The Nokia Lumia 900 has been granted approval by the State Radio Regulation Committee (SRRC) for both GSM and WCDMA networks, confirming that the device is on it's way to China. The Lumia 900, which was accepted back on April 18, is expected to be made available in China next month.
According to Chinese news portal Sina Tech, the Lumia 900, which made its debut in the U.S. back in April, will arrive in the Philippines on May 18, then in China during June. The handset is currently waiting for its network license from the Ministry of Information Industry, according to The Next Web.
SOURCE: TNW
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Nokia Lumia 900 Now Officially Available In The UK - Exclusive to Phones4u Until May 27th
May 15, 2012 at 11:07 GMT | By
Last week we reported that some Phones4U stores has begun receiving the white Nokia Lumia 900, Phones4U have officially updated their website, making the device available for purchase. The Lumia 900 will be exclusively available through Phones 4u until May 27, 2012.
Here's what you are offered with your Nokia Lumia 900 purchase through Phones4u:
- FREE 12 Months Unlimited Wifi
- FREE Monster headphones worth £199
- Choice of black or white colors
- Wide selection of contract plans on either Vodafone or Orange, allowing you to purchase a Lumia 900 at prices ranging from FREE up to £229.00
- Those of you who pre-ordered the Lumia 900 through Phones 4u may also be eligible for a FREE Nokia Play 360 wireless speaker
SOURCE: Phones4U VIA: WPCentral
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Samsung launches low-end Omnia M Windows Phone
May 12, 2012 at 23:18 GMT | By
The South Korean phone manufacturer has announced another device - the Samsung Omnia M - for the lower-end market in Europe and other countries.
Based on Samsung's naming convention, "M" stands for "Magical", and is positioned as a high-performance handset at an economical price-point. Which means that the phone will have lower specifications but also lower prices compared to the Samsung Omnia W ("W" stands for "Wonder", which are high quality models which strikes a balance between style and performance). Interestingly, the phone does sport a larger screen than the Omnia W, with an 4-inch display. Other specifications include:
- Screen: 4.0" Super AMOLED display
- Processor: 1GHz
- Storage: 4GB
- RAM: 384 MB
- Camera: 5 MP (Main) with flash / VGA (Front)
- Battery: 1500 mAh
- Dimensions: 121.6 x 64.1 x 10.5 mm
- Weight: 119 g
According to Samsung's press release, the Samsung Omnia M will first be available in Europe and eventually rolled out to other regions.
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White Nokia Lumia 900 now available at Phones4U in the UK
Nokia Innovation's Psychomania is reporting that Phones4U now have the White Nokia Lumia 900 in store. Psychomania claims to have had a 1:1 twenty minutes session with the devices today and it was love at first sight.
Whilst we were expecting to see the Lumia 900 no earlier than the 14th of May or even June, apparently stock has been arriving at many Phones 4U stores. Given how the Lumia 900 has been selling in the UK, I would personally advise anyone that's waiting for the device to pay their local Phones4U a visit before finding one becomes a treasure hunt.
The Nokia Lumia 900 is free with a 31 a month, 24 month contract. It's aso available SIM free/unlocked for 459. The device comes with the latest Windows Phone "Tango/Refresh" update installed and the Internet Sharing feature is enabled on it.
SOURCE: Nokia Innovation
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Deal Alert: Orange UK Clearing Out HTC Radar for £100
Orange has started a massive clearout of the HTC Radar which is going for an unbelievable price of £99.99. Orange has removed the handset from its online store, unfortunately meaning that it now doesn't have any HTC Windows Phone handsets on Pay-as-you-go. For anyone on the lookout for a bargain, it doesn't get better than this. The Radar was only released in October 2011 and is a solid mid-range device.
Specs:
• 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
• 512MB RAM
• 8GB internal storage.
• 3.8 S-LCD with Corning Gorilla Glass
• 1520 mAh Battery
• 5 MP Main Carema
• VGA Front Facing Camera
SOURCE: UKHotDeals VIA: itProportal
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Lumia range to get Windows Phone 8 'Apollo' update?
It's what everyone wants to know... Windows Phone users, prospective buyers, the media, fAndroids and iSheep alike. We might have just got our biggest indicator yet, or is it just naughty rumour-mongering? Anyhow, Nokia's U.S. president Chris Weber (pictured right) might have just let the cat out of the bag. Speaking to PCMag on tuesday, he said:
"Both Nokia and Microsoft understand the importance for consumers to keep their devices fresh and updated. Without any announcements being made, we're working to make sure people have fresh and updated experiences on any device they may have."
Sounds like he just told us that Nokia and Microsoft are working on bringing Apollo to the Lumia family to me. I trust that Nokia and Microsoft realise what a massive PR disaster it would should 1st and 2nd generation devices be left behind when Apollo shows up. I doubt Windows Phone would be able to survive it.Lest we forget that this is not the first time Microsoft have done this. Remember how Windows Mobile users were left clutching 6 month old devices that were more-or-less obsolete. Most of those devices - like the HTC HD2 and the Omnia 2 - were fairly capable of running Windows Phone 7. If Microsoft had allowed some of the WM6.x devices to update to WP7, their marketshare wouldn't have slumped like it did.
On this issues, i fear Mircosoft have no choice but to deliver the Apollo update to all current devices, otherwise it's curtains for Windows Phone!
SOURCE: PCMag
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Marketplace Deal of the Week: Pocket God
Pocket God is an episodic microgame for you to explore, show your friends and have fun with. It contains multiple locations with many hilarious scenarious, exciting mini-games and hidden secrets for you to uncover.
Play Pocket God and discover the answer within yourself. On a remote island, deep in the prehistoric past, you are the all-powerful god that rules over the primitive pygmy residents. You can bring new life, and then take it away just as quickly. Exercise your powers on the tribe. Lift them in the air, activate the volcano, alter gravity, hit them with lightning ...you're the island god!
Pocket God is available for $1.99 (usually $2.99) for a limited time.
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Latest Xbox LIVE Title: Feed Me Oil
When hunger strikes, strike oil! Welcome to a weird and wonderful place where the land is literally alive - and it's starving! Your job is to get the oil from the broken pipe to the mouths of the strange creatures. It won't be easy though, as you'll need to use all sorts of fun tools, as well as your brains, to solve the puzzles.
- AMAZING DESIGN
A huge variety of mind-bending levels will test your mental skills. Different ways to solve each puzzle for endless replayability. - A JOY TO PLAY
Intuitive controls that make the game a breeze to pick up. Incredibly slick and realistic physics create oil like you've never seen. Use fans, magnets, wind, and more to beat each level. - BEAUTIFUL
Unique, surreal art design that looks amazing. Stunning musical soundtrack that features jazz, emotive piano tracks, and more.
Feed Me Oil is available for $0.99 with free trial.
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ZTE to bring Windows Phone to the U.S. before the end of the year
The head of ZTE's North American region said the company is looking to bring the Tania (pictured right) to the U.S. by the end of 2012. Speaking to CNET at CTIA, ZTE's head of the North American business, Lixin Cheng said "fundamentally, for the health of the ecosystem and industry, we need a third operating system."
Mr Cheng also told CNET that he prefers the Windows Phone OS over Android (Wozniak anyone?). "In my personal experience, the iPhone, of course, has a well-polished user interface experience," said Cheng. "And then Windows, and then Android."
We definitely agree with Mr Cheng and hope ZTE succeed in America with their low-end Windows Phone devices.
SOURCE: CNET
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Nokia City Lens brings augmented reality to Lumia devices
Attention all Nokia Lumia owners, if the idea of augmented reality technology appeals to your senses, you might want to pop over to the Nokia Beta Labs where the Finnish company has rolled out its City Lens app onto Lumia devices. The City Lens app basically gives users an augmented reality view of the areas and shops around them and gives users an idea of some of the best places to eat in town, hot tourist destinations and more.
Here are some of the features that you can expect from the City Lens beta app:
- Locate your destination, your way: See what's nearby the way that works best for you - whether through a camera view, list view, or maps view - including landmarks, restaurants, hotels, shops and more.
- Get the details: Gather the information about a chosen spot - all at a glance. Simply tap to call for more info, read a review, or view detailed descriptions to learn everything you need to know before you go.
- Share your location: With just one tap on your phone, you can share your destination with friends via social networks, SMS, or email. Quickly spread the word of where you'll be and how to quickly get there.
- Save your searches: City Lens saves your recent searches so you can look up one of your last favorite spots in just seconds. It's a great way to jog your memory and save time - all in an instant.
Source: Nokia Beta Labs VIA: Ubergizmo
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Exclusive Apps coming to Lumia: Rovio, EA, ESPN, Groupon and more
Today at CTIA, Nokia announced deals with a range of companies, including Box, Groupon, EA, ESPN, Rovio and more to add their apps exclusively to Windows Phone for the Lumia family.
Among the apps that are included in today's announcement are several under exclusive terms. They include the PGA Tour app (12 month exclusive) and a variety of ESPN apps (exclusive to May 2013). Additionally, there is a Groupon app (exclusive for six months); the Tripdots travel app (three month exclusive); and the AOL Entertainment Hub (six month exclusive).
In addition, Nokia reported that Rovio has assembled a dedicated team of developers who will be making apps for Lumia devices specifically and the WP platform more generally. "We are focused on delivering great, locally relevant apps, and importantly, those which offer unique, exclusive and original experiences," Marco Argenti, SVP, Nokia Developer Experience, said in a statement.
Naturally, we are happy that more quality apps might find their way to the Windows Phone platform this way, but worry that fragmentation is beginning to rear it's ugly head. Also, it's likely to make other OEMs apprehensive about Nokia's special relationship with Microsoft. What do you guys think.
SOURCE: TechCrunch
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Hands-on the Samsung Focus 2 [video]
Here is a hands-on video of the newly announced Samsung Focus 2. Nothing new to see here besides the guy embarrassing himself by not knowing where to find the build number and declaring that he is an Android guy.
The Focus 2 goes on sale on May 20th for only $49.99 on AT&T's 4G LTE network. It boasts of a few improvements from the original Focus, namely a 1.4 GHZ processor, LTE, a 1750 mAh battery and a VGA FFC.
SOURCE: WPCentral
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What Stephen Elop Really Said About Skype And Carriers [video]
A few days ago - quoting various sources - we reported that Nokia CEO Stephen Elop had told shareholders that carriers are hesitant to sell the Nokia Lumia phones because Microsoft owns Skype. The story spread through the tech community like a veld fire, and as always, the anti-Microsoft/Nokia brigade put a had a field day.
Nokia have reached out to us to let us know the what really happened and we think it's right that we set the record straight. Watch the video - above - and see what you make of it.
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The Samsung Mandel turns up as the LTE Samsung Focus 2
Just as we were thinking it had been cancelled, the mysterious Samsung "Mandel" finally turns up under the guise of the Samsung Focus 2. Ben "@BenThePCGuy" Rudolph (I want his job!)was lucky enough to get the device prior to it's release (he works for Microsoft after-all) and swears that it is a worthy successor to the popular original Focus.
Specs:
• 4" Super AMOLED display
• 5MP main camera
• Front-facing VGA camera
• 8GB internal storage (non-expandable)
• 4G LTE
• 512 MB RAM
• Processor (unknown)
The Focus 2 goes on sale on May 20th for only $49.99 (with a two-year service agreement) on AT&T's 4G LTE network.
SOURCE: Windows Phone Blog
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Nokia acknowledge purple hue display issue on Lumia 900, will fix with future update
The Nokia Lumia 900 is a beautiful phone, but like all other gadgets, it has a few glitches. Some owners of the phone have reported that when the Nokia Lumia 900's display is set to low brightness, they see a purple hue coming from the screen, as seen on the image above.
As per usual, it appears Nokia have moved swiftly to respond to the matter. The Nokia Care US Twitter page stated on Sunday, "We have identified the issue and will be addressed through a future software update." It's unclear when this will happen but we trust it will be sooner rather than later.
This of course isn't the first time the Lumia 900 has been reported to have a problem. Nokia has already had to deal with a problem that prevented some users of the Windows Phone device to connect to their data service. Nokia fixed the problem a few days after the smartphone's launch in April and even gave users a $100 credit on their AT&T bill. We doubt Nokia will be dishing out hundred dollar bills this time.
SOURCE: WPCentral
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Nokia Lumia 610 now available in Malaysia
The runt of the litter, the Nokia Lumia 610 is now available in Malaysia for RM699 ($229). The 610 might be cheaper but offers a rather smooth experience, similar to its expensive siblings. In actual fact, the overall build of the Lumia 610 is much more premium than the Lumia 710 and it comes with a nice metallic frame around the screen.
Specs:
- 800MHz processor
- 256MB RAM
- 8GB internal storage
- 3.7? WVGA display
- 1,300mAh battery
- 5MP Camera with LED flash
SOURCE: Soyacincau VIA: WPCentral
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HTC Mozart reportedly receiving Windows Phone Tango update
Well, isn't that embarrassing. Earlier today we reported that the Windows Phone Tango update was being held back for an impressive synchronized worldwide push, quoting the Spanish website Mi Movil Windows who got the information from their "fountain of reliable information." Little di we know that stories of Tango being pushed for unlocked HTC Mozart devices was already doing the rounds. That's Mi Movil Windows' reputation down the pan then!
Blogger Aviraj Ajgekar reports that he received what seems to be the Windows Phone Tango/ Refresh update today on his unbranded HTC Mozart. Here is what he said:
Today, I received 3 new updates for my HTC Mozart Windows Phone. The latest version number is 7.10.8779.8. My current version was 7.10.8107. The first update I received was 7.10.8112.7. It was a small update took few seconds to download. One new enhancement is that instead of forcing the phone data backup it given me an option to apply the update without taking backup (a checkbox provided) which was brilliant as it saved lot of time.
To my surprises after the previous update I saw another Windows Update screen. This time the update version was 7.10.8773.98 from 7.10.8112.7. This update took almost 5 minutes on my broadband connection. I got surprised again when I saw the 3rd update in a row. And this time the update was smaller as it took about 10-20 seconds to download & its version number is 7.10.8779.8.
So this way I received 3 updates in 1 row. At this point I could not find any new feature as such except minor performance improvement while launching applications. I will share my experience if I explore anything new.
SOURCE: Aviraj Ajgekar's Blog
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Evil Google shutting down Windows Phone apps offering their services
For a company whose informal corporate motto is "Don't Be Evil", it doesn't get any more malicious and spiteful. It's now common knowledge that Google doesn't see the need in developing Windows Phone apps for their services such as YouTube, Google Talk, etc. Their only attempt, the half-baked Google Search was initially the most downloaded app before users realized how inept it was. Seems like Google are taking it a step further...
The developer of YouTube Live has received a notice from Microsoft on behalf of Google asking them to remove YouTube Live, reading:
"This message is to notify you that Microsoft has received Content Infringement Complaint ("Complaint") regarding your application Youtube Live. A copy of the Complaint is attached for your review.
Remove Application Access Immediately
You must remove access to the application from the Marketplace within one business day. If your application is still available for download after one business day,Microsoft may remove the application without further notice. Please note that under certain circumstances Microsoft may remove your app immediately without providing you the opportunity to remove it."
Its Google prerogative whether they support the Windows Phone platform or not, but going as low as targeting Indie developers who have invested their precious time and effort creating third party apps that bring Google service to Windows Phone users is a bit low. Unless Google itself is planning to bring this service, it show a complete disregard for Windows Phone Users.
SOURCE: WPCental VIA WMPU
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XBOX LIVE title Pac-Man Kart Rally's price slashed by 40%
Looks like the stinking reviews on the latest XBOX LIVE title has forced a sudden price-drop. Pac-Man Kart is a kart racer (fun genre), it features Pac-Man and other Namco characters, and it's the first mobile Xbox Live game with wireless multiplayer (local Wi-Fi only). Unfortunately, the game suffers from poor frame rate and repetitive music, which seems to have riled Windows Phone gamers who have been largely unkind in their reviews.
I suppose the negative reviews are justified, considering that the game was initially price at $4.99, a king's ransom for a game with extremely poor controls. However, the game is still light years ahead of the only other Xbox Live kart racer, Cro Mag Rally in quality. For whatever reason, Pac-Man Kart Rally has dropped from $4.99 to $2.99 just two or three days after its release. Whatever the reason for the price-drop, we don't know the moment. So, grab it while it's still cheap(er).
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Free Nokia Purity HD Monster Stereo Headphones With Lumia 800 Purchase
Until May 31, 2012, anyone who purchases a Nokia Lumia 800 can land a FREE set of Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headphones by Monster that are worth 199 GBP. The Purity HD headphones are available in the same available colors as the Lumia 800: black, white, cyan, and magenta. They also offer call handling for hands-free communication. Unfortunately, this offer is only available for to UK customers only. I'm sure our friend across the pond won't begrugde us, given how they have enjoyed a monopoly on the Lumia 900 so far.
To claim your FREE Purity HD headphones follow these steps:
- Text "lumiamonster" to 64446 - you'll get a text back saying "congrats on Lumia purchase, wait 28 days then visit lumiamonster.co.uk to redeem"
- After the 28 days visit lumiamonster.co.uk and enter the IMEI number of your Lumia 800, your receipt number, name, address, the headphone colour you'd like and your phone number.
- The site will then confirm that 28 days have passed since you received the text and that all details are correct.
- Within 30 days you should receive the headphones.
SOURCE: Mobile Fun
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47,000 Victims Smoked by Windows Phone Already!
It appears as though close to 47,000 (and counting) individuals have had their devices Smoked By Windows Phone. Microsoft Store have uploaded a new cover photo that specifies the exact amount of people that have been smoked. The figure shows that since the contest started in mid-March, Windows Phone has won 46,704 times and lost only 588 times, giving a success rate of 98.75%. We hope those smoked individuals took the opportunity to trade their inferior devices for a shiny new Windows Phone.
Also, the campaign has again been extended until 10 May. So what are you waiting for? It's time to heard all your fAndroid/iSheep friends and relatives to your local Microsoft Store so they can get a taste of Windows Phone goodness!
SOURCE: Facebook VIA: WMPU
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Rumor: Carrier Synchronized Tango Update Coming in Early June
Quoting a supposed "fountain of reliable information," Mi Movil Windows are claiming that Windows Phone 7.5 Tango will release in the first days of June 2012. They also mention that Microsoft has moved the initial April release back to June for the purpose of all carriers to prepare the OS update for a synchronized release.
The synchronized release will apparently still require Zune to update, but will be available synchronously for world, unlocked, and contract phones. We will consign this one to our rumour bin for the moment.
SOURCE: Mi Movil Windows
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Nokia Responds to Class Action Suit
Nokia is facing a class action lawsuit that's been filed by Robert Chmielinski, a Nokia shareholder, who alleges that the company violated federal securities laws by promising investors that moving to Windows Phone would "halt its deteriorating position in the smartphone market." The suit claims that it became clear that that wouldn't be the case when Nokia lowered the Q1 2012 outlook for its Devices. The plaintiff is seeking to recover damages for all buyers of Nokia shares. Nokia in turn moved swiftly in responding to the suit by putting out this statement:
Nokia Corporation
Stock exchange release
May 4, 2012 at 16.50 (CET+1)
Espoo, Finland - Nokia has become aware of the filing of a securities class action complaint naming Nokia Corporation as a defendant, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on May 3, 2012. Nokia is reviewing the allegations contained in the complaint and believes that they are without merit. Nokia will defend itself against the complaint
VIA: Nokia
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Stephen Elop: Skype hurting Lumia's chances of landing carrier deals
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop told shareholders that carriers are hesitant to sell the Nokia Lumia phones because Microsoft owns Skype. Elop told shareholders in a meeting that carriers have indeed blocked the Finns from offering devices on their networks because of Microsoft sealing a deal with Skype.
The carriers see Skype as direct competitor to their offerings because it allows free calls between users and extremely cheap international calling rates. "If an operator doesn't want us, it doesn't want us. We will appeal to them with other arguments. We have more to offer to them. It is a good point to start the discussion from Skype," Elop told Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.
This is rather confusing for us. Skype for Windows Phone is barely out of the box and is rather inept to a point that trying to use it is a waste of time. Whats even more confusing is that Skype is available in better forms on Android, Blackberry and the iPhone. Yes Skype is owned by Microsoft, so I suppose given the excellent job Windows Phone does in integrating services such as Facebook, Twitter and the likes, it's inevitable that Skype will soon join the list. Even still, that's not enough to suggest that carriers should treat Windows Phone any different from other platforms that support Skype. Am I missing something here?
SOURCE: Business Insider VIA: Phone Arena
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Nokia: Tablet Comments Misconstrued, We Are Still 'Watching the Space'
Yesterday, outgoing Nokia Chairman Jorma Ollila commented that Nokia is "looking into" tablets and hybrid devices, which set rumours circulating within the tech community . A Nokia spokesperson clarified, however, that Nokia is still just watching the space “with interest.” Now a Nokia spokesman was come out to deny all that, saying that for the moment the company is only watching the space "with interest."
"What Mr. Ollila said has been misconstrued a bit" Keith Nowak, a Nokia spokesman, said. "As we have been saying, we are watching the space with interest, but have made no announcements regarding a tablet product."
It would make perfect sense for Nokia to make Windows 8 powered tablets given the working relationship they share on Windows Phone. Obviously, what Mr Nowak said doesn't come across as exact denial of Ollila's words. We hope Nokia are secretly working on a tablet.
SOURCE: eWeek
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US Windows Phone market share drops by a further 0.8%
To say comScore reports haven't been a pleasant read for Windows Phone fans for the last few years is an understatement. The latest report does nothing to change this as it shows a further drop in market share for Windows Phone/Windows Mobile for the three-month average period ending in March. Experts have predicted 2012 to be the year the Windows Phone market share stabilizes and begins to claw back lost ground. Unfortunately, evidence of that is yet to be seen - in America at least.
More than 106 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones during the three months ending in March, up 9 percent versus December. Google Android ranked as the top smartphone platform with 51 percent market share (up 3.7 percentage points). Apple’s share of the smartphone market increased 1.1 percentage points to 30.7 percent. RIM ranked third with 12.3 percent share, followed by Microsoft (3.9 percent) and Symbian (1.4 percent).
It's unhelpful that the market share shown in the report is for Windows Mobile and Windows Phone combined, making it difficult to establish the how well/bad Windows Phone is doing. It's highly likely that the drop can be accredited to Windows Mobile. Either way ,we hope release of the Nokia Lumia 900 will arrest this trend.
SOURCE: comScore VIA: Engadget
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Windows Phone Minute: Custom Focusing
Here is Laura Foy giving us yest another edition of Windows Phone Minute. This time it's custom focusing, which I bet few of you guys didn't know how to use. If you are new to Windows Phone, Windows Phone Minute is greatly benefial for tips on how to get the most out of your phone. You can subscribe here.
SOURCE: Channel9
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LG: We haven't abandoned Windows Phone, we're focusing on Android for now
Following yesterday's reports that they had abandoned Windows Phone, LG has today moved to silence the rumours by stating it is "still on board with Windows Phone."
An LG spokesperson told Pocket-lint that the whilst the company was still backing the platform, it was currently focusing on Android because that's where the demand is. "None of it is true. Korea Herald is showing its speculative side again," a spokesman for the company in Korea told Pocket-lint before adding, "We are still on board with Windows Phone, but right now, we're focusing on Android because that's where the demand is."
Rumours began with the publication of a report by the Korea Herald, which referenced another LG spokesperson as saying that the company would take a step back from Windows Phone devices and would only use the platform for research and development purposes. The quote: "The total unit of Windows Phone sold in the global market is not a meaningful figure," pretty much said it all for us.
Well, the damage is already done here. It's now a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted for us. In any case, I doubt any Windows Phone user are bothered whether LG is committed to the platform or not.
SOURCE: Pocket-lint
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