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Bing Translator app comes to Windows 8 with offline support
The Bing Translator app has been available on Windows Phone for some time, but today it's heading over to Windows 8. According to a post on the browser's Search Blog, the program was built "from the ground up" for Windows devices, and it utilizes the Share Charm to let you translate text from within any Windows 8 app. Otherwise, it works much the same as on other platforms: by using your gadget's camera to parse more than 40 languages (of course, you can type text to translate as well). The Translator app also includes offline support, so you can download language packs for use without a WiFi connection. Check it out for yourself by heading to the download page in the Windows Store.
New York Times for Windows 8 hands-on (video)
While today's Windows 8 launch event in NYC didn't open our eyes and ears to anything we haven't known Microsoft's latest OS and the Surface RT tablet, we did take a few moments to spend some time with the New York Times' new app for the OS. The layout is frankly dead simple, and should be familiar to anyone who's unfolded a traditional daily edition made from that stuff they call paper and ink. Swiping from side to side lets you transition between verticals -- it becomes long-winded quickly, unfortunately -- while swiping down from the top edge gives you even more sub-sections to choose from, like photos and video. We're pleased to note that we didn't notice a hint of lag on the VAIO T13 Ultrabook and Asus tablet we tried it out on, either. Your main changeable setting is the interval between auto-refreshes and, naturally, a subscription is required for enhanced access to the NYT's content. Overall, it seems like a simple, clean and fresh reading experience. It's available now from the Windows store, and you can catch our video overview past the break to see for yourself! %Gallery-169353%
Amazon debuts Kindle Windows 8 app
With all the hubbub surrounding today's Microsoft event, who can blame Amazon for wanting to get in on the action? The mega-retailer used the opportunity to announce the Windows 8 version of its popular reading app. Interested parties can download the thing for free from the Windows Store, giving them access to the company's selection of 1.5 million titles. The app is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese and offers up good old Amazon features like Whispersync. Amazon also used the opportunity to announce that Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung will be pre-loading the app on their devices. More information can be found in the source link below.
Rara.com expands to iOS, Windows 8 and more countries
Rara.com has been mighty busy since its luddite-friendly music streaming service launched at the end of last year, and now it's reporting the outcome of those 10 months of toil. In addition to an improved web experience and new Android widget, an AirPlay-compatible app for iOS is now available, with software for Windows 8 arriving alongside its launch. Rara's 18 million tracks haven't only invaded other platforms, but other countries, too -- residents of Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa and Portugal have joined the party, bringing the total number of compatible countries to 27. Lenovo is also getting a piece of the action, as a worldwide agreement means Rara software will now come pre-installed on the manufacturer's Android tablets and Windows 8 gear. Want to hear more about Rara's recent accomplishments? Then head for the PR after the break.
Splashtop Remote Desktop now available on Windows 8, gives you all the access you need
With Splashtop currently holding spots in a slew of Android slabs, Cupertino's notorious iDevices and even HP's cadaverous TouchPad, the next obvious step was to set up its Remote Desktop shop inside Redmond's upcoming Windows 8. And smartly enough, that's exactly what Splashtop's done. In preparation for the eventual release of Microsoft's tile-friendly OS in a couple of months, the service has let it be know that its new (and very handy) tablet application's now ready to take advantage of the system's native gestures while doing what it does best -- which is giving remote access to both Mac and Windows PCs. Given its "consumer preview" status, the Splashtop app isn't fully cooked just yet, but it should give anyone a good idea of what to expect once the real deal becomes available.
Windows 8 in-app advertisements get their own preview
Microsoft's own advertising blog (yes, it exists) has revealed how its going to frame ads inside incoming Metro-themed apps. While announcing partnerships with six different ad design teams, Microsoft threw up an example, above, that ties together a Seattle Sounders FC app with a panel showing off a pair of Adidas' latest Predator cleats. The adis located at the far edge of the apparently scroll-able app and clicking / tapping on the side will launch into a dedicated page, with a back button visibly ready to swing you back. While it looks relatively unobtrusive at the moment, the background of the app will also be up for advertising grabs, able to integrate videos, text and other media. Let's hope it doesn't ruin those delicate Metro lines when Windows 8 finally arrives.
Microsoft guide explains how to submit apps to the Windows Store (video)
Microsoft is serious about Windows 8, and if you're serious about submitting Metro-style apps then there's now a healthily long and detailed blog post (at the source link) explaining how. The post suggests that Redmond's app police are looking at a roughly a six-day turnaround for signing off and publishing the average title, with content compliance taking the longest time because it involves "real people." As the real person in the video after the break makes clear, your first goal should be to reserve your app's name so no one else can take it. (You do have a name for it, right?)
