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Leak offers a glimpse at Microsoft's canceled Andromeda OS for dual-screen devices
Until now, we’ve only seen glimpses of Andromeda in things like patent filing.
WhatsApp ends support for Windows Phone and older versions of Android
WhatsApp runs on a huge range of operating systems, but even the ubiquitous messaging app doesn't think it's worth supporting Windows Phone any more. The company has announced it is ending support for older versions of Android and iOS as well as the rarely-used Windows Phone OS.
Facebook will pull its apps from Windows Phone on April 30th
Facebook is bidding farewell to its family of apps for Windows Phone, including Messenger, Instagram, and the original Facebook app. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to Engadget on Tuesday that Facebook will end its support for its apps on Windows Mobile starting April 30th. Windows Phone users will then have to resort to accessing Facebook or Instagram through their phone's browser. The upcoming removal was first noticed this weekend on Instagram, as reported by Windows Central. Windows Phone users on Reddit said they received a notification saying that Instagram would pull its app on April 30th. Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger are all among the top free apps in the Microsoft Store, but it's unclear exactly how many active users this will impact.
Skype no longer supporting Windows Phone or older Android versions
Microsoft is making some changes to its Skype app going forward, and it may end up making some Android and Windows Phone users frustrated. Today, Microsoft announced it would continue to support Skype across iOS 8, Android 4.03 and Windows 10 Mobile, but is ceasing support for those using Windows Phone 8 or older versions of Android.
Watch Periscope livestreams on Windows Phone with unofficial app
Live streaming apps like Twitter's Periscope and Meerkat are all the rage right now, but so far they've only been accessible to iPhone users. Enter Telescope, a third-party Periscope app for Windows Phone, which opens up the service's live streams to an entirely new audience. You can't actually broadcast your own streams from the app yet (the developer says it's coming), but you can sign up for Periscope and view other live feeds from within the app. It's not a complete solution, but it's something until Twitter rolls out an official Windows Phone client. Expect to wait a while though -- even Twitter's own microblogging app for Windows Phone is still miles behind its iPhone and Android entries. Both Twitter and Meerkat say they're also working on Android apps, but Telescope makes Windows Phone the first platform outside of iOS to get one of those live streaming apps.
Acer's new Windows Phone is unlikely to blow you away
For some time now, consumers have pretty much been stuck choosing among Lumias for their Windows Phone fix. Acer is aiming to change that with the launch of its catchily named "Liquid M220" smartphone. The M220 is a decidedly low-end handset, with a 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage (upgradable via microSD), 5-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front-facing shooter. It's clearly aiming to compete with Microsoft's cheapest Lumias and although, admittedly, this comes down to taste, it's not exactly a looker compared to its rivals.
Cortana made me a better gambler, but I'm never listening to her again
I'm a bit of a gambler. I've probably placed at least one bet per week for the past year. I'm also pretty good at it -- since winning a few hundred dollars on the World Cup last year, I've maintained a positive account balance at Ladbrokes (other betting sites are available), never adding additional funds, and never betting more than $10 on a single event. Last week, Cortana began predicting English Premier League results, so I decided to see what would happen if I let the Windows Phone (and soon to be Windows 10) assistant make my decisions for me.
Cortana's now predicting the outcome of Premier League matches
Microsoft's Cortana has already proven itself to be quite the oracle. Last summer, the Windows Phone assistant accurately predicted almost all of the World Cup's knockout matches, and since then it's started guessing NFL games too. Of course, now that the Super Bowl's all wrapped up, you might have thought Cortana was ready to take a quick break. Well, think again. For its next trick, the Halo-inspired tool is tackling the UK's Premier League. Using Bing-analysed historical match data, Cortana will now happily predict the victor for any upcoming fixture. It's just a bit of fun, although based on its stellar track record, Microsoft's assistant could prove useful when deciding your next football bets.
Your Lumia is probably getting Windows 10
Microsoft promised Windows Phone users a free upgrade to Windows 10 at its event earlier this week, but it turns out not all phones will be getting the update. Through its Lumia Conversations blog, the company clarifies "not every phone will upgrade or support all possible Windows 10 features," adding that its goal is for "the majority of the Lumia phones running Windows Phone 8 and 8.1" to be upgraded. That's at odds with what the company's Twitter account has said in the past.
Dropbox finally has an official app for Windows Phone
Microsoft recently made the surprising decision to partner with Dropbox, meaning its walled Windows garden would no longer be limited to OneDrive. Now we're seeing the fruit of that relationship with the arrival of an official Windows Phone client. That means you can now tap into your Dropbox account from any Windows device, be it a phone, tablet or laptop. Heck, it even works on Windows RT. All your favorite features are in tow, including automatic photo backups and the ability to "favorite" s file for offline access. Plus, Dropbox already has tight ties with Office, where you can edit documents directly in the former, or access Dropbox files from the latter. If you haven't already swallowed the OneDrive Kool-Aid you can go download the Windows Phone version of Dropbox now.
Microsoft's latest Lumia phone puts Office in your pocket for $80
Ever since buying Nokia, Microsoft has made its Windows Phone ambitions clear. Instead of rapidly iterating to keep pace with the Galaxy S5s and HTC Ones of the world, it would focus on pushing the price down to compete with the low-end Android devices that make up the bulk of the smartphone market around the world. Today, it's taken another step towards making that ambition a reality with the launch of the Lumia 435, a handset that costs just €69 (roughly $80) before tax.
With Cortana on Windows 10, Microsoft's bringing its virtual assistant full circle
After watching early footage of Microsoft's virtual assistant Cortana in Windows 10 (below), its impending takeover of the Microsoft Borg seems inevitable. There's a lot riding on Cortana, after all. After being released in the U.S. earlier this year, it's now slowly rolling out across the globe. While an obvious response to Apple's Siri, Microsoft's devotion to Cortana is also a reminder of just how important these virtual assistants are becoming. It's as if Siri, Google Now, and Cortana will end up personifying the operating system wars.
BBC Sport app finally comes to Windows Phone
While the BBC Sport iOS and Android apps have been available for over a year and a half, Windows Phone users have needed to the Beeb's mobile website instead. The fact that Microsoft's mobile OS has struggled to gain market share is likely to blame, but the BBC saw over 800,000 Windows Phone users come to its website last month, so it's decided to extend the love to Lumia owners too. Just like on more popular smartphones, the new Windows Phone app is native but it uses a webview to deliver BBC Sport content. It means that users will get all of the information listed on the desktop website, but also enjoy Windows Phone-specific features like live tiles, native sharing and a native menu. Unfortunately, push updates aren't available at launch, but the BBC says it'll monitor app usage and user feedback to decide whether to add features like goal alerts in the future.
Joystiq Giveaway: 3 HTC One (M8) Windows Phones with Xbox cases
Here we are folks: The Gauntlet. Once it was Black Friday. Then there was Cyber Monday. Once Taco Tuesday got involved, though, we knew it was something more. Every day between now and New Year's Day involves some kind of insane sale, so we're just going to call it The Gauntlet for short. With all those great sales going on, you know what would make them better? Getting stuff for free. So forget the stampedes at Gimbels (that's still a place, right?) and cozy up with Joystiq. We're giving away 3 HTC One (M8) Windows Phones. Not only that, we're giving away snazzy Xbox Green Dot View cases with the phones and they're awesome. The cases let you take calls, receive email notifications, schedule reminders, and more without even opening it. Pretty sweet. Both together are valued at $650. Not too shabby. How do you enter? Just use the Rafflecopter widget below between November 28 and December 5. Winners will be selected at random and contacted via email. Full rules and details after the break. 3 HTC One (M8) Windows Phones with Xbox cases giveaway [Images: HTC/Microsoft]
Microsoft reportedly planning Windows 10 event for January
Microsoft will hold an event this January to show off the new features of Windows 10, according to The Verge. Although January is traditionally dominated by the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Redmond is apparently planning a standalone event later in the month to create some buzz for the new OS away from the confines of a busy trade show. Some facets of Windows 10 were detailed earlier this year, but next month's event will apparently be "more significant," with Microsoft laying out its plans for phones and tablets, and possibly detailing a new Xbox One dashboard update. The Verge says Microsoft should formally announce the event before the year's end.
Feedback Loop: Windows Phone, media centers and more!
Happy Sunday from Engadget Expand! In this week's edition of Feedback Loop, we talk about the future of Windows Phone, whether it makes sense to build media centers and discuss the preferences for metal vs. plastic on smartphones. All that and more past the break.
Microsoft will unveil its first Nokia-less Lumia on November 11th
Thanks to Chinese regulators, we've already got a pretty good idea of what Microsoft's first Lumia will look like, but now the company is ready to start showing it off. Microsoft says it will reveal the low-budget handset on November 11th, likely confirming the 5-inch qHD display, 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and 3G-only connectivity we've seen approved in Asia. While the handset retains Nokia's familiar design, it will be the first to sport Microsoft's logo, which'll be located beneath the earpiece on the front and in a vertical stripe running down the back.
This is what Microsoft's first Nokia-less Lumia looks like
If we're honest, Microsoft's RM-1090 doesn't look like a device that's destined to pop up on future trivia quizzes. Yet, when you're asked "Which smartphone was the first to carry Microsoft's branding?" it's this slab that you'll have to remember. The dual-SIM handset has popped up at both the FCC and its Chinese equivalent, packing a 5-inch qHD display and 3G-only radios, so it's clearly a low-budget device. Still, the vertical stripe running down the back is just as we'd expected, although it's still surprising to see the Microsoft logo beneath the earpiece instead of good ol' Nokia. Since the handset has now popped up at the regulators, we can expect it to hit stores sooner rather than later, if you're looking for a piece of technology history, at least.
Fox Sports Go comes to Windows Phone
If there's one downside to being a sports fan, it's that you can't take your HDTV with you wherever you go. Like, for instance, you get a lot of weird looks if you try and watch a 40-inch plasma while trying to buy groceries down at the local market. Thankfully, some relief has appeared in the form of Fox Sports Go, which has now arrived on the Windows Phone Store. The app itself is free, since you'll have to sign in to your specific cable provider, such as AT&T, Time Warner or Comcast, to get access to the good stuff. Now, you can stand in the DMV queue rocking out to (select) MLB, NBA and Champions League games - although given the smaller screen size, it might be wise to move the phone closer to your face. [Image Credit: Eric Broder Van Dyke / Shutterstock]
SmartThings brings its home automation app to Windows Phone
Samsung promised an open platform when it purchased SmartThings, a startup that aims to make every household more intelligent with its products. So, despite the automation service already being present on iOS and Android, the most popular mobile operating systems, SmartThings is opening its doors to a fresh audience: Windows Phone 8. The SmartThings app is great for people looking to upgrade their home but that were, perhaps, hesitant to do so because of the ecosystem's lack of support for Windows Phone handsets. Most home automations platforms have some sort of integration with iOS or Android from the get-go, leaving Windows Phone users out of options. As such, this is a great move by the Samsung-owned SmartThings. Once you download the app, you'll be able to control SmartThings devices with ease -- and if you haven't invested yet, maybe now it's the time to start thinking about creating your own Smart Home.
