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Skype 2.5 update for Windows Phone 8 sheds the preview label
Despite steadily advancing in version numbers, Skype for Windows Phone 8 has remained in a preview state for the past few months. It's time for the app to enter the big leagues with its 2.5 update. The release is the first to drop the preview tag, mostly by fixing notable bugs with both video geometry as well as crashes when signing in with a Microsoft account. Frequent chatters may like that message notifications for Messenger friends are now active by default. There is one word of warning for HTC 8X owners: they'll need the latest firmware to avoid a flaw that silences the microphone. Provided that's no obstacle, though, we'd suggest swinging by the Windows Phone Store if you're at all interested in Microsoft's official mobile VoIP suite.
Nokia Lumia 928 spied for Verizon Wireless
How does a US carrier get around AT&T's exclusivity of the Lumia 920? Why, it releases an exclusive of its own, of course. News of the Lumia 928 is probably familiar to many of you, which has been rumored (and spotted in inventory systems) as an upscale Windows Phone for Verizon. Now, things just got real, as @evleaks has just released the first glimpse of the Lumia 928, and adorned in black, we're quite sure that Batman would approve. Naturally, Big Red's branding adorns both the front and back of the device, but at least there's a modicum of restraint. This being Nokia's second Windows Phone outing on Verizon, we're crossing our fingers that the phone was spared a beating with the ugly stick. We'll reserve judgment until we can get our grubby mitts on one.
Nokia Lumia 720 starts shipping, costs £300 prepaid at O2 UK
Nokia courted fashionistas back at Mobile World Congress with the Lumia 720, and it's ready to embrace them more fully now that the slim Windows Phone is rolling out to its first countries. We've already seen it launch in Australia and the UK, where it's available for free when subscribing to relatively frugal postpaid plans of either $29 AUD (on Virgin Mobile Australia) or £22 (on O2 UK); Brits can also spend £300 at O2 to use the phone on a pay-as-you-go basis. Other countries will get their units in short order, including Italy next week (for €349 off-contract) and Russia. As a reminder, it's not coming to the US in an official capacity: while the mid-tier device made a visit to the FCC, the absence of LTE largely precludes American carrier deals. Some of us will have to gaze on the Lumia 720 from afar as a result, but many of those craving the most stylish of Nokia smartphones can get some satisfaction very shortly.
Netflix for Windows Phone 8 updated with support for 720p displays
After months of being wrapped in black bars, Netflix has updated its Windows Phone 8 app with fullscreen support for devices wielding native 720p displays. While this update doesn't add HD video playback, it definitely improves the app's image quality for phones with hi-res screens. So, if you're sporting a top-shelf WP8 device and you're looking to take full advantage of your display's real estate, head on over to our source link to pull down this 2MB refresh.
Nokia Music for WP8 now keeps track of listening history, adds Live Tile feature
Human beings living their mobile life under Microsoft's OS have been enjoying the Nokia Music service for awhile now, but for the Windows Phone 8 folk in particular, the groovy app just got a little better. Earlier today, Nokia released an updated version of its jam-packed application, giving users, among other things, a Live Tile option that displays various info about the music currently being played -- you know, simple (but useful) stuff like artist and song names. What's more, Nokia Music now also boasts a history feature which takes virtual note of the most recently played tracks, as well as bringing improvements to the download section of the app's mix radio stations. If all that jazz sounds great to you, dear reader, then pay the source link below a quick visit, where you'll easily find a direct download of the goods.
Viber for Windows Phone 8 update adds free VoIP calling with HD audio
After several months as a watered down messaging app, Viber for Windows Phone 8 is finally catching up to its Android and iOS counterparts. Starting today, the redesigned VoIP application now supports free calls with HD audio, lock screen notifications and the ability to pin conversations to your Start screen. This Metro modern UI version of Viber also includes photo sharing and group conversations with up to 40 participants. So, if your call plan is running low on minutes and the latest version of Skype just isn't cutting the mustard, head on over to the source link to give this free VoIP software a whirl.
Zinio magazine app heads to Windows Phone 8 as a Lumia exclusive
Zinio's magazine app for tablets and smartphones has already found its way onto quite a few platforms (even some now-defunct ones), and it looks like it'll soon be heading to yet another -- at least partially. The company announced today that its Windows Phone 8 app will be available in the coming weeks, although you'll need a Nokia Lumia phone to use it. Yes, this is yet another exclusive deal for a popular app, but if past history is any indication you can likely expect it to hit other devices sometime after the initial rollout. As TechCrunch notes, Zinio is also using its venture onto Windows Phone to branch out a bit from its traditional focus, with the the new app able to pull content from multiple sources into a reading list -- as opposed to simply letting you jump from one magazine to the next. You'll also expectedly get WP8 live tile support, as well as what Zinio describes as "improved text mode support" to make reading on a smartphone-sized screen a bit easier.
Microsoft showcases Windows Phone middleware partnerships at GDC, we go hands-on (video)
Building on yesterday's announcement that Temple Run and several other games are coming to Windows Phone, Microsoft's been actively courting developers at GDC 2013. To that end, the company's booth showcases several games that highlight cross-platform development and middleware. Now that WP8 and Windows 8 share the same NT kernel, DirectX APIs and tools, it's easier than ever to write games that use the same code base for both platforms. Microsoft is sweetening the deal with a few significant middleware partnerships -- Unity, Marmalade and Havok, to be specific. We talked with Larry Lieberman, Senior Product Manager for Windows Phone development, who was kind enough to explain what these partnerships mean for developers and to give us a tour of the games. Hit the break for our hands-on video. %Gallery-184180%
MOGA to support Kindle Fire and Windows Phone 8, $50 Pro controller slated for April 15th
After nearly six months on the market, the MOGA Bluetooth-powered gaming controller is finally ready to open up its Android-restricted doors. We were told at the Game Developers Conference that starting today, developers can add MOGA support to Kindle Fire and Windows Phone 8 games, thus marking the device's first foray outside of the Google Play ecosystem. Consumers shouldn't get too excited by this announcement just yet, however, as this is just a call for developers -- it'll still be awhile until we see MOGA-compatible Kindle Fire and Windows Phone 8 games pop up on that MOGA Pivot app. In the meantime, we also learned that the MOGA Pro controller we saw at CES will be available in stores starting April 15th for $50 a pop, so hopefully those newly-ported apps will be ready by then.
Temple Run coming to Windows Phone this week alongside several other games
We just witnessed the arrival of Pandora on Windows Phone last week, and sometime this week users will be able to enjoy another large title: Temple Run. The flee-from-evil-monkeys thriller has long been available for iOS and Android, but its arrival adds another popular app to Microsoft's arsenal. We've confirmed that the 99-cent title is in fact the original version, with no official word on when or if the sequel will land in the Windows Phone Store. The game is just one of six that plan to debut in conjunction with the Game Developers Conference. The list of the other five includes 6th Planet, Propel Man, Orcs Must Survive, Fling Theory and Ruzzle, and most (if not all) will be available as early as today.
Uber lands on Windows Phone, expands its on-demand car service dominance
Windows Phone owners can finally enjoy all the benefits of Uber and order cabs on demand through their own native app. The basic features are all present, just presented in the stark color blocks and straight lines Microsoft favors. You'll need to have either version 7.5 or 8 of the OS installed to download the app and, of course, you'll need to live in a city where the service is available to take advantage. The expansion to Windows Phone follows last week's quiet debut on BlackBerry (which the company only announced today), though it's currently only available on older devices and not compatible with BlackBerry 10. It was also just last week that Uber launched a redesigned Android client that was rebuilt from the ground up with improved performance, Foursquare integration and a fare estimator. It seems like Uber is looking to establish an insurmountable lead in the market before any competitors get any grand ideas.
Mobile Miscellany: week of March 18th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, a potential listing of T-Mobile's LTE launch markets was leaked, the FCC Chairman gave notice of upcoming spectrum auctions and Sprint issued a teaser for all you Windows Phone fans. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of March 18th, 2013.
United app lands on Windows Phone 8, hopes to become your preferred travel companion
The United Airlines application's been available on Android and iOS for ages, and, after months of being nowhere to be found, it's now (finally) time for the Windows Phone 8 crowd to also get to experience what the mobile ware has to offer. Naturally, this means being able to access and peek many things from within the app, including, but not limited to, booking trips, checking flight status, Live Tile notifications and, of course, viewing your digital boarding pass -- which is good news for those who prefer a mostly paperless voyage. There's plenty more goodies where that came from (such as account access and a feature that pinpoints United Club locations), but you'll have to download the app in order to dig a little deeper -- the link to do just that is down below.
Official Pandora app coming to Windows Phone 8 today
At October's Windows Phone 8 launch event, Microsoft's Joe Belfiore stood on stage and eagerly announced a laundry list of popular apps that were confirmed to be coming to the platform in the coming months. To the delight of many, Pandora was on the list -- and to top it all off, the music streaming service would come ad-free for the first year. The question then shifted to when it would actually make it to the Windows Phone Store, and we finally have an answer: today. The free app will take advantage of a Live Tile in all three possible sizes, the two largest showing which song is currently playing, along with its album cover art. Pandora's arrival also marks another milestone: not only will it be available on Kids Corner, it's also the first app capable of automatically filtering out explicit content when the feature is activated. The service will only be available for Windows Phone 8 devices, but anyone accessing Pandora through alternate apps on Windows Phone 7.x can continue to do so.
Skype for Windows Phone 8 gets HD video, People Hub integration in latest update
Avid Skype video users on Windows Phone 8, now is the time to get your hair did -- HD video is now possible employing "higher-end" WP8 devices, such as the Lumia 920, HTC 8X, and Samsung Ativ S. "Lower end handsets" will have to settle for VGA video, though Microsoft says call quality across the board was improved in update 2.4. All WP8 handsets will enjoy People Hub integration, meaning you can jump right into Skype calls from your contacts list, rather than having to independently open the app. And should a friend need to use your phone to Skype a buddy in Belgrade, account switching is now integrated into the main menu. The update is of course free, and available right now in the Windows Phone store. Head past the break for the full list of updates.
Microsoft updates its Windows Phone web demo for WP8, hopes you'll update your phone too
Microsoft remains convinced that you'll like Windows Phone if you only give it a try. Accordingly, it just recently updated its web-based demo to reflect all the changes in Windows Phone 8. If you let the web app access Facebook, you'll get a personalized sample of the OS on your desktop or mobile browser that includes resizable home tiles, Kid's Corner and other newer additions. No, it's not a full-fledged simulator, but it does give about as good a taste as you'll get without the real hardware in your hands. We also can't say that everyone will be sold on the concept -- still, it's worth a spin for anyone keeping their smartphone options open.
Babbel brings 11 language learning apps to Windows Phone 8, for free
Yours truly has had some pretty positive experiences with Babbel's existing product line, with the latest being a subscription-based alternative for iPad that makes it a lot more affordable to learn the basics of 11 different tongues. After launching last October on Windows 8, the outfit is showing Microsoft's other major OS a bit of love today. Babbel is bringing its 11 language learning programs to Windows Phone 8, with the apps scheduled to hit the 'Education' segment of the Windows Phone Store any moment now. For those who've yet to give it a whirl, Babbel uses a mix of repetition, visual cues, spelling exercises and voice recognition, and it does a pretty stellar job of segmenting things into digestible lessons for those who only have five or ten minutes at a time to spare. The apps themselves are free to download, with a company spokesperson explaining to us that the WP8 builds "are mainly vocabulary trainers with 3,000 words broken down into themed lessons." Ideally, the phone apps would supplement a user's learning on their main platform (iPad or desktop). So, at $0.00, your last remaining excuse to not understand what the locals are chatting about in Moorea has been obliterated. Vous êtes les bienvenus.
Nokia's #2InstaWithLove Windows Phone 8 app mocks Instagram while pleading for its presence
Nokia's throwing shade the best way it can. Its latest Windows Phone 8 app, #2InstaWithLove, is a demented valentine of sorts. It's Nokia's backhanded loveslap to Instagram; the app equivalent of a beautifully wrapped box with an impaled pig's heart inside. Created in response to the lack of Instagram's presence in the Windows Store, Nokia's offering Lumia owners a photo filtering application of its own, one that'll let "you have your voice heard," presumably, in an attempt to hasten the app's arrival on Microsoft's platform. But rather than outright ape Instagram's popular filtered options, Nokia's app offers just one filter: a "classic Polaroid" look emblazoned with the hashtag #2InstaWithLove. There's really no need to read between the lines, because as social media middle fingers go, this one's incredibly transparent. Your move, Instagram.
Nokia Lumia 720 swings by the FCC in high style
Take a good look: this may be the closest most Americans get to the Nokia Lumia 720 without going through an importer. The fashion-focused Windows Phone has passed through the FCC's approval and, as expected, doesn't include the LTE that most US carriers would demand. The agency does throw a few bones, though. The smartphone's full manual is on display, and there's support for HSPA+ on AT&T's frequencies for those who just have to get this slenderest of Lumias running on a local network. We'll keep an eye out for a version with US-native LTE should Nokia ever have a change of heart, but those who can't afford to wait can have a gander at the source link instead.
Nokia and Burton intro a snowboarding app to prep and record epic runs (video)
We can't say that there's a huge cross-section of the market that both owns a Lumia phone and likes snowboarding enough to want an app dedicated to the sport, but Nokia will at least have that audience sewn up through an exclusive team-up with Burton. Their newly publicized Windows Phone 8-only release lets hill carvers prepare for every stage of their trip, from shopping for gear and getting the local slope forecast through to that all-important motivational music playlist. Those who can't brave the descent can still create a sequenced photo from video taken at the sidelines, or stream Burton's Open Events from the safety of home. Anyone as likely to do a frontside 180 as carry a Lumia 620 can hit the source link or video below to get a peek -- preferably before the grass peeks out from the hillside.
