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Here's how to chat with Windows Phone's new assistant outside of the US
Don't despair that Windows Phone 8.1's signature virtual assistant, Cortana, doesn't officially work outside of the US -- as it turns out, there's a fairly easy way to try it in other countries. Pocket-lint notes that early adopters can chat with Cortana by choosing US language, region and speech in their phone settings. Provided you can live with American spelling across the interface, everything works as expected -- you can find local shops, call friends and set reminders using only your voice. You'll still have to wait until later in the year to get a truly localized version of Microsoft's digital companion, but you can at least see what all the fuss is about right now.
Windows Phone 8.1 review: Microsoft's mobile OS finally feels whole
Android, iOS, Windows Phone. Each of these mobile platforms had to start somewhere, and none were anywhere near perfect on the first try. Fortunately, each OS gets better with every iteration until, at some point, it all just clicks. Arguably, Windows Phone just came of age with its latest update, version 8.1. Even before today, Windows Phone only had a few big holes remaining and indeed, 8.1 appears to fill those gaps. In particular, the OS now has a fancy notification center in addition to those signature Live Tiles; the keyboard now allows for swipe gestures; and last but not least, it now has Cortana, a virtual assistant to take on Siri, Google Now and Samsung's S Voice. The 8.1 update is a fairly significant one, and I got the opportunity to take it for a spin ahead of the official developer preview's launch. It may not be perfect yet, but it's clear Windows Phone has finally grown up.
Microsoft tests Live Tiles you can use without leaving the Start screen
Even Microsoft knows that Windows Live Tiles have so much potential to be a lot better, especially on touchscreen devices. In fact, a group of the company's researchers in Asia have apparently been working on making Live Tiles interactive. As you can see in the videos after the break, the experimental tiles expand when touched, showing you its contents right on the Start screen instead of launching the app. For instance, touching the mail app automatically shows a list of your emails in an expanded view, which looks very similar to an Android widget.
Unreal Engine 4 to support Windows Phone and Windows RT, but not anytime soon
Unreal Engine 4's new $19 subscription option might be real tempting for developers on a budget, unless, of course, they're hoping to make games for Windows Phone and Windows RT. Although Epic Games' next-gen engine doesn't work with the aforementioned flavors of Microsoft's OS, that might be changing, albeit slowly. Tim Sweeney, the studio's co-founder and CEO, divulged on the company's forums that the firm's already doing legwork to support the platforms. "We have been doing some work in this direction (implementing various levels of WinRT API support) and we want to have Windows Phone support eventually, but we're a very long way from having a ship-quality implementation," Sweeney said. Still, the head honcho adds that their focus will remain on Android and iOS development before branching out to Microsoft's other flavors of Windows. Impatient devs can stick with Unreal Engine 3, but those aching for the latest tools will have to sit tight a while longer.
Here's what you missed at Microsoft's 2014 Build conference
We came, we saw, we barked orders into a phone. Though Microsoft's annual developer conference is technically called "Build Windows," we actually spent far more time at this year's event playing with handsets -- almost no PCs, come to think of it. Indeed, the star of the show was a husky-voiced lady (fembot?) named Cortana, Microsoft's new Siri-like personal assistant. Of course, Cortana wouldn't exist outside of the next version of Windows Phone (that'd be v. 8.1.), which we also got a glimpse of this week. In case you missed our three-hour liveblog -- or were too busy following our Amazon Fire TV coverage -- we've got a neat recap below. We promise we've left out all the boring bits about developer tools. Mostly, anyway.
Skype for Windows Phone 8.1 easily jumps from voice to video and works with Cortana
Now that the Windows Phone 8.1 and Cortana announcements are out of the way, Skype's spilling the details on its upcoming app refresh for Microsoft's new mobile platform. The upgraded Skype app for WP 8.1 will feature a new button that you can press to turn a regular phone call into a Skype video chat. It's similar to that FaceTime option iOS users see when they make calls, though obviously, Skype's version will only work if you have the other person's account details. That's not all, though -- Skype will now also come with Cortana (the platform's Siri-like voice assistant) integration. This gives you the power to instantly launch convos by hitting the search icon and saying: "Skype, get [someone's name] on video." Other than that, the Microsoft-owned outfit is updating its Windows 8.1 and RT app, as well, so you can finally pin it to the taskbar and make it accessible on both Start and desktop screens. Unfortunately, the updated app might not be available as soon as WP 8.1 launches, but Skype says it should be out in the coming months.
The Nokia Lumia 930 is a global version of the Icon (hands-on)
The Nokia Lumia Icon is a fantastic Windows Phone that comes with a bunch of top features that most WP users haven't been able to enjoy until recently, but it had one critical flaw: it was an exclusive to Verizon, which meant that only a handful of users in the US could buy it. For the rest of the world, the only way to get a top-of-the-line Windows Phone (in nearly every spec, that is) has been to buy the Lumia 1520, but its large 6-inch display -- though beautiful at 1080p -- simply made it too big for a lot of people. Fortunately, that's about to end because Nokia announced a global version of the Icon known as the Lumia 930, which comes with more LTE compatibility and Windows Phone 8.1. Interestingly enough, there's not much of a difference between the two devices. This actually is a bit surprising, considering Verizon has historically landed design exclusives with Nokia like the Lumia 822 and 928. The resemblance is definitely striking, with the only major hardware changes manifest in the presence of GSM bands instead of CDMA and the additional colors that Nokia will offer.
Having a chat with Cortana, Windows Phone's new personal assistant
Anyone who's played Halo, the iconic first-person shooter based 500 years in the future, knows where Microsoft came up with the name of Cortana, its new voice recognition program on Windows Phone 8.1. Master Chief might be the star of the video game series, but Cortana is the heroic digital sidekick that saves his behind in almost every level. Granted, the Windows Phone version may not help you explore an alien planet or teach you how to defeat the bad guys, but it's still capable of some great stuff. Just press the search button on the bottom of every Windows Phone device (as long as it uses 8.1, of course) and Cortana pops up, ready to listen and obey your commands. What kinds of things can she do? You can tell her to call someone, send a text, set reminders, take notes and hook you up with all sorts of information that you might need throughout the course of any given day. And since it's powered by Bing, the engine working behind the scenes has a solid amount of oomph.
Sprint will roll out Windows Phone 8.1 upgrades this summer
Windows Phone fans on Sprint don't have to worry about when they'll get the 8.1 update on their devices. The carrier tells Engadget that both the HTC 8XT and Samsung's ATIV S Neo are getting 8.1 sometime this summer; more details should come closer to the rollout. That's later than when we'll see the OS preloaded on brand new devices, but it's good news for those who are still happy with both Microsoft's mobile platform and Big Yellow's network.
Windows will be free on phones, small tablets and the Internet of Things
It turns out that those rumors of Microsoft cutting Windows prices to spur adoption were true -- and then some. The company has announced that Windows will be free for hardware makers to use on phones, tablets with screens under nine inches and Internet of Things devices. Suffice it to say that this is a huge move for a tech giant whose operating system licensing is arguably its bread and butter. Microsoft is obviously willing to take a financial hit to compete against Android, Chrome OS and other freely available platforms.
Windows Phone 8.1 and Cortana officially revealed at Build 2014
As predicted, Microsoft is using its Build developer conference to launch Windows Phone 8.1, the latest and (we hope) greatest version of its mobile OS. The company's fed us a bunch of information about the update already, and a vast number of leaks have covered nearly all remaining features. Still, it's about time for us to get the skinny on everything the new upgrade entails, so let's break down exactly what you can expect from Windows Phone going forward.
Nokia Lumia 930 picture leak hints at a Lumia Icon for the rest of the world
There have been rumblings about Nokia unveiling a Lumia 930 in the near future, but its actual design has remained elusive. However, frequent tipster @evleaks claims to have a press image of the new smartphone... and if the picture is accurate, it's effectively a Lumia Icon for everyone who isn't a Verizon customer. Not that we'd be complaining too much if that's the case, mind you. An Icon-like design would give the 930 top-tier features that include a 5-inch 1080p display, a 20-megapixel camera and a quick Snapdragon 800 processor. There aren't any clues as to what's under the hood just by looking at the picture, but we suspect we'll be hearing a lot more about the device at Nokia's Lumia-focused event this evening.
Samsung ATIV SE leak hints at April launch, warmed-over Galaxy S 4 specs
Samsung's ATIV SE hasn't been a terribly well-kept secret, but we've heard precious little about the Verizon-bound Windows Phone beyond its use of a 5-inch, 1080p display. However, tipsters have given The Verge hardware specs that will seem very familiar. If the leak is accurate, the ATIV SE will be a higher-end Galaxy S 4 variant with Microsoft's OS slapped on top -- you should see the same Snapdragon 800 processor, 13-megapixel rear camera, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. Those specs could still make it a potent device, but they hint that Samsung is once again recycling an Android design. If you don't mind the reused components, you'll be glad to hear that the ATIV SE could be coming very soon. The smartphone is reportedly launching on Verizon in April (minus Windows Phone 8.1), pitting it directly against Nokia's similarly specified Lumia Icon. [Image credit: @evleaks, Twitter]
Nokia Lumia 630 spotted in the wild running Windows Phone 8.1
If you've wanted to know what Nokia's entry-level Lumia 630 looks like in real life, today is your lucky day. Both a Coolxap video (below) and a handful of photos from @Umit have shown off the smartphone in all its Windows Phone 8.1-based glory, including the on-screen navigation, Action Center and the updated camera interface. Previous rumors have suggested that the 630 will be relatively powerful for a low-end device with a 4.5-inch (albeit 800 x 480) display, a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM. Don't get too attached to the way the phone looks in these images, though. The 630 in the still pictures is likely using a protective case or prototype shell, and we wouldn't count on the video reflecting the final design, either. With that said, the new media may represent our best clue yet as to what Nokia might reveal at its event next week.
Windows Phone 8.1's new store may help you find apps faster
Windows Phone 8.1 may not just add a bevy of software features -- it may improve how you find software, too. WPCentral claims to have leaked details of a Windows Phone Store revamp in the OS that reportedly makes it easier to discover hot apps. Featured titles would take center stage in this new portal, and new sections would help you sift through fast-rising apps or specific categories. Upgrades could soon be less of hassle, for that matter. A new My Apps area would let you check for updates without waiting for notifications, and you could (finally!) tell Windows Phone to update apps automatically. There's no certainty that this storefront will make it into the final WP8.1 release, but you won't have to wait long for confirmation.
Nokia promises 'more Lumia' at April 2nd event
Windows Phone fans have more to look forward to this April than just the formal unveiling of Windows Phone 8.1 -- Nokia has sent out invitations for an April 2nd event in San Francisco that should deliver "more Lumia." The notice doesn't give any real hints as to what will be at the presentation. However, the event takes place on the first day of Microsoft's Build developer conference. Don't be shocked if Nokia unveils devices that need Windows Phone 8.1 to run, such as the rumored Lumia 630 (Moneypenny) and Lumia 930 (Martini). No matter what shows up, we'll be there to give you the full scoop.
MLB at Bat for Windows Phone adds push notifications and pitch tracking
Opening day is here! ...sort of. This year's quest for a World Series ring kicks off Down Under today, with the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks squaring off at the Sydney Cricket Ground (yes, they're still playing baseball). Of course, everyone else is still playing Spring Training games until the weekend of March 31st. But Major League Baseball is making sure all of its mobile app ducks are in a row ahead of time. In particular its Windows Phone MLB at Bat app is getting a long overdue update for the 2014 season. Now you can get live pitch-by-pitch tracking for games and set up push notifications for scores and news. Those features have been available on iOS and Android for quite sometime now, so this is less a major step forward and more about feature parity. But still, we're sure those that fall in the middle of the baseball and windows phone fan venn diagram are extremely happy.
Microsoft aims to power up PC and mobile games with DirectX 12
The time for teasing is over. Today at GDC, Microsoft pulled back the curtain on DirectX 12, a shiny new edition of its venerable graphics APIs that some lucky developers can start mucking around with later this year. Microsoft Graphics Development Manager Anuj Gosalia talked up a storm out in SF: he noted that DX12 would (among other things) yield performance boosts across all of Microsoft's platforms, including Xbox One and Windows Phone.
Huawei has 'no plans' to launch an Android/Windows Phone hybrid
If two heads are better than one, does that mean two mobile operating systems are better than one? Huawei seemed to think so. CMO Shao Yang recently told TrustedReviews that it was working on a phone that ran Android and Windows Phone, but the company did an about-face today and said it has "no plans" to launch such a dual-booting Frankenphone. When Yang first brought up the notion, he said that an Android/Windows Phone combination could be more enticing to consumers than a standalone WP device. He may have had a point (if only because of sheer novelty), but c'mon now: while geeks may swoon, average phone buyers probably wouldn't embrace it as enthusiastically. Even if Huawei made switching between platforms seamless (a very big if, mind you), users would still have to grapple with the intricacies of two very different OSes. The world probably won't mourn the loss of Huawei's hybrid, but hey -- at least the dual-boot dream lives on with Ubuntu and Karbonn.
Barnes & Noble to drop its Nook app for Windows in revised Microsoft deal
We hope you weren't too attached to the Nook app for Windows, because it's going away -- well, sort of. Barnes & Noble's Nook Media subsidiary and Microsoft have amended their partnership with terms that let Nook Media stop distributing its Windows e-book software. The company won't leave bookworms completely stranded, though. Instead, it will steer them toward "Microsoft Consumer Reader;" ZDNet believes this is a previously rumored e-reading app that will support both Nook content as well as generic text. The updated pact also lets Nook Media scrap progress on a Windows Phone app, although that's not as big a loss when the client hasn't reached the public. We don't yet know how the revised deal will affect Windows-bound Nook fans, but let's hope that Microsoft does a good job of picking up any slack.
