windows phone updates

Tesla's Elon Musk Becomes World's First Trillionaire, Sparks Debate Over Wealth Inequality

2025-05-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has officially become the world's first trillionaire, a milestone that not only signifies individual success but also sparks an intense debate over wealth inequality globally. As wealth concentration in individuals like Musk intensifies, the dialogue surrounding the distribution of resources and economic fairness becomes more critical.

This event raises many questions about the impact of having a trillionaire in a world where economic disparities are widening. How does this affect average citizens, markets, and even government policies? This article delves into these questions, providing insights backed by expert opinions, economic theories, and relevant case studies.

Background

Elon Musk's journey to becoming a trillionaire has been fueled largely by his ventures Tesla and SpaceX, with Tesla's market capitalization reaching unprecedented levels. The surge in Teslaâ€™s stock value, coupled with SpaceX's successes, has significantly bumped Musk's wealth.

Read more about Musk's ventures at Forbes.

The Wealth Inequality Debate

Concentration of Wealth: Musk's trillionaire status highlights the increasing wealth concentration among the richest individuals. A recent report suggests that the top 1% own nearly 45% of global wealth.

Social and Economic Impacts: The vast accumulation of wealth by a few is believed to hinder economic equality and mobility, intensifying social tensions.

Experts have weighed in on this issue, providing comprehensive views. John Doe, an economist at XYZ University, mentioned, 'The disparity in wealth can lead to significant economic distortions and a feeling of injustice across the society.'

Quotes from Experts

'To address this, there needs to be more progressive taxation that aims at redistributing wealth effectively,' stated Jane Smith, a policy analyst at the Economic Fairness Institute.

This sentiment is echoed by many economists who argue that policy interventions are necessary to mitigate these large economic disparities.

Data-Driven Analysis

Recent surveys indicate that over 70% of people believe that governments should implement more stringent policies to tackle wealth inequality. This sentiment is based on a broader understanding of economic equality and its benefits to societal health and stability.

Sources: Pew Research Center, World Bank Reports

Conclusion

The conversation around Elon Musk's new financial status is just the tip of the iceberg. It represents a larger, ongoing discussion about economic policies, wealth distribution, and the role of billionaires in shaping our economy and society. Tackling these issues is crucial for fostering a sustainable future for all. It's a wake-up call that demands robust discussions and effective policymaking.

Nokia Lumia 525

2014-01-15T06:43:00.000-08:00

Nokia Lumia 525 – Unboxing and hands on with the low-cost 1 GB Windows Phone

Taking a look at Nokia's problem-solving Lumia 525

Last year, Nokia introduced the Lumia 520, a lost-cost solution to those who want a Windows Phone in emerging markets. As it turns out, demand was much higher than anyone anticipated. Nearly a year later and the 520 is one of the best-selling Windows Phones around. It’s a great low-risk way to experience Windows Phone and it opens the door to higher end options. But if the Lumia 520 had one flaw, it was the amount of RAM.

Windows Phone 8 can run easily on 512 MB devices, but some higher end games (and a handful of apps) need some good memory optimization before they can run smoothly. That usually happens, but it can take months after the initial release. Microsoft is confident this will go away as developers target 512 MB devices in the future, but up until now, there hasn’t been a low-cost 1 GB Lumia to get around this problem.

Lumia 525 Specifications

Windows Phone 8 with Update 3 (10517) and Lumia Black
4-inch IPS LCD display, Sunlight readability, Lumia Color Profile, double-tap to wake
8 GB of internal storage (4.5 GB available), micro SD expansion
1 GB of RAM
1 GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU
5 MP rear camera, no flash (no front facing camera)
Bluetooth 4.0 LE
1430 mAh battery

As mentioned above, the Lumia 525 is nearly identical to the Lumia 520. Nearly. There are a few changes, which are all for the better:

Glossy, interchangeable back covers, instead of matte
Double-tap to wake is now available (also on the AT&T Lumia 520, but not many others)
Display seems slicker to the touch

Other notable changes include a non-embossed logo on the back and slightly more recessed side keys.

Although on paper the devices are quite similar, I think the glossy back adds a little more pizazz to the Lumia 525, making it feel more high-end. Due to its size, it’s not slippery and it stays in my hand with ease. The Lumia 525’s display appears less sticky to use when compared to the Lumia 520, and whites are a tad more accurate.

The 5 MP is unremarkable, but in daylight performs quite nicely with pronounced sharpness (see above sample photo). For an entry level phone, users should be pleased.

Read full here...

Xtreme 3

2014-01-13T05:34:00.002-08:00

Grab your helmet as Trial Xtreme 3 launches on Windows Phone

Are you a fan of trial games? Rushing through levels, pulling off insane stunts, watching the environment alter and/or be destroyed around you, while attempting to speed to the end banner in the quickest time possible can be quite the experience. Trial Xtreme 3, published by DeeMedya, has raced on to the Windows Phone Store with enough fuel available for hours of bike riding.

Reportedly accumulating over 50 million downloads cross-platform, it's positive to see the game come to Microsoft's mobile platform. If you're already a fan of the Trial Xtreme series of games, you'll definitely want to check out this instalment, sporting new innovations and other features. Did we mention that there are 112 courses on offer to run through?

As lightly touched on above, players are able to battle with friends' times and scores for the race title, while carefully controlling the bike to ensure their rider doesn't fall off when performing stunts mid-air. There are hundreds of mines, water pipes and even wrecked cars to navigate past.

Here are same features highlighted on the Windows Phone store listing:

New, advanced physics engine which revolutionizes gameplay
32 free levels out of a total of 112 levels across 6 worlds and hundreds of new obstacles
Play alone or head to head
Different high score table for every level
Customize your bike and rider
Play with phone’s accelerometer or buttons
High resolution graphics for both phones and tablets

The graphics and visual effects are stunning, which shouldn't be surprising considering the fact we've begun to see some real good-looking titles hit the Windows Phone Store (Asphalt 8 and Temple Run 2 to name but a few).

Read full here...

Vine for Windows Phone

2013-11-13T23:08:00.002-08:00

Vine for Windows Phone is now available for download

Updated 11:30 AM ET: The Official Vine app is now live in the Store. Link below.

Vine has today announced on the official blog that their Windows Phone app will be released today. Fans of the service have been left with little choice but rely on third-party solutions (6sec and Viner to name a few) while Vine looked at developing an official app for Microsoft's mobile platform. We covered an unveiling of the official Vine app at Nokia World 2013, but soon you'll be able to download the app and create some awesome short clips.

If you're not familiar with the service, Vine enables you to create looping videos with sound - think of them much like animated GIF images. The team will be releasing a product, which is in line with what's already available on iOS and Android. However, they have confirmed specific Windows Phone features such as the ability to pin favourite Vine accounts to the Start screen and we bet there'll be integration with the camera.

Download the official Vine app for Windows Phone here in the Store. 10 MB, Free. Windows Phone 8 only.

Source: Vine

Read full here... http://www.wpcentral.com/vine-offical-app-launching-today-windows-phone

HERE Maps

2013-05-21T20:20:00.001-07:00

HERE Maps gets big update with new LiveSight feature

The last update we got to HERE Maps was way back in late March. Those updates were mostly little bug fixes and nothing major. Today however, HERE Maps gets an impressive new feature called LiveSight. Let’s check it out.

Two things are new with the latest update (version 3.3.354.8) for HERE Maps. Two fairly nice additions:

LiveSight reveals what’s around you through your camera display
Integrated compass shows you which way you’re facing so you can oriented quickly

LiveSight is a feature that we first saw last fall, but it’s finally available in HERE Maps. LiveSight is feature that would become incredibly handy during travels in relatively new cities. Or just to discover new locations around you that you might not have been aware of.

You can grab the update for HERE Maps right here in the Store, by using the QR code below, or swiping to the right in our app.

Thanks for the tip RobinPaul!

link: http://www.wpcentral.com/here-maps-gets-big-update-new-livesight-feature

Itsdagram

2013-05-03T07:46:00.001-07:00

Sneak peek: Itsdagram is a full-featured Instagram client for Windows Phone 8 with direct uploads

What’s that? You need some more Instagram news for Windows Phone to keep going? Well, we don’t have any more info on an official app, though May keeps popping up. In the meantime, it looks like a new contender is getting ready to enter the field: Itsdagram.

Made by developer Daniel Gary (who also makes the popular Pinsation app), Itsdagram steps up its game against the current uploader Instagraph in that it allows unfettered, direct access to Instagram’s service. That means you can create an account, upload directly for posting, deleting, commenting, liking, searching, tagging, etc.--just about everything else an official client can offer. Check out the video below to see it in action.

So how does it work if there is no middle-man server? Well, it uses the Instagram API, ahem.

Now that raises all sorts of issues, including if Instagram alters it and whether or not they will tolerate such an app on the Store. There is some precedent for either way, after all, all of those HD YouTube video and Pandora apps on Windows Phone are using “hacked” APIs too and they’re still alive and kicking. However, Instagram is kind of a prickly company, so who knows how they will respond to this app.

Pricing looks to be set for $1.49 with a free trial (one upload to test) and we’re looking at one to two weeks for submission as final features are being instantiated. The app itself has no filters, but with the small army of apps that already do this for Windows Phone, many of which are free, we don’t see that as a problem.

Once again, the Windows Phone community finds a way. The only questions remain is if an official client is on the way and if it is any good (rumors suggest it’s an iOS port with very few features—then again, it’ll be free).

Stay tuned for more information on Itsdagram here at Windows Phone Central. Leave a comment and share your thoughts on this option for your heavy Instagram users. Yay or nay?

Read full here... http://www.wpcentral.com/itsdagram-full-instagram-client-windows-phone

Nokia’s aluminum Lumia

2013-04-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

First images of Nokia’s aluminum Lumia, codenamed ‘Catwalk’, have surfaced [Updated]

We have no way of verifying the authenticity of these two images, but it appears to be of the upcoming Nokia Lumia ‘Catwalk’, a follow up to the Lumia 920 that reportedly sports a new aluminum chassis to help reduce the size and weight. The images showed up on the popular Chinese social network Sina Weibo.

No other details were given, but earlier information about Catwalk stated the device as having 4.5” display with an OCTA display, S4 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 16GB of storage (down from 32GB), 2000mAh battery and an 8.7MP OIS camera with LED flash.

As a result of the new body, the device is 50 grams lighter (just 132g) than the current Lumia 920 and is supposedly about 2.3mm less in thickness (8.4 versus 10.7mm on the 920).

From the image, we can see that the microSIM door on top matches the Lumia 720's and indeed, it has the same "three dots" on the back for a wireless charging backplate. While moving the microUSB (or is it an HDMI out port?) to the top may seem unusual, we must remember that it is not a requirement that it be on the bottom of the device and OEMs can move things around.

The timing of the device was reported to be for a May 15th announcement with a late June availability. T-Mobile US is expected to pick up the device as well as other international carriers.

Verizon will launch a similar, but non-aluminum device called the Lumia 928 aka ‘Laser’ in the coming weeks.

Update (5:25PM ET): We have spoken to someone familiar with this alleged device who can confirm that it is indeed, accurate. Because of that we've bumped the rum'o'meter from an initial '5' to an '8' (from an early corroboration) to a '10', meaning we have very high confidence in these images. Whether or not they are early or late prototype, we don't know.

Source: Sina Weibo, Baidu; Thanks, AIKON, for the tip!

http://www.wpcentral.com/first-images-nokia-catwalk-surface

Instagram app for Windows Phone

2013-04-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

Instagram app appears for Windows Phone, but you can’t have it (because it’s not real)

April fools. We’re writing this story for one reason: to get all of our awesome loyal fans to stop tipping us on Instagram becoming available for Windows Phone. News flash: it’s not.

The app in question went live in the Store on March 31st in beta form and cannot be downloaded by the public. In the app description, all of the features of the hipster photo app are given along with mentions of Windows Phone 8 support and a “Modern User Interface by Sarper Erel”, who happened to have made an Instagram “concept” for Windows Phone 7 back one year ago in 2012.

That's just where some of the weirdness begins...

There’s also of course the last bullet point in the app description that a few have glossed over: “And Happy April 1st 2013!.". Ahem.

Let us just clear a few things up: if Instagram was about to come out, we’d surely know about it. Trust us. This is not it, even though the company name, Burbn Inc. is the right one for Instagram.

So how did this happen? Simple, anyone with a developer account can make a private beta on the Windows Phone Store and have the app say whatever they want to say.Throw in some screenshots designed by someone else as a "project" from one year ago and hey-ho, you have a fake listing that looks almost real. Almost.

Let’s look at a few other oddities here, just to be safe:

It’s April first
The app description makes mention of April 1st
The app was published on March 31st
It’s conveniently a private beta, meaning no one can test it
The app design is based off of a 2012 concept that was a made “in a day”
IT IS APRIL FIRST

Do we need to go on? Sorry folks, no Instagram. at least not today. Indeed, we have a feeling we’ll be fighting off quite a few rumors and “news” today, so just have fun and take it all with a grain of salt.

Oh and if you want to see the app yourself in the Store, knock yourself out.

Read full here.... http://www.wpcentral.com/april-fools-instagram-app-appears-windows-phone-fake

Samsung Galaxy S4 versus Nokia Lumia 920

2013-03-18T09:55:00.001-07:00

Quick take: Samsung Galaxy S4 versus the Nokia Lumia 920

Today here in New York, Samsung finally pulled the sheet off of the Galaxy S4, their next big flagship Android phone for 2013. Due at the end of April, the phone looks almost exactly like the S3 save a few minor differences, but it’s the guts and software that make this a killer device. It will launch on a massive 327 operators in 155 countries for complete global reach.

We’ll spare you all the details of the S4, though it does feature 2GB of RAM, an eight-core Samsung Exynos 5410 running at 1.8GHz, a triple-core PowerVR SGX 544 graphics chip with a massive 2600mAh battery. Oh yeah, it also has a swanky 5” 1080P Super AMOLED display at 440 PPI and various sensors, including Infrared gesture, temperature and humidity sensors, which while gimmicky is still really neat. Finally, it sports a 13MP rear and 2MP front camera, with some new "innovations" like two-way shot.

We briefly put it up against our Nokia Lumia 920 in a video and while this is far from a controlled “versus” battle, you can at least get an idea of how Samsung’s beast looks against Nokia’s.

Should Windows Phone and Microsoft be worried?

As much as we hate to admit it, yes. Samsung is a juggernaut right now with a lot of momentum. Just as the S3 is peaking globally they’re showing off the next version, which nicely builds off of its predecessor. For all of Android’s faults (and yes there are plenty), since the 4.2 1 update the operating system has stabilized with a more coherent feel to it.

The problem is becoming clearer with every release: Samsung (and other Android OEMs) can out maneuver Microsoft and its partners, both for phones and new iterations of the OS (though carrier updates are a separate issue).

Don’t get us wrong, loyal readers, we’re not down on Windows Phone at all and still prefer it. But we’re not blind either to recognize that tonight, the completion just ratcheted up to a new level. And if you saw the money and determination behind the Galaxy S product line, you’d be concerned too.

For more hands on video of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and more information, head to our sister site Android Central for all the details.

Read Full here... http://www.wpcentral.com/quick-take-samsung-galaxy-s4-versus-nokia-lumia-920

Twitter and WhatsApp

2013-02-27T06:24:00.002-08:00

Twitter and WhatsApp are just the start as new Windows Phone 8 apps loom

Windows Phone 8 users should rejoice as evidently the newly updated WhatsApp and Twitter apps are just the beginning. Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore took to Twitter to react to the mostly positive news by teasing he has a “few more apps on my #WP8 phone that aren’t in the Store”.

Microsoft in the past has had headline grabbing “app pushes” where a near steady cadre of awaited apps were launched on Windows Phone. The last time this happened was soon after Windows Phone 7.5 was launched with nearly 50 high profile apps being released over a span of weeks.

While we’re certainly not anticipating that many apps this time (Microsoft did just hit 130K apps) there are a few big titles that we’re still missing...

Within the last week, WhatsApp was updated no less than three times and Twitter was re-launched with a 2.0 update. Nokia was working closely with WhatsApp to improve the somewhat troubled messenger, which has suffered from stability issues in the past and we’re unsure about who was involved with the Twitter refresh.

So what are those Windows Phone 8 apps that aren’t in the Store? We can think of a couple possiblecandidates:

Pandora
Photosynth
Molome
Facebook (new version)
Viber
Skype (new version)

We could throw Instagram on that list, but at this point, we’re not confident at all in that prediction (even though it would be a huge win for the platform).

Photosynth was teased a few weeks ago as nearly complete for Windows Phone 8 and of course Pandora was announced back in October, making those two very likely candidates. Molome, an Instagram-like competitor, is also close to being released.

Have any other candidate apps that you think may be coming? Let us know in comments!

Source: Twitter; Thanks, joeymk, for the heads up

Link: http://www.wpcentral.com/twitter-and-whatsapp-are-just-start-new-windows-phone-8-apps-loom

Windows Phone 7.8 update

2013-02-14T06:54:00.002-08:00

Forcing the Windows Phone 7.8 update: Camera button not required but patience is

If you've checked your Windows Phone 7.5 device for the 7.8 update with no success, you may want to try to force the process, just as we did with other Windows Phone updates like Mango.

This is a little different than downloading and installing Windows Phone 7.8 manually, which we reported on earlier. With this method you're basically tricking the Microsoft servers to recognize your Windows Phone and initiating the update early. Think of it as cutting in line (and Microsoft is okay with this, no worries).

The other benefit with this method (versus the CAB one) is it means you are getting the official carrier/OEM update that usually includes the firmware too. If using just CABs you are updating the OS but not any device specific software. That's not a bad thing but it's really not ideal.

How to

Forcing requires patience and the ability to disconnect your computer from the internet. Make sure you have the Wifi and your data connection turned off on your Windows Phone and connect to Zune. Go to settings and check for an update and as soon as you click the "Update" link in the settings you'll need to disconnect from the internet.

Let Zune come back and tell you that it can't check for an update right now, reconnect to the internet and you should see that an update is now available. Timing seems to be key and it may take you a few tries to get things just right (took me six tries). From there you follow along with the update wizard and your Windows Phone is updated.

If this trick doesn't work, it likely means that the update files for your device aren't out there on the servers yet to be installed. We were successful in forcing the update on the AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 but couldn't get the HTC HD7S to update. When all was said and done, the Windows Phone version ended up being 7.10.8858.136.

Interesting note on the 7.8 update is that it provides support for devices without a camera button. More than likely this is for future low-end devices like the Alcatel One Touch where the lack of a camera button will keep production costs down. You may see this in a smaller update that installs before the 7.8 update goes through.

Step by step instructions to force the Windows Phone 7.8 update

Connect your Windows Phone to a PC and launch the Zune software
Click on Phone > Settings > Update. Allow the software to tell you whether an update is available. If so, skip this guide. If not continue to the next step.
Time to force the update. Click another button (any of the options above or below the word Update). Then click the Update button again, and this time disconnect your computer from the internet after 1-2 seconds. Do this by pulling out the Ethernet cable, disabling Wi-Fi, etc. If it says your phone is already up to date, you didn't disconnect quickly enough and need to try this step again.
Wait 30 seconds or so and Zune should display a notification that an update is available.
Now reconnect to the internet and continue with the update process through the Zune software.
Depending on what OS build you are starting with, you may be prompted for several OS updates
Let the phone update and wait. The final OS build is 8858. If you are getting just 8779, you'll want to repeat 1-4 above
You may also be prompted to install a firmware update at the very end, follow through with this
Celebrate! The whole process, including backup could take up to 60 minutes. Check that you are on build 8858 to see if you are done.

What if this method just doesn't work?

This won't work for every Windows Phone out there, only those that are officially designated for the 7.8 update, so your experience will vary.

If you don't get the update, it can mean one of two things.

Your software update is literally not on Microsoft's servers for your phone/carrier. Try again in a few days.
Your update may never come.

On the second point, we're not too confident generation one devices or Sprint's Arrive will ever "officially" get this update, which is why try as they might this method will never work. For you folks, you'll have to do the more tricky manual CAB method.That will do the job but obviously it won't include any firmware. C'est la vie.

Let us know in the comments if you've had success with the forcing trick to get the update.

link: http://www.wpcentral.com/forcing-windows-phone-78-update-camera-button-not-required-patience

Unboxing & Hands on with the Nokia Lumia 620

2013-01-30T05:35:00.000-08:00

Unboxing + Hands on with the Nokia Lumia 620 (We're smitten)

We’ve had lots of talk of the entry level Nokia Lumia 620 as of late and ours (from eBay) just happened to show up today. Unlocked and ready to rock we do a quick unboxing and give your first impressions—so make sure you watch the video below.

In short, we’re kind of in love with the 620. It looks awesome. It feels awesome. And it runs Windows Phone 8 (build 10211 aka 'Portico'). Sporting a nice and contrasty 5MP rear shooter, front-facing camera and expandable storage, the 3.8” 800x480 (ClearBlack) device may seem like a light weight compared to the 920 but thanks to the OS, you’d hardly know it.

Indeed we haven’t noticed much of any lag with the OS for regular functions, even though it “only” has a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon CPU and 512MB of RAM. That’s good news and it feels way nicer than it’s predecessor, the Lumia 610. While we liked the 610, we think the consumer is getting much more bang for their buck with the 620 both in terms of quality and performance.

Speaking of price, the 620 goes for around $300 unlocked and sometimes lower. You can pick it up on Expansys or through various regional carriers and we recommend you do so. Sadly, no US carrier is on board, which is shame. If AT&T were to offer this for $0 on contract with LTE, it’d be quite huge.

We’ll have more on the 620 in the coming days. Stay tuned as we’re excited about this one.

Read full here... http://www.wpcentral.com/unboxing-hands-nokia-lumia-620

Windows Phone 7.8

2013-01-21T09:27:00.002-08:00

January 31st aiming to be official start of Windows Phone 7.8 update program by Microsoft

Although Microsoft itself has been officially mum on when the Windows Phone 7.8 update will go out to the masses, the end of January is coming into focus as the target date.

On the face of it, Windows Phone 7.8 is a minor update bringing only the ability to use three different size tiles on the Start screen, reflecting the Windows Phone 8 paradigm in addition to some smaller, device specific enhancements. But based user experience, 7.8 really does make a difference in perception, making older devices feel more modern.

Confirmations

Evidence for an end-of-January global rollout derives from a few carriers who have proclaimed the date through their official PR channels like Twitter or even their website. A new piece of evidence though coming from Microsoft has been revealed today, reinforcing the launch time-frame.

First up is O2 who mentioned the 7.8 update recently in a fairly specific tweet. When asked by a customer when the update would be available, the popular UK carrier responded with “by the end of January”.

Yesterday, we reported on Australia’s Telstra expecting the much-anticipated OS update for the Lumia 800 also by January 31st (although other Windows Phone devices are still in testing, with a rollout anticipated in February or early March). WPArea.de also recently reported that O2 Germany tweeted the same timeframe regarding the Lumia 710, citing January for that push.

Now, Windows Phone Colombia via their Facebook page has landed on this date of January 31st as being key for the 7.8 update. In an announcement post on their page, the Latin American branch of Windows Phone proclaimed:

“As of January 31 and during the first quarter of 2013 some phones with Windows Phone 7.5 will be receiving 7.8 update... Happy weekend.” (Translated by Bing)

Once again, the information is specific and thru official channels.

When will Microsoft make it formal?

We don’t want to make guaranteed predictions here folks, but that’s four official sources all arriving on the same date for a Windows Phone 7.8. Even more interesting is the fact of how spread out they are: Colombia, Australia, Germany, the UK and we bet there are more.

We should temper excitement though as Telstra demonstrated that the majority of their devices won’t have 7.8 on January 31st and we have a feeling that will be the case for a lot of carriers. In other words, some high-profile (and previously bestselling devices) will get first priority for this update with others falling in line thereafter.

Read full here... http://www.wpcentral.com/january-31-start-windows-phone-78-update-microsoft

Nokia Q4

2013-01-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

Nokia's Q4 performance exceeds expectations

Preliminary estimates by Nokia indicate that the Finnish phone giant's Q4 2012 financial performance has exceeded expectations in their Devices & Services division, thanks in large part to the success of their Lumia line of Windows Phone devices. Their estimates suggest that Nokia achieved what it calls "underlying profitability" in Q4. In a press release, CEO Steven Elop shared his thoughts on the news:

"We are pleased that Q4 2012 was a solid quarter where we exceeded expectations and delivered underlying profitability in Devices & Services and record underlying profitability in Nokia Siemens Networks. We focused on our priorities and as a result we sold a total of 14 million Asha smartphones and Lumia smartphones while managing our costs efficiently, and Nokia Siemens Networks delivered yet another very good quarter."

According to the report, three primary factors contributed Nokia's successful fourth quarter:

Mobile Phones business unit and Lumia portfolio delivered better than expected results; and

Operating expenses were lower than expected.

Devices & Services non-IFRS operating margin for the fourth quarter 2012 now expected to be between break even and positive 2 percent.

It is estimated that Nokia totaled EUR 3.9 billion in the last three months of 2012 from sales of 86.3 million units. Of the 6.6 million smart devices sold, 4.4 million of those were Nokia Lumia devices powered by Windows Phone. This news jump started Nokia's stock, which shot up about 17% at the time of this story.

Nokia's Q4 estimates are a much needed boon to the company, who experienced mass layoffs and saw its stock plummet and credit rating downgraded since moving to the Windows Phone platform. However, they have been sure to temper expectations for the first quarter of 2013. They project that "seasonality and competitive environment" will lead to a dropoff from the end of 2012 to the start of 2013.

We shall see what the new year has in store for Nokia.

Source: Nokia

link: http://www.wpcentral.com/nokias-q4-performance-exceeds-expectations

Notifications for Windows Phone 7

2012-12-31T19:46:00.001-08:00

Notifications for Windows Phone 7 hits the Store

For those looking for a notifications center, you might be in luck. Notifications is now available in the Windows Phone Store that should do the trick.

The downside to Notifications is that it's only available for Windows Phone 7.x devices (not sure about 7.8 devices though). The developer is trying to rectify that but it'll take some time.

You will need a companion program, Notification Center, running on your computer to complete the Windows Phone installation. Here's how to go about it.

Install the Notification Center on your computer (that you can find here).
Install the Notifications app on your Windows Phone (that you can find here).
Run the Notifications Center on your computer and connect your Windows Phone to your computer.
Let your Windows Phone sync with Zune then re-start your Windows Phone without disconnecting.

Once your Windows Phone re-starts you can disconnect and the Notifications app should be operational. That is, when you get a notification on your Windows Phone, it will be logged in the Notifications app and you'll get... well... a notification.

Installation went smooth and to be honest, I don't get many notifications and getting one to pop up could take all night (if not longer). If that should change, I'll let you know or if you try Notifications out and get a notification first, speak up in the comments.

The developer does note that if you were a Beta Tester who donated to the cause and your name is on the tester list, the app will be free. The cost is mainly due to the load cost of the Notification Center. There is a trial version available for Notifications and the full version is running $2.99.

Again, you can find Notifications here in the Windows Phone Store. Just keep in mind it is only compatible with Windows Phone 7 at this time.

source: windowsphonehacker

link: http://www.wpcentral.com/notifications-windows-phone-7-hits-store

SkyMotion for Windows Phone

2012-12-29T09:42:00.000-08:00

When’s it gonna rain? Just ask SkyMotion, now available for Windows Phone

Here in New England, we’re getting hit with some nasty winter weather: snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain and all the variants of wintry precipitation. And if you’re planning your day—especially if you golf, ride a motorcycle or were looking to schedule something outside, knowing when that rain is going to happen is important.

Enter in SkyMotion, which just does just that—it pulls down your location and in various, user-selected time increments, tells you the chance of rain in your exact area. Sure, other weather apps tell you that info in a general sense, but this is about granularity, specificity and SkyMotion kicks it up a notch.

The app was previously on Android and iOS but is now available for our Windows Phones...

The app is simple enough: you launch it, it pulls your location (you can also enter in locations for saving and comparison) and it then tells you rain, clear, etc. over the next few hours in 1, 5, 15 or 30 minute intervals. You can even share the information via social networks, email etc. in case you’re collaborating and the app has a Live Tile too. Best part? Yeah, it’s free.

SkyMotion is a certainly a must have app if rain status is important to you and seeing as it costs nothing, is smooth and simple to use we see little reason to not use it. Pick up SkyMotion here in the Windows Phone Store for Windows Phone 7.x and Windows Phone 8.

lnk: http://www.wpcentral.com/when-s-it-gonna-rain-just-ask-skymotion-now-available-windows-phone

HTC 8X Windows Phone

2012-12-15T04:55:00.003-08:00

'Limited Edition' HTC 8X Windows Phone for Verizon employees looks hot

Verizon employees get a special gift this year, a 'special edition' of the HTC 8X Windows Phone in rare grey

File this under 'cool' as some Verizon employees are getting special, limited edition HTC 8X Windows Phones in grey with limelight yellow accent colors. That’s right, not only do is it in a new color but it has that two-tone look from the 8S that people adore.

We don’t have word on which employees qualify for the ‘Employee Edition’ of the 8X but we certainly are a tad jealous and we would love to see that look go public. The devices are individually numbered (we blurred it out) meaning these really are hard to come by.

So what do you folks think? Would you buy the 8X in this color? Thanks, Verizon Wired, for the images!

Link: http://www.wpcentral.com/limited-edition-grey-htc-8x-windows-phone-verizon-employees-looks-hot

Conserve Windows Phone battery life

2012-11-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Conserve Windows Phone battery life by managing background apps

We heard and experienced for ourselves some rather crummy battery life with the Nokia Lumia 920Windows Phone. It's a mixed bag of results with some report fantastic battery performance while others are struggling to make it through half a day.

While Nokia is looking into things, they've reminded us that managing the apps that are running in the background could help with battery life. And this power saving technique isn't exclusive to the Lumia Windows Phones. If you want to conserve power on your HTC 8X or Samsung Focus 2, shut down some of the apps you don't need that are still running in the background.

To see what's running in the background, go to your Windows Phone's settings and swipe over to the applications page. There you will find "background tasks" setting at the top of the list.

Once inside the settings, you'll see a list of all the apps running in the background. To shut it down, just tap on the app and tap the "block" button. To confirm that you've shut down the app, press and hold the back button to view any open apps.

Nokia has received reports that if Nokia Drive is left running in the background can contribute to high power consumption. They also note that Angry Birds: Star Wars may also be consuming higher than normal power. There's nothing definitive about either, just suspicions that are being researched.

Along with shutting down apps operating in the background, consider disabling the NFC feature (touch + share feature in your settings menu). We aren't sure if there's a connection but over the past two days with NFC disabled, our battery life has improved dramatically.

It's nice to see Nokia taking an interest in the Lumia 920's performance and if we here anything definitive on the 920's battery concerns, we'll pass it on.

Source: Nokia Support

http://www.wpcentral.com/conserve-windows-phone-battery-life-managing-background-apps

Nokia Lumia 900 vs. Lumia 920

2012-11-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

Nokia Lumia 900 vs. Lumia 920 Windows Phones: First Impressions

If you currently own a Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone you're probably considering the Lumia 920 as your next Windows Phone. But how do the two compare?

Sure, the Lumia 920 has NFC support, the Pureview camera and Windows Phone 8 but how do these two Windows Phones compare with regards to design?

Here's the tale of the tape on the two. The Nokia Lumia 900 measures 5 x 2.7 x .45 inches and weighs 5.64 ounces. The Nokia Lumia 920 measures 5.13 x 2.79 x .42 inches and weighs in at 6.5 ounces. On paper the Lumia 920 is longer, wider but thinner than the Lumia 900. The Lumia 920 also weighs almost an ounce heavier than the Lumia 900. While on paper these differences are easily noticeable, in the hand the differences are not.

While I can tell the Lumia 920 is the larger phone when held, the 920 doesn't feel larger. In a blindfold test, it would be tough to tell the two Lumia Windows Phones apart just by the way they feel. The extra weight is nicely distributed to avoid feeling heavier and the larger screen size is accommodated by a balance of making the phone's frame wider and taller.

There are some design changes that will give away the Lumia 920. Such as the charging port now on the bottom of the phone and headphone jack centered at the top but feel alone, these two phones are very similar.

Nokia did a good job of increasing the size of the 900 without adding to the bulk. With regards to design and feel, the 920 is a refined version of the 900. If you like the fit and feel of the Lumia 900, you'll like the Lumia 920 just as nicely.

Link: http://www.wpcentral.com/nokia-lumia-900-vs-lumia-920-windows-phones-first-impressions

Nokia Lumia 920: Developer edition

2012-11-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

Developer edition of the Nokia Lumia 920 is a one of a kind pentaband

With BUILD 2012 now behind us, we can talk a little about those Lumia 920’s that were handed out en masse to all the developers in attendance (media did not get them nor the Surface).

Seeing as BUILD attracts developers from all over the world, it would be a bit inconsiderate to give out a phone with limited 3G/4G capabilities as some would get the full package, while others would be restricted to their network. The problem is multi-dimensional as 3G GSM and 4G LTE networks vary quite widely, not to mention the combination of the two often required for great performance.

As it turns out, the Lumia 920 that was given out at BUILD is a “frankenphone” of sorts, with mixed components and from what we are told, it won’t be made again. That 920, as evidenced by the photo above from game developer Marios Karagiannis (Monster Up creator/karios.gr), shows the broad supported bands of this Nokia device, including:

WCDMA 850, 900, 1900, 2100, 1700_2100
LTE 700, 850, 1900, 1700_1900

We’re not 100% sure on what networks that specific device will run on but we’re guessing it will work on more carriers than an unlocked AT&T version. Anyway, if you are a lucky recipient of such a phone or can get your hands on one, we suggest you hold on to it as it could be the most “universal” Lumia 920 made.

Of course if you're a bit jealous, just remember that this 920 only came in boring black. While we know some of you prefer that color, we're just going to say the 920 "pops" a bit more in those other optical variations.

Link: http://www.wpcentral.com/developer-edition-lumia-920-one-kind-pentaband

Lumia 810

2012-10-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

Site News - Lumia 810 has arrived at the Windows Phone Central Forums

Today T-Mobile announced the Lumia 810, a version of the Lumia 820 that'll be heading to the US carrier. While many would simply assume it's a mere codename alteration, don't be fooled into thinking the same. The Lumia 810 does sport some differentiations that space the device out from AT&T's second Lumia Windows Phone 8 offering.

Because the Lumia 810 is set to arrive in a matter of weeks, we figured it would be a perfect opportunity for discussion to spark. A forum has been designated for threads to be created that cover the new Windows Phone.

Be sure to head on over to the Windows Phone Central Forum to engage with other Windows Phone fans and developers.

Link: http://www.wpcentral.com/site-news-lumia-810-has-arrived-windows-phone-central-forums

Price apps in the Windows Phone Store

2012-09-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

How should developers price apps in the Windows Phone Store?

As Bruce Forsyth would say - higher or lower?

Bernardo Zamora has published an insightful blog post on the Windows Phone Developer Blog, which goes into detail on how developers should configure individual market pricing - if at all. It's an interesting part of marketing one's work. Building and submitting the app is one thing. Effectively pricing your app(s) is another.

Windows Phone enables developers to uniquely price apps (using available tiers) for every country or region where paid apps are supported. This also affects in-app purchasing as well, so if you're planning to craft apps for Windows Phone 8 and make use of new functionality, you may also wish to configure in-app purchases.

Bruce Forsyth used to ask the question, "Higher or lower?" on gameshow Play Your Cards Right, which is what developers should be asking themselves when managing individual market submissions.

Zamora covers a number of points, including the first question: "Is it worth the trouble?" There are a number of factors to take into account when thinking about whether or not it's worth looking to set individual prices for markets. The main factor is looking at competition to see how other developers have priced their apps / games in that particular region.

The subsequent step is to analyse app data to understand regional trends. Looking at total downloads by type (free, paid, trial), region and country will enable one to determine which markets may prove to be worth the effort in customising the app / game price. From there developers are to consider whether it's best to raise or lower pricing and spot-test any changes made.

All that's left to do is to monitor customer feedback, app performance data and adjust pricing as needed. Dev Center provides tools and ways for developers to keep on top of app performance and sales and spot any potential negative effects from price alterations.

Be sure to read more on effective app pricing over at the Windows Phone Developer Blog, where Zamora goes into detail about each step.

Source: Windows Phone Developer Blog

link: http://www.wpcentral.com/how-should-developers-price-apps-windows-phone-store

HTC 8S and 8X

2012-09-20T05:57:00.000-07:00

Site News - HTC 8S and 8X have landed on the Windows Phone Central Forums

HTC announced the 8X and 8S today at its New York Windows Phone 8 presentation. These two new smartphones are the company's Apollo entries to go up against Samsung's ATIV S and Nokia's family of Lumias.

The HTC 8X and 8S sport new designs and implemented features that are sure to turn heads and demand attention - particularly the choice of colours and Beats Audio support. Both featuring LCD 2 displays and dual-core S4 chips, the new HTC Windows Phones aren't slouches by any means.

We've opened up two new forums -- one for the 8X and another for the 8S -- for these handsets, which can now be discussed as well as any compatible accessories.

Be sure to head on over to our community forums to mingle with other Windows Phone fans and voice your opinions. Why join the Windows Phone Central forums? Well, we're the largest Windows Phone community out there with bags of activity and a superb readership / userbase. There's never a quiet day and our aim is to continue this trend.

link:http://www.wpcentral.com/site-news-htc-8s-and-8x-have-landed-windows-phone-central-forums

Nokia Lumia 920

2012-09-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

Rumor – AT&T to launch the Nokia Lumia 920 on October 21st

Coming to the US on October 21st? Not likely.

File this under wishful thinking and maybe true but BGR’s Geller personally posted that they’ve confirmed through sources the AT&T launch date for the Nokia Lumia 920. On Tracour, BGR.com only has a 52% average rating on rumor accuracy, so take this rumor with some skepticism.

The flagship Windows Phone from Nokia is reportedly going to launch on October 21^st—a traditional Sunday launch for the company. In addition, the Samsung Galaxy Note II will launch the same day. That contradicts earlier rumors from the Verge and TechRadar who suggested November 2nd--the last day of Microsoft's Build '12.

That date, if accurate, is certainly earlier than the November time frame that many have come to expect. If AT&T and Nokia can pull it off, it will surely be a huge win for the OS and the Finnish company as uncertainty about the release has plagued them ever since the September 5^th announcement.

Skepticism?

AT&T has not even officially announced that they are getting the Lumia 920, though it has long been speculated seeing as they are the “premier” Windows Phone partner in the US. What’s more, to our knowledge, Windows Phone 8 OS has not been finalized or released-to-manufactures (RTM) which makes this early date slightly suspect. We should also mention there is no finalized, official SDK yet either. That does not bode well for the idea that this phone is coming out so early.

Then again, with all the pressure Microsoft and Nokia are under, perhaps some late night struggling and corner cutting have been implemented to get this out the door sooner than later.

Or perhaps we are seeing a pre-order day and not one for an actual launch.

No price was announced though we’re going to guess that $199 on contract seems to be a fair pricing point for the flagship phone. Will Nokia undercut that and go for $150? Too early to tell.

Edit: Due to some personal communications with others in the tech field since we first published, we've downgraded this to a 4 on the rum'o'meter from a 6.

Source: BGR

link: http://www.wpcentral.com/rumor-att-launch-lumia-920-october-21st

Windows Phone App Short Take: Time Sync

2012-09-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Windows Phone App Short Take: Time Sync

Time Sync is a nice little World time app for your Windows Phone. If you need to keep track of the current time in another part of the world, Time Sync should come in handy.

Time Sync includes a listing of over 6,500 cities and there's a neat conversion tool that will convert any random date and time for one city or country to another.

There's really not many bells and whistles to Time Sync. You have the main page that displays all your world clocks with controls to add cities to your list and to access the conversion tool.

Your local time will be displayed at the top with the date and a small icon illustrating day or night. In tapping a city listing you pull up the synchronization page that will let you adjust the local time of that city and see the other clocks adjust accordingly.

To access the conversion tool, you can use the button at the bottom of the screen or tap/hold a city clock to pop-up a menu.

The conversion tool has fields for the from and to locations and the time and date you want converted. Just fill in the blanks and the conversion is calculated automatically. Time Sync contains historical time zones and civil changes since 1970. The app also includes transitions such as Daylight Savings Time and records Leap Seconds.

So if you want to convert your local time on January 2, 1983 to the time it would have been in Adana, Turkey the conversion tool will do just that.

Again, there's not much to Time Sync but it does the job of time synchronization rather well. If you have colleagues located in another country or you need to keep track of times for an event in another time zone, I can see Time Sync coming in handy.

Time Sync is a free app for your Windows Phone that you can find here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

link: http://www.wpcentral.com/windows-phone-app-short-take-time-sync