Windows Phone Daily

Rumor: Microsoft changing its update roll-out process with WP8 GDR2

2013-06-18T23:56:00.000-07:00

Windows Phone updates have been a disappointing ordeal throughout the platform's existence. From the days of the tightfisted roll out of NoDo to today where several carrier-branded devices are still awaiting GDR1 'Portico', it's been a confusing system that has frustrated device owners. According to a new report, Microsoft is changing things up from the release of GDR2 and onwards but it's unclear if the new changes are for better or worse.

WPDang broke the news as yet another one of their reliable exclusives. The machine translation was rough around the edges, so we had a very helpful Twitter follower of ours (huge thanks goes to @JTanKewen!) provide us a cleaner interpretation of the Chinese text. Here's the important bit with a bit of context added from us:

Starting from the GDR2 update, the updating process will change. Updates will be sent [from Microsoft] straight to manufacturers and then the manufacturers add their own updates in, and pushes it out to their customers.

In other words, it appears Microsoft is lending some more control to the manufacturers when it comes to updating their devices. For those who didn't know, Microsoft previously used to have control over the entire process. That included making the OS update, compiling all of the firmware from manufacturers themselves, wrapping it up into updates for each specific device, and then sending it out for the world. It was all explained in the early days of Windows Phone 7's existence in a post that explained how updates worked and why it seemed to take so long for users. Here's how Microsoft's Eric Hautala explained the process back in March 2011 (emphasis ours):

First, the engineering team [at Microsoft] makes and thoroughly tests changes to our Windows Phone operating system software, adding new and improved features or making fixes.

But that’s typically just part of what we send you. The companies that make your Windows Phone handset—or even the chips inside them—also frequently provide us updated firmware that they’ve written, tested, and want us to include.

This combination makes up our update, which we dispatch to the cellular carriers around the world that sell Windows Phones. The carriers then conduct their own tests to help ensure that the new software works correctly both on their networks and the Windows Phone models they sell.

According to WPDang, that process is now being delegated to the manufacturers. Microsoft will simply create the OS update and send it to HTC, Huawei, Nokia, or Samsung — from there the ball will be in their court. The report points to Nokia's 'Amber' update as an example of this, where the base software will be the GDR2 OS update but the manufacturer will add more bits to it.

On the one hand that sounds great, especially for a company like Nokia who has been slowly redefining Windows Phone under the Lumia brand with tireless research and development efforts. But to counter that positive, what about the manufacturers less invested in Windows Phone? We can't imagine HTC or Samsung prioritizing an update that they've suddenly become responsible for delivering. The change in the process also may have an effect on carrier testing, since Windows Phone updates will be delivered to them from the likes of the manufacturers now instead of Microsoft. We're not certain if that's a good or bad thing.

How do you feel about this change? Do you think it's better to leave updates in the hands of manufacturers and lighten the load on Microsoft?

Source: WPDang (Translated) | HUGE thanks to @JTanKewen!

For some reason, Huawei is thinking about buying Nokia

2013-06-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

Uhh...what? The manufacturers within the sphere of Windows Phone have had muddled relationships amongst each other in the past, but this takes the trophy for the most confused mess yet. Earlier today news hit the wire that Huawei said, without even really being asked, they were considering an acquisition of Nokia. Let that sink in for a moment. Huawei. Buying Nokia. Again, the only reaction we have right now is "uhh...what?"

If we could sit around all day dumbfounded by left-field news about two totally disparate companies somehow linking up, we would. But let's explain what's going on here. The news initially came from a report from the Financial Times, in which Huawei chairman Richard Yu said that the Chinese manufacturer wants to become the world's leading smartphone maker. Yu went on to say that they were "open-minded" to the idea of acquiring Nokia, which would be one way to accomplish that kind of scale. He noted that any kind of process would obviously depend on Nokia's willingness to even sell, which so far does not seem like the company's intent.

So, let's talk about this bonkers notion that Huawei seemingly wants to buy Nokia. But is it really that far out of the realm of possibility? Probably, but looking at the financials Huawei is the much healthier company at the moment — last year they raked in a net profit of CNY 15.4 billion (a little more than USD $2.5 billion). They are very much a company on the rise, in contrast with Nokia who has done its best to just stop the bleeding until this point. So while it might seem like a Huawei fan's far-fetched fantasy, in reality it could be feasible. Shareholders seemed to agree too, because Nokia's stock saw a rapid climb in reaction to the news.

Unfortunately, Reuters spoiled some of the fun of speculating what Nokwei/Huakia could look like by having a voice of reason speak up. A statement from the company says it in plain text: Huawei has "no plans to acquire Nokia".

So ignoring some of this peculiar will-they/won't-they action for now, we wanted to point out an interesting observation made by Richard Yu in his talk with FT. He believes the smartphone market is headed towards an inevitable consolidation and while players like Google have cemented their roles for the future, Yu cautioned that Microsoft is at risk at loosing their tip toe-sized foothold due to the way their licensing works:

"Whether Windows Phone [will be] successful is difficult to say – it has a very small market share. [Windows Phones] are weak but still require a license fee. That’s not good. Android is free.”

We find that observation extremely interesting that tries to address the root of Microsoft's struggles, and its unfortunate that it was overlooked by all of the wacky hijinks and sexual tension his previous statements induced. (This isn't an episode of Castle, people.)

Anyway, what do you think about this borderline-insane story? Could Nokwei really happen?

Source: Financial Times, Reuters

BLINK sets its sights on animation, camera settings, and sharing in major update

2013-06-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

After what felt like a 'soft launch' for Microsoft Research's pet project on Windows Phone 8, the group behind the innovative and impressive BLINK is ensuring today that everyone knows it's arrived. A massive update for the popular lens app hit the Store earlier this morning and you may just find a new use for it now more than you ever did before.

For those who missed it when it was initially released, BLINK is what we referred to as an 'intelligent burst shot' camera app. You can use the app just like a normal camera app and capture photos with it, but once you press that shutter button the screen begins to show off a series of flashes. BLINK is actually constantly recording while its open, keeping track of the last second or so of photos and once you press the shutter button adds the next second of the scene. The result is an image where you can choose from the best of 16 shots, half of which were taken before you even took the photo.

That was the extent of BLINK's functionality and at that time it really showed off the possibilities developers had with lens apps in Windows Phone 8. Today's v2.0 update pushes that potential even further, smartly adding to the rapid burst shot mode with an ingenious new feature: animation. Similar to Nokia's Cinemagraph, the app now utilizes those 16 successive shots to let you stitch together a GIF-like animation. In the photo timeline, you choose the 'best shot' with the yellow square and select your 'motion range' with the red brackets. You preview your animation by tapping on the preview to pause/play.

BLINK has also added some more features that really push the app further up amongst the throne. For starters, you can now finally change your photo settings — Scene mode, Exposure, White Balance, and ISO — before taking a photo. There's also the ability to share your photos and, more importantly, share your animations on Socl. That's Microsoft's own social network which is similar to Pinterest in that you just share random things that you like in gorgeous-looking collages and galleries.

That's enough out of us and it's about darn time you download BLINK yourself. What are you waiting for, it's free! Grab it by clicking on the link or scanning the QR code below. (Windows Phone 8 only.)

P.S. There's also a new companion app on Windows 8 called BLINK Cliplets which lets you record or import video and then splice it together with other images. Download it for free here.

BLINK
by Microsoft Research
Version: 2.0
Price: Free
Trial: No

Download Link (WP8)

Telstra support page suggests July release for Windows Phone 8 GDR2 update

2013-06-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

For those who might have blinked over the past few jam-packed weeks of news, Microsoft has already announced the next update to Windows Phone 8. The forthcoming update, codenamed GDR2, will add a few changes like expanded support for Data Sense, the addition of FM Radio, global support for podcasts, and more. Unfortunately what we haven't known is when this update will be released, until today if you believe what Australian operator Telstra has published on their support website.

Spotted by WindowsBlogItalia, the Telstra support page for device updates has recently been updated itself. The table now shows software update status for the carrier's selection of Windows Phone 8 devices from HTC and Nokia. It states that the Windows Phone 8 GDR2 update is estimated to be approved by the carrier in July, on the 8th for the Lumia 920 and the 15th for the Lumia 520 plus HTC's 8X and 8S.

While updates are always dependent on your carrier, the date shown in the table refers to the 'Expected Approval Date' so that should mean operators will have the update before then (or may even have it right now). We'll be waiting (im)patiently, and in the meantime let's hope we hear some more from Microsoft about the update next week at BUILD.

Via: WindowsBlogItalia, WMPoweruser | Source: Telstra

Reddit client Baconit receives quick update to fix login trouble

2013-06-17T18:49:00.001-07:00

Quinn Damerell's extremely popular Reddit client for Windows Phone, Baconit, is one of the biggest success stories we've seen on the platform. A lot of people rely on it to view the latest and greatest from the vibrant universe of Reddit. The bad news: in recent days the app has been plagued with server issues that prevented users from accessing their content. The good news: an update has just hit the Store to resolve those issues.

The troubles began when Reddit made a few behind-the-scenes changes a few days ago. Or as best described by Baconit's creator in this post to the app's own subreddit: "In short, reddit did an update that broke baconit." Users observed that the app failed to load any account information including subreddit subscriptions. The only workaround that's been available is to log out and simply use Reddit as a reader, which was still hit or miss for some.

But a few hours ago, all became right with the world because a promised bugfix update came through and is now available in the Store to download. It looks like Damerell was able to get the update expedited with the help of Microsoft. Here's the message he placed on the /r/Baconit about two hours ago:

Baconit is now alive, go to the store to get your update! The donate update will be live in a few hours. You will need to log out and back in to get it working.

Also, a special thanks to the Windows Phone Marketplace dev team! They were really helpful and got this update out in less than 6 hours!

We're glad to see Baconit make it out of this rough patch in record time. Now it's time to get back to all of those adorably cute photos from /r/aww — download the update from the Store by clicking on the links or scanning the QR codes below. (Note: Update for the Donate version isn't live yet but will be shortly.)

Source: Baconit (Reddit)

Baconit
by Quinn Damerell
Version: 2.4.7
Price: Free
Trial: No

Download Link

Baconit - Donate
by Quinn Damerell
Version: 2.6.4.1
Price: $1.99
Trial: No

Download Link

Windows Phone's speech gets a tune-up: 2x faster results and 15% more accurate (Video)

2013-06-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

One of Windows Phone's oft-overlooked features when compared to the competition is Speech. Microsoft's platform does what most do by letting you carry out various functions or search for a query, but it's also one of the few that lets third-party apps create their own custom voice commands. If you've been using it recently, you might have noticed it's performing a little better than usual. That's what the Bing team has announced today, revealing that Windows Phone's speech recognition has seen a number of improvements over the past few weeks.

As it turns out, today's reveal is actually something we discussed several weeks ago when a video of a private presentation from Microsoft Research hit the web. Bing has infused the power of DNN (Deep Neural Networks) with speech, a new computational process that was "inspired by the functioning of neurons in the brain" and can "detect patterns akin to the way biological systems recognize patterns".

While that may sound like science fiction jargon, in reality it means that speech takes less time to understand a query while being clever enough to start loading results in the background sooner. Bing has also improved Windows Phone's speech capability through some technical wizardry that allows it to hear you better than before, particularly when there's background noise. The latter noisy situations saw a 15% reduction in word-error rates.

<br /> <A href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=5c9155cc-c40d-45ed-9ee0-64327142e1e5&from=shareembed-syndication&src=v5:embed:syndication:" target="_new" title="Bing Makes Voice Search on Windows Phone More Accurate and Twice As Fast">Video: Bing Makes Voice Search on Windows Phone More Accurate and Twice As Fast</A><br />

For those interested in learning more about DNN, there's a lengthy and very technical piece over at Inside Microsoft Research, which is a worthwhile read. For those who are visual learners, check out the hands-on video above filmed by the Bing team.

We have to admit we have noticed speech to be faster than usual and this explains why. Unfortunately today's updates don't seem to include the extremely impressive 'streaming' functionality which was discussed in that leaked presentation, but that's probably being reserved for a future Windows Phone update. While we wait, have you noticed an improvement in Windows Phone's search functionality?

Via: Windows Phone Blog | Source: Bing Search Blog, Inside Microsoft Research

Add some character to your Start screen with Pinbits for Windows Phone 8 (Video)

2013-06-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

Windows Phone users are seeking out new ways to add some flair to their Start screens, and recently we've been adventuring into that movement since we often find our layout looks a little boring. e-knock labs' Pinbits for Windows Phone 8 is a fun way to solve this lack of style by adding some much needed character, or in this case characters, to your Start screen.

Pinbits is all about expressing creativity. Featuring some great artwork and neat looking characters, you can pin 130 different items to your Start screen.

There's currently six categories to filter your choices from: Original, Spring, Summer, Robots, Animals, and Stickmen. Each section features different pinnable items and once you find one you like, you can customize it a bit. You can rotate it, flip it, or even change the accent color. Then you can just pin it to your Start screen and rearrange your tiles to lay them out in whatever way you like. The potential of different ways to decorate your Start screen with Pinbits is only limited by your imagination.

With the full version of Pinbits for $0.99 you gain full access to every colorfully-designed tile. There's also a free ad-supported trial that features a sample of five tiles from each category. We highly recommend you give the app a download by clicking on the Store link or scanning the QR code below.

Pinbits
by e-knock labs
Version: 1.0.1
Price: $0.99
Trial: Yes

Download Link (WP8)

Windows Stores coming to 600 Best Buy locations in North America (Video)

2013-06-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

How can Microsoft compete with Apple Stores popping up on every corner? Their own chain of Microsoft Stores has been steadily growing, but this Summer the company is kicking things up a notch. In over 600 Best Buy locations in North America, you'll soon be able to find yourself knee deep in color and technology: say hello to the Windows Store.

Announced earlier this week, the new Windows Stores are going to be found mostly in Best Buy stores located in the United States, but the remaining 100 will be opened in Best Buys and Future Shops in Canada. Each Windows Store is going to be significant in size, ranging between 1,500 and 2,200 square feet.

All of that precious real estate is going to be used as a one-stop destination for all things Microsoft: Windows, Windows Phone, Surface, Xbox, Office and more. Most impressive about this new retail initiative is the promised workforce, with a goal from to have more than 1,200 Microsoft-trained employees across all of these stores. There's also an online storefront to bring the Windows Store to your computer at bestbuy.com/windowsstore

We don't have specific dates or locations for these Windows Stores, but in the teaser video above Microsoft assures us they are coming 'this Summer'. We love the idea of placing Windows Stores in Best Buys across the nation, as it should reach a significantly larger population than the currently sparse selection of Microsoft Stores. Do you think this move could improve Microsoft's image in the eyes of the public?

Source: Microsoft, Best Buy

Facebook Beta for Windows Phone 8 adds support for Italian, German, Spanish, and more languages

2013-06-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

For Windows Phone 8 users, the official Facebook Beta app has been a blessing. For the more than 1800 user reviews giving it a solid 4-star average rating, it has been a notably improved experience. Now it's about to get a lot better for a lot more people thanks to today's update.

As noted by Plaffo, the version 5.0.1.5 update rolling out in the Windows Phone Store has added five new languages and a new dialect of English. Here's the list of supported languages now:

English
English (United States)
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Spanish

There's not much else new to the update from what we can see. Download the Facebook Beta for free on your Windows Phone 8 device now by clicking on the link or scanning the QR code.

Via: Plaffo (Translated)

Facebook Beta
by Microsoft Corporation
Version: 5.0.1.5
Price: Free
Trial: No

Download Link (WP8)

Red Stripe Deals for June 13, 2013: Civilization Revolution, Farming Simulator, and Weather Flow

2013-06-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday — time for this week's trio of Red Stripe Deals on Windows Phone apps and games!

War, agriculture, and weather. Three completely different elements of human society that intersect more often than you might think throughout history. You can mark June 13th, 2013 as another clash of these three forces as each of this week's three Red Stripe Deals spar over your hard-earned money. Check out all three discounted downloads after the jump.

Xbox Deal of the Week: Civilization Revolution

Utter the name 'Sid Meier' to any strategy gaming fan, and they'll immediately begin gushing about the hours of memorable conquests and crushing defeats in several of his games. Civilization Revolution is one of those titles from Meier that is just so darn good at what it is, it immediately pulls you in and becomes addictive. Windows Phone gamers seem to agree, awarding the game an impeccable 4.5-star average rating from more than 600 reviews in the Store. This week the game is on sale, down from $2.99 to just $0.99 until next Thursday along with a free trial.

Indie Game Deal of the Week: Farming Simulator

Admittedly we'd never heard of this game until today, but it turns out Farming Simulator is a pretty successful multiplatform franchise from GIANTS Software. Available now for Windows Phone 8, the game couples some sharp graphics with a strategy game that's about building up an agricultural empire. While the title was dogged by user reviews for issues with the game saves, it appears most complaints have since been ironed out. Farming Simulator is on sale this week for $1.49 and there's a free trial (normally $3.49)

App Deal of the Week: Weather Flow

Windows Phone is home to some truly phenomenal weather apps, and near the top of the list is Gergely Orosz's Weather Flow. The app is one of few that can swap instantly between a photo-realistic interface to a minimalistic all-digital UI just with the flick of your finger. The app also lets you dictate the style of its flexible live tiles, and supports live wallpapers to beam the forecast (and some lovely accompanying images) to your phone's lockscreen. With a 4.5-star average rating from more than 3,200 users, Weather Flow is definitely the hottest deal this week and costs just $0.99 along with a trial (typically $1.99).

Remember, all of these Red Stripe Deals only last through a week from today (Thursday, June 20th).

Civilization Revolution
by 2K
Version: 1.1
Price: $0.99 (Sale) | $2.99 (Regular)
Trial: Yes

Download Link

Farming Simulator
by GIANTS Software
Version: 1.0.0.4
Price: $1.49 (Sale) | $3.49 (Regular)
Trial: Yes

Download Link (WP8)

Weather Flow
by Gergely Orosz
Version: 1.5
Price: $0.99 (Sale) | $1.99 (Regular)
Trial: Yes

Download Link

Nokia announces 'Zoom. Reinvented.' event in New York for July 11th

2013-06-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

Right in line with expectations, Nokia has just announced a brand new press event. Sending out a clever invitation to members of the press today, the event is sporting the tagline 'Zoom. Reinvented.' and will take place in New York City on July 11th. We wonder what it could be about...

As some of you have hopefully seen over the last few weeks, Nokia's long-anticipated high-megapixel 'EOS' device has been leaking left and right. While numerous details look like a guarantee at this point — like the polycarbonate body or the mechanical shutter for the camera — there's still some haziness about what to expect from the handset.

Nokia's press invite may actually shed some light on just how the company plans to use its epic 41-megapixel camera technology from 2012's 808 PureView in new ways. The graphic on the invite is really pushing the idea of zooming, and clearly that's going to play a role in the device's unveiling. We're not yet sure how that's going to work, but we have a few ideas and might just save that for an editorial. It's also telling that the event will be held in New York, implying that we'll see at least one U.S. carrier involved (AT&T is a concrete bet).

Image Credit: @ViziLeaks (Twitter)

Mark your calendars for July 11th and in the meantime, what do you think Nokia could announce at the event (besides what's already obvious)?

Source: Engadget

Another leaked photo shows the Nokia EOS is tough to tell apart from the Lumia 920

2013-06-12T18:15:00.001-07:00

Everything we've heard and seen of Nokia's upcoming EOS handset suggests the phone will be an impressive work of engineering. Where the Symbian-powered 808 PureView was bigger than a bar of soap, the alleged photos we've been seeing of the EOS have depicted a device that carries over the same massive sensor inside a much slimmer body. Now we can really get a good idea of how the upcoming handset looks compared to previous flag-bearer Lumia 920 thanks to a new leaked photo.

Once again coming from the newbie leaker @ViziLeaks on Twitter, we can see the front of the Lumia 920 and EOS compared side-by-side for the first time. Here's the fun part: which one is which?

Just from ogling at the photo for a minute, we're almost 99% sure the 920 is the one on the left with the dead giveaway being the placement of the Nokia logo. They also gave a hint with the Glance Screen featured on the device to the right, which we know isn't available for the 920 yet. But at first glance it was hard to tell, and this photo just exemplifies how similar the design of these two polycarbonate-clad devices really is.

@pureviewclub everyone needs some time off :) just like my blog says, more to come... ;-) #picturesfromeos #screenshotsfromeos #comingsoon
— ViziLeaks (@vizileaks) June 9, 2013

In addition to this photo, the mysterious Twitter account also teased that some more meaty leaks were headed our way. The hashtags at the end of the tweet embedded above suggest we'll be seeing some camera samples, video samples, and screenshots from the handset soon.

We should be hearing more about the Nokia EOS any day now, with a retail launch on AT&T in mid-July.

Source: @ViziLeaks

YouTube mobile site starts airing pre-roll video ads on Windows Phone 8 (Video)

2013-06-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

Microsoft and Google have been in a tiff over the YouTube experience on Windows Phone 8. From Google trying to have the unauthorized 'official' app removed to Microsoft forcing their hand in the eyes of the public, the two rivals ultimately agreed that a new app would be created to incorporate advertising and thus be in full accordance with YouTube's terms of service.

Apparently, those agreed-upon terms also apply to YouTube's mobile site. Earlier today while watching a video on our Nokia Lumia 820, we spotted the first pre-roll ad we've ever seen on YouTube while browsing with Internet Explorer. We caught the ad in action on this clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live, and you can see what the ads look like in our short demo video above.

While people might bemoan the presence of ads on YouTube, in reality we think this is a good thing from a business perspective. After all, it means YouTube publishers (like yours truly) will have an even larger audience to earn revenue from. Plus if this group generate enough money, maybe it will convince Google to start converting their services and apps to support Windows Phone (because after all, a little bit of extra money wouldn't hurt the company).

How do you feel about the pre-roll ads? Have you seen one yet?

N.O.V.A. 3 not really a Nokia exclusive, now available to all Windows Phone 8 devices

2013-06-12T12:17:00.001-07:00

It's Wednesday and do you know what that means? A new Xbox Game of the Week is out for Windows Phone!

Late last night, we posted about the release of Gameloft's long anticipated N.O.V.A. 3, which surprisingly was a Nokia-exclusive download for the company's Windows Phone 8-powered Lumias. This struck us as a bit odd since Gameloft has been hyping up this game for some time and never once mentioned it would be exclusive. Well as it turns out, that's because it isn't an exclusive: N.O.V.A. 3 is now available to all Windows Phone 8 devices.

Microsoft's Michael Stroh helped clear up some of the confusion by posting about the game on the official Windows Phone Blog. The version that post and the official Xbox site are linking to is published by Gameloft, whereas the version we discussed last night was published by Nokia Corporation. We have updated yesterday's article to reflect that difference.

The reason Nokia published the game in its Nokia Collection area is because the title is being offered as a free download in India for Lumia devices. (Quick tip: If you want the game for free just change your region settings to India, reboot the phone, download the game from the Nokia Collection, and then switch back to your original region.)

Anyway, what difference does it make? If you have a Windows Phone 8 device with 1 GB of RAM, you can now play the game regardless of whatever company built it (just make sure you have enough free space to install the 1+ GB download.)

N.O.V.A. 3 is available in the Store for $6.99 along with a free trial. Click on the tile or link below to get the game from the Windows Phone Store; or scan the QR code to the right by using Bing Vision on your Windows Phone.

N.O.V.A. 3
by Gameloft
Version: 1.0
Price: $6.99
Trial: Yes

Download Link

N.O.V.A. 3 (India Only)
by Nokia Corporation
Version: 1.0
Price: Free
Trial: Yes

Download Link

Source: Windows Phone Blog

Epic first-person shooter N.O.V.A. 3 now available exclusively for Nokia's Windows Phone 8 devices (Update)

2013-06-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

Update: As it turns out, Gameloft has also published the game for all Windows Phone 8 devices and not just Nokia. This post links to a version found in the Nokia Collection which is exclusively available to Lumia devices in India for free. (If you want it for free and don't live in India, just change your phone's region settings and download it from the Store.) If you're looking for the universal version of the game, click here. The original article follows.

This week will go down in history as one of the most pivotal in the coming generation of consoles from Microsoft and Sony. So what better way to celebrate gaming and all of its advancements than by releasing a gorgeous first-person shooter for the first time on Windows Phone 8? Gameloft's N.O.V.A. 3 is available right now in the Nokia Collection as a Lumia exclusive.

N.O.V.A. 3 is the acclaimed sequel in Gameloft's Halo-esque sci-fi franchise on mobile. You play as Kal Wardin as he returns to Earth to save mankind from a civil war. The story isn't all that important, with the real meat being the impressive gameplay. Much like Gameloft's other acclaimed actioner Modern Combat 4, this game is a first-person shooter with extremely rich, processor-boiling graphics.

The single-player campaign is likely where you'll spend most of your time in the beginning, as Kal travels across the galaxy in 10 immersive levels. Once you graduate beyond that, N.O.V.A. 3 will do its best to hook you into its multiplayer. With the option to play against with 12 players at a time, there's also a lot of variety to be had thanks to 7 different multiplayer game modes. Of course since this is a Xbox title, gamers will also benefit from exclusive Achievements and Leaderboards integrated with Live.

Because N.O.V.A. 3 is so graphically intense, there's two big caveats you need to consider. First, the installation size is going to be pretty big, since just the download itself is more than 1 GB. So you might want to consider clearing up some space on your phone. That is, if your phone can run it because we believe it requires that your Lumia handset have at least 1 GB of RAM. The download doesn't look like it's quite live yet in the United States and several other regions, so be patient and over the new few hours it should open up.

Grab N.O.V.A. 3 for your Lumia device for free if you live in India. Otherwise it's $6.99 along with a free trial.

N.O.V.A. 3 (India Only)
by Nokia Corporation
Version: 1.0
Price: Free
Trial: Yes

Download Link

N.O.V.A. 3
by Gameloft
Version: 1.0
Price: $6.99
Trial: Yes

Download Link

Via: WMPoweruser

Nokia Lumia 925 begins selling in Germany and other European countries, already receives an unboxing (Video)

2013-06-11T22:21:00.001-07:00

Make no mistake about it, the Lumia 925 is Nokia's new flagship for the foreseeable future. The company has been promising a release in early June since the handset was revealed last month in London, and it looks like it barely made it as sales of the handset have just kicked off this week.

Germany is the first to get dibs on the handset, but according to Nokia the rest of Europe, China, and the United States via T-Mobile will follow shortly after. In fact it's common knowledge that China Mobile's exclusive version of the handset, the Lumia 925T, is already up for pre-order (for less than the initial cost of the 920T to boot).

In addition to that formal announcement, Nokia has also revealed some details about the previously-leaked (and later confirmed) 'double-tap to wake' feature coming to Lumias. As it turns out, that app is called Glance Screen and it's coming built in with the 925 as a beta release. The feature places a black standby screen showing just the clock, sound profile, and battery status (example above). Nokia explains that its ideal for use while you have the phone in a car dock, or while its wirelessly charging — cases where finding that power button can be a hassle. The final version of Glance Screen will be coming to other Windows Phone 8-powered Lumia devices later this Summer as part of its Amber updates. Once the update is installed don't worry, because you can always turn off the feature in Settings > Display & Touch > Glance Screen.

So now that the handset is making its way out to the world, we're starting to see the first few videos appear online showing off the device in-hand. German site MobiFlip has already filmed an unboxing of the slim 8.5mm aluminum Lumia, and while the packaging is no frills the phone is still a gorgeous piece of kit. Check it out below and read their accompanying article here.

Via: WMPoweruser | Source: Nokia, MobiFlip (Translated)

Watch Vines in style with Viner, now available for Windows Phone 8 (Hands-on video)

2013-06-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Last week, we wrote a preview article about an upcoming app called Viner. Created by Philippe Maes as his first Windows Phone app ever, it looked extremely impressive at the time. Viner was to be the first proper client for Vine, the popular clip sharing social app that has taken Android and iOS by storm. Now you can at least watch some of the fun from your Windows Phone 8 with the help of Viner, which is now available in the Store.

Since it lacks the ability to upload Vines to the network, Viner may not be the full-featured client that Windows Phone users have been waiting for but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a chance. If you do, you'll be rewarded with a fast-loading and slick interface to watch the endless creativity of Vine users looping over and over.

We spent some hands-on time with the app, and we've got to admit it was a very enjoyable experience. You can see Viner in action and hear more of our thoughts in the hands-on video below.

If you're curious (and you really ought to be), we recommend giving Viner a shot. The app is available in the Store now for $0.99 along with an ad-supported free trial; grab it by clicking on the link or scanning the QR code below.

Viner
by Philippe Maes
Version: 1.0
Price: $0.99
Trial: Yes

Download Link

MapQuest navigates its way onto Windows Phone 8 devices

2013-06-11T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's easy to get lost in the vast planet we live in, especially if you're in a new area. Technology has always been there to guide us through those confusing times, and users have plenty of choices on their Windows Phone for navigating. Now a new entry has emerged as a choice for Windows Phone 8 devices: Aol's MapQuest.

Yep, MapQuest was the maps service to use before Google, Bing, Nokia, TomTom and others attacked the market. While it may not be so popular anymore, it's hard to argue with the appeal of free turn-by-turn navigation which is what the MapQuest app for Windows Phone 8 provides.

In fact, it provides quite a bit of features for the zero-money asking price:

Voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions using GPS
Reliable directions using MapQuest's patented routing technology
Easily find restaurants, hotels, gas stations & more using MapQuest's innovative Map Layers feature
Live traffic conditions updated every 5 minutes
Quick access to recent searches and favorite locations
Driving or walking directions provide the optimal route for your needs
Clean, elegant design makes it easy to get the info you need quickly

MapQuest is available in the Windows Phone Store right now for free. Download it now by clicking on the link or scanning the QR code below.

MapQuest
by Aol
Version: 1.0
Price: Free
Trial: No

Download Link

Via: Windows Phone Blog

Video: New Nokia Lumia 920 commercial touts critical praise and effortless style

2013-06-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

Microsoft and Nokia have been launching a barrage of marketing upon the masses over the last month or so. Verizon's Nokia Lumia 928 has gotten a lot of that love, but yesterday the attention shifted back to Nokia's original flagship on AT&T: the Lumia 920. Conveniently timed to coincide with the polarizing reveal of Apple's iOS 7, Microsoft shows off its own flat interface and beautiful colors along with a heaping of critical praise from Gizmodo, CNET, and others. Watch it after the jump.

Apple's iOS 7 goes flat, and what that could mean for Windows Phone

2013-06-10T15:47:00.003-07:00

We always like to open a brief discussion whenever a competitor announces some big news, and today's headlines have been dominated by Apple's latest event. For the first time in several years, iOS has received a makeover and it certainly borrows more than a few cues from Windows Phone's Metro/Modern interface and Android's Holo design. In fact, while we're usually willing to give the benefit of the doubt it's hard to see what's so original about Apple's latest piece of mobile software. (More screenshots after the break.)

As rumored for the past several months, Apple has gone flat or at least flatter than before. iOS 7 has a primarily white theme with an emphasis on typography and color. If that sounds familiar, we don't blame you. Yet while we would have been intrigued by a redesigned iOS, that's not exactly what Apple delivered. Instead it's more like the whole operating system has received a paint job and where Windows Phone's Metro design was built around specific experiences, this just looks like a trendy skin.

Taking a look at some of the screenshots, we're surprised to see just how similar it is to Windows Phone in certain aspects. The Email and Messages apps for example feature lots of text, minor injections of color akin to Windows Phone's accent colors, images of contacts, large inline photo previews, and even multicolored chat bubbles. The home screen icons have been flattened, but we don't consider that to be a big deal since they're still static, so they're not quite as useful as Live Tiles or Android's widgets.

Also, the redesigned keyboard strongly resembles the stock Android keyboard as well. There's also the status icons along the top, which just so happen to switch between white and black depending on what screen you're looking at. Then there's the Photos app, which also coincidentally presents images in a minimalist grid and can be grouped based on the time they were taken. We could keep doing this for a while (just ask us about that Multitasking interface).

So, does Apple's iOS 7 going the minimalist route spell trouble for Windows Phone? Not necessarily. In fact, we could just take it as a sign from Apple that Microsoft's approach is on to something. And yet somehow we think this 'trendy skin' will go on to become more successful, despite in some areas looking downright bad (just look at the Control Center screenshot on the far left of the header image). The reaction among fans has been polarizing but mostly positive, and it's hard not to think mainstream consumers will also adopt the new software with open arms. Even if they don't, it will be hard to pry away users from the more than 900,000 apps Apple offers.

But then again, this might just open a door of opportunity for Microsoft. Windows Phone and Windows 8 may be seen on equal footing with Apple now more than ever, and Microsoft can edge its long-time competitor out with the sheer strength of its two aces: Office, and of course the vast Windows ecosystem itself.

What do you think about iOS 7? Is there anything in Apple's new mobile software that you'd like to see in Windows Phone at some point?

Source: Apple

Xbox One launching in November for $499; new Halo game, SmartGlass update, and more announced

2013-06-10T14:58:00.001-07:00

Microsoft goes big for the impending launch of the Xbox One.

This week, Windows Phone Daily's backyard is the home of the gaming world's most celebrated event. The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3 for its close acquaintances, is always a big deal for Microsoft and it's especially pivotal with the impending launch of the Xbox One this holiday season. Today, Microsoft has announced a pile of games, completely new Xbox Live features, an improved SmartGlass, pricing for the Xbox One, and more. Join us past the break for a full recap of the entire event.

Games

The biggest complaint coming out of the Xbox One's initial announcement event was the noticeable lack of games. While Call of Duty: Ghosts had a world premiere trailer during the show, there wasn't much else showing off the technical prowess of the console's next generation graphics. That all changed during today's E3 2013 press conference, which saw 'a new generation of games' announced for the coming platform.

Microsoft promised some big exclusive games, and for the most part it delivered. The biggest reveal was none other than a new Halo game, currently under development and without a name but coming to the next-gen platform in 2014. Another fan-favorite returning to Xbox exclusivity is Capcom's zombie thriller Dead Rising 3, while in-house development team Rare is rebooting their cult fighting franchise Killer Instinct. Next was the impressive online-connected game creator called Project Spark, while EA debuted a new exclusive for the platform in Titanfall. Then there's the previously-announced Quantum Break and Forza Motorsport 5, the latter of which touts new 'Drivatar technology' to simulate how your online friends drive and create Human AI for you to compete against even while offline. Kinect Sports Rivals will also be there at launch to accompany the new Kinect sensor.

The Xbox One event was also home to a number of multiplatform game announcements. One huge and shocking surprise was the announcement of Konami Studios' Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the first game in the series since the presumed conclusion with 2008's PS3-exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Crytek's new action-adventure IP Ryse: Son of Rome also turned heads, while dreaded controller-killer Dark Souls II was shown off for the first time. There were a ton more games, but we've covered the big ones and you can find out more about the others on Xbox Wire.

New Cloud features

Microsoft took E3 as an opportunity to flesh out some details surrounding the new cloud-connected Xbox Live features coming alongside the One. Backed by Windows Azure, all Xbox One games and entertainment will be backed up to the cloud which allows you to view and play everything from any console. Another new feature is the ability to auto-update the console and games, which means you won't be stuck waiting to satisfy your gaming fix while a patch is installed.

One of the best features of Xbox Live, Achievements, is being expanded to incorporate universal rewards based on "skill, participation and time-based challenges". Developers can also add more Achievements to their games after launch. Multiplayer matchmaking is also getting an overhaul with Smart Match: "Smart Match expands options for game creators to match players based on skill, language and now reputation. Best of all, you no longer have to wait in lobbies while a match is found."

Finally there's the new social components of Xbox Live, of which a partnership with Twitch takes center stage. The support for the pervasive video broadcasting platform will allow anyone to stream their games live online or watch other gamers' live streams. Other ways to share your best gaming moments includes Game DVR, which captures video from games you play, and Upload Studio, an app through which you can create highlight reels. Oh, and one more big change: Microsoft Points are dead and instead real currency will be used.

SmartGlass update

Microsoft's second screen platform, SmartGlass, is also receiving a major makeover with the Xbox One. Some of the new niceties include the following: "turn your console on and off, adjust volume, manage your TV set-top box and Blu-ray, and integrates with Xbox One so you can search the programming guide without interrupting your current activity". However, SmartGlass is also getting better for gaming allowing you to start a game, launch multiplayer, view Achievements, watch real-time stats and progress appear while you play, get some help, pay for in-game purchases, and more.

The new Xbox 360 and 'Games with Gold'

As expected, Microsoft hasn't given up on the Xbox 360 yet and is giving it the send-off it deserves. A redesigned Xbox 360 console is shipping to U.S. retail stores today, and it closely resembles the aesthetic of the One. The 4 GB base model will cost just $199.99, while the 4 GB + Kinect bundle will cost $299.99.

Microsoft also took the opportunity to compete with Sony's PlayStation Plus service by announcing a new 'Games with Gold' program which gives paying Xbox Live members access to two free downloadable games every month. The promotion will be ongoing until the Xbox One launches later this year, and for this month Xbox 360 gamers can grab Assassin's Creed 2 and Halo 3 for free. As a special E3 gift, Gold members can also download Fable III for free.

Xbox One Pricing and Availability

Now onto the biggest news of the day. Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One will go on sale this November for $499.99 (USD) / €499 (EUR) / £429 (GBP). Each console will come with a 500 GB hard drive, a Blu-Ray drive, built-in Wi-Fi, a Xbox One wireless controller, a Kinect sensor, and a 14-day free trial to Xbox Live.

Early adopters will also earn some nerd cred, as pre-orders will receive a special commemorative version of the console. The bundle will include a Xbox One console in a "premium black packaging", a limited edition 'Day One' wireless controller, and an extremely limited Day One Achievement for your Xbox profile.

For more info, check out the source links and for video of today's new game announcements check out this official YouTube playlist.

Source: Xbox Wire 1, 2

Nokia Lumia 920 with Windows Phone Blue build being sent back to Microsoft

2013-06-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

Looks like the spoilers are coming to an end. Yesterday, news hit the wire that a Lumia 920 sold on eBay also included a preview build of the next major revision of Windows Phone. The buyer took to Reddit and uploaded numerous screenshots, revealing new features like a Notifications center, the ability to close apps from multitasking, and a redesigned Calendar app. Now, that lucky owner has once again taken to Reddit and has revealed some bittersweet news: Microsoft is asking for the phone back.

Obviously when a multinational corporation like Microsoft asks you to give something back that belongs to them, you agree or risk facing the wrath of their very expensive lawyers. So 'ChinaMan28' has agreed and is sending the phone back.

The good news? Microsoft is doing the right thing by not only reimbursing ChinaMan28 for the amount they paid to the original seller, but also giving them a brand new Windows Phone to boot. We think that's a fair deal in exchange for a few more weeks or months of anticipation. After all, nobody likes spoilers and a lot could change between what we saw yesterday and what we'll eventually receive in the future.

Source: Reddit

Top Five Windows 8 devices of Computex 2013

2013-06-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

Our new list of must-have tablets and laptops from the world's second largest electronics show.

The computer industry is a predictable beast, but during weeks like this you won't find us complaining. Top manufacturers from the world over descended upon Taipei, Taiwan this week to participate in Computex 2013 and the show did not disappoint. Intel's new 4th-generation 'Haswell' processors were an integral part to almost every new product portfolio announced during the event. But this is called Top Five for a reason, and we had to painstakingly choose which devices deserved the most praise from us (snubbing a couple of big names in the process). So without further ado, let's take a look at the five best Windows 8 devices announced at Computex 2013 this week.

Fujitsu Lifebook UH90

Fujitsu may not be the biggest computer manufacturer, but they're certainly one of the boldest and the new Lifebook UH90 keeps that reputation alive and well. The highlight of the spec sheet for this Ultrabook is easily the 14-inch touchscreen display, running at a mind-boggling resolution of 3,200 x 1,800 with 'IGZO' low-power technology. For pixel density nerds, that comes out to 262 ppi which is impressive considering its size. The rest of the specs are nothing to scoff at either: a 1.6 GHz Haswell-based Intel Core i5, the construction being able to withstand up to 200 kg of weight without breaking, a downright anorexic waistline of just 15.5 mm at its thickest point, and a 500 GB 'hybrid HDD' to boot-up Windows 8 near instantly. It'll be available on June 28th, 2013 in select markets.

ASUS Transformer Book Trio

If you thought that Fujitsu machine was wild, wait until you get a look at what ASUS cooked up for this year's Computex. Never one to shy away from answering a question that nobody asked, ASUS has crafted yet another memorable if zany product: the Transformer Book Trio. While it looks like a run of the mill convertible Windows 8 machine, with a tablet that also connects to a keyboard dock, the Trio breaks down into three distinct use-cases. When using the 11.6-inch 1080p tablet alone, it runs Android thanks to having a built-in Intel Atom processor and 64 GB storage. When you connect the tablet to the keyboard dock (which houses a 4th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and 1 TB HDD), you can switch to Windows 8. Even cooler, you can connect that keyboard dock with any monitor and it will run the same Windows 8 installation. Expect to see it released sometime in Q3 2013.

Dell XPS 11

Dell hasn't exactly been inspiring to watch as of late, but the manufacturer still has some great ideas to kick around in the modern laptop space. Those signs of life have emerged in the form of the XPS 11, an Ultrabook that combines an eye-shredding 11.6-inch 2560 x 1440 resolution display with a near 360-degree rotating hinge to flip the screen over and use it like a tablet (just like the Lenovo Yoga 13, for example). Throw in some amenities like the USB 3.0 ports, HDMI Out support, and SD card reader and wrap it all up in a 15mm thick device that weighs just 2.5 pounds. Yowza.

Razer Blade / Blade Pro

If you're a gamer, the only name you should be paying attention to these days is whatever comes after the word 'Razer'. The company has been on a warpath to deliver top-notch gaming hardware in tablets and laptops, and the new Razer Blade is their latest praiseworthy breakthrough. The beast of a machine packs in a 4th-generation Intel Core i7-4702HQ Quad Core that runs at a base 2.2 GHz or in 'Turbo' at 3.2 GHz, a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M dedicated graphics chipset, 8 GB of onboard DDR3 memory, SSD storage options of 128GB / 256GB / 512GB, a 14-inch LED backlit display at 1600 x 900, and all miraculously squeezed into a laptop that's just 16.8 mm "thick" — Razer claims it's the world's thinnest gaming laptop. The manufacturer also introduced a similar-spec machine in the Blade Pro, which bumps up the display to 17-inches at Full HD and adds the highly functional Switchblade UI for creative professionals. Both the Blade and Blade Pro are already up for pre-order.

Acer Iconia W3

How could we do this piece any justice without catering to the smaller hands crowd? Not everyone wants a decked out gaming machine, a spinning and flipping laptop, or a portable machine with a few too many pieces to keep track of. That's where the new Acer Iconia W3 comes in, the first 8-inch tablet to run Windows 8 (not RT). It features a touchscreen display at 1200 x 800 resolution, an Intel Atom Z2760 processor, micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports, a MicroSD card slot, 2-megapixel front and rear cameras, comes in 32 or 64 GB storage options, and touts 8-hour battery life while watching 720p video. The real draw to the device is its diminutive size (11.4 mm thin, 1.19 pounds light) and its starting price of just $379 for a machine with full-fat Windows 8. There's even an optional keyboard dock, which replicates the same layout found on 13-inch laptops, that will be sold for just $79.99. The Acer Iconia W3 will be available in stores later this month.

Which of these Windows 8 machines are you looking forward to the most? Is there one that didn't make the list that you think deserves some recognition? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Source: Fujitsu, Dell, Razer, Acer

Leaked Windows Phone Blue screenshots show off notification center, multitasking changes, and more

2013-06-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

Windows Phone 8 has passed that mid-life status as a mobile operating system, and now that we're in Summer we can start to look forward to what's inevitably coming this Fall. Cue a new leak of screenshots provided by Redditor ChinaMan28, who purchased a Nokia Lumia 920 on eBay and ended up getting a sneak peek of what is reportedly going to become Windows Phone Blue.

We know that tidbit of a confirmation courtesy of Tom Warren's sources, who claim that the build seen in these screenshot ("12084.WPMAIN(wpbldlab).20130509-1407") is indeed an early edition of the upcoming OS iteration.

Undoubtedly the biggest feature teased in these screenshots is the presence of Notifications, a new area of Windows Phone that appears to aggregate all toast notifications from various apps. According to ChinaMan28, Notifications is accessible through a live tile on the Start screen and also seems to have a few configuration options in Settings. From there you can set which apps and system notifications can appear in the app.

Another big feature spotted in the screenshots provided is a highly-requested change to the multitasking screen: a close button for apps, which resembles the same close button seen in Internet Explorer's tabs interface. While Windows Phone has never really 'needed' a close button for apps, it's a nice solution for those people who just need a way to close apps to preserve their sanity. The new multitasking screen also includes the app icon alongside the name on each 'card'.

Other changes spotted in the screenshots includes a new option to organize the App List by frequency and a redesigned Calendar app with a week view of appointments and new live tile. There's also reference to an app from Nokia called "HERE Drive+ Beta BLUE", lending credence to the claim that this is the 'Blue' update for Windows Phone.

Check out more screenshots at the Flickr link below. With only a few weeks left until BUILD 2013, we suddenly have the suspicion we'll be hearing more about future versions of Windows Phone soon.

Via: The Verge | Source: Reddit, Flickr

Temple Run: Brave dashes onto Windows Phone 8

2013-06-08T15:03:00.001-07:00

More must-have games are slowly making their way to Windows Phone 8, and it's easy to point the finger at the glacial (but consistent) speeds of Xbox releases. That being said, at least one well-known gaming franchise has opted out of Microsoft's elite club of Xbox games and for the most part it's releasing titles at its own pace. The original Temple Run just debuted in the Store a couple of months ago, and now a popular spin-off has given the hit some company: Temple Run: Brave.

Featuring the characters and world from Pixar's Brave, the game will certainly seem like a simple remix of the original at first blush. The basic premise is the same: you control the protagonist (in this case the film's main character Merida) as they run through a maze-like environment. You have to swipe left or right to change direction, tap to avoid obstacles, or slide to maneuver around them. Along the way you collect coins which can unlock customizations, power-ups, and more.

There's a slight twist with Brave though, in that it introduces a new gameplay element: archery. While running, you'll see targets appear on the outer edges of levels and you'll have the opportunity to shoot at them to earn extra coins.

It looks like the game has been well-received from the 40+ reviews in the Store, with a 4.5-star average rating. Grab Temple Run: Brave now for $0.99 by clicking on the link or scanning the QR code below. (Only for Windows Phone 8 devices with more than 512 MB of RAM.)

Temple Run: Brave
by Disney
Version: 1.0
Price: $0.99
Trial: No

Download Link