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RainbowMod custom ROM for Lumia 710 now available

Rich Edmonds — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:46:12 GMT

It was only yesterday that we covered the availability of Metro^7, a custom ROM for the Lumia 710. Now we're pleased to announce another custom ROM has been published on the XDA forums - RainbowMod. This custom mod, by XDA Forum member lucifer3006, is based on Windows Phone "Tango" and is available in Spanish, French, Hungarian, Swedish, Czech, German, English US, Italian, Polish, Russian, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Portuguese (Portugal & Brazil), and Danish.

So what's featured in RainbowMod?

Full Unlock from UltraShot
Removed OEM applications (Nokia Drive, Maps, etc.)
Search key remapping
QuickLaunch menu for quick switching the state of WiFi, 3G, Flight mode, Power save, etc.
Ability to access file system via WiFi/USB
Integrated Live ID, DppImplant no longer needed, but the new key can also be banned
Orientation locker
Added many color themes
Easy installation xap from a browser or file manager
Added Google and Yandex search engines
xb0xmod cert for cab-updates
Cab-updatable
Lots of minor changes
Updatability via Zune (not guaranteed)

Check out the video below for a quick glance at the ROM.

Two versions are available, the full version and a 'lite' version that strips most languages (leaving English and Russian) and bundled apps away. As always, Windows Phone Central cannot take any responsibility for damaged Lumia 710s, especially if they startup Skynet.

Source: XDA, via: Plaffo

ScoreMobile FC bringing all the football goodness to your Windows Phone

George Ponder — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:37:45 GMT

ScoreMobile is a popular sports app for your Windows Phone that pulls in scores, stats, standings and videos from the entire sports world. ScoreMobile FC is another sports app from Score Media that focuses on the various international football (soccer to our U.S. readers) leagues.

Key features of ScoreMobile FC include:

Free customizable push alerts (including goals and key incidents)
Daily video “vodcasts” featuring special guests
Sync tournament fixtures to your calendar
Up-to-the-second live scores
Live blogs or text commentary for EVERY game
Comprehensive list of match times, tables and statistics
The latest Euro 2012 news, previews and post-match analysis in video format
“Bet Now” feature, allowing UK-based users to place real-time bets via licensed betting and gaming provider William Hill

The football leagues covered includes UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, Argentine Primera Division, French Ligue 1 and many more. You can even get coverage on the 2012 Olympic soccer matches.

ScoreMobile FC is laid out very similar to the original ScoreMobile with pages covering your teams, your comps, access to all leagues, a listing of top matches. With Euro 2012 and the Olympics right around the corner, ScoreMobile FC is a good way to keep up with all your soccer...err... football scores from your Windows Phone.

ScoreMobile FC is a free, ad supported app that you can find here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

glƏƏk! now available for free with special unlock codes to celebrate 500,000 downloads

Rich Edmonds — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:18:28 GMT

To celebrate the 500,000 download milestone being reached for all published apps, the glƏƏk! developers have decided to unleash a number of special codes that can be used to unlock the full version of their Twitter client. This move is targeting those who are unable to pay for apps, which may be due to age requirements, carrier restrictions, or other factors preventing Windows Phone owners enjoying the full experience of glƏƏk!.

The team have decided to make it easy for users to own glƏƏk! for free, using special unlock codes (hashtags) that unlock the full version leaving the users able to purchase the app in the future (much like a donation) should they choose to do so when a different circumstance occurs. Today's unlock hashtag is "#wpcentralrocks", with future codes being posted on the @gleekthis Twitter account.

How does one enter the published codes?

Go to 'Support' in the app (make sure it reads "version 1.8")
Double-tap on the main glƏƏk! logo
Enter today’s “magic hashtag”

You can download glƏƏk! from the Marketplace as a trial and then use the special day codes to unlock the full version for free.

Must-Have Xbox Live games for your Windows Phone

Paul Acevedo — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:35:37 GMT

Best Xbox Live Games for Windows Phones

Today WPCentral is pleased to bring you a new entry in our ‘Best apps for your Windows Phone’ series. Past installments have included Must-have Games, Word Games, Free Apps, Photography Apps, Weather Apps, and Must-Have apps. Our Must-Have Games and Word Games articles already covered a ton of great Windows Phone titles, so where do we go from here? Let’s focus on just the top few Xbox Live games this time out.

If you’re new to Windows Phone, the distinction between Xbox Live games and regular ones (usually called indie games here) might seem confusing. Xbox Live is Microsoft’s multi-platform gaming brand/service. Xbox Live debuted on the original Xbox console but really came into its own with the Xbox 360, where downloadable games are called Xbox Live Arcade games. Xbox Live titles on Windows Phone are basically the equivalent of XBLA games: high-profile downloadable games that (usually) undergo a rigorous certification process. On Windows Phone, the chief advantages of Xbox Live games (beyond increased marketplace visibility) are Leaderboards, Achievements, and occasional connectivity with Xbox 360 titles (which we’ll save for another article).

Head past the break for more Xbox Live primer plus our picks for the top five best Xbox Live games!

Windows Phone sales nearly double in the US passing RIM, according to Kantar Worldpanel

Daniel Rubino — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:55:25 GMT

Looks like there may be some good news for Nokia and Windows Phone after all, at least according to Kantar Worldpanel who has been accumulating sales of smartphones for the last 12 weeks across the globe.

The data suggests a strong increase in sales of Windows Phone in the United States where sales jumped from 1.9% in 2011 to 3.6% during the same time frame in 2012. What's more, that period for sales ends on March 18th which is a full 3 weeks before the AT&T Lumia 900 was available for purchase.

The increase in Windows Phone sales would mostly be attributable to the Lumia 710 on T-Mobile and the "Mango refresh" on AT&T with the Samsung Focus Flash, Focus S and HTC Titan making up the bulk of sales. Of course that 3.6% pales in comparison to Android (47.6%) and iOS (42.9%) during the same period though for the first time sales of Windows Phone outpaced RIM (3.2%) which is certainly a good sign.

World wide, Windows Phone also saw a large increase in Germany where Windows Phone has 6.2% sales (up from 2.9%). Great Britain and France all had sales at or near 3% while Spain and Australia were much lower at 1.1 and 1.6% respectively.

While these numbers are interesting, we're certainly more curious about the next batch of sales figures to see how the Lumia 900 helped sales in the US and the rest of the world.

Windows Phone certainly has a long road ahead but the OS may be finally breaking that glass ceiling from the last two years.

Source: Kantar Worldpanel; via TechCrunch; image via Nokia

Rowi Lite gets updated with Aviary photo editor, multiple accounts & TweetMarker support

Daniel Rubino — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:10:37 GMT

We showed you what the Aviary photo SDK was capable of doing the other day in Rowi version 2.1 and now that update is live, at least for the free "Lite" version of the app.

That's right, you can now start to upload super fantastic images all from within the app by using those new photo tools, thanks to Aviary's SDK. But that's not all, Rowi Lite version 2.1 also has multiple account support, something we've been wanting for ages as well as TweetMarker.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, TweetMarker (Tweetmarker.net) is a service that helps keep your Tweets in sync between certain desktop clients and your mobile. It comes in two flavors, free and the "Plus" version which costs an extra $2 a month--a nice option for you power users our there.

No fear though for you paid Rowi supporters as your update with all the above is right around the corner as well, so sit tight.

For now, pick up Rowi Lite version 2.1 here in the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Microsoft Hong Kong cools the Windows Phone competition with style

Daniel Rubino — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:55:36 GMT

While our Windows Phones are busy smoking the competition they may need something to blow away all that fiery aftermath, so it only makes sense to have a special fan for the occasion.

Microsoft Hong Kong has evidently commissioned a limited number of special portable fans just for these situations but they have a little trick up their sleeve. As you can see in the images above and the video below, when the fan runs an electric banner scrolls around the blades with "Windows Phone" and "Simply faster".

As we're fans of all things geeky, we're very impressed and think it's a brilliant little promotion tool.

Our friends at the Hong Kong site We Love Windows Phone (www.welovewp.hk) managed to get their hands on a shipment of these little bad boys and are planning on giving them out to some lucky people (and yes, worldwide shipment is an option). So you'll want to head to their site and maybe even give 'em a "Like" on their Facebook page to learn of the details as soon as they publish them.

Pretty cool Microsoft, pretty cool.

Source: We Love Windows Phone (HK) (Bing Translation)

Bing Social Search Preview is now live for US residents

Daniel Rubino — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:14:03 GMT

Hey, look at that. We actually noticed it this morning but it didn't register in our sleepy heads, but Bing's Social Search "Preview" is now available for those luckily enough to reside in the US. No, we're not sure why it's only US but perhaps it's more of a rollout thing to work out the bugs and quirks.

Anyway, if you head on over to bing.com you can hit the "Preview" button and you'll see the new login near the upper right of the screen. You now have the option to login with your Live ID credentials (we lost all of our Bing reward points when we created a new ID) and you can also login with Facebook. No Twitter or G+ just yet which is a bit of a shame, well at least for the former.

~~We haven't see the new pane layout just yet but perhaps it's just us (we're not big Facebook users)~~ Our new layout is now live including the social bar to the right. You can see more on Bing's Social Search features here on their new sub-site: http://social.discoverbing.com/.

Thanks, ArtSooby, for the tip

Shield your eyes - BulletAsylum is the Xbox Live Deal of the Week

Paul Acevedo — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:36:35 GMT

This week, neon colors are all the rage on Windows Phone. On the one hand, you’ve got new Xbox Live release geoDefense Swarm, which promises to be super fun. On the other: BulletAsylum from UberGeekGames is the Deal of the Week, on sale for $1.99.

BulletAsylum is a modern take on the arcade classic Missile Defense. Aliens rain down from the sky and it’s up to your turrets to stop them. You can use a single finger to fire all your weapons at one area or two fingers to split the fire. Game modes include the extremely easy Arcade, an endless Survival mode that has no Achievements for some reason, and the frustratingly hard Architect mode.

It’s easy to get into BulletAsylum thanks to the pretty colors and flashing lights. The unlocking system is decent, and the Achievements are attainable for most mortal men and women. Still, I found the gameplay far too simplistic to maintain interest; the lack of depth really keeps the game from having much staying power. Check out our review for a lengthier – and dare I say more eloquent - explanation.

BulletAsylum is on sale for $1.99 for one week only. Get it here on the Marketplace and let those bullets fly!

geoDefense Swarm is live and hexagonal on the Windows Phone Marketplace

Paul Acevedo — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:41:13 GMT

Tower defense addicts, you can stop scratching and relax at last. geoDefense Swarm from Critical Thought Games in now on the Marketplace!

geoDefense Swarm is the sequel to fan-favorite tower defense game geoDefense. The new entry switches from predefined enemy routes to a grid-based field. Enemies can approach from all directions, so players will need to construct mazes in order to keep them at bay. Like its predecessor, Swarm features an appealing neon geometric look and easy to learn gameplay.

It also has the same balance issues as before (tower costs and abilities vary from level to level), but said issues didn’t keep its predecessor from winning many gamers’ hearts. Here’s a tip to get you started: switch the difficulty from Hardcore to Novice in Help & Options if you want to ease into things and take the stress out of those Achievements.

geoDefense Swarm costs $2.99 and there is a free trial. Get it here on the Marketplace.

Thanks Zebrasqual for the tip!

Windows Phone game Matchy now available at the Marketplace

George Ponder — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:52:59 GMT

We offered a sneak peek of the Windows Phone game Matchy the other day and over the weekend the game passed certification. Matchy is now available over at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Matchy is a three-dimensional game where you have to position various objects to match their shadow. Matchy has three game modes that vary in time limit and your job is to create as many matches as possible before the timer runs out.

Matchy is a free, ad support game and you can find it here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Thanks, Howlingwolf, for the tip!

HTC TITAN available at AT&T for just a penny

Rich Edmonds — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:02:08 GMT

Should the Nokia Lumia 900 be not up your street, and if 4G LTE connectivity isn't a feature you're particularly bothered about, the HTC TITAN is a highly rated Windows Phone and could well be the right one for you. We reviewed this beast of a handset (and it's successor), which is also backed by strong reviews from AT&T customers.

AT&T's web store is listing the Windows Phone for $0.01 (with 2-year contract), a good snatch for anyone interested. Featuring a massive 4.7" LCD screen, 16GB storage, 8MP camera, and a 1.5Ghz chip, the TITAN is capable of handling whatever you decide to throw at the device. While the penny sale is a very nice deal, unfortunately the off-contract is still stuck at $549.99.

Source: AT&T; thanks Rodney for the tip!

Custom Tango ROM Metro^7 available for the Lumia 710

Rich Edmonds — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:47:51 GMT

Metro^7 is a custom Lumia 710 ROM built on the Tango release, and is now available over at the XDA developer forum. The author, XDA member vova1609, states that you need to have your Lumia 710 interop unlocked, but then you should be good to go with flashing.

Some highlighted features:

Fully unlocked
Install XAPs using Internet Explorer
Bazaar pre-installed
Bluetooth File Transfer by DFT pre-installed
Exclusive wallpapers "metro ROCK"
Added tethering functionality
Deleted Nokia's apps (Nokia Music, etc.)
Added Google and Yandex as available search engines

As well as the ROM and included functionality, an exclusive pack of 'metro ROCK' wallpapers are included, featuring multiple designs to match the system theme. Please note that Windows Phone Central does not take any responsibility for any issues your device may develop using this (or any other) available ROM. Use at your own discretion.

Source: XDA, via: Plaffo

eBuddy XMS updated, now with group messaging goodness

Rafael Rivera — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:41:41 GMT

Phew! We've been following the evolution of eBuddy XMS on Windows Phone since inception. The once ugly duckling app is now a beautiful and powerful alternative to the native Threads feature built into Windows Phone.

We're now hearing from the team that an update is propagating through the Marketplace, enabling 30-way group messaging across iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone devices! (If your friends are still rocking Nokia s40/s60 devices, they have to wait a little longer.)

eBuddy XMS is a free app that you can find here at the Windows Phone Marketplace. We haven't gotten our hands on the update yet, but if you have, share your thoughts in the comments or on our forums.

Nokia to launch Lumia 610 in Belgium next week for €249

Rich Edmonds — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:03:49 GMT

Nokia has released a press statement detailing the imminent Belgium launch of the Lumia 610, the manufacturer's most affordable low-end Windows Phone. It is expected to be priced at €249 (including VAT). Should you be on the lookout for a low-end Windows Phone to get you started, either the Lumia 610 or 710 fit the bill nicely, depending on what deals draw you in. The smartphone will be available in glossy white, magenta, cyan and black

Nokia has been present in the country previously promoting the Lumia family of Windows Phones with cupcakes being handed out, but if the Lumia 610 and 710 don't interest you, the Lumia 900 is also being stocked in the country for €599 at PDAShop.be.

Source: Nokia Belgium (Bing translate), PDAShop.be

Windows Phone App Review: FastMall

George Ponder — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:01:43 GMT

Here's a Windows Phone app for those who like to shop or who just hate getting lost in shopping malls.

FastMall is a navigation app for local malls and shopping centers. FastMall isn't new to the smartphone market with established apps over on iOS and there's even a web portal for the FastMall services.

FastMall uses your Windows Phone location services to locate any participating malls in your area and offers, in the least, a Bing Map for the mall and a listing of stores. At best, FastMall will offer a detailed map of the mall property.

FastMall's pages are laid out with pages that list Nearby Malls, Most Viewed malls, Recent Malls visited, Favorites, and the customary About Screen. While FastMall will pull up participating malls in your location, you can also search the complete database by keyword search.

Some of the features with the FastMall Windows Phone app include:

Turn by turn directions from store to store
Information on the various stores in the mall
Call buttons to phone the stores
Filters to show only the store type you're looking for
Deal finder that will list any sales going on in the mall
A nifty way to find the restrooms (just shake your Windows Phone)

FastMall covers malls located in thirty one countries from the U.S. to New Zealand. The only downside to FastMall is that not every venue is mapped. Hopefully, that will change with time and future updates.

I can see FastMall being a handy app while traveling to help find your way around the local malls. FastMall is a free, ad support app for your Windows Phone that you can find here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Feeding America moving from Blackberry to Windows Phone

Rich Edmonds — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:41:42 GMT

America's leading domestic hunger-relief charity Feeding America has ditched Blackberry support and is on its way to Windows Phone. The organization already makes use of Microsoft products including Office 2010 and Lync Server 2010, so the move makes sense with further integration possible while mobile. The Lync Windows Phone app and Office Hub are good examples of this.

The move not only connects already utilised services, but the charity also calculated that savings could be found with the avoidance of costly annual server maintenance expenses. The cost reductions also hit devices with a 24% price drop per Windows Phone, with each smartphone improving access to information and services that employees rely on for productivity.

Kevin Lutz, vice president of Technology at Feeding America, had the following to comment on the Windows Phone adoption:

"Windows Phone provides a level of integration with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 and Lync Server 2010 that are not available with the iPhone, iPad or Android."

A feel good Tuesday story. Check out the press release after the break.

Source: Microsoft; thanks Morris for the tip!

Family organiser app AboutOne now available exclusively for Windows Phone

Rich Edmonds — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:10:16 GMT

Last month we broke the news that Philadelphia-based, Microsoft BizSpark featured startup AboutOne (website), a family organiser service, was set to launch an exclusive app for Windows Phone. Without repeating what we wrote previously, the service enables families to view information and personal details broken down in a digestible interface. The app is now available on the Marketplace.

The free app, backed by a tier-plan (2GBs free) cloud-based service, offers users a mobile companion to the AboutOne web interface. Functionality includes organising memories, todos and household paperwork in a single accessible location. The service builds on calendar and address book tools users are already using, enhancing both with document filing and reporting tools. It's a neat startup, that's for sure.

Of course, there's much more than what we've covered, so be sure to give AboutOne a look over should you need something with similar functionality. You can download AboutOne for free from the Marketplace.

via: Windows Phone Blog; thanks Rodney for the tip!

Lumia 610 Windows Phone heading to Clove UK for £180

Rich Edmonds — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:44:20 GMT

Clove has published an article on their blog detailing the news of the Lumia 610 heading their way. The UK retailer expects to stock and ship the Windows Phone for just £180. The low-end device sports 8GB internal memory, a 3.7 inch display, 5 megapixel camera, and the Nokia Collection of OEM apps including Maps, Drive, Transport, Music and more.

Don't be fooled by the specifications, or the pricing, as the Lumia 610 is a speedy little handset that packs a punch. The Lumia 610 is available at Clove in both cyan and black versions, with first stock expected by late May. Note that this version doesn't appear to sport NFC, which is set to launch on Orange later this year.

Source: Clove UK; thanks Richard for the heads up!

Big Winners of the 30 to Launch Microsoft developer competition announced

Rich Edmonds — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:31:57 GMT

It seems every time we cover news that includes the Social Mints app, it's always winning some kind of award. This story is no different as the app is one of four recently announced winners of the Microsoft 30 to Launch developer competition. We previously looked at 30 to Launch when it... well... launched earlier this year. The winning submissions (out of over 130 entries) were Social Mints, Brain Cube Reloaded, Play The Hunt, and Surf Info.

Social Mints is a familiar name here at Windows Phone Central HQ, as we've covered the app numerous times and have even reviewed the social stalking beauty. Should you not be aware of what it's about, it's a must-have for any social media geek that enables users to keep track of what's trending, how it's trending and what you should be looking out for. Winner of the Core77 Fast Track to the Mobile App International Design Challenge and featured at Mobile World Congress by Microsoft, Social Mints has been recognized for it's intuitive design and functionality.

Brain Cube Reloaded is a puzzle / platformer which is developed using the idea of a rubik's cube. Players progress through levels attempting to smash bosses into Oblivion. Oh, did we mention it's a free game?

Play The Hunt is an interesting concept, which enables users to actually go on treasure hunts using their Windows Phone. Clues and locations are provided and users will find themselves playing through mini-games, before uploading photos of their location and then progressing through the next step.

Finally we have Surf Info, an app for surfers around the U.S. coastline and Hawaii. Surf destinations are rated for quality among other related statistics and values.

Winning developers will each receive a state-of-the-art entertainment package. Find the QR Codes for each app below.

Source: 30 to Launch; Thanks Pratik for the heads up!

Nokia Lumia 710 and HTC Radar 4G included in T-Mobile Magenta Deals, starting May 18th

Rich Edmonds — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:29:50 GMT

More details for the upcoming T-Mobile Magenta Deal Days have come to light at TMONews. The deal will see customers who sign a 2-year contract renewal or are active on any voice plan with a qualifying 2GB or higher data cap or mobile broadband plan, be eligible for the handset offers. Classic plan customers must have passed 22 months in their contract to qualify.

The Lumia 710 and Radar 4G are both included in this deal, which starts May 18th. The offer is a BOGO (Buy One Get One), with purchases on selected handsets being accompanied by a free second choice - after mail-in rebate. You could purchase the HTC Radar 4G (should you qualify for the offer, of course) and then pick up a Lumia 710 for free ($50 mail-in rebate).

The offers will be reportedly open to all customers, including those who are looking at new activations, qualifying upgrades, family and individual plans, and add-a-lines. We'll let you guys know when the deals kick off with more information.

Source: TMONews

Windows Phone App Review: Cartoon Camera

George Ponder — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:35:05 GMT

Cartoon Camera is a simple Windows Phone app that gives you the option to apply one of eight drawing effects to your photos. The app will apply these effects to existing photos from your Pictures Hub or let you capture new images directly from the app.

The main page of Cartoon Camera is your camera viewfinder. Along the bottom of the screen are four button controls and a three-dot menu. The button controls cover your shutter button, flash settings, effects choice and access to your Pictures hub. From the three dot menu you can access the About Screen.

The eight drawing effects include:

Cartoon
Black and White
Gray Cartoon
Pencil
One Line
DDD Pencil
Ink Cartoon
Painted

Just choose your effects, frame you photo and either tap the camera button at the bottom of the screen or use the camera hardware button on your Windows Phone. Cartoon Camera does not support the "tap to shoot" function.

Photos are captured, effects applied and everything is saved to your Saved Picture folder in the Pictures Hub. To apply effects to existing photos choose your effect and then tap the Folder Button to choose your photo. The effect will be applied to the photo and you'll have the option to save (save button replaces the flash button) the new photo to your Save Pictures folder.

Images taken at full resolution (4640x3480 at 262dpi) on the HTC Titan II are saved at 1144x854 at 262dpi resolution. Large enough to get decent prints off of or for computer viewing. The effects are respectable and the only downside may be that you can't mute the shutter sound without dialing down the Windows Phone main volume. I wouldn't have minded seeing direct access to the Windows Phone camera settings but I'm not sure if there are restrictions present to limit that access.

All in all, Cartoon Camera is worth a try if you're looking for a drawing effects app for your Windows Phone. There is a free trial version available for Cartoon Camera that is limited to three effects (Cartoon, Gray Cartoon, Pencil). The full version of Cartoon Camera is running $.99 and you can find it here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Top Hats for Fancy Cats because they deserve it

Daniel Rubino — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:01:19 GMT

With the advent of Aviary's SDK for Windows Phone today we're still on this "photo kick" here at Windows Phone Central. So we're delighted to find this little free gem simply called Top Hats for Fancy Cats which allows you to dress up your furry felines. Or your friends and family.

The app is like many of the other photo overlay tools out there but this one has an extremely large collection of "fancy" wears. From monocles to canes, from top hats to elaborate backgrounds, this app will allow you to dress up everyone and anyone to the nines.

It's of course free with ads and inspired by the Reddit community who like the kittehs (see this post for an example). What can we say other than it's done well and is great for a laugh?

Why look at our lil' Zoe all fancied up!

Pick up Top Hats for Fancy Cats here in the Windows Phone Marketplace.

via: Reddit

Monster Island for Windows Phone now available in the UK

Paul Acevedo — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:32:38 GMT

Last Thursday, Miniclip’s beleaguered Xbox Live game Monster Island returned to Xbox Live after a month-long absence. While the physics puzzler’s Achievement problems were resolved, the game itself still could not be downloaded by customers outside of the US. This puzzled many of us since Miniclip is a European developer and all of their other Windows Phone games are available in multiple regions.

We asked Microsoft for comment and received this response,

“We are pleased to report that the Achievements have been improved and the US version is up on the Windows Phone Games Marketplace. We are working with the developer on some final testing for the worldwide release and hope to make it available soon.”

Miniclip shed some light on the Achievement gaffe but didn’t go into much detail about the regional issue:

“There were some original achievements (e.g., the ones we're using on the iOS, Android, etc.) that were against Microsoft Achievements policy. Unfortunately they only warned us after the game passed all the certification processes and was ready to be released. The game had to be taken out, and we changed the Achievements list… Yes, it will come to all marketplaces in the near future. :)”

That future must have just come to pass, because our friend Zebrasqual and several other gamers have confirmed that Monster Island is now available in the United Kingdom. Other parts of Europe like neighboring France don't have it yet though. At least British gamers can now get in on the bomb-throwing fun... Hopefully other regions won't have to wait too much longer either.

Monster Island costs $2.99 in the US. Pick it up here on the Marketplace.

Thanks to Zebrasqual or the tip!

Photosynth for Windows Phone hits version 1.0. Official release imminent?

Daniel Rubino — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:01:31 GMT

If there's one technology Windows Phone users have been yearning for it's Photosynth. The photo-stitching software creates "synths" or 3D images from your camera phone, giving an immersive photo that's hosted on the web. It then allows the viewer to pan around the image, zoom in and out and various other options.

What makes Photosynth (www.photosynth.net) frustrating for Windows Phone though is not only does the service have an iOS app, the company who makes it is owned by none other than Microsoft.

The Windows Phone version was noted to be a "top priority" for the team and we saw some real evidence of it existing back in February but not much since then.

Now, eagle-eyed reader Scott has found not only some test images but a Microsoft Twitter account that does nothing but post Photosynths. (We're not going public with the Twitter handle because we like to track these things and not scare them off) What's more, when one looks at the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data for the image we can see "__version_synther": "Windows Phone 1.0.0" listed, strongly indicated that the Windows Phone app is in final testing.

In fact the image above is an actual photo of a Microsoft employee's test computer which lists the steps in required for testing Photosynth. If you look closely, you can also see "(Windows Phone Only)" an "AugmentedReality" listed which is tantalizing to think about. (And if anything, that's just kind of interesting to see how this stuff is done).

Should we expect a full-on Photosynth app for Windows Phone soon? We think so and it'd make sense that the app is due hopefully in the next few weeks as it coincides with Microsoft's big "official app" push which seems to be going on.

Fingers crossed people, fingers crossed. A big thanks to Scott for all of his detective work on this story!