Instagram coming to Nokia Lumia devices? #2InstaWithLove
March 5, 2013 at 22:22 GMT | By Nicholaus Lee
It's been a busy couple of days for rumours about Instagram coming to Lumia devices, once again. At this point it seems to be an almost monthly cycle for rumours about Instagram coming to Windows Phones to start popping up on tech sites.
It seems this time the rumours where sparked yesterday by a post by Chinese site WPDang showing an advertisement for a Nokia Lumia 620 with the familiar Instagram icon logo pinned to it's start screen. While interesting, suggesting that this advertisement was foreshadowing an upcoming release of the popular photo sharing social network to Windows Phones seemed like a bit of a stretch. A quick search in the Marketplace for the term "Instagram" quickly results in several third-party apps to substitute for the lack of an official app on the platform, some even taking liberty with Instagrams own logo. Pinning one of these apps to your start screen results in exactly the same kind of image found in the advertisement. I think making this nothing more than a case of wishful thinking of the masses.
However, Nokia has help stir a whole second round of rumors by releasing a WP8 app called #2InstaWithLove. The cleverly named app allows users to take their photos and apply a Poloroid like filter to them, much like the Instagram app on iOS and Android. It then adds the hashtag #2InstaWithLove to the photo, and allows the user to upload it to their preferred social network, apparently in an attempt to make it known to Instagram just how much us Windows Phone users want an official Instagram app. Nokia obviously has an interest in getting the photo sharing app on it's Lumia devices with their emphasis on photography and PureView technology. Whether this is a PR stunt to hype to build up the hype before a big splash when an Instagram app finally lands on the Marketplace, or just clever marketing to push Instagram into feeling a need to respond to the pressure of Windows Phone users, I have to admit to respecting the team over in Espoo for finally addressing the elephant in the room.
It seems like Nokia isn't quite done stirring the pot yet either. Posting on Twitter not long ago a link to "all Lumia photographers" a tutorial on YouTube on how to get the most out of your photos on Lumia devices. Good information for all you smartphone photographers wanting to show Instagram just how great of photos they are missing out on by not having a Windows Phone app.
I know many of us Windows Phone users are quite happy with not having yet another social network consuming all of our spare time. However for those of you that flood the comments on tech sites every time Instagram and Windows Phone 8 are mentioned in the same article, now's your chance to put your hashtags where your comments are. Let's flood any and all social networks with #2InstaWithLove and let Instagram know just how much of a marketshare they are missing out on.
Nokia teams up with Parcelgenie to give discounts
March 5, 2013 at 18:39 GMT | By Bob O'Daniel
Nokia released information in their blog about a new discount they're offering. They have teamed up with Parcelgenie to offer a 40% discount on any gift bought through Parcelgenie up to March 25, 2013. Parcelgenie is a UK service where you can make a quick purchase through their app. The recipient will receive a text asking for the delivery addres. Parcelgenie even hand wraps the present before shipping it out.
The service seems to be a convenient way to buy a last minute gift and send it to a friend or loved one. There are multiple ways to pay, the most interesting is the premium SMS service available. They also offer credit/debit card transactions and PayPal.
Again, this service is only available in the UK, with the exception of sending to UK troops deployed in other countries. The service is looking to expand, but currently is only about 50 employees strong. So if you live in the UK and own a Nokia phone, take advantage of this great deal.
Angry Birds Star Wars Edition update now available for Windows Phone 7.x devices
March 2, 2013 at 03:17 GMT | By Darlington Moyo
It looks like Rovio are on a major Windows Phone offensive as they continue to bring all their titles to the platform. Angry Birds Star Wars was officially launched in November by Rovio and Lucasfilm and landed on Windows Phone 8 at the same time as Android and iOS, and was subsequently updated, bringing the Planet Hoth with 40 new levels. Now, the same updated has been made available to the ever-diminishing Windows Phone 7.x devices.
To download the game just hit the Windows Phone Store badge below or scan the QR Code using Bing vision on your Windows Phone (hit the Search button on your phone and click on the small icon that looks like an eye).
Twitter revamps Windows Phone application to match iOS and Android
February 27, 2013 at 10:31 GMT | By Darlington Moyo
Twitter yesterday updated its Windows Phone app, adding a tonne of features that had been available in iOS and Android apps for some time. In a blog post, Twitter said that it had redesigned the Windows Phone version of its app to be "in line with other Twitter apps."
That structure is built around the Home, Connect, Discovery, and Me tabs that have been used for Twitter's iOS and Android apps for a while. Whilst we welcome the additional features the update brings, sadly, the new interface is less metro.
New features:
- New navigation. Four new tabs – Home, Connect, Discover and Me – bring you closer to the things you care about.
- Home: View Tweets from the accounts you follow; tap a Tweet to expand it and see more content, such as photos, videos and website summaries
- Connect: Keep up with your mentions; see who has followed you or retweeted or favourited one of your Tweets
- Discover: See trends, and find new content on Twitter - browse categories, find friends on Twitter and see suggestions for accounts to follow
- Me: Read and respond to your direct messages; see your lists, favourites and more; view and update your profile
Tweet and search icons: Compose a Tweet or search from anywhere in the app, using the new icon buttons in the Application Bar. - Live tiles: Pin Twitter accounts, lists and searches to your start screen, giving you quick access to some of your favourite Twitter content.
Want the application? Just hit the Windows Phone Store badge below or scan the QR Code using Bing vision on your Windows Phone (hit the Search button on your phone and click on the small icon that looks like an eye).
Angry Birds Seasons now in Windows Phone Store, is there more to this two year old game?
February 22, 2013 at 16:51 GMT | By Nicholaus Lee
Yesterday Angry Birds Seasons was released yesterday for Windows Phone 8 users, featuring some Xbox Live achievements to boot. Today the diminishing number of us Windows Phone 7.x users also got the game popping up in the marketplace.
Personally I could care less about yet another game where I'm flinging birds at pigs, but I think we can all agree that any mainstream app is welcome to come over and join us 3%. What does have me wondering is why we are just now getting a two year old game, and why the emphasis to have it on both platforms and coding it twice? Once for WP7 and another one with Xbox Achievements for WP8. We already have the Rovio's follow-up games in Angry Birds Space and Star Wars versions of the games. Could there be something more to this simple release, or is this simply the efforts of a struggling company to squeeze every last $0.99 out of it's most successful franchise?
With MWC right around the corner we could be expecting some big announcements or simple boasting by Microsoft or Rovio in the next several days. Could this be a set-up for Microsoft to be able to claim it has X% of the most popular games available on other mobile platforms? Or is there a possibility of Rovio releasing a new game and wanting a bullet point to read something like "all versions of Angry Birds now available on all major mobile platforms?" Something about the timing of this two year old game being rushed into the marketplace smells fishy to me, or should I say it smells like Bacon?
Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts on the subject.
Official Royal Bank of Scotland application now in Windows Phone Store
February 20, 2013 at 23:09 GMT | By Darlington Moyo
File this one under "Sooner than Expected." On Monday we mentioned that the arrival of the official Royal Bank of Scotland was immenent, after the NatWest version found it's way to the Windows Phone Store. The RBS application is a dead ringer for the NatWest version but that is to be expected given that latter part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc since 2000.
As you would expect, the app features the same morden UI as found in the NatWest Version and comes fully featured, allowing you to:
- View your transaction history for most of your accounts, search for historical transactions on your current accounts and savings accounts
- Get Cash from RBS, NatWest or Tesco cash machines without a debit card
- Send money to RBS Mobile Banking customers that use this app - all you need is their mobile number
- Pay bills or people - by setting up and making your first payment in Online Banking
- Transfer funds between your accounts
- Check your balance and recent transactions
- Find your nearest cash machine or local branch
- Top up your pay as you go mobile phone and up to four others (service not available on the 3 network).
You obviously need to be a RBS Digital Banking customer to use the RBS app. To download the application just hit the Windows Phone Store badge below or scan the QR Code using Bing vision on your Windows Phone (hit the Search button on your phone and click on the small icon that looks like an eye).
NatWest becomes first major UK bank to roll out Windows Phone application
February 18, 2013 at 19:56 GMT | By Sumit Nagi
NatWest has become the first major UK mainstream bank to launch a Windows Phone application. First generation Windows Phone users will be pleased to know that the application is available for Windows Phone 7.x. The application makes use of Microsoft's metro modern UI, instead of being a staright iOS/Android port.
Early reviews suggest that the features found in the iOS/Android versions are present on the Windows Phone incarnation. Natwest, which is owned owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland promised the application a couple of weeks ago, so it would seem reasonable expect RBS to follow suit in the not-too-distant future.
Features
- View your transaction history for most of your accounts, search for historical transactions on your current accounts and savings accounts
- Get Cash from NatWest, RBS or Tesco cash machines without a debit card
- Send money to NatWest Mobile Banking customers that use this app - all you need is their mobile number
- Pay bills or people - just set up and make your first payment in Online Banking beforehand
- Transfer funds between your accounts
- Find your nearest cash machine or local branch
- Top up your pay as you go mobile phone and up to four others (service not available on the 3 network).
NOTE
You need to have a NatWest personal account with debit card, be over 11 and have a mainland UK mobile number starting with 07 to use this service.
Want the application? Just hit the Windows Phone Store badge below or scan the QR Code using Bing vision on your Windows Phone (hit the Search button on your phone and click on the small icon that looks like an eye).
Rhapsody update brings slick interface and support for Windows Phone 8
February 17, 2013 at 16:36 GMT | By Darlington Moyo
Music streaming service Rhapsody has launched new app for Windows Phone 8. Rhapsody is the oldest player in streaming music in U.S. with more than a million paid users in the U.S and more than 16 million tracks. The v3.0 update brings support for Windows Phone 8 in mind and other improvements.
Here's the offical changelog:
- Listen to downloaded playlists, albums and songs without a connection.
- View your music library
- Save artists, albums and tracks to My Music
- Access My Music from any Rhapsody-supported device
Unfortunately, Rhapsody focuses its efforts on the experience of its paid subscribers, meaning there is no free version. It costs either $10 or $15 per month depending on your needs. To download the application just hit the Windows Phone Store badge below or scan the QR Code using Bing vision on your Windows Phone (hit the Search button on your phone and click on the small icon that looks like an eye).
Nokia Music+ now available in the UK for Nokia Lumia devices
February 15, 2013 at 12:34 GMT | By Darlington Moyo
Nokia Music+ in now available in the UK, allowing Lumia owners to enjoy a wider selection of music for a small monthly fee. Nokia Music - not to be confused with Nokia Music+ - has been around for a while now, enabling Nokia Lumia owners to enjoy the benefit of free music streaming through the exclusive Mix Radio service.
Nokia Music+ is a paid subscription that comes with new additional features. For £3.99 per month, Nokia Music+ gives the ability to save playlists in order to download tracks for offline listening. At present you can only download up to four mixes on the free version. It also adds an infinite amount of song skips. Downloadable tracks on the + version are also higher quality.
"Nokia Music is great for discovering new music, and we've found that there's a core of users that want even more of it," said Jyrki Rosenberg, VP Entertainment at Nokia. "This is how Nokia Music+ came about. By introducing features like infinite skips and unlimited downloads, we're opening the doors for unlimited music discovery at only £3.99 per month. This is for people who care enough about music to pay something for more quality and choice, but don't want to pay £9.99 monthly."
If you aren't sure as to whether this is what you want, you can always get a free trial to check out whether the service is right for you. If you are already enjoying Nokia Music and want to upgrade, all you need to do is open Nokia Music and head to the Settings where you should find the Upgrade option.
To download the application just hit the Windows Phone Store badge below or scan the QR Code using Bing vision on your Windows Phone (hit the Search button on your phone and click on the small icon that looks like an eye).
PDF Reader for Windows Phone 8 v1.1 update brings password protection, read-only support and more.
February 7, 2013 at 18:09 GMT | By Darlington Moyo
The revised PDF Reader application for Windows Phone 8 devices has been bumped up to version 1.1, bringing a few additional features. PDF Reader is a free app for viewing and interacting with PDF documents on the Windows Phone 8 platform. This app gives access to a wide variety of PDF file types. The update brings along support for read only and encrypted files, and a few other features.
Here's the offical changelog:
- Support for read-only PDF files.
- Support for encrypted PDF files that are password protected.
- Share PDF documents with others directly from the app using your SkyDrive account.
- Management of historic PDFs in the history list so you can remove individual files and also clear the whole list.
To download the application just hit the Windows Phone Store badge below or scan the QR Code using Bing vision on your Windows Phone (hit the Search button on your phone and click on the small icon that looks like an eye).
