LG: No More Windows Phones Planned

April 30, 2012 at 16:37 GMT | By

Korean electronics giant LG has announced that it will not be making any further Windows Phone 7 handsets in the immediate future. LG came to the decision having claimed that "the total unit of Windows Phones they sold in the global market is not a meaningful figure".

Instead the company will press ahead with its future plans for Android handsets, although they added that they intend to "continue research and development efforts" on Windows Phone. This news ahead of an announcement that Steve Ballmer will be heading to the Seoul Digital Forum on May 22 where he will be meeting with various business and developers. It is expected that the Microsoft CEO will meet LGE officials.

The loss of LG as a Windows Phone OEM will have no bearing on sales as LG was hardly selling any Windows Phone devices. Their last effort, the Jil Sander got a lukewarm reception in Germany, a country with 7% windows Phone market share. It also goes a long way to explain why the Miracle and/or Fantasy didn't see the light of day. Personally, i would rather have a 2 or 3 OEM's giving delivering quality Windows Phone devices that a dozen giving us shoddy phones. What do you guys think?

SOURCE: Korea Herald VIA: WPCentral

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Pepper: Making Live Music More Social

April 30, 2012 at 14:36 GMT | By

Pepper, a free new app that allows you to create your own social network around live music events, is now available for Windows Phone. Find a club night based on your location, follow your favourite artists and stay updated with upcoming gigs as well as sharing details of the events you plan to attend. At an event and want to let your friends know? Check-in to each event you attend with Pepper and share comments or photos whilst you are there. When it comes to live music, Pepper is making it social.

Getting access to your favourite band or artist is actually pretty easy in today's digital world - with a few clicks you can download the latest album release on iTunes, stream the new single using Spotify or watch the hundreds of music videos uploaded to YouTube. As easy as it may be, let's face it - there really is nothing quite like being at a live music event. Whether it's the O2, Glastonbury or a venue with less than a hundred people, the atmosphere and experience is in a league of its own.

Taking the time to discover where and when our favourite bands play next or to find out if any unsigned artists are gigging locally can cause a major headache. With Pepper, you'll never miss out on the events that matter again. Create your own network of friends who have similar music tastes to you, people who have been to the same gigs as you, or simply those who happen to be in same city and are on the lookout for some live music that evening.

Features:

Find club nights & gigs based on your exact location

Find relevant events that match your music tastes from across the UK

Follow your favourite artists, venues & promoters and store upcoming events to your calendar so you don't miss them

Receive updates from your friends on the events they're interested in & invite them to events you're planning to attend

Check-in to events & share comments & photos with friends across all social networks, at the touch of a button

Pepper is available as a free download for Windows Phone.

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Nokia Lumia 800 hacked to support wireless charging

April 30, 2012 at 12:33 GMT | By

As we all know, the Nokia Lumia 800 doesn't have wireless charging - well, not if your name is Oli Gill. As seen on the video above, Gill mods his Nokia Lumia 800 to add wireless charging using Palm's Touchstone charger. He speeds through the disassembly part to get to the actual mod, but he provides a link in his YouTube channel to disassembly tutorial.

Wireless charging is great, but you best be warned that this mod is not for the faint of heart. It requires disassembly, cutting up the insides and soldering, which of course voids your warranty.

SOURCE: YouTube VIA: WPCentral

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Rumour: Nokia in talks to sell luxury Vertu unit

April 30, 2012 at 11:59 GMT | By

Nokia is in talks to sell its UK luxury subsidiary Vertu, which hand makes some of the world's most expensive mobile phones, Reuters reports. Vertu's cellphones can feature crystal displays and sapphire keys, costing more than 200,000 pounds ($320,000) due to the precious metal components.

According to the Financial Times, talks with private equity group Permira were at an advanced stage on a possible sale which would raise about 200 million euros ($265 million)

Having had it's credit rating cut to "junk status" and recent reports of Samsung overhauling it as the world's biggest phone manufacturer, no doubt doom-mongers and fandroids alike will be putting a negative spin on this. Nokia first signaled its intention to sell Vertu in December, and recently said it plans to dispose of "non-core assets".

SOURCE: Reuters

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How to toggle EDGE, 3G and 4G on your Nokia Lumia 900

April 30, 2012 at 11:24 GMT | By

Mobility Digest seem to have uncovered a tweak for the Nokia Lumia 900 that will enable you to select between EDGE, 3G, or 4G data connectivity. This particular feature will not brick your handset in any way due to an installation or loading process, simply because it is already available on the Nokia Lumia 900. As with most Nokia handsets, there are different codes which allows you to launch diagnostic apps and utilities, and the Nokia Lumia 900 is no different.

If you want to give it a go, type in ##3282# and open the Data Field Test utility. The moment the Data Field Test utility appears, press the 3 at the bottom of the screen so that you can tap and open up a Settings screen.

When in Settings, change the "Network type" from 2G or 3G only to Automatic. Tap back in order to return to the previous screen, pick the last option that has been labeled as "Toggle ENS (REBOOT)". Click "Start" and wait for a few seconds, followed by clicking on "Stop." The Nokia Lumia 900 will reboot at this point. Once the reboot is over, return to Settings and then Cellular, where you can then select your highest connection speed to Edge, 3G, or 4G. Needless to say, if you are not into data-intensive apps.

If you are mainly hooked up to a WiFi network when at home and work, you would be best sticking to EDGE as it will prolong the battery life on your Lumia 900.

SOURCE: Ubergizmo

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Windows Phone 'Siri' like app 'AskZiggy' gets another major update

April 29, 2012 at 19:04 GMT | By

The popular "Siri"-like app for Windows Phone 7.5 has another major update, taking it up to v2.3. The updated version of the app is now available in Marketplace to download for free.

New features:

Live Calendar integration

Fixed annoying pop-ups ("query canceled", etc...)

New toggle to add/remove secondary Reminders tile

Yelp integration local and remote with multiple tappable areas on results

Improved splash screen animation

Fixed greeting issue + mic states

Improved overall performance

Search Tweets by topic "Tweets for NFL Combine"

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MyMoneyBook: Manage your monthly expenses

April 29, 2012 at 18:29 GMT | By

MyMoneyBook is a great little app that allow you to manage you monthly incomings and outgoings without much effort at all. The app is well written, allowing for a smooth, easy and fast glide around the menus. The app does what it says on the tin, it helps keep your budget in check, highlighting deficits and areas that might need attention.

Features:

Record your daily data in few steps.

Set a monthly budget to get an indication of what you

Customize the categories according to your needs.

Add the tiles to start to speed up your operations.

Customizable charts for statistics!

Data backup via SkyDrive!!

Version 1.5 update features:

Added setting for show "Total balance" in Dashboard

Enabled text suggestion

Added export .csv via SkyDrive

Added privacy settings

Added compatibility for low memory devices

Added change log in About page

Added Twitter button in About page for follow @myMoneyBook

Fixed rate reminder in white theme

Bottom line is that with Marketplace getting crowded as it is now, good and useful apps might be buried in tonnes of not-so-good apps. MyMoneyBook is available for $1.99 with a free trial.

Verdict: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

SUBMITTED BY: Tiziano Cacioppolini

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Nokia Lumia 610 officially launched, Philippines get first dibs

April 28, 2012 at 16:13 GMT | By

Nokia has officially launched the newest member of its growing Lumia family, the Lumia 610. According to The Nokia Blog, the Lumia 610 went on sale April 28 at a Nokia Store in Manila, Philippines. The Lumia 610 was first announced at the Mobile World Congress in February and is an example of the low-cost phones that are designed around Windows Phone "Tango" which supports just 256 MB of RAM and is aimed at emerging markets.

The Lumia 610 also has a 3.7 inch LCD display, a 800 MHz single-core Qualcomm processor, a five megapixel rear camera, and 8 GB of storage. The Nokia Blog stated that the phone was being sold unlocked for 11,000 PHP, or about $260.

Other parts of Asia are scheduled to start selling the Lumia 610 over the next few weeks. It should be on sale worldwide by the end of June, although there's no specific date on when the Lumia 610 might find its way to the U.S and the rest of Europe.

See launch pictures here

SOURCE: The Nokia Blog

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Apple Founder Steve Wozniak Loves Windows Phone

April 28, 2012 at 14:49 GMT | By

Apple founder Steve Wozniak loves Windows Phone! Remember we told you a couple of weeks ago that Wozniak was out on the prowl for a brand new Nokia Lumia 900? Well, looks like the cool geek got his hands on one and he absolutely loves it. aNewDomain.net's Dan Patterson, Todd Moore and Gina Smith caught up with "Woz" and caught him on tape talking about his experience with Windows Phone and the Lumia 900.

In true geek style, it turns out that "Woz" carries multiple devices - 2 iPhones, a Droid RAZR and a Lumia 900 - but still defaults to the iPhone only because he is entrenched into the the ecosystem. He chose the Nokia Lumia as his favorite of the four. He said it was no contest.

This is a massive endorsement for Windows Phone and Nokia. Listen to the full interview above and you will find yourself grinning from ear to ear without even noticing.

SOURCE: Anewdomain.net VIA: WPCentral

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Nokia Lumia 900 vs HTC Titan II [PhoneDog Dogfight]

April 27, 2012 at 20:04 GMT | By

It was only going to be a matter of time before Aaron got his hands on this pair (not meaning to be rude). Those that regularly visit WPSF know that we are partial to the odd dogfight, especially one delivered by Phone Dog's Aaron Baker. Yet again Aaron delivers a balanced comparison of the two Windows Phone devices. For us, it was like watching two of your children in a boxing ring, which is enough to leave any parent dazed with split loyalties.

Both devices have strong and weak points but when all is said and done, it's very difficult to ignore the beautiful Nokia Lumia 900. The Titan 2 thrashes the Lumia 900 in the camera department but unfortunately that as good as it gets for the Titan. Don't get me wrong, we like the Titan design but the fact that it would be difficult to pick it out from a crowd of HTC Androids is rather off-putting. Watch the videos to see which device Aaron prefers - we don't want to spoil the surprise.

 

SOURCE: PhoneDog

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Carriers desperately seeking Windows Phone

April 27, 2012 at 14:53 GMT | By

Windows Phone is now seen as the alternative to the iPhone that will give carriers like AT&T and Verizon leverage with Apple. For a long time now, Apple has bullied carriers, demanding them to offer suicidal subsidies while making end users pay through the nose for the pleasure of being locked down in iPrison. PC Advisor's Matt Hamblen has written an interesting piece, noting that AT&T and Verizon Wireless want Windows Phone smartphones to succeed in the U.S., partly to provide leverage against Apple's demands for subsidies and other concessions required for selling the popular iPhone.

"Mobile operators are sick of taking orders from Apple, [which is one] reason why carriers like AT&T and Verizon are backing Windows Phone," said Yankee Group analyst Katie Lewis in a blog posted Wednesday. "IPhones are occupying an increasingly dangerous share of operators' smartphone sales," she wrote. "The companies' fears of an Apple takeover are growing stronger," she added, partly because customer surveys show an increase in future buyers interested in owning an iPhone. "To stay relevant, retain customers and gain new ones, carriers have no choice but to carry the iPhone, so they essentially can't turn down a deal with Apple. Because of this fact, carriers are losing control over their customers, the customer billing experience and the U.S. smartphone market overall. To maintain control, mobile operators need a third mobile ecosystem to be successful and to provide some competition to Apple's iOS/iPhone and Google's Android platform," she added.

Carriers heavily subsidize all smartphone hardware but Apple's demands for subsidies in order for a carrier to sell an iPhone are legendary, primarily to entice new customers to buy a two-year service contract that costs more than $1,700 over that period. The iPhone 4S with 16GB sells unlocked from Apple for $649 (useful on many GSM carriers with a separate contract), but Verizon, AT&T and Sprint sell it for $199.99 with a two-year contract. Apple also gets a cut, or royalty, of the carrier's revenue realized from each new iPhone user. This royalty "is part of the negotiations to put iPhone on a carrier's network," said analyst Jack Gold of J. Gold Associates. "Apple argues it's worth it to the carrier, since their users are loyal and generate more revenues due to the popularity of the iPhone." Other phone makers, such as Samsung and HTC, don't get a similar cut. Read more.

This bodes well for Windows Phone. As Apple further alienate themselves with carries, Nokia and Windows Phone are in a position to give US smartphone users and equally good - if not better - and solid platform. Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo recently told Reuters that Verizon is "really looking at the Windows Phone 8.0 platform because that's a differentiator." Apple's runaway success might be their undoing. Not that we will be shedding a tear when the fruit company's empire comes crashing down!

SOURCE: PCAdvisor

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Nokia Lumia 900 already makes up 10% of the US Windows Phone Market

April 27, 2012 at 09:56 GMT | By

Since neither Nokia nor Microsoft are willing to provide figures on Nokia Lumia 900 sales since it's US inception, it's not unusual that people are left to speculate, or at best tot up whatever available figures to gain some sort of indication. This is where gamer stats come in handy. The data above shows that 10% of SurvivalCraft players own a Lumia 900, impressive for a device that just launched a couple of weeks ago.

Yes we know, these stats do not translate exact sales figures but they do give a strong indication on how sales are going. Also, given that a big proportion of Windows Phone users are in America, we can assume that the Lumia 900 will be the biggest Windows Phone yet when its launched internationally. On a tangent, isn't it sad to see Samsung almost giving up on Windows Phone despite being their early success with the Focus and Omnia7?

SOURCE: WP7Connect

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Magenta Nokia Lumia 900 confirmed

April 25, 2012 at 17:31 GMT | By

e'sPhoneBlog have found concrete proof of the existence of the magenta/fuchsia Nokia Lumia 900 ahead of it's imminent release in Finland, alongside it's lesser specced sibling, the Lumia 610. The above image shows an international version of the Lumia 900, thus US availability is unknown at this point.

On-line Finnish retailer Gigantti.fi will offer the Nokia Lumia 900 for 589 Euros while the 610 will be available for 216 Euros. These are of course great prices for quality devices running an outstanding operating system. What's questionable though is whether there will a demand for the magenta Lumia 900. I can hardly imagine any self respecting red-blooded male spotting a pink phone just as I don't see any women wanting a large device. I would not be surprised if I was to be proved wrong though, given how the white and cyan versions of the have been selling like hot cakes.

SOURCE: Gigantti VIA: e'sPhoneBlog

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UK Nokia Lumia 900 launch pushed back to May 14 due to US demand

April 25, 2012 at 14:51 GMT | By

Higher than expected demand for the Lumia 900 has forced Nokia to push back its planned UK release by over two weeks. A company spokesperson confirmed to V3 that launch date would now be mid-May.

The spokesperson said the overwhelming demand for the Lumia 900 in the US with AT&T has, unfortunately, had a small knock-on effect on product availability in the UK. The Lumia 900 is now expected to be available from Phones4U around May 14.

Forgive us for feeling sorry for ourselves over this way. We hope the UK won't be waiting too long as the Lumia 900 might just be the phone that gets Windows Phone a little traction over this side of the pond.

SOURCE: V3 VIA: WMPU

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Marketplace Deal of the Week: Z0MB1ES (on teh ph0ne)

April 25, 2012 at 14:29 GMT | By

Z0MB1ES (on teh ph0ne) is a themed twin-stick shooter collection headlined by I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!!1, the solidly executed and utterly self-aware celebration of gaming culture through an epic musical masterpiece. Z0MB1ES does its best to span both musical and gaming genres in a streamlined series of choreographed music video gameplay mashups. Paired with an exclusive music-driven psychedelic shooter, Time Viking, as well as the ENDL3SS Z0MB1ES game mode, Z0MB1ES is infectious fun.

Features

Three games for three bucks: I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!!1, Time Viking and ENDL3SS Z0MB1ES!!!1

Includes the original Z0MB1ES theme song plus all new original music.

"Mega Games Creator 2000" lets you to unleash your photographic creativity.

Unlock achievements and show off your Z0MB1ES skills with online leaderboards.

Z0MB1ES (on teh ph0ne) is available for $1.99.

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Latest Xbox LIVE Title: Wordament v2.0

April 25, 2012 at 14:08 GMT | By

Wordament is a unique kind of word game - a word tournament - where you are competing with the whole internet to be the best word searcher in every game. Every player is competing on the same board, in real-time, to get the highest score. Will you be the Wordament champion?

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer! Tap names in the results list to add them to your personal list of Frenemies, which is shown at the end of every game. Your Xbox LIVE friends will be automatically added!

Wordament features unique, highly playable games. Every board is guaranteed to have over 100 possible words, and every tile is playable. Our dictionary is tuned to help you find the most common words you missed. We also have themed games, like Digrams, where we introduce a simple, but fun secondary goal of using a two-letter tile in as many words as possible.

Features

A completely updated visual design with beautiful backgrounds

By Request: 'Contains'- reveal every word a tile makes up on the results screen

Guest Mode: let someone else play, without compromising your stat

Multiple Languages: Currently UI only, but watch our blog for information on updates

Now with sounds! (Optional in the options menu)

Performance Improvements

Wordament is available for free.

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Nokia sheds light on White Lumia 900 availability and firmware

April 24, 2012 at 17:27 GMT | By

Nokia took time out to answer some questions about the Lumia 900 that users have been asking for a few days, namely about general availability and the situation with the white Lumia 900. Speaking to Phone Arena, Keith Nowak, Director of Communications for North America said:

Gloss White Version: Although we did see a few units made available as early as last week, the Nokia Lumia 900 in gloss white did make its "official" appearance in stores on Sunday (April 22).

Software: A couple people have asked about the firmware version on the Nokia Lumia 900 units currently hitting stores (specifically the gloss white units).

Although the firmware version number is the same as the firmware version on the initial run of devices that experienced the memory management issue - in reality, this firmware is the same as the version that is available through the Zune updater - and both do not exhibit the data connectivity side effect.

In short, the Zune update version required a different number in order for the first run devices to identify that an update was available. And while the new versions of the device (i.e. the Gloss White) will see that this software update is available when connected to Zune, in reality - it is the same load of software being downloaded. However, we still would recommend that everyone buying a Lumia 900 go ahead and update their phone, since it is possible some of the original stock could still be in the channel.

SOURCE: Phone Arena

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Skype v1.0 will work on Nokia Lumia 610 after all

April 24, 2012 at 16:34 GMT | By

After yesterday's speculation, Nokia have told Enadget that Skype will work on the Tango-powered Nokia Lumia 610 despite official Skype documents claiming the contrary. According to an article on the Skype Blog, Skype for Windows Phone would not function on devices using 256MB of RAM like the Nokia 610.

Nokia told Engadget that they eventually got the Skype app to work after "some challenges early on." So it looks like Skype will work on some handsets but it will require some added attention from the device’s manufacturer. That's ok if your the premier Windows Phone OEM, but we can't see ZTE giving the Orbit the same kind of attention. Also there's the small issue that the Lumia 610 doesn't have a front-facing camera, meaning you'll either have to somehow use the rear camera if you are nowhere near a big mirror. Messy!

SOURCE: Engadget

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Windows Phone Facebook app to be updated to v2.5, bringing many features

April 24, 2012 at 11:54 GMT | By

The developers of the Windows Facebook app have announced that the app will be updated to v2.5 in the next few days. Those that follow WPSF know that I do hold Clarity Consulting (original app developers) in low regard because of the way they handled the development of the app. The initial Facebook app for WP7 was dire to say the very least and did not see any updates for donkeys years. Annd when the an update came, it made the app worse. I'm unsure as to whether Clarity Consulting are still responsible for the app at present. If they still are, someone must have stuck a rocket up their backsides because there is a massive improvement now in the frequency and quality of the updates. Ok, enough tantruming!

The good news is that the dev team posted a message on the Facebook app page. "The team has been working hard over the past few weeks on building the next version of Facebook for Windows Phone, and as we're getting close to release we thought now would be a good time to share with you some of the upcoming features you'll be finding in v2.5," the said. The update will bring the following features:

Threaded messaging: Full Facebook threaded messaging including group messaging, all in a beautiful Metro style design.

Tagging: Now you can tag friends and locations in your posts in the 'with' and 'at' format

Delete posts and comments: Use the tap and hold context menu to delete posts and comments from your wall.

Active links in posts: Tap on links in posts to go directly to the content.

Updates to the photo comments and likes page: The photo comments and likes page has been updated to match the posts comments and likes page. You can see a hint of the image at the top of the page, pull down and you can see the whole thing.

And finally, by popular demand...you can now 'like' comments!

It's good to see that they have started to listen to their customers. Let us know if you receive an update notification via the Marketplace tile.

SOURCE: Facebook

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Skype v1.0's Unpleasant Surprise: Low end 'Tango' devices not supported!

April 23, 2012 at 14:12 GMT | By

Yesterday we were glad to learn and report that the Skype app which had been in open Beta since february had finally fledged fully for all Windows Phone users to enjoy. How naive we were! Buried within the announcement was an unpleasant mention of a 512MB minimum memory requirement reveals that the Internet phone service won't work with the likes of Nokia's Lumia 610 and the ZTE Orbit.

Described as a "known issue," it appears that the Skype team may be planning to support Tango devices in a future release of the software. The company also lists a number of other known issues, including an app foreground limitation for receiving communications and the lack of SMS send support.

We hope this will be sorted out soon as we find it unacceptable that while Skype is owned by Microsoft, Windows Phone users have to endure a lacklustre Skype experience.

SOURCE: Skype Blog VIA: WPD

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Skype for Windows Phone App v1.0 walkthrough [video]

April 23, 2012 at 03:21 GMT | By

Skype have announced the launch of the Windows Phone Skype app through their official blog. The app is now available to download for free via Marketplace.

Skype for Windows Phone supports 18 languages: English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, and Traditional Chinese.

The app had been tested and certified for the following Windows Phone:

Nokia Lumia 710

Nokia Lumia 800

Nokia Lumia 900

HTC Titan

HTC Radar

Samsung Focus S

Samsung Focus Flash

This of course doesn't mean that the app will only work on phones listed above, it will work (works) on older phones. The Skype team have promised to keep updating the app, so don't be surprised when you see another update prompt soon.

SOURCE: Skype Blog

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Windows Phone market-share already at 6.7% in Finland

April 23, 2012 at 00:57 GMT | By

e'sPhoneBlog has managed to get hold the latest figures of Smartphone Marketshare in Finland via StatCounter. The image above shows Mobile OS usage in Finland for this week, April 16-22, 2012. The stats also show that Windows Phone is on a steady rise, with market share of 6.7% from 6.07% a week ago. Now wouldn't that be a pretty sight if that was a global graph.

This is the complete Mobile OS market share breakdown in Finland, from April 16-22:

• iOS: 37.43%
• Android: 33.4%
• Symbian: 18.5%
• Windows Phone: 6.7%
• MeeGo: 1.55%
• Maemo: 5 0.58%
• Linux: 0.44%
• Samsung: 0.28%
• bada: 0.28%

One gets the feeling that it won't be long before Windows Phone takes over from Symbian and hopefully give Android and iOS a run for their dosh in Finland because there nothing as bad a getting an ass-whooping in your backyard! The arrival of the juggernaut Lumia 900 will probably do the trick.

SOURCE: VIA: e'sPhoneBlog

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SkyDrive App updated to v2.0, now available in Windows Phone Marketplace

April 23, 2012 at 00:15 GMT | By

Following the arrival of v1.0 of the Windows Phone Skype app, not to be outdone, the Skydrive app has decided to move up notch to v2.0. The update brings the ability to move, delete, rename, or create new folders. Also, you are now able to select multiple files for moving or deleting. The app also includes the ability to switch between a detailed list view and a thumbnail view in files, icluding recent and shared pages.

If you haven't received an update prompt from Marketplace and want the update anyhow then scan the QR code or hit the download button below.

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Skype for Windows Phone hits v1.0

April 22, 2012 at 23:51 GMT | By

Microsoft promised us a full version of the Skype app back in April when the original beta was earlier this year. Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't getting worried as the days of April are fast coming to an end. But, Microsoft delivered on that promise today by releasing version 1.0 of the Skype app.

Version 1.0 brings the ability to search for and add new contacts, call to landlines, some optimizations and other minor improvements, the app is a fairly solid performer allowing video and VOIP calls over 3g/4g and WiFi connections. At the time of writing, those outside the US are not seeing the v1.0 update just yet but clicking the download button below or scanning the QR code will do the trick.

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Unboxing: AT&T White Nokia Lumia 900

April 22, 2012 at 10:13 GMT | By

Regular WPSF visitors will know that I'm a bit of an old cynic when it comes to the good old "unboxing" videos. I fail to see what purpose they serve, but lets leave that one for another day. I suppose when its the "unboxing" is of the glossy-white Nokia 900 that's got to be an exception, right?

Lucky folk over at WPCentral managed to land themselves the available white Lumia 900 from their local AT&T and have posted the above unboxing video.

WPCentral also report that the AT&T representative told them that Nokia's flagship phone has been selling very well and there were no Cyans around, but customers were still ordering them and getting them direct fulfilled in 2 days. Well, there you have it, if you are planning to get yourself a white or cyan Lumia 900 we suggest you get a move on!

SOURCE: WPCentral

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Join Best Buy's exclusive "Behind the Tiles" event for a chance to win a Nokia Lumia 900

April 22, 2012 at 09:29 GMT | By

Microsoft is hosting a series of invite-only events at Best Buy stores across the US during the next four weeks. If you are thinking about getting a Nokia Lumia 900 then you should try to get in on the action at Microsoft's Behind the tiles with Windows Phone events that are now happening at Best Buy stores across the United States. You'll get some hands-on time with the Nokia Lumia 900, and if you're lucky, you might even win a Nokia Lumia 900.

You'll also get to:
• Attend a Nokia Lumia 900 instructor-led demo lab
• Learn about the Metro style user interface and the future with Windows Phone
• Get the latest information on Windows Phone for IT and Developers
• Play with some of the latest and greatest Windows Phones
• Network with peers and Windows Phone experts
• Have a chance to win great prizes

These are invite-only events with a limited number of remaining open slots, so you should head over to the Microsoft website now to register your interest. Enter mscust as RSVP code. See a list of dates and participating Best Buy stores here.

SOURCE: Nokia Conversations

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Lumia 900 takes centre stage in AT&T Commercials

April 21, 2012 at 15:56 GMT | By

Now what have we got here? Looks like the iPhone has been given the boot - for the meantime I suppose - as the the device that takes centre stage in AT&T commercials. It's good to see the Nokia getting some across the Atlantic and it seems like AT&T are making good of their word of giving the Nokia Lumia 900 the same attention they gave to the iPhone at launch. So far so good...

SOURCE: ShareAT&T

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Camera Smartphone Beta Test has ended, or has it just begun?

April 21, 2012 at 11:21 GMT | By

Don't get us wrong, we like some of the Smartphone Beta Test ads and find them funny, bold, different and informative at times. But going as far as suggesting that the Nokia Lumia 900 has the best camera of all smartphones is a bit of an exaggeration. Hey, we love Windows Phone over here and will defend it to the hilt but blind faith we suffer not.

The latest Smartphone Beta Test makes an emphasis on the fact that the Lumia 900 has Carl Zeiss lenses and suggests that alone qualifies it as the best. We like a the name Carl Zeiss and appreciate the quality and reputation it brings to Windows Phone but we know that Nokia has so far failed to optimize it for Windows Phone. The Lumia 800 camera hit a bum note at launch and it seems its bigger brother the 900 has followed suit. Because we are based at the other side of the pond, we have not been able to get our hands on the Lumia 900 to make first hand comparisons, but going on the information that currently available, it appears the camera on the Lumia 900 is performance is lacklustre.

We trust Nokia to roll out a series of firmware updates that will optimize the camera and make it a contender. In the meantime, we think that those with the Nokia Lumia 900 on their hands are the beta testers!

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Microsoft working on a two-sided smartphone display system?

April 21, 2012 at 04:04 GMT | By

PatentBolt reported on Friday on a patent application made by Microsoft relating to a two-sided smart device display system for phones and tablets. Microsoft's invention relates to integrating a second low-power display onto the backside of smartphone or tablet to display certain types of information. One idea is to utilize an electronic ink (e-ink) display on the backside. The use of a low-power display in this manner would free real estate on the device's main display and provides opportunities to show information that would otherwise not be shown.

The use of a low-power display on a device to supplement an ordinary high-power display may reduce the power load on the device (e.g., if some information could be displayed on the low power display when the high-power display is off). Moreover, the combined use of low-power/high-power displays in clever ways could provide a compelling user experience. Read on »

SOURCE: PatentBolt VIA: BGR

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White Lumia 900's are in AT&T Stores Now

April 21, 2012 at 03:10 GMT | By

We all expected the glossy white Lumia 900 to drop on the 22nd, but its seems like the Lumia 900 devices must be flying off the shelves because Nokia promised the white Lumia 900 on April 22 if sales went well. Nokia's North American President, Chris Weber, posted a couple of photos (above) on Twitter with customers buying the phones today.

The white Lumia 900 unlike its black and cyan cousins, has a glossy finish but will still retail at the same $99 price point ($450 off contract). Considering how scarce the Cyan version has been, we suggest those that have been waiting for the white Lumia 900 better get a move on.

VIA: Mobility Digest

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Another "Evangelist" makes bold claims about Windows Phone 8 Update

April 20, 2012 at 19:29 GMT | By

Oh boy, here we go... If you've ingested your fair share of the Windows Phone 8 (Apollo) update rumours and can't stomach anymore, we suggest you navigate away at this point. Still with us? We knew you like the odd rumour.

Rumours on whether the Windows Phone 8 update will be available to 1st and 2nd generation devices have swept the tech world like a veld fire over the last few days, with claim and counter-claim after one another. The situation culminated with one Nuno Silva making a grovelling apology about his earlier claim - probably after receiving a dressing-down. This time its serial twitter and self-proclaimed Nokia evangelist who goes by the name of Joao Luis. Mr Luis claims that he has had a tip-off from a "confidential" inside source whom he trusts 200% (some trust that is) has informed him that all Lumia devices will receive the Apollo update. We hope we wont be seeing another apology come tomorrow.

By the way, did someone say Tango?

VIA: WMPU

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10 things you [probably] never knew your Lumia could do

April 20, 2012 at 17:22 GMT | By

Nokia has posted a great rundown of 10 things you can do with your Lumia Windows Phone. Mainly aimed at those who have recently bought a Nokia Lumia 900 or Lumia 710, the introduction shows some clever ways one can use their new purchase.

1. Take a photo without unlocking your phone
Let's say you want quickly snap a pic by just taking your phone out of your pocket and pressing just one key. Here's how: When your Lumia is locked and the screen is dark, press and hold the camera button. After a brief second, the phone app will come up and let you shoot photos to your heart's content.

2. Scan a QR code without a special app
Most phones require a QR app to scan a QR code. However, with the Lumia 900 and 710, search is powered by Bing and therefore you can just tap the search button, then choose the icon that looks like an eye. From here, you can scan a barcode or QR code and be taken to the Internet destination to learn more. Very slick.

3. Make a video call using Tango or Skype Beta
Because the Lumia 900 has a front-facing camera, you can make video conferencing calls using the front facing camera on the phone. One added advantage of the Lumia 900's front facing camera: it's wide-angle, so you can easily talk with a friend by your side and the other party can see both of you.

4. Use the built-in FM receiver to listen to tunes via radio
This feature is hidden somewhat, but go to the Music application. As long as you have headphones plugged in, you can listen to FM radio on your Lumia 900 or Lumia 710. I love listening to NPR via my local affiliate, and the Lumia’s built-in FM receiver is perfect for this function.

5. Use Battery Saver when you need extra battery life
Sometimes, at the end of a busy day or at a conference, you need every extra ounce of life your battery can spare. If you want to eke out a few more minutes of stand-by time, check out Battery Saver.
In Settings, then Battery, you can enable Battery Saver which will discontinue your phone's ability to get emails [EDIT: you can still make this happen manually] and a few other battery intensive operations. Calls and SMS still work, but Battery Saver has helped me out in a few situations. You can also set it to automatically kick-in whenever the battery is low.

6. Groups keep you close to who is important
In the Contacts application, you can create groups. I have one for my closest friends and one for my family, with a Live Tile assigned to each on my homescreen. That way, Facebook and LinkedIn messages for these people are updated, and I don't have to filter them out the feed in my People application, which is key for me.

7. Use voice features on the go
I drive a lot and I always use a Bluetooth hands-free device to make sure I can keep my eyes on the road. When paired with a headset, Windows Phone can perform functions via voice such as text messaging and placing a call. For instance, to call my wife, I simply say, "Call Kimmy"; and opening and replying to text messages is as easy as following the voice prompts.

8. Easily find apps in the Marketplace without loading Marketplace
If you know the name of an app you want to install in Marketplace, there's a fast way to get to the place to install the application. From your home screen, swipe left to reveal the installed apps list, then on the left, hit the on-screen search button and search for the application. Obviously, if it's an app you don't have yet, you can "search Marketplace" and be taken to the apps home quickly and easily.

9. Find fun experiences around you using Local Scout
From the homescreen, click on the search button again. Hit the button on bottom that looks like the silhouette of a building. This is Local Scout and this amazing utility shows you places to eat and experiences to be had based on your physical location. Local Scout shows you places you may not otherwise know about and has helped me on a number of occasions.

10. Recall a business phone number by name
Let's say you find a great pizza restaurant and you search for its phone number, and make a call. Then, a few days later, you want to call them again – you go to your call history but you can't remember the exact phone number you dialed earlier.That's not a problem on the Lumia phones. When you search for a business from Maps, then call it – the actual business name is archived in the call history, making it really quick to find the number in your call log going forward.

SOURCE: Nokia Conversations

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Windows Phone Minute: Groups

April 20, 2012 at 11:55 GMT | By

Here is Laura Foy giving us another edition of Windows Phone Minute. This time it's Groups, a feature I personally think is underrated and probably underused.

If you are new to Windows Phone, Windows Phone Minute would be greatly benefial for tips on how to get the most out of your phone. You can subscribe here.

SOURCE: Channel 9

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"Windows Phone Doesn't Have Enough Apps" - A Superfluous Argument

April 20, 2012 at 04:09 GMT | By

It is high time that Microsoft goes on the offense with its latest mobile OS WP7 the foundation of Windows 8, and the Metro UI. Since its creation the only offense that Microsoft has deployed has been "Smoked by Windows Phone." The campaign has been wildly successful minus a few hiccups which Microsoft made right, but the underlying reasons that make this campaign successful is in reality the offensive move Microsoft needed to make long ago.

Much of the industry has always dismissed Windows Phone for their lack of apps and I am here to tell you that this is a completely superfluous argument. Much if not all of the average users basic everyday interaction with their smart device has been directly integrated or baked into the platform. A large reason for this is that Windows Phone was created long after the overly popular iOS and Android smart phones took the market by storm. This allowed Microsoft to take a different approach with their mobile OS: almost exactly how they played their cards when it came to desktop operating systems in the early 90's by waiting to see what works and expounding on it.

This is WHY the OS "smokes" the competition. Instead of having to open individual apps that store your data you are seeking, it is simply streamed across the "reimagined" start screen aka the Metro UI. via live tiles. Besides that almost all sharing bits have been directly baked in allowing full interaction with social media sites, email, and all types of messaging threaded into one location.

Almost all of the "major" must have apps have now made their way to the Windows Store. Grant it there may be a few random apps that people have truly fallen in love with that is not offered in the Windows Store, but I guarantee there is an alternative that is more efficient for Windows Phone. If you don't want the alternative and would rather search though three different apps just to get your latest news updates then I suppose that's your prerogative.

Microsoft needs to expound upon this because their platform truly has the upper hand. The easiest way would be to piggyback on Nokia's campaign "Smartphone Beta Testers." Finally someone has made an attempt!

Submitted by: Caleb Cribb
Website: superfluousarguement.blogspot.co.uk

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AT&T staff now actively pushing Nokia Lumia 900

April 20, 2012 at 02:49 GMT | By

Everytime I have to write an article on AT&T and their staff, I usually take a deep breath and slump back into my chair, as the thought of the having to slag off the carrier drains me. There's not many positives you will find here on WPSF if its pertaining Nokia's premier US carrier. AT&T constantly drop the ball and have been the weakest link in Microsoft's quest to re-establish themself in the Smartphone game in America. But fear not my good friends as I'm not about to deliver yet another scathing attack on our now good friends at AT&T. Yes that's right, AT&T staff are finally doing something right for a change.

Ars Technica carried out a small but consice research on whether in-store AT&T staff were playing their part in pushing Windows Phone. The experiment was carried out in a few stores in the Albany, New York area to see if AT&T reps are really talking up the phone like the company promised. The writer, Casey Johnston says,"I varied my approach to salespeople in each of the three stores. In the first, I started off by speaking with a salesperson, saying I was looking for a phone for my Android-using mom." The salesperson then replied saying, "We have a wide variety of Androids to choose from if she wants to stick with that operating system," the rep said. "But we have a wide variety of other devices. We have some brand new Windows Phones that just came out." The salesperson didn't stop there, he went on to praise Windows phone even further saying "the best part about the Windows Phone is that it tries to give you less steps to do what you want to do." He pointed out the social network integration and the 4G LTE connectivity, and said the phone had a "really good camera."

Johnston goes on to describe having similar experiences in two other stores, "In the second store, I approached a sales rep who turned out to be the store manager. I pulled out my iPhone to show him and said it was an iPhone 4, but said I was up for contract renewal soon and wanted to see what's out there... read on »

SOURCE: Ars Technica

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Nokia post $1.7 billion 1st quarter loss, Lumia sales "mixed"

April 20, 2012 at 01:18 GMT | By

Nokia released its first quarter earnings and as expected, the news isn't good. Posting a $1.7 billion quarterly loss on net sales that are down 30%, Nokia continues to struggle with what they describe to be "greater than expected competitive challenges" and "mixed" sales the Lumia Windows Phone devices. Commenting on the Q1 results, Stephen Elop, Nokia CEO, said:

"We are navigating through a significant company transition in an industry environment that continues to evolve and shift quickly. Over the last year we have made progress on our new strategy, but we have faced greater than expected competitive challenges.
We have launched four Lumia devices ahead of schedule to encouraging awards and popular acclaim. The actual sales results have been mixed. We exceeded expectations in markets including the United States, but establishing momentum in certain markets including the UK has been more challenging.
At the same time, the lower price tiers of our industry are undergoing a structural change, and traditional feature phones are challenged by full touch devices. As a result we are taking deliberate measures to continue to renew our Series 40 platform, and we plan to strengthen our line-up in Q2 2012. We are making investments in our Mobile Phones business unit aimed at addressing the gaps in our offering.
We have a clear sense of urgency to move our strategy forward even faster. We are pursuing step function changes by having launched the Lumia 610 and Lumia 900 in the first quarter, expanding market coverage, increasing advertising, introducing key customer-requested features and broadening our most successful go-to-market activities. At the same time, we have focused our efforts in the low-end of smartphones and feature phone asset to drive improved business results and conserve cash.
We are confident in our strategy and focused on responding urgently in the short term and creating value for our shareholders in the long term."

Any loss of such proportions is always going to raise eyebrows, especially when it's a giant of a company like Nokia. Its worth mentioning that the transition from Symbiam to Windows Phone was always going to be a fine balancing act for Nokia. Its fair to say that Nokia have managed the launch of the Lumia line quite well though one feels that there are a few things they could have done differently.

Also, the situation with the Windows Phone 8 upgrade will hurt Lumia sales if it's not clarified soon. Anti-Microsoft iSheep have found a chink in the amour and they will milk this story for what it's worth. It would be a travesty if none of the current Lumia devices are upgradable to Windows Phone 8. But, if Nokia can continue to create a buzz like they did with the Lumia 900 and give us NFC, PureView, etc., it won't be long before we see Espoo's finest turn their fortunes around.

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Nuno Silva: I was confused about the Windows Phone 8 update

April 19, 2012 at 17:21 GMT | By

Nuno Silva, the Microsoft Evangelist from Portugal who did more than his fair share of fueling the flames of confusion surrounding Windows Phone 8 update. Despite several high profile tech site maintaining that they had been informed by their sources that 1st an second generation Windows Phone devices will not be upgradable to Windows Phone 8 (Apollo) which is expected to ready before the end of the year.

Mr Silva made it explicitly it clear that all current Windows Phone 7 will receive the Windows Phone 8 upgrade in video interview by Zwame, a Portuguese mobile forum. It now appears that Mr Silva my have received a polite nudge from his bosses and encouraged to right his wrongs. Speaking via the MSDN blogs, Mr Silva had this to say:

I recently participated in an interview with the Portuguese website Zwame, where I made some comments on the future of Windows Phone that created confusion. Rumors are swirling, so I feel the need to clarify my statements.
The point I was attempting to make was simply that existing Windows Phone applications will run on the next version of Windows Phone. This is the same guidance that Microsoft shared late last year.
I mistakenly confused app compatibility with phone updateability, which caused the rumors we saw yesterday. I did not intend to give the impression I was offering new guidance on any products under development or their upgradeability.
While we have given Windows Phone developers this preliminary guidance on app compatibility to help them with long term project planning, Microsoft does not have any further news to share on future products at this time.
As always, you can tell I am very excited about Windows Phone and I hope you are too!

Nuno Silva

Well, this leaves us even more confused than we were in the first place. I cannot understand why Microsoft would choose to keep us in the dark, while allowing iSheep website like The Verge sow seeds of confusion. Why tell us that current device will be able to run Apollo apps and keep mum about the software update?

For some reason, I feel like Microsoft is going to drop the ball on this one, BIG TIME! If current devices are not able to update to Windows Phone 8, that would represent a massive PR disaster that could spell the end of Windows Phone. I say this because the few Windows Phone device owners out there are loyal early adapters that Microsoft cannot afford to piss-off. What do you guys think.

SOURCE: MSDN VIA: WMPU

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Nokia Lumia 610 starts rolling out in Asia

April 19, 2012 at 16:10 GMT | By

Nokia announced today that the Nokia Lumia 610 has begun rolling out in Asia, one the emerging markets that its mainly aimed for. It will go on sale first in the Philippines in the final week of April, and in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam in the following weeks. The Nokia Lumia 610 will be available in black, cyan, magenta and white, and will sell at an estimated retail price of EUR189 before applicable taxes and subsidies. Jo Harlow, Head of Smart Devices at Nokia said:

"The Nokia Lumia 610 will introduce Windows Phone to a new generation of smartphone users, offering something very different to the monochromatic smartphones filling shelves today. PeopleHub, Nokia services and quality apps - coupled with a fast and friendly interface - will make for a great smartphone experience at a great price."

The Nokia Lumia 610 is designed as the perfect introduction to Windows Phone for a younger audience. PeopleHub makes it easy to keep in touch with friends, providing instant access to social networks and bringing all mobile, email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn contacts into one place. It also makes it easier to browse the Web with Internet Explorer and to access games through Xbox Live. The Lumia 610 will also come with WiFi tethering and flip-to-silence, features that will be made available across the Lumia portfolio.
The Nokia Lumia 610 is also a great smartphone for students who will appreciate the built-in Microsoft Office app. Word mobile, PowerPoint mobile, Excel mobile to manage documents, and OneNote mobile to capture notes, ideas, pictures and voice memos make working on the go easier. With SkyDrive, files and notes can be synchronized, and opened and edited from the PC or the phone.
Available with Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, Nokia Transport and Nokia Music, people can also choose from thousands of apps in the Windows Phone Marketplace to further personalize the experience. With a distinctive profile and finely beveled metallic edges, the Nokia Lumia 610 is built to convey both quality and aspiration.

SOURCE: Nokia

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Microsoft Aiming for June Windows Phone Refresh (Tango) Release

April 18, 2012 at 23:06 GMT | By

MiMovilWindows claim to have confirmed with with two sources that Windows Phone Tango will be officially released at the beginning of June. The finalized as OS build will be 8773. However, we would advise that you ingest this rumour with a spoonful of sodium chloride as MiMovilWindows say their 'reliable' sources have asked not to be named.

In any case, Windows Phone Tango update seems to have been forgotten amid the Nokia Lumia 900 media frenzy and the recent fever-pitch Windows Phone 8 (Apollo) speculation. The update itself is rather meek feature-wise, compared to the 500 features that the 7.5 (Mango) update brought. Inittialy, Tango had been rumoured to have been scheduled for an earlier release, but Microsoft reportedly pushed the April time-frame for release back to June so that more operators could finish testing and Microsoft could target a more universal roll-out, much like the Mango update.

Windows Phone Tango will be optimized for low-end devices aimed at emerging markets. Devices are expected to have 256 MB, reduced screen resolution, enhanced MMS capability and other under the hood optimizations.

SOURCE: MiMovilWindows

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Nokia: We're Building Lumia 900s as Fast as We Can

April 18, 2012 at 15:49 GMT | By

We are not exactly sure how many Lumia 900s Nokia have shifted in the first 2 weeks of it's availability, but one thing for sure is that they have been selling like hot cakes. We know that some AT&T stores sold out its stock of the gorgeous device and that the Lumia 900 spent a couple of weeks at the top of Amazon's best-seller table. This surely serves as an indicator that the Lumia 900 is on it's way to delivering redemption for Windows Phone.

It also looks like the software glitch that plagued early versions of the handset has not had much of an effect on inventory. According to Nokia, far more consumers have opted to patch their Lumias with the software Nokia has provided than have swapped them for new ones at a local AT&T store. Speaking to AllThingsD, Nokia spokeswoman Karen Lachtanski said:

"The inventory situation is primarily a function of demand because we are seeing that most customers are opting to keep their units and simply update via Zune. So the impact of customer swaps is insignificant. We are producing more devices to satisfy demand as quickly as possible."

Sounds like Windows Phone's acclaimed 'saviour' device is doing the job. We cant wait to see Nokia's second-quarter 2012 financial results this summer!

SOURCE: AllThingsD

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Windows Phone game Taptitude earning developer $1,400 a day via ad impressions

April 18, 2012 at 15:00 GMT | By

Taptitude launched in March 2011 with a few simple minigames and the developers have been constantly updating the game with more content and now the game boasts of over 60 minigames. Four4BrosStudios, makers of the popular Windows Phone game Taptitude announced that they recently crossed the $100,000 revenue mark from their game which is currently earning around $1400 per day on ad impressions alone.

In a recent blog post, the developers shed some light on their impressive figures:

Taptitude is free to play, and is supported by pubCenter ads. In this business model, you are paid based on how many 'impressions' you get each day. The amount you're paid per thousand impressions is refered to as 'eCPM'. For example, if you get 10,000 impressions at $1 eCPM, then pubCenter will pay you $10.

Over the last year, we've seen exponential growth in our impression rate. For the first few months we made very little money, and only served a few thousand impressions per day. As we stuck with the project we added many weekly updates with features including online leaderboards, stars to unlock minigames, coins to purchase game upgrades, and stats to track your progress. Taptitude continues to evolve, but lets take a high level look at how we did on average over the last year.

We're at nearly 100 million ad impressions, and much of that was in the last few months. Over the same timeframe, our eCPM fluctuated pretty wildly. We would love to get $3 eCPM every day, most of the time it's closer to $1. In the next chart we can see how our revenue is a combination of both eCPM and Impressions. In the weeks of November we had a big spike in eCPM resulting in record revenue despite having significantly less impression than recent weeks. As we settled into the lower $1 eCPM we've had to grow our user base in order to make it up with impressions.

At the time of this writing, we are about half way through April and we have record impressions per day ... Continue Reading »

Yes we know that this is small change compared to what iOS and Android indie developers are making, but it's a good start for an operating system that is little less than 18 months old. It goes to show that there is money to be made in the Windows Phone ecosystem if one works hard and dares to be different.

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Latest Xbox LIVE Title: Monster Island

April 18, 2012 at 13:38 GMT | By

Monster thugs are on the loose harassing the inhabitants of the colorful world of Monster Island. Now, it's up to you and your arsenal of mini-monster bombs to get rid of this plague of unwanted visitors. Can you stand against such mischievous foes?

Unlock five different monster bombs, each with its own abilities: Rocko, Sticky, Xplode, Blui and the fearsome Don Tonator! Toss them at enemies over 3 worlds and 200 reactive puzzles which will dazzle you for many hours of unparalleled fun.Change your character in the store to get new and cool looks.

Features:
• 252 levels over 4 different islands
• Choose one of 12 unique heroes
• Leader Boards and Achievements
• Interactive tutorial to learn how to play

Monster Island is available for $2.99 with free trial.

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Marketplace Deal of the Week: Kinectimals

April 18, 2012 at 13:15 GMT | By

This irresistible mobile experience gives you the chance to use your phone to visit the island of Lemuria and play with, care for and fall in love with your very own cub. Bring your pet with you wherever you go! If you've already experienced Kinectimals on Kinect for Xbox 360, your phone becomes the key to unlocking five new cubs on your console. Stand-alone mobile game features Kinectimals' signature visual quality, delightful animation and brand new ways to play with your cub!

Kinectimals is available for $1.99 for a limited time.

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Code Warrior: Join the 'hack-athon' and win a Lumia device

April 17, 2012 at 11:55 GMT | By

In an effort to promote a robust community of app developers, Nokia announced it has teamed up with Windows Phone to launch the Code Warrior, a site where Windows Phone users and other developers can propose ideas for app and vote on them. Chanse Arrington, head of Nokia's developer and Content Marketing for North America, spoke to a crowd of mobile app developers at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. Arrington said:

"Just because you're a developer, does not mean you are innovative. Sometimes you need an idea." Arrington told CNET that he considers app development a top priority for Nokia. "Would you buy a phone that doesn't have apps? It's just the matter of making sure that we support developers better than anyone else. Whatever they need, we get it for them."

To promote the Code Warrior, a 14-city 'hack-athon tour' will kick off in Houston, Texas on May 10. This will be followed by 10 other hack-athons across America. Fourteen hundred devices will be offered as prizes during this tour. Bounties range from points, to devices, to actual cash, backed by Nokia or Microsoft. How much consumers vote an idea up or down will determine the value of its bounty.

SOURCE: Codewarrior VIA: CNET

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We are Back!

April 17, 2012 at 09:47 GMT | By

We spent the last few days tiding up things behind the scene to ensure that you guys get a seamless experience when visiting your favourite Windows Phone fan site. This of course has meant that we haven't been able to keep up with latest Windows Phone news in the last 5 day. But fret not my dear friends, we are back!

You will notice that a fair few things now work and look better (well, we hope so anyway). Should you encounter a bug, please let us know. WPSF was initially started with the intention of making it a Windows Phone fan site in every sense of the word. So, if there is anything you feel we can do better then don't hesitate to contact us and let us know. Cheers dudes!

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Nokia Lumia 610 NFC demo with Play 360 [video]

April 11, 2012 at 12:09 GMT | By

For a while now we have known that the Nokia Lumia 610 is going to be the first Windows Phone to come with Near Field Communication (NFC). One wonders why Nokia and Microsoft would make an important feature like NFC only be available on a bottom end device like the Lumia 610. I suspect all Lumia devices ship with the NFC chip in them but are awaiting a firmware update to activate them. So, it would make sense for Nokia to test the feature out on a low-end device and then roll it out to the rest when all is well. I suspect it won't be long before all Lumias rock NFC.

The video demos the Nokia Lumia 610 syncing with a Play 360 to play music via NFC. Also, other NFC functions like following on Twitter and FourSquare checking in are also demonstrated.

So, what can one do with NFC. Those lucky enough to have a device with NFC will be able to carry out a variety of tasks like quick and easy bluetooth pairing, cash transfer/purchases, multi device gaming, business card transfer, opening apps, launching url, checking in, etc. There is whole lot more that can be done with NFC.

p.s Its not your bandwidth, its the video!

SOURCE: YouTube

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Marketplace Deal of the Week: 3D Brick Breaker Revolution

April 11, 2012 at 10:04 GMT | By

Get blown away by stunning 3D graphics and up to 24 insane power-ups - including Jump, Vision Twist, Laser, Cannons, Nuke, Unstoppable and more! Take on infinite levels, epic boss battles, secret bonus levels and more! Four amazing game modes deliver endless excitement: Revolution, Nightmare, Classic and Time Attack!

3D Brick Breaker Revolution is available for $1.99 for a limited time.

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Latest Xbox LIVE Title: Sid Meier's Pirates!

April 11, 2012 at 07:48 GMT | By

Sid Meier's Pirates! is an exciting high-seas adventure that allows buccaneers to helm one of 27 fully customizable ships as they descend upon unsuspecting ports of call to amass a motley crew of seafaring bandits. As a fearless Pirate Captain you will collect hidden treasure maps, undertake daring missions and courageous rescues, and swiftly hand out pirate-style justice to local braggarts at every port. The wild call of the ocean will lure you back to sea where you'll encounter enemy pirates and engage in mind-blowing open sea battles unlike any other game before on Windows Phone.

• Take the helm of 27 ships and customize them with assorted ammo, cannons and other upgrades
• The classic adventure by renowned creator Sid Meier, re-imagined for Windows Phone to take full advantage of touch controls
• Use Windows Phone touch controls to parry, counter and effectively out duel your opponents into submission with lightning quick moves onboard ships, in taverns, and even in the exclusive Governor's mansion
• Challenge and pursue the most famous pirates in history, including Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and Henry Morgan"

Sid Meier's Pirates! is available for $2.99 with free trial.

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MS Nerd Rumours: 4" Lumia Slider for Sprint, Lumia PureView and more

April 9, 2012 at 12:13 GMT | By

MS Nerd has been at it again, giving us tantalising details on future devices and Windows Phone 8. Should we believe what he says? Is he credible? He may not get it right all the time but whats certain is that he gets us talking. This time MS Nerd dropped a handful of rumours:

Lumia PureView
A PureView Lumia Clear Black HD display with Qualcomm's super fast S4 chip. We know this as it was listed on the leaked Lumia PureView render last week. MS Nerd claims that the sensor on the Lumia PureView will not be based on the 808 as we have presumed, it will actually be based on the N8 sensor. Tha'ts nothing to worry about though as the N8 still the one of the finest shooters, better that the iPhone and HTC OneX as proved by Engadget.

Sprint Slider
Nokia are apparently readying 4 inch WVGA QWERTY-slider for Sprint. Could this be the 'Prodigy' or 'AC/DC'? What's interesting about this rumour is the "WVGA" bit which suggests that it will be a pre-Apollo device as know that Apollo (Windows Phone 8) will bring HD resolution. I have never been one for physical keyboards myself but I know our friends across the pond a partial to the odd slider.

SOURCE: Twitter

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Queue for Nokia Lumia 800C in China [Genuine]

April 9, 2012 at 11:17 GMT | By

After some websites were "duped" by someone on Twitter who uploaded an old picture of people queuing for the iPhone 4S outside an AT&T shop last year. The whole debacle left Windows Phone fans fuming because some of their favourite blog site decided to squeeze out every bit of mileage out of the bogus photo. You can be best guaranteed that articles published on WPSF will be double checked and at least have ounce of credibility.

Ok, enough of the slander. What we have (pictured above) is what appears to be a genuine photo of people queuing for the Nokia Lumia 800C outside a China Telecom shop. Unconvinced? Check out more photos here.

This bodes well for Windows Phone as failure in a nation with a population of 1.3 billion people would have been catastrophic. Not to say that queue indicates success in China, but it sure is a positive indication because if memeoru serves well, this is a first time there has ever been a queue for a Windows Phone Device.

SOURCE: WPXAP VIA: MyNokiaBlog

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Windows Phone Minute: Multi-tasking

April 8, 2012 at 21:35 GMT | By

Remember "Minute of Mango?" The series hosted by Channel9's Laura Foy that's geared towards anybody new to Windows Phone or those that still don't know how to use their devices. The series disappeared for a while and has been brought back under a different guise, but essentially still serving the same purpose.

This time, it's multi-tasking. for those that keep saying Windows Phone doesn't have true multi-tasking, Laura sets the record straight:

I will clarify. WP does have multi-tasking, just not necessarily FULL multi-tasking. Some apps, like music playing apps, can continue to run in the background. But, most apps will actually be idle in the background, but ready to resume right where I left it when I switch back to it. Apps in the background can still update Live Tiles on the Start Screen, or receive push notifications.

Holding down the back button opens up access to the multitasking apps. They appear as thumbnails--I can swipe back and forth to see what's running and tap the app I want to open.

SOURCE: Channel9

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HTC Titan II Now Available Online from AT&T

April 8, 2012 at 13:43 GMT | By

Good news for those that are awaiting the HTC Titan 2 (I'm assuming that are people waiting for it). The Titan 2 is now available online from AT&T. An unlocked device will set you back $549. We hope the Titan 2 does well because we think its a decent device and offers a genuine alternative to the Nokia Lumia 900.

The Titan II will cost $199.99 with a 2 year contract. It is 4G LTE-equipped. It sports the biggest touchscreen of any Windows Phone (4.7-inch WVGA). It also comes with a whopping 16-megapixel rear camera. For perspective, that's double what you find on most smartphones, and it makes the Titan II one of the most potent pocket-size cameras.It has a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat. Its big rear camera, meanwhile, features a fast wide-angle lens (f2.6, 28mm), autofocus, and dual LED flash. Shutterbugs will appreciate extras like red eye reduction, image stabilization, a panorama mode for landscapes, and a burst shot mode for sports or kids. The rear camera records 720p HD video.

VIA: WMPoweruser

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Nokia Lumia 900 vs iPhone 4S [3 videos]

April 8, 2012 at 12:32 GMT | By

Foxfire235

Now that the Nokia Lumia 900 is out, people have been inspired to make comparison videos and load the up on YouTube. A few days ago we, Pocket Now gave us a fairly balanced comparison of the Nokia Lumia 900 against the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. In that particular video, we saw the Lumia 900 literally trouncing Android's finest.

This time My Nokia Blog have done us a favour by trawling through YouTube and coming up with a bunch of decent videos of the Lumia 900 vs the iPhone 4S. All three reviewers more-or-less come to the same conclusion that the Lumia 900 holds it's own against the iPhone 4S.

Phone Arena

Stayflay2407

SOURCES: PhoneArena, YouTube VIA: MyNokiaBlog

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Official AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 advert [video]

April 8, 2012 at 11:30 GMT | By

That's me right there, minding my own business when suddenly someone says, "what phone is that?" Me being the nerd that I am end up talking them to death about why Windows Phone is better than Android and iOS. Almost feels like someone at AT&T and Nokia knows hows it feels to own a Windows Phone.

This official AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 advert features a guy trying to catch a female colleague's attention using the "Beautifully Different" Lumia 900. Although the live tile feature and people hub are mentioned, I felt a bit let down by the lack of focus on what Windows Phone can do. Even the scrolling looks laggy.

Ok, enough nitpicking. The ad is refreshing, a departure from the usual no-message-flashy-lights ads that we are accustomed to, the ones that are more likely to induce an epileptic seizure rather than inspire you to buy a device. The ad focuses on the Lumia 900 strengths, the aesthetics and industrial design. We hope future ads will be as creative as this one, and more feature-focused.

SOURCE: ShareAT&T

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Nokia Lumia 900 and Nicki Minaj rock Time Square

April 8, 2012 at 09:43 GMT | By

Nicki Minaj and the juggernaut Nokia Lumia 900 took over Time Square a couple of nights ago. Minaj performed a medley of her hits before handing over to DJ Doorly to debut Nokia Lumia 900 Live remix: Nicki Minaj Starships feat. DJ Doorly and inviting the fans to feature in the exclusive music video.

Before leaving the stage, Minaj made a brief speech thanking 'her fans', before giving us with a 'heart in mouth' moment when she appeared to take a while to remember the product she was there to endorse. It might help to read the big banners in front you next time Nicki!

I'll be honest, I'm impartial to the pop artist with the mega-inflated behind but you cannot argue with the fact that she is a mega superstar that's current and relevant. You can be sure that the video will be viewed by a lot of people who have no knowledge of Windows Phone. In addition, considering how her mega-hit 'superbass' has had a quarter of a billion views on YouTube, the remix video is guaranteed millions of views, which will be a 'free' advert for the Lumia 900. What do you guys think?

SOURCES: YouTube & Nokia

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Nokia Lumia 710 owners being offered free Xpress-on covers

April 8, 2012 at 00:02 GMT | By

In the midst of the Nokia Lumia 900 media storm and launch, little brother 710 appears to have been lost and forgotten. Nokia are trying to put that right buy showing existing and future Lumia 710 owner some love. Nokia is bringing back the free Xpress-on color cover for customers who purchased a Lumia 710. The Xpress-on cover comes in white, yellow, fuscia and cyan, and can be installed and removed easily. If you have a Lumia 710, you'll need your original sales receipt, UPC number and barcode panel from the retail packaging, as well as your device's IMEI number.

If you are organised enough to have kept all that, then hit the Acbpromotions.com website to find out more.

SOURCE: Acbpromotions.com VIA: WPCentral

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Smoked by Windows Phone challenge extended again

April 7, 2012 at 23:14 GMT | By

Seems like the Smoked By Windows Phone campaign just will not go away. One would have thought after the Sahas Katta kerfuffle Microsoft would have been keen to see the back of it.

Until the 12th of April, Microsoft will now be giving non-Windows Phone owners a chance to win a $1,000 Microsoft Store gift card. Should they not win, they still stand a chance to be one of 250 lucky people to receive a gift card worth $25.

I guess it's not like winning the $1000 Hunger Games-branded laptop, but still, a $1000 gift card is not to be laughed at. Hey, you can spend it on the laptop is you wish! Maybe it's time to lay this one to bed Microsoft...

SOURCE: Microsoft Store

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Official Hotels.com app now in Marketplace

April 7, 2012 at 22:27 GMT | By

Hotels.com just released their official app for Windows Phone. The Hotels.com app provides an interactive hotel booking experience using Windows Phone's great features. Additionally, all bookings made on the Hotels.com app (at eligible hotels) will count towards your WelcomeRewards account, which can be viewed via the app.

Introducing "Tonight's Local Deals", an exclusive new feature which provides special daily deals, only available to Hotels.com mobile users.
• Find and securely book 140,000+ hotels throughout 200 countries.
• Access more than 20,000 last minute deals.
• Search for hotels close to where you are as well as searching using an interactive map.
• Sort and filter using the Hotels.com powerful search tools.

Hotels.com app Anywhere, Everywhere makes your hotel booking friendly and easy.
• Access your past, current and future reservations, even when offline.
• View your hotel's location with just one touch.
• Sign in once then there is no need to re enter your email and password. No Hotels.com account? No problem, you can create one within app or book as a guest user.
• Click to call a dedicated team of hotel experts.
• Available in more than 34 languages in more than 70 countries.

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Nokia launches smartphonebetatest.com with smartphonebetatest adverts

April 7, 2012 at 13:26 GMT | By

Nokia's smartphonebetatest.com website has gone live, with the recent smartphonebetatest adverts included in the website. For the benefit of those that have been residing under a rock of late, the smartphonebetatest ads take shots at other smartphones platforms, suggesting that users have been beta-testers for Apple and Google over the last five years. One useful thing on the website is the map that shows you where your closest AT&T locations are so that you can get rid of your beta phone and buy the Nokia Lumia 900.

The smartphonebetatest ads are indeed amusing but one wonders if this is a dangerous strategy to suggest that mature platforms like iOS and Android are still in beta. This campaign may turn out to be a success after all but I fear that it may end up flat on it's face like the 'Smoked By Windows Phone' campaign.

SOURCE: Nokia VIA: WMPoweruser

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HTC Titan 2 Unboxing [video]

April 7, 2012 at 12:03 GMT | By

Here is one of them 'exciting' unboxing videos. He at WPSF, we have grown weary of these and sometimes do not see the need in them. Only this time Technobuffalo are giving us a run-down of how the Titan II differs from the original Titan. Have a look, it might be worth your 5 minutes.

SOURCE: Technobuffalo

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Is this the Windows Phone 41MP PureView?

April 6, 2012 at 14:08 GMT | By

Androsym have posted "leaked slides" showing a supposed Windows Phone device from Nokia with the mesmerising 41mp PureView technology. The device specifications shown on one on the slides are as follows:

Specifications
• 4.3? Curved Glass touchscreen with HD display
• 41mp sensor, Carl Zeiss lens and PureView imaging technology
• 1080p full HD video recording and Rich Recording Technology
• Dual Core processor with Adreno 320 GPU
• Windows Phone Operating System

Is it real, is it fake? The truth is that there are valid arguments either way. This interesting choice of colours and design may suggest that this is indeed a device from Nokia. Not to mention that most of the leaked Nokia device renders in the past have turned out to hold some substance. Unfortunately thats as far as it goes when arguing for.

On the flip-side, the home button shows a redesigned Windows Phone logo which appears to be a white version of the Windows 8 logo. I very much doubt Microsoft would just recycle the Windows 8 logo and paste on Windows Phone. Another issue is how the spec sheet list a 4.3" screen yet the device appears to be small and narrow. Also, the positioning of the Xenox flash is highly questionable. Basically, there are range of questionable things about the render.

Yes the device looks cool and interesting, but once the novelty wears off, one would be left holding one hell of an ugly phone. These are only my opinions, what do you guys think?

SOURCE: Androsym VIA: MyNokiaBlog

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HTC Titan 2 Review [CNET]

April 6, 2012 at 10:16 GMT | By

CNet have reviewed the soon to be arriving HTC Titan 2, giving the device a generous 7.7 out of 10. It's fair to say that the Titan 2 has been marginalised while the Nokia Lumia 900 has been grabbing all the headlines. As much as we like the Lumia 900, the Taitan 2 offers a excellent alterative for people that wwant a larger screen or just dont fancy the Lumia 900 for one reason or the other. Here is a summary of the review:

The good:
With an arrestingly large 4.7-inch screen, 4G LTE, satisfying performance, and the highest-resolution camera ever on a smartphone, the HTC Titan II raises the bar for Windows Phone devices.

The bad:
While an ultrasharp shooter sounds great, we're not sure about paying an extra $100 for the privilege. The phone's massive size could be an issue for smaller hands and the display wasn't as sharp as we'd like.

The bottom line: The HTC Titan II pushes the limit of just how big and capable a Windows smartphone can be. If it weren't for the lower-priced Nokia Lumia 900, the Titan II would be the greatest Windows Phone 7 handset to walk the earth.Under most other circumstances, the $199.99 HTC Titan II would be a strong challenger to even robust Android machines. Its 16-megapixel camera certainly sets it apart from the field of typical smartphones with standard 8MP sensors, on paper at least. These aren't ordinary times, however, especially with Nokia making an overtly aggressive, and some say last-ditch, WP7 push. And at just $99, the Nokia Lumia 900 has a more attractive screen, similar performance, fast LTE 4G, the same Windows UI, and a pretty good camera. What's more, it looks a heck of a lot more interesting.

Read the full review here

SOURCE: CNET VIA: WMPoweruser

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Fox News Tech Expert delivers glowing on-air review of Nokia Lumia 900

April 6, 2012 at 08:17 GMT | By

Tech Lab: The Ultimate Phone? : MyFoxBOSTON.com

Now here is a collectors item! What we have here is a tech expert that seems to know what they are talking about when talking about Windows Phone. Even more surprising (pleasantly that is), is how Boston Globe's Hiawatha Bray is not stuck on Android or the iPhone. As a matter of fact, it's quite refreshing.

Bray is full of praise for Microsoft's mobile operating system, going as far a saying it's outstanding and wonders why it's not catching on. He says the device is wonderful, solid, gorgeous and well costrusted. Bray also shows an understanding of how Windows Phone has features baked into the OS, thus eliminating the need to launch apps when carrying out certain task such as taking a picture and posting it to Facebook.

Bray even has time to smoke the presenter (yes, the one who called it a Lumina!) who is using an iPhone to take a picture and post it to Facebook. Let this serve a lesson to all those so called technology expects (Molly Wood and James Kendrick do you hear me?) who use Windows Phone for a minute and then think they can deliver a verdict that will be taken seriously.

SOURCE: Foxboston.com VIA: WMPoweruser

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Nokia Lumia 900 vs Samsung Galaxy Nexus [video]

April 5, 2012 at 22:25 GMT | By

Pocket Now's Adam Lein has done a concise and balance comparison of the Nokia Lumia 900 against the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The Lumia 900 comes up trumps in most of the task that Adam puts both devices through, despite the Galaxy Nexus supposed superior hardware and features.

It takes the Galaxy Nexus a full 15 seconds more to power fully load in the booting task
. For me, this clearly proves what a polished and well optimized operating system Windows Phone is over Google's Android. It's kind of sad that Adam misses that point out.

In the screen comparison, the 720 HD super amoled display on the Nexus shines through and put our Lumia 900's 480x800 WVGA screen to shame. But, that is as good as it gets for the Nexus as the Lumia outshines the Nexus in the browser, HTML5, games launch, camera, build quality and battery life comparisons.

Have a look and let us know what you think.

SOURCE: Pocket Now

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Qantas app for Windows Phone now in Marketplace

April 5, 2012 at 21:14 GMT | By

Qantas, an Australian airline has released a new Windows Phone app onto the Marketplace. The app uses live tiles to alert users when it's time to leave for the airport, along with their check-in, boarding and departure times.

Users are also able to store boarding passes for domestic flights within the app, making it easier to remember everything in the rush to pack. The comes with a live tile is very similar to the British Airways one, which was released at the end of May last year.

The Qantas app is currently only available in Australia

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Is this the Nokia Windows Phone 8 'Super-phone'?

April 5, 2012 at 19:28 GMT | By

A PhoneArena tipster sent them a poster template that they claim to be an internal Nokia template. There's Windows Phone 8 branding together with a phone rendered in three colours. The pictured phones bear an uncanny resemblance to a Nokia Windows Phone render that was leaked back in August last year and Nokia's newly granted design-patent. Of course there are a few questionable things about this poster, namely the poor poster design quality, the font and the lack of a Windows Phone 8 logo redesign.

However, NokiaPort.de recently noticed that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had granted a design patent filed by Nokia Corporation on March 13, 2012 (D655,698). Check out the design below:

There are few consistencies between the leaked render, the design-patent and the images in the supposed poster. The positions of the metal strip of Back, Start and Search buttons on the front, the location of the camera at back, as well as the hardware buttons on the side on the render match exactly the ones on the design patent. Also, all three images seem to suggest that the device will have an extended chin (Jay Leno).

It appears as though Nokia a readying a device with this sort of design and are making sure their design is protected. What do you guys thinks? Do you like the design?

SOURCES: Phone Arena Liveside

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Windows Phone Marketplace hits 80,000 apps

April 5, 2012 at 17:11 GMT | By

AAWP are reporting that more than 80,000 apps have now been published in the Windows Phone Marketplace. New content is currently being added at the rate of 340 apps per day. Of these, 29,135 were added in the first quarter of 2012 and 10,228 were added in the last month. These apps come from 20,327 different publishers.

As of April 1st:
• 82,234 apps
• 20,327 publishers (developers)
• Proportion of quality apps (rated five or more times) stable at 8%

Read more

SOURCE: AAWP

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Latest Xbox LIVE Title: Civilization Revolution

April 5, 2012 at 12:46 GMT | By

Build. Discover. Conquer. Rule the World! Civilization Revolution is an award-winning title with "just one more turn" put into the palms of your hands. Lead your civilization from the dawn of man to the modern age and beyond. Go head to head with history's greatest leaders as you wage war, conduct diplomacy, discover new technologies, inspire your nation and build the most powerful empire the world has ever known.

You can choose from 16 Civilizations (including America, Spain, China, Japan and Germany) to lead one of four different victory conditions: Technology, Domination, Economic or Cultural. Engage in strategic combat across a randomly generated map for many hours of replayability or use the Scenario Creator to create your own challenge. With multiple difficulty levels, an integrated tutorial and friendly advisors to help newcomers and seasoned Civ veterans alike this is a game for anyone.

Civilization Revolution is available for $2.99 with free trial.

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Marketplace Deal of the Week: MiniSquadron

April 5, 2012 at 12:03 GMT | By

MiniSquadron is a frantic shooter involving lots of little planes all vying for supremacy of the skies! Perform loop-the-loops, Immelmann turns and other daring feats of aeronautical acrobatics with a super fluid control system. Experience the joy of freedom in the air!

• 9 levels of aeronautical mayhem
• Over 60 unique flying machines to discover
• Oodles of enemies and weapons
• Achievements, leaderboards and a giant squid
• Hours and hours of fantastic flying fun

MiniSquadron is available for $1.99 for a limited time.

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Could this LG Windows Phone be destined for Sprint?

April 3, 2012 at 12:51 GMT | By

Given how the juggernaut Nokia Lumia 900 has ingested all headlines recently, one would have thought there was no room left for other Windows Phone OEMs. WPCentral have unearthed an image of an LG Windows Phone rumoured to be the LS831 which appeared on WP Bench and we first caught wind of the device being at the FCC back in October 2011

FCC documentation on the LG LS831 indicated that the LG LS831 supports CDMA in the EMSR 800MHz band which happens to be used by Sprint. It also supports the 1900MHz CDMA band.

It is always exciting to see new images of rumoured devices but in all honesty, this LG Windows Phone with meagre 5 mega-pixel shooter does not delight me. One can not help but feel that it will not be long until we see some OEMs exit the Windows Phone platform.

What do you guys think?

SOURCE: WPCentral

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Exclusive: Nokia Lumia 900 dropping on May 21st in UK

April 2, 2012 at 18:52 GMT | By

Pardon the excitement over here, but considering that this is our first real exclusive, we are sure you can excuse us. With all the news about the AT&T Lumia 900, the Rogers release and the recent reports of pre-order availability of the European HSDPA version, we decided to do a little digging of our own.

For all those outside America that have been wondering when the international version of the Lumia 900 will be available, well, wonder no more. We have been tipped by what will turn out to be a very reliable industry source from Phones4U UK that the Lumia 900 will be available in-store on the 21th of May.

We already know that the Lumia 900 will definitely be coming to the UK in May (see above picture) as confirmed by Carphone Warehouse. We also know that AT&T have a 45 day exclusive on the Lumia 900 and guess what... the 21st of May falls round about that time scale.

The countdown begins in earnest!

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International Nokia Lumia 900 now available for pre-order

April 2, 2012 at 17:09 GMT | By

The wait for the gorgeous international version of the Nokia Lumia 900 may not be long after all. NStore.it is taking reservations for the Lumia 900, with prospective customers being asked to pay a deposit of €99, the balance of €500 payable once the device reaches the retailer's warehouse, ready for shipping.

All in all, the unlocked Dual channel HSDPA Lumia 900 will set you back a cool €599, which seems a fair price to pay for an unlocked high-end smartphone. Exact dates of availability remain sketchy but the end of May would be a good bet.

The Lumia 900 bears a 4.3-inch ClearBlack display, 1.4GHz single-core CPU, a non-removable 1,830mAh battery, 512MB of RAM and an 8-megapixel rear-facing cam with an f/2.2 Carl Zeiss lens and LED flash

SOURCE: NStore.it VIA: Plaffo

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Nokia rolls out "Where's My Phone Update" for Lumia devices

April 2, 2012 at 10:31 GMT | By

Remember 'Where's my Windows Phone update?' Seems like Nokia thought it was a brilliant idea enough that they have unveiled a new web tool that allows Lumia owners to see when a new update will be available for them to download.

The move follows Microsoft's closure of its 'Where's my Windows Phone update?' webpage which the Microsoft retired claiming it had become to complicated. We always felt that it was a brilliant idea but maybe Microsoft grew tired of micro-managing uncooperative carriers like AT&T, forcing them to ditch the idea.

Nokia's equivalent shows each Nokia Windows Phone device and a run-down of all networks in all countries with the update status for each. Its much more precise and more detailed than the it's predecessor.

You select your region and country and are then given a list with update availability for each carrier. You can even go into individual upgrades for a detailed explanation of what changes they make and what bugs are fixed.

SOURCE: Nokia.com VIA: Nokia Innovation

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Smoked by Windows Phone challenge extended to April 5th

April 1, 2012 at 11:45 GMT | By

One would have thought with the recent controversy surrounding the Smoked By Windows Phone Challenge, Microsoft would have been keen to end it as soon as possible, but it turns out that the challenge is being extended to the 5th of April.

The contest was set to end on March 29th, but Microsoft is extending it until April 5th, with a few tweaks to the prizes. For each remaining day of the contest, only the first 100 people to lose the challenge at each Microsoft Store will be eligible for a free phone. The next 500 will be offered a $25 gift card if they lose, but will not be required to recycle their "smoked" handset to get the card. If anyone can manage to pull out a victory over Windows Phone, there is still that $1000 Hunger Games-branded laptop to be won.

So, what are you waiting for? Spread the gospel to all your friends and relatives who have the misfortune of owning an iPhone or Android phone!

SOURCE: Microsoft Store VIA: The Verge

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Nokia Lumia 610C and 710C pricing for China revealed

April 1, 2012 at 09:42 GMT | By

Chinese Windows Phone site WPDang has revealed pricing information for the Nokia Lumia 610C and 710C in China before both devices go on sale in the coming few weeks.

According to WPDang, the Nokia Lumia 710C will sell for 2,499 yuan (300 EUR) while the Lumia 610C will sell for 1,499 yuan (180 EUR). The Nokia Lumia 710C will be bundled together with an external battery pack, too.

SOURCE: WPDang VIA: e's Phoneblog

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