Ewan Spence
Ewan has been working in the smartphone market long before they were even called smartphones. Covering the early Psion, Palm and Windows Pocket PC machines first in Technical Support, then as a developer and publisher, and finally as a reporter he has been one of the more outspoken and long serving members of the All About family. When not working on the All About sites, Ewan produces a variety of entertainment-based podcasts and writes in his personal blog.
You can contact him at ewanspence@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at the admirably short @ewan or on Google+.
Recent Content by Ewan
24 Hours With The Lumia 830
Following on from last week's immediate look at the Lumia 735 and subsequent review, it's the turn of Microsoft's Lumia 830 to get double-header treatment from the All About Windows Phone team. The main review will follow next week.
24 Hours With The Lumia 735
The Microsoft Lumia 735 is the new mid-range Windows Phone handset for the festive period. Arriving in stores this weekend in the UK, this is our first look at the handset that Redmond hopes will make its Christmas - the Lumia 735 certainly has the potential to deliver. The hardware is mature, Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim meets the major bit of consumer expectations, and there is a clear marketing message behind the handset - this is the 'Selfie' smartphone.
Review: Star Wars Commander
Build up your own base, be recruited by the Empire or fight for the Rebellion, create a stronghold and an unstoppable army, Star Wars Commander promises all of that - strictly speaking it delivers. It's just that the pace is glacial, the game is boring, and the ideas are unoriginal. This title relies far too much on the franchise rather than solid gameplay.
Lessons learned from going off the Digital Grid
So it's been a while since I've been around these parts. While the digital walkabout might not be over, I have found a spot with some Wi-Fi, and I wanted to let you know what it's been like going 'off the grid' with Windows Phone.
Review: Hypernaut
Hypernaut is a fast-paced arcade game the has no strategy, no tactical planing, no depth, and no hidden secrets. All you have to do is go as far as you can, as fast as you can, and not crash into anything. Put aside your critical faculties, and get ready for a blast of action!
Review: Kobo Books
Joining the existing eBook services on Windows Phone is Kobo, the Canadian based digital publisher. Much like Amazon, Kobo has an online store for eBooks, magazines, and newspapers, has built a mix of eInk readers and Android powered tablets, and has coded clients for the major mobile operating systems. I'm taking a closer look at their WP client to see if Kobo has nailed the eBook experience on Microsoft's mobile OS.
Is it a bad idea for Windows Phone to trade its DNA for mass market acceptance?
In a world full of iOS devices and an avalanche of Android products (including Microsoft's Nokia X2 Android handset), it's important to remember the vital role that alternative operating systems offer. That includes BlackBerry's BB10, Jolla's Sailfish OS, Mozilla's Firefox OS, and of course Windows Phone. Which is why it is such a shame that Windows Phone is becoming more like the alternatives with every release.
Review: Angry Birds Epic
It's time to take to the field of battle with your feathered Finnish friends. Angry Birds Epic is here and you will manage a (small) army of birds as they take on the egg-stealing pigs. You can decide strategy and special powers to use during combat, and work on better potions and healing when you are outside of battle. Slickly put together, has Rovio found another title to challenge the spare time of an entire globe? No, but this tactical combat is fun!
Review: Maleficent Free Fall
Following on from what can presumably be regarded as a successful release of Frozen Free Fall (reviewed here on AAWP), Disney's mobile games department has released the game of the film with 'Maleficent Free Fall'. The film itself is a live-action reworking of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of the protagonist. As for the game... well, when two-thirds of your title match, is it any surprise that this is the same game?
Does the Surface Pro 3 point to a new marketing message for Windows Phone?
Last week's reveal of the Surface Pro 3 by Microsoft continued the evolution of Redmond under CEO Satya Nadella towards a company with a focus on a cloud-powered mobile computing platform. It also surrendered the consumer tablet space to iOS and Android as the Surface was subtly pitched towards the Enterprise market. Is this a sign of Windows Phone's future strategy?