Nokia Maps for Windows Phone 8 has been updated to version 3.1.1. The new version has an improved traffic layer, showing more congestion information, in a clearer manner. In addition the app's public transport routing functionality now offers deeper integration with the Nokia Transport app, allowing easy access to richer public transport information.
Nokia's Cinemagraph camera lens app has been updated to version 2.5. The new version adds the ability to share captured cinemagraphs (animated GIFs) via messaging, email and social networks. Previously, cinemagraphs could only be saved to SkyDrive.
WP7.nl and a number of other sources are reporting that the Windows Phone 7.8 software update has started rolling out for the Nokia Lumia 800. The Dutch Windows Phone site says that the four part updates takes the device's software to version 7.10.8858.136. Windows Phone 7.8 provides a number of updates including a new start screen experience (variable sized Live Tiles), a doubling in number of the accent colours, and the option to use the Bing picture of the day in the lockscreen.
Google has announced the end of life for Google Sync, which was designed to give access to Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts via Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync protocol. Starting from January 30th 2013, consumers will no longer be able to set up new devices using Google Sync, although existing connections will continue to function. The news will, potentially, effect those setting up a new sync connection to their Google Calendar and Contacts from a Windows Phone device after the specified date.
WPCentral, ZDNet and a number of sources are reporting that some international variants of the HTC 8X are receiving an over the air (OTA) update. The update, which takes around 20 minutes to complete, fixes a rebooting issue that was impacting a limited number of devices, adds support for WiFi connections to be "kept alive" while under the lock screen, adds a reject by text option, enables support for drafts in the Messaging app, and adds a 'select all' option in the Messaging app menu.
In a post on the Windows Phone blog Terry Myerson, Microsoft Corporate Vice President for Windows Phone, offers an update on the availability of, and features in, Windows Phone 7.8. For existing devices the update will arrive in early 2013, pending approval by Microsoft's hardware partners and operators.
In response to user demand, Microsoft has released a preview version of Skype for Windows Phone 8. Compared to the Windows Phone 7.5 version, the app is more deeply integrated in to the phone, with hooks into the People hub, notification system, lock screen, and calling experience. Most importantly, it is now "always on" allowing Skype messages and calls to be received, even if the app is not running in the foreground.
Microsoft today, at an event in San Francisco, announced the formal launch of Windows Phone 8. Detailing a slew of new and updated software and service features, complemented by a strong line-up of hardware from Nokia, HTC, and Samsung, described, by Steve Ballmer, as "killer hardware".
Key features include closer integration with desktop Windows (services, cloud storage, common core), updated People hub (rooms), added parental controls (Kid's Corner), live lock screen with customisable notifications and automatic background images, additional voice command support (dictation in select apps, supported in third party apps) and deep VoIP integration (including Skype).
All About Windows Phone is pleased to announce a new channel through which we can deliver the Windows Phone news you need to know. You may recall that we released an official Windows Phone application earlier this year (plus two subsequent updates). To accompany this, we can now officially unveil our Windows 8 and Windows RT application. It is already available in the Windows Store, and is free of charge – just like out Windows Phone app. Furthermore, this application has been written by the same developer who created our Windows Phone application, Geoff Webber-Cross.
More than 125,000 apps have now been published in the Windows Phone Marketplace and new content is currently being added at the rate of 215 apps per day. At the time of writing, 126,530 apps have been published, of which 113,170 are available for download (live). Of these, 15,822 were added in the last three months and 5,673 were added in the last month. These apps come from just over 30,000 different publishers.
