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All posts tagged "software"


Saturday, May 19, 2012

Positive Windows Phone News From China?

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 04:00 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/19/...phone-in-china/

"Going by Microsoft's Greater China COO Michel van der Bel, the launch of Windows Phone in China is off to an auspicious start -- enough to give Apple the shakes. He claims that devices like the Nokia Lumia 800c have helped Windows Phone reach seven percent of the Chinese market, or just enough to get past the six points of the iPhone."

The tricky part of this news item posted on Engadget, as they point out, is confirming the market share numbers. That being said, it has to be somewhat encouraging for the Microsoft team. Could 2012 turn out to be a stellar year for Windows Phone? Only time will tell.


Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Sign Of Improving Times For Windows Phone?

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 04:00 PM

http://www.bgr.com/2012/05/17/windo...re-2012-kantar/

"Microsoft's mobile platform has not been the blockbuster success the Redmond, Washington-based technology giant was hoping for thus far. Google's Android OS and Apple's iPhone are still dominating the smartphone space by a huge margin in the United States and abroad, while Microsoft's share of the global smartphone market has continued to decline. According to a new report from market research firm Kantar WorldPanel, however, Windows Phone is finally showing signs of life in several key markets."

While Android and/or iOS are continuing to gain market share as reported in most market share analyses we have been reading for the past year or so, we certainly haven't seen much progress from Windows Phone. Until now, it seems. The bottom line is that Kantar's research indicates that since Nokia's Lumia smartphone launches Windows Phone’s market share has doubled to 6% in Germany, and the platform’s share has increased in the U.S., U.K., France and Italy to between 3% and 4%. These numbers are unlikely to scare the market leaders, but they have to be encouraging for Microsoft and its partners as they battle to maintain and expand a market presence. The Read link has additional details.


Sunday, April 29, 2012

SnapCrowd Provides Effective Cloud Storage

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 05:00 PM

http://www.wp7connect.com/2012/04/1...ic-videos-docs/

"SnapCrowd is the most advanced DAM (Digital Asset Management) platform on the market and we plan to keep it that way. Whether we like it or not our lives are now digital in some way or another, so why not keep it simple and secure. At SnapCrowd a user can store photos, video, documents, audio and even contacts, all in their original form protected behind SSL / TLS and HTTPS protocol layers."

Cloud storage has hit mainstream, and in the past week or two you may have noticed a number of reviews of Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, Dropbox, and Apple iCloud. These services offer a number of unique and competitive features, and are worth checking into. I would definitely add SnapCrowd to your list though. It has a some compelling features and very competitive pricing, and may just facilitate your computing and mobile life in ways you might not expect.

The SnapCrowd developers state they allow larger file upload sizes than their competition, like 200 MB for photos, 4 GB for video, audio and documents, and allow RAW files from all the major camera manufactures. Their proprietary user interface allows all user functions even while uploading files. What's more, if for any reason your file gets interrupted in the upload process, you can just log back into your account and queue the file back up and it will continue where it left off.

The SnapCrowd WP7 app looks well designed and is very functional (see the demo on the linked page). The user-interface directly guides you to manage specific file types (like documents, music, photos and video). Meta data about your files is clearly presented, and interactions seem very straight-forward. Hit the Read link for additional information and a demo of how the WP7 app works.


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Herocraft Yumsters

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "Windows Phone Software" @ 07:30 PM

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/a...c3-a0b4266feba0

Yumsters is a casual strategy game involving what I can best describe as guiding the diets of fruit-eating worms. The more they get to eat, the more points you score, and there's even a global leaderboard. Worth a look, especially at the decent price of $1.49.


Ars Technica: Challenges Getting Windows Phones Updated

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 07:30 AM

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...=1#comments-bar

"If these rumors are true, buying a Lumia 900-or any other Windows Phone handset-is a risky proposition. If you buy subsidized, on-contract handsets, you'll typically be eligible for a new subsidized upgrade every two years. A reasonable expectation, then, would be two years of software support in the form of bugfixes and updates. But if current handsets can't run Windows Phone 8, they'll essentially be cut off from future support in about six months. Developers might still target the older handsets to some extent, but many more will be targeting Windows Phone 8's extended capabilities and richer APIs."

If you are contemplating buying a Windows Phone it will be of interest to you to understand the update strategy from both Microsoft and the carriers proving the phones. As is outlined in this article, it is clearly an uneven playing field and playing strategy from the participants. Ars Technica goes so far as to warn you that buying a Windows Phone like the Nokia Lumia 900 could lead you down a path where you cannot get your phone software updated, depending on which partners are involved. Note that the Android world also has some of these types of issues. It is an in-depth article, but well worth the read, and only takes one click to get there.


Saturday, April 7, 2012

Updated Version Of Windows Phone Connector For Mac Now Available

Posted by Richard Chao in "Windows Phone News" @ 09:13 AM

http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/...(pocketnow.com)

"For those of you who combine an Apple computer with a phone powered by Windows Phone, there's a new version of the Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac available to download from the Mac App Store."

An updated version of the Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac is now available in the Mac App Store. In addition to numerous bug fixes, the updated version brings support for 13 new languages and other additional features. If you are the owner of a Windows Phone 7 device and run it on a Mac, make sure to make a visit to the app store and download the update.


Monday, March 26, 2012

Foursquare Client "4th & Mayor" For WP7

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 09:00 AM

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/03/26/w...quare-checkins/

"In the case of 4th & Mayor, an app that ties into location service Foursquare, there is already a native app, but that hasn't stopped Jeff Wilcox from trying to improve upon it. A year after its release, 4th & Mayor is sitting at version 3.3, and the app has been run over eight million times in that period. There have been over 7.5 million Foursquare checkins using the app, too. Wilcox says that the app is by over 60,000 people every day, with 35k enabling push notifications on their Windows Phones."

If you are a fan of the Foursquare service, which helps you find new ways to explore your city by checking in to places that you enjoy, you will want to "check out" this client app for WP7. Developer Jeff Wilcox is also intending to develop this app for Windows 8 tablets down the road.


WeatherPro 2.0 For WP7

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "Windows Phone Software" @ 02:30 AM

http://www.weatherpro.eu/wp7/weatherpro.html

WeatherPro is an app from European based MeteoGroup, covering the weather for over 2 million locations worldwide. The app can be configured to show a live tile with the current weather and a two day forecast, while within the app itself you can access radar and satellite imagery, as well as view a 7-day forecast. WeatherPro is going for about ₤2.29 in the Windows Marketplace.


Sunday, March 25, 2012

Paradox Interactive Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim Released For WP7

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 01:30 PM

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/a...bb-c982e8c1f1a9

"HeroCraft are delighted to announce the launch of the mobile version of the popular PC strategy game from developers Paradox Interactive Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim on Windows Phone 7. Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim lets you dive into the world of a fairy tale kingdom and try the true king's reign for yourself!"

Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim lets you dive into the world of a fairy tale kingdom and try the true king's reign for yourself! All the responsibility for the land's prosperity rests on your royal shoulders; players will have to fight various monsters, explore new lands, and manage economic and scientific developments.

Majesty is the popular PC strategy game from developers Paradox Interactive that has been adapted to mobile devices and offered on Android, iOS, Bada, and Symbian platforms.

Not that you normally have a spare minute or two on your phone, but if you do, check this game out.


Sunday, March 18, 2012

Manage Your Picasa Library With Picaser

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "Windows Phone Software" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/a...0d-b306b98548b8

It's not the most original app name in the world, but you certainly can't miss the reference. Picaser is an app that allows you to view and manage your albums and photos on Google's Picasa, with multiple account support (including third party accounts) and the ability to upload directly from your phone. It isn't a free app, but it won't break the bank either at $0.99. Hit the link if you want to try it out.


Monday, February 27, 2012

Skype For Windows Phone Now Available In Beta Form

Posted by Richard Chao in "Windows Phone Software" @ 10:07 AM

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/446...-phone-pictures

"...Pocket-lint caught up with our pals from Skype who were keen to show off the brand spanking new Windows Phone 7 app for the VoIP platform."

Microsoft announced the availability of Skype Beta for Windows Phone at Mobile World Congress today. The beta can be downloaded directly from the Market Place and will run on the following handsets: Lumia 710, Lumia 800, HTC Titan, Htc Radar, Samsung Focus S and Samsung Focus Flash.

If you have one of these phones head to the Market Place on your phone and give it a try.


Friday, February 24, 2012

Quick Look At Tango

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 07:30 AM

http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/15/2...creenshots-leak

"Screenshots of an alleged Windows Phone "Tango" build leaked to the internet today and demonstrate a number of new features in Microsoft's next Windows Phone update. Russian site WP7forum says that Tango will include the ability to export contacts to SIM, manage domestic / international roaming, and handle multiple attachments in a single MMS message."

There's not too much to go by here, save for a few little snippets about what might potentially be included in Windows Phone Tango. We do expect, of course, to hear more about future Windows Phone details at the upcoming Mobile Word Congress.


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Task Arranger

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "Windows Phone Software" @ 05:00 PM

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/a...d2-c66147ef8728

One of the biggest omissions in Windows Phone 7 is the lack of a way to manage tasks, a consequence of the Microsoft's initial decision to focus on consumers rather than businesses. You can't even sync with Outlook tasks. Task Arranger won't solve that particular problem, but it will let you manage tasks on your WP7 device, through a rather pretty interface. The developers have a sense of humour too, if you watch the video. You can download a free trial to Task Arranger through the Windows Marketplace; it currently retails for $2.99.


Monday, February 20, 2012

proSearch: You're All-In-One Search Client

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "Windows Phone Software" @ 02:00 AM

http://bytenine.com/Home/tabid/55/E...dows-Phone.aspx

"All search-sites in one! Beautiful, superfast search app, with all the biggest sites, and many categories for each site. It's the fastest way to find what you are looking for."

Ever been frustrated by Bing? And don't have the patience to install and use all the different search clients? Well proSearch might just be what you've been looking for. proSearch aggregates in one app most of what people would normally use, including Bing, Google, and Yahoo as well as Facebook, eBay and Amazon. There's still some rough edges like no user settings or live tiles - strictly no frills - and it would be nice to be able to search multiple providers at once. If you're interested, the price is reasonable (free!) and you can have a look at the app on the Windows marketplace.


Sunday, February 19, 2012

SynoLoad and QGetMobile NAS Download Managers

Posted by Richard Chao in "Windows Phone Software" @ 09:00 PM

http://dev.patey.net/article_wp7.html

"If you have a NAS at home branded Synology or QNAP, you're lucky: an application able to manage downloads on your NAS from your Windows Phone 7 is now available!"

dev.patey.net has just released two applications designed to help you manage downloads for your NAS directly from your WP7 phone. SynoLoad and QGetMobile. SynoLoad connects to your Synology NAS and QGetMobile connects to your QNAP NAS.

If you see a file you want to download while browsing on your WP7 phone, open SynoLoad or QGetMobile to send a link to your NAS. The application will then send a command for your NAS to download the file.

Both applications are available in the Market Place and cost $2.99 each.


eBay Calculator

Posted by Richard Chao in "Windows Phone Software" @ 08:24 PM

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/a...4c-11258265b7a3

"eBay calculator is an application designed to calculate fees for eBay auctions and the PayPal payment system."

One of the frustrations about eBay and Paypal are the myriad of fees they take out of your transaction. If you are not familiar with eBay, it is surprising how much money is deducted when the sales and transfer on money is done.

The eBay calculator app by Maginsoft looks to make the process smoother by giving you an exact breakdown of what fees you will be paying so there will be no surprises.

eBay calculator is available in the Market Place for $1.49. There is also a free limited trial version if you simply want to try first.


Friday, February 10, 2012

ScanBizCards Offers Business Card Scanning Services For WP7

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 10:30 AM

http://scanbizcards.com

"ScanBizCards is an essential tool for any person who wishes to scan business cards with ease. Our features include scan in 21 languages, connect to Linkedin, add contacts to your People Hub and Websync cloud service. We released a paid version for 6.99 with a one year subscription of Websync FREE for WP7 users."

If you have lots of business cards this handy app for Windows Phone 7 may help you collect and organize them. The app is frequently updated on the iOS and Android platforms, and is a pretty mature product. This is a welcome addition to the Windows Phone platform. The Read link will take you to their website for additional details.


InstaCam: New Photo App For Windows Phone

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 07:30 AM

http://www.wpcentral.com/instacam-w...nstagram-client

"InstaCam is a Windows Phone Instagram client that just hit the Marketplace yesterday. It allows you to take pictures on your phone, add different effects, and then share them via Facebook, Twitter or email. You can log into your Instagram account to check "likes" and comments on your uploaded content. You can also view other people's photos and leave comments, or follow them if you're a fan of their work. The search function can find photos based on key words in pictures' tags. Not an Instagram user? No worries, you can still use InstaCam to browse content anonymously."

Instagram is a very popular iPhone app and service. While Instagram is not currently available for the WP7 platform, this new app enables Windows Phone users to get in on at least some of the fun. Hit the Read link for additional details, but be aware that with this version you cannot actually upload photos to the Instragram service.


Friday, February 3, 2012

Details Of Windows Phone 8 Apollo Revealed

Posted by Richard Chao in "Windows Phone Software" @ 12:14 AM

http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/...hone-8-detailed

"Microsoft has some major changes in store for Windows Phone 8, we've learned, which is the version of the platform currently being referred to by codename "Apollo" (the one scheduled for deployment after the upcoming Tango update)."

Details of Windows Phone 8 "Apollo" are now available thanks to a video meant for Nokia hosted by Joe Belfiore seen by pocketnow.com.

Looking at the features coming in Windows Phone 8 Apollo, this upgrade will definite put the OS in the running for top three mobile OSes. Here are just a few of the changes as cited by pocketnow.com.

- Multicore processor support

- Four new screen resolutions

- MicroSD card storage

- NFC wallet and tap sharing

- Windows 8 integration

- Data management

- And many more...

So, the question now is do you pick up the Lumia 900, wait for the 910 or hold out for Apollo and the phones that will inevitably follow?


Monday, January 30, 2012

30 to Launch Coming Soon

Posted by Adan Galvan in "Windows Phone News" @ 09:00 PM

http://www.30tolaunch.com/Home/Index

Starting tomorrow, Microsoft will begin the '30 to Launch' campaign to encourace developers to submit apps to the Windows Phone Marketplace. The schedule has not been revealed, but the rules state that each sumbitted app will mean entry into the contest. The 500 winners and the grand prize winner will be selected by a panel of judges and receive prizes such as a Lumia 800. Four grand prize winnders will win an entertainment package consisting of a Samsung 46" television, an Xbox 360, and more. Apps are required to utilize features such as push notifications, background agents, or music and video hub integration. Hit the link for more information and get coding to win!


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