HTC 8X to reportedly gain access to Windows 10 Preview

Pretty much all of the WP8 Lumia smartphones are compatible with the Preview version of the upcoming Windows 10 OS. Many people have tried the test builds and helped shape the final version of Windows 10, which should kick off later this year.

There are lots of Windows Phone devices outside the Lumia lineup, but until today just one got the Windows 10 Preview treatment - the HTC One M8 for Windows. Today's rumor suggests another phone will be added to the list.

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Testing Windows 10 on Surface 3: Perfect combo or buggy embuggerance?

Microsoft's new Surface 3 tablet should be the perfect hardware for Windows 10, set to be released on 29 July. We put it to the test.

Microsoft's Surface experiment is significant on several levels. When the initial Surface device (running Windows on ARM, also known as Windows RT) was released in October 2012, it was the first time the company competed directly with its hardware partners.

Perhaps this was because it did not trust them to create tablets that worked well with Windows 8 and its curious hybrid personality, part touch-friendly and part wedded to keyboard and mouse. Surface was also an attempt to counter Apple's success with the iPad: tablets with long battery life, low maintenance, easy app deployment, and high resistance to malware.

Surface was also Microsoft's opportunity to show that a device running Windows could match the Mac's out-of-box-experience, where one company controls both hardware and software, and there is no pollution from adware or mis-conceived vendor enhancements.

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Led by the Lumia 535, Windows Phone sales surge ahead of iOS in Pakistan

While Windows Phone sales are growing steadily in major markets such as India and the EU, another country where this is also happening is Pakistan. Patrick Mercanton, head of marketing for Near-East, North Africa, Levant and Emerging Asia for Microsoft Mobile Devices, in an interview to The News has highlighted this drastic growth and stated that "Windows Phone is now officially the second smartphone ecosystem by volumes sales".

Mercanton claimed that the change of branding from "Nokia" to "Microsoft" hadn't faced a negative reaction from the Pakistani audience at all, and the people there have taken to the new branding just like they did with the former. Moreover, the actively growing amount of Nokia-made feature phones used in the country also had a positive impact, as people using these phones were more likely to use a Windows Phone made by Nokia/Microsoft as their next device.

The executive also said that people who already used the Windows desktop OS would be more likely to jump ship to the phone OS once Windows 10 officially launches in the country, with people being enticed by the "seamless experience across screens." Coupled with the competitive pricing of Microsoft Lumia smartphones- such as the Lumia 535 which costs roughly PKR 14000 (~$140) in the country, Windows Phone share is likely to increase over the next few months.

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Microsoft Lumia 940XL leaks - is this the new flagship Windows Phone?

It's been almost a year since the last flagship Windows smartphone - the Nokia Lumia 930 - was launched, so the platform is certainly due a new addition. Say hello to the Microsoft Lumia 940XL.

There have been a few rumours flying around about this handset, but we've now had the most comprehensive spec leak to date thanks to NokiaPowerUser.

While the site notes it's unsure whether the 940 XL name will stick for launch, it seems a little more confident with the specs it has.

The Lumia 940 XL is said to pack a 5.7-inch QHD display, octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 20MP rear camera, 5MP front snapper, microSD slot and a slim, metallic unibody design.

That would see it comfortably compete with the Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC One M9, LG G4 and Sony Xperia Z3+.

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WhatsApp calling is finally en route to Windows Phone

The beta version of instant-messaging service WhatsApp has just added the in-app calling feature that was recently brought to the corresponding apps for iOS and Android.

Microsoft has remained dedicated in its efforts to push Windows Phone into contention with iOS and Android in the mobile space, but one ever-present stumbling block for the company has been the general lack of developer enthusiasm for its platform. Social media apps, in particular, have struggled to make the jump from the Big Two. The Windows Phone Store does not yet have a Snapchat app, for example, and it took an unholy amount of time for Instagram -- still in beta, by the way -- to finally reach the tiled interface.

Those rocking a Windows Phone device seeking WhatsApp's calling service shouldn't be left sitting on their hands for much longer, though, given that the feature has just rolled out to beta testers. Presumably, those trialling the beta will ensure that any lingering bugs are duly ironed out, and the full-on, not-in-beta WhatsApp for Windows Phone will subsequently reap the benefits.

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Microsoft Updates OneDrive on Windows Phone and Android

Not a lot of meat here, but Microsoft has announced updates to the OneDrive app on Windows Phone and Android. And each adds exactly one interesting new feature. On Windows Phone, that’s Cortana integration.

Windows Phone. The Windows Phone version of OneDrive now integrates with Cortana, the personal digital assistant. This means you can start a Cortana search (by saying “Hey, Cortana,” if you enabled that, or by manually starting Cortana by tapping the hardware Search button) of OneDrive by saying “OneDrive search for … “. So you can say something like “OneDrive search for Puerto Rico photos” and it will search your OneDrive storage for results that match. Microsoft says it also works with a specific word or phrase that is in an Office document or PDF.

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Windows Phone Market Share Will Surpass Android And iOS: Analysis

A recent market analysis conducted by International Data Corp. (IDC) predicts that the market share of the Windows Phone operating system (OS) is likely to surpass that of Apple's iOS and Google's Android by 2019. It reveals that in the coming four years, the market share of Windows Phone -- which is expected to be 3.2 percent in 2015 -- is expected to rise to 5.4 percent in 2019. Shipments are expected to grow twofold, from 46.8 million in 2015 to 103.5 million units in 2019.

According to IDC, at the end of this year, Android will record a market share of 79.4 percent. This year, 1.15 billion Android units are predicted to be shipped and the IDC analysis forecasts that there will be 8.5 percent growth in shipment of Android devices this year.

With 237 million iPhones expected to ship in 2015, the global market share of iOS will reach 16.4 percent. IDC claims that year-over-year growth of iOS will be 23 percent. The report predicts that there will be exponential growth of 34.1 percent for Windows Phone. The Windows Phone OS will be shipped in 46.8 million units this year. This will help Microsoft’s OS to gain a market share of 3.2 percent.

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App makers cool to Microsoft overtures

Bill Rigby

Microsoft's plan to make its new version of Windows a mobile hit by letting it accept tweaked Apple and Android apps has met an obstacle: some of the software developers the company needs to woo just aren't interested.

Windows phones accounted for just 3 percent of global smartphone sales last year, compared with about 81 percent for devices with Google's Android system and 15 percent for Apple and its iOS system, according to research firm IDC. One reason is that Windows doesn't run as many or as attractive apps as its rivals.

To boost sales of its phones and new operating system, Microsoft said last month that it would provide tools to software developers to make it easier to design apps for Windows based on apps that run on Android or Apple. But because so few people use a Windows phone, most developers remain focused on the more popular systems and don't see a need to develop apps for Windows. They also said they doubt how easy the new tools will be to use.

"Windows phone will have to gain a significant share of the market before this becomes something that saves us time and/or money," said Sean Orelli, a director at app development firm Fuzz Productions in New York, which makes apps related to Citibank, the New York Post, and Conde Nast, among others.

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Dropbox for Windows Gets Faster Downloads; Now a Universal App

Dropbox has updated its app for Windows 8.1and Windows Phone 8.1, adding some important features in the process. The big news is that the Dropbox Windows app is now universal, which in this case means that you can download the same app on all Windows devices. Improved download speeds, support for multiple concurrent uploads, and better support for keyboard shortcuts are some of the other improvements in the latest update.

Dropbox for Windows 8.1 users can now create and manage shared folders within the app. The app also has added support for common keyboard shortcuts ctrl+A (select all) and ctrl+F (search). Desktop users of Dropbox should be able to download files faster, as that's another feature added in the latest update.

In comparison, Dropbox for Windows Phone 8.1 has received several more features with the latest update, bringing it closer to the Android and iOS apps. The most important feature is the ability to upload all kinds of files, not just photos. An extension of that feature is the ability to directly download files to your device or its microSD card. You can now select multiple files and upload them concurrently, which is great for those who rely on Dropbox.

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Windows Phone Devs claim Google is trying to strangle platform by cutting advertising

Is Google Inc., trying to strangle the viability of developers creating apps for Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Phone by cutting back their ad returns?

That what at least some Windows Phone developers believe with reports over the weekend that ads returns from Google’s AdMob mobile advertising service plummeted off a cliff following the announcement at Microsoft’s Build 2015 conference that the Redmond, Washington, based tech giant was going to make it easier to port Android apps to Windows Phone.

Complaints first appeared on a Google Groups support forum May 8 from developers claiming to be seeing massive drops in ad serve rates, and, as a result, huge reductions in the amount of money they were earning.

“The fill rate now is kissing the floor… 99% to 7% in one day” one user wrote, with another claiming “now the AdMob is a waste of time and money. No reply from support, really bad ads/fill rate/rpm…AdMob is only profitable on Android, as iAds is profitable on iOS and pubCenter on WP. Or AdMob is dying (I think no) or trying to kill us.”

The complaints continued, with “One week, no response from AdMob support, the fill rate is 8%,” with another adding “Revenue decreased by 80%. Why this has happened?”

After others contributed, the conspiracy theories arched up, with one writing “Sure, the [sic] google is trying to kill the WP platform (and this huge drop was after the Build 2015, coincidence?), that’s obvious.”

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Microsoft Lumia 940 & Lumia 940 XL Windows 10 phones UK release date, price and specification rumours: When are the Lumia 940 & Lumia 940 coming out?

No longer just a desktop OS, Windows 10 will also run on phones and tablets - and the Microsoft Lumia 940 (codenamed Talkman) and 940 XL (codenamed Cityman) will be among the first Windows Phones to run Windows 10. Here we round up the Microsoft Lumia 940 & 940 XL UK release date, price and specs rumours. When are the Lumia 940 & 940 XL coming out? Also see: Best Windows Phones 2015 and Best smartphones 2015.

Microsoft Lumia 940 & 940 XL UK release date: When are the Lumia 940 & 940 XL coming out?

The fact that the Microsoft Lumia 940 and 940 XL run Windows 10 means we'll be waiting a little while yet for them to arrive. The Lumia 930 went on sale in the UK on 17 July 2014, so it'll be later this summer before the 940 and 940 XL make an appearance.

It's probable that the Lumia 940 and 940 XL will arrive with Windows 10. On 21 January Microsoft held a Windows 10 event, during which it unveiled a Consumer Preview of the OS. Read more about the Windows 10 UK release date, price and new features here.

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LG Lancet With Verizon Branding Spotted; Full Specs Of Windows Phone Device Revealed

Since 2011, South Korean tech company LG has not launched a smartphone running Microsoft's Windows Phone OS as it has been concentrating on rolling out devices for Google's Android. Then LG said last year that it would go back to Windows Phone platform, but even after the announcement it did not reveal any Windows Phone handset.

However, in the last month, LG released an image showing a new Windows Phone with Verizon branding. Windows Central has received an official e-brochure of the LG Lancet. The images show the handset with the Verizon logo. The model number of the device is VW820. Going by the specs of the device, it can be understood that the LG Lancet is not a high-end flagship device but a midrange device with modest specs.

LG Lancet Specifications

The LG Lancet comes with a 4.5-inch display that supports FWVGA resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. The device will be powered by the Snapdragon 410 chipset that features a quad-core processor that clocks at 1.2 GHz. The e-brochure does not contain any details on the amount of RAM for the device. However, Windows Central is of the view that it will come with 1 GB of RAM.

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Windows 10 release date for desktop and laptops coming first, followed by smartphones and tablets

Microsoft is gearing up to release its 'unified interface' Windows 10 platform during the month of May, but according to Joe Belfiore, Windows phones and tablets will not be receiving the update in that particular month. According to The Verge, the executive states:

"Our phone builds have not been as far along as our PC builds. We're adapting the phone experiences later than we're adding the PC experiences. There are devices and features that will come not on launch date, but following it. From the device view, our main focus is to kick off the Windows 10 launch wave with a great launch on the PC. You should expect that the other devices — phone, HoloLens, Xbox, Surface Hub — will be staggered, probably not on the same date as the PC."

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Microsoft launches Office 2016 consumer preview, pushing universal apps to Windows phones 'soon'

The next generation of Office is coming, and you can see it now: Microsoft opened up Office 2016, to public preview on Monday morning. The company also said that its current generation of Office universal apps will go live on Windows phones soon.

Microsoft is still on track to ship the new version of Office 2016 by this fall, company executives said at its Ignite conference in Chicago, as they try to convince an audience of IT professionals to adopt the Microsoft vision.

The Office 2016 preview track will be much like the Windows 10 Insider program. Users can download the new Office 2016 software and will receive new preview updates as Microsoft rolls them out. Microsoft previously launched a developer preview of Office 2016 for IT departments, but this is a more full-featured release. You don't need an existing Office 365 subscription or have Office already installed on your PC, either.

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15 Lumia 930 & Windows Phone 8.1 Tips

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.1 operating system didn’t exactly help smartphones made by other companies topple Apple’s iPhone dynasty. That being said, phones running the operating system are finally competitive with the iPhone in terms of features and extras – something that wasn’t easily said about it before the Windows Phone 8.1 update.

Windows Phone 8.1 added Cortana, the personal assistant that’s now on its way to notebooks, desktops, tablets and 2-in-1s with the upcoming Windows 10 update. Microsoft also added a File Explorer and common sense syncing that makes owning a Windows Phone instead of an iPhone a must for any Windows user.

Here are 15 tips for Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows phones of every cost and color, including the Nokia Lumia 930.

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The Best iPhone Alternatives Running Windows Phone – April

Windows Phone, the software that Microsoft users to power its own iPhone alternatives and the iPhone alternatives of others, is in the middle of a transition. At some point later this year Microsoft has plans to finally reveal a new flagship that many hope will give high-end Android phones and the iPhone 6 the competition they need. Until then, Windows Phones hardware makers are playing it low-key, releasing low cost iPhone alternatives where it makes sense and leaving the rest of their mobile ecosystem in stasis.

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Microsoft releases Windows 10 for phones preview build 10052 with major fixes

Microsoft has released a new build 10052 of Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones.

The latest build is a more minor update than build 10051, which was made available just a few days ago, and includes major fixes for the issues affecting Windows Insiders. There are no new features, but with the fixes added in, it is expected to make the build smoother.

Fixes in build 100052

Flight mode can now be enabled.
Users can now disable data connections.
The bug that caused phone's MMS settings to be lost after upgrading from build 9941.
The issue in which users couldn't download keyboards for additional languages.
The issue where the viewfinder in the camera app composed incorrectly on devices including the Lumia 1020.

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Microsoft issues new bug-fix-focused Windows 10 Mobile test build

Microsoft has rolled out yet another new test build of its Windows 10 Mobile release -- one that is focused almost entirely on quashing bugs.

The new Windows 10 Mobile build, 10052, is a follow-up to the last Windows 10 Mobile release (build 10051) which Microsoft made available on April 10.
The build released today, April 21, to Windows Insiders works only on select Lumia Windows Phone devices, as has been the case with the previous two builds.

The April 21 build does work on Lumia 520 devices. Microsoft temporarily had pulled build availability of the Windows 10 Mobile preview for Lumia 520, 525 and 526 devices following user reports of problems, including, in some cases, bricked phones, when attempting to roll back to Windows Phone 8.1 using the Windows Phone Recovery Tool.

The April 21 build seemingly still does not work on flagship Lumia Icon (929) or Lumia 930 devices, due to screen size/scaling issues. It also still doesn't yet support Windows Phones from any of Microsoft's phone OEMs.

Today's build includes fixes to a number of Windows 10 Mobile issues, including various data connection, MMS settings, and Camera Viewfinder issues.

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​Microsoft issues fix for Lumia phones bricked by Windows 10 Fast lane

Microsoft has released a possible fix for low-end Lumia smartphones that have been bricked after installing an early Windows 10 preview build.

It seems a shortage of memory in the Lumia 520 and Lumia 525 is behind the bricking of some of the units, after owners installed a Windows 10 Technical preview build, named 10051, released through Microsoft's tester Fast lane.

In an update on its Windows Insider Program site on Friday, Microsoft said only a "small portion" of Lumia 520 and 521 devices were affected.

Microsoft last week pulled down the test build for the Lumia 520, 525, and 526, following reports that some of the handsets were becoming unusable, typically after using Microsoft's Windows Phone Recovery Tool (WPRT) to roll back to Windows Phone 8.1. Affected devices were left with "no direct way for an end-user to check their device", Microsoft said.

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Microsoft Windows 10 Technical Preview update withheld: Users report bricking while downgrading to Windows Phone 8.1

The much anticipated Windows 10 Technical Preview software update is now rolling out across the globe.

However, things do not seem to be rosy for a section of users, as their devices got bricked after they tried to down grade to Windows Phone 8.1 from 10, using the Windows Phone Recovery tool.

According to a GSMArena report, and a posting on the official Microsoft Community blog, users of Lumia 520, Lumia 525 and Lumia 526 have reported problems. The phone is bricked while downgrading to the older Windows Phone 8.1 post installation of the latest Windows 10 for Phones Preview that is available via the Windows Insider Application.

These users have reported that their handsets were bricked while they rolled-back to Windows Phone 8.1 (after installing Windows 10 Preview) via the Windows Phone Recovery tool.

This has led to Microsoft temporarily stalling the roll-out of Windows 10 Technical Preview to Lumia 520, Lumia 525 and Lumia 526 users.

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Windows Phone 10 latest: Less stuff that does more - plus IE-killer Project Spartan

Hands On Last week Microsoft released Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones, build 10051, as part of its Windows Insider preview series.

This is by no means a stable build, especially on a low-end phone like our Lumia 635. The built-in apps crash from time to time and sometimes the entire OS freezes. Another common problem is chopped-off text.

That said, it does provide a look at Microsoft’s progress in implementing universal apps, which run both on desktop Windows 10 and on phones and tablets, as well as an update on how Windows 10 for phones is coming together.

There is plenty new in this release. It now runs on most Lumia 8.1 devices, as opposed to the short list previously supported, and includes Project Spartan, Microsoft’s new web browser. Other new apps include Phone, Messaging, People, Maps, Mail and Calendar.

One thing you will not find is the Office hub, which provided viewing and editing for Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. This is because a more capable universal version of these apps is on the way. A preview of Universal Office is already available for Windows 10 on PCs, but Microsoft has more work to do in scaling it for the phone.

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The best-selling Windows Phone ever has Windows 10 preview pulled

Microsoft has been forced to temporarily cancel the Windows 10 preview for the world's most-popular Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 520. It follows reports from many users that their devices were bricked when trying to return to Windows Phone 8.1.

It isn't just the Lumia 520 that is affected. All of the phones in the 52x range including the 520, 525 and 526 are no longer eligible for downloading the recent Windows 10 preview release, build 10051.
This early build was only released last week after much anticipation. Many users have been waiting eagerly to run Windows 10 on their Lumia as the original build from a couple of months ago only supported a handful of devices.

The 520 is one such Lumia. Although one of the cheapest devices ever to launch in the Windows Phone world, this affordability has proven to be its greatest trait. It has attracted buyers young and old, including first-time smartphone owners, and brought in new people to the platform.
Popular in Asia and often owned by people "as a spare," Microsoft owes a lot to the 520 for actually selling in large numbers unlike its much costlier flagship devices such as the Lumia 930 or 1520.

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Why Microsoft fans should buy an iPhone over Android (and over Windows Phone)

Microsoft is still playing catch-up with its mobile business, being a distant third to Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems. That means many people choose an Android handset or an iPhone even though their desktop operating system of choice might be Windows.

While Microsoft is currently building a brand new version of Windows that should offer an even more cohesive experience on phones and desktops, Windows fans who don’t want to purchase Lumia or other Windows Phone devices would be better off buying an iPhone than an Android device.

In fact, in certain cases they might be better off buying iPhone instead of a Windows Phone model.


The main reason for choosing Apple’s top smartphone if a Windows Phone purchase is out of the question is app quality, Paul Thurrott argues. Microsoft’s “mobile first, cloud first” strategy is definitely one to watch, as Microsoft seems to have figured out how to better fight Apple and Google even without enjoying a massive market share increase with its smartphone business.

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Windows 10-ready Blu Win HD LTE now available from Microsoft

If you're in search of a new Windows Phone handset that features LTE connectivity and doesn't cost too much, you may want to check out the Blu Win HD LTE, which, starting today, is available to buy in the US via Microsoft Store.

The Win HD LTE is the upgraded successor to last year's Blu Win HD. The main differences between the two handsets are that the new one comes with LTE (obviously), and is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, instead of the Snapdragon 200 that's found inside the original model. Other than that, the Win HD LTE offers a 5-inch display with 720 x 1280 pixels, a 2 MP front-facing camera, 8 MP rear camera, dual SIM capabilities, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of expandable internal memory. The smartphone measures 145 x 72 x 8.2 mm, includes a 2500 mAh battery, and kind of looks like it's been designed by HTC.

Currently running Windows Phone 8.1, the Blu Win HD LTE will be updated to Windows 10 once this is ready for an official roll out.

The grey and yellow versions of the Blu Win HD LTE can be bought right away, unlocked, for $199.99, while the white and orange variants are coming soon. If you don't need LTE, the original Blu Win HD is still available from Microsoft, costing $179.99.

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This fake Microsoft Surface phone is the flagship smartphone we want

Microsoft’s Lumia phones are the iMacs of smartphones: cheery, colorful slabs of plastic with the slightly manic perkiness of a preschool teacher. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if Microsoft offered something a bit more subdued for the mobile professional—something like... a Surface phone?

If you shouted “YES!” you’re not alone. Some Windows Phone users have clamored for the steely professionalism of the Surface lineup to make its way into the Windows phone lineup for years, and now graphic designer Nadir Aslam has provided a helping hand. Just check out these renders he’s dropped into a cleverly written faux marketing deck:

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Mobile game developer Kabam breaks pledge to Windows Phone and leaves the platform

As news of yet another developer parting ways with the Windows Phone platform, it might be time to put away the threats, pitchforks and torches and start asking some questions. Freemium game developer and interactive entertainment company Kabam is reported to have pulled out Windows Phone development stating in an email to Windows Central that “Kabam is now concentrating development on AAA quality games for Apple and Android mobile devices and has decided not pursue development for Windows Phones. Kabam is concentrating its resources on the biggest market opportunity, which is Apple and Android devices worldwide.”

While some Windows Phone users gut reaction to the news may be to curse or bad mouth Kabam, others are growing apathetic to the announcement. Games and apps come and frequently go  on the Windows Phone platform, but for some reason users are witnessing an increased amount leave in the last few weeks

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WhatsApp Voice Calling feature officially confirmed for Windows Phone users, rollout imminent

The much expected voice calling feature on WhatsApp is now active for Android smartphone users. This functionality is also expected to reach users of Apple's iOS within the next couple of weeks.

Now, in a new development, there is confirmation that the Voice Calling feature will be rolled out to Windows Phone users as well.

According to a WMPowerUser report, that quotes an official email sent out by folks at WhatsApp's customer support team, the Voice Calling feature will officially be released to Windows Phone users just like their Android counterparts. However, there is no indication of a timeline for the rollout.

The email from WhatsApp's support team (apparently sent out to a Windows Phone user) also mentions that the highly anticipated feature is currently being fine-tuned and customised by engineers at WhatsApp for Windows Phones.

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WhatsApp Free Download 2.11.688 Latest APK For Windows Phone

Mark Zuckerberg did a good thing by buying WhatsApp in February 2014, when he spent 19 billion to purchase this application. In only one year, the value of WhatsApp increased to 23 billion and with each new day, new people join WhatsApp to chat with their friends located in different parts of the world. There are over 700 million active users, but the higher percent is represented by the Android and iOS users, then the Windows Phone users come on the third position. Recently, WhatsApp released a new version for the latter category.

Good news for the Windows Phone users who can download the latest WhatsApp version, 2.11.688, which was published in the Windows Phone Store on April 1. The file, which has a size of 17MB, is compatible with Windows Phone 8.1, Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.5 OS, came with bug fixes, some minor improvements and the possibility to switch from your smartphone to your computer, using the web version, which was introduced at first for Android. To make this feature work, you need to open your computer’s browser and go to web.whatsapp.com, where you’ll see a QR code. Now, open your WhatsApp and go to its Menu, select WhatsApp Web and use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code. After the code is read and recognized, you will log into your account and your computer will sync with your smartphone, so you’ll see all your contacts and messages on your PC. When you receive a new message, it will be displayed on both devices, but the advantage of using the web version is that you can log off whenever you want, and continue chatting from your smartphone.

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WhatsApp To Introduce Voice Calling Feature On Windows Phone Soon

A few days ago, WhatsApp introduced the all new voice call feature in its app specifically for Android users. The feature is close to move on to the iOS platform where it deems to cater a larger audience. If Windows Phone users feel left out then we have the perfect news to lighten up your day. WhatsApp has pledged to introduce its infamous voice call feature to the Windows Phone family. Now Windows Phone users can experience call features on their favorite instant messaging application.

The reason WhatsApp emerged as a leader in its category is its ability to deny ads on the applications or remains adamant to. This grossed a huge number of users to make way to this application and enjoy a clutter free experience to chat.

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Microsoft brings Office Lens to Android and iPhone -- no longer Windows Phone exclusive

Windows Phone is Microsoft's mobile offering to the world, and some people love it. Unfortunately, the operating system's market share is extremely low, meaning many of the cool features and exclusives do not receive wide exposure. Slowly but surely, benefits that Windows Phone users pointed to as exclusives to the OS are being brought to competing platforms.

Today, Microsoft brings another Windows Phone exclusive to Android and iPhone -- Office Lens. Yes, the super-cool scanning feature is finally available to the large majority of mobile devices. Will you try it?

"Office Lens is a handy capture app that turns your smartphone into a pocket scanner and it works with OneNote so you'll never lose a thing. Use it to take pictures of receipts, business cards, menus, whiteboards or sticky notes -- then let Office Lens crop, enhance and save to OneNote. Just like that -- all the scanned images you capture from Office Lens are accessible on all your devices", says the OneNote Team.

The team further explains, "bringing Office Lens to iPhone and Android is a significant step for extending OneNote capture capabilities to more devices and endpoints. Get it for your iPhone, Android phone or Windows Phone today -- start scanning documents and whiteboards from the convenience of your phone".

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An iPhone user's (surprisingly positive) experience with Windows Phone

Just over a year ago, I experimented with an Android phone. I’d been curious about Android, and felt the best way to appreciate what it offers—and compare it to iOS—was to try it out in a real-world situation.

This past Christmas, a visitor proudly showed my his Windows phone, and I was intrigued. After getting a good tour of the Windows Phone OS, I decided to buy a cheap, unlocked phone and try it for myself. I’ve been using it off and on for the past two months. While I wouldn’t switch from my iPhone, I’m quite impressed by what Microsoft has done.

Getting the hardware
As with Android, there are lots of Windows phones to choose from. It’s not just a question of silver, space gray or gold; it’s a full line of phones at a wide range of prices, from multiple manufacturers. The phone I had seen at Christmas was the Lumia 930, Microsoft’s “flagship” phone, which is a well-built, attractive phone, but still about half the price of an iPhone. I didn’t want to spend that much money, so I opted for the £90 Lumia 535 (current price is the US, about $130–150). When I purchased it in January, the Microsoft-built Lumia 535 was the cheapest phone that shipped with Windows 8.1 Denim, the latest version of the Windows Phone OS.

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Here is another unannounced Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 feature

Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 will never get to most Windows Phones, but it certainly has a number of features which I wish was supported on my handset.

In the above picture we see another unannounced feature, demonstrated on the Lumia 640, which allows users to suspend their device by double tapping on the navigation bar.

This feature is particularly useful for those who want to preserve the buttons of their device for later resale, allowing users to both switch on and off their device without using any buttons at all.

See it demonstrated in Windows Phone Lover’s video below at the 3:30 mark.

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Apple Inc. Now Accepting Android, Windows Phone Trade-Ins Towards iPhone

If you’re on the fence about ditching your Android device for an iPhone, Apple has one more incentive to sway your decision. On Monday, the company expanded its trade-in program to now take competitors’ phones in exchange for credit toward a new iPhone.

Select Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry smartphones will be accepted by Apple stores for credit toward the purchase of an iPhone 5C, 5S, 6 or 6 Plus, according to 9to5Mac. It echoes an Apple program launched in 2013 aimed at getting users to upgrade to the latest iPhone. Apple also uses its recycling and trade-in program to accept iPads, Macs and, more recently, PCs.

The new trade-in program will be available both online and in-store and accepts devices from Samsung, HTC, LG, Microsoft’s Nokia and BlackBerry.

The move is one of many that Apple has taken in recent months to boost sales while making it easier for users of other devices to switch sides. Last year, Apple also released a thorough guide to move data from Android devices to the iPhone to help the transition of users new to the company’s smartphones.

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Windows 10 Mobile on track for most Lumia phones

Microsoft's Operating Systems Group team has added code to the next test build of Windows 10 Mobile that will allow that release to work on the majority of Windows Phones.

When Microsoft released the first test build of Windows 10 Mobile in February, it was built to run only on a handful of Lumia devices, specifically the Lumia 630, 635, 636, 638, 730 and 830 phones. Microsoft execs attributed the small number of initially supported devices to the "very tight OS partitions" that left insufficient room for the installation process to update the OS in place.

But the second test build, which may not be available until the first week of April or so, will support the majority of existing Windows Phones. Microsoft officials went public with the list of Windows Phones that will likely be able to run the next test build in a March 27 blog post.

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Microsoft Vastly Expands Windows 10 Technical Preview To Dozens Of Smartphones

If there’s one mantra that Microsoft MSFT -0.58% seems to be chanting with the next release of Windows, it’s that the company wants feedback from its customer base on how to make it better, which is the primary goal behind its Windows Insider program. Never before have Windows customers been treated to the frequency of updates for beta releases, like Microsoft has been rolling out for Windows 10. The other mission statement with this Windows release is that the company is unifying the OS to work as one, across all platforms, from desktops and notebooks, to tablets, smartphones and even Xbox consoles. However, thus far, as my esteemed colleague pointed out, Microsoft’s Windows 10 Technical Preview roll-out for smartphones has been significantly more limited than desktop releases. It was surprising actually, because without question, Microsoft has historically kept tight reins on Windows Phone devices from a hardware platform standpoint, so much so that they decided to acquire Nokia's mobile division in an effort to drive the Lumia brand directly. With all of the hardware platforms out there for Windows Phone devices being so similar, it should make the migration to their next OS that much easier.

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Microsoft posts a list of Windows Phones getting the next Windows 10 Mobile Technical Preview–Lumia 930 not included

Microsoft’s Gabe Aul has posted an update regarding the status of the Windows 10 Mobile Technical Preview program.

The good news is that “partition stitching” is working well, meaning they will soon be able to proceed with the next wave of Windows 10 Mobile Technical Preview updates.

This has allowed Microsoft to vastly increase the number of supported handsets.

The very bad news (for me at least) is that amongst the many, many handsets supported, the Lumia 930, the current Windows Phone flagship, is not included, even while the Lumia Icon is.

Since I own and use a Lumia 930 as my daily driver I’m not too happy, but why not peruse the list below and see if you struck it lucky or not.

The list of handsets likely included in the next TP include.

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You may soon be able to use Android apps on your Windows Phone

Nearly five years following its debut, the beleaguered Windows Phone still suffers from a lack of apps. Recent, high-profile additions like WatchESPN have mitigated things, but the truth remains that the offerings on the Android and iOS app stores positively dwarf Microsoft’s own. The App Store and Play Store respectively boast an app catalog north of 1 million, while the Windows Phone Store just last November reached 187,000. Microsoft is acutely aware of this fact, and in response is reportedly experimenting with Android app emulation within the upcoming Windows Phone 10.

According to Neowin, the scope of the emulation is quite wide. As the software currently stands, most Android apps are compatible, and some builds even sport a working Google Play Store client. Of course, questions about the legality of the emulation’s implementation and its potential effects on native Windows Phone development have kept the project from being green-lit thus far.


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Windows Phone users to get WhatsApp calling feature soon

WhatsApp calling, the voice-over-data feature, was rolled out after a major testing by the developers, and the feature is now available to Android users. All you need is an updated version of WhatsApp and someone who has the calling feature on his phone to simply give you a call to enable your app. However, the feature is still under major test for various reasons.

Last week iPhone users have also been spotted using the calling feature, which means that the developers have started testing WhatsApp on the iOS platform too. And now, Windows Phone users can also rejoice as the voice-over-data feature will soon be available for them.

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Next Windows 10 beta should open up support for dozens of Lumia phones

The first Windows 10 preview build for phones was released over a month ago, but it disappointed some enthusiasts because it was only compatible with a few recent midrange Lumia phones. Owners of the Lumia 630, 635, 636, 638, 730, or 830 could install the update, but older hardware and flagships were excluded. The good news is that the next update will greatly expand the list of supported devices—according to a blog post from late yesterday, the vast majority of past and present Lumia phones should be able to install the new preview build when it lands.

The first preview build for phones didn't install on most of these Lumias because of the way their internal storage was partitioned. Newer phones had large enough partitions to install the update, but older phones apparently didn't. A "partition stitching" tool that can resize partitions without destroying the data on them was recently finalized, and it will let users of these phones install the update without completely wiping their phones.

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Opera Mini beta for Windows Phone gets a makeover in the form of an updated UI

For those looking for another browser to use on their Windows Phone handset, Opera Mini has been a choice since last September when a beta version of the app was made available. Websites go through Opera's servers first with Opera Mini, where they are compressed before being sent to your phone. This way, you are using less data when browsing, saving the sweet stuff for other things. According to Opera, the compression means that websites are sent to you at just 10% of their normal size. Looking at it another way, viewing a website on Opera Mini instead of most other mobile browsers will save you 90% of the data that you would have normally burned through to see a particular site.

More than 250 million people use Opera Mini and the app now supports a wide variety of platforms including Android, BlackBerry, Bada, iOS, Windows Phone and more. The Windows Phone version of Opera Mini is still in beta, but has received an update to version 8.0.0.6730. While there is no changelist, the update offers users a whole new UI that gives the browser a modern look. The updated UI also helps Opera Mini for Windows Phone run smoother than before. If you want to check out the new look, merely click on the slideshow below to view some screenshots.

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Windows Phone performance as of March 2015, budget-friendly devices continue to dominate

The folks at AdDuplex have released their latest figures for the month of March regarding the performance of Windows Phone platform as a whole, along with how well it's performing is different markets. There are no surprises in this months report, but it seems low-end devices continue to lead the charts worldwide.

Starting with the performance of Windows Phone devices globally, Lumia 520 continues to be the most popular Windows Phone handset with a 24.5 percent market share - a slight increase when compared to the February report when it had a 23.20 percent share. Furthermore, Lumia 630 continues to rise not just globally, but also in several markets. Other contenders in the top ten are mostly the entry-level devices such as the Lumia 625, Lumia 530, Lumia 635, Lumia 535 and a few more. As for the US, Lumia 635 saw an increase in its share from 17.2 percent to 23.4 percent. Lumia 635 is a very capable device, offering LTE connectivity at an extremely affordable price.

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How To Use Your Windows Phone With A Mac

Here's a few handy tips on getting your Apple MacBook or iMac to play nice with your Windows Phone handset

A friend of mine recently bought his first Mac after being a Windows user for his entire life. And while switching from PC to Mac can present some of its own unique challenges, the thing my friend really had trouble getting his head around was using his existing Windows Phone with his new Mac.

Put curtly: Apple wants you to use an iPhone if you use a Mac, or, at the very least, an iPad. But in reality this is not the case, as a lot of people quite like Macs but out-right despise iPhones and iOS in general. For these types of users (and there is a fair few of them out there), OS X can often feel a little unfriendly towards non-iOS-powered mobile devices. Can you get OS X and non-Apple mobile devices to play nice?

Sort of. But you do not get the level of features as iPhone and iPad users; that’s just the way Apple likes to do things, for better or worse. There are methods of getting stuff to link, however, so in this little feature we’re going to take a look at how you can sync your Windows Phone with your Mac and what you can and can’t do with the various data and services on each.

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Here are five moves Microsoft must make to resuscitate Windows phones

At one time, people considered Microsoft a true contender in the mobile space. Just four years ago, some analysts predicted that Windows Phone would leapfrog BlackBerry and iOS to claim the number two spot behind Android. Some researchers expected Microsoft’s market share to hit 20 percent, while others even predicted the company would edge past Android.

But we all know how that turned out.

Now, the company must execute a comeback. Microsoft has reinvigorated interest in Windows with the upcoming Windows 10, and revealed innovative surprises like HoloLens, a nod to its vision of the future. By many accounts, today’s Microsoft feels fresher and newer than the Microsoft of old.

But Microsoft’s mobile business languishes and still lacks any hint of a wow-factor that consumers and enterprise users have grown to expect from mobile leaders. Windows Phone owns but a sliver of the mobile OS market and Microsoft’s app ecosystem fails to woo developers and users.

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Don't bank on Windows Phone: Chase Bank app no longer works, either

So much for "until further notice".  This weekend, after announcing back in January that the end was near for Windows Phone users of Chase Bank's mobile app, the company did indeed pull the plug, and users are no longer able to use the app.  There's some question as to whether using mobile banking at m.chase.com works, although we were able to successfully log in here.

This hasn't been a good time for mobile banking for Windows Phone users.  Earlier this month, after Chase announced that it wouldn't continue supporting Windows Phone, Bank of America pulled the plug on their Windows Phone app.  There doesn't appear to be any specific technical reason why these banks would pull their apps, and it appears to be highly coincidental that both banks chose to pull support for the platform almost at the same time

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Lumia 430 May be the Most Budget Friendly Windows Phone Ever

Since entering the smartphone market, Microsoft has not missed the opportunity to cater to the budget-minded customer.

There have been affordable Windows Phone options available since the first but Microsoft is lowering the bar even more now.

The company is now introducing the Lumia 430 Dual Sim smartphone.

The device is unprecedented on several fronts. First of all, it retails for just $70. That makes it the most affordable Windows Phone available to date.

Secondly, this is the first Microsoft mobile device preloaded with Windows 8.1 that can be freely upgraded to Windows 10 when it’s released later this year, Mirosoft’s Lumia Conversations blog reports.

Small businesses that haven’t yet gone mobile or are looking for more affordable mobile options certainly may want to consider this entry-level Microsoft device.

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Lumia 830 helps business executive and tech blogger organize work and play

Microsoft has never prided itself on being the lusted after company of tech. Perhaps at one point in time, the company had far-off aspirations of being so, but the unfortunate reality is that there are far better-suited companies for that now. What Microsoft does offer the new technological frontier is the same thing they’ve been offering all along -- real world functionality. With more recent campaigns, it seems hopeful that Microsoft is beginning to realize that their best asset in competition is their unsung users.

Meet business exec, tech blogger, and family man Eric Chan. Eric, the executive of the a research and development arm of a major automotive company, believe it or not, uses Microsoft products to ‘Do more’. Eric uses Outlook email, Sharepoint, Office, and Lync to keep in contact with his research team and he does it all from a Lumia 830.

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Microsoft Targets Emerging Markets With Its Affordable Lumia 430 Windows Phone

Microsoft is giving Android one more reason to look behind its shoulder as it targets the emerging markets with its affordable Lumia 430 Windows phone priced at just $70.

The phone was unveiled on Thursday by Microsoft, and is seen as a part of the company’s plan to capture first-time smartphone buyers, according to Venturebeat. Countries and regions being targeted by Microsoft to benefit from the affordable Lumia 430 include; India, Asia-Pacific countries, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus. The phone, which Microsoft described as the “most affordable Lumia to-date,” is expected to hit those places next month.

“With a price tag of 70 USD*, the Lumia 430 Dual SIM becomes the most affordable Lumia to-date, bringing smartphone experiences, the latest apps and signature Microsoft services to many more people, sometimes for the very first time,” the company said on Thursday while announcing the availability of its new Lumia 430.

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Windows 10 Technical Preview Review

A lot of big, positive changes were made between Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8. Even more positive changes were made between Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1. Still, despite all of the positive changes made to the platform, Windows Phone still lags quite a bit behind the likes of Android and iOS in terms of popularity and adoption.

Fortunately that doesn’t mean Microsoft has to give up. Instead, Microsoft will revamp Windows Phone once again, this time in a unified fashion with the rest of its software to form Windows 10, which will allegedly launch this summer in 190 countries.

We’re not totally left in the dark when it comes to what Windows 10 will be like. Microsoft recently released Windows 10 Technical Preview for certain Windows Phone devices, one of which I just recently purchased for myself. One of the first things I did was log in to the Windows Insider app and install Windows 10 Technical Preview on my device.

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Aeries for Windows Phone updated with new image viewer, performance improvements and more

There's no shortage of Twitter clients in the Windows Phone Store with every client offering its own set of features. Aeries is an excellent Twitter client which offers a right mix of features and simplified design to help power users get the most out of the social network.

 Aeries for Windows Phone picked up an update lately, introducing a number of new features and bug fixes to boost the user experience. It's good to see the developer is pushing out regular updates for the app on Windows Phone, and irons out bug fixes as well as introduces new features.

 The latest update brings support for Portuguese languages as well as improved timeline search, performances fixes, a new image viewer, and lots more.

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Lenovo to launch its first Windows phone this summer

Lenovo will finally launch its first lineup of Windows phones, slated for China around midyear.

 That tidbit was squeezed into the announcement made on Tuesday by Microsoft that Windows 10 itself would debut in 190 countries sometime this summer. In its blog post, Microsoft said Lenovo had announced a commitment to build Windows phones, which will be available in the middle of 2015 via Chinese carrier China Mobile.

 Microsoft's mobile OS has been mired in third place in the global smartphone arena, stuck far behind Google's Android and Apple's iOS. Windows Phone's share of the market dipped to 2.7 percent last year from 3.3 percent in 2013, according to research firm IDC. As Microsoft prepares to roll out Windows 10 to all devices, from phones to tablets to PCs, the company needs to expand its presence on mobile devices, especially in China, which ranks as the largest smartphone market.

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