"Mauritius Holidays" app for Windows Phone 8 released.

This is my fourth app that has been published to the Windows Phone Store today. Mauritius Holidays is a listing of officially approved of holidays for the Republic of Mauritius and its territories. Besides being useful for Mauritians, it can also be used for planning  vacation/business trip to Mauritius.

The app is designed to provide details about holidays by tapping on the holiday name. Tap the save icon to add the holiday to the calendar of your choice. Unfortunately, due to the platform restrictions, it is not possible to add the holidays to calendar with one tap. By default, the app sets your status to Out Of Office with a 15 minutes reminder.

Version 1.0 is available for download in the Store. Feel free to send your feedback and rate the app.

Checkout my other apps.

Evernote for Windows Phone 8 gets major update and performance improvement.

I don't remember the last time Evernote got an update, but today's update is a major one which brings the award-winning note-taking app to version 4.0 and support for the Windows Phone 8 platform. As the title of this post says, the updates makes loading and navigating the app much faster. Performance improvement are always welcome. But since this is a major update, the folks behind Evernote has more for us.

Note-taking is great to remember things, like ideas for example and it's also helpful to attach a picture to a note. There's nothing better than visuals to help us remember and Evernote, like any good note app, supports capturing those ideas with our devices' camera. This update improves this feature by adding the ability to take multiple snapshots without exiting the camera. Once the shots have been attached to a note, the built-in and newly added slideshow let users swipe through the images within the note.

So much for the camera improvement. The app also gets speech-to-text to transcribe words and save as audio to a note. Another fantastic way to record an idea in place of pictures.

Finally, Evernote is capable to automatically assign a title to a note based on the note content, calendar, events and location.

Feature pack Evernote is a free download in the Windows Phone Store.

Facebook Beta for Windows Phone gets inline tagging and more.

There are two versions of the Facebook app in the store: the official and the beta version. The latter version is meant for Facebook/Microsoft to test new features before releasing them to the official version. The good thing is that users are welcomed to test these features beforehand and send their feedback to the developers in the settings of the app. 

An update for Facebook Beta has been published to the store today that includes some nice features that will certainly make it to the official version quickly. The update include inline tagging, image attachments in messaging, multiple photo upload, save/share photos. Alongside the usual performance improvements, navigation has also been been improved.

Download: Facebook Beta

Everything you need to know about GDR2 update.

In a blog post on the Windows Phone blog, Micheal Stroh reports about what is in for us in GDR2 update that is currently being deployed world wide. I got the update on my HTC 8X a few weeks ago. The update does contain a fix for the "other" storage issue. Windows Phone OS will delete unnecessary files when space is low on the phone. There is more to write about, but since I'm running late, just click the link below to read the blog post. 

Source: Windows Phone blog

Nokia Video Upload app available to all Lumias, no GDR2 required.

Nokia Video Upload is an app developed by Nokia for its series of Lumia phones that lets users upload YouTube videos from their phones. If you do upload videos to YouTube, then you will surely welcome this app. 

Initially the app was part of the Amber update. But Nokia has decided to make accessible to every Lumia owners out there without GDR2 being a system requirement for the app to run. Better yet, Nokia Video Upload is optimized for devices with 512MB. Unfortunately, Nokia Video Upload remains a Lumia exclusive.

As usual this is an excellent initiative by Nokia. Nokia Video Upload can be downloaded in the Windows Phone Store. 

Android Mauritius app released.

As a fan of mobility, I also happen to own a Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.3. It's a secondary device that I use to keep tabs on what's going on in Google's world. Naturally, I had to share my experience to the world via my Android blog. 

Last week I released an app for this Windows Phone blog and you are probably using it now to read this post. If you happen to also follow my Android blog, I developed a similar app for my it that went through certification yesterday and is available in the Windows Phone Store.

Fresh Paint brightens 512MB Windows Phone devices.

If you happen to own a Windows Phone device sporting just 512MB of memory, you certainly must have felt the frustration of not being able to download and install a cool app from the Store because it was designed for premium devices. Fortunately we are seeing more and more apps being designed for both high-end and budget devices and it is within this logic that Microsoft is showing the way by releasing a compatible version of Fresh Paint for devices with 512MB memory so they can unleash their artistic creativity. 

Owners of devices like the HTC 8S and the Lumia 520 can download Fresh Paint from the Windows Phone Store for free. These users will be able  to turn their photos into beautiful art work to share with their friends.

Features of Fresh Paint:

- Realistic oil paint and brushes
- Transform photos into paintings with artistic camera lenses 
- Easy sharing with a tap, text message, email or SkyDrive
- Custom mix colors to create the perfect shades

HTC app for Windows Phone updated.

While the number of HTC exclusive apps for Windows Phone pales in comparison to what

Nokia has to offer, it is nevertheless a pleasure to see that the Taiwanese company still has the time to update what I call its flagship app for Windows Phone. The HTC app - that's it's name - is an all-in-one app that gives users access to financial, meteorological and political news. It's a very well designed app that also brings the HTC famous clock tile to the start screen. This is a an app that HTC fans placed prominently on their Windows Phones and that can be seen in every HTC marketing material. The update can be downloaded in the Windows Phone Store. Unfortunately, no change log accompanies the update. 

WhatsApp, Here Maps and Here Drive+ updated.

WhatsApp has published what I think is its fifth update this last month. Nothing to complain about here as the changes include improvements in the recently added Voice Messaging and miscellaneous bug fixes bringing the version number to 2.11.59.

Nokia also issued some updates for Here Maps and Here Drive+. Both apps got but bug fixes and stability improvements, better performance. Here Maps did get "better positioning".

Official YouTube app for Windows Phone finally released.

Knowing the rivalry between Microsoft and Google, the release of the official YouTube app was much anticipated one. The partnership of the two behemoth has yielded a nice YouTube client minus the features that Google complained about, notably the ability to download videos for offline viewing. On the other hand, the app now includes ads, Google ads of course as per YouTube terms of use. A nice addition is the ability to upload videos right from the phone. All in all, a well made app that is a showcase that the two rivals can work together if they're willing to. Not saying that the app is a masterpiece, just an indication that they could achieve great things together.

YouTube is of course free in the Windows Phone Store for both Windows Phone 7.x and Windows Phone 8.

Outlook.com thanks early adopters with gifts.

A year already since Outlook.com was launched as Microsoft moved away from the the good old Hotmail.com. The designed from scratch metro based online service boasts 400 million users since it went public last year. To celebrate its first year of existence, the Outlook.com team is offering gifts to its early adopters in the form of an additional 3GB SkyDrive storage for one year and one month of free video on Skype. The latter lets you get up to 10 people together on the same video call; a feature available to premium skype users.

Early adopters may have already got email with these offers and accompanying code. So make sure to check your inbox. For the others check, watch the thank you video from the Outlook.com team.

Happy birthday Outlook.com.

Windows Phone Mauritius RSS Reader app is now live in the WP Store.

Besides the VaT Calculator", the RSS Reader app for this blog has also been published to the Store today. in its current state, the app offers the articles in a simple format. Tap an article and you're taken to the mobile format of the article in Internet Explorer. The mobile format will help exert less pressure on your data package. Again, the app is pretty basic. But I'm working to add features such as toast notification. I welcome your feedback and ideas.

The Windows Phone RSS Reader is a free in the Store.

My "VaT Calculator" for Windows Phone 8 released.

Today, my VaT Calculator app was published to Windows Phone Store. I have been working on this project during the last month after I decided to learn coding using C#. I have only been through the first six chapters when I started developing the app. The table of contents indicates that the hardest stuff is to come. But that also means more advanced apps. Vat Calculator is free to download in the store. I, of course, welcome feedback and ideas. Your rating is also welcome as an encouragement to continue learning to improve my coding skills.

About VaT Calculator:

A simple VaT Calculator for easy, quick and one handed manipulation on the go. 
Easy: Simply enter the amount and press +Vat or -Vat to get the VAT amount and total.

Quick: The app has been designed with big buttons for fast typing.

One handed: Ease of use for both left and right-handed users.
 

On first use, enter the VAT rate on the Settings page. You do this once. At least, until the VAT rate in your country changes. 

Download: Windows Phone Store

6Sec updated with semantic zoom and new design.

6Sec, the popular and excellent Vine client for Windows Phone has been updated today. This full featured Vine client lets you create short, beautiful videos on your favorite phone. 6Sec is so good that it makes the official client on Android stinks. The update published to the store has two features:

- semantic zoom
- new design

6Sec offers to uploads for free. However, you'll need to make an in-app purchase to upload more. The fee is minimal and is needed by the developer to maintain an expensive server to encode videos to make them compatible with the Vine service. 

6Sec is available free in Windows Phone Store. 

HTC "Make More Space" app updated with notification when space is low.

HTC "Make More Space" is an HTC Windows Phone 8 exclusive device designed to help you manage storage on the HTC 8X and 8S. "Make More Space" simply displays the storage as utilized by your music, videos, pictures. Tap on any of them and you're taken to hub so you can manage your storage by deleting unnecessary files. 

HTC has updated the app to version 1.5 with one feature that "inform user to remove contents or uninstall app when available phone storage space is low". The update is of course free to download in the Windows Phone Store.

Red Stripe Deals: Rayman Jungle Run, Rowi, 2150 A.D. at discounted prices.

Red Stripe Deals of the week propose two games and an app at discounted prices of 50% or more. One of the games is issued from the Xbox Live collection while the other is a third party game.

The utility app of the week is Rowi, an excellent Twitter client at $1.49. While a lite version is available in the store, the paid one lets you get rid of ads and enables push notifications for mentions and messages. 

Features:

-Tweet with photos, location and username auto-completion
-Edit your photos before tweeting them or uploading new profile image using Aviary
-Various settings around photo upload services and reading styles
-Use multiple accounts and ability to "tweet as"
-Save for Later using Readability, Instapaper and Pocket
-Use Readability for better web site browsing
-Easy access to actions on tweets via easy to use context menu
-Share via e-mail or text
-Translate tweets with Bing
-Built-in TweetMarker support so last read tweets sync with your favorite Twitter apps
-Configure your home screen with search, retweets, favorites, etc.
-(PAID ONLY) Configurable push notifications on your live tile and toast notifications for mentions and messages

Rayman Jungle Run

The legendary platforming hero is back in a brand new adventure. 


Join Rayman in 50 gorgeous levels and try to bring as many lums as you can.
New powers to unlock as you progress: jump, punch, fly, run on wall…
5 worlds to discover each with their own atmosphere and gameplay.
Unlock the challenging land of the livid deads levels if you have the skills. Rayman Jungle Run costs $0.99
2150 A.D.
A serious space shooter!


- 20+ levels (constantly added)
- 10+ different types of enemy ships. Each enemy ship features unique weapon system, visual design and AI behavior
- 10 different weapons system to choose from (missile, bomb, electromagnetic bomb…)
- Multiple types of missions. Missions have vastly different winning conditions and AI environment
- Customize your vessel with 7 different upgradable vessel modules
2150 A.D. costs $0.99
Source: Windows Phone Red Stripe Deals

Outlook.com to remove chat history as part of Skype integration.

I received an email today from the Outlook.com team announcing the upcoming removal of Messaging history folder sometime this fall as part of adding Skype to Outlook.com. If you are a heavy user of chat and need to keep a copy of your conversations, head over to Outlook.com and move them to another folder. Note that this applies to any chat services supported by Outlook.com: Facebook, Google Talk and Messenger.  

Follow the steps below to move your conversations:

1. In Outlook.com, right-click Folders, and then click Add a new folder.
2. Enter a name for the folder and press the Enter key.
3. Click Messaging history, and then click the check box at the very top of your message list.
4. Click Select everything.
5. Right-click any message and then click Move.
6. Select the folder you want to move your messages to, and then click Move.

Update: Skype makes it easier to filter your contacts.

Skype has just published an update to the Store that makes it easier to find the the people you're looking for by simply filtering the people list. They did not stop there to improve the layout of the favorite contacts page, making it easy to see more at a glance. Finally, what is an update without the general fixes and speed improvements. 

The update is available for download in the Windows Phone Store. Click here and tap update on your phone.