Endomondo Sports Tracker gets Bluetooth 4.0 support and more.

Do you use your Windows Phone to monitor your fitness? If the answer is yes, you probably have Endomondo in your application list. If, on the other end, the answer is no, then either you do not exercise at all or you do but you don't keep track of the burned calories, the distances, speed and distance for any outdoor sports you practice regularly or even your indoor workouts. If you fall in the first group of those who do not exercise, you better get started for some obvious reasons. One of the tools you will need to make sure you're doing it right is Endomondo Sports Tracker, a free personal trainer for Windows Phone.

Endomondo Sports Tracker got a major update today and the most noteworthy is the added support for Bluetooth 4.0. The latter will not work on Lumia devices running Windows Phone 8.1 preview until Nokia releases its Cyan update. Until then, check out the new features in Endomondo Sports Tracker version 9.1.0.3:
 

● Bluetooth heart rate belts support● Updated calorie calculation● Set your weight, height, age and gender in settings● Enhanced newsfeed (like, comment, send peptalks, view photos, mini map, open friends workout)● Set title and attach photos to your workout● Fixed autopause bug that would crash application after workout was stopped● Fixed manual workout sport selection bug● Other small fixes and improvements

Download: Windows Phone Store

6tag update: Save Instagram videos to your SkyDrive.

Some developers rest on their laurels, others don't. Rudy Huyn is one of those developers who almost relentless work on improving their apps. Before Facebook and Instagram made up their mind to provide a beta app for Windows Phone, Rudy Huyn had 6tag, an excellent Instagram client. The app is still my favorite Instagram client app on my Windows Phone.

6tag was updated yesterday that lets users save Instagram videos to their SkyDrive. I have never used the video feature of Instagram, just like I'm not a fan of Vine, but I'm pretty sure this added feature will be welcomed by the fans. The update also includes the usual bug fixes.

The update is available free for download in the Windows Phone Store.

Kindle app for Windows Phone updated with wide tile, fast app resume.

It was long since the Kindle app for Windows Phone was updated. The last one dates back to January 29 of the current year and was purely cosmetic. The update that was published today also contains some visual changes and new features. The most notable for me being the new wide tile that displays your book progress and fast app resume. 

Kindle for Windows Phone has been updated to version 2.0.0.5 with the following changes:

- Fast app resume
- Live tile with book progress
- New wide tile image
- Fixed: books loading blank pages
- Fixed: Kindle Store links

Download: Windows Phone Store.

Community based mapping Waze for Windows Phone 8 released.

Waze is a community based mapping, traffic & navigation app boasting 60 million users. The app was recently acquired by Google, after the developers announced they were working on an app for Windows Phone raising concern among Windows Phone fans that Google would kill the project. 

With Waze open while you're driving, you will get real time info about traffic in your neighborhood from other Waze users. You can also contribute by reporting accidents, traffic jams etc. But be careful while driving though.

Features:

- Live routing based on community generated, real-time traffic and road info
- Community contributed road alerts including accidents, hazards, police traps, road closures and more
- Automatic re-routing as conditions on the road change
- Learns your frequent destinations, commuting hours and preferred routes 
- Finds the cheapest gas station along your route
- Notify someone you're on your way by sending a live ETA and a link showing you as you drive
- Earn points and move up the ranks in your community as you contribute road info
- Live maps, constantly edited and updated by Waze community map editors

Waze is free.

Download: Windows Phone Store.

Instagram Beta for Windows Phone 8 released.

Facebook and it's recently acquired Instagram have finally released a beta version of the official Instagram app for Windows Phone 8 devices. Mark the BETA moniker, meaning the app is still in the works and may contain bugs or lack some features. But if you're a fan of filtered pictures, you are probably happy with this release. Or maybe not because you have been using 6tag, the excellent full-featured Instagram client. 

Instagram Beta is currently free for download in the Windows Phone Store.

Features:

• 100% free custom designed filters: XPro-II, Earlybird, Rise, Amaro, Hudson, Lo-fi, Sutro, Toaster, Brannan, Inkwell, Walden, Hefe, Nashville, 1977, and others.
* Video recording with breathtaking cinematic stabilization
• Linear and Radial Tilt-Shift blur effects for extra depth of field.
• Instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and Foursquare
• Unlimited uploads
• Interact with friends through giving & receiving likes and comments
• Full front & back camera support
• And much much more...

6snap, a third party full-featured SnapChat client for Windows Phone 8 released.

Mr. Rudy Huyn strikes again with the release of 6snap, a full featured SnapChat client for Windows Phone 8. if you don't know it yet, Rudy Huyn is the developer behind the popular 6tag and 6sec.

6snap has all the features of the official client plus some exclusive ones:

- Lense support
- extend the picture hub (share menu, etc..)
- live tile 

- and more features coming 

Below is a list of SnapChat features. These are the same features you'll find in the official app on other platforms where SnapChat is present:

- share pictures and videos with snapchat users
- post snaps on your story
- see stories, best friends and score of your friends
- draw and add text to your pictures
- search snapchat friends on your phone
- save your picture on your phone
- front and back camera
- manage your snapchat privacy
- notifications with custom ringtone

Download: Windows Phone Store

Google updates Google Search app for Windows Phone (no joke).

You read the title well. Google has updated its Search app for Windows Phone 7.x and 8. And yes Google has at least one app in the store for Microsoft's mobile platform. Despite the ongoing bickering between the two giants, Google has updated it's search app which let users sign in to their Google account within the app. I'm not sure yet how useful is that. So if I'm not missing anything, maybe Google has something else up its sleeves. Of course I'm happy to see Google bring new features to its Windows Phone app. It's good for their image after all.

Besides the usual bug fixes, here's what is new in the update:

-Sign in to your Google account within the app.
-On Windows Phone 8, your voice commands are instantly displayed on the screen.
-Improved Google Image viewing.
-Several other bug fixes and resolution enhancements.

Download: Windows Phone Store

SophieLens HD front-facing camera bug fixed.

SophieLens HD is a nice photography app that photo lovers should get in their collection. The free app gives users fast live filtered preview in sleek, user-friendly design. SophieLens HD got a major update last month and users were offered free filter packs for download for a limited time. This offer is available until November 22. 

SophieLens HD has been updated today with a fix for a front facing camera bug affecting the Nokia Lumia 820, 620 and 520. The update also contains some miscellaneous bug fixes. The change log also states that "more to come". Not sure what that means, but expect to see another update soon.

If you own one or all of the devices listed above, make sure you update the app from the Windows Phone Store.

TouchDevelop: An app to create apps on your Windows Phone anywhere.

Say you're commuting to work and you get an idea for an app. With TouchDevelop you get to start working on your app right away. No need to wait until you get to your desktop. With TouchDevelop, you can create apps on your phone and/or automate recurring tasks. The app is developed by Microsoft and is very touch friendly. The app description states that "you can compose programs by tapping on the screen. query the phone sensors, send web requests, and manage your data in the cloud."

TouchDevelop is a a free on the Windows Phone Store. It is a very user and touch friendly app to let loose your inspiration. 

Change log:

- Bug fixes and improvements based on community feedback – many thanks to all our beta testers!
- New interactive tutorials
- Cloud data makes it easy to share data with other people and across your own devices

Bing Translator updated with camera translation support for new languages.

Bing Translator is an app any frequent traveler must have in their app collection to overcome language barriers. The app is capable of translating almost about anything you throw at it with the keyboard, camera, voice and offline translation. Some of these functions require network.

Version 2.7 of Bing Translator has been released today with support for more languages.

New in 2.7:
- Camera translation for Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian and Swedish
- Offline translation for Dutch, Norwegian, Russian and Swedish
- Lamp in camera mode 

- Remove history items one by one 

Source: Windows Phone Store

Official Vine client makes it to Windows Phone 8.

It's here, the 6 seconds video service from Twitter. The official Vine client for Windows Phone 8 has been released and is available as a free download from the Windows Phone store. Windows Phone users will be able to shoot and post 6 seconds looping videos from their phones to share with their families and friends. Not that they needed the official app to do that. Third party clients of the app were already available  in the Store, the most popular one being 6sec by prolific developer Rudy Huyn. It wouldn't surprise me if 6sec is actually better than the official app. 

Source: Windows Phone Store

Fhotoroom gets new UI changes, true full screen HD zoom.

Fhotoroom for Windows Phone is an app every photography lovers should have. It brings together a pro camera, photo sharing network and a professional mobile photo editor. The pro camera feature achieves best result by using custom EV, ISO and exposure time. 

The mobile photo editor allows users to further tweak/fix your photos using over 75 different filters which are all customizable. And finally, Fhotoroom built in network sharing feature lets users show off their creation to a fast growing community. 

Fhotoroom for Windows Phone 8 has been updated with the following changes:

- Reply to Photo Comments
- Structured Photo Message no need to figure out who is talking to who.
- New UI Changes for easier Navigation
- New Home Icon
- Added Text Under Bottom menu controls.
- TRUE full screen HD zoom with landscape support
- New Correction Filter
- New Exposure Filter

Fhotoroom is free for download in the Windows Phone Store and works with Windows Phone 7.x and 8.0.

Update: Make free voice call with all Nimbuzz contacts.

Nimbuzz is a multi-platform messaging app that supports multiple messaging services from Facebook Chat to GTalk and Yahoo Messenger. Besides chat services, Nimbuzz lets you also share pictures and videos with your friends and all that at no cost, except your data connection of course. The platform boasts 150+ million users. 

What’s New?
– Now make Free Voice Calls with all your Nimbuzz Messenger contacts
– Bug Fixes

Download free from the Windows Phone Store.

Instagram client 6tag updated to version 2.0, lets you do collage and adds dark theme support.

I never showed any interest for Instagram on my Galaxy Nexus. The latter being an Android phone, it has the official Instagram app which I did not find appealing. Hence my non-interest for the online photo sharing platform now owned by Facebook. Windows Phone has still not been blessed with an official client of Instagram. While this is a point that Windows Phone bashers like to bring forward, I think it is a good thing because Windows Phone already has an excellent Instagram client with 6tag. This app got me hooked to Instagram while the official app on my Galaxy Nexus failed. Plus the app has been getting more updates lately then the official one. Let's not indulge into platform bashing. It's pointless.

6tag has a received a major update today bringing its version to 2.0. Besides the version number change, the app got a slew of features.

What's new:

- create collage with a lot of customization
- blur your pictures using your finger
- can display full-screen posts
- new color theme : full dark color
- save your pictures on your phone when you post in high quality (up to 2048x2048)
- upload pictures using the new instagram and better picture quality (640x640 instead of 612x612)

6tag is of course free to download on the Windows Phone Store.

Microsoft announces Windows Phone 8 Update 3 and developer preview program.

Microsoft released an announcement today about GDR3 or update 3 for Windows Phone 8. The update adds support for higher screen resolution, new features like Driving mode which lets you get from point A to point B with fewer distractions; new accessibility features; improved Internet Sharing and more. Use the link below to learn more.

Besides the update 3 announcement, Microsoft also announced the availability of the preview to developers. To participate, phone must be developer unlocked and you're a registered Windows Phone Store developer. The preview will be available sometime later today. 

Source: Windows Phone Blog

"Where's My Water?" 2 adds 3 new locations and challenge mode.

"Where's My Water?" 2 from Disney is the second installment of a game that is very popular with kids; ok not just kids, I'm into it as well. Disney has rolled part 2 that bring three new locations for gators Swampy, Allie and Cranky to do their stuff through more than a 100 levels. Trust me that's more than enough when your kids refuse to relinquish your phone once they started playing. This release also includes a challenge mode to replay the levels in explosive new ways.

See the change log below and then head to the Windows Phone Store to download "Where's My Water?" 2 for Windows Phone 8.

• Play 100+ levels and challenges with a brand new look in the Gator universe featuring Swampy, Allie, Cranky, and Mystery Duck!
• Introducing ‘Challenge Modes’ to replay the levels in explosive new ways! 
• Dig as fast as you can and get as many duckies as possible in ‘Duck Rush’ levels!
• ‘Tri-ducking’ is now faster, better and more fun with boosts, such as Vacuum, Dropper, and Absorber! Small fees may be required for these additional boosts.
• Experience fun mechanics that are uniquely designed for each character!
• Complete achievements and earn special themed duckies such as gladiator-duckie, astronaut-duckie, hula-duckie, and many more!
• Stuck on a level? Use hints to help you solve the puzzles!

Download: Windows Phone Store

Skype for Windows Phone 8 gets video messaging.

At long last, Skype has added video messaging to its app for Windows Phone 8. This feature was initially launched on competing platforms despite the fact that Skype is now part of Microsoft. Never too late.

Skype Video Messaging is a handy way to to record and share personal video to people in your Skype contact list. " This allows users to capture and share a fleeting memory, create a heartfelt reminder or simply tell a friend or family member “wish you were here” – even when their friends and loved ones are not available.  Once your contact has received a video message from you, they can reply back with a video right away."

To create a Skype video message is simple. "just open a conversation and tap +. Or if you can’t reach a contact by Skype call and choose to send them a video message instead, just tap the prompt and begin recording your message."

The update is available in the Windows Phone Store.

Source: Windows Phone Blog

"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.

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.