eBay update brings localized prices, fewer redirects to website and faster shopping.

In an update published today, eBay has added some features that will make online shopping for its users faster thanks to fewer redirects to its website. This is made possible with Native GSP Support. Items flagged as GSP, which stands for Global Shipping Program, are now purchasable from within the app.

Another interesting addition is the localization of prices for items that are in the users feed; very useful when comparing prices and does not require doing conversion any more.

Other features include:

- Customer support contact information for US and Canada has been updated.
- New users are now taken to the full registration page.
- Various localization changes & corrections.
- Other bug fixes.

Download source: 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

Microsoft launches Facebook for Windows phone beta program.

This is the news of the week. Microsoft is indeed launching a beta program for the redesigned Facebook app for Windows Phone 8. The app new look is more in line with its Android and iOS counterpart. It features support for high resolution photos, post sharing and Facebook timeline.

With this release Microsoft expects users to provide feedbacks and bug reports to Facebook and Microsoft engineers working on the new app. Since it's in beta, you will not find it in the store using search. Instead, use the link below to download Facebook beta. There are two ways for users to report bugs and provide feedback, The first is through the store by leaving a comment or in the Settings of the app itself.

After installing the beta, the speed does not go unnoticed. The redesign is also obvious with the left side menu to access the navigation bar. Very convenient to access groups, newsfeed, apps etc. The right bar reveals your online friends; tap to initiate a chat session. The latter takes place within the app instead of "calling" the messaging hub.

Facebook Beta runs on Windows Phone 8 only and can be downloaded in the Windows Phone Store.

Source: Windows Phone Blog

Red Stripe Deals: Monster Pinball HD, Sonic Cd and Polygot.

Each Thursday, Microsoft offers some nice discounts on one or more Xbox titles, an app and a game. This week features:

Monster Pinball HD

An action packed Pinball game with stunning graphics is now at $0.99 only. Whether you're a fan or not, you will love Monster Pinball HD, which by the way have some very nice sound effects.

Sonic HD

Who's Sonic??? Who doesn't know Sonic, really. Sonic the hedgehog is back on a new mission to put an end to Dr. Eggman's nefarious plans for just $1.99. That's a great deal for a game that features "16:9 widescreen, achievements, leaderboards and both the US and Japanese soundtracks, experience the adventure through time that introduced the world to Amy Rose and Eggman’s most evil creation, Metal Sonic".

Polygot

A multilingual translation app, Polygot is $0.99 and will translate any of the 30 supported languages you throw at it. Not only, it translates text, it also provides playback audio and voice-to-text. A must-have if you're a frequent traveller.

Enjoy! More next week.

Windows Phone 7 released to manufacturing.

This is so exciting and it must be even more for the Windows Phone team after they've taken the gamble of re-writing Windows phone code from scratch. This has been a huge undertaking.  According to Terry Myerson's post on the team's blogs, " Windows phone 7 is the most thoroughly tested mobile platform Microsoft has ever released. We had nearly ten thousand devices running automated tests daily, over a half million hours of active self-hosting use, over three and a half million hours of stress test passes, and eight and half million hours of fully automated test passes. We've had thousands of independent software vendors and early adopters testing our software and giving us feedback. We are ready." So are we.

Congratulations to the Windows Phone team.