After "Smoked by Windows Phone", Ben Rudolph is back with "Meet Your Match".

Remember the "Smoked by Windows Phone" campaign where Ben Rudolph aka BenThePCGuy, challenged owners of competing phones to demonstrate that Windows Phone was simply faster? The guy is back with a new campaign called "Meet Your Match" to show off Windows Phone 8. While the new campaign will retain the features comparison that made the success of the Smoked by Windows Phone, Ben Rudolph writes in a blog post that "Meet Your Match" is "a different take on our Smoked challenges, focusing not just on why Windows Phone is faster, but also on why it’s better, easier, more useful, and more fun. The soul of Smoked – a side-by-side comparison of us vs. the other guys – hasn’t changed, but now it’s about why our phones and features are a better match for you, no matter who you are or what you’re into."

A new series of videos has already been posted on the Windows phone blog featuring Ben Rudolph of course and the HTC Windows Phone 8x and the Nokia Lumia devices. "Meet Your Match" events will be held in Microsoft Store across the US as well as in the UK, France and Germany. If you're lucky to have one of these events, go ahead, you may well win something. 

Check out the first series of "Meet Your Match" videos below.







Source: Windows Phone Blog.

Evernote and Twabbit for Windows Phone updated.

Evernote

Among all note-taking apps, Evernote remains my favorite. I use it on all my devices because, one, it is free and, second and most importantly, my notes sync to the cloud and are therefore available on all my devices with little to no effort. Even if cloud synching is a feature that is now native into about any apps these days, Evernote is probably a precursor. Sure Windows Phone has OneNote, which I like. I can get it for free on Google Play for my Android. Unfortunately, while there is a version for iOS, it is not available for my region. But I like Evernote for its simplicity no matter which platform you're using it on.
What's new in this release of Evernote:

- New tile layout design for note list
- Redesigned login and registration screens
- New popup tips help users discover the app
- More spacious note editing mode
- Numerous performance improvements including faster startup
- Evernote turns your phone into an extension of your brain.

Check the MarketPlace tile for the notification update. If you are not using Evernote yet and need a nice note-tasking free app, download Evernote for your Windows Phone.

Twabbit

Twabbit is one of the several Twitter clients that I use on my Windows Phone. Is it my preferred one? No, but it's second after glƏƏk!. Nothing much to write about here. The app is not free and costs $1.49. A trial is available. I managed to get it free when the developer decided to make it so for a limited time. Readers of this blog must have got it too at no cost.

What's new in version 1.2.9.92:

1. Bug fixes
2. Changes for twitter API 1.1
3. Retweets info not automatically loaded in tweet details
Twabbit should already be showing up as an update on your Windows Phone. Otherwise, it can be downloaded on the Windows Phone Store

Windows Phone 8 ads featuring Jessica Alba and Gwen Stefani.

After the launch of Windows Phone 8 last month, Jessica Alba, the mum of two, is back in a 30 seconds ad showing how she uses the Kid's Corner on her phone. Gwen Stefani is the other celebrity who has been tapped by Microsoft to promote Windows Phone 8. She is a fan of Skype and Office. Watch the two ads below:





Source: Windows Phone Blog

Review: Manzer Lakaz (Home Food), first Mauritian app for Windows Phone.

Today I’m writing about a special and unique recipe app called Manzer Lakaz – Home food in English. Manzer Lakaz was developed by a Mauritian thus making it the first app made locally that is posted to the Windows Phone Store for free. So let’s take a look at Manzer Lakaz.

The app opens up on the featured recipe of the day screen. You see the picture of the featured recipe and its name. Tap and you’re taken to the full recipe with the cooking time next to the picture.  Below is the list of ingredients you will need for the dish and easy-to-understand directions that will make sure that the dish will impress. The picture of the featured recipe will also show up on the live tile if you choose to pin it to the Start screen.

From the Featured recipe screen, swipe to the left to access the Explore screen where you will easily see the entirely list of recipes that the app has to offer or you can use the built-in filters to get the list of Dish Type, by Main Ingredients, By Cooking Method and By Cooking Time. The latter lets you filter furthermore with a choice of cooking time: 15mins, 30mins, 45mins, 1 hour and 1 hour 15mins. For example, the dishes that take longer to cook are Baked Aubergine and Beef Rougaille. This is good to know when planning.

The “By Dish Type” screen is quite interesting. The developer did a good job at making the navigation easy and intuitive. The dish Type screen is devised in such a way that it doesn’t necessitate a manual filter. It’s all there for you to peruse the 5 types of dishes at your leisure: By Appetizer, By Main Dish; By Side Dish; By Salad and by Desserts.

Again, the same experience applies throughout Manzer Lakaz. The “By main Ingredients” screen sorts dishes by Chicken, Fish, Beef, Pasta and vegetables. Same goes for the cooking method filter where you can choose between Boiling, by Simmering, by Pressure, by Grilling, by Baking and by Frying. No matter how and what you cook, it can be added to a favorite list for future reference. To do that, open a recipe and tap “Add favourite” on the menu bar at the bottom of the screen. Repeat the same steps from the Favorite window to remove the recipe from the list. Manzer Lakaz does fit well with the Windows Phone UI.

However, there are some features missing. It would be nice to have a Comment area for each recipe so users can also share their own tips or submit their own recipes. There are a lot of local dish that are missing in the app. But I’m sure more recipes will be added through future updates to showcase the rich culinary diversity of Mauritius.

All-in-all Manzer Lakaz is a nice and helpful app for people around the globe to use and discover Mauritian gastronomy. 

Manzer Lakaz was developed by Wasiim Hosenbocus.

Download link: Windows Phone Store

Developer kills Reinstaller app for Windows Phone.

The developer behind Reinstaller has posted an update to the Windows Phone Store that actually kills the app. Yes, he deliberately killed his own app and there is a good reason for that. First a brief recap about Reinstaller. It's one of these apps that comes in handy after you've performed a hard reset on your phone as it helps you re-install your apps without much effort. The app works very well and does exactly what it's been designed for. So why kill it? Blame Microsoft. Well not really. It's not Microsoft fault either. 

Let's see what the change log says:

1. Completely broken with no immediate chance of working again.
2. App will be removed soon after a few more tries.

This is the funniest change log I've ever read.

What force the developer to kill Reinstaller is simply the fact that Microsoft recently made some changes to the Windows Phone site. Because of these changes, Reinstaller is unable to get the list of your installed app anymore. Simple as that. The good news is that the developer is not entirely giving up on Reinstaller and is seeking help from fellow developers out there to make it work again. His email is ashish [at] wpfied dot com. As of now the app is still available in Windows Phone Store.

Amazon Kindle update fixes startup crash bug.

Do you read books on your smartphone? For some the screen is to small while for others, it's one of the very purpose of a smartphone. I do read books on my devices wherever possible. So yes, Amazon Kindle is a must have app for me. Today Amazon has published an update for the Kindle app that fixes crash at startup and fixes crashing bugs when opening books. Personally I haven't experienced any of these issues but the update is available for download in Windows Phone Store, so I'll just go for it and I encourage you to do the same.

http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=48195fb4-ee0e-e011-9264-00237de2db9e

"Amazon Kindle" is one of thousands of great apps for Windows Phone.  See more at WindowsPhone.com!

Sent from my Windows Phone

TextContact Light is one very useful app to share contacts via SMS on Windows Phone.

Longtime Windows Phone users, and new ones, know that their favorite mobile phone cannot send contacts via SMS. This feature is indeed missing in Windows Phone 7.5. I don't know about WP8 as I don't own one yet. So how do you send a contact phone number via SMS?

The answer to that is TextContact Light/Pro. A nice little free app that actually sends the full contact card with phone numbers, emails etc. Of course, you can remove whatever data you do not want to send. Before the how-to, you need to know that TextContact is available free with adds and limited features and a paid one, the Pro version.

The free version will let you send a contact card of course but you will not be able to save the SMS, access the History and pin to start. All these features are available only in the Pro version which cost $0.99.

Now for the how-to. After you start the app, you are presented with a To box at the top. Start typing the recipients name and a pickup list will appear, filtering your contact list as you type. The app itself does not support sending to multiple contacts. But there is a workaround. More about that later.

The second box is where the contact details you want to share will appear. To add the details to that box, tap the Add Contact icon on the Menu bar at the Bottom and select a contact. The selected contact is added to the second text box. You may modify its content as needed as the app will pull all the contact details except links to website or Facebook and Twitter.

That's it, now you're ready to send the SMS. Tap the Create SMS button and the built in Messaging app opens. If you need to share the contact with multiple recipients, tap the + sign at the top right corner of the screen to select another contact's phone number. Click Send. That's it.

TextContact Light is a useful app since Windows Phone does not have this feature built in. You may want to get the pro version if sharing contacts is one of your favorite activity.

Download the free version here and the Pro version here.

 

Weather Smiles update brings weather forecast to Windows Phone at low cost.

Weather Smiles is the only weather app that gives you the forecast for two locations on just one tile. It is a must-have and reliable app especially that the developer is always working the add new features to Weather Smiles. As a matter of fact, the latest update is quite interesting. Weather Smiles uses data connection to provide up to date info about the weather and that costs money.

The devs has now made it possible for Weather Smiles to not pull weather data if the current location has not changed in the last 3 hours. The devs didn't stop there. The app will now use last observation time to determine night time for moon icon, rather than making another API call. This behavior helps reduce data usage.

Weather Smiles can be downloaded here at $1.29. A trial version is also available.

Angry Birds Star Wars lands in Windows Phone Store.

Angry Birds Star Wars is available today in the Windows Store. The good news is that Rovio chose to do a simultaneous release along with iOS and Android. The price, $0.99, is also the same on all platforms. The bad news is that, like Angry Birds Space released yesterday, Star Wars is available in the Windows Phone 8 Store only. Windows Phone 7.5  owners are once more left out, free to join the dark side of the force. Sigh!

Check out the trailer:

Read Rovio's press release here.

Angry Birds Space for Windows phone 8 goes live.

It's frustrating not to have a Windows Phone 8 especially when you're particularly excited about the device. It is said that patience is a virtue. But I would love to play Angry Birds Space on a Windows Phone. For those among you out there who are lucky to have one, you get the chance to play the popular game on your shiny new device.
Angry Birds Space features 150 levels of birds gravitating around planets and moons from slow motion to light speed. More powers will be added free to help you achieve your quest of destroying the space pigs to recover the precious eggs. Lucky you.
Don't wait and download a trial or buy your copy for $0.99 only here. Enjoy.

Twabbit updates now support main tile update, not specific account updates.

I downloaded Twabbit when it was made free for a limited time a while back. It is a fun Twitter client to use. 

Change logs:

1. Auto streaming option while application starts. After streaming First tweet always provide option for loading more tweets that by design
2. Background tasks update main tile now and not account specific tile. Also removed account specific tiles
3. Bug fixing

Xbox Smartglass app for iOS released.

Xbox Smartglass app is now in the App Store for iOS users to download. The free app lets users control their Xbox console using their iPhones and iPads.
Here's a list of features that will let you interact with your Xbox from your couch.

Xbox SmartGlass lets you: 
• Navigate your Xbox 360 with swipe and tap
• Use your phone’s keyboard to type to your Xbox 360
• Browse the Internet on your Xbox 360 with full keyboard and zooming
• Play, pause, fast forward, rewind, and stop videos and music on your Xbox 360
• Search the full Xbox catalog of music, video, and games
• Enjoy rich, interactive experiences from select game and entertainment content creators
• Track and compare your achievements with your Xbox friends
• Change up your 3D avatar
• Message your Xbox friends
• Edit your Xbox profile

Download: iTunes

PC Remote updated; Copy files from PC to Windows Phones and vice-versa.

If you are looking for a simple free app to remote control your PC, then check out PC Remote for Windows phone. They published an update to Windows Phone Store yesterday with the following changes:

• Browse PC files on phone and open on PC with one click
• Ability to open phone’s pictures on PC
• Copy files from PC to phone and vice versa. 

Check out the list of existing features:

Features:
• Mouse: move cursor, left/center/right click from phone
• Keyboard: type from phone - full keyboard support including control, shift, alt, tab, function and other special keys
• Remote Desktop without locking PC: view PC screen at phone, use keyboard to type and tap to move mouse cursor
• Volume: control PC volume from phone
• YouTube: search YouTube in the app and use "Play on PC" feature to view YouTube videos on PC
• PowerPoint: control PowerPoint presentation - change slides, start/stop slideshows, change mouse cursor to a pen
• Windows Media Center: fully control Windows Media Center from phone
• Zune: view and play playlist and song
• Wake up PC using “Wake on LAN” feature
• Power controls: shutdown, logoff, sleep, hibernate 
• Turn on/off monitor
• Password protection
• Encrypted data transmission
• Drag and drop file/folder
• Zoom in/out on browser
• Vertical scroll
• Domain network support
• iTunes
• Spotify
• Media Player Classic
• XMBC
• VLC
• Netflix
• Hulu


PC Remote can be downloaded free here.

Microsoft shares apps design inspiration with Developers with new website.

The Windows Phone 7.5/8 Start screen is undoubtedly beautiful and in line of this, Microsoft has put up a website to share their inspiration with developers. The site offers "the basic principles and concepts you need to design great Windows Phone apps".

Head over to the "How we design" site and learn what inspired the Windows Phone design team, their design principles and process. 

Issue #1 of Windows Phone Developer Magazine available..

WindowsPhone Geek, a vibrant developer community, has released the first issue of Windows Phone developer magazine yesterday. The issue naturally covers the release of Windows Phone 8 SDK and goes quite deep into different topics about the SDK that developers should find helpful.

• What’s new in Windows Phone 8 SDK for developers 
• Tiles and Lock Screen Notifications in Windows Phone 8
• Implementing Coupons and Memberships using the Windows Phone 8 Wallet
• Implementing in-app purchasing in Windows Phone 8
• File and URI associations in Windows Phone 8
• New Launchersin Windows Phone 8 
• New LongListSelector control in Windows Phone 8 SDK
• New Location APIs and Background Location Tracking
• Spotlight: Interview with Matt Lacey – Founder of WPUG London
• Business: How to start a successful mobile app business 
• WPGeek Component Marketplace – A Great Opportunity for Developers

Get your free copy here.

Meet Joe belfiore's Windows Phone 8.

Here's a video I recommend if you do not want to watch the hour long webcast of Microsoft unveiling Windows Phone 8. It's a less than 20 minutes video of Joe Belfiore showing the new features of Windows Phone 8. Enjoy!

Microsoft unveils new Windows Phone 8.

Yesterday Microsoft announced Windows Phone 8, its new mobile OS with a slew of features. I'm posting a link to the webcast below for those who could not watch it last night. Joe Belfiore was of course on stage to demo the various features of the OS along with actress Jessica Alba. She has been using a Lumia 920 and she loves the Kids Corner and her music. I will not elaborate too much about those features in this article as I don't have a Windows Phone 8 yet. However, you'll get a glimpse of some of the exciting features announced yesterday and that make Windows Phone 8 a more people-centric OS. More article will follow as soon as I receive and play with a Windows Phone and test these features in real life.

The first feature I want to highlight is the Kid's Corner. As a father of two daughters, this feature is more than welcome. I don't use a lot of storage on my phone but my daughters do by taking a ton of pictures. The Kid's Corner will help me control whether they can access the camera or not. Parents have control over what the children have access to.

Internet Explorer in Windows Phone 8 reaches version 10. Most of the changes are under the hood though. So user experience will be the same as in Windows Phone 7 except that IE10 has increased support for HTML5 and CSS3. Smartscreen filter and Do Not Track options have also been added.

With Windows Phone 8 you can now customize the notification areas of the lock screen. Third party apps can now display notifications icons and counters on the lock screen. Previously, only the calendar could do that.

Rooms is another new feature that gives the user the ability to communicate within a private space. The room comes with a shared calendar that will sync with every member's phone. Things like pictures, videos and to do lists can also be published and shared in the room. Better yet, access to the room can also be granted to iOS and Android devices.

Windows Phone 8 has a lot more features. Unfortunately, as an amateur blogger, I do not have the time to cover them all for now. But again, I will come back with how-to's once I get to play with Windows Phone 8. Until then, enjoy the webcast.

http://www.studiosevent.com/newscenter/?id=WindowsPho0ec59#

Microsoft releases Windows Phone app for Windows 8.

Microsoft has published a companion app in Windows 8 Store for  Windows phone 8 devices that will allow users to sync their devices to their PCs, tablets running Windows 8 Pro or RT. The app is simply called Windows Phone and will not work with any phones besides Windows Phone 8 which is to be announced later today. The Windows Phone app replaces Zune desktop software. 

The app will let you move/share your photos, videos, music to and from the phone and computer.
Here's the list of features:

Features

• Get your music, photos, and videos from your computer to your phone (and vice versa).
• Quickly share things from your phone with Windows 8 apps (like Photos, or Search). You don’t even have to open the Windows Phone app to move things around.
• Automatically save photos and videos you take with your phone to your PC.
• See at a glance how much space you’re using for each type of content, so it’s easy to make sure you never run out of room on your phone.

Windows Phone app can be downloaded in Windows Store.

• 
  

Google Search and Chrome already available free in Windows 8 Store.

It did not take long for Google to publish a Search and Chrome app to the Windows 8 store. Both apps are available for you to download free. 



To get both apps, go to Google site to download.

Press Release: HTC's best deals in Europe.

UK, 26^th October  — HTC, a global leader in mobile design and innovation, today announced Best Deals, a new service that delivers personalised money-saving deals direct to your HTC smartphone.

Categorized by your preferences and interests, this service uses your location to bring you all of the best discounts in your area. Preferred deals can be reviewed, bookmarked or shared with a single click; they can also be sorted by popularity, discount, price and expiration date.

“HTC strives to deliver the best web content and services to its customers,” says Cédric Mangaud, Vice President of Value-Added Services for HTC. “We’re excited to be launching a service that gives you the very best deals, in line with your own personal interests, wherever you are.”

Partners

HTC has built partnerships with 12 leading deal providers across the five launch markets, UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain, including LivingSocial, that will provide four of the five markets with deals, Trip Advisor, Qype Deals and Offerum.* Best Deals customers will have access to thousands of local offers and will also benefit from exclusive deals for a range of HTC products and accessories.

“HTC’s dedication to providing personalised experiences fits perfectly with the diversity of our handpicked deals service,” says Peter Briffett, Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at LivingSocial. “Our wide range of location-based offers will allow HTC smartphone owners to take advantage of hundreds of deals in their local area, from Michelin-starred dining and luxury spas to supercar racing days and hot air balloon rides.”

HTC will continue to secure a range of additional deal categories after launch by establishing new partnerships with a number of providers and mobile operators.

Availability

The Best Deals application and widget will be available on the new HTC One X+, and the Windows Phone 8X and 8S which launch in November. It will also be included in the upcoming software update for the acclaimed One series devices, the HTC One X and HTC One S.

A total of 1,700 deals and offers will be available at launch.

About HTC

Founded in 1997, HTC Corp. (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by HTC Sense^™, a multilayered graphical user interface that vastly improves user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visitwww.htc.com.

###

* Deals will be provided from 12 providers that include: LivingSocial, Trip Advisor, Qype Deals, iVoucher, Offerum, Lookingo, Lets Bonus, Elgrupazo, Daily Deal, Deal Ticket, Getbazza and Prezzo Felicea.

The names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

All Liquid Daffodil apps free until their Surface arrives.

The folks over at Liquid Daffodil are really cool as the apps they make. They just announced that their library of Windows Phone apps have all gone free. This is just awesome. So hurry up and download these cool apps. You have until the official launch of Windows 8 and Surface RT tablet on Friday 26 to do so.

Here's a download link to all of Liquid Daffodil apps in Windows Phone Store:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/store/publishers?publisherId=Liquid+Daffodil&appId=deaebfcd-5d45-4460-b8e0-b067ec3cba06

Enjoy.

Nokia announces low specs Lumia 510 at $199 only.

Today Nokia announced a new cheap device, the Lumia 510, to be available in November 2012. The device  has low specs and the price should appeal to those who haven't made the jump to smartphones yet. The Lumia 510 will run Windows Phone 7.5 and has a Snapdragon SI processor, 1300 mAh battery, 256MB of  RAM, 4GB of mass storage and a 5MP camera. No memory card storage is included. 

The Lumia 510 will be available in 5 colors: red, yellow, cyan, white and black. The phone will be initially launched in India and China followed by other Asia-Pacific countries and South America.


Check out the full press release:

Nokia Lumia 510 brings Windows Phone to lower price points

Bright 4-inch display and signature Lumia experiences in Nokia's new entry-level Windows Phone
Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced the Nokia Lumia 510, a smart and modern entry-level smartphone. Featuring a bright, 4-inch display, the Nokia Lumia 510 makes the unique benefits of Lumia and Windows Phone even more affordable.
"With the Nokia Lumia 510 we continue to meet our commitment to bring Windows Phone to new, lower price points," said Jo Harlow, executive vice president of Nokia Smart Devices. "People who use Windows Phone quickly realize how much more intuitive it is than other smartphone platforms, and Nokia Lumia is the best embodiment of the Windows Phone experience. With the Nokia Lumia 510 we're looking forward to welcoming more people into the Windows Phone experience."
Following on from the success of the Nokia Lumia 610, this latest addition to the Nokia Lumia range comes in five vivid colors for a fun and personal way to enjoy Windows Phone.
Windows Phone is different to other smartphone platforms thanks to Live Tiles, making it easy to see incoming messages and updates; People Hub, which brings together contacts and updates from across social networks into one location, and access to Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer 9 on the mobile.
Unique Lumia experiences also make the Nokia Lumia 510 unlike any other entry-level Windows Phone. Downloading the Camera Extras app provides exclusive digital lens functionality to go with the five megapixel camera and built-in autofocus. Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive and Nokia Transport also offer the most comprehensive smartphone location and navigation experience available.
The Nokia Lumia 510 will be available in red, yellow, cyan, white and black. Nokia estimates the retail price for the Nokia Lumia 510 to be around USD 199, excluding taxes and subsidies. Sales are planned to begin in November 2012, starting with India and China, and followed closely by other Asia-Pacific countries and South America.
Product specifications:

	Nokia Lumia 510
Operating System	Windows Phone 7.5
Display	4-inch WVGA 800x480 TFT Capacitive Touch Screen
Battery	1300 mAh
Processor	Snapdragon(TM) S1
Main camera	5MP Autofocus
Memory	256MB RAM 4GB mass memory (no memory card slot) 7GB free SkyDrive storage

Cowlick! and glƏƏk! now support TwitLonger. Weather Smiles gets Moon icons.

Weather Smiles.

Weather Smiles is one of my favorite weather apps. It was designed to optimize the use of the live tiles to display the weather for to locations on one side of the tiles and 5-days forecast on the other. Weather has received an update and here's the change log:

- Added light theme, app will now work correctly with light theme.
- Added Remove option for hometown city.
- Updated live tile to show only one city if you only use one city.
- Added Moon icons when night time for partly cloudy and clear conditions.
- Fixed bug for "Error updating tile.".

Cowlick!

Described by its publisher, Liquid Daffodil, as the second best Twitter client, Cowlick! is a fun and simple to use app. In fact the first best Twitter client according to Liquid Daffodil is another app of their own called glƏƏk!. Cowlick! is just a "toned down" version of glƏƏk! Cowlick has been updated with the following features:

Added more coolness, like "Reverse Cowlick!" (Dark) Themes and TwitLonger!

glƏƏk!

Liquid Daffodil also posted an update for glƏƏk!. The best Twitter client I've used on Windows Phone. The update adds support for TwitLonger therefore bringing the ability to post longer messages to Twitter.

Sneak peek of Skype for Windows 8 to be released this Friday.

Microsoft is holding a major event this Friday with the release of Windows 8 operating System for PCs and tablets. Along with the launch, Skype is also working on getting Skype for Windows 8 ready. The new version will be released on Friday and has been redesigned to fit with Windows 8 new modern UI. Skype for Windows 8 will therefore integrate with the people hub and will therefore let you login with a Microsoft account. While the video below does show that Skype for Windows 8 is indeed fast and beautiful, it is still not built into the OS as I have thought it would be after the acquisition of the company by Microsoft a couple of months ago. 

Check out the video of the sneak peek of Skype for Windows 8:



Source: Skype blog

Bill Gates talks about Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and his Surface RT.

I think this is the first time we hear and see Bill Gates talk about Microsoft's new Operating System which is to be launched this Friday.  Of course he's excited about Windows 8 and we learn in the video that he is using...Surface RT. Now that is a surprise for me. I would expect the iconic chairman of Microsoft to use the full version of Windows 8, don't you? A marketing manoeuvre to give RT a boost? 

Check out the short 5 minutes video of the Q&A with Steve Clayton, a Microsoft Employee.

Reinstaller for Windows Phone updated.

Reinstaller is the first app you will install on your Windows phone after a hard reset. This app lets you reinstall all or some of your apps from one screen on the phone and avoid having to go back and forth to do so. Very useful, Reinstaller is an app that you will need after to acquire a new phone as well.

Reinstaller received a minor update that brings it more in line with the new windowsphone.com design and doesn't show categories anymore.

Download link: http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=b9d1115b-2c0d-4e5d-afc6-fa6dcd84dda4

Posted on the go.

Microsoft releases Windows 8 ads as countdown to launch begins.

11 days before the launch of Microsoft new operating system during a launch event in New York. Windows 8 will feature on a slew of tablets and PCs and will compete with Apple's iPad, the undisputed leader in the tablet market. Microsoft has started showing ads to generate the buzz around its new colorful OS. Most of the software giant partners are hoping to make a dent into Apple's leadership as attempts with Google's Android has failed. 

Check out the ad:

Nokia Lumia 920 black - Phone House Mobile

The Nokia Lumia 920 in black will be available at €649,90 on PhoneHouse.fr in France. It is seemingly available on pre-order in the link: http://m.phonehouse.fr/telephones/nokia/lumia-920-noir/42-NOLUMIA920BLACK

Weather Smiles for Windows Phone updated.

Weather Smiles, the weather app that lets you display 2 locations in one tile on your home screen has been updated with some nice features as listed below:

• Updated app interface with framed border with accent color on locations
• Can now tap location name to rename it.
• App can now run with location disabled, including background task.
• When location is disabled, an option in search is enabled to set to current location.
• Updated smilie system to consider very hot and cold temperatures.
• added contact button.
• Minor High/Low temperature tweek.

 Download in Windows Phone Store.

Windows phone monthly photo contest: Favorite Places

David Chen announced the launch of the theme of this month photo contest for Windows Phone devices. Each month, a picture is selected and featured on the blog and related Facebook page, twitter and Pinterest with credit to the photographer. This month is about your favorite places.

Participants are allowed to edit the pictures using whichever photo editor they like. However, when sending the pictures to windowsphone@microsoft.com, they must include the original, unaltered photo.

Learn more @ http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2012/09/26/this-month-s-windows-phone-photo-challenge-favorite-places.aspx.

Watch the joint HTC-Microsoft event announcing the HTC 8X & 8S.

If you've missed the event last week, I'm posting the video so you can catch up. Watch HTC CEO Peter Chou and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announce two new HTC's Windows Phone 8 devices. Enjoy.

Press release: HTC AND MICROSOFT UNVEIL FIRST SIGNATURE WINDOWS PHONES

New Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC to be available through
more than 150 mobile operators globally

NEW YORK, 19th September, 2012 - HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, and Microsoft today unveiled the first signature Windows Phones, the stunning Windows(R) Phone 8X and 8S by HTC(R). The smartphones feature the new Windows Phone 8 operating system and boast iconic design, studio-quality sound with Beats Audio[TM] and incredible camera capabilities.

"Pairing HTC's beautiful new Windows Phone 8X and 8S with our brand is a big milestone for both companies," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "Together we are offering customers a clear choice and a truly unique experience. I'm thrilled to take our longstanding partnership to the next level."

"We've been inspired by Windows Phone 8 to create new smartphones that give the platform the iconic design and personality it deserves," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. "Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world."

Iconic Design
The only phone with Live Tiles, Windows Phone has a clear, differentiated vision and the consumer experience has been widely recognized as being groundbreaking, innovative and fresh. HTC created the Windows Phone 8X and 8S to blend the virtual and the physical utilizing a three dimensional, pure uni-body design based on the Windows Phone Live Tiles. The Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC are perfectly sculpted with a dramatic taper making them feel magically thin in your hand.

Because color is such an integral part of the Windows Phone experience, HTC is bringing bold, sophisticated and adventurous colors in a premium matte finish to these devices. The Windows Phone 8X will come in a variety of colors including California Blue, Graphite Black, Flame Red and Limelight Yellow. The Windows Phone 8S by HTC will be available in Domino, Fiesta Red, Atlantic Blue and High-Rise Gray.

Capture and share your world
For the first time, HTC is introducing a 2.1mp, f/2.0 aperture, 88° ultra-wide angle front-facing camera that allows up to four people and more to be captured at once. It also supports 1080p video capture. The rear camera sports an 8mp CMOS sensor with backside-illumination (BSI) for improved low-light performance, along with an f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens and a dedicated imaging chip. A physical shutter button makes it quick and easy to capture spontaneous action, even if the phone is locked.

Spectacular Sound with Beats Audio
Exclusively available on HTC smartphones, Beats Audio provides authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the spirit of the original recording. The Windows Phone 8X by HTC featuring Beats Audio also offers a unique audio amplifier powering the 3.5mm audio jack and the speaker, boosting the audio signal for even better sound no matter if you're listening to music, playing a game or watching a video.

Brilliant Display
The Windows Phone 8X by HTC features a beautiful, 4.3" HD-resolution super LCD 2 screen protected from everyday bumps and scrapes by lightweight Gorilla(R) Glass 2, while optical lamination reduces reflections and glare, ensuring you see every detail. The Windows Phone 8S by HTC boasts a bright super LCD 4" screen with Gorilla(R) Glass, allowing users to see the Windows Phone Live Tiles, and every message and photo, with crystal clarity and sparkling color.

Entertainment
With the Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC people can carry their favorite music, movies and photos with them wherever they go. With the Windows Phone Store and Xbox Live, it is easier than ever to enjoy the latest video, music and games on the move.

Availability
The Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC will be available beginning in November. Available through more than 150 carriers in 50+ countries, the Windows Phone 8X or 8S by HTC will be available from the world's top carriers including: United States: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Europe: Orange, O2 Telefonica, MTS, Three UK, T-Mobile, and Vodafone Asia-Pacific: Chunghwa Telecom, Optus, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel), Smartone, Telstra and Vodafone Australia.

HTC8 S Specs

Size: 120.5x63x10.28mm
Screen: 4inch super LCD with Gorilla glass.
CPU speed: Qualcomm S4 1GHz dual-core
SIM: Micro SIM
Total Storage: 4GB
RAM: 512MB
Battery Capacity: 1700mAh; embedded and rechargeable
Network: HSPA/WCDMA 900/2100 MHz
               GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Connectivity:

• 3.5mm stereo audio jack
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• WiFi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n

HTC 8X Specs

Size: 132.35x66.2x10.12mm
screen: 4.3inch super LCD with Gorilla glass.
CPU speed: Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz dual-core
SIM: Micro SIM
Total Storage: 16GB
RAM: 1GB
Battery Capacity: 1800mAh; embedded and rechargeable
Network: HSPA/WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
               GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Connectivity:

• 3.5mm stereo audio jack
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Micro-USB
• NFC capable  

HTC and Microsoft announces the HTC 8X and 8S.

HTC today unveiled their two Windows Phones, the 8X and 8S. Both phones are available in Red, blue, black and Yellow and will be available in November in 50 countries. Watch the two videos below to learn more about these exciting devices. Enjoy.

Weather Smiles is temporarily free (1 live tile 2 locations).

Weather Smiles is a nice little app for Windows Phone that is free for a limited time. If you cannot buy apps  yet on Windows Phone store, you may want to seize this opportunity to get your free copy of an app that is so unlike the other weather apps. 

Yes, Weather Smiles is different in that it shows you the weather for two locations on one tile. One tile is enough to hold the data for two cites on one side. If you're wondering what is the "Smile" in the app name, it refers to the smilie on the live tile that changes depending on the weather condition - big smile when it's sunny. The tile also displays the temperature in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit and graphics to illustrate the current weather condition. The other side of the tile displays the 5-days weather forecast for the home town.

Weather Smiles is a great app that I heartily recommend. 

Get it free on Windows Phone Store. 

Submit your switch and win 5 Nokia Lumia 920.

The Lumia is not commercially available yet that Nokia wants you to consider switching. And what better incentive than giving away 5 Lumia 920 for the best reason you can provide to make the switch. All you have to do is to publish your switch to Nokia's page on Facebook for a chance to win.  Take your time, the competition is open until September 21, 2012. Good luck.

Submit your switch on Nokia's competition page.

PayPal for Windows Phone released.

PayPal was Windows Phone is now available free in Marketplace. The app will let you manage your account on your phone. However, some features may not be available in your country.

Check out the features below:

SEND & REQUEST MONEY

Whether you want to send a money gift or pay off a loan from a friend—sending money is easy and FREE (when using Bank or Balance as a funding source)

MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT

Check your balance, withdraw funds or view past transactions—anytime, anywhere

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

• New "Local" feature where you can find local merchants who are using our Paypal Here™ service and pay them with PayPal.

• Online or on-the-go, your financial information is always safe and secure with PayPal

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/75738196-1db2-49d9-afb1-d66a34d19fb6

Nokia and Microsoft introduces WP8 powered Lumia 920 and 820.

I am very busy these days so I won't be able to write extensively about these devices and the live webcast of yesterday when Nokia and Microsoft introduced the new Lumia 920 and 820 with Windows Phone 8. In place, I recommend you watch these two official videos from Nokia. Like me, you will most likely get sold. I want one.

Enjoy