Adobe Photoshop Express for Windows Phone released.

The Windows Phone store has plenty of photo editing app, but in the mobile world, that does not seem to count so long as you do not have an official big name in the lot. I'm not sure Adobe Photoshop Express is the best photo editing software for mobile devices out there, but it's another big name that makes its way to the Windows Phone Store.

Adobe Photoshop Express is now available free in the Windows Phone Store with the following features:

• Basics: Crop, Straighten, Rotate, and flip your photos. Remove red eye.
• Auto-fix: One-touch adjustment for brightness, Exposure and shadows.
• Color: Slider controls for Exposure, Contrast, Clarity, Vibrance and more.
• One-touch filters "Looks": Choose from over 20 eye-catching effects!
• Get creative by adding the Looks Pack and Noise Reduction Pack.
• Share easily to social sites like Instagram and Facebook, and via SMS text.

Download: Windows Phone Store.
 

Skype for Windows Phone 8.1 gets Cortana integration.

Skype today has announced an update that will please Windows Phone 8.1 developers and users alike. The said update, that brings Skype for Windows Phone to version 2.19, includes Cortana integration. Thus, users will be able to start a Skype call by asking Cortana something like: "Skype get Linley Meslier on the screen." This new feature will be available in the U.S. or devices that have Cortana working. So it should work even if you're outside the U.S. on devices running the 8.1 preview.

The update includes some other exciting features as well such the addition of more language support bring the number from 19 to 51; fast app resume to bring the app in the foreground faster; improved notifications. The other interesting new feature is the ability to edit the last message user sent. Not sure how's that useful, but according to a Skype blog post, it is a user requested feature. So there you have it.

The update is already available on the Windows Phone Store here. 

Source: Skype blog

6tag (Instagram) and 6snap (Snapchat) for Windows Phone updated.

The two excellent unofficial Instagram (6tag) and Snapchat (6snap) clients for Windows Phone have been updated today. Developed by Windows Phone star developer, Rudy Huyn, 6tag and 6snap include features that are not even available on official clients on competing platforms. Windows Phone does have an official Instagram client currently in beta.

In the update published yesterday, 6tag has been bumped to version 3.3.1 which now lets users check followers requests on a new page. An issue with user search has also been fixed. Finally the last improvement brings better support for Russian language.

6snap is the unofficial client for Windows Phone. In today's update the developer added better conversation management. Users are now able to either delete a specific conversation or all of them.

Both updates are live in the store. Use the links below to download the apps or update them:

6tag
6snap

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

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

Metrotube updated with search suggestions.

Metrotube is the best YouTube client your money can buy on the Windows Phone store. I dare say that in the event of Google coming forward with a client of its own, I shall stick to what has been the best YouTube experience for Windows Phone. That might seem nonsensical, but not so much considering Google's ludicrous attitude towards Microsoft and Windows Phone.

Metrotube has been updated today to version 4.1.3 with the following features:
- Search suggestions
- Age restricted videos are playable to users over 18.

Download source: Windows Phone Store

Vevo for Windows Phone redesigned, gets real time feed and more.

A smartphone, among other things, lets you watch videos/movies, listen to music during boring meetings and on the go. There are lots of apps in the store that keeps you entertained and a few of them really standout, and one among them is Vevo. It was designed to serve a large and diverse collection of music videos on your Windows Phone.

Provided you have an unlimited data connection on your device, Vevo lets you enjoy your favorite artist on the go, discover new artist and even watch live performances. Like other entertainment apps, Vevo lets you create your own playlist with recommendation while watching.

Vevo has been updated today with the following features:
- All new design
- New real-time feed
- Vevo TV now has three channels: Hits (Pop), Flow (Hip-Hop/ Rap), and Nashville (Country)
- Improved playlist management

Vevo is a free download in the Windows Phone Store.

Subway Surfers, "Where's My Perry?" and "Where's My Water?" updated.

A lone runner, the world most famous platypus and a crocodile is on the update list for Windows Phone 8 today.

Subway Surfer
Run as fast as you can and avoid getting caught and smashing into trains. Collect coins along the way and some cool gadgets like the hover board that was supposed to become a reality at the beginning of the year 2000 after making an appearance in back to the future. We're in 2014 and still no hover board.

What's new:
- The Subway Surfers World Tour goes to Canada
- Paint trains in gorgeous Vancouver with Olivia, the spirited girl scout
- Add the amusing Moose board to your collection of limited boards
- Unlock stunning new Outfits for Olivia and Prince K
- Find hidden maple leaves in the Subway and win prizes

Subway Surfer is free in the Windows Phone Store

Where's My Water? and Where's My Perry?

 
 
 

The world most famous secret agent is back with an update that includes 20 new levels for Agent P. There's no Agent P without Dr. Doofenshmirtz and the latter is, for the sake of equality, also given 20 levels of mischief for your pleasure.
Where's My Perry? is available free in the Windows Phone Store.
 The other Disney title that got updated is "Where's My Water?". In this game you help Swampy the crocodile take a shower by guiding water to him. A fun puzzle that is free to download in the store. The update includes new levels and bug fixes.

Microsoft releases Windows Reading List for Windows Phone 8.1.

Today Microsoft released Windows Reading List, an app that lets you read articles or watch videos later at your convenience. We do not always have the time to read or watch anything we come across while commuting or between meetings. This is where the reading list comes in handy. Not only you can easily send the content to your list from Internet Explorer or other apps and come to it later when time permits. Better yet, you can access your saved content on your computer running Windows 8.1.

Windows Reading List is a free app you can download from the Windows Phone Store.

Features:
• Add bookmarks from any app or Internet Explorer to keep track of things you want to get back to later
• See your list in the Windows Reading List app that is available on all Windows 8.1 devices whether you’re on your phone or PC
• Easily remove items once you're done with them
• Search through the items in your reading list to find specific things
• Each item is shown in a rich display, showing the title, images, and what app it came from
• Categorize items. You can group together ideas about the next place you want to vacation, articles about finance, or things you want to read for work
• Filter items easily by category
• Share a set of items from your list with others
• Removed an item by mistake? Use the recently deleted section to find it

"My Social Share Target" brings sharing to multiple social networks back to Windows Phone 8.1 preview.

No doubt Windows Phone 8.1 Preview has got the attention of many. Two weeks since its release, the preview has more than a million download and has garnered a lot of positive reviews. No need to say Windows Phone fan boys and fan girls are happy and excited about the preview. However, there are a few things that Microsoft chose to remove in Windows Phone 8.1 Preview. One among them is the ability to share to multiple social networks with just one tap. A feature unique to Windows Phone until the release of the preview. By removing this feature , some are claiming that Windows Phone 8.1 Preview sharing feature looks a lot like...Android. And it does. But the comparison stops there.


Enter MSiccDev.

Since last week, an app has been published to the Windows Phone Store by MSiccDev to fill in for the multiple sharing feature removed by Microsoft. The app is called "My Social Share Target SL" and is a test version everyone can download and submit feedback. My only issue with it is its name which I hope will change on final release.

My Social Share Target adds the multiple sharing feature back to Windows Phone, accessible either via the app list, a pinned tile and, better yet, via the Me tile. The latter feature will let you post a status update to multiple social networks again. Currently, Facebook and Twitter are supported with more to come.

My Social Share Target is a free download in the Windows Phone Store.

WeChat update: Specify your location, be notified when mentioned in groups conversation.

The popular multi-platform messaging app for Windows Phone has been updated today. WeChat is indeed very popular in Asian countries, namely China where it's the number one messaging platform.  The app for Windows Phone got better with the following changes/additions:

• Specify your exact location while sharing location data
• Be notified when you're mentioned in a group chat
• Save video message to your device

WeChat is an excellent messaging app that is available free in the Windows Phone Store.

Access Point, Nokia Cinemagraph and Nokia Video Upload updated.

Today, Nokia has published updates for three of its apps to the Windows phone Store. 

The first one is the Access Point app. A Nokia exclusive app to manage your SIM cards or if

 your SIM cards has more than one access points. Access Point thus lets you easily manage your internet, MMS and internet sharing settings all in one place. Here's what is new in Access Point version 3.9.2.19:

• Operator setting updates
• Robustness improvements

Nokia Cinemagraph is the second app to be updated. Nokia describes the app as "magical blend of photo and movie-like animation, creating pictures that seem almost live." With a Nokia account, you will be able to upload your animation to social networks or via email. Version 4.1.1.5 bring these new features:

• Export cinemagraphs as GIF files
• Location data for better integration with Nokia Storyteller
• General performance improvements

Nokia Video Upload is as its name says, a small app to quickly share your videos with your friends. Version 2.0 has the following new features:

• Support for more devices
• Upload longer videos (up to minutes)

These three apps are Nokia Lumia exclusives.

Spring sales: 60% off EA Games - 1 week only.

Everything is the title of this post. EA Games is having a great sales on its title in the Windows Phone Store. Such titles include popular games like FIFA 14, Plants and Zombies, The Sims 3, Need for Speed. In all, 12 titles have seen their prices go down by 60%.

Stop reading right here and head over to the store to get them all. The sale will end on April 24. 

EA Spring Sales

Source: Windows Phone Blog

Skype gets minor update. Article written entirely with Word Flow keyboard.

Microsoft Skype got a minor update today. The change log doesn't say much besides the usual general fixes and improvements. I have installed the update but was not able to see any changes. But that is not the purpose of this post. In fact, it was just an opportunity for me to use the new word flow keyboard of Windows Phone 8.1.

Yes, I am using the swipe keyboard to write this article and it's not so bad. I'm not as fast as with a regular keyboard but that will come with more practice. The word flow keyboard is really awesome. Give it a try if you've downloaded the preview.

As for the Skype update, use the link below to update or download it.
http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=c3f8e570-68b3-4d6a-bdbb-c0a3f4360a51

Bad Piggies rolls out on Windows Phone.

Call it Angry Birds in reverse if you want, Bad Piggies is Rovio's Angry birds from the pigs' point of view. Instead of chasing and blowing up pigs, you will actually guide them to the eggs using some sort of devices you will build yourself. So you'll get your pigs crawling, flying, and rolling towards their obsession. 

The game has been released to the Windows Phone Store for $0.99. Check it out.

Bing Translator now does offline translation of Polish and Turkish.

Bing Translator or Translator for short has been updated today that brings the app to version 2.9. The nice little translator is one that frequent travelers need to add to their travel kit. Not just because it is free, but it does the job quite nicely and it is frequently updated to include more languages.

In this update, Translator gets two languages added to its offline language translation list: Polish and Turkish. On the online front, Maltese and Welsh have been added.

Translator is also able to translate whatever falls into the range of your device lenses. Your Windows Phone camera will thus help you understand Czech, Greek, Hungarian, Polish and Turkish. The app also gets a wide live tile.

Check the update or download Translator in the Windows Phone Store.

Evernote gets a better note editor, picture editing in preview.

Among all note-taking apps, Evernote remains my favorite. I use 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.

Evernote received an update today that improves the note editor with the following features:

• Indentation (text, list, check boxes)
• In line attachments
• Table editing
• Horizontal rule support
• Layout improvement
• Edit pictures in preview
• Mask pin code on unlock.

Evernote is free to download in the Windows Phone Store.

Facebook Messenger let you saves photos while using less data.

Facebook Messenger for Windows Phone just got better today with an update that adds a much requested feature by users: The ability to save photos shared within conversations. Frankly, I did not even know this feature was missing in Facebook Messenger. I mostly share pictures via my OneDrive. With this update, Facebook also tweaked the notification to make it more reliable. I don't yet know how reliable it is, but it was re-designed so users do not miss any messages. Only time will tell how good it is. 

It is interesting to note that the change log mentions that the "app uses less data". Not sure about that one either. But in my case, it would be better for such an app to user less power.

Facebook Messenger is free to download on the Windows Phone Store.

Viber now lets you call non-Viber mobile and landline at low rates.

Viber for Windows Phone was updated today to version 4.1 and it has some features of interest that fans of the app will enjoy. The first one is the ability to use Viber on your Windows Phone to make calls to other mobile phones and land-lines. This added feature is not free, but the rates are inferior to what similar calls cost especially for international calls. Similar to Skype, you will need to buy credits in order to use this feature called Viber Out, which puts Viber in direct competition with Skype.

Other features include:

Send video messages
Send multiple photos at the same time
Hands-free Bluetooth support: seamlessly transfer calls to Bluetooth

Viber is free to download from the Windows Phone Store. If you already have it, get the update in the Store app on your phone.

Microsoft Research updates Blink with new UI, dual modes and more.

Microsoft Research has released an important update for their Blink app today. If you are not among the 1 million users who downloaded Blink, you should definitely get it now. Blink is a cool app that lets you capture a burst of images before you even press the shutter. Even more, it continues to capture images even after you're done taking yours. And this can result into amazing pictures and experience. Obviously, like any modern apps, social networks is built into Blink so you can share your masterpiece with the world.

Among the features in the update is Dual mode. Users can easily switch between two modes. One to edit and share your animations and still mode to save and share the perfect shot. See the full change log below:

New! Version 2.4
- Fresh new look: New branding and refreshed UI elements throughout the app.
- Dual Modes: Switch easily between two modes - Blink mode to edit and share your animations, and still mode to save and share the perfect shot.
- Focus Lock: Tap on the screen to lock focus in that the region. That region will always remain in focus even across phone movements. Tap again to unlock.
- Improved stabilization: Even better video stabilization so that your Blinks play without any camera shake or jitter.
- Live Tile: Pin Blink to the start screen and see your perfect shots on the live Tile. (Note: might require a phone reboot or a unpin/re-pin for live tile to start showing.)
- My Blinks: A new gallery view in the Blink roll to quickly jump among captured Blinks.
- Tutorial: An interactive tutorial is included to quickly get you going.
- Orientation lock: Bug fix to orient Blinks correctly on sharing, under orientation lock.

Go to the Windows Phone store to download the update.

Source: Windows Phone Blog.