Viber App For Windows Phone Updated With Bug Fixes

Viber for Windows Phone just got updated to v4.5.2 in Windows Phone Store. This update includes just bug fixes. Previous major update included couple of new features like the ability to swipe between photos in chat and language settings.

What's new in previous update v4.5:

• Easily view all photos in a chat by swiping• Change Viber language in settings

More than 500 million Viber users text, call, and send photo and video messages worldwide over Wifi or 3G – for free. Viber Out can be used to make calls to non-Viber mobile and landline numbers at low rates.

Download it here from Windows Phone Store for free.

Source: Viber App For Windows Phone Updated With Bug Fixes

Satya slashes at Bing Maps and Advertising (is Lumia next?)

From CIO: 8 Free Online Courses to Grow Your Tech Skills
Source: Satya slashes at Bing Maps and Advertising (is Lumia next?)

The Last Door Coming To Windows Phone

Author Message Last post: Today at 22:19 Posted today at 19:07 Wonder how many achievements wont pop/sync this time Last post: Today at 19:10 Posted today at 19:10 Nice! Count me in.

Been too long since we had something akin to the underrated Ghostscape (WP)

Last post: Today at 21:39 Posted today at 19:09 Spilner said:Wonder how many achievements wont pop/sync this time

I still applaud Gametroopers for releasing games though. At least they patch them if they have issues. *Cough* Gameloft *Cough*

Last post: Today at 22:19 Posted today at 19:12 Blame Essence said:Spilner said:Wonder how many achievements wont pop/sync this time

I still applaud Gametroopers for releasing games though. At least they patch them if they have issues. *Cough* Gameloft *Cough*

Tis true, sure a few of us more savvy WP users would be happy to test these games more for them than their own QA dept though Last post: Today at 19:43 Posted today at 19:43 I'm just happy the windows phone is getting games again. About three months ago was contemplating switching. Last post: Today at 19:46 Posted today at 19:46 Fastest Slug said:I'm just happy the windows phone is getting games again. About three months ago was contemplating switching.Why switch when Windows 10 Mobile is months away and the ID@Xbox head has already publicly stated that ID@Xbox is coming to Windows 10 development? This includes Windows 10 Mobile, meaning soon there is going to be a deluge of mobile Xbox games. Last post: Today at 22:12 Posted today at 19:57 range is good said:Fastest Slug said:I'm just happy the windows phone is getting games again. About three months ago was contemplating switching.Why switch when Windows 10 Mobile is months away and the ID@Xbox head has already publicly stated that ID@Xbox is coming to Windows 10 development? This includes Windows 10 Mobile, meaning soon there is going to be a deluge of mobile Xbox games.Except the mobile version of Windows 10 is likely getting released, then dumped. All signs are pointing to it from the higher-ups at Microsoft. Last post: Today at 21:15 Posted today at 21:15 Nice. Really wish there was more point and clicks on WP. It's the perfect platform for them.

@ChewieOnIce | NewsHound | 'Please don't kill us.' 'Please don't make it so appealing'

Last post: Today at 21:39 Posted today at 21:39 xPut Name Herex said:range is good said:Fastest Slug said:I'm just happy the windows phone is getting games again. About three months ago was contemplating switching.Why switch when Windows 10 Mobile is months away and the ID@Xbox head has already publicly stated that ID@Xbox is coming to Windows 10 development? This includes Windows 10 Mobile, meaning soon there is going to be a deluge of mobile Xbox games.Except the mobile version of Windows 10 is likely getting released, then dumped. All signs are pointing to it from the higher-ups at Microsoft.Got some links that made you think that? Haven't read anything about that before. Last post: Today at 21:54 Posted today at 21:54 How does one...reach the last...if one...could not locate the first? Last post: Today at 21:58 Posted today at 21:58 I remember playing the flash games for this.
Source: The Last Door Coming To Windows Phone

Lumia 940XL Spotted On GFXBench With Snapdragon 810

Microsoft is going to launch two high-end Lumia flagship smartphones later this year and while the company itself has not confirmed the specifications of these handsets it is widely believed that they will be powered by Qualcomm's latest processor. The Lumia 940XL has been spotted on GFXBench and it appears to be running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor.

This was to be expected. Back when the controversy regarding the Snapdragon 810 overheating issues was making headlines everyday, Qualcomm got together a bunch of its partners and made them reiterate their commitment to the 810 in a blog post, Microsoft was among those partners and thus it did hint back then that upcoming Lumia flagship will feature the Snapdragon 810.

The GFXBench benchmark also indicates that the Lumia 940XL has a 1,440×2,560 Quad HD resolution display with at least 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, at least on the model that ran the benchmark. Also present are the rumored 20 megapixel rear and 5 megapixel front cameras.

It goes without saying that the door is open to spec changes before Microsoft starts mass producing the Lumia 940XL, for all we know this benchmark was run on an early stage prototype and since then the company has made countless changes to the overall device.

Microsoft has not yet said when it's going to launch the new Lumia handsets this year.

Filed in Cellphones. Read more about lumia, and Microsoft. Source: techtastic.nl

Source: Lumia 940XL Spotted On GFXBench With Snapdragon 810

Microsoft release new Calls+ settings app for Windows Phone

Microsoft has just released a new app into the Windows Phone Store.

Calls + (also called Calls Extras) is a settings app that will enable you to set your call waiting and call forwarding preferences for your cellular network.

The app supports both single-SIM and Dual-SIM handsets and installs into your Settings list, not app list.

The app appears to replicate most of the functionality of the Calls Settings applet found in the Network+ settings app, so its purpose is not clear, but it does seem somewhat more focussed.

Find it in the Windows Phone Store here.

Thanks Abhishek for the tip.

Source: Microsoft release new Calls+ settings app for Windows Phone

Rumor – Microsoft Lumia 940, 940 XL Could Arrive with Windows 10 for Mobile

Concept render c/o WMPowerUser.com

Ever since Microsoft acquired Finnish company Nokia's mobile phone business, we've seen the Redmond company use its own branding on affordable, yet high-quality Lumia Windows Phones.  With Nokia still a force in emerging markets, it seemed like the right thing to do at the time – focus on entry-level devices, midrange at best, make sure they're of the highest quality with decent bang for the buck.  But there's a good chance the higher-end Microsoft Lumia 940 and Lumia 940 XL will be debuting sometime in the fall, alongside Windows 10 for Mobile.

Reports claim that the Lumia 940 XL will be a flagship phone with excellent fundamentals, while the Lumia 940 may be a bit less impressive in terms of its basics, but still high-end.  These devices may be the phones known behind the scenes as Cityman and Talkman, and we've also got some information on their specs, thanks to a recent sighting on the AdDuplex ad network.

We'll have to emphasize the word "basic" when it comes to specs, as this first sighting only tells us that the Microsoft Lumia 940 XL will have a 5.7-inch, QHD (2560 x 1440) display.  Thankfully, we were able to fill in the blanks somehow with regards to the XL's meat-and-potatoes.  The phone may run on a powertrain consisting of an eight-core Snapdragon 810 processor and 3 GB RAM, according to a separate report from NokiaPowerUser.  The XL may also sport 32 GB internal memory with microSD, a 20-megapixel rear camera with PureView technology, a 5-megapixel front camera, and an iris scanner for a special selling feature.

Going back to AdDuplex, that sighting suggests the Lumia 940 will have a 5.2-inch, 1080p display, but NokiaPowerUser suggests that the device will come with QHD resolution.  It may run on a Snapdragon 808 mated to 3 GB RAM, and may also come with 32 GB storage, and the same cameras as the bigger Lumia 940 XL.

We don't know yet when the Lumia 940 and 940 XL will be out in the market, but chances are we'll be seeing them get launched and released in the fall of 2015.

LOL of the day: Hardware Store Warns Staff to Brace for Fifty Shades Sales Frenzy....! Viral Video Of the Day - February 11 Six Hot Dogs in Six Seconds? Yep, You Better Believe It!!! Little Girl's Tatrum at Dad's 'Frozen' Lyrics Choice is Hilarious......!!! Firecrackers + Drains = Very, VERY Bad Idea....!!!! What if Goldeneye 64 Was Real.....? It Might Look Like This: Pancake Day Fire - Better Call The...Say What Now???? How to Win Show and Tell - Bring a Dinosaur....!!!!! You Know You're Gonna Try This One Out....!!! Cool Blade Throwing Act Ends with Hilarity......! :-) They're Calling Him the Smartest Dog Ever - Don't miss the end Man Drives Stolen Indy 500 Pace Car Through Showroom Window
Source: Rumor – Microsoft Lumia 940, 940 XL Could Arrive with Windows 10 for Mobile

Top Windows Phone news of the week: App for switching, one-handed operation, new build images

Screenshots of Windows 10 Mobile build 10149 leak

Windows 10 Mobile is looking nice based on screenshots of build 10149 that leaked this week. The Edge browser is shown, demonstrating new functionality of the address bar. The images show lots of minor changes in appearance and features added and changed.

Source: Neowin

Microsoft doing well in India based on Nokia brand

Nokia has a decade-long history in India and is considered a good brand in the country. Microsoft is using that history to its advantage and getting Windows Phones in the hands of buyers. The company has a big campaign planned for later this year to convince prospective customers that the Microsoft brand is synonymous with the Nokia brand.

The planned push in India will focus on high-end phones, trying to get them in buyers' hands instead of inexpensive phones already selling well.

Source: WSJ

Switch from Android to Windows and keep your data

Those moving from an Android phone to Windows Phone will want to bring their data along for the ride. Microsoft has released apps to make it easy to get the Android data over to the new Windows Phone.

You install an app on the existing Android phone and on the new Windows Phone to start the process. Follow the directions and your data will follow you to Windows Phone.

Source: IT Pro Portal

Windows 10 Mobile to have one-handed operation like iPhone 6

Apple introduced a one-handed mode for the iPhone 6 to make it easier to reach controls at the top of the screen with one hand. The latest preview build of Windows 10 Mobile shows a similar feature. Pressing and holding the Start button slides the screen down so the upper region is within reach.

The latest build of Windows 10 Mobile has a lot of updates, showing good promise for the general release later this year.

Source: TNW

Source: Top Windows Phone news of the week: App for switching, one-handed operation, new build images

Microsoft CEO Nadella wants to help the world 'to achieve more'

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warns of "tough choices" ahead for the software maker. Getty Images

Microsoft has a new mission statement that goes straight to the point.

The software maker's new official goal is "to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more," CEO Satya Nadella wrote in an email to employees. The message was first obtained by GeekWire on Thursday, and Microsoft confirmed its authenticity to CNET News.

Former CEO Steve Ballmer revised Microsoft's mission statement in October 2013 so it called on the company to "create a family of devices and services for individuals and businesses that empower people around the globe at home, at work and on the go, for the activities they value most." It didn't have quite the same zing as Nadella's does now.

Nadella's philosophy builds on, but doesn't erase, a few other Microsoft marketing mantras he's touted since taking charge in February 2014. For instance, "more personal computing" is still very much alive -- that's Microsoft's way of admitting that people use all sorts of devices connected together over the Internet. Focusing on that phenomenon is one of the core strategies Nadella says will help the company become the major player in the "mobile-first, cloud-first" world. Indeed, "mobile-first, cloud-first" is another favorite for Microsoft executives, who are looking to the company's fast-growing cloud services division to help sell software.

Microsoft is preparing for the July 29 release of the Windows 10 operating system, which powers more than 90 percent of the world's PCs. Most Windows users will be able to upgrade to the new version for free. With Microsoft 10, developers will be able to write "universal" apps once, which can then run on any device running the new operating system. That universality underlies the company's revised mission statement: Helping customers be more productive across all apps and devices.

Nadella has spent much of the last year and a half rebuilding Microsoft. He's emphasized getting the company's flagship software, like its Office application suite, on devices of all sizes and types, including competitors', and has stressed the power of Windows as a cloud-based service. He has also instituted companywide cultural shifts, pushing ambitious research projects like the HoloLens headset out of the lab and turning the development of Windows 10 into a transparent, feedback-driven process that recruited consumers as early testers.

The changes haven't come without some sour notes. Last summer, the company laid off 18,000 employees of its then-125,000-person global workforce A majority of those layoffs were former Nokia employees brought on after Microsoft acquired the Finnish company's handset division in April 2014 for $7.2 billion.

And just last week, Microsoft announced an organizational shakeup that included t he exit of former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. Microsoft promoted Terry Myerson, former head of operating systems, to be chief of the new Windows and Devices Group. That division rolls the consumer device businesses, like Xbox, Surface and Lumia, into the company's largest software division. The goal is to make Windows 10 the common thread among every device, product and service.

Nadella also noted the company's ongoing diversity initiatives, a topic that made headlines in October when the CEO implied female employees shouldn't ask for raises but should instead trust karma.

"We will be open to learning our own biases and changing our behaviors so we can tap into the collective power of everyone at Microsoft," Nadella wrote in the new mission statement. "We don't just value differences, we seek them out, we invite them in. And as a result, our ideas are better, our products are better and our customers are better served."

Nadella doesn't mention the word "layoffs" in hi s memo, but he does flick at the possibility of more employee exits or even products or divisions potentially getting the axe.

"We will need to innovate in new areas, execute against our plans, make some tough choices in areas where things are not working and solve hard problems in ways that drive customer value," Nadella wrote.

Source: Microsoft CEO Nadella wants to help the world 'to achieve more'

Windows Phone AdDuplex stats show more of the same

June is wrapping up and AdDuplex's detailed report on Windows Phone statistics has been released. The June report goes through the 23rd of the month and shows advanced analysis of which devices are popular, which carriers are used, breaks down information from various countries, and more. AdDuplex collects their info from a series of over 5,000 applications. There isn't any jaw dropping news but there are some interesting trends that have continued from the past in this month's data.

Worldwide the most popular device is still the Lumia 520 but its foothold is weakening as it dropped 2.3%. That's in contrast to the United States which has the Lumia 635 in the top spot at 32.6% and the Lumia 520 dropping 2.3% this month. The slideshow below also shows breakdowns of Windows Phones in Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, and India.

In the United States ATT&T beats out the other Windows Phone carriers at 33.6%. Their closest competitors are Cricket at 19.1% and T-Mobile at 16.1%.

Nokia/Microsoft (depending on when the device was made) still make 96.74% of Windows Phones. That's mostly unchanged but shows a stable market for the dominating Lumia line and a stark reality for HTC, Samsung, Huawei and everyone else who combine for less than 4% of the market.

Out of all Windows Phone devices, 76.7% of them are running Windows 8.1. There are still 13.6% on Windows 8 and 7.1% on Windows 7.x. The release of an official Windows 10 Mobile preview build for insiders may have changed the market slightly as Windows 10 Mobile increased by 0.2% bringing it up to 2.5%.

The majority of Windows Phones in use are WVGA screen resolution. As pointed out in AdDuplex's slide, three out of four devices are running WVGA or something very similar to it.

As we said earlier, these stats aren't that surprising. Windows Phone is doing well in the low and mid range markets and performs better outside the United States than within it.

Source: Windows Phone AdDuplex stats show more of the same

Microsoft launches Lumia 540 dual SIM smartphone priced at Rs 10,199; unveils first priority reseller store in Hyderabad

Microsoft today unveiled its first Priority Reseller Store here and launched Lumia 540 dual SIM smartphone.

In India, the transition is being made across a total of 8,872 stores and 119 care centres, T S Sridhar, Director (South), Nokia India Sales Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy), told reporters here.

Out of the total outlets in India, 441 are getting a completely new design while the remaining stores are being refreshed with new signage by end of June, 2015.

"As many as 99 stores located in the southern region and 13 stores in Hyderabad will be transitioned to Microsoft brand stores," he said.

The new look stores that are being transitioned from Nokia to Microsoft will ensure an improved shopper experience and provide consumers a better flavour of Microsoft devices, he added.

According to him, the priority branded retail stores in the state will be called 'Microsoft Priority Reseller' stores while other stores will be known as 'Microsoft Mobile Reseller' stores.

The Lumia 540 is a mid-range smartphone priced at Rs 10,199 and features the latest Windows Phone 8.1 and is upgradeable to Windows 10 which will be launched later this year, he added.

Source: Microsoft launches Lumia 540 dual SIM smartphone priced at Rs 10,199; unveils first priority reseller store in Hyderabad

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Mobile test build with 'Edge' browser branding

A week after delivering Windows 10 Mobile preview build 10136, Microsoft has rolled out another new Windows 10 Mobile test build for Windows Phones.

The new build, 10149, is available to Windows Insiders on the Fast Ring, as of June 25.Today's new Windows 10 Mobile build is the first which includes the Microsoft Edge branding for the new browser that was formerly known as "Project Spartan."

Because the Edge app has a new app ID, testers will lose favorites, cookies, history and reading list items they saved in Spartan in previous preview builds to be lost.

The new build also includes a number of UX improvements and refinements; improvements to Cortana; a Flashlight quick action option; and an updated Photos app via the Windows Store beta.

Unlike Build 10136, today's build doesn't require those who want to get it to first go back to Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft fixed that single-hop problem, and testers who either stayed on 10080 or who did go to 10136 can get the new test build.

Like Build 10136, the post-upgrade migration status screen is missing in the new build, which means testers might have to wait for up to 10 minutes to get the date/time lockscreen to appear after getting the new 10149 bits.

The Insider Hub is removed in the new build. But Microsoft officials said it will be back in future Insider Preview builds. Other known issues are listed in today's blog post about the new Windows 10 Mobile preview.

Source: Microsoft releases Windows 10 Mobile test build with 'Edge' browser branding

Microsoft Mobile opens first retail store in Hyderabad

Microsoft Mobile on Wednesday unveiled its first retail store in Hyderabad under the new brand name.

The Microsoft Priority Reseller Store, as it is called, has been opened at Forum Mall here.

T.S. Sridhar, director, south, Nokia India Sales Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile, said 8,872 stores and 119 care centres across the country will be transformed.

While 441 outlets are getting a completely new design, the remaining stores will be refreshed with new signage by the end of current month.

He said 441 Microsoft Priority Reseller stores offer 'touch and feel' experience to consumers, and 99 out of these are in south India.

Hyderabad has 13 priority stores while 16 more are located in other parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The company also launched Microsoft Lumia 540, augmenting the Lumia smartphones portfolio further.

The Lumia 540, with Windows 8.1, is priced at Rs.10,199 and comes with freebies totalling to about Rs.3,000, including Airtel data, 'Gaana', 'Ola' and PayTm cashback offers.

It will be upgraded to Windows 10, to be launched later this year.

He said 11 Lumia devices have been launched since October 2014, out of which five are Microsoft-branded.

Also read: MIcrosoft to start three data centres in India

Source: Microsoft Mobile opens first retail store in Hyderabad

Microsoft unveils first priority reseller store in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Microsoft today unveiled its first Priority Reseller Store here and launched Lumia 540 dual SIM smartphone.

In India, the transition is being made across a total of 8,872 stores and 119 care centres, T S Sridhar, Director (South), Nokia India Sales Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy), told reporters here.

Out of the total outlets in India, 441 are getting a completely new design while the remaining stores are being refreshed with new signage by end of June, 2015.

"As many as 99 stores located in the southern region and 13 stores in Hyderabad will be transitioned to Microsoft brand stores," he said.

The new look stores that are being transitioned from Nokia to Microsoft will ensure an improved shopper experience and provide consumers a better flavour of Microsoft devices, he added.

According to him, the priority branded retail stores in the state will be called 'Microsoft Priority Reseller' stores while other stores will be known as 'Micr osoft Mobile Reseller' stores.

The Lumia 540 is a mid-range smartphone priced at Rs 10,199 and features the latest Windows Phone 8.1 and is upgradeable to Windows 10 which will be launched later this year, he added.

Source: Microsoft unveils first priority reseller store in Hyderabad

ITC Believes Nvidia has no Case on Samsung & Qualcomm

Another day, another set of patents and lawsuits. This time it's NVIDIA going up against Samsung and Qualcomm. And actually, the ITC, or the US International Trade Commission, believes that Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm should be cleared of patent-infringement accusations from NVIDIA. This case between these three companies involve graphics processors that are used in Samsung's Galaxy line of mobile devices. If the result of the case is NVIDIA winning, we could see a number of Galaxy smartphones banned in the US. As well as other products containing the infringing processors.

On Monday, ITC staff members announced this in Washington as the commission began a public hearing for the case. Currently, the recommendations are included in a pre-trial brief. Which has been filed under seal because it contained confidential business information, obviously. According to Bloomberg's Matt Larson. Larson also stated that this is a significant advantage for both Qualcomm and Samsung, however no ruling will be made until later this year.

NVIDIA is the largest maker of chips for computer-graphics cards. This case could bring in as much as $2 billion in royalty payments for Samsung and Qualcomm using this technology. Which is a pretty big sum, and as big as Qualcomm and Samsung both are, that's still a pretty small royalty payment for each device.

"The parties will be presenting evidence all week," said Hector Marinez, a spokesman for Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia. "We look forward to making our case to the judge and to a successful outcome when he rules in October."

Royalties are something we're seeing more and more of each year. Microsoft actually makes around $2 billion off of royalties on Android devices. In fact, it's the reason why the Xbox and Windows phone sections of their business are still around, despite losing nearly $2 billion per year. Microsoft makes a few bucks off of each device that runs Android that is sold. Even those that are not Google's Android, but forked Android like Amazon's Fire OS for their Kindle Fire's. And even those OEMs in China that cannot use Google services – obviously because of the great firewall.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He's been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He's currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: ITC Believes Nvidia has no Case on Samsung & Qualcomm

Source: ITC Believes Nvidia has no Case on Samsung & Qualcomm

Product Review: Microsoft Lumia 735 for Verizon

Last week I gave you my first impressions on the Lumia 735 available from Verizon. Since then I've been using the 735 exclusively, and I have to say, despite some usual Verizon anomalies, this smartphone is what all future Lumia's should emulate. It's a fantastic device for a number of reasons.

I reviewed the Lumia 640 recently. The 640 is a nice handset with a few glaring gotchas and not one I'd instantly recommend. However, the 735 gets my full seal of approval. If you're a Verizon customer, the 735 is the Windows smartphone you want.

Instead of giving you a feature-by-feature breakdown, I'll highlight those pieces about the 735 that make it a desirable purchase. So, let's take a look at the reasons that sets the 735 apart.

Form Factor. I'm not a fan of big screen smartphones or handsets that when held to your head looks like a college student trying to absorb a text book through osmosis. If you want a tablet, buy a tablet. I want a smartphone that fits in my pocket easily without it looking like I'm transporting a masonry brick. The 735 is just that. It fits easily and comfortably in my hand and almost disappears in my front pants pocket. In fact, the form factor reminds me so much of the old HTC 8X Windows Phone – which I loved. If you're familiar with that HTC model, you know what I'm talking about. The 735 is just a tad bit thicker than the HTC 8X, but the hand-size is the same.

Battery Life. This is by far one of the big improvements over the 640 I tested. The blame could actually be lobbied at the network and how often the device pings for connectivity, but the 735 is the clear winner in battery life. It's not as good as the HTC M8, but really, really close.

Heat. Another big ding I gave the 640 was the extraordinary heat output. Since I'm an avid front pocket carrier, the heat got uncomfortable extremely quick, forcing me to just tote it around in my hand. I tested various scenarios with the 735 to push performance, trying to get it to heat up, but was unable to do so. So, just as comfortable as the 735 is to hold, it's just as comfortable carrying in a pocket.

Camera. This is a Lumia. Lumia's provide the best possible camera experience of any smartphone I've ever tested on any platform and is quite possibly one of the biggest deciding factors for choosing one. The 735 is no exception. Not only is the camera output clean and clear, but the 735 takes advantage of all the special Lumia photo and video features including providing some of the best automatic, on-the-fly photo adjustments. I use the HTC M8 as my daily smartphone driver and the 735 makes me extremely jealous. The 735 sports a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a 6.7-megapixel rear camera with full HD video at 30fps.

Wireless Charging. I'll cover my thoughts on the provided power plug a bit later, but the 735 does provide wireless charging capability, and that's a huge plus. I've invested heavily in wireless charging plates around the house and even in the car for the Lumia users in the family. One of the things I gave up when I chose the HTC M8 was wireless charging and the 640 doesn't even support it. The 640XL supports wireless charging, but that also comes with a higher price.

Screen. The 735 has one of the more vibrant screens I've tested and definitely on a level beyond what the 640 offers. It's really a pleasure viewing the crisp, clean screen. Impressive.

Verizon. I could only ding this unit for one area and that's the provider. And, really this is just from personal experience and has no true bearing on the 735 itself. A few years back, Verizon was the clear leader in cellular connectivity, but it seems that the company's competitors have been working extremely hard to improve their own networks. When I tested the 640, the best part about it was the Cricket service (which runs on the AT&T network). That surprised me, and since have been testing out other service providers. During my testing I've found that Verizon's network has degraded so much (at least in my area) we're seriously considering moving the entire family to another provider.

And, this is a sad case because Verizon has finally gotten a worthy Windows Phone. Windows Phone 8.1 is an awesome platform, but is still failing in market share. I put a lot of that blame on Verizon. Last year I told the story of how Verizon seems to go out of its way to not sell Windows Phone. Sales people try to steer you to Android or iPhone and Verizon stores tuck Windows Phones away in the back room and only bring them out if specifically asked. This is still happening today.

Power plug. I just can't seem to harp on this enough. Consumers generally own and operate a number of gadgets and devices, all of which require power to charge. When manufacturers include a power plug that either takes up too much space or, like the 735, hangs the corded connection off to the side, it defeats the purpose of having adequate electrical outlets. Fortunately, and unlike the 640, the 735 offers wireless charging capability, or you could invest in something like the Omaker 5 Port USB Desktop Charger I reviewed a few days ago. Still, no one likes a fat plug.

Absent headphones. Just like the 640, the 735 does not include headphones. Personally, I think this should be a standard practice by now. Standalone media players are almost a thing of the past and most everyone uses their smartphone for playing music or watching videos on the go.

Using and testing the Lumia 735 as my daily driver for the past few days I found it difficult to find something about it that was horrible. In fact, I love this device so much that I'm already trying to scheme a way to either keep this review unit or obtain one directly. Yes, I'm actually considering replacing my HTC M8 with the 735 – it's that good.

The Microsoft Lumia 735 is available from Verizon for $192 off contract or $29 with a two year agreement.

Source: Product Review: Microsoft Lumia 735 for Verizon

Nextgen Reader for Windows and Windows Phone updated with WhatsApp sharing capabilities and more

Nextgen Reader for Windows and Windows Phone was updated earlier today. The latest update brings a number of new features and bug fixes to improve the overall user experience. Firstly, the app now give users the ability to share the links to WhatsApp in a few simple taps, but you have to first enable it from the app settings. Secondly, the developer has fixed the crash issues experienced by users running the Windows 10 Mobile preview build 10136.

Here's the complete change log for the latest update as per the Windows Phone Store:

Fixed crash issues on Windows 10 Mobile build 10136.

Set favorite contacts and share articles quickly via email. Tap the three dots next to email.

Share links via WhatsApp.

Please go to app settings -> accounts to enable WhatsApp.

Many other improvements and bug fixes.

Head over to the Windows or Windows Phone store and grab the updated Nextgen reader. For those of you who don't know, it's one of the best RSS reader app available for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone, and is currently available at a discounted price of $0.99 as a part of the Red Stripe Deals.

Source: Nextgen Reader for Windows and Windows Phone updated with WhatsApp sharing capabilities and more

Verizon Communications Inc. Offers $50 Discount On Microsoft Lumia 735 On 2-Year Contract

The new Microsoft Lumia 735 is now available for just $30 on two-year contract at the nation's largest wireless carrier, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ). The device was initially offered at the carrier for $80 on the two-year agreement.

Verizon announced to launch the new Lumia 735 on June 18, with a price tag of $80 for the carrier's two-year contract. The off-contract price of the handset is $192. The carrier offers its users the option to own the device by signing up for Verizon's Edge plan and paying off 24 monthly installments, each of $8. Verizon has now decided to add more appeal to the Lumia 735 by removing $50 off the handset's original price for its customers.

However, the discount offer is only valid for customers who order the Lumia 735 at Verizon's online store. According to the wireless leader, customers purchasing the new Lumia 735 before July 1 will be granted a one-year subscription of Office 365 Persona, absolutely for free. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has launched the Lumia 735 in different colors; Verizon is offering the black color model only as of now, but is speculated to bring in more color options later this month, to boost the appeal for the new smartphone.

The Lumia 735 features a 4.7 inch ClearBlack OLED display having a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels. The phone has Snapdragon 400 chip (1.2GHz), 16GB of internal storage, and 1GB RAM. It has a 5 megapixel secondary front camera and 6.7 megapixel auto focus, with f/1.9 aperture, ZEISS optics, LED flash, and 1080p video capture feature. The smartphone is shipped with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 out of the box.

The low-budget phone comes with a removable plastic back cover that allows users to easily insert the battery, the micro SD card and the micro SIM. However, the cover is prone to fingerprint smudges so customers will have to clean the device every now and then. The handset is the newest addition to the list of Windows smartphones offered by Verizon, joining Samsung (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) ATIV SE and HTC Corporation (OTCMKTS:HTCXF) One M8.

"With a wide-angle front facing camera, affordable price tag, and sleek, pocketable style – alongside integrated Microsoft experiences – Lumia 735 lets people easily capture and share more of what they want. Lumia 735 is powered by Windows Phone 8.1 and the Lumia Denim update, and is fully upgradeable to Windows 10," a Microsoft spokesperson told WinBeta.

Microsoft is also offering the Lumia 735, but the phone is available for as low as $50 on two-year binding contracts. The offer is valid for current as well as new customers, who either add a line or qualify for an upgrade. Customers who want to buy the device from Microsoft directly, without getting attached to the carrier for two years, may walk into any Microsoft store and pay an upfront price of $200, which is slightly more than Verizon's price.

Source: Verizon Communications Inc. Offers $50 Discount On Microsoft Lumia 735 On 2-Year Contract

Cortana vs Siri: why Siri is still the best voice assistant

Microsoft green-lights Cortana on rivals iOS and Android

What is the best AI voice assistant: Microsoft Cortana or Apple Siri? In this Siri vs. Cortana feature, we look at two AI assistants. Apple Siri is the famous voice behind the iPhone; Cortana is the newer Microsoft equivalent, coming soon to Windows 10 on all platforms. So which is best: Siri or Cortana? We think that Cortana has the edge in terms of semantically being able to segue into your life, and the fact that it is now baked in to Windows 10. But Siri is, in our experience, a better and more accurate tool. Right now at least.

The good news is that by the end of the year you will be able to try out Cortana on your iPhone, as Microsoft is making the tool available as an app for iOS. Here, then, is our Siri vs Cortana comparison review. For more on Siri, take a look at our complete guide: How to use Siri: 'Hey Siri!' and all the other Siri features

Siri vs Cortana: what they are, why they matter

Anything Apple can do; Microsoft can do later. It's an adage, but almost four years after Apple made Siri an integral part of iOS, Microsoft released Cortana, its Siri-a-like feature for Windows Phone.

While it's easy to scoff at Microsoft following again in Apple's footsteps, voice control has been making real gains in recent years and Apple was never going to be the only tech company to have a voice control aspect to its phones. Indeed, it is widely acknowledged that Google's 'Okay Google' Google Now service is one area in which [whisper it] Android is better than iOS.

Siri itself has made some real strides in recent months and is now more responsive and more intelligent than ever. Siri has become more intelligent and in the UK more capable than ever. But Cortana is also a rapidly improving feature. And when Windows 10 drops as a free upgrade for Window PCs and laptops in late July 2015, Cortana will be a part of it. We expect Siri to make its OS X bow with the upcoming El Capitan release, although Apple is currently staying coy on that subject.

Interestingly Microsoft is making Cortana available for Android and iOS, so pretty soon you will be able to use it on your iPhone, alongside or instead of Siri.

So there has never been a more important time to compare the Apple- and Microsoft voice assistants. And in this feature this is what we are going to do: we're going to look at Microsoft Cortana vs. Apple Siri.

Other things you might like to read:

Funny things to ask Siri: watch our video and laugh at Siri's responses to our questions

Get to know iOS 7: Siri

How do I get old Siri back? Change the Siri settings in iOS 7.1 to hear the old Siri voice again

Siri vs Cortana: What is Microsoft Cortana?

Cortana is a voice activated assistant for Windows Phone devices, soon to be baked into Windows 10 for all platforms. It operates much in the same way as Apple Siri. Users ask Cortana questions, or make requests, and it answers them or activates the appropriate feature on the phone. Like Siri, it has a name, and a personality to make the process of talking to your phone seem less weird.

Video game buffs will know that Cortana is the name of the Ai companion in the famous Halo series. Microsoft no longer owns Bungie, the makers of Halo, but it seems to want to bring this artificial agent into the real world. For more on Cortana, see: Here's what Windows Phone's rumored digital assistant needs to win you over

Cortana vs Siri: activating the voice assistant

Users activate Cortana in much the same way as Siri. Hold down the Search button on the Windows Phone (running the Windows 8.1 update), and Cortana will appear. Now speak the request, such as "call Alex" or "set an alarm for 8 o'clock" and Cortana will respond accordingly.

Unlike Siri, Cortana is designated as an app in Windows Phone. So it has its own icon that you can tap (this also activates Cortana).

Siri is activated by holding down the Home button on the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

What neither system does, just yet, is persistently monitor the audio and respond when you say, "Siri" or "Cortana" out loud. You have to activate both systems by physically tapping the device. We're sure this functionality is coming at some point down the line, on both devices, but it probably has functionality and battery implications at the moment.

Siri vs Cortana: Which devices will run Microsoft Cortana

Cortana first came along as part of the Window 8.1 update. Today Cortana is available as what Microsoft deems a 'beta' to all users of Windows Phone 8.1 in the United States and the UK, as well as China Users in certain countries can also choose to opt-in to the alpha for the English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish versions of Cortana on Windows Phone. In most of these regions, Cortana is also available via Windows Insider to both PC and mobile preview users of Windows 10.

Windows 10 launches at the end of July 2015 as a free upgrade to all users of Windows 7 and Windows 8, on PC, laptop, tablet and smartphone. Cortana will be part of that update.

On PCs and tablets Cortana will be accessed through the search button in the taskbar, while on smartphones Cortana will still be brought up using the search key on the device. Microsoft has also announced that Cortana will soon be available on other mobile platforms. An Android release is set for July 2015 followed by an iOS release later in the year. So pretty soon you will be able to use both Cortana and Siri on your iPhone. Cortana is also coming to Xbox as part of the Windows 10 roll out. It's gonna be everywhere - like it or not.

Siri vs Cortana: What can you do with Cortana and Siri

Both Siri and Cortana offer a wide range of similar functionality. Both Cortana and Siri enable you to do the following tasks:

• Make calls to contacts• Send texts and emails• Set alarms• Create calendar events• Open apps• Adjust settings• Make conversions• Search the web• Get directions• Look up Movie times• Create reminders• Play music

Siri vs Cortana: What Cortana has over Siri

Cortana has a few (not many) features that it lists that are unique. These are things it can do that Siri cannot. Here are some that we have heard of:

Cortana can look up flight times and flight information directly

Cortana has contact based reminders. So Cortana can give you a reminder when you start texting or emailing a person.

Cortana features Shazam-style music recognition.

These do not seem like make-or-break features to us, and we think that Siri will feature Shazam and flight times. The contact-based reminders feature is more interesting, and Microsoft should deserve credit for coming up with a unique feature for Cortana (even though the rest of Cortana owes such a big debt to Siri).

Siri vs Cortana: sense of humour

Cortana has the same humorous retorts that have made Siri famous. You can ask Cortana to tell you a joke, or you can ask Cortana about Siri and get similar snarky responses to Siri would reply about Google. If anything it seems that Microsoft has made Cortana even edgier than Siri, leading the American Comedian Arsenio Hall to create this a skit in which both Siri and Cortana start to fight on air.

Siri vs Cortana: the verdict

For the time being it seems that both Siri and Cortana offer similar functionality, although we are impressed with Microsoft's approach of tying reminders and events to people and prompting you when you get in touch. In-depth testing will allow us to explore whether Siri or Cortana offers better basic voice recognition, although both services will evolve the more you use them. In our limited experience, however, we find Siri subjectively easier to use.

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Source: Cortana vs Siri: why Siri is still the best voice assistant

Microsoft Lumia 940 or 940 XL May Come WIth USB Type C Connector

Amid numerous leaks and concept renders, we have spotted a supposed version of the Lumia 940 or 940 XL that comes with a USB Type C connector prepped a 20 megapixel camera, according to a Twitter upload from evleaks. The source has quite the taste for genuine news but the Twitter upload this time is pretty blurred. 

What The Render Reveals?

However, we fell in love with a 3D render that reveals three clear spots around the camera area. Microsoft has been dilly dallying with an upcoming flagship for pretty long now. Perhaps with the arrival of the Lumia handset, our appetites will be put to rest. You never know these could simply turn out to be LEDs. We did see dual-note flash tech on cameras for smartphones already but the trio of lights could be a maiden outing Microsoft takes.

Looking Into The Lenses

Interestingly, we gauged that the three supposed lenses have a slight tint difference.  This is indicative that a pair of LEDs could be the flash array and the third might be a sensor akin to the color spectrum we saw from LG of late. The story of the Lumia 940 camera could be further prepped up on its 5.2 incher QHD screen with 1,440 x 2,560px resolution.

Read More: Sony Likely To Unveil Xperia Z3+ In India On June 26

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Source: Microsoft Lumia 940 or 940 XL May Come WIth USB Type C Connector

Microsoft Research release Massively Empowered Classroom app for Windows Phone

Massively Empowered Classroom is an initiative by Microsoft Research to deliver the highest quality educational material to every undergraduate engineering student in India.

The new MEC app is the mobile solution for accessing Massively Empowered Classroom content. With the MEC app, students can access MEC content wherever they are.

Microsoft already had an Android app for the service, but has just delivered a Windows Phone client.

With the app you can view new content to keep up-to-date in your classes and review older videos when revising for exams or solving problems. In addition, you can download content for offline viewing later.

Find the app in the Windows Phone Store here.

See the app screen shots below.

Thanks Azer for the tip.

Source: Microsoft Research release Massively Empowered Classroom app for Windows Phone

Nokia to Design Mobile Phones Again, Despite Earlier Denials

Nokia's CEO says the move will come in 2016 after a non-compete agreement with Microsoft expires, according to a report.

Nokia will again create and license mobile phone designs—but not manufacture the devices—starting sometime in 2016, some two years after selling its once-market-leading mobile phone line to Microsoft as it worked to shed shrinking operations.The move, which will offer the phone designs to third-party manufacturers for production and distribution, was revealed by Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri in an interview with German publication Manager Magazin, according to a June 18 report by Reuters. "We will look for suitable partners," Suri said in the interview. "Microsoft makes mobile phones. We would simply design them and then make the brand name available to license."Suri's comments come just two months after Nokia sharply denied news reports back in April that it was again contemplating getting back into the mobile phone market, according to an earlier eWEEK story. Those reports at the time cited a former Nokia executive who said that the company was working on such products and could intro duce them in the future. "Nokia notes recent news reports claiming the company communicated an intention to manufacture consumer handsets out of a R&D facility in China," the company said in an April 26 statement on its Website. "These reports are false, and include comments incorrectly attributed to a Nokia Networks executive. Nokia reiterates it currently has no plans to manufacture or sell consumer handsets." In hindsight, though, that denial points specifically to manufacturing and distributing phones, which Nokia would not be doing under its potential design and licensing moves with third parties that are being described by Suri.This is not the first time that Nokia has looked at designing devices but leaving their manufacturing and distribution up to someone else. In November 2014, Nokia announced its first-ever Android tablet computer, the N1, which is built under license by a third-party device manufacturer, according to an earlier eWEEK report. The N1is being manufactured, distributed and sold by Taiwan's Foxconn.Nokia sold its mobile handset business to Microsoft on Sept. 3, 2013, for $7.1 billion, but has continued to operate its telecommunications equipment and navigational software units under the Nokia brand. The Microsoft-Nokia deal was completed in April 2014.Nokia will not be eligible to make or sell smartphones again until sometime in 2016 under the terms of the sale due to a non-compete agreement that remains in effect until that time.Before the acquisition, Nokia was a Microsoft premier Windows Phone partner. Microsoft previously said it purchased Nokia to help the company narrow the gap between it and its rivals by offering affordable, entry-level mobile devices to customers. In October 2014, Microsoft announced that it was rebranding its Nokia nameplate as Microsoft Lumia, while moving away from the Nokia nameplate.In April, Nokia announced that it will buy Alcatel-Lucent in a $16.6 billion deal that is expected to create a significant player in a rapidly evolving networking market dealing with such fast-moving trends as mobile computing, the cloud, the Internet of things and software-defined networking. Talk about Nokia's possibly acquiring Alcatel-Lucent began at least two years ago, after Nokia bought out Siemens' half of the companies' joint venture and had agreed to sell its struggling handset business to Microsoft.The melding of the two vend ors is expected to create a company that in 2014 had a combined $27.5 billion in sales and $2.45 billion in profit, more than $5 billion in R&D and net cash of almost $7.9 billion. Nokia will see its addressable market increase by 50 percent, to more than $138 billion, officials said. 
Source: Nokia to Design Mobile Phones Again, Despite Earlier Denials

WhatsApp 2.12.44 Free Download Beta for Windows Phone to Start Making Free Voice Calls and Saving Music Files

The latest version of WhatsApp 2.12.44 free download beta for Windows Phone comes in with a bunch of new features in addition to bug fixes from the previous version.

The recent weeks have seen the Windows Phone platform once again come to the notice of WhatsApp developers after being unfairly neglected for quite some time now. In the past, we have seen the Android and iOS platforms get the first priority as far as updates of WhatsApp is concerned. However, it will be unfair to criticize this Facebook-owned app on these grounds since it's not the only app that has been doing this.

As a result, it came as a surprise to many Windows Phone users when they saw a beta version of WhatsApp 2.12.44 coming in with some new and very interesting capabilities. One reason why WhatsApp has been very reluctant with rolling out updates for Windows Phone is that the app has had some issues with compatibility since it was first uploaded in the Windows Store. In fact, the app was at some point removed from the store due to what were termed as technical reasons, but it was restored after a few days. It seems many of these issues have yet to be addressed fully and with the new Windows 10 coming soon; it is time WhatsApp developers stepped in to make amends.

WhatsApp 2.12.44 beta for Windows Phone available on official app website

WhatsApp recently rolled out v2.12.44 beta for Windows Phone and this installer package can be downloaded from the official website of the messenger. As usual, this beta version is meant for testing and as such, it will not be very stable when using it. Alternatively, you can sit back and wait for the release of the stable version which will be availed via the Windows App Store.

WhatsApp voice calls available on beta version

One good thing about the new WhatsApp 2.12.44 beta for Windows Phone is that it has finally brought to life the voice calling feature on this platform. This feature has long been awaited ever since it made its debut on the Android devices back in February. However, you will again have to wait for the stable version in order to enjoy using this feature; otherwise, you can still get a taste of the beta version and see how it works.

Display in-app notifications

The latest version of WhatsApp for Windows Phone also comes in with another added ability where users will now be able to see in-app notifications within the app. This means that whenever a message comes in, you will be notified using alerts that appear at the top of the app. It is also possible to delete any missed calls on this application.

The call button in the latest beta version has been moved and now it comes as the third button in the application bar.

Saving MP3 files in a "Pictures" folder

The new WhatsApp 2.12.44 beta for Windows Phone will allow users to save MP3 music files in a folder known as Pictures. However, the installation of a file explorer application is paramount or else, the Music app will not recognize these files.

Source: WhatsApp 2.12.44 Free Download Beta for Windows Phone to Start Making Free Voice Calls and Saving Music Files

Nokia Announces New Smartphone Plans For 2016

Nokia's Android powered tablet, the Nokia N1 (image: Nokia.com)

Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri has announced the Finnish company's intention to return to the smartphone market in 2016. Speaking to Manager Magazin in Germany, the 47-year-old executive noted that Nokia could design the new handsets and then licence the designs and Nokia name to as yet un-named partners. Georgina Prodhan for Reuters:

"We will look for suitable partners," Rajeev Suri said in an interview published on Thursday. "Microsoft makes mobile phones. We would simply design them and then make the brand name available to license."

The timing and the nature of the return of the former number one mobile phone manufacturer (…in the world) should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention to the details either the sale of Nokia's devices and services business to Microsoft or the release last year of the Nokia N1 tablet.

Nokia's Android-powered tablet was announced at the Slush conference in November 2014, and demonstrated Nokia's new retail model for hardware. The design was Nokia's own, and while it shipped with Android 5.0 Lollipop and support for Google Play, it was given a Finnish flavor through Nokia's 'Z Launcher' software.  Foxconn obtained the licence for the tablet's manufacturing, selling, shipping, and support.

A leaner Nokia had returned to the hardware market without the tricky issue of rebuilding a support network for the hardware, and Foxconn could make use of its own manufacturing knowledge and networks to ship the N1.

While there are no details on who would be the licence of the next Nokia smartphone (or acknowledgement that Nokia will in fact release such a handset), it makes sense for Suri and Nokia to adopt the same business model for any new handset.

The timing should not be a surprise either.

Microsoft's purchase of the division granted it a number of IP marks (including the Lumia name), and a licence to use the Nokia name on smartphones and features for a number of years. The naming licence included a shorter period of exclusivity use - Nokia smartphones would be exclusively under the Microsoft banner for eighteen months.

That period will be up during 2016, and it sounds like Nokia is not going to waste any time in returning the powerful brand name back to the consumer smartphone market.

Now comes the obvious question of which operating system any new Nokia hardware will use. The phone does need to be a smartphone, the naming rights take care of that, and that leaves very few choices for the handset.

I doubt that Nokia would seriously look at BlackBerry's BB10 OS (and BlackBerry look to be slowly moving away from its own platform) and iOS is not available. Returning with a Windows 10 handset would be akin to Orpheus looking back in haste.

There's an argument that Nokia could take on a long shot with Jolla's Sailfish OS, but I'm not sure the market conditions are right for what would be seen as an experiment. Nokia's return will focus on the consumer experience, and that means an OS that is understandable by the vast majority of the public, with strong support for apps, and the availability of modern online services and social networks.

Nokia's Chief Executive Rajeev Suri addresses a press conference at the Nokia head offices in Espoo, Finland (MARKKU ULANDER/AFP/Getty Images)

It's back to the obvious choice of Android. Nokia has previously worked on its own Android fork, but that code and the hardware that used it (the Nokia X family) was sold to Microsoft. In theory there could be another fork front he Android Open Source Project, but with the N1 using Google's flavor of Android and using the Google Play store, I'm expecting to see the Nokia smartphone using a Google Play compatible version of Android with the Z Launcher software making a prominent appearance.

In the week that saw Microsoft demote its mobile hardware team through an internal reorganisation, the news that Nokia is definitely coming back will be welcomed by many industry watchers. The game of 'what if' over an earlier adoption of Android in 2010 or 2011 will continue. Nevertheless Nokia has adapted itself to the current smartphone climate, has minimised the risk involved in the return, and is far more nimble and agile than it was when it worked alongside Redmond.

Hurry up, 2016, I want to see what the Finns have been working on.

You can find more of my work at ewanspence.co.uk. I'm on Twitter, Facebook, and Linked In. You should subscribe to my weekly newsletter of 'Trivial Posts'.

Source: Nokia Announces New Smartphone Plans For 2016

Skype app for Windows Phone gets another update

While we know the Universal Skype app is not long for this world, being replaced in Windows 10 Mobile with built-in integration, it does not fortunately mean that Microsoft has stopped maintaining the current version.

Microsoft has just posted a small update to their app, from version v2.29.0.3 to v2.29.0.5, in what I can only assume is a bug-fixing update.

There is no new change log in the Store listing, if you noticed any changes, let us know in the comments. A few of months back, Microsoft updated this app with a new, compact design.

Download it here from Windows Phone Store for free.

Thanks Abhishek for the tip.

Source: Skype app for Windows Phone gets another update

Microsoft targets middle class with Lumia dual SIM

Microsoft has announced the availability of the Lumia 540 Dual SIM in Kenya in the fight for the mid to low cost smartphone market.

Following the acquisition of Nokia by Microsoft last year, the company has been seeking to deepen its presence in the region currently controlled by Samsung and other brands.

"For Sh17,800 only, a smart choice for value-conscious smartphone buyers the dual SIM is a welcome addition to our affordable smartphone portfolio," said Mariam Abdullahi, Microsoft Mobile Devices general manger.

The smart phone will be upgradeable to Windows 10 when the service becomes available later this year. It features a 5-inch High Definition display; 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash; and 5-megapixel front-facing camera that's great for taking wide-angle selfies.

"From the 67 per cent of all phones sold in Kenya in 2014, an estimated 1.8m devices being smartphones, the growth of the Lumia portfolio presents a great opportunity for the discerning middle class Kenyan to own a smartphone that helps them increase their productivity in their personal and work life," added.

Available in black, Lumia 540 Dual SIM comes with Skype and Microsoft office pre-loaded. Phone calls can instantly be upgraded into video calls with the touch of a button, using the pre-loaded Skype service and front-facing camera.

The launch comes even as a sturdy by Jumia Kenya released early this month states that in 2011, 7 per cent of phones sold were smartphones and the average lowest price was Sh15, 000. The trend has changed with 58 per cent smart phones sold annually, consumers can get very good quality phones at Sh10, 000.

This has pushed Microsoft and Samsung to begin focusing on the mid to low cost smart phone segment as they target revenue from it.

Source: Microsoft targets middle class with Lumia dual SIM

AT&T Expands Industry Leading Windows Phone Selection With Exclusive Microsoft Lumia 640 XL

DALLAS, June 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T1 announced today that the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL will be available in AT&T stores and online starting on Friday, June 26. AT&T is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the new smartphone, which will be available in matte black and matte white. AT&T currently offers the largest selection of Windows Phone devices of any operator in the U.S – all connected to the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network.2

Lumia 640 XL PricingQualified customers can purchase the Lumia 640 XL for $0 down on an AT&T Next SM plan, paying $8.34 per month with 30 device payments on Next 24, $10.42 per month at 24 payments on Next 18, or $12.50 per month at 20 payments on Next 12.3

Lumia 640 XL FeaturesWith the large 5.7 inch HD display and built-in Microsoft Office, you can read your emails, edit documents, update spreadsheets or review presentations while on-the-go. Cortana™, your proactive personal assistant, makes life easier. Cortana actively reminds you of appointments, keeps track of the things that interest you, provides people-based reminders and helps you stay on track with your schedule.4  

Additional features of the Lumia 640 XL include:

Camera: 13 megapixel rear facing camera with auto-focus, 5 megapixel wide-angle front facing camera; both cameras record in full HD video.

Operating System: Windows Phone 8.1 (Denim).

Processor: Quad-core Snapdragon™ 400 processor.

Storage: 8GB of internal storage and microSD support up to 128GB (microSD card sold separately).

Battery Life: 3000mAh battery provides up to 25 hours of talk time.5

Supporting Quote"AT&T has proven to be the go-to carrier for Windows Phone devices. We are excited to add the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL to our industry leading Windows Phone lineup. Its large, high quality display makes it easy to do work and stay entertained when you're on the move. For less than $10 per month on AT&T Next 24 you will get a high performing smartphone at a very affordable price on the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network. What a great package." – Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Device Marketing and Developer Services, AT&TMobility.

Device Eco-RatingThe Lumia 640 XL has earned four out of five stars on AT&T's Eco-Rating system. The system rates the environmental factors of AT&T branded handset devices. AT&T created the Eco-Rating system to empower consumers to make better informed decisions when selecting a device. For more information about this device's rating, AT&T's Eco-Rating System, and how you can join AT&T in making a difference, please visit http://att.com/ecospace.

Supporting Resources

View the Lumia 640 XL video: http://go-att.us/MicrosoftLumia640XLH.

For more information visit: www.att.com/lumia640xl.

1 AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.2 Reliability based on nationwide 4G LTE. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE not available everywhere.3 $0 down with AT&T Next req's well-qualified credit & a 20-mth, 24-mth or 30-mth 0% APR installment agreement.  Wireless service (voice & data) is required & is extra. Tax due at sale. If wireless svc is cancelled, device balance due. Other charges & restr's apply. Visit att.com/next for AT&T Next requirements.4 You need a Microsoft® account to use Cortana. This feature is not available in all languages. For information on the supported languages, go to www.windowsphone.com.5 The estimated maximum standby and use time may vary depending on your current usage patterns, settings, and other factors and conditions.

About AT&TAT&T Inc. T, +0.17% helps millions of people and businesses around the globe stay connected through leading wireless, high-speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. We're helping people mobilize their worlds with state-of-the-art communications, entertainment services and amazing innovations like connected cars and devices for homes, offices and points in between. Our U.S. wireless network offers customers the nation's strongest LTE signal and the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage.* We're improving how our customers stay entertained and informed with AT&T U-verse® TV and High Speed Internet services. And businesses worldwide are serving their customers better with AT&T's mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.

Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at www.youtube.com/att.

© 2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Reliability and signal strength claims based on nationwide carriers' LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. LTE signal strength. LTE not available everywhere.

*Global coverage claim based on offering voice and LTE data roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offering the most wireless smartphones and tablets that work in the most countries.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140408/CG99935LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-expands-industry-leading-windows-phone-selection-with-exclusive-microsoft-lumia-640-xl-300100643.html

SOURCE AT&T Inc.

Copyright (C) 2015 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Source: AT&T Expands Industry Leading Windows Phone Selection With Exclusive Microsoft Lumia 640 XL

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Mobile Insider preview build 10136 with new changes and fixes

Microsoft has released a new Windows 10 Mobile Insider preview build 10136 for Windows Insiders on Fast Ring for devices running Windows Phone 8.1 and opted to Windows Insiders Fast Ring.

This means if your Windows Phone device is running the previous build 10080, you will need to roll back to Windows Phone 8.1 using then Windows Phone Recovery tool. You then go to the Windows Insider app and select Insider Fast. Click here for our step-by-step guide detailing how to roll back to Windows Phone 8.1.

The reason why you need to roll back to Windows Phone 8.1 is due to a bug affecting upgrades from build 10080, which is why Microsoft is not supporting the upgrade path.

For those who are on build 10080 and do not wish to roll back to 8.1 to get the new update, there is no issue, as the phone will still be configured for the next build version. Microsoft has mentioned that the next build will have the migration issue fixed, while offering a direct update.

There is another issue users need to be aware of: at the end of the upgrade the lock screen will appear frozen, not having date and time for up to 10 minutes. This will appear eventually and allow you to unlock the phone.

Microsoft has included a number of new changes in this version. Following is a rundown of the changes:

Fit and finish changes

Upgrading to the new build, you should see several subtle changes in the UX, such as a transparent PIN pad that slides up over the lock screen image instead of displacing it. There are also changes in fonts, icons, layout and more.

Cortana improvements

Microsoft claims to have made a rich set of improvements for Cortanta, which is almost close to its final design. Furthermore, there are adjustments to cards in Cortana's homepage and in the hamburger menu. The dark theme colours have been added to Cortana's UI to make it more cohesive.

Photo and camera improvements

The photos app comes with performance and reliability improvements in this build. Owners of Lumia 640, 640XL, 930, Icon and 1520 on build 10136 can take benefit of the Lumia Camera Beta by making it a default camera app. This is a similar app to the new Windows 10 Camera app but with additional features.

One-handed use

Good news for those who have a Windows Phone device with a 5in or bigger screen. Microsoft has made it easier to use the device with one hand. Press the Start button and your phone screen will slide down so that you can reach items at the top of the screen.

Along with the new features, Microsoft has added a plethora of fixes to address the issues noted in the previous build. A few caveats still exist though, which you can check in the known issues section.

Fixes in build 10136

The MMS bug in build 10080 is fixed, and you should receive MMS messages normally.

An issue where touch will stop responding on the Lock screen preventing you from swiping up to unlock your phone is fixed.

Some visual glitches in Action Centre when expanding/collapsing have been fixed.

The issue with the text in the People app being too small is fixed now.

When you toggle the Wi-Fi quick action in Action Centre, it now disables/enables Wi-Fi instead of taking you to the Wi-Fi Settings page.

The Start screen background with the new build should be scaled correctly now.

You can add a detailed status to the display on the Lock screen from apps like Outlook Calendar without having the Settings app crash.

The issue where a mouse cursor would appear when pressing the back button on phone is fixed.

Known issues

After upgrading, you will see duplicate tiles for apps like Search and Phone under All Apps.

If you have too many PIN unlock attempts, you will see "enter A1B2C3". There is an issue in this build wherein after you enter the code you won't see the PIN pad. There is a work around for this. Just press Emergency Call after entering the code, then press Back, you should be able to enter your PIN.

Users are recommend to disable the double-tap-to-wake feature on some Lumia devices, which can be found under Settings app then Extras > Touch > Wake to prevent any accidental PIN unlock attempts.

There is an issue that may cause Skype not to work after upgrade; this can be fixed though. Just uninstall Skype on Windows Phone 8.1 before upgrading to this build and then reinstall it after upgrading. In case you have missed this step, you can resolve this by uninstalling it and reinstalling from the Store once the device is on 10136.

Head over to official Microsoft Windows blog to know more about the latest release.

Source: Microsoft releases Windows 10 Mobile Insider preview build 10136 with new changes and fixes

Microsoft Drops A New Windows 10 Mobile Build, Finalizing Cortana And Smoothing The UI

Microsoft announced a new Windows 10 Mobile build today. Windows Insider fast ring users can download it now, provided that their phones are running Windows Phone 8.1. Due to a migration bug, users running the previous fast ring build (10080) will need to reset their phones to 8.1 using the Windows Phone Recovery Tool before moving to the fresh code.

The new build addresses a few Windows Insider concerns from the last public preview that was released just over a month ago. Build 10136 focuses heavily on subtle design improvements and refining core features like Cortana and the Photos app.

Finalizing Cortana

The most pronounced changes in this preview appear reserved for Cortana, which Microsoft's Gabriel Aul said in a blog post was "very close" to its final design thanks to a number of interface adjustments made to improve its cohesiveness with the rest of the operating system.

Cortana has also now been enabled to track flights and packages whenever users receive emails with specific details regarding them, and will be able to pull up the information and alert users. A number of other features have also been enabled again for 10136, including getting answers for questions, weather, currency information and stock quotes directly inline.

Refining Phablet Usability

In the new build, Microsoft is also including a couple of tricks to keep all of Windows 10's UI elements in the reach of users operating their phablet devices with one hand. The blog noted that users toting devices with screens five inches and larger can now "press and hold the Start button and your screen will slide down so you can reach items at the top of your screen."

In action it should feel similar to how iOS 8 functions on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus handle smaller hands and larger screens.

Improving Photos app

In addition to the Photos app boasting a number of "performance and reliability improvements," the team at Windows noted that it was refining how users could quickly access their past photos. The blog post said that users could "tap on a month to get a list of months so you can quickly "jump" to photos you may have taken a while ago."

Finessing UX

Microsoft's Gabriel Aul said in a blog post that 10136 boasts a number of subtle UX changes that will really make the build feel "more complete" than 10080. Aul went on to note that the team was "doing a lot of refinement to the UX right now," and that users "should see more of that work in the next build we flight."

With the July 29 release of Windows 10 for PCs and tablets approaching, there has yet to be a firm date established for Windows 10 Mobile's release. For now, Microsoft is still holding to the goal of releasing it broadly "later this year."

Source: Microsoft Drops A New Windows 10 Mobile Build, Finalizing Cortana And Smoothing The UI

Microsoft Lumia 640 and 640 XL: Big services at a small price!

Microsoft, ever since acquiring Nokia's mobile phones division has been on a roll.

The company has been updating their systems and has been coming out with brilliant concepts throughout the time.

Microsoft Mobiles has never been a stronger brand as it is becoming with every passing day.

The company has managed to turn it around for the windows phone and with the arrival of Windows 10 it looks like they will be taking it to the next level and a major step forward.

With Windows 10, many things are bound to change, and the biggest change being how the computer, the phone, the consoles and the tablets all respond to each other.

The concept of 'One Platform' has been a concept which has been gaining major momentum and the fact that one can get the same experience across devices is really something big.

Lumia series was the last attempt by Microsoft to gain some space while their brand was sinking in the markets, however it did not turn out so well.

Microsoft is firefighting with the odds to bring the Nokia phones back to their former glory, but with a new name this time – Microsoft Mobiles.

The most important markets and segment of any mobile phone market is that of the mid priced segments where competitive pricing strategies are adapted.

Companies would not mind risking major steps moving forward as the biggest chunk of the buyers are in this segment. Microsoft has attempted to enter this segment many times but this time it looks like they're going to hit the jackpot as they introduce the Lumia 640 into the mix.

With Lumia 640, it looks like they have managed to gain significance in the India and UK markets and have now entered Canada. Another upcoming economy would be Pakistan as the Lumia device sales have tripled up in the country.

The Lumia 640 XL is comes with a 5.7-inch frame with a 720 x 1280 resolution and a 259ppi pixel density display featuring ClearBlack technology. The device is running on Snapdragon 400 SoC, and it is powered by a quad core 1.2 GHz CPU and an Adreno 305 GPU.

The phone's IPS LCD screen has a protective layer of Gorilla 3 Glass, and features Lumia Glance, which keeps the time and notification information on the phone's screen even if the display is turned off. It comes with a 3000 mAh battery.

Source: Microsoft Lumia 640 and 640 XL: Big services at a small price!

Microsoft Lumia 640 & 640 XL Release Date: AT&T to Offer Devices This Month! Specs, Features & Price Here

A sign is seen on the wall outside of a Microsoft store in the Dadeland Mall as Microsoft announces it will be buying Nokia Corp.'s line-up of smart phones on September 3, 2013 in Miami, Florida. The proposed price that Microsoft is paying is reported to be $5 billion for the Nokia unit that makes mobile phones, including its line of Lumia smart phones, and another $2.2 billion will be paid for a 10-year license to use Nokia's patents. (Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Two of Microsoft's most awaited devices are rumored to arrive on AT&T in the United States this month.

WinSupersite said the Lumia 640 arrived last month in the U.S., exclusively in the Cricket network, while its bigger version, the 640 XL is expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

"The Microsoft Lumia 640 will be available first, possibly within the next week, and cost in the low to mid $100 dollar range. The Microsoft Lumia 640XL will arrive by the end of June and cost approximately $100 more than its sibling," added the WinSupersite report.

It was noted that the mentioned prices are for the unlocked versions of the two handsets.

Adding to these bunch of new information, Christian Post said that  the Lumia 640 became available in Cricket last month for $129.99 and is expected to be out on June 17 on T-Mobile.

The Microsoft Lumia 640 came out with a 5-inch 720 x 1280 resolution display and a pixel density of 294 ppi. It reportedly runs on a quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 chipset and an Adreno 305 GPU. 

"Not 3GB, as what has been reported, but 1GB of RAM is inside the device along with an 8GB worth of internal storage memory. It arrives with an 8MP primary camera spec, coupled with a .9MP front snapper," added Christian Post.

Below are the other notable features of the Lumia 640 as per the Microsoft website:

- Sunlight readability enhancements 

- Lumia Color profile

- Exchangeable back cover 

- Double-tap to wake, Glance screen

- Tactile feedback

- Word flow keyboard

Meanwhile, the 640 XL has the same specifications as the 640 except that it has a larger 5.7-inch display screen, as per Christian Post. It will also have a better 13-megapixel main camera and a 5 MP secondary snapper.

Culture Mob added that the bigger handset is powered by a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 processor. Its memory can be expanded to 128 GB with a microSD card and it has a 3,000 mAh battery for longer phone usage.

The second Lumia device will also have the Windows 10, which according to Culture Mob, will provide users an experience "like never before."

"The single OS will seamlessly run on computers where people use mouse and keyboard to interact with the functions. At the same time, it is fully compatible with touch screen devices as well. Soon, apps made for Android and iOS can be ported to Windows phones made possible by the developer tool kit that the company has launched," explained Culture Mob.

This major feature will surely be a factor which fans will consider in grabbing the device and experiencing it on their own. The sale of both handsets is expected to improve in the coming months because of their specifications.

© 2015 Latino Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: Microsoft Lumia 640 & 640 XL Release Date: AT&T to Offer Devices This Month! Specs, Features & Price Here

Tethering on Android, iOS, Windows Phone or BlackBerry smartphones explained

Home > Mobile Phone News > Tethering on Android, iOS, Windows Phone or BlackBerry smartphones explained

By James Rogerson on 16th June 2015

If you have a tablet or laptop chances are you'll sometimes want to use it when there's no Wi-Fi connection available and unless you have a tablet with a data SIM that might not seem possible, but assuming you have a 3G or 4G smartphone with data you're likely to be able to set it up as a Wi-Fi hotspot (also known as tethering) and share its data connection with other devices.

As a result you'll be able to get online in more places, helping you work and play wherever you are. Here's how to do it.

How to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot

Setting your phone up as a Wi-Fi hotspot is in most cases incredibly simple, though the exact process will vary between handsets.

You'll want to head into your settings screen and look for an option labelled along the lines of 'Mobile network sharing', 'Internet sharing' or 'Personal Hotspot'. This may be found in a sub-menu dealing with Wireless and network connections.

The exact location and terminology can vary on Android due to manufacturer customisations, but it's typically found under the 'More…' tab of the 'Wireless & Networks' category. You may then need to delve into a sub menu dubbed 'Mobile network sharing' or similar, where you should see a toggle for 'Portable Wi-Fi hotspot', which you'll want to enable.

On iOS (iPhone) you should go into the 'General' menu from settings, then 'Personal Hotspot' and enable the 'Personal Hotspot' toggle.

On Windows Phone you go into the 'Internet Sharing' section of the settings screen and enable 'Sharing' and on BlackBerry you select 'Network Connections' in the settings screen and then 'Mobile Hotspot'.

Whatever the process you'll want to make sure the Wi-Fi hotspot option (however it's labelled) is turned on. Again the exact wording for this may differ. It may be called 'Portable Wi-Fi hotspot', 'Personal Hotspot' or something else similar.

Once you've toggled it on you'll have the option to set a password and in some cases the name for the network, then it will appear as a visible network to any devices which can connect to Wi-Fi networks.

Simply select it as you would any other Wi-Fi network, enter the password and you should then be online, using your smartphone's data connection.

When you're no longer using your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot remember to disable the option, so it no longer broadcasts a network.

Do all phones and tariffs support tethering?

No. Most smartphones do but some may not and any older phone which doesn't support 3G or 4G won't. Equally most networks support it and in many cases it comes at no extra cost, but it's always worth checking your network's terms and conditions on tethering before using it, especially as these can change at any time.

Don't assume that just because your phone displays a tethering option that your network allows it. Some networks hide the option, but others don't and you could be penalised for using it.

Things to be aware of when tethering

When tethering you're using your phones data allowance, so you could quickly run it down, especially if you're viewing full desktop sites or watching HD videos.

Be especially careful with this as the device you're sharing your connection with will see the connection as a standard Wi-Fi network and as such it will install any updates it would normally, potentially devouring your data allowance, so you might want to ensure auto-updates are turned off before tethering a laptop or tablet.

In some cases tethering usage is also capped separately to your main data allowance. For example Three has unlimited data plans, but even if you're on one of them you can't use unlimited data towards tethering.

Tethering may also run your battery down a little faster and of course once your phone dies so does your internet connection.

Although tethering is typically only used to share internet with Wi-Fi enabled devices you can in some cases use a USB cable or Bluetooth to connect to devices.

Make sure to always set a password when enabling tethering. You may have the option not to but this will allow anyone in the vicinity to connect to your hotspot.

Finally, as tethering requires a 3G or 4G connection to work you will need a 3G or 4G signal to tether. If your phone can't get online then it certainly can't be used to get anything else online.

Alternatives to tethering

If you can't or don't want to tether, perhaps because you have a tight data limit on your phone, there are other options.

The most obvious is to use a dongle or MiFi device. These are often sold by mobile networks and are designed specifically to connect tablets, laptops and other Wi-Fi enabled devices to the net using 3G or 4G.

A dongle typically takes the form of a USB stick which you can plug in to a device to get it online, while larger MiFi devices are battery or mains powered hubs which are like a (usually portable) 3G or 4G router.

These devices have the advantage of working with tablets and other devices which don't have USB ports, as well as allowing multiple devices to connect at once.

However these alternatives all require both additional hardware and an additional data SIM, so they're potentially more expensive than just sharing your smartphones data.

Of course if your issue is simply that your phone or network doesn't allow tethering then you could always change your phone or network. Or if you plan to tether to a tablet you could buy one which supports a data SIM for 3G/4G connectivity.

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Source: Tethering on Android, iOS, Windows Phone or BlackBerry smartphones explained