05/07, 3:09pm
YouTube Trends Map shows popular videos in areas of US
Google has created a new map that shows videos trending on YouTube by area. The Trends Map displays the most popular videos being viewed in major markets across the US, with the added option of viewing the top videos in areas by age band and gender. While it is covering the United States initially, the YouTube Trends blog states that there are updates due in future, which could include providing data on regional viewing habits in other countries.
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04/29, 7:00pm
Lumia, Windows Phone portrayed as being above the fray
In a new TV ad that vaguely recalls the Tareyton cigarette slogan "I'd rather fight than switch" from the 1960s, a new commercial for the Nokia Lumia 920 and its Windows Phone 8 OS pokes fun at the war between Apple and Samsung (and their respective users) in an amusing manner, portraying Nokia's offering as being outside the fray and a fresh alternative. The ad features a brawl breaking out at a wedding between iPhone and Galaxy users and features a number of witty moments, including the Siri signature sound and man with an Apple tattoo.
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04/29, 5:14pm
Learning curve expected to stay minimal
iOS 7 is codenamed "Innsbruck," and will use a "very, very flat" design, sources for 9to5Mac claim. The OS is reportedly jettisoning any signs of gloss or skeuomorphism, making it flat on a level nearing the look of the Metro interface used in Windows Phone and Windows 8. Apple has sometimes been criticized for using unnecessary real-world analogies in the look of iOS and OS X, for instance by making its Calendar apps resemble leather daybooks.
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04/27, 7:22pm
Device thought to be HTC Tiara begins showing up
An unannounced HTC Windows Phone device has apparently shown up in the device logs of a Chinese developer, and it's believed that the handset is heading to Sprint. The device is thought to be an earlier-rumored phone codenamed the HTC Tiara, that was said to be coming to Sprint.
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04/17, 8:16pm
Nokia aiming for greater high-end market share with aluminum 'Catwalk'
The first purported images of the long-rumored aluminum Nokia Lumia smartphone codenamed ‘Catwalk’ have appeared in the wild. The photos surfaced on the Chinese social networking site Sina Weibo. The device takes design cues from the current Lumia range, but wraps the device in an aluminum shell instead of the polycarbonate that currently features on Nokia’s Windows Phone Lumia smartphone range.
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04/16, 9:56am
Would likely be different experience from Android phones
Facebook Home or some of its concepts could make their way to iOS and Windows Phone, Bloomberg reports. In an interview with the publication, Facebook product director Adam Mosseri says that negotiations are underway with Apple and Microsoft. "We’ve shown them what we’ve built and we’re just in an ongoing conversation," he states.
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04/16, 7:44am
Next Nokia flagship smartphone EOS to feature 41-megapixel camera
The spirit of the Symbian OS-powered Nokia 808 PureView is set to live on in the Nokia EOS if rumors about the device’s camera are accurate. According to a MyNokiaBlog source, Nokia is indeed set to include 41-megapixel camera in the EOS, bringing its vaunted camera capabilities to a Windows Phone-powered handset for the first time. Nokia is said to be testing two versions of the handset, one powered by a dual-core chip and the other a quad-core variant.
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04/02, 7:59am
Kindel joins book retailer amid Amazon phone rumors
The former General Manager of Windows Phone at Microsoft has joined Amazon. Charlie Kindel, after leaving Microsoft in 2011 in order to concentrate on his own projects, has updated his LinkedIn profile to read "now at Amazon working on something wonderful," with his new project likely to be mobile-related in some way.
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03/18, 8:53am
Update period could be extended past initial 18 months
Microsoft will stop supporting Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.8 in mid-2014, according to a product support lifecycle table. Updates, including those to help secure the mobile operating systems, will last until July 8, 2014 for Windows Phone 8, while Windows Phone 7.8 users will see its life cycle support continue until the 9th of September.
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03/14, 12:07pm
Twitter launches official app for Windows 8
Twitter has announced the release of its long-awaited official app for Windows 8 and Windows RT through the company blog. First mentioned in October, the app combines the Home, Connect, Discover, and Me tabs seen in other versions of the app with the new Windows UI. The minimized snap view bears more than a passing resemblance to the Windows Phone version, though the full screen view appears to mix between vertical and horizontal navigational flow, depending on the tab used. The Twitter app is free through the Windows Store.
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03/14, 3:19am
Latest midrange Windows Phone
Verizon has offered only a few choices for Windows Phone devices, recently adding Samsung's Ativ Odyssey as the fourth option. With a $50 subsidized price tag, the handset sits between HTC's Windows Phone 8X and Nokia's Lumia 822. In our full review, we try to determine if the Odyssey represents a viable competitor among its close peers and in the broader smartphone market.
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03/04, 6:03am
Microsoft job advertisement promises 'killer devices,' user experience
Microsoft has confirmed it is looking to release an update to Windows Phone by the end of the year, via an advertisement for a Windows Phone software developer position. A job posting from the software giant states that it is "getting ready for our next release targeting the holiday of this year," with the promise of "killer devices and delightful user experiences".
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02/28, 7:14am
Basic components said to be similar to HTC One SV
HTC is already working on a new device that will run Windows Phone 8 GDR2, an updated version of the mobile operating system, if a new rumor is to be believed. A basic specifications list has surfaced through the infamous evleaks Twitter feed, suggesting the new smartphone has the current working title of the "HTC Tiara," and will use a 4.3-inch WVGA Super LCD2 display.
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02/25, 6:53am
Phone for emerging markets to cost 15 euros at launch
Nokia used its press conference at Mobile World Congress to show off four new handsets. Both the Lumia 720 and Lumia 520 smartphones continue the company line of Windows Phone devices, while the Nokia 105 and Nokia 301 are budget-aimed devices with limited functionality, but offer a good value to potential customers in emerging markets.
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02/18, 2:31pm
Gates admits Microsoft was slow to market with mobile phones
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has expressed he is not satisfied with innovation at the company, including its mobile products. An interview with the ex-CEO also saw Gates admit that Microsoft failed to "get out in the lead very early" in the mobile market, labeling the way the company developed its mobile products later than others as "clearly a mistake."
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02/18, 6:09am
Incremental paid updates to Windows potentially on the horizon
Microsoft has effectively confirmed it will be offering a yearly refresh to Windows 8, through a pair of job postings. The scheme, dubbed Windows Blue and Windows Phone Blue for the mobile version, was directly named in notices on the Microsoft Careers site, with the scheme itself revolving around paid periodical updates to Windows 8.
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02/17, 8:19pm
Downloadable albums, revamped music library
Music service Rhapsody has updated its application for Windows Phone 8, adding a number of new features. The revised software includes a number of changes to work fully with the operating system as well as some cosmetic alterations, and now offers subscribers an option to listen to downloaded music offline.
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02/08, 7:22am
Windows Phone 8 handsets said to include 41MP version
Details relating to a number of smartphones that could be announced by Nokia at Mobile World Congress at the end of the month have leaked. Mobile phone going by the names Lumia 1000, Lumia 720, and Lumia 520 have been discovered at various places online, all of which appear to be Windows Phone 8 devices.
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02/07, 7:39am
Five Nokia, HTC handsets with WP8 go on sale
British carrier Vodafone has started to offer a number of Windows Phone 8 devices on it's network in the United Kingdom. The Nokia Lumia 920, Lumia 820, and Lumia 620 is joined by the HTC 8X and 8s for the carrier's WP8 launch, with only the Samsung Ativ S making a notable absence from the device roster.
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01/22, 3:31pm
New update adds no new functionality, integrates Live Tiles testing
Microsoft has released the latest version of the Windows Phone software developer's kit (SDK) update, adding two Windows Phone 7.8 emulator images to an existing installation. The update for the SDK allows developers to test how a Windows Phone 7.5 implementation of Live Tiles will operate when running on the as-yet unreleased operating system update.
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01/09, 2:54pm
Microsoft demos Youm-based Windows Phone prototype
Today Samsung unveiled a new flexible OLED technology, dubbed Youm, during a second-day keynote at CES. To demonstrate the technology the company brought in Microsoft, which showed off a prototype Windows Phone device. Microsoft also presented video from a lab test, in which a display was projected onto an entire room for the sake of an Xbox game.
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01/08, 10:38am
Credits iPhone, Android, Windows Phone devices
AT&T sold over 10 million smartphones during the last quarter, according to an official announcement. The figure surpasses the carrier's previous record, 9.4 million, achieved during the fourth quarter of 2011. The company is also claiming the "best-ever quarterly sales of Android and Apple smartphones," though it isn't providing a breakdown of unit sales.
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01/03, 2:59pm
Metal body to help Nokia compete with iPhone
Nokia is allegedly planning a line of Lumia Windows Phone handsets for 2013, with at least one device having a metallic body. A rumor suggests that at least one of the new handsets will eschew the polycarbonate in favor of aluminum, with a handset codenamed Catwalk to be both lighter and thinner than the handset it will succeed: the Lumia 920.
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01/03, 1:22pm
Samsung also grabbing more share
iOS and Android further consolidated their dominance of smartphone platforms in the US during a three-month period ending in November, according to new comScore data. Google's Android rose from 52.6 percent in August to 53.7 percent in November, while Apple's iOS advanced from 34.3 to 35 percent. Losing out in the battle were RIM -- slipping from 8.3 to 7.3 percent -- and Microsoft, which dropped 0.6 points to 3 percent. Symbian dwindled an extra 0.2 points to 0.5 percent.
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01/02, 6:10pm
Microsoft says Google has blocked YouTube search
Google and Microsoft's competition in the search market has resulted in Google blocking phones running Microsoft's Windows Phone platform from operating properly with Google-owned YouTube, according to Microsoft representatives. The allegation came today as part of a larger explanation of Microsoft's ongoing effort to encourage regulators to take action against the search giant for anticompetitive actions. According to Microsoft, Google executives have told YouTube personnel "not to enable a first-class YouTube experience on Windows Phones."
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12/17, 6:22am
Lumia 510 released in India, Lumia 505 in Mexico
Nokia has reportedly started to roll out Windows Phone 7.8 to some of its handsets. At the same time as the mobile operating system upgrade to some of the company's handsets, Nokia has also launched the Lumia 505 in Mexico, and the Lumia 510 in India, both of which will launch with Windows Phone 7.8 out of the box.
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12/15, 6:15pm
Server details show upgrades for multiple regions, carriers
Windows Phone updates for a number of Nokia handsets have appeared on the company's servers. The upgrade from Windows Phone 7.5 to 7.8 for the Lumia 610, Lumia 710, and Lumia 900 have been sighted on the server, complete with region-specific versions for each handset, though a formal update has yet to be announced.
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12/14, 4:41am
Microsoft expands the reach of the Windows Phone Store
Microsoft has launched the Windows Phone Store in 37 more markets, including Malaysia, Pakistan and Madagascar. The latest additions extends the reach of the Windows Phone Store to 191 markets in total, while users in 112 markets can now browse and buy apps from the web-based portal as well. While Microsoft says it is busy planning the rollout of the store to more markets, it has also added new features to store.
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12/05, 7:35am
Budget handset keeps NFC, adds dual-shot back covers
Nokia has added a new Windows Phone 8 handset to its range, joining the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920. The Lumia 620 is the company's "third and most affordable" in its Windows 8 handset range, and is the first to use a new dual-shot color technique to its case design, namely adding a second layer of polycarbonate to create "secondary color blends and depth effects."
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12/03, 11:24am
Could hint at plans for Messenger
Facebook is in talks to possibly buy WhatsApp, the developer of a popular namesake messaging app, say TechCrunch sources. It's so far unknown what price Facebook might be offering, or how far into negotiations the companies are. If confirmed, though, the talks would suggest that Facebook plans to dramatically alter its messaging services.
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11/25, 5:17pm
Windows Phone update expected globally shortly after
Microsoft is set to launch Windows Phone 7.8 for the Chinese market in the "coming weeks." The comments of the Greater China Vice President of Microsoft made the comments, suggesting that a release of the upgrade for older handsets will be taking place in the rest of the world in the not too distant future.
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11/15, 7:57pm
Surface tops Windows 8, Nokia tops Windows Phone
Microsoft's Surface RT has assumed a commanding market share, at least with regard to the nascent Windows 8 market. This according to the largest ad network for Windows Phone and Windows 8 apps, AdDuplex, which found that the reportedly fast-selling Surface RT tablet accounts for 11 percent of the overall Windows 8 market, more than the next seven Windows 8 devices combined. At the same time, Nokia retains the top spot among manufacturers of handsets running all versions of Windows Phone.
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11/14, 11:25am
Samsung grows lead on Apple in smartphone sales
Android devices now represent 72.4 percent of the cellphone market, according to new third-quarter research data by Gartner. The figure represents a major boost over Q3 2011, when Android had a 52.5 percent share. Some of that ground appears to have come from the platform's closest rival, iOS, which has slipped from 15 to 13.9 percent. Also down are Research in Motion's BlackBerry phones, shifting from 11 to 5.3 percent, and Symbian, shrinking from 16.9 percent to just 2.6.
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11/13, 7:32pm
WP8 coming to Sprint next year, no devices specified
Windows Phone 8 will have a presence on all four of the nation's largest carriers by next year, as Sprint has confirmed that it will be carrying handsets running Microsoft's new mobile operating system in 2013. The nation's third-largest carrier did not give specifics on when a Windows Phone 8 handset would be appearing on its network, but it did confirm that it will carry a 4G LTE-capable handset some time next year. The announcement means that Windows Phone 8 will not make the holiday season on Sprint, even though Sprint executives said earlier in the year that they were "bullish" on the new operating system.
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11/13, 6:47pm
Verizon to offer $199, $99, and free WP8 options
Verizon is set to offer a Windows Phone 8-powered handset for free on contract by the end of the year. The news comes as the nation's largest carrier launches Windows Phone 8 handsets from Nokia and HTC today. The addition of a free-on-contract handset will allow Verizon to stake out a number of different price points from free to $199 for Windows Phone 8 offerings.
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11/12, 10:20am
The ATIV Odyssey with Windows Phone 8 should arrive in December
An image of another upcoming Windows Phone 8-powered smartphone has been leaked online by EVLeaks. The ATIV Odyssey should slot in below the ATIV S announced a couple of months ago but may arrive in the US first. The rumored arrival date is December, with Verizon getting it, as seen by the logo on the handset.
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11/12, 5:46am
Preview includes always-on background service, full video chat
Microsoft has released a preview version of Skype for Windows Phone 8. Announced during the recent Windows Phone 8 event, the preview version includes the ability for the app to run as a background service, saving on battery power and processing, and for incoming Skype calls to come through to the handset in the same style as a normal phone call.
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11/09, 1:58pm
API calls, Windows 8 integration features will not work
Microsoft has explained the difference between the mobile and desktop versions of Internet Explorer 10. While the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 do share the same core programming, there are some browser-based functions that the mobile version cannot do as of yet, something that web developers will need to look out for.
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11/09, 11:18am
First Windows Phone 8 devices arrive at Verizon on Tuesday
First AT&T, and now Verizon has dated its version of Nokia's Lumia 820, the Lumia 822. The handset can now be pre-ordered, as promised just yesterday, but Verizon just revealed it will ship by Tuesday, November 13. It will cost $99 on a two-year voice and data plan, which is twice as much as it costs at AT&T.
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11/07, 5:57am
Monitored list of 11 million hotspots to help mobile users
Microsoft is using a crowdsourced "curated" hotspot system in Windows Phone 8, in an effort to help its mobile users manage their mobile data costs. DeviceScape is providing the technology behind the Data Sense Wi-Fi map, including data for over 11 million hotspots that have been tested for speed and connection quality.
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11/06, 10:17am
Lumia 920 will cost just $100 on two-year AT&T contract, include charging pad
AT&T on Tuesday officially revealed the priced and ship dates of three Windows Phone 8-powered handsets. Nokia's flagship Lumia 920 will cost $99 on a two-year contract, which is $50 less than Nokia itself indicated just yesterday. What's more, the price of entry includes a wireless charging pad.
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11/04, 8:39pm
Behind-the-scenes explain choices in Windows Phone UI
Microsoft has explained its thinking behind the Windows Phone 8 Lock screen and the home screen. Two company blog posts explain the processes behind the two screens, why the changes from what were established in Windows Phone 7.5 were made, as well as some other behind-the-scenes commentary.
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11/04, 4:10pm
High-end Lumia to run $599 off contract
The mobile page for Nokia's Lumia 920 smartphone has confirmed prior indications of the Lumia 920's pricing. The phone had previously been priced at $150 in pre-sales at Best Buy and eBay, and Nokia's mobile page for the smartphone confirmed that pricing today. The page -- which has since been altered -- showed Windows Phone 8's trademark tiled interface, with the top tile showing the $150 price tag for the forthcoming phone.
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10/29, 6:09pm
Windows Phone version to get year of ad-free music
Pandora has announced an update to its app for both iOS and Android smartphones. The new update, which brings the app to version 4.0, is hailed by Pandora as the biggest redesign since its launch on the two major platforms. The company also confirmed Microsoft's report from earlier in the day that those using Pandora on Windows Phone 8 would get a year of ad-free service on the streaming radio app.
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10/29, 3:32pm
Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Windows Phone 8X, Note II, more to T-Mobile
T-Mobile announced today a lineup of new devices coming to and currently available on the carrier for the holiday season. The new lineup includes some of the latest devices running Google's Android operating system as well as Microsoft's just-launched Windows Phone 8 platform. The new handsets and tablets will be launching from the end of this month through the middle of November.
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10/29, 2:09pm
Year of ad-free Pandora, data management system added to WP8
In a media event today, Microsoft officially revealed the newest version of Windows for mobile phones, Windows Phone 8. Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's Windows Phone Program manager, took the stage early to explore the OS' new features, as well as to explore how Windows Phone 8 would help users manage their data plans, control access for whole families, and manage their social media activities. Belfiore also made certain to highlight the app ecosystem for the new OS, as well as how Microsoft has tailored its platform to allow users to personalize their devices with a range of apps and features.
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10/29, 10:16am
Verizon teases Lumia 822 is coming soon for $100 on contract
Verizon has made its Nokia Lumia 822 smartphone official recently, pricing it at $100 on a two-year contract. The handset is basically the CDMA version of the Lumia 820 and runs on Windows Phone 8. Verizon's EVDO Rev.A and 4G LTE network is supported with the 822, which is only said to arrive soon at Verizon.
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10/28, 4:55pm
Words With Friends to join the platform in the future
Draw Something, the popular game created by OMGPOP and owned by Zynga, is now out for Windows Phones [Store]. Though it has only just been released on the Microsoft platform, long after appearing on iOS and Android, it will be exclusive to the Lumia range of Nokia handsets for a two month period.
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10/23, 6:47am
Nokia pushes WP7 handsets into developing economies with Lumia 510
Nokia is making good on its promise to introduce Lumia devices powered by the Windows Phone mobile OS at the lower-end of the smartphone segment as it targets developing markets. The Lumia 510 running WP7 (Mango) can be purchased for just $200 as the Finnish company tries to drive wider adoption of its smartphones. The handset will go on sale in India, South America, China, and other parts of Asia from November.
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10/12, 1:18pm
Lightning port more of a concern than iOS 6 Maps
Demand for the iPhone 5 remains very high in spite of two potentially serious issues with the device, according to new data from 451 Research and ChangeWave Research. 19 percent of a group surveyed last month said they were "very likely" to buy an iPhone 5, while 13 percent said they were somewhat likely. A poll from October 2011 for the iPhone 4S generated respective figures of 10 percent and 11.5 percent.
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