Leaked Windows Phone 8 Template/Layout?

 

First off let me start by saying that this is by no means official or even somewhat confirmed, what I can tell you is that this interesting Concept/Layout popped up in my twitter feed last night (unfortunately I can't seem to find the source where this image first came from). Regardless lets treat this as a wishlist/concept render rather than a rumored update. 

What you can see above are some navigation/Ui changes that would hopefully come to Windows Phone 8 or whatever the next update after Tango is going to be. Starting from the First tile/Image render on the upper left I'll work my way across and down trying to explain what I understood from each one.

• The very first screen render seems to be a "Recent Applications Folder" possibly showing you the latest applications along with your pinned applications (similar to pinning applications to the toolbar on Windows 7 PC??)

 

•  Next we see the new multitasking view which shows you the same elongated mini screen of the running apps, however there's now a "X" button to presumably kill the application as well as a new set of toggles that pop up when entering multitasking mode. The toggles appear to be for Wifi, 3G, Battery Saver, Lock screen or app??, and possibly a restart/Power switch. We can also so a Quick app launch/shortcut on the bottom part of the screen (possibly the "Pinned" apps from the previous render?

 

• Next up is the new app list/view which now gives you the option to organize your applications via category or via Alphabet (interesting to see how the category organization will work, will it be preorganized or do you get to move them around?)

 

•  Also included is one feature that I agree should have been implemented form the start, a notification bar that informs you of missed calls/Unread messages as well as the option to differentiate between multiple ringer volumes.
  Could the presence of this notification bar mean that tiles will become optional? something to please those who don't like them?
  
  
  
   
•  Also the much asked for "Folders" feature seems to have been implemented allowing multiple folders each with their own settings to be set as Tile shortcuts as well as accessed within the menu- Also present seems to be landscape support for menu/homescreen which is a nice touch (maybe one of the toggles seen above was for screen orientation?)
  
  
  
  
  Finally we see an interesting feature which is the ability to view apps while the phone screen is locked (demoed here with the maps application)- which could possibly mean that this update could support running WiFi while the phone is locked.
   
  
  
  What are your thoughts? Are some of these features unnecessary? how many have you been waiting for? and most importantly is this the real deal or a fan made concept?
  
  
  
  
  SOURCE

Comment of The Week Win: Lumia Vs Symbian

Not much more to add except the fact that this is probably one of the best comments ever; I might not agree with his point of view (WP purchases aren't really that expensive). Regardless Credit due where it's deserved.

MOAR LEAKS! 808 Pureview coming to KSA in June

It would seem as if someone from Nokia-KSA has gone rouge- first confirming a Lumia Windows 8 device for oct. and now immediately after that confirming a June launch of the 808 pureview in Saudi Arabia

Translation (by me)-

"When will the Nokia 808 be available in the Saudi market?"
"By month #6 (june) God Willing- Do you have an imaging obsession?"

Well I guess that makes it a good news day for both Symbian and WP fans- your choice October or June? Pureview or Lumia?

Wordament Gets Xbox Live Support- Awesome Update

I just love it when my favorite app gets updated,  even better when it was already a great app; and the frosting on the cake? When *that* app is THE one and only wordament. Just a couple days ago my already favorite word playing game was updated to get Xbox live support and a complete UI over-haul the result? A perfect game. 

The latest update brings Xbox live achievements to the board as well as smoother interactions and new sounds; I suggest you check it out  if you haven't already fallen in love with this game.

 

Here's a demo of the original game taken from MNB LumiappADay:

Go Ahead and scan the QR code to download this awesome app:

Text+ Would be One of the Greatest apps for WP EVER- If it Actually Worked

 

Text+ is possibly one of the coolest apps EVER for WP; and a solution to one of the greatest problems that anyone outside the US/Canada faces- FREE TEXT MESSAGES! Of course this isn't the first app to offer such services- but it is the first one that can deliver SMSs (SMSi?) without the need for the 2nd party to have this application installed  (Provided they live in the US or Canada); if not you can still text them but that of course would require they install the app as well. Text+ even provides you with your own personal number so you can receive NORMAL (non-Text+) SMSi on (I got a Texas number...so that's perfect for anyone in the US who doesn't have a long distance unlimited texting plan to talk to me).

Text+ seems to be the answer to all my issues; since I've recently been relying on Gmail Beta text messages which is a real pain in the @$$ as well as the fact that you can only respond/Send through your PC which completely defeats the purpose; having an app that enables me to text peoples phone numbers without forcing them to load the same app and have it on is a godsend- and the reply number (that uses Push notifications to get them to you) is even cooler, I just wish it worked.

The issue is that every-time I load the app it crashes within 5 seconds, making it USELESS I still haven't been able to send a single message! It's frustrating to see an app with so much potential JUST out of my reach; developers of this awesome app PLEASE FIX IT! I beg of you!

If you want to try your luck with it here's the marketplace link-

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/1c778017-7e4c-4b35-a8ac-572798764139?wa=wsignin1.0

Or just scan the QR code below:

 

If you do somehow get it to work please let me know how, and what you think of the app.

TNT Takes a Page from Nokia's Amazing Everyday

It would seem that the cable channel TNT has taken a page out of Nokia's Amazing Everyday campaign where they do completely random things to unsuspecting people; although I personally prefer TNTs version only because it's alot more dramatic- which is the whole point.

 

And here's my all new favorite Amazing everyday- (I just really like the elevators interior decoration)

Whatsapp for Windows Phone Updated to V 1.9- Now supports Emoji and Media Sharing History

 

The title basically says it all- If you have a Nokia Lumia or a WP head on over to  the marketplace and update your whatsapp to V1.9 to get all the goodies of Emoji from smiling turds to farting elephants; as well as the added bonus of having the option to view all media shared with a contact from under "Contact Info"- All in all a pretty cool update but all it needs now is the option to sync your conversations online; or at least to save them as a text file. (I believe that option is available on Android and iPhone but not Symbian)

Full Changelog:

Improved support for Emoji

- Group mute features
- Share contacts
- Browse downloaded media in a conversation
- German and Russian localizations
- The usual bug fixes and performance improvements

-If you're not getting the latest Whatsapp update simply go to your marketplace- hit the "share" button then immediately go back to the main Whatsapp download page; hopefully you should have the option to update. 

Cheers.

Ridiculous Amounts of Speaker Interference?

Hey guys- Just a random thought; to anyone who owns a Lumia device; in particular a Lumia 800 do you get loads of speaker interference (the static ticking sound) when your Lumia is anywhere near your laptop? I have to keep my Lumia about a foot away from my laptop at all times just to avoid the dreadfully annoying buzzing that it gives off (it's there all the time not just when I'm getting a phone call or a text)- I think this might be due to Data transfer and stuff but still I've never experienced it with the N8 or the N9, any ideas???

N9 Vs Lumia Video Samples

As I had previously mentioned I was uploading some video comparisons between the two brothers from different mothers; well here they are- the N9s performance was HORRIBLE

N9- Dropped frames all over the place and horrible color saturation:

Lumia 800- A bit more impressive, autofocus is a bit laggy but compared to the N9 this is heaven (almost double the bitrate BTW)

Lumia wins a cookie! (a small one but it's stilla  cookie)

How To: Jailbreak/Sideload onto your Lumia device- a full guide.

Ok, so you got your brand new spanking awesome Lumia; but you feel a bit claustrophobic with it's walled in garden of a marketplace-
Here's something that will ease the pain a bit: (Steps are easy to follow and although it may seem long it's not)

So here’s how to do it (seems long but it’s really easy).

• Head over to Dreamspark.com
• Create an Account/Sign-in with your LIVE ID (the one you use on the marketplace)
• Once your account is complete you’ll be asked to enter your .EDU email address for verification (usual steps of logging in and clicking the link in the confirmation email)
• Go back to dreamspark after verifying your .edu email
• From Developer and Designer tools select ‘Windows Phone and App Hub’

• Choose ‘Map Your Live ID’

• Set it so your .edu email is linked to you LIVE account that you use on the marketplace (unless you want to use your .edu email as your live account)
• Now once your done with that feel free to go ahead and download & install the Windows Phone SDK tools (direct link) and get that out of the way.

Now that you’ve made a dreamspark account and linked it to your Windows LIVE & .edu email you want to register on the app hub- which basically gives you the ability to side load apps and publish apps to the Market place WITHOUT having to pay any fees (cause we’re poor students after all  )-

Note: I’m not sure of the exact order of the next steps as I can’t view them after making my account so I’m going off memory here.

• Go to the AppHub site
• Create an account, while creating select ‘As A Student‘ (which was the whole point of the dreamspark account)
• At this point depending on your university/school it might take a while for you to be verified as a student; do not panic- it took me about 24hrs (no notification that it went through so you’ll have to go and try again)
• You’ll be asked for your location; choose the correct location; and if it’s not available the closest one possible (not guaranteed to work- but if you choose a distant location it will tell you the country address is incorrect later on)
• Complete the rest of the form (since your filling it in as a student it’ll magically skip the payment step)
• Once your done just go verify or confirm the email that you’ll receive.

Up till this point we’ve basically created the  AppHub account which will give your live ID recognition on the phone you want to unlock. Now for the actual unlocking process- pretty easy and straight forward-

• Connect your Lumia device to the computer (must have Zune running and Lumia screen must be unlocked)
• Open  Windows Phone Developer Registration (also part of the SDK package you should have installed)
• Enter your Live Id & Password(that you used on the AppHub)
• Hit Register
• AND YOUR DONE!

 Now that you've unlocked it here's how to sideload apps:

 All done? Great either have some fun or go bake some cookies; up to you after all your no longer walled in :D