windowsphone

In a recent interview Google stated they will not devote any resources to making apps for either Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8. They have also now ceased consumer support for ActiveSync.  Some are calling it ‘war’ while others passionately question if Windows Phone can survive without Google products and services.

The relationship between Google and Microsoft has always been somewhat hostile. In many ways the battle they engage in now can be seen as a kind of echo from a distant technological past. Google have dug in their heels and to some degree shown their true colours by declaring zero support for Microsoft’s newest operating systems, Windows Phone and Windows 8.

But does it matter and has anything really changed?

The Windows Phone 8 advertising juggernaut pushes on here in the UK with the start of a huge ‘out of home’ (OOH) interactive campaign.

We have already seen a massive push from Microsoft here with the likes of TV advertising, Billboards and even events to “meet windows phone”. This time they are taking an interactive approach to showing off Windows Phone 8.

We had previously reported on Ben Rudolph kicking off the newest campaign to convince non Windows Phone users there is another way…

The new website brings the existing videos into one place and even uses live tiles to allow you to select each video. Ben takes on Android and even turns around a potential iPhone 5 customer, if anyone can, Ben can. They need one Ben Rudolph in every mobile phone store, who could say no?

Sonos the popular multi room entertainment system is a great bit of kit but the company has yet to release a official app for Windows Phone. Phonos seeks to fill that gap and allows you to control all the players and music services throughout your home. We previously covered the app and did an interview with the developer a while back if want to read our views on the unofficial solution.

An update to the app to take it version 4 has hit the Windows Phone Store today and brings with it a number of improvements.

Despite being one of the first Windows Phone 8 devices we saw unveiled the ATIV S has still managed to arrive the late to the Windows Phone 8 launch line up.

The device has plenty of people interested in its 4.8” AMOLED screen, slender body and expandable base memory but where can one be ordered from? Future Shop seem like they might be able to offer some help to lucky Canadians who don’t mind signing up for a three year contract to nab a device for $50.

Microsoft have just launched their Windows 8 operating system and with it bundled in Xbox Music which gives users paid and free ways to stream tunes and play local tracks too. At present though the app has a few shortcomings so it’s through this lens we’re going to review Music Info by Johnny Westlake. 

By the same developer who brought us Artist Info for Windows Phone, we take a look at this highly visual music playback and discovery app and even catch up with the developer for a short Q&A at the end.

Nokia have announced the general availability of their exclusive Redbull app for their Windows Phone 8 handsets.

The app has the ability to share video using NFC, pin your favourite athletes to the start screen and more. Check out the full story after the break.

It’s no secret that we’re fans of mapping applications and with Windows Phone 7 we had a very capable built in mapping app created by Microsoft themselves that used the Bing mapping at the backend. Since then Microsoft have switched Bing to use Nokia's mapping platform on the web and now with the latest version of Windows Phone.

With Windows Phone 8 we see a marked upgrade to the baked-in capabilities of maps, as Nokia have embedded their “where” platform right into the heart of the OS. Nokia have just updated their Nokia Maps app to 3.0 and with it we start to see some of the big improvements that these underlying changes to the OS will bring. We think you're going to like it.

Windows Phone brought with it Metro, the design principles that have gone on to reach every aspect of Microsoft’s product line up. For those who have a keen interest in Metro and UX (user experience) in general you may have been following the excellent series by Arturo Toledo that explores all things Metro.

Arturo is a former senior user experience designer at Microsoft, the series has been fascinating and well worth a look.