Windows Phone Summary of the Week: March 26 - April 1 2022

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Information technology'due south fourth dimension for your weekly recap on the world of Windows Phone. Everything WPCentral has covered the past week in a digestible walkthrough (with a list of links for even faster browsing) with every news story that'due south worthy of your attention. Before we crack on with the summary, we've hosted a poll for readers to appoint in that asks the question: Lumia 900 or TITAN II?

Episode 139 of the WPCentral Podcast is live, which covers everything to do with the Lumia 900 and AT&T. Should you be interested in the Lumia 900, you might desire to cheque out our forums where hot threads take hosted some interesting discussion from members. We have interviewed Richard Castle of Igneous Solutions, who is the brains behind the BBC Radio apps and upcoming BBC Podcast Lounge. Be sure to caput on past the break for the total summary.

The large news this calendar week is the pre-orders for the Nokia Lumia 900 opening up, the Windows Phone that is set to shape the platforms future. Onto marketing, Ben Rudolph has been decorated defending the Smoked past Windows Phone entrada which has come nether burn down recently by a number of challengers who claimed the competition is rigged. We too take a look at reports of the software giant literally giving handsets away in the challenge.

Microsoft has revealed intense plans to attract established developers and companies to the platform and boost the big-proper name app drove on the Marketplace. In People's republic of china, subsequently the official launch of Windows Phone, Nokia has released the Lumia 800c on Prc Telecom in attempt to recapture lost marketshare in the region.

Canadian carriers TELUS and Rogers accept both revealed they're pleased with Lumia Windows Phone sales thus far, though it's not known whether these were low expectations or not. AT&T has announced they're planning to release a post-8107 OS update for Windows Phone and combine multiple versions instead of rolling out each and every update.

Half of all U.Southward. mobile subscribers now ain a smartphone, while the other 50% notwithstanding own feature phones now is a perfect time for Microsoft and Nokia to gain some traction. According to a written report by Digitimes, Taiwanese manufacturers take suggested to Microsoft to allow them to customise the Os with apps and alterations to differentiate from competitors. We remain skeptical.

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Puzzle Quest 2 has gone on sale (over again) and is this week's Xbox Alive Bargain of the Week. Nokia has also confirmed on their Facebook that Aroused Birds Space is on its way to Windows Phone, something that was up in the air previously. Finally, iStunt two pulls some moves and jumps onto the Marketplace.

Kasser Riaz has produced an interesting concept for the issue that many owners have with Windows Phone - notifications. His idea is to create a new screen to the left of the home screen that would list all the missed notifications. MetroTwit, popular Metro UI influenced Windows Twitter client, turned version 1.0 and we gave away ten "plus" licenses to unlock all the premium features in commemoration.

It would seem as though Windows Phone wasn't supposed to back up LTE until Apollo, merely AT&T pushed Microsoft to implement the functionality prior to the said update. Lock Widgets has been officially released to the homebrew community, which will allow those with rooted devices to have widgets on their lock screens in the form of mini-Live Tiles. Speaking of homebrew, Bazaar is a market place for said community that enables user-friendly access for users to download apps from the homebrew catalogue.

Skilful Technology, who focuses on enterprise and security has announced a partnership with Nokia to bring their "FIPS-certified 192 bit AES encryption and end-to-end mobile messaging" service to Lumia Windows Phones. Flud, a popular social RSS client on iOS, has been released for Windows Phone. As well equally the collection they've published already, Nokia is set to launch Nokia TV in Republic of finland that will bring streaming of TV programs to users on the platform.

We're all yet eagerly awaiting Nokia'southward upcoming update for the Lumia family of handsets (namely the 710 and 800) which volition enable Net Sharing, and to keep hope present the choice in settings has been leaked / spotted on a Lumia 800. As well every bit "Bi(due north)g Maps", which we touched on earlier in this summary, there were a number of apps that were the event of the Programmer Hackathon and nosotros take a look at two more noteworthy projects. Finally, Pinsation for Windows Telephone has been updated and is now available exterior the U.S.

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Acer Italy's Business Director, Augusto Zumbo, has revealed that the manufacturer will continue to support Windows Phone too equally Google's Android. Nosotros take a look at the sleeky white Lumia 900, only is the white for yous? It has been quite frantic with the Lumia 900 news and pre-order locations popping up the past week, as well every bit multiple sources many who accept already pre-ordered their 900 have received a notification that it'due south backordered. Fear not as WPCentral believes this is simply because the handset is not technically out even so, thus the arrangement is reporting such information.

If you're still waiting to press that enticing green pre-order button, be sure to store around for the best bargain for you. AT&T is offering the handset for free, Walmart has the 900 listed for but $49, and Amazon Wireless is selling the product for just a penny. As well as on-contract prices, nosotros've too got the data for just how much the Lumia 900 and TITAN 2 would set you dorsum should you prefer unlocked handsets. $449 and $549 respectively. If you're looking for some cases for your Lumia 900, AT&T are selling both gel and bumper cases.

Over in the Philippines the Lumia 800 is available at Globe Telecom for pre-ordering and the carrier is as well giving away a brand new 800 in a Twitter competition. O2 in the UK were giving away the 710 and 800 for free on contract all this week, a perfect snatch for any looking for a good deal.

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Nokia has been granted patent for a new Windows Telephone design, and funny enough this matches a 2022 leak. Dell has unfortunately pulled smartphone sales in the U.S., killing off the beloved Venue and Venue Pro Windows Phones. We hope the manufacturer returns to the tabular array once Apollo arrives with better support.

Nokia has finally unveiled what is on the horizon for the U.S. in terms of marketing for Lumia Windows Phones. The Smartphone Beta Test provides an insight to the aggressiveness that'll exist shown presumably along with the usual "Amazing Everyday" advertising. The BBC mobile site version is in beta and takes many design elements from Metro to create a simplistic view for those on tight data plans.

Nosotros took a look at "Bi(n)1000 Maps" by Rudy Huyn, which consisted of 28 Windows Phones being controlled by a single handset to produce one massive version of Bing Maps. Nokia has taken the "Lumia Challenge" to the streets, and it looks vaguely similar to something nosotros've already seen before. Techark Solutions, the developers behind Windows Phone apps such equally Mood Swings and Social Mint, are giving away free t-shirts and mugs on Facebook.

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Microsoft and Nokia are set to launch an €18 Million Windows Phone app development program in Finland to assistance create more quality content for the Marketplace. Microsoft has released the Windows Telephone SDK seven.1.1 update for 256MB RAM low-end handsets. Should you lot exist interested in learning more than virtually products offered by the software behemothic and are interested in the Microsoft Virtual Academy, you might be in with a chance of winning a Lumia 800 and a Ferrari for the weekend if you sign up. A Windows Phone developer challenge is being held in Greece, at the Department of Information science and Telecommunications of TEI of Larissa.

Highlights

AT&T Online Pre-social club for the Nokia Lumia 900 at present live
Ben Rudolph answers accusations of Smoked by Windows Phone rule bending
Microsoft has some aggressive plans to bring reluctant developers on board
Windows Phone phonation to text services down?
Nokia Lumia 800c officially launches in Red china
Deal Alarm: Microsoft essentially giving away Windows Phones in "Challenge"
Canadian carriers pleased with Nokia Lumia Windows Phone sales
AT&T planning for a post-8107 Bone update for current Windows Phones
One-half of all U.Due south. mobile subscribers are now smartphone owners
Manufacturers requesting more than options from Microsoft for Bone customisation

Gaming

Puzzle Quest 2 returns as the Xbox Live Deal of the Calendar week, matching gems and taking names
Nokia also confirms Angry Birds Space coming for Windows Telephone
Xbox Live: iStunt 2 freestyles onto the Marketplace

Software

Windows Phone notifications history concept
MetroTwit hits version 1.0 and we're giving abroad 10 Plus licenses
Windows Phone was not supposed to go LTE support until Apollo
Lock Widgets officially released [homebrew]
Bazaar, another homebrew marketplace for your unlocked Windows Telephone
Nokia hooks upwardly with Good Technology for Secure Enterprise Messaging on Windows Phone
Official Plex Mobile Media Player release imminent for Windows Telephone
Flud for Windows Phone now available for gratuitous on the Marketplace
Nokia TV app for Windows Phone to be released in Finland
Internet Sharing spotted in the wild on the Lumia 800
Noteworthy apps created in Windows Phone Hackathon
BBC News Mobile app issues currently being looked into, fix on the fashion
Pinsation for Windows Phone updated: now available exterior the The states

Hardware

Acer exec confirms continued commitment to Windows Phone
First wait: Sleeky White AT&T Nokia Lumia 900
Pre-club your AT&T Lumia 900 and you'll probably get it early
Pre-orders for the AT&T Nokia Lumia 900, any success?
AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 sold out of pre-orders? Probably not.
Pre-Order the AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 for free!
Pre-order the Lumia 900 from Walmart for just $49.99
Amazon Wireless at present offering the Lumia 900 for a penny
Off-Contract pricing for the Lumia 900 and Titan 2
Earth Telecom giving abroad gratuitous Lumia 800, pre-orders now available for P1,499
O2 offering Lumia 710 and 800 for free on contract for this calendar week only
Nokia Lumia 710 headed to Wind Mobile
Nokia granted patent for new Windows Phone design, matches leak from 2022
Bye good day, Venue Pro; Dell discontinues smartphone sales in the U.S.
Unlocked international HTC Titan receiving software update
AT&T makes Lumia 900 Gel Cases available for purchase
AT&T likewise makes new Bumper case bachelor for Nokia Lumia 900

Media

Nokia kicks off US advertising campaign with a Beta Test, takes on the iPhone
BBC Mobile Site beta aiming for the simplistic Metro UI look
28 Windows Phones controlled past i for one large Bing Maps
Nokia takes their 'Lumia Challenge' to the streets and it looks familiar
Techark Solutions giving away Mood Swing shirts and mugs

Developers

Microsoft and Nokia to launch €18 Million app evolution program in Republic of finland
Microsoft releases Windows Telephone SDK 7.1.1 Update for 256MB RAM devices
Sign upwards to the Microsoft Virtual Academy and you could win a Lumia 800 and a Ferrari for the weekend
Windows Phone Developer Claiming finds its way to Greece

It's here

The AT&T version of Surface Duo is now getting Android 11

After a very long await, the original Surface Duo is at present eligible to receive its over-the-air OS update to Android 11. Here is what is new and fixed with the biggest update still for Microsoft's offset dual-screen Android device.