Archos considers entering the Windows Phone market

Archos CEO Loic Poirier confirmed in an interview released on Saturday, that the manufacturer is taking a serious look at building a Windows Phone powered handset. Poirier told Trusted Reviews that "We will launch a Windows Phone handset when the time is right." The executive said that for now, Archos will maintain its focus on Android although he did say that the Windows Phone market is now mature enough to enter.

It might have been too premature to ask this question, but the interviewer did question the CEO on how Archos would divide its resources between Google's open source OS and Microsoft's mobile OS. "Before anything else we are focused on Google," stated Poirier.

One report from ABI Research indicated that Windows Phone saw the number of handsets shipped with the platform soar 104% on a year-over-year basis for the fourth quarter of 2013. Other recent reports, including one from Windows Phone mobile ad network AdDuplex, reveal that Nokia is delivering 93% of the handsets running the platform. With Nokia's control over both the low and high end of the Windows Phone market, and with Microsoft's soon to close acquisition of the Nokia Devices and Services division, it might not be that easy for Archos to shoehorn its way into the Windows Phone business. Bigger names like Samsung and HTC have tried and thus far, have failed to make a mark in Windows Phone handsets.

source: TrustedReviews via WMPoweruser

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Good Deal: $499 Microsoft Surface Pro tablet, $400 off original price

Microsoft’s original Surface Pro isn’t even a year old yet, but it has been superseded by the Surface Pro 2. It appears that Best Buy still has some stock of the original model that it wants to move this weekend. We've seen some price reductions on the Surface Pro before — including cuts following the Surface Pro 2 release — but Best Buy is offering a massive $400 discount on the original retail price, bringing the Surface Pro down to just $499.99. While the old model doesn’t have an adjustable kickstand and the improved battery life with Intel’s Haswell chip, it’s still largely the same otherwise. You get a 10.6-inch 1920 x 1080p display with a Wacom digitizer and stylus, along with 128GB of storage. Best Buy’s Surface Pro deal is only available today and tomorrow online and in stores, and if Windows isn’t your thing then there’s also $100 off all Apple MacBooks.

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Android grabbed over 50% of US smartphone sales in Q4 reports Kantar

Some new numbers are in that look at the smartphone market in Q4 2013. These numbers are from research firm Kantar and they show that Android had over half of the smartphone market during the quarter in the US. While Android grew, its major competition the iPhone declined.

Kantar reports that the iPhone market share for Q4 2013 dropped to 43.9% from nearly 50% the same quarter of the previous year. Android gained in the US bringing its share of the smartphone market to 50.6%.

That growth for Android is up significantly for the 46.2% of the market it held in Q4 2012. Kantar doesn't offer details on how many smartphones shipped in Q4, but the company says Apple sold more iPhones than the same time last year despite the share decline.

Kantar also notes that the US isn't the strongest market for the iPhone anymore. Japan now has that distinction with the iPhone making up 68.7% of smartphone sales in Japan in Q4. The iPhone market share in Great Britain was 29.9% and the Apple smartphone had 19% of the market in China. Windows Phone also grew its market share during the quarter growing from 2.4% in Q4 2012 to 4.3% in Q4 2013.

SOURCE: Computer World

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Nokia may announce new Lumia 1820 flagship, Windows Phone 8.1-based smartphone series at MWC

Nokia is rumored to announce a family of Windows Phone 8.1-running smartphones at the forthcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona at the end of February, according to Taiwan’s supply chain insider DigiTimes. The new Nokia Windows Phone 8.1 phones will allegedly target both the high and entry-level.

The Nokia Lumia 1820 is the handset that is said to head the lineup, as it is expected to run on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 system chip, feature a 5.2-inch 1440 x 2560 pixel (QHD) display, and sport a gigantic 3400mAh battery. These are specs that sound like a fantasy for the Windows Phone platform that currently only supports 1080p displays (as of Update 3), but keep in mind that Microsoft is expected to bring the hugely improved Windows Phone 8.1 around April 2nd. Hopes are that the new Windows Phone 8.1 will introduce a unified notification center, a new ‘Cortana’ voice assistant, and more. It should also enable support for QHD displays in order for this rumored Lumia 1820 to materialize.

Nokia is also said to be preparing the Lumia 1520V for an official unveiling at MWC. The Lumia 1520V is a variation of the 1520 model, and it is said to feature a smaller, 4.45” display and a 14-megapixel camera.

The last smartphone Nokia is said to be bringing to MWC is the 6-inch Lumia 1525, according to DigiTimes.

We have also been hearing about the entry-level Android-based Nokia smartphone, the rumored‘Normandy’. It’s still up for debate whether or not it’s real, but if it is, MWC seems like a good place for Nokia to show it as well.

Nokia reached record Lumia Windows Phone smartphone sales in Q3 2013, but in the traditionally busy Holiday quarter, sales disappointed and actually dropped down to 8.2 million units.


source: DigiTimes

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GTA: San Andreas finally out on Windows Phone 8

Rockstar Games has finally published GTA: San Andreas for Windows Phone 8. The $6.99 game is officially compatible only with the Nokia Lumia 1520, 1320, 822, 820, 810, and the HTC 8XT. However, every WP8 handset with at least 1GB RAM should be able to run the game. The WP8 version includes everything the successful Android and iOS ports have to offer, including adjustable high-resolution graphics, customizable controls, the three in-game cities and countryside, and over 70 hours of gameplay. The game can be played in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, and Japanese.

For the few among you who don't know what GTA: San Andreas is about, the game is set in a virtual state based on California and Nevada during the early 90's. The protagonist, Carl Johnson, has returned to his hometown of Los Santos after a five-year absence, and is immediately framed for murder by corrupt cops. He's been left no choice, but to go back to gang life, turn the entire state of San Andreas upside-down, save his family, and take control of the streets once again. The intense dialogue, the dozens of colorful characters, the borderline-absurd to impossible missions, the huge in-game world impregnated with the authentic feel of early 90's America, make San Andreas a classic that demands to be played, even in 2014.


With the Grand Theft Auto 3D trilogy now complete on all leading mobile platforms, all that remains is to see how long it will take for smartphones and tablets to run the epic GTA IV and V. In the meantime, you can head to the Windows Phone Store from the link below to download San Andreas.


Download: Windows Phone 8
San Andreas for WP8 screenshotsFullscreen

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Deal alert: Microsoft posts a sweeping Windows 8 tablets sale, Dell Venue 8 Pro goes down to $229

Microsoft's Windows Store has a bunch of Windows 8 tablets on sale, starting at just $229 for the Dell Venue 8 Pro 32 GB, or for $20 more you can get the new Lenovo Miix 2 8. Dell's 8-incher sports a 1280x800 pixels display, and quad-core BayTrail Atom, which ensures it will run a full working day on a charge.

The 64 GB version is also slashed down fifty bucks, but the largest $350 discount in absolute sum goes to Samsung's ATIV Smart PC500T tablet, which sports an 11" display, and can run Windows 8.1, with its legacy program support and all device drivers you'll ever need. Razer'g gaming Edge tablet with Core i7 processor also gets under a grand, after a hefty $300 shave. It's not clear how long this sale will last, or if it will be a permanent discount offer, so if you are interested in any of those, hit the Store's link below. Here's a list of the devices on sale so far:

Dell Venue 11 Pro - $499 (save $50)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 32GB - $229 (save $70)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 64GB - $299 (save $50)
Lenovo Miix 2 - $249 (save $50)
Toshiba Encore WT8-A32M Touchscreen Tablet - $249.00 (save $70)
Samsung ATIV Smart PC 500T - $349 (save $350)
Samsung ATIV Tab 3 XE300TZC-K01US Tablet - $499 (save $200.99)
Razer Edge - $999 (save $300)

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Kantar's data shows worldwide decline in iOS market share during Q4, Android and Windows Phone gain

The fourth quarter market share numbers from Kantar are out, and the whooshing sound you hear is BlackBerry circling the drain. The period from October through December included the failure of the Canadian manufacturer to complete the $9 a share privatization bid from its largest stockholder. As a result, BlackBerry had to settle for $1 billion in capital and the replacement of CEO Thorsten Heins with turnaround expert John Chen. In the fourth quarter in the U.S., Kanter shows BlackBerry losing 55% of its market share from the same period in 2012. BlackBerry finished the year with a .4% slice of the U.S. smartphone market, down from the prior year's .9%.

Android and Windows Phone were the big winners in Q4

Even in regions where BlackBerry had a fairly good share of the smartphone market, things collapsed during the final three months of the year. In  Latin America, where BlackBerry controlled 10.3% of the smartphone market at the end of 2012, the company saw a huge decline to 2.8% at the end of 2013. Incidentally, Android had a monumental quarter in that very area, as Google's open source OS finished the period with an amazing 83.5% of the market compared with 61.6% the year before.

In the U.S., Android made it over the 50% mark, rising to 50.6% from 46.2%. Apple's iOS suffered a fairly large drop stateside, with a market share that declined from 49.7% to 43.9%. The combination allowed Android to leap frog over its major rival for the top spot in the U.S. But it wasn't only the states where iOS lost share. In Italy, Apple's mobile OS saw its share of the smartphone market crash from 23.1% to 12.8% with Android having nearly a corresponding rise. In five major European countries, iOS saw its market share decline from 23.7% to 18.5% while Android's share increased from 62.9% to 68.6%. 

Windows Phone showed momentum in the quarter. In Europe, Microsoft's mobile OS had 10.3% of the market, up from 5.6% a year ago. In the U.K., the figures showed Windows Phone with an 11.3% slice of the market at the end of 2013, up from 5.9% during the same time in 2012. And in the U.S., the platform took its 2.4% market share at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, and ran it up to 4.3% at the end of the fourth quarter in 2013.

via: WMPoweruser

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Nokia Lumia 625 is now getting GDR3 and Lumia Black update

Microsoft and Nokia have already seeded the GDR3+Lumia Black update to Lumia 1020, 925, 920 and 820, while the Lumia 1520 is running it out of the box. As of today Lumia 625 has also joined the Lumia Black bandwagon.

Nokia Lumia 625 phones in various countries around the globe are already getting the notification for both the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update and Nokia's Lumia Black improvements. In case your Lumia 625 isn't among those, you should be getting the update very soon as well.



The WP8 GDR3 update now allows you to close apps from the app switching UI, it also brings auto rotation on/off switch, Driving Mode, Bluetooth tethering, better storage management, custom ringtones for messages, and new accessibility options. Nokia's Lumia Black also update adds Bluetooth 4.0LE support.

Now that both updates have been optimized for Lumia phones with 512MB RAM so they work on the Lumia 625, we expect Lumia 520, 620 and 720 to get their updates shortly.

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Nokia Lumia 1520 mini rumored; device to feature 4.3 inch screen, 14MP PureView camera

A published report out of China indicates that a "mini" version of the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet is on the way. The device will reportedly be named the Nokia Lumia 1520 V and will feature a 4.3 inch screen, down sharply from the 6 inch glass found on the full-sized version of the phone. However, the screen on the "V" will keep the same 1080 x 1920 resolution employed on the larger model. That could result in one of the highest pixel density figures on a smartphone.

The rest of the specs include 2GB of RAM and 32GB of native storage. A 14MP PureView camera is on back and a 3000mAh battery powers the whole shebang. The phone is expected to be unveiled after Windows Phone 8.1 is released in April. There is also some thought that this is an international version of the unannounced Nokia Lumia 929 aka the Nokia Icon. However, that phone is expected to launch at Verizon with a 5 inch display.

Take this report with the proverbial grain of salt until we get some official word from Nokia. Check out the slideshow for a couple of glimpses of what is allegedly the Nokia Lumia 1520V.

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Super-dev Rudy Huyn brings 6tinder to Windows Phone

If you have a Windows Phone, you should know the name Rudy Huyn, because is is one of the best individual developers on the platform. He has made the best unofficial Instagram, Snapchat, and Vine apps for the platform, and he has a lot more apps in his stable. And, our opinion isn't without reason, Huyn has even won three developer MVP awards directly from Microsoft since 2012. The newest addition is an unofficial Tinder app, which is unsurprisingly called 6tinder.

For those of you who don't know, Tinder is a location-based dating app. You set up your profile, and if there is someone who is physically near you, it will notify you and let you anonymously like them. If two people have reciprocal likes, the app will make the introduction, and you take it from there. Huyn released his app yesterday, and already updated it today with Live Tile support, better toast notifications, as well as emoji, autocorrect, and typing suggestions.
And, as you would expect from Rudy, the app is getting amazing reviews. In just about one day in the Windows Phone Store, 6tinder has gathered close to 400 reviews and has a stellar rating of 4.5 (out of 5) stars. If you're on the dating market and you have Windows Phone, this app seems like a no-brainer, especially since it is free. 


Download: 6tinder

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Sharp's latest high-res Windows tablet is an Ultrabook minus the keyboard

Let's see, sporty Intel Core-i5 processor and Windows 8.1? Check. Retina-esque 3,200 x 1,800 15.6-inch display? Check. 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD? Of course. If Sharp's RW-16G sounds like the laptop of your dreams, sorry, but it's actually a tablet in the mold of Panasonic's 20-inch, 4K Toughpad or Samsung's new Galaxy Note Pro 12.2. Sharp is keying in on business users for the new slate with a bundled stylus for graphics pros, along with screen sharing to assist during presentations. With the Japanese company's own IGZO screen tech, it'll also outlast everyone's bladders with nine hours of battery life. There's no pricing or availability yet, but so far, it looks destined for the Japan market only -- if you're stateside, Samsung's aforementioned model or a Surface Pro 2 might have to do

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Nokia Lumia 520 review, price, specs:

WinBeta said that 30% of Windows Phone-powered market is a Lumia 520. Features of this famous Windows Phone 8 device include a 1GHz dual-core processor and a $199 price tag. WinBeta describes the 520 as the "most affordable Windows Phone with a dual core processor" whose specs would meet the need of the regular user. It has ample storage (8 GB) with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with 720 at 30 fps second video recording. The Nokia Lumia 520 also has a 1GHz dual core processor and 512MB RAM. Phone Arena notes that it has fast mobile data support (4G). Though the specs of the Nokia Lumia 520 as a budget smartphone is definitely well-below what most devices have, the unit still delivers and is able to satisfy the average user. In a review by GSM Arena, it noted that if you're looking for a handset that covers the basics and then some, meets a low price point but still look classy and has an app store and other benefits of a Windows Phone-device then the 520 definitely gives an edge. Some obvious disadvantage though of the 520 is that its camera lacks flash and has no front-facing camera. It has limited functionality in many ways because of low memory and a limited storage. It also has a smaller LCD display and an inferior imaging package, GSM Arena notes. According to the tech site the handset's wide aperture lens had to go and the battery is of lesser capacity. Because the Lumia 520 only has 512 MB RAM, there are some apps that are just incompatible. Despite everything though, the Lumia 520 shows enormous potential and can definitely be a unit that would deliver, as long as you won't expect a lot from the budget device. The Nokia Lumia 520 is a part of Lumia devices launched by the Microsoft-owned company to capture a good part of the emerging market. The successor of the Lumia 520, the Lumia 525 first launched in Singapore, then India. The 525 launch last December was considered one of the most important launches of Nokia.

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Samsung's first 1080p Windows Phone 8 handset could be the SM-W750V

At the moment, Nokia is the only manufacturer that’s selling Windows Phone handsets with 1080p displays. Of course, Nokia has pretty much remained the only manufacturer that sells WP devices regardless of their features. But Samsung, which leads the smartphone market thanks to Android, might prepare a new WP flagship as well: the SM-W750V.

We first heard about the SM-W750V in December, when we reported that the mysterious device had a 5-inch display. As of today, the SM-W750V is approved by the Bluetooth SIG, which seemingly confirms that what we have here is a phone - one that’s made for North America.

What’s even more interesting is that the





UA profile of SM-W750V is now accessible at Samsung Mobile’s official website, allowing us to see that the handset’s screen is a 1080 x 1920 pixels one. LTE and Internet Explorer are also mentioned - so the device is indeed running Windows Phone.

To recap, Samsung SM-W750V is a Windows Phone 8 handset with a 5-inch, 1080 x 1920 pixels display and LTE connectivity, and it might be released in North America. Naturally, we can’t be certain of anything until Samsung makes an official announcement. Perhaps it will happen at MWC 2014 next month? Since it won’t reveal its Galaxy S5 Android flagship there, the company can certainly announce other high-end (albeit less important) devices at the upcoming trade fair.

What do you think, can a new 1080p WP handset from Samsung compete with Nokia's Lumias?

sources: Bluetooth SIG, Samsung via Sammy Today

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Sony fuels speculation that it will release a Windows Phone

Sony is rumored to be considering launching a Windows Phone this year, and now the company has confirmed it’s still in discussions with Microsoft. Speaking to TechRadar this week, Sony’s European mobile chief, Pierre Perron, says the company doesn’t want to be a “single OS manufacturer, noting it’s not a viable position long term. "[Working with Microsoft] is an interesting proposition for us in the PC environment, and we continue our engagement with them,” says Perron. "We are exploring this as part of our discussion in mobile space too. One thing is using the platform [Windows Phone] itself, and another is 'what can we deliver on top of it'?"Images of prototype Sony Windows Phoneshave emerged several times over the past few years, and it’s almost certain that the company has been experimenting with Microsoft’s phone software. Perron has also previously revealed Sony was working with Microsoft in 2012. The latest hints come just weeks after rumors suggested Sony and ZTE were both considering Windows Phone 8 hardware. Microsoft is expected to detail a Windows Phone 8.1 update in April, and it’s almost certain that associated hardware will be ready for when the new software launches.   Any future Sony Windows Phone may be branded with Vaio, the same moniker used for Sony’s range of Windows PCs.Nokia currently dominates Windows Phone market share and it’s understandable that Microsoft would want to rely on other phone makers to push the platform. The software giant is even considering lowering licensing fees for Windows Phone in an effort to attract more hardware partners. It’s key for Microsoft to find additional support for Windows Phone through established phone vendors, and it’s possible that Sony might be the next big name to put its name to Windows Phone hardware.

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Microsoft reportedly planning Windows 9 release in April 2015

Microsoft is currently working on an "Update 1" for Windows 8.1, but the company has bigger plans for the future of Windows as part of a "Threshold" wave of updates. Windows watcher Paul Thurrott reports that the company’s Threshold plans will involve a release of Windows 9 around April 2015. Microsoft will allegedly unveil its vision for Windows 9 at the company’s Build 2014 developer conference in April, with a release planned for a year later.

It appears that Microsoft is currently planning to use the Windows 9 branding and vision as a way to move away from some of the criticisms of the Windows 8 operating system. It’s not immediately clear what type of changes will be made to Windows 9, but "Metro 2.0" inside the new OS will reportedly include a major focus on improving Microsoft’s new app world and tiles. Previous rumors have suggested Microsoft is planning to separate out its Windows 8-style ("Metro") apps to allow them to float and run in separate windows on the traditional desktop. The Verge understands Microsoft is also planning a Start menu return for Windows 9, but that the company may deliver this early in a second "Update 2" for Windows 8.1 later this year.

BUILD 2014 WILL SET THE VISION FOR WINDOWS 9

Microsoft will reportedly use three major milestone development points for Windows 9, but it’s not clear how many of them will be released to the public during the development period. The software maker is currently in the final planning stages for Windows 9 and work is expected to begin after the Build 2014 developer conference in April. It sounds like Microsoft will use Build 2014 as a launch point for its vision of Windows 9, detailing some of the planned changes in an attempt to generate excitement around the company’s future plans.

Windows certainly needs excitement, Windows 8-style apps, and innovation if Microsoft is to succeed with its vision of a hybrid tablet and desktop operating system. If Microsoft manages to pull off a Windows 9 release with significant improvements over Windows 8 then that may relegate Windows 8 to a Vista-like release in the minds of consumers. The company clearly isn’t confident with any continued use of the Windows 8 brand in the same way that Apple does with its OS X point releases. While there will be further tweaks to Windows 8.1 shortly, Windows 9 looks to be the next major release.

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