Nokia Here Maps App Updated for Android and Windows Phone

Contradicting a December report that claimed Nokia wouldn't update its Here Maps app for Windows Phone, Nokia on Wednesday announced updates for the Here Maps apps for Android and Windows Phone.

The latest update of Here Maps brings some important features, such as better representation of roads, in-land water, rivers and ponds, along with detailed subway routes, improved public transport tracking and more.

Nokia says that with the update for Here Maps, users from Cyprus, Mayotte and Zimbabwe can now make use of turn-by-turn navigation feature. Improvements to the maps for Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Liberia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone and Somalia have also been made.

The Here Maps users will now also see a greater number of small in-land water bodies which were ignored previously. The firm also shows an example on the updated app on its Here 360 website. The Here Maps team has expanded its improved public transit information (which was initially only limited to Chicago) to Kaohsiung, Taipei, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Singapore. Users will now be able to see a surface view, including the buildings and other places, above the transit lines.

Nokia says that while the rollout of the updated Here Maps apps has already started, it may take a while to reach all users worldwide. Once Android users receive the Here Maps update notification, they can tap on it and go for the 'update' button placed at the bottom of the screen. Users would also need to restart the app once the update has been downloaded and installed. Windows Phone users would find the process bit familiar. They would have to open the settings tab, tap on Application > Maps > Check for updates.

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Windows 10 upgrades coming to all Lumia Windows phones

If you are the owner of a Nokia Lumia smartphone running Windows Phone as the operating system, Microsoft has some good news. The software giant has announced that all Lumia Windows Phones will be getting an upgrade to Windows 10 next year when the latest flavor of the operating system launches. A lot of Windows Phone users have been wondering if they would get the update, so it's nice to hear something from Microsoft on the subject.

Word on the upgrades came from the official Lumia Twitter account in response to a tweet from a customer that asked a question about upgrades. The tweet response read, "There will be Windows 10 upgrades for all Lumia Windows Phone 8 devices :) And we will release new Windows 10 models in the future!"

It's worth noting that the Microsoft twitter account isn't exactly the same as an official press release on the subject. Tweets from official channels have been wrong before, but it seems that upgrades are coming. As for a time frame, there is no information on that.

The expectation is that the Lumia devices running Windows Phone 8 will get the upgrade to Windows 10 later next year. Note that the tweet did say new Windows 10 models were coming, not Windows 10 smartphones. It has been said in the past that Microsoft is moving away from calling devices phones in favor of calling them smart devices.

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Windows 10 for phones leak reveal translucent tiles

In just a few days,Microsoft is expected to reveal what consumers can expect from Windows 10. But some fans might be more interested in what Windows 10 means outside the desktop, since Microsoft has been selling this latest version as one that puts device convergence at the top of the list. And while we wait what Windows 10 for phones or Windows Mobile 10 or Windows Phone 10 will indeed look like, some new leaked photos show an interface that does seem to borrow a thing or two from Microsoft's other interfaces.

Perhaps the most interesting part for some users is the introduction of translucent tiles. This isn't the same as transparent tiles, a feature that seems to have been introduced in Windows Phone 8.1. The translucency gives more a perhaps more pleasing stained glass appearance and removes the opaque black borders that permeate the transparent tiles feature. This would match the same feature that will be coming to the Xbox One in February.

Another new feature seems to be grouped tiles that have their own group name. The latest Windows Phone 8.1 update added Live Folders, but this feature crammed the tiles into a single tile. Those that want an organizational method that won't require them to squint their eyes would have another option. This named groups would match the same feature already found on the Window 8 Start screen as well as on the Xbox One.

The last is a screenshot of the Windows 10 Settings app for phones, with a slightly revamped navigation system that offers a faster way out of a page. It also hints at better energy-saving features particularly for the screen.

Of course, there are just uncorroborated leaks, so take them with a healthy dose of skepticism. Still, they are very interesting and desirable features which some users might already expect to be there on their smartphones in this day and age.

VIA: WMPowerUser

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The Lumia 435 is Microsoft's cheapest smartphone yet at $80

Microsoft is hoping to turn around the fortunes of Windows Phone with a growing number of cheap smartphones: The Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 are its latest contenders.

The two newcomers are primarily aimed at emerging markets where budgets are small, but where users still want to upgrade from feature phones to smartphones. They will cost €69 (US$80) and €79 respectively without a contract when they go on sale next month in parts of Europe, Asia-Pacific, India, the Middle East and Africa.

It goes without saying that the specs are not very impressive, but the Lumias should still work just fine. For €69 users will get an HSPA smartphone powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz processor with a 4-inch, 480x800-pixel screen.

The Lumia 435 also has a 2-megapixel main camera and a 0.3-megapixel front camera. There is 1GB of RAM and 8GB of integrated storage that can be expanded by up to 128GB with a microSD card.

For an additional €10, buyers of the Lumia 532 will instead get a quad-core 1.2GHz processor and a 5-megapixel camera.

Microsoft’s range of affordable Lumias is rounded out by the Lumia 535, which costs about €90 and has a 5-inch display and two 5-megapixel cameras, one on the front and one on the back.

On the software side, buyers of the Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 will get Windows Phone 8.1, Office apps Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote as well as Outlook for email. The new Lumias also have Skype, Here maps and up to 30GB of included cloud storage on OneDrive. With its low-end push Microsoft doesn’t just want to save Windows Phone, but also increase usage of its services.

Microsoft’s strategy makes sense because the low-end segment is growing faster than other parts of the smartphone market, but success is far from certain. The company will have to compete with an avalanche of Android-based smartphones, which won’t be easy.

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Celkon Win 400 is the least expensive Windows Phone 8.1 device in India at Rs 4999

The Celkon Win 400 has dethroned the Microsoft Lumia 530 as the cheapest WP8.1 smartphone as this latest launch in India comes bearing a price tag of just Rs 4999. The Nokia-branded phone has been available for around Rs 5500, making it just Rs 500 more than the former.

Well, the difference in the retail tags is minimum and both phones offer similar features. The Celkon Win 400 is of course an entry-level release and for the amount being asked, you do get some good hardware. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 200 SOC and has 512MB of RAM.

Where memory is concerned, there’s 4GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot. But unlike the Nokia phone which accepts up to 128GB cards, this one only supports 32GB. A 4-inch WVGA display occupies the front along with a 1.3MP snapper. And the camera on the rear is rated at 5MP and it has an LED flash which is a nice addition.

The Celkon phone also accepts dual SIM slots and offers 3G connectivity. Windows Phone 8.1 runs the show, but there’s no confirmation on whether it comes with the latest enhancements which Lumia phones currently enjoy. Lastly, the battery capacity is 1500mAh and it can deliver a mere 5 hours of talk time or up to 200 hours of standby.

Key Celkon Win 400 specs:

- Windows Phone 8.1
- 1.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 200 SOC
- 4-inch 800 x 480 pixel LCD panel
- 512 mb ram, 4GB storage, 32GB expandable
- Dual SIM slots, HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- 1.3MP front camera, 5MP rear snapper
- 1500mAh battery

The Celkon Win 400 is yet to get a formal launch from the company in India, but it can be purchase through Snapdeal in black.

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Free Truecaller dialer app wants to change the way you dial

Developers of Truecaller Caller ID app has launched Truedialer, a smart dialer app for Android. It was launched for Windows Phone 8 few months back, it recently got updated with real-time Caller ID features for Windows Phone 8.1 users. It replaces the standard smartphone dialer with a new dialer that offers relevant information about contacts such as name, profile photo and more before placing a caller, since this has Truecaller technology built into the app. This requires data connection, similar to the Truecaller app.

Highlights of Truedialer

• Automatically search for information about a number you are dialing from the Truecaller’s database
• Automatically fill in missing contact information in your call log with information from Truecaller’s database.
• Protect yourself from spam and scams. If the number you’re about to dial has been reported by Truecaller’s community as an unwanted number, you’ll be warned before placing the call.
• Quickly dial your favorite contacts with T9 search (predictive text)

Regarding the new app, Nami Zarringhalam, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Truecaller, said,

Until now, phone dial pads have not truly improved since the feature phone days. With the same infrastructure that powers Truecaller, our ambition with Truedialer is to replace the phone’s phonebook app, and be invaluable to users, just as Truecaller has changed the way people receive calls and find contact information. Truedialer’s launch is a major milestone for the company from being focused on a single app. Users can expect Truedialer and Truecaller to complement each other to form the perfect phonebook experience.

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How to use your phone as a wireless keyboard and mouse for your PC

Cuspc-Celebrating 100th post

The humble mouse is one of the most ubiquitous peripherals associated with computers. When you use a laptop, you may opt to connect a mouse, but how would you like the idea of use a trackpad or touch pad on a regular computer? It doesn’t matter if you're using a Moto X or Nexus 5, or have a larger screened phone such as a Note 4 or a Nexus 6, you can use your Android phone as a mouse or trackpad to control your computer. Using Remote Mouse you can use just about any phone or tablet to control your computer. You can also use the app as a keyboard for text input.

The large screen of a phone such as the Nexus 6 is great for use as a trackpad, but smaller-screened phones work just as well. Getting up and running with Remote Mouse is a two-step process; you'll need to install the app on our phone, and install software in your computer as well.

Set up your PC

Fancy a trackpad for your computer? Remote Mouse can help.

Start by visiting the Remote Mouse website on your computer to grab a copy of the necessary software. Click the Get Now link and then click the Windows button. Download the installer and then run through the set up process in the usual way.

Remote Mouse is available for other mobile platforms, but we're interested in the Android app.

There's no configuration needed, as long as you are connected to a wireless network. You'll be prompted to download a copy of the Remote Mouse app for your phone which you can do by scanning the QR code displayed in your web browser, or by simply download via Google Play.

Configure your phone

Make sure your phone and computer are on the same network and setup is simple. 

Grab a copy of Remote Mouse, make sure that you are connected to the same wireless network as your computer and then fire up the app. Swipe through the introduction and tap Start.

Remote MouseINSTALL

Remote Mouse will perform a network scan and should detect your computer running the desktop software. Establish a connection by clicking the name of your computer in the list that is displayed. You can then check out the simple instructions about how to use.

Gestures can be performed on your Nexus 6's screen to control the mouse cursor.

A regular click of the left mouse button takes nothing more than a tap of your phone's screen, while a right click can be achieved by tapping with two fingers at the same time. To mimic the actions of a mouse scroll wheel, place two fingers on the screen and move then up and down. To grab hold of a window or other on-screen object, you can double tap and drag. Click Got It, and you're ready to control your computer.

Remote Mouse has an on-screen keyboard, but you can hide it if you don't use it. 

You'll notice that there is a green area in the top portion of the screen, and this is where you use your phone as a trackpad – just move your finger around and the mouse cursor will follow suit. In the bottom half of the screen you can use your regular Android keyboard to send key presses to your computer – you can hide this by tapping the down arrow to the left of the screen if you are only interested in the trackpad option.

You can even switch apps and shut down your computer from you phone.

There are a few other little things that Remote Mouse can so. Tap the monitor icon in the row of buttons and you can access an app switcher for jumping between applications on your computer. Scroll over to the right and you'll find a button that allows you to shut down and restart your computer from your phone.

Left-handed? Not a problem... Remote Mouse can cope!

You should find that everything just works as it should but there are a few settings you might want to investigate. Just as with your regular mouse, you can slow down the speed of cursor movement as well as scroll speed, and if you are left-handed, you can switch the position of the buttons.

Have you tried using your phone as a mouse either as an emergency measure or just because you like the idea of using a trackpad with your computer?

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PhotoMath App Will Do Your Homework for You

Math class is tough, right?

For those who truly have no interest in expanding their mathematical knowledge, or want to speed through their math homework, a new app might do the trick. With PhotoMath, iOS and Windows Phone users can point their phone at a math problem, which the app will examine using the device's camera, and spit out the answer on screen.

An Android version is expected next year.

"It makes math easy and simple by educating users how to solve math problems," according to app creator Microblink.

Indeed, the app does show its work, breaking down how it got to a particular answer. But that, of course, might just make it easier for math-averse students to cheat on their homework. Presumably phones are not allowed during in-class tests, but I haven't actually been in a math class since 1998 (programmable graphing calculators ftw!), so who knows?

Right now, the app supports arithmetic expressions (plus sign, division, etc.), fractions and decimals, powers and roots, and simple linear equations.

A quick test on iOS produced mixed results. An easy addition problem (230 + 230 + 230 + 230) returned the correct answer. But the app did nothing with a more advanced problem (pictured above), though perhaps that one did not qualify as a simple linear equation.

Right now, the app does not support hand-written math problems, so you'll have to focus it on problems in a math book rather than scribbles in your notebook.

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Karbonn Titanium Wind W4, WP 8.1 based phone available for Rs 5999

Titanium Wind W4

After releasing Android One based the Sparkle V phone, Karbonn has quitely launched a new Windows Phone based smartphone. Though there's no official announcement, Karbonn's new Titanium Wind W4 is available via an e-commerce website for Rs. 5,999.

The Titanium Wind W4 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon clocked at 1.2GHz  combined with 512MB of RAM. The smartphone houses a 4-inch screen with a resolution of 400 x 800p. There's a 5MP camera with flash at the back and the device comes with dual-SIM capabilities.

Earlier this year, Microsoft had announced partnership with Karbonn and other Indian phone manufacturers in order to introduce budget friendly Windows Phone devices in the market. And after the announcement of XOLO Win Q900s and Micromax Canvas series Windows phone, Karbonn Windows phone powered device was much due.

The Karbonn Titanium Wind W4 is perhaps among the lowest priced Windows phone devices available in the market right now. Karbonn has managed to price the smartphone quite competitively and is likely to reap the benefits in this festive season. Apart from other budget Android phones, the new Wind W4 will also go head to head with the newly launched Android One smartphones.

Source: Amazon

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Front panel of Microsoft's first own-branded Windows smartphone leaked?

We told you that Microsoft could drop the Nokia branding from its future Lumia smartphones, in addition to dropping the “Phone” part from “Windows Phone.” While this remains to be confirmed, today we can see a couple of leaked photos that allegedly show the front panel of a future Microsoft-branded smartphone.

Published by French website NowhereElse, the photos present a pretty large handset with thin bezels - possibly a new flagship (but that’s just a wild guess). By the looks of it, this could be a successor to the Lumia Icon / Lumia 930. Unfortunately, the authenticity of these images cannot be verified at the moment. However, assuming that they present a real device, this may turn out to be a very nice Windows smartphone - a “Microsoft Lumia” smartphone, to be exact. 

According to rumors, Microsoft is looking to drop the Nokia brand from its handsets by the end of this year. If that’s the case, the recently announced Lumia 830 and Lumia 730 / 735 could be the last Nokia-branded Windows phones ever.

We're really curious to see what Microsoft's Nokia-less future will look like. What about you?

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Will the next version of Windows just be called Windows?

The Windows just Windows?

As Microsoft prepares to combine its Windows RT tablet operating system with Windows Phone, Microsoft executives are stuck with a tricky decision on branding for an upcoming OS that runs across both tablets and phones. Apple has iOS and Google has Android, and both operating systems run across tablets and phones instead of laptops and PCs. Microsoft has Windows RT which runs on tablets, Windows Phone for phones, and Windows 8.1 for tablets and PCs. It’s a bit of a confusing mix for consumers to understand, but there are signs Microsoft might be moving away from using lots of different Windows names.

Microsoft’s latest commercials for the Lumia 930 don’t even mention Windows Phone at all. In fact, Microsoft refers to Windows Phone simply as Windows. Microsoft enthusiast Michael Gillett noticed the unusual ad, but there’s plenty of evidence elsewhere. HTC’s new One M8 for Windows also drops the Windows Phone name in favor of just Windows. Likewise, Microsoft’s latest Cortana adsdon’t even mention Windows Phone apart from a small URL during the entire 30-second spots. Promotional videos for the latest Lumia 530, Lumia 730, and Lumia 830 handsets also fail to mention Windows Phone. Either Microsoft has learned that mentioning Windows Phone doesn’t matter to consumers, or it’s experimenting with branding ahead of a decision on the name for the combined version of Windows RT and Windows Phone.

Further hints at a simplified naming scheme can be found in Microsoft’s plans for future Windows updates. The software maker is currently preparing Windows Threshold, which is expected to debut as Windows 9. The upcoming release will place a large emphasis on delivering regular updates to Windows 9 rather than preparing big successors like Windows 10 or Windows 11. While many expect the upcoming release to be called Windows 9, Microsoft could simply switch to just using "Windows" instead of a numbering scheme. It would be a surprising move, but with Windows client moving away from big releases towards regular updates it would make a lot of sense. A numbering scheme could still be present, but not marketed directly to consumers. Microsoft has already moved towards just using Windows in marketing videos instead of Windows 8.

At the moment the combined version of Windows RT and Windows Phone is referred to internally at Microsoft as "Windows mobile." That might hint at Microsoft’s thinking for the new operating system, but it would be surprising if the company opts for the same branding it used on its smartphones before Windows Phone was released. Whatever Microsoft ends up naming its next versions of Windows, there’s still the age old argument that the company should just drop the Windows brand entirely for consumers. With Microsoft moving towards a separate Windows for tablets and phones, and a traditional Windows for your PC or laptop, it now has the opportunity to decide.

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Forget alarm clocks, Wakie wakes you with phone calls from strangers

There’s alarm clock apps that force you to spin around, and ones that require you to move closer to your router. Then there’s Wakie, an app that encourages random strangers around the world to wake you up with a phone call.

Wakie has actually existed before, as it’s the international version of the Russian-language wake up app called Budist. The Wakie brand has also been alive in the US since 2011, but aimed squarely at Russian speakers there. However, fresh from a $1 million funding round, it’s all systems go for Wakie in other markets.

For now, Wakie is open to those in the US, Canada, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong – if you’re the one wishing to be woken. But if you’re happy playing the exclusive role of ‘waker’, you can sign up anywhere.

Wakie is available for Android and Windows Phone, though the iPhone version is currently awaiting approval from Apple, so it should be live very soon.

How it works

To use Wakie, you have to be prepared to sign in using your phone number. Wakie promises that your number will remain ‘safe and anonymous’.

Wakie’s community consists of Wakies (callers) and Sleepyheads (yup). If you want an alarm call, you just set an alarm time through the app, and when the wake-up time arrives, you’ll be connected to a Wakie of a similar age and theopposite gender. With that condition enforced, Wakie suddenly meanders on a slightly different trajectory, but we digress.

Calls last for one minute, with phone numbers never shared.

    

If you’re a Wakie, you can see how many Sleepyheads are scheduled to waken and offer to help by hitting the ‘Wake Someone Up’ button. When the call ends, Sleepyheads are invited to rate the Wakie.

    

But wait – if a Wakie isn’t available, doesn’t this mean you’ll sleep in and be late for work? Not quite, this scenario is catered for, as an automated call kicks in.

Similar initiatives have been available in the past, for example Talkoclock was available a while back, but has since ceased to exist. It’s a quirky idea for sure, but with 30 million wake up calls placed from 1.5 million users in Russia, there’s no reason why it can’t take off around the world too.

Wakie is available to download now for free.

➤ Wakie: Google Play | Windows Phone

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