Because of the fact that we live in such a connected world with our digital devices, and we do a great deal of our work and communication courtesy of an internet connection, the ability to test that connection and check various characteristics of it has become so vitally important. It's also equally important to see if our Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are living up to their promises and giving us what we pay for. Windows Phone 8 users can now see how their internet and cellular connection is performing directly from their devices thanks to the official release of the Speedtest.net experience on the Windows Phone Store.
Windows Phone 8 is definitely picking up pace as a worthy alternative mobile operating system for those who have grown tired of iOS and Android, or who want to stay away from the mainstream offering. The firmware's cause is definitely helped by the growing number of quality apps that are appearing on the Windows Phone Store, some from large development houses and some from third-party indie developers. The platform may not have an official Instagram presence yet, but the innovative Instagram Lockscreen app that is now available could at least give Windows Phone 8 users a taste of what they are missing out on.
Whenever a new and improved mobile software is released nowadays, there's always that moment in which owners of certain devices discover theirs will be left out in the cold. In the case of Windows Phone 7.x, that was everybody, and although Microsoft has delivered Windows Phone 7.8 in something of a watered-down edition of Windows Phone 8, it's still lacking many of the key new features of Windows Phone 8. The advantage of using old software, however, is that, more often than not, it's a lot more mod-able, and thanks to a new app, those running Windows Phone 7.x can enjoy a slick Notification Center feature with the aptly-entitled Notifications app.
Facebook - once condemned for its lackluster collection of mobile apps - has really been on its game this week. Following the updates to both the Android and iOS apps just a day or two ago, the social network has now released one for those running Windows Phone 8. Just like the refreshers released to the Big Two platforms, the new Facebook app for Windows Phone 8 brings significant speed improvements. More details after the break.
As time has progressed, the amount of time we spend selecting and creating a custom ringtone has been severely reduced, thanks largely to the multitude of other distractions provided through the Windows Phone / iTunes / Google Play Stores. Before the world of modern smartphones, it was the Nokia-dominated world of cellphones, and despite its impressive Lumia range now a million miles from the era of the old faithful 3310, the Finnish company's love for the ringtone is as prevalent as ever. If you're in ownership of one of the new Lumia devices, you can now produce your very own melodies thanks to the just-released Ringtone Maker app tailored specifically for your handset.
If you are one of those who fondly remembers the when Nokia sat at the top of the mobile phone food chain, then it is probably warming to see the Finnish company in the spotlight once again and getting a lot of well-deserve praise for the stunning Lumia 920 smartphone. Unfortunately for Nokia, they shot themselves in the foot a little with the launch of the rather terrible HERE Maps app for iOS devices, but it seems they are having another stab at the app market with the release of their PhotoBeamer app that is designed purely for their Lumia range of handsets.
Twitter for Windows Phone has just been updated with support for Windows Phone 8, and although it appears only to be bug fixes at best, it's good to see Twitter attempting to keep on top of its official application for the new platform. Twitter - like Facebook - has struggled to deliver the goods on both Android and iOS in recent times, with performance levels looking sketchy at the best of times, but with Windows Phone 8 comes a new start, so don't be surprised to see many more meager updates at frequent intervals from the social networking site.
We've been teased by Rovio with screenshots and short video casts over the last few weeks showcasing their latest edition to the extremely popular Angry Birds franchise, but now the wait is finally over as Angry Birds Star Wars is officially available to purchase.
Quite a bit of attention has been paid to the Windows Phone platform over the last few days. First, we had Samsung using their time at the IFA trade show in Berlin to introduce us to the Windows Phone 8 powered ATIV S smartphone, which both Samsung and Microsoft will be hoping to be a commercial success. Additionally, we have also seen a joint collaboration between Nokia and Microsoft, in which we witnessed the unveiling of the Lumia 820 and 920 devices that will feature Windows Phone 8 and bring a number of notable benefits to users.
As Microsoft and Nokia move forward with their ever-evolving relationship that sees the Finnish hardware maker embedding the Redmond software giant’s creations into their smartphones, they have taken to the stage in a combined effort to not only unveil the new flagship Nokia Lumia 920 and 820, but also further expand on the Windows Phone 8 enhancements that were originally discussed back in June. It's extremely rare that we can actually see a major device like this get to the announcement stage without various details leaking early and going public and staying true to form, the Lumia 920 sure enough contains a number of features that have been speculated about over the last few days.
