You'd struggle to find any group of people more aware of Instagram's popularity than those stranded on the currently-unsupported Windows Phone platform, and although we've heard murmurings that an official version for Microsoft's fledgling platform could be forthcoming, said users have had to make the best of the scores of third-party apps offering very limited functionality. While the Instagram API has prevented any WP developer from creating an app with direct uploading capabilities, an interesting attempt to circumvent this (using a middleman server) has been devised by the folks at Venetasoft, and having already garnered a sneak peek at what the company's Instagraph app could offer to Instagram fans, the app is now officially available for download.
The Windows Phone Store is missing quite a lot of apps just now, and although we're not all hipsters with a compulsion to take a square photo before filtering and sharing, Instagram has been mentioned ad nauseam as the sort of app Microsoft needs on board if its fledgling ecosystem is to go the distance. As Windows Phone users still continue to wait and hope for an Instagram app, and unofficial offering by the name of Instagraph is best attempt we've seen at emulating the experience, allowing for photos to be uploaded to the network right from within the app. It looks promising, and although we had better hold off the celebrations while the approval process runs its course, Windows Phone users could be just a short while away from being able to edit and upload their images straight from their handset.
Instagram is frequently mentioned as one of the many common apps yet to make its way to Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, but as users continue to wait for the Facebook-owned app to make its way to the Windows Phone Store, several competitors have emerged looking to offer snap happy WP users a way of sharing snaps with friends and family. Joining the likes of Eye 'Em in the ranks of so-called 'Instagram killers' comes Photoplay, a relatively new app was published to the Windows Phone Store little under a week ago. Compatible only with the newer breed of Windows Phone (8) at this point, a version for the older WP7.x is currently in the works, and with its clean, sleek interface fitting in rather nicely with the look and feel of the Redmond company's mobile OS, it certainly has great potential.
When we think of streaming music services, a few spring to mind. As well as the likes of Grooveshark and Spotify, Pandora is seen as one of the go-to services for personalized radio, and although popular apps are hard to come by on Windows Phone 8, the official Pandora app for Microsoft's recently-updated mobile platform is now upon us. Pandora for Windows Phone 8 has been a long time coming, but it would appear as though it has been worth the wait: it runs better than even the iOS and Android versions, and offers ad-free streaming until the end of the year.
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.
