Windows Phone Summary of the Week: January 23 - 29 2012
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Kmwe2XCGVWjBt97gKfNPmj.png)
Because it's Sunday we have our weekly Windows Phone news recap. Everything that's worth knowing from our news stream, which you may have missed, will be included in this roundup for your convenience. Before we crack on with the summary, we simply must plug our own app. Jay Bennett has been hard at work bringing version 2.1 to the table, which is now available on the Marketplace. It's the best way to get Windows Phone news while on the go.
As well as our app being updated, we have the latest discussions taking place on our WPCentral forum. We have a section of the community completely dedicated to the general discussion of the operating system itself, which has proven to be pretty darn popular with not only members, but visiting guests too. Be sure to head on over and engage with other members of the Windows Phone community. Let us move on with the summary, join us after the break.
To kick our summary off to an eventful start, we have Channel 5 (broadcasting in the UK) and Nokia being found in breach of advertising guidelines by Ofcom. A fake Chrome web browser app has been spotted on the Marketplace, which obviously isn't Google's browser, and is scamming $1.99 those who purchase it. Microsoft was offering an office makeover for those who work from home in a Twitter competition, while handing out free Windows Phones to the public as well.
Nokia is believed to have shipped over 1 million Lumia handsets, according to a calculation by Bloomberg taking into account estimations published by a number of analysts. Should you be interested in purchasing a Windows Phone and reside in South Africa, then you'd be pleased to hear about a deal which may see you receiving a free Xbox. While MIX'11 was certainly a big event for the platform, Microsoft has stated that they'll not be hosting MIX'12. The event will instead be merged with another in the following year.
O2 was found to be providing mobile numbers to websites when browsing on the network in London by adding the information when sending HTTP headers from handsets. We will let them off as their official blog features the Lumia 800 as a "Dare to be different" smartphone option, and they also have Windows Phones in the header image. As for Nokia, the Finnish manufacturer is predicted (by Marios Karagiannis) to have a good year in 2012. This is promising since the handset maker reported quarterly loses that included a cash infusion from Microsoft.
We take a look at Google's apparent privacy concerns (with a policy alteration) with a humorous music clip from Tampa Bay's Q105 radio station. Should you be worried about your account and wish to switch to Windows Live, Microsoft has published three easy steps that'll allow you to move all your contacts, mail and more across. On a positive note, Google is now allowing multiple calendar synchronisation with Windows Phone. Our last highlight are the winners of the Microsoft Imagine Cup, who developed a Malaria detection software and hardware to help with tracking epidemics and whatnot. The app sends the data received from a test patient up to the cloud for analysis.
If you're looking forward to some more Xbox Live titles for your Windows Phone, look no further as we've come across some must have games for February. Konami's PES 2011 (Pro Evolution Soccer) has been pulled from the Marketplace, without warning, and joins the growing list of titles that have been retracted from availability. DoDonPachi Maximum is officially making its way to Windows Phone. Should you be a fan of DoDonPachi Resurrection then you'll be interested in this title. With these titles coming and going, we take a look at a rumour which threatens the existence of Microsoft Points. Could we really be losing this format in favour for local currency?
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
We take a look at the rumoured screenshot of Windows Phone 7.6 "Tango", which shows Skype and Google+ being added to the conversation 'switch to' menu. It's difficult to view this image as the real deal due to the clear possibility of Photoshop (or alternative image processing suite) being used. CarbonWP is still having issues getting through checks to be available on the Marketplace, we can only hope that Brandon and co. have been able to assist the developers.
HeyWire, a free cross-platform text app (available in over 40 countries), is now available for Windows Phone. Should you be wanting to use your handset while lying in bed, and don't particularly want to have the orientation swap around like a confused screen-of-madness, there's a Homebrew solution to that by disabling the pesky accelerometer. While you're out and about and you come across a colour you're interested in on a real life object (a flower for example), you can now use an augmented reality app to capture the photo and label the colours with their RGB and HTML codes. Ingenious.
The official Your Shape app for Windows Phone has received an update bringing a visual makeover, improving the UI. If you're an active "...I'm a WP7!" user, you'll love the extras app that will unlock many more advance features for a small fee. A number of updates have been rolled out this week. We've had GasBuddy bumped to use Bing Maps and receive some visual improvements. WhatsApp gets updated, but then subsequently breaks, and is then updated again to fix the issue. To cut the story short - WhatsApp has been updated. Lastly, Security Toolkit now sports WebCam viewer and audio recorder.
We're not done with fake rumours as we take a suspicious look at the purported Sony Xperia Arc S running Windows Phone. A Lumia 930 and a new LG handset show up on WPBench - interesting stuff, especially for LG. The Nokia Lumia 910, sporting a 12MP camera, shows up on a Dutch website, possibly confirming earlier rumours that us Europeans would be getting an updated 900. Speaking of the 900, the Nokia handset is set to be available worldwide by July. Meanwhile in the States, the 900 is looking at a March release for just $99.
Those who reside in Australia are to receive the Lumia 800 and Samsung Omnia W, which are currently available across Europe and beyond. The 710 is hitting UK shores on February 1st, but you're able to be in with a chance of winning one prior to release with 'Into Windows Phone'. Both Rogers and Orange France have revealed pricing details for the 710 and are competitive with contracts or PAYG.
While Ben Rudolph was rocking CES 2012 by smoking as many challengers as he could with his Windows Phone, Jimmy Lee (from Nokia) took it one step further and challenged a zip line. Yes, a zip line. Speaking of "being smoked by Windows Phone", it seems sales staff at carrier stores in the U.S. are also getting challenged to sway their minds on the platform. Swedish carrier Halebop has begun airing a colourful advertisement that shows off the recently launched Lumia 800. Should you be interested in seeing exactly how the 800 is processed, check out Nokia's dedicated Facebook album.
This week we've witnessed a number of launch parties. There has been one in South Africa, Korea and Denmark. A top T-Mobile salesman was treated by Nokia to a VIP experience at and trip to CES 2012, including a helicopter and Ferrari ride, not bad! Microsoft's rolling Cafe Mango shows up in California.
For developers Doug Rathbone, writer of Diary of a Ninja, has compiled a list of 8 must have tools when creating magic on Windows Phone. The "Your App Here" advertising campaign continues with more dates being added, perfect for developers who require that extra marketing reach. Starting January 31st, the 30 to Launch challenge will test platform developers by having contenders build apps within 30 days to be in with a chance of winning an awesome entertainment package. Finally, pubCenter expands to cover seven more countries. A massive step up from only supporting the U.S. last year.
Highlights
- Channel 5 and Nokia found in breach of advertising guidelines
- PSA: Chrome Browser scam alert in Windows Phone Marketplace
- Win a home office makeover with Windows Phone Twitter competition
- Nokia believed to have shipped 1 million Lumia Windows Phones
- Free XBOX's with the Nokia Lumia 800 in South Africa
- Microsoft nixes MIX 2012
- O2 sending mobile numbers to websites when browsing the web?
- 2012 to be the "Year of Nokia" for Windows Phone
- Vodacom's Nokia Lumia 800 launch party in South Africa
- Nokia reports quarterly loss that includes cash infusion from Microsoft
- Switch from Gmail to Hotmail in three steps
- Google is watching every step you take
- Google now allowing multiple calendars to sync for Windows Phone
- O2 UK blog featuring the Lumia 800 as a "dare to be different"
- US team wins $75K Microsoft Imagine Cup Grant for Windows Phone Malaria-detector
Gaming
- Xbox Live: Must Have Games 2012 schedule and prices announced
- Xbox Live: PES 2011 drops off the Marketplace
- DoDonPachi Maximum officially coming to Xbox Live
- Rumor: Microsoft doing away with Microsoft Points system
- SEGA Gamegear-Master emulator on the way to Windows Phone Marketplace
- Sneak Peek: SEGA emulator for Windows Phone 7 --> --> -->
- Marketplace updates late two weeks in a row. Fragger trapped behind enemy lines
- Free Xbox Live game Shuffle Party played a million times
- Fragger makes it to the Windows Phone Marketplace
Software
- Windows Phone 7.6 "Tango" to feature native Google+, Skype in alleged screenshot
- CarbonWP still not getting through Windows Phone Marketplace checks
- HeyWire free texting app now on Windows Phone
- Lying in bed with your Windows Phone? Disable that accelerometer [Homebrew]
- Augmented reality app for Windows Phone IDs colors in the real world --> --> -->
- Deal Alert: Ffffound is free in the Windows Phone Marketplace for one week
- Official Your Shape app gets a major makeover for Windows Phone
- "Extras!" companion app for "I'm a WP7!" goes the extra mile
- GasBuddy for Windows Phone gets updated
- WhatsApp updated to v1.6 with new features, fixes
- Security Toolkit gets WebCam viewer and audio recorder in new update
- WhatsApp update "tainted", breaks photo sharing. Update on the way.
- WhatsApp gets hot fix for broken media with v1.7
Hardware
- Purported Sony Xperia Arc S with Windows Phone OS looks suspicious
- New Nokia Lumia 930 and LG Windows Phone show up on WPBench
- Nokia Lumia 910 with 12MP camera listed on Dutch site
- Nokia Lumia 900 expected in June worldwide, pre-register now at Carphone Warehouse
- SG Best also listing Lumia 900 further proving the handset is coming outside U.S.
- Nokia Lumia 900 shows up on a Czech Republic site with a price
- Nokia Lumia 900 set for March 18th and only $99 [Updated]
- Unlocked 4G Nokia Lumia 900 available on eBay, shipping in March
- Lumia 800 goes on sale in Sweden today and Nokia steps up advertising
- Nokia Lumia 800 heading to Australia
- Lumia 710 and 800 coming to Czech Republic February 1
- Nokia Lumia 710 available in the UK on February 1st
- Win a Nokia Lumia 710 Windows Phone
- Roger's Nokia Lumia 710 to launch on Feb 6th for $255
- Orange France Lumia 710 Windows Phone pricing revealed
- Samsung Omnia W headed Down Under
- HTC releases new car cradle for Titan
- International unlocked HTC TITAN now receiving 8107 OS update
- Rogers Samsung Focus recieving the Windows Phone 8107 Update
Fun
- Zip Line smoked by a Windows Phone
- Sweden begins airing colorful Nokia Lumia 800 ad
- Nokia Lumia Windows Phone production in photos
- Smoked by Windows Phone challenge hitting the road?
- Nokia Lumia Windows Phone launch event in Denmark --> --> -->
- Nokia Lumia Windows Phone launch party in Korea --> --> -->
- Nokia Lumia 800 Launch Party in South Africa
- Nokia treats a top T-Mobile salesman to a CES trip with VIP treatment
- Microsoft's rolling Cafe Mango shows up in California
Developers
- 8 Must-have tools for Windows Phone developers
- "Your App Here" Windows Phone and Nokia advertising campaign
- Windows Phone 30 to Launch challenge [Developers]
- Microsoft pubCenter expands to cover 7 new countries
Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.