Windows Phone | 3/7 | AddictiveTips

Manage Project-Based Task Lists On iOS & Android With Chaos Control

by Hamza Khalid on January 22, 2013

Creating a simple reminder in your iPhone might help you in getting started on a project, but it is much easier getting things done when you break a big venture down into smaller and more manageable parts. This is the idea upon which the ‘Get Things Done’ (GTD) methodology of task management is based, and Chaos Control is the practical manifestation of this method. Chaos Control has been around for Android since last August, while its presence on PC and web predates even that. Up until now, iOS was the obvious absentee in the list of platforms supported by Chaos Control. The app has finally made its way to the iPhone, offering the easy list management and syncing features that distinguish it from its competitors. You can create projects, add tasks to them, set reminders and view pending tasks in the context of your daily routine. Read More

Microsoft’s HelpBridge Is A Virtual, Mobile Disaster Relief Center

by Hamza Khalid on January 16, 2013

A disaster does not give one time to prepare and usually strikes when it is least expected. You might not be able to avoid a calamity completely, but once you are in the middle of it, timely assistance and some common sense can save countless lives. If you ever find yourself stranded somewhere due to a hurricane or earthquake, the first thing you're bound to do is reach for your cellphone to call for help or to check on your loved ones. It is for such situations that Microsoft has released HelpBridge for iOS (Update: Now available on Android and Windows Phone as well). This useful app lets you create groups of important contacts that you can instantly get in touch with in case of an emergency. The app lets you contact others via Facebook, email and SMS. Apart from being your aid during emergencies, HelpBridge is also a great medium for finding ways you can reach out to others who are in need. Users get recommendations for volunteering and donating to various causes, along with every necessary detail regarding the philanthropic organizations listed in the app. Read More

40 Best Windows Phone Apps Of 2012

by Hamza Khalid on January 11, 2013

Windows Phone

A lot of people thought that if Windows Phone 7 failed to make an impact in the smartphone market, this might spell the end of Microsoft’s mobile adventure. Contrary to this belief though, 2012 saw the announcement and release of Windows Phone 8. While WP8 is pretty much a whole new OS, you can’t say that it is fundamentally different from its predecessor. Unfortunately, even WP8 hasn’t fared significantly better than Mango so far, but that isn’t from lack of trying on the part of its manufacturers and people who develop apps for the Windows Phone Store. During the course of the year, the platform's app collection grew past the 100,000 mark and is now on its way to even bigger milestones. While some of the releases were rather disappointing, the overall quality of apps in the WP Store definitely seems to have improved compared to what we saw in 2011. Here is a list of the best free Windows Phone apps that were covered here on Addictive Tips in 2012. Read More

Easily Remove Unwanted Objects From Photos On Windows Phone With Smartest Eraser

by Hamza Khalid on January 03, 2013

Windows Phone

A memorable photo is one snapped with perfect timing to capture the complete essence of a moment. A lot of great photos are ruined by objects or other people who weren't intended to be there. Perhaps someone was trying to photo-bomb you in the background, or you just wish there was some way that ugly truck had moved away before the picture was taken. Of course you can use Photoshop or other desktop tools to fix these blemishes, but not many bother going through all that trouble if the picture was shot using a phone. If you own a Windows Phone device, Smartest Eraser provides the easiest way of removing unwanted parts of any photo. You also get the option to edit the photos thoroughly, thanks to the zooming and ‘protect’ features offered by the app. Read More

Get Weather Updates By The Minute With SkyMotion For Windows Phone

by Hamza Khalid on December 28, 2012

Windows Phone

Live tiles are the flagship feature of Microsoft's latest operating systems and while they are handy in displaying info at a quick glance for a lot of different types of apps, they particularly shine when it comes to weather apps. Microsoft’s own weather app has a rather simple live tile, but there are many fancier options available in the Windows Phone Store that utilize live tiles to the max. Usually live tiles get updated after an hour or so, which is fine in most cases. However, if the weather of your city is really unpredictable and has the tendency to go from sunny to stormy in a matter of minutes, even live tiles can’t do enough to forewarn you. That’s where SkyMotion can be of assistance. This new Windows Phone app provides minute-by-minute weather updates, and can tell you about a coming onslaught of the elements that might slip under the radar of an ordinary weather app. Read More

What Is VoIP And How You Can Use It To Reduce Your Phone Bill

by Awais Imran on December 28, 2012

Voice over Internet Protocol – or VoIP – is the next big revolution in the telecommunication industry. What it does, essentially, is turn analog voice signals into digital packets that can be sent over the Internet instead of going through your wireless carrier, in a way that is no different from other data that is transmitted through the Internet. It’s a lot cheaper for both the customers and the service provider, offers higher quality audio than your standard phone call and is a lot more reliable in many cases. And it’s got wireless carriers scared out of their wits. In what follows, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using VoIP over traditional telecommunication methods. Read More

Download Any File Or Media Stream On Windows Phone With GetThemAll

by Hamza Khalid on December 19, 2012

Windows Phone

Before WP8 came out, a lot of people weren't fans of Windows Phone because it was a little too restrictive compared to its predecessor Windows Mobile, or Android.. There was no easy way of sharing media, external memory was not supported and Internet Explorer couldn't download most file types. The latest refresh of Microsoft’s mobile platform has addressed file sharing and external memory issues, but it is still not possible to download most file types while browsing on your phone. That’s why the release of GetThemAll is good news for all Windows Phone users. This new web browser for Mango and WP8 has some comprehensive download capabilities. You can use it to grab HD videos, audio, images and other HTML5 content from any website. The app has a great download manager that lets users create folders for keeping data easily accessible. Read More

How To Get Back Bing Maps On Windows Phone 8

by Hamza Khalid on December 04, 2012

Windows Phone

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Unlike Apple's Maps saga, there weren't any complaints when Microsoft decided to ditch Bing Maps in favor of Nokia Maps for Windows Phone 8 devices. If you compare the feature list of both these services, Nokia Maps is the clear winner. However, that does not mean that Bing Maps was completely useless. After all, a lot of people (read Windows Phone 7 users) have spent the past couple of years navigating the roads thanks to Bing Maps. The unavailability of Bing Maps in WP8 can prove to be a bit of an inconvenience for users migrating to the new platform from Mango phones, if they are satisfied with what they were using and don't want to fix what's not broken for them. Also, Bing Maps offers better mapping for some areas as compared to Nokia Maps. Fortunately, now you can get the best of both worlds by enjoying Nokia and Bing Maps side-by-side on WP8. Read More

How To Set Up Outlook Alias For Non-Microsoft Live ID On Windows Phone

by Hamza Khalid on December 03, 2012

Windows Phone

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If you have an Outlook account with an alias set up, setting it up as your default Live ID on a Windows Phone can pose a myriad of tricky problems. Outlook aliases are a new introduction by Microsoft and while they can add convenience to your experience, setting one up on a Windows Phone is usually a nightmare, specially if your Live ID is based on a non-Microsoft email address like Gmail. Your emails might not sync properly, the OS might threaten to wipe all your past purchases or your ID may not get accepted as the default phone account. Luckily, there is a solution to all these problems. Read More

Official World of Red Bull App Released For Nokia Windows Phone

by Hamza Khalid on November 27, 2012

Windows Phone

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Red Bull’s presence in extreme sports and Formula 1 has elevated it to a status that is far beyond a mere energy drink. The corporation has recently been involved in “Stratos”, the project that resulted in Felix Baumgartner’s historic space jump. In fact, there is so much going on under Red Bull’s wings that all the extreme sports and racing enthusiasts really needed something like World of Red Bull. This Nokia-exclusive Windows Phone app has all the news, event details and latest videos related to the brand. There is so much on offer that World of Red Bull comes with the option to let users create their own customized feed by adding their favorite sports and athletes. Read More

Transfer Contacts & Media From iPhone Or Android To Windows Phone With Perlego’s SaveIt!

by Hamza Khalid on November 21, 2012

Windows Phone

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While it is easy to backup your phone data if you plan to stay on your current platform for a long time, things can get a bit messy when switching to another OS. Windows Phone 8 is the latest smartphone platform to be released, and we are sure that a lot of people have been avoiding the allures of modern UI, Xbox integration and MS Office just because they have become too comfortable with their Android or iOS device, and don’t want to risk losing their data. SaveIt! is an app that takes this love for personal data out of the equation when you consider switching to another platform. It backs up all your important data to the cloud, and you can import everything to any other device, be it on iOS, Android or Windows Phone (BlackBerry and Symbian are supported as well). Read More

How To Unbrick Nokia Lumia 920 By Flashing New Firmware

by Hamza Khalid on November 21, 2012

Windows Phone

Windows Phone 8 has enjoyed a rather successful start, but less than a month has elapsed since the platform was released, and an eerily familiar story has already started developing. Quite like earlier versions of WP7, Windows Phone 8 is not as stable as you would expect it to be. There are complaints of short battery life, random reboots and even devices getting bricked. Since Lumia 920 is probably the most popular WP8 device till now, many of the issues have been reported specifically for it. While the folks at Microsoft have assured users that the reboot and battery issues are being looked into, you are pretty much on your own if your phone refuses to start at all. This 'bricking' has been reported to happen when users reset or wipe their Lumia 920. While some retailers and carriers are offering free replacements for such cases, there is a way you can rectify the problem yourself. Read More

App Discovery Helps Parents Find Windows Phone Apps For Their Kids

by Hamza Khalid on November 09, 2012

Windows Phone

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The inclusion of Kids Corner in Windows Phone 8 indicates that Microsoft is serious about making their mobile platform the best choice for parents. Admittedly, iOS has more and better apps for children, but you can’t just hand your iPhone to a toddler and not worry about dozens of photos of their nose getting posted to Twitter, as Jessica Alba pointed out in the WP8 launch event. The Windows Phone Store has more than 120,000 apps now, and quite a few of them focus on children and parenting. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to find these apps simply by searching the store. That’s where the WindowsPhoneParent.com website comes in, listing all the best and top rated apps for kids. While the website itself can prove to be quite handy, what's better than carrying it's official mobile client with you on your phone at all times? App Discovery by Windows Phone Parent lets you browse and easily install all the best apps for your children, right from your Windows Phone. Read More

iOS 6 vs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean vs Windows Phone 8 Feature Comparison Chart

by Hamza Khalid on November 02, 2012

iOS-vs-Android-vs-Windows-Phone-8-Feature-Comparison-List

Regardless of how good or bad a mobile OS it was, Windows Phone 7 failed to make any considerable impact on the mobile market, while both iOS and Android grew to become synonymous with the term “smartphone platforms”. It’d be unfair to label WP7 as entirely insignificant, as its Mango iteration is good enough to hold its own against other major players in many regards. The social network integration, for instance, is quite commendable, and then there is its unique yet simple interface that a lot of users have grown to revere, and a lot of third party apps have tried to replicate. While WP7 wasn’t as bad as some make it out to be, there can be no denying the fact that it has never posed a threat to iOS or Android. Even Microsoft realized that after some time, which is probably what gave birth to Windows Phone 8. The Apollo upgrade has the potential to make Windows Phone relevant in the smartphone market. Almost every feature that was missing until Mango has arrived in Windows Phone with Apollo. It is up to the users to decide whether Windows Phone is good enough to be held up against iOS and Android, but the following comparison may help you reach a conclusion. Read More

A Look At What’s New In Windows Phone 8

by Hamza Khalid on October 30, 2012

Windows Phone

Microsoft announced Windows Phone 8 back in June, but we have had to wait more than four months for its official release. Fortunately, the wait is finally over. The new Windows Phone SDK and complete feature list already out, and by the coming weekend, you will also be able to get your hands on WP8 devices (in the US). As expected, not much has changed about the latest member of the Microsoft family since its introduction, but the June event did not reveal everything. There are a lot of features in Apollo that were previously mentioned in passing and have now been explained in greater detail. Everyone knew that Kids Corner had something to do with content control, but the release event familiarized users with its precise working and advantages. Past the break, we are going to briefly discuss all of the latest Windows Phone 8 announcements. For a look at previous announcements, read the summary of new Windows Phone 8 features we covered in June. Read More

Create Your Own Games On Windows Phone With CYG

by Hamza Khalid on October 29, 2012

Windows Phone

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A glance at the Windows Phone Store should be enough to tell you that most of the games it holds are very simple. Just because a game does not have life-like graphics, or complicated gameplay, it might not necessarily be boring. After all, you can’t be in the mood for Call of Duty or PES 13 all the time. If you son't have any experience with programming, you might be a bit awed by the amount of effort even the smallest of apps require on the developer’s part. Create Your Game (CYG) is a Windows Phone app that’s bent on proving that anyone can develop games for the platform, without any knowledge of programming whatsoever! You won’t even need to be near your computer to do so, as it lets you create working games completely on your Windows Phone. Admittedly, the games won’t be too complex, but the thrill of controlling every aspect of the game’s environment and controls makes the whole thing very worthwhile. Read More

Manage Torrent Downloads On The Go With uTorrent Remote For Windows Phone

by Hamza Khalid on October 22, 2012

Windows Phone

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Torrent clients and controllers might be fairly common on Android and iOS, but Windows Phone users haven't been so lucky thus far. There is a general deficiency of official clients for reputed services on the platform, and torrent downloaders are no exception. However, things seem to have started changing for the better with BitTorrent finally releasing µTorrent Remote for Windows Phone. The app isn't just a glossy official client for a big name, and is actually really useful. Using µTorrent Remote, you can remotely control just about any aspect of the PC or Mac client. The app will let you view, pause and resume downloads, view and manage your RSS feeds or start a new download from your phone so that you don’t have to wait to return to your home computer to add a new torrent to your download queue. µTorrent Remote goes as far as letting its users save photos to their phone if the torrent contains any image files. Read More

Basketball Live: Get NBA Scores, Tweets & Team Info On Windows Phone

by Hamza Khalid on October 16, 2012

Windows Phone

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With the exception of weather apps, Windows Phone's live tiles are best utilized by apps that deal with sports. It is always nice to stay up to date with a game on the go, without even having to launch an app. It is probably due to this attribute of the platform that the Windows Phone Store has a pretty decent sports section. Although there is a Windows Phone app for almost all major sports, perhaps the most well-crafted apps deal with basketball. We have already covered the basketball stats tracking app, NBA Pro ‘12. Basketball Live is a new release that might appear pretty similar to NBA Pro at first glance, but it has its own unique positives. Basketball Live lets users pin any team to their Start screen as a secondary live tile. Not just that, you can use it to stay apprised of all the latest news and related tweets for any NBA team. Of course, no sports app is complete without live scores, and this feature is present in Basketball Live, too. Read More