Today Microsoft has released an update for the Facebook app on Windows Phone as part of their beta program, which allows users to get the latest app versions to test out upcoming features. The new Facebook beta app for Windows Phone has been updated with a major redesign with some new features that include post sharing, uploading hi-res photos and the Facebook timeline.

Facebook Ditches Metro-style

The new UI moves away from the "metro style" interface found in the existing Facebook app, and more closely matches the iOS and Android Facebook apps. Sliding to the right will expose the navigation bar reveals the chat interface. Facebook's Windows Phone update follows a similar move by twitter recently to align its Windows Phone UI with its iOS and Android apps.

Microsoft says it is looking for "energetic volunteers" to join the program and test the new features, while the existing app will remain in the store alongside the beta one. The Facebook beta includes an option to send feedback in the settings area of the app, where Microsoft will collect bug reports and feature requests. The newly designed Facebook Beta app is available immediately in the Windows Phone store. 

Facebook· Metro· Microsoft· update· Windows 8 Phone· Windows Phone

Facebook for Windows Phone Gains Major Update

Today Microsoft has released an update for the Facebook app on Windows Phone as part of their beta program, which allows users to get the latest app versions to test out upcoming features. The new Facebook beta app for Windows Phone has been updated with a major redesign with some new features that include post sharing, uploading hi-res photos and the Facebook timeline.

Facebook Ditches Metro-style

The new UI moves away from the "metro style" interface found in the existing Facebook app, and more closely matches the iOS and Android Facebook apps. Sliding to the right will expose the navigation bar reveals the chat interface. Facebook's Windows Phone update follows a similar move by twitter recently to align its Windows Phone UI with its iOS and Android apps.

Microsoft says it is looking for "energetic volunteers" to join the program and test the new features, while the existing app will remain in the store alongside the beta one. The Facebook beta includes an option to send feedback in the settings area of the app, where Microsoft will collect bug reports and feature requests. The newly designed Facebook Beta app is available immediately in the Windows Phone store. 

Microsoft has been hinting the new Skype app for the recent release Windows 8 Phone. It is all now becoming reality because Microsoft has now released a preview of the new Skype application for the all new Windows 8 Phone.

According to Microsoft, there are a bunch of new features that inclue the app running in the background, incoming calls that match the style of regular phone conversations, and lock screen notifications.

To get the app, all you have to do is search for it in the Windows Store; or WPcentral says you should be able to download it by following this link. If you want to know more about the app's features and improvements, you can watch the video below.

Apps· Microsoft· Previews· Skype· Skype for Windows Phone· Windows 8· Windows 8 Phone· Windows Phone

Skype for Windows 8 Phone Preview

Microsoft has been hinting the new Skype app for the recent release Windows 8 Phone. It is all now becoming reality because Microsoft has now released a preview of the new Skype application for the all new Windows 8 Phone.

According to Microsoft, there are a bunch of new features that inclue the app running in the background, incoming calls that match the style of regular phone conversations, and lock screen notifications.

To get the app, all you have to do is search for it in the Windows Store; or WPcentral says you should be able to download it by following this link. If you want to know more about the app's features and improvements, you can watch the video below.

Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Hauawei have already shipped the first round of Windows Phone 8 devices, all running on Qualcomm chipsets, but Acer would like to get their hands on the action too. After shipping its low-end Allegro Windows Phone in Europe last year, Acer spokesperson Chen Guowei has revealed that the company is planning to launch its first Windows 8 device in the second half of 2013.

iMobile reports that Guowei is confident with investing in the Windows Phone 8 platform, and also expressed confidence in the platform because of the long history between the two companies in the PC market.

Microsoft is preparing to support a new range of Windows Phone 8, with all new hardware, including muli-core processors, NFC chipsets, and a new screen resolution. Microsoft is expected to launch the new range of Windows Phone 8 in late October.

Source: iMobile [Translated]
Image Credits: The Guardian

Acer· Hardware· Headlines· News· Release· Release Date· Rumours· Technology· Windows Phone

Acer reportedly planning a Windows Phone 8 Device

Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Hauawei have already shipped the first round of Windows Phone 8 devices, all running on Qualcomm chipsets, but Acer would like to get their hands on the action too. After shipping its low-end Allegro Windows Phone in Europe last year, Acer spokesperson Chen Guowei has revealed that the company is planning to launch its first Windows 8 device in the second half of 2013.

iMobile reports that Guowei is confident with investing in the Windows Phone 8 platform, and also expressed confidence in the platform because of the long history between the two companies in the PC market.

Microsoft is preparing to support a new range of Windows Phone 8, with all new hardware, including muli-core processors, NFC chipsets, and a new screen resolution. Microsoft is expected to launch the new range of Windows Phone 8 in late October.

Source: iMobile [Translated]
Image Credits: The Guardian

Skype is delivering a fix to a "rare" instant messaging bug, which has currently only affected some operating systems. The bug is quite severe, it caused some instant messages to be sent to the wrong contant. Skype says that the bug occurred only when the user's Skype client crashed and they logged back in. There has also been reports that the same problem on Android and iOS were wrong, and that some versions of Skype for Windows did not contain the bug. "We can assure that users of Skype 5.9 for Windows, Skype 2.8 for Android and Skype 4.0 for iOS have not been affected."

The fix applies to Skype 5.10 for Windows, Skype 5.8 for Mac, Skype 4.0 for Linux and Skype 1.2 for Windows Phone. It should be available sometime today at the main Skype Download Page, with release notes. The desktop patch also includes a fix for saving files sent on a FAT32-formatted hard drive.

Source: Skype

Bug Fix· Bugs· Headlines· Instant Messaging· Linux· Mac· News· Security· Skype· Software· Windows· Windows Phone

Skype Rolling Out Fix For Instant Messaging Bug

Skype is delivering a fix to a "rare" instant messaging bug, which has currently only affected some operating systems. The bug is quite severe, it caused some instant messages to be sent to the wrong contant. Skype says that the bug occurred only when the user's Skype client crashed and they logged back in. There has also been reports that the same problem on Android and iOS were wrong, and that some versions of Skype for Windows did not contain the bug. "We can assure that users of Skype 5.9 for Windows, Skype 2.8 for Android and Skype 4.0 for iOS have not been affected."

The fix applies to Skype 5.10 for Windows, Skype 5.8 for Mac, Skype 4.0 for Linux and Skype 1.2 for Windows Phone. It should be available sometime today at the main Skype Download Page, with release notes. The desktop patch also includes a fix for saving files sent on a FAT32-formatted hard drive.

Source: Skype

A good amount of people who have the Windows Phone have been eagerly awaiting for the official support of the BBC's iPlayer video on demand service and it appeared that the app was close to launch date. The BBC says that iPlayer will not be on the Windows Phone for a while.

A BBC spokesperson says the company is always looking at new and exiting platforms for BBC iPlayer, but that it has no plans for a Windows Phone native app. The BBC worked closely with Microsoft on its recently launched Xbox 360 iPlayer app, but it doesn't sound like a similar Windows Phone application will be ready any time soon.

The BBC has iPlayer on iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices for its iPlayer service, so we should see it on the Windows Phone some point in the future, but not just yet.

bbc· iplayer· Microsoft· Windows Phone

BBC has no plans to launch iPlayer Windows Phone app in the immediate future

A good amount of people who have the Windows Phone have been eagerly awaiting for the official support of the BBC's iPlayer video on demand service and it appeared that the app was close to launch date. The BBC says that iPlayer will not be on the Windows Phone for a while.

A BBC spokesperson says the company is always looking at new and exiting platforms for BBC iPlayer, but that it has no plans for a Windows Phone native app. The BBC worked closely with Microsoft on its recently launched Xbox 360 iPlayer app, but it doesn't sound like a similar Windows Phone application will be ready any time soon.

The BBC has iPlayer on iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices for its iPlayer service, so we should see it on the Windows Phone some point in the future, but not just yet.