Microsoft renames Marketplace to Windows Phone Store

If you’ve shopped for apps for your Windows Phone device such as the Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan, you’re sure to have visited Microsoft’s Marketplace. Now, the Redmond firm has renamed its online store to the ‘Windows Phone Store’.

Sadly, Microsoft is yet to make the name change official. However, if this wasn’t the new official name of the online store for Windows Phone devices, the big M would have changed it right away.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft has changed the name to Windows Phone Store. After all, it has changed it online store for desktop software to ‘Windows Store’.

Have you noticed the name change from Windows Phone Marketplace to Windows Phone Store? Let us know through a comment.

Tags: Marketplace, Microsoft, windows phone, Windows Phone Marketplace, Windows Phone Store, Windows Store
Category App News |

Nokia Reading now available for Lumia series in several countries across Europe

The Finnish firm Nokia has recently announced that its Nokia Reading, an eBook service, is now available to its Lumia series in several countries across Europe, including Spain, Russia, Italy, Germany, France, and the UK. The service will be available to other countries later during the year.

The service is available from Nokia Collection, which can be found in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Nokia Reading is available for handsets such as the Lumia 800, Lumia 710, Lumia 900, and Lumia 610.

The current version of Nokia Reading makes it easier for users to search, purchase, and read books published in their respective language. Titles include local titles and free international classics. Nokia promises more to be added to their selection every time.

The Finnish firm claims that its Lumia handsets are ideal for reading eBooks, due to their ClearBlack displays. These displays prevent annoying reflections from showing on the screen. In addition, fonts will be crisp and clear with Microsoft’s ClearType technology. Fonts can be resized as well, according to your reading preference. Lastly, there’s night mode. This feature turns words white and the background black to make it easier to read during the night.

This is just the earlier version of Nokia Reading. Nokia will be rolling out more updates for the service, which includes audio books and News Stream. News Stream is a virtual news magazine, which is said to make it easier to read RSS feeds.

Are you reading eBooks on your Lumia handset with Nokia Reading? Tell us what you think through a comment.

Tags: Nokia, Nokia Collection, Nokia Lumia 610, Nokia Lumia 710, Nokia Lumia 800, Nokia Lumia 900, Nokia Reading, Windows Phone Marketplace
Category App News |

Windows Phone Marketplace closing its doors to devices not running Mango

If you own a device running Windows Phone below version 7.5 (Mango), we have bad news for you. Microsoft announced that it would no longer be making its Windows Phone Marketplace available for devices running versions of its mobile operating system below Mango.

On the Windows Team Blog, Microsoft announced that it would be making two changes to the Windows Marketplace. The first was no longer giving access to apps via its desktop Zune software with the exception of the Zune HD MP3 player. The second involves the Mango version of Windows Phone, which run devices such as the Lumia 800 and the Lumia 900. Microsoft announced the devices that did not run at least Mango would no longer be able to download apps. These devices would only be allowed to browse the internet.

The news may sound bad, but the reality is most Windows Phones in the market run or can be update to Mango. To check, all you have to do is go to settings and then phone update. If an update is available, connect your phone to your computer via Zune then follow the instructions given.

Microsoft has a reason for announcing these changes. According to the software giant, Windows Phone Mango “is part of a larger effort aimed at improving Marketplace performance and security, and paving the way for even faster growth and more new features”.

This push to get every device running Mango could mean that Windows Phone 8 will be rolling out to all devices. Although this information should be taken with a pinch of salt, it is a possibility.

Tags: Apps, Mango, Microsoft, windows phone, Windows Phone 7.5, Windows Phone Mango, Windows Phone Marketplace
Category OS News |