Fresh Paint for Windows Phone Updated with Added Features

Fresh Paint, an app that unleashes your creativity, gets updated with new features:

• New pencil
• Inspire Me (practice with Bing images)
• OneDrive integration to pick up drawings where you left off
• Front-facing camera support
• Improved camera lenses
• bug fixes

Download the update in the Windows Phone store now.

Twitter for Windows Phone Gets an Update

Earlier today, Twitter for Windows Phone gets an update to version 3.2.0.1 with small bugfixes and improvements. No noticeable changes are seen in the UI. Find out for yourself and grab the update if you have a Windows Phone.

What do you think? Do you see small changes?

Windows Phone 8.1 Kicks Off Today, Lumia Cyan Slowly Pushed Out to Nokia Devices

Windows Phone 8.1 was first announced at Build 2014 on April 2nd. It was made available to download for testing to developers as a preview on April 14th. After a month, the preview received its first update, then followed by another update after a week and another after that. Now, the preview feels buttery smooth due to constant crash reports by some users and Microsoft answered by rapidly fixing those bugs. To a beta tester, the coming of the final version of the software upgrade for Windows Phone seems like ages. Microsoft has been quiet about when the update will roll out. Many reports claim that it might come out soon but we waited for like two weeks. It seems to take forever. But forever has ended. Windows phone 8.1 update starts getting to devices today. This was officially announced by Microsoft through the old Nokia website. Nokia is now a part of Microsoft dubbed as Microsoft Mobile.

Source: Nokia.com

Source: Nokia.com

The update only started to roll out so it means that a select few models have received the update such as Lumia 625 and the Lumia 925. Updates for other models are yet to arrive because it's still under carrier testing. The Lumia Cyan is a power pack update for Nokia devices that includes Lumia added features for Nokia devices. Compared with the developer preview, a few improvements noted are related to camera app tweaks, image editing integration, Bing app single sign-in, brightness profiles, device hub, wireless screen projection, SensorCore and Dynamic Lockscreen. Many feature-rich upgrades were announced at the build but some of these additions were not fully experienced due to firmware restrictions. Once the official update gets installed, Lumia owners will be able to enjoy all these that were not included in the preview.

Of course, let's not forget about Cortana, the more personal digital assistant that can understand natural language. Right now she's just available for the US. After beta, she'll venture worldwide to help us, Lumia owners, and simplify our everyday lives with searches on matters that mean to us the most.

Facebook Beta for Windows Phone Now Supports Messenger

Facebook Beta just received an update earlier bringing together improvements for better app navigation and functionality. The new UI overhaul is still in the beta stage but it has improved a lot since it updated to this refreshed user experience a month ago. The official Facebook app is still using the older UI and it will soon be upgraded (might be) to this one after the GDR of the Windows Phone 8.1 platform is released to the public.

Some of the improvements noted are:

• Messenger Support. Facebook seem disconnected then with the Messenger app because it renders useless as there is also a chat area for the Facebook app. But now, selecting the chat icon opens the Messenger app, so this will be your one place for chatting to Facebook contacts.
• Post Detail Page. Then, when you open a post you still have to open the Comments and Like links to see who commented and how many likes you've got. Now, recent comments and number of likes are displayed at the bottom of the post.
• Performance Improvements and Bug Fixes. The new update generally feels a lot faster to load and less waiting time. Even the video and photo uploads are great with no errors or problems.

Beta testers if you want to try out Facebook Beta, just head to the store link and download the update.

Twitter for Windows Phone Now a Universal App

Universal apps are ever increasing in the Windows Phone store and Twitter, after a long time, just received an update today to be a candidate for this. Now, you can tag friends in a photo, upload multiple photos to a single tweet, share photos through direct messages, see your Twitter photos and Vine videos in your timeline, and directly retweet, reply, favorite or follow someone from within the tweet. These are just some of the added features introduced in this update.

Get the update for Twitter to see the difference.

Bing Travel App for Windows Phone Updated to a Universal App

The Bing suite of apps were updated just a few days ago to support the universal apps that's being pushed by Microsoft for all Windows powered-devices. Here's a link to that post. But Bing Travel was not one of them. And if you're wishing that it would become a Universal App, your wish is granted as it's update to version 3.0.3.344 is available for download in the store.

So, if you're fond of travelling and getting information from other countries to guide your trips and destinations, head to the store and download the update today.

Microsoft Mobile Updated the Rate Us Settings for Lumia Phone

Microsoft Mobile/Nokia updated the Rate Us Settings app for Lumia phones today to version 2.5.2.7. This app lets users shout out to Microsoft of what they think about their Lumia phones by submitting a rate score and a comment.

So, what do you think about your Lumia phone? Have yourself be heard by the company that made it. Download the update for Rate Us now.

Nokia Storyteller Updated with Bugfixes

The Nokia Storyteller app groups you photos, videos and cinemagraphs into stories that you can share to others in the form of a slideshow. The app gets its update to version 2.1.0.4 today.

The release notes are as follows:

• Living Images are displayed in Nokia Storyteller
• Photos and videos in a story are combined with a backing track to create a 30-second story video
• Nokia Storyteller integrates with Nokia Creative Studio and Nokia Video Trimmer for editing your photos and videos
• Location data is associated with your photos within Nokia Storyteller

Check for the update in the Store today.

Windows Phone's Bing Rewards App Updated for the Third Time

Bing Rewards, a Microsoft search engine that allows you to earn points just by searching in Bing search engine, gets its third update for Windows Phone.

The first update lets you get into the app but would pop up a message that reads "Your country is not supported at this time". Since point system is initially available in the United States, users outside the US won't be able to take advantage of it. The second update was unusable because the app can't open. An error message states that the app might not have been installed properly and needs to be uninstalled. However, uninstalling the app and reinstalling it gives no remedy. It still crashes. The third update gets the work done. Now, you can navigate within the app and see your points.

I'm just not sure why it worked since I'm outside the US. I just tweaked my phone to think that I'm in that country to get the Cortana functionality. On the other hand, the PC version also won't allow you to earn points when you go to www.bing.com. But if you use the Bing desktop to search, your start earning points. Using Cortana on Windows Phone to search lets you earn points since it's powered by Bing.

Right now, earned points can be redeemed if you're in the United States. But let's just hope the service will be rolled out internationally soon. And by that time, you'll have enough points to enter to raffle draws, to donate points to charity, and to redeem points with Microsoft products like free OneDrive storage and Skype credits and much more.

Download Bing Rewards in the store today.

Xbox Music and Video Update to Bring Fixes and Improve App Performance

Xbox Music and Xbox Video gets minor fixes and improvements with this update. Xbox Music lets you purchase music on the store with the functionality of a music player to manage your songs while Xbox Video app brings together your favorite TV shows and movies on your phone, including streamable and downloadable digital content.

Download Xbox Music and Xbox Video in the store today.