Windows Phone App: Metro.am


Windows Phone App Review: Metro.am

Metro.am for Windows Phont
While there is not an Instagram app for our Windows Phone, there are a few client apps available. One such is Metro.am.
Metro.am does a good job delivering Instagram content to your Windows Phone but does feel a little lacking. Lacking because of the inability to sign up for an Instagram account or post images to your Instagram account. And it's not the developers fault for overlooking these features. You can blame the Instagram API restrictions.
Metro.am does allow you to sign into an existing account, view other Instagram images, view Instagram images submitted by nearby members, and view your most recent submissions.
You are able to pan/zoom individual images, like the images, comment on them and save them to your Pictures Hub. Metro.am will also allow you to view your Instagram profile as well as profiles on other Instagram members.  Metro.am will also let you search for photos by Instagram user or tags.
Metro.am
Still, regardless on how nice Metro.am is it is tough to overlook the fact that you can't create an Instagram account or upload images to Instagram from the app. The account sign up can only be done through a iOS or Android device running the "official" Instagram app. Kinda silly that such restrictions are in place but it is what it is.
I ended up borrowing my wife's iPhone to create an Instagram account. There is another workaround that WPCentral Reader Marc sent in. You can download and install the bluestacks software from bluestacks.com on your desktop. Bluestacks allows you to run Android apps on your PC. Once bluestacks is installed, install the Instagram app from your PC and sign up for an account. Once an account is established, you can delete the bluestacks software as it will no longer be needed.
While this will get around the account creation hurdle, there's not a way to get around uploading images to Instagram. It is kinda silly to have these restrictions (or the lack of an official Instagram app for Windows Phone) in place. Maybe one day this will change.
Metro.am may not be a fully functional Instagram client for your Windows Phone but it does what it does well. Which is basically allowing you to view, comment and save images from Instagram. You can't blame the developers for these limitations and they did a good job with what access they had to Instagram.
There is a free trial version available for Metro.am that is basically an ad-support version that lacks the ability to pan/zoom images. The full version (no ads) ofMetro.am is currently running $1.49 and you can find it all here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Thanks, Marc, for the bluestacks tip!
QR: Metro.am

Surprise launch for Windows Phone 8


Are Nokia and Microsoft planning a surprise launch for Windows Phone 8?

WP Central
How close are we to a Nokia Windows Phone 8 device?
If there is one thing we can say about Nokia and Microsoft lately is that both companies have faith in their products. Whatever the sales or marketshare figures show, the Windows Phone OS and Nokia hardware are a brilliant combo.
So we’re relishing the words by Chris Webber, Nokia’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, who Tweeted this morning a nice little message to rival Samsung:
“Samsung take note, next generation Lumia coming soon.”
It is a bit unusual for companies to directly call each other out so publicly, which is why this probably has garnered so much attention. If we wanted to deconstruct that tweet a bit we could highlight the usage of “note” by Weber as a hint to Nokia’s upcoming Windows Phone 8 plans. Samsung has quite successfully launched and sold a few GALAXY Notes in recent months (see our hands on when we compared it to the HTC Titan).
While there is no evidence that Nokia will be offering a massive 5”+ device come early September, rumors around the Nokia ‘Phi’ have suggested a device with a quite large 4.65” screen, akin to the HTC Titan series. (We’ve previously expressed to Nokia the desire for large screen devices back at Mobile World Congress; at the very least they were interested in our appeal).
Then again, that’s probably reading a bit too much into it and instead was just a playful jab at Samsung. But it does raise some other interesting questions for discussion.
The Lumia line of phones for Nokia so far have been a critical success but it remains to be seen if they can catch on with mass adoption. With what appears to be an accelerated launch plan, Microsoft and Nokia may be rushing their next-generation devices to market sooner than expected.
WP Central
Gearing up for production?
Those recent leaks of parts for upcoming Nokia handsets suggest that pre-production units have already rolled out and mass-production is gearing up. That’s good news as we may be getting some Nokia devices with Windows Phone 8 sooner than the previously anticipated “end of October” timeframe.
With Apple expected to announce the iPhone 5 on September 12th, Nokia and Microsoft will beat them to the punch for revealing their next contender for Über-smartphone one week earlier.
But Apple is still predicted to actually launch their phone sooner. That’s because Apple enjoys unparalleled control over the OS and hardware that Microsoft lacks, not to mention the ability to dictate launch-dates to carriers. For even if Microsoft and Nokia have their next-generation Lumia ready, it still needs to bend to a carrier’s launch cycle (presumably AT&T, maybe Verizon) adding a wrinkle to any planned “surprise” unveiling. And that’s really the issue here: How long will we have to wait until we can actually purchase a Nokia Windows Phone 8 device?
WP Central
At the very least, it does look like Microsoft and Nokia are fast-tracking plans, which shows a new, more agile strategy for both companies.  That’s good news. But are we now expecting too much, too soon?
Let’s hope they adapt well and don’t disappoint come September 5th.
Windows Phone Central will be covering the Nokia-Microsoft event live from NYC, on September 5th starting at 9:30am ET.
Source: Twitter;  Tweet Image and via: Pocketnow

Windows Phone Dev Center


Windows Phone Dev Center now automatically encrypts all apps to prevent piracy

Dev Center
Software piracy is a serious battle, which can also affect our beloved platform developers. Microsoft has taken action by automatically applying encryption to all apps through the newly unveiled Dev Center. According to a detailed post on the Windows Phone Developer Blog, Todd Brix states that all apps (including those already submitted) are automatically encrypted without user input.
We first heard about the possibility of server-side encryption back in November, 2011. From our understanding, Microsoft was waiting until everyone was on Mango to implement that feature and it now looks to have happened. If you recall, at the end of April Microsoft decreed that you had to have Windows Phone 7.5 to get to the Marketplace. Combined with the Dev Center refresh, we think that transition for encryption is now complete.
The software giant has been cracking down on Windows Phone app piracy by making it harder for devices to be unlocked and removing the Marketplace from Zune PC software. This would surely slow down those who desire to steal work and make it freely available, but we're hoping this app encryption will help strengthen the blockade against attacks.
It will be warmly welcomed by developers who have poured not only funds and resources, but time and effort into their projects. This will in-turn benefit consumers with more apps being released through more potential sales carried out and a stronger ROI for content providers. Here's hoping anyway.

Windows Phone Metro UI


Windows Phone Metro UI re-naming contest winner!

Metro Design
With all the rumblings about Microsoft moving away from the name Metro to describe their Windows/Windows Phone user interface, we opened the floor up for suggestions on what the new name should be. After narrowing it down to six entries, put it to a vote of the masses and 1,840 votes later we have a winner.
Metro UI renaming poll results
Walking away with 31.09% of the vote, Pure edged out Motion as the winning suggestion. Windows Phone Central reader J4rrod offered up the Pure moniker and as a result takes home a $50 gift certificate to the Windows Phone Accessory Store. We'll be dispatching an email to J4rrod shortly with details on his prize.
We had some great suggestions and it will be interesting to see what direction Microsoft chooses. Who knows, "Pure" might win out over "Windows 8".
Thanks everyone for participating not only in the hundreds of suggestions but also in selecting the winner.

Nike+ ,Kinect and Windows Phone app


Nike+ releases extended ad with Kinect and Windows Phone app

A little bit of a hubbub is making the rounds this morning of Nike+ supposedly "announcing" a companion app for Windows Phone for the new Kinect game comingthis holiday October 30th.   
But of course we knew about this way back in June during E3 when Nike released the first trailer and literally showed a huge Nokia Lumia with the Nike+ app flowing through the pivot screens.
So why the excitement? Blame it on the internet's short-term memory and a slightly revised ad coming out last week.
WP Central
Nike+ Kinect Training with a Lumia back in June
Around July 30th, Nike put out an “extended” version of the ad with a new voiceover that states “and with the companion app we can send challenge reminders, track sessions and keep you connected to your friends” (It's at the 1:41 mark if you want to fast forward).
Otherwise it’s the exact same ad with some more game footage.
We should note too that we saw Ice Age 4 this weekend (and it was awesome). Before the preview started, Regal cinemas played this whole ad during it’s "pre-show countdown entertainment". No doubt it was kind of fun to see Windows Phone so huge on a screen and not an iPhone or Android in sight. That version of the ad has "AT&T" emblazoned on the phone noting that's it's a Lumia 900 with "Windows Phone" on the movie screen.
Nike+ Kinect Training is coming “this holiday” October 30th but it at least should make some fun times in front of the screen. Having a companion app is also certainly welcome.
WP Central
The Nike+ app for the Xbox 360 game was shown back at E3
Although if you were really serious about exercise, you would already be using Ubisoft’s Fitness Evolved series which is a fantastic Xbox 360-Kinect exercise system. It has had a companion app for Windows Phone since last year—but you already knew that, right?
Besides a Nike+ app for this Kinect game, we’re still waiting on getting a companion app for their Fuelband. Currently iOS has that app which can sync with your daily stats for the tiny wristband and Android is slated to get it soon too. Windows Phone?No word on that front which is a shame. We’re rocking that gizmo which is a sophisticated accelerometer that measures “activity” (and estimates caloric burn and number of steps walked). Hopefully Nike+ will get around to that one soon or this new companion app can also tie into your Nike+ account for even more bio-statistics.

Pool Pro Online 3


Windows Phone Xbox Live Review: Pool Pro Online 3

Pool Pro Online 3
Namco Bandai’s Windows Phone output has been somewhat uneven so far. Some of their games like Puzzle Quest 2 are great, many are overpriced (Pac-Man Championship Edition DX anyone?), and a few like More Brain Exercise are simply duds.  Their previous release, Pac-Man Kart Rally, fell somewhere in the middle of the quality spectrum, but I respected the developer’s boundary-breaking use of local Wi-Fi multiplayer. Now Pool Pro Online 3 pushes things even further, becoming the first mobile Xbox Live game with true real-time online multiplayer. While its online mode is unparalleled, a few fouls keep Pool Pro Online 3 from being a truly great pool game.
Three in one
Pool Pro Online 3
For those who are new to pool, a primer: there is no one game of pool. Rather, a variety of games with different rules and ball configurations can be played on a pool table. PPO3features three such games, all designed for two players: 8-ball, 9-ball, and Snooker. The first game is best known in the USA, the latter in the UK.
Learning to play
Unfamiliar with one or more of the game’s rules? They’re easy enough to learn thanks to a decent generalized tutorial and some reference text in the Help & Options menu.
Here’s how making a shot works:
  • Drag left or right anywhere on the table to aim your stick. Arrows indicate which direction the cue ball and the first ball(s) it hits will travel.
  • Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to fine-tune aiming.
  • Press the Eye icon at the bottom-left corner to switch between first-person and overhead views.
  • Press the English icon at the top corner to aim at a specific part of the ball, affecting its spin (optional).
  • Once the shot is lined up, pull down on the cue stick at the right edge of the screen and release to make the shot.
Sounds good, right? It is, at first. But the more you play, the more nuisances become apparent. First, truly fine aiming can be tough because lifting your finger after aiming usually nudges the aim a bit. The developers should have compensated for that somehow.
More importantly, the mechanism for actually firing the shot needs serious work. Performing a maximum strength shot is extremely tough because your finger often strikes the bottom of the phone before the game can register the stick has been pulled all the way down. Worse, sometimes the stick releases without me even removing my finger from the meter, ruining the shot. I’ve even had my aim change instead of the stick moving, which should never happen. Given the importance of striking balls with maximum strength at times, I found these quirks quite exasperating.
Multiplayer madness
Pool Pro Online 3
Earning money in single-player to buy new equipment and pool halls is all well and good, but multiplayer really increases the fun factor. PPO3 offers both pass-and-play and real-time online multiplayer. Let’s look at how online works.
Each of the three game types has a public lobby, from which you can invite other players to a game. If you’d rather play with someone else, simply press the Invite button and send one out to somebody on your friends list. UnlikeBattleship, they actually need to accept right away since there’s no asynchronous multiplayer. Once a challenge has been accepted, both players must agree on a bet before the match begins.
Chatting up a storm
Pool Pro Online 3Each player has a turn timer, so you can’t just take forever to line up a shot. While you’re waiting, feel free to tap the Chat button at the top of the screen. New messages create a nice sound effect, making it easy to keep a light conversation going during the game.
Once the match ends, the winner walks away a bit richer and the loser slightly humbled. Chat unfortunately cuts off at that point. But you’re free to choose a Rematch; as long as both players stay connected to the server, the gameplay can continue.
Still a Windows Phone game
Pool Pro Online 3The public lobbies, real-time multiplayer, and chat features might fool you into thinking you’re playing a console or PC game online as opposed to the rudimentary multiplayer modes we’ve seen in Xbox Live games on Windows Phone so far. Well, all is not perfect in the online mode. Once you challenge someone or accept a challenge, actually connecting to that game is a crapshoot. I’ve also experienced disconnects during games, for which neither player is penalized.These connection issues aren't so severe that they ruin the game as in Gun Bros and Contract Killer, but they certainly cut into the fun.
Achievements
Pool Pro Online 3While multiplayer gives a game likePPO3 some legs, an addictive single-player component or metagame is also necessary to keep players coming back. Unfortunately, PPO3’s unlocking system and Achievements fall pancake flat.
See, scratch can either be earned by performing feats and winning games in single-player or by betting and winning multiplayer games. That scratch can then be spent in the pro shop to unlock felts, sticks, and pool halls. It costs 500,000 scratch to buy everything from the shop (Achievement), and there’s also an Achievement for collecting a million scratch.
Unfortunately, the developers seem to have pulled those two numbers out of thin air, because as it stands nobody will ever reach 500K, let alone a million. Single player games pay about 500 scratch on average – up to 700 or 800 if you play on the highest difficulty and do really well. Nobody really wants to bet large amounts of scratch online because you lose your bet if you lose. The betting economy might actually work if the pot exceeded the amount bet, but it doesn’t.
Given the average payout I just described, it would take a minimum of 1000 victories to unlock all the pool halls and 2000 to get the Fat Cat Achievement. Each game takes several minutes, and that’s not counting loading times and losses. Unless Namco Bandai changes payouts with a patch, it would simply take a ridiculous amount of time and dedication to get either Achievement.
Overall Impression
Pool Pro Online 3 really wowed me initially, but as time went on, its faults became increasingly apparent. In the all-important area of controls, the game is only sufficient rather than intuitive. In real life, high strength shots are easier to make than low strength ones, but the reverse is true here. And with Achievements that are either extremely contrived and luck-based or insanely laborious, players can’t look forward to earning the game’s full 200 GamerScore.
Thank goodness for the online mode, then! Being able to play and chat with random strangers or friends in real-time on Windows Phone is a cathartic experience. I wish we didn’t have to bet scratch in order to play and profit from online games, because an ‘everyone profits’ situation would be more fun overall. Still, the online multiplayer is the best the platform has seen so far, and will likely keep pool fans entertained for a long time.
Pool Pro Online 3 costs $2.99 – not bad given the robust multiplayer options and fairly good 3D graphics. Just make sure to turn the music off before it eats away at your soul. Get the game here on the Marketplace.
QR: Pool Pro Online 3

Sprint and Windows Phone 8!


Sprint still has cold feet with Windows Phone 8

WP Central
With AT&T, T-Mobile and even Verizon reportedly on board with Windows Phone 8,Sprint is the last holdout for a major US carrier in supporting Windows Phone 8. While some of our readers erroneously entertain notions that the carrier will embrace Microsoft’s next iteration of their OS, we’ve been very cautious in agreeing.
In a recent interview on All-Things D, Sprint VP David Owens is once again pouring some cold water on customer’s hopes for a big Windows Phone 8 push this fall. The carrier has 90% of their late 2012-2013 lineup already in place but what role Microsoft will play in that in unclear.
Speaking to Ina Fried, Owens notes that they are interested in Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 but they may not be the leader this fall...
“The market impact of both Windows 8 and the next iPhone are also key factors that are a bit hard to predict, Owens said.
As for Windows 8, Sprint said it wants to be actively involved, but may not lead the charge. It sees some clear opportunities but is also mindful that its last Windows Phone, the HTC Arrive, was one of the more returned products in the company’s recent history. Owens said that many buyers of that phone were coming from Android and found Windows Phone’s unique operating system hard to get used to.”
If that sounds like Sprint is distancing themselves from Microsoft we would have to agree.
We do understand that carriers need to strategically think of their next move and having caution over a new OS is certainly warranted. But we think Sprint is going to miss the boat again this fall, leaving customers high and dry (or maybe underwhelmed with a single device release).
Here at Windows Phone Central we don’t endorse any carrier—it’s a personal choice mostly dependent on your wallet and just as importantly, your actual signal coverage. Still, although we’ve been a customer of Sprint since 2000 and are on the cost-effective SERO plan, we’re getting ready to abandon them soon and we suggest some of you start considering doing the same as the fall approaches.
Update: Another quote from Owens via Phonescoop sheds more light on the issue. Here, Owens does not commit to Windows Phone 8 exactly but notes that they will be participating:
 "We think Windows Phone 8 is a solid product that they are bringing to market. We're interested in watching it unfold over the course of the next year. And we won't be watching from the sidelines. We'll be participating. We may not lead it, but we'll participate."
To our ears that sounds like they'll dip their toe into the Windows Phone 8 pool but with only one or two devices. 
Source: All Things D

ARMED version 1.6


ARMED version 1.6 update brings a price drop and lots of tweaks

ARMED! Updated
Here at Windows Phone Central, we’re all big fans of strategy title ARMED! from Dallas-based indie developer Sickhead Games. Among the game’s many qualities are sharp 3D graphics, intuitive controls, online multiplayer, and of course, plenty of strategic depth. Not only that, but Sickhead has regularly updated the game since its release, tweaking and improving a variety of elements with each patch.
The latest update, version 1.6 is no less impressive than previous updates. The update just went live so look for it pushing out any time.  We've got the full list of changes to share with you, the most impressive of which is the new price: $2.99, down from $3.99. That and more ARMED! news after the break.
ARMED! Deserted Map
ARMED! version 1.6 release notes:
Features
  • The game over screen has been completely redesigned.
  • Surrendering now has its own game finishing sequence.
  • New presentation of matchmaking results.
  • Gameplay HUD now includes back/pause button.
  • Gameplay pause screen redesigned.
  • Added logo/title/back badge across all game screens.
  • New alert notification voice overs.
Improvements
  • Matchmaking live search now continues until a match is found or it is stopped.
  • We tweaked the camera control physics for pan and rotate.
  • Camera zoom now has some momentum and bounce.
  • We now continue to animate the camera during game over sequence.
  • Moved matchmaking screen AD to top right corner.
  • The particle system now shares index buffers reducing memory usage.
  • We now play a sound when a live match is found during matchmaking.
  • We now disable the WP7 lock screen during matchmaking search.
  • We hide the Back/Replay/Timescale buttons during the game over sequence.
  • You now "surrender" a multiplayer game instead of "forfeit".
  • We now show the published date on news items.
  • Slider controls now react better to input.
  • We now have a brighter disabled text color.
  • Added mech death animation.
  • Matchmaking screen now shows a 'Stop' button when searching.
  • General optimizations to garbage generation for reduced memory usage and collection.
  • The "Riverted" level has foliage cover in areas that were previously missing.
  • The "Deserted" level was updated with detailed texture work and more saturation to the overall look.
  • The "Vilecano" level has lighter coloring near the brim of the volcanos and more trees in the soft cover areas.
  • The "Sn0wned" level has texture improvements to more clearly define mountainous and unplayable areas.
  • Projectiles no longer emit particles at their origin.
  • Made big performance improvements in AI pathfinding.
  • Units will now prefer to path which is visually more direct towards their destination.
  • Now all AI difficulties will decide to send units on patrol if there is nothing to attack.
  • AI will now end its deployment early if it wants to build a factory, but fails do to not being able to afford it.
  • AI now prefers patrolling around locations which are threatened.
  • We added an acknowledge step for all turns sent to the server with periodic retries until we get confirmation.
  • Vehicles now are rotated to face their rally path direction on creation.
  • Units now visually pick a more logical rotation direction on construction.
  • Flame thrower particles now have a starting random rotation.
  • We now scale the pick box on units based on camera distance for better selection.
  • The pick box for non-flying units is now extended downward to the terrain height.
  • We now use the selectron instead of the pick box for the start of path dragging operations.
  • Tweaked visual selectron size for all units.
  • Units now logically move into a tile when they reach the halfway point of walk duration.
  • Units following other units are now processed after the leader unit.
  • Units following other units will now pause several moves before reacting when that unit moves.
  • Units are now still processed during the move in which they are destroyed making simultaneously kills possible.
  • Optimized out unseen polys on some units.
  • Tweaked fog tile elevation across all maps.
  • Unit shadows now animate their position.
  • Mech shockwave art improvements.
  • Improvements to bug reporting.
Fixes
  • Fixed desyncs caused by unstable sorts.
  • Removed floating point calculations which cause desyncs from unit target selection.
  • Fixed desync by converting path neighbor ratings to use integer math.
  • Fixed some incorrect event handlers causing stuck matches.
  • Removed unwanted beep from the end of the gameplay music track.
  • Fixed periodic crash caused by collection modification in a foreach.
  • Fixed a bunch of memory leaks causing out of memory errors after dozens of play sessions.
  • Fixed a bug which could cause music volume to be changed when leaving a game.
  • Fixed issue where the game would get stuck in an infinite loop when the game ended.
  • Fixed crash when updating leaderboard entries after leaderboard screen was exited.
  • Fixed a replay determinism issue do to AI repathing units immediately after the reload.
  • Fixed bug that allowed users to back out of buy screens on the tutorial.
  • Fixed crash caused by too many open matches by adding a maximum to the list from the server.
  • AI will now stop building ground units from factories at locations which do not have ground paths enemy controlled locations.
  • AI will now repath units which it believes are stuck.
  • AI will no longer get stuck if all factories fail to build.
  • AI will no longer path units to locations which they can never reach.
  • Fixed "Riverted" level build locations to solve stuck factory case.
  • Fixed the small camera pan that would occur prior to a path node drag operation starting.
  • Fixed interpolation jerk with evading drones.
  • Fixed visual jaggies in the rocket projectile ribbon trail.
  • Fixed a path node selection when there was greater than one node in the same tile.
  • Fixing an issue with cluster not visually aiming upward when firing at distant targets.
  • Fixed cluster attack which was not causing hit units to burn or igniting the destination tile.
“Thanks for playing ARMED!” – Sickhead Games
ARMED! on other platforms
ARMED! win screen
Nobody tell them how phallic this looks.
The above release notes also apply to the Windows 8 version of ARMED!, which we’ve detailed before and is currently available for free. However, the Windows 8 update won’t actually go live for another 1-2 weeks due to certification issues, so don’t go looking for it just yet. Me, I’m patiently waiting for Windows 8 to actually launch before I dive into all that good stuff.
Additionally, sign-ups for the long-promised iOS port have just opened. If you’re one of those scoundrels who uses Apple devices, you can register right here. It works with any iOS device, so don’t worry about jailbreaking or robbing a bank or whatever they call it. The iOS beta is free and will support cross-platform multiplayer with our beloved Windows Phone version right out of the gate. Windows 8 cross-platform play is coming too eventually!
To grab any version of ARMED!, you can stop by this page on the official site. Or jump straight to the Windows Phone version here on the Marketplace. It’s a steal at the new price of $2.99.
QR: ARMED!

ESPN Fantasy Football app


ESPN Fantasy Football app in the works

ESPN Fantasy Football app in the works
If you're into ESPN's fantasy football, you will be pleased to hear that the ESPN Fantasy Football app is headed to the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Not much is known on the details but the app will feature fantasy team management, live scoring, news from the NFL, tweets from fantasy experts, and messaging boards.
This will be the first year ESPN's Fantasy Football app will be offered for Windows Phone and expected release is mid-August. Once we spot the app in the Marketplace, we'll let you know.
Source: tvbythenumbersThanks, Ken, for the tip!

Nokia Weather Channel App


Windows Phone Review: Nokia Weather Channel App

Nokia Weather Channel App
While there's the Weather Channel app available on the Windows Phone Marketplace, Nokia has an exclusive version of the Weather Channel app as well. The Nokia Weather Channel app was recently updated to version 2.0 with a few new features added to the mix.  We've touch on these new features earlier but now we want to take a look at the full app.
Some may scratch their head at Nokia's choice for an exclusive weather app but the update may change your mind on the Weather Channel app.
Nokia Weather App
You still have the basic weather services with the Nokia Weather Channel app.  The first page you come to is your current conditions with a three day extended forecast.  Tap on the forecast and you will be sent to additional pages that expand on your current conditions, an hourly forecast, a 36 hour forecast and a ten day forecast chart.  Tap on a date on the ten day chart and you will pull up a day, night and temperature history view for that day.
Sliding across from the forecast page you will find the radar and augmented reality page.  The radar map is animated and has layers for radar, clouds, temps, rainfall, and snow.  The Weather AR (augmented reality) taps into your Windows Phone camera and location services to populate your camera view with weather pics in your area.
Nokia Weather App Amazing Weather Moments
Where do these pictures come from?  The Weather Channels' iWitness service.  On the main pages you'll see a camera button that will launch your camera app where you can capture a weather photo and upload it to the iWitness service (membership required) which you can log into from the three-dot menu on the main pages.  Other members can comment and rate your photos and they may appear on the Amazing Weather Moments page of the app.
My Amazing Day and Friends Weather Alerts
So sliding the main pages from the current conditions to the maps to the Amazing Weather Moments you will eventually find your way to a page that highlights two of the new features the version 2.0 update brings to the table.  Here is where you will se your Amazing Day's displayed and any weather alerts for your Friends Weather.  So what is the Amazing Day and My Friend's Weather feature?  In a nutshell....
My Friends Weather
My Friends Weather: Curious what the weather is like at your friend's house? Now you can add friends to the Nokia Weather Channel app from your Windows Phone People's Hub or your Facebook account. You can even pick five to pin to the My Friend's Weather page. Should a severe weather alert be issued for a friend's location, the alert will be displayed on the app's main pages.
Amazing Day Parameters
My Amazing Day: Looking for a day when just the right weather conditions exist? My Amazing Day lets you set a series of weather parameters and a list of dates (within the next ten days) will be generated. Looking for a low pollen count day? How about a day when the temps aren't so high in the morning? Each Amazing Day established can be pinned to your Windows Phone Start Screen.
The Nokia Weather Channel app lays everything out rather nicely and with one more main page to give users a list view of the key features as well as links to weather videos, a severe weather center, and a listing of your locations it's not a shabby weather app.  The Nokia Weather Channel App is much like the Nokia ESPN app, that is it is scaled down a little from the original to cover the basics.  However, with the recent update the Weather Channel App goes a little bit further.
I have to admit that my weather app of choice for the past few months has beenWeather Flow. However, having tinkered with the updated Nokia Weather Channel app things may be changing. The My Friends Weather is a nice touch and an easy way to find out the weather at your friend's or family's location. If you're trying to find a rain free day to take a trip or need to be alerted when temps get dreadfully high, the My Amazing Day is a great tool to help keep you informed. All in all, Nokia's Weather Channel app is very impressive. The regular Weather Channel app isn't shabby and hopefully these new features will be headed to that version as well.
If you're using a Nokia Lumia Windows Phone, you can find the Weather Channel apphere at the Windows Phone Marketplace. The app is free and you can find it in the Nokia Collection that is in your Windows Phone Marketplace app. If you don't see it listed, tap any Nokia app in the collection and choose "more from Nokia Corporation" and you'll see it listed.
QR: Nokia Weather Channel App

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