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Cora: Yet Another Siri like App for Windows Phone in making

News February 24th, 2012 / 1 Comment

While at with windows phone blog we cover only Windows Phone related products, we do admire Apple products. Siri is one among many of other products we would personally like to appreciate. Since the birth of Siri, many developers have been hankering to imitate the functionality of Siri and port it other OS or app. Although, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Siri clone available on Android and iOS platform, none of them came even close to Siri. Siri surely deserves venerate than any shiny big trophy.

Cora for Windows Phone

In the past, an attempt to bring Siri like functionality to Windows Phone received huge round of applauds. Ask Ziggy does an exceptional job, but it still lacks that sting. It would be interesting to see what future holds for us. Ask Ziggy is passing through major revamp, hence we should expect a better integration in next version.

cora for windows phone

Cora is the new kid in the making. Cora, a Windows Phone application based on Nuance voice recognition technology, is in its early days of development. The developer has uploaded a video of the app unveiling some promising new features. Since you’re curious to know more, Cora can understand the following commands at the moment,

Command List: Enlists all the commands
Define: Defines a word
Flight: Flight information
Google: Google Search
Search: Bing Search
Stock: Stock prices
Update name: Update the current username
Wikipedia: Search Wikipedia
YouTube: Search YouTube videos
Weather: Get current weather condition

Cora is yet to be released in marketplace. There is no ETA available at this time, but we promise you that we’ll bring the news as soon as it is released in the marketplace. So far, Cora looks promising, but it has to face tough competition from Ask Ziggy developer, as it can perform more functions than Cora does. Of course, Cora can tell you jokes to kill your time.

Preview: Root Folders for Fully Unlocked Windows Phone

Homebrew February 24th, 2012 / No Comments

Though Folders application for developer unlocked Windows Phone is great, people with fully unlocked Windows Phone would hanker to get more out of this utility. For those who just boarded into Windows Phone community should know that Folders app, much like iOS and Android, for unlocked Windows Phone lets you organize homescreen in much more efficient manner. By default, you are bound to use limited tiles on start screen and it can not be grouped together. Therefore people like me who uses abundance app, find it difficult to track and pin all the application to the start screen.

root folders windows phone

Folders for developer unlocked device

Folders app let you put you out of misery by managing (read pinning) multiple applications in a single folder, which later can be pined on homescreen. Previously developed, folders app works on any developer unlocked Windows Phone. However, it comes with certain restrictions, such as live tile was not supported, one should download the app to pin it in Folder. Such restrictions are thanks to demure approach from software giant and wannabe smartphone mammoth.

Root Folders

It would be too early to call it as a ‘Root Folders’ app, as Jaxbot is yet to announce the application. The preview of the app gives an insight on how rooted Windows Phone could take an advantage of the device. Unlike developers unlocked Windows Phone, fully unlocked Windows Phone can let you list all the installed application, which reduces the burden of re-downloading the app.

Root Folders homebrew application brings new possibility on horizon.

We will let you know all the details once the app is out tomorrow. Stay tuned for more information on Root Folders application. Check out the vide after the break,

DFT BT Bluetooth File Transfer to send files over Bluetooth Released

Homebrew February 24th, 2012 / 2 Comments

The mobile devices of pre-smartphone (Symbian OS for example) era had integrated a pretty basic functionality called Bluetooth file transfer. Unfortunately, many of today’s era devices don’t allow such elemental functioning or partially allow them. It is hard to understand why OS manufacture are meek to implement such function which let you pair any device and send files from PC and/or other Bluetooth enabled devices, this applies to Windows Phone as well.

DFT also known as Dark Force Team, brings white ray of light/ hope with their dexterous hacks and tweaks for WP community users, have done it again. It’s just a matter of few days when they unveiled ingenious hack called WML to boot Windows Mobile on Windows Phone. Now, the same team have released a utility called BT File Transfer for fully-unlocked Windows Phone. The users of custom ROMs have got one more reason to love their Windows Phone.

dft bt transfer

Bluetooth File Transfer

Never back down from any challenge. Keep challenging your own limits to excel in homebrew community is the motto of DFT team. The adroit DFT team have not only empowered users to send files over Bluetooth, but also auto install features for XAP and REG RGU. In layman’s language, you can now send and install XAP files over bluetooth with this hack, besides REG/RGU to apply registry changes. The REG/RGU should be in Unicode format to work it on device.

Future imperfect

The application is still raw. It has many issues so users are advised to proceed at own peril. There are certain unresolved issue which may force you to HARD RESET your Windows Phone to undo any changes. Notably, canceled operations still saves already received part on the device instead of rolling it back or removing the chunk. We advice to visit the XDA thread (link given at the end of the post) to keep yourself acknowledged from all the recent updates.

DFT BT File Transfer

Unfortunately, Bluetooth file transfer XAP utility works on fully unlocked handsets, so you need to use custom ROM in order to use it. No interop or developer unlocked devices are supported. As of writing, the bluetooth file transfer utility for Windows Phone has been tested with following devices,

Samsung Focus
HTC Trophy
HTC Mozart
HTC HD7

This is an impressive piece of work. Considering, the future prospect, this is a significant feat of achievement. We wish that Microsoft brings such functionality in next iteration of Mango OS or at-least next major firmware upgrade.

Follow all the updated via official XDA thread

Bluetooth File Transfer Demonstration

Pinspiration: Third-party Pinterest app for Windows Phone

WP Apps February 22nd, 2012 / No Comments

Without exaggerating the stats, one can safely say that the first quarter will be reigned by Pinterest as far as social curation sites are concerned. The web is flooded with the SEO tips to leverage Pinterest to drive insane amount of traffic to users’ website. This new social curation site will let you save any interesting images in a digital version of Pin board. It is not confined to US women anymore. According to study Pinterest is just behind of Facebook when it comes to engagement and average time spent on the site.

Pinterest

Wouldn’t it be a great companion of your Windows Phone? Windows Phone users are socially versed and they are amongst the people who are social creed. Let us define Pinterest in an intelligible or layman’s terms. It is basically a photo sharing site which let you manage and share theme-based image collections. Users can either upload their own photos as a pin or they can directly pin photos from the website. It will also let you share your pin board on Facebook and twitter, along with embedding them on website.

pinspiration for windows phone

Pinspiration

Let me warn you beforehand, Pinterest is extremely addictive. You might end up spending hours and hours on it finding interesting pictures. I often see interesting infographics pinned on my timeline. While it is still in beta, it has attracted thousands of honeybee. Although, there is no official app made available by them, Pinspiration serves the purpose. Pinspiration is the best way to browse and post to Pinterest from your Windows Phone.

Account holders can comments, share, repin the photos from Pinners they follow. All the basic functionality like share on Facebook/ Twitter, follow/ unfollow people, comment on pins, repin the pins, upload images from Windows Phone are incorporated in this Pinspiration for Windows Phone.

pinspiration

Download Pinspiration/ Pinterest

The application is available in both free and paid version. While the free version has ads integrated, it provide almost all basic functions.

Download Pinspiration, a Pinterest app for Windows Phone.

Nokia Lumia 719 Existence Confirmed, Coming at MWC?

News February 21st, 2012 / No Comments

Folks over unwired.com reports that Nokia Lumia 719 has just passed the Bluetooth certification. Back in December, several sources claimed that Lumia 900 along with Lumia 719 Windows Phone may get revealed at CES 2012. But unfortunately, Nokia Lumia 719 didn’t see an daylight during the event.

lumia 719

That put a huge question on the very existence of the device. Earlier this month, we had a fun revealing the exploit that existed in WP Bench database, which can be tempered with according to wish. Unlocked phone users can tamper with it to change the device identity, but due to certain reasons the work-around to manipulate the entry was never revealed. This has put the information collected from such stats site in the custody.

By glancing at the number, Lumia 719 seems to be a device between Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 device, so we can expect it to be available with a small increment in the hardware. The specs shouldn’t be much different than of Lumia 710 handsets. No doubt, it will be again a low-cost device awaiting for people who wants to enjoy Windows Phone at any cost.

WizTiles Designer Web Version to Create Tile Themes is out

News February 21st, 2012 / 2 Comments

wiztiles designer

Efficacious WizTiles web version has just been released in the wild, empowering you to create tile themes from your own browser. Built on Silverlight, WizTiles Designer works on both Windows and Mac, making it tad easy for Mac users to fall in love with Windows Phone. Enthusiasm of the developer was unmatchable and conspicuous web version is a treat in a desert for WP7 community users.

Confined to many restrictions, WizTiles is the only resort for locked Windows Phone users. Unlocked Windows Phone users have an option like Theme for Windows Phone on-device version (read more). Honestly, for me, WizTiles is the fierce competitor of Themes for WP application developed by Windowsphonehacker team, as it gives as much freedom that homebrew app does. If you’re a developer and against such stipulations imposed by MS, then you can force Microsoft to rethink their stance. For more information read this.

WizTiles Designer

Why Custom tiles Homescreen?

The Windows Phone users are feeling like handcuffed by Microsoft, as unlike Windows Mobile, WP7 comes along with feckless restrictions which confined them to few colors option provided by MS. On the other hand, Android and iOS owners are enjoying customizing the look of their devices from years. Contrary, Windows Phone users have to rely upon chevronWP7 or other unlock methods to install themes to customize the look of the obscure homescreen, and all of them puts heavy dent on your pocket.

wiztiles web version

Blessing in disguise

WizTiles app, which we reviewed earlier is available in both free and paid flavor. Now the witty developer behind ingenious app has released a Silverlight web app that allows users to create custom themes on web browser on users convenience. Not only it empowers you to create custom theme, but it also lets you deploy the theme on Windows Phone.

The app also allows you to write texts on front and back tiles together to create a live tile effect, making it look WP phone more beautiful. The app couldn’t have appeared more conspicuous had the developer removed the aforementioned function.

Subsequently, the app will package the theme in a zip package which can be downloaded for later consumption. Alternatively, you can upload it to XDA thread to get more fame and appreciation of your art and skills.

Without further ado, just head over to this page and start building your own custom themes for your Windows Phone with the help from WizTiles Designer web version.