Usefull Application for WP7

We've touched on the basics with Microsoft's SkyDrive services and the SkyDrive App for your Windows Phone. But how does all that translate into every day use?
The obvious every day use for SkyDrive and your Windows Phone is to free up storage space and make content easily available. Why bog down your Windows Phone with documents, pictures, and music files when you can store them in the Cloud and access them at your leisure? But did you know that several quality apps utilize SkyDrive? Of course you did... and we'll try to cover a few along the way as we look at every day uses for your SkyDrive account.
Keep in mind that there are several ways to upload files to your SkyDrive account.  There is the internal feature that you can find under the share options in your Pictures Hub, the upload feature in the SkyDrive App, and upload features through various third party apps.

 

Documents

SkyDrive will let you keep your documents in the Cloud and access them from your Windows Phone while on the run. Whether it's a Word Document, Powerpoint, Excel, OneNote, or .PDF file you can store these documents in the Cloud and download them to your Windows Phone as you need them.
Edit, compose, save and upload these documents on your PC (keyboard has more elbow room) and upload it to your SkyDrive Account via the SkyDrive Desktop app. The document is now easily accessible from your Windows Phone.
Now what if you run across a document you need to copy and use for, say, a research project? Or a recipe from your Great Grandmother? Or an article in the local paper that you want to preserve?

HandyScan will upload any document scanned to your SkyDrive account. Instead of wasting time and money finding a zerox machine, use HandyScan to copy the material you're researching or need and upload it to SkyDrive for future use. When you get home, you can access the scanned documents from your desktop computer. It would have been nice to have had this when I was doing all my college research papers.

Music

One of the more prominent complaints we hear on new Windows Phones is that there isn't enough on-board memory for Windows Phone users' music collection. With SkyDrive, you can store your music files in the Cloud and, with Windows Phones updated to Mango, stream the files to your phone.
Yes...the interface sucks. You can only play one song at a time and you can't download the music files to your Windows Phone. Enter the third party apps.

Apps such as Sky Music, Sky Player and Cloud Music taps into your SkyDrive account to play music files stored in the Cloud. While you still can't download the music files to your Windows Phone, you can create playlists, artist/album folders, and other song lists to play tunes continuously.

Photos

As with music files, SkyDrive is a nice resource to free up storage space. As with the music files, there is room for improvement. For starters, SkyDrive resizes images uploaded from your Windows Phone when you upload images from the Pictures Hub. I should say significantly resizes your images.
From the HTC Titan II a 4640x3480 image is reduced to 719x539 when uploaded to SkyDrive directly from the Windows Phone (using the share option in the Pictures Hub).  I also found that the compression and resizing changed the perspective slightly.  Notice the crayon images that were uploaded and resized don't share the same angle as the copy that was downloaded straight from the Windows Phone via Zune.  Most of the time the change is so slight you won't notice it but other times it's a little more noticeable.

This resolution change may not be a big issue if your images will be viewed from your Windows Phone or a computer screen. It will be a big issue is you want to print the reduced images. The resizing is basically an issue of bandwidth when using the internal upload feature. To minimize the amount of data used to transfer images from your Windows Phone to your SkyDrive account, someone decided to place the reduction in place.
 Luckily, there are a couple of work arounds.
The easiest way is to upload images through the SkyDrive App.  The recent v2.1 update has changed how image uploads are done through the app.  Images are no longer resized and are renamed with the date of upload followed by the number of the upload for the day.  For example, your second image on 5/12/2012 will be named WP_20120512 2.  
You can download your photos to your desktop computer through Zune and then sync your image folder to SkyDrive with the SkyDrive Desktop App. It may be the long way around but the images will be uploaded at full resolution.

Another option is to use the third party app SkyManager. SkyManager (free version and paid version) is a decent little SkyDrive app that will let you upload to a maximum resolution of 2048x2048. It's not perfect and with the updates to the SkyDrive app, may SkyManager will be able to upload photos at full resolution with its next update.
As our Windows Phone cameras improve and become capable of capturing higher resolution images, Microsoft really needs to reconsider how dramatic SkyDrive reduces images that are uploaded from the phone.  Fortunately, the SkyDrive app is slowly keeping pace with this progress.  Now we just need the internal uploads to catch up.

 

A few more everyday uses for SkyDrive.

• When surfing the web on your desktop computer, ever run across an image that would make a neat Windows Phone lockscreen wallpaper? Save it to a SkyDrive folder in your SkyDrive Desktop app that automatically syncs with your Windows Phone. Before you know it, you will have a healthy wallpaper library on your Windows Phone.
• Speaking of which, with the SkyDrive Desktop app you have the capability to automatically sync folders from your computer to your Windows Phone.  Just move the folder to the SkyDrive Folder in Windows Explorer and any changes to that folder will sync with your SkyDrive account and will be readily available from your Windows Phone.
• Videos are a strange animal with regards to SkyDrive. Videos captured by your Windows Phone can be uploaded to SkyDrive (doesn't appear to be resized) from the internal share feature but they can't be uploaded through the SkyDrive app. Videos stored on your SkyDrive may or may not be streamed back to your Windows Phone. On the one hand, I was able to stream a music video rather nicely to my Windows Phone. On the other hand, a smaller video wouldn't stream. Still a few kinks to iron out in this area and for now, Youtube may be the best way to store videos off-device and have them accessible when on the go.

So while SkyDrive does have room for improvement we think it's heading in the right direction. However, as our Windows Phones grow so should its connection to SkyDrive. Streaming videos, uploading images at full resolution and even scanning documents directly from SkyDrive should be what's around the corner.
As is, SkyDrive, the SkyDrive apps and the third party apps that tap into SkyDrive help free up storage space, make documents and files easily accessible and makes life on the go a little easier.
We've touched on a few broad areas where SkyDrive is used in every day use. Sound off in the comments if you've found a use for SkyDrive that we may have overlooked.
You can download the SkyDrive Desktop App here from the Skydrive website. You can also find the SkyDrive Windows Phone app here at the Marketplace.

READ MORE - Usefull Application for WP7

Windows Phone Apollo 8

3
inShare

Microsoft recently announced the follow up operating system to Windows phone 7.5 Mango – Windows Phone 8. This was unveiled at the Windows Phone summit developers’ conference, in San Francisco. ITProPortal live blogged all of the happenings of the event, where a day before, we covered all the rumours and speculation of WP8. We are now publishing the top features of Windows Phone 8, which will be arriving in the Autumn this year.

1. Support for multi core processors
Microsoft announced that Windows Phone 8 will be able to run on dual-core CPU based handsets, with support for multi-core hardware too. In the past, the Windows Phone OS was only able to use single-core processors. This held back hardware manufactures from employing cutting edge CPU options, which every other mobile OS supported in 2011. And now, quad-core chipsets are being used in flagship handsets.
When WP7 first came out in 2010, 1GHz was the minimum system requirement. An update to Windows Phone was recently made available, allowing WP7 to run on chipsets lower than 1GHz. This opened up Microsoft’s mobile OS to a new arena, by producing more affordable devices. The first of these lower-end phones to arrive and take advantage of the Windows Phone 7.5 refresh was the 800Mhz CPU based Nokia Lumia 610.
The inclusion of multi-core processors to the Microsoft mobile phone operating system will make the platform more scalable, both up and down. We are expecting to see handsets featuring dual and quad-core chips later this year, from the newly announced set of Windows Phone 8 manufacturers: Samsung, Huawei, HTC and Nokia. We expect that Nokia will be the first to support the new hardware, and to use dual-core Qualcomm processors.

2. Higher resolution screens
Windows Phone will support the 720p screen resolution and for the first time thanks to WP8. Windows Phone 7 could only be run on 800 x 480 resolution displays. Microsoft’s upcoming platform will now support the following display formats: 15:9 WVGA 800 x 480, 15:9 WXGA 1,280 x 769 and 16:9 720p 1,280 x 720. The addition of the last two screen resolutions will make the OS more accessible, to more people. Handsets running Windows Phone 8 can now be targeted at the low-end, mid-range, and the higher end of the market.
When Windows Phone 7 was first announced in 2010, the minimum display support level was fine for top-tier devices. Since then, higher 720p resolution displays have arrived. These can be found in devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S III. Microsoft will now be able to compete with Google’s Android in terms of a higher resolution capabilities. Besides providing higher screen resolution to the OS itself, pictures and video will also see a welcome improvement in quality. For example, the Nokia Lumia 900 could capture video at an HD resolution, but couldn’t display it pixel for pixel on its screen. This was partly down to the hardware, but really down to the limitations of Windows Phone 7.
This new ability will also extends to HD video’s that are either purchased or rented from Zune, so you’ll be able to watch your favourite movies in their HD glory. WP 7.5 apps will also run on Windows Phone 8, with guaranteed support for the new resolutions.

3. Windows Phone 8 is based on Windows 8
Windows Phone 7 was based on Windows CE, which dates back as far as 1996. This code was fine for the low cost and low powered handsets that came before WP7. Microsoft was aiming to change this with Windows Phone 7 but didn’t manage it, but it had started to change the core technology of Windows Phone.
Windows Phone 8 will now see that very change, as its core, underlying codebase is the same as the Windows 8 desktop operating system, shipping later this year. Microsoft has stated that the shared code relates to the Kernel, networking, file system, multimedia and graphics support.
The current Windows desktop Kernel is used by over 1.3 billion people today, so it is well tested and it’s coming to the Windows Phone mobile OS. This will mean a much greater choice in hardware for consumers, along with the possibility of applications developed for the desktop platform being available for WP8, or easily redeveloped. This could work in reverse, too.
The shared codebase is also ideal for hardware manufacturers, who will be able to offer just one set of drivers, for a slate, phone, laptop or PC. Overall, the experience of the Windows 8 desktop OS shouldn't be too dissimilar to that of the mobile phone platform.    

4. Removable storage
Windows Phone 7’s minimum specification for internal storage is set at 8GB. This was announced at the launch event for Windows Phone 7, in October 2010. At the same time, it came to light that there would be no support for removable microSD cards, in any mobiles running the OS. This limit has now been lifted in Windows Phone 8 and there will be support for removable storage, in the form of microSD cards.
This initial restriction was reportedly down to two factors, where flash memory in a Windows Phone 7 device must meet certain performance requirements. And, the WP7 single file system spans the internal storage and the SD card. Therefore, the card couldn’t be removed and if it was, it wouldn’t function on another Windows Phone 7 handset.
In Windows Phone 8, the removable microSD cards can be for storing music, photos and video, along with the installation of apps. WP8 might have the internal storage requirements dropped, as a result of this new feature. 1GB or less might be the new standard, with a reliance on microSD cards to bolster the storage capacity of the phone. This would benefit the consumer, as more affordable handsets could be developed that do not carry the high cost of 8GB of flash memory attached.

5. Internet Explorer 10
Windows Phone 7.5 Mango saw the inclusion of Internet Explorer 9, which shared the same codebase as its desktop counterpart. This could almost be seen as the prequel to Windows Phone 8 sharing the same code base, as the desktop Windows 8 operating system.
Microsoft has extended this web browsing relationship to WP8, as Internet Explorer 10 will be bundled into the mobile OS and it has the same code base as the desktop version. Web coders will now be able to test mobile apps on a computer based browser, knowing that WP8 handsets will offer the same user experience.
IE10 will offer up twice the HTML5 rendering speed currently experienced on Windows Phone 7.5 handsets, along with four times the JavaScript performance. Also built-in, is the SmartScreen anti-phishing filter that uses data from millions of Windows PCs to block malicious websites, in a real-time fashion.          
Ultimately, the support for multi-core processors, new higher screen resolutions and the shared code base will allow Microsoft to equip handset makers with better tools, to be able to compete with Android on the hardware front.

READ MORE - Windows Phone Apollo 8

New Office on Windows Phone 8

 

All your Office documents, where and when you want them

Whether you’re using SkyDrive or Office 365, getting access to your Office content is just part of the phone’s easy set up. Windows Phone 8 auto-discovery gets you connected to your accounts, so you can get things done from any place, at any time.
The Office Hub – your go-to spot for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel  – is redesigned with a simple and fluid navigation. Finding and accessing your personal and work documents on SkyDrive, Office 365 and SharePoint is also easy and intuitive.
In Office 365 your documents “travel with you,” even on different devices. No matter which device you used to last view or update a file, it will show up in your list of recently used documents on the phone. Email attachments you’ve opened in Outlook Mobile will also show up automatically in the Office hub. And you can access documents on SkyDrive or Office 365, and share them with others.
And of course we’ve made sure that the Office Hub takes advantage of the new ‘Tap + Send’ feature in Windows Phone 8 to let you share documents by tapping your phone on another NFC-capable device.

 

The best Office document rendering on any phone

Viewing Office content is a natural and delightful experience, optimally adjusted for the unique attributes of Windows Phone 8. Simple edits can be made with ease. In Word, Excel and PowerPoint, we’ve made the best even better by introducing a number of noticeable user experience and content fidelity improvements. All apps put content first and have a greatly enhanced ability to render gorgeous charts.
PowerPoint seamlessly renders all shapes and SmartArt Graphics, and honors your transition effects and timing. We added portrait mode with speaker notes, and slide thumbnails make navigation between slides a lot easier.

Excel also offers noteworthy new enhancements. Workbooks open at the last saved sheet and zoom level, and navigating through a large Excel worksheet is fast and fluid. New touch-friendly handles make range selection and resizing of columns and rows a snap.





It is now easy to read cells with lots of text on the small screen. As you navigate and tap through more cells in the sheet, the new reading panel refreshes its content.



The new full-screen reading mode in Word is a true delighter: Your controls automatically move out of the way as we put the content at center stage. Controls reappear by simply tapping on the document canvas. From there you can switch to outline view for quick navigation around the document, look for comments, or edit, save and share your document. Your cloud-connected document automatically resumes where you left
off reading, no matter where you last viewed your document – on your PC, tablet or phone!

All your notes and ideas – in one place and with you, anywhere

OneNote Mobile is now a separate app, always ready to capture your notes and ideas. Just tap the new OneNote Tile and take quick text, photo, and voice notes. You also have instant access to the notes you have made on other devices, search for specific notes, and get around your notebooks easily.
Notes look the same across OneNote 2013, OneNote for Windows Store and OneNote Mobile, so you always get a great, consistent experience wherever you are. Even ink content and annotations made with pen on your tablet PC will render perfectly on your phone.
OneNote Mobile accommodates both casual and advanced users. Users who just want to take simple notes on their phone, can use the Quick Notes starter experience. Advanced users who already organize their notes in notebooks and sections will enjoy the new navigation fine-tuned for the small screen.

 

READ MORE - New Office on Windows Phone 8