Change your Microsoft Band wallpaper with Pimp my Band for Windows Phone

If you have a Microsoft Band, you need to download this app right away! Pimp my Band for Windows Phone lets you change your Band wallpaper with any image or photo you want. By default, the official Microsoft Health app limits your choices to what they have included. Pimp my Band adds even more personalization.

Want to see how it works? Watch our hands-on video.

Using Pimp my Band is pretty straightforward:

• Open Pimp my Band and tap the image of your Microsoft Band.
• Select a photo from your gallery.
• Pinch to zoom and drag the photo to crop the image.
• Tap the 'save' button.

That's it! Pimp my Band will sync the image with your Microsoft Band. This is the first and only app to customize your Band wallpaper. Fela Ameghino, is the 19 lead developer of this app although he moonlights at Venetasoft. Ameghino promises to bring more features soon, so we will have to keep an eye out..

Have cool wallpaper for your Microsoft Band? Share it in the comments!

• Download Pimp my Band for Windows Phone ($.99/Free Trial)

Image , News and Video courtesy : Windows Central

Microsoft Band

Microsoft Band is a new health and fitness tracker announced on October 29, 2014. The smart device officially goes on sale Thursday, October 30 2014 for $199. Due to limited quantities, the device is only available in the US from Microsoft Stores and online.

The Microsoft Band is compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, and it works through a free, downloadable app called 'Microsoft Health'.

The Microsoft Band has ten sensors, and it can monitor things like heart rate, steps, and general movement including physical activities. Some of the novel sensors give you the ability to measure UV exposure and a galvanic skin response test to monitor stress. The fitness tracker lasts 48 hours on a single charge. You can wear it all day and night to track sleep as well.

The Microsoft Band comes with a 310 x 102-pixel touch display with 132 background options to choose form to personalize the smart device.

Other features of the Microsoft Band includes calendar alerts, email previews, 24-hour heart rate monitoring and guided workouts curated by Gold's Gym, Shape, Men's Fitness and Muscle & Fitness.

Windows Phone users also get Cortana integration for making appointments and reminders.

Finally, Microsoft also announced their new Microsoft Health platform, which works with UP by Jawbone, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper. Microsoft Health will soon tie into HealthVault to share your data with your medical provider, should you choose to opt-in. Microsoft plans to expand their Health platform with a steady stream of announcements, including "additional device and service partnerships, SDK availability and additional cross-platform applications and services"

Image , News and Video courtesy : Windows Central

First images and video of voice-activated 'Hey Cortana' revealed

By Daniel Rubino, 

As Microsoft rolls out the Lumia Denim update, one feature those with newer Lumias are looking forward to is 'Hey Cortana'. Based on passive-voice activated technology similar to the Kinect, the forthcoming feature lets users call up Cortana by merely using their voice. The feature works even when the Lumia is in standby with the display off.

The images and accompanying video, shown below, come from the site MSFTPlace who picked up the Lumia Denim update on their Lumia 1520. As they note in their article, Hey Cortana is not yet available in Spanish, so they needed to change to English in order to enable the feature.

In the posted screenshots, the tutorial for Hey Cortana informs the user of how to set up the feature. The individual is instructed to be in a quiet room to train the app to recognize their voice. Once done so, Cortana can be called upon when the device is in standby.

Google already has a similar feature on the Moto X series, but this is Microsoft's first attempt at bringing it to their Lumia line (it is not clear if the HTC One will get it as well). Currently, only the Lumia 930 (Lumia Icon) and Lumia 1520 are known to be able to use 'Hey Cortana' due to their use of the 800-series Snapdragon.

News Courtesy :Windows Central

Lumia Device Hub has been updated but there's no word on what's new

 

By John Callaham

The Lumia Device Hub app is the subject of a new update today for owners of Microsoft's smartphones, but unfortunately its changelog hasn't been altered since September when it said it added support for the MD-12 speaker.

The version number is the only thing that's visiblly changed, to 3.6.3.5. It's possible that this update adds support for the DT-903 charging plate, but that's just a guess on our part. If you do notice anything new, please let us know so we can update our post

• Download Device Hub from the Windows Phone Store

Asphalt 8: Airborne adds Xbox achievements, new cars and more

Asphalt 8: Airborne for Windows Phone has been updated, adding a number of new features, including Xbox Achievements. The game has also added a number of new cars, kits, and more.

Asphalt 8 has eleven new cars, including the Tramontana XTR and the Arrinera Hussarya. There are also new pro kits to help you maximize your car's potential. There are three new winter-themed tracks and a new location. You can also use the new token system to get exclusive cars, refill your fuel, or buy Boosters. You can earn tokens by playing events, or purchase them from the in-game shop.

Download Asphalt 8: Airborne from the Windows Phone Store

Metrotube 4.4 update adds playlist support to continuous playback

Metrotube scored an update today, and while it doesn't bring anything major, it does add a little polish to the continuous playback feature introduced earlier this month by adding support for playlists.

Also coming along for the ride are several tweaks and bug fixes, which you'll find detailed below:

• Audio mode and continuous playback now support playlists
• YouTube links in video descriptions (including those that are shortened to bitly links) now open in Metrotube when selected
• Long channel names no longer overlap up votes
• Fixed workarounds that allowed under 18 accounts to access age restricted videos
• Fixed error that didn't allow preloaded videos to be deleted when offline
• Tiles now change back to selected style upon opening the app after an update
• Other minor bug fixes and performance enhancements

If you've had a chance to try out the continuous playback feature, let us know what you think in the comments.

Thanks to everyone who sent in tips!

• Download Metrotube for Windows Phone

SongArc Beta updated with new UI, gives you a taste of things to come

Update: Looks like this update is only for those users registered in last week's beta test.

Last week, we wrote about the upcoming changes to music-based game SongArc, which includes a more modern user interface, gameplay tweaks and much more. Several users were already testing the new features through a closed beta.

Here's what is included in SongArc Beta 4.0.0.6:

• Completely redesigned menus
• Tons of free music from Featured Artists
• New tutorial
• Editor enhancements
• You will no longer lose points is If a lag occurs
• Simultaneous notes will have the same color and shape
• Many more small tweaks.
• Windows Phone 7 is no longer supported

With over 1.5 million downloads and over 120,000 Sheets created by the SongArc community, the music game is certainly popular with Windows Phone fans. Hit up the link below to download SongArc Beta, and let us know how you're liking the new features in the comments. As noted above, you will only be able to download the update if you're registered as a beta tester. If not, hang tight. The public client should see the new additions shortly. Check out our post from last week to know all the features that will be rolling out with the update.

• Download SongArc Beta for Windows Phone