Microsoft will reveal info on new 3D printing file format during Build 2015

Although Microsoft is getting to launch its first Microsoft Store outside the US in Sydney, plans for other international stores are currently unknown. An earlier report by the site Microsoft-News mentioned that a new Microsoft Store was slated to open this Monday at the Eldorado Mall in São Paulo, Brazil.

MixRadio may reveal its next moves on May 19 at NYC press event

Members of the media have received email invites to attend a MixRadio press event May 19 in New York City, where the streaming audio service will likely reveal its next moves after being acquired by LINE earlier this year from Microsoft.

The invite itself said the event will include some "special guests" for "a panel and keynote discussion to announce exciting news about what the future holds for the service."

The service was first launched by Nokia, under the Nokia Music label, but switched to the MixRadio name in November 2013. Microsoft acquired MixRadio in April 2014 when it bought Nokia's Devices and Services business. In March, Line Corporation bought MixRadio from Microsoft for an undisclosed amount.

Download MixRadio for Windows Phone (free)

Image & News Courtesy Windows Central

Build 2015 event app for Windows Phone is now available

Next week, Microsoft is unveiling their annual developer event in San Francisco. Build 2015 looks to be a massive year as all eyes are on Windows 10 development, HoloLens, Xbox One, IoT, and more.

For those who are attending, there is now the official Build 2015 app. Listing all the sessions, maps, showcases, and ability to favorite talks to create your own schedule, the Build app is essential for attendees.

6tag updated with custom locations, improved dark theme, more

Popular unofficial Instagram client for Windows Phone, 6tag, has scored another update today, bumping it up to version 4.3 and bringing the ability to create custom locations, along with an improved dark theme and a custom rescale algorithm option to improve image quality.

Here's the full, official breakdown of what's new in 6tag version 4.3:

• use a custom rescale algorithm to improve image quality instead of the native one
• create custom locations
• improve dark theme

This marks 6tag's third update just this week–with the previous bringing three new features along for the ride–and it's great to see this kind of responsive support for a popular app. If you'd like to snag the latest version of 6tag, you can do so now from the store link below.

Image & News Courtesy Windows Central

TrueCaller update adds Persian language support, blocks installing to SD cards

Following its big update to 5.0 earlier this week, TrueCaller has picked up another that brings Persian language support and blocks installing the app to an SD card, along with the usual helping of bug fixes.

Here's what's new in TrueCaller version 5.0.2:

• Added Persian language
• Fix to block installing on SD-card since that will cause Caller ID not to work (system limitations)
• Small Bug fixes

Earlier this week, TrueCaller was bumped up to version 5.0 in a massive update that brought real-time spam detection, an improved caller ID, Live Tile notifications, and much more. While today's update may seem relatively minor in comparison, it's nice to see a whole new language being added in the wake of such a large update. If you'd like to snag the latest version of TrueCaller, you can do so from the store link below.

Download Truecaller from the Windows Phone Store (free)

Image & News Courtesy Windows Central

Microsoft releases Contacts+Message backup app for Windows Phone

If you are running Windows Phone 8.1 on a device with expandable storage via an SD card, you may want to grab this new system app from Microsoft.

The release is titled 'contacts+message backup' and the tiny app only installs to the Settings on your Windows Phone (it will not be listed in your apps). Contacts+message will "backup of all your contacts (in VCF format) and messages (SMS & MMS including attachments) to SD card (in XML format) for later restore to same or another Windows Phone."

The information is saved to in a 'backup+restore' folder on the SD card.

If this all sounds vaguely familiar, it is because we recently ran a story on the Xolo WIN Q1000 Windows Phone that had this same app built in. At the time, we implied how it would be useful for all Windows Phone users to have this ability, and many of you agreed in the article comments. Evidently, someone at Microsoft was listening because you can now download the <1 MB app to your Windows Phone 8.1 device to get the same function.

Oh and what happens if you install this to say a Lumia Icon (aka a phone with no SD card option)? Nothing much. The system app will appear in Settings, but (a) it will note no SD card was found and (b) you cannot uninstall it. Sure, it will not harm your phone, but it creates an unnecessary listing in your settings.

So, heed that warning before installing!

Anyway, grab the app and enjoy backing up your contacts and messages locally on your Windows Phone and save that data.

Download contacts+message backup for Windows Phone 8.1 (micro SD card required)

Images & News Courtesy Windows Central

Cortana's available in more places in latest Windows 10 preview for phones

Cortana was pretty restricted by location in the first Windows 10 preview for phones but with the latest build it looks like she's opened back up to more people. We're seeing it on our devices in the UK, though at the time of writing there's no apparent official word from Microsoft on exactly where.

Cortana has had a visual makeover as with many other parts of Windows 10 when compared to what we're familiar with. And although there have been teething problems getting this latest build onto devices, we're opening it up to you, the Windows Central readers.

Until we see something official, hit us up in the comments below and tell us where you are if you're seeing Cortana when you've got the preview installed!

Image & News Courtesy Windows Central

Here are some screenshots from Windows 10 for phone build 10051

A few people have been lucky enough to download the new Windows 10 for phones build 10051, while many others are still pressing "check for updates" button every 10 seconds. We've just installed it on our Lumia 635 and we're now exploring the new features. You can see the full changelog here. While you're still waiting, check out some of the screenshots we've collected so far!

Windows 10 for phones preview build 10051 can't open Office files

If you download and install the new Windows 10 for phones preview build 10051, there's one known issue that we felt that should be given a special mention. You won't be able to open anyOffice files if you decide to try out this build on your supported Lumia smartphone:

Microsoft put this rather large problem in its long list of known issues for the 10051 build. Here are the specifics:

"The Office Hub has been removed from this build. You won't be able to open Word, Excel, PowerPoint or OneNote files in this build. Preview versions of the Universal Office apps will be available in the coming weeks."

So if you use your Lumia smartphone a lot to view Office files, we would strongly suggest bypassing this Windows 10 for phones preview release. As the known issues list states, Microsoft is developing new versions of its Office apps that will work universally across all Windows 10 devices.

Image & News Courtesy Windows Central

Here are the known issues in the new Windows 10 for phones 10051 build

The new Windows 10 for phones 10051 build is being launched today, but not without some known issues. Microsoft provided a list of the problems users might experience when they download and install the build.

The list of issues include problems with apps crashing with phones that have just 512MB of RAM, no text messaging read out over Bluetooth and more. Here's the full list:

• There might be situations in which auto-upload of your Camera Roll to OneDrive may not be working. Please be sure to back up your photos especially if you need to use the Windows Phone Recovery Tool to go back to Windows Phone 8.1.
• The Office Hub has been removed from this build. You won't be able to open Word, Excel, PowerPoint or OneNote files in this build. Preview versions of the Universal Office apps will be available in the coming weeks.
• We are redoing how text messages are handled and processed by Cortana so in this build text messages cannot be read out over Bluetooth.
• After upgrade, some apps that have been installed onto a SD memory card will fail to launch. To fix this, uninstall and reinstall the apps.
• About 1% of the time, incoming phone calls may not play a ringing sound.
• Call + SMS filtering will not work after upgrade.
• For people upgrading their phone from Build 9941, there is a bug in which your phone's MMS settings will be lost after upgrade. The new Messaging app doesn't yet have the ability to re-enter these settings. You will need to use the Windows Phone Recovery Tool to go back to Windows Phone 8.1 and then upgrade to this build to get MMS working again.
• Also for people upgrading their phone from Build 9941, the tiles on your Start screen for the Camera and Photos apps may be missing or corrupt. You will have to unpin any corrupt tiles and re-pin the apps to your Start screen.
• On some phones, due to a scaling bug the dismiss button won't be visible when an alarm is triggered. To stop your phone from "alarming "just touch the arrow and swipe up on the notification and off the screen to end the alarm.
• On phones with 512MB of memory, apps can randomly crash due to an issue with memory management.
• Flight mode cannot be enabled.
• Data connections can't be disabled.
• You may need to re-pin the Phone app after upgrade.
• The Insider Hub is now included on Phone but may fail to launch on some phones.

Microsoft says the Windows 10 team is working to fix all of these issues for future builds.

Image & News Courtesy Windows Central

More details revealed about Windows 10 for phones preview of Project Spartan browser

The new Windows 10 for phones 10051 preview build includes the first version of Microsoft's "Project Spartan" web browser for smartphones. The company has offered more details on this early public version, including word that they are still taking feedback for possible changes down the road.

The phone version of Project Spartan uses the same new rendering engine that is being used for the PC version of the browser. While this Windows 10 for phone preview still has the olderInternet Explorer 11 browser installed as the default, future versions will have Project Spartan as the only web browser for smartphones.

This build also has early versions of the mobile reading view and reading list features that will be included in Project Spartan. Microsoft added:

"You'll find that this build has our new design for our Windows phone version, with the address bar on top, and a small actions bar at the bottom (a bug in this build means that the actions menu is larger than its intended to be). We've heard your early feedback about the position of the address bar, and we are looking closely at the design. We encourage you to try out, see what you think, and continue to share your feedback with us."

So for those of you who like having the address bar on the bottom of the browser, as IE11 has for Windows Phone 8.1, it sounds like Microsoft could also change the bar's position for Project Spartan if they get enough feedback to support that feature.

Image & News Courtesy Windows Central

Here is what is new in Windows 10 Technical Preview 10051 for Phones

Microsoft has now published the changelog of all the big new features and improvements in today's update for the Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones.

Windows 10 for phone Build 10051 contains numerous new improvements. Below we are highlighting the main changes.

• Project Spartan: An early version of Project Spartan is available in this flight. It uses our new rendering engine to give greater interoperability with the modern mobile web, and includes early versions of Reading View and Reading List. For now, Project Spartan is not the default browser, and exists side-by-side with IE11. You can find it in the All Apps list and pin it to your Start Screen from there. Please send feedback on sites and design. For more details on Project Spartan on the phone – see this blog post. Be sure to also check out this blog post from Joe.

Nokia reportedly discussing the possible sale of its HERE maps division

A new story says that Nokia is reportedly "exploring" the idea of selling off its HERE maps division. The company may decide to ditch the maps business in part to concentrate its time on its wireless network division. HERE Maps is already getting some interest from other companies and private-equity firms, according to Bloomberg's unnamed sources.

It adds:

The Finnish company, which is working with a financial adviser, may decide against a sale if it can't get a price it deems sufficient, the people said. HERE reported full-year sales of 970 million euros and an operating loss of 1.24 billion euros, including a goodwill impairment of 1.21 billion euros, according to the annual report. In January, Nokia projected rising sales for its maps and patents divisions for 2015.

Nokia launched HERE Maps for Windows Phone devices in February 2013, followed a year later byan app for Windows 8.1 devices.

Image & News Courtesy Windows Central

Thinking of installing the Windows 10 preview on your phone? Read this first

The latest build of the Windows 10 preview for phones will open up the list of supported devices massively, and as such there's a lot more Windows Phone users that might be thinking about installing it.

Whether you're wondering if you should, how you go about it or even just want to know a little more on what we've seen so far, we've got you covered with everything you need.

Check out the links below for everything you need to know so far on the Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones.

• Should you install the Windows 10 Technical Preview on your phone?
• How to download and install the Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones
• Windows 10 for phones video walkthrough
• Windows 10 for phones - everything you need to know
• List of supported phones for Windows 10 preview
• News Courtesy : Windows Central