Get your sync on as Microsoft updates Windows Phone app for Desktop to Preview 3

Looks like Microsoft isn’t quite done for the today as they’ve just thrown the switch for the Windows Phone app for Desktop app (Preview 3). The app is used by folks on Windows 7 or Windows 8 (non-Surface) for managing media, including music, videos, playlists, ringtones and photos.

While a far cry from our beloved Zune Desktop client, Windows Phone app for Desktop at least makes it a bit easier to manage things on your device. We’re still not fans of the UI (or lack thereof) and although we can’t see our Xbox Videos, we suppose that’s a good thing since they still can’t sync over.

As far as a changelog, we’re hard pressed to find one on Microsoft’s site though we suspect some improvements with the device-detection logic has occurred making connection a tad faster. We really haven’t seen any newly added features but our interaction with this app on a daily basis is quite infrequent, which means we’ll turn it over to you in comments.

Users can simply download and install the new Preview 3 of Windows Phone app for Desktop on their Windows 7 or 8 machines and be good to go.

Personally, we're still waiting on a proper Zune-like client even though we're doubtful that will happen. (Tipping our 40 oz.)

Source: Microsoft; via Joe Belfiore

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.