There's a lot going on in the world of Windows Phone. So much, in fact, that it is sometimes tough to catch every important story.
Device rumors come and go. New apps join the Windows Phone Store, and your favorite app can get a big update with a new look or new features.
Therefore, every week we will compile a list of the Windows Phone news that you just shouldn't miss. Welcome to the "Windows Mobile Weekly Digest."
Windows Mobile
Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 Mobile build 10586.218 for retail devices, including the AT&T Lumia 950, and members of the Release Preview ring. The update adds several fixes and improvements, but nothing monumental.
Fast ring Insiders picked up Windows 10 Mobile preview build 14322. Most noteworthy in the new build are improvements to Cortana, and a customizable Action Center, which was captured in leaked screenshots earlier in the week.
The FM Radio app is strangely absent from build 14322.
Be sure to check out our hands-on video to see all that's new in Insider Build 14322 for Windows 10 Mobile.
Microsoft quietly confirmed rumors of an upcoming 64-bit version of Windows 10 Mobile. The comment came as part of a feature story about Microsoft Senior Technical Fellow Dave Cutler, who was honored on April 16 as a Computer History Museum Fellow:
"In March 2005, he completed one of his "most gratifying pieces of work" at Microsoft when, partnering with AMD, he helped develop the AMD64 architecture (64-bit extensions to the 32-bit x86 architecture) and led the effort to ship the first two x64 64-bit Windows systems (workstation and server). At the time, some questioned why Microsoft developed a 64-bit system; today most computers are 64-bit systems and even our phones will soon have a 64-bit operating system."
The company may also be working on a flexible phone case that doubles as a second touchscreen. At the moment, the project is just a joint research venture with the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, but who know what the future holds?
Other notable items:
- Smartphones are dead Part I: This is the age of the mini-tablet
- Here are our latest Windows Gems sweepstakes winners!
- The Coship Mobile Moly X1 is now available for the EU at Amazon UK
- Lumia 920, 925 and 1020 owners can get credit toward buying a 950 or 950 XL
- How to roll back Windows 10 Mobile from Fast and Slow Ring to Production release
- Windows Spotlight head to Windows 10 Mobile with Anniversary Update?
- Acer's affordable Liquid M330 with Windows 10 Mobile is launching this month
- The 6-inch Coship Moly PcPhone W6 with Windows 10 Mobile and Continuum announced
- This is your Windows 10 Mobile phone using Ethernet for blazing network speeds
Apps
Viber may be close to releasing their new Windows 10 universal app. The maker of the popular messaging app has begun closed beta testing, so a wide release should only be a hop, skip, and a jump away.
The official Windows Central App picked up an update, bringing article deep-linking to notifications, and some other perks to our fans.
Twitter client Tweet It! got bumped to version 2.7, complete with a brand new Windows 10 Mobile UI. To celebrate, the app is currently on sale for just $1.49.
With the latest update for Windows 10 Insiders, Microsoft's Groove music app has gone truly universal. The PC and Mobile versions are finally aligned at 3.6.1886.0 and share all of the same features.
And Fast ring Insiders also saw their MSN and Office Mobile apps get updated. While details are scarce, the sheer breadth of the update is likely to help prep the operating system for the upcoming Anniversary Update.
Other notable items:
- Deezer Windows 10 preview update adds faster way to add tracks to playlists
- Microsoft Health app picks up small update for Windows Phone
- No frowns allowed with PhotoSmile for Windows Phone and PC
- Opera Mini and Uber Windows Phone apps get minor updates
- Garmin Connect Mobile for Windows 10 adds support for more devices
- Facebook adds Windows 10 UWP support for making React Native-based apps
- Twitter app for Windows 10 PC and Mobile gets updated with new splash screen
- Encrypt files using your eyes with 8 Zip for Windows 10 and Mobile (Testers needed)
- YouTube to your heart's content with Awesome Tube, today's AdDuplex HERO App
- Unlock your Tesla and more right from your Microsoft Band with Band for Tesla
- TB List.Make for Windows Phone is an organizer's dream app
- InstaBooom is your third-party Boomerang app for Windows 10 Mobile
- Fresh Paint and Straw for Windows 10 appear in the Windows Store
Games
Games
Rayman Fiesta Run has been re-released in the Store as a universal app for Windows 10 PC and Mobile. Despite the update, there doesn't seem to be much else new with the game.
King's Candy Crush Jelly Saga and Soda Saga both pick up new levels for Windows 10 PC and Mobile. Jelly Saga gets a new episode entitled "Toffee Tops!" while Soda Saga adds 20 new levels in its new "Bubblegum Blueshift!" episode.
Minecraft creator Mojang announced that it will be bringing Realms support to Minecraft Pocket Edition and Windows 10 versions. Realms allows players to play with friends across platforms:
"Minecraft Realms is the easiest way to play Minecraft together with your friends and family. Realms worlds are always online and can only be accessed by an approved group of people. Though it's nice to have some alone time, there's something really special about creating and adventuring as a group. Realms makes that really easy to do."
Other notable items:
- Quadrilibrium, a mathematically perplexing game for Windows 10
- Letter Crush, a wordy Windows 10 game, launches this month's AdDuplex HERO App lineup
- In platform adventure Lunata Rescue, bugs are a good thing on Windows Phone
Be sure to weigh in on this week's news in the comments section. See you next week!
