ICYMI: December 13, 2014

By Sam Sabri
published

A lot can happen in a week. New apps join the Windows Phone Store or Windows Store. Your favorite apps can get a big update with a new look or new features. Device rumors come and go. Seven days might not seem like much, but it can be an eternity in the tech news cycle. Every week we're going to compile the biggest stories into one post, so you never fall behind – In Case You Missed It (ICYMI).

Windows Phone

3D Touch Lede

  • Microsoft's new 'exploding' Live Tiles to launch with Windows 10 for Phone [Read]
  • Cortana is annoying some users with endless weather alerts, here's how to disable them [Read]
  • App Annie adds Windows Phone Store and Windows Store support to its analytic tools [Read]
  • New photos emerge of cancelled Nokia McLaren Windows Phone, compared to iPhone 6 [Read]

Microsoft + Windows

Windows 10

  • On January 21 Microsoft reveals more about the Windows 10 consumer experience [Read]
  • The Windows 10 Jan. 21 press event will include Microsoft's future PC gaming plans [Read]
  • Microsoft's COO Kevin Turner now says Windows 10 is coming 'early next fall' [Read]
  • A new patch for the Windows 10 preview won't work if you have Office installed [Read]
  • Microsoft buys HockeyApp to help expand its support for mobile app developers [Read]
  • Change your Microsoft Band wallpaper with Pimp my Band for Windows Phone [Read]

Apps

Best Finance Apps

  • The best personal finance apps on Windows Phone [Read]
  • Office Lens app grabs 'experimental' business card mode in latest update [Read / Download]
  • Magically erase unwanted objects in your photos with TouchRetouch for Windows and Windows Phone [Read / Download]
  • Xbox Video for Windows 8.1 picks up MKV support [Read / Download (opens in new tab)]
  • Sleeve Music for Windows Phone updated with design refresh and improved playback [Read / Download]
  • NOAA Hi-Def Radar is a new and powerful weather app on Windows Phone [Read / Download]
  • OneDrive for Windows Phone updated with promised UI changes [Read / Download]
  • Forest for Windows Phone aims to free you from your phone addiction [Read / Download]

Games

Minecraft

  • Minecraft Pocket Edition comes to Windows Phone [Read / Download]
  • Candy Crush Saga arrives on Windows Phone [Read / Download]
  • The classic board games Scrabble and Risk make the jump to Windows 8.1 [Read / Download (opens in new tab) / Download (opens in new tab)]
  • Microsoft Bingo released as universal app for Windows Phone [Read / Download]
  • PK is a new endless runner for Windows Phone that ties into upcoming Indian film [Read / Download]

Xbox

Xbox One Games

  • Here's why Microsoft should abolish its ID@Xbox parity clause for Xbox One [Read]
  • Xbox One beats PlayStation 4 in U.S., U.K. November sales [Read]
  • How to stream your video collection from a PC to the Xbox One [Read]
  • Xbox Fitness will stay free for Xbox Live Gold members in 2015 [Read]
  • Razer releases the Kraken Xbox One stereo headset for $99.99 [Read]
  • Twitch adds video-on-demand and new search filters for Xbox One app [Read]

Misc.

12 Days Hidden Gems

  • Announcing 12 Days of Hidden Gems for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone! [Read]
  • Weekly photo contest: Sunset [Enter]
  • Haz a question? Use our Windows Central Q&A feature, which just hit 10K [Read]
  • Windows Central welcomes these verified Microsoft employees to our Support Forums! [Read]

ICYMI Mailing list

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Share your thoughts on this past week of Windows Phone, Windows, Xbox and Microsoft news!

Sam Sabri
Sam Sabri
28 Comments
  • A lot of news.... ;)
  • I Crave Your Momentous Information...
  • can ya all please see if Jay can update the Windows central app!! I and loads can't sign in, and I'm getting no attention on the forums before you say lol !!
  • lol
  • LOL
  • Next week Clash of Clans and Miniclip's pool game join WP... Hopefully
  • Still no official Facebook app +no update for instagram no..no...no...
    And windows phone is becoming very laggy i started to loose hope on Windows phone after 3 years of waiting
  • It is the first one that pops up when you search the WP store using the key word 'facebook'. It is written by MS for Facebook.
  • I mean a one from facebook that works like ios or android there are many features that are missing from Microsoft's facebook app
  • What is wrong with Facebook hiring MS to write their app? http://www.windowscentral.com/try-jdb-facebook-dont-like-facebook-official
  • Check out "Facebook" for Windows Phone http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=82a23635-5bd9-df11-a844-00237de2db9e
  • Thanks but i mean a one from facebook that works like ios or android there are many features that are missing from Microsoft's facebook app
  • Apart from a couple of missing features, the app and its UI are identical. Be glad that Microsoft is developing it; just look at Instagram for an example of what you might get if Facebook were in charge.
    By the way, 'an almost identical official Facebook app by Microsoft' is hardly the same as 'still no official Facebook app'.
  • Thats what i started to hate about the platform we always have to be happy if "Microsoft is trying" well they're trying more in other platforms because they know windows phone users will be happy with closer apps to the originals and give the best of Microsoft to ios and Android users
  • I totally agree with you it is tiresome and ridiculously annoyingly frustrating seeing MS try "harder" or "more" on other platforms. I agree with most apps being terrible. But I disagree with you about the OS being buggy, the OS itself is very fast and fluid (look at me using their terminology :D ) app performance ruins the experience
  • Yeah. Windows phone has one of the best OS. And if it's lagging it's because of some other particular reason.
  • If you like Windows stay Android faced the same problems when they were young We are all aware of the problems yet we choose to stay.
    Look at where android is today
  • Yeah but android and ios arw getting better unlike windows phone, Windows phone 8 is smother than 8.1 alot and if you noticed the lock screen in the system and the music player..... are like apps now and they are too slow , also sense apps even they are from Microsoft they are very slooow
  • Nice
  • Yes this is a big week.. Candy came for us,MX player is under process,vlc is under process, many updates and new apps and games this week... Am so happy... Mobile data on and off option came for us... That's superb... Need USB on the go and SD support for all future phones need old music and videos app too
  • WPC is lagging behind the news coverage..... They haven't said anything about newest budget additions like 435/330 which was posted by Nokia power user and also didn't said anything about new software update that will be issued to. Microsoft Lumia 535 users for touch responseless issue
  • I don't trust those "power user" sites, they're known for false news.
  • If I keep more live tiles in start screen, will it consume more battery?
  • Depends, please use the forums for off topic questions.
  • Sad that the wp phone not beikg Build. But hope to see a new design from nokia soOn. Boring with the same design for years now.
  • Microsoft in 2015 should focus on improving the quality of existing apps.
  • not a good time for windows phone until windows 10 arrives for all.
  • Why Java not available on WP