We're excited to announce another patch to our official Windows Phone app today, which you can download right now here in the marketplace (Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7). Whilst this version 4.4.18 is not the biggest update we've ever announced we suspect a fair few people will be quite happy.
Following a flood of e-mails and messages complaining about our live tile's compatibility with the developer preview of Windows Phone 8.1 we've made sure that tile transparency now works correctly for both of our live tiles. The other headline change is that we've now made all features of the app available to all users.
Full change list
- Changed method of rendering live tile to add transparency to our custom live tile
- Fixed a bug with the iconic live tile that caused transparency to fail after launching the app
- Unlocked all features of the app to trial users
- Switched to Microsoft Advertising SDK for monetised adverts
- Upgraded the AdDuplex controls used for backup adverts
It’s worth just saying a quick thanks to Telerik whose controls made it possible for us to render our custom tile with a transparent background!
Free apps and the future
Yes, the “trial” version of our app now effectively becomes the totally free version. Every feature, including our custom live tiles and notifications, is available to those using the trial version of the app – supported by the advertising banner at the bottom of the screen. If you wish to remove the in-app advertising you simply need to purchase the app, and obviously, we hope you do.
As for the future, it is very difficult to transition our monetisation strategy to Microsoft’s new universal app strategy but this is the start. We have to be as fair as we can to the many wonderful people who have already purchased the app (seriously, thank you to every single person for the support!) we will be updating the existing app to take advantage of a few features in Windows Phone 8.1 in the coming months, to continue our commitment to those users. We are discussing how universal apps will work for us in the future, but for now the two will be separate in their current state.
Reader comments
Official WPCentral app updated, bringing transparent live tiles for everybody
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Agreed, I think there may be something up with this update, it keeps logging me out and the live tile glitches.
But then wp8.1 is a preview - it may be simply that and not the app... It's a bank holiday in the UK, so am hoping that tomorrow they're may be a response.
I'm still using WP8, and I think there's something wrong with this update. Sometimes the large live tilt shows up only blank, and I have to enter WPCentral app and exit, so I can see the content of the large live tilt, which never occurs in previous update.
Everytime i exit the app it logs out automatically dono how. Everytime i open the app i have to sign in this is happening after the update. App is allowed for background task i tried a soft reset too din't work out. Please Jay help.
@ Jay Bennet,
Just re my above issue; I have updated the app and now find myself logged out everytime I use the app, after I minimise to the time.
I have used the help function and sent a report in.
Any help would be appreciated, though I know it's the Easter weekend, so have a good one first ;)
I wanted to comment on this article many a times but couldn't comment bcoz of trial...but now its possible....thanks wpcentral team for making it full version for trial users
Awesome!! :D
Wanted to purchase the app from quite a long time. But my debit card just won't work with the store. Using ad supported version, for now. :)
Thank you, Jay. Didn't even have to un-pin and re-pin to get the improvements; they just were there. Very good job programming this app. Most-used app on my phone.
Really glad to be a part of support for this community App! :-)
I didn't turn the live tile on but why is it on? Ugh.
After reloading twice I finally have the transparent live tile, which is just great! Like the app. Sorry to go on there Jay..apoligies.
Peter
Liverpool
England
SWEET!
I did have had that before the update, but it is nice to see the extra features in the live tiles.
Make it free please.. No debit/credit card..
Give them that bit of money for the free services they gave you so long. Be a man and pay a little bit of you want to get some extras
It is free. Read the damned article
Why aren't you replying when someone is asking you about the logout issue? I observed it many asked you this query but you dint reply but when someone is asking any other query you immediately reply. This not fair we need help again and again i have to sign in. So please help.
I'll look at it but nothing in the login code has changed for several releases. If your information is being lost then the OS is clearing out the app's local storage for some reason. Do you have much spare space?
Have lots of space on my device
Please allow us to set a default video player instead of having to select it every time we want to watch a video. Note: I ask for this every update lol
Not possible with the Windows Phone OS. We call out using one Uri schema and any apps on your phone supporting it will then offer to run. Unless you mean always go to the site or always go to an app, in which case I'll look to do for next update
Sweetness now my start screen is almost perfect :D. Keep up great work Jay!
Not letting me download for some reason!!
Yay!!! Love the tile
Yay!!!
Why does the forum keep signing me out?
Nice
Hi jay,
I really enjoy your app, but this is a bit of a pain. I've done that 5 times now
Peter
thanx a lot wp central team..u all r doing grt job.
WPC CAN WE FIX THIS FOR ALL USERS. LUMIA 925
Peter
Liverpool
England
Not happy!!! No transparant live tile for me been a wpc follower for years too!!! Where do you enable the live tile?
Go to settings and enable the live tile
Does the app now allow you to login with MS account?
Thank you so much jay, i definitely gonna buy it
I liked the old non-live transparent tile with just the large wpcentral logo. Was super clean. When I turn off live tiles in the app it gives me a blank tile only. Still a great app but will have to get a custom tile for it I guess
Try setting the colour in the live tile customisation screen
I don't want the information on the tile but I liked it transparent though. Just aesthetic preference. However, now even with the live tile set to off it asks me every time I open the app if I want to pin the iconic tile
Thanks for the update, sir...
Great, not able to get the transparent tile working though, great work though
Set the tile to 'accent' in the customisation screen
The best article I've ever read on WPCentral!
Transparency! Microsoft delivers! WPCentral delivers! Elected officials...yeah... not so much... hail hydra...?
Was transparent and in 5 minutes went back to normal.
Any idea?
My favorite and most used app :)
Thank you !!!!
Guys I want the tile transparent, but without news in it. So I left it "off".
But no matter what, there's always a news article in my tile. Until today my tile was set to big and with the wpc logo, wich is exactly what I want. Any way to bring back this? Because as of right now, toggle between Off and wpc tile with news, it's the same.
Thanks!
You'll need to reinstall the app for that, at the moment when you set the live tile on once it overwrites those old styles. I'll look to fix that later
Is there a reason why I keep getting logged out of the forum
Working fully now. Stays transparent after I read articles and close app.
Thank you Jay.
I've had transparent wpcentral tile since the preview release
Awesome as always. Bought the WPCentral app the moment I laid eyes on it over a year ago.
Looks great!I love ❤ it
My tile always was transparent
@Jay Looks like the updates WPCentral app does not integrate with the action center. Idk, before the update I can see the notification for WPC in the action center when the live tile updates. Doesn't seem to be the case right now. Or is it just me?
It should integrate, when you get a toast message it goes to the action center
Thanks for the response, Jay. I'll check, again once a get a new notification.
Awesome!!!
ThaNX!!!
Otherwise, excellent app, I think it's one of my most used! Good job!
Got the update and now I keep having to re-enter my login details, so that I can use the forums...
Anyone else experiencing this behaviour?
I've reinstalled the app and have rebooted the phone (lumia 625 on dev preview 8.1).
Could this be an odd preview bug? Anyone else getting this issue?
Awesome, you guys rock!!!
Beautiful update. Loving the tile.
What cover is on the lumia
Not happening
Good. That WPCentral tile was looking so off..
It's free in android and is not free in WP store. Why??
Because if you are having a WP device you must have it, while on Android it's not that important
Download the trial. That is the free version.
Nice, I have it in my folder of other things but cool that it's transparent.
How is every getting the transparent tile when there is no facility for it????????????????
Good move Jay, good move ...
I just wet myself. Thanks, Jay!
There is no change at all had wpc wide tile on my start screen for over a year, I ve just updated it and nothing could someone help please
Peter lumia 925
Hell yeah!!!
How do I make the tile transparent and keep the news updates like on wpc picture??? There is no toggle for it???
Turn on the live tile in the settings
Looks pretty slick, so does the whole update tho been showin all the iphone idiots like "you like it?" There like "its alright!!" Haha
I updated to the latest version, and the tile immediately went transparent. Now it isn't transparent anymore.
L920/8.1
Fantastic! Nice update. Thanks for being at the forefront of all things Windows Phone!
It's not working. I've set iconic, colour accent, and the color of the tile is orange(accent). Did that with the other tile, restarted, changed tile options, still no transparency. Any help people? Win 8.1 Lumia 920
Strange. Mine worked right after update with no modification at all. Lumia 920, too!
Sometimes it pops out"wp count, I am used for the lock screen count"
That's the normal tile if you're in iconic mode. You should see the iconic tile pinned somewhere else on your start screen
Solved, too many tiles :). This is my first paid app on windows phone and to this date the best app! Keep it up
bought this when first became available, since then never left any of my phones... thanks a lot for the great work! :)
Thanks Jay, I love the app. The transparent tile is so beautiful. Good work!
Very cool :-) congrats guys
Thank you... Can you make the ads like once per session ?
No, and expect the number of them to increase in the free version in the future. We have to monetise things somehow :(
Ok...
Iam happy to have purchased the app back when wp8 launched (or was it 7.5?), and even happier that you've unlocked everything in the ad supported version so everyone can enjoy it.
You're doing a fantastic job, keep it up.
Then. What for I paid for it?
You don't have ads.
And your information isn't passed to advertising providers
Thank you very much! Wpcentral's been of great help since I bought my phone a year ago. Keep up the great work guys! :)
Awesome Update, Thanks Alot Jay...;)
Awrsome
I think and feel pretty different about this change, because I would love the full app in the trial mode with ads, but at cost of pictures library, numbers dialed and microphone is too much for a real privacy policy.
To me is clear now Microsoft is following the dirty strategy from Google, sure because it is difficult keep a clean line when a dirty one is legal and more profitable and Google could not be stopped by anyone.
I will keep this app without the update.
By the popularity of this change in WP Central and the nature of it, is clear why Android is so successfully. People only want all by nothing, understanding by nothing their own privacy which looks they worth in cero, even from their sons.
A bad notice to me.
Just to note, if you buy the app we never even initiate the advertising controls so none of your private information is, or ever will be, passed to a third party. Of course if you wish to use adverts we all know how they work. If an app is free to you, then you are the product being sold
Thanks Jay for the the point.
I don't have stomach to upgrade the App, but would buy your App at first time I could because it is very cheap and very good.
Even more, your site is to my Smartphone, as Tom's Hardware was to my PC.
I like buy good apps and your is in first place for it.
YES YES YES!!! LOVE the transparent live tile :-)
Sweeeet. You rock Jay.
It seems to break the live tile (iconic Tile / WPCentral Flip Tile) functionality for me.
http://1drv.ms/1hY0t0L
Looks great, but I feel the font could be a bit heavier so it looks less blurry compared to tiles like the native calendar. They look more clear. Would be great if the fonts look the same.
Cool! Only wish it had pull to refresh.
Thankyou
Good job guys thx ;-)
Thank you,Jay! Hip hip hurrah!
very nice! how about new UI?
Would have liked the free version but I already bought it. but I hate ads........
I would consider it as an Easter gift from WPCENTRAL :)
See? That's why I don't see the point of using a third party application to make tiles transparent. Developers will update their apps to include this aesthetic feature.
Hey,this is one of the best apps on Windows Phone,very happy to support it. Keep up the great work!
Never mind I found that I have to choose Accent and I was looking for transparent as a choice. It is now working s expected.
Thanks for the live tile
Make an app that would automatically change the start screen background every 30mins or so :)
Seems way faster
I just tweeted that update request yesterday!!!
Jay rules!
Nicely done Jay! :-)
I don't get it how to make tile transparent??
Thankyou!
Superb news!! But how do I enable the transparent tile? Nothing has changed after the update?
Great job as always Jay.
Thanks a lot, Jay Bennett! Windows Phone Central tile on WP8.1 looks so pretty :)
Lets get Jay a big ass order of chicken wings and a keg for his work. Good job Jay.
I still have some serious scrolling judder on the home news screen. Would also be nice to have notification centre support (I'm not fussed about the live tile - but am interested to see the news coming in :).
Cheers for the update though - I'm glad there is still a benefit to having paid for the app.
On mine transparent tiles are not working, I do have windows 8.1.
No notification center items for wpcentral app?
Enable toasts notifications...
Hi Jay, i need some help regarding this update.
http://forums.wpcentral.com/wpcentral-windows-phone-app-support/278196-w...
Thank you so so much
I'm sure it's something I am doing wrong... The live tile never 'flips'? I think I have tried all the options and sizes.
And now it's working, never mind
Finally!
I just want a addfree Windows 8.1 version. Still hate adds
I avoid the ugliness of transparent tiles like the plague.
Amazing update Jay!! Keep working on WPC app! It´s pretty awesome!
Nice :D
The flip title doesn't flip anymore (at least when color I'd set to accent) so maybe it's time to change its name? Transparent/flip tile or something like that.
Thank you!!!!!!
This app should not be up for discussion regarding whether or not it should be paid or not....personally I think its undervalued.....would gladly pay double as I'm sure most would.....#rant over....
Thanks Jay
Thanks Jay. Even though the trial version is now essentially the paid version (albeit with ads), I don't regret purchasing the app and consider it to be the best money I've spent in the Windows Phone App Store. Keep up the great work!
Have i ever mentioned that you guys are awesome? :) thanks for listening to the community!
Guys, whoever has not yet bought this app please do... Believe me it will be your best purchase in WP.. And Jay, great update but please fix 'can't fetch image' bug in the forums..
i agree. No regrets with the purchase, even with the current move to make all features available for trial users.
Oh great, just a week after I bought it :D
You get better battery life and more screen content with the paid version since there are no ads.
With this update does clearing the notifications in the action center also now clear the counter on the WP Central live tile? I don't think it did before.
Hi Jay! Wouldn't it be great if we had the choice for both colored and transparent? I actually prefer color sometimes based on what my start screen looks like. I'm sure that's the case with many. After all, as soon as these transparent tiles starts getting boring, ppl will wish they had some extra color on their screens. :D
You can select any other colour from the list and there you have it!!
Oh!! I never knew that. Should have tried. But thanks!
Looks great, but I feel the font could be a bit heavier so it looks less blurry compared to tiles like the native calendar. They look more clear.
Nokia Play To is not working on my NL 720 after I updated to WP8.1. Is anybody else facing the same problem?
gr8!
Like the new app
Thanks Jay
Yay
Hello guys m following WP central for past 2years.
Really love you folks here. You are awesome.
Nicely done! :D
Is the transparancy an option though? I'll admit I like to have some opaque tiles interspersed amongst the transparant ones so it would be great for developers to make it optional rather than the only game in town. :)
Q2 Jay.....why cant we use emoji when responding to threads ?
Looks great!
As my favorite full size tile.....I thank you!
my tile no longer transparant after update, what happen?
You should maybe create a subscription service like for whatsapp. E.g £0.99 or £1.49 per year... I paid for your app 18months ago, free since then... That's crazy ppl economics... Plus if Microsoft makes these £20 gift certificates for new phones regularly.. Then lots of your readers will have 'free' money sloshing about
So? That doesnt take money from them, they still get their profit, its microsoft who pays for those free gift cards, no reason to add unnecesary inflation to the platform <.<
I think you misunderstand. I was pointing out that it is unviable really for WPC to have a one off app purchase cost. We can't really expect these updates to be of zero cost to WPC when they certainly take time and effort to produce. As many WPC users have the ability to pay PLUS many have free gift cards, WPC should use that and make us pay a bit more. That's not inflation, that's helping keep the ppl who write for us employed.
I would start using my Android app. It's better than the WP8 app and it's totally free. Got an update this week as well. Has better comment sections. Would pay for a subscription. Have had WhatsApp for three years and they simply haven't charged me for using their services.
Nice
Great job with transparent tile guys! :)
Thanks Jay!!!
At last
Nice
Great it's free!! Wait a minute.... I already bought this a year ago... -*-
I bought it too, but I would pay for it anyway because I don't like ads and I think that support for developers is important. That way we have quality apps.
Agree. Consider that I have to use this app everyday, I don't mind buy the app to support the developer and to eliminate the ads. ;)
Fantastic
Solid, this is all I needed. Now for Skype...
Great! Thanks Jay!!
I bought the app since day one. Love WP Central and their crew! You guys rock!!
Simply awesome! Thanks Jay & WPCentral team!:)
Yee sun
Well this is interesting. I only just turned on the live tile for the first time ever and now the transparency is gone. It was already transparent before I enabled live tile.
Also having the same problem .. It was transparent for just a few seconds .. Now it's gone..
Just set accent as your live tile color
I already did that. Like I said, the tile was transparent before I turned on live tile. Now the tile is just the accent color like it normally would be without a background image.
As Jay mentioned, set your font colour to Accent, it worked for me.
My WPC tile was already transparent, just for a few day i did not receive the number of unread thing on the tile, but now everything is good!!
Paying 1-2 € for the effort of making a nice app has never been a problem for me. I can't understand people saying, oh it's so expensive when some app costs 1,99. Compared to the price of the phone it's peanuts and still so important part of the overall experience.
You right 2$ it's nothing for us people who work 5 five days or more a week, but for peoples under 17 especially under 14 it can be a pain, now everyone got a phone !!
"Us people," riiiiight.
HAHAH
I agree.
When I go to Starbucks it is easily 4-5 bucks for a drink.
So I'll skip one of my Starbucks days and get some apps. :D :P
Besides, with Bing rewards I haven't actually paid for an app in a while.
Well sadly the Bing reward doesn't work in Canada !!! I don't know if they will put the rewards to Canada or other country.... Btw what is it funny about "Us people" ?? I know my english is not perfect but at least i try.... Or maybe i just forget the comma.... For us, peoples....
Thx for the fast update, that tile bug was a little bit annoying
Its free now but with advertisement so no regret that i had purchased it.
Thanks, I'm hopeful that everyone sees it that way, this is the closest I can get to keeping everyone happy!
Now it really compliment the start screen perfectly. Thank you!
Good job guys!
Nice one jay! Top marks!
Well done WPC........About bloody time ;-)
Transparency only for 8.1? I don't seem to have the option on 8.
Just set "accent" as your option for a transparent tile
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