Windows Phone Weekly Digest: June 6, 2015

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 Phone Weekly Digest."

Windows Phone

Windows Phone

There are some new Windows phones on the horizon. Verizon's Microsoft Lumia 735 will reportedly hit shelves on June 11. Meanwhile, in Japan, the Mouse Computer MADOSMA's release is all but imminent. We were able to get our hands on one at Computex Taipei prior to its launch.

Also at Computex, Philippines-based phone and tablet maker Cherry Mobile revealed their plan to release the Alpha Prime 4 and Alpha Prime 5, what will be two of the first smartphones to be sold with Windows 10 Mobile pre-installed.

And while we eagerly await a new preview build of Windows 10 Mobile, a video of the unreleased build 10127 showed us a new design for the Settings menu. The new look comes much closer to resembling the Windows 10 settings menu on PC and also supports landscape mode.

As for Windows Phone 8.1, Update 2 is now live for some Microsoft Lumia 735 and Lumia 830s. In addition, Verizon's HTC One M8 for Windows also started getting the Update 2 upgrade.

If you are not familiar with what Update 2 brings to the table, be sure to check out our rundown of what's new in it.

Some Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL owners will be happy this week. Microsoft pushed out a firmware update that adds some new features, including native Wi-Fi calling and HD Voice.

Other notable items:

Apps

Apps

Creators of one of our favorite Reddit clients, Readit, had a bit of scare when it appeared that they would not be able to release a Windows 10 version of their app, due to a squatter reserving the app name. Fortunately, they were able to resolve the issue with the help of Microsoft.

Two third-party website clients received updates to fix issues with the APIs they use. Flickr app Flickr Central repaired a bug that was preventing users from logging into their accounts. And myTube put out a patch to fix errors caused by the latest YouTube API.

Despite rumblings that Nokia is trying to sell off their HERE Maps division, their HERE Maps apps got a huge offline maps update, bringing with it "millions of changes."

And Dropbox for Windows and Windows Phone got updated with some notable improvements. The official app, designed by Windows super-dev Rudy Huyn, picked up the following changes:

  • Improved accessibility: compatibility with the 'ease of access' text size on phone settings
  • Videos are now included in gallery view
  • New share menu
  • Improved UX
  • Bug fixes and performance improvements

Other notable items:

Games

Games

In games, Real Cricket 15 landed on Windows Phone, giving players a chance to take a swing on their mobile device.

We joined in the fight protect the kingdom from the goblins in Tiny Empire, a 16-bit arcade game with a retro feel.

Developer group Game Troopers had productive week. Not only did they release their quiz game What In The World?, but they also expanded their hit game Make It Rain to Windows 8.1 and updated the Windows Phone version. Additionally, they put out a teaser trailer for Tiny Troopers 2, a follow-up to their Windows Phone action-strategy game.

In what feels like a weekly occurrence, Subway Surfers got updated with a new locale. This time, it's Venice, Italy.

And lastly, zombie shooter Dead Trigger 2 picked up its first update since landing on Windows Phone in April. The update includes new tournaments, performance improvements, and more.

Other notable items:

Be sure to weigh in on this week's news in the comments section. See you next week!

Seth Brodeur
19 Comments
  • So far the windows 10 for phones preview seems ok, but wouldn't it make more sense to have the all apps list on the left and not the right, that way it resembles the desktop/tablet version of windows 10 a little better? The current one still feels a lot like windows phone 8, but with transparent tiles. I feel that not enough changes have been made yet to convince people that windows 10 for phones is entirely different visually from windows phone 8. The average consumer only sees a lot of visual changes as being something entirely different, not what code is is created from, the apps it has, etc.
  • Yes I would like to see more Windows 10 style in the mobile version. Or at least make the left side from the Start screen useful. It would feel more free + Wallpaper friendly. There is alot of concepts out there so MS knows.
  • What ever happened to the big 4x4 and 2x4 tiles. I liked them, and I also would like the interactive tiles. Microsoft please make it happen.
  • Interactive live tiles are coming, but the new sizes I guess are gone
  • What? They were scrapped already?! Tsk, I liked those tiles.
  • I hope the interactive live tiles are "flippable" with a swipe, but not actually widgets like android. After all they're not really live tiles without manual refresh and waiting 15 seconds to see new info
  • What about windows 10 can I install it on my daily driver or it's still buggy :|
  • at pretty stable
  • Not sure what you are talking about, but I have the 4*4 tile. Build 10130. 2*4, however, is gone.
  • Besdes coming soon!Updates for 640! Makes me sick people are getting updates for 640 already, other than cricket customers they haven't even been released yet in US. And still no word on when. I've seen comments all over the web and people feel the same as me. You would think someone from Microsoft or att have read them, and someone would come forward and make a statement.
  • Windows phone "super -dev."
    Damn right, you are.
  • Anyone having problems with xe currency not updating?
  • Yup its not updating the currencies. Except for USD-INR, the app is not showing any other exchange rate. Showing not available :(. Can't see the daily exchange rates on my live tiles
  • Is Lumia 730 getting the 8.1 update 2?
  • i didnt see the full changes in win10 mobile start screen. its like edited wp8.1 start screen, but i hope they change it and add more features on start screen in the final build, sorry for my bad english
  • Desperately waiting for next build :)
  • My HTC 8x is in the dark I guess. Bummer !!
  • Still waiting for 8.1 update 2 on my Nokia Lumia 735
  • I'm still waiting for WP 8.1 Update 2 for my Lumia 830 and it still hasn't arrived. Sure its for some, but I just can't wait any longer.