Windows Phone Weekly Digest: October 11, 2015

By Seth Brodeur
last updated

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

After months of hoping and speculating, we finally got to see Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL when they were unveiled this week in New York.

Both will be equipped with a 20MP camera sensor, with a triple-LED RGB natural flash, a 5th-gen OIS, as well as 32GB, microSD card slot, and a USB Type-C port with Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology.

The 5.2-inch Lumia 950 be powered by a Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor, while the Lumia 950 XL will run a Snapdragon 810 octa-core CPU.

Windows Central was at the October 6 event and got our hands on the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL.

They will be priced at $549 and $649, respectively.

Though it sounded more like an afterthought than an announcement, Microsoft also introduced the more affordable Lumia 550. The 4.7-inch, quad-core phone will fetch a wallet-friendly $139 and will be available in December.

Along with the two new flagship Lumias came the Display Dock, which is a tiny, yet powerful device that turns your phone into a PC using Microsoft's Continuum for Windows 10.

The Display Dock will cost $99 And to top off all of the exciting hardware news, we found out that Windows 10 Mobile will officially start rolling out in December

Other notable items:

Apps

Apps

Prior to the fantastic lineup of devices, Microsoft announced that they had partnered with several companies to bring more universal apps to Windows 10. Facebook will be creating a new app, along with ones for Facebook Messenger and Instagram. CBS, The Weather Channel, Uber, and Audible are just some of the other names.

Microsoft Health became a universal app and got updated for the Microsoft Band 2 launch. The update adds UV monitoring, elevation tracking, and additional functionality.

Fitbit made its way to Windows 10 Mobile with promises of an Xbox app still to come. The company also addressed the lack of notifications on Windows Phone and assured users that they are working with Microsoft to give consumers a better experience.

Tweetium hit version 4.0, introducing interactive notifications and column mode.

The Weather Channel app arrived for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile.

And the hugely popular video player VLC for Windows Phone 8.1 got a new translator system.

Other notable items:

Games

Games

In gaming news, King released Candy Crush Soda Saga for Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile.

We also got word that the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy companion app will be heading Windows Phone as well.

CSI: Slots hit Windows and Windows Phone, combining all the fun of Vegas games with bringing down the bad guys.

And the developers behind Lines launched Briquid Mini for Windows Phone as an Xbox Live title. Published by Game Troopers, Briquid Mini is a retro-style puzzle game.

Other notable items:

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

Seth Brodeur
Seth Brodeur
55 Comments
  • Sad there was no new phone build this week. :(
  • There will be one in the next couple of days
  • I hope you're right buddy
  • Hope the new build is 90-95% stabilized...
  • Yes!
  • Can anyone confirm that if 950XL has front camera flash or not?. Its not mentioned on MS site but saw on may other sites have mentioned front camera with flash!!!!!
  • No, only a frnt camera and a front sensor camera.
  • No front flash. Just checked it out at my Microsoft kiosk in the mall.
  • Hope to C some New Features In Next Build Like Startscreen Rotation,Notification light on On lumia 730,Notifaction centre background wallpaper support, Slow Motion Camera,Wifi Direct,,
  • Def not asking much o.O
  • Its getting closer to the deadline now as its only a month away before 950 and XL are released with Win10Mobile. They will be highly likely only doing bug fixes now to make the OS as stable as it can be. Its likely the next big feature we will get will be after the official launch. No point having tons of great new features than we already have, just for the RTM to be buggy and bad performance. Don't get your hopes up for any of them features for at least a few months (after launch?).... It'll highly likely just be bug fixes and stabilisations now
  • Is it really a deadline? The preloaded OS on the 950 XL demos are already a higher build than the Insider build, and it's becoming more apparent to me that (like Windows 10 PC) Windows 10 mobile will be constantly updated and not released full featured out even fully optimized.
  • As you mention. Is it good to have such incredible features if the system doesn't work. Lot of things at stake to make all those features to work nicely and efficiently. Wait and see.
  • Notification light on L730? Where? On the camera flash or it have frontal led hidden somewhere?
  • I bet that the 730 needs new drivers (firmware) for the notification LED to work, which will only come with the official release, just like it was at the PfD times.
  • Is the liquid cooling thing on 950xl a real thing? If yes, is it good or bad? Is the CPU really that hot?
    I don't know, it seems like that liquid cooling is something that needs maintenance. Just like in PC or car. So does it?
  • For starters: The SD810 SoC is known to run like a champ but heats up like an oven.......But that was version 1.0, the newly upgraded hardware revision 2.1 is said to be miles better
    Second: With this processing power feeding continuum, it's better safe than sorry I guess.
    Finally: No it doesn't need maintenance at all just watch out not to drop it a lot. PC and tablets using this method aren't susceptible to the harshness of using a cellphone.
  • Plus, I guess the liquid cooling wouldn't hurt...especially when you car phone holder maybe up in the dash pounded by the sun's rays!
  • Waiting on reviews to see if it's an issue. Almost seems like every other device with the 810 has heating issues regardless or v1 or v2.
    Is the liquid cooling just going to mask the problem, with the heat on the chip causing other problems?
  • Actually, liquid cooling solves the problem by masking it. That's why if you have a liquid nitrogen cooling tower sitting on top of a top of the line processor you can overclock it to extreme speeds, it does this by drawing the generated heat away from the processor and other components as quickly as possible to avoid quite literally melting components. The liquid cooling systems that require maintenance are usually the ones found in gaming machines, they are not really closed systems and assembled by hand which ends in contamination of the system. The system used in the 950 series will be sealed in the factory and will never be opened so won't require maintenance, I also believe it's not just traditional liquid cooling and will have quite a few benefits. Regardless, pushing the CPU to the max under consistent load shouldn't be an issue in these phones, the reason its a problem in other devices is they have used poorly designed cooling systems and just throttle the CPU to compensate. This cooling system has been taken from the Surface Pro 4 and since we already know how good that design team is, you can be assured that the cooling system in the 950 series is the best part of the phone, I'm pretty sure everything else will break long before the cooling does.
  • It's not liquid in the sense most people think. It's a very small amount in a sealed tube that turns back and forth from liquid to gas. It's very efficient and rarely has problem. Higher performance systems often use it. On the phone it helps distribute heat so it's not all concentrated, especially if you push it hard using continuum like the previous poster said. I expect it to increase longevity as it reduces hot spots. Most phone start acting up with age because of repeated heat stress.
  • It's the same technology used to cool satellites and space probes. It's extremely reliable and there's no chance to do maintenance on those things.
  • And there's me thinking space was cold enough already!
  • To be honest I'm very happy about every single thing that was released now :) on a right path for sure.
  • Everything released was high tech except for W10 mobile OS which still sucks!
  • These lumia flagships definately have the potential to kick the ass of the android flagships ,Microsoft just needs to promote these flagships as apple and samsung do
  • And the most important thing about the hardware is the soul (Windows 10 Mobile). It needs to be the best.
  • Yeah the OS needs to be the best. Devices will be made and upgraded every year and year.
  • any idea when next build for mobile will be available
  • In a few days if no blocking bugs are found during internal testing.
  • Microsoft Health is not universal yet
  • Pretty sure it was updated last week to be universal and support the Band 2?
  • Will the 750 or 850 still be Nokia design? Or not? And will they be named 760/860 in that case?
  • Great news...."still no snapchat?" I'm excited about the new phones. The two platform Apple/Android phone monopoly needs more competition WTG Microsoft!
  • Does someone know when we can install android apps on our phone, I need a couple of them I really miss. Just tried it with apkw10m on my Lumia 640 but unfortunately it didn't work.
  • Soon like everything else from Microsoft!
  • Really? Oh man that's nice,I have patience, maybe with the rtm in a couple of weeks then.
  • He's joking...
  • I'm happy to see some new app updates, but I need periscope and freshbooks, and a podcast app that can access all my favorites. I'm tired of needing to use my ipad for what my phone should do.
  • Casts is really good
  • Reallly berore you say fb app on windows update them
  • Broom
  • Front camera flash important, why only so few smartphones have it ?
  • Dont take selfies in the dark
  • Don't take selfies.
  • I wonder if even great phones and app support will change WP market share without serious support from cell phone providers and journalists. Even then, without some really transformational tech, why will people change? We need innovative tech that is marketed, understood and appreciated by the bulk of consumers. Even the Intel/surface phone may not get that done.
  • Surface has become a very strong brand, stick that on a good phone and it will sell.
  • I wish they had pricing on the dual sim variants
  • When can we get windows 10 update in 1520??
  • Thank you @MMissionary I will check Casts out.
  • @Karen LePage. If you're using the app, use the arrow on top right hand corner to reply :).
  • How about the bezel?  Does anyone want to complain about the bezel?  
  • "FB will create new Instagram app".
    Great news. But one question. When?
  • Where is Lumia 550 hands-on? Why phonearena has it and you don't? Why is it still 136mm wide on your specs page? Where is some compartion articles like 950 vs older phones and 950 vs rivals , 550 vs older budget phones. WC is completely lost in Surface phone dreaming last weeks.
  • Windows 10 mobile has potential Panay and Roper should be in charge of doing the hard sell to developers to get more developers on board with the universal apps. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android