Windows Phone 8.1 : Microsoft has finally done it!

Windows Phone 8.1 : Developers Preview( For everyone! )

Earlier this week on Monday Microsoft released its Windows Phone 8.1 Developers Preview. This was the answer to all the critics to the Windows Phone who complaint about things like a notification center, moving apps to SD card and lack of customization. 

You must all be very curious to try your hands on this new Developers release. Well, not going by its name the Developer Preview of the Windows Phone 8.1 is almost for everybody who can follow some easy steps. Lets begin. 

Step 1:

Click on this and sign in using the Microsoft account running on your Windows Phone 8 device. Then get your self registered by accepting the terms.

Step 2:

On your device download and install Preview For Developers App by Microsoft. You can also download the app from here. ( Also make sure that your device is running the GDR3 update or Lumia Black)

Step 3:

Now start the app and accept the terms. Sign into your Microsoft account and Enable Preview for Developers. 

Step 4:

Go check Phone Updates in settings you will find updates for your phone. There will be two updates first one is a small one and it helps the phone to install the larger update. The small update is of 5-10mb and the larger update is of  400-500mb. 

If you encounter any problem or have any queries leave it in the comments below. 

Messaging Apps For You Continued

Messaging Apps For You: Continued

1. LINE

Line came into messaging a little late after WhatsApp and Viber launched in 2011, But it still has large number of users. The extra features of line include a large number of stickers that you can download and use. Line now also supports voice calls and video calls. The call quality was pretty decent compared to Skype and Viber. Line has introduced many promotional schemes in order to increase its usage. You can take benefit from these promotional offers and use it to recharge your mobile phone for free.

Advantages:

• Stickers- A large variety of stickers available for you to download and use.
• Voice Calling- Although voice calling is not new but it is still unavailable in popular messaging apps like WhatsApp.
• Video Calls- A decent video calling ability adds to the advantages.
• Promotional Features- Who doesnt want to get a free recharge?:D.

Disadvantages:

• Not everyone is using Line as they are using WhatsApp.
• The app can be sometimes irritating with all the promotional messages.

Download:

• Windows Phone
• Android

2. HIKE

Hike is Indian Instant Messaging apps that provides all the features that you need in an Instant Messaging app. The feature that makes it different from others is the themes that you can add into chats and the text message feature. The text message feature allows you to send text messages to a person who is not able to receive your messages due to no internet. Also Hike also promotes its app by giving you a 20 rupees for every friend you invite on Hike. Pretty solid scheme if not many of your friends are not already using Hike. 

Advantages:

• Rewards- You earn 20 rupees for every successful friend invite. 
• Themes- Design your chats and groups using themes for every mood.

Disadvantages:

• I found none!!

Download:

• Windows Phone
• Android

3. BBM

Blackberry Messenger is oldest in the game of Instant Messaging and once had the largest number of users. But along with the downfall of Blackberry the app also suffered. The once top messaging app lost its throne to several others competitors. Blackberry relaunched itself on Android and Ios later last year, and since then has been trying to bring itself back. There is a lot of features just waiting for you to be used. Give it  try!

Advantages:

• Voice Calling feature is good.
• You can share documents( That is new)
• The contacts can see your location on a map.
• You can control the people who can send you a message.

Disadvantages:

• The app is still laggy.

Download:

• Android
• Windows Phone( Coming Soon)

4. WE-CHAT

We-chat is a popular Chinese Instant Messaging App, The apps design is satisfactory and it was one of the firsts to allow sending voice messages to friends. The special features include connecting with other people in your area using We-chat. The app also includes gif stickers that are fun to use. This app doesnt show the online or last seen feature which is sometimes good and sometimes irritating! 

Advantages:

• Stickers- Huge variety of stickers to use
• Voice and video calling- Same old same old
• Near me-Find people around you using this app.

Disadvantages:

• Less number of users. 

Download:

• Windows Phone
• Android

Messaging Apps For You

Messaging Apps For You

Here are some messaging apps that you can use to send instant messages to your friends. You can chose among a wide variety of apps providing you with different kinds of features. Check them out!

1. WhatsApp

WhatsApp Messenger is a proprietary, cross-platform instant messaging subscription service for smartphones that uses the internet for communication. In addition to text messaging, users can send each other images, video, and audio media messages as well as their location using integrated mapping features. The client software is available for Google Android, BlackBerry OS, Apple iOS, selected Nokia Series 40, Symbian, selected Nokia Asha platform, Microsoft Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10.

Advantages:

• Available for almost every platform.

• Friendly interface.

• Recently added privacy features to Last seen, profile photo and status comes handy.

Disadvantages:

• No stickers available.

• No voice call features like Viber or Line.

Download:

• Windows Phone

• Android

2. Telegram

Telegram Messenger is a cross-platform messenger whose clients are open source. Telegram users can exchange encrypted and self-destructing messages, photos, videos and documents (all file-types supported). Telegram is officially available for Android and iOS. Telegram claims it is more secure than mass market messengers like WhatsApp and LINE. The application features two types of chats. Ordinary chats use client-server encryption and can be accessed from multiple devices. Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption and can only be accessed from the two participating devices.

Advantages:

• Uses encryption for message exchange.

• Documents of all almost all formats can be shared

Disadvantages:

• No stickers available.

• Interface looks a copy of Whatsapp.

Download:

• Android

*Any official app for Windows Phone is still unavailable but you can try Migram(Unofficial Client)

3. Viber

Viber is a proprietary cross-platform instant messaging voice-over-Internet Protocol application for smartphones developed by Viber Media. In addition to text messaging, users can exchange images, video and audio media messages. The client software is available for Mac OS, Android, BlackBerry OS, iOS, Series 40, Symbian, Bada, Windows Phone, and Microsoft Windows. Viber was initially launched for iPhone on December 2, 2010, in direct competition with Skype. A pre-release version for Androidappeared in May 2011 but was restricted to 50,000 users; an unrestricted version was released on July 19, 2012.

Advantages:

• Lots of sticker to choose from.

• Voice call quality is best among the available ones.

• Available for almost every platform.

Disadvantages:

• Still searching!!!!

Download:

• Android

• Windows Phone

4. ChatON

ChatON is a global mobile communication service introduced by Samsung Electronics in September 2011. ChatON is currently available on Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone(Samsung Zone), and bada smartphones. Additionally, a web client is offered for access to the service via web browsers. Among ChatON's unique features are allowing users to create Animation messages which the recipient can watch, Broadcast to send personal notices in a group chat room, and the Trunk which stores media files shared in chats. If users who have Samsung account log in ChatON, they can use it on any device without effort like bringing their buddy list.

Advantages:

• Easy integration on any compatible device using the same account.

Disadvantages:

• Very less users use this messenger.

Download:

• Android

• Windows Phone

Credits: Mohammad Adil Khan