Want to earn a quick 100K? Build an app for Windows Phone

Want to earn a quick 100K? Build an app for Windows Phone

Microsoft reportedly offering big bounties to app developers

Microsoft is reportedly throwing a small fortune at app developers to encourage them to build apps for its Windows Phone operating system.

The information comes from Bloomberg Businessweek as an interesting tidbit in a story about how Apple's new iOS 7 platform mimicking the design of Windows Phone.

The reporter Ashlee Vance says she's been told that Microsoft is handing over in excess of $100,000 (UK£63,600, AUD$104,000) to some developers to help furnish the Windows Store with top titles.

She wrote: "My friends in Silicon Valley say Microsoft has been offering $100,000 or more to companies that will build Windows Phone apps."

Missing pieces

However, before you all fire up on that 'How to develop apps for Windows Phone' Google search, this bounty would only be offered to developers with a proven track record of developing great apps.

Microsoft's efforts do seem to be paying off though. The company has landed some of the missing pieces of the app store jigsaw in recent weeks and months and now boasts 145,000 apps.

However the addition of apps like Instagram and Pinterest would go a long way towards putting Microsoft on an even playing field with Apple and Google.

Just last week it was rumoured that Instagram would be arriving on the platform on June 26, but as a Nokia exclusive.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple iOS 7 Beta shows off new video recording zoom feature

Apple iOS 7 Beta shows off new video recording zoom feature

iOS 7 ushering in some new features for iPhone and iPad users

Apple iOS 7 users will finally have the luxury of zooming in on video subjects while recording, it has emerged.

Following whispers and speculation over the last couple of days, videos have appeared from developers testing the new feature within the first beta release of the new, rethought mobile operating system.

Apple Insider is among those posting videos, claiming the feature is fluid and works in the same way as with stills photos.

"Simply place two fingers on the screen, and expand them to zoom in, or pinch them closer together to zoom back out," the site wrote.

Tap-to-focus coming too

The confirmation follows reports earlier this week that the feature would be included. The iDownload blog also posted that a slide appears to assist zooms once you've started to zone in on the target.

That site bemoaned the lack of a persistent slider, but as this is only the first beta of iOS 7 there's a chance one will be added before the consumer version debuts this autumn.

Alongside mid-video zooms users will also be able to tap to focus on subjects during the recording, the site wrote.


Source : techradar[dot]com

AT&T GoPhone Prepaid Getting Access to 4G LTE Network Next Week


When it comes to the world cell phones, prepaid customers will almost always play second fiddle to the monthly plan customers in the eyes of the carriers, because the latter group is naturally far more lucrative. Even so, AT&T wants to keep its GoPhone prepaid customer base happy and that’s why AT&T is finally letting those prepaid customers do the 4G LTE dance too.

The assumption is that AT&T has built up a strong enough infrastructure with its LTE network to now support the increased load necessary to handle its GoPhone prepaid service too. This support will open up next week on June 21st. If you’re a GoPhone user and you have an LTE-compatible device, you should be able to connect starting then.

If you’re on the GoPhone service (or want to sign up) and don’t have an LTE device, AT&T is helping with that too. The budget-oriented Samsung Galaxy Express has the looks to stay in line with the Galaxy line but at a more affordable price. Selling for $249.99 sans contract, the Galaxy Express has a 4.5-inch WVGA AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual core processor, 5MP camera and 8GB of storage.

As far as the LTE-compatible GoPhone plans go, they all include international texts from the US to Canada, Mexico and about 100 other countries. The cheapest plan is $25/month for 250 minutes, but you need to tack on $5 for 50MB of data. Going through 50MB on LTE is really fast, so you might consider the higher plans. For $40/month, you get 200MB, 500 anytime minutes and additional data at $5/100MB. The highest plan is $60/month and it has 2GB of data with unlimited calling. Add more data at a rate of $10 per gig.



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

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