News360 finally goes Mango with improved interface and personalization features

Have you ever wanted to read every single article about Kim Kardashian, Tiger Woods, Google, Microsoft and more all at once? News360 guarantees that lofty promise won't go unfulfilled with its comprehensive collection and tracking of relevant articles per story. We took a look at the app back in May of last year and called it the "Wikipedia of news apps".

That still holds true today but now this news app has gotten much, much better. Finally receiving its long-awaited Mango update, version 2.0 of News360 brings along a vast array of changes. Most notable of which is the brand new interface. which is cleaner than the previous version and simpler. Another touted feature is the new 'personalization' options which let users plug in their Facebook, Twitter, Google, or Evernote accounts to stay in touch with the news service everywhere they go.

If you're looking for the news app to end all news apps, it might not exist but News360 gets really darn close. To download the app, click on the tile or link below.

Via: WP7 Connect

News360 Developer: News360 Version: 2.0 Price: Free Trial: n/a Web Marketplace

Game Review: Hit The Bunnies

There's something about mobile gaming and animal abuse that just go well together. Of course the animal abuse has to be cute or endearing in some way to make it appealing to everyone. But when the formula works it shines -- just look at how massive Angry Birds is now.

A little violence can go a long way, and this formula can be applied to the new game Hit The Bunnies by developer Welz. This cute little game is simple and fun. but is it worth the time? Find out in our full review which continues after the break.

New 'Folders' update adds new live tile, easier creation, and more (Video)

Link for mobile viewing

Looking for an easy way to organize your Start page? The obvious recommendation for anyone comfortable with homebrew is Jaxbot's Folders app. For those unfamiliar, the app lets you create folder tiles of any apps you want and then pin it. It's a great feature for those who want more functionality out of their Start page, and now Folders is about to get a much-improved update.

In the video above, Windows Phone Hacker's Jaxbot demonstrates the new version and a ton of new tweaks that accompany it. Here's what our eyes spotted was new:

• New Interface (Folder tiles previewed)
• New Live Tile format (similar to the People Hub tile)
• Quick editing from within Folder
• New app list selection

It's shaping up to be a great update and if you haven't tried the app yet, this version would be a great place to start.

Source: Windows Phone Hacker

ZTE to announce new Windows Phone hardware next week, Barcelona getting an appetite for Metro

Pictured: ZTE Tania

We're getting ever-closer to the biggest event of the year for smartphone news and Windows Phone is finally going to play a prominent role at the show this year. We already know Nokia has big plans for Barcelona, but what about the other manufacturers? Most have stayed silent about their Windows Phones, but ZTE has just let loose a press release pre-announcing new hardware for next week.

ZTE is promising eight total devices at Mobile World Congress and while it's obvious that most will be based on Android, they say some of that hardware will run on Windows Phone. Just a week ago we spotted a new model in the WP Bench database from the Chinese manufacturer that's sporting the Qualcomm MSM7x30 chipset, so could ZTE be planning to show off new Tango powered hardware? We'll have to wait and see to find out. Press release after the break.

Via: Engadget

Wordament gets upgraded to Xbox Live status and more new titles announced

We've always had a bone to pick with how Microsoft has setup Xbox Live in the Marketplace with those weekly games garnering much more attention, traffic, and sales than competing indie titles. However, sometimes it's pretty awesome to see Microsoft scoop up a popular indie game and promote it to Xbox Live status and that's exactly what we've learned about the insanely popular Wordament.

The word game known for some great romance stories has been announced alongside a myriad of other Xbox Live games to be released in the future. WPCentral got the scoop on the new lineup and here's the breakdown of what titles we can expect:

• Carcassonne
• GeoDefense Swarm (sequel to the original)
• Gerbil Physics (discovered a few weeks ago)
• Pinball FX 2
• Shoot1UP
• Wordament

Details are light about most of the games besides a basic summary for each and some screenshots, which can be seen at WPCentral. All in all we're excited to see so many new Xbox Live titles in the pipeline, and if past behavior holds true we'll probably get a trailer showing these off at Mobile World Congress next week.

Source: BestWP7Games, WPCentral

Reuters: Nokia to announce Lumia 900 and Lumia 610 at MWC next week

Sometimes we're disappointed when we learn that something rumored is basically a guarantee. It sucks all of the fun out of the chase, the speculation, and just the pure imagination. Get ready for some down-to-earth reporting as Reuters has come out with a report 'confirming' Nokia's plans for Mobile World Congress next week.

In a brief article citing those ever-elusive 'sources', the publication claims that Nokia is launching a two-tier attack with new Windows Phones. First they're catering to the high end with a global version of the Lumia 900, something we knew was inevitable. There aren't any details about the differences there could be from the AT&T version, but we know that rumored 12-megapixel camera has been denied so everything might just stay the same.

Second is a confirmation of the Lumia 610, which has been gaining traction lately and is probably now a lock for the show. While Reuters never explicitly connects them together, the article implies the 610 will be for the mid-to-low price range (as does the numbering). Whether it's Tango-powered or not is something else entirely, and unfortunately was not mentioned.

Our list of predictions just got a bit shorter, but our list of things to be excited for just got longer. Less than five days until we know the truth!

Via: Engadget Mobile
Source: Reuters

XBL Deal of the Week: Orbital

Xbox Live Deal of the Week gets you gaming on the cheap. Every Wednesday an Xbox Live game goes on sale and the discount stays in effect until the new Deal is released.

This week's Deal is Orbital by Bitforge. This game may not seem familiar for Xbox Live fans, but that's because it was overshadowed by the accidental release of Kinectimals on the same day. However it looks like Orbital got the last laugh with a strong 4-star rating from nearly 200 user reviews and paired with a cheap price for this week. You can count on this being a good deal (bad pun intended). Here's the official description of the game:

Orbital is the addicting and challenging puzzle game to spend every free minute on. Three thrilling game modes combined with an absolutely addicting gameplay will grant you the ultimate challenge. Test your skill and ability to survive as long as possible and reach for rank one on the leader board! Because in this one-thumb experience you’ll have but one target: Destroy as many orbs as possible and shoot yourself into the Orbital Olympus. Get your hands on this puzzle game and you will never want to miss it again.

Orbital has dropped from $2.99 to $1.99 for the rest of the week. The standard free trial is also available.

Click on the tile or Web Marketplace link below to get the game.

Orbital Developer: BitForge Version: 1.0 Price: $1.99 Trial: Yes Web Marketplace

XBL Wednesday: Splinter Cell Conviction

It's Xbox Live Wednesday and do you know what that means? New Xbox Live games for Windows Phone!

This week’s new Xbox Live game is Splinter Cell Conviction by Gameloft. The fourth entry into this February's Must Have Games lineup is arguably the most anticipated as well. Based on the console franchise, the story of Sam Fisher continues on Windows Phone this time with Xbox Live integration as well as some high quality graphics. This one is guaranteed to be a blockbuster and despite a pretty sizable pricetag some may find the adventure worthwhile. Here is a snippet of the official description:

Play as Sam Fisher, a highly skilled Special Forces operative and fight a corrupted secret agency to get your daughter back. Follow a trail of intrigue that leads from Iraq to a high-security building in Washington. Run, jump, fight, and shoot using a handgun, shotgun, AK47 and bazooka, or maintain stealth by improvising with nearby objects. You are now a renegade spy agent; you don't follow any orders except for your own rules of engagement!

Splinter Cell Conviction is available in the Marketplace for $4.99 along with the standard free trial.

Click on the tile or Web Marketplace link below to get the game.

Splinter Cell Conviction Developer: Gameloft Version: 1.0 Price: $4.99 Trial: Yes Web Marketplace

SonicJewels attempts return to the Marketplace as BlueTomato, includes several updates (Update: New Screenshots!)

We've been carefully following the story of SonicJewels for the past few weeks. Ever since the app was pulled from the Marketplace after a trademark complaint by SEGA, we've been checking to see if the app would ever bounce back. As it turns out the emulator has just been submitted for approval in an attempt to return to the Marketplace with its new BlueTomato moniker and the necessary adjustments to remove the copyright infringement.

However the developers have also taken this hiatus time to make some welcome new tweaks to the app. That includes a new look, a brand new sound engine (which was missing from the previous version), better game loop, and added support for game .zip files. All in all we're looking forward to getting our hands on this new and improved BlueTomato, and we're hoping SEGA and Microsoft will let it back in the Marketplace where it belongs.

Update: We know you've probably been bored looking at the old SonicJewels look, so we got our hands on a few screenshots of the new BlueTomato redesign! We like it. Check out a full gallery of screenshots on Facebook here.

Source: Facebook

Smoked by Windows Phone goes from trending topic to ad campaign this week

It looks like Microsoft is finally ready to start advertising Windows Phone...for real this time. According to The Seattle Times, Microsoft is all set to turn #smokedbywindowsphone from trending topic to real life advertising campaign. Here's what the article describes about the new online series of ads:

This week, the company will launch another such campaign: "Smoked by Windows Phone," a series of online ads challenging those who use iPhones, Android phones or other mobile devices to beat the speed of a Windows Phone in doing a browser search, sharing with their social network or shooting and posting a photo.

The 12 different digital ads featuring the challenge will run on tech sites as well as the Windows Phone Facebook page through the beginning of April.

As you probably know, Smoked by Windows Phone already took storm of CES 2012 where they won with an 88% victory over competing smartphones. Not only that but Ben "The PC Guy" Rudolph has taken the challenge on the road lately and according to a recent tweet, the record stands tall at 73 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie. Check out the original video of the Smoked by Windows Phone challenge after the break.

Via: WMPU
Source: The Seattle Times