Yesterday, Microsoft showcased the next generation of Windows Phone. The company introduced some sweeping architectural changes to the platform which meant that the update would be incompatible with the current crop of Windows Phones. To soothen the blow Redmond announced a Windows Phone 7.8 update for the current generation of devices and along with this Zynga and Nokia came out and announced a slew of applications, to bolster the platform in the interim, till Microsoft prepares to re-imagine the whole Windows ecosystem later this fall. Also Read - Nokia 3.4 at Rs 11,999: A look at its competition in the budget smartphone segment
Zynga got the ball rolling and it announced its popular games Words with Friends and Draw Something for Nokia Lumia devices available via the Nokia Collection store. Later these apps will be made available to the whole ecosystem via the Marketplace. Also Read - Nokia 3.4 review: Pretty design but disappointing elsewhere
Nokia also came out and announced a number of new apps for it Lumia devices which by far are the most popular Windows Phone devices out in the market. The new apps announced by Nokia include Camera Extras, Contact Share, Counters and PlayTo. Also Read - Nokia 3.4 in pictures: Nordic design, clean Android One experience, and more at Rs 11,999
Camera Extras is a souped up camera app which intends to counteract the underwhelming camera app built into Windows Phone. The app provides features like Smart Group Shot, Action Shot, Panorama Shot and Self Timer.
Shared Contacts adds the ability to share contact information over SMS or Email and the Counters app acts like the Data Usage monitor in Android 4.0 and allows users to set up call time and data usage limits. Both these features will hit the Marketplace in China on June 22 and will be available to the rest of world in July.
Lastly, the PlayTo application will add the ability share pictures, videos and Music over DLNA via one Lumia smartphone and this feature will be available in the Marketplace on June 22.
For all these features Nokia will push out a minor software update for the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710. This update will further add features like Internet sharing, Flip-to-Silence and media streaming. This update will be available via Zune and the update will be rolled out in a phased manner starting June 27.
