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Today marks the beginning of Supreme 16 voting here on March Apps Madness. We had an active first round and now have worked our way into the next phase of the competition.

The Supreme 16 round will work a little differently than the first round. Today we’ll put 8 apps up for vote in the Social and Gaming categories.  On Monday, we’ll conclude the Supreme 16 round with the News and Entertainment and Utility and Productivity Apps. As a result – the voting will be fast and furious!

If you need to research your choice and study the form, visit the Windows Phone Store – and remember, you can try the apps before you buy on a Nokia Lumia phone.

Under each pairing, select your favorite among the two choices below. We’ll take it from there.

So – let’s commence the Supreme 16 voting!

Games

In round 1, the games category captured the most votes, with old favorites such as Angry Birds trouncing the competition. As the brackets advance, what type of game will prevail?

Star Wars Angry Birds

After beating out Galactic Reign, the Rebel birds move on to face Dredd!

In Star Wars Angry Birds the rebel birds, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Imperial Pigs. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the PIG STAR, and are racing to deliver the plans to the rebel birds. Now they need your help!

We like this review from the Windows Phone Store in favor of this Angry Birds edition:

“Best version of Angry birds yet! Love it! Great mix of Angry Birds space and Starwars. Not just a game with Star Wars skinning. Interesting changes and levels. ❇❇❇❇❇ 5/5″

Dredd vs. Zombies

Dredd vs. Zombies didn’t take any punches from 1 Million Punches in Round 1.  Will you support it in round 2?

You must protect Mega-City One from a zombie invasion! Arm yourself with a Lawgiver pistol and three other devastating, upgradable weapons. Fight four deadly zombie archetypes in thirty levels of game play. Choose from seven special upgrades to give you an edge over your undead foe!

According to one review in the Windows Phone Store: “If you need a zombie game get this one it is the best zombie game you can get.”

Take Our Poll

Flow Free

After beating a brainy puzzle game, Flow Free is back in round 2.

Flow Free is a simple yet addictive puzzle game.

Connect matching colors with pipe to create a flow. Pair all colors, and cover the entire board to solve each puzzle. But watch out, pipes will break if they cross or overlap!

According to the reviews in Windows Phone Store, this highly rated game is a nice time killer and makes gets your brain thinking! 

Will you have a mind like water when playing it?

Asphalt 7 Heat

Asphalt 7 Heat cruised past Skulls of the Shogun and now faces Flow Free.

Asphalt 7 Heat allows multiplayer play and is not subject to Xbox LIVE parental settings. Microsoft shares User IDs and gamertags.

Hit the speed of heat in the newest, fastest, most visually stunning edition of the famed Asphalt series.

According to Gatlyn’s review: “Best racing game you’ll find. Impressive graphics and realtime multiplayer. It’s a surprise they’re giving this away for only $1.”

Take Our Poll

Social

In round 1, old favorites such as Twitter and LinkedIn beat the upstarts facing them. However, two popular apps, WhatsApp and 4^th and Mayor will face off in this round – let’s see what happens!  We have some great variety in this section!

Twitter

Twitter has won some new fans with its version 2.0 that just game out – however, can it beat LinkedIn?

Twitter is your global town square, a real-time connection to what’s happening in the world. Follow people you know and people you’d like to know. Search and discover. Browse and enjoy!

Twitter for Windows Phone 2.0 is a major refresh, bringing the best content to the experience of the Windows Phone.

Miro’s review in the Store reflects sentiment on the new Twitter app: “The app is much better after the latest update.”

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the professional’s social network and it beat GroupMe in the first round. Does it have steam to beat Twitter?

Get on-the-go access to your professional network with LinkedIn for Windows Phone. Find and connect with more than 161 million members worldwide, read the latest industry news, keep up-to-date with your groups, explore jobs you might be interested in, and share content with your network from anywhere.

The LinkedIn App on Windows Phone is a new experience for mobile phones, and it’s popular amongst reviewers. “My professional needs stop….Great app , i have not seen linkedin better than this, not on ios or android”

Take Our Poll

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a globally popular app as it allows free messaging. After moving past Mehdoh in round 1 – it takes on a popular Foursquare app next.

WhatsApp Messenger is a smartphone messenger available for Windows Phone, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Nokia phones. WhatsApp uses your 3G or WiFi (when available) to message with friends and family. Switch from SMS to WhatsApp to send and receive messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages. First year FREE! ($0.99/year after)

Need to keep in touch with friends abroad? This is your app, or as one user puts it: “Flawlessly helps me keep in touch with my friends who live far, far away.”

4^th and Mayor

This quick and simple Foursquare application ran past Twabbit in round 1…can it beat global favorite WhatsApp?

4th & Mayor is a snappy, simple, fun foursquare client for your Windows Phone. It has live tiles and toasts. Foursquare is a service that helps you find new ways to explore your city by checking in to places that you enjoy.

Reviewers in the Store love 4^th and Mayor, even over the official Foursquare app. As Chadwick puts it, “Awesome app, with the new update it just blows the stock 4square app out the water”.

Take Our Poll

Wow. The #NokiaLumiaChallenge is over and we have been blown away by the creativity of you, our community, when we asked for your crazy mixes in our #NokiaLumiaChallenge. There were over 8,000 different combinations of artists and there were so many potential winners it was almost impossible to choose. Almost.

Before we get to the winners, those that deserved an ‘honorable mention’.

There were those who got clever with words and letters like Simon who I mentioned in my update last week, and Bountyquest who suggested (No) Doubt > (Kia) Calloway > (L)a(u)ren (M)ol(i)n(a). There was some more clever wordplay from psychomania666 who suggested Reel Big Fish > Hot Chip > Black Eyed Peas. A terribly English mix!

There was the Swedish themed mix from David Breyer – Hammerfall > Melissa Horn > Swedish House - now that would make all sorts of noise!

The sheer clash of sounds conjured up by Mozart > NSync > Blink 182 gets eeBeeebee a mention. As does the Rammstein > Aqua > Johnny Cash mix from Cristian. Weord sounds.

Pearl Jam > Flock of Seagulls > Dolly Parton – that suggestion from Ms_Scatty just made us sit up and take notice!

Runner up

You’d have to be a music addict like Olivier to come up with Deadmau5 > Sepultura > SClub7 – the very thought of that mix makes our ears shudder.

Winner 

SD Mabyeni – wins a Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Wireless Charging Plate – who grabbed our attention with this

‘New Radicals + New Order + New Found Glory is what I’ll be playing with my new #Lumia920′

Not only would the mix jar a little, it was crazy enough to qualify for the win. Congratulations winners, look out for a message from us.

Don’t worry – the #NokiaLumiaChallenge series isn’t at an end. Keep your eyes open for our next announcement, coming soon right here.

“Gruszka potrafi trąbić wszem i wobec, jak coś wprowadzają. Gdy likwidują, to już cicho sza. To największy mój zarzut co do tego operatora. Chociaż nie odczuwałem najmniejszej potrzeby, żeby skorzystać z nielimitowanych, to jednak wizerunkowo Play stracił i to mocno. Trzeba mieć cywilną odwagę, Panie Gruszka, a nie jak pies z podkulonym ogonem, chować się [...]

“Gruszka potrafi trąbić wszem i wobec, jak coś wprowadzają. Gdy likwidują, to już cicho sza. To największy mój zarzut co do tego operatora. Chociaż nie odczuwałem najmniejszej potrzeby, żeby skorzystać z nielimitowanych, to jednak wizerunkowo Play stracił i to mocno. Trzeba mieć cywilną odwagę, Panie Gruszka, a nie jak pies z podkulonym ogonem, chować się [...]

Update: As of today (28/03), Sony’s Android 4.1 rollout has started for Xperia TX*. 

Hello everyone,

As planned, this week we’re starting the software rollout for our first batch of Xperia smartphones Xperia T and Xperia V*, with Xperia TX following next month. 

The new software brings Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean”, along with a number of different and improved Sony features – the rollout will continue to ramp up over this month and next.

We’ve been working to blend our Sony Xperia software with Google’s Jelly Bean release to create optimum user experiences – some of the cool functionality you can look forward to includes:

• Updated, more intuitive versions of Sony Media apps: WALKMAN, Album and Movies 

A slick, easy-on-the-eye library that lets you view and access all your snaps, videos and tunes in one place – not to mention the signature Sony audio and imaging tech that makes your content stand (and shout) out!

• Increased options for personalization

A revamped homescreen experience for handling widgets, apps and shortcuts… With up to 7 desktop panes, widgets that auto-resize and actionable notifications, you have complete flexibility to create the interface you want / need with a few simple touches!

• Improved app organization and search 

Application tray sorting is that bit breezier – just press and hold on any app – move, add it to your desktop or create a folder within the tray by dropping it on top of another!

We’ve also added a new search function within the application tray that makes it easy to locate your local apps.

• Improved camera functionality 

One for both the budding photographers and all-action snappers amongst us – we’ve added a more intuitive viewfinder with the addition of auto scene setting, and the option to switch between front and back camera with a single touch.

• Google Now 

Combining the power of Google search and user profiling, Google Now helps you accomplish daily tasks more efficiently.

It brings you just the right info at just the right time – cards appear throughout the day as prompts or reminders, and appear as a notifications when they’re flagged as important! Now there’s no excuse to miss that all important meeting…

As soon as the Jelly Bean software is available for your device, you’ll receive a notification in your phone. In most cases you’ll have the option to download and update over-the-air, but in some instances the software package may only be accessible via PC Companion or Bridge for Mac.

Please visit www.sonymobile.com/update for more information.

As usual we will continue to keep you up-to-date with our progress, responding to as much of your feedback along the way as possible.

*Availability and rollout timing will vary by market and customer variants

Temple Run, the smash hit arcade game, is now available on the Windows Phone Store for your Nokia Lumia.

In case you have only recently escaped from a remote temple and have missed this gaming phenomenon, in Temple Run you err… escape from a remote temple the only way you know how – by running and jumping.

It’s an endless running game, in which you swipe the screen to turn, jump and slide under obstacles. Evil monkeys are at your heels, so there’s no stopping for breath. It’s the sort of game that leaves you shaking and exhausted after just a few minutes’ play.

Along the way, you collect coins which can unlock power-ups and new characters, enhancing the game’s replay value.

The game is also notable from a development perspective, since it’s one of the first games on Windows Phone to use the Unity platform. Unity was used for the development of titles like Shadowgun, Dead Trigger and Triple Town. Support for many different devices and operating systems makes it a favourite for developers seeking to release their games across multiple platforms.

Temple Run is out now, for free, so grab it from the Store and let us know what you think.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Your Nokia Lumia smartphone has the ability to listen to, understand and respond to your voice. The perfect way to make use of your voice is when driving, when your hands are otherwise busy dealing with the steering wheel and gearstick. Check out our five ways to use voice commands in your car.  

To activate the voice commands on your phone, there are two ways to do it. One is to press and hold the start button on the phone itself, which isn’t a good idea when you’re actually driving, so maybe wait until you’ve pulled over for that one. Alternatively, if you’re using a hands-free kit, press and hold the answer button for a couple of seconds until you hear the beep – then say one of the following commands:

“Open HERE Drive”

HERE Drive and your car are the perfect couple. When you’re on the road trying to figure out where you are, or wondering whether it’s a good idea to take the next exit off the motorway to avoid that queue of red tail lights you spot up ahead, HERE Drive might just see you in home time for tea.

The voice command will only launch the app, and you’ll need to plot any directions on the phone. However, being able to see the roads all planned out on your Nokia Lumia might allow you to make a judgment call before you get stuck.

“Open Nokia Music”

Long car journeys can be boring, just staring at the road for hours. Why not entertain yourself with some music?

Using this command will open Nokia Music and take you straight to the Mix Radio page where you’re just one tap away from listening to some fresh, new and undiscovered music.

You can use the controls on your headset to flick through the tracks, but the free version of Mix Radio only allows for five track changes. If you want unlimited track changes (plus more benefits) you can subscribe to Nokia Music+ for just €3.99/$3.99/£3.99 a month.

“Text/Call someone’s name”

Whether you’re constantly on the road for work, commuting, or simply driving around to pick up your mates, you’ll often find yourself needing to take, or make a call.

To send a text to someone, it’s quite simple. Press and hold the start button and say “Text Adam” or whoever’s name you want to text. You’ll then be asked to dictate the words and the phone will write it down, you then decide if you want to send it, or try again, or add more.

To call, you just say “Call Adam”. If the person has more than one number, you can specify the number. For example, “Call Adam, work.” – it’ll then call that number.

“Weather Flow, current location”

If you’ve been on the road all day and you finally reach your destination, you may like to know what the weather has in store for you and if you need to take the umbrella out the boot.

While most apps can be loaded through using just your voice, the Weather Flow app supports voice commands that are a little deeper.

By saying the command above, you’ll be telling Weather Flow that you want to know the weather for your exact location; and it will show it to you. With the current temperature, weather conditions, and also a daily or hourly forecast, you’ll know exactly what to expect.

“Open RAC”

We’ve all been there. Out in the middle of nowhere and our car breaks down. The RAC Traffic not only provides you with traffic information, but can also store your RAC membership details, as well as two buttons to dial if you need assistance.

One button is for members of the RAC, and the other is for non-members. Just hit the appropriate button and you’ll be put through to an operator.

For more apps that take advantage of the voice commands on your Nokia Lumia, head over to the Voice Command Apps collection on Windows Phone Store.

And, if you’re a developer interested in knowing how to incorporate voice into your apps, there’s a whole raft of information over at the Nokia Developer website.

Are you using your voice to control your Nokia Lumia? Have you created any voice-controlled apps? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.

March is a time for madness, or so the local sports broadcasters in the U.S. would have us believe. And, as the month comes to a close, there have been some fun twists on the madness theme when it comes to apps, including our own bracket contest right here on Conversations.

There is one more app-specific bracket contest that is well worth a look and your votes. Our friends over at Windows Phone who are seeking the “Next App Star.” Last week, this bracket contest began with 64 apps from around the world, and as public voting continues on Facebook, the field has narrowed, and the competition is getting fierce.

The Grand Prize winner in the Next App Star contest – as selected by people like you and me – will be featured in a Windows Phone prime-time TV advertisement in the U.S. How cool is that!

How were the 64 apps chosen?

According to the Window Phone Developer Blog, “developers from more than 79 markets entered a total of 9,000 apps in the competition.” Judging was determined by a “scoring of 50% based on total app ratings scores for the period March 6-12, and 50% on app quality, as determined by Microsoft.” Among those 64 apps, they were split evenly among paid and free apps – 32 of each.

There is a great range of apps to be found, including utilities, news readers, photo-sharing apps and games. We know you will recognize some of these apps, and others will be new apps that deserve a closer look.

Between now and the end of this week (March 29) you can vote in Round #3 of the contest – the sweet 16 round.  And, it is at this point that making your decision about which app to choose that the decision will become really hard.

For instance, 5 of the 16 finalists in this round happen to be apps created by members of DVLUP – the Nokia-backed rewards system for developers. Those apps include Lomogram and ProShot, both photo-sharing apps; as well as the very handy utility Jack of Tools Pro (pictured below).

The other two apps by DVLUP members are the news apps WPCentral, and the puzzle game Brain Cube Reloaded (game pictured below).

And, as you can see in the bracket from Facebook below, ProShot is currently going head-to-head against Jack of Tools Pro – only one app can move on to the Elite 8 in Round #4.

Need another reason to vote?

Everyone who votes is entered to win a Nokia Lumia 920, and each vote you cast gives you one entry to win. So, even if you are late to this party, and even if you only vote for the apps in Round #3, you will still have 16 chances to win – share your votes on Facebook, and you double the number of contest entries that you receive by voting.

You may cast your vote for any of the remaining 16 apps on the Windows Phone Facebook page.

The winner will be determined after the final round of voting takes place from April 6 – 8.

Who do you think will win the Windows Phone Next App Star contest? Share your prediction in the comments below.

image credit: torley

Wikipedia has a strong claim to be one of the wonders of the Internet. Since its founding in 2001, this free and collaborative encyclopedia has become, arguably, the definitive online reference tool.

Famously, Wikipedia is written, edited and maintained by volunteers. While this could have been a recipe for disaster – pranks and hoax entries are all part of the Wikipedia myth – it’s generally accepted as an authoritative source.

Whether you have faith in Wikipedia’s crowd-sourcing approach or not, you can’t doubt its popularity. It attracts over 470 million unique users every month and posts articles in nearly 300 languages.

That’s why our Asha App Spotlight this week looks at Wiki Encyclopedia (free), which provides a simple and convenient way of accessing Wikipedia on your Nokia Asha device.

All the world’s knowledge

The app opens to give you the ‘featured’ article of the day and is a fun way of brushing up on your trivia knowledge. However, most people will be coming to Wikipedia with a specific topic or person that they want to learn about.

Above the featured article, right at the top of the page sits the search box. This is your gateway to all the knowledge that is to be found within.

Type in your query and press the ‘magnifying glass’ icon to start your search. Within seconds the results page will display all the articles relevant to your topic.

For example, searching for ‘Nokia’ also brought back results for Nokia Siemens Networks, Nokia Theatre LA, Nokia Finland and many more. Just tap the headline for the article that you wish to open.

Help with contents

All the articles rendered nicely on my Nokia Asha 311. Wikipedia articles can be extremely long, so I really appreciated that their mobile pages begin with a contents menu. This helps to navigate to the exact information that you are looking for.

One thing I love about Wikipedia is the embedded links within the articles to make it easy to navigate from topic to topic. I’m glad to report that Wiki Encyclopedia also shares this useful feature.

There are few icons to distract you. In fact, there’s only a back button and a home icon to take you back to the search box and the featured article. The app is all the better for this minimal approach.

In the settings menu, you can also check how much data that you’ve been using within the app. The articles are predominantly text-based but there small images too so this might be something you’ll want to keep an eye on if you’re on a mobile data plan. 

Overall, if you want to reference Wikipedia on your Nokia Asha, then this app is to place to start.

Od jutra zmieniają się ceny kilku mniej popularnych modeli: Nokia Lumia 900 Samsung C3300 Samsung S3850 Corby II Szczegóły w cenniku.