Cronos Labs Launches DataHub Pro to organize your life

There are lists. And then there are lists. Choose any platform and you will find tons of to-do and list apps, but most of them, even the popular, are rigid and bound to one format. DataHub by Kronos Labs is a nifty database and form builder whose ad-free Pro version launched recently. It seems to be the only general database app in the marketplace so far. DataHub uses Dropbox instead of SkyDrive because of API support but the popularity of DropBox will ensures that its not an inhibitor. Its high degree of user customization makes it worth trying out atleast once, especially for organised people (like me).

Inspired by OneNote and a bit by Microsoft Access, DataHub allows users to configure and edit their own structured datasets on their phones. We have a very efficient synchronization system with Dropbox as the storage provider. One feature we are especially proud of is our sharing. Using Dropbox folder sharing, two (or more) users can all edit the same dataset at the same time. If they both edit the same record at the same time, the last user to synchronize gets a great UI showing them all of their changes vs. the other users’. This allows them to select which changes to keep.

Download DataHub Pro here.

By Akshay Bakshi

WP7 App Update: NextGen Reader v1.15 now available

Today, I’m excited to announce some updates to the NextGen Reader app for windows phone. I’ve added some of your most-requested features, in addition to other enhancements.

What’s new:

• share to Facebook.
• subscriptions in alphabetical order.
• "all items" or "unread only" toggle mode:
• display all feeds or only unread feeds.
• display all articles or only unread articles.
• toggle using application bar button.
• new experience in "unread only" mode:
• auto hide articles when marked as read.
• auto hide feed/folder with no unread articles.
• auto back to top-level list.
• sync any feed or folder:
• navigate to desired feed or folder.
• press sync button to download new items.
• improved automatic loading of new items.
• option to lock screen to portrait mode.
• increased limit for starred and shared items.
• improved response on star button in article view.
• fixed image resizing on mango build 7712.
• improved layout in landscape mode.
• many bug fixes.

I hope you enjoy the new features – give it a try! The trial version has no ads or limitations except share to twitter support. And of course the mango version is coming soon!

Download NextGen Reader from Zune Marketplace, or visit the ngreader.wordpress.com blog.

By ngreader

Save a Day in Traffic using INRIX Traffic for Windows Phone

Traffic : the greatest curse of civilization. Nobody likes getting stuck for hours in traffic, do they ? Well, GPS has made our lives a bit easier, augmented by 'apps' of course.
INRIX, among the leading providers of traffic and driving services has made its app available on the marketplace for free, without ads. Based on their data, INRIX users spend a year less in traffic every year. INRIX is free because INRIX users return the favor by passively returning traffic data through the app. Interestingly enough, the analysis techniques used by INRIX were originally developed by Microsoft Research. The app is available in nine countries : U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and Belgium.

See the press release below :

INRIX®, a leading international provider of traffic information and connected driving services, is now available on all four major mobile phone platforms with today’s debut on Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry. INRIX Traffic is a free app that helps drivers save time, fuel and money with real-time traffic information for the places they go every day.
INRIX Traffic covers more roads than any other traffic app providing real-time traffic information that extends beyond major highways and interstates covering more than 1.1 million miles in North America and Europe – 2X as much coverage as any other traffic app.
“As the recent hysteria around Carmaggedon in Los Angeles showed, drivers can never really know exactly what to expect when they hit the road,” said Kevin Forman, Vice President of Mobile Applications, INRIX. “By introducing our popular iPhone and Android app today on BlackBerry and Windows Phone, we’re providing drivers with a powerful tool that helps them know before they go saving them time, fuel and frustration along the way.”
In comparing driving patterns of INRIX Traffic owners to the average driver, daily use of INRIX Traffic helps them:
• Spend one less day a year idle in traffic;
• Save gas and money burning one less tank of fuel per year;
• Reduce vehicle emissions by 350 lbs of carbon -- equal to the amt. of emissions produced by the average passenger car traveling from L.A. to San Francisco
Forman added, “INRIX Traffic gives you the equivalent of one free tank of gas and a day of your life back every year. It’s amazing how simple changes like using our app everyday can have a big impact on your time, your wallet and the environment.”
As one of the Top 10 most used apps in the navigation category according to comScore, INRIX Traffic uniquely helps drivers reduce the time they spend in traffic through a better understanding of current AND future traffic conditions.

INRIX Traffic Debut on BB and WP7
INRIX Traffic App highlights:
• Covers More Roads than Any Traffic App. INRIX Traffic information is updated every minute covering more than 1.1 million miles of highways and city streets in cities across North America and Europe – twice the amount of roads compared to any other traffic app. The app is available in 9 countries including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium.
• Traffic Information Drivers Can Rely On. In the world’s largest ongoing independent test of traffic information spanning 7,000 highway miles in 16 states, the University of Maryland has found INRIX traffic information accurate within 2 mph of ground truth across all types of traffic conditions - 24x7x365. Unlike other apps that rely solely on road sensor data or crowd-sourced information from drivers that’s often old and inaccurate, INRIX analyzes data from more than 400 public and private sources ranging from traditional road sensors to our own crowd-sourced traffic network of more than 10 million vehicles to deliver the most accurate traffic reports available. It’s the only app that factors the impacts of schools schedules, collegiate and professional sporting events, and convention schedules to ensure the information you rely on is tuned to the unique events that impact traffic in your city.
• Traffic Forecasts for Better Trip Planning. Predictive traffic information helps you better plan your trips knowing how long your trip will take so you can reliably determine the best time to leave to ensure you arrive on time.
• Real-Time Updates on Traffic-Impacting Events. INRIX Traffic provides real-time reports of accidents, construction, and other traffic-impacting events from the same sources relied on by state departments of transportation.
• Free. INRIX Traffic is a free, ad-free app. In return for the benefit of our real-time traffic information, INRIX Traffic owners become a part of our crowd-sourced network passively contributing real-time traffic information that helps us provide the community with the best traffic information available.

[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi

WP7 Sliding Keyboard v1.7 - Coming Soon (Update: v1.8 submitted & previewed!)

I am sure many of you might have heard of Swype - Text input for screens. Since Microsoft does not let developers tinker with it's keyboard API - Swype is not available ( not yet ) for Windows Phone. However we stumbled upon this video by Youtube user 'hermitd31' who showcases the WP7 Sliding Keyboard.



The app has been made possible due to the team at Invoke IT. The app goes a bit further by offering Bing search, text messaging and email options. However the video you see is the update for Sliding Keyboard. The app has been submitted for testing and will be available in the Marketplace soon.

You can download Sliding Keyboard for 1.29$ here

Update: We have a quick update for you. Developer Hermit Dave is hard at work and has submitted v1.8 to the marketplace. Here's the changelog from the developer himself

• changes to underlying dictionaries used.
•  It also now supports localisation of keyboards and provides ability to translate text

Here's a quick video preview 

By Karthik Ragubathy

Realtime Barcode Scanning comes to Windows Phone Mango via Quickmark

Cross platform developer Quickmark have shown off a video of an updated version of their barcode scanning software Quickmark which features realtime scanning. The new version, which will be coming for Mango devices will make the scanning process one step shorter coz unlike the previous versions, there will be no need to click a picture of the code, the app will detect the codes straightaway.
Though Bing will sport barcode scanning in Mango, the extra databases which the app ccan access will be helpful in avoiding the 'No info' messages you get when scanning products from outside the USA. You can download the current version of Quickmark Lite here.

[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi

Windows Phone Mango Shows 5x Faster Game Loading

Long loading times for 3rd party apps were one of the complaints in the pre-NoDo builds of Windows Phone. Microsoft addressed these issues somewhat in NoDo but are going a lot further in Mango. Game dev XcellBlades Games have posted a video which shows the speed improvements in game loading in Mango. It shows the difference in loading times, Build 7004 at nearly 40 sec, NoDo at 17 and Mango at 8 seconds. Now that's fast.

[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi

Nokia's Windows Phone Apps Will Work On Devices By Other Manufacturers Too

As a part of its deal with Microsoft, we knew that Nokia would be enhancing the software aspects of Windows Phone devices and running a special dev program as well. Commerce, mapping, carrier relations were among the key fields where Nokia will sweeten the deal.

Surprisingly, the apps that the company will create for Windows Phone will also be work on devices made by other manufacturers. Its definitely something unusual, when the norm is usually to have exclusive apps to entice consumers.

“Every Nokia App will be available on every phone,” insisted Marco Argenti, senior vice president of Developer and Marketplace at Nokia.

There will be a few exceptions but even those will lose their exclusivity after some time. Nokia's handsets will feature their own mapping solution more prominently than Bing with a focus on discovery and 3D mapping. And its not just about releasing more and more apps, Nokia will flex its carrier muscles to add your Marketplace bills to your carrier bill, smoothing the process for its users. Not just apps, they will be utilizing the NFC chips in their devices for payments elsewhere too.

“We don’t want to branch the experience, but there are many cases where a local app might be the best in that country, but doesn't get the coverage it deserves because it’s not big globally” - Argenti

What is certain from all this is that Argenti and Nokia aren't leaving it just to the hardware to get people to but its devices, software is also being given equal importance.

[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi

Windows Phone App Officially Getting In App Purchases

Though a lot of third-party services exist for in-app purchasing on Windows Phone, Microsoft might be adding it soon officially.

There a couple of hints which suggest this. There's a Vimeo video by Silvertail software from the Portland Code Camp about monetization for developers in which Kelly White remarks that in-app purchasing is on the way. Another is the agenda of Microsoft's Gamefest sessions in London which talks about Micro-Transactions and Downloadable Content. The agenda summary makes it seem like an Xbox Live feature but we will wait for more details before making a decision.

Keep Them Coming Back: Downloadable Content on Windows Phone

Speakers: Darryl Yust and Tim Gill

Come learn proven approaches for dealing with some of the toughest hurdles in adding downloadable content and microtransactions to your Windows Phone games! This talk introduces the new in-game purchase API for Xbox LIVE titles on Windows Phone. We'll get down to the nitty-gritty of how the API is used in Beards & Beaks, a shipped game title. We’ll delve into a sample code framework that helps you implement game-side functionality not included in the SDK library, including the handling of file transfers, tombstoning, serialization, offline scenarios, localization, content ingestion, and fast content iteration.

[Source]

By Akshay Bakshi