Android round

Earlier today, our sister site iMore covered the recently updated Bing app for iOS 7. The new version brings the familiar Metro graphics and new logo to the well-done search app. One of the eye catching new aspects is the load screen when you launch the app. It’s one snazzy design—so much so we commented on it on Instagram.
While those on the iPhone may not appreciate the fine work of Microsoft, we know you folks do. That’s why we decide to get a copy of it and toss it on to our SkyDrive account.
Just click the link below (or if using our app, swipe to the right and hit More > View Links) to download it to your phone!

• http://sdrv.ms/1isdsTG

Believe it or not, the NBA has had a Windows Phone app since 2011. They first launched Game Time back in time for the 2011 playoffs allowing players to catch the latest news from the NBA. A year later, the app was updated with the ability to watch live video of the playoffs if you were an NBA League Pass holder. Today, we’re looking at a new update for NBA fans that will let you catch the entire season. Details below.
NBA Game Time is the app for basketball fans on Windows Phone. You’ll get over 50 new video highlights a day from around the league. If you’re a League Pass subscriber you’ll also get live and on-demand games through the app. We’re not that serious with our basketball affection yet, so we can’t really test it out right now.
Want to watch those live games? Again, you’ll need to be a League Pass member with a current plan. There are three different tiers. For example, the mobile only option starts at $49.99 and allows access to NBA games on your iPhone, Android device and presumably Windows Phone. We say presumably because their website hasn’t been updated to list Windows Phone as an option. After that there are two other options to become a League Pass member. Broadband starts at $129.99 and gives you access to NBA games on a variety of devices like your computer, Xbox 360, Roku, and more. Then there’s the $189 TV/Broadband/Mobile plan that gives you access from basically any screen on this planet. Learn more about pricing and a free trial on the League Pass info page.
NBA Game Time for Windows Phone also gives users the latest news, box scores, play-by-plays, and more in the app. For example, you can get information on a specific player like their season points, rebounds, etc. by using NBA Game Time. We’re also seeing Lockscreen support in the screenshots for the app inside the Store, but can’t find them in the app or inside our lock screen settings. If you figure this out, let us know.
So this new NBA app, it’s not bad. Although, some users (on Twitter and first reviews in the Store) are having problems with the app crashing. Hopefully bugs will be killed with a quick update now that the app is out the in there Store. I’m also having trouble signing into the app with my NBA account, so your initial impressions of the app may vary. Do voice your opinion below in the comments.
Want NBA Game Time for Windows Phone? It’s available for both Windows Phone 7.x and 8 users for free. Again, you’ll need to pay for the live games by being a League Pass member. Grab it in the Windows Phone Store, use the QR codes below, or swipe to the right in our app.
P.S. It looks like the Store is slowly updating. It might show as unavailable on your device at the moment. Try later if that’s the case. Users in the UK and India have installed it with success, but not in doesn’t appear to work in the US yet. Worst case scenario is that this app is region locked and the US won’t get it. We’ve reached out to the NBA and Microsoft and will let you know the details.
Thanks for the tip @wpscoops!

Still waiting for Google to make its often-leaked Nexus 5 official? Sit tight -- one leak suggests the device's unveiling could be just around the corner. The latest render from @evleaks shows a two-toned Nexus 5 with a white backplate, but the post's text is even more revealing: "In white," it says. "11/1." It's definitely a vague statement, but in light of Google Play's recent product page leak, an early November launch would be right on schedule. The latest rumors and leaks promise a device with a 4.95-inch 1080p display, a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU and LTE available in both 16 and 32GB models and, apparently, in black or white. Reportedly starting at $349, it certainly has our attention. We'll let you know when we hear something official

Disappointed that the rumored Lumia 929 didn't surface at Nokia's big event this past week? Don't worry -- We  have posted photos and a video (after the break) revealing more details of Verizon's Windows Phone flagship. As previous leaks implied, the 929 is effectively a compact Lumia 1520; the 1080p screen resolution, 20-megapixel camera and Snapdragon 800 chip remain intact. There's no microSD slot, although there will reportedly be models with 32GB and 64GB of built-in storage. The biggest surprise is Nokia's use of a nano-SIM, which suggests that the company no longer minds using a competitor's SIM format. Those who like what they see might not have to wait long to try the new Lumia for themselves. If Falorin is accurate, Verizon hopes to release the 929 around Thanksgiving.

Just a few years ago, no one knew that Android will become such a well regarded mobile operating system among consumers. The ground breaking software, which now powers millions of smartphones and tablets around the globe, is one of the most lucrative work ever come out of Google’s camp.
If you haven’t yet played around with Android on a device that natively supports it, fortunately, there’s a great program now that let you test drive it on your Windows machine. The software is called Windroy and is fairly powerful to run Android apps on PC as native applications as well as handle all Android features. Read on to find how it works.

Windroy – The Simplest Solution To Run Android Apps On PC

Running Android on a notebook or desktop isn’t a novel concept. You will find a handful of emulators and virtual machines that enable you to boot Android on a PC in one way or another. But what makes Windroy different from its competitors is its ease of use. The application provides one click process jumping from Windows to a full-fledged Android environment. Supporting Windows XP, 7 and 8 out of the box, it allows you to not only execute Android apps on Windows but also use every other component of the operating system. As of this writing, Windroy lets you run Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich.

When executed, Windroy presents a command prompt window that loads the required components then boots up Android in full screen mode. You’re then introduced with a familiar lock screen that was first seen in ICS Android 4.0. If you don’t have a touchscreen enabled device or a computer, such as Surface Pro, Windroy lets you use your mouse to navigate the interface. In other words, everything that can be done on a native Android device can be done in Windroy.

From web browsers, music players, games, eBook readers to Angry Birds, everything works smooth and steady. One of the most interesting thing about Windroy is that it has exactly the same user experience as found in the stock Android, which means you won’t have to deal with any Touchwiz or HTC Sense-like skins and nor any bloatware. You can easily swipe through the home screens and hop onto the app drawer or notification panel whenever needed.

The app drawer, of course, also sports the same looks as vanilla Android user experience. The status bar is present at the bottom. Within the app drawer, you can easily navigate between apps and widgets and place your desired ones on the home screen for easy access.

During testing, I tried giving the search feature a go using the native on-screen keyboard of Android to type in a few things and hit enter, and to no surprise it worked just it’s supposed to. So was the build-in web browser which did a great job rendering web pages within seconds.

Right now Windroy doesn’t let you run Google Play Store to download apps due incompatibility issues. However, you can easily side-load apps by placing the APK files in Windroy\windroy_root\data\app folder, which in turn automatically installs Android apps and lets you execute them within Windroy.

SocketQ, the team behind Windroy, is currently working on Jelly Bean version, though there’s no information yet about when it might arrive. But even in its current state, Windroy is a great application that can easily handle many Android features and apps.

Windroy is completely free to use application that is compatible with Windows only. For questions and feedback, use the comments section below.