Having a colorful exterior on a Nokia Lumia was pretty much a given in the good old days of Windows phone. Now that the brand is dead, I can't help but reminisce how pretty those handsets looked.
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In the final Microsoft Weekly column of the year, we take a look at extensions for the new Edge, the arrival of the first Windows 10 vNext build, and the name of the next-gen Xbox. Catch up below.
As Microsoft previously announced, the company is shutting down the Windows Store on Windows Phone 8.1 devices today. The only way to get apps for your phone now it to upgrade to Windows 10.
Quite a bit has happened this week, including the usual batch of Insider builds, some more news around Halo: Reach PC testing, and even a slew of new Power BI enhancements. Be sure to catch up below.
Microsoft has updated a support page to reflect that beginning on December 16, the Windows Phone Store will shut down. It will still work on Windows 10 Mobile devices for the time being.
As was announced last August, Microsoft will no longer be distributing app updates for devices running Windows Phone beginning today. You'll need to update to Windows 10 Mobile for apps.
Since this weekend, people who are still rocking Windows Phone 8.x devices have been denied the right to download and update their apps in the Windows Store, instead getting an error message.
Another week, another stack of Microsoft news to go through. Quite a few gaming tidbits, some of the usual Insider Preview builds, and a fair number of app updates. Be sure to catch up via our guide.
Microsoft today announced the dates that it will be killing off the Store on Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x. Phone users will have until next year, while PC users will have until 2023.
Slack is dropping support for Windows Phone. The app will continue to be available for download from the Store, and will remain functional for the foreseeable future, but won't receive updates.
Twitter today announced that its PWA is available. Unfortunately, that came with the news that if you don't have a device that supports it, your app won't work beginning next month.
Microsoft is discontinuing support for Skype for Business, Teams, and Yammer apps for Windows Phone. Development efforts will now be transitioned to the Android, iOS, and desktop counterparts.
Whether you are rocking a Windows Phone 8.1 or Windows 10 Mobile device, Microsoft is actually still pushing cumulative updates to them once in a while, here's how to ensure a successful update.
It appears that long-supporting app developer Kiloo has finally ended support for endless runner Subway Surfers on Windows phones, blaming Microsoft's "development plans" for the platform.
People still using Windows Phone 8.1 devices are having trouble with the Store - and no, it isn't related to the dearth of apps. They are being hit with error 80070020 and the usual fix isn't working.
An Over-the-cable Updater tool has been made available by Microsoft to update all eligible Windows phones to the latest version available. Previously, users had to install each update individually.
Telegram for Windows phones has recently received an update on the Microsoft Store. The 2.5 update introduces several new tools but the highlight is the ability to add a bio to your account.
Microsoft's new LinkedIn desktop app looks suspiciously like a basic 'web wrapper', although it does include support for Windows 10 features, including a Live Tile, and Action Center notifications.
LinkedIn has sent an email to Windows phone users, saying that it is killing off its app for the platform. The firm recommends using its website instead and promises a Windows desktop-only app soon.
Windows Phone is no longer supported, and the future of Windows 10 Mobile appears uncertain. But among the dozens of Windows phones that launched over the years, which one do you think was the best?
Mainstream support for Windows Phone 8.1 is wrapping up tomorrow. If the lifecycle support date isn't extended, three out of every four Windows phone users will be using an unsupported handset.
WhatsApp has revised its end-of-support dates for several platforms, adding 18 months of support for Nokia S40 devices. But Windows Phone 8, BlackBerry OS and BB10 devices will lose support this year.
Although the OS hasn't received an update in years, mainstream support for Windows Phone 8.1 ends on July 11, which means that Microsoft may no longer provide existing updates for handsets.
Microsoft is informing Skype users on Windows Phone 8/8.1, Windows RT, the Messaging app on Windows 10 Mobile, and Skype for TV, that they "will no longer be able to sign in" to Skype from July 1.
Many Windows phone users have been complaining of problems with syncing OneDrive files for over a week - but numerous device owners are now reporting that the problem has been resolved.
Microsoft has once again turned on the Upgrade Advisor app, which is used to upgrade handsets from Windows Phone 8.1 to Windows 10 Mobile. The service was turned off over the weekend.
New images of a prototype of a canceled Nokia Windows phone show a nearly bezel-less display on a low end phone. It has a dual-core Snapdragon 200 chipset, like the Microsoft Lumia 435.
Alongside news that almost all older devices won't get the Creators Update, Microsoft has also shut down the Upgrade Advisor app, which was the official upgrade path to Windows 10 Mobile.
In the last hours, some users have received emails from Facebook in which the firm hints towards an intention to deprecate the Windows Phone 8.1 version of its Messenger app at the end of March.
Microsoft's Translator app on older versions of Windows and Windows Phone will no longer work from next month, while some users will have to download "new versions" to continue using the app.
EE is informing customers that it's no longer supporting its My EE account management app on Windows phones or BlackBerry devices, advising users to log into its website on their devices instead.
Yesterday, there was an issue that prevented users from signing into their Windows Phone 8.1 devices with a Microsoft account. The problem now appears to have been resolved.
Some users are reporting that upon resetting their devices to Windows Phone 8.1, they are unable to sign into a Microsoft account, leaving them without access to the Windows Store.
The Lumia 435 was unveiled almost exactly two years ago, and was originally priced around $80. It's now available for under $29 unlocked, and is eligible for an official upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile.
A couple of months after it was originally unveiled, Cricket Wireless launched the Lumia 640 for $129.99 with no annual contract - but the impressive Windows phone is now available for just $21.99.
Every Lumia Windows phone is now sold out on the Microsoft Store site in the US, leaving buyers with the option of HP's Elite x3 flagship, an entry-level Acer, or a couple of two-year-old BLU devices.
Samsung has brought its Smart Switch app to Windows 10 Mobile, making it easier for owners of those handsets to switch to its Galaxy devices. The app now includes support for Android 7.0 Nougat too.
With Microsoft making no effort to encourage eligible users to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile, 85% of US Windows phone owners remain on older versions of the OS. Check out more data from AdDuplex here.
The latest data from AdDuplex shows that for a third consecutive month, Windows 10 Mobile is on 14% of active Windows phones. On PCs, the Anniversary Update has doubled in usage since last month.
Microsoft hasn't yet said how many phones it sold last quarter, but it did disclose that its phone revenue fell by $799m (72%) year-over-year, to around $300m - down from over $2.6bn two years ago.
