Develop Bugs

[Q] Podcasts not appearing in Market

Hi Guys,
Anyone noticed that in the UK the Zune software has no podcasts listed. The PODCAST icon does not even exist.
I have to manually add my rss feeeds for each one?
anyone seen this.
Thanks
Russ

It's still very early days for Zune in Europe. I've had a Zune HD for a year and I've seen the US Marketplace and it's another world. You have more music, podcasts, a lot more movies and also (many) TV shows (plus Zune HD apps).
Hopefully Microsoft will work on that a lot more than they did with Xbox Live (Europe content is rubbish compared to the US). Apple did it, I don't see why Microsoft can't, they have to want it though.
Here's to hope...

RussST24 said:
Hi Guys,
Anyone noticed that in the UK the Zune software has no podcasts listed. The PODCAST icon does not even exist.
I have to manually add my rss feeeds for each one?
anyone seen this.
Thanks
Russ
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It gets even worse if you update your Zunes through the UK version.
You lose access to the marketplace on your devices, and as late as last week you couldn't get any 'Channels' either.
Altho, now we can get some dumbed down (IMO useless) channels.

Is it possible to use my PC for UK Marketplace and my Laptop for USA marketplace?
So having access to both?
I already use a VPN service to access USA only sites like HULU with no problems..

I live in belgium and made an "belgian" live account, now I can only rent a movie, no music or apps or podcasts... We wait and see

Thanks for the confirmation everyone. Shame as they even mention adding podasts via the Zune software Marketplace on the UK windows phone site!
Hopefully its coming as I can understand Video being a rights issues internationally but Podcasts?
Russ

ebzrascal said:
Is it possible to use my PC for UK Marketplace and my Laptop for USA marketplace?
So having access to both?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't use the same Live ID as it is be based in one location.
You'll need two ID's and Zune Pass's (1x UK 1x US) to use both at the same time.
I'm still looking for a better solution.
ioulian said:
I live in belgium and made an "belgian" live account, now I can only rent a movie, no music or apps or podcasts... We wait and see
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried setting your PC so it 'thinks' its in the US ?
You won't be able to login and buy anything (see above) but it should let you grab some Podcasts.
This trick worked for me, and allowed me to get Podcats and the Marketplace back on my Zunes. I don't have a WP7 phone yet so i don't know if it works with them.

It's easier to just get the rss and subscribe manually, at least he can use his actual Live ID and the marketplace.

[Q] Bing Maps is crap in Europe (outside UK). Any alternative?

If there is one thing I regret from my old HD2 running WM6.5.3 it's Google Maps.
I just cannot stand Bing Maps. This soft is just terrible and totally useless for customers outside the U.S.
The maps are not accurate, and doesn't even include basic Local Search.
Try to search the word "Hotel" in Paris and Bing Maps will find you some cities named Hotel !!!!!!
Fair if Microsoft wants to impose Bing instead of Google in its WP7 devices, but only if the soft is ready to use and decent. Outside the US it is NOT.
So, did anybody find a good alternative soft that could replace this crappy Bing Maps?
Any chance we will have Google Maps on WP7 in the future?
Thanks.

Not any at this time. It depends if Google desides to make an app or not.

Ok, thanks for the answer
I hope Google will do that, because I definitely think Bing maps is a real mess (at least in Europe, I don't know if it's the same in the US).

Am pretty sure google will do a version for it, its a market share they need and co-pilot will be working on a nav system for it. If they can include iOS they will include us.
Only thing for google at the moment is the net version :s
This guy here seems to be working on a few things which might come good by merging bing with google
http://cid-a47796b098a35137.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.Documents

Google will develop an app, they have one for just about every other mobile app platform.

I have no problems with Bing Maps, but I live in the US....so yeah. I'd love to see GMaps on WP7 (and there should be at some point).
MS needs to get Bing Maps up to par in markets outside the US.

lordcanti86 said:
I have no problems with Bing Maps, but I live in the US....so yeah. I'd love to see GMaps on WP7 (and there should be at some point).
MS needs to get Bing Maps up to par in markets outside the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works awesome in Canada...

Cant you just make a shortcut tile from a google maps page?

I love bing maps, im in the UK.

I'm in Poland and Bing Maps (on WM) is terrible.
Even the search engine is crap.

arturobandini said:
Ok, thanks for the answer
I hope Google will do that, because I definitely think Bing maps is a real mess (at least in Europe, I don't know if it's the same in the US).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bing is great in the US. In the future o put "in Europe" in the thread title so I dont waste minutes of my life reading it.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I've had no issues with it in the UK.
All loads quickly and works fluidly.
The only thing I miss is latitude, that was genuinely useful for meeting up with friends in an unknown place.

Apparently, Bing Maps indeed works fine in the US and UK.
But in France it's a real mess. The search engine is the worst I've ever seen.
(title of the post modified)

Irish version of Bing is pants. They have NO poi data, ie restaurants, amenities, etc. However, they do have lots of satellite imagery, and birds eye views for many of the larger cities.
And when you hit the search button in Bing Maps in WP7, you don't get any local results for the map. ie it's not possible to find an address on the map.
If someone would release an app with most of the bing imagery and UI, but would Google data laid over, that would be ideal (Google does have local data for Ireland).

Freypal said:
I've had no issues with it in the UK.
All loads quickly and works fluidly.
The only thing I miss is latitude, that was genuinely useful for meeting up with friends in an unknown place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree I love Bing, and would use Bing maps (in the UK) if it was up to scratch. It's business/POI data is sparse at best.
ITO functionality it has a log way to go before it even comes close to the functionality google maps provides on WM6.5

Bing Maps is the same useless papermap in Germany as in the rest of mainland Europe, no POIs whatsoever.
Plus, it doesn't show me which way I'm facing. I thouhgt there's a compass built into every Windows Phone 7 Device !?

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20101021/workaround-local-listings-voice-search-wp7-australia/
Can you try this and see if it changes anything?

I tried exactly the same search with the word "McDonald's" in the center of Paris, and Bing Maps suddenly displayed a world wide map with absolutely no result. No POI, no address, nothing.
Maybe McDonald's restaurants are not famous enough for Bing?
It's ridiculous.
Also the quality of the graphics is so poor. The streets are all so blurry. The location is wrong. It takes minutes and minutes to download the full map.

Yep have to admit there are a lot of things I'm not so happy about with certain win phone 7 phones, but bing maps is the only reason I am holding off.
I have been trying to use Bing maps on my pc to try and get used to it, but it is useless.
I am in Australia and confirm that yes it does have ALOT of POI's (not as many as google but enough), BUT it is near impossible to use. It is not intuitive, if I am zoomed into my location, then search "Indian Restaurants", it will zoom out and go to india. I have to choose businesses, and enter a location such as "Indian Restaurant Brisbane Australia".
On top of that it seems very unreliable with results, The same search but move the map slightly in one direction removes a bunch of points on the map and generates new ones elsewhere. I was looking directly at a point, zoomed into it and it vanishes.....right...

NoWorthWhile said:
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20101021/workaround-local-listings-voice-search-wp7-australia/
Can you try this and see if it changes anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unbelievable, Bing Maps DOES have POIs here in Germany!
Thanks a lot!

Google Maps?

Any word on whether Google's working on a WP7 Google Maps app?
There's this: http://dotnetbyexample.blogspot.com/2010/10/google-maps-for-windows-phone-7.html, but of course, Google's TOS won't allow that to become useful.
There's also a suggestion in Google Mobile's product ideas page: http://productideas.appspot.com/#9/e=cf&t=windows+phone+7+maps
Bing is fine in parts of the U.S., but I'm sometimes in Mumbai and other cities around the world, where Bing Maps is atrociously poor.

I am hoping that either Microsoft improve their map service or Google brings their maps service to WP7.

so it's impossible to go to m.google.com/maps on a wp7 device and download google maps?

Doesn't this all look very similar to the anti-trust suites that occurred over Internet Explorer being bundled with Windows? I can't really see how having the MS service embedded into the OS doesn't break the same rules that IE was apparently breaking as a stand-alone but pre-installed program?
Hopefully we'll end up with a choice on first-run between Bing, Google and anyone else that wants to play so we can decide who we have integrated into the OS.

paulrockliffe said:
Doesn't this all look very similar to the anti-trust suites that occurred over Internet Explorer being bundled with Windows? I can't really see how having the MS service embedded into the OS doesn't break the same rules that IE was apparently breaking as a stand-alone but pre-installed program?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it doesn't because Microsoft has nowhere near the marketshare on smartphones that Windows has on desktops. And I think it's possible for Google to write and submit a Google Maps application for WP7 and in my opinion Microsoft will allow the application in the marketplace (because otherwise there will be a long discussion online that may affect the image of WP7 negatively).
paulrockliffe said:
Hopefully we'll end up with a choice on first-run between Bing, Google and anyone else that wants to play so we can decide who we have integrated into the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the most likely scenario.

I am expecting Google Maps on WP7 a lot, because I can't deal with Bing Maps.
In France and some european countries Bing Maps is just crap.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=823953

Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.

There are 2 things I want from Google:
1. IE search to be changed from Yahoo! to Google (on the HTC HD7 in the UK), with search as you type and image search.
2. And of course, a fully featured YouTube app.
Bing is a decent mapping platform. The only feature it lacks is streetview.

kenikh said:
Google just announced it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If true, it's great
Bing Maps is slow, terribly slow outside the US
Bing Maps has no Street View
Bing search is inaccurate and uncomplete outside the US. It misses most of the things I'm looking for, and Google finds it immediately.
Google includes images search.

Why doesn't Bing have image search on WP7?

well at least now you can have Google Search on your Windows phone 7. http://www.phonedog.com/2010/11/08/google-search-app-for-windows-phone-7-now-available/

kenikh said:
Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As for Europe, Poland, Bing is worse than Gooogle, especially in searching streets etc.

Where are you ppl coming up with Bing Maps for WP7? I have looked and looked all over the web and cannot find where Bing Maps (turn by turn nav) is. It isn't built into the Bing search app on my new HD7 nor is it available at the Market.

Press the Search button at the bottom right of your phone??? Works fine for me...BTW, wanna sell that HD7 you are sending back? Sux AT&T has crap hardware.

scroll to the right (the app list)... do you not have a "Maps" application there? It was built into my phone, it should be there for yours.

Bing would be alright, if they had public transportation built into their maps. That's why i love google maps lets me know when the next bus comes.

f1restarter said:
well at least now you can have Google Search on your Windows phone 7. http://www.phonedog.com/2010/11/08/google-search-app-for-windows-phone-7-now-available/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great that Google search comes to WP7 . At least we will have the option to search for some images (Bing doesn't even include this basic feature).
Hope Google Maps will come soon.

kenikh said:
Google just announced it. BTW, why would you want Google maps? I can't stand it compared to Bing on Phone 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Google maps yet (just a general Google search app).
As for why-- because Google Maps has vastly superior map and point of interest data in many, if not most, parts of the world than Bing Maps.

Apparently, somebody has already compiled Google Maps for Windows Phone 7. You'll still need a developer account to load it though.

day2die said:
Apparently, somebody has already compiled Google Maps for Windows Phone 7. You'll still need a developer account to load it though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my phone at the moment (and of course WP7 can't do anything with files), but I'd guess that's probably the same deal as this: http://dotnetbyexample.blogspot.com/2010/10/google-maps-for-windows-phone-7.html
If so, that's just pulling map tiles from Google-- not enough to actually do anything useful, and Google's TOS doesn't allow it anyway.

Apps in Demand

Hi,
What apps are you guys missing the most on WP7. Lets make a list.
For starters heres a few
1) Adobe Flash
2) Opera/Firefox
3) Windows Messenger official client
4) Skype
5) Google Maps (Bing sucks)
Any more?

nitroxn said:
Hi,
What apps are you guys missing the most on WP7. Lets make a list.
For starters heres a few
1) Adobe Flash
2) Opera/Firefox
3) Windows Messenger official client
4) Skype
5) Google Maps (Bing sucks)
Any more?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Out of all of those the only one I'd use is Adobe Flash. Bing maps is awesome they just need turn by turn navigation, opera and firefox arent going to be worth a damn once the new version of IE is out (on mobile anyway) Messengers are too impersonal, I call and text. I dont even think I've been on messenger in 4 months or so. Skype... well... I'd prefer windows come up with their own video chat app.

I think Google Maps is critically necessary. Unless you live in the US, Bing Maps is very disappointing. Google Maps is loaded with local businesses around the world, has public transit layers in may big cities, and from my experience has better map coverage (as in purely street names and numbers).
Plus, a vector-based map application is probably a much better idea on a phone, since you can rotate the map according to your orientation without losing quality when you're doing turn-by-turn.
I think Navteq will make a stunning navigation app for WP7, but right now I really need some Google Maps love.

Greg2k said:
I think Google Maps is critically necessary. Unless you live in the US, Bing Maps is very disappointing. Google Maps is loaded with local businesses around the world, has public transit layers in may big cities, and from my experience has better map coverage (as in purely street names and numbers).
Plus, a vector-based map application is probably a much better idea on a phone, since you can rotate the map according to your orientation without losing quality when you're doing turn-by-turn.
I think Navteq will make a stunning navigation app for WP7, but right now I really need some Google Maps love.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubt they'd give in to the competitor like that...Not to mention I'd rather not have google spying on everywhere I go.

I like bing maps, but it needs turn by turn navigation. I do believe this is coming up in some update eventually. I did like the google maps for android though. Some needed apps are:
TELNET
SSH
FTP
RDP
VPN
However, im pretty sure the OS is the reason why we dont have these. I think they are opening those options in the coming update?

Havent we done this before?

Mainly:
- Google Maps
- A good GPS navigation software (Navigon or other)
But also:
- A nice translation software (Robert Collins or other)
- Last.fm app allowing to scrobble my music (the Last.fm app isn't even available in france)
- A simple flashlight using the led flash (I don't have a HTC)

Google Maps.
My experience on WM6.1 with Google was far better than I have had with Bing (so far). Pushpins (Can't find them on Bing though they're supposed to be there) that stay on the map (I work all over the place and need to navigate from and to different locations every day) especially.
Most of all though, I want the phone to automatically stay ON when navigating with what ever Map App I use. I know that there is a possible issue with Screen Burn but this is an imperative when driving.

Why do you need Opera/Firefox？
The stock browser works better than Opera Mobile/Firefox on Android

Unfortunately I believe we will not have Google Maps quite soon.
And I think I understand why Google refuses to release Google Maps for WP7.
Recently a developer told me that its app (similar too Google Maps for WP7) takes a very long time to display the map graphics because WP7 basically forces him to use Microsoft's web components to load the map images (i.e. the maps app provides URLs and then wait for the OS to get the images).
I think Google will never accept that the Google Maps experience on WP7 can be ruined this way, with map images taking too much time to load, just because it is forced to use Microsoft's web components instead of more efficient methods.

It's funny, since having Bing as default on my phone I've switched to Bing on my desktop and I much prefer it now. IE9 desktop is awesome too so I wouldn't be hasty to wish a 3rd party browser with a new IE mobile in the pipeline.
Bing maps could do with an update for outside of the US but I get on alright with it in the UK. Besides with the amount of legal spats / falling outs Google appear to be having of late I wouldn't expect them to be doing anything to help an MS platform regardless of their business strategy being built on advertising.
Messenger client with proper notifications would be great.
Flash may have it's uses but i'll see what develops with HTML5.
The one I really miss from WM6 is a decent turn by turn nav. Igo8 was superb.. better than any stand alone tomtom / garmin i've used.

provided the nokia deal stays firm, anything Ovi Maps covered will get integrated into Bing Maps making it a lot more viable option.
For those complaining about Google Maps, blame Google not Microsoft. Microsoft and 3rd party developers are not allowed to make a Google Maps API due to Google's restrictions. Google themselves have to do it. Till they do, we won't be seeing any Google love. So stop complaining that MS doesn't do it or 3rd parties don't do it, blame Google.
Also... as mentioned, this is like deja vu, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=844117 contains a lot of this already...

Any instant messenger that can work in the background. ANY! #1 on my list
A better map that can do navigation
anything else
flash

nitroxn said:
Hi,
What apps are you guys missing the most on WP7. Lets make a list.
For starters heres a few
1) Adobe Flash
2) Opera/Firefox
3) Windows Messenger official client
4) Skype
5) Google Maps (Bing sucks)
Any more?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm. Only thing i would need is the ability for the browser to bring you to the youtube app and show you the video on the app (like it does on Android instead of playing it on the page eating up the battery and making it slow like hell)
Otherwise than that
MORE GAMES
That is all

arturobandini said:
Unfortunately I believe we will not have Google Maps quite soon.
And I think I understand why Google refuses to release Google Maps for WP7.
Recently a developer told me that its app (similar too Google Maps for WP7) takes a very long time to display the map graphics because WP7 basically forces him to use Microsoft's web components to load the map images (i.e. the maps app provides URLs and then wait for the OS to get the images).
I think Google will never accept that the Google Maps experience on WP7 can be ruined this way, with map images taking too much time to load, just because it is forced to use Microsoft's web components instead of more efficient methods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you blaming google for microsoft's ruining of google maps ? (not sure i follow here)

Palringo
Skype (front facing camera phones as well)
Pandora
File Explorer
Opera

nitroxn said:
Hi,
What apps are you guys missing the most on WP7. Lets make a list.
For starters heres a few
1) Adobe Flash
2) Opera/Firefox
3) Windows Messenger official client
4) Skype
5) Google Maps (Bing sucks)
Any more?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. recent survey says that over 60% of internet is html5 compliant. I'll take flash as long as its done well (no flash adds, only click to start flash content).
2. I think IE9 will blow those out of the water (it already does on the desktop).
3. Sure, why not, don't use it, but I understand there are a lot that do.
4. No FFC so no need yet. I would rather have a skype app than a MS propietary one like apple has.
5. I think MS partnering with ovi-maps is the reason we don't have a bing tbt yet. I think once that gets integrated, it will be the top data based map app out there.
Greg2k said:
I think Google Maps is critically necessary. Unless you live in the US, Bing Maps is very disappointing. Google Maps is loaded with local businesses around the world, has public transit layers in may big cities, and from my experience has better map coverage (as in purely street names and numbers).
Plus, a vector-based map application is probably a much better idea on a phone, since you can rotate the map according to your orientation without losing quality when you're doing turn-by-turn.
I think Navteq will make a stunning navigation app for WP7, but right now I really need some Google Maps love.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think ovi-maps from nokia will solve a lot of that. I don't know how long though.
efjay said:
Havent we done this before?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
probably 8 or 9 times.
nickallison said:
Google Maps.
My experience on WM6.1 with Google was far better than I have had with Bing (so far). Pushpins (Can't find them on Bing though they're supposed to be there) that stay on the map (I work all over the place and need to navigate from and to different locations every day) especially.
Most of all though, I want the phone to automatically stay ON when navigating with what ever Map App I use. I know that there is a possible issue with Screen Burn but this is an imperative when driving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That can be added to any of the apps. The devs just need to add it.

ohgood said:
are you blaming google for microsoft's ruining of google maps ? (not sure i follow here)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I'm blaming Microsoft.

Navigation in Bing...
Bank of America
American airlines
U-verse for more than just at&t
Pandora
Fring or palringo
Skype
Engadget...
And then I'd be happy ....
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

Stop moaning. You should have done research before.
The fact is that alot of apps that you are looking for needs time to make.
One little document to change something has to be signed of by way too many people and this slow the process down.
Be patient

Advertised Mango features you can't see or use

This could be a help thread, if people could give pointers on what to do. What I can't see or use so far:
- Bing Vision to scan books
- Texts read to me / total control of messaging by voice
- When playing music, background artist picture is in the hub but not on the screen when phone is locked.
Will probably find others very soon.

The voice features are something you have to enable, same with the artist for the lock screen. Just take a look farther into the options.

Over8ted said:
The voice features are something you have to enable, same with the artist for the lock screen. Just take a look farther into the options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Found them, thanks
Full Bing Vision is US only I guess

Isn't the Bing Vision book scanning issue part of the region-specific problem? I know it works perfectly for me in the US, and I didn't need to do anything to enable it.

All those features work perfectly fine for me.
For Bing Vision: Press the search button > In bing press the shortcut icon on the bottom bar that looks like an eye > Scan books, cd covers, barcodes, foreign languages, etc (may take a little while to show links depending on your internet connection)
For Zune Artist : Enable in Lockscreen settings (you have to be listening to music)
For Text to Speech: Press and hold the windows button > If any message appears read and follow instructions > Say: Text ‘Contact’. > Say your message > press send icon
You may need to go to settings and put a check box next to “Enable speech recognition over the network”. If you do need to do this, your phone will tell you when you attempt the above steps.

Next time try to spend some more time in the settings before making topics like these.

deleted. sorry

I did spend time in the settings but some things are needlessly burried. As for Bing Vision it definitely doesn't scan books, cd covers, etc. here in the UK.
Sent from my Samsung Omnia 7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

Peew971 said:
I did spend time in the settings but some things are needlessly burried. As for Bing Vision it definitely doesn't scan books, cd covers, etc. here in the UK.
Sent from my Samsung Omnia 7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, all it does is scan text then gives you the option to search for the word or translate it. Ok if you want translation but no idea why you would want to search a word. Was hoping it would work similar to Google Goggles or Bings equivalent in the US.

Bing Vision book scanning, barcode scan (except QR), Local Scout, and Music are for US only. I hate it when Microsoft advertise something that's not available in your country.

To enable the Bing Scout, Visual and so on just set you location and locale to US. I'm in Canada and set it to US and I get that + my Zune hub gets artist pictures/backgrounds as well.

If you're in Europe, scanning with US locale would be useless as you wouldn't get local results (prices in dollars for instance). Local Scout works in the UK though.
Sent from my Samsung Omnia 7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

Peew971 said:
If you're in Europe, scanning with US locale would be useless as you wouldn't get local results (prices in dollars for instance). Local Scout works in the UK though.
Sent from my Samsung Omnia 7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, right, never thought of that.

If in the UK, you can access Scout from Maps. After Maps has 'locked on' to where you are, you can use Scout from the menu at the bottom...

Qr codes are what I mostly use bing vision for. I petty much use all the mango features. Can't think of one I don't use.
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

What about Xbox Live Voice Chat? I thought I read that it was confirmed.
Also, what is the globe like icon on the bottom right of all our contact short cuts. Click on a short cut letter on contact list, look at bottom right corner.

Seed 2.0 said:
Also, what is the globe like icon on the bottom right of all our contact short cuts. Click on a short cut letter on contact list, look at bottom right corner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For foreign characters

geddeeee said:
If in the UK, you can access Scout from Maps. After Maps has 'locked on' to where you are, you can use Scout from the menu at the bottom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also access Local Scout straight from Bing

Artist image on lock screen is under Settings > Lock & Wallpaper
Sent from my 7 Pro T7576 using Board Express

There is a list of what features work in which countries here...
http://www.andrewtechhelp.com/andrews-tech-opinions/126-windows-phone-7-feature-availability-matrix-the-mango-edition
The pertinent point would be "Update (03/07/2011): The Bing Vision feature will scan QR Codes, Microsoft Tags and Text (for translation) whereever the feature is available, but will only scan Books, CDs & DVDs in the US."