Windows
Phone
All y ou ne ed to kn ow ab ou t... W ind ow s P ho ne 8 No ve mLearn the basics
•
LeveL up
•
be a pro
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build an
hD media
centre
create
a digital
wallet
play the
latest
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snap
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photos
essentiaL for
your phone
anD tabLet
200
apps
plus: Every Windows Phone from
htc, nokia, samsung
master
iN miNutes
Our stEP by stEP sEriEs
+ social
+ Work
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+ maps
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+ 5
brilliant new tablets
over
Windows 8 Phone
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The network
Live tiles
gives you real-time updates on all the things you care about and love.People hub
your social networks are in one place, so you’ll always be in the loop.Wallet app
a tool, for NFC payments and storage of card-like information.Office hub
mobile versions of Word, Excel & PowerPoint to help you work on the go.Smart glass
turns your phone into a “smart second screen” for your Xbox 360.TellMe
launch and control apps with your voice and talk to your phone.Welcome to
All You Need to
Know About Windows Phone 8
,
your essential guide to the next
big smartphone OS.
This guide covers tips, tricks and secrets of the new Windows Phone 8, from setting up the basics, right through to expert know-how on using Windows for home entertainment, business and of course, social networking.
For the first timer, it offers comprehensive descriptions of core features and unique abilities. Owners of Windows Phone 8 devices will find plenty of expert tricks and friendly how-tos to get the most out of their phones.
Look out for the Master in Minutes sign to get step by step instructions for foundation features, and when you’ve got a
grip on it all, hit our Level Up section starting on page 104 for advanced fun on your Windows Phone, from downloading game demos to working with friends online. We’ve also got every Windows Phone 8 handset available (from page 46) as well as some of our favourite Windows tablets, including a spotlight on that original Windows 8 tab – the slick new Microsoft Surface (page 58).
Of course, a smartphone is but a simple phone without all the apps – so our monster round up of over 200 of the best Windows Phone apps starts on page 75. Whether it’s social, art,
finance, productivity or just plain weird, we’ve got you covered.
Don’t forget to finish on our back page, where we’re giving every reader a chance to win an awesome new Windows Phone 8X by HTC. Just tell us what you think of this very guide – and of course, Windows Phone 8 and whether you’d want one anyway.
We can’t see how you wouldn’t.
All You Need to Know About
Windows Phone 8
Issue 1
November 2012
ISSN 2051-2279
From the experts at
Noble House Media Ltd
14-16 Great Pulteney St
London W1F 9ND
Phone 020 7440 3823 Fax 020 7437 4250 EdItorIaL Editor Natasha Stokes Devices editor Chris Barraclough Features editor Krystal Sim ProductIoNProduction manager/Group art editor
Nigel O’Brien
Designer Laurence Hallam SaLES/MarkEtINg Head of sales Natasha Bailey Sales phone 020 7440 3820 Sales fax 020 7437 4250
Sales and marketing assistant Katy Swanston Sales email
natasha.bailey@nhmedia.co.uk
Events manager Sheena Patel PubLISHINg
Publisher/Managing director Debra Doran Chairman James Buchanan
Back issues 01635 879384 £7.95 plus £1 p&p Reprints 020 7440 3873 Printed by Buxton Press Ltd
All material in this publication is covered by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. © 2012 Noble House Media Ltd. While considerable care has been taken in the production of this issue, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. No responsibility can be accepted for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or equipment. All correspondence is assumed to be intended for publication unless clearly stated
otherwise.
of our new series. Be sure to look out f
or
What is
Windows Phone 8
about?
4
Learn the basics
Windows Phone 8
Learn the basics
Windows 8 tablets
what’s
inside...
The Start Screen
6
8
Messaging
10
Camera
12
Video
14
Maps
16
Social
18
Browser
20
Calendar
22
Office
24
Games
28
Search and voice 32
Windows on a tablet 34
The Start Screen
36
Personalise it
38
Gaming
40
Social
42
Office
44
The lowdown on the social, entertainment and business skills
of this hyper-connected smartphone OS
Tested
ultimate Windows phones
Nokia Lumia 920
46
Nokia Lumia 820
48
Samsung Ativ S
50
Windows Phone 8X by HTC
52
Windows Phone 8S by HTC
54
should you buy?
– 56
WINDOWS PHONE 8
cONtENtS
The ultimate lock screen
104
A private social network
106
Keep it kid-friendly
108
Advanced camera skills
110
Make it efficient
112
What is SmartGlass?
114
Create your HD media hub
116
Get high on SkyDrive
118
Amp your security
122
Why updates matter
124
The Microsoft Wallet
126
Tested
top Windows 8 tablets
Over 200 apps
from
76
Level Up
Windows Phone 8 tricks
WIN
a Windows Phone 8X by HTC
128
Microsoft Surface
58
Asus Vivo RT
62
Samsung Ativ Tab
64
Asus Taichi
66
Lenovo ThinkPad 2
68
Toshiba Satellite U920t
70
Which Windows 8 tablet should you buy?
72
Collections of top apps – 75
The new Windows Store features
your killer app – 116
Why SmartGlass is
Photo & Video
Books
Health & Fitness
Music
Going Out
Sports
Art & Design
Movies & TV
News
Reference
Social
Games
Productivity
Finance
Learning
Travel
Shopping
Utlities
I
n a sea of Android and Apple
phones, Windows Phone might
look pretty unfamiliar. Instead
of icons for your apps, you have
minimalist square tiles that
continually flip and update with
more information. Facebook isn’t just
Facebook, it’s woven into a whole new
People Hub thing. You put in your
Hotmail address and suddenly all your
photos are backed up online.
In an age where over half the UK
is using a smartphone, Windows Phone
8 is a refreshing alternative to Android
Windows Phone 8
What it’s all about
The next generation OS with advanced
social features and lots of cool ways to
sync your stuff
and the iPhone for the growing
demographic of tech-savvy users after
something different.
Live Tiles
Instead of app icons, the singular
home screen – called the Start Screen
in Windows parlance – is composed
of tiles that update with real-time
information in whatever app they
represent. Many third-party Windows
Phone apps are designed with this
system in mind too, and pinning a Live
Tile of a new app can often deliver
cool content to your Start Screen.
It’s super social
Windows Phone is built around sharing,
and its People Hub is a brilliant
integration of Facebook, Twitter, and
LinkedIn with calls, text messaging and
WINDOWS PHONE 8
OVERVIEW
Windows Phone 8
What it’s all about
Hotmail messenger. It’s the humble
phonebook on ’roids, bulked up with all
the info your friends have shared online
so that you can text, tweet, call or email
a pal right from this Hub. If you have
something you just have to share with the
inner circle, you can create a Room for
a private place to post thoughts, photos
and what you’re doing later.
Information, please
It’s also all about information, constantly
updating, constantly available. Live Tiles
are one part, the other is an equally live
lock screen that not only shows your
newest messages, appointments and
alerts, it’ll do you a personalised, rotating
collage of photos too.
Staying in sync
Underpinning all that makes this OS
so very smooth is SkyDrive, Microsoft’s
virtual online box for all your digital
stuff. Of course your web mail and
social network details and content are
already saved online – SkyDrive is built
into the other apps too, like Office,
Camera and lots of downloadable
apps. This means your photos,
documents and work files are backed
up online, accessible from anywhere.
One pass for everything
Windows Phone slots smartly into a
larger system of general Windows-ness
– and that one Hotmail or Microsoft
account you used to sign in will sync
your Windows computer and Xbox
360. It’ll neatly sync your work and
media files so you can head to Office
or the photo gallery on your computer
and see the exact same things you saw
on your phone. Share something with a
friend in a Room, and you’ll have it on
your PC too.
• All You Need to Know About Windows Phone 8 details everything about these smart features, from the basics of setting up through to expert tricks with Windows 8 tablets and the Xbox 360 – for the ultimate efficient office and connected home.
Post to Facebook and Twitter
Tap the Me tile to post an update to Facebook or Twitter, or both at once, in one easy move
Is it live?
Make sure you check if downloaded apps have live tiles – if so, pinning items to Start will show regular updates in that app
Shoot and score at Games Hub
All your downloaded games plus your Xbox Live profile are stored here – just tap to play
Organise work and
personal emails
You can keep your business and social life separate by keeping different Live Tiles for each email account – or blur the line by creating a Universal inbox
Pin important apps,
supersize the best
ones and manage
your social life
start screen
The
1›
Swipe left to see all your apps2›
Hold down on the app you wish to pin3›
Drag it till it’s in the right spot4›
Tap the bottom right arrow to resize5›
Tap it in the centre once to confirmT
he Start Screen on Windows Phone 8
can show everything that’s going on –
be it email, Facebook, WhatsApp, the
weather or even information on those
stocks you bought last year. That’s
thanks to its Live Tiles interface, built
out of constantly updating apps that display as
elegant squares in its minimalist design.
Got some important dates? The constantly
updating Calendar will show when the next
one is. Or perhaps you want to keep tabs on
what your best friends are up to. You can turn
any app or contact into a Live Tile by dragging
it to the Start Screen, where it’ll automatically
show you the latest content from the tile.
Priorities, priorities
Of course, some things (or people) are more
important than others. You can therefore
resize Live Tiles into rectangles (the largest),
squares, or unit squares to help you organise
what you see, as well as give priority to your
favourite apps. The Start Screen is a bit like
the home screen on other smartphones, with
what’s possibly the most creative, interesting
way of organising all your content.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Locate the best around you
Tap Local Scout to get info and reviews on nearby restaurants, shops and other points of interest
Supersize the important apps
Hold down on any app and a small arrow will appear in the bottom right, allowing you to resize the app according to its importance
Keep tabs on upcoming events
The Calendar is one of the most handy apps here, pulling together events from Google, Microsoft Exchange and even birthdays from Facebook
start screen
›
With apps that only show a small
amount of information, e.g. the Email app,
resize to a 1x1 square. You can still easily
see the number of messages waiting, and
it helps fit more apps into the same space.
TRY THIS
OrganisE bY sizE
See what your friends are saying
Tap the People Hub for an aggregated view of Facebook and Twitter updates – and swipe left to instantly access just-contacted friends
Red is unread
Your inbox is presented as a list of messages, with the most recent at the top. Any mails you’ve received that you haven’t yet read will have their subject line highlighted in red (or whatever your theme colour is)
Swipe left for labels
By flicking left and right across the screen you can change the email view, so you aren’t simply presented with a long list of all of your messages. Other views include Unread (only unread emails appear), Flagged (messages you’ve marked as important) and Urgent
Timed to perfection
To the right of each email you’ll see the time or date when it arrived. If it came the same day you’ll see the time in the 24-hour clock, while everything earlier shows up as a date
Attached to you
If an email includes an attachment (such as a photo), a little paperclip icon will appear beneath the date. Go into the message and you can download the attachment to your phone by tapping on the icon
1›
First go to your email inbox and tap the three tiny dots in the bottom right.2›
Tap ‘Settings’. At the bottom of the new menu, you’ll find the ‘Signature’ section.3›
Make sure the switch is set to ‘On’, then enter your desired signature text in the box.4›
When you’re satisfied, tap the tick button at the bottom of the screen. Job done!N
ow you know your way
around the Windows
Phone 8 interface,
it’s time to get your
email set up. The main
accounts supported
are Outlook, Hotmail and Google
Mail (Gmail), but you can add other
accounts too, and even multiple
accounts at once. Set-up is refreshingly
simple: just go to your People tile,
tap ‘Add an account’ and follow the
instructions. You can also add your
email account in the email app itself
(the bottom option in the menu bar).
Type in your address and password
and you’re done.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
See the full conversation
If the email is part of an ongoing conversation, you’ll see a vertical line beneath the sender’s name, and a number telling you how many messages are in the conversation. Tap on the email and the full conversation is revealed
Delete all
Get tons of spam mail? Don’t delete them one at a time. Instead, tap the Select icon and a column of check-boxes appears to the left of your messages. Tap the box for each email you wish to delete, then hit the bin icon at the bottom
Sync me up
To refresh your emails and check for new ones, simply tap the Sync icon. Any unread emails since your last sync will appear in your list of messages
Lost and found
Flicking through thousands of emails looking for that one hilarious cat pic your mum sent you can be a real trial. Hit the Search icon and type in a key word – either the emailer’s name or a subject title – and your recent mails are searched. If you need to search further back, just hit ‘Search more’
Set up your email without
any fuss, organise your
accounts and keep on top of
correspondence
›
Instead of tapping the Select icon to choose
which emails to delete, simply tap to the very left
edge of each mail. This automatically checks
them, ready for deletion.
TRY THIS
Keep it together
Your messages are housed in the ‘Threads’ page. Here you’ll see all the contacts that have messaged you recently. Nudge on a person’s name and you’ll find all your text and instant messaging conversations grouped together and handily colour coded so you can read them back
Typing faster, better
The new Word Flow keyboard can correct or predict what you’re trying to type next and a cute emoticon button lets you input hundreds of new smileys, shapes and other icons. It’s never been easier to keep the conversation flowing. You can even choose from multiple keyboard languages
The smartest
keyboard and
your beefiest
inbox
messaging
1›
Go into your messaging tile2›
In the ‘Threads’ page nudge ‘Settings’3›
Press ‘Select’ and you’ll see a tick box next to all threads4›
Select the message threads for deletion5›
Press the trash iconY
our Windows Phone 8 device is
perfect for messaging, because
Windows Phone is the only
operating system that ties
texts, picture messages, instant
messenger and Facebook Chat
together in one place so you can view it all in
a single handy place.
The smart type
The Windows Phone keyboard works on
an intelligent predictive text system that
increases your accuracy by predicting the
next word you’re going to write. It’ll widen
the touch-area of certain letters that you are
more likely to type next, based on the letters
you’ve previously typed.
As it learns your writing style, it’ll
actually make better predictions.
You can also share your location in a text
message, or even sync instant messages on
Facebook chat or Messenger – also stored here
– to your SkyDrive cloud account (page 118).
master
In mInuTeS
How to delete old messages
Fluency guaranteed
If you use more than language, add it via Settings > Keyboard. Then hold down on the ENG button next to spacebar and you can quickly switch between them.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Start a conversation
Just press the plus sign at the bottom of your ‘Threads’ page and start typing the name of the contact you want to message, then press their name when it pops up on the screen
Chat whenever, wherever
Swipe across to the ‘Online’ page in your messaging tile and you’ll be able to see which of your contacts are online and available to chat right now. Nudge a contact’s name if you’d like to instant message them, and type away
messaging
›
If you’re meeting a friend and need to
quickly change your meeting place, you can
attach your location to your message as
well pictures, video or notes.
TRY THIS
meetIng wIth frIends
Silence the chatter
If you need time to yourself you can tap the person icon at the bottom of your online page and set your chat status to busy, away or invisible
Instant Access
You can access the camera app by tapping the tile as usual or, if your Windows Phone 8 handset has a physical camera button, simply by holding it down. This will take you straight into the camera, even if your phone is hibernating
Photo finish
Tap this arrow or flick your finger right across the screen and you’ll find yourself in the photo gallery. From here you can check out your handiwork, edit your snaps and share with the world
Get flashy
The flash icon at the right edge of the screen shows you the current flash setting. To cycle through the various flash options (on, off or auto), tap this icon until you find the one you want. Most of the time the ‘Auto’ option will do you fine
Focus
Tap anywhere on the image and the camera lens will focus on that section. This is a great way of ensuring your subject is sharp, or doing arty close-up shots with blurry backgrounds
Strike a pose, get snap
happy and share with
your friends, afterediting
to your liking
camera
1›
On the photo, tap the three dots in the bottom right corner2›
The first option is ‘Share’. Tap this for a list of options3›
Email, post online or in your family room (see page 106)4›
In the previous menu, you can backup to SkyDrive5›
Add a caption and tag your friends, then click ‘upload’T
aking photos is one of the
most popular uses for modern
smartphones, after texting and
apps. Windows Phone 8 allows
you to take fantastic photos with
its built-in camera functionality,
view and edit your snaps, and then share
your favourites via social media sites,
email or Bluetooth. Here’s our guide
to taking the best possible photos on
Windows Phone 8.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Settings
To dive into the camera’s settings, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select ‘photo settings’. From here you can change the picture resolution (bigger means sharper pics but larger file sizes), as well as ISO, Exposure, Contrast and more, if you’re a professional photographer
Movie magic
Tap the Video icon at the top of the options bar to switch from still photos to movies. In video mode, tap it again to return to still photos
Self-portrait
Tap this to switch to your phone’s front-facing camera, if you have one. This allows you to take self-portrait shots (perfect for Facebook and other social media purposes), or record yourself ranting for YouTube
Lenses
These are a new addition to Windows Phone 8, and you can download more from the Windows Phone Store. The Bing Lens allows you to take photos of text, barcodes and more, which are then scanned by your phone. Scan some text to copy directly into an email or document, or to translate it
camera
›
Shot too dark or needs a touch up? When
viewing the photo, hit the Edit menu option and
then the Fix option (the icon looks like a wand).
You can also crop and rotate your snaps.
TRY THIS
Playback
Tap this arrow or swipe right across the screen to view your videos back on the smartphone’s screen. It’s a quick and easy way to see if you’ve captured the action as you hoped to
Screen time
This is where the magic happens! Everything you film will appear here, so you can check if the footage is too light, too dark, or too blurry
Perfect timing
The (rather enormous) timer shows you exactly how long you’ve been shooting, and is a handy way to check that you definitely pushed the shutter button hard enough to start recording
Set up
In the video settings, you’ll be able to play around with the quality of video you shoot. The higher the quality, the more space the video will take up on your phone. You can also turn off continuous focus if you’re shooting static scenes
video
1›
Hold the phone still to avoid wobbly footage2›
Grip it firmly and avoid sudden movements3›
Rest against a wall to reduce shaking4›
For best results, don’t shoot into sunlight or glare5›
Edit videos on a PC to add titles and cut bad bits!A
s well as taking photos, you
can effortlessly shoot Full
HD video using Windows
Phone 8. It’s a perfect way
of capturing home movies
on the go, without lugging
around bulky camcorders. You can access
the video feature through the camera app:
simply open it as usual, and then tap the
icon that looks like a video camera. You’ll
know you’re in video mode because a
timer reading ‘00:00’ will appear
on-screen. To record, push down the phone’s
shutter button, the same way you’d take a
photo. Push it again to stop recording.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Return to snapper
Tap the video camera icon once more and you’ll go back to the standard camera function and be able to take photos again
Rant to camera
If you want to shoot a video of yourself talking to the camera (perhaps for YouTube), hit this icon to switch to the front camera. You can then watch yourself as you record to ensure you don’t drift out of shot
Flash toggle
If you’re shooting in a low-light environment, turning on the flash will light up your subject and make your video far more watchable. Simply tap this on-screen button
Virtual lenses
To access your video camera’s special features (such as Cinemagraph on the Nokia Lumia 920), prod the ‘lenses’ icon
Capture the action on
video wherever you are,
check over footage
and play it back
›
When shooting video, don’t forget that the
audio is also massively important. Get close
enough to people to pick up their voices,
and try not to shoot in windy conditions.
TRY THIS
Save your favourites
Once you have searched for a place, you can save it by tapping it to reveal its contact card, then hitting the star to mark it as a favourite place to find again (and again and again ...)
Get the quickest route
Whether you’re driving or walking, you can get directions for the best route. Be sure to check whether you’re in ‘car’ or ‘walk’ mode as driving routes are usually longer than walking
Find the closest place to eat
The Local Scout feature shows the nearest venues, shops and restaurants to your GPS location. You can access it via Maps, or simply hit the Local Scout tile in your apps list
Call for reservations from Maps
Once you’ve found a place you want to go, touch it to see its contact card. Then just tap the phone number to call them up
maps
1›
In any map, tap the ellipses for more options2›
TapSettings ‘Download
3›
Select Maps’4›
Pressthe ‘+’ icon Choose the
5›
continent, country and cityM
aps on Windows Phone
8 offers a lot more
than your location and
directions. In line with
the Windows Phone
OS, Maps is a tile that
contains several features related to your
location – nearby venues for anything from
a movie to a museum, plus user-reviewed
restaurants and bars in walking distance.
Thanks to deep software integration, you
can tap these places for contact details and
call directly from Maps.
What’s Nokia got to do with it?
Microsoft and Nokia announced an alliance
in 2010 and, as a result, Nokia’s brilliant
map technology now powers Maps in
Windows Phone 8, adding handy features
like the ability to save maps for offline
viewing – useful if you don’t have a data
connection where you’re going. There are
maps for over 180 countries, so if you’re
driving overseas, be sure to download the
map to avoid those roaming charges.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Check the traffic where
you’re going
The new and improved Maps sports traffic data for more secondary streets now, so tap the ellipsis for more options and select ‘show traffic’ to see which routes are blocked or free
See the view on the street
That handy ellipsis again gives you more options in the map view – switch to aerial view to get an idea of the area you’re going to. Or pinch to zoom way in and you’ll automatically get a look-see at satellite images of streets and buildings
Navigate quickly
Maps integrates with sat-nav apps such as Nokia Drive – which is preloaded on Nokia’s Windows Phones – or CoPilot, so you tap a place name and select the ‘drive’ option to bounce the address for the sat-nav to direct you
And that’s not all ...
Nokia phones are loaded with Nokia Maps. For more features like public transport directions, see page 46
Get directions from where
you are, find the best
places to eat and keep
an eye on the traffic
›
If you often drive a particular route, pin
the destination to the Start screen. You can
then tap it to instantly open Maps with the
place highlighted.
TRY THIS
What is a People Hub?
From your People Hub you can see your contact list, read and interact with posts across your connected social networks and view your most recently contacted friends with just one tap of the screen
What’s new?
The ‘What’s new’ page pulls together all of your contacts most recent posts to any of the networks. You’re effectively logged into all your networks at once without having to access the specific app, and you can interact via this page just as you would within that network
Create your über phone-book
To get the best social experience out of your Windows Phone 8 handset you need to add some of your online accounts. Under ‘settings’ and ‘email and accounts’, tap and add as many accounts as you wish to be synchronised
social
1›
Tap the People Hub tile2›
Nudge ‘...’ for access to your settings3›
Scroll down the page and press ‘+ add an account’4›
Select the account or network you wish to add5›
Enter your details and your phone will do the restY
our Windows Phone is perfect
for social networking – and
easy. Logging in using your
Microsoft ID automatically
fills your People Hub with
the contacts from your
Outlook account, while the subsequent
set-up screens prompt you for Facebook,
LinkedIn and Twitter.
Windows devices look at contacts a
little differently from other operating
systems. Your People Hub doesn’t just
store your friends’ phone numbers – each
entry allows you to phone, text, chat,
write on their Facebook wall, mention
them on Twitter or email them in just a
few taps of the screen. The more social
networks you add to your device, the
more populated and newsy this hub
becomes.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Post to everyone
You can post an update to as many social networks as you want in just one message. Scroll to the ‘Me’ tile and press ‘post an update’. From there you can edit which social networks you want the update posted to
Personalise who sees what
In the case of Facebook you can also edit who can access the post – friends, other contacts or you can set as a public post for anyone
Download the apps
Windows Phone 8 has fantastic in-built support for all the social networks you could want but you should also download the full apps to enjoy all their special features. The Facebook app lets you link your uploaded photos to your lock screen; LinkedIn gives you desktop like info such as who’s been viewing your profile recently and the Windows Phone Twitter app is possibly the most elegantly designed app for the site available
Link with Facebook, Twitter
and LinkedIn, and check out
what friends are posting in
any and all
›
You can alter the sound notifications
for incoming texts, instant messages and
emails – perfect if you’re waiting for that
important email.
TRY THIS
sound desIgn
Start it up
When you access your home screen you’ll spot the familiar Internet Explorer icon so you can start straight away
Internet Explorer 10
The fastest version of Windows Phone yet. Tap a hyperlink from anywhere to launch the browser and view the page
See more on your smartphone
The address bar of the built-in web browser appears at the bottom of your screen in order to save space, so you can see more of the web and less of the browser frame
Improved smart address bar
The address bar suggests website names as you start to type. Your phone matches content from your favourites, browsing history and what’s popular on Bing to predict what you want
Get desktop-like internet on
your Windows Phone
browser
1›
Hold down on a link2›
Select Open in new tab3›
To view all open tabs, tap the ellipsis4›
Select the tab you want to switch to5›
You can open up to six tabs, so press ‘X’ to close anyE
verybody loves to browse
the web and share links with
friends and Windows Phone
has made it even simpler. Your
device’s built-in browser shares
many key features of Internet
Explorer 10 such as the smart address bar,
tabbed browsing and the ability to delete
browsing history.
What’s new
It has also been optimised with features
like landscape view, you can also have up
to six sites open at a time and add any site
to your home screen or favourites in a few
taps of the screen.
SmartScreen Filter protects you from
malicious websites too so you can be
sure that your device isn’t at risk from
malware.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
browser
›
Do you have a favourite website?
Remember that you can pin a url to your
home screen by tapping ‘...’ in the bottom
right of the browser, giving you quick
access to the content you love the most.
TRY THIS
pinneD to youR heaRt
Keyboard designed for web use
Tap and hold the ‘.com’ key on your onscreen keyboard and you’ll be able to choose from ‘.org’, ‘.edu’ or ‘.net’ as required
Less is more
Internet Explorer 10 is extremely touch-friendly allowing you to do a lot in just a few clicks – you can share interesting links, save web images and pin pages to your home screen in a jiffy. Pinch to zoom, tap images to go full screen or nudge pages to make text fill the space
Tap + Send webpages
You can share a webpage using the Tap+Send function in your phone, if it’s NFC-enabled. All you have to do is tap your phone against another NFC handset – the phone will vibrate and you’ll get a popup telling you the url has been passed on
Create a super-calendar
The Windows Phone calendar supports Google, Yahoo!, Hotmail and Microsoft Exchange calendars, as well as Facebook birthdays and event invites, even if you haven’t responded to them. You can disable the Facebook events if it gets too much – or simply clear the events by tapping on them, hitting the ‘reply’ icon at the bottom and confirming your non-attendance
Customised group calendars
If you’ve shared a calendar with a Room of selected friends (p106) it’ll show up here too. Calendars are colour-coded to help you keep track of what’s going on and with whom
Stay on top of appointments
Set reminders for to-do tasks as well as events. They’ll pop up on your lock screen with a friendly blip. Or, just head into your Day view to see a one-liner detailing how many appointments and to-do’s you have for the current day
Create events, make
to-do lists and send
meeting invitations
fromhere
calendar
1›
Tap the plus symbol3›
Tap ‘Add Attendees’ and add away4›
Repeat till everyone is invitedL
ike most built-in Windows Phone
8 apps, the Calendar is not simply
a calendar app, but also the home
of overall agenda-related features.
So your calendar isn’t just a handy
date finder, it’s also where you can
save your to-do lists and invite friends or
colleagues
to events.
As a calendar though, it’s incredibly
comprehensive, showing appointments that
you’ve saved in your Google, Hotmail and
Microsoft Exchange accounts, as well as
events you’ve been invited to on Facebook,
and even upcoming friends’ birthdays, also
pulled from Facebook.
Making it happen
It’s also ridiculously simple to get it to do all
this – on setup you’ll be asked to input any
social network and email account details
that you have, which (almost) instantly pulls
associated events into the Calendar tile.
Didn’t do all that on setup? Just head into
Settings and select email+accounts to add
what you need.
master
in minuTes
invite a friend to your event
2›
Tap ‘more Details’5›
To remove someone, hold down their nameWINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
View your life any way you want
Handy daily and monthly views help you see at a glance what you’re doing, while the Agenda view lists all the events you have coming up and when they are
Create mass events
The Calendar is where you can schedule meetings, organise parties and generally get people to congregate in a single place. Just fill in your event details, noting if you’d like a reminder, and start adding members from your phone book. When you save the event, the Calendar will email the invitation
It’s on the Start screen
The Calendar is a powerful Live Tile that automatically shows your upcoming appointments
Keep track of tasks
Here’s where you can also make a to-do list, saved to the Hotmail you activated the Windows Phone with. You can select a due date and an accompanying reminder, as well as sort tasks by priority levels. Clear those tasks by holding down on them in the to-do view and selecting ‘complete’ or ‘delete’
calendar
›
Stay on top of engagements by putting
your Calendar on the lock screen. Just hit
Settings, Lock Screen, and select Calendar
to show ‘detailed status’.
TRY THIS
Instant SkyDrive account
All Office documents are saved to the SkyDrive online storage, accessible from anywhere with internet. Once you’ve activated your Windows Phone with your Microsoft email, a SkyDrive account will automatically be linked to the email
Attachments all here
Email attachments you download and open are automatically saved here, easily accessible from the landing screen
Backing up made easy
Any changes or new documents you create are saved in real-time to your SkyDrive, so you’ll never need to actually save a file before you do something else
office
1›
In the document to be sent, tap the ellipsis2›
Select‘Share’ ‘Tap + Send’
3›
Then another NFC4›
Hold to phone until you hear a chime5›
Finally, the receiver must select ‘Accept’M
icrosoft has always
been the don of
office software on
the PC, and the
Office tile brings
that in a big way
to Windows Phone 8. The Office Hub
contains mobile-optimised versions of
Word and Excel, each with a full-fat set
of features, as well as Office 365 and
SharePoint for anyone whose company
uses these online office tools.
SkyDrive and OneNote
Two additional apps round off Office –
OneNote is for those on-the-go memos,
while SkyDrive is the foundation that
enables the coolest features of Office,
like the ability to edit a file on one
Windows device then pick up exactly
where you left off on another.
Like Word, Excel and PowerPoint,
OneNote notes are also saved in
real-time to SkyDrive, to be easily accessed
anywhere you use SkyDrive.
master
IN mINuTeS
Send files instantly
Work anywhere with remote
access
Tap to add a SharePoint address, and collaborate online with business colleagues
hub
on SkyDrive p118
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Swipe interface
The standard Windows Phone user interface is as pleasingly slick in Office, with a simple swipe left showing recent documents opened
Search any and all files
In Office, you can search for documents saved in SkyDrive and your phone, as well as to-do lists and notes you made in shared Rooms
Tap and send – anything
Built-in NFC technology allows your Windows Phone 8 to instantly transfer files – photos, webpages, documents, contacts and more – to any other NFC phone. Just make sure it’s turned on in ‘Settings’
PowerPoint access
There isn’t a full PowerPoint app in Office, but you can view PowerPoint presentations that have been sent to you. You can make minor edits as well
Create and edit on your phone,
pick up where you left off on
your tablet and instantly back
up files in real-time
›
The first time you try to open a PDF file, say,
in an email attachment, Windows Phone will
prompt you to download a PDF Reader. Once
you do, PDFs can be found in that app.
TRY THIS
PDF aleRT
Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents can
be accessed on your Windows Phone, with
each app optimised for gorgeous rendering
on the WP8 OS. A refreshed design and
fine-tuned backend technology make it slick
and streamlined to use, and all documents,
whether in SkyDrive or downloaded from
emails, automatically turn up here.
Word, Excel and PowerPoint...
Word
Navigate long documents
Tap the icon to view every sub-heading and skip ahead easily in long documents
Add notes to self
Tap on a word to select it, then press the speech bubble to highlight the word and add a comment – whether it’s for amendments later or simply a reminder
Emphasise important stuff
Tap the paintbrush to get access to bold, italicised and underlined words, as well as strike-out, superscript and subscript. You can change the font and highlight colours too
Move between phone and online
Tap Save As to save a file from SkyDrive to your phone and vice versa
Copy and paste
Tap on any word to select it, then drag the corners to select text and tap the copy icon that appears
OneNote
Though not part of Office Hub, OneNote works seamlessly with your online office. You can save memos as audio recordings, photos, and good old typing.
on OneNote p112
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
›
On a small screen, cells with lots of words are hard
to read. Hold down on these cells and select ‘View
Cell Text’ to get a reading panel with larger font.
Tapping another cell displays its contents there too.
TRY THIS
Read lOng TexT easily
Word, Excel and PowerPoint...
PowerPoint
You can’t create PowerPoint presentations, but you can view them and make minor edits to your speaker’s notes. A new graphics engine renders visuals in sharp clarity
Excel
Navigate easily
View all spreads in a sheet set to skip ahead to the bit you want
Calculate like a genius
Write algorithmic masterpieces just like on desktop Excel and hit auto-sum to instantly add up a selected range of cells
Slick touch controls
Select a range of cells simply by tapping and dragging the corners to the bit you want. You can then apply Excel magic to your data like Sort or Format cells
Make a chart
Or several – this graph icon lets you make a column, line, pie or other chart based on your selected data cells
Format your cells
You can designate particular cells to only ever contain money values, percentage values or dates so that whatever you input is automatically in that format
Ready to go
Scroll down your home screen and you’ll notice that your Games Hub tile is already pinned there. Nudge the tile and you’ll see a selection of games for you to try out
Xbox Live and kicking
The best part about your Windows Phone 8 device is that it is seamlessly integrated with the Xbox Live service. An Xbox Live account is the online service for Xbox 360 owners which allows you to download new demos, play games online with friends, stream HD video and much more
Over achievers welcome
As you play games you unlock points and listed on your profile page you’ll see how many ‘Gs’ you’ve racked up playing all those great games. Tap the trophy symbol to see the achievements you’ve unlocked
Find, download
and play the best
new games
gaming
1›
Tap thegames tile your finger
2›
Swipe across the screen to the ‘Friends’ tile3›
Tap theplus sign your friend’s
4›
Enter Xbox Live gamertag5›
Add your friend to your friends’ listY
our Games Hub is your
one stop shop for all things
gaming on your Windows
Phone 8 device. With it
you can demo the latest
and best-rated games,
download new and exciting titles in an
instant and connect with your friends
over Xbox Live.
The games you install to your
handset will automatically be backed
up to the cloud along with your other
apps, so if you change handsets all the
games you’ve downloaded will be there
when you login.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Message your friends
Xbox Live has its own instant messaging service, made even easier using the onscreen touch- screen keyboard of your Windows Phone. Access the Friends tile and you’ll see your entire contact list. If you spot a friend you want to message, simply tap their username and select ‘send message’ and type away
Compare games with friends
Gamerscores are great an encouraging a little healthy competition. If you want you can sneak a peak at what you’re friends have played by swiping you finger left across the screen until you come to the Friends tile and tap the friend you want to compare games with
gaming
›
You can change the look of your Xbox Live
avatar at any time. Press the t-shirt icon and
install the Xbox Extras app and dress the mini
you up in whatever styles you like.
try this
Once you get the hang of using the Games Hub, you’ll want to
explore and download from the extensive catalogue of games on
offer. It’s all a matter of what you love and you can choose from the
very best action and adventure, platform, role playing, racing and
puzzle games, and many more besides.
1›
Tap the Games tile2›
In the games collection tap ‘try now’ under a title3›
On the game’s page tap ‘try’4›
The game will then start to download5›
After installation you can ‘purchase full game’master
In mInuTes
Download a game demo
Learn how to use the games store
Find new games
Access the Games tile and on the front page tap ‘get more games,’ or swipe your finger left across the screen until you spot the ‘Games Store’ tile, then tap it. This is where you’ll find all the games you’ll ever need
Look for your favourite types of game
You might love one type of game more than another and there’s a simple way to navigate the thousands of games on offer. Once in the Games Store, swipe your finger left across the screen and you’ll find a list of game genres. So if you’re addicted to platform games, puzzles or want a go at the latest racer you’ll know exactly where to look
Games for any budget
From the Games Store home page you can select from the top free games, best rated and great new Xbox titles. Even the top paid-for apps come with a free demo so you can try it out if you’re watching your pennies
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Learn how to use the games store
Collections
You can also use the Game Store interface to browse the collections of apps in the Store. Tap ‘Collections’ and choose from helpful app groupings like TV, music and film for media buffs; ‘Reading room’ has top apps for book lovers and ‘essentials’ covers must-have apps like Facebook, Netflix and Amazon
Especially for you
The more you do with your phone, the smarter it gets at suggesting new downloads. From the Games Store, tap ‘picks for you’ then tap the screen again for personalised suggestions
›
Connect your Microsoft and Facebook accounts
to Bing and your phone can suggest new apps,
recommend places to eat or visit and show deals
you might enjoy.
TRY THIS
Bing
Slash the fruit with ninja precision (left) or smash those dastardly piggies in Angry Birds (below)
Elementary, Holmes
Your Windows Phone should have a physical search button in the bottom right corner, shaped like a magnifying glass. A quick tap will take you straight to this Bing search screen
Did you know ...?
The Bing screen’s wallpaper constantly updates with cool images from around the web. You can often discover fun facts about each image hidden on the screen – just find and tap the square-shaped hotspots
Just say it
You can tap the search box to type in your search terms with the virtual keyboard, or tap this microphone icon to bring up voice search. Simply speak what you wish to search for, and Bing will get to it
From sourcing a bar to
identifying a song you
like, Bing’s got it covered
voice
Search and
1›
When searching, you’ll see a Google-style list of sites2›
Scroll down to browse and see a brief description3›
Flick left to search for local businesses, e.g pubs4›
Tap to expand the map and find what you need5›
Flick again for photos to match search termsW
indows Phone’s
built-in search tool
is called ‘Bing’, and
it’s a quick and easy
way to search for
apps and files on
your phone, as well as anything you
can imagine on the internet. But, its
powers go way beyond discovering a
website about your favourite band, or
working out why your cat constantly
coughs up furballs.
Find it all
Bing can also swiftly search out the
best bars and restaurants in your area,
soothe you with an ever-changing slide
show of amazing images, and even
translate foreign text – a great relief
when you’re stuck in a café in distant
lands with no English menu in sight.
WINDOWS PHONE 8
THE baSIcS
Local hero
In a new town or city? Tap the ‘Local Scout’ icon and you’ll be presented with a map showing you nearby places to eat, drink, shop and kill a few hours, complete with user reviews and opening hours
Name that tune
If there’s a song playing on the radio or in the pub, and you’re going crazy trying to remember what it’s called or who sings it, check out Bing Music. Simply tap this music note icon, and Bing Music listens to the song and tells you what it is. If the song’s available in the online store, you’ll get a link to buy it too
Scan for more info
Cleverly, Bing can even scan a product’s barcode to give you more information on a product, including online prices. Just tap the Bing Vision icon and then scan the barcode using your phone’s camera. You can also scan QR codes this way, or even chunks of text from a book, to copy into an email or translate into another language
voice
›
Some search terms give you ‘instant
answers’ results. For example, search for
‘weather’ and you’ll be presented with a
forecast for your local area. Try searching
for a flight number or your stocks too.
TRY THIS
Start it up
The first thing you’ll see when your trusty tablet boots up is the Start Screen, as shown here. This is your main hub to all of your content, from the internet to your music and movies. For more information on each section of the Start screen, just turn the page!
Tiles, tiles, tiles
As you can see, the interface of Windows 8 RT takes a rather hefty leaf from Windows Phone 8’s book. The Start screen is covered in tiles, which are basically miniature gateways to all of the apps (programs) you have installed on your tablet. You can move them around simply by holding your finger on them and dragging
Big or small
Just like Windows Phone 8, you can resize the tiles so your most important ones are large and rectangular and the rest are more compact, square-sized tiles. This also helps to add some diversity to the Start Screen, so it isn’t just a grid of rectangles. See our ‘Tip’ to find out how
Your first look at
the beauty of
Windows 8 RT, a special
version for tablets
over view
Tablets
1›
Buy a protective case to keep it scratch-free2›
First make a note of your tablet’s screen size3›
You can find a selection of generic tablet cases.4›
Also try online stores, which often offer a better deal5›
And use a soft cloth for cleaning the screenW
indows 8 on a tablet
looks rather similar to
Windows 8 on a phone,
as they both use the
same ‘tile’ interface.
Play around with
Windows 8 RT (the name given to this
special tablet-only version of Windows
8) and you’ll find surprising depth and
plenty of excellent tools hidden away
beneath the surface, just waiting to be
uncovered. Here’s what you’ll see when
you first turn on your Windows 8 tablet,
so let us give you some more insight into
this fantastic new operating system.
WINDOWS 8
The baSIcS
Live update
Another similarity with Windows Phone 8 is the way the tiles update in real time with new information. For instance, the weather tile actually shows the latest weather update right there on the tile, so you only need to tap the tile if you want a more in-depth forecast
In with the new
Whenever you install a new app, its tile is automatically added to the right-most edge. If you have so many tiles that they flow off the right edge of the screen, you’ll need to scroll along by swiping your finger in order to see them
Shuffle around
Don’t worry if you don’t like the layout of your tiles, as you can move them around and group similar tiles together. Simply swipe your finger across the tile you wish to move, to bring up the apps menu (see the ‘Pro Tip’ below)
over view
›
If there’s a tile that you want to move
or resize, do a small swipe up or down it
with your finger. The apps menu will pop
up and from here you can choose to unpin
it from the Start Screen, resize it, or uninstall
it entirely.
TRY THIS
Look at all the People
The People tile is your address book and social hub, giving you essential info on all of your buddies as well as their latest social shenanigans through websites such as Twitter and Facebook
SkyDrive
You’ve probably heard the term ‘cloud computing’, which is basically a way of storing and backing up your important photos and files online. SkyDrive is Microsoft’s version, accessible whenever your tablet is online
Search me
The ‘Search’ tool allows you to quickly find a specific app, file or contact on your tablet, or head online to find the answer to a burning question. You can also search the Windows store for apps and media
The Start screen is your
hub to your apps and
amazing features
start screen
1›
To share a pic, file or site, go to what you plan to share2›
Swipe from the far right to get the Charms menu3›
Tap the ‘Share’ icon, just below the ‘Search’ icon.4›
To share with a contact on your tablet, tap on them5›
Or or enter their email address to email itN
ow that we’ve taken a
quick look at Windows
8 for tablets, let’s delve
under the surface of
the Start Screen and
see what incredible
functionality we uncover. There are
tons of fantastic nifty features that
might not be obvious the first time you
look, but are lurking there just waiting
to be discovered. For instance, the
brand new ‘Charms’ bar hides just
off-screen but can quickly be summoned
for searching your tablet and the web,
sharing great things you’ve found with
friends and family, and adjusting your
tablet’s settings.
master
in minuTeS
Share something exciting with friends
Tablets
Return to the Start
If you’re in an app, you can quickly return back to the Start screen by tapping the ‘Start’ button in the Charms menu. This simply minimises the app rather than shutting it down: you can re-enter at any time by tapping the app’s tile
WINDOWS 8
The baSIcS
A true charmer
Position your finger to the right of the screen and swipe towards the middle of the tablet, and the Charms bar appears. This is a pop-out menu containing the excellent Search and Share tools, as well as access to your tablet settings
Behind the scenes
This ‘Settings’ button gives you access to the tablet’s set-up, including wireless connectivity, screen brightness and volume. To find out more, turn the page
start screen
›
Microsoft frequently updates
Windows to fix security concerns and
improve performance. On the Charms bar,
tap ‘Settings’ and then ‘Power’ down at
the bottom. If an update is available, you’ll
be asked if you wish to install it before the
tablet shuts down
TRY THIS
uPdateS ahOy
Tinker with your Tiles
The Tiles settings allow you to hide or display Windows 8 RT’s administrative tiles, which can troubleshoot your system, clean up your system drive and give you information on your tablet’s hardware
Help me!
If you need extra information about any part of the Windows OS, the Help menu inside the Settings is the place to go. This gives you step-by-step guides to completing a wide range of tasks, no matter how complex. You’ll need to be online to use it, however, as the guides are stored on Microsoft’s website
Get online
Some of the best uses for a tablet include browsing the web, checking your emails and downloading new apps, all of which require internet access. This Network icon gets you connected to a wireless network (see ‘Master In Minutes’ below for a full guide)
Power me down
When you’re done with your tablet, shutting it down properly instead of putting it into hibernation will prevent the battery from draining. Hit this Power icon and you can shut it down straight away
Typists’ corner
If you’re regularly bashing out emails or Office documents, you’ll want to configure the virtual on-screen keyboard so it’s set up just the way you like. This Keyboard icon allows you to change the keyboard language and bring it up on-screen. You can then tweak the layout or even replace it with a handwriting tool by tapping the button in the bottom right corner of the keyboard
Get your tablet
looking just the
way you like it
personalise
1›
Gain wireless access to the Windows Store2›
Bring up Charms, Settings; tap the Network icon3›
A list of local wireless networks will appear4›
Find yours in the list and give it a tap5›
If it is password protected, enter the passwordY
ou’ve learned your way
around your shiny new
tablet’s Start screen, and
now you’re ready to delve
into a mountain of apps,
media and, of course, the
World Wide Web. But before you get
stuck in, there are a couple of quick
bits you can do to get online and give
your portable pal a personal touch.
master
IN mINuteS
Get online
WINDOWS 8
The baSIcS
Configure your tab
Inside the ‘Charms’ menu (see previous page) you will find the Settings tab. This is your one-stop shop for tweaking your tablet’s settings, from display brightness to volume to network connectivity
Turn it up
Next to the Network icon you’ll find the Sound icon. This is used to change the volume of the tablet, so you can turn it up if you’re enjoying a movie in your lounge, or knock it down if you’re out in public. Alternatively, your tablet should have physical volume controls on the side
Bright spark
Next up is the Display icon. Give this a tap and you can change how bright your tablet’s screen is. Turning it right up if you’re outdoors or in a brightly lit room can make the display easier to read, but also saps your tablet’s battery quicker
personalise
›
Any unread messages, tablet updates
and other important titbits appear in the
‘notifications’ area. To access it, hit the
Settings option in the Charms menu and
the icon is at the bottom.
TRY THIS
noTifiCATionS
Get started
Your Windows 8 tablet comes with a Games tile preinstalled on the homescreen. This is where you can access the games you’ve downloaded onto your device
Games for everyone
The Store is full of puzzle games, platformers, racing games and much more to keep you entertained. Tap the Store and swipe along to the ‘games’ section; there you’ll find the best new releases and amazing free games
Xbox Live on your tablet
The Games tile is also full of great Xbox titles for you to choose from, both free and paid for and usually with a free demo sampler to whet your appetite. Once you download a game, it’s yours to install on up to five other Windows 8 devices
Connect to your friends
Your Windows 8 device allows you to connect to your Xbox Live account, accumulate more points to your gamerscore and talk to your Xbox friends in an instant
Touch and go
Your tablet device’s large and responsive touchscreen is ideal for fun mini games like Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja
Download fun new games to
your Windows 8 tablet for the
ultimate gaming experience
gaming
1›
Tap on the Storetile .along the screen to the
2›
Swipe your finger Games page3›
Nudge theGames option subcategory and price
4›
Select a range5›
Choose your game and install to your tabletY
our Windows 8 tablet can
handle anything you care
to throw at it, including
the brilliant games on offer
in the Game Store and on
Xbox Live. Gaming on
a tablet also has the advantage of a
bigger screen and top notch processing
power.
Navigating and downloading is
simple, and you can shop around for
the best new releases, free apps and try
out games you like the look of before
you commit to buy.
master
iN miNuTeS
Download a game to your Windows 8 tablet
WINDOWS 8
The baSIcS
gaming
›
You can turn your Windows 8 device into
a remote control for your Xbox 360 games
console using the SmartGlass app. Turn to
page 114 for more.
TRY THIS
XboX remoTe
Browse the latest game releases on your Windows 8 tablet
Take a look at the games on offer for Xbox Live
