Microsoft rolls out 'hollow' YouTube app for Windows Phone

Microsoft has updated its YouTube app for devices running its Windows Phone operating system—but the update is anything but.

Users of Windows Phone complained the latest version of the YouTube app, 3.2, would direct them to the browser for a basic, "barebones" YouTube experience.

"Unfortunately, the app has reverted back to its old web-player days, meaning if you click a YouTube link in email, MMS messages, etc. it will open YouTube in the browser. In fact, tapping the installed YouTube icon on your phone will simply redirect you to m.youtube.com for that not so premier experience," Windows Phone Central reported.

This meant "no more downloads, no more account management (without logging in), no notifications—just the barebones experience," WP Central added.


WP Central said this came months after a spat between Microsoft and Google over a YouTube app Microsoft developed for Windows Phone.

"Microsoft appeared to play by Google’s rules in making an app for their customers, but Google said it wasn’t good enough. Despite the differences, Microsoft famously released the app anyway to see what would happen. As it turns out, Google was none too happy and remotely killed the app through its access key," it said.

It added that if Microsoft is working on an official app, it may have to be in HTML5 Google wants for Windows Phone.

Should that be the case, WP Central said it may take "months before we see it land on the Store, if at all."

But for now, the site advised Windows Phone users to use third-party options like MetroTube, myTube or PrimeTube. — TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Microsoft rolls out Facebook app for low memory Windows phones

Microsoft has made a Facebook app for Windows Phone that can run on 256MB of RAM, Microsoft Windows Phone chief Joe Belfiore said.

This is good news for users of Microsoft's older or lower-end Windows Phone devices who could not access their Facebook accounts because of a low 256MB of RAM.

"New (Facebook) Beta for (Windows Phone 7 and 8). Not just bug fixes and (performance)... Also now available on 256MB phones!" Belfiore said in a post on his Twitter account Sunday, Manila time 

 

 

A description of the new app indicated it includes performance improvements and bug fixes for Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8 users. It is an 8MB download and works with Windows 7.5 and 8.

 

A separate article on “The Next Web” noted that with Facebook mobile usage is growing fast, "it is imperative for Microsoft to provide a native app for all customers."

 

 "As of May 2012, just 1.6 percent of apps were incompatible with 256MB phones, but that included one-quarter of Xbox Live titles and some significant apps, such as Facebook," it said. – KDM, GMA News 

 

source: gmanetwork.com

Google, Microsoft to work on YouTube app for Windows Phone (Whew!)

Following a row over an ad-free YouTube app for Windows Phone, Google and Microsoft have settled their differences on the matter and are working on a Google-approved app.

This would make sure users of Windows Phone would not be barred from watching YouTube videos from their devices, tech site Mashable reported.

"Microsoft and YouTube are working together to update the new YouTube for Windows Phone app to enable compliance with YouTube’s API terms of service, including enabling ads, in the coming weeks. Microsoft will replace the existing YouTube app in Windows Phone Store with the previous version during this time," Mashable quoted Microsoft as saying in a statement.

Earlier this month, Google - which owns YouTube - asked Microsoft to remove the YouTube app by May 22.

Microsoft complied and replaced the app with a previous version but it still did not support ads.

However, it pointed out it did not have the necessary technical tools that only Google has.

"Now it seems those requests got to the right people, and the two parties hashed things out," Mashable said.

 A separate article on The Next Web said Microsoft and Google may come out with the app in the coming weeks.

"(I)t appears that Google has finally agreed to play ball, though it’s not clear what Microsoft had to offer to pull off a deal. Ultimately, it appears that every Windows Phone user who uses YouTube will benefit from a Google-approved app," it added. — TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com