2. How the idea of the BulBul came to you?
In a world where information is growing exponentially, we felt the need to have a system that smartly filters and picks the news relevant to you. The result was the creation of BulBul. Bulbul extracts news from Twitter and presents them to users in a smart, categorized format, relevant to his location and interests. Click here to download and learn more about BulBul.

3. Why you decided to implement this idea specifically on Windows Phone?
We believe that Windows has a promising future. We expect it to grow and expand further in the market as more and more people will start using it.

4. What resources on Microsoft or community side you found most helpful while working on the app? Could you please take us on a quick tour to understand your application better?
Windows has some options that simplifies and at the same time enhances our app options. First, there is the Live Tile, which enables you to get notifications from the app without having to open it. Second we have the Pivot option, which allows its users to scroll page through page. In addition to the App Bar which can display important features in the app like “Favorites.”. Bulbul makes use of the push notification feature, which allows relevant news to be pushed instantaneously to user.

5. What are your interests behind technology?
I look at technology as the fuel for innovation.  With every new technology introduced, ample innovative ideas gets created.

6. What would you advise to Developers in the region who also would like to become #MEAHero?
Think global and deliver locally relevant content.

7. Where the community can catch up with you online or offline?
People can follow FOO on Facebook or twitter (@foobytes)

From the second you lay eyes on the 8X and 8S you know that these are no ordinary smartphones. Both phones are really, really thin (around 10mm), and look and feel even thinner due to the sweeping curve of the edge and caseback. That curve is the  key reason both the 8S and 8X feel so good in your hand. Pick one up and it perfectly conforms to your hand.

Both phones go big on color, albeit in different ways. Every Windows Phone 8S is two-tone polycarbonate. The one I tested was called Fiesta Red, and you can also get it in Atlantic Blue, a really slick Domino Black and white color combo, and something HTC is calling High-Rise Gray & Yellow, which has a pavement-gray body. It’s totally different from anything else you’ll find on the market today.

All Windows Phone 8X’s are monochrome, unibody polycarbonate. They’re coming in California Blue, and Flame Red, a super-deep Graphite Black, and “Limelight Yellow”, which is the same color as the chin on the Highline Gray 8S. These colors are bright, bold, totally unique.

The display on the 8S is a 4-inch SuperLCD Gorilla Glass display, which means it’s easy to read in almost every lighting condition and resistant to scratches and drops. The 8X goes even further with a SuperLCD 2 720p 4.3-inch display that’s readable everywhere, even in direct bright sunlight. It’s made from Gorilla Glass 2, which makes it even stronger and lighter than the almost-bulletproof 8S display. Both displays are laminated to reduce glare.

We all know that specs are important but they’re certainly not everything, so let’s get them out of the way first. The Windows Phone 8S has a dual-core 1 GHz processor – fast for all but the most intense of power users – a 5MP rear camera, and 4GB of internal storage. There’s also a microSD slot so you can add as much storage space as you need.

The Windows Phone 8X bumps the processor up to dual core 1.5 GHz, 16GB of storage, and two amazing cameras. On the back, you get a backside-illuminated 8MP camera that shoots full 1080p video, and on the front you get a 2.1MP, 1080p capable camera that has an 88 degree viewing angle. You can comfortably fit about 4 people into the shot on one Skype call, which is a huge improvement over most other front-facing cameras.

Both cameras have an F2.0 aperture, which translated into English means you get clean, noise-free images in low-light situations like dimly lit restaurants.

Last, but not least, the Windows Phone 8X has a dedicated image chip, which means you can fire up the camera almost instantly and take back-to-back pictures in rapid succession with basically zero lag.  

Both the Windows Phone 8X and 8S have Beats Audio, too, so your music is clear and crisp, with high trebles, clear vocals, and deep bass. The 8X also has two dedicated amplifiers (one for the headphone jack and one for the speaker) to make playback even more awesome. 

Finally, The Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC are the result of months of collaboration between Microsoft and HTC, and the result is really impressive. All in all, seriously good stuff that rocks Windows Phone 8.

I’ve had a W1 for about a week, and I’m really happy with it so far. The W1 fits great in my pocket, and it feels really nice to hold. It’s thin (about 10mm) but not toothin to hold comfortably, and the matte, textured caseback makes it easy to grip. I found the display sharp and responsive, and text, graphics and video were clear and bright.

The Huawei Ascend W1 is available in blue, red, black and white in Russia and Asia starting this month, and it’s coming to the rest of the world soon after. If you’re looking to get your first smartphone (or upgrading to Windows Phone from an old iPhone or Android device), the Ascend W1 is going to give you a lot of value for your dollar. It looks great, offers solid performance, and comes with all of the awesome stuff you expect from Windows Phone 8.

The phone, called the Huawei 4Afrika, is the first in a series of smart devices being custom developed for the continent and released as part of Microsoft’s sweeping new 4Afrika Initiative, which also kicked off today. (Check out this blog post and website for more details.)

Designed specifically as an affordable option for students, small businesses, developers, and first-time smartphone owners, the Huawei 4Afrika with Windows Phone 8 will make its debut later this month in seven countries: Angola, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. As you can see from these shots, it’s not only affordable but stylish—available in blue, red, black, and white.

Under the hood, the new phone is a variant of the Ascend W1, which we blogged about when it launched at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show. It sports a 4-inch 480 x 800 display, dual-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon processor, front and rear-facing cameras, and 4GB of internal storage—all squeezed into a 10 millimeter-thin case. According to Huawei, the phone delivers a whopping 420 hours of standby time (that’s a tad over two straight weeks, folks) thanks to its built-in power-saving technology.

The phone also comes preloaded with custom apps created by African developers for African consumers and feature a market-specific store within the larger Windows Phone Store for downloading locally-relevant apps and content.

Maybe you’re wondering: Why Africa? As many observers have noted, interest and demand for smartphones and other enabling technologies is ramping up fast there. “We believe there has never been a better time to invest in Africa and that access to technology—particularly cloud services and smart devices—can and will serve as a great accelerator for African competitiveness,” Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, noted today in a statement. In addition, some analysts predict smartphones and other wireless devices will increasingly serve as the primary way most Africans access the Internet.

By the way, this isn’t the only Windows Phone making inroads in Africa. Windows Phone already has a strong presence in Africa with devices from HTC, Samsung, and Nokia. In fact, another part of this broad 4Afrika initiative is a joint Nokia and Microsoft customer training program in Kenya and Nigeria to help accelerate adoption of Nokia Lumia 510 and 620 phones. More than 90% of phones sold today in those markets are feature phones, so Microsoft and Nokia are teaming up to provide free in-store training for customers to help them get the most from their new Lumias and manage their new data plans.  

If you live in Africa and already own a Windows Phone, let us know what you think!

Ranked first in the new+rising games category, featured in an online Italian Windows Phone Magazine, and with no idea that his game will be popular throughout the world, Nicolas Zaatar a Microsoft Student Partner from Lebanon has developed a very addictive and exciting Windows Phone game known as Burger Station. With Burger Station you get to test your skills as cooks, serving the high demand of burger lovers, your aim in the game is to fulfill as many orders as you can in the allotted time, making sure that you don’t burn the meat and satisfy the customer.

Make sure to try out the game at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/burger-station/ce86182b-fde3-437b-ad48-6eaa559f3ded 

2. How the idea of the #applicationname came to you?
The application was a mixture between my first game app on Windows Phone (Space Bubbles) and an idea that came to Mr. Ghassan Chahine, DPE at Microsoft Lebanon, while I was following the Windows Phone Development Program.

3. Why you decided to implement this idea specifically on Windows8/Windows Phone/Azure?
The idea was implemented as part of a number of required applications that must be completed in the Windows Phone Development Program.

4. What resources on Microsoft or community side you found most helpful while working on the app? Could you please take us on a quick tour to understand your application better?
The documentation for Windows Phone was exhaustive, and targeting beginners, which I was at the time, Charles Petzold’s “Programming Windows Phone” e-book is amazing, as well as Microsoft’s Dreamspark program, which is a great package solution for students wanting to develop and use amazing tools for this matter. The application is “FlyKiller” and it was developed on the XNA framework, which is conceived by Microsoft to provide a set of tools for game development. It consists of a multi-level game, in which the user must kill all the flies he can in order to win, each level consisting of a new challenge to take.

5. What are your interests behind technology?
Behind technology are the minds breaking through and the creation of innovative solutions so that others can fulfill their needs, thus making their lives easier. Programming is what enthuses me the most, and especially the mobile world which is recently becoming the trend for millions of people.

6. Any plans for news apps or projects in general?
Currently, I am developing Windows Phone Silverlight apps as part of my job, and developing interest in the research field on my free time.

7. What would you advise to Developers in the region who also would like to become #MEAHero?
I would advise them to start developing today. The tools are there, the community is growing bigger... All it takes is an idea.
 
8. Where the community can catch up with you online or offline?
They can reach me via email on: elie_abouzeid@hotmail.com, on facebook: www.facebook.com/elie.abouzeid, and via twitter on: @ElieAbouZeid

 Thank you!

3. Why you decided to implement this idea specifically on Windows8/Windows Phone/Azure?
The broad reach and appeal of Microsoft and its new windows 8 design and super cool functionalities, gave us all the reasons to move forward on this platform.

4. What resources on Microsoft or community side you found most helpful while working on the app?
MSDN documentation & questions raised in forums.

5. Could you please take us on a quick tour to understand your application better?
Sure, the app has many cool features including 24/7 live streaming and you report which is the citizen reporter function in addition to
- daily/weekly grid
- replay of previous episodes

6. What are your interests behind technology?
To build solid apps and increase user engagement.

7. Any plans for news apps or projects in general?
Absolutely, we have a few very exciting concepts in the works. We are in the process of doing our due diligence.

8. What would you advise to Developers in the region who also would like to become #MEAHero?

In any business, it is crucial to stay informed. More so in Technology then any other field. Read read read is a key advise I give to all developers. Stay up to date with the newest and best practices in the Mobile world.

9. Where the community can catch up with you online or offline?
Via email: zmorad@euriskomobility.com

1. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I’m the Director of Web Development at WhiteBeard, a 2-year-old startup in Beirut developing web applications, mobile applications, and enterprise system. I’ve been in the development field since 10 years before I finally decided to start the company with my partners and combine our efforts together.
2. How the idea of the #applicationname came to you?
L’Orient-Le Jour is one of our primary clients and it was only natural for their business model to be present on one of the most important platforms.
3. Why you decided to implement this idea specifically on Windows8/Windows Phone/Azure?
We first started developing the app on Windows Phone 7. The operating system’s interface was one of the main factors that made us dive into this and create one of the first regional applications for Windows Phone. As soon as Windows 8 started gaining public attention, we rushed to develop a version for Windows 8, since it is an unchallenged fact that the market base for Windows 8 will be in terms of billions of users.
4. What resources on Microsoft or community side you found most helpful while working on the app?Could you please take us on a quick tour to understand your application better?
Our application is a news application. We use several features such as push notifications, live tiles, local storage, photo viewer, video player, typography optimization, etc. The development tools from Microsoft were perfect to help us through the development process. Even though Windows 8 was at an early stage when we did our app, we found lots of help on MSDN, Microsoft forums, and StackOverflow.
5. What are your interests behind technology?
???
I’m personally interested in all things tech! Gadgets, phones, notebooks, tablets, phablets! You name it.
6. Any plans for news apps or projects in general?
We are definitely expanding our Windows and Windows Phone portfolio, along with other platforms of course. We believe there is great potential, and now is a great time to start.

7. What would you advise to Developers in the region who also would like to become #MEAHero? 
Come up with a great idea! We’ve seen a lot of repeated apps and unused ones just for a developer to show that he or she did something. What’s most important is the idea. Of course, you need good execution in terms of development and design. As a developer, never underestimate the power of your app’s design in making it grow and excel.
8. Where the community can catch up with you online or offline?
I’m available on Twitter: z_rudy, by e-mail on rudy.zeinoun@whitebeard.me. You can also pass by my office in WhiteBeard in Achrafieh, Sioufi street.

1. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I’m the IT Manager of An-Nahar Newspaper. I established the IT dept. at An-Nahar right after I graduated from AUB in 1995
2. How the idea of the #applicationname came to you?
An-Nahar Newspaper has to be reached and read on all platforms and mobile devices (smartphones/tablets)
3. Why you decided to implement this idea specifically on Windows8/Windows Phone/Azure?
I believe that Windows 8 is a promising OS and it’s going to be widely used as all Microsoft products.
4. What resources on Microsoft or community side you found most helpful while working on the app?Could you please take us on a quick tour to understand your application better?
I outsourced the development of the application and it was programmed and ready to use in no time due to the efficiency of Microsoft programming tools.
5. What are your interests behind technology?
Speed, mobility, reliability and availability
6. Any plans for news apps or projects in general?
The Newspaper app is already in the Windows Store.
7. What would you advise to Developers in the region who also would like to become #MEAHero?
Use Microsoft programing tools and get your apps. running
8. Where the community can catch up with you online or offline?
I live in both worlds

Are you ready to launch your Windows Store app at DEMO Mobile 2013?
If you have a Windows Store app idea, we want you to apply and compete for a chance to launch your app at DEMO Mobile on April 17th, 2013.

It’s easy to enter the challenge

1. Submit app prototype! This can be a video, a slideshare presentation, screenshots, whatever as long as it hits on the judging criteria
2. Get votes! Once your app prototype is approved, tweet the link using #windowschallenge and share it to collect votes (50% of your score will be based on public voting)

Prizes

First Prize: Top team will receive a free trip to San Francisco to launch at DEMO Mobile on April 17^th, 2013.

Second Prize: Top five teams will receive a marketing package to promote and launch the app

Third Prize: All semi-finalists will receive free design and technical support from experts

About the Challenge
This is a joint effort between Microsoft, Startup Weekend and DEMO to accelerate apps from prototype to development to launch.

Entre Period
The entry period ends on January 29, 2013. Please submit a prototype of your app here.

Questions
For other related inquiries and questions, go to our support group on Facebook or
email us at WindowsChallenge@microsoft.com. More information including the Official Rules can be found here.