Software : New notifications centre reportedly spotted in Windows Phone build

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New notifications centre reportedly spotted in Windows Phone build Posted: Microsoft may be preparing to add a notifications centre feature to a forthcoming Windows Phone update, judging by a test build of the OS which has reportedly broken free. A Reddit user claimed to have purchased a Nokia Lumia 920 handset from eBay containing an internal, unreleased version of the software that may be the first look at the Windows Phone Blue update. The screenshots captured by the Lumia owner show the notification centre, the ability to organise apps into a 'most used' category, as well as a newly-modified calendar app that shows a weekly view. It also looks like Microsoft is testing an improvement to Windows Phone multitasking, allowing users to close down apps by hitting a cross when swiping through the apps in use. Feeling Blue? It's entirely possible that this handset features a host of test apps that may go no further, but Microsoft has been plotting a notifications portal for some time, saying it 'ran out of time' to get it done before WP8. Windows Phone Blue, an update expected later this year, would be the most likely time to introduce the feature perhaps the Reddit user has his hands on an early build of the software. Naturally, Microsoft has declined to comment on the 'rumour and speculation.'

Google reportedly maps a route to beat Facebook to Waze app purchase Posted: Google is close to agreeing a billion dollar deal to buy the popular navigation app Waze, according to reports this weekend. The Globes business newspaper, in the start-up's home country of Israel, claimed that Google has beaten out competition from Facebook with an offer of around $1.3 billion (around UK£0.84, AUD$1.36). Waze is a community-sourced app, with users uploading real-time traffic, accident, police presence and gas price information, while maps themselves are also edited by groups of users. The company reportedly rejected a takeover offer from Apple to assist its Apple Maps platform, before Google and Facebook revealed their interest. Boost It was thought that Facebook had a deal in place to buy the Waze back in May, but talks fell through according to recent reports. If a deal is completed, it'll allow Google to boost its own market-leading turn-by-turn navigation services, while also eliminating one of its only real competitors. So far Google has declined to comment on the reports, so we'll wait for the official word.

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