Windows 10 Mobile news recap: UpdateAdvisor, Word Flow keyboard, and more

Ron

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This past week we learned about a new Windows 10 Mobile tablet that ditches the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip for a Rockchip RK3288W processor. The device is called Pipo U8T and features 1GB of memory, 16GB of storage, a 7.85-inch 1024×768 display, and it runs Windows 10 Mobile, rather than Windows 10.

A concept design for Windows 10 Mobile west absolutely viral this past week. Designed by Robson Jobs, this design concept adds the finishing touches and design tweaks to make Windows 10 Mobile the operating system it should have been from the start. Check out the concepts here.

It’s been over a year since Microsoft introduced the Call + SMS for Windows Phone, allowing users to block unwanted calls and messages. However, it appears Microsoft is finally saying goodbye to the Call + SMS Filter app for Windows 10 Mobile in favor of Block and Filter feature, which is built-in within the operating system. An update to the Call + SMS Filter app added a note telling users to switch over to Block and Filter.

Microsoft released an update to the Windows Insider app on Windows 10 Mobile and one of the big features includes the ability to opt out of the Insider program without having to perform a hard reset to roll back to the standard production build of Windows 10 Mobile. Previously, if you had an Insider build of Windows 10 Mobile on your phone, the only way to revert to the production track was to perform a hard reset or use the Windows Device Recovery Tool. Obviously, this feature only works on the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL (and perhaps the Lumia 550 too).

Microsoft announced that Skype would be offering free group video calling on Android, iOS, and Windows 10 Mobile. This is part of Microsoft’s ten years of Skype video calling” celebration.

Oliver Fuh has begun dissecting Windows 10 Mobile in a new video series. In the first two videos, Oliver takes a deeper look at music discovery and offline music filtering in Groove Music. You can watch both episodes below.

Cricket Wireless really wants you to buy the Lumia 640, launching a new promotion that offers the budget friendly device for $59.99. You will need to purchase up to five new phone lines with your service, however.

Even though Microsoft hasn’t officially announced a release date for Windows 10 Mobile (although the new OS is starting to trickle out around the world), using the UpdateAdvisor for Windows Phone should get any user ready for the release when it does happen. With the UpdateAdvisor app, Microsoft begins prepping older Windows Phone 8 and 8.1 devices for the new Windows 10 Mobile experience. As epic as the preparation may sound, the app is anything but, with its Spartan-like design and minimal list of functions.

Zac Bowden has some new Mozo shells for his Lumia 550 and he has recorded an unboxing as well as his first look at these cases. Watch it below.

Probably the biggest story of the week has to do with the Word Flow keyboard from Microsoft. Up until now, this was one of the unique features to Windows Phone. Not anymore. Microsoft has sent an email out to Windows Insiders informing them that this keyboard will soon arrive on other platforms, starting with iOS. You can read all about that here.

Stay tuned for another exciting week of Windows 10 Mobile news.