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Three of the MSN apps for Windows Phone have seen updates but unlike previous updates, we actually get a clue as to what was added or fixed!  The MSN Sports, MSN Travel and MSN Weather for Windows Phone apps have all seen updates that bring either performance improvements or bug fixes to each of them.  The updates, version 3.1.4.487 for MSN Travel and MSN Weather apps and 3.1.4.486 for the MSN Sports app for those keeping score at home, are available now in the Windows Phone store.  As these are all universal apps by definition in our Windows 8.1 world, these updates likely will make their way to the Windows App Store as well.  As of this writing, only MSN Travel was listed as an update.

For MSN Sports, the update squarely focuses on performance improvements in this update. What exactly was done to the app to improve the performance is not laid out in the Release Notes.

MSN Sports for Windows Phone – Free – Download Now

MSN Travel for Windows Phone – Free – Download Now

MSN Weather for Windows Phone – Free – Download Now

The Remote Desktop app for Windows Phone has been updated today, shedding the “preview” tag and added a few new features for users.  The update, version 8.1.8.13 for those keeping score at home, is what everyone should consider the first release of the app given it has been in preview (i.e. beta) for many, many months.  If you have the Remote Desktop app installed on your device, the update can be installed right over it so no need to uninstall/reinstall.

Remote Desktop app for Windows Phone – Free – Download Now

This week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona we have already seen some interesting developments for Windows and Windows Phone.  First, we saw the announcement of the new Lumia 640 and Lumia 640XL, two mid-range devices that Microsoft will be launching globally, including here in the United States.  On the same day we saw Microsoft discuss in great detail Universal apps and the architecture underneath those apps for all things running Windows 10.  That latter point has garnered a lot of attention as it should.  Microsoft is general and Windows Phone in particular has been a fragmented mess that the company has essentially rebooted three times now.  They have to get it right with Windows 10 for Phones and universal apps will be a key part of that success.  I’ve said as much in the past and continue to believe that is the case.  I’ve encouraged developers to keep the faith as universal apps will make their lives and the lives of consumers easier in a Windows 10 world.

But universal apps in themselves will not save Windows Phone.  If anyone reading this believe that is the case, I’m sorry, but you are misguided.  They will play a big role, but they cannot be the only thing that changes if the platform on mobile is to survive.  It will take a level of marketing that Microsoft has never done with Windows Phone, a commitment – with consequences – from carriers, and partnerships that may seem unholy but are necessary.  The problems with Windows Phone go much deeper than Universal apps and lack of developers.  It’s a fundamental perception problem.

Gartner has released their estimates of smartphone sales for 2014 and reveals, like IDC, that market share for Windows Phone is anemic when compared to iOS and Android.  The report, which can be found here, estimates that 35.133 million Windows Phones were sold in 2014.  That means it garnered 2.8% of the 1.245 billion smartphones solid in the year.  When compared to 2013, that represents a drop of market share by .4% despite the improvement in unit sales.