Microsoft's Marketplace offers a wide assortment of applications ranging from games to utilities to educational applications. Langlearner has developed three applications to help with language and spelling skills.

LangLearner Lite is an instructional application where you can learn languages through short phrases. LangLearner Translator is, as the title implies, a translation application and. LangLearner Spelling Bee is a learning aid for spelling.

We've used these applications over the past few days and found them to be interesting, useful applications.  As the developer's slogan suggests, these applications do help break the language barrier.

Ease on past the break to find out more about each of these LangLearner applications.

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Funny how on the last past podcast we were just lamenting the XBox Live's "point system" for purchasing games, videos, services, etc.  It was hardly transparent, made you do conversions and came across ... well ... as slightly dishonest.

How we pay for things in XBox is relevant for Windows phone users because, make no mistake, XBox and Zune integration are coming down the pike in addition to our Marketplace.  How we pay for those services across our "three screens" will be quite relevant to the success or failure of such an ecosystem, if we can be so bold.

Luckily, Microsoft has evidently heard the cacophony of complaints regarding this system and appears to be at least re-evaluating the process.  Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg said in a recent interview:

We never intended to ever mislead people. I think we want to be transparent about it, and so it is something that we're looking at. How can we be more transparent and let people see it in actual dollars?

Well, perhaps they won't be ditching the points system, but at least they are considering improving it.  

Microsoft, do us a favor: just ditch the points and go with dollars.  Things are complicated enough already, and there is NO benefit for the consumer with the points system.  Not a single one.

[via Gizmodo]

One of our favorite pocketpc freeware sites, Freeware for PocketPC, has released a pretty darn good marketplace app dubbed OpnMarket (hey, it's freeware, they evidently have to pay for extra "e"s).

In fact, dare we say, it's snazzier than Microsoft's own attempt?  Best analogy is it feels similar to the Netflix Mobile Manager application, with kinetic scrolling and tight graphics. Of course, it only works on touchscreen devices. Sorry WM Standard.

So do we recommend?  Heck, yeah!  For one, it showcases a lot of hobby developer software and number two, it's all freeware. The store itself works well enough, and did we mention free?

The application does require registration, which can be done on the device or on their website.  This will allow you to manage your programs via a "dashboard" interface as well as keep your software up to date.

Use MS Tag to download now and give it a go.  Read more on it here.

[Thanks, Veselin N., for the tip!]

The only thing better than a moment of nostalgia, is a moment of geeky nostalgia. Classic video games are making a comeback for a number of reasons. Reason number one is that it doesn’t take a lot of hardware to run the games that we used to play 20 years ago. Reason number two is that the games have already been developed; they just need to be adapted and ported to a modern platform. The biggest reason in my opinion is that you don’t have to sell a game like Tetris or Galaga, because your customer is already familiar with the game and in many cases is simply renewing an addiction that has been on pause for the last 15+ years.

Namco is one of those names that is synonymous with classic games. I’ve already looked at Galaga and found it to be a fun game experience, but limited by the controls that are available to you. Another Namco classic, Dig Dug, is available from the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. While Dig Dug isn’t as high paced as Galaga, there are some definite benefits to the way the game is constructed that lend itself to Windows Phones and the hardware that is available.

Hit the jump for more details.

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Are you rich? Do you only like chatting with rich people? Meet Fortunatus, a $500 Windows Mobile app that does nothing but display a diamond and allow you to chat with other fat cats who could have fed a family of five for a week or more but instead bought this app. You have to appreciate the honesty of the feature listing, though:

• Show you are rich
• For the wealthy gentlemen
• Show you have the money
• Chat with fellow rich people

Nice. Oh, and the developer's Web site?  It's blank. Well, it does say "Website coming soon." Don't buy this. Ever. [msm via wmpu]

(Thanks to everyone who sent this in.)

It's time to break out that old Konami code and see what treats are in store -- the longtime videogame maker is bringing a half-dozen apps to Windows Mobile in December. On tap are Dance Dance Revolution S, Mobile Pawafuru Proyakyu (a baseball game), Konami Sudoku, Konami Solitaire, and shooters Gradius II and TwinBee. The releases also coincide with the launch of the Windows Marketplace for Mobile in Japan. With the exception of Mobile Pawafuru Proyakyu, all of the games will be available in the U.S., Canada and Japan. [Akihabara News via Slashphone]

Good news for all of you with Windows Mobile 6.0 or 6.1 who were patiently waiting for official access to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. That day has come. Head here to send yourself the official link, or get it directly at mp.windowsphone.com from your phone's browser. Huzzah! [via Windows Phone Expert]

Update: The Windows Phone Blog now offers the official party line.

A major factor that game developers must consider when working with a platform such as Windows Phones is the interface. The fact that Windows phones come in all shapes and sizes is one of the strengths of the platform, but in this case it can be a challenge. Developers must take into account things like the fact that the device hardware may not include hardware buttons and the screen resolution could be any of a number of configurations. One solution to this problem is to use the old K.I.S.S. design rule; Keep It Simple Stupid. One game that practices this rule to perfection is Meon from Manbolo.

One of the first Games to appear on Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Meon is a puzzle based game that requires you to use strategy in order to direct light into different areas of the puzzle. A Lite version featuring about 30 levels is available for free, with the full version setting you back $2.99.

This game is highly addicting. If that sounds good to you, click on through. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

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After last nights update to Windows Marketplace for Mobile, we're getting lots of reports that Windows Mobile 6.0, 6.1 and unofficial WM6.5 builds are having problems accessing the store (myself included, using SSK 3.0).

One thing you can try to restore service is by using a .cab file that makes a change in the registry to "trick" the Marketplace.

It fixed my problem so it may be worth a shot. Simply download the .cab and install on your device, then re-launch Marketplace (soft-reset not needed).  Leave us a comment on your success or fail!

Download the patch here (filesharing sites) or here at PPCGeeks. For those who just want the whole .cab, you can download v1.1.1109.000 at XDA.

We saw the Web portal to Windows Marketplace for Mobile go live earlier this week, and now the one-device app has gotten a refresh as well.

So what's new in Version 1.1.1109.0000? Visually, nothing. Everything looks the same. Perhaps just bug fixes? (We were having problems with the Marketplace apparently hanging as it was installing the occasional app. The app itself would load just fine, but the Marketplace app balked.) Perhaps more behind-the-scenes support for things to come? Security fixes? (Update: Just read over the advanced security white paper again, and it does tie in with the Marketplace app, so that's a pretty good bet.)

Let the speculation begin! And sound off in the comments if you've found anything new.