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The After Math: two new iPads, two new Windows Phones and Instagram news
Did Apple manage satisfy your cravings for a new iPad? Maybe that new Mac Pro has got you readying a preorder, if only for the illusion of the power user that you one day hope to be. After a year's break, the return of Nokia World coincided with Apple's soiree, but the Microsoft-aligned phone maker actually had more new hardware to show off, including a pair of new Windows Phones, its first Windows tablet and a brimful (that is, three) of Asha phones. Leaf the digital page over to see both events reprocessed, vitamin-enriched and in numerical form.
Nokia's Chris Weber says there's no 'silver bullet' for Windows Phone success
With Gartner claiming Microsoft nibbled up just 3.3 percent of the smartphone market in Q2 this year, Nokia still has a long way to go to regain its mobile standing. Even with the handful of impressive products unveiled at Nokia World, Chris Weber, EVP of Sales and Marketing, agrees that there's still work to be done. "I don't think there's a silver bullet," Weber said during an interview yesterday. "It's the portfolio, it's great marketing to make sure people are aware of the capabilities, and it's making sure that the apps are there."
Stephen Elop says he's ready for change at Microsoft
All eyes are on Stephen Elop. Just hours ago, he introduced Nokia's first Windows tablet; he's also overseeing his division's integration into Microsoft; and Redmond is even considering him as its next CEO. During our interview today, Elop understandably couldn't comment on the prospect of taking Steve Ballmer's place, but he did say he's ready to take up the challenge of bringing the two giants together, no matter what. "I'm looking forward to being a part of driving that change within the company in whatever capacity," Elop said.
Nokia bringing RAW photography to the Lumia 1520 and 1020
This latest nugget of news out of Nokia's big event in Abu Dhabi should be of particular interest to mobile photographers. According to @tnkgrl, aka our buddy Myriam Joire, the phone manufacturer will be bringing RAW image support to its flagship Lumia handsets, the 1520 and 1020. This will allow them to take 20MP or 41MP photos (respectively) with zero compression -- allowing far greater control over exposure, color and other settings in your photo editor of choice. The file sizes will no doubt be unwieldy compared to regular JPEGs, especially for 1020 owners who can't expand their storage (the new 1520 fortunately has a microSD slot), but we reckon the extra control ought to be worth it. Update: Now confirmed by Nokia camera developer, Juha Alakarhu.
Nokia's Refocus Lens camera app promises infinite depth of field control
Nokia's just announced a new camera app called Refocus Lens at Nokia World that brings a Lytro-like variable depth of field to Lumia cameras. Likely to be the fruits of that Scalado purchase from a while back, it'll let you change the focus of a snapshot using "clever algorithms" while adding "brilliant splashes of color" to images via a feature called color pop. Nokia also said that images will be 5-megapixels in size and that you'll be able to use the refocusing option while in Facebook. The app will debut on the Finnish company's new flagship Lumia 1520 and trickle down at a later date to older devices like the Lumia 920 and 925. However, Nokia hasn't decided if the app will be available for lower-numbered Lumias like the 520 and 620 -- or any other Windows Phone devices, for that matter. We're still finding out more details from Nokia, so stay tuned! Update: Nokia is now showing a dedicated Refocus site with a sample photo to play with. You can also check out a clickable sample embedded after the break. Update 2: We've now added a video demo of the app, courtesy of Samuli Hänninen, Nokia's VP of of software program management for smart devices. It's surprisingly similar to the DigitalOptics' MEMS camera demo we saw back at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, but Nokia confirmed that there's no link between that and its own post-capture refocus technology.
Hands-on with the Nokia Asha 500, 502 and 503
The Abu Dhabi spotlight might be set squarely on the new Lumia devices, but the Windows tablet and pair of Windows Phones amounted to only half of the products Nokia announced today. A trio of Asha handsets also made the trip to the desert: the 500, 502 and 503. These three devices, which essentially are slightly revamped versions of the Asha 501 released this spring, will likely get the most facetime in emerging markets thanks to their smartphone-like features and reasonable price. The 500 -- the least expensive of the three -- is slated to cost $69 SIM-free, which is a solid $30 less than the 501; on the more expensive end of the pricing spectrum is the 503, which is $99 and comes with quad-band GSM plus dual-band HSPA. (The 501 offered EDGE speeds for the same price, so this is a nice step up.) On the outside, the new Ashas don't look that much different than the 501, with one giant exception: all three now feature a box-like layer of transparent polycarbonate surrounding the standard colored casing. This is a pretty fresh design technique we haven't seen much of before; this extra layer prevents wear and tear on the regular casing, and keeps it from losing its color over time. That said, some of the demo units already had some scratches on the transparent casing, so only time will tell how durable the retail units will be. Anyhow, because of this design, you can expect the new Ashas to be a bit bulkier than its predecessor, but this likely won't come as too much of a distraction to anyone because of its petite size. Richard Lai contributed to this report.
Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet hands-on: Windows RT wrapped in polycarbonate
The not-so-secret project that Nokia has been working on for over the last year and a half (if not longer), the company's Windows 8.1 RT tablet, is now official as the Lumia 2520. We had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with the slate, and we came away rather impressed with the hardware. The device is supposed to launch before the end of the year for $499, and overall it looks and feels incredibly solid, if not a bit predictable: its unibody polycarbonate design and sleek curves scream to the world that it's very much a Lumia device, regardless of its screen size. There are four colors available: red or white with a glossy finish, and black or cyan with a matte finish. We found the glossy versions to be less grip-friendly, but it won't make much difference if you're using a case with it. With a 10.1-inch full HD resolution and 650 nit brightness, the display is simply brilliant and offers great viewing angles. Nokia's selling point on this panel, however, is its five percent reflectance -- in English, this means the 2520 should be clearly visible both indoors and out. While we haven't been able to take the tablet outside, we certainly were happy enough with the screen quality during our hands-on time. There's a 2MP front-facing cam for video chatting, as well as a 6.7MP f/1.9 camera on the back (it uses the same module as the Lumia 720). You'll also get LTE connectivity, a micro-USB 3.0 connector for data transfers and an 8,000mAh battery with Qualcomm QuickCharge tech (which unfortunately requires the use of a proprietary plug).
Nokia Lumia 1320 hands-on: a huge 720p Windows Phone with a budget-minded price
We don't know what it is about Nokia's obsession with the caped crusader, but the Lumia 1320 -- which was given the codename of Batman -- isn't the first time we've seen the superhero associated with the Finnish company. No matter: what's important here is the fact that the 1320 has been officially unveiled at Nokia World 2013 in Abu Dhabi. Much like the 1520, its flagship brother, the 1320 features a 6-inch display; at an unsubsidized price of $339, however, the company is targeting this particular large smartphone at a more budget-minded consumer. The 1320 features some respectable specs that will appeal to wide range of users, such as a 720p ClearBlack panel, LTE and an impressive 3,400mAh battery. Imaging enthusiasts won't be terribly ecstatic about the 5MP autofocus camera on the back, and plenty of people will balk at the 8GB of internal storage (though microSD expansion is available). It will also come with a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM. Take a look at our gallery of hands-on images below, and stay tuned for more of our first impressions after the break!
AT&T will have exclusive on Nokia 1520 in the US, will sell the 2520 tablet also (update)
All that fun over in Abu Dhabi, and all you really want to know is which of the new goodies can you buy? Well, if you're in the US, and you fancy the new Nokia 1520, you'd better be on AT&T, as the network's just announced it's got the exclusive on it. It'll also be adding the 2520 to its tablet offerings. No word on network-specific prices at this time, but we'll add them once we know. Update: It looks like Verizon will get the 2520 as well, so AT&T's exclusivity pertains to the 1520. More info on Big Red's announcement awaits at the source link down below.
Nokia Lumia 1520 hands-on: the weighty new flagship is here
Don't act like you didn't know this was coming. Nokia has finally removed the see-through shroud covering its latest high-end device, known as the Lumia 1520, at Nokia World in Abu Dhabi. Thing is, it's not like any Windows Phone you've gazed upon before -- it's a top of the line smartphone with Microsoft's third WP8 update and many of the best specs you can get. Not only is it the first 6-inch 1080p smartphone to run Windows Phone OS, it's also the first that's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 SoC (a quad-core chipset clocked at 2.2GHz). Nokia aims to sell the flagship for $750 unsubsidized later this year and it comes in four color options: red, white, black and yellow. The first two are glossy, while the latter two come with a matte finish. If you've used or seen most Lumia devices in the past, the phone's overall design will not come as a surprise; it's dressed in Nokia's traditional unibody polycarbonate, though it looks like a Lumia 920 that got flattened with a mallet. That's not a bad thing, since it's 8.6mm thick (with the exception of the 1520's camera bump, which reminds us of the 925), but thanks to its 85.4mm-wide chassis, you'll need the phone to be as thin as possible to even think of using this as a one-handed device; it's three millimeters wider than the HTC One Max (and six millimeters wider than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3), which means the only reason it's even tolerable to hold with one hand is its thin profile and smooth curved edges. Check out our gallery of hands-on pictures and meet us after the break for more impressions and details.
Nokia's incoming Windows Phone update will teach new Lumia 1520 tricks to old(er) smartphones
Nokia, now under the Microsoft umbrella, will combine an incoming Windows Phone update with its own smartphone upgrades. Lumia Black is its name, and it'll bring the new, unified Nokia Camera, alongside Storyteller and Beamer apps found on the new Lumia 1520 and 1320, to existing high-end Windows Phone 8 (namely the 920 series and the 1020) -- soon. The company didn't specify a roll-out date, however. According to Elop: "This will happen later on, it won't happen immediately. Some of the key updates for Windows Phone are in GDR3, so the notifications... will come through across all devices and be combined together with the Black update."
Flipboard coming to Windows Phone 8 and Lumia 2520 tablet
Windows Phone naysayers have always argued that the OS doesn't have enough of the most popular apps out there, but Microsoft is quieting down the critics, one a handful of apps at a time. This time around, we can add Flipboard to the list of in-demand apps that are finally coming to Nokia devices. We'll first see the app on its first Windows RT tablet, the Lumia 2520, as the company just announced on stage at Nokia World, before it rolls out to Windows Phone 8 devices in the coming weeks. The Lumia 2520 is also set to launch with Nokia's new Storyteller app, displaying photos and videos in the form of stories, as well as the updated Camera app, which is already coming to Nokia's 6-inch smartphone: the Lumia 1520.
Nokia Lumia 2520 10-inch tablet unveiled with Windows RT and LTE for $499
Over a year and a half ago, Marko Ahtisaari, then Nokia's Head of Product Design, confessed that he was spending at least a third of his time working on a tablet. The company's stayed relatively quiet about the mysterious device since then (despite numerous leaks pointing to its existence), but today at Nokia World we're finally seeing Marko's work come to fruition as the Lumia 2520. As you might expect, this is the first -- and possibly the last -- attempt by Nokia to craft a Windows RT slate. It's packing LTE, and a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU inside, with a bright 650nit screen made out of Gorilla Glass 2. Nokia showed off a video demonstrating its outdoor readability in sunny Abu Dhabi, bright enough to check out Flipboard on Windows RT. It also packs the Storyteller app seen on the 1520, along with a 6.7MP rear camera featuring Zeiss optics and a 2MP front facing camera. LTE included, the Lumia 2520's unsubsidized price is $499 in either a red/white glossy finish, or cyan and black matte paintjob when it ships in Q4. Also included are quick charging capabilities that let its 8,000mAh battery go from drained to 50 percent charge in just 40 minutes. The Nokia Power Keyboard accessory shown above costs an extra $149, and promises an extra five hours of battery life plus two extra USB ports. Check after the break for a full list of specs and a video demo, we'll have hands-on impressions of the new slate from Nokia World in just a moment. Update: Our hands-on is up!
Nokia introduces the Lumia 1320, a mid-range 6-inch handset coming to Europe and Asia
Nokia came to Abu Dhabi prepared to put on a full show. At its annual Nokia World conference, the company just pulled the wraps off Batman -- its code name for the Lumia 1320. It comes with a 5-megapixel camera, dual-core processor and 6-inch 720p display. Price-wise, this is meant to be more affordable than it's equally new 1520 sibling, costing $339 before taxes. The 1320 comes with the new Nokia camera app, a more rounded design similar to the Lumia 625, and it'll launch early 2014 in China and Vietnam before rolling out across Asia, and Europe in four colors -- orange, yellow, black and white. Update: You'll find plenty more Lumia 1320 details in our detailed hands-on.
Instagram will finally make its Windows Phone debut 'in the coming weeks'
Third-party apps like 6tag not working for you as an acceptable Windows Phone Instagram client? We've been waiting a long time for the social network to acknowledge that it's working on an app for Microsoft's mobile OS, and your patience will now be rewarded: Instagram is finally coming to Windows Phone. Elop announced that the Facebook-owned company will launch its app in "the coming weeks," followed closely by Twitter's popular video-sharing service: Vine.
Nokia Storyteller app offers new way to view your memories, coming to Lumia 1520 (update: video)
A Nokia product announcement wouldn't be complete without some new Nokia software to go along with it, so what does the company have in store for us this round? Among other things is Storyteller, which -- as the name suggests -- wants to display your photos and videos in the form of stories. It also ties in with Nokia Here maps to show where pictures are taken, and recording with the Lumia 1520's four microphones allows audiophiles to capture directional stereo audio too. It's all meant to give a "richer experience" when you're capturing photos, and later when sharing them with family and friends. Update: Nokia just announced Storyteller for its brand new Lumia 2520 tablet, and you can check a video for Storyteller on the Nokia Lumia 1520 after the break.
New Nokia Camera app revealed, brings smart features and improved UI (update: now available)
The announcements keep coming, and Elop's just dropped the new Nokia Camera app into our laps. This unifies the existing Pro and Smart cameras, and brings three new modes, including a "smart mode" which shoots a stream of shots, and lets you remove objects, or create a sequence shot after the fact -- the reframing/zoom mode also makes a come back. There's also quick access at the top of the interface that lets you switch to different features easily. That should go nicely with the new 1520's 20MP shooter! Update: Nokia Camera is now available to download through the Windows Phone Store; it replaces Nokia Pro Camera on existing Lumias.
Nokia Lumia 1520: Windows Phone with 6-inch 1080p display and 20MP camera for $750
Could this be the Windows Phone you've been waiting for? If you've been holding out for a flagship with a 6-inch 1080p display, high-resolution 20-megapixel PureView camera and a top-of-the-line processor (a quad-core Snapdragon 800 with 2GB of RAM), we'd suspect the answer is probably yes. We are, of course, talking about the Nokia Lumia 1520, the long-rumored, big-screened smartphone, which has finally been announced at Nokia World in Abu Dhabi. That giant screen offers enough space for a third row of live tiles, and new Windows Phone will also come with GDR3 -- the very latest build of Microsoft's OS. It'll also be the first Lumia to arrive with Nokia Camera, a new camera app that fuses the best of the Pro and Smart cameras that came before it. That polycarbonate shell (recycled, no less) will come in yellow, red, white and white black options. The yellow option that Mr. Elop was brandishing over at Nokia World matched the glossy look of the Lumia 920. Launching in Asia and Europe later this quarter, it's been priced, unsubsidized, at $750. This time around, the camera's pegged at 20 megapixels, with a BSI f/2.4 Zeiss lens and optical image stabilization along for the ride. Nokia promises the same oversampling and zooming tech as found in the 41-megapixel Lumia 1020, just, well, less of it.
Nokia adds 500, 502 and 503 to its Asha lineup, starts at $69
Nokia's biggest announcements in Abu Dhabi today are focusing on Lumia devices first and foremost, but it's not leaving the Asha lineup out in the Finnish cold. After boasting that 26 million Ashas have sold so far, the company's announced that it's adding three successors to the Asha 501, the petite smartphone/featurephone hybrid released in May: the 500, the 502 and the 503. All three sport the same primary colored plastic casing as the 501, but with a new "Ice" layer of transparent polycarbonate. They'll be available in bright red, bright green, yellow, cyan, white and black.
Nokia Lumia 1320 press shot leaks, hints at big-screen, budget Windows Phone (update: new image)
Nokia's range of extra-large Windows Phones may not be limited to flagships like the Lumia 1520. Frequent tipster @evleaks has just posted a press image of what's reported to be the Lumia 1320, better known by its unofficial "Batman" nickname. There aren't many clues to the specs, although it's clear that the phone would take advantage of Windows Phone GDR3's support for large displays. The side trim also supports theories that this is a Lumia 625-style budget handset, not a flagship. Given that Nokia's "innovation reinvented" event is tomorrow, there's a good chance that we'll know the full story behind the 1320 within a matter of hours. Update: Just for good measure, @evleaks has also posted an image of the Lumia 1320's back. You'll find it after the break.
