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Elop: Lumia 800 hitting Microsoft retail stores in February
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop just came on stage at the CES keynote and announced that the unlocked Nokia Lumia 800 would be available in Microsoft retail stores sometime in February. We'd heard that it was on its way at last night's keynote with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, but this was the first time we've heard a specific month. Sadly, Elop didn't have much more to say about the matter, but at least confirmed this little tidbit to the delight of our souls.
Nokia confirms Canadian plans: Lumia 800 exclusive to Telus, Lumia 710 exclusive to Rogers
There's still no word on Canadian availability for the new Lumia 900, but Nokia isn't about to ignore the country altogether. It confirmed today that the Lumia 710 will be available on Rogers in February for $49 on-contract, and that the Lumia 800 will be available on Telus (in Cyan, Magenta and Black) at a date and price still to be announced -- each an exclusive to their respective carriers.
Nokia ready to start shipping Lumias to Launchpad developers
Things were a lot less clear back in early 2011 when Nokia announced it would abandon its burning platform for Windows Phone 7. Amidst that uncertainty, Espoo pledged to give select developers an E7 as well as a mystery device running Redmond's bits in the near future. The company's now making good on the latter part of that promise, informing those registered under its Launchpad program that their gratis hardware is ready to ship. Kindly forwarded by a tipster is email proof (seen after the break), which in non-redacted form would provide instructions for procuring a complimentary Lumia 800. Previous whispers suggested the Lumia 710 will also be part of the scheme, so your mileage may vary. Still, a free handset is better than none -- or at the very least a Nokla, right? [Thanks, Jota]
Nokia Lumia 800 infiltrates Washington, succumbs to FCC teardown
It's a rite of passage for any stateside-bound communications device, and now Nokia's darling Windows Phone handset has arrived at FCC HQ to lay disrobed alongside the agency's imposing L-square ruler. The Lumia 800 has been available through carriers in other countries since shortly after its Nokia World launch, but it has yet to land in the US with a carrier subsidy. It's not clear exactly where the shiny slab is headed after its mandatory pit-stop near the nation's capital, though with no reports of 1700 MHz AWS on board, it's safe to say that this iteration won't be joining its Lumia 710 sibling over at T-Mobile.
Nokia publicly acknowledges Lumia 800 battery bug, promises fix in next update
Nokia's flagship Windows Phone may be a gorgeous slab of polycarbonate, but it's proving to meet its match with its own battery performance. It began with concerns about charging and overall battery performance as we reviewed the device, and the phone was given an update nearly a full fortnight ago to alleviate power management issues. We're still awaiting a maintenance release next month to take care of the charging portion of the problem, but it seems that yet another bug will need to be addressed at the same time. After word spread last week that something was causing the battery's capacity to show up as worse than it really is, Nokia did some digging and promptly admitted that something was awry. In the statement (found past the break), the company assured the masses that the battery itself was perfectly fine, but there was a bug in the software and a fix will be included in the next planned update. And then everything will be absolutely perfect... right?
Nokia reveals CES 2012 press event, Windows Phone the obvious focal point
"The exciting thing is, we've only just begun." That was the closing remark of then-CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo as he wrapped up Nokia's 2010 CES keynote, and while the words ring true today, we're guessing that what has transpired in Espoo between then and now wasn't exactly on his radar at the time. After laying low through the 2011 episode, Nokia will be making a triumphant return at next year's Consumer Electronics Show, even going so far as to reserve a block of time for a Metro-themed press event. The fun kicks off at 3:00PM PT on January 9th, and if you couldn't tell by the invite, we're guessing Windows Phone will be somewhere in the discussion. Naturally, we'll be bringing you every moment of it right here on the site -- nothing wrong with blocking out some vacation time to be here, you know?
Refresh Roundup: week of December 5, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Nokia rolls out first update for Lumia 800, offers up new features for web-based 3D Maps on the side (video)
Nokia is pretty busy at the moment. Alongside clandestine events with T-Mobile, the first update for the Lumia 800 has now begun to roll out. As is the case with most WinPho upgrades, you'll have to plug the polycarbonate slab into Zune to pull down several new performance enhancements and features. These will include charging and audio quality improvements, as well as improved display switching in bright light. Don't panic if you're unable to grab the update immediately; the phone manufacturer told us that it will be gradually rolled out across all of the initial launch countries over the next two weeks. But Nokia didn't stop there -- it has also added more functionality to its impressive -- and free -- web-based maps. Its 3D Maps, available in 25 cities, have been given new navigation functions, sharing and search options. You'll have to install a browser plugin to get your hit of pop-up cartography, but Google Earth addicts should be suitably impressed. Click the source below to judge for yourself, or hold on after the break for a quick intro video.
Nokia Lumia 800 and 710 to get limited Latin American release in early 2012
If you're lucky enough to call Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico or Puerto Rico home, and have been craving a bit of Nokia Lumia love, then felicidades! Señor Elop himself announced the 800 and 710 will be lighting up faces in a store near you from Q1 next year. Speaking from Sao Paulo, the Nokia CEO confirmed that both Windows Phone models would get a run out in the above countries, with production taking place in Brazil. Interestingly other large markets, like Argentina and Venezuela, didn't get a name call as one of the lucky countries, but you can bet your bottom peso though it won't be long before this is rectified. Hit up the source link for more info, en Español.
Microsoft delays Windows Phone launch in China until next year
Next week will mark the one-year anniversary of Microsoft's declaration that Windows Phone 7 would come to China during the second half of 2011, but the company has officially stated that it's not going to make the December 31st deadline. Instead, phones with the OS are now expected to hit the nation sometime in the first half of 2012. Microsoft mentioned that the delay is at least in part due to trying to ensure that Chinese citizens will have a good experience using the platform (Nokia mentioned that localization is needed in certain aspects of its phones to keep in line with the government's media censorship policy); it wouldn't come as much of a surprise if we see the first batch of phones -- likely to be made by Nokia, Huawei and / or ZTE, at least -- come with a fresh install of Windows Phone Tango on them, but that's mere speculation for now.
Mobile Miscellany: week of November 28, 2011
This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of November 28, 2011: Last week, the FCC announced that it had approved AT&T's request to purchase 700MHz spectrum from Qualcomm -- previously used to support MediaFLO service -- but it hasn't finalized the process yet. So, the company recently met with the FCC to ask if the deal can be sped up. [Phone Scoop] The Nokia Lumia 800 is rumored to finally be available at O2 beginning December 9th. [Unwired View] Nokia also announced the X2-02, a Series 40 dual-SIM handset geared towards music. It comes with an audio processing feature that brings clear sound, dedicated music keys and a feature that lets you play recordings directly from the FM radio. It also offers a 2.2-inch QVGA display, dedicated Facebook and Twitter clients, 2MP camera and 9.7 hour talk time. Sadly, the phone doesn't come with 3G included, and no markets or launch dates were announced, but it'll be priced around €60 before subsidy. [Unwired View] Cincinnati Bell added the HTC Radar 4G to its lineup this week and is available for free to new customers with a two-year commitment and after a $100 mail-in rebate; existing customers eligible for an upgrade can get it for $100 on contract and after $50 mail-in rebate. [BusinessWire] Samsung just released SDK 1.0 for the S Pen, also known as the stylus for the Galaxy Note. As to be expected, the kit will aid developers in writing apps that will take advantage of the pen. [Android Police]
Developer teases voice control of Zune, using PC and Windows Phone (video)
The great thinkers of the world have long known a secret that we're now happy to disclose: it's not necessity that's the mother invention, but rather laziness. Fortunately, expending a great deal of effort on a project -- simply to perform a task effortlessly -- sometimes brings very cool results. A concept app known as ZuneVoice easily passes muster in this realm, which is used to control Zune software on the PC with only a standard microphone and spoken commands. As you can see in the demo video, its creator, keyboardp, is able to play individual songs, issue commands such a "pause" or "next song", and even display full-screen music videos from YouTube. The developer even crafted an app for his Lumia 800 known as PhoneZune, which serves as a remote control for times when he's away from the box. Neither application is yet publicly available, though feedback is welcome. Next, we're told to expect Kinect integration. Perhaps one day, these gems will see the light of day.
PSA: Nokia reiterates Drive isn't coming to Windows Phone Marketplace
There seems to be a bit of confusion about Nokia Drive's future in the Windows Phone Marketplace. News of its impending arrival -- for a price -- was originally tweeted by a third-party and then re-tweeted by Nokia India. Sadly, we're told this was all just a mistake. We originally reached out to Espoo's finest to confirm the story, and well, we met a giant brick wall in the process. According to the company's media relations department, "Nokia Drive comes pre-installed on our Nokia Lumia range and there are currently no plans to make it available for Windows Phone based devices from other OEMs." It's a heartbreaker, indeed, but the crew at Navigon can certainly breathe a sigh of relief -- for the time being.
Unlocked Nokia Lumia 800 now available on Expansys, plays nice with AT&T
You could sit there and twiddle your thumbs while you wait for the Lumia 800 to arrive on US shores. Or you could just head over to Expansys, where you can grab an unlocked version of Nokia's new handset, for $789. The Mango-soaked device comes packed with 16GB of internal storage and is primed for use on AT&T, so if you're prepared to shell out the dough, check out the source link below.
Nokia promises software updates to fix Lumia 800 battery woes
We experienced occasional battery and charging problems when reviewing the Lumia 800, and it looks like others have had issues too. In fact, it's become a sufficiently (un)popular topic on Nokia's support forums to encourage the company to post up a reply, confirming that two software fixes are in the works. The first will target power efficiency and arrive in early December, while the second will follow in January and hopefully improve charging. Only a minority of users are affected, we're told, so it's lucky for them that they're vocal.
Nokia Lumia 800 hits UK stores, preorder demand leaves Orange UK glowing
As Nokia's first Windows Phone lights up shop fronts across Britain, Orange has informed us that the Lumia 800 has attracted the most attention it's ever seen for a Nokia device. Based on preorders, the smartphone has trumped both the critically acclaimed N95 and the 5800, while we're sure the gratis Xbox 360 for upgraders hasn't hurt demand -- 50 percent of those looking to pick up the polycarbonate phone are already Orange customers. The carrier has told us that an Xbox-based offer for new customers looking to pick up the Nokia-coated Windows Phone is also in the pipeline -- something for UK network hoppers to get excited about.
Nokia to release Windows 8 tablets this June, top drawer Lumia in the works?
There's some intriguing Nokia news coming out of France this morning, thanks to Paul Amsellem, head of the company's Gallic outpost. In a recent interview with Parisian daily Les Echos, Amsellem described Nokia's aspirations to regain some of the market share it's lost within France, explaining that his firm is squarely targeting the 60 percent of French users who currently don't own a smartphone. More salient, however, is what the exec had to say about Nokia's plans for future releases. According to Amsellem, Espoo will unveil a new Windows 8 equipped tablet by June 2012. Unfortunately, that's about all he had to say on the subject, but it's certainly enough of a carrot to raise our heart rates -- as are Amsellem's comments on the Lumia 800, which hit French stores yesterday. Comparing the handset to a BMW 5 series, the chief went on to say that Nokia "will soon have a full range with a 7 Series and 3 Series." He didn't elaborate much on this analogy, though its implication is rather self-evident -- new Lumia cousins may be in the works. Of course, it remains to be seen when and if the company will expand upon its Lumia line, though we'll definitely be keeping our yeux on it.
Nokia Music joins the auto-playlist club, brings Pandora-like song-finding to Lumia 800
Smartphone owners have a lot of options for streaming music these days, and if a new challenger doesn't get off to a good start, it could easily get left in the dust. How is Nokia planning to keep up with the likes of Spotify and Pandora on its upcoming Windows Phone? By conscripting Echo Nest, the folks behind iHeartRadio and Spotify's own song-finding features, to pull the playlist picking strings behind Nokia Music's Mix Radio. Using a lightweight browser app, Mix Radio assesses your appetite for beats with a "taste profile" derived from your music library, and uses the data to generate personalized radio stations. The outfit is calling it the "most personalized global music service the world has ever seen." Nokia Music also offers 100 professionally programmed streaming stations and roughly 15 hours of downloadable programming. Echo Nest told us we'd hear more from Nokia itself soon, but if you just can't wait, hit the break for the song-picking puppet master's own press release.
Nokia publishes Lumia 800 'making-of' documentary (video)
You've already heard Nokia's Peter Skillman talk design regarding the N9, and now it's Nokia's turn to show you what kind of magical mayhem went into the the making of the Lumia 800. It's an eight-minute long clip discussing the decisions behind the company's "first Windows Phone," with Nokia calling it "as much a story about collaboration and taking risks as it is about design." Taking risks, indeed. It's a good watch regardless of your platform affiliation, and it can be found just after the break.
Telefonica exec echoes what we already know: Nokia's new handsets are too spendy
Nokia has certainly had a reputation of keeping its premier phones at a high price, but it's not too often that we hear a head honcho in the industry say anything about it. Telefonica European General Manager Simon Lee-Smith went on the record to voice his displeasure over the exorbitant cost of the Lumia 800 as well as the N8 and N9. Speaking with Telecoms.com, he mentioned that the only way Espoo's going to push a significant volume of Windows Phones is to offer them at a reasonable price point. Vendors, according to Lee-Smith, have unrealistic expectations of what consumers -- and carriers -- will pay for smartphones. Sayeth Lee-Smith: "All device manufacturers seem to think that a €400-plus device is the norm. Well, it isn't. Customers and operators won't pay that cost for a device which doesn't differentiate sufficiently." In other words, the Lumia 800 (priced at €420, or about $585) needs to offer something more unique to customers in order to justify its cost. It does make us curious to see if Nokia can satisfy the needs of US carriers if it doesn't bring down its asking price. Head over to the source to read more of Lee-Smith's quotable quotes.
