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Nokia reveals polarizing secrets of ClearBlack display
Nokia's revealing the secrets behind ClearBlack: its display technology that, even under the brightest sunlight, renders black as black as blackest night during a dark spell. Wedged above the E7, Lumia 800 and 900 displays are three thin layers, a linear polarizer, a quarter-wave retardation film and a reflecting surface. When light enters the first layer, it vertically aligns the "wave vibration" of the light so when it hits the retardation layer, it begins to rotate towards the right. Hitting the reflecting surface causes it to reverse, becoming left-circularly polarized before passing through the retardation later again, where it polarizes horizontally. This enables the polarizing filter up top to screen out horizontally polarized light, meaning it doesn't reflect back in your face. Why (we hear you ask) then doesn't it happen with the light from the display itself? Because it only passes through the second half of the process, it doesn't become horizontally aligned, leading to that beautifully dark display reaching your peepers. It's a clever and elegant solution that we can't help but be impressed at, even if we've used up the world's supply of the word 'polarize' in order to explain to you.
White Nokia Lumia 800 hands-on
Today's been all about the white phones, and Nokia's new Lumia matches that glossy finish we saw on its near-identical twin, the white N9. Here, opposing the matte goodness of the rest of Lumia 800 family, the unibody shell has an almost-enamel feel on what is still largely the same polycarbonate material (Nokia tells us that each "batch" has to be tweaked for each color). From our brief play with the device, it's looking to be a pretty pervasive color choice to go alongside that pitch-black AMOLED screen. We know the phone is set to arrive later this month, blessing fans of blanc in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and another handful of European countries. See how its good looks stack up against the rest of the Lumia rainbow in our hands-on gallery below.
Canalys: More smartphones than PCs shipped in 2011
2011: the year Smartphones supplanted computers, at least according to the bundle of spreadsheets that just arrived from Canalys Research. Vendors shipped (shipped, not sold) 488 million of the devices, compared to 414.6 million "PCs," which erroneously includes Tablet PCs of all shapes and sizes. Looking at Smartphones exclusively (IDC's numbers from yesterday concerned all mobile handsets), Apple remains king of the hill having shipped 93.1million iPhones. Samsung is close behind, with 91.9 million and Nokia is kicking along in third with 19.6 77.3 million. For all of the doomsaying around RIM, it's nestled in fourth, although Canalys chose not to include its numbers. Framing the research as "PCs versus Smartphones" isn't the wisest, given the fragmentation and hybridization prevalent in the market today. Drilling down into those numbers, we learn that 63.2 million tablets were pushed out last year, cannibalizing netbook shipments (dropping 34.5 percent in a year), but desktop and laptop movements remained relatively stable. We've included the full report and the most relevant table of data for your perusal and insight (hint: there's no points for saying netbooks are on the way out). Correction: Nokia sold 19.6 million phones in the last quarter, but sold 77.3 million in total last year.
IDC: Nokia, Samsung, Apple are the new top 3 handset makers
The latest figures are in from IDC: the top three global smartphone makers are Nokia, Samsung and Apple, in that order. Drilling down into the figures finds some surprises: Cupertino's third-place with only 8.7 percent of the market, while the giants of Korea and Finland are duking it out with 22.8 percent and 26.6 respectively. LG and ZTE are tied for fourth, but that's hardly good news for Goldstar, given that it's lost a staggering 42.2 percent of its market share in the last twelve months (Nokia was the other loser, eating 8.2 percent). The cause for the drop is in part the world's rejection of feature-phones (dropped faster than fashionistas rightly abandoned Ugg Boots and Jeggings) as millions upgraded to smartphones. After the break we've got the tables in full for anyone who wants to have their mind blown at the sheer quantity of handsets shipped in the last year, both financial and calendar.
Nokia clarifies battery update on Lumia 800, promises audio / camera fixes soon
Nokia already came clean about the Lumia 800 battery bug, but evidently that just wasn't enough to appease the masses. A community manager in the outfit's own forums has just responded to pages upon pages of comments regarding the most recent update, partly to (re)set the record straight regarding the battery, and partly to address more fixes that are just around the bend. The latest update (1600.2483.8106.11500) was meant to "enhance standby time as well as to bring an improvement to the issue reported by some customers in December," and according to Nokia, said update does indeed address those problems. However, folks that still have concerns regarding audio and camera settings aren't being ignored; those quirks will be worked out in "a series of future updates." Eager to learn more? The full reply is embedded just after the break.
Lumia 710 busting through Rogers' door in February for $149 or $99, you call it
Rogers subscribers are about to get their very first second taste of Windows Phone, and as you know, it's coming in the form of the Lumia 710. Said to debut during the first week of February, a leaked internal memo has outed the structured price tiers for the lovable runt of Nokia's litter. It can be purchased outright for $254, while those who saddle up for a one, two or three-year commitment can snatch the handset for $149, $99 or $49, respectively. Feel free to run those numbers through your depreciation and amortization schedules, and let us know what you decide.
Murtazin: 'Nokia Lumia 910 will arrive in May, pack 12MP camera'
Ah, Eldar Murtazin. Sometimes he's (sort of) right, sometimes he's wrong. But he managed to predict the Nokia-WinPho love-in ahead of any official announcement and that still counts for something, right? His latest missive concerns the news of the Lumia 900's likely summer-time flight across the Atlantic. While it's not going to tout the LTE radios of the American edition, Eldar's more concerned about a phone that no-one's yet heard of. Yes, the Lumia 910, which according to the thorn in Nokia's side, will land in the old country sometime in May -- ahead of the posited June launch for the Lumia 900 in the UK. Murtazin is keeping any other details close to his chest for now, aside from the tantalizing mention of a whopping 12 megapixel camera. We know that Nokia knows exactly how to craft a good cameraphone, but we're keeping this rumor firmly in the maybe-could-be-possibly camp, right next to the salt mines.
Lumia 900 hits Carphone Warehouse, possibly coming to the UK in June (update: no)
We bet some of you over in the UK were just a wee bit little jealous when it was revealed that we here in the good ol' U-S-of-A would be getting first dibs on the Lumia 900 (a little payback for keeping the 800 all to yourselves). Well, lucky for you, we're not so greedy and you'll get your own shot at Nokia's latest and greatest... eventually. Carphone Warehouse has the dual-camera sporting Mango phone listed as "coming soon" with an expected launch date of June 2012. These plans are clearly still unofficial at the moment, but you can sign up for more info from the outlet as it becomes available. The biggest question, though, is whether or not the Lumia 900 will ship with LTE on board. The product page makes no mention of 4G and, with compatible networks still in trial stages at best, we wouldn't get our hopes up. Still, even without "blazingly fast" downloads, the front-facing cam, RGB matrix screen and beefy battery present plenty of reason for excitement.Update: Or maybe not. It looks like Carphone Warehouse has since pulled its Lumia 900 pre-registration page. Perhaps -- and take this with a serious grain of salt -- they're making room for the non-LTE 12 megapixel Lumia 910?
CES 2012: Smartphones round-up
The Superbowl of smartphones? Why, that would be Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. But that didn't stop the mobile industry's heavy hitters from giving us a taste of the year in wireless to come at CES. With Windows Phones finally getting LTE, Intel's Medfield CPU making its handset debut, Sony synergizing under its mega brand umbrella and fringe manufacturers wowing attendees with stock Ice Cream Sandwich and super-thin profiles, it appears phone aficionados have plenty to anticipate. So, while you sit slack-jawed in front of that computer screen, let's revisit some of the highlights of this past week.
Lumia 900 and 710 commercials hit the web, Nokia fans rejoice
Looking to see more of latest handsets out of Espoo? Good news Nokia peoples, we've got web commercials for the Nokia Lumia 900 and Lumia 710 showcasing the Finnish phones in beautiful, rendered glory. As you can see, the 900 spot above touts the handset's gorgeous polycarbonate unibody chassis and LTE radio, and the 710 video after the break highlights its 5 megapixel camera and software features like Local Scout and navigation. If you're looking for footage of the phone's that's a little more real, check out our hands-on videos with each here and here.
Nokia Lumia 900 coming to retail on March 18?
Did the "next few months" announcement from the unveiling of the Nokia Lumia 900 leave you wanting? Perhaps a March 18th pronouncement will sate your own personal gadget knowledgebase. That's the date being tossed around by Windows gurus Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley, who joined forces on TWiT to discuss the presence of a March date in the latest Nokia developer newsletter. But that wasn't good enough for Paul, who said the specific date is March 18. Go ahead and mark your calendars, but we'd recommend you use pencil -- just to be safe.
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.
AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 Hands-on at CES 2012 (video)
The Nokia Lumia 900 is still fresh in our mind from this afternoon's announcement, and fortunately it didn't take long for us to get our hands on the new LTE-laden device. The newest phone in the Lumia series is packing a 4.3-inch ClearBlack display, 1.4GHz single-core CPU, 512MB of RAM, and sports a 8MP Carl Zeiss f/2.2 camera with LED flash that's capable of cranking out 720p HD video capture, as well as a 1MP front-facing camera that uses f/2.4. The 1,830mAh battery is inclusive due to the phone's unibody polycarbonate build and can't be removed, but we're happy to see that the Lumia 900 will be able to crank out the LTE for a decent amount of time.You won't find a huge difference in outside looks between this and its predecessor, the Lumia 800, aside from the presence of a frontward-facing camera and the obvious larger display. The larger phone was still comfortable to hold in our hands, and felt just as solid as ever with its polycarbonate build. When it comes to firmware, we weren't given the luxury of playing much with the handset since it was an early prototype model that is nowhere near its final status. The SIM card wasn't activated either, so we were unable to take its LTE capabilities for a test drive. Nokia and AT&T haven't been able to confirm exactly when we can expect the new device to actually be available in stores, nor the pricing at which it can be purchased with, so we're just going to have to dream of the phone in our slumber at night; at least we know exactly what to dream about, right?
Nokia Lumia 900 coming to AT&T, further details expected on Monday
Lookie here -- The New York Times has confirmed that Nokia's much-rumored Lumia 900 (800 shown above) will be coming to AT&T, with official details expected here at CES. There's no word on where it'll be hawked outside of the States, but it looks like T-Mob's Lumia 710 is about to get upstaged. We're told to expect more information here on Monday, and in case you had any questions, Elop was quoted as affirming that no Android plans are in the pipeline. Shocker. As for rumored specifications, there's a 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive touchpanel, half a gig of RAM, Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) and an 8-megapixel shooter. Keep it locked here for more details as we get 'em.
Nokia Lumia 710 for T-Mobile review
It's not the Nokia / Microsoft lovechild we've all been patiently awaiting here in the states. No, it's the other Lumia -- the low-end one. And it's headed for a berth on T-Mobile's airwaves next week, on January 11th. Rather than go big (or go home), Espoo's chosen to wade gently into the shallow waters of the US smartphone market, loading this budget Mango device with respectable mid-range specs and an irresistible price. The Lumia 710 is a $50 on contract proposition geared towards easing folks inept at the smarter aspects of wireless gadgetry into the 21st century. With a 3.7-inch ClearBlack LCD display, a 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor aided by 512MB of RAM, a decent 5 megapixel rear shoot capable of 720p video capture and, of course, Windows Phone 7.5, it may do just that. The obvious hurdle keeping this able phone from flying off the shelves has little to do with performance and everything to do with Nokia's stateside brand recognition. So, join us after the break as we put this unassuming handset through its paces and determine whether or not the 710's training wheels are worth a Grant.
Nokia's diagnostics app secretly contains CDMA, AT&T LTE test screens
A bit of detective work can certainly go a long way. Some little-known sections of Nokia's Windows Phone diagnostics app were found by Nanapho as it analyzed its XAP file, lending credence to rumors that AT&T-branded Lumia phones are being tested at present time. The site uncovered screens dealing with "LTE TX" and "LTE Band Lock," with the latter adding references to Band 4 and Band 17 -- AT&T-specific radios. The last interesting piece of evidence was dug up in the MMS settings tool, which offers code that refers to CDMA. We've heard past rumors suggesting Verizon would be getting a Lumia as well, but there were no indications that LTE Band 13 is in testing here; Big Red is reportedly hesitant to launch new Windows Phones without 4G connectivity now, so choosing to go without it would suggest the carrier is willing to make a few compromises in the hopes of adding the Lumia to its ranks. Hopefully we'll find more clues in the days leading up to CES.
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?
Nokia Lumia 710 for T-Mobile hands-on (video)
Deja vu? Absolutely. Nokia's chosen to make its first, big Windows Phone splash stateside with the humble Lumia 710 on T-Mobile. Eager Espoo fanboys and girls were likely hoping the company would've opted for a Red, White and Blue polycarbonate debut (see: Lumia 800), but that's not the black and white story being told here. So, put your hands down if you already have a smartphone to call your own -- this one's aimed squarely at mobiledom's stragglers. At $49 on contract, it's a value proposition that could very well lead the uninitiated down a live-tiled, Mango-laden path and help Microsoft ensnare a larger user base for its OS. Join us then, won't you, as we dive deep into our second first impressions after the break. %Gallery-141840%
Nokia Lumia 710 official on T-Mobile: HSPA+ 14.4, 3.7-inch ClearBlack display, available January 11th for $49 on contract
Go ahead and take that holiday and even some time to celebrate because Espoo's ushering in the new year with the stateside bow of its Lumia 710. This lower-hanging Mango phone, which we first met at Nokia World, has already begun rolling out to markets worldwide in recent weeks and, now, is poised to enter the U.S. brandishing a Magenta banner and $49 on two-year contract price. That's right, T-Mobile has snatched up exclusive rights to the 3.7-incher, which is mostly unchanged from its initial unbranded incarnation, with the same 800 x 480 ClearBlack LCD display, 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 512MB RAM, 8GB of storage, 5 megapixel rear camera with single LED flash, WiFi and Bluetooth on board. Naturally, both parties have loaded the device up with a fair share of pre-installed apps like Drive, MS Office, ESPN, T-Mobile TV and Netflix, but you don't have to let that clutter up your clean live-tiled look -- it's all uninstallable. The mid-range handset also runs along the operator's HSPA+ 14.4Mbps network, so you're in store for some heady "4G" speeds should you decide to take the plunge this January 11th when it hits stores. Head on past the break for the official presser. %Gallery-141787%
Swisscom slip-up hints at Nokia Lumia 900 coming end of February (updated)
Is the Lumia 900 a real device or an Arctic mirage? We've seen clues that Espoo might be working on a bigger Windows Phone to complement the Lumia 800 and 710, to the point where the strange Twitter conversation above doesn't strike us as totally surprising. A customer named Xavier Hahn tweeted support staff at Swiss operator Swisscom, to ask about a timeline for the "Nokia Lumia 800 or 900." Apparently forgetting that the 900 is an unknown and unannounced device, Swisscom responded that the 800 is expected on its shelves by the end of January, and the 900 at the "end of Feb." Of course, this could be a genuine mistake rather than a leak, and when we asked Nokia about it, its spokesperson refused to comment on "market rumor or speculation." Nevertheless, this little episode surely deserves to be filed away in our burgeoning Nokia 900 evidence cabinet. Update: Swisscom staff tweeted again saying that they made a mistake: the Nokia 710 is coming at the end of February and they've actually never heard of the 900. We're still keeping the cabinet though, even if this particular snippet has to be filed somewhere else.
