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Windows 10 Technical Preview arrives on phones
Been jonesing to see what Windows 10 looks like on smaller screens? You now have your chance. Microsoft has just released a Technical Preview of the new OS for smartphones. This extra-early version won't include the next-gen Spartan browser and still has a lot of unfinished elements, but it'll give you a good sneak peek at Action Center upgrades, across-the-board voice dictation support and the better photo browser. Future test builds will also bring the much-improved Calendar and Mail apps, unified messaging and phone versions of universal Office apps.
AT&T launches new HTC phones, Lumia 830 and G Watch R on November 7th
When it rains, it pours -- on top of its Galaxy Note Edge announcement, AT&T has unveiled launch plans for no less than six smart devices that should reach stores by November 7th. It'll be a particularly big day for HTC fans, who'll get the Desire Eye ($150 on contract, $550 off), One (M8) for Windows ($200/$670) and RE camera ($199 contract-free). And that's just the start. The previously promised Lumia 830 will arrive at the same time, costing $100 on contract and $450 up front; you'll get a free Fitbit Flex activity tracker with the Windows Phone if you act quickly. Meanwhile, smartwatch lovers will like that both LG's G Watch R and Motorola's Moto 360 will go on sale for respective prices of $299 and $249. That's a lot of release info to digest, but it's hard to complain too much about getting so many gadgets in one day.
Lumia 830 review: bringing the Icon down to the mid-range
When Nokia released the Lumia Icon earlier this year, it took its polycarbonate design philosophy and went a bit metal -- aluminum, specifically. The result was a premium phone with a fancy body to match. But the Icon's exclusivity on Verizon limited its appeal, and its sibling, the Lumia 930, has yet to make it to US shores. Into that void comes the Lumia 830, from the freshly minted Microsoft Mobile. With the Lumia 830, priced at $100 with a two-year contract on AT&T ($450 contract-free), Microsoft looks to bring the metal frame and PureView camera branding of high-end Lumias down to the mid-range smartphone level. Of course, there's always the risk of making the wrong sacrifices when trying to lower the price, so did Microsoft shave too many corners off of the 830's aluminum body? I've spent the past week with the global version of the phone as my daily driver to find out.
Microsoft turns Cortana into a Klingon-speaking Starfleet officer
To celebrate the launch of the Lumia 830 in the UK and all of the Trek-flavored nerdiness going down at Destination Star Trek in London, Microsoft has taught given its virtual assistant a crash course in the ways of Qo'nos -- by which we mean Cortana can now speak a little Klingon. All you'll have to do is ask, though the first thing the xenolinguists among you will probably notice that her and vocabulary and pronunciation are just awful. SlashGear also adds that Cortana responds when you refer to her as "Number One" -- Commander Riker can't be too pleased about that one -- as well as when you tell her to beam you up or "set phasers to stun". The smarts enabling Cortana's new behavior haven't started making the rounds yet outside of the UK yet, but a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to us those Starfleet commands will work in the US in the coming weeks. In the mean time, there are still other ways to get a feel for Redmond's Trekkie credentials: remember, that Bing's Translator can kinda-sorta tackle textual Klingon too.
Microsoft's mid-tier Lumia 830 is coming to AT&T
Right now, AT&T doesn't offer much diversity in Windows Phones. You're either choosing between the tiny and thrifty Lumia 635 or a decked-out behemoth like the Lumia 1520. Thankfully, the network has heard the calls for a mid-tier option -- it just announced that it's carrying the Lumia 830 sometime later this year. While you'll have to wait a while for launch details, it's reasonable to expect pricing that slots neatly between the 635 and 1520. No, it's not the straight-up 1020 sequel that many are clamoring for, but it's hard to disagree with a wider choice of Microsoft-powered devices in the US.
Microsoft's Lumia 830 offers PureView imaging at a lower cost
Microsoft Devices, formerly known as Nokia's phone division, is no slouch when it comes to its device lineup. Lately, it's been focused on refining the top and bottom of its Lumia Windows Phone lineup, but the phone maker came to IFA in Berlin with a couple of devices to freshen up the middle of the pack. The company's strategy: Bring the PureView brand, which has typically been associated with Nokia's premium phones, to a more affordable price point on the Lumia 830. In fact, Microsoft bills the 830 as "the affordable flagship." The device looks a lot like the Lumia 930 because it comes with the aluminum frame and subtly curved polycarbonate back. While it uses the PureView name, the rear camera's 10MP resolution isn't quite as good number-wise as the 930 or 1020, but it's understandable given the lower price point. Still, the device will come with plenty of extra software enhancements to improve the experience.
Microsoft teases new camera-focused Windows Phones on September 4th
You won't have to wait long if you're hoping for a new round of Windows Phones with powerful cameras. Microsoft has just sent out a save-the-date notice that asks the media if it's ready for "more face time" at a Berlin event on September 4th, just ahead of the IFA technology show. There's a Lumia 1020-style camera module not-so-subtly woven into the text, too. While there are no dead giveaways in the teaser, it's not hard to figure out the references. Our hunch is that "face time" is an allusion to "Superman" (aka the Lumia 730), the selfie-oriented Windows Phone that leaked just a few days ago. The module is slightly more cryptic, but it might be hinting at the aluminum-clad, 13-megapixel "Tesla" (Lumia 830) that reportedly surfaced last month. We're headed to IFA, so you should expect to hear much, much more about any new Lumias within a few weeks.
