windowsphone
Latest
Nokia adds Peek hover function to Lumias running latest Amber OS update
It doesn't come close to the suite of air gestures Samsung's included in the Galaxy S 4, but Nokia's pushing out an update to give Lumia owners a limited taste of that hands-free functionality. Bundled into a new version 1.6 bump for display + touch settings released today is a new Peek feature, which gives Lumia owners the ability to wake their phones and glance at notifications with a mere hand wave. Sadly, it's only compatible with Lumia devices running the latest Amber update -- currently set for a vague "summer" rollout -- which makes this hover-to-wake function a 925-only affair for the time being.
Nokia to update Here Drive and Transit apps, release Drive+ for all WP8 handsets
Nokia's Here Drive+ global sat-nav app for Windows Phone 8, currently exclusive to certain Lumia handsets, will be available to all devices running Redmond's mobile OS when it gets updated "by the end of this week." In addition to wider availability, the app refresh will see the integration of local traffic information and bring a "more intuitive user interface." Also, the new My Commute feature will make its debut, which monitors traffic along your common route and gives you an estimated travel time so you can plan accordingly. It'll also let you know if things change while you're on the road and offer up different routes if it spots a jam up ahead. An identical update will be applied to Here Drive, the non-exclusive version of Drive+ that's tied to one country (read: local navigation license). In tandem with the Drive apps, Nokia's Here Transit app for planning journeys on public transport will be updated with a redesigned user interface. Drive+ global navigation doesn't come free, however, even for those packing a Lumia 720, 520 or 521 variant (those handsets only have the standard Drive app pre-installed). A global license which turns Drive into Drive+ costs 15.49 euro (nearly $20) in some countries, such as the US, Canada and the UK, and 34.99 euro (almost $45) elsewhere; Here Transit will also come at a price of 1.99 euro (around $2.50) in these regions. There's table after the break which neatly lays out what costs what where, and you can hit up the PR if you feel you haven't done enough reading already.
Samsung ATIV Odyssey now available on US Cellular for $50 after rebate
The obscure ZTE Render's had its fair share of good times as US Cellular's Windows Phone, but the carrier's now ready to add its first WP8 device to the lineup: the Samsung ATIV Odyssey. The smartphone, which has been available on Verizon for several months, finally launches online today and in stores this Thursday for $50 on contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. The device offers a WVGA display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage with microSD expansion, NFC, a 2,100mAh battery and 5MP rear camera with 1.2MP front-facing cam.
HTC 8XT will be available on Sprint July 19th for $100 after rebate
The term "this summer" has finally become much more specific for anyone hoping to score a Sprint-branded Windows Phone: July 19th. This is the date the Now Network will launch the HTC 8XT, the carrier's first WP8 device, and you'll be able to grab one for $100 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year commitment. For that overall cost, you're getting a 4.3-inch WVGA display, 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 CPU, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera, BoomSound, microSD expansion and an 1,800mAh battery. There's still no word on Samsung's entry to this arena, but we imagine it won't be terribly long before the news arrives, but we do know that HTC's version will start out $50 cheaper (likely due in part to the lower resolution). Press release after the break.
Nokia Lumia 1020 spotted in yellow, white and black, replete with 2GB of RAM (updated)
For those obsessed with obscene megapixel counts and Windows Phone, Thursday can't come soon enough. If rumors prove true, the renders shown above will be made official in around 72 hours, with the Lumia 1020 to debut in a flurry of hues -- yellow, black and white, specifically. Moreover, Windows Phone Central is reporting that the device previously known as EOS will ship with optical image stabilization built right in, 2GB of RAM (a boost from the 1GB found on most modern WP8 handsets) and 32GB of internal storage. Head on down to the source link for more... you know, given that waiting for the formal word isn't something you're prone to do. Update: According to a leaked (slightly sketchy) image on Weibo, it looks like the white iteration might be glossy, rather than the matte finish seen on the Lumia 925. We've added it after the break.
FIFA 13 now available for Windows Phone 8 as a Nokia exclusive
All Windows Phones were not created equal. Nokia's managed to snag exclusive access to this year's FIFA game -- it's only available for Lumia smartphone owners, so HTC and Samsung users are apparently out of luck. EA Sports claims that FIFA 13 offers some enhanced graphics and significant control improvements, featuring game play that includes 30 leagues, 500 teams, 15,000 players and 32 authentic stadiums. The Xbox Live-enabled 951 MB download can be yours for $4.99 at the source link below.
First photos from Nokia Lumia 1020 surface on Joe Belfiore's Flickr account
Just an innocuous boating photo, you say? Not quite. That's Microsoft's Joe Belfiore on the left, and his companions recently took both this snapshot and one other using a Nokia Lumia 1020 -- a phone that doesn't officially exist yet. While there aren't many clues to the 1020's camera performance in Belfiore's Flickr pages, the image metadata shows both a wide-aperture f/2.2 lens as well as cropped 3.7MP and 5MP image sizes. Whether or not the photo posts are accidents or deliberate teases, we're likely to learn more about the new Lumia on July 11th.
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 1st, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, Simple Mobile changed its low-cost plans for the better and actionable notifications in BlackBerry 10.2 were shown off in a video walkthrough. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of June 1st, 2013.
AT&T Locker cloud storage arrives on Windows Phone 8
AT&T Locker has been available on Android and iOS for awhile, but those aren't the only platforms the carrier offers -- others need their online storage, too. Accordingly, AT&T has quietly posted a Windows Phone 8 version of Locker. The new app switches to a Microsoft-inspired interface while preserving all of Locker's core features, including an option to automatically upload photos and videos. If you're an AT&T customer and don't mind tying your Windows Phone's cloud storage to your choice of cellular network, you can grab Locker at the link below.
Nokia Lumia 1020 for AT&T possibly spied with Pro Cam app
Wondering what the Nokia EOS (aka Lumia 1020) will look like in US trim? This may be your first glimpse: @evleaks has posted a press image of the device in its AT&T form. If accurate, it represents our first proper view of the flagship Windows Phone's front side, and it suggests that we're looking at a subtle evolution of the Lumia 920 from this angle. Look closely at the software, however. There's a previously unknown Nokia Pro Cam app, which hints that Lumia 1020 owners will get more than just a tweaked version of the Smart Camera app on the Lumia 925. Presumably, this would include extra controls to tame the camera's 41 million pixels. There's no launch details or other tidbits included with the as yet unconfirmed image, although there's a real chance that we'll see a lot more around July 11th.
Nokia will pay you up to $300 to trade an old phone for a Lumia
Nokia's Lumia phones show promise despite the company's dwindling overall sales, and now's your chance to nab one at more affordable prices -- if you're willing to trade in an old phone, that is. The Finnish company's new trade up program in the US will take in old mobile devices and send back up to $300 loaded on a Visa prepaid card, so long as you also purchase a Lumia. A lot of brands and models are accepted (check out if yours is via the trade up portal linked below), but popular ones like the iPhone 4S, the Galaxy S 4, and the HTC One will net you the most money. So, if you're sick of being lost in a crowd of Androids and iPhones, now's the time to give WP8 a whirl.
Bing Translator comes to Twitter's official Windows Phone app
It's not every day we see Windows Phone being used to launch a major new feature, but Twitter has done just that. An update to its official app has just enabled automatic translation if you happen to be reading a person's tweet that isn't in English. The tweet isn't translated in your actual timeline; instead you have to manually click through, but that's nothing to complain about. Microsoft's Bing Platform, also released yesterday, is likely being used as the backend, so this feature could very well come to Twitter's official apps on Android and iOS (not to mention a whole range of other apps) in the near future.%Gallery-192496%
T-Mobile leak hints Lumia 925 and Xperia Z may launch on July 17th
T-Mobile customers may have to sit tight for a little while longer if they're planning to pick up a Nokia Lumia 925 or Sony Xperia Z. TmoNews has reportedly obtained a roadmap from the UnCarrier that has the two smartphones launching on July 17th alongside an unidentified (though likely budget-oriented) handset. While pricing isn't mentioned for the Xperia Z, the Lumia 925 is expected to cost $100 down with a $579 full price. The apparent leak gives us a date to mark on our calendars, although we won't base our lives around it -- carriers tend to change schedules at the last minute, after all.
Microsoft launches Bing platform for developers
Microsoft wants developers to make Bing a central part of their apps, and it's powering that with a new developer platform unveiled today at Build. The Bing kit will let programmers tap the search engine's wealth of knowledge, providing direct information and translations when they're relevant. It should also grant access to natural interfaces, such as gestures, as well as real-world map data. Microsoft showed the platform at work in both Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8, so it's clear that developers who want Bing's resources won't be locked into any one device type.
Huawei Ascend W2 shows up prematurely, packs color-matching backlit soft keys (hands-on)
After the official product shot leaked in late May, we knew it wouldn't be long before Huawei's Ascend W2 makes an official appearance. Well, today's the day, but as the company's second-ever Windows Phone device, the W2's appearance at Mobile Asia Expo was surprisingly low key. According to the spec sheet at Huawei's booth, this affordable phone comes with a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 display (looked like IPS to us) and a 1.4GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8230 SoC (same as the W1 but faster) with 512MB RAM. There's 8GB of built-in storage along with microSD expansion -- the slot is located next to the removable 1,700mAh battery plus full-size SIM slot, all underneath the red or yellow back cover. Even though Huawei doesn't hide the fact that the W2 is a low-cost device, it's actually not too shabby. Most notably, the three usual soft keys are color backlit and will match your desired theme in Windows Phone 8. As a bonus, the touchscreen has a glove mode -- as featured on several other more recent Huawei phones -- for the cold winter days. There's still no price or date announced just yet, but since this particular model packs a TD-SCDMA radio for China Mobile, folks outside China will have to wait for the WCDMA variant. For now, we have a hands-on video for you after the break. %Gallery-192374%
Discovery launches trio of TV streaming apps for Windows Phone
Windows Phone 8 users whose TV habits revolve around MythBusters, Cake Boss and cute pets are in luck: Discovery has just posted three apps for their platform of choice. The new Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and TLC releases share the same basic template, letting fans check show schedules and stream either brief clips or a smattering of full-length episodes. All of the apps support Windows Phone's live tiles, voice commands and calendar reminders, although they're otherwise simple; they lack the second screen features we've seen in iOS versions. If you're just hoping to watch some Auction Kings on the bus, however, you can get your fix through the Windows Phone store today.
Mobile Miscellany: week of June 17th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, Ting went rogue and all but confirmed the HTC Tiara, Boost Mobile did the obvious and announced a phone that's long been rumored in its pipeline and Wind welcomed a new, compact Samsung handset into the fold. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of June 17th, 2013.
Nokia RM-875 reaches the FCC, may be an international EOS
Nokia keeps slipping out clues as to what we might expect from its Zoom Reinvented event: following the RM-877's appearance at the FCC, an RM-875 device has also popped up at the US agency. This new hardware looks like an international variant of the RM-877, and thus a second take on what we believe is the EOS. The RM-875 sheds what traces were left of its sibling's 1,700MHz HSPA+ data and switches the LTE to more exotic 850MHz, 1,800MHz, 2,100MHz and 2,500MHz frequencies, but it's otherwise a near perfect match in terms of dimensions and antenna layouts. The camera grip accessory and wireless charging cover persist, too. As such, it's quite possible that whatever Nokia unveils on July 11th will ship worldwide -- let's just hope it ships quickly.
Microsoft reportedly neared deal for Nokia's device business, but talks broke down
It's often been rumored that Microsoft had an eye on Nokia's handset business. It made perfect sense for both companies -- one a struggling pioneer of the mobile industry and the other a struggling stalwart from the first wave of smartphones. According to the Wall Street Journal's sources, the two were actually quite close to striking a deal and were having "advanced talks" in London as recently as this month. But, according to the all-too-familiar "people familiar with the matter," those talks have broken down. Those same sources say it was Microsoft that walked away from the table over concerns about Nokia's asking price, especially in light of its continued failure to put a significant dent in Apple and Samsung's market share. Though it seems like dreams of a Microsoft-Nokia merger are dead for the moment, don't expect the disagreement to severely affect the duo's partnership. Nokia is still reliant on Microsoft's help to stand out in the market and Microsoft needs the Finnish manufacturer to keep pumping out flagship handsets with Windows Phone on them.
Alleged metallic Nokia EOS body teased again, this time with a dozen of them
That baffling metallic Nokia EOS chassis we saw the other day? It's back, but this time the same leakster from Sina Weibo managed to get a shot of at least 12 of them, meaning the device has likely reached some sort of production stage. In another photo, we can see the same button arrangement -- presumably volume, power and camera -- that's already present on the current Lumia range. The strange thing is we've yet to see a cover plate that will match this seemingly smaller camera opening, but the square shape does make us wonder whether this will fit Pelican Imaging's 16-lens array camera. After all, Nokia did announce its investment in this plenoptic camera technology. Hopefully Elop will personally explain what's going on at his event on July 11th -- maybe with both this and the plastic EOS in his hands.
