How would you change Nokia’s Lumia 520?
Like Samsung, Nokia’s smartphone strategy has always been focused around choice. Sometimes this results in products that are so very similar that it’s impossible to tell the difference. That’s not an issue with Nokia’s Lumia 520, the ultra-budget device that was totally swallowed in the shadow of the 620. Sharif Sakr swaddled the phone in derision, criticizing its poor performance, bad camera, unevenly-lit display and poor build quality. For many of you, we imagine you wound up getting this handset for price reasons alone, so the question that we have to ask is simple: what did you like, what did you hate, and what would you have changed? You can shoot the breeze in our forum, or why not write a review of the phone yourself?
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
Source: Engadget Product Forums, Lumia 520 Hub
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Microsoft’s new, selfie-friendly Windows Phone gets caught on camera
Rumors have swirled of Microsoft making a new Windows Phone that’s all about selfies, and it now looks like that portrait-oriented device is about to become a reality. WPCentral has scored photos of a prototype for the mid-range “Superman” (rumored to be named the Lumia 730) that would reportedly pack a 5-megapixel camera up front. That’s on par with what you’ll find on some Android phones, but it’s a big step up from the modest 1.3MP cam on the Lumia 720 this will likely replace. There’s no definitive evidence of the sensor, though, and it’s tough to verify additional claims of a 4.7-inch screen — don’t be surprised if the specs are different if and when Superman shows up.
However, the leak at least suggests that new software is coming down the pike. The hardware you see here is apparently running Debian Red, the codename for what may be a Lumia-specific take on the recently announced Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1. Just what that upgrade entails isn’t certain, but it’s safe to presume that it involves more than what Cyan offers. The real question may be when this selfie phone shows up, rather than what’s inside. While a leaked memo from Microsoft’s Jo Harlow claimed that high-end devices would show up “very soon,” it’s not clear what that means. Given that Debian Red hasn’t even been announced yet, it could be a long while before you’re holding this superheroic gadget in your hands.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
Via: The Verge
Source: WPCentral
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Microsoft’s idea of severance pay is a free Lumia 630
If your firm, like Microsoft, was preparing huge layoffs, you’d expect a sweet incentive to leave, like a fat check, or the right to rob the stationery cupboard guilt-free. For workers at a former Nokia factory in China, however, the reward on offer’s a little less than spectacular. MarketWatch is reporting that Microsoft is offering workers in a former Nokia factory a free Lumia 630 if they apply for the company’s voluntary resignation scheme. The handsets are being handed out on a first come, first served basis, with the first 300 employees to leave each day bagging one of the phones. Of course, given that the low-end handset retails for the equivalent of $130, it’s hardly the gold watch and golf club membership you’d expect to leave your job with.
Filed under: Cellphones, Microsoft, Nokia
Source: MarketWatch
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Windows Phone’s next update will support smart cases and giant devices
Windows Phone 8.1 may have only just reached the general public, but it’s already in line for a surprisingly large update. Microsoft has posted developer documents (sign-in required) for Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1, a tweak that fills in a few key hardware and software gaps. Aside from previously revealed folder support, the upgrade will allow for smart cases akin to HTC’s Dot View or LG’s QuickCircle. Phone makers will get to run special apps when the cover is closed, and specify what happens when it’s open. This seemingly simple addition could be important, since The Verge claims that HTC is preparing a Windows Phone version of the new One — such a device would need smart cover features to perform the same tricks as its Android counterpart.
The revision should also enable more of the tablet-sized phones that are all the rage in some corners of the globe. It’ll support a 1,280 x 768 resolution on screens as large as 7 inches, and there’s a new 1,280 x 800 option useful for larger devices that use software navigation buttons. Other upgrades are smaller, but should be important in the long run — the update should bring high-quality voice over LTE, higher-quality Bluetooth music (through aptX) and manufacturer-defined custom lock screens. There’s no confirmed schedule for when GDR1 would arrive, but Microsoft is clearly getting close. It won’t be surprising if the next big wave of Windows Phones ships with the new features built in.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, HTC, Nokia
Via: NokiaPowerUser, WPCentral
Source: Microsoft (1), (2)
Microsoft’s first post-Nokia phone is the budget Lumia 530
With Nokia’s range of Android-powered smartphones all but dead, Microsoft is pushing its newly-acquired Lumia line harder than ever. Today, it’s introduced the lowest-priced Windows Phone to date, the Lumia 530, delivering middle-of-the-road specs for €85 ($114). For that, you’ll get a 4-inch FWVGA (854 x 480) display, quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory (with support for 128GB microSD storage). There’s also a 5-megapixel camera on the rear (no selfie camera here folks), which is controlled by Microsoft’s latest Windows Phone 8.1 software. That, of course, offers access to Cortana (if you’re in the US), the new WordFlow swipe keyboard and a multitude of other custom Microsoft- and Nokia-crafted apps. Like its older siblings, the Lumia 530 will also come in both single and dual SIM (3G) variants and offer interchangeable back covers, which will be available in the traditional orange, green, white and dark grey colors. Microsoft’s latest Lumia will go on a global tour in the near future, starting with an initial rollout in “select markets” from next month.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia
Via: Conversations Blog
Source: Nokia
Get a new look on the cheap with these customizable phones
Deep-pocketed power users may buy new smartphones once a year or even every few months to take advantage of improved displays, better cameras and faster processors, but the majority of owners are more likely to tire of their device’s appearance long before its outdated specs. A few manufacturers have taken a new approach when designing their handsets, opting to include not only replaceable batteries, but also swappable backs, that let you change the look of your phone for only a few bucks. Samsung’s Galaxy S5 and LG’s G3 are two recent flagships that you can change up after purchase, but there are a few other options to consider, too. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you could even replace the backplate on, say, an iPhone 5s, but such an undertaking requires precise work, pricier parts and a voided warranty. Click through for our customizable picks that keep things simple (and cheap).
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Microsoft, Nokia, ASUS, LG
Nokia’s MixRadio to be spun off as its own music service
The restructuring plans from Microsoft caused a ripple effect throughout the company, with its recently acquired Nokia Devices and Services business being the most affected one. Now, as part of this, The Guardian reports that Nokia’s MixRadio music-streaming app is expected to spin out and live as a standalone service. Essentially, this means MixRadio will no longer be limited to Microsoft’s platform, though it’s still going to come pre-loaded on Windows Phone handsets made by Nokia. Not that the world needs another streaming service for tunes, but the eventual spin-off would give the MixRadio app the chance its curation features to other platforms such as iOS and Android. At the moment, however, there are still things to work out: “I’ve been meeting with potential investors around the world in the last few weeks. We have very strong interest from investors in the US, Europe and Asia, and we remain open for further discussions,” Nokia’s Jyrki Rosenberg, VP of Entertainment, told the British publication.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Internet, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
Source: The Guardian
The top 15 smartphones you can buy right now
OK, so it usually doesn’t cost as much as a car, but a smartphone is still an important lifestyle purchase. And it will probably be at your side 24/7 (if you’re anything like us). There’s always a bit of hemming and hawing, for sure, but we’ve distilled the options down to a short list of the top handsets, with top picks for each OS. Head down to the gallery below for a quick stroll through our selections or check out our full buyer’s guide for the lowdown on the best smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables that your hard-earned money can buy.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, HTC, Nokia, Google, LG, Blackberry
Microsoft cuts 18,000 jobs as part of its largest layoff ever
Microsoft today announced that it’s cutting 18,000 jobs, the biggest round of layoffs in its history, as part of ongoing restructuring efforts. In a release, the company says that Nokia’s Devices and Services business, which it acquired for $5 billion last year, will be most affected, with 12,500 “professional and factory positions” expected to go by the end of the year. In an email to employees, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella explains that the company’s new strategy is designed to make it “more agile” moving forward, allowing teams to work more freely.
Nadella also hinted that Microsoft could end development of Nokia’s Android-powered X smartphones by shifting “select Nokia X product designs to become Lumia products running Windows.” As for the Xbox and Surface divisions, they’ll see “limited change,” as the company intends to continue building on plans it implemented earlier in the year. Nadella believes today’s cuts will go some way towards helping Microsoft realign itself, allowing it to pursue its goal of innovating both in mobile and the cloud.
Source: Microsoft
Microsoft will abandon Nokia’s Android smartphone project
It’s a day of upheaval over at Microsoft as the company has announced that it’ll cut 18,000 jobs in the near future. At the same time, however, Satya Nadella has cast doubt on the long-term future of Nokia’s X series of Android-powered smartphones. In an email, the Microsoft CEO says that the company will refashion “select” Nokia X designs as Lumia smartphones that run Windows Phone. There’s no word on if the other handsets in the range will continue, but it seems unlikely given that the phones run Android, Microsoft’s biggest rival in the mobile space. If you’re still on the hunt for one of these devices, don’t worry, as Stephen Elop has added that the company will continue to support and sell the existing range of X series devices.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
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