Verizon Lumia 1520 variant leaked in China, teases 20MP PureView camera and Zeiss lens

Verizon branded Lumia 1520 variant leaked in China, teases 20megapixel PureView camera and Zeiss lens

An oversized smartphone with Zeiss optics and PureView camera technology? We wouldn’t expect anything less from Nokia, but it’s nice to see the rumors roll in, all the same. Noted Weibo leaker Houdabao has managed to get his hands on a large Lumia device with a PureView 20-megapixel camera, Zeiss optics and Verizon branding. The post describes the devices as a “big big Windows Phone,” which sounds an awful lot like the rumored Lumia 1520. The speakers and camera flash are in slightly different locations than the leaked image we saw earlier this month, but we’re willing to chalk that up to carrier variations. Nokia hasn’t said anything official just yet, but rumors suggest that the device will be officially unveiled later this month.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Via: WPCentral

Source: Weibo

Verizon branded Lumia 1520 variant leaked in China, teases 20megapixel PureView camera and Zeiss lens

An oversized smartphone with Zeiss optics and PureView camera technology? We wouldn’t expect anything less from Nokia, but it’s nice to see the rumors roll in, all the same. Noted Weibo leaker Houdabao has managed to get his hands on a large Lumia device with a PureView 20-megapixel camera, Zeiss optics and Verizon branding. The post describes the devices as a “big big Windows Phone,” which sounds an awful lot like the rumored Lumia 1520. The speakers and camera flash are in slightly different locations than the leaked image we saw earlier this month, but we’re willing to chalk that up to carrier variations. Nokia hasn’t said anything official just yet, but rumors suggest that the device will be officially unveiled later this month.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Via: WPCentral

Source: Weibo

Samsung Galaxy Gear winds its way through FCC approval

Samsung Galaxy Gear winds its way through FCC approval

Granted, the picture we see above us would’ve been much more intriguing a couple days ago, prior to Samsung Unpacked, but it shows the Samsung SM-V700 (aka Galaxy Gear) getting the official stamp of approval by the FCC, which means it’s one step closer to store shelves. The docs don’t give us any juicy tidbits that we didn’t already know — essentially, the device has Bluetooth and not much else in the way of wireless connectivity — but this doesn’t come as a surprise for an already-announced gadget. Still, the Galaxy Gear’s appearance in the FCC is at least a clear indication that things are going in the right direction, and folks in the US may see it closer to the September 25th launch date than they initially feared.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: FCC

Samsung Galaxy Gear winds its way through FCC approval

Granted, the picture we see above us would’ve been much more intriguing a couple days ago, prior to Samsung Unpacked, but it shows the Samsung SM-V700 (aka Galaxy Gear) getting the official stamp of approval by the FCC, which means it’s one step closer to store shelves. The docs don’t give us any juicy tidbits that we didn’t already know — essentially, the device has Bluetooth and not much else in the way of wireless connectivity — but this doesn’t come as a surprise for an already-announced gadget. Still, the Galaxy Gear’s appearance in the FCC is at least a clear indication that things are going in the right direction, and folks in the US may see it closer to the September 25th launch date than they initially feared.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: FCC

Nokiasoft comes full circle: Microsoft’s play for ultimate control will redefine the Windows ecosystem

Nokiasoft comes full circle Microsoft's play for ultimate control will redfine the Windows ecosystem

The “soft” in Microsoft isn’t what it used to be. A score ago, the company was certain the software-licensing business was the one it wanted to be in — Apple decided to hold its cards a lot closer to the chest, and it cost the company dearly for years. Meanwhile, Microsoft made a lot of cash with Windows, and it still does. But the tide is turning. Two of the last three Windows operating systems haven’t generated the kind of crazed mindshare that a company needs to remain relevant over the long haul, and at some point, one has to wonder if Microsoft will be able to inject a bit of life into its stodgy, outmoded self by grabbing the reins on the hardware side.

In fact, that’s exactly what Microsoft wondered, as it casually announced a plan in June of 2012 to affront scores of OEM partners with its Surface initiative. In an instant, Microsoft dove headfirst into the hardware game, and regardless of how it wanted the public to perceive the move, the truth was impossible to hide: this was Microsoft telling Acer, ASUS, Dell, Lenovo and the rest that it could no longer trust their design chops to keep its revenue on the up and up.

In February of 2011, well before it transformed the Surface from a big-ass table into a slate that almost no one wants to buy (Microsoft’s words, not mine), the company managed to procure a huge ally on the mobile front. The Nokia / Microsoft alliance was monumental. This was Nokia’s formidable hardware being exclusively used to push Microsoft’s fledgling Windows Phone OS. At once, Nokia loyalists found hope, and those praying for a coalition with Android were dismayed. Little did we know: that partnership marked the end of the original Microsoft, the end of the original Nokia and, in my estimation, a complete rerouting of the Windows roadmap. This week’s acquisition simply makes it all the more official.

Filed under: , , , , ,

Comments

Nokiasoft comes full circle Microsoft's play for ultimate control will redfine the Windows ecosystem

The “soft” in Microsoft isn’t what it used to be. A score ago, the company was certain the software-licensing business was the one it wanted to be in — Apple decided to hold its cards a lot closer to the chest, and it cost the company dearly for years. Meanwhile, Microsoft made a lot of cash with Windows, and it still does. But the tide is turning. Two of the last three Windows operating systems haven’t generated the kind of crazed mindshare that a company needs to remain relevant over the long haul, and at some point, one has to wonder if Microsoft will be able to inject a bit of life into its stodgy, outmoded self by grabbing the reins on the hardware side.

In fact, that’s exactly what Microsoft wondered, as it casually announced a plan in June of 2012 to affront scores of OEM partners with its Surface initiative. In an instant, Microsoft dove headfirst into the hardware game, and regardless of how it wanted the public to perceive the move, the truth was impossible to hide: this was Microsoft telling Acer, ASUS, Dell, Lenovo and the rest that it could no longer trust their design chops to keep its revenue on the up and up.

In February of 2011, well before it transformed the Surface from a big-ass table into a slate that almost no one wants to buy (Microsoft’s words, not mine), the company managed to procure a huge ally on the mobile front. The Nokia / Microsoft alliance was monumental. This was Nokia’s formidable hardware being exclusively used to push Microsoft’s fledgling Windows Phone OS. At once, Nokia loyalists found hope, and those praying for a coalition with Android were dismayed. Little did we know: that partnership marked the end of the original Microsoft, the end of the original Nokia and, in my estimation, a complete rerouting of the Windows roadmap. This week’s acquisition simply makes it all the more official.

Filed under: , , , , ,

Comments

Nokia’s Windows RT tablet detailed, Codenamed Sirius


 We’ve previously brought you details and leaked images of Nokia’s Windows RT tablet. Following a spate of reports published today, the tablet is all but confirmed. As expected, the tablet will follow the same design language as seen on the Finnish company’s Lumia range of devices. The device will run on a Snapdragon 800 processor and will be equipped with a 1080p display that is expected to have the ClearBlack technology as seen on its phones. This technology helps makes displays much more readable even under direct sunlight.
 Nokia Windows RT Tablet rumored specifications
10.1-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) full HD  5-point multi-touch display with wide viewing angle
2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor
32GB of built-in storage
Detachable keyboard similar to surface Touch/Type Cover
Keyboard accessory to have built in battery
Micro HDMI and USB 3
LTE support
The tablet will have 32GB of storage which should be expandable via a microSD card slot. A 6MP camera will be placed on the rear of the device while a 2MP snapper would on the front of the tablet. Variants with built in LTE will also be available. It is believed that a removable keyboard with a built in battery will be available as an accessory for the tablet that is …


 We’ve previously brought you details and leaked images of Nokia’s Windows RT tablet. Following a spate of reports published today, the tablet is all but confirmed. As expected, the tablet will follow the same design language as seen on the Finnish company’s Lumia range of devices. The device will run on a Snapdragon 800 processor and will be equipped with a 1080p display that is expected to have the ClearBlack technology as seen on its phones. This technology helps makes displays much more readable even under direct sunlight.
 Nokia Windows RT Tablet rumored specifications
10.1-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) full HD  5-point multi-touch display with wide viewing angle
2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor
32GB of built-in storage
Detachable keyboard similar to surface Touch/Type Cover
Keyboard accessory to have built in battery
Micro HDMI and USB 3
LTE support
The tablet will have 32GB of storage which should be expandable via a microSD card slot. A 6MP camera will be placed on the rear of the device while a 2MP snapper would on the front of the tablet. Variants with built in LTE will also be available. It is believed that a removable keyboard with a built in battery will be available as an accessory for the tablet that is …

Mobile Miscellany: week of August 19th, 2013

Mobile Miscellany week of August 19th, 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 brought a free TV streaming service for Bell subscribers, the arrival of NFL Mobile to BlackBerry 10 and little bit of Windows Phone love from General Motors. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that’s happening in the mobile world for this week of August 19th, 2013.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Mobile Miscellany week of August 19th, 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 brought a free TV streaming service for Bell subscribers, the arrival of NFL Mobile to BlackBerry 10 and little bit of Windows Phone love from General Motors. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that’s happening in the mobile world for this week of August 19th, 2013.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Fresh Paint updated to support lower-tier Windows Phone 8 devices

If you’re one of many Windows Phone 8 users who downloaded the Fresh Paint app when it arrived on mobile devices a few weeks ago, you might’ve been disappointed to find it wouldn’t run on certain devices. That’s because the initial release of the program was only for higher-end WP8 phones with a healthy dosage of RAM. Now, however, it has been updated to run on Windows Phone 8 handsets with just 512MB of RAM, which includes models like the HTC 8S, the Nokia Lumia 520/521, 620, 625 and 720. So if you now have a qualifying handset, feel free to hit up the Windows Phone Store link below to unleash that pent-up creativity on a digital canvas.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: Windows Phone Blog, Fresh Paint (Windows Phone Store)

If you’re one of many Windows Phone 8 users who downloaded the Fresh Paint app when it arrived on mobile devices a few weeks ago, you might’ve been disappointed to find it wouldn’t run on certain devices. That’s because the initial release of the program was only for higher-end WP8 phones with a healthy dosage of RAM. Now, however, it has been updated to run on Windows Phone 8 handsets with just 512MB of RAM, which includes models like the HTC 8S, the Nokia Lumia 520/521, 620, 625 and 720. So if you now have a qualifying handset, feel free to hit up the Windows Phone Store link below to unleash that pent-up creativity on a digital canvas.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: Windows Phone Blog, Fresh Paint (Windows Phone Store)

Whatsapp finally gets a huge update on Windows Phone, now with background agent and proper Emoji!


The saga of Whatsapp on Windows Phone has always been fueled with much hate since the app never really worked well out of the box and was always buggy. Having grown massively, Whatsapp left Windows Phone users to a sub par experience when compared with other platforms. The streaming API was hacked up and meddled with music playback and messages stopped refreshing inside the app occasionally. Annoying customers to the core, the app still has only a 3 star rating on the Windows Phone Store, but a new huge update to the app changes everything, again. Fixing all the problems that the app is known for, the company has provided the much needed huge update and looking at the early review, it seems all the major outstanding issues have been fixed.
Here is a quick list of changes on the new version of whatsapp –
Initiate voice calls from within the app
Background API allows you to play music
Proper Emoji
Fixed notifications for users
Users can now see smileys on the double wide tile
Fast resume (If the app is open and you click on the incoming notification it opens as fast as on Android)
On start-up, it now asks if you want to back up your …


The saga of Whatsapp on Windows Phone has always been fueled with much hate since the app never really worked well out of the box and was always buggy. Having grown massively, Whatsapp left Windows Phone users to a sub par experience when compared with other platforms. The streaming API was hacked up and meddled with music playback and messages stopped refreshing inside the app occasionally. Annoying customers to the core, the app still has only a 3 star rating on the Windows Phone Store, but a new huge update to the app changes everything, again. Fixing all the problems that the app is known for, the company has provided the much needed huge update and looking at the early review, it seems all the major outstanding issues have been fixed.
Here is a quick list of changes on the new version of whatsapp –
Initiate voice calls from within the app
Background API allows you to play music
Proper Emoji
Fixed notifications for users
Users can now see smileys on the double wide tile
Fast resume (If the app is open and you click on the incoming notification it opens as fast as on Android)
On start-up, it now asks if you want to back up your …

Nokia Lumia 1020 leaked press image reveals a trio of colors

A few days after we saw it wearing AT&T livery, the Nokia Lumia 1020 appeared in yet another press image. This time around, the Windows Phone 8 imaging powerhouse appeared free of carrier branding, and showcasing three colors – white, black, and yellow.

Alongside the leaked press image, some fresh details about the handset's specs emerged, including its much talked about camera unit. The…

A few days after we saw it wearing AT&T livery, the Nokia Lumia 1020 appeared in yet another press image. This time around, the Windows Phone 8 imaging powerhouse appeared free of carrier branding, and showcasing three colors – white, black, and yellow.

Alongside the leaked press image, some fresh details about the handset's specs emerged, including its much talked about camera unit. The…

Kim Dotcom’s Mega launches Android app, vows iOS and Windows apps soon

Mega launches Android app

Kim Dotcom launched his Mega cloud storage platform with much fanfare, but few ways to use it. That’s finally improving now that the Mega Android app is here. The release won’t shock anyone who has used established rivals like Dropbox and Google Drive, but it is reasonably complete with two-way transfers, image previews and automatic camera syncing. It won’t be alone for long, either. Mega says that both iOS and Windows apps are in the last stages of testing, which could give us more of an incentive to try what’s still a very young service.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Via: Mega, The Next Web

Source: Google Play

Mega launches Android app

Kim Dotcom launched his Mega cloud storage platform with much fanfare, but few ways to use it. That’s finally improving now that the Mega Android app is here. The release won’t shock anyone who has used established rivals like Dropbox and Google Drive, but it is reasonably complete with two-way transfers, image previews and automatic camera syncing. It won’t be alone for long, either. Mega says that both iOS and Windows apps are in the last stages of testing, which could give us more of an incentive to try what’s still a very young service.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Via: Mega, The Next Web

Source: Google Play

Nokia’s Here Maps service comes to the Asha 501, beta release available now for download

DNP  Nokia's Here Maps comes to the Asha 501, beta release available now for download

The touchscreen Asha 501 Nokia unveiled back in May will now work with Here Maps, the company announced on its blog today. The navigation service is already available on Windows Phone 8, Firefox OS, Android and iOS, and its arrival on the Asha platform will boost that operating system’s more modest selection of apps. Available now as a beta release, Here Maps for the Asha 501 offers turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic information. It’s designed specifically for low-end smartphones without GPS on board, and Nokia’s post notes that the current version “is a starting point and we will improve the experience over time.” Upcoming changes will likely include improved satellite images, which the company says will soon be updated to a higher quality. Asha 501 users in select countries can nab the Here Maps beta via the source link below.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: Conversations by Nokia, Nokia Store

DNP  Nokia's Here Maps comes to the Asha 501, beta release available now for download

The touchscreen Asha 501 Nokia unveiled back in May will now work with Here Maps, the company announced on its blog today. The navigation service is already available on Windows Phone 8, Firefox OS, Android and iOS, and its arrival on the Asha platform will boost that operating system’s more modest selection of apps. Available now as a beta release, Here Maps for the Asha 501 offers turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic information. It’s designed specifically for low-end smartphones without GPS on board, and Nokia’s post notes that the current version “is a starting point and we will improve the experience over time.” Upcoming changes will likely include improved satellite images, which the company says will soon be updated to a higher quality. Asha 501 users in select countries can nab the Here Maps beta via the source link below.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: Conversations by Nokia, Nokia Store