Nokia Lumia 1020 camera on show: manual focus

Time for the next leg of our camera tour, with Juha Alakarhu, Nokia’s head of imaging technology. Along with colleague Eero Salmelin, he invented the 41-megapixel sensor technology that lies at the heart of the amazing new Nokia Lumia 1020.

Please click through on both the pictures to see the full-size images.

Juha says:

This pair of shots highlights a key improvement in our imaging technology – the ability to manually control the focus to produce exactly the effect you want.

These sample images are really difficult to achieve with auto focus, as it usually focuses on the wrong details. By changing the focus manually (from 15cm to infinity), you can tell a completely different story from the same spot. One of these images is about the famous Flat Iron building in New York; the other is about flowers blooming in the heart of the city.

You can use this control in other ways, too. Say you want to take a picture of an object that keeps moving, such as a bird. You can set the focus and wait for your subject to move into the position where you need it.

Previous instalments:

Savour the details;

Bokeh effects;

Manual shutter speed.

Our 5 favourite new Windows Phone apps of the week

It’s almost the end of July! The kids are on their summer holidays and you’re spending every free moment trying to entertain and/or wrangle them into some sort of joyful family fun-time—so when are you supposed to research the hottest new apps in the Windows Store, eh? Don’t worry: we’ve got that covered! Each week we let you know about our favourite new releases and app updates, so that you’re never left behind. And, wait—what’s this, down below? Only this week’s top five apps, ready and waiting!

App title: HD Photo Viewer

What is it? A new way of browsing through your phone’s photo albums in full HD.

Why we love it? Obviously there’s nothing wrong with the native Windows Picture Hub, but there’s no harm in exploring alternatives. The big plus with this app is that it doesn’t reduce image resolution to speed things up; it retains the original shiny HD resolution that makes your smartphone’s camera so desirable. It also lets you do some editing and file-sharing, which is handy. The only note of caution we’d sound is that 512MB phones might struggle to cope—it’ll work on them, but there might be speed issues and the occasional crash.

Who it’s perfect for: photographers

App title: wpTorrent

What is it? A brand-new torrent app for downloading files to your phone

Why we love it? It’s the first native Torrent client for Windows phones. Browse, view, share and use downloaded files, just like you’d do on your laptop or desktop. About time, too, we say, given the audio and video capabilities of most smartphones. Like most torrent services,  wpTorrent is a little tricky to set up and get used to if you’re new to that way of downloading media, but there’s a wealth of info online to explain it all, and it’s worth the effort. A slightly more linited version is available as a free trial.

Who it’s perfect for: Shareaholics

App title: Wead

What is it? An app to add weather info to your photos

Why we love it? It’s slightly gimmicky, and other apps perform similar functions, but we like the easy, cheesy fun that we get from Wead. Open a photo from the Picture Hub and select Wead as an editing tool; pick a font colour, then type in your location and hit + to add weather; the app uses your location to pull up the current weather conditions and temperature where you are and adds this info to the photo. Very nifty for making your friends jealous of your holiday in the sun…

Who it’s perfect for: travellers

App title: Papirus

What is it? A collaboration service, or organising tool, for business teams

Why we love it?  It lets you create tasks, lists, upload files and more—basically, you can cut out the tedium of fifty emails a day when you’re trying to coordinate a busy team of office professionals. It’s been a cloud-based service for a while, so the WP client is the logical next step. We found it impressively robust and comprehensive for a mobile app; serious thought has gone into this. While it’s probably a little OTT for a general user who just wants a simple to-do list, it’s fantastic for more complex team-work situations. And if your business has fewer than 25 team-members, the free version will suit you down to the ground.

Who it’s perfect for: wannabe business tycoons

 App title: Swipe Tunes

What is it? A new, intuitive gesture-based way of navigating your stored music.

Why we love it? Brand new to the market, this is hands-down our favourite app of the week. Swiping and tapping anywhere on the screen gets you from track to track and all the rest (full info in the Help menu!) – no messing about looking for the menu button. It automatically imports all your stored tunes and makes full use of your smartphone’s sensitive touchscreen. Simple as that. You can also customise the app’s theme and Live Tile appearance to your heart’s content.

Who it’s perfect for: music fans

With photography, weather, music and life tools, we think we’ve got something for pretty much everyone. If you think otherwise, we’d love to hear what we’ve missed in the comments below

Microsoft Office 2013 for free when buying a laptop Samsung Series 9

Samsung Electronics has announced the launch of a joint stock company with Microsoft: on December 31, 2013 buyers Samsung Series 9 laptops in retail stores Samsung will receive a full version of Microsoft Office 2013 "Home and Student".

The special offer is only laptops with the appropriate label on the box. Inside the customer can find a card with a serial number Office 2013. The number of gifts is limited.

A complete list of participating in the action models, as well as conditions of the action presented on the manufacturer's website .

Android Dominates the Tablet Market in 2013 Q2

Strategy Analytics: Android Dominates the Tablet Market in 2013 Q2 with 67 Percent Share of Global Tablet Shipments. 


According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global tablet shipments reached 51.7 million units in the second quarter of 2013.  Android secured a robust 67 percent global share, while Apple iOS declined further to 28 percent.  Windows also fell back but secured a 4.5 percent global share. 

Peter King, Director of Tablets at Strategy Analytics, said, "Global Branded Tablet shipments reached 36.2 million units in Q2 2013, up 47 percent from 24.6 million in Q2 2012.  The branded Tablet market had a rest period as very few new products came to market during the quarter.  When we add in White-Box Tablets, shipments reached 51.7 million units, up 43 percent from 36.1 million in Q2 2012.  Android is now making steady progress due to hardware partners like Samsung, Amazon, Google and White-Box tablets which, despite the fact that branded OEMs are lowering price-points and putting pressure on the White-Box manufacturers, are still performing well," King added, "Apple iOS shipments were 14.6 million iPads in Q2 2013 which declined 14 percent annually.  In the same quarter a year ago the first Retina display iPads were launched which could partly explain the decline as there were no new models in this quarter.  However, to compensate that, iPad Mini which was not available a year ago, now freely available was expected to take the figure higher than 14.6 million."  

Other findings from the research include: 

• Microsoft captured a niche 4.5 percent global tablet share in Q2 2013.  There may be an uptick in Windows RT shipments in Q3 following savage price cuts by all the partners still involved in the RT Market.  Microsoft has reduced prices by $150 and other vendors even more; they are still not cheap, but are much more where they should be to compete.  The shortage of apps continues to be a problem, with seemingly little incentive for developers to work on the platform.

Exhibit 1:  Global Tablet Operating System Shipments and Market Share in Q2 2013 (preliminary) 1

The full report, Global Tablet OS Market Share: Q2 2013, is published by the Strategy AnalyticsTablet & Touchscreen (TTS) service. 

---

1.  A white-box tablet is a product produced by one company (the manufacturer or ODM) that other companies (the vendors or OEMs) rebrand to make it appear as if they made it.  White box tablets invariably use different components to branded tablet in order to keep costs to a minimum.

1.  Shipments refer to sell-in.  Numbers are rounded.  The definition of tablet does not include e-book readers or convertible PCs.

Microsoft prices Xbox One controller at $60, headset at $25

Customers who want an extra controller with a Play and Charge Kit will pay $75.

Owning an Xbox One with multiple controllers could prove to be an expensive proposition.
The console, which is slated to launch later this year for $499.99, will come with one controller. Customers who want to buy another controller, however, will need to cough up $59.99. The Xbox One's controller with the Play and Charge Kit will set customers back $74.99.

Microsoft announced the Xbox One console earlier this year and provided more details at E3 this summer. Microsoft has promised that the Xbox One will deliver vastly improved visuals, as well as a host of entertainment features, to justify its price.
When the Xbox One hits the market, it will be joined by Sony's PlayStation 4 and the already-available Wii U. Sony's console, which is the closest competitor in terms of power and graphics to the Xbox One, will be $100 cheaper when it launches later this year.
In addition to controllers, Microsoft will sell an Xbox One Chat Headset for $24.99.

http://news.cnet.com

CORNING BRINGS GORILLA® GLASS NBT™ TO TOUCH-ENABLED NOTEBOOKS

New cover glass helps prevent damage to touchscreen displays; extends Corning Gorilla Glass into new market

Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today introduced its newest cover glass,Corning® Gorilla® Glass NBT™, designed to help protect touch notebook displays from scratches and other forms of damage that come from everyday handling and use.

Gorilla Glass NBT is Corning’s unique glass solution for touch-enabled notebooks. Touch is becoming the primary way consumers are interacting with their mobile devices; and with increased touch comes the potential for the glass to scratch. Scratches can result in the cover glass breaking, when the devices are subject to normal day-to-day usage. Corning Gorilla Glass NBT provides enhanced scratch resistance, reduced scratch visibility, and better retained strength once a scratch occurs to help protect notebook displays from breakage that can occur with lower-performing soda lime glass.

Consumers want thinner, sleeker and lighter-weight personal computers featuring touch technology. Noted as the next wave in touch technologies by market research groups, touch-enabled notebooks have the potential to approach the size of the current smartphone cover glass market within the next few years. Corning Gorilla Glass NBT delivers the cost-effective scratch and damage resistance that consumers have come to expect of the world’s leading cover glass solution to this new mobile device market.

“Known as the cover glass of choice, Corning Gorilla Glass now extends its exceptional capabilities into the emerging touch-enabled notebook market,” said James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials. “We are confident that Corning Gorilla Glass NBT will outperform legacy soda lime glass, delivering eight to ten times more scratch resistance. In fact, for just one to two percent of a notebook’s retail price, consumers can now get the best cover glass solution: a Gorilla solution. Simply put, we believe that if you don’t have Gorilla on your device, it’s not as good.”

Similar to a handheld or tablet device, the consumer’s physical interaction intensifies with a touch-enabled notebook device to include swiping, tapping, gripping and cleaning. Everyday interaction with these notebook devices can result in scratched cover glass and a compromised user experience. Corning’s consumer research indicates that complaint rates for scratching on notebooks are already up to four times higher compared to other mobile devices. Replacing the screen can be expensive and sometimes cost as much as half of the full notebook price, while leaving the user without a device for days.

“As a leader in touch-enabled computing, Dell is always seeking the finest materials to ensure our notebook screens are impact and scratch resistant,” said Sam Burd, vice president, PC Product Group, Dell. “We’re integrating Corning Gorilla Glass NBT into our new client devices launching this fall, further enhancing our industry leading product reliability and durability.”

Corning Gorilla Glass NBT is currently available and is expected to be featured on several notebook product models by leading global brands later this year.

For more information on Corning Gorilla Glass NBT, please visit www.corninggorillaglass.com.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 160 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy, and metrology.

41Reasons Why You Should Buy A Nokia Lumia 1020

#1 – The 41-megapixel sensor

Following in the footsteps of the Nokia 808 PureView, the Nokia Lumia 1020 comes armed with a massive 41MP sensor that let’s you do some really amazing things never before possible with a smartphone.

#2 – Zoom, reinvented

Forget about getting closer to your subject when taking photos; stand back and let the lossless zooming of the Nokia Lumia 1020 do all the work. You can discover details in photos you never thought existed.

#3 – Digital Vs. optical zoom

The Nokia Lumia 1020 takes snaps at a huge initial resolution, so you don’t lose any details when up close. It can also beat most optical zooms – which feature a smaller aperture setting the closer you get – letting in a constant amount of light, providing brighter and sharper images.

#4 – Reframe your photos

Thanks to ‘dual capture’ on the Nokia Lumia 1020, you have the freedom to reframe all of your photos. This means that you can go back to photos you’ve already taken, zoom in, zoom out, or rotate to create new memories from different perspectives.

#5 – Six lenses

Nokia worked with optics manufacturer ZEISS to introduce six lenses for the Nokia Lumia 1020, with rivals offering four or five. The additional lens helps to produce sharper images, directing light crisply and cleanly towards the 41MP sensor.

#6 – Glass is better

Five of the lenses on the Nokia Lumia 1020 are molded from high-performance plastic, but Nokia has gone the extra mile with the sixth, manufacturing it from high-precision glass. It’s tougher, will stay scratch-free for longer, and help you to shoot even better photos. 

#7 – Largest BSI on smartphone, ever!

Because the Nokia Lumia 1020 has a bigger sensor, it can accommodate more pixels, producing sharper details. Nokia used a Back Side Illuminated sensor (BSI) with a design that significantly reduces the amount of visible noise in your photos.

#8 – Optical Image Stabilization  

The Nokia Lumia 1020 gets a completely new image stabilization technology, keeping your photos free from blur when you’re shooting in testy conditions.  The Optical Image Stabilization will automatically counterbalance unwanted camera shake, keeping your snaps pin-sharp.

#9 – Floating Lens

While competing systems usually just move one lens to counteract handshake, the Optical Image Stabilization in the Nokia Lumia 1020 uses tiny magnetic motors to move all of the optics. Even shaky hands can produce super-sharp images.

#10 – Clever engineering you can hear

The lens system is being kept in place by small ball bearings and actively moved to counteract unwanted camera movement. If you lightly wobble the Nokia Lumia 1020 you can actually hear the system at work, absorbing the shaking of your hand.

#11 – Excellent low-light performance

The Nokia Lumia 1020 uses a design where a much larger amount of light can reach the image sensor, and the Optical Image Stabilization allows for exposure times 3-5 times longer compared to traditional mobile cameras. In short: you can take amazing images in a dark room or at night.

#12 – Two flashes give the right light in any situation

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is one of the only smartphones with two flashes. The LED video light illuminates your videos and Xenon flash captures motion for the perfect still photo, every time.

#13 – ZEISS optics

Nokia is the only mobile phone maker that sports a ZEISS lens for true-to-life images and video. The Nokia Lumia 1020 features not just one but six ZEISS lenses!

#14 – Shoot blur-free Full HD video

Sure, most smartphones can shoot HD video. But the Nokia Lumia 1020 shuns blurry HD videos and captures your memories without making viewers seasick.

#15 – Silent zoom on video

Because zooming while capturing video on the Nokia Lumia 1020 is done with no mechanical parts, it’s silent, smooth and intuitive.

#16 – Rich recording with stereo sound

The Nokia Lumia 1020 features dual high-range mics and Nokia Rich Recording for high quality, distortion free audio to accompany your Full HD videos.

#17 – Freelancer grip

With the Nokia Lumia 1020 combined with the Pro Camera Grip, you can charge your phone while snapping away with the 1,000 mAh battery in the grip.

#18 – Pro Camera App makes you an instant expert

The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes with the Nokia Pro Camera app, making anyone a photography expert and capable of composing the perfect shot, every time.

#19 – Exposure Value (EV)

Exposure Value (EV) influences the brightness of a photograph, and the ability to change EV settings using the Nokia Lumia 1020 is great when you’re shooting an object in the shade. It’s also ideal for creating artistic-looking photos.

#20 – ISO

The Nokia Lumia 1020 offers manual controls traditionally associated with high-end cameras. The ability to adjust ISO is one option, letting you amplify light from the sensor. A higher ISO makes a huge difference in low-light conditions, or shooting fast-moving objects.

#21 – Focal length

It’s easy to get pin-sharp photos with the Nokia Lumia 1020, thanks to the ability to set a focal length manually between 15cm to infinity.

#22 – Nokia Smart Camera app

Not only does the Nokia Lumia 1020 come loaded with Nokia Pro Camera, you also receive the Nokia Smart Camera app. With it, you capture 10 rapid-fire photos, which can be used to create unique, mind-blowing masterpieces with different effects.

#23 – Best Shot

One of the unique features of the Nokia Smart Camera app is the ability to pick the best photo out of 10. Rather than taking photo after photo to capture the best snap on the Nokia Lumia 1020, Best Shot delivers a truly great image to you – first time.

#24 – Remove Moving Objects

There will be times when you want to take a photo of something and somebody photobombs your shot. Remove Moving Objects in Nokia Smart Camera is so clever, that it can have that person deleted from the frame, leaving no trace of them. 

#25 – Action Shot

Action Shot is part of the Nokia Smart Camera app and with it you can capture moving objects in a non-static way. Rather than capturing just one photo of your subject, Action Shot overlays several images into one frame to give you a trail of movement.

#26 – Bye bye motion blur

With its ultra-fast PureMotion HD+ screen, the Nokia Lumia 1020 eliminates motion blur in quick moving apps such as games and when making screen transition between screens.

#27 – Pocket to post in seconds

The Nokia Lumia 1020 has quick posting abilities via the Share menu, so you can share your latest photo masterpiece to social networks, messaging or email quickly and easily.

#28 – Easily share files with NFC / Tap+Send

Using the Tap+Send feature on your Nokia Lumia 1020, you can (almost-instantly) share files, such as your favorite photos, with another device running Windows Phone 8, as well as tablets or PCs running on Windows 8.

#29 – Dual capture saves the day

Because the Nokia Lumia 1020 saves every image it captures in 5mp and 38mp file sizes, you can pick the perfect file size for the situation. If you’re posting to a social network, use the 5mp file and if you want to hang the print on the wall, you’re set with the 38mp version!

#30 – All the cloud storage you need

For all those stunning images you’ll capture on your Nokia Lumia 1020, store them in the cloud with either SkyDrive or AT&T Locker!

#31 – Images big enough for large format printing

The Nokia Lumia 1020 can shoot images that are suited for large prints. Shoot away and see which photos you want to put on your wall!

#32 – Windows Phone OS – putting people-first design

Windows Phone offers a truly personalized experience for everyone that uses it, making it the ideal platform for the Nokia Lumia 1020. Keep your favorite photos on your Start screen, and quickly share with your social networks. 

#33 – Robust and growing Windows Phone app ecosystem

There are more than 160,000 apps & games in the Windows Phone store, with great new titles from brand names and up-and-coming indie developers being released every day, including incredible imaging apps that make the most of the Nokia Lumia 1020.

#34 – Exclusive Hipstamatic Oggl PRO App

During the launch for the Nokia Lumia 1020, Hipstamatic showcased Oggl PRO, an exclusive imaging app that offers the most advanced smartphone camera controls to anyone with a flair for the creative.

#35 – Apps to take imaging to new heights  

Given the imaging capabilities of the Nokia Lumia 1020, it’s no surprise that there are amazing apps to bring your photos and videos to the next level. Look for new apps from coming soon from Flipboard, Path, Vine, Vyclone, Yelp, and many more.

#36 – Never be lost again with HERE Maps and HERE Drive+

Summer road trips can get derailed with a bad set of directions. Find your way with our amazing HERE navigation apps that are on every Lumia, including the Nokia Lumia 1020.

#37 – Free yourself with wireless charging

With the wireless charging cover for the Nokia Lumia 1020, you can use our many wireless charging accessories to keep your battery topped up throughout the day.

#38 – Dive in to mobile photography

When it comes to learning how to become a photo master with your Nokia Lumia 1020, we bring you the best tips and tricks, updated constantly!

#39 – Display and Gorilla Glass 3

The Nokia Lumia 1020’s high-resolution AMOLED screen features the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 3 technology. It’s incredibly resilient, proving damage resistance under most conditions, and it’s ideal for showing off your photo without details being lost under scuffs and scratches.

 #40 – Adds color to your life

Are you more traditional or do you like to stand out from the crowd? Nokia Lumia 1020 comes in black, white and yellow for the more adventurous types.

#41 – Priced to impress

When compared to Digital SLR and even point and shoot cameras, the Nokia Lumia 1020 is more handsomely equipped and is a better value. When you #Switch to Lumia, take advantage of our trade up program to get cash for your old smartphone.

http://cdn.conversations.nokia.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Lumia-1020-Infographic.png

6" Nokia Lumia phablet front panel pictured

6" Nokia Lumia phablet front panel pictured

http://www.gsmarena.com/picture_of_rumored_front_panel_6inch_nokia_phablet_surfaces-news-6459.php

Nokia Lumia 925 hands-on

This is a brief hands-on video showing off the Nokia Lumia 925.

Nokia Lumia 925 comes into our office, flaunts its new design, display and software

Nokia Lumia 925 comes into our office, flaunts its new design, display and software

http://blog.gsmarena.com/nokia-lumia-925-comes-into-our-office-flaunts-its-new-design-display-and-software/

Microsoft 2nd-generation Surface RT estimated price between US$249-299

Microsoft is ready to announce its second-generation Surface RT tablet with an 8-inch display in June with an estimated price between US$249-299, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

The new Surface RT is manufactured by Pegatron Technology, using Nvidia's Tegra processor. However, because of the first-generation Surface RT's weak sales, and fierce competition in the 7- to 8-inch tablet market, most market watchers are conservative about the second-generation Surface tablets' performance.

In addition to Surface, Google is also set to start selling its second-generation Nexus 7 in July with a sales target of 6-8 million units for the second half. The upcoming Nexus 7 will feature Japan Display's (JPI) 1920 by 1200 LTPS TFT panel and a Qualcomm processor, and be priced the same as the first-generation model.

http://www.digitimes.com

Nokia Lumia 925 might soon be available in different color combinations

Nokia Lumia 925 might soon be available in different color combinations

http://blog.gsmarena.com/nokia-lumia-925-might-soon-be-available-in-different-color-combinations/

Google asks Microsoft to take down Windows Phone YouTube over lack of ads

Google asks Microsoft to take down Windows Phone YouTube over lack of ads

http://blog.gsmarena.com/google-asks-microsoft-to-take-down-windows-phone-youtube-over-lack-of-ads/

HP unveils two tablet/laptop hybrids – Windows 8 powered Split x2 and Android powered SlateBook x2

HP unveils two tablet/laptop hybrids – Windows 8 powered Split x2 and Android powered SlateBook x2

http://blog.gsmarena.com/hp-unveils-two-tabletlaptop-hybrids-windows-8-powered-split-x2-and-android-powered-slatebook-x2/

Windows Phone jumps to third place in smartphone market

Microsoft's mobile OS surpassed BlackBerry in smartphone shipments and market share during the first quarter of 2013, says IDC.


Microsoft's Windows Phone grabbed third place from BlackBerry in global smartphone shipments in the first quarter, market researcher IDC said Thursday.
Windows Phone accounted for shipments of 7 million smartphones, earning itself a market share of 3.2 percent last quarter. That was a gain from the first quarter of 2012, which saw shipments of 3 million and a market share of 2 percent.
Related stories
Nokia Lumia 928 launches for sale via Verizon
Microsoft to Google: We'll bring ads to YouTube app
Google demands shutdown of Microsoft's new YouTube app
Over the same period, BlackBerry saw its fortunes fall. Last quarter, shipments fell to 6.3 million from 9.7 million in the year-ago quarter, while BlackBerry's market share dropped to 2.9 percent from 6.4 percent.
Windows Phone posted the largest gain among all operating systems, a feat largely due to Nokia, IDC said in its report. The Finnish phone maker was responsible for 70 percent of all Windows Phone shipments last quarter. Since partnering with Microsoft, Nokia has shipped a total of 20.3 million Windows Phone handsets. Other vendors also offer Windows Phone devices but mostly as an alternative to their mainstay Android phones.
"Windows Phone claiming the third spot is a first and helps validate the direction taken by Microsoft and key partner Nokia," IDC analyst Kevin Restivo said in a statement. "Given the relatively low volume generated, the Windows Phone camp will need to show further gains to solidify its status as an alterative to Android or iOS."
Despite the boost for Windows Phone, Google's Android and Apple iOS operating systems still completely dominate the smartphone landscape.
Android phones saw shipments of 162.1 million last quarter, up from 90.3 million for the prior year's quarter. Market share climbed to 75 percent from 59.1 percent.
Apple shipped 37.4 million iPhones in the first quarter, up from 35.1 million, though its slice of the market dropped to 17.3 percent from 23 percent.
(Credit: IDC)
"Underpinning the worldwide smartphone market is the constantly shifting operating system landscape," IDC research manager Ramon Llamas said in a statement. "Android and iOS accounted for more than the lion's share of smartphones in the first quarter, but a closer examination of the other platforms reveals turnaround and demand for alternatives. Windows Phone has benefited from Nokia's participation, and BlackBerry's new BB10 devices have already hit a million units shipped in its first quarter of availability."

http://news.cnet.com/

Android and iOS Combine for 92.3% of All Smartphone Operating System Shipments in the First Quarter While Windows Phone Leapfrogs BlackBerry, According to IDC

Android and iOS, the number one and number two ranked smartphone operating systems (OS) worldwide, combined for 92.3% of all smartphone shipments during the first quarter of 2013 (1Q13) as Windows Phone crept past BlackBerry for 3rd place. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Android smartphone vendors and Apple shipped a total of 199.5 million units worldwide during 1Q13, up 59.1% from the 125.4 million units shipped during 1Q12.

"Underpinning the worldwide smartphone market is the constantly shifting operating system landscape," noted Ramon Llamas, research manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team. "Android and iOS accounted for more than the lion's share of smartphones in the first quarter, but a closer examination of the other platforms reveals turnaround and demand for alternatives. Windows Phone has benefited from Nokia's participation, and BlackBerry's new BB10 devices have already hit a million units shipped in its first quarter of availability."

"Windows Phone claiming the third spot is a first and helps validate the direction taken by Microsoft and key partner Nokia," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "Given the relatively low volume generated, the Windows Phone camp will need to show further gains to solidify its status as an alterative to Android or iOS."

Smartphone Operating System Highlights

Android remains the leader in the smartphone operating system market, increasing its market share despite the seasonality working against the entire smartphone market in the first quarter. Samsung was once again the clear leader among all Android smartphone vendors, commanding 41.1% market share. Following Samsung was a long list of vendors with single-digit market share, and an even longer list of vendors with market share less than one percent. The intra-Android competition has not stifled companies from keeping Android as the cornerstone of their respective smartphone strategies, but has upped the ante to innovate proprietary experiences.

Apple iOS marked its largest ever first quarter volume on the strength of its iPhone shipment volumes, yet the operating system posted a year-over-year decline in market share and lower year-over-year shipment growth than the overall market. Although demand remains strong worldwide, the iOS experience has remained largely the same since the first iPhone debuted in 2007. That appears ready to change as online rumors and speculation predict a massive overhaul of the user interface when iOS 7 debuts.

Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year gain among the leading operating systems, more than doubling its size from a year ago. Nokia was largely responsible for driving these volumes higher, accounting for 79.0% of all Windows Phone shipments during the quarter. Since Nokia began shipping Windows Phone devices, the company has shipped a total of 20.3 million units and grown the footprint worldwide to include address multiple market segments. Meanwhile, other vendors continue to offer Windows Phone devices, but mainly as an alternative to their signature Android devices. Still, the gains made by Windows Phone demonstrate both end-user demand and OEM support.

BlackBerry realized double-digit declines from a year ago, but this masks the progress that the company has made since then. In its first quarter of availability, BlackBerry formally introduced and shipped more than a million units running on its new BB10 platform, a significant breakthrough for the company. At the same time, BlackBerry still relied on its BB7 smartphones for the majority of its shipment volume, which, due to their lower prices, were well received within key markets.

Linux saw continued decline in shipment volumes to start off the year, reaching levels not seen since 1Q10. The lower volumes were not completely unexpected, as most vendors have switched to Android and Samsung, Linux's biggest OEM supporter, readies the debut of its first Tizen-powered smartphones for later this year. This is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the open-source operating system, as multiple platforms, including Mozilla, SailFish, Tizen, and Ubuntu are expected to introduce or launch their first smartphones in the coming months.

Symbian recorded the largest year-over-year decline compared to any other operating system. The decline for Symbian-powered smartphones was expected as its primary OEM supporter Nokia has transitioned to Windows Phone and Japanese vendors have moved to Android. Although shipments continue to decline, IDC believes that Symbian shipments could continue into 2014, but in drastically lower volumes.

Top Five Smartphone Operating Systems, Shipments, and Market Share, 1Q 2013 (Units in Millions) 

Operating System	1Q13 Shipment Volume	1Q13 Market Share	1Q12 Shipment Volume	1Q12 Market Share	Year over Year Change
Android	162.1	75.0%	90.3	59.1%	79.5%
iOS	37.4	17.3%	35.1	23.0%	6.6%
Windows Phone	7.0	3.2%	3.0	2.0%	133.3%
BlackBerry OS	6.3	2.9%	9.7	6.4%	-35.1%
Linux	2.1	1.0%	3.6	2.4%	-41.7%
Symbian	1.2	0.6%	10.4	6.8%	-88.5%
Others	0.1	0.0%	0.6	0.4%	-83.3%
Total	216.2	100.0%	152.7	100.0%	41.6%

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, May 2013.

Note: Data are preliminary and subject to change. Vendor shipments are branded shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors.

iCharts

This chart is intended for public use in online news articles and social media. Instructions on how to embed this graphic are available by clicking here.

About IDC Trackers

IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, vendor share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly excel deliverables and on-line query tools. The IDC Tracker Charts app allows users to view data charts from the most recent IDC Tracker products on theiriPhone and iPad.

For more information about IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or knagamine@idc.com.

About IDC

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 49 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

Nokia Lumia 928 now on sale, shipping on the 20th

The first new high end Windows Phone in 6 months, the Nokia Lumia 928 on Verizon, is now on sale.

The handset is retailing for $99.99 on a two year contract, or $499.99 commitment-free.

The actual handset will only ship on the 20th May, around the same time as we expect stock to become available in store.

Compared to the Nokia Lumia 920 the Nokia Lumia 928 is slightly lighter with a slimmer profile, AMOLED screen and a powerful Xenon flash that very effectively prevents motion blur in night time pictures.

The smartphone is only available in white and black. See the device at Verizon here.

http://wmpoweruser.com

Nokia Lumia 928 officially goes on sale from Verizon, black version begins shipping on May 20th (Update 2)

Great news, patient Verizon Wireless customers. The wait is over and now the carrier has begun selling a brand-spanking new Windows Phone 8 flagship handset: the Nokia Lumia 928.

Available now in black and white color options on Verizon's website for the previously-announced price of $99.99 with a new two-year contract ($499.99 without a contract), the only caveat to purchasing the handset online is that, if you want the all-black version, you'll have to wait a few extra days. According to the listing, orders of the black handset will begin shipping on May 20th; meanwhile orders of the stand-out white version are shipping immediately.

The Nokia Lumia 928 is an exclusive handset for Verizon that is a modest improvement over the Lumia 920, which was released last November. Noteworthy improvements include a new xenon flash for improved low-light photography, an amplified speakerphone for louder and clearer audio playback, and a new edge-to-edge 4.5-inch OLED screen for better viewing under direct sunlight. Learn more about the rest of the Nokia Lumia 928's specifications here.

Update: We forgot to mention that Verizon is also selling a number of accessories for the Nokia Lumia 928 — including the popular Nokia DT-900 Wireless Charging Plate and Fatboy Charging Pillow — which may be found here.

Update 2: As pointed out by a Redditor, the black version is not shipping until May 20th but the white version is shipping immediately. We apologize about the mistake, and have updated the article.

http://www.windowsphonedaily.com

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=6751

‘Amber’ update to bring Smart Camera and FM Radio to Lumia handsets in Julyno

‘Amber’ update to bring Smart Camera and FM Radio to Lumia handsets in July

http://blog.clove.co.uk/2013/05/15/amber-update-to-bring-smart-camera-and-fm-radio-to-lumia-handsets-in-july/

Nokia Lumia 925 Hands-on

We take some time out in London to play with Nokia's Lumia 925 and see what all the fuss is about. Be sure to head on over to www.wpcentral.com for more information.