Showing posts with label Windows Mobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows Mobile. Show all posts

Monday, July 29, 2013

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.
foreground_465
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:

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
HDPhotoViewer.
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
wpTorrent
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
wead
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
Papirus
 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
SwipetunesWith 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

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

Global Tablet Operating System Shipments and Market Share in Q2 2013

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.

41Reasons Why You Should Buy A Nokia Lumia 1020


Lumia-1020-Infographic_700
#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

Thursday, May 16, 2013

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 (IDCWorldwide 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.


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.

The number of smartphones in the MTS-Ukraine in Q1 2013 increased by 1.5 million


The mobile operator "MTS Ukraine" announced the statistics on the number of smart phones that are registered in the operator's network at the end of the first quarter of 2013.

As the operator, in the 1st quarter of 2013 the number of smartphones in its network has exceeded 3.7 million units, an increase of almost half a million more than it was at the end of the same period of 2012. Thus, the penetration of "smart" phones in the operator's network was about 17%. Today, it is the highest on the market.

The largest increase for the year is traditionally fallen to the terminals under the operating system Android. Such devices in the MTS was more a factor of 4 (302%). In second place - smartphones running the mobile OS Windows (+124%), followed by iOS (+119%) and bada (+71%). The number of Symbian-terminals decreased by 2.4%.

The number of smartphones in the MTS network at the beginning of April 2013 (TOP5 most popular operating systems):

Symbian - 1442000 piece.
Android - 1419000 piece.
iOS - 360,000 piece.
bada - 274,000 piece.
Windows - 151,000 units.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

WINDOWS GROWTH IN US IN Q1 2013


US Market OS % Share of Smartphone Sales - 3 months ending March 2013
3 months ending Mar 13
3 months ending Mar 12
iOS
Android
Windows
RIM
Other
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Network % Share of Smartphone Sales
AT&T
Verizon
Other
SprintNextel
T-Mobile
3 months ending March 2013
49.3% Android share of US smartphone sales
43.7% iOS share of US smartphone sales
KANTAR WORLD

BRANDZ

LATEST
1THE WORLD'S MOST CHOSEN BRANDCoca-Cola tops a new global ranking of the most chosen FMCG brands
2SOCIAL MEDIA GROWTH - EUROPETracking the exponential growth of online social media networks in Europe
3INTERNET IN EASTERN EUROPEDramatic increases in home Internet connections in Eastern Europe
4WINDOWS GROWTH IN US IN Q1 2013While Android and iOS remain the top contenders, Windows steadily moves upwards
5CHINA FMCG MARKET SLOWDOWNOnly 8.4% growth in the Chinese FMCG market for Q1 2013EMAIL ALERTS
Be the first to find out about our latest reports.Sign up for email updatesLog in to change email preferences
While Android and iOS remain the top contenders, Windows steadily moves upwards

As iOS and Android continue to battle it out for top selling smartphone OS, Windows has grown steadily over the past year and is now at its highest sales share figure so far.

While accounting for just 5.6% of smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2013, Windows gained 1.9% compared to the same period last year, according to US smartphone sales data by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

With nearly half (49.3%) of smartphone sales, Android remains the top selling operating system, but saw only slight growth compared to the same period last year, and is down versus the 3 months ending February 2013 (-1.9%). iOS remains in second place with 43.7% of smartphone sales, down throughout Q1 2013.

Windows strength appears to be the ability to attract first time smartphone buyers, upgrading from a featurephone. Of those who changed their phone over the last year to a Windows smartphone, 52% had previously owned a featurephone. Comparatively, the majority of iOS and Android new customers were repeat smartphone buyers, with 55% of new iOS customers, and 51% of new Android customers coming from another smartphone. While the differences between these figures are small, with over half of the US market still owning a featurephone, it's likely that many will upgrade over the coming year, which will ultimately contribute to more growth for the Windows brand.

Little movement is seen among the top smartphone carriers in the U.S market. Verizon continues to lead smartphone sales with 37.2% of smartphones sold in the 3 months ending March 2013. AT&T remains in second place at 27.9%, and Sprint in third place with 12.3%. T-Mobile is the only carrier to decline this period, seeing a 3.2% loss versus the same period a year ago, down to 9.5% of smartphones sold.

Source: Kantar Worldpanel

Switch to the Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone - Engadget Reader's Choice Smartphone of the Year.


Don't fight. See why now's the time to switch to the Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 920: Engadget Reader's Choice Smartphone of the Year.

Make the switch: http://newwp.it/YhvMe4

Go behind the scenes of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAvW8o...

Get ready for what may be the best photos and videos you've taken with a smartphone. The Nokia Lumia 920 brings Optical Image Stabilization, 8 MP PureView technology, and incredible photo and video software—all to Windows Phone 8.

#timetoswitch


Monday, April 29, 2013

5 cool videos for Nokia Lumia lovers we found on the Web this week

Video might have killed the radio star, but it’s made the crew here at Nokia Conversations very happy indeed. Why? Because it showcases all that’s wonderful about the world’s coolest smartphones. And if you’re not a Nokia Lumia convert already, we be our bottom dollars you’ll be eager to have a play around once you’ve cast your eyes over this week’s bumper crop of videos from around the web.
Low Light Comparison
Now, we’re biased, because of course we love the entire range of Nokia Lumia smartphones (and we know you will, too), but just in case you’re on the fence about whether the Nokia Lumia 720 or the Nokia Lumia 920 is the best choice for you, check out this film that compares how the camera on each model performs in low light conditions. With split-screen shots, courtesy of  mobile tech maestro, Clinton Jeff from Unleashthephones.com, this video showcase two amazing performances. It almost makes us want to buy both
Roope Tonterri: Snowboarder
Finnish freestyle rider and double gold medallist at the 2013 FIS Snowboarding World Championships, twenty-one year old Roope Tonterri is a keen film-maker too—and his route to 2014 Winter Olympics is sponsored by Nokia. Check him out at the Finnish Snowboarding Championships in this awesome movie shot entirely on a Nokia Lumia 920 (remember to enjoy it in all its glory turn the video quality up to HD 1080p)—but be warned, you’ll get shivery just watching!
 Nokia Street Art
Nobody does style like the Italians—except maybe Nokia. For Milan Design Week 2013, Nokia got a bunch of talented street artists to tag a wall outside their local store with images of Lumia phones—and shot the whole thing on a Lumia 920. Design in action!
Efteling Roller-coaster
The Nokia Lumia 920 is known for its superb image stabilisation, but hey, how steady can a camera-phone really be? Pretty darn steady, if this video is anything to go by! Buckle up and hold onto your hats as this Lumia goes for a ride on a Dutch roller-coaster…
The Mission
Nokia Australia are pulling out all the stops to show off their kick-ass Windows Phones. In this video, sports fan Natasha is battling it out against Aussie Rules champ, Keiren Jack, as the two race to solve a series of clues using Nokia’s Here Maps on Lumia 920s, in the new web series, The Mission. This video is just episode one, though—you’ll have to check out the Nokia Australia Facebook page to see the grand finale…
Well, if those videos didn’t get you itching for a Lumia, what will? Tune in next week for more goodies, but in the meantime, let us know in the comments which of this week’s picks tickled your fancy!