23 January 2013

My Nokia Blog

My Nokia Blog

WP Developer Blog: Windows Phone SDK Update for 7.8 now available

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 08:21 PM PST

Screen Shot 2013-01-23 at 04.15.57

 

Yesterday, MS released the WP SDK update for 7.8 which now brings two new WP 7.8 emulator images to your existing SDK installation,

What’s new?

  • Windows Phone 7.8 emulator: This OS image emulates your app running on a 512-MB device running Windows Phone 7.8 (build 8858)
  • Windows Phone 7.8 256MB emulator: This OS image emulates Windows Phone 7.8 (build 8858) running on a 256-MB device
  • If you're running a Windows Phone SDK 7.1 installation, the update will also download and install the Windows Phone SDK 7.1.1 update onto your machine as part of the update 
    (again, only applicable to Windows Phone SDK 7.1 installations)

What’s not there?

  • The update does not change your existing Windows Phone OS 7.1 emulator images—you can still develop and debug your apps on a phone running the standard Windows Phone 7.5 image
  • There are no new APIs available to Windows Phone apps in Windows Phone 7.8

Apps built will still target WP7.5, this update just lets you see how they’ll look with WP7.8. Tiles wise, WP7.8 tiles will behave like WP8 tiles.

 

http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2013/01/22/now-available-windows-phone-sdk-update-for-7-8.aspx via techmundo

As mentioned by Ali, WP7.8 update is expected soon (rolling out by Jan 31st?)

Cheers Helcio O Faria for the tip!

 

Video: Nokia Lumia 920 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera (920 wins in low light tests! 808 comparison coming soon)

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 08:08 PM PST

 

Screen Shot 2013-01-23 at 03.43.51

 

The Nokia 808 PureView was a bit of a beast when compared to the dedicated digicam, the Samsung Galaxy Camera – a smartphone holding its own and even besting in parts, the South Korean camera.

But that was the very camera centric Nokia 808 PureView, with 5 years of technology in PureView V1, class leading optics, and an unbelievable 41MP sensor that was 3.5x the size of that found in the Galaxy Camera. No wonder the Nokia was producing such high quality images.

Screen Shot 2013-01-23 at 03.50.27

But how about the new Nokia Lumia 920? This camera is intended more for the mass market (and the daylight pics have faced somewhat of a hiccup until Portico brought it almost back to how Engadget first saw it). Pocketnow knows that these two are completely different devices – a smartphone with a camera (which is even less of a focus on it, unlike the 808) and a camera lumped with Android. But still, a comparison is interesting.

I agree completely about the anorexic camera UI. It has always been the only part of WP UI that caused me most agony. It’s improved over WP7.5 but seriously, not enough. It’s missing bits and is oddly too convoluted that way.

In places where the Nokia Lumia loses is where possibly the 808 would have handled itself better, such as defending the name of “digital zoom” because Nokia has the ONLY phone that has usable digital zoom in stills.

Nokia Lumia 920 however, specialised for night shots beats the Galaxy Camera as it would any other smartphone.   Even when the Galaxy Camera was put in night mode, it could not grab as much detail. The 920 in night mode was said to have looked like a light was turned on.

Both are said to shine in the daylight with the Lumia sometimes bringing warmer colours. Indoor is somewhat inconsistent apparently, and more so that the Lumia can apparently produce sharper shots if you can keep it still.

A big surprise they found in video is that the audio is apparently more ‘robust’ on the galaxy camera. Interesting. We’re yet to find an integrated solution better than the 808 and the 920 is a mono version. I’m not sure if anything was mentioned regarding quality of video. The Galaxy Camera looked surprisingly shaky and seemed to suffer that constant AF pulsing even worse than the 920.

Michael notes that this may not be the PureView vs Galaxy Camera test that you were looking for, acknowledging the contender in the 808. Stay tuned as PocketNow will be putting the REAL beast from Nokia, the 808 PureView, against the Galaxy Camera.

pocketnowvideo

Nostalgia Lane: 13 Of the Top 20 most Selling Mobiles in History Are Nokias

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 02:06 PM PST

The Telegraph have posted a really cool article/slideshow that showcases the top 20 most selling mobiles on the planet; since the beginning of time. Of course Nokia have quite the presence on the list taking up 13 of the top 20 spots (including spots 1-6). Topping the list is the 1110 which over the past 7 years of its existence has sold 250 MILLION devices!! Which is about 35 Million a Year/2.5 Million a month/83 Thousand a day/3500 per hour or 60 per minute! Which brings us to a nice and clean one phone per SECOND!

Nokia 1110

Also featuring on the list are the Nokia 3210 and the 1200 which sold a 160 Million and a 150 Million units respectively.

Note however that the only smartphones on the list are the Galaxy S2/S3 and the iPhone 3Gs & 4S; whose profits alone probably match the 250 million 1110 sold by Nokia; still it’s great to see a reminder of how dominant Nokia was (and is); and hopefully we can see some Lumias up there soon.

 

Source

 

Beta WiFi Update Now Available Belle Refresh Devices

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:19 AM PST

Last month we reported that an update was available for Belle FP1 devices through Nokia Beta labs; that fixed some WiFi connectivity issues. This same update has now been made official for first gen Symbian devices running Belle Refresh, although for some reason the N8 isn’t mentioned in the list of supported devices.

It has been reported that following Symbian devices: Nokia 603, Nokia 700, Nokia 701 and Nokia 808 PureView having Belle Feature Pack 1 (FP1) or Belle Feature Pack (FP2) release are facing Wi-Fi interoperability (IOP) issues with some old WLAN Access Points (AP). An issue with the WLAN software has been identified and a fix has been made.

This trial updates the WLAN software on the phone. The trial is not available for Nokia 700 Belle release or Nokia 701 Belle release.

The same trial is now available for Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7-00, Nokia E6-00, Nokia E7-00, Nokia E6-00, Nokia X7-00, and Nokia Oro.

You can download the update (as a .sis file) onto your compatible device from HERE and install it directly (NOTE: You need to disconnect your Device's WiFi before installing the update).

 

Via/Source

 

Nokia Jordan Offering Free Fatboy Wireless Charging Pillow With Lumia 920 Booking

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:57 AM PST

Nokia Jordan are prepping for the Lumia 920 launch in Jordan; the first flagship Nokia in the area since possibly the N8 (N9 was launched but it was never a flagship device, and the 808 wasn’t a hit or properly pushed). The phone should launch sometime soon (within the next week or two); but if you pre-book one by paying a 100 JOD deposit you guarantee a phone as well as a free Fatboy wireless charging pillow ($74value); the 100 JOD deposit is deducted from the 480 JOD ($670) USD price-tag.

According to Nokia Jordans Facebook page it should be available in ’white, black, red and yellow (sorry Cyan lovers).

 

Mugen Power to make battery extension for Nokia Lumia 920

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 07:48 AM PST

hli_pv808xlFor some people, thickness and weight is of no concern. All they’re after is as much battery power as they can get. For years, Mugen Power has catered to this audience across several brands including Nokia (one of the latest, the 808 no?)

Today, we hear that Mugen Power is making a battery extender for the Nokia Lumia 920. This slips on as a cover which can charge your phone. This cover will sport a removable battery.

There’s no mention of capacity yet. Price is said to be about 100USD.

WPI Via WMPU

Cheers Viipottaja for the tip!

Good News: The Back panel on the Lumia 920/820 Really is Scratchproof

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 07:36 AM PST

DSC01456

One of my greatest issues with the N9/Lumia 800/Lumia 900 was the silver plating on the back that surrounded the camera lens. The fact was that no matter how careful you were with the phone it would end up being scratched in every possible spot; and it honestly hurt to look at. However with the Lumia 920 and 820 that’s no longer the case as the plating as well as the buttons have been replaced with a new material (ceramic I believe? zirconium) which spares us the scratches of the brushed metal on the earlier devices.

After using my Lumia 920 for over a month there isn’t a single scratch on the camera plating (the body does have multiple “microscratches” but the red color hides them well unless you look REALLY close). So thankfully that’s one design flaw that has been fixed; and good riddance.

This got me thinking what was the last phone that had absolutely NO flaws at all (no matter how minor)- of the ones I’ve owned/seen pretty much all have had that one or two flaws that you couldn’t help but notice; for example:

  • N9/800 = back plating + MicroUSB cover flap (not for everyone)
  • 900 = very poor touch sensor/digitizer on the screen, it won’t detect touches of damp fingers, and it would occasionally move on its own + back plating
  • N8= plastic on both ends chipped and broke easily
  • 5800 xpress music= horrible stylus
  • N73= joystick in hte center broke alot

I posed the question on twitter and got some interesting replies; including the N95 and the N900 (I didn’t own either of them so I can’t judge)- but what’s your opinion on the perfectly flawless Nokia phone?

DSC01473DSC01457 DSC01465 DSC01467

Statcounter: WP crosses 20% in Finland (#Nokia #Lumia)

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 05:29 AM PST

Screen Shot 2013-01-22 at 13.09.48

We’ve been watching Finland, home of Nokia and Lumia, and the progress of WP for a while. Fortunately it’s been a nice positive incline as WP adoption continues to increase in Finland, month after month, no doubt predominantly due to Nokia Lumia.

We’ve previously noted spikes passing 20% but now it’s remaining steady over 20% over the last few weeks.

Here’s what it’s looking like since January 2012. Note the arrival of Nokia Lumia around Feb.

Screen Shot 2013-01-22 at 13.10.24

http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-FI-daily-20120101-20130121

 

As always, we like to give some context:

  • Statcounter gives data extrapolated on browser usage of all current phones. Not just the recent sales. Actual percentage of Lumia sales is definitely higher than 20% for Lumia/WP to reach this much percentage of overall users. Let’s take a look at UK which was said to have 5.9%. To statcounter, that is 2.76%

Screen Shot 2013-01-22 at 13.21.56

 

Similarly, Italy which is said to have 13.9% of December sales. A shy 4.51 in Stat counter.

Screen Shot 2013-01-22 at 13.22.55

 

  • Finland’s population is just shy over 5 Million. It’s not a big enough population sample to declare WP a success at all.
  • Finland is the home of Nokia. Though you could say that Finns are just buying Nokia things, well, you could alternatively ask them why Symbian phones began freefalling from 2008. Perhaps they just like what’s good and the competition brought something better. Now their home grown brand is bringing back something which is worthy of their use and hard earned cash?
  • Lumia 800 was a best seller for 2012 in Finnish networks.
  • Growth, other than Finland, is still slow elsewhere (except perhaps a few other countries). For this to be significant, we need to see significant global growth.

Out of interest, WP actually now finally appears in Statcounter’s Global chart.

Screen Shot 2013-01-22 at 13.25.09

Hopefully more to come as Nokia announces more compelling Nokia Lumia devices. More innovation at the top, more value at the bottom.

Lumia 510 Coming to UK Soon Via Phones4U

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 05:14 AM PST

coming soonThe Lumia 510 which was announced back in October last year was (and I believe remains) the cheapest Windows Phone devices till now. Of course the 510 runs Windows Phone 7.5 but is upgrade-able to 7.8 (hopefully by the end of the month). Phones4U has listed it on their site under “coming soon” although in the initial launch Nokia stated that it was at first only heading to India, China and Asia.

Source

 

Italy and UK WP market share reach 13.9% and 5.9%, 50% growth in smartphones for Nokia in UK.

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 05:06 AM PST

kantardec2012Figures from Kantar World Panel for December show continued growth for Windows Phone in Europe (except Germany).

Nokia’s shares of smartphones has increased 50% since last year in the UK,

Nokia is experiencing something of a turnaround in Britain with its smartphone sales share at 6.2% and actual sales growing by over 50% compared with last year

WP is now nipping at the heels of BlackBerry (stronghold in the UK), 6.4% vs 5.9%.

  • UK: 2.2 to 5.9%
  • Germany: 3.0 to 2.6%
  • France: 3.7 to 4.1%
  • Italy: 2.8 to 13.9%
  • Spain: 0.4 to 1.8%
  • US: 2.2 to 2.6%
  • Australia: 1.9 to 2.8%

There are no before numbers for Urban China and Japan but they’re on 0.9 and o.8% respectively.

 

Sources: 1, 2, 3

 
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