26 March 2013

My Nokia Blog

My Nokia Blog

Nokia Lumia 521 for T-Mobile struts past FCC (RM-917_01)

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 04:19 PM PDT

lumia521fcc1A 520 variant is coming to T-Mobile in the shape of the Nokia Lumia 521.

This has already been given the FCC approval.

This should be another nice inexpensive phone on T-Mobile. All the better what with news that they’re pushing contract free phones (T-mob Uncarrier)

Source:FCC

Via: Engadget

 

iOS 7 to follow Windows/Windows Phone Metro Flat style vs skeumorphic UI?

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 04:09 PM PDT

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 23.04.40

 

Like it or hate it, Windows Modern UI (Metro) is influencing others around it. Whether it’s picking up on tiles or the minimalism of flat UIs vs the skeumorphic ones (designed to look like other materials, glass/wood/etc).

iOS has captured many new users for its simplicity and familiarity. The same hardware design has made it iconic and recognisable, made it easy for people to make 3rd party accessories (As there’s limited designs), and almost in the same way, the samey looking UI since its inception is also something instantly recognisable. They’re sticking with what works and refining cautiously as not to alienate their users. But for some, this lack of change feels stale and they’re going over to other more interesting platforms that look more modern.

According to WSJ, IOS might look more FLAT, like Windows Phone’s flatness.

“Some suggested that in Apple's next mobile operating system, Ive is pushing a more "flat design" that is starker and simpler, according to developers who have spoken to Apple employees but didn't have further details”

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/03/21/apple-design-teams-get-cozier/

Some expect the changes to be more conservative.

Over at Gizmodo they’ve featured a video concept of what they think iOS should look like. Check out the multitask view, it’s the WebOS/Symbian/MeeGo/WP style cards with swipe away to close (WP does not technically need users to close apps BUT I think it would be nice to have this option as it’s sort of comforting for some to have that perceived control).

Instead of blank icons, they have cards/tiles that are live.

App Switcher Concept: Multitasking Redesign for iOS from Jesse Head on Vimeo.

My favourite multitasking interface is either the contextual sized Maemo cards with LIVE multiscreen action or the initial MeeGo concept multitasking (not harmattan) where you have either the linear card view or grid based on a pinch and zoom. N9′s multitask initiation was bliss too. A lot more fluid than long pressing a back button or menu button like WP or Symbian (even iOS’ double tap home feels better than a long press)

N9Appdates: Twitter for Nokia N9 Updated – v1.3.90

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 12:47 PM PDT

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 19.45.15We got a tip from Shaun that Twitter for the Nokia N9 has been updated:

Nokia today officially released an update for the Twitter application on the n9.

v1.3.90+0m8 should appear in your application updates. It presumably uses the new twitter API and it seems to fix a few UI glitches too.

Note, the image is from an older post indicating an update for the 950 (with N9 coming soon after). That was version 1.3.67, the one available for the n9 now is apparently 1.3.90.

http://mynokiablog.com/2013/02/23/n950-receives-twitter-update-n9-app-update-coming-soon-changelog-incl/

Cheers Shaun!

New Qt-based Game Engine for mobile Games – great benefits for Nokia Developers #Symbian #MeeGo

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 10:06 AM PDT

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 16.59.48We got an email from Austria based Chris and their Qt based cross-engine platform at V-play. More info available at www.v-play.net.

Hi Jay

I am Chris from “V-Play” and a long-term reader of you blog, as I am a Nokia Developer myself.

“V-Play” (a developer-studio from Vienna) just launched a new qt-based game engine, that comes with many benefits for Nokia Developers.
The Game Engine is cross-platform and allows to develop in a declarative way for Symbian and MeeGo as well as all major platforms.
With “V-Play” it is possible to deploy games with just one click on every desired platform and therefore publish it in the app stores.
That makes “V-Play” a great choice for every Nokia-Developer who wants to transfer his mobile game to another platform (e.g. iOS, Androis) easily.

The Game Engine comes with further new features, such as an integreted level-editor that allows developers to simply integrate it into every game and therefore offers every gamer the possibility to create own levels on their devices.

For further information please take a look at the attached press release or visit our homepage: www.v-play.net
I will be happy to assist you with any further questions, requests or suggestions you might have. I will be very pleased about any feedback.
Or maybe you see the possibility to let us write a guest-article, as I think the “V-Play” game engine is a great tool for every Nokia Developer.

 

Best regards from cold Austria :)

 

Christian

 

Windows 8 getting update to Mail, Calendar, and People apps from the Windows Store (Please give WP this calendar)

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 09:48 AM PDT

blue no

 

Some time ago we heard about the Windows Blue update that will upgrade key apps like Mail, Calendar through the Windows Store as opposed to a firmware style update. This makes it much easier to push an update to users as opposed to having to pass this firmware through carriers (well at least for the phone side).

On Microsoft’s Facebook page, they’re saying that such an update style will appear in the Windows Store tomorrow for Mail, Calendar and People apps. Perhaps they’re practicing for Blue, huh?

Note the calendar in Windows 8. It seems the team looking after Windows 8 actually uses a calendar, vs the Windows Phone team that just paid lip service to it. Kudos at least for getting easy syncing but come on, week view is needed. Plus the month view is useless anyway on WP. You don’t actually see your appointments on that tinybox cluttered window with fake lorem ipsum entries.

week view

Give me this please. Week view. There’s a new ‘work week’ option

4_thumb_4B528BF5

 

Nokia tag line approaches.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 16.46.22

 

 

Nokia is said to be working on a tablet. Might it be Windows 9 like this other post suggested? Or is that an additional product?

Thanks Rili Toma for the tip!

Because of Nokia, Windows Phone now Number 2 Mobile Os in India

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 09:36 AM PDT

nokia logo

 

According to WMPU, MS revealed that in India, WP is now the number 2 mobile O2 behind Android. Just how far behind Android, they didn’t say but they’ve propped themselves up nicely there thanks to their ‘partners’ namely of course, Nokia.

Nokia has been rated as the most trusted brand in India, once dominating the Indian market on its own, now it uses MS’s WP for its main smartphone line. The likes of the 620 is getting Nokia much more attraction as the reviewers around the world have praised, that is precisely what an entry level smartphone should be – so much high end smartphone experience but for an entry level price, and Nokia continues to fortify the foundations with the likes of the 720 and 520 said to appear very, very soon in India.

Source: WMPU

Cheers manu for the tip!

Pendrell acquires several patent portfolios from Nokia, launches Helsinki Memory Technology subsidiary in Finland.

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 07:04 AM PDT

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 13.54.08Patents expert Florian Mueller tweeted the story below (not yet on Nokia’s own press release pages). It indicates that Nokia is continuing to monetize their patents by making a deal with ‘patent assertion entity’ Pendrell.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/199847671.html

http://www.pendrell.com/about/overviewScreen Shot 2013-03-25 at 13.58.28

The acquisition is for 125 patents and patent applications applying world wide. Nokia declares 81 of these to be essential to applicable standards. Out of this comes Helsinki Memory Technologies Oy, a new wholly owned subsidiary of Pendrell in Finland to carry forward innovations began by Nokia. Inventor and award winning technologist Kimmo Mylly, who previously led Nokia’s memory technologies programme will lead HMT’s R&D.

Nokia gets a licence to all patents acquired by HMT as well as any new IP formed from HMT.

 

 

Video: Nokia Lumia 900 vs Nokia Lumia 820 (WP7.8 vs WP8.0)

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 11:48 PM PDT

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 06.43.51A couple of 4.3″ Lumias from Nokia, one the previous ‘flagship’ and the other, the supporting act for the 920 (though for its time, the latter seems to be better positioned given pricing and expectations).

 

AUDIOVISOR

An older video looking at app performances (but with the 800 and 7.5)

WinVasya·

 

PureView: Swedish House Mafia (with Nokia Lumia 920) and Ferraris (with Nokia 808 PureView)

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 11:37 PM PDT

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 06.33.59

 

PureView double bill, first up with the Nokia Lumia 920 recording Swedish House Mafia.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 06.35.55

Ratchtastic

Cheers Tobias Håkansson

Ferrari-458-Spider-7-8MP-640-x-480

Next, Marc from the PureView club has taken some pictures of some beautiful cars with his Nokia 808 PureView and put it in video. You can see the individual photos as well as some crops . The 808′s camera is one ridiculously powerful beast.

Ferrari-458-Spider-7-8MP

p.s.

whilst looking for the tip on SHM, I found these recordings by the 808 (from Jan)

nikacuu

Cheers stormtroller for that tip!
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