18 June 2013

My Nokia Blog

My Nokia Blog


Nokia Smart Camera App Available in Marketplace, Requires Lumia Amber

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 01:52 PM PDT

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Nokia Smart Camera, the new feature filled camera UI that Nokia unveiled alongside the Lumia 925 in London has just hit the marketplace. This app allows for deeper customization & control of your shots, plus other features such as burst mode (in 5mp) as well as the implementation of the “smart shoot” features into it:

Nokia Smart Camera shoots a sequence of photos, making it easier to capture great moments.

Either choose your Best Shot or combine the photos into one picture using these amazing features:

  • Motion Focus – add blur to emphasize motion

  • Action Shot – add a strobe effect to show action

  • Remove Moving Objects – remove unwanted objects

  • Change Faces – choose the best faces for great group shots

However the app requires the upcoming Lumia Amber update, meaning the only people who can download it at the current time would be someone with that version on their Lumia device, and all Lumia 925 owners. Keep in mind that the Lumia Amber update was promised to be released sometime in July, so hopefully this is in preparation for the update and we won’t have to wait much longer (my gut says the update will be released at the EOS event on the 11th).

You can grab the app (just because) over at the link below:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/nokia-smart-cam/73e1801b-916e-4db5-87ba-65fbc8dfd8fc

Scan with Windows Phone

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Microsoft Improves Voice Recognition Search on WP; Now 2X as Fast

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 01:35 PM PDT

Voice Search MNB

Previously we saw a demo of some work Microsoft were doing on the voice recognition/search for WP; where the search was carried out while you’re still speaking, as well as improved accuracy. According to the Bing Blog this update is now live (in the cloud, no need to update on your end), and you can start reaping the benefits of better voice dictation starting now.

Now if only we had universal voice dictation, or even offline for that matter…

via Source

RM-877 Hits FCC With At&T Bands, “Camera Grip” and Clip on Wireless Charging Cover

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 01:22 PM PDT

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RM-877 has just hit the US FCC quality check, the mandate for all devices who hope to shine from sea to shining sea. The device clocks in at 130.35mm tall and 71.4mm wide (1 mm taller than the 925 – technically it could still have a larger screen if they shed some of the bezzel). The device carries At&t’s 4G/LTE bands, as well as NFC, Bluetooth and Wifi. It’s a safe bet to assume that this device is the Nokia EOS; especially since according to the FCC document it was tested out with a “Camera Grip”, model PD-95G (possibly an accessory?) as well as a wireless charging snap on cover (like the 720′s and 925′s).

If this is indeed the EOS then all will be revealed come July 11th; although if the current rate of the leaks keeps up it could be much sooner.

Via

Skype Video Messaging Graduates from Beta for ALL Platforms… Except Windows Phone (Mini Rant)

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 12:58 PM PDT

skype-lumia-windows-phoneOnce again Microsoft has done the impossible and made me doubt their competence even more than before! The latest piece of perplexing decisions comes in the form of the Skype Video messaging feature which has just graduated from Beta status for practically every single platform short of Windows phone. The app is available for PC, Mac, Android, iOS, EVEN BLACKBERRY! But not Windows Phone (not even the Beta version)!

For the record the app itself allows you to record video messages and leave them to your offline friends to see once they log on (a feature I didn’t know existed until I borrowed my friends iPhone the other day).

Is it really that difficult to code for WP that even Microsoft don’t bother with it anymore? If so I really don’t blame the lack of apps; seeing how the people who own the damn OS don’t seem to want to bother with it. It seems whoever is in charge of the strategy thought it would be smart to follow BB’s plan of action with BBM releasing it for all other platforms, except Windows Phone; honestly this is beyond ridiculous!

I realize that Microsoft is a huge company with loads of different branches (software, hardware, OS development, games etc.); but how difficult can it be to give a tiny bit of priority to your own OS? Hell we don’t even want priority; just equal treatment! It seems that Windows Phone is the only incompetent branch of the whole MSFT division, getting the left-overs of resources, and always being an after thought. I imagine the birth of Windows Phone went something like this:

Belfiore: “Hey, Steve we got a couple guys here who just finished working on the latest useless Windows update and have nothing to do; should I give them the week off?”

Ballmer: “Nah, we’re paying them aren’t we? Let’s have a little fun, give them a $200 budget and ask them to make a phone OS”

Belfiore: “That’s evil!…… I love it”

So pretty much screw you Microsoft for not thinking things through…

Via

Nokia Lumia 920 GDR2 coming July for Telstra (PR2.0)

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 07:51 AM PDT

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The GDR2  WP update for the Nokia Lumia 920 and 520 is coming to Telstra in July. Currently the status is “waiting for vendor submission”.

July is around about the expected time for GDR2 in general, plus there’s Amber specifically for Lumia.

‘Features’

  • FM Radio support
  • Data Sense
  • Pin tunes in Xbox Music
  • CalDav/CardDav support
  • ‘hundreds of small quality improvments’ :/

Amber:

  • Double tap to wake
  • Glance screen clock
  • ISO 3200
  • Nokia Smart Camera

 

Thank goodness Microsoft works so slowly otherwise, you know, 8-9 months later, we could have had quite a meaningful update on our devices.

Source: WBI

Cheers Alexandre for the tip!

Nokia Lumia ads in Mall of Asia, Philippines

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 06:16 AM PDT

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These pictures of Nokia Lumia adverts were found in Mall of Asia Philippines. Check out the large side banner on the escalator and on one of the columns below.

Mall of Asia is one of the largest malls in the world. 3rd in Asia, 4th in the world says Wikipedia.

It’s always good to have a presence in physical form, as well as ads on TV.

What other print ads have you seen where you are for Nokia?
MOA PHILIPPINES

MOA PH2

Source: Reddit

 

MNB RG: Nokia 301 Pics and hands on thoughts

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 03:35 AM PDT

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Frequent MNB RG contributor, Janne had a chance to play with the Nokia 301 and shares some pictures and thoughts:

Nokia 301, announced at Mobile World Congress 2013, was the best-selling mobile phone (of all phones and smartphones) at the largest mobile operator in Finland last month. Nokia 301 is on sale in Finland in black, red (or magenta), yellow, white and cyan. I had a chance to quickly feel out this new phone “3.5G” in yellow and took a few poor snapshots of it.

Nokia 301 owes much of its looks to the “Fabula design” of N9 and later Lumia 920. I compared this yellow Nokia 301 to the yellow Lumia 920 and there certainly were similarities, although the color on the Nokia 301 is paler in hue and lacks the gloss of the Lumia 920. Indeed, Nokia 301 has a matte casing and feels a little more organic, as far as the texture goes, than the “hard” gloss of the yellow 920.

I didn’t play with the UI much, but anyone who has used a recent Series 40 phone, such as the non-touch Asha models would be instantly familiar. It is a snappy, solid UI for a cheap, basic feature phone. The camera UI (you can see it on the side of the box) looks quite nice too, with audible self-portrait and panorama shooting. Nokia Slam “NFC-like” sharing was there too. mnb(16) mnb(17) mnb(18)

Cheers Janne for the tip!

Accessory Review: Qimini Wireless Charger

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 12:55 AM PDT

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The Qimini pocket wireless charger is a funky and stylish alternative to the standard Nokia DT-900 charging plate, and it does all that you would expect from it. The “pocket” wireless charger is marketed as the worlds slimmest wireless charging pad at only 9mms (and 85 grams); and comes in 4 colors (Black, White, Green and Red); so check out the unboxing below and then carry on for the rest of the review:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFhhPQxnLuc

The Qimini has a pretty important “one-up” against the standard Nokia charging plate (the Dt-900) in the fact that it charges via USB cable as well as your standard wall jack. Making it perfect for use on the go (which I assume is its target feature, seeing how small/slim & portable it is).

In terms of actual charging at first I thought I had a defective unit as my Lumia 920 kept disconnecting and reconnected, but then I realized that the wireless charging coil in the 920 is NOT in the middle of the phone, but actually somewhere near the bottom half (I assume that’s to make room for the camera module?). This means when setting the phone to charge the bottom half of the phone should be in contact with the charger with the top half “hanging off” (as visible in the picture above).

Charging speed is pretty standard and seems to match up nicely to the Dt-900, with an output of 5V/1A making them pretty much equal on that footing. The Qimini also has a tiny green LED light to indicate when the phone is charging (similar to the white LED on the Dt-900).

Material wise the Qimini is covered in both sides with a rubberized plastic sort of material that prevents the phone from slipping off (in contrast to the smooth plastic of the Dt-900 which relies on the single ring of rubber in the middle to keep the phone in place).

Although wireless charging is pretty awesome, I honestly can’t see it replacing a simple USB cable when on the go (sure you’ll get extra awesome points for wireless charging your phone while pattering away on your laptop at Starbucks, but it’s not the most functional solution in the world). The other issue facing the Qimini is the price-tag of $79.95; which is quite high considering you can grab a DT-900 for around $27 on Amazon; of course if you feel like getting something stylish and price is not an issue then look no further.

Check out the official site/order your own over here:

http://www.myqimini.com/index.php

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