My Nokia Blog

Nokia Lumia 625 hands on Pics
Video: Lumia 925 Vs. 920 Software Performance Comparison + Lumia Amber Quick Preview
Microsoft Found to Infringe on “SkyDrive” Name, Forced to Rename
Instagram Service via Instance and Others Partially Resumed, Deleted Photos Restored
Nokia Glam Me gets a hefty update, gains Lumia 52x support
Nokia Event taking place September 26 2013? Nokia World?! Tablet? Phablet? Both?
Nokia Lumia 1020 on Amazon.com for $269.99
AAS’ Steve Litchfield compares the Nokia Lumia 1020 with the Nokia 808 PureView
Nokia Pulse Beta Discontinued, Service Ending August 30th
Picture taken with Nokia 808 PureView wins second place in international photo contest.

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 04:00 PM PDT

MNB IMG_0937 nokia lumia 625 We had a few minutes to look at the Nokia Lumia 625 last week at Nokia House. Here’s a quick gallery of the different colours available:

Video: Lumia 925 Vs. 920 Software Performance Comparison + Lumia Amber Quick Preview

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:07 PM PDT

The Nokia Lumia 925 and the 920 are almost essentially the same device when you look beneath the outside, so there shouldn’t be much of a difference in performance between the two *spoiler, there isn’t*; but the 925 ships with the Lumia Amber update and GDR2 which bring some great new features. Amongst these are Datasense, FM Radio, Glance screen and much more; unfortunately there are also a couple bugs and niggles shipping with the 925, including a weird bug that prevents all apps from launching until you reboot the phone (happened to me 3 or 4 times); another minor issue is that the 925′s screen likes to lock itself mid-usage for absolutely no reason (caught on camera in the video below at the 3:00 mark).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_U0vne3lZM

Lumia amber brings some really awesome features (for me most importantly would be Datasense and the glance screen), but it is a pretty cool update all in all.

Microsoft Found to Infringe on “SkyDrive” Name, Forced to Rename

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 01:51 PM PDT

When Windows Phone came out Microsoft went crazy telling anyone who would listen about its “metro” interface, then they got sued for that word and started calling it “Modern UI’ (which nobody elses uses). Well the same seems to have happened with Microsoft’s cloud storage service, Skydrive; the courts ruled that Microsoft was infringing on a trademark owned by British Sky Broadcasting Group and were instructed to find another name within a suitable period of time.

the company will allow Microsoft to continue using the brand “for a reasonable period of time to allow for an orderly transition to a new brand.”

I think Microsoft should go about it the same way I name files on my computer when there’s a conflict in the name, just call it “hlkalkfmadsf124″ and you’re set

And as is usual it only took a few precious hours before a parody account has popped up:

https://twitter.com/SadSkyDrive

Where will I end up? Is heaven above the clouds? I'm not ready

— Sad SkyDrive (@SadSkyDrive) July 31, 2013

Steve, I'll give you 100GB of space if you keep me

— Sad SkyDrive (@SadSkyDrive) July 31, 2013

I just wanted to be a drive in the sky. That's all

— Sad SkyDrive (@SadSkyDrive) July 31, 2013

Via

Instagram Service via Instance and Others Partially Resumed, Deleted Photos Restored

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 01:06 PM PDT

Yesterday WP users were dealt a blow when the popular Instagram alternative “instance” was pretty much blocked from posting as all new images were being immediately deleted and multiple users had their previously uploaded pictures removed. Apparently the issue was due to some new API restrictions and changes on instagram’s part, that have thankfully been tweaked/removed; all previously deleted images should have been restored and 3rd party clients should once again be able to publish photos, however apparently these photos are only visible to the uploader at the moment?

An Instagram spokesperson has confirmed that the company has implemented a recent change to its API. “We recently made an update to the systems that we use to fight spam to help prevent future attacks and increase security,” says a spokesperson. The change will affect any apps accessing Instagram outside of the official API, and it appears to be a broad change that doesn’t target any particular application. 6tagram, another third-party Windows Phone Instagram client currently in beta, is also experiencing issues.

An Instagram spokesperson has confirmed the “update does not specifically target any particular app or platform.” The API appears to have been updated again, as Instance users are reporting that pictures now successfully upload to their accounts, but that they’re blocked from view to other users.

Obviously instagram know that the likes of instance and instagraph exist, and that WP users like their social network, and thankfully it turns out the “blocking” yesterday more of a random fluke?

(I couldn’t decided which of the two images to use for this post so I jut went with both)

Via

Nokia Glam Me gets a hefty update, gains Lumia 52x support

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 10:18 AM PDT

Nokia Glam Me is a great app with lens support for taking selfies, held back if only by the resulting image quality, the app provides lots of amazing adjustments exclusively for Nokia Lumia.

Today Nokia just released a huge update for it with a full change log to go with it.

Perhaps the most stand out feature in the new update is the ability to use the back camera as well as the front.

This means that Nokia Glam Me works with the Lumia 52x

It’ll also make for better end resulting photos as the back camera has focus and higher pixels count working for it

the rest of the features include

Smart Light; in which the screen flashes white while capturing the picture giving the end picture a little bit more light (I think this helps at night selfies)
New adjustments like slim face and smile with improvements on the old great adjustments like teeth, smoothness and toning.
higher res filters for better end images.
Higher photo res up to 1080p ! GDR3 should see this as a welcomed change I suppose.
51 lang support
Impressive performance, even with faces slightly turned the algorithms will still work.

for those who don’t know the app or want to force update here’s a link

If you happen to own a Lumia 520, please confirm if this new update works with your phone or not.

edit: as Jamx confirmed in the comments, its now available for lumia52x

Note: the guy portrayed in the samples above is a paid actor, he’s certainly not me just waking up a half an hour ago.

Nokia Event taking place September 26 2013? Nokia World?! Tablet? Phablet? Both?

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 10:08 AM PDT

Screen Shot 2013-07-31 at 18.04.25

Back in June, we had indications of another Nokia event (post #zoomreinvented) in September. WPC have a rumour saying it might be September 26-27th, the usual ‘Nokia World’ dates.

Interestingly enough, although there wasn’t officially a Nokia World last year, some Nokians referred to the 920 launch as NW.

http://m.wpcentral.com/rumor-nokia-next-launch-event-sept-26-windows-tablet

At the #ZoomReinvented keynote, Elop did mention there’d be another major Nokia event later in the year. Is this it. Tablet? Phablet? or Both?

Supposedly Nokia will have a major release every quarter (I think Harlow mentioned rolling out phones every 3 months or so, no?)

Cheers Alvester for the tip!

Nokia Lumia 1020 on Amazon.com for $269.99

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 09:32 AM PDT

Screen Shot 2013-07-31 at 17.26.25

The Nokia Lumia 1020 has appeared on Amazon.com for $269.99, cheaper by $30 from the usual price (well unless your pre-order was delayed, and then you got $150 gift card from MS)

1020 on Amazon

How long before we see the 1020 reaching 200? 100? Free on contract?

Source: WMPU

AAS’ Steve Litchfield compares the Nokia Lumia 1020 with the Nokia 808 PureView

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 09:14 AM PDT

Whilst the media has already overwhelmingly crowned a new King in the Nokia Lumia 1020 for the best camera phone, 808 fans, at least for IQ, aren’t convinced.

Can the Lumia 1020, with its slightly smaller (though BSI) sensor and image processing differences, deliver images that are as good as those from the existing Symbian-based Nokia 808?” On the whole, yes.

The end result though is that the Lumia 1020 does live up to the Nokia 808′s heritage.

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/18042_The_first_big_PureView_battle_.php

For some 808 users, it’s important for them to have comparisons to know whether it would be worth it moving to the Nokia Lumia 1020. Those are the ones genuinely willing to try WP. Then there are others that just try to rain on the Lumia parade and whinge and whine at every opportunity that praises to 1020 to go see what the 808 is capable of.

But Steve along with the media are both really impressed with the capabilities of the 1020. The 1020 is the latest flagship, it’s what’s going up against the galaxies, iPhones and whatnot. Not the 808. The 1020, quite importantly as the reviewers have mentioned is also a great phone. Whilst 808 may have more in the list of features, it seems the 1020 edges it out in terms of usability.

Screen Shot 2013-07-31 at 17.04.17

Of course, the 808 will never be forgotten. Just today we saw how a photo from a 808 won an award and we’ll always go on to showcase what our readers show us.

The main difference between 1020 and 808?

Cheers Alvester for the tip!

Nokia Pulse Beta Discontinued, Service Ending August 30th

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 06:19 AM PDT

One of Nokia Beta Labs’ longer trials, Nokia Pulse has just been axed. The app was a social location based service were phoot updates and locations could be shared with friends and family.

Earlier this year updates and support for the Symbian and Meego clients were ended, and as of August 30th the whole service will end.

It’s a shame as the app was pretty fun to use before they changed the layout to allow only single posts without replies. (it was a great alternative to WP rooms as it didn’t have a limit on the number of people in it, plus photos were shared in stream).

We have made the decision to conclude the Nokia Pulse beta trial on August 30. After that date you will no longer be able to access your Pulse conversations and friends.

Concluding the Nokia Pulse trial was a decision to help us focus on our core location experiences around HERE. We truly appreciate the role the beta trial members have played in providing feedback on Nokia Pulse, enabling us to learn from it as our HERE experiences further evolve.

Thank you for using and contributing to Nokia Pulse. We are very grateful for your feedback, suggestions and insights.

- The Nokia Pulse team

The service has been discontinued in order to focus more on the “core location service and HERE”, whatever that means.

Any Pulse loyalists out there? Sound off down below.