06 March 2013

My Nokia Blog

My Nokia Blog

My Top 5 Instagram Alternatives for your Nokia Lumia

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 04:56 PM PST

StartScreen-Filtered

Today seems to be all about Instagram. The photo that sparked it all was a WP8 Start Screen with an Instagram tile. I think its just simply using an app called Instagram tweets. (See how I mimicked it above – Editing via Fhotoroom)

I’m not saying Windows Phone doesn’t need Instagram. I think it does, just to cement its place as the third ecosystem. Until the day comes (if it comes) , here is a list of a few alternative apps (in no particular order) that could fill your void for sepia cats.

  1. Fhotoroom
    I feel this is the most complete solution for those who are wanting the editing capabilities of Instagram, and the social network aspect. Not only does Fhotoroom have heaps of editing abilities (Extended Camera Controls, Frames, Tilt Shift, Filters, etc.) but it also is a fully fledged social network, albeit, not as popular and “mainstream” as Instagram.
  2. EyeEm
    Another social network is EyeEm. This seems to be a bit more popular than Fhotoroom, but it sadly only has 11 filters. The way it handles photo sharing is different. The user places two types of tags; “What you’re doing” and “Where are you at”.
  3. LomogramIf using filters and frames is all you want from Instagram, then this is the app for you! It has about 40 different filters and frames, with even more effects. You can share directly to facebook, twitter, tumblr and more. I use this a fair bit, along with fhotoroom.
  4. Instacam
    Some of you may still want to see Instagram feeds, and that’s fine! This is my personal choice of the best Instagram client. Not only can you view photos, like them, add comments etc. you can also use the app’s built in editing capabilities. If you don’t like the pre-defined filters, you can even make your own! Obviously you can’t post to Instagram, but you can post to other social networks.
  5. Fantasia Painter
    I know Jay covered this breifly in his post earlier today but I thought I would mention it. Instead of simply selecting filters and frames, Fantasia Painter allows you to fully edit the photo, via brushes, as well as effects. Some really cool stuff can be done with this app, and I’ve seen some super creative people turn an average image into something that looks like its been edited by a pro on Photoshop.

So there are the 5 apps that I recommend. Everyone will have varying opinions and that is fine. Let us and the other readers know if there is an app you recommend that I’ve left out.

Michael

Video: Rogers Canada tells customers to express yourself with Nokia Lumia 920 colours! #SprayPaintArt

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 01:33 PM PST

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.29.58I love it when networks/carriers help push Nokia handsets with interesting promos.

This one comes from Rogers Canada who uses the available Nokia Lumia 920 colours to produce this work of art.

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.32.24Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.32.31

RogersCanada

 

Nokia Lumia 720 Internal/Disassembly Photos and Manuals as it passes FCC

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 01:27 PM PST

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.19.43

The Nokia Lumia 720 is making a quick round passing FCC and of course this means a whole load of new internal/disassembly pictures as well as a manual.
Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.19.38 Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.19.33 Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.19.18 Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.19.14 Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.18.58 Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 21.18.24Source: FCC

Via Engadget via WPC

 

Nokia pushes more Instagram like apps for Lumia users: #2InstawithLove and Sophie Lens Pro

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 01:14 PM PST

#2insta Nokia

 

A couple of related stories.

First up, Nokia released an app that tags photos with #2Instawithlove. The app is apparently in the Nokia collection.

The consensus at the moment is that it’s to some how put pressure on Instagram to get their butts moving and give Windows Phone instagram.

Next, an app popular already with Nokia users, SophieLens Pro for even more filters is free for Lumia users.

Now Instagram’s unique point isn’t how it destroys your pictures with filters. There are a multitude of awesome apps already on WP store for filters and picture editing. It’s about the social side – having an audience to share your sepia cat and muffin photos.

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/sophielens-for-nokia/b470d8f0-f2a5-4520-ad17-037258d7bd21

I recommend checking out Lomogram and Fantasia Painter too.

Source: WPC 1, 2

Cheers manu, Dan and Muerte for the tip!

Lumiappdates: Surfcube 5 3D browser, now with Reader mode, Article Cinema and more!

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:27 AM PST

 

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 19.25.04

You might remember us demoing Surfcube 3D browser a while back. It’s one of our favourite 3rd party browsers for WP.

http://mynokiablog.com/2011/12/01/lumiappaday-15-surfcube-3d-browser-demoed-on-nokia-lumia-800/

Well, it’s had a few updates since and the latest version, Surfcube 5 has quite a few new features:

-          Wmv, avi, pdf, files are now played back (most of the time)
-          First steps of Readability integration. Readability gives us a "Reader mode", stripping a web page down to its content, showing only the text and images for an article. You can access Readability in the context menu (tap and hold on a page)
-          Article Cinema: this is the big one, our most complex single feature in SurfCube since we introduced tabs in V2.0. Article Cinema turns articles into a cinema-like experience: images from the article are shown, while the text of the article is read aloud. Article Cinema is basically a new, permanent tab, and can be initiated from the context menu. You can also add multiple articles to Article Cinema, and have them played in a row. For example, I get in the car, tap-and-hold on a dozen or so interesting links on my favorite portals' home page, select "Play later" – and then the phone reads them to me while I'm driving.
-          Cosmetic changes, bug fixes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSquBfChdQY

Nokia Turn the Heat on Instagram with #2InstaWithLove App; Trying to Get Instagram to Hear Your Pleas

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:34 AM PST

2InstaWithLove-1

We’ve heard plenty of rumors regarding instagram and Windows Phone, the latest of which suggests that it might be coming to WP8 as a Nokia exclusive  but if Nokia’s latest app is anything to go on that’s not looking very likely. Nokia’s latest WP app is called #2InstaWithLove and it has one job letting instagram know that the WP platform wants it.

Many of you have asked when Instagram will be coming to Windows Phone, and the #2InstaWithLove app was created as a way for you to have your voice heard. The app allows you to take a photo using the classic Polaroid filter and automatically adds the hashtag #2InstaWithLove. It’s all about showing Instagram just how passionate the Windows Phone community is – so be creative, have fun and be sure to share your favorite photos with us using a social network of your choice.

The app allows you to add a polaroid filter to your images then once you share it to any social network the hashtag #2InstaWithLove is automatically added, a clever way to get instagram’s attention if you ask me. But on the other hand if Nokia have to do this to get instagram’s attention then that exclusive app isn’t looking too solid right about now.

In the mean time you can let the folks at instagram hear your voice by downloading the app over here:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/2instawithlove/448d94b7-5d54-4609-9a5d-66a15a14aa87

2InstaWithLove-2

Via

Upcoming Lumia 920 Firmware Brings More Camera Improvements and Greater Control Over Phone Storage?

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 08:18 AM PST

Update COgsYesterday a new firmware for the Lumia 920 (1232.5957.1308.0004) briefly appeared on Navifirm, before being pulled down again. Thankfully some eagle eyed members of the community were able to spot it and download it before it went offline; users who have installed the firmware report improved camera performance (again- Portico was the official major camera update for the 920); as well as new features to control the device’s storage.

The new storage layout brings a refined design as seen below; that gives a break down of what’s using how much of your storage; and most importantly there appears to be an option to “Clear” your temporary storage; which might be the fix Joe Belfiore was talking about.

So have any of our readers managed to grab the firmware? Anyone else spot any other improvements?

Source

 

 

“Nokia Account” and “Extras + Info” Also Updated for WP8 Devices

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 08:04 AM PST

wp_ss_20130305_0002We just posted about a new update to the “Display + Touch” on WP8 devices that supposedly brings something called “Lumia Color Profile” that is no where to be found; apparently both Extras+ info” and “Nokia account” have also been updated. Although there is no change log available; or any visible improvements it always helps to have the latest version of everything installed; who knows maybe there’re are a couple under the hood fixes?

Nokia Account link:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/nokia-account/5c2f810e-7445-4ecb-92d9-99514a5133f4

Extras + Info:

http://windowsphone.com/s?appId=2377fe1b-c10f-47da-92f3-fc517345a3c0

Source

 

New Update to “Display + Touch” Brings “Lumia Color Profile”

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:55 AM PST

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@_aka_p on twitter tipped us off to some interesting screen shots on the “Display + Touch” app in the store; the screen shots bring something called “Lumia Color Profile” which looks to be some sort of custom accent color maker perhaps? that “adjusts you screen’s color profile” whatever that means.

Following the link I did get an update on my 920; however the no options were nowhere to be seen; it’s possible a higher firmware version is required to utilize these updates; but you never know- give it a try and let us know if you get any new options:

Link: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/display-touch/b08997ca-60ab-4dce-b088-f92e9c7994f3?signin=true

QRCode

BEmmbZvCEAEnwrNthanks for the tip AKA_P

 

MS Working behind the scenes on WP8.5

Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:09 AM PST

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 14.53.08Whilst this is something you’d normally have taken for granted, the way things are going on at Microsoft, you can’t assume they’ll do the obvious.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/50167/windows-phone-8-upgrades-coming-stealth

Pocket-lint reports that Microsoft is working behind the scenes on WP8.5. We won’t hear about it though until it’s pretty much ready. Perhaps that will mean no developer preview where we see half of the features and wait months and months and months before a product is available.

I think the Windows Blue update would still be something separate.

Greg Sullivan from MS said:

We’re going to have an upgrade path going forward. Windows Phone 8 can evolve. We have an architecture that enables portability and is fundamentally hardware independent

As the market evolves and customer requirements demand it, we’ll evaluate options.

We’ve been very critical of Microsoft as late, due to them seemingly not doing anything at all for the WP platform or if they are doing anything, they seem to be doing it extremely slowly. Joe Belfiore every now and again hints at WP issues being sorted in future updates. I’m hoping that MS is getting a lot done in the background as the article indicates, and that the appearance of them doing nothing at all is just due to their heightened secrecy rather than blatant incompetence.

Related articles:

http://mynokiablog.com/2013/02/03/dear-microsoft-get-off-your-lazy-arse-and-get-instagram-on-wp-ms-do-developers-hate-you-rant/

http://mynokiablog.com/2013/02/02/weekend-read-what-microsoft-screwed-up-in-wp8-and-what-needs-to-be-fixed/

 
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