| Gallery: Nokia Asha 501 (+ other cool stuff from the Delhi Event) Posted: 09 May 2013 04:45 PM PDT |
| Q&A with Stephen Elop on the Asha 501 Posted: 09 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT 
Myself and a select few bloggers were invited to an intimate Q&A session with Stephen Elop, thanks to Nokia Conversations. We weren’t allowed to record the session, however I took a few notes (but missed a few key points too sadly). Note: Nothing is verbatim. Q: Why did Nokia go with a capacitive screen on such a “cheap” phone? A: It is about bringing high-end experiences to more people. On the Asha 501, capacitive screen is used to give a better experience. Several elements were considered and tweaked on a hardware and software level to ensure that there was no performance loss. Q: What differentiates the Asha 501 from cheap Androids? Does it have multitasking? A: The OS that the Asha 501 runs on is not a high-end OS. It was not designed to run on high-end devices, then the OS was reduced to a stage where it could “run” on the hardware. The key is the experience, and the Asha 501 delivers a experience tailored to it’s target market, its hardware and price point. Multitasking is supported on the Asha 501, in the sense that several tasks, such as Twitter notifications, updating Fastlane etc., can occur in the background. The main focus of the Asha 501 is visual multitasking. This is shown in Fastlane where you have access to your most recent apps, as well as control some of your favourites. Just swipe away and it is now in the Fastlane. Q (Mine): If the Nokia Asha 501 is said to ease the transition, or blur the line, from feature phones, to smart phones, won’t the users who have an Asha 501 who then upgrade to a Nokia Lumia find the experience entirely different? For this sort of an approach, wouldn’t it have made sense to keep the N9, to allow that transition to be more effective. A: Nokia’s aim in bringing the Asha 501 to market was a consistent services experience across all the devices, as well as bring some of the “Nokia” qualities to the lower price point. For example, the design language, in terms of software coming from the N9, and the physical design inspired by the evolution later seen in the Lumia range. The Asha 501 is clearly designed for a different market to the Lumia devices, and as such, the elements that are included in the device reflect the needs of the target audience. Durability, something that pretty much every Nokia device is known for, is also a major factor. Finally, imaging. Nokia has been working hard on imaging, and they believe at it’s price point, the Asha 501 has a 3.2mp great camera. We also get the question, “why not just make Lumia devices cheaper?”, the answer is simple. We designed the Nokia Asha 501 to provide a great experience on low hardware at an incredibly low price. Lumia is Nokia’s future. If it were to bring that experience to low-end devices, like you see on low-end Android, the experience is terrible, and it ruins the integrity of a brand – which is the last thing Nokia want. Elop did not mention this comment, but I liked it a lot, that I feel it best to be included here. The Asha 501 provides the same basic experience as the Lumia range in essence. You have a homescreen, that gives you a list of all the apps you have installed. With a simple swipe, you now have a list of updates, varying from app information to notifications and calendar entries. On the Asha, this is achieved by fast lane, on the Lumia, this is Live Tiles. Same basic concept, just presented in a different way. Q: How big of a role did the Smarterphone acquisition play in terms of the refresh of Asha? A: Smarterphone was essential! The whole platform was designed with the goal to bring high-end experiences to lower price points and hardware. The acquisition of Smarterphone provided a framework for that. It allowed Nokia to “recycle” the concepts and elements first seen in the N9, and bring them back to market in a way that would run and run efficiently. The Asha 501 is so efficient, it can run for 48days on standby! Q: Why did you choose a fixed focus camera? A: Many people who purchase devices at that price point aren’t too fussy about the camera on their phone. As such, the choice was made to include a fixed-focus camera as apposed to auto-focus in an attempt to balance the quality of the experience, and the price point.
Stephen concluded the Q&A stating that the Asha 501 is just the beginning of a new range of next generation Asha devices. By being seated next to Stephen, I managed to score myself a picture with him  
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| Vodafone UK to stock New Nokia Lumia (Catwalk) “big, bold and beautiful” Next Chapter unveiled on 14 May London Posted: 09 May 2013 11:33 AM PDT  Vodafone UK are already confirmed to be stocking the new Nokia Lumia that’s appearing in London on May 14th.
They’ve seen it and call it “big, bold and beautiful” and they’ll be amongst the first networks in the UK to have it. http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2013/05/09/nokia-lumia-event/
Cheers Muerte for the tip! |
| Lumia 620 Officially Drops Anchor on US Shores; Priced at $179 Posted: 09 May 2013 09:10 AM PDT  The Lumia 620; which was only recently out-priced as the cheapest Windows Phone 8 device available (by the 520 and the 521) will now officially be available for Purchase in the US on “aio wireless”. The phone is priced at $179 on contract/plan and comes in Cyan, with the option to switch out to anther color free of charge.
When you first buy your Nokia Lumia 620 it comes in cyan, but Aio customers can exchange their shell for violet, yellow or green for no extra charge at Aio retail stores.
Honestly I’ve never heard of Aio wireless before (I assume they buy their data and bandwidth from one of the major providers?); and they don’t seem to have the widest reach in the world seeing how you’re asked to enter your Zip code to see if your area is covered or not. Nonetheless it’s great to see one more carrier (however small) picking up a Lumia. Aio wireless: http://source.aiowireless.com/shop/smartphones/nokia-lumia-620.html
Source |
| Gallery: Asha 501 Color Fiesta Posted: 09 May 2013 12:36 AM PDT |
| Announced: Nokia Asha 501 Posted: 09 May 2013 12:31 AM PDT 
In the event in Delhi, Nokia unveiled its newest Asha device, the Asha 501. The Asha 501 not only continues the N9′s legacy of bright coloured polycarbonate bodies, but also it’s Swipe UI. Yes, the Nokia Asha 501 runs on a refreshed version of Asha Touch that highly resembles MeeGo-Harmattan. 
The Nokia Asha 501 is a 2G with WiFi device, priced at under USD$100. It will arrive in a range of colours, including Yellow, Cyan, Red, Green, White & Black. The Asha 501 uses a new Nokia Xpress Browser, the Xpress Now. With Slam, a new VKB reminiscent of WP, Fastlane and so much more! The Nokia Asha 501 has impressive battery life with 47 days standby and 17 hours talk time. CRAZY! Fastlane shows you the most recent apps you’ve opened and your notifications, showing you past and present. However, it doesn’t stop there! You can swipe down and it will show you the future – upcoming events. Its truly an extension of what we first saw in the N9, done in a way that makes everything you’re doing, you’ve done, or will do, a swipe away! 
The Nokia Asha 501 will be the first of the Asha 5xx series, that is the next generation range of Asha devices. A 3G variant will be announced later There are a single and dual sim variant. The dual sim variant has hot swappable sim capabilities. On top of this, we have a MicroSD slot, with Nokia including a 4GB Micro SD card in the box. Quick list of specs: - Dimensions: 99.2 x 58 x 12.1 mm; 98 grams
- Screen: 3″ QVGA screen
- Camera: 3.2 MP
- Single SIM standby time: up to 48 days***
- Dual SIM standby time: up to 26 days***
- Talk time: up to 17 hours
- Additional memory of 4GB (card included in box), expandable up to 32GB
Nokia is also providing users with 40 free EA games downloadable from Nokia’s Store. Alongside this, Nokia is partnering with carriers to bring free Facebook usage to its users. 
The Asha 501 will be arriving in June, with 60 operators in more than 90 countries. Stephen Elop, Nokia CEO, stated that the “Nokia Asha 501 will reinvent smart devices at that price point”. |
| Video Promos: Asha 501- Everything You Love is a Swipe Away Posted: 09 May 2013 12:31 AM PDT 
Here’re a pair of quirky promos for the 501; filled with loads of swiping goodness:
Smarter Internet:
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| New DC-18 Portable Charger; 1720 mAh Posted: 09 May 2013 12:16 AM PDT |
| Nokia Asha 501 coming in at 99 USD, June 2013, reinventing affordable smartphone Posted: 09 May 2013 12:14 AM PDT
Stephen Elop said the affordable smartphone area is a 40B industry for 2014. The Nokia Asha 501 is expected to come in at just 99USD, to be delivered to millions of people around the world in June.
They’re having a Q&A now  
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| Nokia Asha 501 Official Specs; $99 Pricetag! Posted: 09 May 2013 12:12 AM PDT 
So unfortunately the impressive list of specs we posted yesterday weren’t very real; here’s a list of the real goodies in this pretty little sucker: -
Dimensions: 99.2 x 58 x 12.1 mm; 98 grams -
Camera: 3.2 MP -
Single SIM standby time: up to 48 days -
Dual SIM standby time: up to 26 days -
Talk time: up to 17 hours -
Additional memory of 4GB (card included in box), expandable up to 32GB -
Forty free EA Games worth €75 downloadable from Nokia Store -
Available colours: Bright Red, Bright Green, Cyan, Yellow, White and Black -
Suggested pricing is 99 USD before taxes and subsidies. Official Nokia Page: http://www.nokia.com/global/products/phone/asha501/specifications/ http://www.nokia.com/global/products/phone/asha501-dual-sim/specifications/ -
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Main camera sensor: 3.2 MP
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Display size: 3”
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Maximum 2G talk time: 17h
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Music playback time: 56h
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Dual SIM: Dual Standby SIM
- Design1
- Dimensions
- Height: 99.2 mm
- Width: 58 mm
- Thickness: 12.1 mm
- Weight: 98.2 g
- Display and User Interface
- Display size: 3 ”
- Display resolution: QVGA (320 x 240)
- Display features: Brightness control, RGB Stripe, Nokia Glance screen, Screen double tap
- Display colors: HighColor (18-bit/262k)
- Aspect ratio: 4:3
- Pixel density: 133 ppi
- Display technology: LCD Transmissive
- Display height: 61 mm
- Display width: 46 mm
- Touch screen technology: Capacitive two-point touch
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity sensor
- Keys and Input Methods
- User Input: Touch
- Operating keys: Volume keys, Power/Lock key, Back key
- Form factor
- Form factor: Monoblock touch
- Hardware
- Connectivity
- SIM card type: Micro SIM
- Dual SIM: Dual Standby SIM
- Charging connectors: 2.0 mm Charging Connector, Micro-USB
- AV connectors: 3.5 mm audio connector
- System connectors: Micro-USB-B
- USB: USB 2.0
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0
- Bluetooth profiles: Object Push profile (OPP) 1.1, Hands-free profile (HFP) 1.5, Headset profile (HSP) 1.1, Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) 1.0
- Wi-Fi: WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g
- Wi-Fi security modes: WPA2 (AES/TKIP), WPA, WEP, WPA2-Personal
- NFC: No NFC
- Data Network
- GSM network: 1800 MHz, 900 MHz
- GSM max data speed DL: EGPRS 236.8 kbps
- GSM max data speed UL: GPRS 85.6 kbps
- Power Management2
- Battery model: BL-4U
- Battery capacity: 1200 mAh
- Battery voltage: 3.7 V
- Removable battery: Yes
- Maximum 2G standby time: 624 h
- Maximum 2G talk time: 17 h
- Music playback time: 56 h
- Wireless charging: No
- Memory
- User data storage: In device, Memory card
- Expandable memory card type: MicroSD
- Maximum memory card size: 32 GB
- Software and applications
- Productivity features
- Personal information management features: Digital clock, Recorder, Calculator, Clock, Calendar, Phonebook, Fixed dialling number, Notes, Alarm clock, Social networks in Phonebook
- Other Applications
- Game features: Touch UI, Java games
- Graphics format: JPEG, BMP, GIF89a, EXIF, PNG, GIF87a
- Other apps: Nokia Gift, Camera 5-in-1, The Weather Channel, Assassin's Creed III, Real Football 2013, Little Big City
- Software platform & User Interface
- SW Platform: Nokia Asha software platform
- Software release: Nokia Asha software platform 1.0
- Communications
- Email and Messaging3
- Email clients: Native Email Client
- Email protocols: SMTP, IMAP4, POP3
- Email features: Multiple simultaneous email accounts, Email attachments, Viewing of email attachments
- Supported instant messaging services: Nokia Chat
- Messaging features: Concatenated SMS for long messages, Text messaging, Unified MMS/SMS editor, Automatic resizing of images for MMS, Multimedia messaging, Conversational chat style SMS, Unified inbox for SMS and MMS
- Call management
- Call management features: Call waiting, Integrated hands-free speakers, Call barring, Call forwarding, Call logs: dialled, received and missed, Call history, Conference call
- Supported amount of phonebooks: one integrated Phonebook
- Supports amount of contacts: 4000
- Ringtones: 32-polyphonic ringtones, Downloadable ringtones, MP3 ringtones
- Speech codecs: GSM FR, AMR-NB, GSM HR, GSM EFR
- Device security
- Security
- General Security features: Firmware update, Device lock, PIN code
- Sharing and Internet
- Browsing and Internet
- Internet browser capabilities: Nokia Xpress Browser
- Social apps: Facebook, Twitter
- Photo sharing: Share over Bluetooth, Facebook, Send as email attachment, Photo sharing with Slam
- Video sharing: Video sharing with Slam
- Wi-Fi hotspot: No
- Navigation
- GPS and navigation4
- Location technologies: Cellular network positioning
- Photography
- Main camera
- Main camera sensor: 3.2 MP
- Camera resolution: 2048 x 1536 pixels
- Main camera focus type: Fixed focus
- Camera digital zoom: 3 x
- Carl Zeiss Tessar lens: No
- Main camera f-number/aperture: f/2.8
- Camera minimum focus range: 50 cm
- Camera image formats: JPEG, JPEG/Exif
- Flash type: No Flash
- Main camera features
- Main camera – other features: Auto and manual white balance, Still image editor, Full screen viewfinder
- Image capturing
- Capture modes: Self-timer, Video, Still
- Colour tone modes: Sepia, Greyscale, Normal, Negative
- White balance modes: Incandescent, Fluorescent, Daylight, Automatic
- Light sensitivity: Automatic
- Photos viewed by: Album
- Music and Audio
- Music
- DRM support: OMA DRM 1
- Audio features: Album graphics display in Music player, Playlists in Music player, Music Player
- Music format
- Codecs: MP3, AMR-WB, AMR-NB, MIDI, G.711, AAC LTP, AAC LC, AAC+/HEAAC, eAAC+/HEAACv2
- Audio playback file formats: MP4, AAC, AMR, MP3, M4A, AVI, 3GP, 3G2, MIDI
- Radio
- Voice and audio recording
- Recording: Voice recorder
- Audio recording file formats: AMR
- Audio recording codecs: AMR-NB
- Audio recording features: Mono
- Video
- Main video camera
- Camera video resolution: QVGA (320 x 240)
- Camera video frame rate: 15 fps
- Camera video zoom: No zoom x
- Video playback frame rate: 25 fps
- Video playback codecs: H.264/AVC, H.263, MPEG-4
- Video playback file formats: MP4, ASF, AVI, 3GP
- Video recording formats: 3GP/H.263
- Video recording colour modes: Negative, Normal, Greyscale, Sepia
- Video scene modes: Landscape
- Video white balance modes: Fluorescent, Incandescent, Automatic, Daylight
- Main video camera features
- Video streaming: YouTube browsing and video streaming, Streaming from video services and internet, Real time video streaming (RTSP)
- Environment
- Environmental features
- Materials: Free of PVC, Free of nickel on the product surface, Free of BFR, rFR as in Nokia Substance List
- Energy efficiency: Unplug charger reminder, Energy efficient charger
- Eco content and services: Available at Nokia Store
- Recycling: 100% recoverable as materials and energy
- User guide: One colour printing
- Packaging: Made of renewable materials, Containing up to 60% recycled materials, Minimized package, Packaging is 100 % recyclable
- Accessibility
- Accessibility features
- Hearing: Vibrating alerts
- Vision: Vibrating alerts, Zoom
- Physical skills: Speakerphone
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What's in the box
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Box
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Sales Package: Nokia Asha 501 Dual SIM, Nokia Charger AC-11, Nokia Battery BL-4U 1200 mAh, Nokia Stereo Headset WH-108, Nokia 4 GB microSD Card
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