03 December 2013

My Nokia Blog

My Nokia Blog

Codename “Threshold” – The Microsoft Unified platform (#Halo)

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:07 AM PST

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Mary Jo Foley enlightens us all on some of Microsoft’s future plans, namely some key spring 2015 updates that unifies the OS found on Xbox One, Windows and Windows Phone to have even more shared elements. MJF explains the name

“derives from the planet around which the first halo ring orbited in the original Halo game launched back in 2001″.

http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-codename-threshold-the-next-major-windows-wave-takes-shape-7000023832/

She also notes Cortana, another part of the Xbox franchise as part of MS’s plans for Windows. Threshold is supposedly NOT the combined RT/WP but a “wave” of OSes across Windows based phones, devices and gaming consoles. Eh?

MJF expands on that a little bit more at ZDNet.

But Threshold will add another level of commonality across Microsoft’s various Windows-based platforms, sources said. With the Threshold wave, Microsoft plans to support the same core set of “high value activities” across platforms

http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-codename-threshold-the-next-major-windows-wave-takes-shape-7000023832/

Quite rightly, before we think of ‘Threshold’ there’s 8.1/Blue to consider. Let’s wait for one update at a time.

Cheers prashant for the tip!

Kantar: Windows Phone over 10% in Europe (Thanks to Nokia Lumia)

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:56 AM PST

kwp

Despite the new iPhone and a host of Androids, thanks to Nokia Lumia, WP continues to progress.

Windows' progress had continued in the latest period, with share in the five largest EU economies* now past 10% and share in the US close to 5%.

Momentum for Windows Phone is continuing, although its growth remains reliant on low-end handsets. In Britain, almost three quarters of Nokia Lumia sales in the latest period were low-end devices such as the Lumia 520 and 620 – a pattern that is similar across other EU markets

China remains a key challenge for Nokia, with its market share languishing at 3.5%. Local Chinese brands are becoming increasingly dominant in the world's largest smartphone market, selling high specification Android devices at low prices. If Microsoft partnered with a major local brand it could help drive Windows Phone momentum but, with the Nokia takeover imminent, this does not look likely to happen anytime soon

 

Source: Kantar

via: GSMA

Cheers Alvester for the tip!

Flick to close app and SD Card App install for WP8 coming

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:51 AM PST

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This morning, the Admin at WP UserVoice – the community based site where MS wants you to submit feature requests, confirmed the coming of File Manager. Something our Symbian fans have been insistent on having. Whether the implementation will be done as expected is another thing.

Anyway, a couple more features have been confirmed, more alignment with Windows 8 in general.

Allow a flick down to close applications like you can on Windows 8 Align with Windows 8 and support closing an app by dragging it down.

Closing apps by flicking/dragging down. AKA, a gesture to close an app versus the tapping of the cross for GDR3/Lumia Black.

Next:

Store apps & attachments on external storage and improve/provide micro SD support Allow users to store apps & files (mail attachments, internet explorer downloaded files, etc.) on external storage such as microSD.

http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/3509539-store-apps-attachments-on-external-storage-and-i

http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/3437219-allow-a-flick-down-to-close-applications-like-you-

For more suggestions: http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions

Cheers Prashant for the tip!

Newkia Plans Asia Phone by End of 2014. Attempting to differentiate on Design and Ease of Use.

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:43 AM PST

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Supposedly building on the Nokia roots, Newkia will release phones that are easy to use and beautifully styled.  The management team has over 50 years combined management experience solely in Asia.

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/newkia-plans-asia-phone-by-end-of-2014-E4CtqYWFRBG3oCvzNdgsEw.html

South East Asia and India first to be targeted. China will be left out as it will require its own go to market programme.  But definitely later on, China will be part of the plan. For the first few months, they’ll be an Asia focused company.

Time stamp for China not said but for the rest of Asia they’ll bring two products, based on ease of design. These designed in a way that when you see them in retail market you’ll notice them. Right now, Urpo says all phones are exactly the same. That’s where Newkia will differentiate (I think Nokias doing that already in terms of design and reinspiring others to bring back colour). India, Indonesia, South East Asia, and then China a little bit after.

Any worries about market saturation in India? Not for smartphones in India as that’s said to definitely be growing. Target market – those buying the smartphones, typically 15-45 years old with 3-400USD in spending power, which is growing in India and elsewhere. Challenges expected? Getting to the market. They’ll be differentiating in terms of design and ease of use.

Looking for partnerships and acquisitions in order to speed the time to market.

Cheers Janne for the tip.

The Independent on the Nokia Lumia 2520 “Microsoft take note – this is how it’s done”

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:32 AM PST

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A very favourable review from the onset of the title from the folks at The Independent. Calling out Microsoft, they say this is how to make a tablet.

triumph of design and beauty, making Microsoft's own Surface look clumsy and heavy.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/nokia-lumia-2520-review-microsoft-take-note–this-is-how-its-done-8971014.html

  • Comfortable enough to feel absolutely portable
  • Design sleekly realised in every way
  • Beautifully simple
  • Superior apps from Nokia
  • In the world of tablet computers, so completely dominated by the iPad, the Nokia Lumia 2520 is a breath of fresh air.

But just exclusively available at John Lewis. Even with JL’s  fancy 7 Million pound stop motion christmas advert, that might not be enough to have sufficient footprint in the store.

File Manager coming to Windows Phone

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 11:01 PM PST

Screen Shot 2013-12-02 at 5.59.21 pm

There is a feedback site for Windows Phone on User Voice, that allows anyone to make suggestions about Windows Phone features, as well as feedback on existing features.

Having subscribed to a few feature requests myself, I get emails when the status of them change. Moment ago, I got a nice surprise. The request for a File Manager to be added to Windows Phone has now been marked as “completed” with a short comment attached:

This feature is now available in Windows Phone 8.

And as always, if you think this feature or any other feature needs improvement be sure to create new product suggestions so we can track them all and other users can vote on your ideas. And while we can't promise to ship every suggestion that gets submitted, we will be sure that our product development team receives your feedback. We're always listening!

I think it is safe to assume this will come to Windows Phone 8.1 (or GDR 4)

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