| Opinion: The Lumia 1520 is nothing more than a glorified hand warmer Oct 22nd 2013, 11:32, by John McCann -470-75.JPG)
What do I think of the Nokia Lumia 1520? Well quite frankly I think it's pointless, it's nothing more than a glorified hand warmer. But it's ok, because Nokia will back me up wholeheartedly here. Let's travel back almost two years, to January 2012. We were in a whirlwind of excess at CES in Las Vegas and it appeared Sin City was bringing the best out of Nokia boss Stephen Elop as he laid into quad-core handsets. When quizzed about the upcoming flurry of quad-core toting Android smartphones Elop told TechRadar "you don't need a quad-core phone unless you want to keep your hands warm in your pocket." And for the next 20 months or so we saw Nokia continue to churn out single- and dual-core smartphones while competitors delivered us the likes of the LG G2, HTC One and Samsung Galaxy Note 3. On the quad-core offensiveIt's worth noting that Nokia couldn't actually match its Android rivals thanks to the limitations of the Windows Phone platform, which didn't support the four core technology, nor did it allow for phablet size displays until the launch of the Lumia 1520. But just because the technology becomes available doesn't mean you have to use it, and a couple of months after his Vegas chat with TechRadar, Elop was on the quad-core offensive yet again. Talking to the Yangcheng Evening News, Elop said quad-core phones were just a waste of battery life - yet here we are now looking a quad-core Nokia handset smack bang in the face. -420-90.JPG "Look at all that battery life going to waste")
What the hell, Nokia? Seriously. You bang on about how efficient Windows Phone is on single- and dual-core processors and how it doesn't need all that wasteful processing power that four cores offer, just to backtrack and make yourself look silly. Therefore I'm viewing the launch of the Lumia 1520 as Nokia admitting it was wrong on quad-core. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. Third degree burnsThat is, unless, it's launched a handset with atrocious battery life and a temperature problem which sees it overheat in a matter of seconds leaving you with third degree burns. If this is the case then fair play Elop - your points will be well justified. Although you may end up in jail for launching a potentially dangerous smartphone. I fear though Nokia hasn't included either of these "killer" features in its first quad-core smartphone and in fact has provided us with another run of the mill Windows Phone device which, apart from its full HD screen and sheer size, will be yet another carbon copy experience. So can we trust anything that comes out of Elop's mouth? Well in the same Vegas-based TechRadar interview he also commented on rumors suggesting Microsoft was looking to take over Nokia. "The rumors are baseless and it seems certain factions who like to generate rumors are running out of fresh material and [are] recycling the old," he said. Hmm.        |  | Updated: Lumia 1320 joins the pack as cheaper Nokia offering Oct 22nd 2013, 09:45, by Michelle Fitzsimmons -470-75.JPG)
Nokia has revealed the Lumia 1320, a low-end smartphone which was bandied about previously with the codename "Batman." The device arrived during Nokia World, shown off as part of the Nokia Beamer app which allows Nokia users to share screens between one another. As expected, it's specs are comparable to the Lumia 625. The biggest selling point of the low-end device is it's screen, which like the 625 before it, tips the scale on the larger end, coming with a 6-inch display that's pegged at 720p. Under the hood the Lumia 1320 houses a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a handy microSD slot and 4G connectivity. Not so fancyIn the camera department the Lumia 1320 is no where near as well equipped as the 20MP toting Lumia 1520, with this budget offering lumped with a 5MP rear snapper which Nokia claims will shoot 1080p video, although we're wary of the quality. There's also a 0.3MP camera, although bar the odd video call it's probably worth avoiding. The Nokia Lumia 1320 features removable back covers, meaning this could be tiered more towards the youth market, a demographic that will appreciate the microSD slot and the range of colors it arrives in: orange, yellow, black and white. Under that rear cover lives a sizable 3400mAh battery, and the plastic housing is a rather chunky 164.5 x 85.9 x 9.79mm and weighs a wrist crippling 220g. Thanks to the 720p display, you won't be getting the necessary resolution to have the extra column of Live Tiles on the home screen a la the Lumia 1520 - sad face. The Lumia 1320 will be coming to China and Vietnam early next year, with other markets to follow - we hope this means the likes of Europe and the US. In terms of a the Lumia 1320 price it will set you back around $339 (around £210, AU$350) which certainly places it at the lower end of the market.        | | Reaction: TechRadar Reacts: Nokia Lumia 1520 Oct 22nd 2013, 09:35, by TechRadar 
The first quad-core, full HD Windows Phone has arrived and it's been supersized into the Nokia Lumia 1520. Packing a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor and 6-inch AMOLED display, Nokia means serious business. But what do we think of it all? Here are our early reactions, complete with knee-jerk scores out of five. John - Phones and Tablets Writer (UK)At last, a Windows Phone handset which can - on paper at least - compete at the very top end of the mobile market. But wait, what's this? A 6-inch display. Well the LG G2, Galaxy S4 and HTC One can rest easy, Nokia's gone all phablet on us. I'm really not sure if the phablet direction is the right way for Nokia at the moment. Stick the same specs in a 5-inch device and we can talk, but the supersize Lumia 1520 just doesn't do it for me. Knee-jerk score: 3.5/5 Follow John on Twitter Paul - Global Editor in ChiefThe Nokia Lumia 1520 is a real powerhouse of a phone and the specs impress but it's a bit on the large side, isn't it? For me, that's a deal breaker, just as it is with the similarly sized HTC One Max. I still love the bright colors that Nokia is using and I'm increasingly drawn to the equally colorful Windows Phone OS, but I don't have the pockets for this otherwise attractive handset. Knee-jerk score: 4 Follow Paul on Twitter Kate - News Editor (UK)At the risk of sounding like a broken record, SIX INCHES IS TOO BIG FOR A PHONE. But hey, gotta keep up with those Joneses down in Asia. That aside it's nice to see Nokia adding quad-core and full HD to the Windows Phone stable, with Instagram and Vine really rounding out that 2012 vibe. Homescreen's a bit busy though, isn't it? Knee-jerk score: 3
Follow Kate on Twitter Hugh - Staff Writer (UK)I was hopeful that I could be turned to the phablet side of the force but even the HTC One Max hasn't convinced me. It's for this reason that I'm not getting too excited about the Lumia 1520, if I'm honest. Not to knock Nokia here - a quad-core, full HD Windows Phone is impressive enough. It's just the look and size of the thing that's putting me off. Great specs, questionable design choices. Knee-jerk score: 3
Follow Hugh on Twitter Patrick - Editor in Chief (UK)At last a Windows Phone flagship that can actually be in the same room as the other flagship phones without having to hide behind a pillar and pretend it's taking a call so nobody asks it about its specs. Quad-core processor, glorious screen and decent camera, this is likely a real contender - even if the bright plastic hues make me think it looks like a toy. Knee-jerk score: 4.5 Follow Patrick on Twitter Marc - Deputy Editor (UK)It's great that Nokia has managed to finally release a quad-core, full HD Windows Phone but these are specs can already be found on many a flagship smartphone from its rivals – from the Sony Xperia Z to the Samsung Galaxy S4. And this is Nokia's problem – it is battling feature-rich devices that are Android and iOS based with a handset that uses an operating system that no one seems to want. This is a shame, though, as the latest Windows Phone update is a decent one and from first glance it looks lovely on the 1520's massive 6-inch screen. Nokia has made a big deal out of the Lumia 1520 but, at its heart its just a Nokia, which means that its impact will be minimal. Knee-jerk score: 3.5 Follow Marc on Twitter Total knee-jerk score out of five: 3.5We love a good reaction. In fact, we'd go so far to say that our reactions are pretty phabulous.   | | BBM proves popular as it finally lands on Android and iOS Oct 22nd 2013, 09:14, by James Rogerson 
BlackBerry might have fallen on hard times but BBM is one area of its business which is still going strong and the launch of BBM on Android and iOS is likely to strengthen it further still. The messaging app is available to download now and has already proved tremendously popular, with over 5 million users downloading the app in the first eight hours that it was on sale, according to a tweet sent from the BBM Twitter account. BBM was originally meant to launch a month ago, but an unofficial version of the Android app was posted online and downloaded 1.1 million times, causing BlackBerry issues which halted the official launch. A successful BBM launch is exactly what BlackBerry needs after months of financial issues. Join the queueHowever the downside to BBM's popularity is that BlackBerry has had to roll it out gradually to users. You can download it now but once you do you'll be prompted to enter your email address to join a queue, at which point you'll then have to wait till BlackBerry contacts you and gives you access to the app. If you signed up for notifications at BBM.com in advance of the launch then you should be able to use the app immediately, but everyone else will have to wait. It remains to be seen how many users will ultimately sign up for the app and how ongoing its popularity will be, but the popularity of it at launch suggests there might be a hint of sun breaking through BlackBerry's clouds.        | | Nokia makes its Lumia 2520 Windows tablet official Oct 22nd 2013, 07:43, by Hugh Langley 
Nokia's tablet has been teasing the camera for some time. Today it's dropping that "Sirius" codename for good and going official as the Nokia Lumia 2520, its Windows RT 8.1 tablet. Nokia describes it as "a global tablet", with the 2520 packing LTE connectivity and a Snapdragon 8974 CPU. It comes with a 10.1-inch 1080p HD display built from Gorilla Glass 2 and offers super high brightness. Nokia even says it's perfect for use even in strong sunlight. The new Nokia Camera App and a 6.7MP camera with Zeiss optics are also on board to get in on the "growing trend of people taking photos with their tablets" - not that we think that's something that ought to be encouraged. Snap happyThere's an optional add on in the form of the Nokia power keyboard - it's a keyboard, cover and battery pack that adds about 5 extra hours of juice all in one - the keyboard will set you back $149 when it launches (around £95 or AU$155). You'll be able to pick the Nokia Lumia 2520 up before the end of the year in the US, UK and Finland, with pricing set at $499 before tax (that's around £310 or AU$520). The Lumia 2520 will come in black, white, cyan and red.        | | Blip: Instagram is coming to Windows Phone 8, Vine swinging in too Oct 22nd 2013, 07:39, by Kate Solomon 
What every photo taken with a 20MP camera needs is a cheesy vintage filter slapped over it. So good news for phone photographers: at its Lumia 1520 launch event, Nokia announced that Instagram will launch on Windows Phone 8 "in the coming weeks". Twitter's six-second video app Vine is also coming to Microsoft's OS in the next few days. Update: Looks like Flipboard is on its way to Windows 8 too, given that it was demoed when Nokia announced the 2520 tablet. More blips! Step right this way for even more blip-flavoured goodness.        | | Nokia Lumia 1520 launches as first quad-core, full HD Windows Phone Oct 22nd 2013, 07:26, by John McCann 
Nokia has launched its most powerful phone ever, taking Windows Phone to another level with a full HD 1080p screen and lightning fast quad-core processor. Up until now Windows Phone devices have been capped at 5-inch, 720p displays and dual-core processors, but with the arrival of Update 3 for Windows Phone 8 alongside the Nokia Lumia 1520, a whole new world of opportunity has opened up. Nokia, now owned by Microsoft, has taken full advantage of this by equipping the headline making Lumia 1520 with a full HD, 6-inch AMOLED display and punchy Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor - both world firsts for a Windows Phone device. So what else does the Lumia 1520 offer? Well it's obviously running the latest version of Windows Phone 8, while round the back Nokia has furnished the handset with a PureView 20MP Carl Zeiss lens, which should be capable of producing some pretty decent snaps. Nokia's first real competitor?You'll also be able to enjoy 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. As this is a Nokia phone the Lumia 1520 comes in a range of fetching hues including yellow, cyan and red as well as the more sensible black and white. The Lumia 1520's larger screen has retooled the Windows Phone interface, allowing for a third column of icons along the side of the device, giving users the chance to have way more stuff on view at once - so that extra space isn't going to be wasted. The PureView camera is also coming with the 'new' Nokia Camera app - which is really just all the other Nokia camera apps in one place, which was one of the criticisms of the Lumia 1020. Looking at the spec sheet, on paper at least, the Nokia Lumia 1520 provides some proper competition to the likes of the HTC One Max, LG G2, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra.        | | Vodafone Australia delivering the fastest 4G speeds Oct 22nd 2013, 06:19, by Farrha Khan 
Vodafone Australia CEO Bill Morrow said at a media briefing today that the telco is currently offering the fastest 4G speeds in Australia – but it's a title that is temporary. "I say temporary to be really fair and open to this," he explained. "Neither of our competitors like the fact that we can go out and say we have the 20MHz channel structure to deliver a faster 4G speed. This is an absolute race in the marketplace to say who has the fastest, the best mobile data type service." Morrow said that it is only a temporary advantage as both Telstra and Optus work on each of their spectrum aggregation with the purchased 700MHz spectrum to boost up their speeds. He noted that as Vodafone was last to launch a 4G network and only has 800,000 4G devices on its network at the moment, it is dealing with a smaller congestion load, allowing it to achieve these higher speeds, which should eventually level out again. Morrow also said that its 3G speeds are faster than Optus' and about the same as Telstra's, and that Vodafone has plans to expand its 4G network across Australia by the end of this year and into the next. Though he was not able to reveal actual data on these network claims, Morrow said the information comes from Ookla. Winning back trustMorrow said that the telco is expecting to lose another high number of customers by the end of the year, but mostly because it has "cleaned up the accounting". This means no longer counting extra Vodafone SIMs that are not being used by customers, and naturally shedding some 3 Mobile customers as it migrates them over due to them using their 3 plan as a back-up or emergency SIM. But in terms of winning back customers, despite its new network and seemingly touting some of the highest mobile speeds available in Australia, Morrow admitted gaining trust is the company's biggest challenge. "We know we're not perfect… The objective that we have, given our history, is to earn back the trust of our customers." Vodafone's new advertising is aiming to reflect this position towards old and prospective customers. "No cockiness, no arrogance," he said. "We don't have the credit, the respect enough to say we are back. "We have to just ask them to reconsider us."        | | Vodafone Australia plans for mobile data sharing Oct 22nd 2013, 02:47, by Farrha Khan 
Speaking exclusively to TechRadar, Vodafone Australia CEO Bill Morrow revealed that the company is currently working on introducing data sharing plans. Though the telco currently has mobile data sharing pools for business customers, an offering for individual Vodafone users will allow data allowances under one plan to be shared across a number of devices. "We believe that it is important – we are moving very rapidly to a multi-device environment. Multi-device for you, multi-device for our family, and so we have to have a shared plan that coincides with that," Morrow explained. Telstra launched its data sharing plans earlier this month, touting itself as the first Aussie telco to do so. It is offering it as a $10 add-on for existing plans, with $10 more for each additional SIM, up to 4 devices. As Vodafone's data sharing plans and prices are still being developed, Morrow added that at this stage, he could not say when data sharing will be launched, only that it is on its way. "We are committed to [data sharing] – plans are underway right now, development is occurring now." More plans, more Red countriesMorrow also told journalists today that there are still a number of announcements to come from the telco, as well as news on the local network and new pricing plans. Amongst announcements would be the addition of new countries for its $5-capped international roaming regions offered on Vodafone Red plans. Having recently added Europe to the list of Roam Like Home countries, Morrow said that new regions, which are rumoured to include Canada and Asia, will be announced in the "first half of next year". Morrow also added that Vodafone will be looking at how it can make its current Red plans simpler and that roaming rates on its non-Red plans are being looked at right now.        | | Galaxy S5 could have a 16 megapixel camera from either Sony or Samsung Oct 21st 2013, 22:11, by Matt Swider 
Samsung is reportedly committed to upgrading the Galaxy S5 with a 16-megapixel camera, but the unresolved choice of a camera supplier may be coming down to two companies. Sony and Samsung LSI - a division of the South Korean electronics giant - are vying for the job of making the camera for the company's next flagship smartphone, according to Unwired View. That means the Galaxy S5 camera work could once again be farmed out to Sony, which currently manufactures the 13-megapixel sensor inside the Galaxy S4. It also happens to supply the new iPhone 5S with its 8-megapixel camera sensor that's 15 percent larger than the one in the iPhone 5. Sony certainly has the most experience with tiny, but powerful camera sensors that fit into the tight confines of a smartphone. The Samsung advantageSamsung LSI, on the other hand, obviously benefits from the fact that it's part of the South Korean conglomerate. This could lead to more flexibility and cheaper prices. More than any overhead-related perk, though, Samsung has the advantage of ISOCELL. ISOCELL is supposed to substantially increase light sensitivity and offer higher color fidelity even in poor lighting conditions. That's pretty much half of the photos taken with smartphone cameras these days. The first Samsung image sensor with ISOCELL is the S5K4H5YB, which is being planned for the end of the year. It's only 8 megapixels, so the company would need to double its efforts rather quickly. But ISOCELL combined with a 16-megapixel camera would be difficult for Samsung's competitors to top if it were to make it out in time for the Galaxy S5 launch that's expected early next year.        | | Microsoft is repackaging mobile sites as Windows Phone apps Oct 21st 2013, 21:34, by Michael Rougeau 
Microsoft has begun publishing a new variety of apps called "WebApps" that are simple, repackaged versions of existing mobile sites for Windows Phone devices. The new apps appear in the Windows Phone app store under the title WebApps. They're free to download and behave as a normal app would. "We are helping people access great mobile experiences on Windows Phone by creating pinnable WebApps that show up in the app list," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement obtained by ZDNet. The company has an ulterior motive, though; "These are not a replacement for native apps," the statement continued. "In most cases we hope that usage of the WebApp will encourage the ISV to publish its own native app." App holesThe new downloadable WebApps include repackaged sites from Southwest Airlines, the Food Network, Cars.com, Lowe's, TMZ, Orbitz, Atari, and 1-800-FLOWERS, all for a total of around 50. Windows Phone has long suffered from a lack of apps, despite developer incentive programs and plenty of assurances from Microsoft that all the big apps available on iOS and Android will eventually be available on its platform. It's not surprising that Microsoft would try to encourage more app makers to jump on board its mobile OS like this, and it also makes it look like there are more actual apps available in Microsoft's app marketplace by filling the selection with easily created web apps. Meanwhile, the company is said to be working on a joint app store for Windows Phone and Windows 8 - and possibly even Xbox - as it works toward unifying its fragmented operating system landscape.        | | Has Nokia's Lumia 1320 'Batman' cast off mask and cape in leaked snap? Oct 21st 2013, 19:58, by Chris Smith 
Nokia is expected to unveil its high-end Lumia 1520 phablet at Tuesday's big Nokia World event in Abu Dhabi, but on the eve of the launch, another big-screen beauty has appeared in an official-looking render. The now-notorious Twitter leak artist @evleaks posted the purported press snap of the Lumia 1320 device today, adding it will arrive before 2013 ends, rather than during tomorrow's keynote. The serial leaker first brought attention to the Lumia 1320 earlier this month, while further reports seemed to confirm its existence, suggesting Nokia had selected the internal codename 'Batman.' It is thought that the Lumia 1320 won't challenge the 1520 for top-line specs, but will be an affordable alternative with core specs rivalling handsets like the lower-end 4.7-inch Nokia Lumia 625. Those reports claimed the Caped Crusader will only have a 5-megapixel camera and a front-facing VGA webcam, just like the Lumia 625. Little else is known. Why so Sirius?It appears that Nokia plans to take the wrappers off the Lumia 1320 during the Nokia World launch, where the Lumia 1520 is likely to be joined by a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet, codenamed Sirius. Just today it was rumoured the Finnish company has an iPod shuffle rival called Nokia Guru, on deck for the high profile event, which will could be its final public showing before handing over the reins to Microsoft. You can join our coverage of Nokia World, which kicks off at 8am UK time (12am PT), Tuesday. Nokia is also kindly live-streaming the event.        | | Google Nexus 5 appears wearing white Oct 21st 2013, 16:21, by Thomas Thorn 
While all the focus is pretty much on tomorrow's launches, with both the Apple iPad event and Nokia World taking place, Google is still grabbing out attention with the Nexus 5. An official looking render of the phone has appeared - looking the same as the last one we saw - but this time in popping up in white, courtesy of the same source that gave us the iPad Mini without Touch ID, CtechCN. The Google Nexus 4 initially launched in black but a white later followed - and promptly sold out. Although it seems unlikely, could we be about to see both devices launch simultaneously this time? We should also advise some caution, as this could easily be Photoshop trickery. Consult your GP for recommended daily salt intake. Google Play-ing gamesWith a Google Play event scheduled for October 24, we may well see whether all the rumours and leaked shots of the Google Nexus 5 turn out to be true. Don't hold your breath though, as we heard that it is only going to be a meet and greet to show the press around the new Google Play. That won't stop us from hoping though, especially as Google has been playing mind games with us on its official Google+ KitKat page.        | |
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