After the two heartfelt letters from Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO and Mobile Devices Chief, Stephen Elop, it seems that Microsoft is indeed putting up the confused love child called the Nokia X2, on sale. Reports point out that Microsoft has actually put the handset up for sale in Russia (official Nokia Store) and in Pakistan as well for approximately 9537 INR.

The Nokia X2 was indeed launched at time which was immediately followed by the “big lay off” at Microsoft (Nokia). Clearly insiders knew about it, and even though the ‘Big M’ made it clear that it would be killing the Nokia X Software Platform, many did wonder what would happen about the Nokia X2; a handset that the company announced just a short while ago.

Now that the handset has gone on sale, we wonder who would actually buy one of these handsets to begin with. It’s not that the Nokia X range was a sales success either, with Microsoft, delivering price cut after price cut, ever since the series was introduced for the Indian market.

Either ways, the platform was designed to deliver Microsoft’s services to the masses, something which not too many smartphone users are convinced about, since they do seem a bit limited in nature when compared to Google’s plethora of services.

[Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About Microsoft's Strategy Change]

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Nokia X2, Nokia X Software Platform, Microsoft

Nokia’s HERE Maps team is indeed pretty busy at work updating the HERE Maps apps for a variety of mobile devices. It was just yesterday that they announced an update for  Windows 8.1 devices and now we here that an update for the Nokia X platform is here as well.

The update is a big one indeed, similar to the Windows 8.1 update that was rolled out yesterday. Users can now get access to global navigation capabilities along with voice directions for the same. The long process of accessing those maps have now been simplified as well by excluding all those pointless wizards that will get you distracted when all you need to know is where to go.

Also you no longer get that blank screen after launching the app. The HERE Maps team has finally put up a status box describing that your Nokia X2 is ‘downloading data, the map will appear shortly’. Offline maps are also a ‘go’ with this update meaning that you will no longer need to connect to the Internet for directions. Satellite imagery has also improved by leaps and bounds in the form clearer and faster loading images for your Nokia X device.

One thing to note here is that the Nokia X2 will be the first device to see this update followed by the rest of older range of X devices.

TAGS: Navigation, Nokia X Software Platform, Nokia X, Microsoft

HERE Maps isn’t the only mapping services provider in the Windows Store, but clearly is the best choice available so far if you happen to own a Windows 8.1 tablet. Well, Nokia has just issued a big update that brings some much-needed features and some drastic improvements to the app.

Probably the biggest highlight of the update, is that it the app is now available globally. Apart from this its the addition of waypoints and manual positioning that makes the big update worthwhile.

Waypoints will actually help you plan your route better, you can drag and drop and adjust points on your automatically set route to include the places that you want to cover as well. The feature was available on Google Maps for long and finally after a lot of user requests has made it to the HERE Maps app. As of now, you can add up to 8 waypoints on your route. Nokia also added the ability to manually add your home position with the update. It is indeed a must especially for those running Windows 8.1 on non-tablet devices including desktops and even many laptops that lack a GPS module.

The New City and Explore pages also seem to be revamped with more relevant information, including the current weather conditions.

All in all a handy update if you happen to use the app on your Windows 8.1 device. Lets just hope that we see some of these improvements trickle down to the Windows Phone app as well.

TAGS: Software, Apps, Downloads, Windows, Nokia

Nokia has finally announced that the Lumia Cyan update for Nokia devices is now rolling out. The company now owned by Microsoft, put out a video (via the Nokia YouTube channel) informing users about the features that the new updates bring.  This is a global roll-out, so the updates will be reaching users in a number of waves. From the looks of it, it’s the Lumia 625 and Lumia 925 owners who will be the first to get the update notifications.

Yes, Lumia 625 and 925 will be the first handsets to get the green signal from Nokia as the software has completed the testing phase and is now marked as available. Nokia has even set up an update availability page for its customers to check when the update will be ready for their region and at which level the update is currently stuck up at. The update page is pretty much detailed and it’s a good sign of hope for Lumia users when it comes to the firmware updates.

As for the update itself, it adds a number of new features. There is the new Action Centre which is a pretty useful addition allowing users to check out all their device notifications in one place. Android users who have switched over to Windows Phone will be delighted to see the new customisable toggles bar in the Action Centre as well. The update also brings a new Camera Roll which will now show previews (for Lumia 930 and 1520 owners only) in the app while you scroll across images and also adds the Live Image functionality. These are just a few of the new features users would see with the Lumia Cyan Update.

For a complete list of new features about what Lumia Cyan update brings, you can check out the link below:

[Top Windows Phone 8.1 Features You Need To Know About]

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Software, Windows Phone, Nokia

While the Nokia Lumia has shown up online in India, it has currently not hit pre-order yet. For those who already own a brand new Lumia 930, well there is a problem and it has to do with a piece of hardware that you simply cannot ignore -- the display.

Many Lumia owners are complaining that their brand new phones show a purple tint, so the blacks don't look black. This is because black is the dominant background colour and is present almost everywhere in the Windows Phone UI.

[Also See: Microsoft To Roll Out Lumia 930 In Asia This Week]

But apparently there is a quick fix for this. As henning.ms points out, one can simply go to setting and fidget with the built-in display calibration software that comes in every Lumia 930. You head to Settings -> Display -> Adjust Colour profile and move the Tint slider from Neutral to Green.

Microsoft is aware of the issue. "Microsoft Devices is taking quality issues on our products very seriously. To address the possible concerns with Lumia 930 display, we have recalled some test samples from …the Norwegian market to be investigated further in our R/D site in Finland," the company said in a official statement.

Even then, it is an annoying issue with the most used piece of hardware on the smartphone and hopefully does not need a hardware fix.

Source

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Microsoft, Nokia Lumia 930

While rumours of the Nokia Lumia 530 are still hot, actual photographs of the handset have surfaced online on a Weibo account. The upload “iokeyboy” states that the phone in the image is definitely not the Lumia 620 meaning that this is the Windows Phone 8.1 powered Lumia 530, the successor to the popular Lumia 520.

How do we know it will come with Windows Phone 8.1? Well, The on screen navigation keys which are pretty similar to the ones found on the Lumia 630 that was launched a month earlier. The on screen keys not only make it cheaper to produce by removing the touch sensitive units that come on the normal Nokia handsets, but also adds a bit of colour to the navigation bar.

Design-wise we think its a way too thick but thanks to the rounded design, it will grip better compared to the Lumia 630 which keep slipping out of most hands. Again it looks very similar to the Nokia Lumia 620 that was launched back in 2012, although it is not available in this colour.

After showing up at the FCC on Wednesday, it seems that Microsoft will be launching the handset as early as this month. Again the product release roadmap that leaked out on Wednesday also indicates the same. Lets just hope that Microsoft does not cut down on the RAM like the 630, which turns out to be a big problem when it comes to apps.

[Also See: Microsoft Planning To Launch Three Phones This Year]

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Microsoft, Nokia, Nokia Lumia 530

A schedule has leaked out, thanks to famed @EvLeaks, that shows three new handsets from Microsoft waiting to be announced this year. The handsets have been positioned for launch at two different time frames, but not too far apart. One will be out in July itself, while the other two can be expected in the month of September.

The first one, which is technically scheduled for launch this month, shows up on the roadmap as the RM-1017 which in all probability is the Lumia 530. The handset had leaked via a Windows Phone buying guide and has since then been pulled down from the website. Clearly, Microsoft is hiding something.

The next two tagged as the RM-984 and the RM-1028 have both been scheduled for an announcement as per the roadmap, in the month of August. We have no clue what these two handsets could be. The RM-984 may be the Lumia 820’s successor which showed up online a few days ago. While the RM-1028, could be the flagship ‘McLaren,’ which has been in the rumour mill for quite sometime now and is slated to introduce 3d touch to the Windows Phone platform.

[Also See: Microsoft Shows Off 3D Sensing Tech On Smartphones; Nokia McLaren Anyone?]

One factor that seems certain, is that all of these handsets will come with the new ‘Nokia by Microsoft’ branding instead of just Nokia. Rumours do tell us its high time that Microsoft made a move regarding the brand name which recently also made an appearance on the rumoured Nokia Lumia 830 handset’s render.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia, Microsoft

Microsoft has announced in its official conversations blog that its flagship Lumia 930 smartphone will be rolling out to its important markets this week, which will cover Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

While there is still no word about a launch or an announcement from Microsoft India; it looks like the company will conduct a soft launch, because it has been months since the device was announced. Considering that Microsoft has been looking India as one of the potential markets for future, the country may figure in the first batch itself.

The handset is a flagship in the Windows Phone space and brings good hardware in the form of a Full HD display, a 20 mega pixel PureView camera and a Snapdragon 800 processor, even though its not the latest one. What is more important is the form factor, which is a drastic change from the phablet-sized Lumia 1520 launched last year in October. Basically the same power (minus the battery life) in a smaller hand-sized package that won't peep out of your trouser pocket.

The handset will be available in bright orange, bright green, black and white for a recommended retail price of Rs 35,900. Sounds pretty attractive for Windows Phone users looking for more power, but certainly does not stand a chance against the Android flagships in terms of specs and features.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Microsoft, Nokia, Lumia 930

Leaks have now led us to believe that Microsoft’s next Windows Phone device will be tagged as ‘Nokia by Microsoft.’ It was just a few days ago that the Lumia 830 surfaced online, and things have just gotten clear -- both for the handset and the company.

The image shows the product render, which was leaked from a Weibo account displaying the new ‘Nokia by Microsoft’ branding. This could be some photoshop artist hard at work, but this is a bit credible since EvLeaks had mentioned the brand change back in June to the same name.

The leaked handset shows the strange looking Lumia 1020-like black circle on the back with a design that seems to be a fusion of the Nokia XL with the Lumia 930. There is an LED flash and since this is a mid-ranger, a 13 MP PureView camera on the back will do.

Surely, Microsoft will not let go of the Nokia branding for its handsets. There is a lot hanging in the balance with just the name and so far Microsoft seems to have made the right decision by adding both to the mix.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Microsoft, Nokia

The best camera is the one that's with you. For most of us, it's the smartphone. Knowing this, the phone-makers have started paying attention to the camera capabilities. The modern day cameraphones can comfortably replace the point-and-shoot counterparts. If you're a shutterbug, planning to buy a smartphone, here are the options you should consider:

Nokia Lumia 1020
Price: Rs 44,000
A fitting tribute to the 808 PureView, this 41 megapixel camera monster is backed by Zeiss optics. Thanks to its barrel shift actuator type Optical Image Stabilisation and six-lens assembly, the phone can take amazing shots even in low light. Nokia taps into its full-potential with a thoughtfully designed Camera app. This app gives total control over parameters such as shutter speed, exposure, white balance, and ISO. Camera enthusiasts will be pleased to know that this phone squeezes in a 1/1.5” 41 megapixel sensor, mechanical shutter, and Xenon flash in a little over 1 cm of thickness. Get more info and untouched camera samples in our Lumia 1020 review.

iPhone 5S
Price: Rs 45,000
Without touting the megapixel count, Apple delivers the quality in images. The iPhone 5S comes with a sensor, which is 15% larger compared to its predecessor. To solve the stabilisation issue without adding up the bulk, Apple has introduced digital Auto image stabilisation in its latest smartphone. To catch-up with its Android counterparts, the iPhone 5S offers multiple camera features including Burst, Panorama, and slow motion video recording. The 8 megapixel camera is blazing fast. More importantly, it produces sharp images with accurate colours.

Nokia Lumia 925
Price: Rs 26,000
The metal-clad Lumia 925 features an 8.7 megapixel snapper with Zeiss optics. It’s backed by Nokia PureView phase 2 tech that includes Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and Back Side-Illuminated image (BSI) sensor. To achieve OIS without making the handset bulky, Nokia has suspended the entire lens assembly on springs. By eliminating shakes, the Lumia 925 produces sharp images even in low-light. Similar to the Lumia 1020, this phone comes with the software that lets you tinker with shutter speed, exposure, and manual focus. Get more information about the Lumia 925 in our review.

Samsung GALAXY S5
Price: Rs 45,000
Photography performance has never been the USP for Samsung's GALAXY  smartphones. However, by adding a 16 megapixel sensor to its latest handset, Samsung has proved that it can on take on Nokia in the photography department. Compared to high-end Lumias, the S5 is impressively quick at locking focus. The camera packs in interesting features such as Selective Focus, Beauty Face, Shot & more, Panorama, and Dual Camera. It produces very good results in well-lit conditions. Plus, compared to its predecessor, the S5 delivers much better results in low-light environments. Don't forget to read our comprehensive review.

LG G2
Price: Rs 30,000
Like most Android flagship phones, the G2 comes with a 13 megapixel camera. However, what makes LG's offering special is the two-axis optical image stabilisation. With this addition, the G2 is the only Android handset to challenge the Lumia phones in low-light conditions. LG has thoughtfully used a layer of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass to protect the lens. The G2 offers 12 modes including HDR, Panorama, VR panorama, Burst, Beauty shot, Dual camera, Times catch shot, Sports, and Night. For more details, go through our LG G2 review.

Tags : Mobile Phones, Cameras, Apple, Nokia, Samsung, LG

It has been a long time since we have seen a Nokia handset leak. Finally, today we have some fresh news about a mid-range handset, which we think could be the next Lumia 830, the successor to the older Nokia Lumia 820.

There are not too many details that have leaked about the handset, but we are hearing murmurs that this could be the mid-range ‘Superman’ that Microsoft will be launching soon. Microsoft has clearly gone with a mixed design here. It takes the plastic body of the Nokia XL and merges it with the Lumia 930’s aluminium frame. The result looks pretty good if you ask us, except for that Oreo-like PureView circle for the camera setup on the back; which looks a bit out of place.

The design is certainly impressive and manages to fuse polycarbonate with aluminium in a seamless experience that looks a lot better than the Lumia 930 (forget the 925). In terms of hardware, expect a 1080p display with a glass screen that curves and vanishes into the bezels of the device. We should also expect a Snapdragon 801 at the heart since the device will be launched in a couple of months; more so because the 801s are now done with. Nokia is always late to party as they proved with the Lumia 1520 and the 930; so this time around we expect it to do the same.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia, Microsoft

From ruling the market in the early 2000s to introducing the first smartphones in the country, Nokia has been trying to regain the lost glory in the country.

Nokia’s acquisition by Microsoft in April 2014 was a step towards saving the company and making a comeback in the handset market.

It is noticeable that Nokia introduced the concept of smartphones in India; they created the vision of phones performing more tasks than just making calls and text messages.  Nokia was a key developer of GSM and was the first one who recognized the opportunity of bringing gaming market on phones and productized it into N-Gage handsets.

They also launched E-series which was designed for the business segment. Let’s see what Nokia has to offer to its customers this year.

• Nokia currently offers 18 Windows OS based smartphones in India.
• Nokia offers 9 smartphones which are priced for mid segment. These handsets are available for price range INR 8000 – 15000.
• Nokia has smartly placed 9 smartphones in the high end category.
• Nokia recently introduced Android based X series in India.

Top Nokia smartphones in India (as per data from FindYogi.com and not a TechTree recomendation)

Nokia Lumia 1520: This is one of the popular high end nokia smartphones, which runs on Windows Phone 8 Black OS with a 2.2 GHz Quad Core Processor. It offers IPS LCD screen with 367 ppi and 6 inch screen makes it perfect for browsing, gaming, reading and social media connect. It comes with 20 Megapixel primary camera, 1.2 megapixel secondary camera and Dual LED flash, which offers customers good imaging experience. It comes with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB internal memory.

Nokia Lumia 1320: This phone comes with a 6 inch, IPS LCD screen with 244 ppi resolution. This brings it to category of mid segment phablets. This phone runs on Windows 8 phone OS. 1.7 GHz Dual core processor and 1 GB RAM. Five Megapixel primary camera with LED Flash helps this phone to deliver quality images. It also has a secondary camera, 0.3 megapixels for video calling and selfie. It comes with a non-removable battery, which is the only thing user gets to think twice about. 

Nokia Lumia 630 Dual Sim: This handset comes in two variants; Single Sim and Dual Sim. This phone runs on latest Windows 8.1 OS with a 1.2 GHz Quad Core Processor. It comes with 4.5 inch, IPS LCD screen with 217 ppi resolution. It has a 5 Megapixel primary camera with LED Flash and does not have a secondary camera. It is a 3G phone that comes with A-GPS and GLONASS. It is equipped with 8 GB internal memory and can be expanded upto 128 GB. All the other Nokia features remain intact. This is one of the best low price range smartphones from Nokia.  

Nokia X Plus: This is an Android smartphone, which operates Nokia X Platform 1.0 UI, Android (Jelly Bean) OS and clocks at 1.0 GHz Dual Core processor. This low end smartphone comes with 4 inch IPS LCD screen. It has a 3.15 megapixel primary camera without flash. It comes with 4GB inbuilt internal memory and can be expandable upto 32GB with a micro SD card.

Nokia X2 Price: This is another smartphone that operates on fork android platform, which is Nokia X platform 2.0 UI – Android (Jelly Bean) OS. This phone runs on 1.2 GHz Dual Core Processor with 1GB RAM and is equipped with 4GB internal memory, expandable upto 32GB. Nokia X2 comes with 4.3 inch IPS LCD screen with 216 ppi screen resolution. Nokia X2 is designed to offer good imaging experience to low budget smartphone users; it comes with 5 Megapixel primary camera with LED Flash and 0.3 megapixel front camera. It offers good battery backup and this should improve gaming experience on low end Nokia smartphones. It is soon going to hit stores in India and is estimated price at around Rs. 10,000. 

(Author Priyanka Jaiswal is a tech enthusiast and currently works with FindYogi.com – a buying decision platform for consumer electronics)

Tags : Nokia, Top Lists

Microsoft is now issuing updates to the Nokia Lumia 630, the only handset to officially run Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box in India. The update does not bring much to the budget handset but does add value to the Nokia Camera update which was rolled out a day ago.

The update was rolled out in the early hours of Thursday and adds the continuous auto-focus feature that Nokia had mentioned in the update change log a few days ago with its big Nokia Camera update. The feature now works and the camera will keep focusing as you pan around without the need to tap to focus.

Another thing that we noticed was that Skype video calling was re-installed on our Lumia 630 after the update. To our surprise it now appears in the dialer and will allow you to place a Skype call from there. The earlier dialer featured a video call button but now that appears to be replaced with a Skype video calling one.

[See Also: Nokia Camera’s Big Update Is Not So Big After All]

Well, that is all that we have for now. Apparently Windows Phone Central also reports that Microsoft has begun the Lumia Cyan update roll out in Finland and Argentina as well. So if you happen to own a Windows Phone 8.1 or 8 powered handset from Nokia do let us know if you noticed something different.

TAGS: Software, Windows Phone, Nokia, Microsoft, Nokia Lumia 630

Nokia X
Street Price: 7000

Nokia's focus remains on Windows Phone platform. Now that this Finnish company is owned by Microsoft, there's no doubt about that. The high-end Nokia devices will be powered by the Windows Phone platform. However, the Redmond-based company is probably planning to replace is dated Asha line-up with these low-cost Android phones. The combination of Nokia and Android sounds very interesting, but does this handset live up to the hype?

Design And Build
Despite being the first phone from the Finns to feature Google's OS, the Nokia X's retail box doesn't feature the word Android on it. Apart from the phone, the package contains a wall charger, a bunch of documents, and pink headset (exactly the one you get with the Lumia 520). What's missing here is a USB cable.

The Nokia X looks like a relatively big Asha 501. By today's standards, the X is a compact phone. Something that you can operate with a single hand. Thanks to the matte finish, you don't have to worry about the fingerprints. The phone comes in variety of hues including red, cyan, yellow, black, and white. However, nothing beats the charm of the bright green. It's also the colour to own to show your affection towards Android.

Similar to the Lumia 630, the phone features interchangeable shells. If you get bored of your phone's colour, you can simply buy a new panel. Like most low-end smartphones, the Nokia X has a user-replaceable battery. The phone features two micro SIM slots and one really loud mono speaker. The Lock button and Volume Rocker are on the right side of the device. For menu navigation, the phone only has a single button. We will come to this point later in the review.

The phone is rock-solid. That's something you rarely see in this price bracket. Just like the Asha 501, this phone can easily survive a few drops. Build precision is another area where this phone shines. Everything from buttons to the 3.5 mm jack speak for the build quality of this phone.

Display
The Nokia X sports a 4" IPS screen. The sharpness (233 ppi) is quite decent at this price tag, but nowhere near the Moto E's pixel-packed screen. Its colour reproduction is good too. The brightness and viewing angles are also good for a budget phone. The panel supports only two-point touch, which can be disappointing for fruit Ninja addicts, as this game requires you to use multiple fingers to slice as many fruits as possible. Overall, in the display department, you get what you pay for.

Key Specifications
Being the entry-level member of Nokia's Android family, the X is powered by a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset clocked at 1 GHz. Similar to the Lumia 520, this handset comes with 512 MB RAM. Other features include a 3 megapixel fixed-focus camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4 GB internal storage, microSD card slot, and 1500 mAh battery.

Software
The phone runs Nokia X software platform 1.0, which is based on AOSP (Android Open Source Project). To be precise, Nokia has used Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The user interface looks nothing like Android though. In fact, it looks like a poor man's Windows Phone. Instead of the grid of icons, you get tiles. Sadly, unlike Windows 'live' tiles none of these tiles are dynamic. You can also add standard Android widget to the homescreen. Aesthetically, that's a horrible decision. The widgets completely break the software's tile-based design language.

Operating the phone is another problem altogether. As mentioned earlier, the phone only has one capacitive key 'Back'. To make up for this, Nokia has assigned a long press function to the button, which takes you to the homescreen. Now considering the number of times any smartphone user would want to visit the homescreen, it deserve a dedicated button.

Swiping sideways gives you access to notifications panel, which Nokia like to call Fastlane. Here you can see the list of recent apps or even the ones that are running in the background. You can close them from here. Again, I feel that Nokia should have provided a proper way to manage multitasking.

To make the matters worse, the phone runs like a cow on the ice. Moving or resizing tiles is so sluggish that it feels as if you're running a Windows Phone on 15 fps (frames per second). The Lumia 520, which runs smooth, is powered by similar hardware. However, it's the software optimisation that makes all the difference. Windows Phone 8 is designed to run on 512 MB RAM. On the other hand, Android requires at least 1 GB RAM to work properly. Makes me wonder why Nokia didn't put 1 GB RAM in its first Android device.

The device lacks popular Google services such as Maps, Drive, Hangouts, Play Store. Out of the lot, you'll miss Play Store the most as Nokia's app repository lacks many popular apps including WhatsApp. However, there's a workaround to get most of the Android apps on the Nokia X.

Media
The Nokia X's sound quality is quite good. Plus, there are enough sound settings to play around with. Being a Nokia device, it comes with MixRadio, which offers free music downloads for first three months. Everything is pretty much sorted in the music department.

When it comes to video playback, the phone falls flat on its face. First of all, the handset doesn't support most file formats out-of-the-box. With MXPlayer you get the codec support, but the playback remains so jerky that it almost feels like watching a slide-show.

Camera
The Nokia X packs in a 3 megapixel fixed-focus camera. It lacks an LED flash. The snapper offers a few manual controls such as sharpness, contrast, saturation, brightness, and white balance. The resulting images are disappointing though. The only saving grace here is that the camera produces accurate colours.

Coming to the subject of video recording, 480p is the max this phone can pull off. The quality of these videos is nothing to write home about. In this price range, Nokia's own Lumia 520 does a much better job.

Telephony And Messaging
The Nokia X's dialler looks quite similar to that of the iPhone. Being a dual-SIM device, it comes with elaborate SIM settings. The phone's network reception is strong. GPS and Wi-Fi also worked without any issue. Moving onto messaging, Nokia's keyboard is quite sluggish. Although it's well designed, it feels too small for comfortable typing.

Battery
On a full charge, the 1500 mAh battery easily last for a day and half with normal day to day use. Since the phone struggles with 720 videos, we played 480p video in our loop test, in which the phone lasted for six hours.

Verdict
The combination of Nokia and Android sounds very promising on paper. However, with focus set on Windows Phone, the Nokia X is an half-hearted attempt at Android from the Finns. No doubt, the phone's design and construction are top-notch, but its sluggish performance is a deal-breaker. Due to the single button layout, navigation is also painful. If you're looking for a budget Android device, the Moto E is the right choice. Those who want to stick with Nokia, should go for the Lumia 525.

Features: 3/5
Design And Build Quality: 4/5
Performance: 1.5/5
Value For Money: 3/5
Mojo: 2/5

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Multi-SIM, Android, Nokia, Nokia X

Nokia (Microsoft) has just announced the next version of the much-awaited Nokia X, the X2 Dual SIM. The X2 Dual SIM comes in a barrage of vibrant colours and adds a home button with an upgraded set of software features. The phone which sees a considerable hardware upgrade compared to its predecessor, will be priced at 99 Euros (approx. Rs. 8500) before taxes.

Inside the Nokia X2 you will find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200, 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor coupled with 1 GB of RAM, up from 512 MB in Nokia X. The change in RAM comes in after its predecessor suffered from issues of lag. There is no mention of the internal memory, but expect it to be in line with the older Nokia X, which sports a 4GB internal memory expandable up to 32 GB.

On the front you will find a 4.3 inch, ClearBlack LCD display with a pixel density of 217 ppi. Also included this time around is a front-facing camera (of unknown resolution) and a primary 5MP, auto-focus snapper with an LED flash on the back.

You will also notice something different at the bottom of the display, that is a home button, which should make navigation simpler for Nokia X2 users.

On the software front, there are changes as well, everything now looks a lot similar to Windows Phone. You have the card-like multi-taking UI, which gives you a preview of apps that are running along with an App List. There is also a revamped notifications bar with re-designed toggles and seems to be more of an after thought.

It seems to be a worthy upgrade for those who are looking for a different Android experience with upgraded hardware and software from Nokia.

Nokia says that the handset should be available in glossy green, orange and black, with glossy yellow, white and matt dark grey in select countries .

[See Also: Nokia X, X+, And XL Android Phones Are Born Out Of Microsoft Wedlock]

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Open Source Android, Nokia X2, Nokia, Microsoft

While the world awaits Microsoft’s next big announcement, which takes place a few hours from now, the company has silently pushed out a big update for its Nokia Camera app. The update adds a plethora of new features including, the much-awaited living images, and continuous auto-focus that were present only in the Beta Nokia Camera app until now. Of course you do need to keep in mind that the number of features will be limited to the device that you are using.

The most-awaited feature is the Living Images, a mode that allows you to click images in a gif-like format with audio adding more emotion to your photographs. Next up is continuous auto-focus for faster focusing, allowing for quicker shooting because your viewfinder will always be in focus.

Another big addition is the new camera roll, which allows for full resolution zooming and also features in line playback or videos, cinemagraphs, smart sequences and Refocus images. Finally, Nokia Camera now integrates with Nokia Creative Studio and Video Trimmer apps, meaning that you will not need to jump in and out of apps while shooting and uploading images.

Living Images and continuous auto-focus are currently only supported only on Lumia 930, 1520 and Icon running the Lumia Cyan software update. We tested the new update on our Lumia 630 running WP 8.1 and the update adds nothing new. The only new feature was in line playback in the camera roll which is again limited to Refocus images. Nokia indeed needs to work on a less fragmented approach to hardware, which will help all handset owners when it comes to such updates.

The update will apparently work on devices with Lumia Amber update as well; so if you happen to own one give it a shot a let us know what’s new for you in the comments below.

[See Also: Nokia Schedules June 24 Announcement: X2 Or Lumia 530?]

TAGS: Apps, Software, Nokia, Microsoft, Mobile Phones

Nokia (Microsoft) has put up a teaser image on its official blog with the tagline ‘Green with Envy.’ The image shows the back of a handset with a colour similar to the vibrant Lumia 630 shells and a date that points to a launch event on June 24.

While many suspect it’s the launch of the Nokia X2, which clearly did not do well in India, we think that it is more to do with the long-rumoured successor of the Lumia 520 smartphone, the Lumia 530.

Nokia clearly seems to be getting some pleasure about confusion that the image and the tagline causes. The last time around the company went around teasing the colour ‘green’ was when the Nokia X was about to be launched.

Clearly the colour has nothing to do with just the Nokia X, since the next device to sport the same green colour was the Lumia 630 along with a special green Lumia 1520, which Stephen Elop showed up with at the Windows Phone 8.1 announcement.

[See Also: Leaked Specifications of Microsoft's Android based Nokia X2]

Then there is the Nokia Lumia 530 which had surfaced online a month ago. This is our next best guess, for two reasons. One reason is that it really makes more sense for Nokia to launch another budget version of the 630 to compete with the likes of Motorola and now Micromax, than launching a X2. The Lumia 530 would stack up perfectly against the Moto E and could also deliver better value than the Canvas Win W092 out here in India. Secondly it’s high time that Microsoft announced the Lumia Cyan update, which for now is available only on the Lumia 630/635 and the Lumia 930 worldwide.

Still then, the clock on Nokia’s blog is ticking and in 3 days we will know the truth.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Nokia X, Windows Phone, Nokia, Microsoft, Nokia Lumia 530, Nokia X2

In a surprising move, Nokia has developed and released a unique Android launcher that will let you access almost any app in your Android handset by simply writing out the first two letters on the homescreen. 

It is an interesting move, because Nokia had shunned Android for a very long period, which was one of the reasons of downfall, and is now releasing a launcher for the platform.

The launcher uses your location, time of day and who you were last talking to display a number of apps and suggestions that you will most likely launch or contact. What this results in is a constantly changing, adaptive homescreen which will keep things refreshed and relevant, while reducing the amount of time it takes you to get to each app. 

[See Also: Samsung Launches Terrain Home, A ‘Smart’ Homescreen For Android]

We tested the launcher on a Nexus 5 and apparently the phone’s letter prediction works pretty well. It can clearly recognize the difference between an alphabet and a nonsensical scribble and will not launch anything when it sees the latter.

If you were wondering about the Nokia and Android bit, basically Nokia was pretty much interested in Android as an OS alternative. Then came along the Microsoft influencer (Stephen Elop) and basically managed to brainwash Nokia into selling itself to Microsoft.  The guys who built the Z Launcher belong to the group that stayed behind and still work with Nokia on tiny projects like these.

The Z launcher still has a long way to go according to Head Designer Brook Eaton. The company is planning to integrate smarter features like the phone going to silent mode when it connects to your office Wi-Fi (stuff that we have already seen on other launchers).

For now, Z launcher is only available for the GALAXY S4, S5 and the Nexus 4 and 5 smartphones. Also you will have to head to their website to give it a shot as the app has not been published on Google’s Play Store yet. All you will need to do is sign in through your Google+ account, download the .apk file and then tap to install from your Downloads App.

TAGS: Downloads, Apps, Android, Nokia

After the Nokia PureView team moved to Microsoft, the dust seems to have settled and the team is apparently working on delivering better camera experience with the upcoming update Lumia Cyan.

The technology’s front man, Juha Alakarhu and Eero Salmelin, in an open discussion with WPCentral, revealed a few more details about what Lumia Cyan will bring for Nokia Windows Phone users.

One of those advances would be in the better low-light performance, which is a common problem with owners of the Nokia Lumia 1520. The gigantic flagship was clearly not on par with the rest of the competition when it comes to low light performance and definitely needs a boost in this area.

[See Also: Nokia Lumia 1520 Review]

The Cyan update will also bring better colours and continuous autofocus for devices. Video will also be smoother and RAW images will look better as well thanks to a newer approach to utilising the camera sensors.

What the team has worked really hard on is the shot-to-shot time with the PureView camera. This probably applies to the Lumia 1020 more than any other device.

Lastly Alakarhu did give a subtle hint about there being a RAW image editing option as well. Whether there is indeed going to be a separate app for devices that can click RAW images is something we will have to wait and see till the update is available.

TAGS: Lumia Cyan, Mobile Phones, Software, Windows Phone

Nokia X-series handsets run forked Android called Nokia X Software Platform. It's pretty much in line with Amazon’s version of Android seen on the Kindle Fire. The devices lack popular Google services such as Maps, Drive, Hangouts, Play Store. Out of the lot, you'll miss Play Store the most as Nokia's app repository lacks many popular apps including WhatsApp. To access more Android apps, you can root your phone and install Google's Play Store. Be warned though, the device becomes even more sluggish once it's rooted. Plus, you have to let go of the platform security in the process. So if you're looking for a less risky workaround to get Android apps your smartphone, follow this tutorial.

The great thing about Android is that it plays nice third-party app stores. My personal favourite is Yandex App Store. In case you didn't know, Yandex is Russia's largest search engine. So let's get this app repository first:

Step 1. Fire up the web browser, go to m.store.yandex.com. Click the big yellow Download button.

Step 2. The downloaded APK will show up in Fastlane, click on the setup file to install it.

Step 3. The Yandex Store will now show up on your homescreen. Since people these days can't live without WhatsApp, let's download it first.

Step 4. The downloaded APK will show up in Fastlane. Just like how it's done in the step 2, install it manually.

Yandex has all the apps you'll ever need. Still, just to be on the safe side, let's also get Amazon's App Store. The best thing about Amazon's Store is that every day you get one premium app for free. For instance, today's free app is Amazing Alex.

Step 1. To get Amazon's app repository, visit amazon.com/gp/mas/get-appstore/android, click the Download the Amazon Appstore button. Install the APK from the Fastlane notification system.

Step 2. Sign in with your Amazon account. Sign up if you don't have one (it's free).

Now that it's up and running, enjoy the rich selection of apps. And hey, don't forget to download the free app of the day.

Tags : Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

In an attempt to strengthen their portfolio in India, Microsoft Mobile has struck some new deals and the latest is the tie-up with Airtel offering free download of Android apps on Nokia XL for six months.

Along with this plan, Airtel also offers the Nokia XL users 500MB of free usage to download apps from Nokia store and 1Mobile store.

Nokia was launched in the Indian market in May and there has been a lukewarm response for the device.

The Nokia XL sports a 5-inch display with 480 x 800 pixels of resolution, and is powered by a dual-core Snapdragon processor. It has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera with a 4GB storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card slot.

TAGS: Nokia XL, Microsoft Mobile, Airtel, mobile devices

After getting rid of its handset division, Finnish telecom firm Nokia has diverted all its attention to make networking gear. To showcase its prowess, the company recently achieved transfer rates of 3.78 gigabits per second (gbps) on a 4G network, allowing a user to download a 5GB file in 11 seconds flat.

If that number wasn't mind boggling enough, the transfer speed achieved by Nokia's South Korean network is 400 times faster than 4G speeds offered by Indian telecom operators. Currently Airtel and Videocon Telecom are the two operators offering the fastest 4G speeds in India - a miniscule 10mbps.

"Nokia and SK Telecom reached a throughput speed of 3.78 gigabits per second (gbps). At this speed, a mobile broadband user can download a full-length 5 GB high-definition (HD) movie in just 11 seconds," said Nokia in a statement.

The company achieved such high transfer speeds by aggregating 10 spectrum frequencies of 200 megahertz each. Ironically, this is almost 10 times higher than the broadband wireless spectrum won by companies in 2010 for use in 4G services.

TAGS: Nokia, 4G LTE, Wireless Data Transfer, Airtel

A month after launching the Nokia Lumia 630 Dual-SIM, Microsoft has introduced the single-SIM variant in the Indian market. The budget Windows Phone 8.1 device offers Nokia Music subscription, Offline HERE Maps, and Microsoft Office Suite. The Lumia 630 is priced at Rs 11,500. So if you were thinking of giving Windows Phone devices a chance, this phone is an ideal choice.

Apart from doing away with one SIM slot, Nokia hasn't made any changes to the handset. The 630 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 400 chipset. The quad-core chip is clocked at 1.2 GHz. The phone has 512 MB RAM, which is a downer is if you're into gaming. Otherwise, the user experience is very smooth. Other features include a 5 megapixel camera, dual-SIM functionality, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, 8 GB internal storage, microSD card slot that supports up to 128 GB, and 1830 mAh battery. To keep the price in check, Nokia has skipped an LED flash and a front-facing camera.

The Lumia 630 is a well-built phone that improves upon 620's industrial design. Nokia has refreshed the colour palette for this new handset. The 630 comes in bright green, orange, and yellow. For those not keen on bright hues can choose between Black and White. The handset is currently available via Nokia India's official e-store powered by IndiaTimes. If you're planning to buy this device, wait for it to show up on reputed sites such as Flipkart and Amazon since IndiaTimes has a knack of accepting orders without checking the inventory. In the meantime, don't forget to read out Lumia 630 review.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Microsoft, Nokia, Lumia, Lumia 630

With an eye on the internet enabled low-end mobile phone market Microsoft devices has launched a new feature phone Nokia 225, which is priced at Rs. 3329.

According to the company, the phone will allow affordable internet access through the cloud-powered Nokia Xpress Browser. The phone comes with a 2.8-inch display and a 2 megapixel rear camera.

Apart from the internet access, another feature that might appeal to the low-end user is that the phone offers a maximum music playback time of over 51 hours.

It also has Gameloft store, which is preloaded on the Nokia 225 with ready to play five games and can support a Micro SD card upto 32GB. 

The company is known to produce devices that are suitable for the dusty Indian conditions and the 225 also features a splash- and dust-proof keymat that is durable and easy to clean.

It also has pre-loaded the device with the cloud-powered Nokia Xpress Browser, which the company claims uses less data and delivers fast performance, even over slower networks.

TAGS: Feature Phones, Nokia, Microsoft Mobile

With the freedom to do whatever they want, Nokia clearly has its goals set in terms of its best product, HERE Maps. The Finnish company sold off it's devices arm to Microsoft a month ago, now has acquired map start up Desti.

Desti is a company that runs an app by the same name, which uses artificial intelligence and a natural language processing engine to generate personalised searches for maps. Think of having a conversation with Siri or Cortana when it comes to hotel bookings, this app has the ability to do that.

It is a big deal, since Microsoft recently announced Cortana in its latest Windows Phone 8.1 update. With Nokia providing HERE Maps for Windows Phone devices, such an addition would prove useful when it comes to enhancing Cortana’s knowledge about mapping.

Desti was a pretty capable app when it was on the Apple’s App Store. The App can actually determine the difference between a business or a romantic hotel and will even gradually learn one’s preferences and deliver related search results in the form of a conversation. Adding such artificial intelligence to Cortana or HERE Maps itself would indeed to prove to be useful in enhancing both products which falls under Nokia and Microsoft’s portfolio.

HERE maps is definitely coming to Android and iOS as earlier job postings showed, but thanks to Microsoft’s long-term contract with HERE Maps, it might be the one to take maximum advantage out of this acquisition.

TAGS: Software, Apps, Maps, Nokia, Desti, Cortana

Its official, the Lumia 530 exists! Nokia is indeed working a on a Lumia device that runs Windows Phone 8.1 and will be placed a level below the budget Lumia 630/635 range. The image has been sourced from a Windows Phone buying guide which supposedly showcases all the devices from Microsoft’s arsenal running Windows Phone 8.1.

The image form the source clearly shows a somewhat clear size comparison of the devices. From the looks of it, the Lumia 520 which was the best-selling Windows Phone last year, indeed has a new-age successor and runs the latest Windows Phone 8.1 software out of the box.

If we take a well-educated guess, it is pretty clear that the handset sports a 4.3 inch 800 x 480 pixel display. This is because the Lumia 530 appears to be slightly thinner in width and even sports a slightly smaller display (with navigation buttons included). From the image, it is pretty evident that the device similar to the Lumia 630/635 will not come with a front-facing camera as well which was probably done in an effort to cut down costs.

Another thing that we noticed thanks to the image is that the device will come in Blue, Green and Orange. Blue seems to be a new addition here since all the new handsets in Nokia’s Lumia range come in the standard Black, White, Green and Orange with the 630 adding Fluorescent Yellow to the mix.
 

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

Nokia MixRadio is hands down the best music service in India. For starters, it offers quality sound and a catalogue of over a crore tracks from various genres including western rock, classical, Bollywood, Marathi, Punjabi, you name it! More importantly, it's available for free.

The app has an a neat layout and straightforward user interface. Simply click on the "Play Me" button, choose up to three artists, and MixRadio will start streaming you relevant songs. For instance, if you Coldplay and U2 to mixes, the app not only plays these two bands, but also picks up tracks from similar artists such as Beck, Radiohead, Snow Patrol, and Muse. Thus, helping you explore the genre. What's more you can also save up to four playlists for offline use.

Unlike other services such as Spotify, MixRadio doesn't nag you with ads or sponsored content. If you like to download individual tracks, MixRadio Store has got you covered. With every new Lumia handset, you get 6-12 months free subscription to download DRM-free (Digital Rights Management) songs. This means you can copy these songs on multiple devices, and even share them with friends. You can renew subscription by paying Rs 281 for three months.

After reading this, I'm sure you want to try this app. Now here's the worst part. After setting up such an excellent service, Nokia has kept it exclusive. Seriously Nokia, why not release it to other manufacturers, and make some money?

Thankfully for us users, there's a workaround to get MixRadio working on any Android smartphone. An XDA forum user opssemnik, has extracted MixRadio app from Nokia X handset and packaged it for other smartphones. So without further ado, here are the instructions:

1. Go to your phone settings, and enable installation from "Unknown Sources".



2. Download the Installer by visiting XDA forums. Don't forget to thank that guy.

3. Open a file manager, locate the file named 'MixRadioPort0.1.APK', and click on it to begin the installation process. If your phone lacks a file manager, get one from here.

4. The installer will prompt you to hit 'Install Mix Radio" button. Then, the app will ask for several permissions, click on Next. The process might take a few minutes, so be patient.

 

Now, start the app, keep calm, and music on. We've tested this process on the Samsung GALAXY S5 and XOLO Q800. There's no reason why it shouldn't work on your Android phone. Before signing off, here are a few screenshots from the S5.

Tags : Apps, Downloads, Android, Windows Phone, Nokia

We all thought that may be in round two, Microsoft would come up with a better hardware configuration, propelling the Nokia X2 into the mid-segment. But leaked AnTuTu benchmarks now show that the company has no plans of doing the same anytime soon.

The benchmarks show a device tagged as the Nokia X2DS (RM-1013) and sports the same specifications that we reported yesterday. A dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (MSM8X10) SoC capable of running from 300 - 1190MHz, an Adreno 305 GPU, 1GB RAM and 4GB ROM.

What the benchmarks also reveal is that the device will come with a 4.3 inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) display and sport a 5.0MP camera on the back and a 0.3MP snapper on the front. More importantly the benchmark results show that the Microsoft will indeed stick to Android Jelly Bean (4.3).

 

This clearly puts the Nokia X2 alongside the Moto E, which is obviously more capable thanks to its bloatware-free software. So if you thought that Microsoft was indeed going to bring out a beefier, mid-range X2, this should indeed make things crystal clear.
 

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Open Source Android, Nokia, Microsoft

In a comeback bid, Nokia and Motorola are aggressively targeting the budget smartphone segment. With brand reputation and quality on their side, these mobile phone industry veterans are giving domestic players a run for their money. Undoubtedly, the Lumia 630 and Moto G are one of the best budget smartphones currently available in India. However, if you're not sure which one to pick among them, here's a comparison that will help you make an informed decision:

Construction And Aesthetics
Nokia and Motorola are best in the business when it comes to delivering sturdiness on budget. Little wonder then, both Moto G and Lumia 630 feel rock solid. Their build quality is far superior when compared to the similarly priced smartphones.

In terms of design, Nokia has an edge with its modern design with sharp edges. Compared to Lumia, the Moto G looks a bit dated. In fact, it's design is quite similar to Nokia's three year old Lumia 710. The looks are subjective, but we think that the Lumia 630 fares better than the Moto G in the aesthetics department.

Display
Both the Moto G and Lumia 630 sport 4.5-inch IPS screens. These screens are covered by Corning's Gorilla Glass 3. Thanks to ClearBlack tech, the Lumia 630's display produces deeper blacks. However, the Moto G's HD screen beats Nokia's offering in terms of sharpness. Nokia's 4.5" features 480x854 pixels, while the Moto G packs in 1280x720 pixels in the same display size. So Motorola clearly wins this round.

User Interface
Moto G supports the latest Android 4.4 Kitkat. Motorola hasn't made many changes to the stock ROM. So the interface looks much better when compared to customised skins from Samsung, Sony, LG, Lenovo, and Gionee. However, the stock Android UI looks boring in front of the Lumia 630's Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft's mobile platform not only offers a unique interface, but also performs tasks more gracefully. Thanks to fluid animations, WP seems to flow from one screen to another rather than abruptly taking you to the next screen (Yes, I'm looking at you Android).

Firepower
Both Moto G and Lumia 630 are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 chipset. Based on ARM's Cortex A7 architecture, these processor are clocked at 1.2 GHz. The GPU is another common factor among the two. However, it's the amount of RAM, where the Moto G beats Nokia's offering. The Moto G has 1 GB RAM, which is double of what the Lumia 630 has to offer. So not only does the Moto G has access to more games, but can also handle them better than the 630.

Camera
Not all 5 megapixel cameras are made the same. Yes, although the megapixel count is same, there's a big difference between the image quality of Lumia 630 and Moto G. Images shot with the Moto G lack detail, and also contain a lot of grain. Moreover, there’s no option to change the image quality. On the other hand, the 630 comes pre-loaded with Nokia camera, which lets you tinker with shutter speed, exposure, and manual focus. The image quality is quite good too. So despite the lack of flash, which flattens the photographs anyway, the Lumia 630 has an edge in the camera department.



Miscellaneous Features
Thanks to a front-facing camera, the Moto G supports Skype video calls. On the other hand, the Lumia 630 lacks a secondary camera. The Moto G too has its own share of limitations. For instance, it lacks a microSD card slot. So you're stuck with limited space to store your music and movies. In contrast, The Lumia 630 supports microSD cards of up to 128 GB. So in terms of misc. features, the contest between these two handsets is evenly poised.

Price
Since the Moto G lacks a microSD card slot, it makes no sense to buy an 8 GB version. Its 16 GB version costs Rs 14,000. Since the Lumia 630 is available online for Rs 11,200, it's Rs 2700 cheaper than the Moto G. In a country like India, such price difference can heavily influence the buying decision.

To sum it up, the Moto G is a great budget phone if you're into gaming. It's also ideal for selfies and video calls. On the other hand, the Lumia 630 is a cheaper alternative with impressive build quality. If you're looking for polished smartphone experience, the 630 won't disappoint you.

Tags : Mobile Phones, Android, Windows Phone, Nokia, Motorola

Purchased a Lumia 630 after it launched last week in India? Well, now thanks to Nokia, you can now get a massive 50% discount on those ultra-cool looking Coloud headphones that may have caught your eye at the store.

Lumia 630 owners who have already purchased the phone can now get a cool 50% off on the Nokia Coloud Pop earphone (WH-510) or the Nokia Coloud Boom headphone (WH-530). The Nokia Coloud Pop earphones come with some well designed and constructed ear buds that fit comfortably in your ears and deliver good quality sound thanks to its 9mm speaker drivers. More importantly they come in bright Red, Yellow and Blue which will definitely make you stand out of the crowd.

The Nokia Coloud Boom headphones deliver a much bigger punch with their bigger 40mm high-performance drivers and being headphones they come with some really comfortable ear pads for extended usage. The headphones carry the Coloud design theme which goes well with all Nokia handsets (new and old) and come in bright Red, Yellow and Blue as well.

Both Coloud headsets come with flat cables that will not get knotted when you store them away (very important indeed) and with mics as well. Thanks to the heavy discounts, Lumia 630 owners can now buy the Coloud Pop for for Rs 999 instead of the MRP Rs 1,999 and the Coloud Boom for Rs 1,499 instead of the MRP Rs 2,999. The eye-candy headgear will be available on discount for Lumia 630 owners only till the 30th of June, 2014.

To avail the offer, all you need to do is send an SMS to 55555 with your device’s IMEI number in the format given below:
Lumia 630<space>IMEI No.
You will soon receive an SMS with a coupon code that can be used at the official Nokia Store (nokia.indiatimes.com) to purchase the Coloud headsets.

TAGS: Accessories, Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia