Last few months have been very happening for the smartphone industry. Biggies such as Samsung, Nokia, HTC, and Sony have unveiled their latest and greatest handsets. What’s missing is here is Apple’s flagship, for which we will have to wait a few months. Till then, let’s check out what’s on offer from the Android and Windows Phone camp.

Sony Xperia Z2
The Xperia Z2 flaunts a premium omnibalance design inspired by its predecessor Z1. The Japs have gone all guns blazing in terms of specs. The Z2 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 processor with 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait CPUs. That and 3 GB RAM should be more than enough to handle Android Kitkat. The phone features a 5.2-inch full-HD IPS display. You get a 20 megapixel camera capable of 4K video recording. All these features are squeezed in an 8.2 mm slim waistline. What’s more, the phone adheres to IP55 & IP58 (Ingress Protection) standards. In simple words, it’s dust and water resistant.

HTC One (M8)
It’s difficult to find a geek who didn’t like the HTC One’s metallic styling. In the new One (knows as M8), HTC has evolved its signature design further. The phone sports a 5-inch Full HD Super LCD screen. At the heart is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, clocked at 2.5 GHz. Unlike its predecessor, M8 comes with a micro SD card slot. 2 GB of RAM should assure smooth functioning of Android 4.4 Jelly Bean (with HTC Sense UI). One unique aspect about the HTC One is its dual camera lens assembly — 4 MP ultra-pixel shooter coupled with a 2 MP to calculate the depth of field. With the help of some software wizardry, the phone will let you shift focus after snapping a photograph. If this wasn’t enough, those lucky chaps with early access to the device are reporting that it’s waterproof too.



Nokia Lumia 930
At BUILD conference, Nokia also announced the much-awaited successor of the Lumia 920. Dubbed Lumia 930, this handset flaunts a 5-inch Full HD (1920x1080) AMOLED display. The pixel density is 441 ppi. For sunlight legibility, the phone's screen features ClearBlack tech. In the camera department, you get a 20 megapixel camera with Optical Image Stabilisation. It's powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC clocked at 2.2 GHz. It has 2 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. The 930 comes with wireless (induction) charging capabilities. Expect the Nokia Lumia 930 to roll out globally in Europe, Asia, Middle East and India around June with Rs 36,000 price tag.



Samsung GALAXY S5
The S5 has already hit the Indian market, but a high-end handset article isn’t complete without its mention. The GALAXY S5 features a 5.1-inch AMOLED screen Full HD resolution. As we all know, Samsung is hard to beat when it comes to screen quality. Like most premium smartphones, the S5 packs in a 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801. Samsung claims that its 16 megapixel camera has fastest autofocus speed of up to 0.3 seconds. The company has also added Selective Focus feature, which is inspired by Nokia's Refocus app. For those not in the know, this software allows users to focus on a specific object while blurring out the background. The special features include a iPhone 5s-esque biometric scan, heart rate monitor, and water-resistant body.

Tags : Mobile Phones, Android, Windows Phone, Nokia, Samsung, HTC, Sony

In one of our longest running opinion poll, we asked you to vote for the smartphone brand you trust the most. The options were — Apple, HTC, Micromax, Nokia, LG, Samsung, and Sony. The votes are in, and here are results:

Unlike our previous poll, this time around we have a clear winner. Out of over eleven thousand voters (11,724 to be precise), a good 38 percent of our readers trust Nokia. The biggest smartphone manufacturer in the world Samsung took the second spot with 21 percent votes. This doesn't come as the surprise as these two companies have thousands of sevice centres across the country. Nokia has lost its marketshare to Samsung, but I think it's the past glory and nostalgia that helped the Finnish company receive thousands of votes.

What's surprising here is that Micromax shares the third spot (11 percent) with Apple. The Indian manufacturer is one of the worst offender when it comes to customer support. So it's puzzling to see it tied with a world class brand that offers excellent support. Tailing them is the Japanese tech-giant Sony with 10 percent of votes.

HTC, the company who gave us the beautiful handset One, takes the fifth spot with 6 percent votes. That doesn't sound encouraging for the Taiwanese brand. However, what's unfair is that the Nexus 5 maker has received the least numbers of votes. Yes, you heard it right, LG is at the bottom of the list with 3 percent votes. In my opinion, the company definitely deserves to finish at a better result.

Tags : Mobile Phones, Nokia, Apple, Samsung, Micromax, LG, HTC, Sony

Nokia has announced the newest additions to its affordable handset range—the 225 and 225 Dual SIM. It’s a new phone line-up which highlights Nokia’s attempt to bring the Internet to the masses, and it’s a rather colourful one as we can clearly see from the images.

Both the 225 and 225 Dual SIM have identical hardware specifications, with the only difference being the Dual SIM and dual standby feature on the latter phone. Once you get past the vibrant colours, you will notice the sharp 2.8 inch QVGA display which has been set into the mono block form factor of the device. Another detail to note here is the keypad which is water and dust proof delivering that all-important level of sturdiness that we have come to expect from Nokia devices. What is also impressive is the battery life, with a standby time of about 36 days for the single SIM and 27 days for the dual SIM version.

The devices run on the Series 30+ OS and support java apps that are available in the plentiful via Nokia’s app store or third party vendors. Both phones come preloaded with Nokia’s Xpress Browser which supposedly helps reduce your Internet browsing costs.  Other apps that come preloaded into the device are Facebook, Twitter and thanks to Microsoft, Bing Search as well. Also included are five exciting games; Block Breaker 3, Asphalt 6, Assassins Creed 3, The Avengers and Real Football 2012 to help you pass your time. The FM radio and built-in music player should keep you entertained; especially when you have micro SD card support of up to 32GB available.

There is also a tiny 2MP camera which in this range of handsets means a lot and should be sufficient for sharing selfies on social media networks.

Both the phones come in red, yellow, green, black and white; and will cost approximately Rs 3220 before taxes when launched in Q2 of 2014.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Nokia, 225, 225 Dual SIM, Series 30+ OS, Facebook, Twitter

If you were born in the 80’s you could imagine a world with the usual landline ringing away to glory till someone answered it. Then came the age of the cell phones, which brought a little variety to the annoying ringing of telephones and the beeping of pagers. Then of course came Nokia’s 2110 with a rather unique tune that somehow stuck, and still features on every single Nokia phone till today.

The tune was composed almost 92 years ago in 1902 and was called the Grande Valse unitil Nokia added it to the Nokia 2110 in 1994. Of course there are multiple versions which came out with different devices which simply evolved with the times. The simple old melody got multiple twists as Nokia’s handset designs and the company's focus changed. However, Nokia still retains tune which reminds many of us of the good old days where every cell phone looked and felt unique.

The default ringtone on every Nokia handset, the tune was featured in ads and has been ringing across the globe ever since the Nokia 2110 was launched. We would agree that the next most popular ringtone in India would be Samsung’s ‘Over the horizon’ which unlike Nokia’s is extremely annoying. The Nokia tune is also a sign of life from the Finnish manufacturer who has now been taken over by Microsoft; telling the world that it is not done with the mobile space just yet.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Nokia, Ringtone, 2110, Lumia 930, Grande Valse

Nokia has once again released a big update for its colourful Asha line up running the Nokia Asha Software Platform. Last time’s update brought some stability improvements and WhatsApp; this time around Nokia reminds Asha owners that they have not forgotten the platform. They have brought some really big improvements to the platform by introducing Nokia MixRadio and even adding in OneDrive integration. The new camera improvements are a welcomed change as well.

Nokia MixRadio was launched just a couple of months ago and from what it seems, it is a big success in the world of Windows. After pushing the MixRadio to the Nokia X to give the android crowd a taste of Microsoft, Nokia now seems to be focussing on its budget device range as well.

Nokia MixRadio now gives your Asha device the ability to enjoy music from your favourite artists for free, allowing you to stream and download music tracks via a Wi-Fi or data connection. If you are one of those who don’t feel the need to have a data connection when on the move, Nokia MixRadio will even allow you to listen to your music offline. A feature like this will definitely add great value for prospective Asha buyers as well.

Next up is OneDrive integration, which gives you the ability to automatically or manually upload files to your Microsoft OneDrive account. OneDrive integration also brings an additional 7GB of free OneDrive storage for all your photo and documents uploads.

Also included in the new Asha update are new additions to the good old Asha camera. An interesting feature for the ‘selfie-conscious’ audience is the voice-guided self-portrait feature. The feature simply allows you to click awesome looking ‘selfies’ with the help of voice guidance; which will tell you how you need to hold your phone to get the perfect shot.

Fastlane has also seen improvements in the form of re-tweets and ‘Likes’ now showing up directly on the notifications thread. Parental control is another new feature that allows users to use a PIN code to block access to certain apps. This can be used in case your phone is in case you share your phone with someone else or for your kids.

As mentioned earlier, the new update is heading to phones that run the Nokia Asha Software Platform. This means that the update is available for Nokia Asha 500, 501, 502, 503 and 230, both single and Dual SIM variants. The update will reach users as an over-the-air (OTA) update and will roll out gradually region wise. If you have not received a notification just yet, you can navigate to ‘Settings’ and click on ‘Phone Update’ to check for updates on your Asha device.

Nokia has also advised Asha users to download the update over a Wi-Fi connection to prevent issues while updating the phone.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Asha, Nokia

Nokia will launch four new Lumia devices in India in the coming months, including its first dual SIM Lumia 630 at a price of little more than Rs 10,000. As the Finnish company struggles to grow its market share in India and globally, it surely is pinning a lot of its hopes on its new Windows Phone 8.1 powered devices.

Apart from its first dual SIM device, the company will also bring its low-cost 4G LTE enabled Lumia 635 to India in July. The device will be sold at $189 (approx Rs 11,500), making it one of the cheapest 4G enabled phones to be sold in the country.

Unveiled at the Microsoft Build 2014 conference held yesterday, the new Lumia 630/635 sports a low-resolution 4.5-inch screen (854 x480 pixel), 512 MB of RAM, 8GB of on board storage with the capibility to expand it to 128GB via a micro SD card. The phone also runs Microsoft's latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, and is powered by a 1.2 Ghz Snapdragon 400 processor similar to the one found in the Moto G.

"The Nokia Lumia 630 is expected to roll out in May, beginning with Asia, India/Middle East, South America and Europe, at $159 (around Rs9,500) for the single-SIM variant, and $169 for the dual-sim variant before taxes and subsidies," said Nokia.

Nokia is hoping to better tap into the demand for dual SIM devices which exists in emerging markets such as India and other markets in Asia. Moreover, given the growth of 4G networks from Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio, a low cost LTE-device from Nokia could really kickstart a whole new sub-market.

Apart from the low-cost Lumia 630/635 devices, Nokia will also launch its new flagship Lumia 930 "expected to roll out globally in June starting with Europe, Asia, Middle East and India, available from USD 599 (about Rs36,000) before taxes and subsidies," added the company.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia, Lumia 630, Lumia 930, Build 2014

Windows Phone 8.1 has just been announced and there’s news that Nokia is already preparing its device specific firmware for Lumia devices. The update just like Microsoft’s rumoured ‘Cherry Blossom Pink’ will be called ‘Lumia Cyan’ for Nokia devices. Just like the Amber and Black updates in the past, Nokia will focus on adding a layer of customisation that works with their handsets and hardware.

As expected the focus here would be to improve the imaging capabilities of Nokia’s Lumia range. Yes, the update will be coming to the entire Lumia range. This shows that Microsoft did work hard on optimising Window Phone 8.1 to work on older devices as well. The update could translate into device specific enhancements for Nokia’s Creative Studio, Nokia Storyteller and even the camera roll app; so there will be a difference between a Nokia and an HTC.

The Lumia Cyan update would reach handsets as an OTA (Over the Air) package and will bring in the customized Lumia experience to Nokia’s entire Lumia range. As mentioned earlier, the update will include all the goodness of Windows Phone 8.1 along with Nokia’s custom software. This means that Action Center, Cortana, Word Flow and those awesome parallax effects will be available out here as well. Also included in the Lumia Cyan update, will be Windows Phone 8.1 enterprise pack which will make your Lumia a much better business phone.

The update is bound to reach Nokia devices this summer and the roll out will happen region wise. Flagship devices like the Lumia 1020 and the Lumia 1520 will be the first from the older lot to receive the updates.
 

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Software, Windows Phone, Nokia

Sporting some updated hardware, the Nokia Lumia 930 is finally ready to take on the flagship droids in the Android space. Nokia finally unveiled its latest flagship which is a spitting image of Verizon’s Icon handset. The Lumia 930 also sports the new colour theme which shares a striking resemblance with the Indian national flag.

Lately, Nokia was always the company that gave you a flagship device, with something less or something more (Lumia 1520’s giant screen). But this time around, they seemed to have hit the sweet spot; offering some new hardware with the best software for its flagship. So the Lumia 930 is surely a sight for sore eyes.

The handset features a stunning 5 inch super sensitive Full HD (1920 x1080) ClearBlack AMOLED display with mind-boggling pixel density of 441 ppi. On the back is primary 20MP PureView camera unit with a bright f/2.4 lens with Optical Image Stabilisation and a dual tone, dual LED flash.

Inside, the Nokia 930 comes packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC with a 2.2GHz quad-core CPU coupled with 2GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. The memory capacity of the device cannot be expanded, which is rather strange for flagship device with rich 1080p video recording capabilities.

On the software front, the Lumia 930 run Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box. Also included are all of the Lumia imaging apps such as Nokia Camera, Creative Studio and Cinemagraph which makes taking creative photos a breeze.

Expect the Nokia Lumia 930 to roll out globally in Europe, Asia, Middle East and India around June with a $599 (approx. Rs 35, 981) price tag.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

Announced first, was the Nokia’s first dual SIM Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 630. The Lumia 630 has been designed as a budget phone with some Moto G killing specs and a price to go with it. The Nokia Lumia 630 comes in two variants, a single SIM and a dual SIM version with similar hardware specifications. Alongside the Lumia 630 which runs on 3G bands, Nokia also launched its 4G variant, the Lumia 635 with similar specifications.

Once you get past those vibrant colours, you will notice the 4.5 inch (854 x480 pixel) FWVGA ClearBlack LCD covered with Gorilla 3 glass. The Lumia 630 and 635 also sport almost similar hardware specifications, with the addition of 4G bands on the 635.

Inside, you will get the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system with onscreen navigation buttons and a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC. 512 MB of RAM is a standard affair between all three devices, which will also include 8 GB of internal memory and micro SD card slot expansion up to 128 GB. The handsets lack a front-facing camera while a 5MP auto-focus primary camera will take care of the imaging duties. The phones come with a sufficient 1830 mAh battery which should keep the devices running for a day.

Price and build quality is what counts when it comes to the budget segment for mobile phones. The Lumia 630 will begin rolling out in May in Asia for a price tag of $159 (approx. Rs 9,524) for the single SIM and $169 (approx. Rs 10,123) for the dual SIM version. You will have to wait a little longer for the 4G/LTE version (635) as it will be available in select regions starting from July for a steeper $189 (approx. Rs 11,353).
 

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

One of the key highlights at this year's Microsoft Build conference to be held tomorrow will be the unveiling of Nokia's latest mid-range Lumia device which will run the much awaited Windows Phone 8.1 OS.

The Lumia 630, codenamed 'Moneypenny' is expected to be one among the first two devices to run the Windows 8.1 OS, the other being the Lumia 930 (Martini) which is expected to be very similar to the Lumia Icon. Both devices are expected to be launched at the Build Confrence on 2nd April.

The Lumia 630 will serve as the replacement for the Lumia 620, and is rumoured to sport a 4.5 inch display (albeit 800 x 480), a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1 GB of RAM. Those specifications do take it mighty close to the recently launched Moto G, though the screen resolution does disappoint.

The Lumia 630 is expected to house a 5MP snapper, while much like its predecessor the phone will lack a LED flash. Low-end Lumia cameras are nothing to write home about and with the 630 expect no stellar change. In terms of design, Nokia doesn't seem to want giving up its minimal styling with bright colours, but we could see a choice of matte and glossy finishes.

The biggest change however that Nokia will bring in is with the new Windows 8.1 operating system. A new notification centre, improved camera interface, animation changes to the homescreen and Microsoft's very own digital assistant Cortana are expected to be the biggest changes.

Also on the hardware front, Windows 8.1 replaces the soft touch keys with virtual on screen ones, and there is also the option of doing away with the physical camera shutter release button.

There isn't a doubt that Nokia will aim the new Lumia 630 at the Moto G, but while Motorola has managed to get the pricing right, it is yet to be seen whether Nokia will follow. The biggest disappointment with the speculated specifications of the phone is definitely the low-resolution screen, but there could be a host of other features that could make up for it.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, windows 8.1, Nokia, Lumia 630, Microsoft Build Confrence

We are just two days away from what started off as an initiative and has now turned into a world’s largest voluntary environmental action. Earth hour as we know it, is gradually changing from just switching off our lights for an hour, to an entire movement that focuses on renewable energy.

The WWF Renewables Market app helps the WWF push that motive, helping the masses take advantage of renewable sources of energy. Created by Shubhan Chemburkar, the ‘WWF Renewables Market’ mobile app is one that facilitates an interface for individuals and retailers of renewable energy solutions, making the process of switching to renewable energy smoother.

Made only for the Windows Phone platform, the winning app was chosen from a list of contenders from the Earth Hour App Developers Challenge 2014 organised for the members of DVLUP. The challenge was fairly simple—create an app that promotes and facilitates the use of renewable resources. The app works well, explaining the benefits and types of renewable energy while allowing the user to spread the word about renewable energy as well. Also included is a handy carbon footprint calculator and a solar energy calculator to help you figure out how renewable energy sources help you save.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF-India said, ”The message for Earth Hour 2014 is to not only switch off for the hour but to also make a switch to renewable energy. WWF-India has been delighted to partner with Nokia to innovate in developing the official app for Earth Hour 2014: WWF Renewables Market. This interactive app is aimed at promoting uptake of renewable energy by providing important information and bringing together potential users and service providers on a user-friendly platform."

Download Link:

Only for Windows Phone users

TAGS: Apps, Windows Phone, Nokia

Microsoft had announced earlier this year, that its Build 2014 conference will be taking off on the 2nd of April and will go on till the 8th. Since Nokia did not unveil anything shocking at the MWC in Barcelona, we kind of figured out that Microsoft would finally demo new Windows Phones after unveiling Windows Phone 8.1 at Build 2014.

However Nokia wants its share of the limelight as well and it has set an event at the same venue but at a later time. With a hashtag that says ‘#moreLumia’, it clearly indicates that we will see a couple of device launches out there.

One of the devices that has been churning in the rumour mill for long is the Lumia 630 aka ‘Moneypenny’. This will be more of a mid-range device and will obviously be one of the first mid-range devices to support Windows Phone 8.1.

Next up is the successor to the Lumia 920, the Lumia 930 aka ‘Martini’. This will be similar to the Nokia Lumia Icon which was launched on Verizon in the USA a few months back. Expect to see the same hardware with new software (8.1) and a refreshed design. Let’s hope that this time around, Nokia sticks to the ‘fabula’ design philosophy as the Icon did not see too many takers. Moreover, we hope that Nokia does not hold back when it comes to hardware and imaging capabilities, as the Nokia Lumia 1020 is getting a bit old.
 

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

Nokia's UK Twitter handle loves to brag about a year old handset, the Lumia 1020. It was indeed a brilliant device when launched, and it still stands as the best example of Mobile Imaging.

The closest rival to 1020 comes from Sony. The company's latest flagship Z2 sports a 20 megapixel camera. To promote the phone, Sony UK tweeted that its Xperia Z2 comes with “award-winning camera technology”. Right after that, @Nokia_UK gave the Japanese company an open challenge to camera duel. The 1020 is certainly a photographer’s phone, and shutterbugs such as @detkodave have been proving this time and again. But, we think that it's time for Nokia to shut up, because the hardware on the 1020 is beginning to show its drawbacks (more on that below).

Yes, we know it’s not about the specs, but let’s just compare them here.

                                 Lumia 1020                                            Xperia Z2
Memory
Card Slot                   No                                                          Yes (Micro SD, up to 128 GB)
Internal Memory        32 GB                                                     16 GB
CPU                           Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait                         Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400
Battery                      Li-Ion 2000 mAh                                    Li-Ion 3200 mAh battery
Standby Time           Up to 384 h (3G)                                      Up to 740 h (3G)
Camera features       1/1.5'' sensor size                                  1/2.3'' sensor size
                                
The Lumia 1020’s camera features:

• 41 MP (38 MP effective, 7152 x 5368 pixels)
• Carl Zeiss optics
• Optical image stabilisation,
• Auto/manual focus,
• Xenon & LED flash

While the Sony Xperia Z2 offers:

• 20.7 MP
• 5248 х 3936 pixels
• Autofocus
• LED flash

There are certain factors Nokia should be worried about:

• Shot to shot times (The Lumia is bad at this)
• Underwater photography (If Nokia steps into the water the duel ends there)
• 4 K Video

What Sony should be worried about:

• Physical Shutter (for those long exposures and crisp images)
• PureView Imaging technology
• Noise levels
• Optical Image Stabilisation (Nothing beats it)

Who do you think will win the camera duel? From the looks of it, it all depends upon how the challenges are laid down. We wish both manufacturers best of luck!
 

This town ain't big enough for the both of us, @sonyxperiagb! #CameraDuel pic.twitter.com/NED8oS656b

— Nokia UK (@nokia_uk) March 18, 2014

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Windows Phone, Nokia, Sony

Nokia has launched its much-awaited Nokia X Android phone in India at a price tag of Rs 8600. The phone was one of the big announcements at the MWC in Barcelona, and it may end up being one of their most successful budget handset as well.

The Nokia X sports a 4-inch IPS screen with 480x800 pixels. It’s powered by a Snapdragon S4 chipset clocked at 1.5 GHz. For photography, there’s a 3 megapixel camera. Other features include 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, micro SD card slot, and 1500 mAh battery.

The Nokia XL which will see an April Launch will keep big screen aficionados happy (let’s just hope it gets priced competitively). A large 5-inch screen fuelled by a 2000 mAh battery. A slightly higher amount of RAM with 768 MB and a more capable 5 MP camera will also attract buyers in this category if priced right.

On the software front, Nokia X series runs a highly modified version of Google’s Android OS. The Finns call it the Nokia X Software Platform. It will lack popular Google services such as Maps. Expect Hangouts to be replaced by Skype, Google Drive with OneDrive, Gmail with Outlook, and Google Maps with HERE. Users won’t have access to the Play Store either, but side-loading apps is possible. Recently, Nokia announced that 75 percent of all Android apps are already compatible with Nokia X.

Will you make the switch to Nokia built Android device? Or will you rather stick to the home-grown local brands in the sub Rs 10,000 range? Do tell us in the comments below.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

After introducing the X series with three phones, Nokia is all set to add new members to its Lumia family. If Twitter handle @evleaks is to be believed, Nokia is set to announce the Lumia 630. The successor to the good old Lumia 625, is also rumoured to be one of the first phones from Nokia to run Windows Phone 8.1 out-of-the-box.

Designed to be a mid-segment device, the 630 looks a lot like its predecessor. What sets it apart from the budget segment though, are the rumoured hardware specifications. The phone is said to pack in a powerful Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor coupled with 1 GB of RAM which should make launching apps and multi-tasking a breeze in Windows Phone 8.1. What’s more interesting, is that it will have virtual navigation keys as well, which is again compatible with the Windows Phone 8.1. Looks like the Moto G just got a worthy competitor from the Windows Phone camp.

Let’s just hope Microsoft and Nokia have something bigger to announce as well in the form of flagship device when it announces Windows Phone 8.1 in April. Our fingers are crossed for now.

Nokia Lumia 630, 2014 pic.twitter.com/a9DZojuQTk

— @evleaks (@evleaks) March 6, 2014

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

We all loved the Lumia 920, made by then struggling Nokia, it was an innovative on many counts. PureMotion HD+ screen with swift refresh rates, Optical image stabilisation (OIS) in camera, and a ClearBlack display for deeper blacks were some of its high points. We then finally got a glimpse of what its successor would be like when the company unveiled Lumia Icon the USA.

The Icon did not bring much to the table save for some hardware upgrade. It was basically a phone that everyone wanted minus the industrial design that most were not fans of. It was a solution to the chunky Nokia 1520 which most people drifted away from due to its sheer size.

The Twitter handle @EvLeaks has just tweeted that Nokia will be holding another event on the 19th of April. What should we expect? Just another Lumia Icon dressed up in better body? Or will we see some better technology packed in there? The Icon already contains most of the features Nokia has to offer except for the 41 megapixel camera with a physical shutter, last seen on the 1020.

Nokia was all excited about the Nokia X at the MWC; and somehow had nothing for the Windows Phone lovers who had high-hopes for a new product. But why would they? With a Windows Phone 8.1 launch scheduled for mid-April, it all makes sense doesn’t it? Announce a new Windows Phone with the latest software.

So will Nokia make the ultimate Windows Phone? Or will it simply give us that one thing less like they always do. Let us know in the comments below.

Nokia event April 19th?

— @evleaks (@evleaks) March 5, 2014

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

The Nokia X showed up on an online store sporting a budget price tag of Rs 8,500 just yesterday and now we have even better news. We just received an invite which states that Nokia will in fact be launching the Nokia X on the 10th of March here in India. What’s more is that we also received news that Nokia XL will be launched somewhere in April.

The Nokia X sports a 4-inch IPS screen with 480x800 pixels. It’s powered by a Snapdragon S4 chipset clocked at 1.5 GHz. For photography, there’s a 3 megapixel camera. Other features include 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, micro SD card slot, and 1500 mAh battery.

The Nokia XL which will see an April Launch will keep big screen aficionados happy as well (let’s just hope it is priced competitively). A large 5 inch screen fuelled by a larger 2000 mAh battery is bound to keep the phablet market happy considering Nokia’s flawless build quality. A slightly higher amount of RAM with 768 MB and a more capable 5 MP camera will also attract buyers in this category if priced right.

On the software front, Nokia X series runs a highly modified version of Google’s Android OS. The Finns call it the Nokia X Software Platform. It will lack popular Google services such as Maps. Expect Hangouts to be replaced by Skype, Google Drive with OneDrive, Gmail with Outlook, and Google Maps with HERE. Users won’t have access to the Play Store either, but side-loading apps is possible. Recently, Nokia announced that 75 percent of all Android apps are already compatible with Nokia X.

So will you go in for the Nokia X? Or will you wait till April for the more capable Nokia XL?
 

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

Announced at Mobile World Congress 2014, Nokia's first Android handset has finally got its price tag. Indian retail chain, TheMobileStore has listed Nokia X for Rs 8500. It's said to start retailing from 15th of March.

The phone sports a 4-inch IPS screen with 480x800 pixels. It’s powered by a Snapdragon S4 chipset clocked at 1.5 GHz. For photography, there’s a 3 megapixel camera. Other features include 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, microSD card slot, and 1500 mAh battery.

On the software front, Nokia X runs a highly modified version of Google’s Android OS. The Finns call it the Nokia X Software Platform. It will lack popular Google services such as Maps. Expect Hangouts to be replaced by Skype, Google Drive with OneDrive, Gmail with Outlook, and Google Maps with HERE. Users won’t have access to the Play Store either, but side-loading apps is possible. Recently, Nokia announced that 75 percent of all Android apps are already compatible with Nokia X.

Going by the price, the phone competes its Windows Phone cousin Lumia 520. The specs are similar, so what would you choose?

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

When the Finnish handset maker announced three handsets based on Nokia X software built on Android OS, many people saw it as a setback for Microsoft. Is Nokia trying to destroy the reputation of Microsoft's mobile platform before the 7.2 Billion dollar deal closes? The answer is a big "No". In fact, the Finns have taken Microsoft in confidence — otherwise you wouldn't have had Microsoft's fined tuned apps on Nokia X. Sure. Embracing Android just when the WP8 handsets have stared gaining momentum looks like a stupid move. However, if you look at the things closely, you'll realize that it's actually an incredibly bold (and somewhat risky) move from Stephen Elop, Nokia's CEO (soon to be the Head of Microsoft's Devices Business) to beat Google at its own game. No matter how weird it sounds, Android-powered Nokia handsets will be profitable to Nokia\Microsoft. Here's how:

Push WP Interface
The biggest strength of Microsoft’s platform is that it’s a completely fresh approach on smartphone interface. At the same time, it has also been the platform’s biggest issue. The tile based modern interface is unlike anything you see on the likes of Android and iOS. Because of this, users find the Windows Phone quite confusing. Well, a day or two is enough for anyone to get along with WP interface, but making the customer confident about that is the challenge Microsoft is facing now.

The solution: give customers Android devices with Windows Phone interface. That’s exactly what Nokia is doing. The company has replaced Android’s usual grid of icons, colourful app tiles. Even re-arranging these tiles is exactly like how it’s done on Windows Phone. The idea here that if a user gets used to the tile based interface, the person will eventually think about upgrading to Windows Phone platform that offers more responsive and dynamic tiles.

Slump Google's Revenue
Android being an open source software, is free for handset manufacturers. However, the search giant charges OEMs to licence its services including Play Store, Gmail, Maps, and Google Drive. Most manufacturers don't have software expertise and infrastructure to create and alternative for Google's offerings. So these companies end up paying certain amount of money to Google. On the other hand, Nokia is backed by Microsoft, who has an answer to every Google product. Since Nokia is going to be a subsidiary of Microsoft, it won't have to pay a dime. Moreover, in-app purchases will be powered by Nokia's own app repository. In short, Nokia X won't generate cash for Google.
The combination of Nokia and Android will definitely bite a big chunk of the smatphone market. Even if they grab 10-15 percent marketshare at the cost of conventional Android OEMs, it will result in millions of Android devices that don't generate revenue for Google.

Promote Microsoft Services
Lack of Google services on Nokia X is an opportunity for Microsoft to deliver its services to millions of new users. Bing traffic is already seeing an increase with the rising popularity of Windows Phone platform. With dirt-cheap Android phones from Nokia, the user base will at least double in no time. People who have bothered with OneDrive cloud service, will actually give it go and pit it against Google’s offering. Similarly, Outlook and Skype will give the Gmail and Hangouts a run for its money.

Microsoft seems to have realised that once you have the users, revenue follows. So the idea here is to make people get used to MS services, which will make the WP switch easier. The need of the hour for the company is making its services popular rather than hoping to make money out of Windows Phone licencing fees.

More Revenue For Nokia
After off-loading its Devices & Services business to Microsoft for around 7.2 Billion dollars, Nokia still retains HERE maps and NSN businesses. The Finnish company has to find avenues to bring in cash after selling its devices business. Windows Phone devices are powered by Nokia’s HERE maps. As they say more the merrier, Nokia can generate more revenue by introducing its offline sat nav expertise to wider audience. Since Google’s Play Music service doesn’t work in India yet, Nokia’s Mix Radio can be an instant hit among Android users.

Tags : Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

We all loved the Nokia 620 back in the days when the Lumia 920 reigned supreme in the Windows Phone space. We didn't hear much about this handset since the Lumia 520 took the market by storm. The phone sports a snappy 1 GHz Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor with 512 MB of RAM and 800x480 screen which was mighty sharp considering that it was just 3.8-incher. The main reason why most people didn’t go in for it was the relatively lower 512 MB RAM, which wasn't compatible with new games and apps.

However, finally today Nokia rolled out the Black Update for the Lumia 620. The GDR3 + Lumia Black combo update brings in a host of new features and improvements to the device, including Bluetooth 4.0 LE support, app switcher with the ability to close apps, and the rotation lock (if you needed one). Nokia’s new Drive Mode and Storyteller is also a part of the many goodies one can expect from the update. Although owners will not get Nokia Refocus and Nokia Beamer due to the 512 MB RAM hardware limit.
 

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

Even though the Nokia X is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes calling it an android device, there is definitely no confusion that Microsoft does not want Google snooping in here. Their custom UI makes life for a Nokia X user a lot less complicated while the Nokia built App Store loaded with compatible android apps will take care of the app bank that everyone cares about.

But, what if you do not fancy the tile interface which looks like Windows Phone plaform? Well, in a surprising turn of events, someone managed to side load Nova launcher onto a Nokia X right at the Nokia booth at the MWC 2014.

There is no knowledge about who did it, but pictures from a Malaysian website Lowyat,net show the phone running nova launcher with custom icons in the app drawer. We are sure Microsoft and Nokia would not want this to happen as they want Nokia X to become a sidekick Windows Phone. Moreover, Nokia seems pretty hell-bent on pushing the tile-based interface, which will eventually get users accustomed to the Modern UI of Windows Phone. So we can be sure that a third-party launcher on the Nokia App Store will definitely be a big NO.

We think Nokia should prepare itself for a little give and take considering that android is all about customisation.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

Nokia claims that 75% of Android apps are already compatible with its the Nokia X software platform. The company has been working closely with developers lately and believes that it shouldn't take more than 8 hours to port an Android app to Nokia's app repository. A bit of additional polishing is required to adapt to the Fastlane UI.

The Nokia X initially sounded like a mess — a low cost Nokia phone with budget hardware, running on Google less Android. But, now that Nokia is hounding developers to convert their apps to the Nokia X app store, everything seems to fall in place.

We see the broader picture here. One with Nokia trying to get more and more developers into their fold. With Nokia communicating with so many developers to convert their apps for the Nokia X, it seems that they are also probably cooking up something more than what meets the eye. The Nokia X to many, seems like a marriage of Windows Phone’s live tiles with the flexibility of the Android OS (minus Google of course!). Nokia is in constant contact with developers making the Nokia X basically the reason to get android developers a little push. With this push also comes the leeway to introduce developers to Windows Phone’s Modern UI. According to us, in a few months, we could see another development SDK launching which will basically convert all Nokia X based apps into windows phone apps.

The Nokia X will be the cross platform solution (albeit a sneaky one) that Microsoft needs to get developers creating/porting apps from Android to Nokia X and finally to Windows Phone. Since many will reach out for the Nokia X — being a budget smartphone—developers will definitely want their apps to reach out to that audience. This in turn will give Windows Phone the push in apps that Windows Phone Store needs.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Nokia, Android

Looks like Nokia has too many things going on at the same time. It's working on Windows Phone in high-end and budget segment. In the entry-level smartphone market it's prepping to roll out Android-powered Nokia X platform. If all this wasn't enough, it's still continuing the Asha platform with the launch of 230 in Barcelona. According to the Finnish handset maker, this phone will add more value to their existing Asha line-up.

With an estimated price of 45 euros (3900 INR) the Asha 230 will sport a 2.8 inch Transflective LCD (240x320 pixel) display and will be running Asha platform skinned with the Fastlane UI. The phone will feature a 1.3 MP camera unit with fixed focus and support up to 32 GB of storage via external SD. The phone will come with WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, LINE and WeChat built-in and will be available in Bright Red, Bright Green, Black, Cyan, White, and Yellow.

The Nokia Asha 230 sports a 1020 mAh battery, which should be sufficient considering their screen sizes. dual-SIM variants with similar specifications.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Nokia

After unveiling a trio of Android devices, Nokia has revealed a mass market feature phone 220. For those not in the know, the new phone is a successor of Nokia’s 110. The 220 is a basic Internet-enable device is powered by the cloud powered Nokia Xpress Browser, The browser features server-sided data compresses, which significantly cuts down the internet costs. The phone also comes preloaded with popular social networking apps including Facebook and Twitter. Other features include an in-built MP3 player, video player, and FM radio (headset required). It also ships with six Gameloft games Asphalt 6 Adrenaline, Assassin Creed, Block Breaker 3, Brain Challenge 3 and Modern Combat 2.

The phone features a 2.4-inch colour screen, a 2 megapixel camera, and up to 32 GB microSD card. On the connectivity front, you get micro USB port and Bluetooth 2.1. This handset targeted at emerging markets come in single and dual-SIM variant. According to Nokia, the phone offers 24 days standby time for the dual-SIM model and 29 days for the single-SIM version. The phone also features an LED flashlight.

The Nokia 220 is priced at around EUR 29 (Rs 2500). Similar to other Nokia phones, this handset comes in bold colours such as red, yellow, and cyan. Of course, you can also opt for white and black.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Series 40, Nokia

The Finnish handset manufacturer Nokia has made an expected, but still somewhat surprising announcement at Mobile World Congress 2014. The company unveiled three smartphones running a highly modified version of Google’s Android OS. The Finns call it the Nokia X Software Platform. The devices will lack popular Google services such as Maps. Expect Hangouts to be replaced by Skype, Google Drive with OneDrive, Gmail with Outlook, and Google Maps with HERE. Users won’t have access to the Play Store, but side-loading apps is possible. In short, it would be pretty much in line with Amazon’s version of forked Android seen on the Kindle Fire.

These handsets will come loaded with Nokia App Store, which already hosts popular apps including BBM, Plants vs. Zombies 2, Viber, Vine, Skype, and Twitter. During the event, Stephen Elop stated that Nokia X benefits from the Android app ecosystem, and at the same time introducing new people to Nokia apps and services. It’s also said that the Android developers retool their apps for these devices in a matter of few hours.

All three of the devices sport a Lumia-esque design. They're powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon dual-core processors. Similar to most budget Android smartphones, these phones offer dual-SIM functionality. The Nokia X is the entry level member of the family, with 4-inch IPS LCD screen, 512 MB RAM, and 3 megapixel camera. It will be available in green, black, white, yellow, cyan and red. The Nokia X+, as its name suggests, offers a little more — that's 768 MB RAM.

The Nokia XL, flaunts a relatively big 5-inch screen. It boats of 768 MB RAM, the free MicroSD card and it has both a 2 megapixel front-facing camera for Skype calls, as well as a 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and flash. The same colours are available as for the Nokia X and X+, except bright orange replaces the red with this model.

Detailed specs has been given below:
 

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

We have all had those days when we leave the house only to realise that we left the keys behind. It’s for forgetful moments like these that Nokia has come up with a brilliant use of the NFC technology.

With the launch of Treasure Tags, Nokia plan to make tags look cooler and do more. These colourful little block-like accessories come with loops which you can attach a million things to (even your dog). It all depends what you forget most often to narrow things down as they each come at price tag of almost $29.00 (1800 INR). There are basically no limits to what you can do with them.

Whether you have forgotten your keys, or lost your car in a parking lot, Treasure Tags will allow you not only find your prized possessions via a loud tone, but even locate them on HERE Maps.

As we mentioned earlier, these are not your average mindless NFC tags. Treasure Tags come with an accompanying Nokia Treasure Tag app. The app allows you to do a lot more than just remind or alert you when you drift away from something (or even someone for that matter). Every Tag comes with a user-replaceable CR-2032 coin-cell type battery which is touted to last for 6 months and can be replaced on the reverse of the tag.

The app makes it even more fun to use with Live Tile integration, displaying updates about where your tag was last seen. Obviously all tags can be given names with the help of the app, but what makes things more interesting is that you can deactivate these tags with a simple long press of a button.

One more thing that needs to be kept in mind is that your Windows Phone must have:

1. NFC technology
2. Lumia Black Update

We hope to see even more variations of these Treasure Tags like a waterproof one for example which would expand its usability.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

The Nokia X or the Normandy as it was earlier referred to has seen innumerable leaks over a last couple of months. Now after the MWC invite from Nokia, we are seeing some solid imagery — not about the phone, but maybe related to its design or purpose.

Nokia's Weibo account posted a couple of images that show one kid in monkey suit and a monkey playing with a large tree. The next image strangely shows the same tree with roots heading deep into the ground to reveal a green X in the form of a DNA chain. The last image portrays a pirate map (does not make much sense) and invites people on the 24th of February at 15:30 hrs (8:30am local time) in Barcelona, Spain.

We are guessing that the Nokia X runs non-Google version of Android, but somehow the clues simply point the other way. If you have not noticed, Nokia has already pulled-down the green cover images and logo from its social media pages. On a related note, the company's YouTube page has posted this weird green duck video. This makes things even more confusing considering that a similar duck was once used as the Symbian mascot.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

The Nokia X or Normandy has been the hottest rumour since the time the very first images of the handset leaked. We all thought that it could an addition to the Asha range, but from what we have so far, evidence points to all things green.
The Facebook images on Nokia India and Nokia (Global) have changed from the well-known Nokia (and Microsoft) Blue to a lighter shade of Green.

Well, it’s not the lime green colour which dominates the thousands of little android robots spread across the web (or your desk), but it’s a more subtle green which somehow reminds us of the invitation that Nokia sent us a while ago. There could be an eco-friendly handset under the covers or it could be Nokia’s Google-free version of Android (like the Kindle Fire). Everyone is expecting the Nokia X to be released at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week. This should be a treat for Android fans considering that this could be the beginning of what would lay the foundations for Nokia hardware merged with goodness of Android.

Whatever is in the works, it better not disappoint the hard-core Windows Phone fan base which is technically the bread and butter for the struggling company right now.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia

Thanks to multiple leaks, we weren’t surprised when Nokia announced the Lumia Icon with a sudden design refresh. The Verizon exclusive device has quite an impressive spec sheet. In fact, it's Nokia’s best hardware offering yet (for normal hands that is). Retailing for a $299 with a two year contract, the handset seems to be an all-rounder of sorts. Design-wise off course it looks reminiscent to the Lumia 928 with the addition of a metal strip running round the corners. Going by the looks, it looks quite good.

Up till now Nokia’s best hardware offering was available only on the monstrous Lumia 1520. The 6-inch device even though quite capable is not everyone's cup of tea. So that makes the Icon, the next best thing. The most impressive bit of the Icon is definitely the eye-popping 5-inch 441 ppi Full HD ClearBlack AMOLED screen which is backed by a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon (with 2 GB RAM).

The next attention grabbing feature will be the 20 megapixel 'PureView' camera that shoots at the standard two resolutions—20 megapixels and 5 MP version for sharing. It’s an f/2.4, OIS lens setup coupled with a dual LED flash that is capable of shooting 1080p videos at 30 fps. Performance as per the given set up should be great. All in all the Nokia Lumia Icon is the perfect Lumia device you cannot buy… in India (yet).

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Windows Phone, Nokia

Sources from the Wall Street Journal have news that the Finns will be releasing their rumoured Nokia X (codenamed Normandy) at the Mobile World Congress 2014. The handset will be Nokia’s first attempt at selling an Android handset.

The handset was in the rumour mill for months and has been leaked several times from a number of sources. What confuses us the most is how similar the back button is to the Asha series running the MeeGo UI. A similarity that led most of us to believe that it was indeed a MeeGo running Asha device.

WSJ sources speculate that the handset will most probably run a custom version of Android sans Google’s Play store integration placing it in the category of the Kindle Fire Tablets. What is more interesting from the screenshots, is the fact that the skin or UI has a striking similarity to the Windows Phone interface.

So we have a Nokia Android phone with a Windows Phone based UI without Play Store integration! Sounds complicated doesn’t it? Well, to keep things simplified, if this turn out to be a completely custom UI, Nokia will have to load its app store with custom apps that complement the new UI. it's supposed to be an affordable phone with dual-core Snapdragon 200 SoC, a 4-inch WVGA display, 4 GB of built-in memory, and paltry 512 MB of RAM. We just hope Nokia gets the recipe right considering that they are bringing in too many new elements into the mix.

TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Nokia