Main menu

Nov

Nokia Launches Here Maps For iPhone, iPad

Posted by Joe Rossignol at 8:15 am

Nokia today released Here on the App Store, bringing its highly renowned mapping solution to the iPhone and iPad for free. Here features everything that you’ve been missing in Apple’s lackluster Maps app in iOS 6, plus more, such as public transportation and live traffic views, community maps, search history and suggestions, step-by-step guided walk navigation and integrated sharing functionality. Apple is still working to improve its own mapping solution, so this new alternative by Nokia might be the next best option in the meantime.

HERE Maps helps you feel like a local anywhere you go. See where you are, search and discover nearby places, and get a feel for the place. Collect places to remember or for later discovery. Explore new destinations and know instantly how to get there on foot, by car or on public transport. HERE Maps is based on the world-class NAVTEQ mapping data used in 90% of in-car navigation systems in the world.

[App Store via The Next Web]

Nov

Android and Samsung Remain at Top of Smartphone Industry

Posted by Joe Rossignol at 7:00 am

The latest numbers from Gartner are in for the third quarter in the mobile space, with Android and Samsung continue to leading the way as the top mobile operating system and handset maker respectively. Android was the platform of choice for a staggering 72.4 percent of worldwide mobile device sales in the third quarter, while the iPhone only accounted for a much smaller 13.9 percent of the market share. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion secured a third place finish with a 5.3 percent stake, while Bada and Symbian rounded out the top five with 3 percent and 2.6 percent marks respectively.

For worldwide mobile device sales by vendor, Samsung took the crown with just under 98 million units sold; however, that number accounts for both regular mobile phones and smartphones. Regardless, that high volume was good enough for the South Korean corporation to capture a leading 22.9 percent share of the market. Nokia followed suit with 82 million units shipped in the third quarter, accounting for 19.2 percent of the market. Apple took home bronze with 23.5 million iPhone units sold, good enough for a 5.5 percent stake.

For Apple in particular, the launch of its new iPhone 5 in late September hampered its overall sales during the third quarter. Many consumers understand that Apple routinely introduces a new iPhone model annually, as the Cupertino-based company confirmed itself in a recent keynote, and that more than likely contributed to reduced iPhone 4S sales during the three month period. It’s also important to note that Microsoft has made marginal gains through its handset partners Nokia and HTC, but sales during the holiday shopping season should show if Windows Phone is actually a legitimate competitor.

[Gartner via TechCrunch]

Nov

Nokia Maps Coming to iPhone and Android

Nokia Maps Coming to iPhone and Android

Posted by Joe Rossignol at 12:15 pm

Brian Chen for The New York Times writes:

[Nokia] said on Tuesday that in the coming weeks it would release a maps app called Here in Apple’s App Store. It will be a free download for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch owners. Nokia also said it would release a toolkit for programmers to make Nokia-powered mapping apps for Android phones. And it is forming a partnership with Mozilla, the browser company, to develop location features for its new operating system, called Firefox OS.

This is an interesting move by Nokia. The once dominant Finnish handset maker has been struggling to maintain relevancy in the mobile space, and perhaps launching its own maps service for iOS following the poor rollout of Apple’s own mapping solution might be a good move. Moreover, expanding to Android and Mozilla’s new Firefox OS could also serve as two strong partnerships for Nokia.

Oct

Lumia 920 Launching With AT&T on November 11th

Lumia 920 Launching With AT&T on November 11th

Posted by Joe Rossignol at 9:52 am

Jonathan Geller for BGR writes:

BGR has confirmed with multiple sources that AT&T (T) currently is planning to launch the much-awaited Nokia (NOK) Lumia 920 with Windows Phone 8 on November 11th. The Lumia 920 will be also be offered in three colors at AT&T retail stores. BGR initially reported that the Lumia 920 would launch today, but it looks like the marketing was a little off.

With all the hype surrounding Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface, it’s important to remember that Windows Phone 8 could also be a game-changer for Microsoft.

Oct

AT&T Expanding Windows Phone 8 Lineup By Launching Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 Next Month

Posted by Joe Rossignol at 8:15 am

AT&T announced today that it will be adding the Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 smartphones to its network in November. The devices both run the new Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system, with AT&T noting that it has sold more Windows Phone devices than any other carrier. The Nokia Lumia 920 features a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 4.5-inch touchscreen display, 4G LTE, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera that records 1080p HD video, a front-facing camera that records in 720p HD, wireless charging, augmented reality for maps and more. The Lumia 820 is almost equally as impressive. (more…)

Oct

Nokia Mocks iPhone 5 For Lack of Color Choices

Posted by Joe Rossignol at 8:07 pm

Rather than touting the features of its flagship Lumia 920 smartphone, declining handset maker Nokia has slammed the iPhone 5 for its lack of color choices in a new TV advertisement. I’m sorry, but black or white looks gorgeous on both cars and iPhones. Just like Samsung and Motorola, Nokia needs to learn to create effective advertising campaigns that promote features of its own smartphones instead of looking for things that the iPhone lacks. Watch the ad just ahead. (more…)

Sep

Nokia Announces Lumia 820 and 920, Motorola Introduces the Razr HD, Razr HD Maxx, and Razr M

Posted by Jonathan Kizer at 3:38 pm

Even as everyone gears up for the iPhone 5, Motorola and Nokia have revealed their respective hands.

Nokia, now the premier Windows Phone manufacturer thanks to various deals with Microsoft, showed off two new devices today. The Lumia 920 is the flagship device, featuring a 4.5 inch 768-by-1280 resolution display, a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm S4 chip, 2,000 mAh battery, Windows Phone 8, and an improved “PureView” camera. The device itself is interesting in that it features updated and current specs, which the original Lumia 900 was criticized over just a few months ago when it was released on AT&T. The Lumia 820 is the “midrange” (though not really) device, featuring a 4.3 inch WVGA display, the same SoC and 1GB of RAM as the 920, and a 1650 mAh battery – quite a nice little package. Both devices feature a new touchscreen, which allows for use even with gloves on. They also both possess the ability to be charged wirelessly, through inductive charging via a charging station. Unfortunately, neither device was announced with price or shipping date: all Nokia would say was Q4 2012. Makes sense, considering that Windows Phone 8 hasn’t even officially launched.

On the Motorola (and really, I mean Google) side, the Razr HD, Razr HD Maxx, and the Razr M made their official appearance. The Razr HD and Razr HD Maxx both feature a 4.7 inch 720p display, though both make use of the pentile arrangement of pixels. Other specs include a Snapdragon S4, That results in slightly less than stellar clarity, though it certainly isn’t a dealbreaker at such a high resolution. The Maxx has a 3,300 mAh battery – gigantic for a smartphone. However, they both are fairly equal in thickness in the hand, with the Maxx feeling heavier. The Razr M is the medium-range device, with a 4.3 inch screen at 960-by-540: certainly no slouch, but also not a juggernaut by today’s standards. Like Nokia, Motoroogle declined to comment on when the Razr HD and HD Maxx would be available. However, the Razr M is available for $99.99, and is on preorder today.

Aug

Nokia Tells Samsung to ‘Take Note’ of Next-Generation Lumia Coming Soon

Posted by Joe Rossignol at 9:45 am

Nokia must think its next-generation Lumia smartphone is going to be really good, because its Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chris Weber has warned Samsung to “take note” that the handset is coming soon. Nokia is set to host an event with Microsoft in early September to talk about Windows Phone 8, which could prove as an opportunity for the Finnish handset maker to launch its new Lumia smartphone.

The Nokia Lumia 900, which runs Windows Phone 7, did score fairly well in reviews, but it has not necessarily been a smash hit with consumers unlike Samsung’s new Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note devices or Apple’s iPhone lineup. It’s tough to take Nokia seriously when the Lumia 900 was claimed to be the “next big thing” that would even outsell the iPhone. We’re still waiting on that to happen. It’s nowhere even near iPhone sales numbers.

[BGR]

Aug

Nokia and Microsoft to Host a September 5th Media Event about Windows Phone 8

Posted by Jonathan Kizer at 4:16 pm

After the initial announcement of Windows Phone 8, many questions were left unanswered. Most importantly, what hardware would act as the flagship device for Microsoft’s brand new (architecturally speaking) mobile OS? That question, and hopefully many others, will be answered just a week before Apple is rumored to announce their next-generation iPhone.

Microsoft and Nokia have issued an invitation to the relevant media, inviting them to a New York City event where, according to the rumor mill, Nokia will show off its next-generation hardware. This hardware will likely feature a dual-core processor (feel the power), and will ship with Windows Phone 8. It will, therefore, have all the improvements Microsoft’s new OS feature, including the Windows NT core, a new Start screen, Nokia’s mapping application and technologies, and further improvements for developers.

Regardless, the hardware is sure to be worth looking at, as Nokia’s Lumia hardware has a unique design language that is universally hailed as being great in the hand. Unfortunately, the OS has always been the Achilles’ heel, lagging behind in functionality but trying to hide behind its pretty face. Windows Phone 8 hopes to change this, and the first step happens with the upcoming event.

[Techcrunch]