Nokia Lumia 810
Nokia Adds More Features to Paid Version of Nokia Music
Nokia today announced Nokia Music+, a more feature-rich version of its free Nokia Music service. Nokia Music, which is available on Lumia Windows Phones, has its own store through which tracks and albums can be purchased. It also offers streamed radio stations and personalized recommendations. Nokia Music+ goes beyond these features for those willing to pay a monthly fee for it. Nokia Music+ gives listeners unlimited skips, unlimited downloads to their phone, higher quality music streaming, access to song lyrics, and a desktop client that allows subscribers to stream music to their PC. The service will first be available in European markets in the coming weeks for €3.99 per month. Nokia Music is available in the U.S. on devices such as the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820, but Nokia has not explicitly said if Nokia Music+ will be made available in the U.S.
Nokia Puts the Final Nail in Symbian's Coffin
Nokia today confirmed that it will produce no more devices using its old Symbian smartphone platform. Buried in its fourth quarter results, Nokia said, "During our transition to Windows Phone through 2012, we continued to ship devices based on Symbian. The Nokia 808 PureView, a device which showcases our imaging capabilities and which came to market in mid-2012, was the last Symbian device from Nokia." Nokia has already sold off most of the business units related to Symbian. The company first announced its intent to switch from Symbian to Windows Phone in February 2011. It released its first Windows Phone Lumia smartphones in late 2011. Its most recent models include the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820/822. Nokia sold 4.4 million Lumia devices during the fourth quarter of 2012, 700,000 of which were sold in North America. Nokia still sold 2.2 million Symbian devices. The company recorded a profit for the first time in six quarters.
Nokia's Drive+ Beta Offered to All Windows Phones
Microsoft today announced that a beta version of Nokia's Drive+ navigation application is being made available to all Windows Phone 8 devices in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. The app had previously only been available to Nokia's Lumia-branded Windows Phones. The application features turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation, offline maps, speed limit warnings, and day and night modes. The app includes a feedback mechanism so users of the beta service can provide feedback to Microsoft and Nokia. Nokia Drive+ Beta is a free download from the Windows Phone Store.
Nokia Makes It Easier to Share Cinemagraphs
Nokia today announced an update to its Cinemagraph lens in order to improve sharing options on social networks. Since some social networks, such as Facebook, don't support animated GIFs directly, the updated Cinemagraph lens allows users to post their GIF to Nokia's servers. They can then provide a link to the GIF in a social media post, email, or other message. When message recipients or others click on the link, they'll be taken to Nokia's servers, which will display the animated picture in their browser. The update is free for Nokia's Lumia Windows Phone devices.
Sprint Says It Will Launch Windows Phone 8 in 2013
Sprint has indicated that it will get behind Microsoft's latest smartphone platform next year. "Sprint and Microsoft are partnering to bring Windows Phone 8 to Sprint's customers — operating on its 4G LTE network — next year," said the company in a statement provided to PCMag. Sprint has repeatedly said it would not participate in the WP8 launch this year and was taking a wait-and-see approach to the new platform. This represents a change in its stance regarding Windows Phone. It hasn't offered a Windows Phone device since the HTC Arrive, which launched in January 2011. Sprint didn't say which WP8 devices it might offer, nor when in 2013 it would offer them. Meanwhile, AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless have all commenced sales of WP8 handsets, including the HTC 8X, Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 810, in the last week.
Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 Hit AT&T Stores November 9
AT&T today announced that both the Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 will be available online and in stores beginning November 9. Preorders for both phones start November 7. The Lumia 920 will cost $99.99 with a new two-year contract and the Lumia 820 will cost $49.99 with a new two-year contract. The 920 will be available in red, white, black, yellow and cyan, while the 820 will only be available in black. The 820, however, has interchangeable battery covers that are available in different colors. The covers are sold separately. Both the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 run Windows Phone 8 and come with a number of applications that are exclusive to Nokia devices, including Nokia Drive, Nokia City Lens, and Nokia Music. For a limited time (while supplies last), AT&T will also include a wireless charging plate for free with each purchase of a Lumia 920.
Exclusive Samsung ATIV Odyssey Teased for Verizon
Microsoft today announced that Verizon Wireless will offer a number of Windows Phone 8 devices. One of them, the Samsung ATIV Odyssey, has not yet been announced, but will be an exclusive to Verizon Wireless. Microsoft didn't provide any details about the Odyssey, but said it will be available by December. The Nokia Lumia 822 and the HTC Windows Phone 8X will be available before Thanksgiving at $99 and $199, respectively.
Hands-On: Nokia Lumia 810 for T-Mobile
T-Mobile had the Lumia 810 available for Phone Scoop to take a gander at. This Windows Phone is big, blue, and brawny.
New Nokia Lumia 810 Will Be T-Mobile Exclusive
Nokia and T-Mobile USA today announced the Nokia Lumia 810, a Windows Phone 8 device that will be exclusive to T-Mobile. The 810 is mostly similar to the already-announced Lumia 820, but lacks LTE data. The phone sports a 4.3-inch OLED display with Nokia's ClearBlack technology. User-changeable shells in cyan and black will allow the phone to support wireless charging. The main camera will be 8-megapixel with a Carl Zeiss lens. A front camera will support Skype HD. The camera supports a number of unique Nokia software functions, including an animated GIF creator, and Group Shot, which takes a series of photos and automatically merges the best version of each person. The phone also sports a 1.5-GHz Snapdragon processor, NFC, and 8 GB of memory plus a memory card slot. The 810 also comes with Nokia's exclusive navigation software, including City Lens, Nokia Drive, and Nokia Transit. The 810 will be available "in the coming weeks." Pricing was not announced.
