Nokia Lumia 1520
AT&T Pushing Demin Update to Lumia 1520
AT&T today made the Denim system update available to the Nokia Lumia 1520. The update makes numerous changes to the behavior of the camera, including a faster shutter and 4K video capture, and also adds Live Folders and an updated Glance screen. According to Microsoft, Lumia 1520 owners need to have 1GB of free internal storage in order to install the update, which can be downloaded and installed via WiFi. The update is free.
AT&T Debuts Green Lumia 1520 with Windows Phone 8.1
AT&T today added a bright green option to its lineup of Lumia 1520s. The green 1520 ships with Windows Phone 8.1 preinstalled, which is the latest version of Windows Phone and includes Cortana. AT&T is offering the green 1520 for $24.28 per month with AT&T Next 18 or $29.95 per month with Next 12. Alternately, the 1520 costs $200 with a new two-year contract or $585 at full retail. The red, black, yellow, and white versions are also available.
Nokia Rolling Out Windows Phone 8.1 To Lumias
Nokia today began rolling out automatic updates to Windows Phone 8.1 for all Lumia devices that currently have Windows Phone 8. The update includes all new Windows Phone 8.1 features from Microsoft, plus several new enhancements specific to Lumia devices. Lumia devices will gain updated Nokia Camera apps, plus Nokia Device Hub, which intelligently tracks accessories used with the device. The Lumia 1520 and Icon phones will gain Nokia Rich Recording and Dolby surround sound video capture, plus Screen Share. Standard Windows Phone 8.1 features include a more customizable home screen, Action Center quick settings, Wi-Fi Sense for automatically connecting to free hotspots, and the Cortana voice assistant. The update will roll out to all eligible devices "in the coming weeks."
Nokia Camera App Updated with New Features
Microsoft has released a new version of the Nokia Camera application for its Lumia-branded smartphones. The revised app carries over several features previously seen in the beta version, including continuous autofocus for faster focusing. The app also adds surround sound in video capture mode; revises the camera roll, which now supports inline playback of videos, cinemagraphs, smart sequences, and Refocus images; and integrates more tightly with Creative Studio and Nokia Video Trimmer for editing photos and videos. Last, the app includes support for Living Images, which adds motion to photos when viewed in the camera roll and Nokia Storyteller. Nokia Camera is free to download, but requires Windows Phone 8/8.1 and the Cyan system update. The continuous focus and Living Images features are limited to the Lumia Icon, 1520, and 930.
AT&T Makes 32GB Nokia Lumia 1520 Available
AT&T has added a 32GB variant of the Nokia Lumia 1520 to its online store. The device was previously only available with 16GB of internal storage. The 32GB version costs $249.99 with a new contract.
AT&T Pushing Updates to Nokia Lumia 1020 and 1520
AT&T today made system updates available to both the Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Lumia 1520. The 1020, in particular, is receiving the Nokia Black update, which provides a number of new features and performance improvements. The update adds the ability to lock the screen rotation, set custom email/messaging ringtones, and more easily close apps in the app switcher. The update allows 1020 owners to download the combined Nokia Smart Camera and Nokia Pro Camera app, and adds the latest version of the Nokia Glance Screen, which displays the time and select notifications. Nokia Black bumps the 1020's Bluetooth radio up to Bluetooth 4.0 LE, and makes general improvements to the battery and system stability. The update for the Lumia 1520 appears to only fix bugs. Both require Wi-Fi, but can be pulled down manually via the system settings.
Nokia Relaunches MixRadio Music App and Service
Nokia today published a new version of its music application and rebranded the service Nokia MixRadio. MixRadio builds on the Nokia Music service, which lets users create radio stations and stream music to their Lumia smartphones. More than 18 million tracks are available and Nokia has 150 curated radio stations, all of which can be streamed for free. The application was updated with a number of new features including Play Me, a personalized mix inspired by each user's music profile; thumbs up/down ratings to help users refine their profile; and the ability to share mixes through Facebook, Twitter, email, and SMS. Premium features, such as unlimited downloads to devices, require a $3.99 per month subscription. The new app can be downloaded from the Windows Phone Store.
Nokia Camera App Update Brings RAW Support
Nokia today said that an update is available for its Nokia Camera application that adds support for RAW imaging. The feature was first announced last month and is available only to the Nokia Lumia 1520 at the moment. RAW imaging support will be available to the Lumia 1020 in early 2014, bundled together with the Lumia Black system update. Once 1520 owners download the Nokia Camera update, they'll have to select the DNG capture mode in the settings tools. Nokia warns that RAW image files will be much larger than standard JPEGs. Windows device owners can use the Windows Explorer desktop tool to download RAW images, but Mac users will need to download the latest version of the Nokia Photo Transfer app. The photo app was recently updated to support RAW files. Nokia Camera is free to download for Lumia smartphones.
Nokia Lumia 1520 Available for Preorder from AT&T
AT&T today began accepting orders for the Nokia Lumia 1520. According to AT&T, the device will ship to those who preorder it on November 19. It will reach AT&T retail stores November 22. Earlier this week, Microsoft said the release date would be November 15. AT&T is charging $199.99 for the 1520 when purchased with a new contract. The 1520, which has a 6-inch full HD display and 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, runs Windows Phone 8.1 and features a 20-megapixel PureView camera. AT&T is offering a $20 gift card to the Windows Phone Store, which can be used to purchase apps and games. AT&T is also offering 50GB of storage in its cloud-based AT&T Locker service.
Microsoft to Sell Nokia Lumia 1520 Nov. 15 for $199
Microsoft is now accepting preorders for the Nokia Lumia 1520 smartphone. The 1520, which has a 6-inch full HD display and 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, costs $199.99 when purchased with an AT&T contract or $549.99 without a contract. Orders placed through Microsoft's online store will ship November 15. It comes in black, white, red, or yellow. AT&T itself has yet to announce release details for the 1520.
Nokia Adding RAW Support and Refocusing to Top Phones
Nokia today announced new imaging features for its high-end Lumia smartphones with PureView cameras, including the Lumia 1520 and the Lumia 1020. First, Nokia is adding support for RAW image files. RAW files are unprocessed and act like digital negatives. They can be used to create a wider range of final images. Second, Nokia announced a feature called Refocus. Refocus is similar to Lytro in that it allows owners to adjust the focal point in an image after the picture has been taken. RAW image support and Refocus will be distributed to the 1520 and 1020 in November.
Nokia Debuts Lumia 1520 with 6-Inch HD Screen
Nokia today announced the Lumia 1520, a device that is the first to take advantage of new features built into Windows Phone, including a high-definition display and quad-core processor. The 1520 boasts a 6-inch full HD ClearBlack LCD with Gorilla Glass 2, sunlight mode, and high sensitivity for use with gloves. The latest version of Windows Phone supports a third column on the screen, which means owners of the 1520 will be able to add more content and Live Tiles to their home screen. The 1520 is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, and comes with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and support for microSD cards up to 64GB. The 1520 takes imaging seriously and includes a 20-megapixel PureView camera with dual LED flash, Carl Zeiss optics, lossless zoom, and optical image stabilization. Nokia's custom camera software is on board, which has been updated so that accessing the various shooting modes is easier. The 1520 has a 1.2-megapixel wide-angle, user-facing camera and Storyteller, a new app that automatically creates a chronological picture journey based on time/location data stored in photos. The 1520 is widely compatible with wireless networks, supporting dual-carrier HSPA+ at 42Mbps and LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 7, and 17 in the U.S. Dual-band Wi-Fi, GPS/GLONASS, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, and a bevy of sensors are on board, as is an integrated 3,400mAh battery. The Nokia Lumia 1520 is expected to reach the U.S. and other markets during the fourth quarter of the year. The 1520 carries a full retail price of $749. AT&T said that it will offer the 1520 later this year. Nokia also announced the Lumia 1320, which is similar to the 1520, but dials down the specs. For example, the screen measures 6 inches, but offers only 720p resolution. The camera is also of lower quality. It will be sold for $339 in select world markets. Nokia also added three more devices to its Asha portfolio, the 500, 502, and 503. Nokia's Asha devices straddle the line between smartphone and feature phone, offering advanced features at price points that are friendly to their emerging market targets.
Nokia Creates More Custom Apps for Its Lumia Phones
Nokia today announced several new applications that will appear on devices such as the Lumia 2520 and Lumia 1520. The new apps are meant to make the most of Windows Phone 8 Release 3 and the new hardware revealed by Nokia. Nokia Video Director, which is only being offered to the Lumia 2520 tablet for the time being, lets owners create, edit, and share customized videos. Nokia Beamer is a sharing tool that can be used to project the content from a Lumia smartphone screen to any HTML5 enabled screen. According to Nokia, this includes documents, maps, location details, and the camera viewfinder. Last, Nokia's Storyteller app automatically pairs pictures from the phone with HERE location data and creates a chronological picture journey on a map. Nokia Beamer and Storyteller will be preloaded on the Lumia 1520 and 2520. Nokia didn't say if or when these apps might be made available to older Lumia devices.
Nokia Says Instagram Coming to Windows Phone in 'Weeks'
Nokia today announced that a handful of popular applications will soon be available to the Windows Phone platform, including Instagram. Instagram is a photo-sharing service that is widely used on Android and iOS devices that has until now been unavailable to Windows Phone. Nokia did not provide an exact timing on its release. Some of the other apps headed to Windows Phone devices include Flipboard and Vine, Papyrus and Temple Run 2, and ESPN F1 and XBox Video. Many of these apps will be updated with support for high-resolution screens, such as that of the Lumia 1520, and will be able to take advantage of the third column on the home screen. The applications will become available over the course of the next few weeks.
