SourceCode: Roundup of Nokia Windows Phone 8 releases

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Nokia has enjoyed the distinction of being the poster child for Windows Phone 7 for the greater part of a year. Through its tight relationship with Microsoft, Nokia transitioned from pushing its own smartphones under the ageing Symbian OS to Microsoft's Windows Phone. Now it's time to see what they have in store for Windows Phone 8.

The Lumia 800, Lumia 900 and Lumia 610 were all reviewed in this space and seen as bringing something exciting to the smarpthone space. Windows Phone 8, however, effectively obsoletes the previous version with an entirely new codebase that is in lockstep with Windows 8, effectively introducing new devices and capabilities. Samsung has already fired its opening Salvo with a very impressive hero device for Windows Phone 8 in its ATIV S and HTC isn't far behind with the HTC 8S.

Nokia and Microsoft are co-operatively launching a number of devices tomorrow in New York. 

Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8 smartphone

The new Flagship Lumia device under Windows Phone 8 is the Lumia 920. It will reportedly ship with a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 1 GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (without any expansion slot),  a 4.5-inch display with a 1280×720 resolution with 326 pixels per inch. This is the next step up from what the Lumia 900 was and while no 4G LTE was yet announced, I would be very surprised if this is omitted.

The Lumia 920 will also feature an 8 megapixel PureView camera. While this is far more modest compared to the 41-megapixel behemoth PureView 808 we reviewed a few months ago, it will have advanced stabilization and imaging software features. We expect this to be among the best mobile cameras in a smartphone.

The Lumia 920 also introduces wireless inductive charging to the Windows Phone 8 line. This is a feature we first saw in 2008 with the ill-fated Palm Pre, which will allow the Lumia 920 to charge simply by setting on top of a wireless charging mat which is not so much an innovation as it is a convenience.

It is likely that Nokia will sell the charging mat as an accessory and not include it with the Lumia 920.  Gray, red and yellow are the colours that the Lumia 920 is expected to ship in. Nokia has always had a good relationship with Rogers in Canada so If I were a betting man, I'd say Rogers gets dibs on the hero device.

Lumia 820 Windows Phone 8 Smartphone

To follow up on the Lumia 800, the Lumia 820 is the mid-range model that follows the look and fee as the Lumia 920 but in a more compact size and with a wilder range of available colours.. The smaller Lumia is said to have a smaller 4.3-inch screen, the same 1.5Ghz dual core processor, 8GB storage, 1GB of RAM and expansion via a microSD card slot. The Lumia 820 is reported to have interchangeable covers like the Lumia 710. The Lumia 820 is expected to have the 8 megapixel PureView camera.

Nokia probably has more up its sleeve for its launch tomorrow.  We know that they have updated their Monster Purity headset line with the bright colours of the new Lumias so there is something of an accessories ecosystem tied in to this launch. Nokia will also have its own exclusive applications for the new devices.

Can Nokia remain at the forefront of Windows Phone 8 with truly stunning products? Or will it be challenged by the likes of Samsung and HTC as they reload new Windows Phone 8 devices based on their successful Android flagship devices. That remains to be seen.

All we know is that Windows Phone 8 is a whole new ball game in terms of hardware and software and consumers will expect only the very best devices and features going forward.  

For Nokia, Windows Phone 8 is the only game in town, failure is not an option and neither is going back to Symbian or Meego.  

The next few weeks will certainly be interesting for Windows Phone 8 and for Nokia.

Update on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 11:47AM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

So the specs from the leaks were pretty much spot on. These devices aren't slated for Canada until next year which means they are going to compete with the first BlackBerry 10 devices. If Samsung or even HTC release their first Windows Phone 8 devices before Nokia does in Canada then we will see the first real competition in the Windows Phone space. 

Update on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 12:32PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Here's Nokia's official PR on the Lumia 920 and 820.

New Nokia Lumia Range Delivers Latest PureView Camera Innovation, New Navigation Experiences and Wireless Charging on Windows Phone 8

Nokia Lumia 920 Captures Best Pictures and Video Ever Seen on a Smartphone

Espoo, Finland and New York, NY – Nokia today announced the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820, the first devices in Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 range.

The Nokia Lumia 920 is the flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, including the latest advances in Nokia PureView imaging innovation. Using advanced floating lens technology, the camera in the Nokia Lumia 920 is able to take in five times more light than competing smartphones without using flash, making it possible to capture clear, bright pictures and video indoors and at night. It also compensates for hand movement while the photo is being taken.

“Nokia PureView continues to deliver cutting-edge technology to make it possible for a smartphone camera to take the kind of images usually only seen on a standalone SLR camera,” said Jo Harlow, executive vice president of Nokia Smart Devices. “With the Nokia Lumia 920 we have made it possible to shoot pictures and video at home, outdoors, in a restaurant or even at night, and come out with professional-looking results.”

“We view imaging as a core area for differentiation in the smartphone space,” said Crawford Del Prete, Executive VP WW Products and Chief Research Officer, IDC. “Low light photography has been a weak point for smartphones. Nokia has addressed this with PureView to create real customer value. By applying its rich expertise in imaging Nokia has created a best-of-breed experience for everyday use.”

The Nokia Lumia 920 also comes with Nokia City Lens, the latest addition to the Nokia location suite. By pointing the camera at a city street, City Lens overlays information about restaurants, shops, hotels and more on the surfaces of buildings, for the most intuitive way to explore surroundings. Nokia City Lens is the start of a new augmented reality experience that also enhances Nokia Maps, making it possible to move between maps view and augmented reality view to help people check their direction and surroundings. Along with enhancements to Nokia Drive and Nokia Transport, the Nokia location suite of services represents the most comprehensive, integrated mapping experience of any smartphone.

The Nokia Lumia 920 also comes with Nokia’s largest ever battery (2000mAh) and, for the first time, built-in wireless charging for an easy, convenient way to get more out of every day.

The Nokia Lumia 820

The Nokia Lumia 820 is a stylish, mid-range smartphone that delivers high-end performance in a compact package.

While the Nokia Lumia 820 has the same unibody look and feel as the high-end Lumia smartphones, it comes with an exchangeable shell design. Exchangeable shells not only make it possible to select from a range of colors, but also to add wireless charging. Beneath the shell is room to insert a micro SD memory card.

Powered by Windows Phone 8

Windows Phone 8 provides a more personal smartphone experience, with a start screen that can be more easily rearranged to reflect individual priorities and new animated Live Tiles for real-time updates on the things that matter most. The ability to sync content between Windows Phone 8 smartphones, Windows 8-based PCs and tablets or Xbox means files, music, pictures and video can be accessed in whichever way is most convenient. With Internet Explorer 10 for faster, safer browsing and Microsoft Office apps built into the platform, Windows Phone 8 is also the easiest way for getting things done.

Wireless charging partners

Nokia also announced a range of wireless charging accessories and partnerships.  The Fatboy® Recharge Pillow provides a fun way to recharge, while JBL introduced the JBL PowerUp Wireless Charging Speaker for Nokia, a wireless charging docking station with high quality audio in retro styling.

Deals with Virgin Atlantic to put wireless charging stations in the London Heathrow and New York JFK Clubhouse Lounges and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® to offer wireless charging facilities in its cafés, were the first of many deals Nokia intends to sign to take wireless charging outside the home and office.

Availability

The Nokia Lumia 920 comes in yellow, red, grey, white and black. The Nokia Lumia 820 comes in red, yellow, grey, cyan, purple, white and black. 

Both phones will be available in global pentaband LTE and HSPA+ variants and are expected to start shipping in select markets later in the year. Nokia will announce pricing and specific roll-out dates country by country when sales are due to begin.

Product specifications

	Nokia Lumia 920	Nokia Lumia 820
Display	4.5 inch Nokia PureMotion HD+ WXGA IPS LCD Super Sensitive touch Nokia ClearBlack with high brightness mode and Sunlight Readability Enhancements	4.3 inch ClearBlack OLED WVGA 800x480 Super Sensitive touch Nokia ClearBlack with high brightness mode and Sunlight Readability Enhancements
Battery	2000mAh with integrated Qi wireless charging	1650mAh with support for Qi wireless charging
Processor	1.5GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4	1.5GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4
Main camera	8.7MP with Nokia PureView advanced optical imaging stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics Full 1080p HD video capture at 30fps	8MP Auto Focus with Carl Zeiss optics Dual LED flash Full HD 1080p video capture at 30fps
Front facing camera	1.2MP with 720p HD video	VGA
Memory	1GB RAM 32GB mass memory with 7GB free SkyDrive storage	1GB RAM 8GB mass memory with microSD memory card support and 7GB free SkyDrive storage