Nokia

Nokia Lumia 920 camera vs. HTC Windows Phone 8X vs. iPhone 5

Nokia has trumpeted the ability of its Nokia Lumia 920's 8.7-megapixel camera with image stabilization, low-light enhancements, and PureView algorithms. Photo quality was strong and fairly consistent, though photos had a blue cast to them and the Lumia 920 had problems with contrast and absolute sharpness compared with the others.

In the meantime, HTC's 8-megapixel Windows Phone 8X took some pretty nice photos as well, though there was more swing between the highs and lows. For its part, the 8-megapixel iPhone 5 won some and lost some, but retained the most consistent.

Don't just take my … Read more

Nokia not blocking multiple users on Android phones

Nokia says it's not preventing Google from rolling out multiuser features for phones despite a report suggesting it was playing spoiler for the latest version of Android.

Earlier this week, TechCrunch speculated that Google isn't including multiple account functionality on Android for phones because Nokia already owns the patent for that capability. Nokia has told CNET that wasn't the case.

Nokia had filed for such a patent, but it abandoned its efforts several years ago.

"Though we did indeed file the patent application which has been cited in some of the coverage, we determined some time … Read more

Rumor Has It: Google to send you a couple cold beers?

On this week's show, we investigate the logic behind the rumor of Google's delivery ambitions. We know Google had ventured far afield from its core search functionality in the past (cough, Android, cough, Google Wave, cough driverless cars) but it's hard to see how Google could invade the shopping/delivery sphere. It doesn't have any warehouses, delivery trucks, or even, to be perfectly frank, any products to sell. But those concerns may be missing the point.

We also go over the reports that Apple's now-former iOS chief Scott Forstall lost his job because his mama … Read more

Blame Nokia? Multiuser accounts a no-go on Android phones

Nokia may be to blame for limitations on multiple user accounts in Google's latest Android update, according to a report.

Google yesterday unveiled Android 4.2, an updated version of Jelly Bean that will come preinstalled on the company's new line of Nexus devices. One of the big features of the OS is the ability to add multiple user accounts. However, it will only work on tablets, and TechCrunch is speculating that's because Nokia owns the patents for such a feature on phones.

However, Nokia says it actually abandoned its application for such a patent several years … Read more

Apple, Google and Amazon wage war of pixels

It was there this month in Apple's announcement of the iPad Mini, in Google's marketing of the Nexus 10 tablet, and in an advertisement on Amazon's home page promoting the Kindle Fire HD.

Pixels per inch -- the simple measure of a device's screen resolution -- now trumps many other metrics in a device's product marketing. In a world where nearly everything has become a rectangular square of glass, the quality of the display on that glass has risen to the top of device makers' priority list.

Google has made the screen of the Nexus … Read more

For holidays, T-Mobile goes big on Android and Windows Phone 8

Hurricane Sandy forced T-Mobile to cancel a Holiday Showcase event planned for New York City today, but the storm didn't prevent the carrier from announcing its 2012 product lineup for the holiday season. The iPhone is absent, of course, but T-Mobile will deliver a strong lineup of Android and Windows Phone 8 tablets and smartphones. As you'd expect from the carrier, some devices, like the LG Optimus L9 and Nokia Lumia 810, are decidedly midrange. Yet, other handsets, like the HTC Windows Phone 8X and new LG Nexus 5 are top of the line.

Here's the skinny … Read more

Will Windows 8 bring Windows Phone into focus?

After months of teasing, Windows Phone 8 finally takes center stage. Whether Microsoft's mobile efforts will have some staying power or be doomed to a short run still remains to be seen.

Just days after the large, splashy launch of Windows 8 in Manhattan, Microsoft is holding a similar event for its Windows Phone 8 platform. Also on hand were key partners, such as HTC, Nokia, and Samsung Electronics, which all had phones ready to show off.

At stake for Microsoft is its future in the world of technology and consumer electronics. While the traditional Windows software remains the … Read more

Windows Phone 8 trio hitting Verizon for the holidays

Microsoft is getting a little cozier with Verizon, saying the nation's biggest carrier will offer three Windows Phone 8 devices for the coming holiday season.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, speaking during an event today, said Verizon will be offering the Nokia Lumia 822, and that the 8X by HTC will ship by Thanksgiving. Verizon also will offer the Samsung ATIV Odyssey in December.

The 8X will retail at $199 for 16 GB, while the Lumia 822 will sell for $99.

Meanwhile, AT&T will be selling the Lumia 820, Lumia 920, and Windows Phone 8X, while T-Mobile will … Read more

Verizon becomes sole home to Nokia Lumia 822

Nokia and Verizon have teamed up on an upcoming product launch.

The companies announced today that Verizon will carry the Nokia Lumia 822. The Windows Phone 8-based handset comes with a 4.3-inch display and the Snapdragon S4 processor. According to Nokia, users will have 11.7 hours of talk time and 62.1 hours of music playback time.

The Lumia 822 will work on Verizon's 4G LTE network and come with Nokia's Drive+ for turn-by-turn navigation. The handset will sell for $99 with a two-year contract.

Neither Nokia nor Verizon said exactly when the handset might … Read more