Pictures in pictures: Nokia demoes the Lumia 1020's snapping prowess

Get creative with Lumia 1020 shots

By now you've heard of the Nokia Lumia 1020. OK, to be sure you really heard about it days ago when the first of many leaks started dripping for the new Windows Phone 8 handset.

Tips and slips aside, Nokia officially unveiled the camera that packs a 41MP camera sensor in its rear today, leaning heavily on same said snapper tech.

The Pureview camera packs a world of picture punch, including a Carl Zeiss lens and Xenon flash. Thirty-eight mega-pixels do the work of take a picture for saving and editing, while a 5MP image is also shot for social sharing. Optical image stabilization is achieved with internal ball bearings and motors, believe it or not.

There's a dedicated Pro Camera app on board as well, giving users access to a wider range of settings not available on other WP8 handsets. Lumia 1020 owners will be able to control things like exposure and white balance while also manually controlling the focus.

There's good news for owners of already-released Lumias too: The 920, 925 and 928 are all due to get the Pro app, though the phones will require an update to the latest Amber software.

But how do pictures actually look taken with the 1020's biggest selling point? Nokia posted a few snaps online to highlight its functions, which we've included below.

Pose for your class pictures

Users should find a welcome ease of use when it comes to manual focus - it was our favorite when we tested out the phone - and it's quite easy to choose the focal length of your image thanks to a sliding camera button.

Batter up

The image quality is rather remarkable, considering we're working with a smartphone here. Granted, it's a $299.99 (about £199, AU$327) smartphone, but still..

The world through a Pureview lens

Zooming was a big focus of the phone's press event today, and Nokia CEO Stephen Elop showed just how close a viewer could get to an the ground, literally, with an image taken from on high.

'Hello down there!'

If you decide to take some pics from a helicopter with your Lumia 1020, be sure to hold on tight.

Low light photography is also supposed to be up the 1020's alley, and Nokia provided a few grabs to demo how well photogs can not only capture detail with little illumination, but also with little blur.

Nokia provided a flash comparison during its press conference

And here's two from presumably real life, though we'd bet $5 those girls at the railing are posing with 1020s:

Our friends are always jumping in bars, too!

Not bad for a phone

Finally, to show all the fun you can have messing with the 1020's camera settings, Nokia included Mr. Jumpy in a mini-laser light show.

Long exposure

Smashing?

From what we've seen so far, the Lumia 1020's camera is very impressive, though certainly not perfect.

We found lag in the time it took to take and save images instantly when we went hands on with the device, and the fact that the three camera apps - Pro Camera, Cinemagraph and Smart Camera - are indeed three separate camera apps is annoying.

Stay tuned for our full review to get a complete assessment of all things Lumia 1020, including just how its image taker really fairs when we put it through the TechRadar paces.

• We've got some opinions on the Lumia 1020 already formed, in case you're interested.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/pictures-in-pictures-nokia-demoes-the-lumia-1020-s-snapping-prowess-1165325

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O2 customers can join the London Underground free Wi-Fi conga... NOW!

O2 gets its act together with free tube Wi-Fi

O2 subscribers can now enjoy the blessings (or curses) of free Wi-Fi on the London Underground after the company opened up access to Virgin Media's network on Thursday.

The roll-out had been expected in June, but earlier this month O2 announced it would be delayed until July 22 while more tests took place.

So, despite being later scheduled, it's earlier than expected, if that makes sense and access is now available to O2 users at 121 stations and platforms around the capital.

To jump on board, subscribers will need to download the O2 Wi-Fi application for iOS and Android and sign in. Each time they enter a Wi-Fi enabled area of the stations they'll be automatically logged in.

Last bastion of freedom?

Virgin initially set-up its underground Wi-Fi network to assist visitors to London during the 2012 Olympic Games, offering free access to all at that time.

As the free period began to wind down, rival networks agreed deals with Virgin to keep the access gratis for their customers. O2 joins Vodafone and EE, both of which had already sealed agreements with Virgin last November.

The arrival of Wi-Fi on the tube has split opinion since its initial roll-out last spring. Some enjoy the extra connectivity, while others viewed a tube journey as the last bastion of freedom from work emails and annoying social networking feeds.

If you're stuck at Baker Street on your way to work on Friday morning, let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/o2-customers-can-join-the-london-underground-free-wi-fi-conga-now--1165281

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Microsoft altered WP8 to accommodate Lumia 1020's 41MP camera

The Lumia 1020 combines the best of Lumia with Nokia's PureView camera

Given today's highly anticipated reveal of the Nokia Lumia 1020, both Microsoft and Nokia have plenty to say about the smartphone with the 41-megapixel camera.

For one thing, Microsoft made some changes to Windows Phone 8 to accommodate the extra-powerful snapper, Windows Phone Vice President Joe Belfiore and Nokia Vice President Kevin Shields said in a discussion on the Windows Blog.

Shields said that the OS "played a critical role" in the creation of the Lumia 1020.

"It's easy to get fixated on this one feature - this terrific 41-megapixel sensor that we're shipping - but there was a lot of unseen work on the Windows Phone side that went into it: plumbing and UI changes to bring out the best of that component and make the camera experience possible," he said. "Our collaboration with Microsoft was super important to making the Lumia 1020 the great product that it is."

Sharing is caring

"Our goal is to work with our partners as if we were a single organization, designing hardware and software together," Microsoft's Belfiore said.

"Nokia came to us with the idea for building this amazing camera, and we had to find the right ways to improve the platform so they could deliver the best imaging experience on any phone, anywhere," he added.

Microsoft improved the zoom capability in its photo viewer and made other changes that the two execs say are "under the covers" but nonetheless vital.

Belfiore also influenced the development of Nokia's Pro Camera app, which is meant to replicate features found on high-end cameras, and he said that he wrote more than ten pages of feedback for Nokia during development.

But can it beat a DSLR?

Shields also answered another burning question of ours: how is the Lumia 1020 different from Nokia's 808 PureView, a Symbian phone with a 41-megapixel camera that launched in 2012?

He said the Lumia 1020 is a combination of Nokia's past successes; it combines the 808's large sensor with the image stabilization of the Lumia 920.

He added that high-quality DSLR digital cameras, while they may match or surpass the 1020 in some ways, lack the processing power of the Windows Phone.

• Not sure how you feel about the Lumia 1020? Here's how TechRadar reacted to the announcement.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/microsoft-altered-wp8-to-accommodate-lumia-1020-s-41mp-camera-1165271

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Hands on: Nokia Lumia 1020 review

We check out the simply astounding camera on the new Lumia 1020… but does it forgive Windows Phone 8?

There's no doubt that Nokia knows how to make a phone, and with the 41MP sensor on the Lumia 1020, we're pretty excited.

There's a new level of RAM inside, a decent 32GB of memory (with larger sizes on the way) and the whole device has been slimmed down to an almost impossible level when you consider how much technology has been packed in.

There's the obvious elephant in the room: it's still running Windows Phone 8, which many will see as a negative, thanks to a lack of apps and power compared to its counterparts.

It's a notion that's a little unfair, given that while it does have a processor that graced handsets from last year, Nokia and Microsoft have put a lot of effort into making an OS that plays well with a CPU without requiring the heavy lifting of a quad core option.

It still struggles when taking pictures and saving them instantly, but the time isn't horrendous and seems in keeping with what you'd expect when making photos of around 15MB.

We'll be posting more photos and thoughts on the Nokia Lumia 1020 in the near future, so stay tuned to see if we love, loathe or are thoroughly nonplussed by Nokia's new flagship device.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-1020-1165253/review

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Nokia CEO plugs 'next major launch' for later this year

Photo Elop

We knew the Lumia 1020 was on its way as it was the phone world's worst kept secret, but CEO Stephen Elop left us with word that we're due for a new Nokia product later this year.

During the Q&A following the 1020 press event, Elop casually let drop that the company has more to show during its "next major launch later this year."

"Major" is worth noting as this won't be a simple refresh and we should expect another destination shindig such as we have for the Lumia 1020.

We'll of course keep an eye out for more on whatever this product holds, and if the leaks leading up to the new Lumia's launch are any indication, we'll have plenty to go by pre-announcement.

What could it be??

Nokia's unleashed a veritable army of Lumia's as of late, among them the Lumia 920, 925 and 928.

We've been told by Microsoft that there's no real fear of over saturating the market with Windows Phone 8 devices, and with Nokia's steadfast (some would say stubborn) commitment to the platform, we're surely in for more.

But with a recent set of images purportedly showing the long-expected Lumia tablet, perhaps Nokia will decide it's time to do and show something different?

• Read on about the special grip you can buy to make your Lumia 1020 even more picture-friendly

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-ceo-plugs-next-major-launch-for-later-this-year-1165243

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Nokia Lumia 1020 now official, 41MP OIS camera in tow

After an unprecedented amount of leaks, Stephen Elop took the stage at the Nokia Zoom Reinvented event in New York to proudly announce the Nokia Lumia 1020 - the company's new Windows Phone 8 cameraphone flagship.

The Nokia Lumia 1020's centerpiece is the 41MP autofocus PureView camera with a huge (by smartphone standards) 1/1.2" BSI sensor, 6-lens ZEISS optics and optical image stabilization. It is coupled with LED flash used for video shooting and a proper xenon flash.

The Lumia 1020's optically stabilized 41MP image sensor that can snap 40MP and 5MP photos at the same time – one straight off the sensor and one after Nokia's Super sampling has been applied. The other 41MP cameraphone - 808 PureView can only shoot one or the other at a time.

To make the best out of this beast of a camera, the Nokia ships the Lumia 1020 with its Pro Camera and Smart Camera camera lens apps. They'll allow advanced users fiddle with the camera settings and get the most out of the impressive shooter - there's even a full manual mode, which is a rarity outside prosumer or pro-grade cameras. At the front, there's a secondary 1.2MP wide-angle camera.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 in black

Nokia Lumia 1020 can capture videos of up to 1080p resolution and thanks to the high-res sensor it features lossless zoom. You can zoom in up to 3 times in 1080p mode and up to 6 times when shooting 720p video without sacrificing much in terms of quality. Sound is recorded in stereo and is guaranteed to be crisp and deep thanks to the two wide dynamic range microphones on board.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 internals don't bring many surprises as the smartphone is powered by the same Snapdragon S4 chipset with a 1.5GHz dual-core Krait CPU as the Nokia Lumia 925. A nice addition is the 2GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage. As usual, Nokia and Microsoft have teamed up and provide 7GB of free SkyDrive storage.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 in yellow

You'll be able to admire the beautiful photos taken with the 41MP camera on the 4.5" Clear Black AMOLED display of 1280 x 768 pixels resolution. It is protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and features Nokia's PureMotion HD+ technology for smoother animations. Super Sensitive Touch technology is present, too, allowing you to operate the phone with gloves and nails. Nokia Glance Screen is available thanks to the Windows Phone 8 Amber update.

Local Connectivity is standard and includes Bluetooth 3.0, NFC (featuring SIM-based security), dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and GPS with Glonass support. Network support is quite wide covered with quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 42Mbps UMTS/HSPA and LTE support.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 in white

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is powered by a 2000mAh capacity and supports wireless charging via an accessory cover (purchased separately). The Finns say the phone will be able to last 16 days on standby and provide 13.3 hours of talk time. Video and music playback endurance are rated at 6.8 and 63 hours, respectively.

This impressive camera module is certainly pretty large, but the Lumia 1020 isn't too bulky overall. At 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm, the smartphone is pretty much the same size as the Lumia 920, except that this time there's a large bump on the back. The Lumia 1020 is also lighter than its predecessor, tipping the scales at 158 grams.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 will be available in yellow, white and black. It will hit AT&T on July 26 for $299 with a two-year contract.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is then expected to arrive in China and key European markets before the end of the quarter. Nokia plans to ship an exclusive variant of the device with Telefonica to select European and Latin American markets.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/official_nokia_lumia_1020_specs_sheet_and_photo_surfaces-news-6364.php

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Nokia Lumia 1020 release date: Where can I get it?

O2's first out of the 1020 gate

Nokia has made its oft-leaked Lumia 1020 all official, bringing a souped up 41MP camera to the smartphone party.

It's confirmed to be exclusive to AT&T in the US, for the hefty sum of $300 - that's about £199.

But when and where can you get your hands on this Windows Phone 8-toting handset in the UK? Nokia says it should hit Europe by the end of September. And what networks? Let's find out...

O2 - The oxygen-loving network will be ranging the artist formerly known as the Nokia EOS. No word on exactly when, nor how much you'll be paying, yet. All we know is that it will land "later in the year". Stay tuned.

More to follow...

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-1020-release-date-where-can-i-get-it--1165220

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