Halo: Spartan Assault to be available first on Verizon’s Windows Phone 8 devices

Posted on 13/07/2013 by Edgar Alvarez

We knew Halo: Spartan Assault would be making its debut sometime this month; what we didn't know, however, is that it would only be reaching Verizon-branded Windows Phone 8 handsets initially. According to the Big Red network, its subscribers will be the first in the US to be able to download the popular franchise's mobile title, although no word was given on when exactly we can expect it to launch. Halo: Spartan Assault is set to cost $6.99 once it eventually hits the Windows Phone store -- the good news is July's almost over, so it won't be much longer before you can get in on the action. For now, it looks as if our hands-on preview will have to hold you over.

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Mobile, Verizon

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Source: Verizon

Nokia Lumia 1020’s Pro Camera app to hit 920, 925 and 928 (hands-on video)

Posted on 11/07/2013 by Richard Lai

One of Lumia 1020's main attractions is its Nokia Pro Camera app, which completes the phone's 41-megapixel camera with a bunch of handy features. In our video after the break, you can see Niina (not a typo) from Nokia demonstrating the manual focusing and lossless digital zooming. The latter actually works both ways: even if you've zoomed in before capture (and still get native 5-megapixel resolution), you can also zoom back out while browsing these photos, as the app captures both the zoomed-in 5-megapixel image as well as the full 38-megapixel image simultaneously. This way you can reframe the image and even focus on a different subject, as CEO Stephen Elop showed us in our earlier interview. But if you don't need this feature, you can simply set the app to capture just 5-megapixel images by default.

Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub!

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

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Path partners with Nokia to bring app to Lumia 1020, ‘all Windows Phones’

Posted on 11/07/2013 by Brad Molen

After months of anticipation, Path is finally bringing its social network to the Windows Phone, and it's starting with the Nokia Lumia 1020. The app, which is still in the works and hasn't been assigned a launch date, will take advantage of the company's new imaging SDK and its plethora of photo filters. Although the main focus of Path's announcement was centered on the new Lumia, it also mentioned that the app will indeed come to "all Windows Phones." No word on if the launch will occur across the board at the same time (nor if this includes Windows Phone 7.5 or only affects WP8 users) or if it will be featured only on the 1020 at first, but we'll update you as soon as we know. In the meantime, there's a press release for you to digest below the break.

Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub!

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia

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Source: Path

Nokia Lumia 1020 vs. 925 vs. 920 vs. 808 PureView: what’s changed?

Posted on 11/07/2013 by Richard Lai

Nokia's sure taken its time, but its 41-megapixel Windows Phone beast is now finally out of the bag. Naturally, we have to compare this Lumia 1020 with its recent siblings: externally it's closer to the 920 than the slimmer 925 or 928, except for its earpiece and, well, the camera. That said, the 1020 is somehow a lot lighter and a little thinner than the bulky 920, while packing the same 2,000mAh battery. Clearly, the lack of built-in Qi wireless charging and perhaps that Gorilla Glass 3 screen are responsible for this weight loss.

And needless to say, the Symbian-powered 808 PureView didn't come with as many goodies compared to its Windows Phone cousin -- even the newer lens is faster with six elements instead of five. Feel free to check out our detailed comparison table after the break.

Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub!

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Nokia

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Nokia to update Here Drive and Transit apps, release Drive+ for all WP8 handsets

Posted on 09/07/2013 by Jamie Rigg

Nokia's Here Drive+ global sat-nav app for Windows Phone 8, currently exclusive to certain Lumia handsets, will be available to all devices running Redmond's mobile OS when it gets updated "by the end of this week." In addition to wider availability, the app refresh will see the integration of local traffic information and bring a "more intuitive user interface." Also, the new My Commute feature will make its debut, which monitors traffic along your common route and gives you an estimated travel time so you can plan accordingly. It'll also let you know if things change while you're on the road and offer up different routes if it spots a jam up ahead. An identical update will be applied to Here Drive, the non-exclusive version of Drive+ that's tied to one country (read: local navigation license). In tandem with the Drive apps, Nokia's Here Transit app for planning journeys on public transport will be updated with a redesigned user interface.

Drive+ global navigation doesn't come free, however, even for those packing a Lumia 720, 520 or 521 variant (those handsets only have the standard Drive app pre-installed). A global license which turns Drive into Drive+ costs 15.49 euro (nearly $20) in some countries, such as the US, Canada and the UK, and 34.99 euro (almost $45) elsewhere; Here Transit will also come at a price of 1.99 euro (around $2.50) in these regions. There's table after the break which neatly lays out what costs what where, and you can hit up the PR if you feel you haven't done enough reading already.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: Nokia

Samsung ATIV Odyssey now available on US Cellular for $50 after rebate

Posted on 09/07/2013 by Brad Molen

The obscure ZTE Render's had its fair share of good times as US Cellular's Windows Phone, but the carrier's now ready to add its first WP8 device to the lineup: the Samsung ATIV Odyssey. The smartphone, which has been available on Verizon for several months, finally launches online today and in stores this Thursday for $50 on contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. The device offers a WVGA display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage with microSD expansion, NFC, a 2,100mAh battery and 5MP rear camera with 1.2MP front-facing cam.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Samsung

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HTC 8XT will be available on Sprint July 19th for $100 after rebate

Posted on 09/07/2013 by Brad Molen

The term "this summer" has finally become much more specific for anyone hoping to score a Sprint-branded Windows Phone: July 19th. This is the date the Now Network will launch the HTC 8XT, the carrier's first WP8 device, and you'll be able to grab one for $100 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year commitment. For that overall cost, you're getting a 4.3-inch WVGA display, 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 CPU, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera, BoomSound, microSD expansion and an 1,800mAh battery. There's still no word on Samsung's entry to this arena, but we imagine it won't be terribly long before the news arrives, but we do know that HTC's version will start out $50 cheaper (likely due in part to the lower resolution). Press release after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, HTC, Sprint

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Spotify for Windows Phone 8 update available now: drops beta, adds track scrubbing and more languages

Posted on 08/07/2013 by Mat Smith

As teased by no less than Windows Phone exec Joe Belfiore earlier this morning, Spotify has dropped its beta learning plates. In the latest update, you'll get improvements to offline playlists (hopefully making them less temperamental), alongside more language support, with 19 of 'em now supported. Steeling itself to go up against the homemade Xbox Music (not to mention the entirely free Nokia Music), the full version also throws in track scrubbing -- something that was curiously missing from Spotify's early WP8 app. The 2MB update can be grabbed through your phone, or installed at the source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft

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Via: Joe Belfiore (Twitter)

Source: Spotify (Windows Phone)

Nokia will pay you up to $300 to trade an old phone for a Lumia

Posted on 28/06/2013 by Mariella Moon

Nokia's Lumia phones show promise despite the company's dwindling overall sales, and now's your chance to nab one at more affordable prices -- if you're willing to trade in an old phone, that is. The Finnish company's new trade up program in the US will take in old mobile devices and send back up to $300 loaded on a Visa prepaid card, so long as you also purchase a Lumia. A lot of brands and models are accepted (check out if yours is via the trade up portal linked below), but popular ones like the iPhone 4S, the Galaxy S 4, and the HTC One will net you the most money. So, if you're sick of being lost in a crowd of Androids and iPhones, now's the time to give WP8 a whirl.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: Nokia 1, 2

Huawei Ascend W2 shows up prematurely, packs color-matching backlit soft keys (hands-on)

Posted on 26/06/2013 by Richard Lai

After the official product shot leaked in late May, we knew it wouldn't be long before Huawei's Ascend W2 makes an official appearance. Well, today's the day, but as the company's second-ever Windows Phone device, the W2's appearance at Mobile Asia Expo was surprisingly low key. According to the spec sheet at Huawei's booth, this affordable phone comes with a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 display (looked like IPS to us) and a 1.4GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8230 SoC (same as the W1 but faster) with 512MB RAM. There's 8GB of built-in storage along with microSD expansion -- the slot is located next to the removable 1,700mAh battery plus full-size SIM slot, all underneath the red or yellow back cover.

Even though Huawei doesn't hide the fact that the W2 is a low-cost device, it's actually not too shabby. Most notably, the three usual soft keys are color backlit and will match your desired theme in Windows Phone 8. As a bonus, the touchscreen has a glove mode -- as featured on several other more recent Huawei phones -- for the cold winter days. There's still no price or date announced just yet, but since this particular model packs a TD-SCDMA radio for China Mobile, folks outside China will have to wait for the WCDMA variant. For now, we have a hands-on video for you after the break.

Gallery: Huawei Ascend W2 shows up prematurely, packs color-matching backlit soft keys (hands-on)