Although we know that Nokia had a wince-inducing first quarter, the company was hush hush on how many of its Windows Phone-packing Lumias had shipped out. We still don’t have official word, but IDC estimates that Nokia delivered 2.2 million of the devices to shops (not necessarily to customers) between January and March. If the total is accurate, Lumias would represent less than a fifth of the 11.9 million smartphones shipped by Espoo over the season and wouldn’t have Apple or Samsung quaking in their boots just yet. The research team is careful to warn that the spring and summer will be the real litmus tests: a healthy Lumia 900 launch in the US could easily spike that number. Our one certainty is that Nokia will still have to sell a lot of 808 PureViews if it wants to keep its smartphone sales humming in the short term.

IDC: Nokia moved just 2.2 million Lumias this winter, but stay tuned originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 03:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  New York Times  | Email this | Comments

We just got a hands-on demo of Microsoft Windows RT running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 development tablet here at Computex 2012 in Taipei. The verdict? It’s smooth as silk on a 1.5GHz dual-core APQ8060A with 2GB of RAM, which means it’s likely to be even more impressive on the company’s quad-core offering. We got to see SkyDrive photo sharing between a Nokia Lumia 900 and the Windows RT device, showing that both WiFi and 3G connectivity are fully supported. Ditto GPS — with Bing Maps purring along nicely. Most interesting, however, was a demo of Vendetta Online which ran without hiccups even when multitasking along with other apps. We asked about battery life and benchmarks — especially when comparing Windows RT to Android — but sadly Qualcomm doesn’t have any numbers to share. The company’s focus is clearly on working with Microsoft to streamline the new OS for the Snapdragon S4 — and from what we saw today, things are moving along nicely. Take a look at our gallery below.

Windows RT on Snapdragon S4 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

We just got a hands-on demo of Microsoft Windows RT running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 development tablet here at Computex 2012 in Taipei. The verdict? It’s smooth as silk on a 1.5GHz dual-core APQ8060A with 2GB of RAM, which means it’s likely to be even more impressive on the company’s quad-core offering. We got to see SkyDrive photo sharing between a Nokia Lumia 900 and the Windows RT device, showing that both WiFi and 3G connectivity are fully supported. Ditto GPS — with Bing Maps purring along nicely.

Most interesting, however, was a demo of Vendetta Online which ran without hiccups even when multitasking along with other apps. We asked about battery life and benchmarks — especially when comparing Windows RT to Android — but sadly Qualcomm doesn’t have any numbers to share. The company’s focus is clearly on working with Microsoft to streamline the new OS for the Snapdragon platform, and from what we saw today, things are making great progress.

Take a look at our gallery below and hit the break for our hands-on video and interview with Rob Chandhok, President of Qualcomm Internet Services.

Continue reading Windows RT on Snapdragon S4 hands-on and Rob Chandhok interview (update: video)

Windows RT on Snapdragon S4 hands-on and Rob Chandhok interview (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

In the interest of keeping cool this summer, we’ve put together a list of the hottest products out right now. From smartphones to e-readers and everything in between, there’s no time like the present to re-up that post-spring-cleaning stash. So grab a popsicle or a cold one and dive in — the water’s just right.

As you prepare for adventures with friends and fun in the sun, just remember that a great smartphone should be at the top of your gear list. Whether you’re looking for travel tips, a new place to hang or even directions to get there, your smartphone will have you covered. It can help you check-in for flights, rent a car and even get great deals on places to stay. Go ahead and leave your point-and-shoot camera at home, because many of today’s best smartphones excel at photography and allow you to immediately share your memories as they’re captured. If you plan to travel abroad, be sure to spring for an unlocked handset to avoid those nasty roaming fees. Whatever your particular needs, our smartphone selection is geared to make your decision as painless as possible – and more importantly, ensure that you have a fun and rewarding summer. Dive in on the other side of the break.

Continue reading Engadget’s summer gear guide 2012: smartphones

Engadget’s summer gear guide 2012: smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

We said it was coming soon, and the Dark Knight-themed WinPho hasn’t disappointed. Phones 4u has just announced that pre-ordered laser-etched Lumia 900s will be delivered on June 1st; that’s this Friday. Off-contract pricing is pegged at £600, although multiple contracts are also available from the UK retailer. There doesn’t appear to be any extra functionality on the special edition, although bragging rights do count for a lot. The phone will arrive in limited numbers, but neither Nokia nor Phones 4u is spilling the beans on precise unit numbers. The retailer is also throwing in free tickets to see the Dark Knight Rises at UK cinemas (or theaters) this summer, plus the chance to hit up the premiere. Pre-ordering heroes can zip-wire their way to the source link below.

Update: SlashGear‘s been told by Phones 4u that there will be 900 of the special edition phones.

Batman Nokia Lumia 900 priced at £600, throws in some free movie tickets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 05:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink T3, SlashGear  |  Phones4U  | Email this | Comments

A befuddled Joker once pondered “Where does he get all those wonderful toys?” Soon you’ll have a chance to inspire the same sort of wonderment amongst your friends — at least the more eagle-eyed ones. Nokia has announced it’s launching a Batman-themed Nokia Lumia 900, with the minimalist logo of (spoiler alert) Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego laser-etched onto the back. It’s the same treatment that was given to a special edition Lumia 800 earlier and, no surprise, it’ll be available exclusively in Batman’s favorite color. It’s also exclusive to Europe, at least initially, where it’s said to be going on sale in a few weeks. Act fast and you might have yours in time to listen to Christian Bale grumble his way through the conclusion of the Dark Knight Trilogy.

Batman-themed Nokia Lumia 900 coming soon, utility belt clip not included originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 08:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pocket-lint  |  @nokia (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you’re like us and really want to know what’s going on, then you’ve come to the right place. This past week, it was revealed that the HTC EVO 4G LTE likely supports simultaneous voice and data connections on Sprint’s network, Samsung’s Galaxy Ace 2 landed at Three in the UK and Vertu revealed a refresh to its Constellation series of luxury phones. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of May 21st, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of May 21st, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of May 21st, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 May 2012 21:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

As much as we’re familiar with mobile device torture tests, they’re normally inflicted by us or otherwise not-so-voluntary. Nokia, however, has stepped up to the plate and doled out the abuse to the Lumia 900 itself with a hammer and nail, all based on a wager that the Windows Phone’s use of Gorilla Glass would hold up to Sonim-level punishment. The company’s Chris Ruble and Mike Meyers (not that Mike Myers) used a Lumia 710 as a dry run before an on-camera demo that not only saw the 900 assaulted with the hammer, but used as a blunt instrument itself — all without a crack or scratch. We imagine that other toughened-glass phones would survive the hit, and there’s every possibility that smacking the polycarbonate plastic would leave more than a scuff mark. Nokia’s test still proves that its pride and joy can withstand more than just a casual roughing up, and you can see the slightly cringe-inducing test in the video below.

Continue reading Nokia uses Lumia 900 as a hammer in a torture test, makes us wince (video)

Nokia uses Lumia 900 as a hammer in a torture test, makes us wince (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 May 2012 04:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WMPoweruser  |  Nokia Conversations  | Email this | Comments

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it’s easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don’t escape without notice, we’ve gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of May 7th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of May 7th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 May 2012 20:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Remember when Nokia said that overwhelming demand had postponed the UK launch of the Lumia 900? Forget it, Phones4U let us know that it received an early shipment of the Finnish flagship and will offer them to customers today instead of next Monday. It’s available on Vodafone, Orange and O2 and will set you back between £20 and £40 each month depending on your plan, either in both Black or White, the latter exclusive to the independent seller.

PSA: Nokia Lumia 900 available from Phones4U in the UK from today! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 05:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Phones4U  | Email this | Comments

We didn’t notice any purple screen niggles during our Lumia 900 review. For some users, however, the purple hue issue is real and not so spectacular. If you’re one of those hapless souls seeing purple on your Lumia phone, Nokia recently tweeted that it will release a software fix for the issue — though it declined to provide details on when the update will drop. For the uninitiated, the purple screen problem reportedly occurs when automatic brightness is turned off and the display is set to “low.” The good news for Nokia is that the issue apparently hasn’t prevented folks from gobbling up the Lumia 900. “What if I’m seeing blue instead of purple,” you ask? Uh, you might wanna see a doctor for that, buddy.

It’s not your imagination: Nokia promises fix for purple hue problem seen on some Lumia 900 screens originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 00:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WP Central  |  Twitter  | Email this | Comments

Oh yes, it’s a good time to go shopping for a smartphone, particularly if you’ve acquired a taste for an abundance of pixels and silicon cores. But which phones ought to be considered flagships worthy of comparison with the shiny new GS III? Yes, we’re including the Lumia 900 in this context, for the sake of platform neutrality and also in recognition of the fact that raw specs don’t count for everything — but we can’t overlook that this handset is sorely lacking in terms of ppi and some other areas. The next two choices are more obvious: the eternal (or infernal) iPhone 4S and AT&T’s version of the HTC One X. So here it is: one table to rule them all, right after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III vs. rival flagships: iPhone 4S, HTC One X, Lumia 900

Samsung Galaxy S III vs. rival flagships: iPhone 4S, HTC One X, Lumia 900 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it’s easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don’t escape without notice, we’ve gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of April 23rd, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of April 23rd, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you’re like us and really want to know what’s going on, then you’ve come to the right place. This past week, we learned that ZTE intends to release a phablet of its own, and Samsung unseated Nokia as the world’s largest supplier of mobile phones. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of April 23rd, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of April 23rd, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 23rd, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Aside from a very desirable white edition, Nokia’s Lumia 900 hasn’t quite caught up with the color explosion that characterized the Lumia 800′s launch. It looks like it’s getting there, with a magenta variant spotted at Finnish retailer, Gigantti. At the moment, availability is posited for the vague area of May — matching those mid-month dates we’ve been hearing — but the site is still taking pre-orders ahead of any concrete launch day. You can volunteer your details at the source below.

Nokia Lumia 900 blushes, new magenta version revealed at Finnish e-tailer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink e’s Phoneblog  |  Gigantti (translated)  | Email this | Comments

Despite remaining mum on how many Lumia 900s it’s moved in the US, Nokia has been raving about how it’s trying to keep up with demand for the flagship Windows Phone device. Consider us unsurprised, then, that the company has apparently delayed the phone’s previous April 27th release date in the UK to “around May 14th,” citing a need to keep the device stocked in the States. The news comes from V3.co.uk, which got the information from a Nokia spokesperson referring specifically to retailer Phones 4u. Hit up the links below if you’d like to catch the full spiel, and why not check out our review of a second time to solidify your decision while you wait.

Update: And just like that, Phones 4u has officially confirmed the May 14th release date and UD demand. The carrier will indeed be the first to carry the device when it launches, and notably, folks who pre-ordered early will also receive a free pair of Nokia Purity by Monster in-ear headphones — this, on top of the already bundled-for-free Play 360 wireless speaker. You’ll find all the details in the press release after the break and at the more coverage link below.

Continue reading Nokia reportedly delays Lumia 900 release in the UK, cites high US demand (update)

Nokia reportedly delays Lumia 900 release in the UK, cites high US demand (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink wmpoweruser  |  v3.co.uk  | Email this | Comments

We’d previously heard AT&T’s White Lumia 900 was slated for a release on April 22nd, but photos tweeted by the outfit’s Chris Weber would suggest the Mango device is up for grabs now. By the looks of it, at least a pair of customers were able to walk into a Rethink Possible shop and grab a pale piece of the Lumia pie for themselves. Naturally, AT&T’s site still doesn’t have the Windows Phone handset listed, while the Cyan flavor remains out of stock. Perhaps, now it’s a good time to head to your local AT&T store and cough up those 99 bucks, or get it gratis through tomorrow. Be sure to drop us a line if you were able to take one of Nokia’s own unicorns home with you.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Nokia’s White Lumia 900 reportedly available now at AT&T stores originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WMPoweruser, Mobility Digest  |  Chris Weber (Twitter) (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

Reuters reports that four big European carriers are disappointed by Nokia’s Lumia range and its ability to compete with the big hitters from Apple and Samsung. None of the naysayers have been named, but an executive from one of the companies has been quoted as saying that “no one comes into the store and asks for a Windows Phone” and that Lumia handsets would be “easier to sell” if they ran Android. Another said Nokia should “lower the price” in order to make the Lumia range a loss leader and “get it out of the door.” Meanwhile, AT&T claims to be having a different experience in the U.S., having gone to unusual lengths to market the Lumia 900 (even if that recent Time Square fandango was all Nokia) and now seeing it sell out in “many stores.” That proactive approach appears to contrast with the attitude taken by some of Reuters‘s European insiders, who insist that all they can do is “open our stores to [Nokia] and train our staff to sell the phones.”

European carriers take shots at Nokia’s Lumia line without leaving cover originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Reuters  | Email this | Comments

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you’re like us and really want to know what’s going on, then you’ve come to the right place. This past week, we’ve seen clues to suggest the Galaxy Nexus will arrive at Sprint in a matter of days, and leaked materials suggest Rogers will have the HTC One X in stock by April 20th. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of April 9th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of April 9th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 9th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Good news came late today for all those Lumia 900 owners out there. It appears that Nokia has officially released the software update to resolve the handset’s data connectivity issues — a full three days early, in fact. Users may download the software through either Zune on the PC or Windows Phone 7 Connector on the Mac. For those who’d prefer to swap out their handset at an AT&T store, you have between now and April 21st to complete the exchange. Naturally, the limited-time offer remains in place for all those who purchase a Lumia 900 before April 21st to receive a $100 credit to their AT&T phone bill, courtesy of Nokia. Quite the graceful recovery, indeed.

Nokia Lumia 900 data connectivity fix available now, three days early originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Nokia, @NokiaUS (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments