lut
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Combining style and practicality, the Nokia Lumia 820 stands out from the crowd with its range of interchangeable and brightly coloured shells. But which to choose? If you’re struggling with the decision, let us help you by taking a chromatic tour around the globe to see what different cultures have to say about the different options.
Red
In Russia, the word for red, krasnyj, is related to the word for beautiful, krasivyj. So Moscow’s Red Square is the beautiful square! In Czech, too, krásný means beautiful, and, in Swedish up until the nineteenth century, röd meant not only ‘red’ and ‘beautiful’, but also something to be coveted. In German, the word Zauber, meaning magic, can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon teafor, meaning ‘red ochre’. Red is a customary wedding colour for Greek, Albanian, Armenian and Chinese brides, and, of course, let’s not forget the red, red rose, which is all about love and passion.
Yellow
In Japan, yellow signifies courage: during the 1357 War of Dynasty, each warrior wore a yellow chrysanthemum as a pledge of courage. In Greek mythology, yellow meant divine wisdom: the Greek sun god, Helios, wore a yellow robe and rode in a golden horse-drawn chariot across the skies. Hindu culture says that yellow is auspicious, and some business people choose yellow-covered accounts books to see if the luck will rub off on their annual profits. In China, the colour yellow is said to bring health – it corresponds in Traditional Chinese Medicine with the spleen.
Cyan
Cyan has traditionally been considered blue, and The Blue Flower was the symbol of German 19th century Romanticism, thanks to Novalis’s novel, Heinrich von Ofterdingen. It stood for desire and love. Likewise, old English custom dictates that a bride must wear blue ribbons on her wedding gown, a blue sapphire in her wedding ring, and include blue speedwell flowers in her wedding bouquet – all because blue is said to represent fidelity.
Purple
In antiquity, purple dye was very expensive to manufacture, so it’s had something of a fetish value in fashion through the centuries. Byzantine empresses gave birth in the Purple Chamber. Roman emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus both decreed that only the Emperor could wear purple. Convenient for them, eh? Nero took it a step further – in his reign, the wearing or even the sale of purple carried the death penalty. So – exclusive, dangerous and more than a little desirable? Nice!
Black
From the little black dress to the black-tie function, black’s always been sophisticated. In Japan, it signifies experience (rather than white’s naivete), and in China’s Tang dynasty, the best-regarded painters worked with black ink rather than ‘vulgar’ colours. In Feng Shui, black means modernity, elegance and power – exactly what you want from a smartphone!
Grey
From the robes allegedly worn by Jesus Christ as well as Cistercian, Capuchin, Franciscan, Taoist and some Buddhist monks, to the undyed wool worn by countless peasants, grey’s got a pedigree that whispers modestly and solemnity. In Western fashion, grey suits were sported by both Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart, and, in 1965, US President Lyndon Johnson was sworn into office in an Oxford grey business suit. Talk about respectability…
White
It’s not just for weddings: in ancient Egypt, white stood for omnipotence as well as purity, and the holy city of Memphis (the ruins of which can be seen south of Cairo) was named after its ‘white walls’. In China, white is linked to the feminine principle (the yin to black’s yang), and in India, it’s the colour of Brahmins, the priestly caste, and implies detachment and serenity. For the semi-nomadic Bedouins, though, it’s a little more lively: white, associated with milk, is their colour for gratitude, joy, good fortune and fertility.
Happily it looks like every colour has something going for it somewhere in the world, but which most tickles your fancy now you’re in the know? Answers in the text colour of your choice.
Image credit: Capture Queen
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lut
1
The celebrated Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrselassie is famous for setting world records, while listening to the pop song “Scatman.” Most of us don’t have such heady goals when enjoying our tunes and conversation, but we still want our music and chat to sound great.
The best way to guarantee fantastic audio is by using a great smartphone, but what about the headset? If you’re not sure about the pros and cons of the different types read on.
Over-ear or circum-aural
First off over-ear or circum aural headsets. These have circular or ellipsoid earpads that cover the entire ear. This design means that music leakage is kept to a minimum and consequently over ear headset have the best bass. Over ear headsets can also be designed to fully seal against the head and so reduce external noise. The down sides? Well, because of their size they can be heavy and wearing them too long can be uncomfortable.
On-ear or supra-aural
Supra-aural or on-ear headsets have earpads, which sit on the top of the ear rather than around them. On ear headsets are renowned for their comfort and are less prone to overheating. Some models can also fold up for easier transport. The main disadvantages are that generally they have less impressive hi-fi and unless they have very good active noise cancellation, such as the Nokia Purity Pro Wireless Stereo Headset by Monster, you hear more of the surrounding world.
Intra-concha or ear buds
Intra concha or ear buds, like the Nokia BH-118 are very much smaller in size and are placed directly outside of the ear canal, but without fully enveloping it. Generally inexpensive, they’re also extremely portable and convenient. However, they don’t cancel out any external sound and due to their size their bass frequencies are more limited.
In-ear or canalphone
Finally, the fourth type, in-ear or canalphone headsets are placed directly inside your ear channel. They also act as earplugs and are ideal for when insulation from outside sound is needed. What’s more, universal in-ear headsets, like the Nokia Purity In-Ear, provide you with a selection of different sized earplugs to fit a wide variety of ear canals. The main issue is comfort. Some people simply don’t like things stuck inside their ear.
So there you have a quick summary of the pros and cons of today’s headsets. Need any other info let us know in the comments section and we’ll do our best to help you out.
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lut
1
Click here to view the video on YouTube.
The Nokia Xpress Browser was specifically developed to save you money, battery life and time. If you’re not yet using Nokia Xpress Browser, there are plenty of reasons why you should be.
The latest version of Nokia Xpress Browser is currently available for Nokia’s Series 40 phones as an over the air update, or can be downloaded from Nokia Store.
We caught up with Jukka Blomberg, Product Marketing Manager at Nokia, to find out all the benefits that the Nokia Xpress Browser brings.
Data compression
Most websites are designed for full-on web browsers in mind; people sitting at a PC, staring at a monitor, for example. However, browsing the Internet on a mobile phone has different requirements.
Jukka explains:
“Rather than downloading all the data a website typically delivers to PC-based Web browsers, Nokia’s cloud-servers reduce image sizes, remove ads and optimise the content before it even reaches your phone.”
It compresses data by up to 90 per cent without compromising on the quality of the data. This is because it does the heavy lifting ‘in the cloud’ instead of in your phone.
YouTube for everyone
While many of the Nokia Asha phones, such as the Nokia Asha 311, have had YouTube support for a long time with Nokia Xpress Browser, that support now extends to other non-full-touch Nokia phones. That means that millions of more people are now able to watch YouTube where they couldn’t before; just by installing Nokia Xpress Browser.
Videos can be streamed (if the device supports RTSP streaming) or (temporarily) downloaded using the new download manager. On the YouTube site, you’ve also got the option to select the quality of the video you want to watch, which is important for those on low data tariffs.
Phones to receive YouTube for the first time include all, Nokia 1-series, 2-series, models starting with X2- and models starting with C2.
Faster browsing
Due to less data coming into your phone, you’ll notice a considerable difference in browsing speeds. Web pages will load faster, enabling you to get on with what you want to do most – surf and enjoy the web and get things done.
With improvements to the address bar at the top of each page, you can now easily tap and type what you’re looking for, whether that is a specific URL or a search term. That bar then turns into a new, smoother progress bar that gives accurate loading times.
But how much faster can you browse? Jukka tells us:
“We’re going to put it out there and say that the Nokia Xpress Browser is up to three times faster than our competitors’ browsers on devices at similar price points.”
This of course is an average which is based on lots of testing done by us and 3rd party test houses. The number will vary from country to country depending on network conditions.
Web apps
Web apps are apps that live in ‘the cloud’. Because of this, they also go through the same data compression that any webpage does. There are currently over 10,000 web apps available to download from Nokia Store, some of which include:
ESPNFC
ESPNF1
Liverpool
BBC
Wi-Fi locator
Movie Review
Around Me
Nokia Nearby
Nokia Life +
Web apps can be loaded through the browser or from your usual applications list within the phone. Importantly, because the apps don’t actually reside on your phone, you could install (or at least have the shortcuts to) all 10,000 apps within the app list in your phone. That’s quite amazing!
Saving money
Keeping track of how much browsing you’re doing is really simple. You’re given a breakdown on exactly how much data you’re saving and also on what media items you’ve saved them on. This gives you total control on your Web browsing and let’s you know if you need to surf less, or if you can still browse at will.
For some, saving money is the most important reason to keep-an-eye on your online habits. At the end of the month, when that bill comes in, that data allowance section is always more ‘full’ than we anticipated.
But with all the data compressing going on, you’re not downloading as much, meaning you’re paying less just for using Nokia Xpress Browser.
In addition to these benefits above, the latest version of Nokia Xpress Browser offers other UI improvements, including a new homepage design.
For more details make sure to check out the Nokia Xpress Browser webpage.
Whatever you use Nokia Xpress Browser for; you’ll find it ultimately helps you save time and money. Download it today, from Nokia Store.
Category: NOKIA EUROPA | Leave a Comment
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lut
1
A little over a week ago we asked you a number of questions; how do you protect your phone, what are you protecting against, and if you’ve ever irreparably damaged your phone? The results from our little unscientific poll are in, so let’s see how you responded.
As was the case in our poll, we’ll split the results into three parts to make it easier to digest.
What do you use to protect your phone?
Almost 39 per cent of you use nothing but lady luck when it comes to protecting your phones. Myself included. I like to know that my phone is safe and secure, however I don’t want to compromise when it comes to aesthetics. When I choose a phone, I often like the design so much that I don’t want to cover it up.
Is this the same reason for you who voted? Let us know, in the comments below.
The second option for protection was to use a plastic case. Almost 28 per cent of you voted here. Sticking a phone inside something solid just makes sense if you want to protect your phone from the majority of potential hazards out there.
Screen protector scored third on this list, totalling nearly 22 per cent of your votes. There’s no guessing what you’re protecting against when using a screen protector, it offers a very specific protection.
Only 10 per cent of you use a leather case, something that was very common just a few years ago. Have they fallen out of fashion?
In fifth and sixth position were a sock and a plastic bag, scoring 1.5 per cent and just over half a per cent respectively. A plastic bag? Really? If you voted for this we’d love to hear why you chose this option.
No matter your reason, it’s interesting to know that people are coming up with their own ways of protecting their phones.
What are you protecting against the most?
The number one thing you’re trying to protect your phones against the most are scratches appearing on the screen. Just less than 38 per cent of you do their best to stop this from happening.
It’s no wonder, really, it’s the thing you look at most when you use your phone. You want it looking its best.
Next up was protecting against a scuffed body, receiving 26 per cent of the votes.
Fortunately, smartphones such as the Nokia Lumia 920, or Lumia 820 are made of materials where the colours are inherent in the material. That means that if your phone does get scratched, you’ll hardly notice they’re there.
In third place, scoring almost 15 per cent, was getting your phone wet.
It’s a real and valid concern. Dropping your phone is one thing; the chances are that if you drop a phone it might be OK. However, dropping a phone in a bathtub, or using the phone in the rain can really damage the internal circuits of your phone, quite often with irreparable consequences.
For some, almost eight per cent, dust or dirt can be an issue, especially when it gets into all those small holes and crevices of your phone.
At just under one per cent, it seems some people are concerned about keeping their phones at the optimum temperature. It’s true, that a phone that’s too cold can use more battery than one at ‘normal’ temperatures. But, why do you choose to keep it warm, or cool? If you’re reading and you voted for that, let us know, at the bottom of the article.
Irreparably damaged your phone?
Thankfully, a whopping 76 per cent of you have never damaged your phone beyond repair. Congratulations! Was this all down to lady luck? Or, did the protection methods help out? That’s hard to say…
However, it turns out that over 16 per cent of you have irreparably damaged your phone. And seven per cent even when using a protective case of some sort.
What ever you use, and why you use it, it’s always good to take care of your phones. However, Nokia will continue to make phones that are durable and reliable so that if you do accidentally damage your phone, the impact to you is reduced.
What do you think of these results? Join us below, and discuss.
Image credit: Jim_K-Town
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lut
1
The sense of freedom, the sense of mobility, the outstanding feeling of knowing you left nothing behind. The Nokia Booklet 3G, where do I start? , but first let me make a statement. The Nokia Booklet 3G is a ‘Netbook’ and not a laptop so treat it as such.
Design, Size, Weight, Screen are flawless. I couldn’t say anything else, because I was surely impressed on how much Nokia put thought into this device. Speed for me is just fine; some have complained about its RAM and processor, frankly I would tell them they have no idea about computer mechanics. There is something they haven’t noticed and people like me would pay top dollars for. That is the NO FAN option, finally can sit in bed and not disturb anyone with the whizzing sound of the cooling fan. Plus what more can you ask from a netbook, use it as it was design and supposed to be used so just plug in a 2GB Flash drive and use it as a ReadyBoost or have you totally forgot about that?. Coming back to the essential elements of this device, using the 3G gave me the ability to sit where and when ever I want. No Dongles, Bluetooth, or Cable connections required. Power on and connect, simply amazing feeling you’ve got knowing you can get what you want in no time. The Nokia Booklet 3G is such a good device that I know use it as my own corporate computer device. Called in IT and asked them to remove my bulky laptop back it up on the local network so I could access it on my booklet. My desk is so clean right now it’s not even funny. I put this device to the ultimate test on the first day of work, dropped my notebook pens and every manual item you can possibly take to a meeting. Fired up OneNote, held a 3 hour meeting took all the notes I needed on my Booklet, attached pictures from my N900 and I was the first one out of the door. Didn’t have to gather all my papers, put together my laptop disconnect my charger, and wind up all sorts of wires. The best part I even leave quicker, All I’ve got is my Booklet and I’m out, charger is at home.
Last but not least, and I know most of you want to hear some partially negative things about this device and I don’t blame you. Nothing is perfect, and yes for some the Nokia Booklet is not the perfect device. But I can highlight some things that can be on the list of improvements for the RX-80 probably. First I would love a touch screen integration, which would make things a lot faster for me. The keyboard keys to be backlit, would make a big difference in low light environments. The ‘Ctrl’ key to be on the very left instead of the ‘fn’ key. More Nokia related software built-in, to control the connectivity. Would love a remote viewer built-in so I could make calls with my device but talk and hear it through my booklet or my BH-504 connected to my booklet. Why bother all your customers with the SIM lock by AT&T, It’s very easy to crack save us the hassle and include a Nokia UI for the SIM connectivity.
Final review thought, if you’re looking for being connected ‘Full Internet As It Happens’ the Nokia Booklet 3G is the device for you. If you’re a laptop speed oriented and has 16 million applications and programs the Nokia Booklet 3G won’t do for you. If you’re a on the move business person, looking for agility and essential connectivity, the Nokia Booklet 3G serves every single part of that.
Nokia Booklet 3G
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lut
1
Yes i know to most of you out there this information about the iPad using a MicroSIM is not new to you, but for most of you in the Middle-East hungry for an iPad in your hands; HOLD YOUR HORSES!!! Let me first say that 100% of all GSM operators in the world use the default SIM size. Now good old Steve has given a nudge to the telecom operators around the world.
Apple’s big reveal of 2010 was the glorious iPad, some have given their critical analysis of the device. I say the device will pick up like any Apple device in the market. Now the jolt that the mobile industry got was that the iPad uses a MicroSIM enable it to use 3G. Apple’s tie or (love/hate) relationship with AT&T gave it a heads up on orders of MicroSIMS to deliver its service to its customers in the US.
So what is the (MicroSIM) : The 3FF SIM card, or the micro SIM, is 52% smaller than a regular SIM card so instead of a 15 x 25mm card you get a 12 x 15mm one. It’s still a GSM SIM so it will work in most markets. Now I believe Apple’s attempt to lock the SIM during the iPhone launch days blew up in their face.
Last, This MicroSIM isn’t an industry stopper is it. Well no, most operators are going to offer a this MicroSIM as a bundle package with the iPad. I say why bother, request a twin SIM from your local operator, shave the new SIM with plastic or acrylic filer and your good to go. Haven’t tested it myself, I will surely let you know if it works as soon as my iPad lands.
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sty
31
Być może część z Was zauważyła już, że wraz z nowymi ofertami, nową kampanią i zmianami na stronie zostało zaktualizowane nasze logo. Nie ma żadnej rewolucji, to raczej ewolucja i uproszczenie. Co się zmieniło? Przede wszystkim zniknął trzeci wymiar w słowie PLAY. Teraz napis jest prosty i czytelny. Prosimy również kolegów redaktorów i bloggerów (Komórkomania.pl; [...]
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sty
31
Przez kilka najbliższych dni potrwa promocja gier sportowych i wyścigowych ze studia Electronic Arts. Wszystkie tytuły są do kupienia w promocyjnej cenie za 3,69 zł 
Aby pobrać grę należy: – mieć telefon z Androidem lub obsługujący JAVA – być w zasięgu Play (po wi-fi nie zadziała) – poprzez systemową przeglądarkę w telefonie wejść na [...]
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sty
31
Być może część z Was zauważyła już, że wraz z nowymi ofertami, nową kampanią i zmianami na stronie zostało zaktualizowane nasze logo. Nie ma żadnej rewolucji, to raczej ewolucja i uproszczenie. Co się zmieniło? Przede wszystkim zniknął trzeci wymiar w słowie PLAY. Teraz napis jest prosty i czytelny. Prosimy również kolegów redaktorów i bloggerów (Komórkomania.pl; [...]
Tags: None
sty
31
Przez kilka najbliższych dni potrwa promocja gier sportowych i wyścigowych ze studia Electronic Arts. Wszystkie tytuły są do kupienia w promocyjnej cenie za 3,69 zł Aby pobrać grę należy: – mieć telefon z Androidem lub obsługujący JAVA – być w zasięgu Play (po wi-fi nie zadziała) – poprzez systemową przeglądarkę w telefonie wejść na [...]
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