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W czasie minionej wigilii klienci Play wysłali prawie 70 mln smsów, czyli aż o 75% więcej, niż w roku ubiegłym! Skąd ten wzrost? Jak pamiętacie w 2012 roku wprowadziliśmy, jako pierwsi taryfy no limit w abonamencie oraz w ofertach pre-paid. W całym świątecznym okresie między 23 a 26 grudnia wysłano łącznie ponad 150 mln smsów. [...]

Jak co roku wystawiamy na licytację atrakcyjne numery, z których dochód zostanie w całości przeznaczony na rzecz Fundacji Wielkiej Orkiestry Świątecznej Pomocy. Dodatkowo przygotowaliśmy specjalne karty nanoSIM pokryte 24-karatowym złotem. Ich licytacja odbędzie się w dniu Finału, czyli 13 stycznia na antenie telewizyjnej. Aukcje złotych numerów znajdziecie już od jutra na stronie Aukcje.wosp.org.pl! Zapraszamy do [...]

W czasie minionej wigilii klienci Play wysłali prawie 70 mln smsów, czyli aż o 75% więcej, niż w roku ubiegłym! Skąd ten wzrost? Jak pamiętacie w 2012 roku wprowadziliśmy, jako pierwsi taryfy no limit w abonamencie oraz w ofertach pre-paid. W całym świątecznym okresie między 23 a 26 grudnia wysłano łącznie ponad 150 mln smsów. [...]

Time now to take a look back at the year just gone and reveal what we feel were the best Nokia phones of 2012. Those that have broken new ground, delivered innovations that exposed us to exciting features and that made being involved in the Nokia ecosystem a properly stimulating place to be!

Nokia Lumia 900

The Nokia Lumia 900 was released in the first half of the year, and introduced the next stage of Nokia’s Lumia hardware (following the Nokia Lumia 800) and took the Windows Mobile platform to the next level due to the ‘larger screen, faster processor and support for the fastest mobile data transfers available to date’. It was due to these factors and others that around about this time last year the Lumia 900 won ‘Best Phone of CES 2012′.

Nokia Lumia 920

The Nokia Lumia 920 packs such a punch that it’s been dubbed the ‘world’s most innovative smartphone’. As well you know, it’s a multi-award winning phone and takes the Lumia platform one step further. Windows Phone 8 allows more personalisation, more apps are available and the hardware is equally as impressive.

Nokia 808 PureView

For those who are partial to taking the odd photograph on their phone, the Nokia 808 PureView was just what they were looking for. Embraced by one and all as being a 41 megapixel ‘powerhouse’ (and cleaning up at Mobile World Congress winning Best of Show), and for some truly magnificent examples of what it is capable of, look no further than the PureView Club:

The $64,000 question is…do you agree with our choices? Are there any phones from 2012 you’d add to the list? Are you an avid Asha user and think a phone from that family should have made the grade? Let us know, start the debate by leaving a comment, and see what everyone else thinks.

[Image credits - MadTomatoe, Engadget, Ubergizmo, Expert Reviews, Saeed Afzal]

 Sure, your smartphone’s a kick-ass piece of bling – the days of the ugly half-brick mobile are long gone. Phones are design items and, boy, do we love them. But as with many of our favourite pieces of kit, it’s often wise to cover them up. Why?

Safety First!

You know that awful protracted slow-mo sequence where your grip slips, your phone drops, and you just know it’s going to hit that rock? The US cell-phone repair industry has shown major growth over the past five years and it’s no wonder. Even smartphones like the Nokia Lumia 920, which has survived the sturdiest tests, aren’t totally indestructible. So we reckon, it’s better to let a cover take the hit. Chips and scrapes and the tiniest of cracks can destroy the appearance of your beloved  smartphone or, worst case, affect its functionality. Why take the chance? Get yourself protected.

Ooh, la-la…

Safety can be sexy! Even if your phone looks just like the next kid’s, you can jazz it up to suit your individual aesthetic by picking a funky cover – and, of course, you can buy as many covers as you like, so your phone can always reflect your mood. From a simple, elegant black leather slip-case, to an in-your-face Angry Birds clip-on, you’re always, well, covered.

Extreme Conditions

We’re not all city-slickers – some folk want to drag their mobile phones up cliff-faces, into canoes, through desert storms or, ahem, through the driving rain of the Great British summer. And most phones aren’t cut out for those conditions: water-damage is said to account for more than twenty per-cent of handset insurance claims in the summer months. Poolside accidents do happen! So take precautions: tether your phone to yourself with a belt-mount if you’re going hiking, and grab a waterproof cover if you’re heading near the wet stuff.

The Goods

Back in the nineties, phone covers were about as slick as Filofaxes and about as user-friendly as mittens for typing. But now, the range and options are near endless. Our current favourites are the wireless charging shell for the Nokia Lumia 820, with its range of colours and wireless power up, and the CC-3046 hard case for the Nokia 808 PureView – a sheath for your phone that’s worthy of a pirate! Why? It’s got a special eye-patch attachment that’ll keep the phone’s camera-lens free from smudges so your photos will always be tip-top. Avast, me hearties!

Any other ways your cover has saved you from a smartphone disaster? If so, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Tomi is the new Head of Nokia Gear, our accessories division. That’s got to be a good place to be right now, with such a strong portfolio under his wing. The JBL PowerUp speakers and Purity by Monster headphones are our current favourites. We’re really interested to see what 2013 will bring from his division.

But when it comes to the apps on his phone, Tomi keeps business on top and pleasure down below:

“I have the basics on top: unanswered calls, SMS and People Hub. In addition, I have my alarm clock and a shortcut to Settings. I use that mainly to switch between silent and vibrating mode. I also use Nokia Maps and Drive quite a lot. I also keep IE nearby – browsing starts to be fun with the fantastic Lumia 920 display. I also keep the Store within the easy reach to remind me of the latest updates.”

Still at work a full screen down, Gear-related apps come up next on Tomi’s Start screen.

“The cool stuff I have are related to accessories. I have Wireless Charging Stand on my bedside table and that allows me to launch automatically Bedside clock by just tapping stand (thanks to NFC). I also have The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf app waiting my US trip. With that app I can find the nearest café where I can also charge my phone wirelessly. The huge Mix Radio Tile I use to listen music with my Monster Purity Pro. Right now, the latest hits from Sweden have got the main spot.”

“My favourite app to pass the time is Finnish teletext. This old-school service has retained the #1 position as my favourite news hub, even though I have tried all the latest and coolest apps.  I love the simplicity of teletext – global and local news with one sight. Typically, after reading the headlines I find myself browsing the sport results – this year though less on morning time. Page 235 with NHL results from last night have been missing due to lockout in National Hockey League.”

Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820

Our first Windows Phone 8 smartphones.

Be a part of it.

Tomi continues: “ My last paid app was Netflix. It just arrived in Finland so of course I needed to give a try. It’s good companion when travelling, mainly because it has been made easy to pause and continue watching later.”

“My guilty pleasure app is a Finnish betting app called “Veikkaus”. I love betting on soccer results, even though I’m not very good at it. Luckily, I know my weaknesses and keep my bets small. And even when I lose, I’m happy to know that Veikkaus contributes its total proceeds to the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, which distributes them further to Finnish arts, sports, science, and youth work.”

Timo is the EVP for Mobile Phones at Nokia and has been with the company for 17 years. He’s occupied a variety of roles over that time, and has been responsible for spearheading the growth of the mobile phone division in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

When it comes to his favourite mobile phone, nothing but the best will do, and so he’s opted for the current top-of-the-range Asha… Nokia Asha 311.

Who would you recommend this phone to? 

I would especially recommend the Nokia Asha 311 to either one of my two boys, age 7 and 9 respectively. They are ready to get their first smartphones and 311 would be just perfect for them.

What do you think is the one unique feature in this phone?

Can I have two? It’s fast and it lasts. My boys are getting pretty good at breaking things and the exceptional durability and build quality of Asha 311 will come handy here.

What’s the killer app you recommend on this phone?

EA’s 40 free games would be the killer with my boys. They don’t browse much yet but are just crazy about games.

It only takes a quick look at the Nokia 206 to know that something new, different and exciting is going on. 

You could be forgiven for thinking that you’re actually looking at a Lumia – the 206’s striking colours and sleek curves have taken inspiration from Nokia’s acclaimed smartphone range.

The Nokia 206 is the first mobile phone to feature the same design language as the Lumia smartphones and this step was a radical departure says Ruth Ng, of Nokia’s Colour and Material Design team in Beijing. 

“Part of how we look at it is, how do we build the device in a better way? How do we simplify the form?” Ruth tells Conversations.

“Giving the classic alphanumeric keypad a new look, because it has real heritage for Nokia and has been an iconic form factor, means there are a lot of questions. How do we keep the heritage, yet refresh it to make it more appealing to the young and aspirational consumers?”

Colours

Using colours such as cyan, black, white, magenta and yellow is one way of making the Nokia 206 more appealing to young people.

“We realised the importance of making a strong brand statement and being really proud and confident about it,” says Ruth of the colour scheme. 

It made sense, she adds, to align the colours for the Nokia 206 with those that are associated with Lumia.

These bold colours, combined with its subtle curves, grabs your attention and makes you take notice.

“It carries a very confident message. It is true to its form factor and it’s not trying to look hi-tech or be a full touch device. I think that’s the best thing about this design,” says Ruth. 

“It makes a very bold colour statement and I’m glad that we’ve been getting positive responses, with people saying that it looks fresh because that’s what we intended.” 

Contrasting textures

Just as important as the colour of the Nokia 206 is how it feels in your hands and what it is made out of. The aim was to keep it pure and simple, explains Ruth.

The entire front of the Nokia 206, with the seamless transition to the window over the screen, is of one piece and has a high gloss effect.

In contrast, the back, which is also the battery cover, has a matt finish so it doesn’t leave fingerprints and gives the stylish device a human feel.

The front and the back fit together perfectly, so the only difference in the matt and gloss finishes is what you feel in your hand.

“It gives a very nice contrast in textures, the gloss and the matt coming together. The whole device is matched in one colour so I think the end result is that it’s very beautiful, very simple and is something that people can relate to. It looks very fresh,” says Ruth.

Based on its looks, the Nokia 206 is a sure-fire winner. It can’t be easy trying to reinvent the mobile phone, but the Nokia 206 certainly stands out from the crowd. Ruth says that was always part of the plan.

“We are really proud that Nokia is seen as reliable and dependable but we hope that these new colours give a new statement about our brand and that it’s young, social, aspirational.”

Well, another year has flown by, hasn’t it? Whoosh. It’s been a thrill though in the technological world where the Nokia community (yes, you guys) have been treated to the fabulous Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 – considered by many consumers and reviewers as two of the leading smartphones on the marketplace.

As with any such device, the phenomenon of apps plays a major part in the Lumia devices’ success and here we provide our choice of the best Lumia apps of 2012. We’re open to your suggestions in the comments too, but for now, our choices:

Angry Birds Star Wars

Cost: £0.79/$0.99  from the Windows Phone Store
Availability: Everywhere
In a nutshell: This *IS* the game you’ve been looking for

In the interests of full disclosure I am a bit of a Star Wars fanboy, and love the Angry Birds, so this was a bit of a double hit for me. Yes, I love it. Yes, I am trying to limit myself to one level a day to make the experience last as long as possible. And yes, I can’t help myself and try at least two! Here’s a look at what the game looks like (on a Lumia 610) from Shah Rizan:

Have you taken on the Dark Side Pigges yet?

Phototastic

Cost: £1.49/$1.99 from Windows Phone Store (or free version)
Availability: Everywhere
In a nutshell: Add filters, make collages

As I posted back in November, Phototastic allows users to decorate their own images using classic frame borders from a diverse variety of Polaroid and filmstrip film templates. Arguably, 2012 could also be known as the ‘Year of the Photo’, and Phototastic’s quick and easy connectivity to social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr adds to the fun nature of building your own collages. Ewan Spence of All About Windows Phone applauded Phototastic as ‘a great way to express yourself online.’

Plants vs. Zombies

Cost: £3.99/$4.99 from Windows Phone Store
Availability: Everywhere
In a nutshell: Defeat the undead using….plants

This all-action tower defence game consisting of plants and zombies has left many a poor soul glued to their Nokia device. No wonder then, Windows Phone Central’s Paul Acevedo named Plants vs. Zombies ‘the very best game in its genre.’ Built around the premise of a homeowner who uses various different plants to resist the evil threats of an army of brain-eating zombies, its smooth gameplay has made Plants vs. Zombies a massive hit in 2012. 

Nokia City Lens

Cost: In the Nokia Collection on your Lumia
Availability: Everywhere
In a nutshell: Signposting the world around you

Emerging from beta status in August, Nokia City Lens has been an app providing a cool augmented reality browser which points out interesting buildings, sites and more, which are close by. Users are complimented with nice 3D icons and the welcome option to remove suggestions that are not a stone’s throw away. Kevin C. Tofel, from GigaOM, gave Nokia ‘kudos’ for ‘sharing some of its most innovative software’, while Andrew Webster, writer for The Verge, states the program ‘works excellently to provide suggestions of landmarks around you.’

Those are our choices, but it’s a very subjective area, so we’re very open to hearing what selections you’ve made. What was your top app of 2012? Pick one (OK, maybe two) and share your thoughts below for others.

Founder of the PureViewClub website, Marc Wielaert, has been a good friend of Nokia Conversations in 2012.

It was in August that he first told us about his enthusiasm for the Nokia 808 PureView and most recently he gave us his personal review of the Nokia Lumia 920.

Marc was even kind enough to share some great photos that he had taken with Nokia’s flagship smartphone.

So it’s great news that Marc is now sharing his Lumia 920’s start screen with us and this is what he had to say about it…

Tell us the apps you’ve prioritised and why?

I like to organize the apps in a playful, but practical way. Everything that has to do with communication goes on top. Connectivity settings close together (I try to never use WiFi or Bluetooth when I don’t need it).

Two of Nokia’s important “lenses” grouped, just like Twitter and Facebook, all around a shortcut to the PureViewClub. And of course the live tile with my own favourite pictures, next to the great apps: Nokia Maps, Drive and Music.

What apps do you use to pass the time?

I’m never bored, but I look in the Marketplace a lot to see what’s new and you’ll see the “Nu” app, which is Dutch for “Now” – Nu.nl is one of the Netherlands’ biggest news sites. 

Of course, I try to keep up with my Twitter timeline, although the PureViewclub has more than 2,000 followers now and I’m following back all the people from who I can understand the language. It really has proven to be a rich source of information!

What is the last app you paid for, and what does it do?

Twabbit, which is a great Twitter client, designed by Bharadwaj (@bharadc23), a friend in Mumbai who took his time and talent to design the beautiful new logo for the PureViewClub.

The PureViewClub really brought me many new friends, I´m very grateful for that. Twabbit really is a great Twitter client by the way, and I’ve tried a lot by now. A job well done!

Which app(s) is your guilty pleasure?

I can only think of one actually: there’s a brilliant Windows Phone app called “das Image“. It offers tons of pictures from diverse galleries, like 500px, Instagram, Picasa and Flickr. 

I like to surf around those galleries and find the best shots I can use as lock screen. In the settings you can even choose which filter you would, or wouldn’t like to use.

You can follow PureViewClub on Twitter.