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Sharing their Windows Phone 8 Start screen with us today is HERE.com‘s Pino Bonetti, who is, of course, a regular contributor to Nokia Conversations and will be familiar to many of our readers.

If you’ve ever left a comment on a post about Nokia’s location-based tools then Pino has probably responded to you!

Pino has a Nokia Lumia 920 and here he tells us what’s on his Start screen.

Tell us the apps you’ve prioritised (put at the top, made big) and why?

I love texting and social networks, which is why all the messaging apps are very important to me; they are all on top so that I can see what’s going on with just one swipe.

There are two email accounts, one for Nokia, one personal; Whatsapp, Messaging for SMS and Facebook chat, and last but not least the Facebook app that beautifully shows my cover photo as a big size tile. Also very important are weather forecasts, which is why I let Weather Flow control my lock screen too.

What apps do you use to pass the time?

Cinemagraph! I’m sure I’m not very original with this, but it’s such a fun app to use. I even have some fun shots of Nokia Conversations’ editor in chief Tiina  .

I love taking pictures and I’m amazed by the quality of the shots taken with my Nokia Lumia 920. With the camera lenses I can be even more creative and I think I have downloaded all of them.

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

Rowi. It’s by far the best Twitter app for Windows Phone, imo. It costs a little but provides such a great mobile experience for one of my favourite social networks.

Which app(s) is your guilty pleasure?

Everyone knows that I love to travel, that’s how I get to test all our location based apps like Nokia Maps and Nokia Transport in different conditions and parts of the world. But my true guilty pleasure is SkyScanner with which I can search for my next flights anytime, anywhere. I’m making a lot of airlines happy :-) .

Sharing their Windows Phone 8 Start screen with us today is HERE.com‘s Pino Bonetti, who is, of course, a regular contributor to Nokia Conversations and will be familiar to many of our readers.

If you’ve ever left a comment on a post about Nokia’s location-based tools then Pino has probably responded to you!

Pino has a Nokia Lumia 920 and here he tells us what’s on his Start screen.

Tell us the apps you’ve prioritised (put at the top, made big) and why?

I love texting and social networks, which is why all the messaging apps are very important to me; they are all on top so that I can see what’s going on with just one swipe.

There are two email accounts, one for Nokia, one personal; Whatsapp, Messaging for SMS and Facebook chat, and last but not least the Facebook app that beautifully shows my cover photo as a big size tile. Also very important are weather forecasts, which is why I let Weather Flow control my lock screen too.

What apps do you use to pass the time?

Cinemagraph! I’m sure I’m not very original with this, but it’s such a fun app to use. I even have some fun shots of Nokia Conversations’ editor in chief Tiina  .

I love taking pictures and I’m amazed by the quality of the shots taken with my Nokia Lumia 920. With the camera lenses I can be even more creative and I think I have downloaded all of them.

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

Rowi. It’s by far the best Twitter app for Windows Phone, imo. It costs a little but provides such a great mobile experience for one of my favourite social networks.

Which app(s) is your guilty pleasure?

Everyone knows that I love to travel, that’s how I get to test all our location based apps like Nokia Maps and Nokia Transport in different conditions and parts of the world. But my true guilty pleasure is SkyScanner with which I can search for my next flights anytime, anywhere. I’m making a lot of airlines happy :-) .

Tis the season to be jolly and if there’s one sure fire way to be just that it’s to give yourself, and your Nokia Lumia 820, a treat. Trouble is with so many gifts to buy and so little time to do it, you may not have the hours to do the research. Happily, we have. Nokia Gear might be more packed than a stocking on Christmas morning with goodies, but we’ve managed to narrow down five awesome accessories that top our wish list.

The JBL PlayUp for Nokia

Stylish, practical go-anywhere design and crystal clear sound combined with NFC and Bluetooth for an amazing wireless music experience. Yes, we’re talking about the JBL PlayUp. Not only does it look amazing, but more importantly it sounds amazing as well.  

Nokia Luna Bluetooth headset

Let’s be honest. In the past, wireless headsets were often frowned upon as being a bit too Terminator like. Happily those days are long past. Don’t believe us? Check out the Nokia Luna Bluetooth headset. Its futuristic design is complemented by Nokia’s amazing Always Ready technology. Just take it out of its cradle and the headset takes care of the rest: powering up, connecting and call answering. Now that’s what we call simple.

The Nokia Wireless Charging Plate

Thanks to the tech wizards at Nokia Gear, Wireless charging has been launched with a bang this year and one of the most simple yet stylish examples of that is the DT 900. Combined with the Nokia Lumia 820’s charging cover, it’s the perfect way to join the wireless charging revolution.  

Nokia Purity Pro Wireless Stereo Headset by Monster

We’ve already covered music, but what about the times when you can’t pump up your tunes in public? Easy, you just grab hold of a Nokia Purity Pro Headset. It´s incredible audio experience is made even better by well-balanced design and soft ear pads that make it ideal for long listening sessions. Lightweight, durable and with integrated call handing, they’re made to for us mobile music maniacs.  

The Nokia X Burton Insulator Case

Okay this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if like us you hang out in the far north, where temperatures can hit a mercury bashing minus 25, it’s good to keep your Nokia Lumia 820 warm. Created for snowboarders, the Nokia X Burton Insulator Case thermally protects your smartphone to help save battery life in even the chilliest conditions. In fact, in some cases it can extend your battery life by up to 50% in cold or sub-zero temperatures. Keeping warm never looked so cool.

That’s our fantastic five gifts, but what about yours? If you could have anything you wanted for you Nokia Lumia 820, what would it be and why? As ever, we’d would love to hear your thoughts, wrapped in tinsel, below.

Taking photos on your Nokia Lumia just got more location-aware, thanks to Photo Maps. By splitting your camera viewfinder in half, you’ll see the real-world on top and a map of where it was taken below – using Nokia Maps.

Photo Maps can be found in your application list or you can open it right from the camera UI under the Lenses option.

Powered by HERE platform, you’ll always have access the mapping data that’s stored on your phone, so no Internet connection is required when you’re out taking photos. So, even in the middle of nowhere where you’ll almost certainly be disconnected from the network, Photo Maps will still work perfectly.

Upon loading Photo Maps you’ll see the world from two angles; one from the viewfinder of your Nokia Lumia, and the other from above as you’re located on Nokia Maps. As you move, the scene from your viewfinder will change, as will the location that’s displayed at the bottom half of the image.

By default, you’re presented with the road view on Nokia Maps. If you want to change the view to Aerial, Hybrid or Terrain, head into settings and select the options there.

Settings is also where you’ll see the option to turn off location. I don’t know why you would with this app, as without that option it’d just make sense to use the normal camera. However, if you were to switch it off, the map section on screen will show you a wider view of the world.

Where is this useful?

That’s a good question, as for most situations you probably won’t turn to this app, as it’s quite a niche product. Having said that, there are plenty of scenarios where this would be useful.

For example, if you’re out camping in the middle of nowhere and want to take a photo of something interesting, you could use this app. Not only would you have taken a photo of something you’d found in the woods, but you’ll also know exactly where it was. This actually happened to me a few months ago and Photo Maps would have been perfect for documenting my find – it was just a strange plant, nothing sinister.

Or, if you’re looking for a new house, or perhaps even an estate agent, and you’re out taking photos of properties, this app is perfect. Wait for the sun to perfectly light the house, take the shot and see immediately below where the house is. This photo can then be forwarded onto other people, who will know exactly where the property is and what it looks like, on one image.

Or, if you’ve arranged to meet some friends at a new bar and you’re the first on the scene, take a photo of the front of the building along with the map and send it to your friends. They’ll immediately know what to look for and where it’s positioned on the street.

Rather than taking a photo of a bar, property for sale or a strange plant in the woods, you can activate the front camera and take a photo of your very own face. It’s a good way to prove you are where you say you are

Photo Maps is available for the Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820, costing £1.29 ($1.49) – with the option to try before you buy.

What would you use Photo Maps for? Let us know, in the comments box below.

As you sit impatiently hoping Santa Claus places a delightfully wrapped Nokia device under the Christmas tree, we thought we’d show you just some of the great benefits you can look forward to. You know how it works, here is the round-up of the best content on the ‘interweb.’

Described as ‘Terminator vision’, this Stuff Middle East piece identifies how augmented reality uses the Lumia 920′s camera, accelerometer and GPS connections to map out where the user is and where they are going. It’s a very bright and insightful look at the swift and effective use of the Lumia 920′s software and signals the huge potential the device has.

In laymen’s terms, this is just cool. Using only a Lumia 920 camera, this video truly puts the device’s motion-capturing qualities to the test.  Shot handheld, Norwegian Anders candidly films his musician friends, Benjamin Dante, Mads von Froberg and Jonas Jarlkov performing their new song, Reach For The Sky in a Danish studio. The conditions were of extremely low light, but with the Lumia 920′s superb video-capturing capabilities, it was a piece a cake – thus why Arun Prasad seems so enamored by it. The tune is somewhat catchy as well.

The Lumia 920′s camera is so good that ‘nothing compares to it’, according to Dustin in his review of the product.  After spending a week with the Lumia 920, he was shocked by the ‘unbelievable’ quality of pictures and video to the extent that he bluntly stated: “I don’t know how they do it but it’s awesome.” Additionally, he praised the ‘cool’ video hub app which consists of the full history of music and videos on your phone. All in all, he couldn’t help but be ‘really happy with the phone.’ Hip hip hooray!

And finally, we have a ride on the wilder side. Literally. Iytoa Wang’s video brilliantly showcases the Lumia 920′s optical image stabilisation capabilities as he films himself bungee jumping and whizzing down a zipwire above a beautiful beach. The vivid and clear nature of the footage is enough to leave a good man (or woman) feeling slightly envious.         

The last round up before Christmas is complete. What do you think of the content above? Do you agree wirth any of the points made? Share your views either by commenting here or on Twitter.

I think it’s fair to say that mobile phones are very much integral to everyday life, and they’re here to stay. This has meant that our social behaviours have had to adapt to this technology as we accept these machines into our lives. But how entrenched are they, and should we have limits as to where the mobile phone should go? Do we want to be distracted by a phone conversation at a cinema, or do we want to be ‘lolling’ at an SMS at a funeral? You tell us.

When mobile phones first arrived on the scene in the 80s, they were a tool for businessmen as well as symbol of how successful (and rich) you were. With the cost of mobile phones and smartphones becoming much more affordable, more people around the world rely on these to contact family members, friends and make important connections in their business lives.

Mobile phones now sit in our pockets, beside our computers while we work and take place beside us on our sofas as we settle down to watch the TV. They are the last thing we look at night and the first thing we look at in the morning. It’s like we see them as an addition to our family.

Naturally, this means that we take them everywhere.

But should there be limits?

Should some zones be mobile-free?

We’ve split our poll into two halves; the first is aimed at making actual phone calls, the second is for texting. Tick the boxes next to the place you think that phone calls should be allowed. This is all in the interest of debate and fun. Vote away! We’ll take a look at the results next week.

Take Our Poll

Take Our Poll

Image credit: scragz

Äußerlich kaum zu unterscheiden ist das One X Plus kein völlig neues Smartphone, sondern eine Weiterentwicklung des One X. HTC spendiert seinem neuen Androiden ein neues Display, einen schnelleren Prozessor und ein aktualisiertes Betriebssystem. Computer Bild hat das 560€ teure … Weiterlesen »

Quick question for budding and experienced developers – have you heard about our exclusive Developer Circle on Google+?

Via our Google+ page, we use the Circle to share dev-focused content, with contributions from the Developer World team here at Sony Mobile.

In the Circle, you’ll find -

• Sony developer news, info and updates
• Tips and tricks on getting the most from your Xperia smartphone
• Xperia product and software advice
• Q&A sessions with Sony developers and Developer World team

If you’d like to join, simply follow +SonyXperia on Google+, drop a comment on this post and we’ll add you to the circle.

2012 has been a busy year for Nokia and us here at Conversations. To celebrate the end of the year, we’re revisiting some of the people we’ve spoken to or talked about to recap on their year, and learn how they make the most of their Nokia Lumia smartphones. Today, we start with Jo Harlow, EVP Smart Devices, to find out what’s on her Nokia Lumia Start screen.

What apps have you prioritised and why?

“Information is king, so Goo News (which I’ve personalized to get the latest news on customers, suppliers and competitors and is the first thing I look at when I get up in the morning after Stephen Elop’s emails), Sky News and Bloomberg are all on my Start screen. Weave News Reader is in my app list but hasn’t yet knocked Goo News off my Start screen.”

Jo continues:

“Nokia Music, including my Adele, Emele Sande and Florence and the Machine personal mix, and Photobeamer have a prominent position on my Start screen and I use them all the time. Nokia Maps, Drive and City Lens are a collection of small tiles and because I am constantly on the road, and I use the Weather Channel app so I know how to pack!”

What apps do you use to pass the time? 

“My group of best friends from around the world keep me smiling in what down time I have between calls and meetings. Their Twitter and Facebook posts are hilarious. And shamelessly, I use Bing search to keep up with all the gossip from Strictly Come Dancing and the XFactor!”

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

“Angry Birds Space! Everyone knows what it does.”

Which app(s) is your guilty pleasure?

“I am a serial Spider Solitaire player and love Wordament when I’m on Wi-Fi (killed my 3G cellular costs in September – sorry Timo I). And I love, love, love using Cinemagraph.”

Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820

Our first Windows Phone 8 smartphones.

Be a part of it.

2012 revisited

At the start of the year, Jo was in Spain to attend Mobile World Congress 2012. It was here that the Nokia 808 PureView won the Best New Mobile Handset, Device or Tablet at Mobile World Congress 2012, for the Nokia 808 PureView.

At the time, Jo told us: “It’s a fantastic award because it signifies that consumer experience counts. It’s about tech, but it’s about how tech is used to make a consumer have a fantastic experience. The imaging is fantastic; the audio is fantastic; the navigation technology is fantastic.

Jo then noted that: “There’s lot more to come.”

And there was. The Nokia Lumia 920 is an example of that. It also features PureView technology that captures the best low-light photos in a smartphone on the market. Plus, the Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) creates silk-smooth movies, too.

Over the coming days and weeks, we will be looking at the Start screens of other interesting people while revisiting the key moments of 2012, so stay tuned to see more.

We recently conducted a Twinterview with Dean Anthony Gratton (aka @Grattonboy) about his experiences with the Lumia 920. Dean is listed as one of the ‘Top Marketing Book Authors on Twitter’ in Social Media Marketing Magazine and has even been featured in the 50 “Top Dogs” on Twitter.

After the interview he kindly went on to review the phone over at Bit Rebels. He even managed to #Switch his partner in crime over to the Lumia 920 during the trial!

Here are some of the highlights of his review and Twinterview:

He then backed up these initial thoughts in his review.

“It’s a refinement unlike any other device (please discard your Apple iPhones) because Nokia, with the new Microsoft Windows Phone 8 OS, has provided a holistic user experience that Apple can only envy. The smartphone has grown-up, and this device represents the next generation of smartphone technology”.

It became clear to us that there wasn’t just one Gratton in this trial process. Both @Grattonboy and @Grattongirl were at logger heads sharing the Lumia love!

There was even some actual wrestling for the phone!

“Both Sarah (@grattongirl) and I wrestled (on occasions, affectionately) with each other taking it in turns to experience the Nokia Lumia 920. Sarah downloaded anything and everything to compare the experience against her Apple iPhone 4S.”

Overall, Dean was impressed with the phone. So impressed, in fact, that he didn’t want to send it back!

“The only thing that makes us remorseful about the Lumia is the fact that, as reviewers, we have to return it; a sad reality that’s made us consider going into temporary hiding to avoid the DHL courier – honestly, he’s going to have to pry it from our desperate fingers!”

Thanks Dean and Sarah. Make sure you check out Dean’s full review over at Bit Rebels.