Rafe is the man behind all the ‘All About’ sites. He’s responsible for business development and editorial direction. Rafe has a deep understanding of the mobile and smartphone industry and is widely recognised as one of the leading experts on Nokia’s smart device activities and strategy.
When writing Rafe specialises in covering device, industry and developer themes, but will also turn his hand to any topic that he thinks might interest the ‘All About’ audience.
You can follow him on Twitter (@rafeblandford) or Google+ and can contact him by email on rafe@allaboutwindowsphone.com or via the contact page.
In episode 64 of the AAWP Insight Podcast, hosted by Ewan and Rafe, has a distinct Xbox theme, thanks to the 8 "new" Xbox Live titles for Windows Phone and the launch of the Xbox One. However, there's still time for us to share some thoughts on Ewan's Eurovision Android holiday, a potential new Nokia Windows Phone device, and the Google - Microsoft spat over the recently released YouTube app.
Nokia's HERE Maps app for Windows Phone 8 has been updated to version 3.3.354, adding integration with Nokia's LiveSight technology. In action, HERE Maps new LiveSight mode shows a gradual transition from a digital map view to an augmented reality view as you hold the device up to "look through the screen" at the world around you, making it easier to identify places around you.
In this gallery, we offer a visual tour of the Nokia Lumia 925, the new flagship Windows Phone 8 device, which was announced earlier this week. Key features include the PureView branded 8.7 megapixel camera with six element Carl Zeiss optics and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS); the 4.5 inch AMOLED screen; and the new look design that combines polycarbonate, aluminum and glass to create the thinnest Lumia handset to date.
In episode 63 of the AAWP Insight Podcast, hosted by Steve and Rafe, our main focus is on the recently announced Nokia Lumia 928 and Nokia Lumia 925. Steve talks Xenon flash on the Lumia 928, while Rafe reports back from the Lumia 925 launch event, with a special focus on camera performance and the new design direction for the Lumia family. We also cover some of the new software features in the "Lumia Amber" update, including Nokia's new Smart Camera Lens app, and some early details on Windows Phone 8 GDR2.
Yesterday, during the launch event for the Lumia 925, Nokia briefly mentioned the forthcoming arrival of the Lumia Amber software update for existing Nokia Windows Phone 8 devices. What exactly will be in this manufacturer-specific update? In this feature we break down the details of what you can expect to see.
At a dedicated launch event in London, Jo Harlow, SVP smartphones, and Stefan Pannenbecker (from Nokia Design), announced the metal-framed Lumia 925, as you'll see from our 'live' story today, as part of a 'summer of announcements'. This is the company's new Windows Phone flagship for the world, not to be confused with the all plastic - but Xenon-equipped - Lumia 928 for Verizon in the USA. Materials aside, the 925 also has the world's first six-element smartphone camera and has light sensitivity up to ISO 3200. More details of the Lumia 925 below, along with original hands-on photos later today, hopefully.
On May 14th, in London, Nokia is holding an event where it will announce the next chapter in the Lumia story. A number of device and software announcements are expected to be made. The event kicks off at 10:00 BST (09:00 GMT). We'll be updating this story with our on-the-scene live coverage at the event takes place. You can also watch a live stream of the press conference event via Nokia Conversations.
At an event in New Delhi, Nokia unveiled the Asha 501, the first of its next generation of Asha smartphones, powered by the new Nokia Asha platform. Priced at £63 ($99 / €75) before taxes and subsidies, the device is intended to provide a low cost smartphone option in Nokia's product portfolio, positioned between the Lumia range of Windows Phone devices and the Series 40 range of feature phone devices.
The screen is one of the single most important components in any smartphone, so in this video feature we offer a comparison of the screens, and their related technology, of all the globally available Nokia Lumia devices running Windows Phone 8. It's fair to say that how good a screen is largely depends on the price point of the device, but there are some important caveats to this rule in the Lumia line up, and some subjective factors that potential purchasers need to consider, all of which are covered in this in-depth video.
In episode 62 of the AAWP Insight Podcast, hosted by Rafe and Ewan, we start by talking about the latest set of mobile phone shipment numbers from IDC, which leads to a discussion of the smartphone and feature phone definition divide. Our main topics is the design and positioning of the mid-range Nokia Lumia 720, but we also cover the Xbox release schedule and some recent Windows Phone marketing initiatives. We finish, as usual, with some app picks, including some thoughts on the new Facebook beta.