In this video-based feature we compare the camera speed of the Lumia 1020 and 1520 in terms of both start-up time and shot-to-shot time. While some of the differences between the two devices can be explained by the relative size of the camera modules (41MP versus 20MP) the processor powering each device (Snapdragon S4 versus Snapdragon 800) is also an important factor.
I had a crazy idea a while ago, after trying to get a decent 'panorama' shot on my Nokia smartphone and finding the stitching flaky and the resolution low every single blessed time. Yes, yes, calm down Apple fans, I know the iPhone does this out of the box, but here I'm talking Nokia. Symbian and Windows Phone, and the 808 PureView and Lumia 1020 specifically, since the high resolution available (typically 7700 pixels-ish wide) opens up the possibility for a huge, massive cheat. As [cough] detailed below.
The Lumia 625 is an interesting addition to the line up of Windows Phone devices. It makes some assumptions about the form factors that customers would want (specifically around the size of their smartphone), and applies every trick in the book to bring the cost down to a level that allows networks to offer the large screened handset at a minimal up front cost. Retailing in the UK for 'free' with a £20-£30 monthly contract, that goal has been achieved. But is the Lumia 625 a handset that works in practice?
In the screen section of our Nokia Lumia 1520 review we noted in passing that Microsoft has, in the Windows Phone 8 Update 3 release, changed the way some of the apps apps are displayed on devices with large screens. The most obvious example is the addition of an extra column of Live Tile on the Start screen, but there are a number of other more subtle change too, as demonstrated in this video-based feature article.
Once again I'm on the road (Junior Eurovision), but unlike other trips, something is a little different. With no current Windows Phone device ready to be reviewed, or interesting and notable devices from the other platforms, I had a free choice on which handset to pick up. And it has to be a handset that I trust. Just as countless people walking into a phone store to buy a new handset, trust is a key component in any piece of mobile technology, and something that Windows Phone still needs to work on.
It's all very well shooting 5 or 8 megapixel photos on your Windows Phone, but don't assume that all the pixels are making it online when you share your photos or send them on to others. In fact, your photos are almost certainly being dramatically shrunk - I do a little investigating and offer some tips below. Why settle for second best?
In this video we offer a summary review of the Nokia Lumia 1520, complementing our in-depth hardware review and editorial coverage from last week. The video starts with a brief unboxing, before going on to offer an overview of the hardware and new software features of the device. Also included is some commentary on the practicality of size of the device, illustrated by a comparison with the Lumia 925 and Lumia 620.
That Nokia has been in forefront of mobile imaging is surely not in doubt, whatever you think of the operating systems the company has chosen at each stage (Symbian and then Windows Phone). In fact, it's a testament to how good and ground breaking the Nokia N95 was in its day (the first 5MP camera on a smartphone etc.) that it can even hold its head up here in 2013. But seven years has seen quite a bit of innovation in sensor quality, resolution and image processing - which is why I thought a 2006-2013 data point might be in order. Here's the legendary N95 pitted against the latest Nokia Lumia 1020 across six test scenes/uses.
It's... another head to head, sparked off by the arrival at All About Towers of the Motorola Moto G, the company's astonishingly good value new Android mid-ranger. Bringing to mind Nokia's own offerings in the same space, the long established Lumia 620 and the newer and larger Lumia 625. The prices and target markets match exactly, but what exactly are the pros and cons and is there an overall winner? Has Windows Phone just got itself a big competitor to one of its budget stalwarts?
As we noted in our in depth review of the Lumia 1520, Nokia's most recently released smartphone is the first Windows Phone device to be powered by a Snapdragon 800 SoC. The quad-core (2.2 GHz) processor is clearly a significant upgrade from the dual-core (1.5GHz) processor used in the previous generation of high-end Windows Phone devices, but the critical question is what impact does this have on overall performance?
