Last week I looked at how Microsoft's Your Phone system had been evolving over the last 12 months, but I did tease that I wanted to compare it to Samsung's DeX for Windows (or Mac) - both seem to offer functions that have overlap, to say the least. Having established that Your Phone's core features can be helpful but that the concept isn't exactly foolproof or mainstream, is DeX for Windows (or Mac) any better?
I've done a number of Lumia vs iPhone imaging battles in recent years, but one that keeps getting requested is the classic 2013 Lumia 1020 (running the original Windows Phone 8.1) against the new top end imaging monster, the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Original PureView against seven years of sensor, stabilisation, and processor development. I've a feeling the 1020 might not pull this one back, despite this Flow recently. But let's see the margin, shall we...
Microsoft's 'Your Phone' software, now effectively built into Windows (in that you're prompted to 'link your phone' when first signing into Windows on a PC), has been evolving nicely through 2019 and 2020, see the linked stories below. But it's not quite a 'slam dunk' yet, partly due to mobile platform limitations, partly because it still feels a little like a solution to a problem that few people have in the real world...
Every time I post a photo of one of my Lumias in a Mozo wood or leather back I get comments asking where they can still be bought. The Finland-based Mozo itself has long gone out of business, it seems, but its excellent back covers (and wallets) for the Lumia 950 and 950 XL are still available... if you know where to look. Putting on my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hat and grabbing my magnifying glass, I delved into the corners of the Internet to find you all options for both the Lumia 950 and its larger sister device, the 950 XL.
Having already discussed the benefits of Apple's game-changing adoption of a new image capture format and workflow with the iPhone 12 Pro series and iOS 14.3, it's time to put it to the test. In theory, ProRAW means trivial output of photos which are as pure as the purest images coming out of the Lumia 950/XL. So let's hit the phones with a variety of challenging subjects and see how they do. I'm also throwing in 'default' iPhone 12 Pro capture as well, so that's clear whether it's worth hitting the toggle in the iPhone's UI. Is the newcomer the obvious replacement for a classic 'PureView' device?
In my NexDock Touch review, I discovered that this doesn't work reliably with the Lumia 950/XL, sadly. It's something obscure and probably chipset related. And the reason I know this is that the Alcatel IDOL 4 Pro, also running Windows 10 Mobile but with a more modern chipset, works just fine with the lapdock. Giving me a chance to at least demonstrate what might have been - Windows 10 Continuum in action on the NexDock Touch.
In the latest in our occasional series on smartphone photography, I may have moved on from a Lumia as a day to day phone, but the ideas and ambitions are still there. In this example, I return to the graveyard featured in #17, but this time with oodles of December fog to add atmosphere. The result? One of the favourite photos I think I've ever taken with a phone.
A few days ago I did an imaging shootout between the Lumia 950 XL and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G, which the latter won by a nose. But as I was capturing the test shots, I also did so on my iPhone 12 Pro Max - just in case. And, in view of the way the new iPhone flagship went down to the Lumia in my first head to head, I thought I'd give it another chance. I mean, it's only fair - and the data is all sitting here on my computer anyway, so why not look at this new test photo set afresh?
A few weeks ago, as the latest benefit from its ever closer integration with Microsoft products, Samsung flipped a switch in their 'Reminder' application on their Android 10 (and upwards) smartphones, enabling full sync with Microsoft's To-Do system (Windows 10 Mobile, Desktop, Cloud, inside Outlook, etc.) And it all works, in fact it does so as well as anyone might hope for, and (for AAWP readers) this includes compatibility with 'ye olde' Windows 10 Mobile. Screenshot proof and a walk-through below!
A couple of days ago I compared the new Galaxy S20 FE (5G) with the classic Lumia 950 XL, this being cross-posted on AAWP. There's an awful lot to like, from the flat screen to rugged plastic back to optical FPS, from the loud stereo speakers to the well thought out triple camera system. But it's the latter that's under scrutiny here, or at least the main and telephoto cameras. Has Samsung's image processing improved from the first S20 attempts (e.g. here)?
