Onto their fourth generation of lapdock now, and keeping alive the Continuum vision, NexDock is persevering through pandemics, industry changes, and component shortages. This is the NexDock 360, just in for review, a Continuum/DeX (etc.) lapdock that adds an extra twist to 2020's NexDock Touch. Here's my first impressions and hands-on gallery, with both Lumia and Samsung as host phones, the full review will follow.
Another day, another new smartphone gallery, this time getting going with the Fairphone 4, the very latest from the eco-conscious Dutch company. As with the old Lumias, you get to replace the battery - and indeed almost everything else, with just a simple screwdriver - plus the specs are mid-range comparable for 2021. See also my previous Fairphone 4 head to head, plus there will be a full review on the way in a week or so.
The Duo 2 is in for review, and in timely fashion this year. Expect a few review parts and at least one imaging comparison (given the triple camera upgrade from last year's potato), but in the meantime here's our traditional image gallery, covering the unboxing and first impressions.
View additional galleries here.
With Rafe on holiday, I roped Jason Snowden in to join me on the AAWP podcast - he lives the Windows 10 Mobile lifestyle exclusively and is the power user's power user. We chat about the Surface Mobile/Phone concept image, Windows 10 on ARM and what it needs, some new applications, plus that new Alcatel IDOL 4 Pro...
Rafe Blandford is back on the podcast, with plenty of industry (and historical) chat, looking in particular at the end of support for Windows Phone 8.1 and the recommended paths for owners of such handsets. Tying neatly into the Skype situation, since the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade seems to solve both issues, of course...
Guest Anthony Fear comes on the podcast to chat all things Alcatel Idol 4 Pro, plus we also talk about Fast ring builds and what Microsoft is (probably) up to. And what's that keyboard in Anthony's pocket?
Rafe Blandford is back this week, with a detailed chat about the pros and cons of accessing Internet 'stuff' via dedicated applications or web browser instances, and how the balance changes as the form factor increase in size.
Rafe is busy this week, so we've got another guest in - Tim Evans, from an enterprise virtualisation training background, proves an admirable contributor as we chat about the state of the Windows 10 world, new builds and where all this might end up... again!
Rafe Blandford is back and we start on a huge tangent, chatting about Windows in the business world and whether Continuum/DeX hot-desking could ever be made to work, before chatting about Message and Skype, and about that leaked Lumia 960 - or was it a Lumia 850?
With Rafe not available this week, I enlist guest Steve Heinrich, from the USA, and we mull over thoughts on the future of Windows 10 on mobile. Where will it all end and how long will we have to wait?(!)
In this week's podcast, guest Jason Snowden and I mull over the future of mobile, via some listener 'letters' and comment on the stories published in the last week, including where Microsoft might like to throw a million dollars and why they should (or shouldn't) have closed down Lumia 950 manufacturing...
In another extra-length podcast, Rafe Blandford and I talk over the Creators Update and its applicability to a pretty wide range of Nokia and Microsoft hardware - by one means or another. We also talk about some site news and the Microsoft hardware events of May.
In a special length bank holiday podcast, Rafe Blandford and I chew over Windows 10 Mobile and the update table that I came up with last week, plus Rafe responds to my take on Microsoft and Nokia's biggest mistakes...
Anthony Fear and I chat about last weekend's storm in a tea-cup, Windows updates, the road ahead, further thoughts on the 'IDOL 4S with Windows 10', plus a number of first party UWP apps and services.
Rafe and I chat about Continuum vs Samsung's new DeX 'hack', the rollout of the Windows 10 Creators Update, plus we chat about one of our favourite subjects, old Nokias smartphone materials and design, and why the Lumia 930/830 design and DNA is worth revisiting.
In AAWP Insight #211, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we start by talking about the latest Fast ring build, which suggests the release candidate for Redstone 2 isn't far away. We also talk through a Surface Phone concept and speculate on how Microsoft might innovate in the hardware and software realms. We then move on to talking about a recent Maps update, before concluding with some quick looks at a few recent UWP app releases.
Rafe's back from MWC 2017 and various other travels - and he brings us his thoughts on the best of MWC 2017 and the wider smartphone world, while I chat about my recent tutorial trilogy, UWP applications and a few glimmers of light from new W10M hardware....
In a guest AAWP podcast, Jason Snowden steps into Rafe's shoes again, while the latter is working hard at MWC 2017. We chat in detail about Jason's Windows 10 Mobile interface ideas and other stories and features from the last week.
In this week's podcast, Rafe Blandford stops through on his way to MWC 2017 and we catch up with some of the features posted over the last week, including access to Google Drive and Google Photos, plus discussion of hands-free operation via Cortana when in the car.
In AAWP Insight #207, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we spend the main part of the podcast talking about what's new in the Creators Update (specifically) for Windows 10 Mobile. Key points include performance improvements, updates to Edge, and the importance of enabling technology. Other topics covered in the podcast include commentary on Steve's Elite x3 summary and a shout out for the (now much better value) Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard.
In this week's podcast, Anthony Fear returns as guest, to reply to some feedback on Elite x3 and Lap Dock pricing. We also chat about recent AAWP news stories, including Skype changes and Redstone 2 changelogs.
In AAWP Insight #205, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we start by talking hardware, specifcially the Alcatel IDOL 4S with Windows 10, which is now available SIM-free in the USA. Other hardware connected topics include sad news of the Acer Jade Primo and a recap of Steve's real world review of the HP Elite x3 Lap Dock.
In this week's podcast, by popular demand, I get on another developer guest, Brian Kernan (CityArtSearch on Twitter), chatting about his free fine art application that aims to educate us all, whether mobile or not, in terms of art around the world.
In an extra length AAWP Insight #203, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we start by talking about some of the Windows-themed news from CES. Rafe also covers the general themes and topics from the show, from voice to emotion. There's also a brief mention of the tenth anniversary of the iPhone announcement and progress in computational photography. We also chat about the HP Elite x3 Lap Dock, with some early hands-on thoughts from Steve.
In this week's podcast, with Rafe Blandford out of town (at CES 2017 in Las Vegas!), I catch up with the developers of the BringCast UWP podcatcher, ex-pats James Clarke and Mark Osborn, and chat about both their plans for the app and their views on the industry.
In AAWP Insight #201, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we continue the Steve Litchfield 'origins' story (following Rafe's own Origins tale on the 361 Degrees podcast). This time we (mainly) cover the post-millennium years. This includes the All About era, Steve's database efforts (from Trivopaedia to a UK Pocket Directory), early device reviews and content, and the switch from Symbian to Windows Phone.
In AAWP Insight #200, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we celebrate our 200th podcast by tackling (the much teased) Steve Litchfield 'origins' story (following Rafe's own Origins tale on the 361 Degrees podcast). We cover the early years (adventures in aerospace), the rise of Psion and the 3-Lib shareware library, Steve's app development efforts (from golf to GIS), the dawn of connected PDAs, and the beginning of the Symbian era.
In AAWP Insight #199, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we start by talking about the recent removal of a number of WP 8.1 apps (including the original AAWP app). We then speculate about x86 emulation in a future version of Windows 10 Mobile (Redstone 3) and consider what hardware might be required. We also cover how to suggest changes in Windows 10 Maps, the arrival of the 'Creators Update' on the Insider Slow ring and plug the latest update to the AAWP Universal app.
In this week's podcast, with special guest and fellow Elite X3 owner Anthony Fear, I reflect on the device and look forward to where Microsoft might take the platform and its hardware in 2017. Also mentioned are the Alcatel IDOL 4S with Windows 10 and a number of UWP apps.
In AAWP Insight #197, hosted by Steve and Rafe, our main focus is recapping and discussing the first review part for the HP Elite X3. We chat about the hardware, pricing, and positioning of the device, before going on to note some improvements since we first looked at it. There's also small mentions for Skype, the Alcatel Idol 4S with W10M and VR Visor, and we ask why Microsoft isn't pushing Windows 10 Mobile harder to Windows Phone 8.1 users.
In this week's Insight podcast, guest Stephen Quin and I chew over the news stories and features from the last 12 days since the last podcast - including some of my rants, some of Stephen's, and a whole host of pricing, UWP apps, and platform comment.
In AAWP Insight #195, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we start by considering the news of Lumia device support switching over to B2X, before digesting some potential device signposts from Microsoft's Ignite 2016 conference. There's also the usual roundup of UWP apps, including a 3rd party Google Maps client, an RSS reader, and the visually pleasing Perfect Weather. At the end of the podcast we chat around Steve's recent editorial on the 18 month 'Redstone 2 beta test'.
In this week's Insight podcast, Rafe and I chew over the news stories and features from the last couple of weeks - here's Rafe's take on everything Acer, AudioCloud and Apple, plus chat about the HP Elite X3, imaging and Skype Preview.
In AAWP Insight #193, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we offer some short commentary on the HP Elite X3 (software updates and imaging), talk about imaging innovation in Apple's iPhone 7 compared to the classic Nokia PureView devices, and promise some future camera-phone shootouts. Other topics covered in the podcast include the Skype UWP app roadmap, thoughts on the retirement of older Windows Phone 8.1 apps, and more.
In a special AAWP podcast, Jason Snowden steps into Rafe's shoes again, since the latter is taking a well earned holiday from his day job. Jason is keen to defend Facebook's new UWP apps, plus he's still very happy with this Lumia 950. We cover some of the stories from the site and I get his reaction to my rants and eulogies...
In AAWP Insight #191, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we spend the greater part of the podcast talking about the HP Elite X3, following on from Steve's early verdict coverage. We cover the high points and low points, consider the importance of hardware/software integration, and remind ourselves of the device's enterprise positioning. Other topics covered in the podcast include new UWP apps: Instagram, Office Lens and Perfect Flicker, plus details of the latest Insider Build.
In AAWP Insight #190, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we spend the major portion of the podcast talking about what we expect to see in a 2017 'Surface Phone'. The main discussion points are around the hardware spec, but we also discuss the positioning and potential presentation of Microsoft's assumed mobile flagship. Other topics covered in the podcast include the details of the first Redstone 2 Insiders Build, some app availability news, and a plug for a recent Rafe-related podcast.
In AAWP Insight #189, hosted by Steve and Rafe, we start by covering the breaking news of the roll out of the Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update (Redstone). Also covered in this podcast is the Lumia 950 price drop (down to 295 GBP in the UK), some more details on Skype support on Windows Phone 8.1 and beyond, a reminder about using a laptop/PC display as a host for Continuum from your phone, and a discussion of benchmarking Redstone vs Threshold on the Lumia 1020/920 and other older devices.