The Pureview technology is one of the awesomest proprietary features of Nokia to date. The 41 Megapixel sensor on Nokia Pureview 808 was pure beauty and bliss for camera enthusiasts and we thought that it would be best if Nokia could port the same technology to their Lumia Windows phones.
Nokia did not keep us waiting.
Last September 6, Nokia announced they new line of Lumia devices running on Windows 8 – Nokia Lumia 920 (with Pureview technology) and the Nokia Lumia 820.
Nokia Lumia 920 Captures Best Pictures and Video Ever Seen on a Smartphone
The Nokia Lumia 920 is the flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, including the latest advances in Nokia PureView imaging innovation. Using advanced floating lens technology, the camera in the Nokia Lumia 920 is able to take in five times more light than competing smartphones without using flash, making it possible to capture clear, bright pictures and video indoors and at night. It also compensates for hand movement while the photo is being taken.
“Nokia PureView continues to deliver cutting-edge technology to make it possible for a smartphone camera to take the kind of images usually only seen on a standalone SLR camera,” said Jo Harlow, executive vice president of Nokia Smart Devices. “With the Nokia Lumia 920 we have made it possible to shoot pictures and video at home, outdoors, in a restaurant or even at night, and come out with professional-looking results.”
“We view imaging as a core area for differentiation in the smartphone space,” said Crawford Del Prete, Executive VP WW Products and Chief Research Officer, IDC. “Low light photography has been a weak point for smartphones. Nokia has addressed this with PureView to create real customer value. By applying its rich expertise in imaging Nokia has created a best of breed experience for everyday use.”
The Nokia Lumia 920 also comes with Nokia City Lens, the latest addition to the Nokia location suite. By pointing the camera at a city street, City Lens overlays information about restaurants, shops, hotels and more on the surfaces of buildings, for the most intuitive way to explore surroundings. Nokia City Lens is the start of a new augmented reality experience that also enhances Nokia Maps, making it possible to move between maps view and augmented reality view to help people check their direction and surroundings. Along with enhancements to Nokia Drive and Nokia Transport, the Nokia location suite of services represents the most comprehensive, integrated mapping experience of any smartphone.
The Nokia Lumia 920 also comes with Nokia’s largest ever battery (2000mAh) and, for the first time, built-in wireless charging for an easy, convenient way to get more out of every day.
The Nokia Lumia 820
The Nokia Lumia 820 is a stylish, mid-range smartphone that delivers high-end performance in a compact package.
While the Nokia Lumia 820 has the same unibody look and feel as the high end Lumia smartphones, it comes with an exchangeable shell design. Exchangeable shells not only make it possible to select from a range of colors, but also to add wireless charging. Beneath the shell is room to insert a micro SD memory card.
Powered by Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 8 provides a more personal smartphone experience, with a start screen that can be more easily rearranged to reflect individual priorities and new animated Live Tiles for real-time updates on the things that matter most. The ability to sync content between Windows Phone 8 smartphones, Windows 8-based PCs and tablets or Xbox means files, music, pictures and video can be accessed in whichever way is most convenient. With Internet Explorer 10 for faster, safer browsing and Microsoft Office apps built into the platform, Windows Phone 8 is also the easiest way for getting things done.
Wireless charging partners
Nokia also announced a range of wireless charging accessories and partnerships. The Fatboy Recharge Pillow provides a fun way to recharge, while JBL introduced the JBL PowerUP, a wireless charging docking station with high quality audio in retro styling.
Deals with Virgin Atlantic to put wireless charging stations in the London Heathrow Clubhouse lounge and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to put charging plates on tables in some of their cafés, were the first of many deals Nokia intends to sign to take wireless charging outside the home and office.
Availability
The Nokia Lumia 920 comes in yellow, red, grey, white and black. The Nokia Lumia 820 comes in red, yellow, grey, cyan, purple, white and black.
Both phones will be available in pentaband LTE and HSPA+ variants and are expected to start shipping in select markets later in the year. Nokia will announce pricing and specific roll-out dates country by country when sales are due to begin.
Product specifications:
| Nokia Lumia 920 | Nokia Lumia 820 | |
| Display | 4.5 inch Nokia PureMotion HD+ WXGA IPS LCD
Super Sensitive touch Nokia ClearBlack with high brightness mode and Sunlight Readability Enhancements |
4.3 inch ClearBlack OLED WVGA 800×480
Super Sensitive touch Nokia ClearBlack with high brightness mode and Sunlight Readability Enhancements |
| Battery | 2000mAh with integrated Qi wireless charging | 1650mAh with support for Qi wireless charging |
| Processor | 1.5GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4 | 1.5GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4 |
| Main camera | 8.7MP with Nokia PureView advanced optical imaging stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics
Full 1080p HD video capture at 30fps |
8MP Auto Focus with Carl Zeiss optics
Dual LED flash Full HD 1080p video capture at 30fps |
| Front facing camera | 1.2MP with 720p HD video | VGA |
| Memory | 1GB RAM
32GB mass memory with 7GB free SkyDrive storage |
1GB RAM
8GB mass memory with microSD memory card support and 7GB free SkyDrive storage |
Nokia has not yet provided us with the SRP of the said devices but our hunch is that the Nokia Lumia 920 will be priced between PhP26,999 to Php32,999; and the Nokia Lumia 820 will be priced between PhP23,999 to PhP27,999.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
