Nokia Lumia 710 Windows Phone 7.5
Despite the buzz and large market share the iPhone and
Android phones have, the new Windows Phones have much to offer for folks wanting
a simpler screen interface that is just as powerful and fast.
This is a big deal for Microsoft and Nokia. Both got into a
special partnership last year to combine Nokia phone-making and Microsoft
Software to make the Lumia series of smartphones.
Nokia conceived, designed and built these phones in six
months. There are three models, two of which, the affordable 710, the ultra-sculptured
800 for Canada and larger 900 in the US.
Available at Rogers, $49.99 with three-year plan, the Lumia
710 features a tightly integrated social media hub, IE 9 web browsing
(everything plays), Windows Phone Marketplace, 5 MP camera LED flash and 720p
video making it perfect for casual wireless.
It’s very comfortable to hold with a rubber-like bottom and
gentle curves…this one won’t slip from your hands. It has Gorilla-tough glass
and a bright responsive screen.
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One advantage Nokia Lumia Windows phones have over fellow
Windows phone makers Samsung, LG and HTC are additional “Nokia” programs (surprised
Nokia got that from Microsoft and that Microsoft allowed that to happen) that
do more in a smart way. Nokia Drive for example, is a GPS assisted mapping
program that adds voice guidance. More “Nokia only” apps will come, as was
shown to me at CES, like TSN on steroids and being able to get customized public
transportation information anywhere.
If you haven’t bought a smart phone yet and are thinking of
upgrading, you owe it to yourself to check out the new “Mango” Windows Phone
7.5. It is the simplest phone to get stuff done, yet does it all and if you use
a Windows computer at home or on the road then the connectivity at home, online
or wireless offers much, including the very under-valued SkyDrive, Hotmail’s
cloud for storing and sharing stuff of any size. It also has the Office suit, a
treat.
To me, the large movable icons on the home screen, some of
which are live with changing content, are a stark contrast to the traditional
small icons on Android and iPhones.
TELUS will carry the more refined, and pricier Lumia 800,
more on that when it arrives.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone
Here is a vid link to my GlobalTV Sunday Morning News Tech
Talk where I discussed what is new in 3D, including the updated LG Optimus 3D
smartphone, for only one penny, with three year plan. The make-over on this
phone (you can upgrade your existing Optimus 3D) makes it a much better 3D-anywhere smart
phone.
It now runs on Android Honeycomb OS, it shoots higher and better
quality 3D video, has image stabilization, and can let you edit video clips
with added stills and audio. Off course its glass-free 3D generous size screen
can now be put to good use as it converts 2D pictures and movies to 3D. It gets
better, you can play 2D Android games in 3D…playing Angry Birds was a blast. It
also has HDMI out for sharing all this newfound 3D content on your big-screen
3D TV.
http://www.lg.com/ca_en/lgsmarthome/mobile.jsp
iPhone4 users can take in 3D glass-free viewing with a
special slide case from http://3deecentral.com/
by downloading the free app. Some 3D images and movies are free, but the best
cost from $0.99 to the cost of a DVD, from indie productions, artists and
special niche sources. It is also available for Android phones and laptops. The screen experience is small, but 3DeeCentral now has an app for LG Smart 3D TVs which makes
it worthwhile for those craving for more 3D.
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