Nokia Lumia 730 vs HTC Desire 816G

There are some interesting smartphones available for the middle sector of the market, and two of these are the Nokia Lumia 730 Dual SIM and HTC Desire 816G Dual SIM. These have both released in the last few months and are similarly priced handsets, so you may have both on your shortlist. Today we have a Nokia Lumia 730 vs. HTC Desire 816G specs shootout so you can easily compare what they offer.

One of the major differences of these devices is their operating platforms, as the Nokia is a Windows Phone handset while the HTC phone runs Android. Therefore it will be a much easier choice is you have a decided preference for one or the other. If you’re open minded to either then your selection will be more difficult. Let’s take a look at the specs and more for the Lumia 730 and Desire 816G.

Processors
The Nokia Lumia 730 Dual SIM has a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor and Adreno 305 graphics. The HTC Desire 816G Dual SIM has a 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6582 quad-core processor and Mali-400MP2 GPU.

Display
The Lumia 730 has a 4.7-inch OLED display with resolution of 1280 x 720 and 316 ppi. The Desire 816G has a 5.5-inch display with resolution of 1280 x 720 resulting in 267 ppi.

RAM and Storage
The Nokia phone has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD to 128GB. The Desire 816G also has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, but this time only expandable to 32GB.

Camera set-up
The Lumia 730 packs a 6.7-megapixel rear camera with Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, LED flash, and 1080p video capture, as well as a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The Desire 816G has a 13-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash, and 1080p video recording capability, and also a 5-megapixel front-facing unit.

Battery
The Lumia 730 has a removable 2200 mAh battery while the Desire 816G has a non-removable 2600 mAh battery.

Connectivity
Both phones support 3G, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n with WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, GPRS, EDGE, GPS, and microUSB 2.0. However, the Lumia 730 also has DLNA and NFC.

Operating System
The Lumia 730 runs Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim. The Desire 816G runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat skinned with HTC’s Sense 6.0 UI.

Dimensions and Weight
The Lumia 730 measures 134.7mm x 68.5mm x 8.7mm and weighs 130g. The Desire 816G measures 156.6mm x 78.7mm x 8mm and weighs 158g.

Price

Pricing obviously varies by region as well as retailer, so it’s difficult to be too specific. Dual SIM handsets are extremely popular in many Asian countries, so as an example we’ll give you approximate pricing for India. The Nokia Lumia 730 Dual SIM launched there at Rs. 15,299 but can be found on sale from around Rs. 14,500. The Desire 816G launched at Rs. 18,890 but can now be found from around Rs. 15,500 bringing the prices much closer together.

Potential buyers should also consider their preference of design, and as we mentioned before, the different software experiences are a big factor in this decision. Looking at specs alone throws up some swings and roundabouts. For instance both phones have the same display resolution. Some may prefer the larger display of the Desire 816G but the bigger size leads to less ppi.

The Lumia 730 has a higher level of expandable storage, but the Desire 816G has a higher-megapixel rear camera. The Desire 816G also has a higher-capacity battery, but on the other hand the Lumia 730’s battery has the benefit of being removable. As well as this the Desire 816G is the slimmer handset while the Lumia 730 is the lighter of the two.

Windows Phone 8.1 'Cyan' Update Now Rolling Out to Lumia Users

Microsoft Mobile on Tuesday announced roll-out of the 'Cyan' update for Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Lumia Cyan includes the Windows Phone 8.1 Update available to all Windows Phone OEMs as well as certain Lumia-specific features and enhancements.

Starting July 15, Lumia users around the world will start to receive the Cyan update on their devices over-the-air (OTA), though exact availability may vary depending upon their carrier and/ or region.

While the Lumia Cyan update includes several new features for the users globally, Lumia Windows Phone 8 users in US will also get the digital personal assistant Cortana on their devices. The feature is also expected to reach China and the UK soon.

The Windows Phone 8.1 update adds a number of new features to Lumia Windows Phone 8 devices like the ability to use a custom background image for start screen, a third column for custom live tiles, People Hub, a new Action Center to customise settings, app notifications, and more, Wi-Fi Sense to automatically connect to free Wi-Fi hotspots, an updated native Calendar, updated Bing powered device search, an updated Internet Explorer 11 browser that promises a fast and intuitive browser experience.

Refer to our previous coverage for complete details about the Windows Phone 8.1 update.

Lumia users will also benefit from improved Nokia Camera, Creative Studio and Storyteller apps. Nokia Creative Studio 6 (CS6) will now be available directly from the renewed Camera Roll. The company is also offering a free upgrade to global Here Drive+ to Nokia Lumia 520, Lumia 525, Lumia 620 and Lumia 720 users along with the Lumia Cyan update.

Specifically for Nokia Lumia 1520 and Lumia Icon, the Lumia Cyan update will improve the audio quality of videos and the camera capabilities. Additionally, Microsoft's Screen Share technology will allow users to connect both devices to screens like a smart TV or projector.

A new SensorCore SDK Beta for both the devices will enable them to use location data, real-time updates, and more.

Micromax to offer Windows Phone smartphones later this year

Domestic handset maker Micromax has
partnered with Microsoft to offer
Windows Phone 8.1-powered
smartphones in the country.

The deal -
that was announced on Wednesday at
Microsoft's Build 2014 conference in
San Francisco - is expected to
intensify competition in the
smartphone space in India.

Microsoft Executive VP (Operating
Systems) Terry Myerson on Wednesday
said: "We are thrilled to welcome 11
new Windows Phone partners since
Mobile World Congress in February,
with the addition of Micromax and
Prestigio just announced today".
Delhi-based Micromax's revenues were
Rs. 3,168 crores for the financial
year 2012-13 and it expects to clock
revenues of $1 billion for the last
fiscal-ended March 2014. The mobile
manufacturer is expected to release
its first Windows Phone smartphone
later this year.

Micromax, which is the second largest
smartphone player in India, held about
16 percent market share in Q4 2013,
according to IDC data. Some its top-
selling models were the entry level
smartphones like A35 Bolt and A67.
Besides, the software giant has also
announced that it will offer its
Windows operating system free to
smartphone and tablet makers (for
devices with screen-sizes less than 9-
inches), a move that will help the firm
compete with Google's Android and
Apple's iOS in the fiercely competitive
smart devices market.
This offering also enables hardware
partners to provide their customers a
one-year subscription to Office 365 .

The move, though surprising, will led
to a fiercer competition in the
smartphone and tablets space,
especially in the backdrop of its plans
to acquire the handset business of
Finnish phone maker Nokia for $7.2
billion.

Microsoft's third CEO, Satya Nadella,
since his appointment in February
has been emphasising the company's
focus on mobile and cloud.

Nokia Lumia 930 will be equipped with5.1 Dolby Digital Plus audio recording

Hi The Nokia Lumia 930 was introduced recently. The new Windows Phone flagship model is similar to the Nokia Lumia Icon, which is an exclusive to Verizon. There are a few differences of note between the two models. One is the various color options that buyers of the Lumia 930 will have.

The second is that the Lumia 930 will feature 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus audio recording. Nokia says that the Lumia 930 will be the first smartphone to offer this feature. The same HAAC (high-amplitude audio recording) microphones found on the Nokia Lumia 1520 and the Nokia Lumia Icon, are found on the Nokia Lumia 930. 

The difference is in the firmware and Nokia has hinted that a future update to the Lumia 1520 and Lumia Icon will add the 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus technology to those two models. Currently, the 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus audio recording feature is still in development, and can only be found on a few units of the Lumia 930 kept internally by Nokia. 

The Finnish manufacturer hopes to finish off the feature in the weeks before the phone is launched in June. The option will be found in the Camera settings under Video. Nokia already prides itself on the quality of the sound reproduction on video captured by the rear camera on its high-end models. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus technology on the Nokia Lumia 930 takes the audio to another level.

"Combining Dolby Surround Sound Capturing with Nokia Rich Recording, all of your videos will document exactly what you hear. Play it back and you’ll experience true surround sound in 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus format." -Nokia source: WPCentral

Nokia designer talks about the Lumia930

Nokia’s new Lumia 930 was announced earlier this week, but it won’t be released until June. We don’t know why it’s taking so long for the 930 to hit shelves, especially since, according to Nokia designer Jonne Harju, the handset’s “single aluminum frame body means less manufacturing time.” Talking to Nokia Conversations, Jonne Harju obviously acknowledged that the Lumia 930 “unquestionably has DNA from other devices”, naming the Lumia 925 , and the Verizon-exclusive Lumia Icon among those. 

As with the Icon, he says, Nokia has “put maximum effort to create the most purest and honest aluminum frame body that fits seamlessly together with the vibrant back cover shape.” Jonne Harju further said that, since Nokia’s hardware design and the Windows Phone UI have similar principles (simplicity and minimalism), the Lumia 930 has “a human quality throughout to remind people it’s not just a technical device.” 

The Lumia 930 is basically an Icon for international markets - but one that will run the new Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box. The handset will cost $ 599 unlocked, coming with a 5-inch 1080p ClearBlack display, a 20.7MP PureView rear camera, quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory (non- expandable), and a 2,420 mAh battery.

iOS 7 experience on Android via iLauncher

Not all Android users give a hoot about
iOS 7, but we know there are a few of
you out there that may be a little
intrigued about Apple’s new operating
system. We have come across an
Android app called ‘iLauncher’, which
gives you the iOS 7 experience on your
Android.
This app is fairly decent, there is one
feature within iLauncher iOS 7 users
would love Apple to add to its next
update, a few iOS 7 users experienced
motion sickness when using the new
operating system, but this Android app
allows users to disable the zooming
function that makes iPhone users a
little sick.
iLauncher provides a similar experience
as iOS 7, same design with a few added
extras. Once you have installed this app
your entire Home screen will look like
Apple’s UI.
Main iLauncher Android app features
include smooth scrolling, the ability to
uninstall apps from the Home screen,
you can edit exit mode by pressing the
back button, support 5 rows mode just
like the iPhone 5, 5S and 5C. The apps
have rounded corners and gloss
effects; it also includes a dock bar
and so much more. The app does cost
just a little over $2, for more
information about iLauncher, please
visit the Google Play Store .
If you do decide to install the app you
must be aware that you may lose the
ability to add widgets to the Android
Home screen, shortcuts can be added
still.
Not sure why Android users would want
to add iOS 7 to their devices, but hey
we are sure someone would like to give
it a go. If you do decide to install
iLauncher please give another app some
thought, this Android app is called
‘Espier Launcher iOS7 ’ and unlike
iLauncher this one is free.
Would you like iOS 7 on your Android
device?

Microsoft buys Nokia’s phone businessfor $7.1 billion

Microsoft and Nokia announced today that Nokia's Devices & Services business—the part of the company that builds all Nokia's phones (both smart and otherwise)—is changing hands. Microsoft is paying €5.44 billion ($7.17 billion) for the struggling Nokia division . The deal, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014. 

In the transaction, all of Nokia's device business, including design, manufacturing, sales, marketing, and support, becomes a part of Microsoft. This includes 32,000 staff, of which 4,700 are in Finland. Remaining behind is Nokia Solutions and Networks (formerly Nokia Siemens Networks), which builds telecommunications equipment, and mapping division HERE (Navteq). Nokia is also retaining its Advanced Technologies group, which develops and licenses intellectual property. 

These parts together account for about half of Nokia's revenue, and approximately 24,000 staff. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop—formerly of Microsoft—will be succeeded as Nokia CEO by Risto Siilasmaa. Elop will serve as Executive Vice President of Devices & Services, and Nokia expects that he will move to Microsoft once the deal is closed. The headline €5.44 billion figure is split €3.79 billion ($4.99 billion) for Devices & Services, €1.65 billion ($2.17 billion) for a patent agreement. Under that agreement, Redmond is buying a ten year license to Nokia's patents, with an option to make the ten year agreement perpetual. 

Microsoft is also acquiring Nokia's various licenses to patents from Qualcomm, IBM, Motorola Mobility, and Motorola Solutions. Additionally, and not as part of this transaction, Microsoft is licensing the HERE platform for four years. For HERE, this will substantially replace the internal cross-billing that currently occurs, and Microsoft will become one of HERE's top three customers. Microsoft is also offering Nokia €1.5 billion ($1.97 billion) in financing. Finally, Microsoft is obtaining a limited license to the Nokia's brand names. The Lumia (smartphone) and Asha (featurephone) brands move to Microsoft. Redmond can continue to use the Nokia brand on all current products, and can also use it for ten years on any products based on Nokia's Series 30 and Series 40 featurephone platforms. 

However, it appears that future smartphones will not be permitted to carry the Nokia brand. Microsoft says that it will continue to license Windows Phone to other OEMs. Redmond says that with the purchase, its gross margin on each Nokia phone will grow from less than $10 per unit to more than $40 per unit, with "synergies" saving about $600 million in costs each year, and that the deal should start contributing positively to earnings per share by the 2016 financial year. The deal will be financed with offshore cash (just as happened with the Skype purchase ).

Nokia criticises Microsoft for lack ofWindows Phone updates, apps

It looks like Nokia has finally come out in the open against Microsoft's slow pace of pushing updates to Windows Phone 8.

 While the Finnish handset giant has been churning out new handset models and updated versions of its own services and apps, Microsoft has often been criticised for not playing a very conducive role when it comes to bringing its mobile OS on par with Android and iOS. 

Till now, tech evangelists and Nokia fans had been panning Microsoft for ignoring the Windows Phone 8 platform, however, it now seems that Nokia also wants Microsoft to get out of its slumber. 

In a recent interview with International Business Times, Bryan Biniak, Vice President - App Development at Nokia, has fired salvos at Microsoft, subtly conveying the message that smartphone sales are suffering due to lack of updates. He said, "We are trying to evolve the cultural thinking [at Microsoft] to say 'time is of the essence.' Waiting until the end of your fiscal year when you need to close your targets, doesn't do us any good when I have phones to sell today." Biniak also talked about the problem related to lack of apps, and how it's affecting the consumer's perception against Nokia's Lumia smartphones. "We are releasing new devices frequently and for every new device, if there is an app that somebody cares about that's not there that's a missed opportunity of a sale," he added. "To give you a reason to switch, I need to make sure the apps that you care about on your device are not only on our phones, but are better. I also need to provide you unique experiences that you can't get on your other devices." While the Windows Phone platforms boasts of 165,000 apps, a number of major apps including Instagram are missing form the platform. New releases and variants of popular games like Angry Birds and Temple Run also arrive on Windows Phone, months or sometimes years after they release their iOS and Android versions.

 A lot of software development on the Windows Phone platform is being supported by Nokia, with the company developing its own imaging software for its camera-focused offerings. Nokia says it will continue to invest in the platform's development on its own. "As a company we don't want to rely on somebody else and sit and wait for them to get it right," said Biniak.