Review: Nokia Lumia 800

After a European launch in late 2011, Nokia’s first flagship Windows Phone has finally launched in New Zealand. It’s stunning in Cyan and also in the generic Black option. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with the Nokia Lumia 800 both before and after it being released publicly in NZ and have been extremely impressed. It’s a phone with an impressive design and...

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Nokia at CES 2012

On 9 January 2012 I attended Nokia’s Press Conference at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 in Las Vegas. This event marked the formal launch of Nokia’s Lumia handsets in the US market and the global premier of the stunning Lumia 900.

NZ Tech Podcast recorded the press conference in it’s entirety – including the press Q+A session with Stephen Elop in which we asked a question on behalf of NZ smartphone users. When we discovered the full press event had not been published elsewhere we decided to make it available.

• Listen to Nokia Press Conference at CES 2012

For more coverage of Windows Phone at CES 2012 – catch the numerous NZ Tech Podcast episodes covering CES 2012 – and read ‘The unlikely winner of CES 2012 – Windows Phone’

Make Lync 2010, Office 365 work with Windows Phone (and iPhone too)

Today Microsoft launched the Lync 2010 client for Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango). Soon the client mobile Lync 2010 client software will also be released for iOS (iPhone and iPad) along with Android, Blackberry and Symbian.

But many users have been struggling to login to their Lync 2010 account – particularly those using Office 365. Is there a secret to making it work correctly? Yes.

The main issues we suggest looking for:

• Incorrect or out-dated DNS settings
• Missing updates – the latest updates (Nov 2011) should be installed on your Lync server
• Username in wrong format

If you are using Office 365, the DNS requirements may have changed since you initially set them up. Of particular note the following DNS entries were not required when Lync 2010 and Office 365 launched but they are relevant now. Below are examples for Office 365.

CNAME
sip.domainname.com
sipdir.online.lync.com

CNAME
lyncdiscover.domainname.com
webdir.online.lync.com        

To confirm these DNS entries for your Office 365 setup, login to the ‘Admin’ console via http://portal.microsoftonline.com then under the left heading ‘Management’ select ‘Domains’. Then click on the value to the right of the domain name you wish to check (this value would typically already be listed as ‘verified’). Now step through for confirmation of appropriate DNS settings.

Note that DNS changes can take some time to take effect. Rebooting your device may or may not speed up the process – as can removing your SIM card an operating via Wi-Fi.

The username is something worth checking if you still experience login issues. It may be in one of the following formats:

• username@domainanme.com 
• domain\username

Please let us know if these settings allow you get the Lync 2010 client operational on your handset or device. If you have other suggestions we’d love to read your comments. Stay tuned for info on the upcoming Skype release. You can follow via Twitter: @WindowsPhoneNZ

Samsung Omnia W (i9350/Focus Flash)

The Samsung Omnia W has been formally confirmed as launching in NZ at the end of November 2011 – this will be the first Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) handset to ship in NZ via official Telco channels. It has similarities to the original Samsung Focus launched in 2010 – the most popular Windows Phone handset launched in the US and parallel imported by many into New Zealand.

The key areas where this handsets specification have improved over original Windows Phone 7 models of late 2010 include an improved 1.4GHz CPU and front facing camera (for video calling/Tango, Skype in the future).

Of particular interest to owners of first generation Windows Phone 7 handsets will be Wi-Fi sharing/tethering (aka Internet Sharing). The Samsung Omnia W is the first Windows Phone 7.x device to ship in NZ with this feature enabled out of the box.

Features include:

• Audio, Photo, Video Streaming to TV, Xbox, etc (DLNA)
• 3.7" Display
• Rear facing 5mp autofocus Camera / 720p HD Video Camera
• Front facing 1.3mp Camera
• LED Flash and Torch/Flashlight App
• 8gb Storage, 1024mb ROM, 512mb RAM
• 1.4ghz CPU
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n)
• 3.5mm stereo audio jack
• MicroUSB connector
• Weight: 115 grams
• Size: 58.8mm x 10.9mm x 116mm
• Standard Windows Phone 7.x hardware features: GPS, G-Sensor, Digital compass, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor
• Standard Windows Phone 7.5 software features: Synchronisation of email/contacts/calendar (Exchange, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc), Zune Music/Video/Podcast Hub, Xbox Live, Internet Explorer 9, Maps app, Facebook Integration, Twitter Integration, Pictures Hub, People Hub, fully upgradable OS.
• Chassis Type: 1
• Keyboard: Onscreen touch keyboard

I’ve spent some time with this handset prior to it being released publicly and I was impressed. It’s certainly smaller and lighter than many other smartphones – at this end of the market. Though, if this is anything like the original Samsung Focus, the weight of the phone has little bearing on how robust the handset is.

Most of the software limitations we saw in the original Windows Phone release are long gone – so this Windows Phone 7.5 (aka Mango) handset really shines on the software front – excellent battery life, beautiful user interface, slick social media integration and now with support for VOIP apps such  Tango (with Skype and Lync rumoured to be not far off).

Official Network: Vodafone NZ

Compatible Networks: HSDPA 14.4 Mbps 900/2100 - Vodafone NZ, 2degrees

NZ List Price: TBC – Estimate $699 ($606+gst)

Rating (as at 1 November 2011): 4.5/5

No Mango update available for your Windows Phone yet?

Some people are frustrated that the Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update has started rolling out to others, but is not being offered for their device. Fortunately there is a workaround and we are happy to share it if you just can't wait to get Mango onto your handset. We have tried this successfully and are not aware of any downsides at this stage.

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New Mango capability: Web Installer

A new feature we knew would be coming to Windows Phone 7.5 (aka ‘Mango’) is the new online Marketplace for selecting applications to purchase or install on your phone. What we didn’t realise was how this would work – now we do and it looks fantastic.

One capability of the installer is the option to reinstall an application that has been previously installed on one or more of your devices (should you have more than one linked to your LiveID). In the screen shot below you can see rather being forced onto all handsets it is now possible to select the specific phone you require the app for. This is a step forward from previous functionality in via the desktop Zune client software.

New Mango capability: Phone vs Web gaming

Microsoft quietly launched a new Xbox Live capability for Windows Phone 7.5 Mango users – game play between two different platforms – Windows Phone 7.5 and the web. They are calling it: “Xbox Live / Mobile Games” according to the browser title.

As you can see above the platform has launched with just one title – ‘Game Chest Chess’.

You can find more details at this Microsoft website – or stay tuned to @WindowsPhoneNZ for more Windows Phone 7.5 Mango updates. Also stay tuned to the NZ Tech Podcast where Mango gets regular coverage.

Windows Phone 7.5 ‘Mango’ update available

Microsoft have started offering end users the full release version of the Windows Phone 7.5 ‘Mango’ update for existing Windows Phone 7 handsets. This the first major upgrade since the release of Windows Phone 7 in late 2010 – offering over 500 new features. It’s a move which is expected to help Microsoft establish a stronger position in the smartphone market over the coming year.

The update appears to be shipping to a mix of handsets from different manufacturers and carriers according to user feedback online. There is also a technique to speed up the update process for those who are not seeing the update listed on their phone or via the Zune client.

Around 10pm NZ time on Tuesday, 27 September Microsoft launched a new website for Windows Phone 7 – with regional specific variations available locally including in NZ.

At a similar time they also updated the ‘Where’s my phone update’ page which highlighted that the Windows Phone 7.5 update is approved by every Windows Phone 7 carrier globally with the exception of Sprint (US) and Telefonica (Spain) who are listed as still testing the update.Within hours the website was updated to indicate that the ‘Mango’ update was rolling out to users.

As we announced on Monday the Mango update will load directly onto most devices – even developer updated handsets with interim developer builds. This is in contrast to Microsoft’s original advice when installing developer builds and makes life much easier for this community and others who had managed to gain early access to the various pre-release versions of the Mango operating system software update.

To keep up-to-date with the latest breaking news on Windows Phone 7.5 and other tech news be sure to follow @WindowsPhoneNZ, @PaulSpain and @NZTechPodcast on twitter.

Mango roll out process underway

It appears Microsoft have started the beginning phases of the Windows Phone 7.5 ‘Mango’ release. I anticipate that many Windows Phone 7 users (and Mango developers) will get the full final release this week.

That full update varies from handset-to-handset as each manufacturer has provided Microsoft with a firmware update to be shipped in conjunction Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 (aka ‘Mango’) update.

What I am calling ‘stage #1’ of the Mango rollout is the ‘Mango Friends and Family Bundle: Pre-Cleanup’. This has started rolling out already. See below for the screenshot for this update for our HTC HD7:

Today’s ‘Mango Friends and Family Bundle’ update bodes well for the many who have installed an early version of Mango as it suggests most of this group will not need to roll their phones back to the previous release (NoDo) as was first thought. Interestingly it seems this update is coming out slowly as most beta testers were not seeing this when we were. It should be noted however that the previous updates tended to be staggered rather than being available on all handsets at once.

In August we broke here the story about new handsets including the Acer M310, tweeted first about front facing cameras on Mango handsets and previously were early covering details about Windows Phone 7.5 Mango.

Though the Mango update and associated new handsets from Nokia and many others will surely drive adoption – it’s also expected that Windows 8 with it’s Metro style user interface (much like Windows Phone 7) will help selling many millions of smartphones based on Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 platform.

Keep a close on your Phone and/or the Zune 4.8 client (make sure you have the latest version) because Mango should start being delivered to many Windows Phone handsets this week. Stay tuned here for more updates or follow: @WindowsPhoneNZ on Twitter. You can also listen in to the NZ Tech Podcast  where I’ll be discussing this update on Episode 34.

Windows Phone Mango: Acer M310 and Asus in the wild

During Microsoft WPC in Los Angeles last month I was sitting just metres away from the new Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) handsets that were briefly flashed up on the video screen. Unfortunately that was about as near as anyone came to seeing them in person.

At Tech Ed in Auckland this week that story changes for the better. (Removed: Due to a miscommunication we have agreed to remove the specific details of the new Windows Phone handsets at this time)

The Asus phone is tidy looking handset with a matt black finish and it appears to be an engineering sample with non-final code on it. But the Acer M310 looks final.

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Interesting this is the second TechEd event in Auckland where Microsoft have made public new Windows Phone information. The previous instance was in 2009 when it was shared in a small session that Microsoft had a team of 1000+ working on Windows Phone 7 (then referred to as Windows Mobile 7). I broke that story on my blog at Geekzone.

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Note: Please check back again soon when I hope to be able to publish more about this story and related Windows Phone 7 news.

To keep updated be sure to follow my Twitter feeds:

• @PaulSpain
• @WindowsPhoneNZ