Hasta La Gadget!

JBL just kicked out a pair of new accessories to go with that new Nokia Lumia 920. The Power Up speaker does more than just start Bluetooth music sharing over NFC — it has a Qi wireless charging point so that you can just leave your shiny new Windows Phone on top for an extra jolt of energy without looking for that FatBoy pillow. We’ll provide more details as they emerge following Nokia’s special event.

Dana Wollman contributed to this report.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile

JBL intros Power Up speaker to charge your Nokia Lumia 920, pair over NFC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

It was only this past spring that Nokia crashed onto the US smartphone scene to stake its claim and make inroads into consumers’ minds and hearts. Now, just five months later, the Finnish company’s poised to overtake the buzz of its fledgling, former Windows Phone flagship, with what many consider to be a true high-end contender: the Lumia 920.

As one of the first Windows Phone 8 devices to be officially announced, this device augments Espoo’s line with a larger, curved 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ display, dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU, 2,000mAh battery, NFC, integrated wireless charging and an 8-megapixel rear PureView camera capable of 1080p video. The display packs WXGA (1,280 x 768) resolution, is 25 percent brighter than the next best panel on the market and it’s the fastest LCD that Nokia has ever shipped on a smartphone. What’s more, the screen also boasts what Nokia calls “Super Sensitive Touch,” which promises to let you use it even when wearing gloves or mitts.

As you can tell from its humpless back, this PureView is not that of the 41-megapixel variety — it’s merely all about the branding, as the moniker will now ring synonymous with “high-end cameras.” Despite that fall from 808 grace, Nokia’s Head of Imaging Damian Dinning has assured detractors the magic is in what’s done with the optics and pixels and not sheer gargantuan sampling size. To wit, the 920 employs a “floating lens,” which, in layman’s terms, translates into hardware image stabilization and also packs impressive low-light capabilities — an area the company’s seems squarely focused upon.

In a true return to form, the 920 also hearkens back to the Lumia that started it all, opting for the “sinuous tapering” that debuted on the 800 with glass edges that blend gently into the polycarbonate hull. Unfortunately, not all of that design language has made the transition, given its chassis now appears glossier and more polished, distancing itself from that premium matte finish. Still, as looks go, the handset’s keeping to its 900 origins, appearing nigh indistinct from its predecessor save for that attention-grabbing mellow yellow hue.And as a bonus, Nokia’s imbued the device with integrated wireless charging, based on the Qi standard, which corroborates those leaks we saw just last week. The Lumia 920 will arrive in pentaband LTE and HSPA+ variants and both are expected to ship “in selected markets” later this year.

Continue reading Nokia Lumia 920 official: Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU, 8MP PureView camera, Windows Phone 8

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Nokia Lumia 920 official: Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU, 8MP PureView camera, Windows Phone 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

European carrier Orange and Bayclaycard have announced a new team up today that will soon let Samsung Galaxy S III owners make Quick Tap NFC mobile payments with their phones. This new service is headed to the UK, and it will be available to “new and upgrading” Samsung Galaxy S III users on September 5. Orange and Barclaycard are touting the Orange Galaxy S III as “first Android device to feature Quick Tap contactless payment technology.”

With this new mobile payments system, Orange Galaxy S III owners will be able to link any Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card to their phone. Once that’s been done, those users can then make contactless mobile payments of up to £20. Using the service only requires that you download an app and link your card to Barclaycard, and then after that you should be good to go (provided you have a Galaxy S III with an Orange SIM card in it). Those who sign up for the service between September 5 and October 5 will get a free £50 to spend, so if you’re planning on signing up for this system, better to do it sooner rather than later.

In a statement today, Barclaycard’s head of digital payments Tom Gregory said that this service will work with all UK bank accounts. “Barclaycard is committed to making paying for things faster, safer and easier,” Gregory said. “With the launch of Quick Tap payments on the Samsung Galaxy SIII, Barclaycard is bringing a safe and secure new way to pay to customers of all UK banks. Mobile payments are safe and have a full fraud guarantee and we’ve seen ever growing numbers of people using contactless to make quick and secure payments of up to £20.”

Once this deal goes live on September 5, you’ll be able to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S III with Quick Tap from Orange stores, orange.co.uk, and Orange telesales. Overall, it doesn’t sound like too bad a service, especially when they’re giving £50 to early adopters. Be sure to have a glance at our story timeline below for more information on Orange and Barclaycard!

Samsung Galaxy S III adding support for Orange and Barclaycard mobile payments is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Nokia may be ramping up for its Windows Phone 8 launch later this week, but the company has taken out a few minutes to reveal a new range of wireless Monster headphones. The Nokia Purity Pro Wireless Stereo Headset by Monster comes in a range of colors and hook up via NFC to your smartphone; that seems as good a tip as any that Nokia’s new Windows Phone 8 line-up will include the short-range wireless tech.

Once paired, the Purity Pro headphones use Bluetooth for streaming audio, and also function as a hands-free kit for calls. There’s active noise cancellation, too, which uses a combination of technologies to smooth out not only persistent ambient noise but percussive noise too, such as knocks and bumps.

Both noise cancellation and Bluetooth are turned on and off by folding and unfolding the headset. They’ll go on sale in Q4 2012, priced €299 ($376).

As for Windows Phone 8, SlashGear will be in New York City on Wednesday, September 5 covering all of the news of Nokia’s new Lumia line-up. Two of what’s tipped to be three new phones have already been leaked, the Lumia 920 PureView and Lumia 820, and it’s worth noting that the colors in the press photos match up with the different color options for the Purity Pro headphones.

Nokia Purity Pro Wireless headphones arrive ahead of WP8 Lumias is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If Nokia doesn’t show off at least one banana-hued Lumia smartphone come September 5th, we’re going to be extremely confused. Say howdy to the Pro-monikered followup to its corded Purity HD stereo headset by Monster, which gains Bluetooth (no word on what version), NFC for pairing and active noise cancellation. Similar to its recently revealed PlayUp speaker, the company’s teasing the the Purity HD Pro as an audio accessory that’ll “perfectly match your Lumia” in a choice of black, white, red and yellow. The Pro is essentially identical to its predecessor, but now the folding earcups also serve as a pseudo-on/off switch for its anc functionality for the unit itself. As you might expect, all that tech and Monster branding will cost ya a spendy €299 (about $376) — nearly as much as Parrot’s Zik by Starck. Further details are currently unavailable, except that the cans will reach store shelves near this year’s close.

Update: You’ll find a video hands-on by way of The Nokia Blog here. According a Nokia rep in that video, the earpads have a head detection sensor for automatically enabling ANC (similar to the Zik), while plugging in an included cable will let the headphones function sans Bluetooth. Furthermore, the company also noted to TNB that the battery should last about 24 hours for music or calls, with a week’s worth of life on standby.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Wearables

Nokia’s Purity HD stereo headset by Monster goes Pro, gains Bluetooth, NFC and noise cancellation (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 15:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Nokia Converstations  |  Nokia  | Email this | Comments