Hasta La Gadget!

Well, that was pretty anticlimactic. After teasing us mercilessly for the past few weeks, Nokia’s Stephen Elop has taken the stage here in New York to surprise absolutely no one and officially reveal the Nokia Lumia 1020.

The device is apparently set to launch exclusively with AT&T on July 26 with a $299 on-contract price tag. China and certain European markets will get the Lumia 1020 some time this quarter.

Sadly, a string of recent leaks have done away with much of the mystery surrounding the event (but really — what else is new?). As expected, the 1020 features a 4.5-inch AMOLED PureMotion HD+ screen running at 1280 x 768, but we’re still waiting on confirmation on a tentative spec listing that claimed the device sports a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm dual-core chipset, along with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory.

Naturally, the real star of the show is the 41-megapixel backside-illuminated PureView camera sensor nestled in the 1020′s rear end, and Elop is currently running through what makes it so special.

That 41-megapixel camera is capable of capturing 34 and 38 megapixel-photos in 16:9 or 4:3, but when it takes that high-res image the 1020 is also saving what Elop calls a 5-megapixel “oversampled” image. Each of the pixels in those oversampled photos is composed of up to 7 pixels captured by the sensor (HTC did something similar on a smaller scale with the One’s UltraPixel camera), which makes for some richly detailed photos for sharing. Nokia’s Floating Lens stabilization technology seen in devices like the Lumia 920 has also been reworked to support the 1020′s hefty sensor.

There’s some truly impressive zoom capability here as well, as evidenced by the fact that Elop likes to ride in helicopters and capture shots from the air. Video recording is similarly important to the Lumia 1020, and the device is capable of recording 1080p video at 30 frames per second, and the same imaging innovations that make pictures look as good as they do also dramatically improve video quality. Throw in continued support for rich audio recording (which featured prominently in the 808 PureView’s spec list) and the 1020 is looking like quite a media creation tool.

Thoughtful hardware is only part of the imaging solution Nokia has concocted here, as it’s supplemented by a new Nokia Pro Camera mode that gives users much more granular control over photo quality. The viewfinder gives you realtime feedback of your settings changes, and enhanced exposure settings enabled Elop and pals to do a little light painting on stage.

The camera grip that leaked earlier made an appearance, and in addition to giving mobile photographers something more substantial to grab onto, it also packs a 1,020mAh battery to supplement the (rather anemic) 2,000 mAh battery sealed inside the 1020.

We had a, um, sneaking suspicion something like this might be happening — but we wanted to see it in person, just to make sure. After an accidental tip off, Nokia and AT&T are finally ready to show off the latest flagship Lumia for real. Meet the Nokia Lumia 1020, complete with all 41 million of those reasons we’ve been hearing about for a while now. That, naturally, is a not so subtle reference to the second-gen PureView 41-megapixel sensor, packed with what the company’s calling the “largest back side illuminated sensor available on a smartphone.” Around the front, you’ll find a 4.5-inch 1,280 x 768 pixels (at a 16:9 aspect ratio) AMOLED PureMotion HD+ display protected by Gorilla Glass 3 and — the company adds — offering super-sensitive touch, even when the user’s got a pair of gloves on (not that we’re thinking about such things in mid July).

The image-focused Windows Phone handset also features six-lens Zeiss optics, manual shutter, xenon flash for different light levels and second-gen optical stabilization. On the software side, you’ll get a Nokia Pro Camera app, so you can manually adjust flash, focus, ISO, white balance, shutter speed and exposure — you know, like on a real camera. On the video side of things, you’ll be able to shot 1080p at 30 frames a second with 4x zoom (and 6x in 720p), while the built-in mics promise high quality even in loud settings. Using the app, you can also reframe photos, zoom, change orientation and more.

Check out all the news from today’s Nokia event at our hub!

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Peripherals, Mobile, Nokia, AT&T

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We can’t say we were really taken aback with shock at the news, but Nokia has officially unveiled its latest imaging flagship, the Lumia 1020. The 41MP Windows Phone, which has been anticipated by many enthusiasts since the 808 PureView was introduced, is looked at Nokia as “the next chapter in smartphone photography.” With the phone only offered in yellow, black and white hues, it’s not the most colorful device in the Finnish company’s repertoire, but Elop’s gang is hopeful that it can make up for the lack of color with a stellar imaging experience: in addition to the high megapixel count, the 1020 will feature OIS, BSI, lossless zoom, six Carl Zeiss lenses, 1080p video capture, xenon flash for stills and LED flash for video.

While the resolution is top-notch — you’ll be able to take 34 and 38MP pictures, depending on your desired aspect ratio — the 1020 will also simultaneously take 5MP oversampled shots that are much more friendly for Facebook and SkyDrive sharing (not to mention capped data plans). The phone also has ball bearings and tiny magnetic motors built-in to aid in optical image stabilization. If you’re worried about being able to change settings or do other imaging adjustments, the 1020 offers a Pro Camera lens app that includes white balance, ISO, exposure and others. Still not enough? Nokia’s also adding an optional camera grip which adds external battery and a tripod mount.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Nokia

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AT&T Nokia Lumia 1020 video ads have been posted online prior to the official announcement, confirming much of what has already been rumored.

Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It Original content from Ubergizmo.

Ready to pair with Nokia’s new Lumia 1020 is a new Pro Camera app to go with all those megapixels. Its new Pro Camera app, not to be confused with the Lumia 925’s Smart Camera app, looks to offer users more control over camera settings, with a new concentric circle system offering access to flash, focus, ISO, shutter speed, white balance and exposure. In video mode, you can shoot at 1080p at 30 frames per seconds with 4x zoom, or up to 6x zoom in 720p. You’ll also be able to reframe your shots within the app too, making better use of that high-resolution 3x zoom feature and manual focus.

Check out all the news from today’s Nokia event at our hub!

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Nokia

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