Hasta La Gadget!

If Ballistic cases are the gauge for how the industry is swinging, it’s good news for Nokia and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8, because their newest and most hardcore unit is headed to all the heroes – including the Lumia 920. Included with the standard fare – that being the iPhone 5 first, then a Samsung device (the Galaxy S III here near the end of 2012), it’s the Nokia Lumia 920 that’s up for protection next. And this “Every1″ case is a doozy, too.

What you’re going to see with this case – and case series – is slim protection that’s made to be both rugged and usable by anyone and everyone. This case has built-in Active Latches Suspension Springs to keep the device suspended with a 1mm air gap all around. Built-in port covers keep your device dirt resistant from start to finish, too.

You’ve got a built-in screen protector and there’s a second model also coming with kickstand and easy on-the-go viewing. You’ve got four layers of protection to keep this beast of a case swaddling your smartphone with nothing less than the best protection Ballistic has ever delivered. Adam Stubin, VP of Business Development, Ballistic, has made it clear that they’re pretty pumped up about the whole situation:

“We looked at the best features of our previous series’ and thought ‘why not combine them all? The Every1 Case is exactly that…a protective case that satisfies everyone’s needs.” – Stubin

You’re going to be able to pick this case up for $50 in not just a variety of shapes based on the smartphone you’ve got on-hand, but a variety of colors as well. The Nokia Lumia device owners out there amongst you will know instantly what it means to need color options, that’s for certain – stay bright!

This case will be out for the iPhone 4/5, Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy Express, and Nokia Lumia 820/920 immediately if not soon at your favorite online (and offline) retailers – color power!

Ballistic Every1 case goes top-class for Galaxy S III, iPhone 5, and Lumia 920 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Some Windows Phone 8 users are reporting problems with random reboots and freezes. The Verge picked up on the issue yesterday. Since then the number of post on various forum threads has risen, with 157 replies on the WPCentral forum and 61 replies to a question about reboots on a Microsoft forum. A Nokia support forum thread on the Lumia 920 freezing now runs to four pages.

It is unclear exactly what is triggering the problems — and whether they are related or down to specific issues with different handsets, although since multiple handsets from different makers are involved a problem relating to the OS seems most likely. Handsets named by forum users include the Nokia Lumia 920 and the HTC 8X. An owner of an WP7 handset, the HTC Trophy, also reports having reboot problems with that older handset.

Several users on the WPCentral forum report having fewer problems after uninstalling the Facebook app — but others say the reboots seem entirely random. Other users various blame the HTC hub, and an NFC tap-to-share feature.

We’ve asked Microsoft, HTC and Nokia if they are aware of any problems and whether they are working on a fix. We’ll update this story with any response.

Update: Nokia acknowledged there have been “reports of a small number of people experiencing this unusual performance on their Nokia Lumia 920″ and pointed to problematic apps as a potential cause — noting in a statement: “We are investigating but suspect some apps may be at the root of the issue when left running in the background. While we learn more, we advise people when finished with an application to navigate away using the back button to ensure it is no longer active.”

Update 2: HTC told TechCrunch it understands that Microsoft is looking into the issue. Microsoft has yet to respond to a request for comment.

Update 3: Microsoft said it is “currently investigating reports of these incidents”.

It’s time to get on board with Windows Phone 8, and what better way to do it than with one of the two first devices on the market with the mobile operating system? We’ve had a look at both the Nokia Lumia 920 and the HTC Windows Phone 8X – now it’s time to pit them against one another in an all-out race to the finish. The finish in this case being your hand – and your pocket, of course.

The Nokia Lumia 920 provides a relatively rich ecosystem considering the relatively newness of Windows Phone in general. The Windows Phone 8 universe is being headed by both Nokia and HTC, so says Microsoft, so it’d probably be a good idea to get one or the other, but Microsoft’s team-up with Nokia has been going on for a bit longer, and much more prevalently. This means things like Microsoft holding up Nokia devices at Windows Phone 8 events and using them for advertisements in general – and developers having more confidence in their ability to last long on the market, which is good for apps.

The Lumia series has a set of Nokia apps that come only with Nokia devices, including several rather neat mapping and augmented reality engagements. Have a peek at the following video to see what Nokia Maps, City View, and the rest will mean for you when you pick this device up. You’ll also see a couple other features courtesy of our friendly Nokia representative from back at the launch of this device.

Then it’s time for the real judgement. Based on our Nokia Lumia 920 full review you’ll be finding that it’s a more than capable device for your everyday high-end smartphone-loving existence. Comparatively you’ve got two devices that are rather similar in the specifications universe:

HTC Windows Phone 8X: 5.21 x 2.61 x 0.40 inchese (132.3 x 66.2 x 10.1 mm)
Nokia Lumia 920: 5.13 x 2.79 x 0.42 inches (130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7 mm)

8X: 4.59 oz (130 g)
920: 6.53 oz (185 g)

8X: Black, Yellow, Blue, Red
920: Black, Yellow, Red, White, Gray

8X: 4.30 inch 720 x 1280 pixel resolution S-LCD 2 display (342 PPI)
920: 4.5 inch 768 x 1280 pixel resolution IPS LCD display (332 PPI)

8X: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5GHz processor with Adreno 225 graphics and 1GB RAM
920: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5GHz processor with Adreno 225 graphics and 1GB RAM

8X: 16 GB built-in storage
920: 32 GB built-in storage

8X: 8 megapixel back-facing camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 1920×1080 (1080p HD) video
920: 8.7 megapixel back-facing camera with PureView technology, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 1280×720 (720p HD) (30 fps) video

Our full HTC Windows Phone 8X review has essentially the same software experience as the Nokia device except for the Nokia-added apps. Here HTC has what you might call a “cleaner” look at Windows Phone 8, though both devices are able to eject apps at will (such is one of the simplest and greatest abilities of Windows Phone in general.) The HTC device also has Beats Audio integrated for superior heavy sound.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X’s benefits are primarily in the hardware department with ever-so-slight differences in lightness and thinness. You’ll also find a different feel, with a sharper feel with the HTC device and a more pillowy feel with the Nokia device. We recommend literally heading in to your local retailer and holding both devices in your hand before making the decision between these two titans, that’s for sure!

Nokia Lumia 920 vs HTC Windows Phone 8X smartphone war is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Welcome to the SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: Presidential Edition. The world of tech didn’t come to a halt just because we needed to go out and vote, so in case you missed it, here’s the big news from the day. We learned today that HTC and Verizon will be holding a press event on November 13, and it’s there that we’re expecting to get our first official introduction to the HTC DROID DNA. Speaking of HTC, the company gave us its earnings for October 2012 today, and they aren’t looking all that great. Halo 4 officially launched today, but it isn’t without its share of server problems, and physical Google Wallet cards have been confirmed on a Google support page.

We heard new rumors of an Xbox Surface again today, and AT&T announced that it will begin offering the Nokia Lumia 920 on November 9 for a mere $99. Apple OS X 10.9 has been popping up around the web today, and Opera has been updated to version 12.10, which brings support for high definition displays. Amazon has introduced a new monthly billing option for Prime, and even though you’ll be paying more than subscribing annually, it might be a better idea for some than plopping down one big lump sum.

A sequel to the classic game Elite is looking for funding on Kickstarter, while Instagram says that Hurricane Sandy was probably its biggest event ever. Vizio unveiled a new line up of HDTVs and sound bars for the holidays, while Valve officially kicked off its limited-access Steam for Linux beta today. Ford and Microsoft had reason to gloat today with the 5 millionth Sync-equipped vehicle, and EA & DICE are celebrating 10 years of Battlefield with free copies of Battlefield 1942 on Origin.

Did you photograph your ballot and put it on the Internet today? Did you know that’s an illegal thing to do? Google was awarded a new patent that means something interesting for Google Glass, and Fisker was hit pretty hard by Hurricane Sandy. Microsoft has confirmed it will be focusing on Skype instead of Windows Live Messenger, and we heard that PlayStation: The Official Magazine will be going dark later this year. Finally tonight, Chris Davies explains why Apple will kick Intel to the curb if it can, and we tell you why you should probably wait on the all of the Miracast accessories for now. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night everyone!

SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: November 6, 2012 is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

AT&T is finally spilling the beans on how much its Windows Phone 8 handsets will set you back if you plump for a two-year deal. Nokia’s Lumia 920 costs $99.99, $50 less than previously speculated, and will come with a free wireless charging plate. If your wallet can’t (or won’t) stretch that far, then you can snag a Lumia 820 for just $49.99, the same price as last generation’s flagship. If you’ve had your eye turned by HTC’s much-lauded Windows Phone 8X, then you can select an 8GB limited edition version in blue or limelight (yellow) for $99.99, or a 16GB device for $199.99. Both of the Nokia handsets will be available to pre-order from the 7th (tomorrow) and available on the 9th (Friday), while the 8X should be rolling around “before Thanksgiving.” Now that ‘Ma Bell has tipped her hand, it’s now down to Verizon, which is expected to make its riposte on Thursday.

Continue reading AT&T prices Lumia 920 and 8GB HTC 8X at $100, Lumia 820 at $50, Nokias due on Friday

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, AT&T

AT&T prices Lumia 920 and 8GB HTC 8X at $100, Lumia 820 at $50, Nokias due on Friday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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