Nokia Lumia 800 review

To celebrate reaching 200,000 fans on their Facebook account, Nokia UK is giving away a Nokia Lumia 800 to four lucky winners. These aren’t just any Nokia Lumia 800s though – they’ll be signed by one Tinchy Stryder.

The hip-hop star and multimedia mogul can be seen rocking a Nokia Lumia 800 (in stylish black) in the video for his latest single, Bright Lights featuring Pixie Lott, which you can check out below.

Even if you don’t win a Nokia Lumia 800, three runners up will receive a pair of Nokia Purity HD headphones from Monster. Not only do these crystal-clear, bass-rich headphones make your Nokia Music play lists sound extra good, they’re also fully optimised for use with your Nokia Lumia 800. They fold up into a compact carry case, and they also possess integrated call handling so you won’t miss any incoming phone calls.

Nokia Lumia 800: Top 5 peripherals

To be in with a chance of winning one of these seven fine prizes, simply head on over to the Nokia UK Facebook page and Like them. Then, click on the Enter Now button and fill out your details. It really is as simple as that!

In the mean time, take a look at Mr Stryder listening to music on his Nokia Lumia 800 through a pair of Monster headphones. Then imagine yourself doing the same when you win this competition…

Nokia Belle

The Nokia Store version 3.20.050 firmware update comes as part of the Nokia Belle rollout but you need to download and install it separately. At least, this was the case with our Nokia N8. It’s not a big issue, as it’s a mere 4.3MB download and we found that it was up and running within a couple of minutes. 

Nokia N8: Why you need to upgrade to Nokia Belle

That said, it’s still better to carry out an update like this when you’re at home and using the Wi-Fi connection, rather than relying on your data connection when out and about. 

The Nokia Store version 3.20.050 brings with it everything you we’ve come to expect from the Nokia Belle rollout, so along with a faster load speed, you’ll also find a more intuitive and easy-to-use interface. 

Icons along the bottom of the Nokia N8, in our case, screen, allow you to navigate back, search and also dive easier into categories. There is also a neat little icon that allows you to check your account, as well as notifying you when updates are available for al your downloaded apps. 

While we’ve been checking out the Nokia Store version 3.20.050 on our Nokia N8 you’ll find that it;s compatible with all Nokia Belle smartphones and is well work making part of your update regime. 

Already using Nokia Store version 3.20.050 on your Nokia Belle smartphone? What do you think, let us know your thoughts about this update in the Comments below. 

 Check out our Nokia Store version 3.20.050 hands on photo gallery:

The Nokia 500 is a Symbian Anna smartphone with 3.2-inch display that comes with a 1GHz processor, making it a great option for anyone looking to upgrade from their Nokia 5800 or Nokia X6.

Nokia 500: 10 things you need to know

For those who don’t know, there was some confusion early on whether the Nokia 500 would or wouldn’t be getting the Nokia Belle update but that has been cleared up and the entry-level Symbian smartphone will indeed to able to take full advantage of the new update.

The thing is, Nokia 500 users will need to wait just a little longer, as Nokia has not given an official roll out date, other than ‘For Nokia 500, Nokia Belle will be made available within the next few weeks.’.

When it does land you’ll need to have the latest version of Nokia Suite 3.3, which supports Nokia Belle downloads, already installed on your PC, as this version of Nokia Suite has been crafted to take full advantage of the update.

So, while Nokia 500 users can rejoice that they’ll be able to get hold of Nokia Belle, you’ll need a little patience before it starts to roll out. We’ll bring you more information as and when we hear it.

Nokia 500 owners, what are you looking forward to most from the Nokia Belle update? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below.  

Via: Nokia Conversations 

Nokia N8: Why you need to upgrade to Nokia Belle

Here at NokNok we know just how much all of you have been waiting for the Nokia Belle firmware update to land on your Nokia smartphone. So we’re very excited to learn that, starting from February 7th, Nokia Belle will begin rolling out to the following handsets: Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia E6, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01, Nokia X7 and Nokia Oro devices.  A Nokia Belle update for the Nokia 500 will also be arriving in the upcoming weeks, Nokia also confirmed.

“With that, millions of consumers around the world will get a totally fresh experience to their Symbian smartphone.”

New Nokia Belle handset owners will be able to download Nokia Belle from Nokia Suite on their PC, or via an over the air update straight to the device over Wi-Fi.

Like you, we’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. It means that some of our favourite ever Nokia devices such as the 12-megapixel camera-toting Nokia N8 will soon be given a new lease of life, delivering a revamped user-experience to give existing owners that new phone feeling.

Which of the above Nokia Belle-in-waiting devices do you own? Exciting news, huh?

The latest beta app, called Store client for Symbian, version 3.22.044 is the latest version of the Nokia Store, fixing bugs from the previous version and delivering a smoother overall experience.

It also promises easier navigation, an improved product details view and be more responsive. The new client achieves this by using quick QML to make everything appear a lot quicker than before. You can download it to your phone right now.

To do so, simply head over to betalabs.nokia.com/apps and click on Store QM client, or click here, and then on the big “try it now” button on the right of this page. The Store QML client is compatible with all Nokia phones running Symbian^3, Symbian Anna, or the latest Nokia Belle software.  

Downloading the new Nokia Store QML client will instantly replace the existing store client you are currently using, so that you’re ready to dive in whenever you wish. The result should be a smoother, more seamless shopping experience.

As with any Nokia Beta Labs trial, Nokia is looking for feedback before the update goes mainstream. So, should you notice any problems or bugs, don’t forget to give Nokia your feedback to help improve the Nokia Store.

Nokia Beta Labs is the place to see the latest apps that Nokia is working on before they get a general release, so don’t forget to check out what else Nokia has lined up.

Nokia Lumia 800: Top 10 features to try when you buy

It’s easy to assume that major social network sites from reputable companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google are secure. Indeed, in isolation they probably are. But what about when you access them from your Nokia Lumia 800 via dedicated apps?

The website mypermissions.org makes a sobering point. How many apps on your Nokia Lumia 800 do you think have permission to access your private information? You’ll probably be surprised and even a little worried by the answer.

Mypermissions links through to the account pages of a number of major social websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Flickr and Dropbox. These accounts pages show which applications have been given permission to access your personal details, and all of the above have apps on the Windows Phone Marketplace that readily draw information from them.

As a by-product of the modern smartphone revolution, it’s been made all too easy for us to grant access to our personal details to any app that asks – by design it’s a pain-free matter of tapping a ‘Yes’ or an ‘I agree’ button. Indeed, apps such as Facebook are beginning to grant permission to new features on your behalf, treating your initial acceptance as an all-reaching one. Without proper monitoring, dozens of applications (and their extensions) can have access to our personal information at any one time.

Thankfully, mypermissions isn’t just about showing us which apps have been given permission to access our details. Each accounts page also offers the ability to revoke access to your details, allowing you to wrestle back control of your information. We suggest that you take a little time (it really won’t take long) to look through each service and remove any app permissions you don’t use, don’t recognise or simply aren’t sure about. As the Nokia Lumia 800 is pretty new, you’ll also probably have app permissions from your last smartphone that are no longer necessary.

Remember, these services will soon ask you for access permission again if needed, so you won’t lose anything. What you’ll gain is security and no little peace of mind.

Nokia Lumia 900 is best smartphone of CES 2012

First up, Dan and Brad talk a little about the Consumer Electronic Show recently held in Las Vegas, at which Nokia was reborn in the USA. The Nokia Lumia 900 was the talk of the show, coming away with the “Best smartphone” award from tech site CNET.

Speaking of awards, there’s a brief mention for the Nokia N8, which was labelled the best camera phone by TechRadar.

The boys also wheel out the Dealometer again, this time to highlight the top three Nokia prepay and contract phone deals at the moment. The Nokia Lumia 800, Nokia 700 and Nokia E7 all get a look in, as does the Nokia 100 and everyone’s favourite camera phone the Nokia N8 (of course).

Finally, the headline event – Eliza Dushku of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse and Tru Calling fame (she was also in True Lies, you know) talking about the Nokia Lumia 900. What did she think of Nokia’s 4G US-breaker? “I love the screen size. I love the 4g, it’s fast. I love the group texting, I have a big family so it’s nice to be able to send out a blast to everyone. I love the two colors.”

Yep, she loves it alright. Check out the full Nokia UK Mobcast below.

Thanks must go out to Trevor Davies of Nokia Conversations for the pic.

EP07: Lumia 900 Launches in the US by The Nokia UK Mobcast

Nokia Lumia 800: How to transfer contacts

That loveable 900-year-old Jedi master Yoda crops up in a Japanese restaurant, of all places, in the latest Vodafone ad. Why, you ask? Well it seems the little feller has a taste for sushi after all those years of exile on Dagobah.

An apparent smartphone-related issue among his fellow diners soon leads to him offering a hand. It seems that alongside learning how to cheat death by transferring his essence to the force, Yoda also spent his years in isolation learning how to transfer contacts from one phone to another. 

His skills aren’t needed on this occasion though. Thanks to the Red Box technology installed in every Vodafone store around the country, all you need to do is take your phones into any such shop (provided you’re a Vodafone customer) and all your contacts, texts, pictures, videos and music will be transferred while you wait. The service works across all major mobile operating systems, incorporating more than 3,500 handsets.

Of course, considering that the shiny new phone used in the advert is the Nokia Lumia 800, there’s an alternative to popping into your local Vodafone store when it comes to transferring contacts. Every Nokia Lumia 800 comes with the Contacts Transfer app, which handily pulls contacts across from older phones -provided they’re equipped with Bluetooth. It really is super-simple.

However you choose to transfer your contacts – whether through Vodafone’s in-store Red Box solution or Nokia’s Contacts Transfer feature  - you can rest assured that you don’t need to be a Jedi master to get up and running with the Nokia Lumia 800.

Try a Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone free for 40 days

Nokia fought off competition from Apple, Samsung, HTC and more to retain the top spot on brand strength. Overall, Nokia also managed to outperform such popular household brand names as Facebook and Twitter.

The YouGov BrandIndex takes into account what consumers think of a brand in six separate categories: quality, value, customer satisfaction, corporate reputation, general impression, and likelihood of a recommendation. An average score from each of these categories is then taken, forming the brand’s index score.

The result was especially impressive when you consider what a transitional year 2011 was for Nokia. It was the year in which the company switched to a bold new operating system for its high-end phones and initiated a special partnership with Microsoft. This resulted in the launch of the Nokia Lumia 800, powered by Windows Phone.

Nokia promises to kick off 2012 in style, releasing both the Nokia Lumia 710 and the Nokia Lumia 900 worldwide and launching a new version of the Symbian OS, now known as Nokia Belle, for its older and entry level phones. This should ensure that the company maintains its reputation as the most trusted phone brand in the country.

What are you most looking forward to from Nokia in 2012? The Nokia Lumia 900? Nokia Belle? Or some other device or service, announced or otherwise? Let us know in the Comments section below.

Via Mobile Marketing Magazine

The Nokia Store v3.18.036 firmware update was announced by Nokia Beta labs a short time ago and it now seems to be nicely rolling out in the wild as it has shown up on both our Symbian smartphones, which is great news!

The Nokia Store v3.18.036 firmware update works with all Symbian^3 phones, both Symbian Anna and Symbian Belle. As you can see from our photos, it’s a 6.7MB download and is a pretty quick and slick download and install.

Check out the Nokia Store v3.18.036 changelog:
- Fixed: ‘Debug’ option in the client has been removed. This was meant for the R&D team. Sorry for the confusion
- Solved: Purchase option for Symbian Belle users
- Theme Pack (Gift Package) feature is available for Nokia C7 users
- This feature will offer a collection of premium applications at no costs to the selected users for a period of time, e.g. 30 days
- In the Store application, the users will see the Theme Pack banner on the home view. Upon clicking on the banner, they will be linked to the Theme Pack collection

So far we’ve found it to be quick and responsive but the overall look and feel hasn’t changed. You don’t need to go looking for it as you’ll find a reminder pops up on your Symbian^3 smartphone when it’s ready to update.

If you’re got the Nokia Store v3.18.036 firmware update and spotted something new that you particularly like, please let us know in the Comments below.

Check out our Nokia Store v3.18.036 firmware update photo gallery: