Nokia (NOK) CEO Stephen Elop took the stage at a Chelsea warehouse this morning, kicking off an unveiling of new devices running on Microsoft’s (MSFT) “Windows Phone” operating system. He started the presentation by talking about how Nokia strove to replace the “grid of applications” or the dull text of most smartphones when the partnership first kicked off.
Elop mentioned that China is now the biggest market for these “Lumia” phones. Elop also took time to discuss the “Asha” brand of low-cost phones, which are popular in India, for instance. Elop noted that people are starting to consider Asha as low-cost smartphones.
Elop says part of the company’s intention is “future disruption,” which includes not just fundamental work on battery and display technology, but also changing what people think of as an “ecosystem” for mobile devices.
Elop invites up Jo Harlow, director of the team within the Mobile Devices unit that is bringing forth the “next step.” Cue the pounding music and video of a yellow Lumia handset flying together in space.
“Today we are introducing the next generation of Windows Phone, the Lumia 920.”
The device includes Nokia’s “PureView” camera, something called “PureMotion HD” an enhanced display technology, and mapping capabilities, including “Nokia Drive” and “Nokia Transport.”
Harlow notes that two things bedevil smartphone photography: bad lighting, and an inability to monkey with settings when one is on the go. A result frequently is blur. But PureView, she says, captures between five and ten times as much light, using something called “floating lens technology,” which Harlow says surpasses the technology in many DSLRs.
Harlow talks about the location-based applications. Off-line maps will be a “key feature.” It’s not just cached data, but “true off-line maps.” One can find a route and go right into Nokia Drive to get free turn-by-turn driving directions, and even get a reminder for when you need to leave your point of origin, based on the projected travel time.
There’s a new feature in locations, “Nokia City Lens.”. Point the camera at a building, and the phone will tell you what that restaurant, say, is called, and will give your more information about it.
Harlow says the same “augmented reality” functionality will be available in the mapping function anytime you lift up the phone and point it at something.
Harlow says PureMotion HD+ provides better screen resolution than hi def on the 4.5-inch display.
The phone contains the Qualcomm (QCOM) “Snapdragon S4” microprocessor and a 2000 milli-amp battery, the combination of which should make the device 30% more battery efficient than other smartphones.
The 920 supports wireless charging. Harlow shows off something called the Fatboy Pillow charging block, which is, indeed, like a big pillow you can put the phone on, so when you lie down in bed, you can charge the phone, she says, to much laughter.
Harlow invites up Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore, the head of Windows Phone development, to give some updates on what Win Phone 8 does for photography and other functions.
After demonstrating the familiar action of rearranging “live tiles” on the Win Phone “Start Screen,” Belfiore mentions apps, of which there are now over 100,000 for Win Phone. There is a new function in Internet Explorer for seeing opened tabs. Belfiore shows off the “Pulse” Web site, which he emphasizes is re-scaled for the phone’s display, by dint of HTML5, but is actually the same web site “as you would have on your Windows slate, or desktop.”
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