Nokia may have been sold to Microsoft, but before its brand is erased from the world of Windows Phone forever, it looks like it still has at least one more device to come. Nokia may go out with a bang too. The rumored phone falls into an unexplored category for the Finnish brand, that of the smartphone/tablet hybrid. Not only that, it may also house the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, and all the quad-core, Full HD goodness we're expecting it to bring.
We're talking about the Nokia Bandit, also known as the Lumia 1520, and here's everything we think we know about it so far.
What's it going to be called?
Talk about a Nokia phablet began back in April. However, aside from it being labeled as the "Most innovative device in Nokia's 2013 range," it didn't have a name. Leaks soon talked about the phone under a codename of 'Bandit', but later on it became known as the Lumia 1520. This does fit in with Nokia's recent string of hardware releases, such as the Lumia 1020 PureView phone. However, the Lumia 1020 went through several name changes prior to announcement, so there's still a chance this isn't final.
When's it coming?
For obvious reasons, it's going to be soon, as Microsoft won't want Nokia-branded hardware cluttering up the place come the end of the year. September 26 has been frequently suggested as the launch date, with a screenshot supposedly taken from an internal Nokia event registration page providing the most compelling evidence. In 2012, Nokia held its Nokia World conference on September 26 and 27, so it was fitting the company should end its time by announcing new hardware on those dates. A leak from the @evleaks Twitter account agreed, saying, "Nokia Lumia 1520: launches 9/26."
While the end of September looked almost certain, several reports then claimed Nokia has delayed the launch of the Lumia 1520 until late in October, perhaps during the week beginning October 21. No reason for the delay has been noted, although it may be due to logistical problems following Microsoft's buyout of Nokia's devices division, or even an issue with the Windows Phone GDR3 software update, believed to be essential to the Lumia 1520.
Finally, Nokia has come clean and sent out invitations to an event to be held on October 22, complete with several hashtags including one saying, "Innovation Reinvented." The desert scene links in with rumors Nokia will hold the event in Abu Dhabi, rather than New York, although the location has yet to be officially confirmed. Of course, we're not absolutely sure the event will be for the Lumia 1520 yet, but there's a very strong chance it is.
What will it look like?It's going to be big, perhaps even bigger than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. What could be one of Nokia's own press images has leaked, showing a very yellow smartphone running the next version of Windows Phone. How can we tell? Because it has more Live Tiles on screen than usual.
Another picture, published by The Verge, shows the phone next to a Sony Xperia Z, which emphasizes just how big it's going to be, as the 5-inch Sony phone is hardly small. The source of the leak also points out the Lumia 1520 has a pronounced hump on its rear panel, in which the camera lens is mounted. It's apparently not as big as the one seen on the Lumia 1020, but still noticeable.
If the images are genuine, then it's certain the Lumia 1520 will have a body made from polycarbonate rather than metal, and it won't deviate far from the established look of previous Nokia Windows Phone devices.
What about features?
The Lumia 1520 promises to be the most technically impressive Nokia and Windows Phone device we've seen. Most leaks seem to agree it's going to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor - found in most of the current top-of-the-range phones, from the Galaxy S4 to the Xperia Z1 - and a massive 6-inch screen with a 1080p resolution. The matter of the processor was almost cleared up, as a tweet from - of all people - Qualcomm, in reply to an aside about the Lumia 1520, got the response, "We're proud to be a part of that awesome device." It then retracted the statement saying the question had been, "misread," and they had no information at all about future devices. Sure, Qualcomm, we believe you.
There has been some disagreement about the camera, with The Verge's source claiming it'll take both 5-megapixel and 16-megapixel shots at the same time, while others have linked it with the 41-megapixel PureView camera found on the Lumia 1020. A tweet from @evleaks says, "Enough FUD: Bandit has a 20-megapixel PureView camera."
We'll find out which one is right when it's announced, but we're sure Nokia will play up its photographic capabilities, just as it has done with all its major releases over the past year.
How about Windows Phone?The Windows Phone fans among you may already be aware that Microsoft's operating system doesn't support quad-core processors or 1080p screen resolutions. That's all set to change, we think, with the next update, known as General Distribution Release 3 or GDR3 for short. Nokia's smartphone/tablet hybrid may be the first to feature GDR3.
Other interesting features of the GDR3 update include being able to squeeze more Live Tiles onto the Start screen (to take advantage of larger, high-res displays), plus various tweaks such as a safe driving mode, an orientation lock, and Dolby Mobile audio. These have been spotted in a version of the software installed on a Nokia phone, named Bittersweet Shimmer. We've yet to get official confirmation from Microsoft on GDR3's features, so some of the above could end up being exclusive to Nokia devices.
Anything else expected at the launch event?
It's all set to be Nokia's last event, so if the company really does have a Windows tablet it plans to release under its name, then it really should be there too. A recent Reuters report stated the event would have multiple product launches, so a tablet or a selection of mid-range Windows Phones are a strong possibility.
If its a tablet, expect it to have a 10.1-inch screen, a Snapdragon 800 processor, and to run the new Windows RT 8.1 software, at least according to recent gossip.
The Lumia 1520 is still unofficial, so all the above could turn out to be false, but none of it sounds too outlandish provided the GDR3 update delivers the required upgrades. We'll bring you more news on the phone as we get it, and of course, we'll be covering any launch event when it's announced.
news by October 05, 2013 at 06:35AM
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment