Nokia has confirmed it is to expand its range of Batman themed Lumia handsets with the mid-range Windows Phone packing Nokia Lumia 710 coming in for a Dark Knight Rises makeover.
Following on from its high-end Lumia 800 sibling, Nokia has revealed that those looking to pick up the 3.7-inch Lumia 710 will now be able to plump for a special edition Dark Knight Rises branded option. What’s more, existing Lumia 710 owners will be able to select a new Dark Knight Rises cover free of charge.
Nokia Lumia 710 Dark Knight Rises Edition Specs
Unlike the Batman branded Lumia 800 which features the superhero’s infamous mark etched into the polycarbonate rear, 710 owners will be able to choose a selection of various hued interchangeable rear covers all of which will have the upcoming film’s logo splashed across them.
Available in five separate colour tones, those looking to add some Batman themed frivolity to their handset can select from cyan, white, magenta, yellow and the very fitting black options.
Underneath the hood the Dark Knight themed handsets are the same as the original Nokia Lumia 710 with a 1.4GHz single-core processor lining up alongside an 800 x 480p resolution 3.7-inch display and 512MB of RAM. With a 5-megapixel camera on the rear, the Lumia 710 is capable of capturing 720p HD video content at an impressive 30 frames-per-second.
Nokia Lumia 800 Dark Knight Rises Edition Release Date
Available in the UK now, Nokia’s latest collaboration with the upcoming Batman flick will be available from retailers until August 31st and can be snapped up on a selection of different tariffs and on a PAYG basis.
Are you tempted by the new Nokia Lumia 710? Did the Batman themed finish push you over the edge? Let us know via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.
Nokia: Windows Phone 7 Will Live On - PC Magazine
Windows Phone 7 will live on even after Windows 8 goes on sale, Nokia senior vice president Kevin Shields said today. Whether it's through existing Lumia 900 devices or even potential new models, the move to Windows Phone 8 won't be a sudden break.
"We're going to keep investing in Windows Phone 7 and continuing to grow the Windows Phone ecosystem for quite some time," Shields said. "I expect application providers to release apps that run on both Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8."
Shields stopped just short of promising that Nokia would use Windows Phone 7 as the OS for the low-cost Windows Phones that Nokia's CEO, Stephen Elop, promises for emerging markets. But the hinting was pretty intense.
"We don't talk about unannounced products. We see Windows Phone 7 as a pretty important part of investing in Windows Phone, and we're really enthusiastic about Windows Phone 8 and what it unlocks in terms of hardware innovation," he said.
Nokia is walking a tightrope here. As we discovered today, Windows Phone 8 is a radical reboot of Microsoft's OS to support more powerful processors, higher-res screens and greater compatibility with Windows 8. But Nokia is currently selling the Lumia 900, which won't get a Windows Phone 8 upgrade - it'll only go to "Windows Phone 7.8," which improves the phone's start screen but doesn't include new APIs for more powerful apps.
"The Lumia 900 is a great value, and innovation is going to be coming to it for quite some time," Shields said. "In the short to medium term, an application developer will have a really easy time developing and delivering experiences that with well on both 7 and 8," he said.
Microsoft borrowed Nokia's maps for Windows Phone 8, but Nokia will still be able to offer better experiences than other phone makers, even in navigation, Shields said.
"We've got a lot of creativity and investment beyond simple navigation," Shields said.
One much-anticipated feature is PureView, Nokia's pixel-merging, up-to-41-megapixel camera technology. But Shields shied away from saying PureView requires Windows Phone 8.
"We're certainly investing deeply in PureView and we fully intend to bring it to Windows Phone … [but] there's not much of a story to be told in respect to Windows Phone 8 and PureView," Shields said.
Microsoft said Nokia would build Windows Phone 8 devices, but Nokia doesn't have anything to show quite yet, Shields said.
"Stay tuned. We have some things up our sleeves that we think you'll definitely see up the ante," Shields said.
The first Windows Phone 8 devices are expected to come this fall. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have all confirmed that they'll carry Windows Phone 8.
Can Nokia's Windows Phone 8 3D mapping compete with new Google Maps and iOS services? - Techradar.com
Microsoft announced this morning at a highly publicized press conference that Windows Phone 8, which will launch this fall, will drop Bing Maps in favor of Nokia's own 3D mapping service on all devices.
The announcement doesn't come as a surprise, as reports have been coming in for over a week that Nokia Maps would replace Bing Maps.
- Windows Phone 8 - release date and latest details
And Nokia's services, including Navteq and Where, were already tightly integrated with Bing Maps.
So while the transition should prove easy for Windows Phone 8 users, the real question is whether Nokia's maps services will be able to compete with the newly expanded Google Maps and the just-revealed Apple iOS 6 maps app.
Google Maps brings 3D and offline offerings
Google revealed an expanded Google Maps suite at their offices earlier this month, timing their conference smartly to preempt Apple's announcement that they're dropping Google's service.
The new Google Maps will feature 3D mapping similar to the technology that Nokia's maps will utilize, though it remains to be seen how the two will stack up.
Google's fleet of aerial capture planes should provide it with some edge over competitors, though.
The other big new feature for Google Maps is offline mode, which allows Android users to view maps without an internet connection.
Microsoft today confirmed that Nokia will also support offline maps, a move that will help it compete with Google Maps.
Apple's iOS 6 maps focus on navigation
Despite the expanded Google Maps bringing some oft-requested features, Apple decided to shun the service for iOS 6 and adopt an internal solution instead.
The iOS 6 maps app focuses on ease of use and proliferation, reportedly providing global maps for all countries and 100 million business listings with Yelp integration and a built-in traffic service.
Its other big new feature is turn-by-turn navigation, which Microsoft today confirmed Nokia Maps will match.
Like Nokia Maps and Google Maps, iOS 6's mapping service provides full 3D images, which appears to be the way of the future.
There are doubtless some features of Nokia Maps that have yet to be revealed, and only persistent practical usage will prove which service does what best.
A Windows Phone spokesperson told TechRadar that the company has nothing to share at this time regarding the future of mapping technology.
Nokia stresses key features
Nokia sent a statement to TechRadar outlining their key Nokia Maps features, including turn-by-turn navigation (in the US, Canada and UK), offline maps, 3D mapping, and "the most business listings".
The statement also stressed that Nokia's mapping service is "an intelligent, learning location platform that makes the real world computable by blending reference data from all the places and objects in the physical world with a digital footprint of user activity data from millions of users (using mobile devices)."
Nokia stressed that their "location platform" will power maps services on all Windows Phone 8 devices, and not just Nokia's own.
TechRadar awaits comment from Google.
Apple aims to reopen patent fight against Google's Motorola - The Guardian
Apple will try to salvage a high-profile lawsuit against Google's Motorola Mobility unit on Wednesday at a crucial hearing in the smartphone patent wars between the two technology companies.
Sitting in Chicago, federal judge Richard Posner will hear Apple argue that it should be able to seek an order barring the sale of some Motorola phones. Posner's decision could affect the iPhone maker's ability to negotiate favourable licensing agreements in its legal fights against Motorola and other competitors including Samsung and HTC.
Apple has waged an international patent war since spring 2010, part of its attempt to either limit the growth of Google's Android or to restrict the number of iPhone-like features that it offers. So far it has had little effect; Android has gone in that time from around 100,000 phones being activated every day to more than 900,000 a day, and from less than 8m devices in use worldwide to more than 390m. Opponents of Apple, meanwhile, say it is using patents too aggressively in its bid to stamp out competition.
Motorola was first to move, suing Apple in October 2010, a move widely seen as a pre-emptive strike. Apple filed its own claims against Motorola the same month. Among the patents being asserted are some originally filed by NeXT Computer, the company set up by the late Steve Jobs which was then bought by Apple in 1996.
Posner issued a series of pretrial rulings that eliminated nearly all of Motorola's patent claims against Apple, while maintaining more of Apple's claims against Motorola. That meant Apple had more to gain at the trial, which had been set to start last week.
But earlier this month Posner cancelled the trial, saying in a tentative ruling that neither side could prove damages. An injunction would be "contrary to the public interest," he wrote.
Last week however Posner granted Apple's request for a hearing on a possible injunction, and ordered both sides to submit legal arguments in advance. Those documents were filed under seal on Monday.
Motorola may also ask for an injunction on the one patent in the case that it can still assert against Apple.
A clear victory in one of the US legal cases could strengthen Apple's hand in negotiating cross-licensing deals, where companies agree to let each other use their patented technologies, or to apply for bans on sales or changes to how devices which infringe its patents function.
So far, though, Apple has shown little inclination to license its patents to Android device makers, although it signed a Apple cross-licensing deal with Finland's Nokia in June 2011 in an out-of-court settlement after a protracted battle between the two over patents.
By contrast Microsoft has persuaded a number of Android handset manufacturers to sign cross-licensing deals which in effect mean that it gets paid a stipend every time one of the handsets is shipped.
Apple and Samsung are scheduled for trial on 30 July in federal court in San Jose, California.
Motorola Droid Razr Maxx Receives Android Update (Beta Version) - Int'l Business Times
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Australian users who are using Motorola Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx would need to wait a little longer in order for the update to officially roll out in the U.S. before receiving their own Android updates in Australia. Australian users should also wait for an official announcement from their mobile carriers regarding the specific schedule for their Android ICS update.
Though this update for Motorola smartphones are expected to push through all around the world, the specific date and availability would still be dependent on their respective mobile carriers.
The Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx are considered as the top smartphones from Motorola. The Droid Razr has a display size of 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen which has dimensions of 130.7 x 68.9 x 7.1 mm and weighs around 127 grams. It has a Dual-Core 1.2GHz processor with 16GB internal memory storage which can be upgraded through removable memory option of up to 32GB. As for the Droid Razr Maxx, it has a display size of 4.3-inch Super AMOLED which has dimensions of 130.7 x 68.9 x 8.99 mm and weighs around 145 grams. It also has a Dual-Core 1.2GHz with 16 GB internal; 16 GB microSD card pre-installed as well as removable storage option of up to 32GB (microSD).
Both the Motorola Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx are already available in the Australian market.
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Motorola Xoom 2 says buongiorno to Alitalia's cockpits and cabins (video) - engadget
Motorola Mobility Takes Motorola XOOM™ 2 to the Skies with Alitalia
ROME – June 19, 2012 – Today marks a unique opportunity between Motorola Mobility and the Italian airline Alitalia, which will revolutionize aircraft service and in-flight entertainment. Alitalia and Motorola Mobility have always been at the forefront in offering innovative technology solutions: Alitalia to flight assistants and customers and likewise Motorola Mobility to consumers. Today they anticipate that airlines will need more sophisticated technologies, focused on enhancing customer satisfaction.
Alitalia will be among the first airlines in the world to provide their crew with a tablet, Motorola XOOM™ 2, which will contain all relevant information on high value customers. This includes not only the profile of each passenger, but also their preferences in terms of the on-board menu, seating, travel history, as well as any inconveniences they experienced in the past. This will enable the staff to identify all the high value customers and to customise the service according to their needs.
Thanks to the wide range of programs and tools configured on each device and the ability to connect to the web, Alitalia staff will be able to receive updated information in real-time and perform all operations on board without having to print and carry, achieving great improvements in terms of time, efficiency and speed of updates. The flight attendants will also use the Motorola XOOM 2 to access the aircraft's internal manuals from the palm of their hands.
Motorola XOOM™ 2 tablets will also be introduced as Alitalia's in-flight entertainment services (IFE) for Business and Magnifica Class passengers on mid as well as long-distance flights to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Tel Aviv, Beyruth, Riyadh and Teheran that are currently without an IFE service. Thanks to the tablets and the preloaded content, passengers will enjoy free access to a wide range of movies, music, online magazines and video games - all from Motorola XOOM 2's gorgeous 10.1-inch widescreen HD display.
But there is no need to be on the plane to take advantage of the Motorola XOOM 2. The Motorola XOOM 2 tablets will also be placed in 10 Alitalia lounges (Freccia Alata) so travelers can keep up to date on the latest news before embarking on their flights. A demo area within the Alitalia flagship store in Rome will provide useful suggestions to passengers on how to use the best technology of Motorola XOOM 2.
"Today we have made another further step ahead in our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) strategy" says Marco Sansavini, director of sales, Distribution and Customer Care in Alitalia. "It is a priority project for the new Alitalia, which involves the training of 9,000 people. Alitalia wants to make the onboard flight an extraordinary experience and the tablets will enable the crew to always stay online and in touch with the needs and preferences of its passengers. Alitalia will be one of the first airlines in the world that will use this innovative way to manage its clients. The tablet will also be used as a source of entertainment for passengers of six medium and long distance destinations and for the guests of our lounge rooms "Freccia Alata".
"With its cutting edge technology and host of entertainment features, Motorola XOOM 2 is the perfect travel companion for Alitalia passengers," said Maurizio Angelone, vice president and general manager, Mobile Devices, EMEA, Motorola Mobility. "Tablets have increasingly become a must-have device for staying connected, whether at home or on the go, and we anticipate the transportation industry will make tablets an integral part of their consumer offering in the years to come."
Why Microsoft went with Nokia for Windows Phone 8 - Techradar.com
Microsoft and Nokia have become quick friends thanks to Windows Phone, and the partnership is only growing stronger with the move to Windows Phone 8.
In addition to debuting Windows Phone 8 on a prototype Nokia handset, the new mobile OS is dropping Microsoft's own Bing for maps and adopting Nokia's Navteq-based service to provide 3D maps across all Windows Phones.
- Windows Phone 8 - release date and latest details
The partnership makes sense, given that Nokia's Lumia 900 handsets have given the Windows Phone platform new life in the marketplace.
However, the relationship is mutually beneficial, as Nokia needs Windows Phone just as much as the OS needs it.
After Nokia's Symbian OS fell through the company needed a change, and the crowded Android market has proven a tough nut to crack.
The manufacturer has put its focus in Windows Phone development as a result, leading to its close relationship with Microsoft today.
A new day for Nokia, but not its customers
While Nokia itself is riding high with the official unveiling of Windows Phone 8, early adopters of and supporters of Windows Phone are getting left in the cold.
One of the key features for Windows Phone 8 will be support for dual-core chips, with the rest of the OS feature set built around that extra processing power.
Despite the surge of popularity Nokia's Lumia line brought to Windows Phone, those users are now left unable to take advantage of the new OS, including Nokia's integrated 3D maps.
Windows Phone 8 essentially sets the install base back to zero, which gives Microsoft the opportunity to raise up other manufacturers alongside Nokia.
A Microsoft spokesperson told TechRadar:
"The momentum of Windows Phone is picking up in a wide variety of ways. Nokia is a critical partner for us, but we are also deeply committed to a number of other OEMS.
"We know that HTC is more committed than ever, and Huawei is coming on board this year too which opens up a lot of opportunity for us. We're in this for the long run, and we're happy that Windows Phone has become a credible third ecosystem in the eyes of many of our mobile operator and OEM partners."
While Microsoft is quick to name drop HTC and Huawei as new Windows Phone 8 manufacturers, history suggests that their handsets will be conversions of their existing Android hardware.
Nokia, with its close ties to Microsoft and built-in Windows Phone 8 integration could still come out on top when it brings out new hardware later this year.
Assuming that Lumia 900 adopters aren't still sore from being left behind.
Google’s Motorola Mobility Offers to End Microsoft Cases - Businessweek
Google Inc. (GOOG) (GOOG)’s Motorola Mobility unit said it made a new offer to settle its patent-infringement disputes with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) (MSFT) over the Xbox gaming system and smartphones. Microsoft questioned whether the offer was serious.
Motorola Mobility offered to pay 33 cents for every phone that uses Microsoft’s ActiveSync software to avoid an import ban by the U.S. International Trade Commission on phones that use the software, Kirk Dailey, vice president of intellectual property for Motorola Mobility, said in an interview yesterday.
The Google unit also lowered its demand for royalties on products that use Microsoft’s Windows operating system, to 50 cents for each unit that uses the industry standard for video compression. The company maintained its request for 2.25 percent of the cost of the Xbox gaming system, Dailey said. Microsoft could be banned from importing the Xbox if it loses an ITC case brought by Motorola Mobility.
“We’re hopeful they’re going to respond positively,” Dailey said. “We should have a response in two weeks.”
A settlement would end tit-for-tat cases the companies brought against each other. Microsoft, which contends all devices that run on Google’s Android operating system use its technology, sought royalties from Motorola Mobility. Libertyville, Illinois-based Motorola Mobility responded by demanding royalties on the Xbox for use of the company’s Wi-Fi and video-compression technology.
License Refusal
“While we welcome any good faith settlement effort, it’s hard to apply that label to a demand that Microsoft pay royalties to Google far in excess of market rates, that refuses to license all the Microsoft patents infringed by Motorola,” Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft’s deputy general counsel for intellectual property, said in a statement.
Microsoft has asserted other patents in district court against Motorola Mobility that aren’t related to ActiveSync.
Motorola Mobility, which Google bought last month, is facing an order that it must remove the ActiveSync feature from its Android phones or the phones will be stopped at the border. The import ban is scheduled to go into effect July 17 unless it is overturned by President Barack Obama on public policy grounds.
The 33-cent offer on Android phones equals the amount of a bond that Motorola Mobility is obligated to post during the presidential review period, and is higher than what the company paid under a prior license for ActiveSync, Dailey said.
Standard Rate
Motorola Mobility had offered to license its own patents to Microsoft at a rate of 2.25 percent on the retail price of the products, which the company has said is its standard rate. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said in court filings that the figure would amount to $4 billion a year and filed a lawsuit accusing Motorola Mobility of violating its obligation to license patents related to industry standards on fair terms.
The $4 billion figure was based, in part, on a calculation that the 2.25 percent would apply to the cost of a computer that runs on Windows. Motorola Mobility challenged Microsoft’s calculation.
Dailey said the offer has been changed to 50 cents per unit so if Microsoft were to sell 300 million copies of Windows, that would equal $150 million.
Motorola Mobility also has made a licensing offer to Apple Inc. (AAPL) (AAPL) and the companies continue to be in discussions, he said.
“Both Microsoft and Apple need to show that they’re willing to be reasonable as well by respecting the contributions Motorola has made in literally creating the mobile phone industry,” Dailey said. “Injunctions are an extreme remedy, but not when you’ve been negotiating with someone for years with no movement, and who is actively seeking to destroy a competitor ecosystem.”
Judges’ Findings
Judges at the International Trade Commission have said that Microsoft and Apple infringe Motorola Mobility patents related to industry standards. The commission is scheduled to announce June 25 whether it will review those findings, and has set target dates in August to complete those investigations.
European regulators are investigating complaints brought by Microsoft and Apple that Motorola Mobility was misusing its patents as the companies battle for smartphone market share.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and leaders of the House Judiciary Committee submitted comments to the ITC saying that companies should be limited in their ability to win import bans using standard-essential patents.
“At a time when the FTC, prominent members of Congress and leading companies from across the industry are expressing concern about Google’s refusal to honor its obligations to standards bodies, this appears to be little more than an effort to change the subject,” Gutierrez said.
The Motorola Mobility case against Microsoft is In the Matter of Gaming and Entertainment Consoles, 337-752 and the Microsoft case against Motorola Mobility is In the Matter of Mobile Devices, Associated Software and Components Thereof, 337-744, both U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington).
To contact the reporters on this story: Susan Decker in Washington at sdecker1@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bernard Kohn at bkohn2@bloomberg.net
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