The Three Phases of PureView
A year or so ago I opined that Google's HDR+ software, the foundation of the cameras on the Pixel and Pixel 2 smartphones (and much cloned and hacked on other devices), effectively represents the next...
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'Operation Elop' and the bungled transition
Authors Pekka Nykänen and Merina Salminen published a book in Finnish, back in 2015, about the fall of Nokia from 2010-ish through to the (then) present day, 2015. The central character in all of this...
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Review: Veho Endurance VPP-008-E
Having reviewed the EasyAcc 20000mAh late last year, it seems that rugged power banks are becoming more common, since there's now this, from one of my favourite accessory makers, Veho. The Endurance...
View ArticleGemini: P for Productivity
Now, bear with me, since this doesn't run Symbian (AAS) or Windows (AAWP), but it does very much follow up on some of the ideas of Symbian (née Psion/EPOC) and Nokia over the years and it does very...
View ArticleA brief history of the most innovative camera centric phones
John Velasco, over at PhoneArena, has put together an industry wide, 16 year video overview of camera phones that's worth a quick look. It's not perfect and the Nokia N93 is a notable omission (IMHO),...
View ArticleJumping to Android? Coming from (e.g.) a Lumia, the S9 is the best bet...
If you're steeped in the Lumia 950 XL or similar, on Windows 10 Mobile, or perhaps the Nokia 808 on Symbian (this being cross-posted to AAS), then it's worth noting that I've been doing a LOT of...
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Modern times: Why replaceable batteries went away
Sometimes you can't always get what you want, but.... you might just get what you need. So sang The Rolling Stones and a bit of a life lesson, but borne out by several technological trends, not least...
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Mini-review: the fast charging Blitzwolf BW-P6 power bank
I get many requests to review power banks but I only accept those which I think offer something new. In this case, the Blitzwolf BW-P6 has two claims to fame: it can be recharged at up to 18W, meaning...
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PureView zoom ideas to return in the Huawei P20 Pro?
The cornerstone of the PureView camera in the Nokia 808 (and, later, 1020) was a way to zoom in without needing a physical mechanism. Hence the idea of smart cropping into a massive 41MP pixel array....
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Huawei's P20 Pro is launched, with 1/1.7" 40MP main sensor
AAS and AAWP readers will prize the Nokia 808 PureView and Lumia 1020 highly - I already reported on the imminent launch of another super-sensored camera phone champion, from Huawei. And it's here, and...
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Zoom, zoom, zoom: by popular demand, the 808, 1020 and Galaxy S9+
Zoom is one of the few really diffentiating factors in phone imaging these days, with 'simple' photo taking now being mastered in almost all light conditions. However, no sooner do I mention a...
View ArticleRoth camera comparison: Nokia 808 versus Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Reader Martin Roth runs a YouTube channel, in part dedicated to comparing camera phones - and he's now put up videos on the Nokia 808 PureView versus the Apple iPhone 8 Plus. Worth a watch as he goes...
View ArticleA dozen smartphone 'hot potatoes'
Debates over spec points and bumps have raged since the dawn of the smartphone age (2000-ish) and they show no sign of letting up. But where would I draw the line in 2018, what's more or less essential...
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Review: EasyAcc MegaCharge D20
OK, I say this every time, but... we have a new winner. In the power bank stakes, at least. The combination of input and output flexibility, capacity, ruggedness, coupled with a camping-grade torch,...
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By popular demand: Nokia 808 PureView vs Huawei P20 Pro shootout
Over on AAWP, I've been doing detailed shootouts between the Huawei P20 Pro, with its 40MP sensor and under the guidance of one of the original Pureiew co-creators, Eero Salmelin, and the Lumia 1020,...
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Review: Audew Jump Starter 16800 power bank
A 'different' (and somewhat pricey) accessory here, but one which should be of interest to almost everyone who drives. It's a dual port power bank for your smartphone and a powerful torch - that's also...
View ArticleMeanwhile on Android: the QWERTY alternative
OK, so this is Android, but is harkens back to the glory days of Psion, classic Symbian, Communicators, the HTC 7 Pro(!), and much more. The Gemini was designed by the same guy who designed the Psion...
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The Rise and Fall of Nokia
Just to flag up that there's an interesting programme on UK TV tomorrow (Tuesday) evening, at 9pm, a documentary looking at the rise and fall of Nokia. This is about the 'classic' Nokia, of course, not...
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The GPD Pocket 2 about to launch
As with the Surface Go, this isn't a phone and, in fact, this doesn't even have a touchscreen, but the GPD Pocket 2 is still worthy of your attention because it's an ultra-portable and not much more...
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PureView lives again - Sony announces 48MP sensor
Sony just announced a sensor that takes us all right back to the halcyon days of the Nokia 808 PureView and the Lumia 1020 - this has 48 Megapixels and allows for lossless digital zoom, especially in...
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