First I want to apoligize to those who were expecting much, or at least more from me during the Nokia Event at the Mobile World Congres. After a while it became compeltely impossible to get any kind of internet connection – every available channel was occupied it appeared. I could only get a few tweets across – incredibly frustrating. I think I spent more time establishing a connection until I finally had to give up and listen to the presentation itself.
But that proved to be quite frustrating as well, although I see a few positive points. First the sad news: as more or less expected, PureView wasn’t mentioned at all. Many other – also older – terms were presented again (like Photobeamer), but there was not anything PureView in the devices shown.
The Lumia 720 was the most advanced smartphone in Nokia’s presentation today, with an interesting camera because of the Carl Zeiss optics and the large aperture of f /1.9 “ designed to deliver bright, clear pictures day and night, while the HD-quality, wide-angle front-facing camera makes taking pictures with friends and video calling more enjoyable” (quote from the press release you’ll find here).
When asked about it Elop answered “the year isn’t over yet”, so it looks like there is more in store. That is good. Another good thing is they didn’t bring mention PureView in connection with the devices they presented today, keeping that brand name special for true innovative imaging techniques.
But still: somewhere I was hoping for a “one more thing”, something that hadn’t leaked, but has been rumoured about a lot already: the so-called “Nokia EOS” wasn’t there, and I’m quite sure Nokia would have loved to present that new smartphone device as their new flagship for this year – but it isn’t ready yet, it seems.
So that’s a first as far as I can remember: Nokia not announcing any flagship device during the Mobile World Congres – must be frustrating for them as well. I spoke some of the Nokia people and shared my disappointment. Of course, they are very enthusiastic about the way Nokia is now bringing high-end technique to a much wider audience with the Lumia 520 en 720. They are not there to share anything about something that isn’t announced yet.
And I must say the 720 feels remarkebly light and fine. It’s a nice smartphone with a charming, thin design and like the 520 (and 620) another “bang for your buck” with Windows Phone 8 and all Nokia content on it. And it’s a good thing Nokia is bringing all this to the masses, like other companies produce very affordable Android devices.
It might not be the most exciting announcement in an industry that is – like me – always looking for the most outstanding innovations (no matter what the cost), but I really believe Nokia is going the right direction – it’s important to have Windows Phone 8 available at almost any price point: Nokia needs to reach the masses (again).
Talking about price point, Nokia even announced the Nokia 105 for an incredible low price of 15 euros (VAT excluded), making sure that now just about anyone who will be able to buy a phone, Just a bit more expensive is the Nokia 301 for 65 euros. So that will get the Nokia brand in many hands as well.
But we all have to wait until later this year for the next PureView device. Waiting for the Portico update I learned to be patient. And I’m quite sure the Nokia 808 PureView and Lumia 920 will serve me very well until the next best thing will be announced. The rest of today and tomorrow I will be wandering around at the Mobile World Congres, making shots with those devices.
As soon as I gathered enough interesting shots or information, you’ll read it here and on Twitter.
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I think Nokia understands that if he is survive in the business, he must get his Windows phones in the hands of every people. The only way ro do it is to be able to come up with a low cost smartphone with premium design and features.
The market as we know it is flooded with low cost android phones. The prices which these things sell is very hand to believe. 1 to 1.5GHz Dual core, dual sim, jelly bean, huge battery, huge capacitive screens, etc. Especially in Asia, there are android phones which retail about $100 to 150. Note these are full featured andoid phones. Nokia realizes this and i think set itself to do battle in the low cost market and hopefully come up with a unit that despite the low.price, would have essential features comparable to flagship phones of its competitors. Both its Symbian and Windows platform showed this promise but eventually had to choose Windows due to its rich eco system, and “fresh” interface that will instill interest. Focsuing on a single platform will help reduce costs and boost development.
The 720 and the 520 i think was Nokia’s initial development. Knowing Nokia’s reputation in hardware and imaging excellence, it may not be long before we see wireless charging super sensitive screen, pureview, ios, rich recording, dolby digital and pureblack, as standard on every nokia phone.
[...] audience – and even getting a remarkably nice camera in the Nokia Lumia 720.Like I wrote before, it appears the new flagship isn’t ready to be announced just yet. But i’m confident it [...]
Would have been great to read about some fantastic new mobile technology or the latest Pureview.
I’m not disappointed though- the 808 in my pocket is more than good enough to last me a year or two yet.
If Nokia had unveiled some new super handset- I’d only want to buy it. So, thanks Nokia, you’ve just saved me £500+.
On a more serious note, these new phones sound pretty good- what an amazing price point for a W8 device – it represents a company that want to go global with its devices- coupled with Micro$oft, Nokia is going places.
Having said that… lets see what the SG4 has to offer.
Exciting times!
If they didn’t have anything ready to be shipped in the millions in less than a month, then yes, they did right in not showing anything.
When are those phones hitting the market, anyways?
Hmmm , not good Thing is , Nokia doesn`t have the luxury of taking their time anymore . For one , WP8 is essentially a new OS and it`s way behind the curve in functionality .Sure MS is is gradually catching up , but they don`t have that luxury these dsys ! There`s already one dangerous rival out there ( BB10 ) and others r coming ..
I think, Nokia is going the right way… They just launched the 920 in some markets…not available in many countries yet. With the 720 and the 520 they announced some very affordable devices many will like to buy. The 720 got even a carl-zeiss Lense. At the Nokia World somewhere in the fall, i’m sure we will get what we hunger for…the next Super High-End Device… the next PureView Lumia.
Ther is one other thing to realize. Before it was alright to present a new phone and have it ready months after the announcements. Now people expect you to deliver. Once you announce a new product it has to be for sale directly or within a few weeks, not months. Imagine what an announcement would do for the sales of the Lumnia 920. The Lumnia 920 also took some time to get to the retail channels after the announcement, but there was no internal competitor, as the 808 runs the “old” Symbian OS. It also needs to be perfect from the box, where fw updates only improve functionality and add new.
I think Nokia finally understands the game. They will wait with the announcement of a new flagship device till it’s absolutely ready. And/or they might wait becouse the sales of the Lumnia 920 are still qiute high. The OIS of the Lumnia 920 and 41mpix sensor with oversampling of the 808 are so far ahead of the competition that they don’t have to be afraid a new imaging device will be behind the competition when announced later than planned.
Lets hope a new flagship device with mind blowing optics will be presented soon!
I don’t think the sales of the 920 would be affected if they announced a niche device like the 808. Technically, an EOS like device will only appeal to camera enthusiasts/Nokia enthusiasts. The average consumer who doesn’t read tech blogs/articles/etc is not going to buy the 920 for it’s “camera” capabilities, but for it’s aesthetic design and appealing color. My tween cousin just recently purchased the 920 because she simply needed a new phone and it just so happened that it looked better than any other phone in the store. -At least that is what she told me. -In fact, I honestly don’t know one person (except for other tech/Nokia/hardware enthusiasts) who bought the 920 for it’s excellent camera capabilities. -And if I had to count…I am up to 9 people who I know that just recently bought the 920.
A new Nokia flagship device will be announced as one and will not only have a better camera than the Lumnia 920, but the whole package will be better. The Lumnia 920 is a top-of-the-market phone. The new device must be in the same price range thus “eating” market share of the 920.
It’s just economics. Never introduce a new product unless your star product has turned into a cash cow. The Lumnia isn’t there yet (it has just be introduced to some markets and is still close to it’s original price point in other).
Nokia has two categories of high end smartphones: one is constituted by the 808, the other by the 920. So Nokia will have two flagships: one with a bump, and one standard smartphone. The 808 category has no competition whatsoever, but is also only a niche device. So the EOS would not be too much a problem for the 920, as they are just different. I mean honestly, the 920 might take better pictures than iphone, SG4, HTC One, …, but the difference is not that big. Wheras the 808… I would actually never buy the 920 with the 808 also on the market.
So maybe the now EOS would “eat” some market-share of the 920, but I don’t think a lot. And also what you said is just not true: in a market with competition, you will release a new, better product as soon as possible, even if it means you sell less of your old products, because you will sell more overall. So: EOS is just not ready yet.
Too bad Marc you had no good Wifi connection. I followed the presention comfortably life on http://www.nokia.com
Disappointing nothing about PureView apart from one reporter asking about it. But he got the answer of Elop “there’s more to come this year; without adding something specific”. It is as it is. Nokia has to make money regain the mass market they lost. I can understand their policy to introduce the 520 and the 720. A profitable Nokia is also in the interest of us because they get enough air to develop. I think R&D is in the DNA of Nokia so I am sure someting nice will come one day.
i have nothing against low and mid end devices or if they had to be showcased at mwc but not having any highend pureview device for wmc is sad specially after 2012 wmc rocking with 808. If they launch next flagship in nov nobody will buy cause by end of 2014 wp9 non compatible with it will release. Sad, irritated.
what? no, I think you do not understand what MS did with WP8. Windows Mobile/Windows Phone 7 were based on the CE kernel. The CE kernel had too many limitations to hardware. So MS decided to upgrade to their NT kernel (which is the same kernel used in the desktop Windows OS…ever since Windows 3.1 was introduced). Windows Phone will never again see a change in kernels…ever…at least not until the Windows desktop OS is dead.
Now, yes there will be newer kernel versions – just like there are in any other OS. But compatibility wise…everything is going to stay the same. When/if WP9 comes out…everyone will still be able to get updates.
So what did I tell you about PV on WP? As expected… ;)