It’s been awhile since I’ve had the chance to write a letter to our audience, keeping you posted on things and throwing whatever is not in and of itself newsworthy into a post. So today I figured I’d share a few tidbits on the site, some Windows Phone news and other happenings.
Returning to normal
Just what am I doing? #TM13
Last week, some of you may have noticed I was absent for most of the news cycle. It was a good a break, in theory, though that was not the purpose. Instead, all of the EiC’s (editor in chiefs) of the Mobile Nations sites, including Kevin Michaluk of CrackBerry, as well as Phil Nickinson of Android Central, and Rene Ritchie of iMore, are joined by John P and Cali Lewis of Geek Beat got together in midtown Manhattan for “TM13”.
For the record, John P and Cali are good people, some of the nicest and most interesting techies I’ve had a chance to work with.
The process lasted nearly a week, involved us getting up at 6am every day and late nights. You may have even caught some of our behind-the-scenes photos on our Tumblr page, Breaksclusive (http://breaksclusive.com). It was fun, but exhausting.
Of course you’re probably wondering just what the hell is “TM13” and unfortunately, that I cannot share with you just yet. All I can say is it’s the next-level for our previously annual “Round Robin” where all of the EiCs would exchange devices for a week and then do mini-reviews of hardware and the opposing platform. So think something along the lines of a more meta-analysis of mobile and you’ll have a clue.
The most exciting part of all of this was our stepping up of production levels. You’ll see it all in a few weeks, but having a crew around was very helpful, to say the least (see our new YouTube page intro above for instance).
And finally, shout out to the Windows Phone Central team who kept the site alive during my absence.
Verizon Lumia 928 specs?
We had this info dropped to us by a certain anonymous source. I can’t personally vouch for it but it sounds in-line with what we are expecting the Verizon Nokia Lumia 928 to feature. That is, nothing listed here is exactly crazy.
Probably the neatest part is the idea that Nokia, like HTC, is adding an amplifier for that rear speaker to really boost sound volume while maintaining clarity. Is it true? We’ll see in a few weeks, won’t we?
Improvements from 920:10% less volume than 920 and 20g lighterNew "infinity design = beautiful screen and provides a better in-hand feel"Xenon flashbetter audio performance, louder higher quality speaker with new amplifierDolby headphone audio enhancementsOLED displayDetailed Specificationsdimensions: 5.24x2.71x0.44 inchesweight: 5.7 ouncesGlobal Ready1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm MSM8960+WTR, 1GB Ram4.5" WXGA HD OLED, 334ppif/2.0, 26mm OIS cameradistortion free audio recording up to 140db8MP 4:3 or 7.2MP 16:9Xenon flashLED light for video1080p video capture @30fpsusual radios2000mAh battery32gb internal memory (no micro sd)So there you go.
Kessler coming over from webOS Nation
With HP’s webOS winding down (though see this cool prototype just revealed), webOS Nation’s Derek Kessler will hopefully be picking up a few stories here and there on the site. I personally hooked him up with an HTC 8x and Lumia 920, so my fingers are crossed that he does something useful with them.
Derek’s been writing on mobile for quite some time and his articles are always well thought out and articulate. When he’s not doing his day job in the U.S. Army, I’m hoping we get to see some of his expertise spill over onto our pages here at Windows Phone Central.
Acer Iconia W510 and Samsung ATIV Tablet (500T) impressions
I owe you guys an impressions/mini-review post on the Acer Iconia W510—a well-priced ATOM-based Windows 8 Pro tablet, that also has an add-on keyboard dock. My keyboard just showed a few days ago and the combo is quite impressive (~19 hours battery life?).
Unfortunately between “TM13” last week and our George Ponder needing something light and portable on the go, I won’t be able to write up anything this week. But we’ll have George give it a spin and share some of his thoughts as this will be his first time with an ATOM based Windows 8 tablet.
As consolation, I’ll bang out a quick first impression of the Samsung ATIV Tablet (500T), which I just picked up yesterday at my local Microsoft Store. It too is an ATOM-based Windows 8 tablet, sporting similar specs to the Acer, but it has a larger display (11.6”), more onboard memory (64GB) and most interestingly, an S-Pen digitizer (Wacom) for taking notes. It’s like a Surface Pro, but way cheaper.
Truth be told, it’s kind of awesome. Not perfect, but you’ll see.
Lumia 520 and 720 reviews
Yes, those too are coming up hopefully this week, depending on how busy of a news cycle there is. Stay tuned though as the 720 is one of my favorite phones (though my new yellow Lumia 920 is still tops).
Daniel Rubino Editor-in-chief 3946 Filed in: Editorials, News"That's your moral compass but what good is it to me? "
Tags: From the Editor's Desk, TM13 2
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Comments There are 56 comments. Sign in to comment
jjmurphy says: I'm a big fan of the ativ 500. It does all my mobile computing well with battery life that challenges my surface rt.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:48 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
janko10 says: Rubino, call some favors in and get that damn 928 out the door.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:49 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
FavBrowser says: http://wmpoweruser.com/more-details-on-verizon-nokia-lumia-928/
RafRol says: A warm welcome to Derek Kessler from an old webOS user.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:50 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
Sam Sabri says: Derek is the man. He can put away an ice cream sundae at midnight like no other.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:03 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
Daniel Rubino says: lol, very inside joke
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:03 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
sholokov says: Who's ice cream was it?
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:11 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
unstoppablekem says: IT'S A LIE! :O
(Portal reference)
fwaits says: Not a webOS user (ever), but I welcome him regardless. I was wondering what happened to him as I haven't seen him in any webcasts for quite some time. Glad to see another (potential) champion for the WP team on the MN staff.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:12 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
sinime says: Yeah, he's a great guy, hope he shows up on the podcasts!
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:44 pm - 13 hours ago Reply x Im tc says: WebOS nation should not die with webOS, it should live on with the successor to webOS, FirefoxOS. Although very different in implementation, they are two takes on the same idea.
FFOS may well achieve what webOS should have.
Long live the open Web.
makhand says: +1
Welcome Derek. Have many warm fuzzy memories of the precentral podcasts and the rollercoaster ride that was webos. Was with you guys for about 2-3 years. Windows Phone is a good place to land. Still get to be a part of an underdog movement. Hopefully this one will be more sucessful. ;-)
JPDVM2014 says: +1...Glad to have Derek coming over. It's sad though, that this is just one more nail in my Pre+'s coffin.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 11:08 pm - 7 hours ago Reply
Skippy07 says: Yes, welcome to Derek. I'm still a WebOS user, but I'm leaning towards moving to Windows Phone 8 in the near future. I would love to hear Derek's comments on WP8.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:57 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
glassadam says: I, too, was a webOS user, and have found Windows Phone to be a very nice alternative. There are some things that Palm got right that nobody else still has, but all in all this wp8 is a terrific phone OS. Wouldn't it be great if MS took advantage of webOS' open-source nature and lifted some of it's best features for WP?
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 6:25 pm - 12 hours ago Reply tmark86 says: Welcome Derek! Good to see more familiar faces coming over from webOS Nation. I too am a current webOS user since day one and have gone through a couple iterations of hardware. I will be making the switch to WP8 once the Lumia 928 comes out hopefully.
Can't wait for the great writing from the Kessler!
lak611 says: Welcome David! :-)
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:58 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
Shobiz says: Derek is the man. I'm also a Palm Pre to Windows Phone. I never went to Android or Apple
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:59 pm - 14 hours ago Reply lak611 says: Daniel, I'm looking forward to TM13. I saw you used a BB Z10 when I read your Tweets. Who used a WP8?
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:59 pm - 14 hours ago Reply Daniel Rubino says: Actually, we all have Z10s here at Mobile Nations (not that we necessarily all use 'em everyday, ahem). In fact, we all have each other's main flagship phone though I have yet to actually purchase an iPhone 5. Soon though ;)
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:06 pm - 14 hours ago Reply fwaits says: Might as well wait for the 5S will be the same thing... Only....newer. ;)
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 6:29 pm - 12 hours ago Reply
venom5150 says: I also just picked up a yello Nokia Lumia 920 (had Cyan Before) and I can't believe all the attention it get! I know its a little loud and all but didn't expect the cool, is that the new windows phone, etc. Anyhow, I did notice you were out and figured you were on vacation. Sounds like you a good time with the "secret" project. Welcome back!
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:00 pm - 14 hours ago Reply Daniel Rubino says: Thanks and a vacation would be nice...haven't taken one of those in about a decade (no joke).
Yeah, yellow is where it's at. I was unsure but the 720 changed my mind. Love yellow now, totally rocks.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:05 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
Chef316 says: The call me Mellow Yellow....
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 5:15 pm - 13 hours ago Reply zorb58 says: I want the Lumia 928 NOW!
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:06 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
Aleksi says: "Dolby headphone audio enhancements" ? Maybe other wp8 Nokias will get it later aswell...PR 2.0 perhaps ?
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:09 pm - 14 hours ago Reply krayziehustler says: Isn't that already available on the 920? I sure have it as an option in Audio settings
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 5:16 pm - 13 hours ago Reply
jabtano says: I'm in the back door of T-MO hell the carrier with only one refurbished WP8 device. Like many others stuck in this hell we get to read what others will be able to get on there carriers...
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:12 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
derek533 says: As a Touchpad and Pre 2 user, I'm glad to see Derek is still alive and kicking. The only reason I knew of WP Central was through WebOs Nation before switching to WP7 now WP8.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:18 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
blackprince says: Dan rocking the new look. Looking good my man (very comfortable hetero remark).
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:18 pm - 14 hours ago Reply
tribexx says: You forgot one thing that the 920 has, that the 928 doesn't...
Availability!!!!
out0fplace says: Daniel, why so serious?
(in the video )
12Danny123 says: Wait. There's a white Samsung ativ tablet???
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:26 pm - 14 hours ago Reply Honkie McGee says: No SD slot on the 928? Boo! Not surprised, but still, boo!
But more importantly, Dan, what happened to your hair?!
I kid, I kid...
WhyFiNYC says: Re:928 - "We’ll see in a few weeks, won’t we?"
I feel like we've been saying this for way, way too long.
Honkie McGee says: I'm getting flashbacks to the Trophy. The rumored release date for that phone kept getting pushed back until it finally came out at the end of May 2011.
Still rockin' my Trophy, waiting impatiently for the 928.
WhyFiNYC says: I've been waiting impatiently and, to make matters worse, I just dropped my Trophy yesterday. Still functional, but the screen has a nice spiderweb crack, so it's not long for this world. Release the Krak- uh, 928 already!
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:45 pm - 13 hours ago Reply
Zomby Jeezus says: Me too...CYAN 928!!!!!
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 6:49 pm - 11 hours ago Reply
greynightshirt says: Love my Acer W510, looking forward to your opinions
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 4:57 pm - 13 hours ago Reply
JayMike Willingham says: Disappointed the 928 doens't have Micro SD card slot....that should be standard by now.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 5:03 pm - 13 hours ago Reply Wacft says: I thought Daniel said it would be louder. I then read 10% less volume and was very confused. I am now going to bed after 32hrs of no sleep. Thanks for the LawLabye Daniel. Haha see what I did there?!
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 5:12 pm - 13 hours ago Reply fwaits says: volume as in measure of space (Area) not sound. =) It takes up 10% less 3D space than the 920.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 6:31 pm - 12 hours ago Reply
ricbon says: daniel your avater looks good all professional and all not that saying that the previous one wasn't. also great work you and all the editors. i have had all but kevin as my editor, maybe one day.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 5:26 pm - 13 hours ago Reply Daniel Rubino says: Thanks! Yeah, we're trying to spruce things up a bit around here. More to come.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 7:02 pm - 11 hours ago Reply
wRpH says: Excited to see what Kessler can bring, he was solid at webos nation....the angry nerds podcast was epic!
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 5:34 pm - 13 hours ago Reply dinod says: WELCOME DK!!!! From one PalmOS/webOS refugee to another we welcome you to WP!! I have pristine Veer & Pixi+ know anyone who can use them? :)
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 5:37 pm - 12 hours ago Reply Dare2Blink says: Is the 928 exclusive to the US or will it be available elsewhere?
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 5:55 pm - 12 hours ago Reply
Allan Cantillo says: And if we have the bad luck of being an exclusive to the US, will it be locked to the carrier? or factory unlocked?
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 6:22 pm - 12 hours ago Reply bill2455 says: A warm welcome to our favorite editor, DK. Great that you're joining the many former webOS phone users here. Still using my Touchpad so I have a foot on both sites.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 6:42 pm - 11 hours ago Reply NIST says: With that new haircut, I'm not sure I know this new Daniel.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 6:45 pm - 11 hours ago Reply wadeheirloom says: Welcome Derek!
I left WebOs (I had 2 Pre3's) about a half year back and I really like Windows Phone. There are still a few things Pre ded better than anyone else but I couldn't stick around any longer and MS was my best option.
jlynnm350z says: Guy in glasses looks just lovely
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 8:15 pm - 10 hours ago Reply
falconrap says: I'm still rocking my TouchPad, but switched from my Pre 2 when it started burning through any battery I placed in it. I love my 822. If webOS had the smoothness and apps of WP8...as well as this Lumia hardware, I'd stay on it. So, from one webOS user that's switched, welcome aboard Derek.
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 at 8:50 pm - 9 hours ago Reply latetothepalmparty says: Welcome Derek, I'm still sporting the Pre3 but looking at an unlocked Rogers 920(forT-Mobile), mellow yellow of course or might wait to see the "catwalk" phone.
Good to see WP Central recognize you for the quality guy you are.
ahlun Lee says: Nice new profile photo there.
Posted on May 1, 2013 at 12:53 am - 5 hours ago Reply evoga says: I hope Kevin doesn't end up on wpcentral as crackberry is a repeating the webos site with a gradual slowdown.
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