From the Editor’s Desk: Microsoft News, Xbox, Lumia 928 review and more

Nosotros're dorsum from London and Nokia's main event concluding week to begin another heady week here at Windows Phone Cardinal.

First up, I'll requite you my gut reaction to the Lumia 925 announcement and what it means for the platform, side by side upward I want to welcome our new Microsoft News editor to the site and tell you what that means for us (and you lot), next upwardly is that Xbox affair tomorrow and finally, some Lumia 928 impressions.

Yes, it's time for me to just blog some thoughts in a stream-of-conscious style. Read on, if you lot dare!

The Lumia 925 is a big bargain

Terminal week we saw Nokia have the embrace off of the Lumia 925, a sideways upgrade if yous will to the Lumia 920. By that term we mean that if you ain a Lumia 920, you won't meet that much reason to "upgrade" to the 925. Only that's totally fine as this is not "the next Lumia 920" only rather it'due south a device meant for the rest of the globe who doesn't own a Lumia 920 (either due to lack of carrier availability or they idea the phone was too big).

Indeed, amongst our readers it seems to have caused some confusion with many of our more hardcore users noting that Nokia has given upwards besides much with the 925 to arrive compelling. For case, the 925 loses built in Qi wireless charging in commutation for becoming thinner (and lighter). Sure, yous can add information technology back in with a clip on example but for many that'south already a barrier to entry.

The other "downgrade" is memory with certain variants of the device only coming in 16GB instead of 32GB. This is still in flux a bit as nosotros're seeing carriers like Deutsche Telekom manifestly wavering on this event. That has sent many people into a tizzy who demand 32GB on their device.

While I totally get the desire for 32GB devices (heck, fifty-fifty I appreciate information technology, though I rarely use all of it) I'k going to come up out and say a lot of you are simply in the minority. Whenever I've spoken to HTC, Nokia or Samsung on this topic they all tell me the same affair: their market research shows most people are content with 16GB. Between the need to proceed profit margins high and costs depression to the consumer, it's piece of cake to see why OEMs would cut this area to relieve a few bucks (or cents even) per device.

It is fine to declare that a 16GB device is not for you lot but it'due south some other to predict a device's failure amidst the general populace considering of it. Nokia is aiming for an aggressive $99 price bespeak on this device in the US (T-Mobile) and in society to practice that, some things need to be cut. Having said that, until your carrier has come out with final specs and pricing, I wouldn't harp on this too much.

Personally, even though I'g a big fan of the Lumia 920 (especially in my super proud bright yellowish version), I'm totally picking up the 925. Why? Well, being one of the few people in the world to take handled ane on a few occasions now, I can say it'south a fantastic looking device. Pictures (and even video) only doesn't practise it justice and my guess is a lot of y'all volition modify your stance when you actually see 1 in person.

The device is like the Lumia 720 simply packed with the 920'south guts—that'due south basically all I ever wanted. The AMOLED display is one of the best I've seen, that actress 6th lens for daylight shots has my interest piqued. Sure 16GB and no wireless charging is a compromise, just for my needs, I can live with it.

So yeah, I'm very excited most the 925 and you should exist too. It's going to give an option to many more potential Windows Phone owners who desire a thin, calorie-free device that is in my stance, fantastic looking.

For you Lumia 920 owners looking for the "adjacent large thing", I take 2 things to say (i) your telephone is just six months old—chill out! and (ii) Nokia will show off that 41MP camera phone after this summer and we're confident it'southward AT&T's next major Windows Telephone.

Make sure y'all read our Q&A with Nokia about the Lumia 925 too, it should reply a lot of questions.

Windows Phone Central and Microsoft News: Welcome Michael Archambault to the fold!

You've spoken and we've listened.

Every time we post "off topic" Microsoft news stories on WPCentral.com, including Surface and Windows 8 bits, our traffic jumps and commenting goes upward. Sure, we're a "Windows Phone site" but let'southward face it, Microsoft is pivoting Windows, Windows Phone and soon Xbox to be on the same playing field and you folks know it.

That's why starting today, Michael Archambault volition begin taking on the major Microsoft and Windows 8 news for the site. Bluntly, the balance of us just have besides much Windows Phone news to devote significant time towards that huge expanse and Michael is well versed on those topics.

So who is Michael? He hailed previously from the site Pocketables where he was an Associate Editor and wrote extensively on, well, Microsoft. He too serves as a continual guest author for Lenovo'due south corporate blogs, making him quite the resource on upcoming PCs, tablets and ultrabooks.

You lot can check out his previous manufactures indexed on his Tumblr page: https://marcham93.tumblr.com/#_=_ and follow him on Twitter: @marcham93.

Then what does this mean for the site? Well, no worries if you just don't treat Microsoft or Windows 8 news (though you lot will be taken down a peg) equally we'll be instituting a "filter" of sorts on the front page so that you tin can have only Windows Phone news show, Microsoft news or both.

Give us a few days to get that setup and a few weeks for it to head to our official Windows Phone app. Until then, look to meet a few stories pop up in your stream. Read 'em. Comment on them. And requite a hardy welcome to Michael, as he's very excited about joining the largest Windows Phone site in the world

Truthful fact: Windows Phone Central does more than traffic merely in the Us than our closest competitor does globally.

That Xbox matter…

Oh yeah, tomorrow Microsoft is plainly ready to reveal the next Xbox. We'll have a mail service on that later on, as we'll be live-covering the event…from our couches, like you. Unfortunately due to travel constraints, nosotros couldn't be there to embrace it live merely since it'southward streaming on your Xbox 360 and the web, it'due south no prodigious.

We program to have a few manufactures focusing on it tomorrow, including any new revelations, features and how it may (or may not) bear on Windows Telephone.

We will of course exist at E3 in June covering that event alive, including Microsoft'south follow upwards Xbox announcements. Indeed at that place volition three of united states of america (myself, Paul and Sam) on hand to bring you everything gaming related at that time.

And if you missed information technology, Microsoft today released an official Live Video Role player app for Windows Phone 8 devices, which you tin utilize to stream tomorrow's Xbox annunciation right to your telephone. Sa-weet!

The Lumia 928 for Verizon is all kinds of awesome

My review of the Lumia 928 is coming along and information technology should be here within the adjacent day or two (tomorrow's Xbox stuff might delay information technology a tad).

Although Verizon's jail cell service is not equally good in my living room compared to say AT&T, overall I've been very impressed with the 928. Last night I took information technology to a punk rawk show in Manhattan to do some video and photos and needless to say, it performed quite well. Heck, the LTE was much improve for Verizon than AT&T, resulting in more reliable service. Trade offs.

Sure, I wish Verizon didn't tone downwardly the telephone's looks so much…you tin well-nigh hear the Verizon suits telling those "hippies" at Nokia to cool it with the wild colors and "weird" designs, resulting a more "conservative" Lumia. But the telephone has the specs where it counts and then far, it'southward been performing like a champ.

But if yous're on Verizon, I think yous have a winner here. Just too bad it's not in yellow!

Oh Dear

New study reveals Microsoft'southward hereafter AR strategy; HoloLens 3 is dead

Business Insider has today published a follow-up report with more details nearly Microsoft's canceled HoloLens 3 augmented reality headset. The partnership with Samsung is said to include a headset with a ready of screens inside, powered by a Samsung telephone in your pocket.

Keeping it affordable

Review: Surface Laptop SE is the new standard for K-viii Windows PCs

Starting at simply $250, Microsoft's first foray into affordable laptops for the education marketplace is a winner. With a gorgeous blueprint, excellent thermals, and a fantastic typing experience, Microsoft would do right to sell this directly to consumers as well. Let's only hope Intel can make a ameliorate CPU.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/editors-desk-microsoft-news-xbox-lumia-928-review

Posted by: staplesmarn1968.blogspot.com

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