nokia

Nokia's budget Lumia 521 phone starts selling April 27 for $150

This Saturday, T-Mobile, and Nokia will start selling the Nokia Lumia 521 on the Home Shopping Network for just $150 off-contract.

April 27 buyers watching on the Home Shopping Network stations or mobile site can pick up the Windows Phone 8 device with a car charger and a screen protector.

A few weeks later on May 11, the Lumia 521 will land at Walmart and Microsoft retail stores. The Lumia 521 will also come to T-Mobile stores and the carrier's online channel, though T-Mobile hasn't shared those dates or details.

The Nokia Lumia 521 supports 4G (but not … Read more

Nokia unveils keyboard-toting Asha 210 for emerging markets (hands-on)

Following Monday's teaser photo of a keyboard-equipped device, Nokia announced today its newest entry-level handset, the Asha 210.

As a member of the Asha family, which is the company's line of inexpensive phones aimed at emerging markets, the 210 will not be heading to the U.S. Rather, it will launch in Q2 in parts of Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia for about $72 (before tax and subsidies). It will come in single- and dual-SIM models as well.

Nokia is also partnering with three social networking and messaging apps, and bringing them onto the Asha 210. Depending … Read more

Netflix adds new plan for password sharers

CNET Update is streaming movies about Mars:

For those that share passwords with family and friends, Netflix will offer a new plan that allows four devices to stream at the same time.

If you don't care about Netflix and rather not live on this planet anymore, Mars One is looking for volunteers to join a colony on the Red Planet.

If you want to quickly buy a bunch of movies for the seven-month Mars trip, there's now the option to download later on iTunes.

And if you want to eat some good Earth food before dedicating yourself to … Read more

Verizon, Nokia to sell Lumia 928 starting next month -- report

A new Nokia Lumia handset might be headed to Verizon Wireless.

Nokia and Verizon have been in talks to bring a new Lumia handset, known as the Lumia 928, to the carrier's store shelves next month, Bloomberg is reporting, citing two people who claim to have knowledge of their plans. The handset will be the first Lumia Verizon will sell.

According to Bloomberg's sources, the Lumia 928 will come with a metal body and a 4.5-inch touch screen. It'll also include wireless charging and an 8-megapixel camera. As with previous Lumia devices, the handset will run … Read more

Nokia granted temporary ban on microphone sales for HTC One

The HTC One now faces a setback over its supply of microphones.

Nokia yesterday won an injunction from an Amsterdam District Court preventing sales of the current microphone for HTC's new flagship phone. Manufactured by STMicroelectronics NV for the HTC One, the microphone uses components allegedly invented by Nokia and made exclusively for Nokia phones, Reuters reported today.

Nokia said that it dissassembled an HTC One phone to find that the "dual membrane HDR" microphone, which can record high-quality audio, is the same type used on its own phones.

"HTC has no license or authorization from … Read more

Glass may be controlled by winks, pinches

CNET Update is acting totally normal:

If it isn't not odd enough to be wearing a computer on your face, how about controlling it with nods, blinks and air pinching? Some interesting phrasing of code in the MyGlass companion app seems to indicate the Google Glass headset will have gesture controls.

Also in this tech news roundup:

- What's bright, yellow and has keys all over? Nokia's next smartphone.

- The end is near for TweetDeck's desktop program and mobile apps. After May 7, the only way to use TweetDeck will be from the browser. Time … Read more

Nokia teaser hints at new QWERTY smartphone

Nokia appears to have a new smartphone in the works.

The company on Monday posted a brief writeup to its blog, saying that it has something in store for Wednesday at 7 a.m. GMT. Nokia didn't say exactly what will be announced, but it promised "something new, followed by a Q&A session with Neil Broadley from our Mobile Phones team." There will also be "a special guest."

As for what Nokia has planned? It appears to be a new smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard. The image included in the blog post shows … Read more

Nokia's wireless chargers perk up local coffee shops

Last September, Nokia kicked off the launch of its Nokia Lumia 920 with promises of exposing more people to wireless charging -- an available, but underused capability -- by bringing it to spots where people go.

Specifically, Nokia said it would sponsor wireless charging stations using the Qi protocol at Virgin America airport lounges and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf stores.

Earlier this week, I finally saw Nokia's power-promotion installed at my favorite Coffee Bean location on San Francisco's busy Market Street. What a sorry sight it was.

Market Street is a bustling downtown location, so I'm … Read more

Nokia hints at U.S. flagship phone even as sales lag

Nokia is still struggling in the U.S., but there's hope that another flagship phone is on its way.

CEO Stephen Elop said on a conference call Thursday that this current quarter will mark a season of new product introductions. Most importantly, he hinted at a phone carrying "hero," or flagship, status with a leading U.S. carrier.

The product is likely to be the rumored variant of the Lumia 920 for Verizon Wireless. The phone is important because it gets Nokia into the nation's largest wireless carrier in a much bigger way, carrying with it … Read more

Nokia reportedly planning 5-inch Lumia 'phablet'

Nokia may jump into the "phablet" market this year.

A source with "knowledge of the company's plans" told the Financial Times that the company has several new devices up its sleeve for this year. The "most innovative" will be a phablet, or a hybrid phone/tablet, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note, the newspaper reported.

Nokia also is looking to unveil several high-end smartphones this year as its Lumia lineup continues to struggle for more market share.

One such device will be the first Lumia phone with Nokia's Pureview technology. Sporting a … Read more