Tag Archives: nokia

travel

Windows Nokia Lumia 1020

My friends at Microsoft Canada loaned me a Windows 8 Nokia Lumia 1020 for my recent trip to Spain and Morocco. For me, this device has the best phone camera in the market.

More importantly, it has always-on GPS. As a Canadian, I feel screwed by our carriers not giving us an affordable way to stay connected, through our mobile phone, with the internet and social media. While in Spain and Morocco I relied heavily on WiFi (pronounced “wee-fee” in many places). But the Lumia’s built-in GPS helped us navigate throughout Spain and Morocco.

Thank you Microsoft Canada for the device. NOTE: I was not paid by Microsoft nor are they a client of mine. Neither am I a professional photographer. The photos I take are for my own personal and family use.

Here are some photos I took with the 41 MP camera:

WP_20150523_14_19_25_Pro

WP_20150523_15_19_34_Pro

WP_20150523_15_20_30_Pro

WP_20150523_20_45_16_Pro

WP_20150522_11_21_44_Pro

WP_20150520_18_41_51_Pro

WP_20150518_17_50_55_Pro

WP_20150517_22_04_33_Pro

WP_20150517_21_22_58_Pro

WP_20150417_16_01_02_Pro

WP_20150417_13_55_22_Pro

WP_20150417_13_55_15_Pro

WP_20150413_17_44_32_Pro

WP_20150413_16_24_09_Pro

digital media

App Review: Bing News on Windows Phone 8 Nokia Lumia 1020

Like many of you know, I’ve been using WP7 and WP8 for a little while now. Did you know Rogers doesn’t consider the Lumia 1020 a smartphone? Strange. But I digress. I’ve done a few shout outs to apps on Windows Phone in the past. And I think it’s time for another.

The Bing News App is AMAZING. And maybe it’s because of what my options are. But it’s also because it’s a really good app.

I’m a fan of CBC. I love their radio station here in Toronto and I also listen to a number of their shows via podcasts. Recently, their Sochi Olympic app was heavily used by me and I’m sure millions of Canadians. Even their Windows version of the Sochi app was amazing. But this is about news. And the CBC News app used to be good. But now it just plain sucks. Sucks like a vacuum. It’s really just terrible. It used to be updated. I could share stories via Twitter and Facebook. Now? Well, I’m not sure. The last time I tried using it they only supported titles. Yup. That’s all. I could only read titles of stories. Not even the stories show up anymore.

What about Huffington Post? Nah. Most of the stuff is garbage and link bait. At least their Windows app is. Terrible experience.

And I’m not a fan of American news apps. Hey! I’m Canadian!

And then my future brother in law, Earvin, told me about the Bing News app. Bing? Come on!

Am I glad I listed to him. Bing provides a summary page and then allows me to view news from a handful of sources such as Gizmodo and the Toronto Star. I’m also able to pick specific topics for the app to source for me. My choice so far: Blue Jays (of course!).

The only problem that I have seen so far is that any videos accompanying articles don’t show up on the mobile version of this app. Otherwise I give this 4 K’s out of 5.

digital media

Windows Phone 8: CBC News

I presently am using a Windows Phone 8 powered Nokia smartphone.

One of my most used apps is courtesy of “The Corporation”. The CBC News app is my go to resource for all international, national and local news.

The stories are updated on a timely basis and include the following sections:

  • Top Stories
  • Regional
  • Photo Galleries
  • Videos
  • World News
  • National News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Technology & Science
  • Offbeat
  • Sports

The app was reportedly developed in partnership with Toronto-area dev shop, Digiflare. If you’re interested in this must-have news app you can find more information and download instructions here.

digital media, social media

Windows Phone 8: Oreo Skies

Oreo is on a roll.  After their recent “win” with their Super Bowl blackout post Oreo is continuing to impress me. Their most recent success is their new app for users of Windows 8 OS on the Nokia Lumia device.

Introducing Oreo Skies.

As one of the few users of the Windows Phone 8 platform I am always searching for new apps. Sometimes I’m looking for apps that I’m used to on from Android or iOS platforms. At other times, I’m looking for new apps that I’ve never used. And that’s how I found Oreo Skies. Most of the time, I could care less for corporate sponsored apps. This time was different. It may be because I am a huge fan of science. Or maybe because I’m a father of a 7 year old who loves discovering things even more than I do.

Here’s what the Oreo Skies app does:

Celebrate the “kid within” by pointing your Lumia at the sky, no matter what time of day or night, and explore a map of stars and constellations where you can message with your friends via Facebook. If you post the most messages during a lunar cycle, you get to “own the moon” and post something for the entire Oreo Skies network to see. Tap shooting stars to unlock hidden messages and special offers.

While the Facebook integration is weak from a user experience standpoint it is still a very interesting app. What makes it compelling to me is that I can point my smartphone up into the sky and actually know the know the names of the constellations I’m looking at. Even when I’m inside or its a cloudy night I can still know the names of the heavenly bodies above.

Oreo Skies Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 8