The Nokia Lumia 1020 Chronicle: Cameraphone Royalty Part 1 - First Impression

In my prelude article, I wrote about the accounts of my historic Nokia Lumia 1020 purchase. It was unexpected but cannot be turn aside due to circumstances that were nevertheless euphoric and overwhelming. Read the full prelude article here.

07:25 +8GMT, February 9, 2014

I meet with Sir Dan at the Davao Ecoland Bus Terminal, the very person that I was referring to in my Prelude article who sold his Nokia Lumia 1020 for almost half the price.

Very anxious, yes, I was that time because it might be that everything was just a set up and that he was only making fun of me being dead desperate, but Sir Dan came with his wife and 2 kids. They were a decent family actually, kinda well-off financially and obviously techy in some ways. But of course, I was more interested on "the phone" which he freely showed to me for checking.

My first impression, typical Lumia, attractive, bold, compact, well built, but compared to Nokia Lumia 925, its a bit bulky and heavy to my liking and less the premium metal feel. I think Nokia had overplayed with the uni-body polycarbonate design already that their is less of the "wow factor" anymore unlike when they introduced it with the Nokia N9 back in 2011. To be honest, I like the Nokia Lumia 925 more design-wise being refreshing and unique in metal than the Lumia 1020. 

I then played with the phone for awhile to ascertain its genuineness and if everything was working. I also looked into the unused accessories and tried them to examine any defects. After the thorough run-through with the phone, I then chat with the family to know them better. Interestingly, I found out that they were really a Lumia enthusiasts. The wife was using a Nokia Lumia 625, the son, a Lumia 720, and the daughter who was about 10 years old, had a yellow Lumia 520. I told them that its a wise choice having Lumia devices for unique differentiation from bunch of Androids, at the same time beneficial since Windows Phone as a system focused on family and people that matters. With it they can easily maintain a strong bond among themselves personally and socially.

And speaking about Windows Phone, the phone interface-wise, as I expected it to be, was buttery smooth beaming beneath the lively and vibrant screen display. The ClearBlack display and the PureMotion HD+ technology of Nokia worked their way best on the phone making it very pleasurable to gaze. The phone was already running the Windows Phone Black update but I have not notice any remarkable changes that comes with it just yet since I did not snoop further on the phones settings being very tired from a grueling 13 hours of sleepless overnight trip and that the seller still had files and information's on the phone being not resetted.

I then handed the money to Sir Dan and close the deal outright. They were even gracious enough to offer me a tour around the city but I modestly refuse since I need to travel back home for another 13 nonstop hours.

I then tact the phone back to its box and planned to reset it only when I get back home. It would be safer and wise to have a full WiFi access in doing so to prevent huge data upload in accessing and activating existing Microsoft accounts.

08:00 +8GMT, February 9, 2014

I was already in the bus on my way home, very excited and fulfilled. It felt like I just did one of the most important decision in my life. Happiness and contentment lingered in my thoughts for the rest of that day. Never in my wildest dream, did I expect to own a Nokia Lumia 1020 being far beyond my financial reached. Somehow destiny had works it way in my favor.  

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The Nokia Lumia 1020 Chronicle: Cameraphone Royalty Prelude

This is not just any of my ordinary device chronicle ladies and gentlemen, besides that fact that the phone is extraordinary being a cameraphone royalty, it will also serve as my smartphone and the blog's official camera for the next few years, so expect a never ending features and biz-a-bits about it in full scale.

Being a preliminary article, I'm going to share with you the story behind this very important device purchase. For those who follow my blog posts, I had always assert my unwillingness to switch to Windows Phone being incomplete for the time being and not yet worthy to replace Symbian, but a call of urgency and opportunity came giving me no choice.

About two months ago, the blog's official cameraphone for almost 5 years, the Nokia N8, need to be sent for repair due to a damage Sim card slot. I inserted a micro-cut Sim to it with a loss SIM adapter. Somehow, the adapter snarled some pins beneath that it no longer read inserted Sim cards.

I had my regular Sim cut to micro SIM that time because I had a Nokia Lumia 925 trial device with me. I was supposed to have it fixed to a Nokia Care facility but unfortunately, Nokia Cagayan De Oro doesn't accept old devices anymore other than Lumia's, Asha's and some newly released featured phones. I suspect this has something to do with the Microsoft's take over of Nokia's device division. Anyways, they told me that I have to send the phone to Manila because their is now a single authorized facility who will handle it. Since I don't really have extra phones on hand, I went instead to a local repair shop to have it fixed so I could use it right away. The said repair shop did fixed it within an hour but unfortunately, after a month of used, the screen went black that I have to sent it back again for repair to the same shop.

This time though, they told me to seek the help to an authorized Nokia Care facility since they don't know how to fixed it. I then decided to have to sent to Greystone Nokia Manila. I also asked the help of Bryan Lee of Nokia Philippines to have it checked, the least I can be assured that its safe and well taken cared of. After four days, a technician called me up informing me that the motherboard got damage because the repair shop that I had it fixed previously used a non-prescribed glue or something that melted causing irreparable damage. Devastated, I then tweeted about the incident and desperately called to everyone who wants to sell second hand Nokia Lumia 920, 925 or 1020. Why second hand? Simply because I cant really afford to buy brand new, one of the perks of being poor. I even asked Bryan if theirs anyone from Nokia Philippines who wants to sell one, but unfortunately, nobody could or would want to, they must have love their Lumia's much. Nevertheless, a shout-out to Sir Byran for the assistance. :D

A week after the tweet and to my surprised, I received an email from someone in Davao City offering his Nokia Lumia 1020 for almost half the price to the original. He told me that he was an avid reader of the blog and understand my desperate plea for help! Just imagine a PhP35,000 phone to be sold only for PhP20,000 in an almost pristine condition with all unused accessories intact, a huge saving on my part and far better than buying a brand new Nokia Lumia 920 that currently costs PhP21,000 or the Lumia 925 that is prized at about PhP25,000. I then replied to his email and in a matter of hours, we were already negotiating as to the meet up place and all.

He told me that he is selling it because he realized that he doesn't like the white version and wanted to buy the black one instead, and that he wanted also to help me buy my dream phone. I was like, wow, at least somebody cared, and the rest is history. Anyways, Sir Dan, your an angel, THANK YOU! :D

An extraordinary event leading to an extraordinary blog features, expect a Nokia Lumia 1020 coverage like no other with no holds barred. I wont feature a review article anymore because I don't want to limit myself to phone specifications and featured apps, my chronicle will offer real world experiences that everyone can relate to most specially articles that could help you decide if the phone suites you or not.

Anyhow, hit the comments section below if you want me to cover a specific aspect of the phone. I'll be very glad to post an article about it. Meanwhile, stay tuned for more...

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Nokia Lumia 1020 Official Philippine Release Date and Price

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is the most advance smartphone in the world when it comes to camera technology. Among its feature front lines are the critically acclaimed PureView imaging technology brings a very high resolution image sensors with on-chip image processors performing image scaling with oversampling giving lossless digital zoom; the unchallenged, second generation 41 megapixel sensor with a reinvented zoom technology, enabling incredible zoom processing like no other yet; the new generation of Optical Image Stabilization (IOS) technology that uses state-of-the-art ball bearings into the camera module capturing blur free images and videos even at night; Carl Zeiss optics with six physical lenses that delivers a crystal clear day and low light pictures; among the rest enabling image production as sharp as any leading digital camera.

But superior technology also comes with a premium price as the phone's official announced standard retail price in the Philippines with a Nokia Camera Grip accessory is PhP35,650, and to be release on October 11, 2013 across the archipelago. Competitive price I would say if you are to compare it with other smartphones which only rely on the brand names even though offering inferior specs and features like the iPhone 5C or Samsung Galaxy S4, but anyhow, intelligent buyers knows better.

I just have one concern though, Nokia Philippines did not announce any collaboration with local telecom networks yet possibly ending my grand illusion of getting the phone this Christmas via subsidy. Hopefully Nokia would consider hooking it up with Globe Telecom most preferably, since I have an existing line with them, could also be via Smart Telecom and Sun Cellular, or perhaps offer other installment options. Lord, hear my prayers! :D

Who in the world won't do the most impossible thing in this world for the Nokia Lumia 1020.

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Nokia Lumia 1020 Now Available In The Philippines

Our long wait is over ladies and gents, the cameraphone royalty had finally arrive in the Philippines, unofficially though via Kimstore, an online shop selling mobilephones, laptops, digital and DSLR cameras and other electronic merchandise and accessories.

The online shop is currently selling the phone for PhP32,780.00 with a 1 year store service warranty and 3 days unit replacement in-case of factory defect; quite expensive than the announced worldwide price but justifiable in my opinion being the first and the only store to offer such in the country for the time being. Nokia Philippines is yet to launch the device this quarter so the unofficial variants like these units, doesn't have a Nokia warranty that when parts are broken or otherwise had malfunctioned resulting from misuse, software modification, tampering, failure to follow instructions in the manual, exposure to dust or dirt, water dropping, electric shock among the rest of incidents beyond Kimstore's service capacity, owners will need to pay for the repairs when endorsed to Nokia Service Centers.

Besides the price, no other information's were posted, most specially color availability, so you might have to settle for whats available.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 heralds the best cameraphone technology and features to date; the second generation  41 megapixel sensor with a reinvented zoom technology; the award winning PureView camera features; the next generation optical image stabilization OIS that uses state-of-the-art ball bearings into the camera module capturing blur free images and videos; Carl Zeiss optics with six physical lenses that delivers a crystal clear pictures even in low light conditions; the next generation of Xenon Flash; the Nokia Pro Camera App that is capable of making the experience easy for anyone to take professional quality images; among the rest.

God knows how much I wanted to own this phone being the only genuine smartphone device that offers the best and the most innovative features yet, but straight out of the pocket cash purchase is impossible for me to do at the moment, so I might wait for other options. Anyone who wants to offer it by installment? :) Poor me!

Anyways, I'm glad to know that its already here, I've been bombarded with questions via twitter, email and comments section in the blog about its local availability, at long last, it can now be snag by just a click away.

To order via Kimstore, CLICK HERE! For the Nokia Lumia 1020 Full Specs, CLICK HERE!

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The Nokia Lumia 1020 Roars With Katy Perry

The royalty of pop sultriness, Katy Perry, meets a jungle aristocrat, tiger, and the king of cameraphones, the Nokia Lumia 1020, in the official music video of Roar, the singers latest single.

Nokia had been collaborating with artists before for product placement in music videos but of all they have done, this video was by far the most suited, lyrics and theme wise. Like what was depicted in the video, Katy Perry was lost in the jungle after a plane crash, more like Nokia lost in the wilderness of smartphone race, then learning, adjusting and suiting her way through the harsh condition, like Nokia again, and finally being reborn to Roar loudly to take its rightful place on top.

Their is no doubt that the Nokia Lumia 1020 is the beast among all the current smartphone breeds with its hardware and software features. Just a quick rundown, it has the second generation 41 megapixel sensor with a reinvented zoom technology, enabling users to discover more detail than the eye can see; Nokia’s innovative PureView technology, including optical image stabilization; Carl Zeiss optics with six physical lenses that delivers a crystal clear pictures even in low light conditions; the next generation of Xenon Flash that produces bright images at night; new generation of Optical Image Stabilization (IOS) technology that uses state-of-the-art ball bearings into the camera module capturing blur free images and videos even at night.

It also have Nokia Rich Recording technology that captures a stereo sound even at the loudest concerts handling sound pressure levels six times louder than conventional smartphone microphones; Nokia Pro Camera App that is capable of making the experience easy for anyone to take professional quality images; dual capture that simultaneously takes a high resolution 38 megapixel image for endless editing opportunities, and creates a 5 megapixel picture that is easy to share to social networks with Windows Phone 8; 2.5D sculpted glass Gorilla 3 Glass giving a superior touch sensitivity and durability; Hipstamatic showcased Oggl PRO, an exclusive application for the Nokia Lumia 1020 offering the most advanced smartphone camera controls for their creative community; LiveSight for HERE Maps that helps people see what's around them and discover new places to take photos; and so much more, taking the rightful place as the king of smartphones.

The video had a catchy pop beat, a good storyline and a very popular artists, that is why its already been making waves around the world with a current youtTube view of 33.5 Millions and counting. No less, Nokia hit the right mark on advertising this time that would definitely transform to profit.

Watch the full video below to see Katy Perry and the Nokia Lumia 1020 in action.

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Did The Nokia Lumia 1020 Impressed? My Thoughts

Before the July 11 New York event, I wrote an article about my expectations on the soon to be announced device, the Nokia Lumia 1020. The very day came and the event went down in Nokia's history as the best product lunch yet. I was very impress by the way they presented the device giving at first a back draft of cameraphone history then moving forward to the present and giving hints for what is up ahead. Stephen Elop and the rest of the presenters were also commendable, they were really excited and proud of the device that jolliness exudes naturally out of them making the presentation fun and very informative. A job well done to the whole team. Stephen by the way brilliantly answered the press questions as well, now I know why a lot of people adores him.

Now on to the question at bar, did the Nokia Lumia 1020 impressed and leave up to my expectations?

Well, generally yes, it was impressive but compromising in terms of meeting the rest of my assumptions. It wasn't jaw dropping like the Nokia 808 PureView because rumor muggers were already on its heals revealing how the device looks like and some of its specs but even so, it still was able to create the awesomeness factor complemented hugely by the new and exclusive applications and features on board like the Camera App Pro, the reinvented Zoom mechanism, new HERE+ Maps among others. I'm very excited about the endless possibilities that I can do with it.

I'm happy as well with the phones design and construction, base on the specs sheet provided, it will be thinner than the Nokia Lumia 920 and not plastic-ky like the Nokia 808 PureView. It also had the edgy head-turner design like its predecessors and best of all, manageable screen size of 4.5".

I'm glad to know that Nokia was trying hard to port applications to Windows Phone like Flipboard for instance, a magazine reader that I love to use in my Android tablet. Then theirs the Hipstamatic Oggl PRO that allows users to post images to Instagram and the rest of the third party photo enhancement apps like Panagraph, Snapcam, etc., fitting the device's powerful camera.

I also found the Nokia Camera Grip very clever. Its an accessory that could be easily clip into the device enhancing its camera feel and extending its usability via its in-house battery.

Nokia Lumia 1020 with Nokia Camera Grip

And then the rest compromises starts, primarily with the Windows Phone 8 being the very same software that I've tried and hesitantly accepts due to issues and missing features. I know the Azure update is coming and would probably be pre-installed on the Lumia 1020, but until now, no one really knows what it can exactly do and how many of the issues had it addressed.

Then the worldwide release would seemed to mimic the Nokia Lumia 920 scenery being also gradual. It could be that the device will arrive in the Philippines in a year or two again that I might really get tired waiting for it and opt to for another camera device instead like the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom or any other device that gets announce and release right away by competitors. Worse, it could end up being offered in Smart Telecom alone at a hefty price, competition among telecom companies offering it would have lowered the phone's price.

Wrap Up

It will really depends on Nokia and Microsoft now, for Nokia to act aggressively in offering the device in a worldwide scale and for Microsoft to raise the bar of its software capabilities. I believe this would be their last change to show to world that they deserve a comeback. Failure will really doom both companies.

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Nokia Lumia 1020's Royalty Full Specs

A new era had begun, the next cameraphone  king had just been announced by the royalty maker itself, Nokia, via the beautifully powerful and unparalleled Nokia Lumia 1020.

The phone is packed with the latest and the greatest smartphone innovations the world had ever known from design and construction, specification, to features, all covered into one, forever changing the landscape of what is now mundane smartphone space.

The device is a living proof that creativity still exists and that the smartphone space still had a huge room for improvements. There's no reason to just copy the current existing technology in order to compete effectively, a lot of areas can still be explored and developed.

I would like to congratulate Nokia for a job well done. They have have again break the barriers of technology. They deserve all the accolades they are currently enjoying and most importantly, deserve all the money I will spend buying the device. Cheers! 

Anyways, here are the cameraphone king's complete full specs:

Key Features

- 41 Mega Pixel sensor captures the sharpest images with details never thought possible from a smartphone
- Nokia Pro Camera boosts creativity through simple and easy to use controls usually reserved for the expert photographer
- Nokia Rich Recording delivers distortion free stereo audio in the loudest environments
- Comes with the only fully integrated and true offline Global maps experience from the HERE location suite
- Nokia Music with free mix streaming

NETWORKS	GSM: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz WCDMA: 2100 MHz, 1900 MHz, 850 MHz, 900 MHz LTE network bands: 1, 3, 7, 20, 8 Speed: HSPA+: DL Cat 24, dual carrier 42.1 Mbps/UL Cat6 5.76Mbps
OS	Windows Phone 8
PROCESSOR	1.5GHz Dual-core Snapdragon
DISPLAY	4.5’’ AMOLED WXGA (1280x768 pixels) 2.5D sculpted glass Gorilla 3 Glass PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack Technology High Brightness Mode Sunlight Readability Super Sensitive Touch for nail and glove usage
MEMORY	2GB RAM 32GB Internal User Memory 7GB SkyDrive Cloud Storage
CONNECTIVITY	Micro USB 2.0 Bluetooth 3.0 NFC with SIM based security WLAN a/b/g/n A-GPS and Glonass 3.5 mm audio connector
CAMERA AND VIDEO	41MP Carl Zeiss with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) PureView Technology Backside-illuminated image sensor 6-lens optics High resolution zoom 3x Autofocus Xenon Flash LED for video 1080p video at 30fps Nokia Pro Camera mode Nokia Smart Camera Mode. Secondary camera: HD 1.2 MP wide angle
AUDIO	IHF speaker 2 microphones Nokia Rich Recording (depends on network support) HD voice quality 3.5mm audio connector
SIZE AND DIMENSION	Height: 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm (H x W x T) Weight: 158 grams Colors: Black, Yellow and White
SERVICES	Global HERE Maps HERE Drive+ HERE Transit Nokia Music with Free Mix Streaming
BATTERY	2000 mAh Li-Ion Maximum Talk time (3G): 13.3 hours Standby time: 16 Days Video Playback time: 6.8 hours Music Playback time: 63 hours Wireless Charging supported via accessory cover
STANDARD SALES PACKAGE	Nokia Lumia 1020 HandsetNokia Battery BV-5XW (Pre-installed) Nokia Compact Charger AC-60 USB Cable: CA-190CD Dolby Headset: WH-208 SIM door opening key User Guide

The phone will be initially release in the US via AT&T this 26th of July at a price of USD 299.99 on a two-year contract. It is then expected to arrive in China and key European markets within quarter with a worldwide release shortly after that. Device price SIM-free is expected to be within the $630 (PhP27,000) mark.

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Nokia Breaks New Heights In Cameraphone Technology With The Nokia Lumia 1020

Yet again, now becoming a yearly tradition, Nokia sets anew the standard in cameraphone technology with the Nokia Lumia 1020, the most innovative and the greatest Windows Phone flagship smartphone yet.

For the past 2 months, the tech world had already been bombarded with leaks and rumors making it a highly anticipated, now it have finally been unveiled explosively.

Among the phones latest hardware and software innovation includes:

- the second generation  41 megapixel sensor with a reinvented zoom technology, enabling users to discover more detail than the eye can see. With Nokia’s innovative PureView technology, including  optical image stabilization, the device is able to produce some of the  sharpest images possible by any digital camera. 

- Nokia Pro Camera App that is capable of making the experience easy for anyone to take professional quality images. Either before a picture is taken or  after it has been shot, the zoom capability enables people to discover  and then rediscover the personal stories each image can tell. With a  beautiful interface that visually demonstrates how settings will affect  the final photo or video, Nokia Pro Camera makes it easier than ever to capture, edit and share photos and videos with unrivaled clarity.

- Dual capture that simultaneously takes a high resolution 38 megapixel image for endless editing opportunities, and creates a 5 megapixel picture that is easy to share to social networks with Windows Phone 8.

- Carl Zeiss optics with six physical lenses that delivers a crystal clear pictures even in low light conditions.

- the next generation of Xenon Flash that produces bright images at night.

- New generation of Optical Image Stabilization (IOS) technology that uses state-of-the-art ball bearings into the camera module capturing blur free images and videos even at night.

- Nokia Rich Recording that captures a stereo sound even at the loudest concerts handling sound pressure levels six times louder than conventional smartphone microphones.

- Nokia Camera Grip that adds professional camera capabilities and additional battery life. This is an accessory that complements device features usually reserved for stand-alone cameras, like the Nokia Lumia 1020's built-in xenon flash and mechanical shutter. The Nokia Camera Grip also has a tripod mount, and is expected to be available this month for an estimated retail price of USD 79.

- 2.5D sculpted glass Gorilla 3 Glass giving a superior touch sensitivity and durability.

- High Brightness Mode giving unparalleled screen readability in daylight.

- Hipstamatic showcased Oggl PRO, an exclusive application for the Nokia Lumia 1020 offering the most advanced smartphone camera controls for their creative community.

- LiveSight for HERE Maps that helps people see what's around them and discover new places to take photos, among others.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 will arrive first on U.S via AT&T, with sales starting July 26 at a price of USD 299.99 on a two-year contract. It is then expected to arrive in China and key European markets this quarter and then a worldwide release shortly after that.

Meanwhile, Nokia have not announced the SIM-Free price yet, so stick around for further announcements.

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1 Day More To Go! My Expectations On The Highly Coveted Nokia Lumia 1020

It's not obvious that my excitement for the Nokia July 11 event was over the top, thats because I'm seeing it as my best option for upgrade to my aging Nokia N8. Its been 3 years since I got the Nokia N8 and within those years, I haven't really found any worthy successor amidst the release of Nokia 808 PureView and Nokia Lumia 920, two powerful and very capable cameraphones.

My expectations for tomorrow, well, quite a lot actually, I'm expecting first and foremost, a phone with a snazzy camera features. 41MP is no surprise already, so I'm looking for something new, innovative and jaw dropping, kinda like the scenario when Nokia announced the 41MP camera on the 808 PureView. It might be an ubercool software feature or an editing application, best, a hardware with zoom capability like no other.

Secondly, I'm expecting a phone with a super sexy, attractive and durable design and construction that competitors would die in envy seeing it. The Nokia Lumia 920 is flawed with a thick dimension while the 808 PureView had a regular look with a plastic feel, the new device should be unique and perfect in any way possible.

Windows Phone software should be on its bests self with all the issues resolved and missing important features provided. The software the already an epitome of smoothness and fluidity, all it need is improvement in terms of usability and features. Address all the aforementioned and its perfect.

I'm expecting the phone as well to have a worldwide release in 2-3 weeks, like it should be made available in many countries as possible and not a year or two after, like what happened to the Nokia Lumia 920's availability here in the Philippines. It took Nokia Philippines quite sometime to port the phone locally that buyers like me have grown tired waiting.

And lastly, it should be easily and afford-ably available in all local network operators in the country. I'm really mesmerized on what Apple, Samsung and RIM did with their flagship phones being readily accessible in all network operators for as low as PhP1,500 in a 30 month contract, just a few weeks after the phones worldwide release. That's like super affordable for anyone at a perfect time! If Nokia won't be able to do the same, then I might already become an iPhone 6 or Samsung Galaxy S5 user before the Nokia Lumia 1020 arrives.

Comments welcome!

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Nokia's 41 Million Reasons?

A lot of tech writers and bloggers called the July 11th New York event the grand launch of a Nokia Windows Phone with 41MP camera and PureView technology, well, it could be true in one sense with the successive leaks going around the web about a certain Nokia 1020 dubbed "EOS", but it could also be more than just the phone, it could be so much bigger.

For instance, it could be the official announcement of the sale of 41 millionth Nokia Windows Phone device, or the official announcement of Microsoft buying the entire company for 41 billion dollars, who knows. Their have been talks lately about Huawie's interest on the company or Microsoft's undying bid which is good by the way business-wise for the Redmond base company.

It could also be that Nokia is giving away 41millions Nokia EOS phones for FREE including mine in my wildest dreams, but true or not, I'm itching for it to become my next upgrade to my beloved Nokia N8 with a consideration of course as to how impressive it is and how mature Windows Phone had become. If it will fail, I might just go for the Nokia 808 PureView instead with a bitch slap to Microsoft. Symbian might be dying but it still have quite a number of the features I want in a mobilephone.

Anyways, I hope Microsoft could deliver whats expected since I'm fully sold out to the leaked hardware specs of the Nokia EOS so far. 14 days more to go!

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