Windows Phone gets text and call blocking with latest Nokia update

Nokia has started rolling out an app to its Lumia Windows Phones that enables the blocking of calls and SMS messages. In an update to the Extra + Info application, Nokia has added an additional settings area in Windows Phone that lets owners block specific numbers from calling or sending text messages. The app also integrates into the phone section of Windows Phone, where you can simply tap and hold on a number to add it to the block list.

It’s a fairly simple addition that Microsoft hasn’t built into Windows Phone fully itself yet. Nokia’s app takes advantage of new APIs included in a Windows Phone 8 GDR2 update that’s rolling out to handsets at the moment. The Verge understands that other OEMs are free to provide similar functionality to their devices. Nokia’s app also has options to block withheld numbers, and notifications and a Live Tile to track how many times a number is blocked. Unfortunately, you have to block a number from calling and texting, so you can’t just ignore someone’s text messages while you continue to receive calls from that number. The app is rolling out to Lumia devices immediately, and it’s just the latest in a number of updates that Nokia is making to improve Windows Phone itself.

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IFA Berlin 2013 Preview: 7 Hot Gadgets We Expect to See

This September, the biggest names in technology are getting set to descend on Berlin, Germany to show off their latest wares. From smartwatches and giant smartphones to tablets and Ultrabooks, IFA 2013 is shaping up to be one of the most jam packed tech events in recent memory. We’ll be live from the show floor in Berlin to bring you all of the latest news, previews and our hands-on impressions of your favorite new devices. So, to help wet your appetite for the big show, we’re running down the top seven gadgets we expect to see in Germany.

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Samsung’s Galaxy Note II made its debut at last year’s IFA Berlin conference, and if current rumors are true, we’ll be seeing the Galaxy Note 3 at this year’s show. The Note 3 is expected to feature a larger 5.68-inch display and will reportedly include Samsung’s 1.8-GHz octa-core Exynos 5420 processor and an ARM Mail T628 GPU. It’ll also offer a 13-megapixel camera and come with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage.

2. Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch

Alongside the Galaxy Note 3, Samsung is also expected to announce the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. The watch will reportedly feature a dual-core processor and run on Google’s Android Jelly Bean OS. There are conflicting reports on the timepiece’s touch screen display with some suggesting it will measure 2.5 inches and others indicating it will be a smaller 1.67 inches. The watch could also feature a built-in camera, NFC and Bluetooth support and have on-board sensors for tracking workouts.

3. LG G Watch Smartwatch

Not to be outdone by Samsung, LG is also reportedly working on a smartwatch of its own, which could be called either the G Watch or G Band. Though details concerning LG’s watch are relatively hard to come by, we know that the watch would likely run on either Mozilla’s Firefox OS or Google’s Android OS. There’s still no word on a potential screen size or processor for the G Watch.

4. LG G Pad Tablet

LG may be preparing to make another jump into the tablet space with its rumored G Pad slate. The tablet is expected to feature an 8.3-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display, quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. If the G Pad is real, it could be related to the LG tablet that passed through the FCC recently.

5. Nokia Bandit Phablet

When Nokia takes the stage at IFA 2013, it will reportedly unveil a new 6-inch phablet dubbed the Bandit. The handset is expected to come packing a 1080p display and a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. In addition to its big-screen display and powerful processor, the Bandit is rumored to include a 20-megapixel or higher rear camera. If true, the Bandit would launch with Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone update, which will reportedly include support for 1080p displays, as well as a few other enhancements.

6. Sony Honami Smartphone

 Sony may have a new smartphone up its sleeve just in time for IFA 2013. The rumored Honami smartphone is a 5-inch handset that will be able to capture video at a resolution of 4,000 x 2,000 pixels. Of course, to watch those 4K videos you’ll have to also purchase a 4K TV. Beyond it’s video capabilities, the Honami is said to include a 20-megapixel rear camera and 2.2-megapixel front shooter.

 7. Convertibles and Ultrabooks

In addition to smartphones, tablets and smartwatches, we’re expecting to see a host of convertibles and Ultrabooks from the likes of Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony and several other key device makers. We’ll be sure to bring you our hands-on impressions of all of these devices live from IFA 2013.

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Fun, Fast and Affordable: Nokia Unveils Lumia 625

Nokia announced the Nokia Lumia 625, an accessibly priced 4G smartphone to help people see more of what they love. The Nokia Lumia 625 delivers high-speed entertainment to a wide audience with a large 4.7-inch super-sensitive LCD screen and 4G Internet access.

Nokia Lumia 625Building on the award winning Nokia Lumia design, the Nokia Lumia 625 offers the choice of five brightly coloured changeable shells, which add to the Live Tile personalisation brought by Windows Phone 8.

The Nokia Lumia 625 also provides many innovations found in the recently announced flagship Nokia Lumia 1020. These include a range of integrated camera applications like Nokia Smart Camera, offering handy features like removing unwanted objects from pictures, and Nokia Cinemagraph, which turns photos into living memories with added movement.

“With our largest smartphone screen to date, the Nokia Lumia 625 is a perfect example of how Nokia is delivering leading smartphone innovation and experiences at every price point,” said Jo Harlow, executive vice president, Nokia Smart Devices.

Powered by the latest version of Windows Phone 8 and including the Nokia Lumia Amber update, the Nokia Lumia 625 delivers a richer and easier to use smartphone experience at a competitive price. Live Tiles update direct to the home screen, and People Hub makes it easy to stay connected with friends and family. Windows Phone 8 also includes Xbox Live, Microsoft Office, and 7GB of online SkyDrive storage to simply make life easier.

With access to more than 165,000 apps including Vimeo, Temple Run and WhatsApp, the Nokia Lumia 625 offers faster mobile fun, as well as safer surfing with Internet Explorer 10 – making it ideal for viewing videos, games, and other content. The Nokia Lumia 625 also offers SD memory card support, allowing up to 64GB of additional content storage.

Nokia Music provides unlimited streaming of ad-free mixes without registration or subscription, plus the ability to download mixes for listening offline with the Nokia Lumia 625. Nokia has also teamed with Coloud(TM) to create BOOM(TM) headphones that combine audio prowess with excellent value, and integrated microphone and buttons for voice calls and music control.

With its big screen and super-fast connectivity, the Nokia Lumia 625 offers leading maps and location experiences from HERE, providing free maps, turn-by-turn navigation and public transport guidance.

The Nokia Lumia 625 will be available in a range of colours including orange, yellow, bright green, white and black with an array of changeable shells enabling easy personalisation. With an estimated retail price of 220 Euros before taxes and subsidies, the Nokia Lumia 625 is planned to begin selling in China, Europe, Asia Pacific, India, Middle East, Africa and Latin America in Q3 2013.

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Nokia plans a limited Superman-branded Lumia 925

Following the footsteps of last year’s Batman themed Nokia Lumia 900, the Finnish company is about to release another superhero themed Windows Phone flagship. The freshly announced Nokia Lumia 925 Superman Limited Edition will land on the Chinese market a day after the Man of Steel movie’s official June 14 launch.

The Nokia Lumia 925 Superman Limited Edition will be available in an initial run of 925 devices. The Nokia flagship will feature a Superman livery on its back. A wireless charging cover, gone through the same visual treatment will also be available for purchase as a separate accessory when the smartphone becomes available.

As far as specs go, the limited edition Nokia Lumia 925 will be no different than its plain vanilla sibling which we extensively previewed.

Software-wise, the smartphone will most probably come with the just released Man of Steel Windows Phone 8 app, which has been developed exclusively for Nokia Lumia devices. It features different challenges, whose completion will unlock exclusive multimedia content such as wallpapers, ringtones, and DC Comics digital comic books.

The Nokia Lumia 926 Superman Limited Edition will be priced at CNY 3,999 ($652; €505) when released in China. There’s no info on other markets, though it will be surprising if the tricked out Lumia 925 doesn’t make it beyond China.

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Nokia’s New Lumia 925: A Sleek Metal Frame and Fancy Camera

Nokia’s just taken the wraps off its latest flagship Windows Phone. We’ve heard rumours of a PureView-packing beast, but confirming yesterday’s leak it’s the Lumia 925, an updated, metal-clad version of the Lumia 920, and it sure is a looker.

So, not the true PureView-packing EOS, sadly, but just the Lumia 925 — a move away from the polycarbonate of the past and to a camera phone with a built-in metal rim that acts as the antenna, just like the iPhone. One of the notable updates over the 920 is a new Nokia Smart Camera mode, with the option to camera ten images at once, with the post-processing features you can find in a bunch of other phones at the moment like Best Shot and an Action Mode. Basically it’s Nokia’s version of the HTC Zoe, but with each sequential shot being at 5MP—”something no one else does” apparently.

Otherwise, you’re looking at a 1.5Ghz Snapdragon processor, 1280×768 4.5-inch screen, and the same 8.7 f2.0 camera on the back. In other words, damn similar specs to the Lumia 920. In fact, the biggest physical change is that metal body. Not only does it feel better in the hand, but it shaves a whopping 46g off the weight of the Lumia 920 — if you remember, the biggest criticism of that handset was its ample beer belly. The other changes are relatively small — the screen is OLED rather than IPS LCD, and the internal storage has, weirdly, dropped from 32GB to 16GB. With no microSD card slot, that could turn out to be this handset’s Achilles heel. (Full specs can be found here.)

Another interesting move is the addition of wireless charging covers, which piggback on the main phone, and allow wireless charging. They come in a bunch of colours, including a very fetching red (which we’ve just been shown).

Pricing is expected to be 469 euros before taxes, so probably north of $600 in the US, shipping in June.

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Nokia Lumia 928 now on sale, shipping on the 20th

Nokia Lumia 928 on Verizon, The first new high end Windows Phone in 6 months, is now on sale. It’s priced $99 with a new 2-year contract or $499 with month to month service.

The actual handset will only ship on the 20th May, around the same time as we expect stock to become available in store.

Note that the $99 price is after a $50 online discount. For a limited time you’ll also get $25 credit for the Windows Phone Store.

Compared to the Nokia Lumia 920 the Nokia Lumia 928 is slightly lighter with a slimmer profile, AMOLED screen and a powerful Xenon flash that very effectively prevents motion blur in night time pictures.

Both Black and White versions of the Lumia 928 are also available on Amazon, but there’s no shipping date and they cost more – $199 with contract and $549 without.

source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_928_available_for_preorder_ships_by_may_20-news-6052.php