The Final Word - Nokia Lumia 920 AT&T Smartphone CZ Review

THE NOKIA LUMIA 920 GETS MY FINAL VOTE... HERE'S WHY

My review of the Nokia Lumia 920 via AT&T Wireless has come to a close! It has been a great review period, and I have a lot of closing thoughts and comments about the flagship smartphone brought to you by the Nokia/Microsoft team.

Let's start off with the hardware. The phone itself is the most durable build of a smartphone that I have tested to date. iPhones are breakable, and many Android phones feel too "plasticy" (that's the new buzzword). But the composite build of the Nokia Lumia 920 makes it nearly indestructible, and it feels good ergonomic-wise in your hands.

Under the hood you get a dual core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor. That's enough to push apps, run tasks, and surf the net as fast and efficiently as anything on the market. I had no problems with lag, even while multitasking. The 1Gb of RAM also gets credit for its ability to crunch the data with ease.

The display is incredible. It's a lovely 4.5" PureMotion HD display that packs in a 1280x768 pixel density. It's rich and robust. And the animation that goes along with the navigation is breathtaking.

Even with the big brilliant display, I noticed that the battery life was excellent during the entire time of my test. Standby time just does not drain the battery at all. But even hitting it hard for most of the day, that battery was a champ.

Call quality is at or above what I would expect from a smartphone. Something that I really like that is just a little silly an nostalgic is how you get a solid tone when holding down a number button while "dialing".

Most smartphones only "blip" the dial tone once when you hold the button. But the Lumia 920 makes me feel like I've got an old school land line phone. I know that doesn't make a hill of beans difference with anything, but I think it's cool!

The camera sports the Carl Zeiss brand name with 8.7 megapixel resolution. I would agree with those who say this is one of the best quality cameras on a smartphone. Picture taking is quick and efficient, and you don't have to wait long for the shot to focus and flash to activate.

Video is spectacular. The quality is also of the best I have seen in a smartphone. Audio with the video is superior. I have yet to test the ability to do post editing, but I am very anxious to know if I will have the same issues I have with Android and iPhone devices with video syncing problems.

Flipping through apps and programs is so easy. Windows Phone 8 is just plain intuitive. Any rank ameteur could pick this thing up and become a pro in no time flat. Microsoft has created an operating system that is nothing like iOS and Android. This is a breath of fresh air.

New things like "Nokia City Lens" really capture my attention on this device. You can launch City Lens and just point the camera around out in space. It will show you, in real time, what restaurants and points of interest are actually in the direction you are facing. This is augmented reality at its best.

Even the simple little things like typing on the virtual keyboard make this a device a wonderful thing to operate. I can say without a doubt that the soft keyboard on the Nokia Lumia 920 is better than anything I have tried. Period. It is by far the easiest and most accurate layout for a smartphone keyboard, and nothing quite feels the same.

Social media integration is unique on this smartphone. Once you register all of your accounts from various social platforms, the phone will "report" messages on the home screen as if they are coming from one source. That means you can carry on a conversation with someone over text, Facebook messenger, and other services, but have each message on one single screen. This makes it easier to get straight to the act of communication, instead of flipping through multiple platforms or apps.

Something I wish I had spent more time playing with is Office 360 on the Lumia 920. Just taking a stroll through the sample documents and presentations on the device is enough to get excited about. Office integration makes the Lumia 920 a potentially seriously productive device, to say the least.

I'm taking the Nokia Lumia 920 seriously, and I think the writers who make claims of its demise obviously have not spent any quality time with this handset. I'll agree with the prognosticators who say that Nokia and Microsoft could own the top-selling smartphone by 2015.

First of all, this is the best device on the market for first time smartphone buyers, thanks to its simple and intuitive operating system. Second, it makes a perfect match for the gazillions of people using Microsoft Windows based PCs, and MS Office. Lastly, we're starting to see people switching from Apple iPhone devices to the Nokia Lumia, and that is something I thought I would never see.

Add it all up and the future of the Nokia Lumia 920 is strong. There's so much more to this phone that I won't delve into at this point, but I'll leave any fence-sitters with a strong "buy" recommendation for this device. If you're seriously considering it, take the plunge. You will probably be satisfied, especially with the latest contract price of $69.99 through Amazon.

What are your thoughts about the future of Microsoft/Nokia and their Lumia line? Will it make a significant dent in the market, or fade to oblivion? Share in the Disqus section if you will!

Carlton Flowers
Telephone Tester

GET THE NOKIA LUMIA 920 AT AMAZON NOW!

The current price for the Nokia Lumia 920 through AT&T Wireless is only $69.99 for qualifying accounts at Amazon! Price not guaranteed to stay this low, so grab it while you can!

In Your Face With The Nokia Lumia 920 (AT&T)

SIDE SWIPED BY THE NOKIA LUMIA 920 - INITIAL THOUGHTS

Well it's test time again, and the newest device up to the plate is the Nokia Lumia 920 on the AT&T network. I've only had the device for a day, but I have enough of a reaction that I'm ready to tell you about it now.

There's a reason I said "side swiped" in the header. That's what Windows Phone 8 experience practically makes you feel, compared to iOS and iOS on steroids (Android).

The Windows environment on the Nokia Lumia 920 hits you upside the head with a completely unique and different way to interact with a smartphone. With zero smartphone experience, you canpick up this phone and figure out how it operates immediately.

I haven't even thought about breaking out the users guide for this device yet. It's just way too simple to operate. This is the epitome of intuitieve operation, period.

The look and feel of the Nokia Lumia 920 is strikingly similar to the previous version, the Lumia 900. But don't be fooled, there are several upgrades on the new edition. We'll get into that later.

After a day of use, I have yet to plug the phone up to the wall charger. I don't know what Nokia has done differently than the competitors, but it appears that they've got the jump on conserving the juice.

I seem to drain the essence of my Samsung Galaxy S2 a lot faster, and there's no question that the iPhone 4S and even the iPhone 5 have less battery power. I'm impressed with that.

The phone feels like the most solid of all the devices I've tested. I would give the iPhone 5 second place to the Lumia 920 as far as quality of build. But the Lumia 920 has a much smoother feel than the iPhone with its gorgeous rounded edges and composite body design.

As far as text input, the Lumia 920 is by and far the champion of all smartphones. The combination of the responsiveness and the soft keyboard layout make it super easy to text accurately and quickly.

Today I got to play around with the Carl Zeiss camera that the Lumia 920 is packing, and it lives up to all of the hype. I can safely say that it will perform and compete with the best of what's on the market.

So that's my initial "out-of-the-box" thoughts on the Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone from AT&T Wireless. Next, we'll talk about the hardware, and we'll also look into why a lot of people who formerly owned an iPhone have made the switch to Nokia's flagship device. Plus we'll talk about whom it is that I think this phone would be the best fit!

Stay tuned, Nokia fans.

Carlton Flowers
Gadget Master

CHECK OUT THE NOKIA LUMIA 920 ON AMAZON NOW! GREAT VALUE AT ONLY $99!

Why Nokia Lumia 920 Is Converting iPhone Users

NOKIA LUMIA 920 WINNING CONVERTS - THE REASONS WHY

Last winter, I met several serious iPhone users who made the switch from iOS to Windows Phone. I was very suprrised to see this happening, but it seemed to possibly be a fluke. Since the release of the Nokia Lumia 920 with Windows Phone 8, I'm finding out that this is a slight trend, not a fluke.

iPhone owners tend to be the most brand-loyal users of any smartphone brand. That's why it stops me dead in my tracks wondering what is going on when I see a dyed-in-the-wool Apple fan making such a tremendous switch. And whey they do, they don't look back.

What could possibly be the cause for this to happen? It's quite simple, actually. After polling several new Lumia 920 owners, here's what I found out.

The first and most common reason mentioned by iPhone owners who made the switch is the simplicity of Windows Phone 8. For them, Microsoft's smartphone operating system environment is easier to pick up and function than iOS. They say that it is far more intuitive, and a break from endless icons and folders.

Another big reason former iPhone users made the switch is the Windows Phone 8 start screen and its live tiles. They say that the tiles show the user all the important things going on in their world without the need to dive into several different applications. They can customize the order of the tiles, and even the size and color to fit their needs.

According to the Live Tiles fans, they love the ability to monitor and respond to all social network conversations all from one single start screen for their favorite friends. The ability to even use apps like Skype to answer calls without opening the actual application is a huge plus, thus allowing them to stay on the home screen or within a certain running app they are working with.

The third and final most common benefit that I have heard from the Nokia Lumia 920 owners is the advanced features built into the camera that you don't get with an iPhone. The Carl Zeiss camera is said to have the best functionality, plus extra features like the ability to add filters similar to Instagram. Plus users can use pinch-to-zoom within the camera app, plus "Smart Zoom" which lets them take a pile of pictures and erase people or objects from the scene.

Keep in mind, this is not a significant trend. There will still be millions of iOS users that will never make the switch. But for the small minority of professionals that work in telecommunications stores that are making this switch, it is a tiny but significant trend that could spell possible success for the future of Windows Phone 8.

What is your opinion? Are you a former iPhone user that made the switch? What were your top reasons for changing over? Or is it possible that you are a Windows Phone user that switched to iOS? I'd love to hear your story!

Carlton Flowers
Phormer iPhone iPhan

GET THE NOKIA LUMIA 920 FROM AMAZON WIRELESS FOR AS LOW AS $19.99!

Check out the Nokia Lumia 920 at Amazon Wireless and pick up a new handset for as low as $19.99 with a 2-year contract agreement through AT&T Wireless!

Is The Nokia Lumia 920 The Future Of Smartphones?

NOKIA LUMIA 920 HITS THE SCENE - IS THIS THE FUTURE?

Folks, you might as well get this straight in your mind right now... Nokia and Microsoft will be putting a major dent in the smartphone market in the next year. Mark my words.

With the arrival of the Nokia Lumia 920 4G LTE smartphone, the wild smartphone frontier is going to change. I will make the bold prediction that all of the tech writers who slam Microsoft and Nokia are dead wrong. Here's why...

The Nokia Lumia 920 shocked me when I first held it in my hand. I had the opportunity to review the previous Lumia 900, and I was impressed. But the Lumia 920 has gone above and beyond the call of duty. This is by far the best new concept for a smartphone on the market today.

But the reason that this smartphone will conquer the market is not just due to the quality build and fantastic functionality. With an entry level contract price of $19.99 on contract, Microsoft and Nokia will cause serious heartburn with the competitors on the market introducing smartphones at the usual price of $199.99.

If you know me by now, you know that I'm a huge fan of Android and Samsung. I am a previous iPhone lover who made the switch to Android in 2011. I still currently own an Android device, the Samsung Galaxy S2. And I love this handset.

But after spending 10 minutes talking to an AT&T sales associate in Ohio, my mind has changed about the future of Nokia in the smartphone market. The rep who let me check out his sleek new Nokia 920 informed me that he is a recent iPhone convert. He loves his Lumia, and he doesn't plan to ever look back.

Why is the Nokia Lumia 920 turning out Android and Apple customers? It's due to the build of the phone, which is solidly the slickest and most aesthetically pleasing of all smartphones I've seen.

Additionally, it's the operating system. Microsoft has hit it big with Windows Phone 8. It's far more intuitive and impressive than Apple's iOS and also Android 4.0. The action of the live tiles makes it easy to access all of your social media content without jumping in and out of apps, plus it's easy to get to all of your utilities.

The Nokia Lumia 920 has a fantastic 4.5" PureMotion HD and ClearBlack display that blocks incoming light reflections through a polarized layer to improve screen visibility under direct sunlight. I've never seen anything like it. It's the perfect size, and a glorious visual wonder.

The camera on the Lumia 920 is quite possibly the best on the market. It's a Carl Zeiss brand 8Mp dual LED flash camera with a front facer for video chatting. The quality of the pictures taken with this camera is a force to be reckoned with.

I won't drone on about all the techy details of this phone, but it's just super fast and efficient. It's the right combination of cutting-edge combined with affordability. They've definitely hit a sweet spot. There's no lag in loading apps and jumping from one to another.

I have yet to test out this device, but you better believe a full CZ Blog review will be forthcoming when AT&T Wireless of St. Louis hooks me up with a test device. Stay tuned and watch out. And watch as this phone blows up the market over the next year.

When I recommend a smartphone to people who have never owned one in the past, I confidently tell them that a handset with the Windows Mobile 8 platform would be the easiest and best to get started with. There's no question.

Even though I am in neck-deep with Android at the moment, I don't know how long I will be able to hold out before making the switch to Windows Phone 8. Once I get to the point where 90% of the apps I need are available for Windows Phone, I'll probably be jumping ship.

You heard it first right here on the CZ Blog.

Carlton Flowers
Closet Windows Phone Phan

GET THE NOKIA LUMIA 920 FROM AMAZON WIRELESS FOR AS LOW AS $19.99!

Check out the Nokia Lumia 920 at Amazon Wireless and pick up a new handset for as low as $19.99 with a 2-year contract agreement through AT&T Wireless!