Microsoft Lumia 650: sophisticated, metal design and Windows 10 under $200 U

As one of the leaders in our devices business, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand transformation and progress across our Windows and Devices group. From Windows 10 to Surface Book to HoloLens, and PC-like productivity on Lumia 950 series, it is clearly now apparent that we have a portfolio of unique and productive Windows devices.

One of the guiding principles of the devices vision is that it’s not just about the device itself, but what you’re able to get done with it. The simple fact is that the most personal device that we have to get things done is our phone. So the team and I are working tirelessly to make sure that we do our best to give you the most productive phones on the planet. At the end of 2015 we introduced the first Lumia devices running Windows 10 – Lumia 550, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL – and we’re thrilled at the response they’ve received.

Now, here at the beginning of 2016, we’re excited to announce the new Lumia 650 – our latest smartphone running Windows 10. The Lumia 650 comes in matte black and matte white, and will become available in select European markets beginning Feb. 15, starting from a suggested retail price around $199 USD before local taxes and subsidies.

We’re extremely proud of the Lumia 650 and believe it will quickly be seen as the device that provides the perfect balance between work and personal needs.

I’ve had an opportunity to talk with our business customers as well as our Windows fans and something that consistently comes up is that this ever expanding mobile world is quickly becoming chaotic. It’s in that spirit that we designed the Lumia 650 to bring first class to business class; giving our customers the best of Microsoft productivity and security, all wrapped in a beautiful slim package. By providing a consistent experience across PC and phone through the power of Windows 10, we think professionals and Windows fans alike will love using it every day.

Sophisticated Design

This really is a beautiful phone. We’ve paid attention to every detail, pairing the highest level of craftsmanship with maximum everyday productivity. The 5” OLED display is bright and crisp; colors really pop and blacks are deep and clear. It’s by far our most beautiful screen ever at this price point. Lumia 650 also features a highly polished, diamond cut and anodized aluminum frame, giving it an unparalleled and premium feel. Importantly, we didn’t sacrifice the removable battery and expandable storage, something we know our customers enjoy having. And with a profile of only 6.9mm and weighing just 122 grams, it’s incredibly thin and light. It’s a phone I’m proud to show off.

Lumia 650 also features a 5MP wide-angle, front-facing camera and Microsoft’s flagship imaging algorithms, providing remarkable photo and video capabilities. Leveraging our world-class optics, the advanced 8MP rear-facing camera includes options for rich capture and living images enabling you always to capture the memory as it happens.

The Best of Microsoft Productivity

If you’re like me when you work, you want to really get things done. We need to be able to seamlessly move between our work and personal needs. Building on our success of more than 200 million devices running Windows 10, the Lumia 650 puts Microsoft’s smooth, responsive and most productive OS in your pocket.

Our business customers continue to send great feedback on Windows 10 and are compelled by the mobility of the Windows experience across devices. Lumia 650 runs the latest Microsoft Office apps right out of the box, allowing you to create and edit documents on-the-go and sync them to the cloud via OneDrive. It’s also perfect for picking up on email and an important presentation during your commute. And with Cortana, your very own personal assistant, you’re always organized and prepared for the day ahead.

The Lumia 650 fits perfectly into the enterprise with built-in support for Microsoft business applications, new third party Universal Windows Applications like Uber, and one click setup of common everyday tools like Office 365. It also allows IT to test the latest Windows 10 Mobile updates against critical line of business systems and apps, before you distribute to end users via MDM.

It’s secure by design and keeps company and personal data safer with features like device encryption and device wipe. These features allow businesses peace of mind, knowing important information in emails and files are protected from threats and empowers employees to use one device for work and play.

As we’ve sharpened our mobile strategy with a new focus in phones, the Lumia 650 is another step towards bringing Windows 10 to more than a billion devices. Our phones will continue to play a key role in this effort. We’re improving our platform with regular updates and are committed to continuing to deliver the most productive and secure Windows-based smartphones to Windows fans and business customers.

I’m really proud of our team’s work on this new device and am really looking forward to bringing the Lumia 650 to market. So far, feedback has been great and our partners in Europe are excited to begin sales this week.

Posted by Editorial Team on 10:59 AM in

Microsoft's Smartphone Strategy Is Simple, It Will Change The Rules

Of all the manufacturers who are making smartphones, Microsoft has the simplest approach to hardware.  All Redmond has to do is turn up, and it can count that as a victory.

Every software app released by Microsoft on iOS or Android is another step forward in CEO Satya Nadella’s mobile strategy. Each user who signs up to a service in the cloud, each application downloaded, each document edited via the cloud, each of them is another tiny win for Microsoft. The loaded phrase of “cloud first, mobile first” does not commit Microsoft to selling smartphones.

So why does Microsoft still get involved in the hardware game? Because it has a simple goal, which is to remind everyone that it is still there and still playing. That’s enough. The flip side is the software and services strategy, and that is focused on bringing in the big money and keeping Microsoft relevant over the next five to ten years.

Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL (image: Ewan Spence)

Windows 10 is a vision that has taken a long time to form. It is an operating system that will be constantly updated and effectively have no end of life moment, it simply rolls on with more and more updates. It is designed to run not just on the desktops and laptops of this world, but tablets, phablets, smartphones, smartwatches, ‘Internet of Things’ devices, and beyond.

The Surface devices show that the OS can function perfectly well as a tablet device, and the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL are the first smartphones to have Windows 10 installed by default. Yet Windows 10 is still primarily a desk-bound system which can run pretty well in other form factors.

The fact that the Lumia 950 and 950 XL handsets exist is the big signal. The value in being able to say that Microsoft has a smartphone presence – even if it is one with a tiny slice of market share – is far more important than having no hardware presence and relying on the cloud of apps available for other platforms. While other manufacturers may roll out Windows 10 devices in the future (and there are strong signs that manufacturers such as HP have Windows 10 mobile devices approaching release) simply being part of the conversation is a big win for Microsoft.

Consider any articles that are looking to do comparison pieces or discussions around smartphones. With Microsoft releasing handsets it’s hard to ignore Redmond as the ‘third mobile platform’, even if it is the comfortable definition of a niche platform. Microsoft is just too big to ignore, so it will always be considered, no matter its share.

That keeps Microsoft’s name in the public eye, which has a knock-on effect of gifting Microsoft’s mobile applications an air of respectability and modernity that would be harder to maintain if all they had to offer were software downloads and access to the cloud. Those apps are the end products that Microsoft is monetizing. Windows 10 on the desktop is doing much of the heavy lifting in terms of user acquisitions, but there must be some thought given to delivering mobile users. That’s why Microsoft’s apps are available on iOS and Android. That’s why Microsoft is investing in marketing, developing, and acquiring apps. That’s why Microsoft will keep paying the table stakes to stay involved as a hardware manufacturer.

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:54 PM in

The Apple Watch Is On Sale Again, But It Doesn’t Mean A Watch 2 Is Coming Just Yet

The Apple Watch is now available with a $100 discount at Best Buy, B&H, Target and possibly other stores. For instance, the 38mm Sport model now costs $249 and the 42mm version costs $299. You might think that it means that the Apple Watch 2 is right around the corner, but it’s unlikely.

Instead, it seems like Apple wants to grab market share with its first smart watch. The Apple Watch (at least the Sport version) is now available at Walmart and was also discounted before the holidays.

In other words, Apple is firing with both barrels to capture market share as quickly as possible. If you buy an Apple Watch now, chances are you’re going to buy another one down the road in a couple of years. And the product life cycle of the Apple Watch is just beginning. There’s a long road ahead full of updates, late adopters and better margins.

Even more important, your Apple Watch only works with your iPhone. Selling more Apple Watches is a way to increase brand loyalty. When it’s time to upgrade to a new phone, these Apple Watch users will buy a new iPhone because it works with the Apple Watch.

Best Buy, Target and others started this sale a few days before Valentine’s Day. The Apple Watch makes a good gift, and it’s clear that Apple is also taking advantage of it.

An Apple event on March 15 seems likely now, but you shouldn’t expect a major update for the Apple Watch. There could be new bands and partnerships with fashion companies, but it’s going to be the same watch.

Also worth noting, it’s interesting to see that Apple doesn’t want to discount the Apple Watch in its own stores. Instead, the company relies on third-party stores for these discounts, keeping the Watch at its original price point in the Apple Stores.

It all comes down to perception. Apple wants to keep the premium perception around its brand and especially around this product. Other than the Sport variant, the Apple Watch is a luxury item. And luxury items aren’t supposed to be on sale.

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:53 PM in

Surface Pro 3 from Microsoft

Posted by Editorial Team on 7:12 PM in

Microsoft HoloLens Trailer

Posted by Editorial Team on 6:57 PM in

iPhone 7 Future Screen

Posted by Editorial Team on 6:44 PM in

HP might actually have an upcoming Windows 10 phone, dubbed the Elite x3

It has definitely been a while since HP's last appearance on the mobile scene and even longer since the company dipped its foot in Windows Mobile territory. However, 2016 might actually mark a return to said market, as suggested by a mysterious Windows 10 handset, that has been popping up in various rumors since the end of last year.

Originally dubbed the HP "Falcon" a new leak, courtesy of reputable source Evan Blass, claims that the device will actually come out as the HP Elite x3. This is a slightly perplexing title choice, as a quick search reveals that the HP Elite x2, pictured below, is actually a 2-in-1 device released back in 2012 - quite a different cup of tea.

In any case, it appears that @evleaks is referring to the same smartphone that was initially spotted in a GFXBench listing back in December 2015. According to said source, it will tun on Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 820 SoC and have a quite spacious 5.8-inch 2560 x 1440 pixel display - an impressive setup, especially within the Windows realm. Oddly enough, the same benchmark reported only 1GB of RAM, but that seems like a mistake, when considering the rest of the specs, like the 64GB of storage, for instance. The suggested camera setup also looks impressive on paper, with a 20MP shooter on the back and a 12MP one on the front.

Besides the name change, Evan also mentioned that the device looks "pretty smart -- except, maybe, for the odd pattern of speaker grille holes.", which is cryptic at best, but does spark hopes that the HP Elite x3 will come with an elegant exterior.

It is also worth noting that another industry source reported that the HP Elite x3 could actually be announced at MWC 2016, which could explain why we are starting to hear more and more about it. Here's to hoping the high-end Windows phone does become reality at the Barcelona venue in a few days.

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:55 AM in