The Lumia 800 is the first Windows Phone from Nokia, and it is a make or break device for both Nokia and Microsoft in the smartphone market. Both companies have been struggling to keep a footing in the industry for the past couple of years. Nokia has struggled with old fashioned phone designs and an outdated operating system, and Microsoft have struggled to find a smartphone that can truly show off its newest mobile OS.
The Lumia 800 is the solution to both of these problems. The phone adopts the same gorgeous design as the earlier MeeGo powered N9, while enjoying the best features of Windows Phone, including Zune, Xbox LIVE and excellent social networking integration. The Lumia is superior to earlier Windows Phones because it benefits from many of Nokia’s own software features.
The last great smartphone hit that Nokia had was the Nokia N8, launched in 2010. Aside from the 12 megapixel camera, the feature that many people enjoyed the most with the N8 was the excellent navigation software included. Unlike alternatives on the iPhone and Android, such as Google Maps, the N8′s navigation software allowed people to use maps offline, thus saving on 3G data consumption.
The Lumia also benefits from such navigation software in the form of Nokia Drive. Nokia has now added Nokia Drive to Windows Marketplace, and it is a simple procedure to download and install. Once in place, Nokia Drive provides the finest navigation software to be found on a smartphone.
Nokia Drive includes Nokia Maps, and you can view maps in either 2D or 3D. The 2D maps are an excellent way to quickly get your bearings, while the 3D navigational software is perfect for using in the car. The 3D maps also include 3D models of particular buildings and landmarks.
Nokia Drive includes spoken instructions, just like a traditional sat navigation system. This is what truly singles it out from other mapping apps like Google Maps, as you do not need to keep your eyes fixed on the screen when using it. You can select from a choice of different voices to find the one that you like best. You can also turn down the screen brightness when driving at night, so that the Lumia does not distract you from the road ahead.
Nokia Drive is also available in a variety of different languages, and it is a simple process to download a new language. You can set destinations and even look for certain services, such as hotels, within your local vicinity.
As mentioned, Nokia Maps was one of the biggest attractions for the Nokia N8 and, while the Lumia doesn’t have as decent a camera, it far exceeds to N8 when it comes to navigation. Combined with Windows Phone’s entertainment features like Xbox, and Nokia’s own entertainment features such as Nokia Mix Radio, the Lumia is a cut above the current crop of iPhone and Android devices.
Author: Shimon
email: simon.drew[at]mdoperations.co.uk
Simon writes on behalf of Best Mobile Contracts, the best place to find a Nokia Lumia contract in the UK.