The masterfully botched launch of Windows 8 phones brought zero lines of eager consumers to wireless retailers across the nation.
But here we have Microsoft’s last chance to show its smartphone gambit is for real. The Windows 8 platform has been refined and supercharged, with its capabilities fully showcased in the Nokia Lumia 920.
It is, to put it plainly, a beast. The first thing you’ll notice is its heft. Nokia’s big bet is that the technology packed into this 6.5-ounce, 5.13-inch frame will be worth the tradeoff in bulk. Near-field communication, wireless charging and all-day battery life are some of those features.
The buzz is that the Lumia 920 sports the best camera of any of the Windows phones, but I would go further to say it’s among the best smartphone cameras on the market, with remarkable low-light capabilities and image stabilization.
Nokia’s camera comes with an excellent suite of exclusive apps. Cinemagraph allows you to animate part of your picture, similar to a built-in Gif maker. Smart Shoot allows you to take a picture of something blocked by moving objects. For instance, if you’re at the Louvre and hordes of tourists are walking by the Mona Lisa when you want to take a picture, Smart Shoot will take a series of photos and splice them together, erasing the people blocking your view.
A winning feature of Windows phones has been its people hub for integrating social information — tweets, status updates, photos — from your contacts into one stream. The new OS takes this a step further, allowing you to group your contacts into “rooms.” It’s similar to Google Plus circles, but with deep integration into Microsoft Apps and office features, so you can push out documents and hold chats.
With high-quality tablets and ultrabooks galore, the Windows ecosystem is improving. And at just $99 on-contract with AT&T, the Lumia 920 will not disappoint if you’re OK with its size.
