The Nokia Lumia vs. the Galaxy S4

The Nokia Lumia vs. the Galaxy S4 The Nokia Lumia vs. the Galaxy S4 As the Windows Phone operating system for smartphones gains market share, it also attracts the attention of application developers. The Windows Phone app store is a booming marketplace with a plethora of office and productivity solutions. From optimized calendars to speed tests, Nokia Lumia users have a variety of software to help them increase productivity. In addition, Nokia occasionally releases apps exclusive to the Nokia Lumia to promote a movie or game. Some Nokia Lumia apps are always free to download and use. Others, like Countdown, may have small costs associated either with the initial download or for access to select, premium features. Fortunately, users can make an informed decision by reading about the app before committing to a purchase. The Nokia Lumia is available for purchase at cellular service provider stores or on eBay. Choosing the Best Office and Productivity Applications The top office and productivity apps are among the most used and well-reviewed applications for the Windows Phone 8. They reside in the most popular categories: Calendars, speed tests, scanners, search engines, and task organizers. If the specific apps are not compatible with a certain Nokia Lumia phone, the user can look for similar apps within the same categories. 1. Google Search by Google The official Google Search application is one of the most downloaded applications for Windows Phones. It includes popular search features like autocomplete, voice search, and the ability to search nearby locations via Google Maps. Nokia Lumia users can quickly search the Web with either Google or Bing, the primary search engine on Windows Phones. However, people who prefer Google or are simply used to that search engine may be able to improve their productivity by returning to familiarity. 2. Countdown by Thomas Tsopanakis The developers of Countdown describe the application as "a new way to interact with events and dates." Its functions are simple but potentially useful in an extraordinary number of ways. Countdown enables Nokia Lumia users to countdown to holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. In addition, they can track the number of days since their last cigarette smoke or other habit they have decided to quit. It is, in essence, an interactive calendar with options to pin live tiles on the user's homepage, so they can track dates without opening the app. More Ways to Use Countdown Countdown has more uses than easily listed. For people who like reminders, alarms, and countdowns, the user's imagination is the limit. Reminders to set countdowns Full screen countdowns Personalize events with theme colors Pin live tiles to the start page Track bad habits and reward milestones Keep track of days until projects are due Be reminded of coworkers' birthdays For more office apps, the maker of Countdown also has a scientific calculator app and a percentage calculator app. 3. Network Speed Test by Microsoft Speed tests are useful for determining what a network is capable of doing; for example, whether one can reliably download apps or video chat. It is also possible to compare speeds at different times of the day. Network Speed Test for Windows Phone 8 allows Nokia Lumia users to get a better look at their network quality by giving a visual representation of its upload and download speeds. Now it is even easier to compare all networks around the city or narrow down which employee bogs down the network with downloads. 4. Handyscan by JDB Pocketware Handyscan is a document scanner for Windows Phone 7.5 and 8. Ideal for businessmen and women everywhere, the app scans and saves receipts, contracts, and much more. Its features include saving multi-page documents as one file, collage creation, and electronic signatures. Whether a Nokia Lumia user is saving business receipts for reimbursement or scanning business cards to save them in digital form, the Handyscan has them covered. 5. 2Day by Chartreuse 2Day is a to-do application, meaning it helps Nokia Lumia users track and organize their tasks. It allows users to give priority ranking and trigger reminders or alarms to their tasks. In addition, 2Day eliminates slowly entering tasks by hand with their voice to text features. The application is compatible with ToodleDo, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft accounts. Exclusive Nokia Lumia Apps For the most part, apps for the Nokia Lumia are Windows Phone apps made available to any Windows phone that supports it. However, Nokia teamed up with the makers of Red Bull, Angry Birds, and other well-known companies to create apps exclusively for the Nokia Lumia. Unfortunately, these apps are not usually office or productivity centric. Office workers who need the occasional "me time" may enjoy Nokia's ESPN live scores or Angry Birds wallpapers, however. These apps are for the Nokia Lumia, but they might work on others. Nokia Lumia App Compatibility The majority of popular Windows Mobile applications are for Windows Phone 8. The occasional app is also compatible with previous OS versions, such as 7.5. Depending on the version of Nokia Lumia, the phone may need an update before downloading the most recommended office and productivity apps. Upgrading a Nokia Lumia from Windows Phone 7 to Windows Phone 8 is free. Unfortunately, not all Nokia Lumia phones are compatible with Windows Phone 8. Nokia Lumia Version Windows 8 Compatibility 510 No 520 Yes 610 No 620 Yes 710 No 800 No 810 Yes 820 Yes 822 Yes 900 Yes 920 Yes 925 Yes 928 Yes It is helpful to know which phones are upgradable, according to Nokia. All second generation Nokia Lumia phones are compatible, but it is hit or miss whether a first generation is compatible. A Nokia Lumia with Internet access notifies its owner of available updates, if instructed to do so under Settings. Downloading Apps for a Nokia Lumia Before downloading Windows Phone apps, Nokia Lumia users must create a Microsoft account. Windows Live IDs are now Microsoft accounts, so users who had IDs may have a Microsoft account already. Both apps and music are available for download from the Windows Phone store. For people switching from an iPhone to a Windows Phone, the Windows Phone app for desktop allows users to transfer songs from iTunes to the Nokia Lumia. For accidentally purchased apps, or apps that do not work, users can request a refund by navigating to Purchase History and selecting the app. Refunds are generally limited to one per month and within 24 hours of purchasing the app. Nokia Lumia Differences With more than a dozen different versions of the Nokia Lumia, it may be difficult for new buyers to choose one. To keep it simple, the 500s are entry-level phones, the 600 and 700s are mid-level phones, and the 800 and 900s high-end or flagship phones. Higher numbers generally indicate improvements in the design, better cameras, and more storage. The lower numbers tend to have curved Gorilla Glass while the higher end phones have flat Gorilla Glass. Some numbers, like the 822 and 810 are exclusive to certain carriers. Before purchasing a Nokia Lumia, users should first ensure the phone is serviceable by their preferred carrier. Buying a Nokia Lumia on eBay The newest Nokia Lumia cell phones are available for purchase on eBay. Simply searching for " Nokia Lumia" should load a number of relevant results. Adjust your criteria to narrow the results; for example, adjust the price range, whether the product should be new or used, or its seller's location. If you have an older Nokia Lumia that is incompatible with the most popular office and productivity apps, consider selling it on eBay to offset the costs of your new phone. Finding an eBay Seller Besides specifying the seller's location, eBay shoppers can search the products of previously saved sellers, sellers with eBay stores, or they can enter specific seller IDs to include or exclude. Once you have narrowed the search to a few sellers, look at their feedback to ensure past buyers were pleased with their experiences. After purchasing a Nokia Lumia smartphone, you can contribute to the eBay community by also leaving feedback and guiding future buyers. Conclusion Though productivity apps are not universally applicable to every office, Windows Phone 8 offers such a large assortment that most people should be able to find a useful app or two. Calendars and task organizers, for example, are not specific to any trade. Nokia Lumia users can visit the Windows Phone app store to determine the price of an application, in addition to reading in-depth descriptions and reviews by other users. For help setting up a new Nokia Lumia or refunding an application, users should see the Windows Phone how-to pages. Before purchasing an application, it is important to ensure the app is compatible with the user's phone, especially if downloading and installing the app manually. For users going through the automatic installation and download via the official Microsoft Phone website, there is little worry of accidentally downloading an incompatible app because the website checks for this. Nokia's official website has instructions and tips on upgrading older phones from Windows 7 to 8. To purchase a newer Nokia Lumia phone, Nokia fans can go to eBay. Keywords like "Nokia Lumia" and "Windows Phone" yield thousands of relevant results.