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Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

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Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#121

Past a point, more megapixels does not mean more quality. I'd like to see better optics before we pour R&D into sensors.

I see this copy/paste a lot. And while MP doesn't mean better dynamic range, lower noise, faster shutter speeds, or higher ISO performance saying that it isn't "higher quality" is nonsense. Higher megapixels literally mean more information about a scene stored by the sensor. Now that information might not be more accurate than a camera with lower MP, but even with that being the case it does better allow you to sub-d…

The issue I have with super-high megapixel cameras isn't that number, it's the sensor density. At certain densities, light begins to behave different because of the shape of the sensor and it doesn't capture the image correctly anymore. This is part of the reason why a 16MP SLR and a 16MP point-and-shoot have vastly different image qualities. As for your SLR, 16MP, even around 20MP is still well within the "light behaves well" range. 16MP in the point and shoot range? 40MP in the camera phone sensor range? Now we're getting in a bad place.

Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#123

In my experience, 99% of people don't know the first thing about taking a good photograph. They will not be helped by a 41-megapixel or even 41-gigapixel camera. Beyond a point, all the pixel density does is dramatically increase their storage requirements - on the camera, on the computer they sync with their camera, and on their backup device. 41 megapixels is well into the realm of negative marginal returns.

In a weird way, if you can capture enough of the light field over time (an insane amount of data by the way) you can "go back" and get whatever picture you want. Which has the potential of allowing complete novices to grab the raw data with some local sensor, and to out source the 'picture taking' to someone who can look at it and return the picture that they should have taken. I know, its crazy talk and off the wall, but my friends in computational circles say that its no more crazy to them than a 1TB hard drive possibility was to me back in 2000.

Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#124
post #66
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the risk of starting a device war, I'd agree with everything you've said, except that Android does a lot of those important things better still. Maps in particular- Google Maps is utterly unparalleled. But it's all down to the user- I have no requirement for Remote Desktop support, so that doesn't matter to me. I don't use OneNote or Office, and use Dropbox for file syncing.

Nokia Maps is _amazing_ and has been since the Symbian days, even more so by the fact that you can download maps beforehand (whole countries) and use them offline. Utterly unparalleled might be a bit harsh.

I can vouch for this, Nokia Maps is just amazing. The ability to download maps offline is extremely convenient, not just when you are out of the country and don't have a data connection, but also when you are running low on battery.

However, I am still surprised how we got here, we went from having offline maps on all GPS devices in the beginning of last decade to online only maps by the end of it! Now we have to tout the ability of having offline maps as a feature?

Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#125
post #84
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google Maps can download maps beforehand, but for some reason it won't let you plan a route without an internet connection. Probably because their route-finding algorithm would crush a phone or something :)

That is definitely a thing that you don't appreciate until you have to use it. We were on road over the long weekend and were lost with no network connection. Thanks to offline maps on my Lumia 920 I was able to find the nearest road offline and get back on road to our destination.

Not to be glib, but it sounds like your Nokia saved you from adventure :)

Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#126
post #2

As someone who takes a lot of photos with my phone, this interests me a lot. Though as someone who has previously used Windows Phone, I'm very skeptical about going back to it. This is the first device that makes me wonder about Nokia's WP-exclusive decision. They didn't go with Android to avoid becoming "yet another" Android manufacturer, and I agree with that sentiment (look at how few are turning a profit). Howeve…

If you can wait until the fall, there are rumors that the next Nexus will feature some fancy pants camera.

Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#127
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the risk of starting a device war, I'd agree with everything you've said, except that Android does a lot of those important things better still. Maps in particular- Google Maps is utterly unparalleled. But it's all down to the user- I have no requirement for Remote Desktop support, so that doesn't matter to me. I don't use OneNote or Office, and use Dropbox for file syncing.

+1 I haven't been able to get maps to work at all on my Nokia 920, I can't even figure what the map app is....everything is prefixed as Nokia something app with some weird names that don't work. Suffice it to say, I'm forced to use my old iPhone for anything that involves a map. Windows phone would be much better if they offered a google map app for it. Lets just to with an example...I wanted to find the nearest post…

Install "HERE Drive+": http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/here-drive/31bbc...

Download the offline maps you need and you are good to go!

There's a manual here if you need one:

http://www.nokia.com/us-en/support/product/nokia-drive-plus/

Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#128
post #56
post #2

As someone who takes a lot of photos with my phone, this interests me a lot. Though as someone who has previously used Windows Phone, I'm very skeptical about going back to it. This is the first device that makes me wonder about Nokia's WP-exclusive decision. They didn't go with Android to avoid becoming "yet another" Android manufacturer, and I agree with that sentiment (look at how few are turning a profit). Howeve…

I've had the Lumia 928 for 3 weeks now. My three previous phones were iPhone 3G, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s. Part of me wishes that I would've gone Windows Phone sooner but the realistic part of me realizes that Windows Phone 7 was still nowhere near the quality of iOS. Windows Phone 8 is a completely different matter though. It's superior to my old iPhones in almost every way. Live tiles, SkyDrive integration (much bett…

As a long time iOS guy who's been using Windows Phone (Nokia) for over a year, I can honestly say it has the best UI in terms of usability for the form-factor. You're right - the map smokes all others. The only issue I have is the non-webkit IE browser and lack of a few key apps.

Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#129
post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So none of you guys cares about openness, uh? Too bad, if more people, we wouldn't have the problem of closed platforms to begin with.

Windows Phone is more open than iOS in the sense that you have multiple OEMs making multiple types of phones targeting different markets unlike the iPhone. For example, the Lumia 521 is just $130 off contract in the US. Also the walled garden prevents the malware problem that Android has. So it can be considered as a happy medium between iOS and Android.

The off contract 521 is awesome. I got a new one for $100 on ebay and it's specs are plenty for what I need. It rivals $500+ phones.

Re: Nokia Lumia 1020 packs 41-megapixel camera whopper

#130
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had the Lumia 928 for 3 weeks now. My three previous phones were iPhone 3G, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s. Part of me wishes that I would've gone Windows Phone sooner but the realistic part of me realizes that Windows Phone 7 was still nowhere near the quality of iOS. Windows Phone 8 is a completely different matter though. It's superior to my old iPhones in almost every way. Live tiles, SkyDrive integration (much bett…

As a long time iOS guy who's been using Windows Phone (Nokia) for over a year, I can honestly say it has the best UI in terms of usability for the form-factor. You're right - the map smokes all others. The only issue I have is the non-webkit IE browser and lack of a few key apps.

IE 11 will include WebGL support [1], and due to Microsoft's 'core systems' sharing across big Windows and Windows Phone, this is likely to propogate down to the phone.

However the lack of webkit will remain :(

[1] http://www.infoq.com/news/2013/06/ie11

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