Must Read: Google Glass 2 wish list: Allow us to turn it off

Topic: Telcos

White Nokia Lumia 900 Stormtrooper phone is set for stun

Summary: The Nokia Lumia 900 is a stunning device that gets lots of looks and generates lots of discussion. Windows Phone remains my mobile phone platform of choice, especially when there is great hardware available.

Matthew Miller

By for Smartphones and Cell Phones |

Last week I wrote about the issues I had with a MVNO and how their very limited plan won't work for me so this last weekend I headed over to an AT&T store and picked up a white Nokia Lumia 900 and signed up for an AT&T account. Even though I also have the fantastic HTC One X in hand I can't seem to take my SIM out of the Lumia and guess I am just too impressed with Windows Phone at this time.

It appears that white is my new color preference

The white Lumia 900 looks fantastic and as a major Star Wars fan I find it to be symbolic of a Stormtrooper with the glassy white shell, open dark ports, and black front panel. I am trying to find a Stormtrooper sticker to put on the back and already have my device named LumiaTrooper to reflect the appearance of the device.

In addition to the Windows Phone OS that I enjoy using, the Lumia 900 also has the extra Nokia software elements only found on their devices. Nokia also just announced several other unique & exclusive software titles for Lumia devices at CTIA 2012. Another bonus with using a Nokia Windows Phone is that you get the chance to try out new apps and utilities being tested over on Nokia Beta Labs. For example, I just downloaded Nokia City Lens for Windows Phone that serves as an augmented reality application in conjunction with your camera to help you find out about places as you travel.

The Verge posted an article this morning where some scientific testing revealed that the Lumia 900 has a better outdoor display than the iPhone 4S and Galaxy S, thanks in large part to its ClearBlack display technology. I used it in direct sunlight yesterday, yes we do get sun here in the Puget Sound area from time to time, and the display was perfectly visible and usable on the Lumia 900. It doesn't have the highest resolution on the market today, but I still don't see every pixel and Windows Phone looks great at this resolution.

While I am enjoying the Windows Phone OS, all the apps, and the device in general, I do have the purple screen low brightness issue and was going to return it before reading that Nokia has identified a fix and will issue a software update to fix it. WPCentral has a poll of some other minor issues that appear to be affecting some others. Other than the purple screen, I haven't noticed the other issues with the exception of an occasional lag in the camera button turning on the camera (I find that having it in landscape seems to eliminate this).

Unfortunately, I don't live or work in an AT&T LTE area so I cannot yet enjoy LTE speeds, but HSPA+ has been plenty fast for me. I haven't been super impressed with the camera and am working on a short comparison article that shows photos from several newer devices. The Lumia 900 is a great device and I enjoy using it and Windows Phone. It may not get the update to Apollo, but we haven't seen any confirmation either way yet so I am still holding out hope.

Related ZDNet coverage

Topics: Telcos, Microsoft, Mobility, Nokia, Operating Systems, Software, AT&T, Windows

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

40 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • Yet the Lumia 900 is built using the cheapest parts

    Nokia could find bargain shopping. They claim to use the "best optics", then use the cheapest sensor on the market. It doesn't even have good color fidelity. They talk nonsense about using the best material for the phone's body, then use cheap plastic. Nokia claims to use a good display, but it's low res, almost like claiming SD TV is better than HD TV
    Jumpin Jack Flash
    Reply Vote

    • Couple points

      1. A company plays up the quality of their product? What? Apple products aren't literally magical? Are you kidding me? Alert the press.

      2. [i]The white Lumia 900 looks fantastic[/i] and [i]I can't seem to take my SIM out of the Lumia and guess I am just too impressed with Windows Phone at this time.[/i] count for [b]so[/b] much more than some bullet point specs on a feature list. Clearly your "facts" don't matter. The Lumia 900 is a fantastic phone according to someone who has tried far more phones than you and I have.
      toddbottom3
      Reply Vote

      • Miller is a WP 7 evangelist

        He has an extreme case of bias, and has even admitted it.
        Jumpin Jack Flash
        Reply Vote

      • Miller is the most unbiased person on ZDNet

        Miller is quick to point out the good and bad points of every device he has tried: WebOS, Android, iOS, and WP7. I trust his opinion infinitely more than Kendrick's who is an Apple evangelist.
        toddbottom3
        Reply Vote

      • Is it bias when you like something more than another?

        Hey Jumpin Jack Flash, I always understood bias to mean favoring something over another in a way considered to be unfair. We all have different needs for mobile devices and as you can see in my articles I cover all the mobile platforms, but Windows Phone works best for ME. I clearly state that I prefer Windows Phone, but that doesn't mean I hate the rest or like it without pointing out its flaws and shortcomings. BTW, I don't get paid by Microsoft or anyone to talk about WP7 and am just a fan of the platform because it works well for ME.
        palmsolo (aka Matthew Miller)
        Reply Vote

      • Matthew Miller

        You do over look many of the shortcomings of WP 7 devices Wp 7 has had it's very own versions of "Antenna-gate", "Location-gate" etc. but since it has less than 2% of the market, it doesn't seem to be noticed by the media. You've never covered these, including the class action suit over Microsoft's illegal spying. Even if the user said "No" WP 7 devices sent data back to Microsoft's servers.
        Jumpin Jack Flash
        Reply Vote

      • @Jumpin Jack Flash

        Could you please point us at examples of Windows Phones suffering from "antennagate" type issues? I've been using my Samsung Focus (v1) Windows Phone for over 18 months now and am utterly delighted with it.

        I've yet to meet a Windows Phone user who dislikes their experience or their handset.

        Like Matthew, it works perfectly for ME and I suspect it would work better for many than their current phone platform does.

        Is it perfect, no. Is it competitive with other smartphone platforms? YES. Does WP have some compelling features and experiences that deliver a far more cohesive, involving and integrated experience? HECK YEAH.

        You may not like it - that's fine - it's your choice. But don't belittle others who like something you don't - it makes you look like an ass.
        bitcrazed
        Reply Vote

      • bitcrazed

        "Could you please point us at examples of Windows Phones suffering from "antennagate" type issues? I've been using my Samsung Focus (v1) Windows Phone for over 18 months now and am utterly delighted with it."
        How about starting with the HTC HD7?
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02UDjgL2n2E
        Or this one?
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_NIx4R324I
        HTC's response was "You're holding it Wrong!"
        http://www.phonearena.com/news/HTC-responds-youre-holding-it-wrong-about-HD7-antennagate-issue_id15064

        "I've yet to meet a Windows Phone user who dislikes their experience or their handset."
        I have yet to meet someone, in person, that has anything good to say about the current WP 7 devices. I'm also hearing that the current hardware won't be upgradable to WP 8.

        "Like Matthew, it works perfectly for ME and I suspect it would work better for many than their current phone platform does."
        I'm sure if I was a high school girl, that lived on Facebook, it would be prefect for me too. But to make blanket statements like you have is a sign of ignorance.
        "You may not like it - that's fine - it's your choice. But don't belittle others who like something you don't - it makes you look like an ass. "
        Yet it's okay for others to belittle anyone that doesn't sing the praises of Microsoft? That goes on here everyday. I have even posted links that prove hat I've said only to be belittled by the Microsoft employees/Fanboys that lurk on ZDNet.
        Jumpin Jack Flash
        Reply Vote

    • to add to toddbottom

      Lumia 900 has the best mobile display out of all tablets and phones for viewing in light as well.......

      I'd take that over resolution any day. Always laugh at people trying to cover their phones with their hands in sunlight cause they cant read stuff.
      danjames2012
      Reply Vote

      • Too bad the public has judged the Lumia 900

        And based on sales data, the public thinks it sucks :p in fact people are more likely to seek out a WM 6.5 phone two and a half times more often
        Jumpin Jack Flash
        Reply Vote

      • So the public is the judge?

        Then based on sales data, the public thinks that OS X sucks. In fact people seek out Windows 10X more often.
        toddbottom3
        Reply Vote

      • toddbottom3 a.k.a Trollboy

        Using your troll logic, people choose iOS 18.82 time more often than WP 7, and choose Android 28.52 times more often. To make matters even worse, people choose Blackberries (the platform you trolls claimed WP 7 killed) 6.82 times more often that crap WP 7 phones.
        Being the majority of actual windows sales are to the channel, People do not seek out Windows. They get stuck with it.
        Jumpin Jack Flash
        Reply Vote

      • My troll logic? You were the one who said it

        Sorry Jack but you were the one who stated that "suckiness" is determined by sales.

        Since the logic is yours, and you've just said that the logic was troll logic, what does that make you?

        Oh.
        toddbottom3
        Reply Vote

      • Interesting

        Well we now know how many screen names toddbottom3 is using: 7. I wonder if he'll get a new one when Window 8 get's released...
        Jumpin Jack Flash
        Reply Vote

      • That is me with my current droid

        not even visible in low light.
        hopp64
        Reply Vote

  • If this device doesn't get Apollo

    You will have done your readers a true disservice. To recommend a phone that has a significant chance of being orphaned by an OS update in six months or so makes you a [b]shill[/b]. It will be a huge embarrassment to Microsoft if iOS 6 runs on the two year-old iPhone 4, while Apollo doesn't support devices released [b]this year[/b] (never mind how Redmond will look if the iPhone 3GS runs iOS 6).
    matthew_maurice
    Reply Vote

    • There is a significant chance iPhone 4S won't get iOS 6

      Hey, your proof is as strong as mine.

      BTW How do you install Snow Leopard (2008) on a PPC Mac (2005)? Oh, you can't? What a huge embarrassment for Apple considering that Windows 7 (2009) can be installed on a P4 (2000).

      BTW How do I install Siri on my iPhone 4? What? I can't? Huh. Guess I didn't really get iOS 5 then, I got iOS 5 Starter Edition. Again, what a huge embarrassment for Apple.

      Here's a thought: buy a device for what it can do today, not for what it might be able to do in the future. I'll remind you, there is no guarantee that iOS 6 will install on the iPhone 4S and even if it does, Apple might do what it did last time: create a "special" version of iOS 6 for older devices that is basically iOS 5 with a different name.
      toddbottom3
      Reply Vote

      • Well since you claimed to not have an iPhone 4

        It shouldn't be an issue. Unless you're just fulfilling your daily troll quota, for Microsoft.
        Jumpin Jack Flash
        Reply Vote

      • Hit a nerve, did I?

        We can revisit this thread in the fall, and see who's right and who's an idiot.
        matthew_maurice
        Reply Vote

      • Hit a nerve?

        No. Why?

        I'm still waiting for your proof that iPhone 4S will get the full iOS 6 which would be a neat trick considering Apple is refusing to comment on this. It would be foolish to recommend the iPhone 4S since it has a significant chance of being orphaned by an OS update in 6 months or so. Or, even worse, maybe there will be no iOS 6? Maybe Apple is never going to update iOS again? After all, Apple hasn't announced any plans to build iOS 6. It would be foolish to recommend the iPhone 4S since iOS has a significant chance of being abandoned by Apple.

        [i]see who's right and who's an idiot[/i]

        Hit a nerve, did I?
        toddbottom3
        Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close