Xperia Blog: Top stories and readership statistics from 2013

Xperia Blog: Top stories and readership statistics from 2013

http://www.xperiablog.net/2014/01/01/xperia-blog-top-stories-and-readership-statistics-from-2013/

Sony Mobile prepping Windows Phone for mid-2014 release?

Sony Mobile prepping Windows Phone for mid-2014 release?

http://www.xperiablog.net/2013/12/31/sony-mobile-prepping-windows-phone-for-mid-2014-release/

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ONE AND ALL!

Six years ago, we started the discussion. The conversation continues in 2014…

From the Asha and Lumia to apps and accessories, the past year has been a crazy ride of innovation, excitement and, of course, great discussions with you here on Conversations.

So much has happened, that it’s easy to forget. Therefore, we decided to pull together the best bits of 2013. If you missed any of it, check our Lumia in review, Asha in review, our year of imaging innovation, and our best interviews.

We’re starting the new year on a high, with the Nokia Lumia 1020 having already been honoured at the 2014 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards.

However, you make this blog what it is. From our offices in the UK, Finland and North America, our collective minds were blown with your jaw-dropping Lumia photography and our minds raced with your insightful commentary. We can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us over the coming months.

From the entire Conversations family, to all of you, have a happy, prosperous and life-enriching new year.

And tell us what you’re most looking forward to from Nokia in 2014. We’d love to know!

MIXMASTERS’ REVIEW OF 2013

It’s that time of year again, New Year. It’s a time for celebration but also one of reflection, with that in mind we at Conversations had a chat with some the Mixmasters from Nokia MixRadio (named ‘Disruptors in the music industry’ by Musically), to talk all things 2013.

Lauren Williams, Sharon Jackson and Diccon Jeffries take us through their personal musical highlights of 2013.

Favourite Nokia MixRadio mix?

Lauren (right): My favourites were the Nokia Music Festivals mixes we launched early summer, which celebrated Glastonbury and other festivals around the world. We worked with our territories to put together festival-specific mixes to suit all music tastes, and then identified them by using stage names such as the Acoustic Tepee Tent and the Swing Stage.  It was like our own festival inside Nokia MixRadio.

Sharon: Breaking Bad – I’m a complete and utter BB addict, and was devastated when the series finally came to an end this year. To soothe away my pain, I created a mix containing music featured throughout the five seasons. Music was a finely tuned part of the show, you didn’t necessarily notice some of the tracks at the time of viewing but listening back to them you immediately picture the scene, It’s pretty clever stuff.

Diccon (above): Really enjoyed both making and listening to the UK Garage and Trip Hop (made with Lauren) mixes, but one of the mixes that I’ve been returning to a lot lately is Soul/Funk/Motown – some nice bits from Bob James and Young Holt Unlimited in there who are favourites of mine. Also we’ve got an artist-curated mix by the band Saint Motel which is sounding rather good and it should be live soon. Finally the new Jazz selection we’ve got from Nile Rodgers is also pretty damn great.

Album of the year? 

Lauren: London Grammar – “If you wait”

This long awaited album did not disappoint, the trippy, electro soundscape includes some of my favourite songs from this year, especially “Hey now” and “Help me lose my mind”.

Sharon (right): Album Arctic Monkeys – ‘AM’

I was never really a massive fan of these chaps until earlier this year when the album started to be teased out, and I couldn’t get enough of ‘Do I Wanna Know’. The rest of the album didn’t disappoint and I would be surprised if this album didn’t top a few Best of 2013 charts. So many good tracks!

Diccon: Special Request – ‘Soul Music’

Been excited about this one since Paul Woolford started his new Special Request in 2012 – first a few hand-stamped 12”s (the Lana Del Rey bootleg was killer!) and then this LP which was a great signing to fabric’s imprint Houndstooth. Sometimes revivalist music can be too rooted in the past, but he’s captured some of the essence of early 90s hardcore & jungle, and used it as the DNA for a great record full of fresh ideas.

Most memorable live gig?

Lauren: The Local Natives at Beacons

At Beacons festival this year I saw The Local Natives, an indie band from the US. They weren’t on my list of acts to see but when we stumbled across them I was blown away and am a now a massive fan.

Diccon: Chic at Glastonbury

Pretty much one of the best things I’ve ever seen, let alone just this year. James Blake was also great, I saw him twice this year (Glasto & Bristol) and he never disappoints, I was pleased to see him pick up a Mercury too.

Favourite music event of the year? 

Lauren: The launch of Nokia MixRadio. Launching a free, ad-free service which decides which songs to play you based on your music taste and preferences whilst also delivering curated mixes for all moods and genre tastes.  Of course this was my highlight!

Sharon: Totally in agreement with Lauren, excuse the bias, but the Nokia MixRadio & Nokia UK ‘Lumia Live’ events that took place up and down the country this year were absolutely brilliant. Looking to highlight up and coming artists, they were small and intimate affairs set in locations you wouldn’t normally expect to attend a gig in, so a skate park or a beach cove. In particular the Ghostpoet event in Bristol, which took place in a cemetery, was beautifully set and the acoustics were spot on.

To learn more about Mixradio and all the music it has to offer this blog post will tell you all you need to know about the free personalised music service, and it could even be just the ticket to kick start all of your Christmas parties.

What were your music highlights for 2013? And what are you looking forward to in 2014?

Bump Blog

All good things…

Back in September, we announced that the Bump team was joining Google to continue our work of helping people share and interact with one another using mobile devices.

We are now deeply focused on our new projects within Google, and we’ve decided to discontinue Bump and Flock. On January 31, 2014, Bump and Flock will be removed from the App Store and Google Play. After this date, neither app will work, and all user data will be deleted.

We’ve taken much care to make sure that you can retain any data you have in Bump and Flock. At any point in the next 30 days, simply open either app and and follow the instructions for exporting your data. You’ll then receive an email with a link containing all of your data (photos, videos, contacts, etc) from Bump or Flock.

Over the years, we’ve been inspired and humbled by the millions of people who have used Bump and Flock. Your feedback, enthusiasm, and support has brought much meaning to our work, and we want to thank you all for that. In many ways, Bump was a revolutionary product that inspired many subsequent advances and helped push the world forward. We hope our new creations at Google will do the same.

David Lieb
CEO and cofounder
Bump

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 specs and benchmarks make the rounds

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 specs and benchmarks make the rounds

http://blog.gsmarena.com/samsung-galaxy-note-pro-12-2-specs-and-benchmarks-make-the-rounds/

Smartphone Champions League Grand Final

Smartphone Champions League Grand Final

http://blog.gsmarena.com/smartphone-champions-league-grand-final/