Tech World

"We have completed the steps necessary to finalize Microsoft’s acquisition of the Nokia Devices and Services business. The transaction will be completed this Friday, April 25, when we’ll officially welcome the Nokia Devices and Services business as part of the Microsoft family,” Microsoft said in a statement. Microsoft also stated that the purchase would allow the company to speed up innovation. “The completion of this acquisition follows several months of planning and will mark a key step on the journey towards integration. This acquisition will help Microsoft accelerate innovation and market adoption for Windows Phones. In addition, we look forward to introducing the next billion customers to Microsoft services via Nokia mobile phones.” As with any multinational agreement of this size, scale and complexity, the two companies have made adjustments to the original deal throughout the close preparation process. “We’ve entered into numerous agreements to address ...

Microsoft acquired Nokia earlier this year to bolster the Windows Phone platform, but it's thus far refused to snuff out Nokia's flirtation with Android, the Nokia X series. In fact Microsoft's devices group announced the latest addition to the Nokia X series of Android phones on Tuesday, the Nokia X2—the fourth entry in the Nokia X line, but the first announced under Microsoft's watch. Like the three previous Android handsets bearing the Nokia name, the X2 is really more of a "gateway device" to the hardcore Windows Phone experience than a full-fledged Android handset. The device runs the Android Opens Source Project (AOSP) version of Android that doesn't include any Google services or apps, re-skinned with a Windows Phone-like feel. The main screen is also loaded with Microsoft services including OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook.com, and Skype. Nokia services like HERE Maps are also present in place of their Google counterparts. But un...

Best smartphones, mobile phones, phones. Whatever you call them they all share the same thing. They’re the hottest kind of tech. They sell millions, and make billions and there's plenty more to come in 2014, but which should you choose if you're buying right now? The first thing is to decide the platform you want to side with. There’s the iPhone and its easy to use iOS mobile operating system, an army of Android phones powered by Google, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 and – new kid on the block – BlackBerry 10. iOS offers the best apps and games, Android the most fiddling potential. Windows Phone 8 is the slickest and BlackBerry 10 is on hand for those who want something a bit different. 2013 was another big year for smartphones with the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S joining the Nokia Lumia 1020 and Android phone greats like the Sony Xperia Z1 and Nexus 5 as standout newcomers. We should of course not forget about the TrustedReviews Product of the Year the Motorola Mo...

With a wide and varied pool of Android apps at your disposal, the Nokia X family of smartphones have something for everyone. Here are our highlights. Vine Available on Nokia Store Developed by Twitter, Vine enables you to create short, looping videos that you can share online via Twitter and Facebook, as well as your Vine profile. With the ability to pause and edit your video at any time, it opens up a whole world of creativity, particularly when it comes to stop-motion videos, such as this one from Ian Padham demonstrates. HERE Maps Available on Nokia Store The same reliable HERE Maps that’s available on Nokia Lumia and Nokia Asha is also built right into the Nokia X family. HERE Maps helps you explore what’s around you, new places you’ve never been to and then helps you get there as stress-free as possible. Car, pedestrian, and public transport routing are included in this one app, as is the in-car voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation and all free...

It’s been exactly a week since the Android-powered Nokia X was revealed at Mobile World Congress 2014, but it’s already been hacked to run the Google Play Store and its Android apps. Nokia’s curious decision to release an Android-powered smartphone mere months (at best) before a full take-over by Microsoft - the home of Windows Phone and staunch Google rival - appeared to be justified (albeit weakly) by the fact that the Nokia X range couldn’t run Google’s Android services and apps. Now that last, flimsy barrier to a full Nokia Android experience appears to have been broken, albeit unofficially. Over on the XDA-developers forums, a Nokia X handset has been cracked to run the Google Play Store and its million-or-so apps. What’s more, it only took user Kasamalaga five simple steps to achieve this. By following these steps it’s possible to get Gmail, Google Maps, Google Now and the like running on the Nokia X, which attempts to replace such popular Google services with Microso...