Nokia Lumia 610 Handset review – Phil Parker, Telecoms Officer
I have reviewed the Lumia610 handset and the Windows Phone 7.5 OS, gathered some thoughts and shared them with you. I hope you find them helpful.
The handset look and feel
The handset is 119 x 62 x 12 mm @ 131.5g, it’s a good size and weight for even the smallest hand. Viewable screen size is 3.7 inches @ 480x800 pixels. The handset has a similar look to Android models, featuring 3 “soft” keys at the bottom of the handset. It is easy to hold and comfortable in the hand.
The power button is the centre button to the right hang side of the handset. Above are volume keys and below a camera shutter button. A micro USB socket is at the top for charging the handset, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The back cover is removable, and benefits from having a removable battery so you can change the battery should you think that the battery is not holding a charge for very long.
(Batteries have a poor reputation for losing power after long periods of time, especially when you charge it daily. We recommend that, at least monthly, you allow the battery to drain empty completely, then charge the battery fully whilst the handset is switched off. This conditions the battery and can prolong its life and the amount of power it can hold.)
Windows Phone 7.5 (The phone Operating System)
A precursor to Windows phone 8, the 7.5 operating system is a complete redesign over the original Windows Mobile handsets of yore. Designed for ease of use and to get the task you want to complete done as quickly as possible, with the fewest key presses/swipes. It really is a new, clean, quick and intuitive operating system, easier to set up and use than other Phone Operating Systems.
There are only 2 screens, the “Start” to which you pin your frequently used/favourite apps, and an “Apps” screen to access everything else. Apps are pinned to the start screen as “live tiles” which can change colour/appearance or display relevant information, like number of new email/SMS, missed calls, upcoming calendar entries, etc.
The ‘fiddlyness’ and complexity of setting up the handset has been removed and most tasks require very little intervention, prefect of those who are not familiar or confident with new Operating Systems.
Screen Lock/Time Out
To save the screen and battery power, the screen turns off (Time Out) after 30 seconds. Press the power button to wake the handset. The lock screen is displayed. Put your finger at the bottom of the screen and swipe upwards to remove the lock screen and display the “start” screen.
Phone Book/Contacts
All modern smartphone handsets operate very differently from old calls/texts handsets. Your contacts are imported to the handset, primarily from your exchange mail account (). Contacts in your contact list are imported into the contacts list.
Adding further accounts, such as a personal email or facebook account, will also cause the handset to synchronise contacts from those sources.
If you dial a number and wish to save it, you will be presented with the option to save it into your Email contacts list (Exchange) or to the phone.
Making calls/Forwarding calls/Call options
Select the “phone” tile and the call history screen will appear.
The options here are Call Voicemail|DisplayDialler|DisplayPhonebook|Search.
You can view your contacts, which will be listed alphabetically. Select the person you wish to make contact with. You will then be able to choose how to contact them, Call, SMS or email.
You can make changes to your “calls” options by pressing the 3 dots…, and lift upwards. Select “call settings”. Your phone number is displayed. On this screen, you can restrict your numberfrom being sent when making a call (like dialling 141) and activate call forwarding.
WiFi
Setting up a WiFi connection on campus:
- Slide left to go to the “Apps” screen and scroll down to Settings.
- Select WiFi (the handset will scan the airwaves and present you a list of available WiFi networks)
- Select the “newcastle-university” WiFi SSID (The name of the network)
- Enter your username (nxxx)
- Enter your password (your windows PC password)
- Hit “done”
- The handset will connect you to the WiFi network automatically whenever the WiFi adaptor is turned on and it can see the newcastle-university SSID.
WiFi is always faster and when connected does not consume data from the standard 500MB UK Mobile Data Bundle. However, it is a trade-off between battery life and the convenience of using WiFi. We recommend turning the WiFi adaptor off when not being used for internet browsing or updating/downloading apps from the MarketPlace.
Exchange/Outlook Email
As a Microsoft operating system, it has the best integration of exchange supporting all of the best features such as flagging. Synchronisation options are not as extensive as other OS’s but the limitations mean it’s easier to use and understand for non-technical users.
Setting up email synchronisation:
- Select outlook
- Enter your email address and password (the one used to log into your desktop PC)
- Hit Sign In (the handset connects to the exchange server and tries to retrieve your settings)
- Because the handset will not find your account, you are then asked to enter your username. Delete the X.X information displayed and enter your “nxxx” log in id.
- Enter the domain name as “campus”
- Hit Done
The handset will connect to the exchange server again, and will find your account. Your handset will start to synchronise your INBOX emails, your Contacts and your calendar entries.
Whilst viewing the inbox, look at the bottom of the screen and see 4 icons [+|Select|Sync|Search] and to the right of these are 3 dots …
Whenever you see these 3 dots … you know that further options are available by pressing them and sliding upwards.
The further options under the Inbox are “folders”, “settings” and “add email account”:
- “Folders” allows you to select any sub folders you may have.
- “Settings” allows you to change inbox settings. You can change synchronisatino options, set out of office (or automatic replies), etc…
- “Add email account” allows you to sync mail from other mail accounts into one inbox on your phone.
Personalisation
As mentioned earlier, the “start” screen allows you to ‘pin’ your most frequently used apps and shortcuts to the start screen for easy access to your popular content. To make an app appear on the start screen, press the right facing arrow and swipe left, to goto the “apps” screen. Press and hold the icon of the app you want to appear on the start screen. A menu will appear, select the ‘pin to start’ option. The shortcut appears as a tile on the start screen.
Press and hold a tile until handset vibrates and the tile lifts off the screen. You can unpin the tile by pressing the ‘tack’ icon, or change the order in which the tiles appear to suit your needs (frequently used apps nearer the top). The default skin is Black and Orange but you can change this by going to Settings then “theme”.
Using your phone aboard (Roaming)
By Default, roaming is NOT ENABLED. If you asked for roaming to be added, telecoms will request that the roaming service is added to your account.
But you must also set the phone to roam, goto Settings then “mobile network”. Under Data roaming options you should see “don’t roam”. Select this and choose “roam”.
This will enable the handset to make and receive voice calls and data connections via the mobile network.
REMEMBER: You MUST check with the orange web site, before you leave, and make a note of the partner networks Orange have roaming agreements with. Don’t assume you phone will just work. Your phone my connect to a network which doesn’t offer data services, if you don’t know which networks do, you will have problems using the handset for data (such as email).
Market Place (Apps)
The windows market place is not as large as iOS and Android market places; this is because it is a newer operating system. Most apps are available and 100’s of productivity apps are available.
Apps are available from different sources, “Orange” “Nokia” and the “MS Marketplace”. These are usually displayed as sponsored ads, featured, most downloaded and new. Swiping left swaps the screens. You can also search for specifics apps.
To download an app, select the required app and read the information about the app, click install to install the app into the “Apps” screen.
“Pin” the app to the “start screen” by pressing and holding the app listed on the app screen, a sub menu apps and select “Pin to start”.
Apps can be charged to the phone account. Please refer to the University Financial Regulations on purchasing apps before adding paid for apps to your handset.
(Note: Apps may be several MB’s in size. We recommend using the wifi network when downloading and/or updating apps.)
Summary
This is a short review of the Windows Phone Operating System and handset. If you have any specific questions using the handset, please call Phil Parker on x8999 or email
Thanks, Phil Parker