A picture may be worth a thousand words, but Nokia (NYSE:NOK) managed to generate a lot more with the launch of its Lumia 1020 late last week.
AT&T to sell Nokia's new Lumia 1020 Windows 8 smartphone. http://t.co/2e5VveMHB9
— FierceWireless (@FierceWireless) July 11, 2013
The big news around the Lumia 1020, of course, is not its voice or data capabilities so much as the built-in camera, news of which traveled quickly across social media immediately following the launch event.
For real - a 41 megapixel phone camera. With full controls. http://t.co/F2iU8HCK4b #lumia 1020
— App Mockup Tools (@AppMockupTools) July 11, 2013
It can take a lot to impress the developer crowd, but there were early indications they liked what they heard about the Lumia 1020.
The Verge's hands on with the Lumia 1020, really impressive new 'default' Nokia Pro Cam app… http://t.co/P1p9016q8t
— Neil Turner (@theothernt) July 11, 2013
This is, of course, a Windows Phone 8 device, which tends to be a third choice for most developers at best. This had some well-known industry figures wondering if that might eventually change.
I wonder if Nokia can get out of their death pact with Microsoft - Nokia's Lumia 1020 features 41 megapixel camera http://t.co/4XYvyYjW05
— Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) July 11, 2013
To say the camera took the show is an understatement. In fact, some wondered whether the "phone" aspects of the Lumia 1020 mattered to consumers.
Nikon Lumia ... oops.. Nokia Lumia 1020 with 41MP Camera! Its a high resolution camera by nokia with calling and messaging facility!
— Ali Sadhik Shaik (@sadhiqali) July 11, 2013
The camera with a phone attached has finally arrived: http://t.co/F9cCZz2VLs
— Craig Mod (@craigmod) July 11, 2013
Nokia 1020: it's a camera, with a phone. I'd love to play around with one of these. http://t.co/DAvHCuLet0
— Scott Horsfall (@scoh) July 11, 2013
Naturally, there were a few dissenters:
The greatest camera phone ever built, no Instagram or SnapChat apps. Hardware, meet software... #Nokia #Lumia 1020 http://t.co/1YZldntXG0
— Tormod Hystad (@TormodHystad) July 11, 2013
Bad Joke (and sad fact): One Nokia Lumia 1020 camera sensor has twice as many pixels as Nokia's sold Windows Phones. #zoomreinvented
— Stefan Constantine (@WhatTheBit) July 11, 2013
The real test over time will be how many developers show interest in moving apps to the Lumia 1020. Some sounded like they can hardly wait.
Today Nokia launched the new Lumia 1020. Foundbite will be supporting the new Imaging SDK as soon as possible http://t.co/O5vp4PFScx
— Foundbite (@Foundbite) July 11, 2013