Amber update is rolling out across all Windows Phone 8 Lumia smartphones

By Vijay @ 03:05pm

Nokia has started rolling out its much-awaited Amber software update to all its Windows Phone 8 Lumia smartphones, which will now come with new and improved camera features and other apps.

The Amber update is Nokia’s initiative to build up on Microsoft’s latest update GDR2 to the Windows Phone 8 software, which brought a new FM radio player and improvements to Xbox music and the Internet Explorer browser. The Amber update will be available first for the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 in select countries as well as the Lumia 521, Lumia 810, and Lumia 928 in the US, and will be reaching out to all devices including Lumia 520, Lumia 620, Lumia 720, Lumia 820 or Lumia 920 by the end of September.

Features-wise, as expected this update brings improved image processing with better noise reduction, color reproduction, exposure control, autofocus, refined low light performance, and a number of other camera improvements depending on the phone model and its camera capabilities.

An interesting part would be the availability of Nokia’s Smart Camera app across the Lumia portfolio, which was restricted to the Nokia Lumia 925 only. After updating their phones to Amber, users will be able to download the app from the Windows market place. In addition to that, the update will also bring Nokia’s newly launched Pro Camera app for better video particularly for the Lumia 920, Lumia 925, and Lumia 928, starting from today.

Apart from camera related tweaks, the Amber update will also come with Nokia Glance Screen to set a clock on the device’s screen when the phone is inactive. This will also come with battery-level and an indicator for silent mode. This feature will be available in the ‘display and touch’ section in Settings menu, and will be available for all WP8 Lumia devices except the Nokia Lumia 520 and Lumia 625.

Along with this, the new update will allow users to make use of the flip to silence for an incoming call and double-tap to wake and easy unlock features, which are pretty popular on smartphones by other brands as well.

Can’t wait for Nokia Amber/GDR2 update for ur Nokia Lumia 920/820, its now available on Nokia’s servers, can be flashed (those who dare)

By Vijay @ 07:35pm

For those of you who are eagerly waiting to get Microsoft’s latest OS release, Windows Phone 8 build 10327 (GDR2) along with Nokia’s highly anticipated Amber firmware update, here is some good news for you.

sites have noticed that the  download files are now available on Nokia’s servers for the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920. The files can be downloaded and you can flash your device directly, but you need to flash your device, which means wiping out your current data and starting fresh as you install this new ROM. In addition, you are likely going to miss any custom firmware, including possibly Data Sense, should you go down this route.

Because of those reasons, we don’t really advocate you go ahead and try this method. It requires some instruction following and some software installation, but we know some of you are tinkerers who don’t mind losing all your saved games and app settings. If that’s the case, head into and follow the instructions on the fan site Nokia Views, who have links to the ROMs for the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920.

Windows Phone 10327 (GDR2) is a minor OS update that brings FM radio, some enhancements to Xbox Music, WAV file playback for voicemail, fixed Other storage, and other minor bug fixes in addition to enabling the new hardware found in the Lumia 1020(41 MP Camera Phone). Nokia’s corresponding Amber update, which is what is causing the delays for release, allows the new Glance screen, flip to silence, Lumia Color Profile and an improved camera experience, making the combo of an update quite interesting for consumers.

Expected to release the update in August, enabling Data Sense. Now that we know that the final base OS and firmware package is on Nokia’s servers, it’s a safe bet that the update is almost ready, though as previous experience has taught us, the update will be staggered.