Android rush

The Lumia 2520 becomes the only Windows RT tablet made by a manufacturer other than Microsoft.

Dell, Asus, Lenovo, Acer and Samsung had all initially backed the platform only to later change tack.

The operating system runs on an ARM-based chip allowing it to offer superior battery life to the full Windows 8 system running on tablets powered by x86 processors, but it does not support as many programs.

Nokia's tablet is slightly more compact than Microsoft's version and also distinguishes itself by supporting an optional 4G Sim card.

However, bearing in mind Microsoft has already taken a $900m writedown after weak sales of its original Surface RT tablet, one analyst questioned whether the firm would want to produce two competing models.

"I don't think that having two devices in that space makes a lot of sense"
said Carolina Milanesi, consumer devices analyst at Gartner.

"I believe Microsoft may keep the Nokia model on as a cheaper consumer-targeted device focused on media consumption and gaming in order to capture more market share, and also keep on the more expensive Intel-based Surface Pro - but it will phase out the Surface 2 RT model."

For those obsessed with obscene megapixel counts and Windows Phone, Thursday can't come soon enough. If rumors prove true, the renders shown above will be made official in around 72 hours, with the Lumia 1020 to debut in a flurry of hues -- yellow, black and white, specifically.
Moreover, Windows Phone Central is reporting that the device previously known as EOS will ship with optical image stabilization built right in, 2GB of RAM (a boost from the 1GB found on most modern WP8 handsets) and 32GB of internal storage. Head on down to the source link for more... you know, given that waiting for the formal word isn't something you're prone to do.

You can now make a clean swap of your phone for a new Nokia lumia of your choice
Nokia's Lumia phones show promise despite the company's dwindling overall sales, and now's your chance to nab one at more affordable prices -- if you're willing to trade in an old phone, that is. The Finnish company's new trade up program in the US will take in old mobile devices and send back up to $300 loaded on a Visa prepaid card, so long as you also purchase a Lumia. A lot of brands and models are accepted (check out if yours is via the trade up portal linked below), but popular ones like the iPhone 4S, the Galaxy S 4, and the HTC One will net you the most money. So, if you're sick of being lost in a crowd of Androids and iPhones, now's the time to give WP8 a whirl.