Microsoft introduces Continuum to smartphones through high-end Lumia offerings

Microsoft announced today the launch of two of their flagship smartphones Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. These two devices introduce Microsoft continuum, Cortana and  Windows Hello Beta - an iris scan soft ware - for the first  first time in a smart phone.   

The bragging point for the two Lumias would surely be the Continuum software. Continuum allows the user to make a wired or wireless connection between their Lumia and any big screen, effectively converting the smartphone into a PC. This means, one can play music, games or videos, browse pictures, and work on documents originally saved in their smart phones, on the big screen. Once the connection is made, the smartphones can be used as a trackpad.

Also bundled up in the two smartphones are Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana - who will now be alerting you to missed calls, text messages and pending work, even on your PC, thanks to Continuum; and Windows Hello Beta, an Iris scan software, which is capable of distinguishing even identical twins, as a demonstration showed.

As I hold the phones, the first feature that struck me is the lightness of these thin black  polycarbonate blocks. Users accustomed with smaller devices might fumble at first, but both Lumia 950 XL (151.9 X 78.4 X 8.1 mm) and 950 ( 145 X 73.2 X8.25mm) can grow into comfortable handsets over a short time. The display is clean, simple and soothing to the eyes. Swipes have a quick fluidity. These Lumias are running on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors - octacore for 950 and hexacore for 950 XL. Precautions have been taken against any complaints of heating that Qualcomm Snapdragons might have faced earlier, but in such a small interaction, there is no way of exploring them. In the limited time I used it, the processor too seemed energetic and quick to respond.  Talking of response, Cortana seemed a bit fuzzed after all the demonstrations on stage, but then again, it might also be the crowd noise garbling my commands which causes her slow reaction.

The camera is clearly a winner though. A minute-long video and a couple of quick snaps with the 20 MP rear-facing OIS-enabled lense, were enough to prove the Lumias’ worth as photography devices. I have zoomed in, and I can see the very texture of projection screen. I also stood on a single leg to test how immune my video would be to shaky movements, and the results reward my effort.

Another cool point, which the launch bragged about was the phone-battery’s charging capacity, charging half the cell in half-an-hour.

So are the two Lumias worth all the fanfare? In this short chit-chat we have, they certainly do. But at Rs 43,699 (Lumia 950) and Rs 49,399 (Lumia 950 XL), they ought to be.

The Lumias are open for pre-order from today and would hit the shelves on December 11.