Nokia Lumia 1020 with 41 megapixel camera

Nokia has unveiled a new handset with a 41 megapixel sensor which it claims can record "details never thought possible from a smartphone".

It says consumers will be able to zoom in and reframe their photos without worrying about the image quality suffering.

Analysts who have tested the device said that it was "without doubt" the best smartphone camera on the market.

But they added that was not a guarantee that it would be a bestseller.

Market research firm IDC recently carried out a survey of smartphone owners in 25 countries to identify what factors were most likely to drive future purchases.

The results placed camera resolution 15th on a list of 23 features. Audio quality for voice, battery life, device security and browsing came top of the poll.

"Most people just look at their photos on their smartphone or via a social network on a computer - and for this the other vendors already provide very good quality," Francisco Jeronimo, a mobile phone analyst at the firm, told the BBC.

"Nokia needs to convince consumers that this new handset outperforms others in low-light conditions, otherwise they would only really notice the difference if they zoomed in on the images on a large screen or printed out a poster.

"It may be the best smartphone out there but I doubt it will be enough to convince many users to jump platform from Android or iOS which accounted for 92% of global shipments in the last quarter."
Zoomable video

The Lumia 1020 marks the second time Nokia has fitted a 41MP sensor to one of its phones.

Last year it launched the Pureview 808 model, but its appeal was limited by the fact it ran the ageing Symbian operating system for which few developers are still writing software. The new handset instead runs on Microsoft's Windows Phone platform which has more than 160,000 apps.

As well as offering highly detailed photos at up to 38MP resolution, the new phone also uses a process called "oversampling" to combine the pixels of an image into a smaller 5MP version from which it removes unwanted visual noise.

Unlike its predecessor, the Lumia 1020 can save both types at the same time, meaning that the owner does not need to worry about switching settings.

In addition, the handset's video recording capabilities take advantage of the extra resolution, allowing the user to zoom in four times while recording a 1080p high definition video without losing quality, and six times into a 720p version.

It also adds optical image stabilisation by mounting the lens system on ball-bearings and using a gyroscope and motors to counteract any movement to prevent the problem of camera shake.

Stephen Elop, chief executive of Nokia: "We've also made the back the new front"

However, all this comes at a premium price. When it launches in the US it will cost $300 (£198) on top of a two-year contract.

One analyst suggested Nokia wanted the new handset to act as a "halo device", attracting shoppers to other products in its range.

"Nokia is positioning the Lumia 1020 as a flagship product for the next generation of smartphones," said Ben Wood, chief of research at the CCS Insight consultancy.

"Alone it will not transform Nokia's fortunes but the significant media coverage it will generate centred on its innovative camera technology will be a major boost not only to the Lumia brand but also the Windows Phone platform.

"Its high price will undoubtedly come under scrutiny and Nokia must carefully manage this, stressing that it is a flagship product that will likely generate relatively modest volumes."
Android rivals

Nokia's boast that its device is perfect for users wanting to "shoot first, zoom later" contrasts with the approach taken by other brands.

Samsung recently unveiled the Galaxy S4 Zoom - a handset with a 10x optical zoom which extends out of the device to allow users to close in on a scene at the time of the snap. This feature is more commonly found in compact cameras than smartphones.

Meanwhile, HTC introduced what it calls an "ultrapixel" sensor to its flagship One model.

Each pixel on its sensor is bigger than normal, a feature that the Taiwanese firm says allows it to offer high-quality low-light shots. But the trade-off is that fewer pixels can be fitted in. As a result its 4MP resolution means image quality deteriorates more quickly if users zoom in on photos to crop the shots.

IDC said Nokia now had the edge.

"For an amateur or professional photographer who needs a quality camera on the move, this is the best option available on a smartphone," said Mr Jeronimo.

"The camera's user interface is a lot more intuitive and easy to use, as well.

"But to be able to compete with Apple and Samsung, Nokia will need to price it aggressively and to increase activities in the stores to show consumers how much better the camera performs against the competition.

"Failing that, the Nokia Lumia 1020 will become a niche product for a niche segment - professional mobile photographers."

Nokia said the device would go on sale on 26 July in the US, and would launch before September in parts of Europe and China.

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£25m If Fabregas Join Arsenal Again?

Arsenal are manoeuvring themselves into a position to bring Cesc Fabregas back to north London this summer.

The former Gunners skipper is currently on his summer holidays following Spain's Confederations Cup campaign and is pondering his future after a frustrating season at Barcelona.

Publicly, the Spaniard maintains he wants to stay at the Nou Camp, but doubts over how he fits into manager Tito Vilanova's plans after being regularly overlooked for big games last season has left Fabregas in two minds.

And the Gunners are poised to strike should the midfielder decide his future lies elsewhere with the Emirates Stadium club being kept updated on developments regarding the 26-year-old's future as the summer progresses.

A deal to re-sign Fabregas will be relatively straightforward to conclude. As part of the deal that took Fabregas back to Spain, Arsenal secured a £25million first-option clause as part of the transfer.

Should Barca decide to sell Fabregas, the Gunners would have first refusal on the midfielder at a fixed price of £25million.

 Even if Fabregas decides he wants to return to London, Barca will be hesitant to let him leave given the work the Catalan club put in to bringing him back to Spain - but Arsenal will be at the front of the queue should that eventuality occur.

Meanwhile, the Gunners are stepping up their interest in Swansea defender Ashley Williams following Thomas Vermaelen's back injury.

The Wales international is a key target for Arsene Wenger this summer, but Arsenal have baulked at the central-defender's £10million asking price.

But as Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday, captain Vermaelen is likely to miss the start of the season due to the recurrence of a lower back problem, leaving the Gunners with just two fit senior centre-halves; Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.

Vermaelen will not travel with the rest of the squad to the Far East on Thursday, instead staying behind to continue with his rehabilitation.

It is not yet clear how long the Belgium international will spend on the sidelines, with the next seven days understood to be critical in diagnosing the full extent of the problem.

It is feared the defender could miss up to three months if his problem does not respond well to treatment.

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Sir Elton John, Appendicitis, Ticking Time Bomb

Sir Elton John has said he is "lucky to be alive" after being diagnosed with appendicitis.

The singer told The Sun Reporter he had performed 10 concerts in "agony" on his European tour before he called in doctors.

"I was a ticking time bomb. I guess I could have died at any time," he said.

According to his website, he is on a course of "intensive antibiotics" and is expected to undergo surgery "in the coming weeks".

Sir Elton has had to postpone a series of summer festival dates including shows in Italy, Germany and London's Hyde Park this week.

A spokesman said the diagnosis had been made "following a number of exploratory scans and blood tests with his medical team in the UK".

He confirmed the singer would not return to touring until he had fully recovered from both the planned surgery and any damage caused by the appendix abscess.

"Elton is incredibly disappointed to postpone these tour dates," he said.

"To know that he made such super-human efforts and continued to perform to thousands through his illness only confirms his dedication to his European fans.

"He is eager to be back on top form and return to play the remaining shows starting in early September 2013."

Sir Elton had been due to perform at the Collisioni festival in Italy on Tuesday, with further shows in Germany on Thursday and a headline gig at London's Hyde Park on Friday.

British Summer Time festival organisers AEG Live said the Hyde Park show would still go ahead with Elvis Costello and former Kinks frontman Ray Davies on the bill, with existing ticket holders receiving a full refund.

Other July dates now scrapped include festivals in Spain, France and Monaco.

Sir Elton is due back in the UK in September, performing at the First Direct Arena in Leeds and at Bestival before heading back to Las Vegas for a month-long residency at The Colosseum.

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From USA: Ramadan for Stop Muslim Arrests in Egypt

The US has urged Egypt's leadership to stop the "arbitrary" arrests of Muslim Brotherhood members, warning against targeting any particular group.

"You're working against yourself if your effort is to be inclusive," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon also warned against the exclusion of any party.

Rival rallies are expected in Cairo on Friday amid rising tensions over the army's overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last week.

Supporters demanding Mr Morsi's reinstatement have continued to stage mass protests in Cairo this week near the barracks - where he is believed to be being held.

On Thursday, the Obama administration and UN both raised concerns about Egypt's decision to issue arrest warrants for the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood - to which Mr Morsi belongs - and nine senior figures of the movement.

"The only way this is going to work successfully... is if all parties are encouraged and allowed to participate and that's why we've made clear that arbitrary arrests are not anything that we can support,'' Mr Carney said.

Mr Ban "made clear that there is no place for retribution or for the exclusion of any major party or community in Egypt," in a telephone call with Egypt's Foreign Minister Kamel Amr on Thursday.

Ramadan Friday

US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki voiced even harsher criticism, saying the arrests contradicted reassurances they had received by the Egyptian military and authorities of inclusivity.

US policy makers would monitor the situation closely as they review decisions on assistance to Egypt, she added.

While the White House has not yet publicly confirmed comments by unnamed US officials that it will go ahead with a planned delivery of four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt, spokesman Jay Carney said that the administration did not believe it should immediately suspend aid to Egypt.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise as Brotherhood leaders urge supporters to attend mass rallies across Cairo on the first Friday of Ramadan.

Rival protests are planned for Tahrir Square, including a mass iftar - breaking the fast.

On Thursday the Muslim Brotherhood vowed to continue "peaceful resistance to the bloody military coup against constitutional legitimacy".

Mr Morsi's removal - a year after he was elected - followed protests by millions of people across Egypt.

While the new authorities have have not specified where Mr Morsi is, a foreign ministry spokesman has said he is in a "safe place" and being treated in a "very dignified manner".

However, dozens of people have died in deadly clashes in the aftermath of his ousting. On Monday alone more than 50 Morsi loyalists were killed in clashes with the army.

The Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader, Mohammed Badie, and nine other senior figures were charged on Wednesday with inciting Monday's violence, despite conflicting accounts of the incident.

Correspondents say the new warrants could scupper any attempts to persuade the Brotherhood - banned for decades under former President Hosni Mubarak - to participate in the transitional political process announced by interim President Adly Mansour this week.

The Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), says it will turn down a post in the cabinet being formed by the interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi.

Meanwhile, Mr Beblawi said on Thursday that he had still not ruled out offering posts to the FJP.

"I don't look at political association," he told the AFP news agency. "I'm taking two criteria for the next government. Efficiency and credibility."

The main liberal opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front (NSF), and the grassroots Tamarod protest movement, which co-ordinated the anti-Morsi protests, said they were not consulted on the constitutional decree and had concerns about it.

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Apple VS Judge for Ebook Prices Disaster

Apple conspired with publishers to fix the price of electronic books, a US judge has ruled.

Manhattan Judge Denise Cote said the iPad maker "conspired to restrain trade".

But the firm's spokesman, Tom Neumayr, said Apple would appeal against the ruling and fight "false allegations".

Five publishers that were originally named as defendants alongside Apple have already reached settlements, including Penguin.

The judge ordered a new hearing to determine damages to be imposed on Apple.

The US Department of Justice said the conspiracy was designed to challenge online retailer Amazon's dominance of the fast-growing e-books market.

Penguin settled its case for $75m (£49m). Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster created a $69m fund for refunds to consumers, while Macmillan settled for $26m.

Judge Cote said: "The plaintiffs have shown that the publisher defendants conspired with each other to eliminate retail price competition in order to raise e-book prices, and that Apple played a central role in facilitating and executing that conspiracy.

"Without Apple's orchestration of this conspiracy, it would not have succeeded as it did in the spring of 2010," she said.

Fight continues

US Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer called the ruling "a victory for millions of consumers who choose to read books electronically".

He said the judge agreed with the Justice Department and 33 state attorneys general that executives at the highest levels of Apple orchestrated a conspiracy with five major publishers to raise prices.

"Through today's court decision and previous settlements with five major publishers, consumers are again benefiting from retail price competition and paying less for their e-books,'' Mr Baer said.

Consumer groups in the US cheered the news.

"If we let companies get away with this type of price fixing, consumers will be denied a substantial part of the benefits of the digital revolution," said Dr Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America, which had filed a supporting brief in the case.

But after the ruling, Mr Neumayr insisted that Apple had brought innovation and competition to the market, not restricted it.

"Apple did not conspire to fix e-book pricing and we will continue to fight against these false accusations,'' he said. "We've done nothing wrong."

Warning to others

Previously, Apple's attorney, Orin Snyder, had told the court that Judge Cote would set a "dangerous precedent" if she concluded that Apple manipulated e-book prices.

However, Columbia University law professor Scott Hemphill said today's ruling was narrow and would be unlikely to set any legal precedent.

"It may send some signals to tech companies about what they can and can't do," said Prof Hemphill.

"But the precedential value is limited because the ruling is by a district court."

However, he added that the judge in this case took particular pains to anticipate a challenge from Apple - something that chief executive Tim Cook hinted at earlier this year, when he dismissed the idea of a settlement.

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