We’ve seen a lot of cool stuff at SXSW 2012 but the Nokia Lab domes deserves some extra credit for being extra cool. The company says that it tried to bring a bit of its research lab from Espoo (I’ve been there!) and transport it to the rainy streets of Austin and I think it’s done a good job.
When you first enter the Nokia Lab domes, you’re immediately greeted by some vials filled with delicious adult beverages. You can make your way to the bar to get a special Lumia-inspired cocktail, groove out the DJs or make your way to the various showcase areas.
There are very clever themes to show off the Carl Zeis lenses, the Clear Black displays and even a picture shootout. This last one involves you trying to snap a picture with your phone and uploading it to Facebook before they can with a Windows Phone-powered Nokia device. I used an iPhone and lost – not a big surprise considering how deeply Facebook is integrated into Windows Phone.
There are also multiple giant touch screens around, as well as multiple Lumia phones to play with. One nice little touch is a confessional sauna where you can let out all of your anger at the SXSW rain. If you’re not into the gadgets, you can also blow off some steam at the foosball table or with some ping pong. There’s also the bar – the Lumia cocktail is quite good.
Check out some of the photos below to get an idea of what Nokia is doing at SXSW and be sure to check our SXSW page for all the latest happenings.
