Booklet 3G, A Bloggers Dream
February 20, 2010 by Dan Carter
Filed under News, Reviews
I wanted to post this as it was well worth saying and sharing with everyone the experience I had this last week with the Nokia Booklet 3G. I was invited over with CoolSmartPhone to attend Mobile World Congress and blog for Sony Ericsson which was every exciting for me and could have been a disaster if it was not for WOM World coming to my rescue.
I have been laptopless for about 4 months now as I was waiting for the Booklet to come out, WOM emailed me saying my trial period on the Booklet had come to an end and could I email them to arrange a suitable collection date. I emailed back arranging a date and said I was gutted I missed out by a week taking it to MWC with me and was going to order a basic Netbook to get me through.
To my shock and delight, Katie from WOM World said I don’t need too, I can take the Booklet with me and return it once I get back from Barcelona. So this past week I have been using a Booklet 3G reporting live from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona with my only means of internet access being on a mobile phone and the Booklet.
I have to say the Booklet although not a main computer replacement due to the specs, It was a dream to have a computer with such outstanding battery life, such good build quality and just do exactly what I wanted it too. Sitting on the train to Liverpool I was using my E72 as a modem over Bluetooth to install apps like Tweetdeck and setup the blog I was in charge off, this was all really easy to do in Windows 7 and I had no worry about battery cutting out, the Booklet felt like it would just not stop going it was like the Duracell battery of the computer world
The main test came though each day at MWC where I had to take lots of video and photo of the stands and publish on the blog, so with the Booklet and a few phones in hand I set off each morning into the event and started to set everything up I needed.
The only time I really needed to use the power cable was when has been using it all day as a charger for a phone over USB (yes it powered my phone too via just a simple USB cable and still had enough battery to last me a good 6-7 hours of being in use.
Putting it as simple as I can, for your everyday blogger, someone who wants to be mobile all the time and keep up with things and for anyone going to a phone event like Mobile World Congress, the Nokia Booklet 3G works like a dream for this and I really do not know where I would have been without it.
Yes it is pricey at £650 for a netbook but the battery life alone impressed the hell out of me and I really enjoyed using it. This was the ultimate test for me and what I use a Netbook for, and on this test the Booklet passed with flying colours!.
Nokia N900 Review
December 27, 2009 by Dan Carter
Filed under Reviews
Writing a review on such a new and powerful device was never going to be an easy task. There is just so much to cover, I am sure I will have to return to this review at a later date to update parts once software updates come into place but until then this is a review on the Nokia N900 which by the way is NOT a mobile phone, It is an Internet tablet that just so happens to make phone calls. This is something to remember when looking to purchase this device and also when reading the review.
As always a huge thank you to the WOM World/Nokia team who loaned me this trial N900 device, especially as they only just had them come in and demand was high.
The main features of the Nokia N900 are:
Now onto the main part of the review starting with a look at the phone.
HARDWARE
The N900 really is a device from the future with top specs, new OS and a vast range of connectivity options. In a time when most manufacturers are looking to make phones as small as possible, Nokia come out with one of there biggest phones made in recent times
Size. The N900 is built like a tank. There is no better way to describe the N900 than a black brick of connectivity. Weighing in at 180g you really do need a pocket just made for this phone because it will need it!. The reason for the sheer size of the N900 is because of the amount of computing power they have managed to put into it, with blazing fast web browsing, capacitive like although resistive touch screen, 800 x 480 pixel screen and much more. Measuring 110.9 x 59.8 x 18 mm, the N900 really is a beast.
Build Quality. The N900 is very well built, especially for a phone with a slide out keyboard and a camera lens cover. Although you do not get the satisfying ’snap’ action as with the N97 when sliding the keyboard out, there is a good click locking sound when you open or close the keys which will mean the keys wont spring back on you when your writing something. Interestingly Nokia have placed the camera lens slightly back from the camera lens cover which from my thoughts is to stop the same scratching issue that hit Nokia recently with the N97 and causes a stir with people who spent out on the what was supposed to be flagship device. The only part to complain about is the stand on the back by the camera to stand the phone up, it is rather loose and does not feel too strong either.
Memory. Just like the original N97, Nokia have managed to fit 32GB of memory into the N900 and if that was not enough for you, there is also a Micro SD slot allowing another 32GB of memory to total a mind blowing 64GB of storage!. Memory really is no issue with this device and neither is the RAM with more than enough to be able to multi-task on without having any problems… being a Nokia user for years I have to ask why could they not have made a Symbian phone like this in the past!
Screen. At 227 PPI (pixels per inch), the N900 has one of the highest quality screens seen in a mobile phone with 67 more pixels per inch than the Apple iPhone which has had many great reviews about the screen quality. Having such a large, bright and dense screen really shows off in video playback and web browsing. I converted some Family Guy to play back on the N900 and the quality was stunning as was the audio quality. The screen is one of the best if not the best feature of the N900.
Keyboard. Nokia have really been making a impact recently with slide out keyboards. The E75 was the start followed by the 5730 XpressMusic and then into the more well known N97 and N97 Mini. The N900 has a 3 row QWERTY keyboard which slides out and with the design of the phone mostly being used in landscape this is very easy to text on. What is annoying is some of the symbol keys with some having 2 or even 3 options depending if you just press it, press the blue arrow first or press the white arrow first. At times this can get very confusing and personally I think it would have been better to just have 1 button to load up on screen symbols and let you tap the screen to get it. After all why try to cramp as many buttons as possible onto a small area when you have a large clear touch screen to use instead?.
Once you get used to testing on the keyboard you will have no problems at all, there is a good click sound when you press each button and this gives good feedback so don’t expect to be missing and letters in text messages or emails.
Camera. The N900 has the typical Nokia camera on high end devices and uses the 5.0 Mega pixel Carl Zeiss lens seen on the N97 and N97 Mini. There is a Dual-LED light which although is bright, I still think a Xenon flash would have been ideal, especially as it is obvious Nokia were not worried about the size of the device so it was not like adding a flash would have made it much (if any) bigger.
The camera lens cover is a nice addition and is something the N97 did have but caused problems with scratching so it was taken off on the Mini.
Video recording on the Nokia N900 mini is good but then again would you expect anything different?. It records video at 640 x 360 at 30 frames per second buy you can also record VGA (640×480) too which is great for sharing on YouTube. The LED flash does help in bad lighting which is something a Xenon could not do, just remember not to get too close to someone with the lights on as the strong light could pretty much blind them!
<< Camera Samples Coming Soon >>
Sound. Music quality is very impressive on the N900 with stereo speakers. Even cranked up to full volume there is very little if any distortion and the best experience is in the video player. There is a 3.5mm headset port next to the lick switch which will allow you to use either the supplied headset in the box or if you have your own headset you prefer using from another device this will also fit. Nokia really seem to be listening to customers now who for ages have been asking for a 3.5mm jack to use their own headsets… finally Nokia are delivering this on new phones.
Connectivity. The Nokia N900 is all about connectivity as it has most modern standards. WiFi is there in the 802.11b/g form (no ‘n’) for browsing at home or at a hot-spot if you can find one. There is 10mb/s HSDPA and 2mb/s HSUPA for super fast data transfer on the move as well as allowing you to use the N900 as a modem. Bluetooth is also there with most expected profiles like File Transfer and Headsets. The only option lacking is the fact MMS is not supported yet on the N900, instead you have to share via online services like Pixelpipe or via email. It is not just sending, but there is not even a system in place to receive MMS yet but hopefully that is coming into a new software update.
MAEMO 5 SOFTWARE
Maemo has been around for quite a while with Nokia now, the main reasons for this were the N770, N800, and N810 devices which were Internet tablet’s and had a very limited market appeal mainly due to the fact there was no built in data connection for a SIM card. In fact I can remember speaking to Christian at a Brighton Twitter meet where we also met WOM World that a N810 although nice would be really good it if had a SIM card slot for being able to connect in about 99% of the UK via a mobile phone network… and this is now what Nokia have done with the N900.
The main problem I can see is that there is yet another OS that developers need to write for. If having Symbian, Windows Mobile, iPhone and recently Android was not enough choice, now Maemo has to be taken into account and with only Nokia selling Maemo devices at the moment will developers be as interested to back a limited OS when Symbian is still growing especially with the Symbian Foundation in full swing and a new version due out next year.
Widgets. Maemo 5 is a very customizable operating system and is far more desktop like than Symbian. You have 4 home screens at your fingertips to personalize your own way with wallpapers, links, applications and bookmarks plus many widgets on offer to get the most from your Nokia N900. You can add contacts to a screen and if you have a photo for that contact they will show up too, this was great if you have a group of most called contacts you can save time by adding them to their own screen. A handy widget I HIGHLY recommend is Dataplan Monitor which is free of charge. It shows you the total amount of Uploaded and Downloaded data using your Internet connection which is very handy if you have a limited data plan. Even if you have an unlimited plan it is a good idea to know where your are through the month.
Email. Email is rather restricted to the built in client or using Mail For Exchange which is also pre installed into the OS. Mail 4 Exchange works great with Google Sync for downloading and backing up contacts too across multiple platforms. As of yet there is no Nokia Messaging support on Maemo and because of the new OS, there is no option of Profimail which seems to be a popular choice with many Symbian or Nokia users out there. Hopefully Nokia Messaging will be coming to the N900 in due course. Out of the box email is very easy to setup for most POP/IMAP accounts and if you use Microsoft Exchange then use Mail For Exchange.
Browsing. This is where the N900 not only excels, but blows the rest of the competition out of the water and yet that includes you Apple!. What Nokia have done here is not built a small mobile browser, but used the power of the FULL internet to give the best possible experience. Flash is supported right out of the box and even large graphic heavy websites such as the BBC load in record time, full desktop quality and there for you to see. To zoom in you have the easy way or the geek way. The geek way is to load a page, tap and hold onto the middle of the screen and spin your finger like a wheel clockwise to zoom in, and anti-clockwise to zoom out. At first this was great fun but becomes tedious at times, especially when you have the faster way to zoom which is to just press and hold the volume buttons at the top to zoom in and out. These are positioned perfectly when holding the N900 in landscape mode.
Music / Audio. The audio playback in video mode is almost surround sound like quality if the video has good audio codec that is. Playing back the clip for the film ‘9′ really shows off how good the speakers really are on this device. Another great built in feature is the Internet Radio option in Media Player. Using either WiFi or 3G/HSDPA (make sure you have a good data plan though) you can stream radio stations from around the world in brilliant quality. In fact whilst writing this review I have the N900 playing 95.8 Capital FM streaming over T-Mobile UK HSDPA and there has been no breaks or connection errors in the whole 90 minutes the radio has been playing. Great if you don’t have much music on your N900 and want to listen to something different
Connectivity Options
Ovi Maps. The basics of OVI Maps are on the N900 but there are a lot of things missing and at present OVI Maps looks like 1/2 a job from Nokia. After taking a good 10 seconds to load, a GPS fix took another 10-15 seconds and even with all that computing power, zooming in and out was like running the latest game on a 10yr old computer with it stuttering all over the place. Also remember there is no voice navigation so you could not really use the N900 as a sat-nav replacement.
Where it does work though is with the Find Places search. After getting my location i searched for ‘Pizza’, ‘ATM’ and ‘Hotels’ and it within a few seconds found a long list of suitable places also allowed me to find the route to these places and if it was available show me the telephone number in case i needed to call ahead of time.
Application Support. All new operating systems have to start somewhere, and unfortunately because Maemo 5 is still new there is not many mature applications supported yet. At present the OVI Store is not N900 compatible so you are left with smaller developer beta options under Maemo Extras. There are however a few key applications in finished form and are highly recommended and these are:
- Pidgin IM – A great multi-service instant message app for Maemo
- QIK – A great live video streaming service also available for Symbian
- DataPlan Monitor – Ever worried about using too much data?. This will put you at ease
- Pixelpipe – Upload and share photos to different services using just this one app.
- Accuweather – A great widget on the home screen giving up-to date weather forecasts
Maemo Application Manager for new Apps
N900 AS A MOBILE PHONE
I have had to be very careful when writing this review not to refer to the N900 as a ‘mobile phone’ because…. well…. it’s not really. Nokia never advertised this as a phone, nor wanted us to look at it like a phone. The N900 is more of an Internet tablet with a phone thrown in in case you just happen to need to make or receive a call. The fact that the phone is the only application on the entire N900 OS that works in portrait mode is a pretty big giveaway that this device was supposed to be used in landscape mode.
The antenna for phone signal on the N900 does appear to be very good even in low coverage area’s it managed to hand onto calls like it’s life depends on it which is great for those people who live in a poor or very patchy 3G signal area.
BATTERY LIFE
The battery was a part of the N900 I really thought would not hold up well to real world testing due to the processing power, vast amount of connectivity options and large screen the N900 has to offer, plus with a 1320mah battery not a 1500 one I really thought I was in for a bumpy ride.
Unfortunately I was right with the battery and was getting about a day at most from the N900 and that was with checking for emails every 30 minutes, sending around 20-30 texts a day, making a few phone calls and some web browsing too. Friend of the site Michael Hell from ‘The Thoughts From Hell’ recently said that Mugen are making a battery for the N900 and this is expected to have heavy duty power but will make the N900 even bigger!
THE FINAL DECISION
Just over a year ago I can remember speaking to Christian when attending a Brighton Bloggers meeting about how cool it would be to have a N810 (which we had just purchased) but with built in 3G for data use on the move. Since then we have such a device in the N900 and it really is a multimedia powerhouse.
I have been lucky enough to not only get hands on the N900 at the Nokia World launch, but again at the N900 Meetup in London last month and once again on this review device so already the N900 feels like a part of my life.
As much as I want to love the N900, I cannot help but look at it like a project still in work and call it a prototype device. The build quality is really nice and feels like you wont be able to break it easily, but then again is is a chunky device weighing nearly 180g. The screen is REALLY good with a massive 800 x 480 pixel, 3.5″ screen and this really comes to life when you are watching video’s on the N900 (check out the trailer for ‘9′ which comes pre-installed on the phone).
Where the N900 still feels like it is being worked on is with 3rd party applications and for me personally the lack of MMS for Picture Messaging. As of this moment, the N900 still has no access to the OVI Store so has to use its own Maemo Extras access which is full of developer style applications, there is no access to Nokia Music Store so you have to download via computer and send over via Bluetooth or Cable and still no access to Nokia Messaging, instead using a built in Mail 4 Exchange application.
The MMS issue is not something everyone will worry about, but it is something which we have come to expect on the phones these days even if we do not want to use it. Even on day 1 of using the N900 I wanted to send a MMS to someone only for it to hit me that this is not an option, you can’t even RECEIVE a MMS!. A later firmware update should fix this but with the N900 already being delayed on going on sale, how long will we have to wait for a software update?
Also the lack of portrait mode is annoying to me and will be to most people. The only time you can use the N900 looking like a normal phone standing up is when….. yup you guessed it … making phone calls. All other operations are done in landscape mode. Hopefully the next update will allow for more portrait use.
I do like what Nokia has done with Maemo 5, the 4 home-screen panels is a great addition allowing users to fully customize the phone to how they want, the keyboard is very easy to use and the speakers are really good quality.
Would I hand out £500.00 for a N900 right now?. No, and although I did say originally I would be one of the first to own this phone when it went on sale, I am please I did not as at the moment there are a few things missing to make me fully happy with this device.
Once the OS is more up to date with MMS Support, OVI Store for downloads, Music Store for music downloads and more application support then this will be an amazing device, The problem I have with that is by the time all that is fixed will we be looking at a brand new piece of hardware (N910?) in which case the N900 is just an expensive stop gap to something bigger next year.
Nokia N86 8MP camera test – Is it pulling its weight?
December 20, 2009 by Christian Haslam
Filed under Articles, Featured, Reviews
The Nokia N86 has been Nokias flagship camera device for a while now, and ive had my hands on it for a few days thanks to WOM World. Ive been waiting a while to see what one of these is like. Im a huge fan of my Nokia N82, and still now I firmly believe that its one of the Nseries devices where they have managed to get almost everything spot on with it. Being a few years old doesnt matter, it has one of the, if not the best cameras ive ever come across on a phone. It really is good. The reason I was so exited about getting my hands on a N86 was because of my love for my N82.
First impressions of the N86 is great. Nice solid weighty device. AS soon as you see the screen light up, its great. Brightest screen ive ever seen on a Nokia phone, but thats expected with its AMOLED screen. Its fast and snappy and the keys have a really nice feel to them. However, I didnt loan one to look at the hardware, it was the camera I was interested in, so lets get down to business!
These few pictures are so comparisons between the N82 and the N86. The N82 ones are on the top and the N86 are below. Take a look at a few comparison shots. The first 2 shots were taken in pitch black, and then the other ones were taken in in middle of the day in light.
N82 (Fan on medium speed)
N86 (Fan on Medium speed)
N82 (Fan on full speed)
N86 (Fan on full speed)
N82
N86
N82
N86
N82
N86
Now i’ll let you make your mind up on these pictures, but bear in mind the N82 isn’t exactly a brand new phone, and its been on the market for quite some time. In my personal opinion the fan pictures sway it for me. I have yet to see a cameraphone work so brilliantly in pitch black conditions and manage to capture the detail in such quality. I also feel that the colours are a lot more “real” in the pictures, and I feel it handles brightness a lot nicer. Its such a shame that Nokia can move a step back like this in terms of cameras on the devices. I mean if your going to release a flagship camera device, you would surely want it to be on par with the previous, if not better? In my opinion, the N82 camera is far superior to the N86s, double the age, and half the price.
When you buy an N86, your buying a premium all round device. Great screen, great build, nice keys, fast. But when you buy the N86 8MP you want it to take great quality pictures, and don’t get my wrong, it does, but when you compare it to the N82, you will feel a little disheartened and a little let down by the 8MP beast. If its a great camera your looking for, stick with the N82, you cant go wrong. If you want an all round premium device, then go with the N86, but please don’t think that just because it has an 8MP camera your going to get flawless pictures, because you wont. I have said it before and I will say it again, please Nokia, please bring Xenon back to your phones! If you do that, you will truly ill have a cameraphone to be proud of!
My Loves…….and hates, of the N97
July 10, 2009 by Christian Haslam
Filed under Articles, Featured, Reviews
Recently I won a Brand New N97 from NokNok.tv in the recent Search for N Competition. Im not going to bore you to death with the specs and hundreds of pictures as by now, I’m sure if you are reading this, you will have seen hundreds of pictures and reviews. Ive been using it for nearly a month now so have to got to gripes with the phone. Here are some of the great things about the N97 and why you should by one, and also why you shouldn’t!
Lets start with the positives. The screen is really really nice. Probably one of the best ive ever seen on a Nokia phone. Its big, its bright, and its easy to use. A lot of people have been having doubts about the resistive touchscreen rather then a captive one like the phone uses, but, to be honest, its not that big an issue. You have to pretty the screen in a little harder to use it, although there are the obvious benefits of being able to use it with gloves on etc. Im a little disappointed they didn’t include multi-touch in the screen itself, but hopefully in their next device Nokia will, and I can live without it.
Secondly the web browser is great. By far the most fast and easy to use web browser Nokia has ever made. When your using it and it starts to load up a page it automatically makes it full screen, and the scrolling is very fast and smooth on it. Again, its no safari, but its bridging the gap closer to what it should be. I remember when trying to browse the web on my N96 or N82, it was painfully slow and painful to use with no touchscreen. The nice thing about the browser on the N97 is that you can either use your finger and the touchscreen to scroll around pages, much like the 5800 or iphone, but you also have the D pad which will make a mouse appear and browse using that more accurately. You can double tap anywhere on the screen to zoom in or out, much like the iphone. The only thing that I would like to see is the zooming buttons to actually function in the web browser. In my N810, when I click zoom in/out, the whole page is made larger/smaller, as is the text size etc.
Also a quick access back buton. It frustrates me that you have to go out of the full screen to go back on a webpage. Maybe make a dedicated camera button back on the web browser, for example
the camera button, or just have a small icon on screen in the corner.
Now this is going to be a little controversial, but I’m going to stick my neck out here and say that I must be one of the only people who actually likes the N97 QWERTY. I’ve read so many negative comments and articles about what a disaster the N97 qwerty is and how is brings the whole phone down a level. I may just be strange, but I actually find the keypad a lot easier to use when its to the right then when its in the middle. At the moment I’m loaning a E75 of WOM with the slide out keypad, and I actually find the Keypad easier to use on the N97 then I do on the E75, simply because of the space button not being in the middle, so I don’t have to stretch my thumb across. Ok, so its no perfect. It isn’t very tactile and if you keep your phone on silent its a little hard to feel if you have pressed the button or not, but overall, I really really like it, so don’t be put off by the negative comments!
So those are my Loves. Now onto the hates of the device.
First lets look at the firmware. To be fair, the overall usage of the phone is fairly quick and fast, and the transition from landscape to portrait is fast, but my major gripe is the screen light. It takes usually 1, sometimes 2 “swipes” of the unlock key on the left of the device to get the backlight on. Now I don’t know about you, but when I want to go on my phone, I want to go on it. I don’t want to unlock the phone 2 or 3 times to use it. I want to pick it up and go. That frustrates me so much and my biggest gripe. Secondly there is the USB issue. Recently, when I have gone to plug into my PC to charge or transfer some songs, its not detected the device, and therefore I cant transfer any songs or photos. What’s the point in having such a large memory if you cant transfer data.
Secondly is text messaging. When using the on screen keypad to type text messages, if you finish and you want to add a recipient, it seems to cut off the last part of the text message. For example, If I type to someone
“Would you like to go to the cinema?” and then select a recipient from my contacts, I go back and find its now changed to “Would you like to go to the” and just cut the end of my text message.
Although I generally use the QWERTY, sometimes its nice just to use the onscreen to type a quick text.
Probably the most worrying issue I have come across is the Alarm. I use my phone every night as an alarm, and for some reason, the N97 just doesn’t like to go off when you set it to! If you set it to go off at 8:45, some mornings it will go off at 8:45, some 8:48, and other times 9! It went off this morning at 8:10, and I snoozed it. I then woke up at 8:33 to see the display said “Alarm: 8:15″ despite being 8:15 15 minutes ago! I can no longer rely on my phone as an alarm, and if you do the same, don’t by this device, and you WILL be late for work (until the issue is fixed anyway!).
My only issue with the hardware, and a fairly minor one at that, is the camera lens/cover. It gets dust in very very easliy, and the same cant be said for getting it out. As you can see from the picture to the right, its a right pain as its to small to get your finger or nail into, so you will have to end up using a needle or a pen or a pointy object, which is always a bit of a pain around the camera. The hardware is grea Overall though. Top quality build which is nice to see on an Nseries device at last, and the slider is great and really sturdy. Here is where we move onto my biggest gripe of all…….
Firmware update. V11.012 have just been announced from Nokia as available from the 1st of July which fixes all the issues I mention, the backlight when unlocking, the text message issues, and a bundle of other things as well, but where is it? Ive tried for days and days to update my N97 so it gets rid of my major gripes, but its just not letting it. When I try to do it over the air, No Updates available. When I try and do it using Nokia software updater, Your current firmware is up to date. The most frustrating thing is that when I type the product code into the Nokia website, it says my latest is V11.012! All I want to do is get this firmware on my device so I can start enjoying it, but Nokia UK don’t seem to want me to! I’ve heard that alot of other countries are receiving it, but the UK are being left in the dark! Please Nokia, please let all us N97 owners just update our devices, get rid of the early bugs, and let us use our devices how you intended us to. With this firmware update, all my gripes with this device will go, but until then, I probably will be using the E75 that WOM have supplied to me for the Teach a Technophobe event, as I know I can rely on it. The alarm will go off when I want it to. The phone will unlock when I want it to.
So should you buy yourself a N97?
At this moment in time, No. Wait for V11.012 to be in full release and readily available. V10 is fast, dont get my wrong, but to be getting a phone that cant even put the backlight on when you want to use it, or deletes part of your text messages, or can’t even make the alarm go off when you want it to just isn’t good enough. It hasn’t got a lot of faults, but the ones it does have are just to big and annoying to overlook. Please Nokia, just hurry and give us this long awaited software updates and make this phone actually compete with things like the iphone, because at the moment, it just doesn’t!
Be sure to check back as once I have actually managed to update it, I will report back on what the firmware has actually fixed!
Nokia 8800 Arte Review
May 20, 2009 by Dan Carter
Filed under Reviews
The Nokia 8800 Arte is not exactly a new handset but because of the expensive price tag it has not been a phone I looked at buying for myself. So when eXpansys came along and offered me a loan unit for a week to review I was more than happy to take it off their hands.
A big thanks to the team over at eXpansys for arranging a loan 8800 Arte for review. So onto the specs…….
Now onto the main part of the review starting with a look at the phone
Looking Around The 8800 Arte
The left side of the 8800 Arte is pretty plain with just one of the release buttons for taking the back cover off
The top of the phone has a single button which is the power on and power off, Already you can see Nokia are trying to keep things pretty simple in the design of the phone
The right hand side of the phone has the other release button for the back cover and at the top there is the speakerphone.
The bottom of the Arte has a Mini-USB port which is used for the USB cable, the headset and the charger.
Looking straight at the phone you cannot help but notice just how good the phone really looks, its stunning black finish with silver trim on the slide and keeping buttons to a minimum really do the 8800 Arte a favor.
At the top of the phone you get a light sensor to adjust the keypad lighting and the backlight too which saves you power when you need it most. You get the speaker for when in calls and the audio was very clear and crisp from my testing, no echo or crackle effect its near on perfect which you would expect from a phone of this price. You get a 2.0 inch OLED screen which can display 16 million colours and the display is gorgeous it is so clear and bright, perfect for viewing photos although the size is a little on the small size.
Below the screen you get a up/down/left/right and middle select navigation pad which feels good when using and with the 8800 running S40 the phone is really snappy. There are 4 more buttons which are hidden when the phone is not in use and they are 2 shortcut keys which you can personalize to your needs, and 2 buttons to make and end phone calls. Again, Nokia keeping to a basic minimum look and this really works well.
Slide the cover down and you have a traditional 12 button keypad which is black but with silver buttons and these light up white when the phone is used in the dark.
The back of the phone is where you find the 3.15 megapixel camera, and it is a real shame there is no flash as you will see in some of the photo samples, the camera is good in sunlight but no so good when the conditions are not as good.
Specification & Features
The 8800 Arte is not a top spec phone, it has some good features though such as 1GB internal memory for storing your photos and videos, plus of course music, it is a shame there no external memory you are limited to what you are given. Although 1GB is a lot built in a phone, when you start adding video and music you can soon use that up in no time.
There is a high quality 16 million color screen using OLED but again it is a shame the size is only 2.0 inch.
Nokia say the 8800 Arte is ‘Scratch Resistant’ and it may well hold up to that status, I was not going to find out as this was a loan unit and if I scratched it I would be in trouble!. There was a tiny nick on the back when it came as this particular model was classed as a ‘refurbished’ model which was how I was able to get my hands on one. There is no GPS on this phone which in a way is no real problem because I would not want to view a map on such a small screen anyway and with no HSDPA it would not be ideal.
This is actually the first S40 handset I have reviewed as I have never really followed that area of Nokia before, instead gunning for the top end S60 range due to what I use a phone for, however S40 is making a good name for itself with handsets like the Nokia 6700 due end of June with a 5 megapixel camera, 10mb/s HSDPA and 2mb/s HSUPA which not even the top top end N/ESeries phones have yet. S40 would be for the every day user who does not want to get into all the advanced features of the phone but wants a nice phone with a good set of usable features.
eXpansys have the following information on their website where the phone is currently on sale for around £450.00:
Design.
An unmistakable passion for detail, the finest natural materials used and state-of-the-art precision engineering combine for an experience like no other. The unique open and closing mechanism features a bi-stable spring and stainless steel ball bearing system, similar to those used in high-performance automobiles; all combine to result in a elegant seamless glide.
Touch.
Subtle and tactile, a delight to the senses when ever you touch the Nokia 8800 Arte. A sensual statement of style in – black metal and glass. The Nokia 8800 Arte is crafted from carefully selected materials of the finest quality. A solid metal body and scratch resistant mineral glass display are some of the brilliant and eclectic materials used in the Nokia 8800 Arte. Experience cutting edge technology seamlessly concealed within a minimalist masterpiece of timeless elegance.Hear.
Powerful and dramatic as life can be, the Nokia 8800 Arte lets capture these moments and preserve them on the 1GB of internal memory. A commissioned soundtrack by the master produces Kruder & Dorfmeister, with visuals by Fritz Fitzke, compositions exclusive to the Nokia 8800 Arte to delight the senses and underscore the sensual nature of the Nokia 8800 Arte.See.
An integrated 3.2 mega-pixel camera with automatic auto focus; captures the world around you. The brilliant 2″ OLED with 16 million colours plays back that world with exceptional clarity. Personal living wallpaper organically changes and grows with your own individual usage, reflecting the subtle and personal nature of the Nokia 8800 Arte.Powerful.
Responsive yet discreet. Simply tap the Nokia 8800 Arte lightly to reveal the time, or simply turn it face down to silence a ring. Ambient light sensors adjust the brightness of the screen according to your surroundings, to provide a vibrant display of light and contract.In The Box
- Nokia 8800 Arte
- Battery BL-4U
- Mains Charger
- User guide
As you can see in these camera examples, the camera is ‘ok’ but appears to have a blue/purple tint to the photos which does not help. There is also no flash, not even an LED one so you have to go with what ever lighting you have been given which is fine if the sun is out but if its cloudy or indoors there is no real use for the camera. Shame too. The camera is 3.15 megapixels and has Auto-Focus to help get a better shot.
Have you got one phone for work and another for play?. Well another handy tool up the sleeve of the E71 is a simple idea called ‘Switch’ where you can get one mode for personal settings like email accounts, to do lists and ringtone and have another profile for personal settings so once your out of work you can switch with one simple key press.
This is a first I have seen in a phone and once you have set it up right it is like you have two phones in one. More phones should have this feature going forward. Nokia if you are reading please keep this feature it is so handy especially for people who use the one phone for work and personal but want to keep work for work and personal for personal.
Connectivity Options
The 8800 Arte has the basics for connecting, it has:
- GPRS
- HSCSD
- EDGE
- Bluetooth
It is a shame there is no HSDPA on here but then again this phone is not exactly new, it went on sale early 2008 but still HSDPA was around. 3G is there for fast browsing on the phone and using the Opera browser which is pre-installed you do get a good on the phone browsing experience.
Battery Life & Build Quality
The build quality is what the Nokia 8800 Arte is all about. Made of Stainless Steel and with a sleek black and silver finish the 8800 defiantly looks the part and with a weight of 150g it feels it too!.
The reason this is such an expensive phone is the materials used and you would not expect anything less than the best for a phone at this price tag. The phone is heavy and most of the weight appeared to be in the bottom half of the slider.
Battery was REALLY good in testing, I charged it up on Tuesday night when I got it and started using from Wednesday. I did not have to charge again until Saturday and that was with phone calls, texts, web browsing and email being checked every 30 minutes. I think the power saving feature with the backlight and keypad light really helped me get this outstanding battery life.
Final Thoughts
I will be totally honest, the 8800 Arte is not a well specced phone. It lacks HSDPA, it lacks a camera flash and is very basic. However if you are looking at the phone or interested in buying it you already know that and are buying it for the premium materials used and high quality finish to the phone.
The 8800 Arte still goes for around £600-£700 online and this should be pretty much the base price as it will be discontinued before going any lower. When you look that the Carbon model is going for around £900 and the Gold model which we posted about a while back will set you back around £1,300, the black model for £600 is not a bad buy.
If you love your gadgets and features this wont be for you, if you put style and cost over features then take a look at the Nokia 8800 Arte, it screams expensive!
The great thing is, the 8800 Arte I was sent was not even new, it was a refurbished model but apart from the box I would not be able to tell the difference. Where I would notice the difference is the big saving in costs as a referb model comes in around £300 cheaper than a brand new model
Nokia E75 Review
March 29, 2009 by Dan Carter
Filed under Reviews
The Nokia E75 was only recently announced at this years MWC (formally known as 3GSM) in Barcelona. 2 new E-Series handsets were announced to the world in the form of the E75 and the E55, this is a review on the side sliding E75 device.
This review would not have been possible without the help and support from WOM World who yet again surprised me with a pre-release loan of a device. The E75 is not currently on sale so a huge thank you to WOM for letting us have such a sought after handset so quick.
The main features of the E75 are:
Now onto the main part of the review starting with a look at the phone.
Looking Around The E75
You can pretty much look at the E75 as the next step up from the E71 which was a standard candybar form factor but with a QWERTY keypad to allow quick text entry. The E75 has gone a step further by adding a normal keypad on the front and a slide out keyboard to the side which will allow fast text input but is not in your face when you dont need it.
So looking at the left hand side of the E75 you get a Mini USB port which is used to connect the handset to a computer for backing up data, printing your pictures, updating firmware and for software updates. You can also use the phone as a Mass Storage device like a USB stick. Below that is a memory card slot which comes with a 4GB card as standard in the box (MicroSD Format). Ben Smith over at Mobile Industry Review also got hands on a E75 and is reporting the same as me with how hard the cover is to get off from the memory card slot if you wanted to swap over memory cards. If more people report this once the handset is on sale it would have to go down as a design flaw which is surprising for a high end E-Series handset.
The right hand side of the phone as the volume up and down keys which is used for in calls and on the main menu. In between the volume buttons is asmall rectangle button with a small bobble on it which once held down opens up voice commands.
Below these you have the camera button which like on most phones, once you hold onto this the camera application loads up and you hold the phone like a normal camera to take a photo and save it. You also get a lanyard hole in case you would want to wear this around your neck (I have yet to see anyone do this out and about)
The top of the E75 has a single 3.5mm headset jack which is great if you have your own headset like from an iPod or other music device. The supplied headset does a good job but some premoim £50+ headsets do a great job on music playback and by having a 3.5mm jack you can choose which headset you want to use.
The bottom of the phone is simple too just having the now single small pin charger port to charge the phone using the supplied charger.
The back of the phone has a nice metal finish which really does make the E75 look a high end premium device and adds to the overall great look of the phone. The back is where you will find the speakerphone, the 3.2 megapixel camera, LED flash and mirror for taking your own photo (does anyone know someone who actually uses this?)
Now onto the main part of the phone, the front. Looking from the top you get a VGA camera which is used for video calls (well done Nokia for keeping the video call camera), the speaker for calls and a light sensor.
Below is a medium sized 2.4 inch screen which has had many people on forums complaining that it is too small. Well yes it is smaller than the E71 because that was a widescreen but in my testing for nearly 2 weeks I can honestly say from my personal point of view the screen size was NEVER a problem and not once did I wish it was bigger, I just got on using all the features.
Below the screen you will find the 2 shortcut keys, a green to call and red to end a call, Home, Delete, Calendar and Message shortcuts (as found on most E-Series now) and the 5 button navigational pad which has a glowing light when you have a missed call or a text.
Now for the new part from Nokia, the slide out keyboard. Just turn the phone to the left and slide up the screen to reveal the 39 key QWERTY setup. Each key has a letter and some have blue letters or numbers assigned to them. To use these just press the blue arrow button and then the blue button of your choice.
When the E75 was announced I was really excited about getting the handset because as a heavy text user the thought of having a normal phone but a full QWERTY when needed was perfect for me. However after using the phone I can only think of 2 occasions when I have actually used the slide out QWERTY, 98% of the time I have used the standard phone pad even for texting and emailing. This was a big surprise when I looked back at how I used the phone for the 2 weeks because it was a main selling point for me before.
The only reason for the lack of QWERTY use I can really think of is that the keys are flat with the base of the phone so the keys are not raised. This made it a little harder to type on than I had expected so went pack to the more traditional method.
Everyone will have their own opinion on the keypad and the screen size so where as I was fine with the screen and did not get on with the QWERTY, someone else might be the opposite. My suggestion if possible is take time to try a handset in a Nokia store first if you are at all unsure about getting one.
Specification & Features
The E75 is defiantly not feature shy, it takes all of the great features from the top selling E71 and made them more up to date.
What I did like was on the home screen rather than having to go into your contacts, find the person you want to call and hit the green call button, all you have to do is start typing the name using the QWERTY keys. If will find the name of the person you want to contact, then when you select that contact you get options to voice call, video call (when in 3G coverage only), send a MMS or sent a SMS. This is such a handy feature and is found in the BlackBerry range so Nokia really are going all out to bring the best features to as many people as possible. This was my favourite feature of the E75 because it was just so handy when you wanted to contact people. I will really miss this feature when moving back to another phone from this.
Nokia Maps is included and this time in version 3.0 which is bang up to date with all the new features including my personal favorite where you can plan a trip online with your computer and then download it to your handset using OVI. Very handy as long as you have Windows that is as it uses Internet Explorer so Mac fans have to wait…. myself included.
The Email client on the E75 has been completely stripped out and replaced with the Nokia Messaging setup instead which in the end I was very pleased with as it shows full HTML emails and is actually very easy to use. The problem I had with the E75 Mail though was the initial setup in that I do not have a normal GMail, Hotmail or OVI account for my main email. I have my own server for my worldofnokia.co.uk emails which is my primary account and this was not on the normal list of known accounts so it looked to me like it would not allow me to set it up on the E75 as all I got was error messages. Then after clicking ‘Retry’ about 5 times it finally gave me the option to type in either an IMAP or POP3 account details which was what I needed.
Once setup though I did like the new client and it was great having it as the standard one so no need to download and have 2 email applications.
Although something I did notice was at times the E75 Email was slow to load, especially compared to the old client on my trusty Nokia 6120 Classic which still gets a lot of use even being nearly 2 years old. On selecting Email on the menu because the new software is more animated to give a better user experience this slows down the speed of browsing and at times was a little annoying
OVI is also fully integrated in the E75 so if you take a picture and want to upload it, its right there in the camera application. If you want to sync your phonebook or diary just use Sync built into the phone and your done. The only thing you need is to make a free OVI account on the OVI.com website and your ready to go.
Being E-Series there are some extra business style app’s you wont find on N-Series. These are under the ‘Office’ section and include
- Active Notes which is a more advanced Notes package
- Intranet which allows you with the right settings and permissions to access a company Intranet
You also get the main ones like File Manager, Calculator, Clock and Adobe PDF for viewing of PDF files
What surprised me was there IS NGage on the E75 and it actually worked very well. When I tried to install it on the E71 I would get an error message saying not supported and on looking on the official NGage website neither the E75 or E71 are on the list, yet the E75 had the installer under Applications and within a few minutes I was playing the free trial of Monopoly and Prince of Persia.
The controls were a little hard because unlike on the N96, N95 8GB and N85 there is no dual slide which is usually used for in game options like shoot and pass on FIFA 09. Still, it was great to see NGage on a E-Series handset and with the new multiplayer games being made available, and many networks offering unlimited data tariffs this was a very nice addition.
The camera was also pretty good for an E-Series device at 3.2 megapixels this was more than enough for a phone aimed more at connectivity and business use. The camera is the same as on the Nokia E71 and has Auto-Focus and a single LED light for a flash. The camera wont blow you away but this was never the intention of the E75, if you want a 5 megapixel camera or above you would look for the N-Series which are more multimedia based.
Nokia SportsTracker
Although this software works on pretty much any Nokia with GPS it was a real joy to use on the Nokia E75. I have never really got into this application before until now as I have been training for a 1/2 Marathon of Torbay so thought that being in the open with my Nokia E75, GPS to track me and Stereo Bluetooth headset streaming music was a great use of technology and also was just plain cool to be using it to it’s max.
The screenshot above shows the normal ‘Map’ mode and looks like a Nokia Maps screenshot. Simply sign up for a free account on the Sports Tracker website, install the software to your Nokia (with GPS) and login. The phone will then lock onto a GPS signal and track your movements and record them on the phone. Once you have finished you can upload the results to your own account online to keep a track which is what I have been doing.
This is the same as the Map screen but using a Satalite view so you can get more detail of your workout. Again very handy for someome in training to look back on or anyone who just wants to keep fit and track what they have done.
What is cool about this software is the amount of information it captures so not just mapping your distance using GPS but also working out your average speed you ran/walked, how many steps you took, the altitude vs speed so you can see where you peak and where you need to step up a gear.
For a free piece of software to do so much was a real surprise and I will miss using this when I go back to a Nokia 6120 at times (the 6120 has no GPS). I now enjoy walking home from work because I can listen to my music and when i get back I can see a visual guide of what I just did, how many calories it has burnt, how many steps I took and compare to previous workouts.
Connectivity Options
The E75 is packed with different ways to connect to the Internet or transfer data. These are:
- HSDPA 3.6mb/s
- GPRS
- HSCSD
- EDGE
- Bluetooth
- WiFi 802.11 b/g
Just like the Nokia E71, the E75 is a connectivity powerhouse with all the main connection options for use as a modem, sending files and getting onto the internet.
This was to be expected from a top end business device such as this.
Battery Life & Build Quality
Battery life on the E75 was actually very respectable giving me between 2 and 3 days use and i had a lot of things running too. On average I had running:
- Nokia Email checking 2 accounts every 30 minutes for new messages
- Around 3-4 hours of on and off web surfing using HSDPA
- Sent an average of 30 texts a day
- Made an average of 15mins of phone calls a day
With all this in mind and the quite heavy data use at times getting between 2 and 3 days from a single charge was more than enough for me.
I was also impressed with the build quality of the E75. E-Series devices are usually know for their high standards especially when compared to the more plastic handsets in the N-Series range. The only annoying thing is the memory card cover is a real pain to take off when you want to swap over memory cards.
Final Thoughts
So to wrap things up, I had use of a Nokia E75 for around 2 weeks and I used it as my main phone to get the most out of the features, and I was not disappointed.
The overall build quality was of a high standard with the metal finish on the back adding extra weight and strength to the phone. The only problems i had with the build quality were t times the phone would ‘click’ when in use simply because its made from 2 parts and when the phone is closed they would click together. The other was as mentioned before the memory card cover was a pain in the ar$e to open if i wanted to put my own memory card in. This is ok if you don’t have a card and use what you get in the box but as I have a 8GB card with all my music on it so would be stuck. The problem is the cover is opened by a very thin bit of plastic that is hard to get hold of, and if that snapped off you would be stuck for good
The battery was very good giving me between 2-3 days of use even with using the browser a lot, texting a lot and having both my World Of Nokia Email and InstantEmail accounts being checked every 30 minutes for any updates.
Speed of a OS was not an issue either even with the transitions turned on so the menu would not just jump from 1 to another but would animate whilst opening.
The camera was pretty good for a E-Series handset offering 3.2 megapixels and a LED flash on what is going to be looked at as a business style device.
Since the Nokia E66 and E71 my views of the E-Series have changed, I used to not take much of an interest in E-Series as it was always for business people with corporate accounts and large contact lists. However since running this website i have had to manage my time much more and this is where E-Series excels over N-Series. I get many emails daily, need to add and use contacts on a daily basis, use web browsing and add dates into my calendar and more so find the E75 a handy phone to have.
The E75 is defiantly worth a look if your in the market for a new businesses phone and even if your looking for a personal phone. No news yet on which networks will take this device but launch is due for April 2009 so not long to wait now. Take a look at one for yourself to see how you feel about the keyboard and the screen size because there is so much choice out there now, best be sure before you buy.
Of out 10 i would give the E75 a score of 8 because of the flat keyboard and the rather annoying memory card cover.
If you were to ask was I personally going to buy a E75 that is a very hard question to answer although if I really thought about how I use a phone then the answer would be ‘no’ for the simple reason that I have always been a bigger fan of the N-Series. In fact the camera is the first thing I look for when buying a new phone and although the E75 ticks all the right boxes for me on a email and calendar side, multimedia is what I look for so will be saving for a N97.
If I was in the market for an E-Series device this would easily be top of the list and even though the E71 won the ‘World Of Nokia Phone of 2008′ award, the E75 overall beats it with it’s slide out keyboard, new features and really good build quality.
Again a big thank you to WOM World for allowing World Of Nokia to trial a pre-release E75 and review for the site.
Nokia E71 Review
March 24, 2009 by Dan Carter
Filed under Reviews
The Nokia E71 was announced at the same time as the E66 a few months back and in a short time has become one of Nokia’s best ever handsets suiting both Business and Personal sections of the market.
As always a big thank’s to WOM World for supplying the handset to us for review. You may have seen a little while back Christian posted his thoughts on the E71 so this is a follow on from that now that I have managed to get hands on one for myself. Here are the basic specs of the phone:
Now onto the main part of the review starting with a look at the phone.
Looking Around The E71
The left side of the E71 has a IDRA which is not found on a lot of phones now but is still handy sometimes, there is also a memory card slot for MicroSD up to 16gb and the Mini USB port for using the phone as a modem or when using PC Suite which comes in the box with the data cable.
The top of the phone has the loudspeaker and the red on/off button. Turn the phone and on the right you have the headset jack which is not 3.5 unfortunately but a slightly smaller one so you have to use the supplied headset. You also get the volume up and down and in the middle of the volume is a button you hold to enable voice dialling.
The bottom of the phone is very basic with the standard small Nokia pin charger. The back of the phone has a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus, an LED flash and a mirror for taking pictures of yourself (I still don’t know anyone who has used it for that though).
Now comes the main part of the phone, the front which is full of buttons…..50 to be exact!. At the top you have the large speaker which gives off excellent audio quality, you also have a VGA camera for video calling if you so wish to try it out or are a keen user such as myself.
You get a very large and bright 2.36″ screen set in wide-screen format which is perfect for when you want to watch a video you have saved or just want to write large emails because you can fit much more on the screen than a normal screen.
Looking at the buttons you have left and right shortcut keys which you can set to options of your choice, you have green and red keys to be used for making and ending voice calls. There is also a 5 way pad in the middle made up of a silver square which is the up/down/left and right buttons and a big select button in the middle.
E-Series have some special buttons on them to speed up accessing the phonebook or contacts and the E71 has 4 of them. Home for accessing the main menu, a calendar button, one for your phonebook and another for accessing your messages.
If you think that was all there is still the QWERTY keys at the bottom but these are a joy to use and allow really fast text entry either on text messages or email’s. The keys are a little small when compared to the BlackBerry Bold but you soon get used to using them and are hammering out messages really fast in no time at all.
There may be a lot of buttons but they all have a reason for being there and after all this is an E-Series device which was aimed more at business people or users who want to keep in touch in many ways. If you are looking for more multimedia then the N-Series is more suited.
Specification & Features
The E71 is packed full of features from your tradition Series 60 E-Series phone such as advanced email and calendar options but also ads OVI support such as Share Online, Nokia Maps, Sync and Download.
What I did like was on the home screen rather than having to go into your contacts, find the person you want to call and hit the green call button, all you have to do is start typing the name using the QWERTY keys. If will find the name of the person you want to contact, then when you select that contact you get options to voice call, video call (when in 3G coverage only), send a MMS or sent a SMS. This is such a handy feature and is found in the BlackBerry range so Nokia really are going all out to bring the best features to as many people as possible. This was my favourite feature of the E71 because it was just so handy when you wanted to contact people. I will really miss this feature when moving back to another phone from this.
Maps 2.0 is built in and this is the latest version from Nokia and with the built in GPS receiver you can can easily find where you are but please be warned you need to do one of the following 2 options first
- Have a unlimited data plan such as Web ‘n’ Walk if your on T-Mobile or a network’s version of the service. Maps uses a lot of data to find where you are and download that bit of the map. You can easily use 1mb in seconds and this can really cost you a lot of money to use if you don’t have an unlimited plan
- Another option is to plug your E71 into a computer and use the MapLoader software available from the Nokia website (this also works on Mac’s now thankfully). MapLoader connects to the Internet, downloads the map you want onto your computer and moves it over to your memory card so you wont need a data connection to use Maps on your phone. This is free to use but is not as quick as downloading the map on the fly.
Although I did mention the E71 has OVI services it will not work with N-Gage properly because there is no graphic acceleration so the games would be too poor quality to make effective in making this a supported handset. Then again the N96 also lacks this feature and as well known Mobile Industry Review Blogger, James Whatley said a few months ago you really need good graphics to enjoy N-Gage. I did download the software and send to the E71 but when I tried to install I got an error saying ‘Unable to install, Not an N-Gage device’ and the installer ended so no go with N-Gage I’m afraid.
OVI is a great service for Nokia and I know I keep going on about it, but it is so handy to have a suite of applications online as well as on their phones because there are so many possibilities. If you are using the phone for business use then Sync will be priceless because it lets you backup your contacts, notes, calendar entries and all your important data over the Internet so if something happens like you loose your phone or get a new one, all you do is install Sync, log into your OVI account and you can re download all your data. And best of all this service is FREE!. Just remember data charges apply but an unlimited option would be perfect.
Being E-Series there are some extra business style app’s you wont find on N-Series. These are under the ‘Office’ section and include
- Active Notes which is a more advanced Notes package
- Intranet which allows you with the right settings and permissions to access a company Intranet
You also get the main ones like File Manager, Calculator, Clock and Adobe PDF for viewing of PDF files
I did mention earlier that the E71 has a more advanced calendar and a handy change to older versions is the split screen. Now when you look at the main screen you get the dates on the left hand side as you would expect to see and when you highlight a day with something saved you get a overview on the right hand side. Really handy for quick viewing and editing of your tasks.
Have you got one phone for work and another for play?. Well another handy tool up the sleeve of the E71 is a simple idea called ‘Switch’ where you can get one mode for personal settings like email accounts, to do lists and ringtone and have another profile for personal settings so once your out of work you can switch with one simple key press. This is a first I have seen in a phone and once you have set it up right it is like you have two phones in one. More phones should have this feature going forward. Nokia if you are reading please keep this feature it is so handy especially for people who use the one phone for work and personal but want to keep work for work and personal for personal.
Connectivity Options
The E71 is packed with different ways to connect to the Internet or transfer data. These are:
- HSDPA 3.6mb/s
- GPRS
- HSCSD
- EDGE
- IRDA
- Bluetooth
- WiFi 802.11 b/g
IRDA is an outdated technology but Nokia felt it worth putting into the E71 to make it a real connection powerhouse and with HSDPA for on the move and WiFi for when you are near a HotSpot, plus Bluetooth for file transfer or modem use there really is nothing the E71 cannot do wirelessly
Battery Life & Build Quality
With all the features listed, all the connectivity types and that massive screen surely the battery is going to be poor?. Well Nokia have thought ahead and have shipped the E71 with a beefy 1500mAh battery which with some calls and data use should last you 2 to 3 days at least. I was charging mine every second day but that was with very heavy data and text use.
When it comes to build quality it is very simple to explain. Awesome!. The metal finish makes the phone slightly heavier than a normal plastic phone but if feels so strong it is well worth it and the whole phone just looks well finished from the shiny case to the well made buttons that don’t feel like they will fall off like many people are reporting with the BlackBerry Storm which only has a few buttons but many people are let down with the build quality. The Nokia E71 feels like a premium phone.
Final Thoughts
In total I had use of the Nokia E71 for around 3 weeks and was using it every day as my only device of choice. And I have to say it is the best Nokia phone I have used so far and I have to seriously think about calling it in my view the best smartphone ever!.
With a premium build quality, massive 1500mAh battery, Nokia’s Series 60 OS allowing a wide range of extra applications to be installed, the OVI suite and the many different ways to connect to people or other devices from HSDPA to Wifi and Bluetooth the Nokia E71 is the handset of choice. I have always been more of a N-Series person because of the better camera’s and more multimedia functions but I would have no hesitation in purchasing a E71 to use as my only phone. it does so much, looks great and is available now with T-Mobile, 3, Orange and Vodafone so you can pick up cheap on a contract or even if you want Sim Free you can pick it up for between £300 and £350 depending on where you look.
Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte Review
Nokia’s 8800 Carbon Arte, one of the most expensive handsets they make (excluding Vertu range) and I was lucky enough to have the chance to have a play with one.
First the basics, the 8800 Carbon Arte comes with:
- 3.2 Mega-Pixel Camera (auto focus)
- 3G
- 240 x 320 pixel display
- Series 40 Interface
- 4GB on Board Memory
- Bluetooth 2.1
- Light Sensor
Looking at the handset, it’s quite sparse; Nokia have kept the number of buttons to a minimum. On the top is a single chromed power button (also lets you change profiles). The bottom has as single microUSB socket in the middle, whilst the right hand side has a slit for the loudspeaker. On both sides are two almost flush batter cover catches to slide the back off. The back of the phone has just the 3.2 mega-pixel camera (covered by glass). The front ½ of the phone is dominated by the display, with a small section for the D pad, two soft keys and answer/end buttons. A little bit deceptively the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte slides “upwards” not downwards and you’d first expect it to you. You grip the bottom and push the screen upwards, rather than simply sliding a cover down. It means the entire display and key pad move and slide up while the metal slide cover stays still.
The Nokia 8800 Arte Carbon shares the easy and familiar Series 40 interface found on most recent Nokia handsets. You have a choice of grid or list menus which can be re-ordered as you like. Active Standby from Series 60 is now available along with the usual assortment of themes, media players although it has lost the FM radio ability from the 8800 Sirocco. While the standard Nokia web browser is installed the excellent OperaMini is pre-installed although with a Widsets applications. Finally the 8800 Carbon Arte features a built in email client that’s capable of automatic retrieval of messages unlike older Series 40 devices.
Connectivity wise the 8800 Carbon Arte is reasonably specified with:
- 3G
- GPRS
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth
While it’s the first handset in Nokia “premium” range to come with 3G, it unfortunately misses out on HSDPA which is a shame, although Bluetooth works like a dream working with most car kits and headsets without issue.
One key difference is the Nokia 8800 Carbone Arte (like all the Arte range) now has an accelerometer built it, although its only used for two functions. The first is the “turn to silence” feature. If your phone is ringing turning the phone upside down silences it. It won’t hang up the call, but merely mutes the ringer. As gimmicky as it sounds in practice it’s a very natural way to silence calls and I hope it’s something that filters down to all their range. “Tap for Time” is the second use of the accelerometer. In standby like most modern handsets the display turns off to save power. If you want to check the time, or see if you have any missed calls/messaged tap the front slide cover quickly twice, or shake the phone. The display lights up briefly and shows you what you need. I wasn’t initially convinced on how useful a feature this would be, but I ended up using a lot more then I originally thought.
Design and materials are supposed to be the forte of the premium range, and the 8800 Carbon doesn’t disappoint. The screen is coated in a scratch resistant glass, whether it’s the same sapphire coated display found on the 8800 & 8800 Sirocco or just plain glass it’s hard to tell, but it’s certainly tough and unlikely to get scratched during the lifetime of the handset (so long as you don’t abuse it too much). The handset chassis of the phone is made from stainless steel (like the rest of the Arte range) but instead of steel the front and back housing are made of titanium with carbon panels inserts in the front and back. A chrome band circles the sides of the phone, while the rear top half (the antenna cover) is finished in a titanium colour plastic.
At 150g the handset feels nice and weighty, with a solid reassuring feeling. The use of titanium and carbon fibre makes the 8800 Arte Carbon the most expensive of the 8800 Arte range, and also makes it look/feel a little different in use too. It’s not as cold to touch as the original 8800 Arte, and slightly easier to hold as the mat finish gives slightly better grip. Crucially its much better a hiding finger prints the original 8800 Arte and Sapphire Arte. Most parts are all finished in a soft mat texture rather than the polished black of the 8800 Arte which avoids finger prints. The carbon fibre panels also do a good job of hiding fingerprints too, with a strange shiny 3d square effect, sort of like a stenograph. Pick up the 8800 Arte and the lovely gloss black look is ruined where as the Carbon Arte looks just as lovely.
In terms of looks, the 8800 Carbon Arte looks less “showy” then the original 8800 Arte. Whereas on the 8800 Arte the polished black and chrome contrasted sharply, on the 8800 Carbon Arte the titanium and chrome tend to blend together. The carbon fibre panels do give the handset a strange, almost “racy” look. They strangely look at odds with the rest of the phone, but at the same time the colour blends with the rest of the handset. I guess it’s a question of personal preference.
The pre-loaded content on the 8800 Arte Carbon is almost identical to the other models with the exception of 2 extra wall papers and a rather nice Ellipse theme. Carried over from the Nokia 8600 Luna is “organic” wallpaper. It’s a series of flash based wallpapers that slowly modifies itself based on your phone usage. In practice you generally end up with a random selection of lines/dots moving in random directions. An The Sapphire model gets the “Cell” theme as an exclusive and the regular Arte has the shame shared content with the others, missing the Cell and Ellipse themes.
The pre-installed ringtones composed by Kruder and Dorfmister you’ll either love or hate depending on your taste; comprising mostly piano or guitar pieces. Regardless of your like/dislike of the ringtones they do make the 8800 Carbon Arte sound distinctive. When out in public you’ll instantly recognise your phone ringing.
Being a premium handset, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte comes with a nice selection of accessories encased in a lovely black paper box. Its same design used on the prior 8800 model, although this time it misses out on the nice solid metal “band” that holds the box closed.
Nokia liken opening the 8800 Carbon Arte box to opening a box of chocolates, with different layers revealing different surprises.
The first layer presents the phone and a Bluetooth headset, the Carbon Arte version of the headset has a nice chrome band not present on the other headsets with the Arte and Sapphire Arte. Take the plastic tray out and the 2nd layer reveals itself, in which you get:
- 1 x Battery (BL-4U)
- 1 x Desktop Stand (finished in matching titanium)
- 1 x Carry Case
- 1 x microUSB Data Cable (CA-101)
- 1 x Cleaning Cloth
- 1 x Mains Charger (AC-6)
The manual also comes in a nice black cardboard case of its own with pockets for the software CD, which has some extra wallpaper/ringtones to install as well a brief demo of the device. Unfortunately a wired headset that they used to give with the 8800 Sirocco is absent. Having a nice selection of accessories (and almost everything average users will need) is a nice bonus and helps promote the “premium” feeling.
Is the 8800 Carbon Arte worth the money? It depends on what you want. If you are expecting an amazing feature phone you’ll be sorely disappointed. Despite its price the 8800 Carbon Arte has almost the same basic features as phones that cost half as much. Yet there is something “special” in holding the 8800 Carbon Arte. Maybe its exotic mix of materials (steel, carbon fibre, titanium and glass), the design or simply having a handset that won’t be as common as other devices. What ever it is, the 8800 Carbon Arte stands out from other handsets.
Nokia E63 Review Pt2: Software
December 8, 2008 by Dan Carter
Filed under Reviews
Symbian Operating System
Below are a few screen shots of the main E63 screen and if you have seen my recent review on the E71 you will notice it looks pretty much…. well ok exactly the same. That is because it’s running the same software under the hood
The beauty of Series 60 is there are thousands of applications out there for you to personalise the phone to exactly how you want it to be as everyone is different. I install instant message applications and web browsers where as someone else will want the tube map and the world weather.
Suite Of Applications
You should expect to see the normal Nokia apps on the E63 but here are another 3 you might like to try.
- Nokia Chat
Nokia Chat is a great tool from the Nokia Beta Labs department of the company as they make lots of interesting applications you can use on your Nokia device to get the most out of it. Nokia Chat I think is along the lines of PIN Messaging which BlackBerry users have had for many a phone now. Using an OVI username and password you can add friends to your friends list and send instant messages to them. You can connect over GPRS/3G or over WiFi if you have a connection available. For me personally I would love to see this application built into every new Nokia phone to allow many more people the chance to communicate in another way when on the move
- Nokia Friend View
Friend View was also very interesting bringing you a map service with status updates. Again all using your OVI login details you can add your friends to your list but this time share with them what you are doing or comment on what they are doing. If you are used to updating your Facebook status this is along the same idea but now you have a map to pinpoint your location. This is handy because you can see if you are near anyone else you know (maybe even if your close enough meet up) but to also be able to comment on other people’s status. A great tool from Nokia yet again and one of my favourite apps. If you want to install for yourself why not do a search for ‘getti’ and add myself to your contacts
- SkyFire
SkyFire is what Firefox is to Internet Explorer…. it’s a great web browser that is very unique on mobile phone’s because it supports Flash video so that means you can watch YouTube videos right there in the browser even if its on a non YouTube website. If that was not good enough how about watching the FULL version of BBC iPlayer right there in your browser, no need for anything extra or editing a widget like was known before.
To be honest there is not a lot to say about the software as it’s your typical ESeries software you have seen on the E51, E61i and the E71 which I recently reviewed. Most of this review was based on hardware because that is what made the phone different over the E71.
So a quick summary,
+ Loved the speed dial from the main screen
+ Very fast to browse the menu’s and Internet
+ Typical ESeries so is easy to pick up and use
- Download is still in desperate need of an update
- Nokia Maps is poor due to no GPS (that’s more hardware though)
Nokia 6220 Review
December 7, 2008 by Dan Carter
Filed under Reviews
As always with the review devices we have in to test, a big thanks to the team at WOM World who provided the device soon after launch so that a early review could be done.
Bare in mind that the Nokia 6220 is NOT an N-Series device but you could easily be mistaken if you though at it was once you saw the highly impressive specs it has packed in such a small case.
| Network: | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 & HSDPA 2100 / 900 |
| Form Factor: | Symbian OS (Series 60) |
| Dimensions: | 108 x 47 x 15 mm |
| Weight: | 90 g |
| Antenna: | Internal |
| Navigation: | 5 Button Directional Pad |
| Battery Type: | Li-Ion 900 mAh |
| Talk Time: | 3.5 hours |
| Standby Time: | 350 hours |
| Memory: | 120.0 MB |
| Expandable Memory: | microSD / TransFlash |
So how do you improve on the N73?. Well first of all I will get out of the way the fact the N78 has the same 3.2 megapixel as before and again with no xenon flash (why nokia why!!)
Then you add WiFi internet which allows you to access your own home/work wireless hotspots but even better all those hundreds of thousands that are available from McDonalds to Starbucks all over the world of which some are free and some are charged for.
Nokia also packed into the connectivity 3.6mb HSDPA or 3.5G as it shows on the phone which will get you zipping through pages at light speed saving you valuable time but also lets you use the phone as a modem as long as your phone network supports this service.
Camera
At the start of this review you will have seen my comment ‘why oh why’ which was based on the reason Nokia added just a 3.2 megapixel camera with no Xenon flash. This is my biggest let down of the whole device because in this day and age when megapixels are what can help sell a phone why spend all that money on a 3.2 camera when you can get a same priced phone in the form of a 6220 or even the original N95 now is around the same price as the N78 and this packs a 5 megapixel camera.
Now I know the N95 is a premium range device and the N78 is not aimed at that market but please Nokia…. xenon flash was needed here with the LED light not really doing much. Well we cant change the camera in the N78 so as a 3.2 megapixel camera how did it fare. Well overall the camera for 3.2 was pretty good capturing crisp and bright colours and when you resize the photo into a smaller size for printing or for web viewing so the sensor was doing a very good job which since the N95 i have to say Nokia are doing very well on. Why pack a 10 megapixel camera into a phone with a poor sensor that will just make the image look blocky orfaded so well done Nokia on your sensor technology.
Internet (plus OVI)
This was my favorite part of the N78 because as with me running a Nokia website it was great to be able to take photos or videos with the built in camera and within seconds using WiFi or HSDPA be able to not only upload the image but if I wanted too using GeoTagging built in I could tag the location I was so when I look back i can see where the image was taken on a map. In fact OVI is built into World Of Nokia if you have a look at the main homepage just above the news section is a ticker that displays the most recent uploaded photos. Check out my review on OVI coming in the newxt few weeks for more on this free service. Now onto the general internet side of things using the built in Web browser which like on the iPhone allows you to view full websites full page and you can zoom on the section you want by pressing ‘8′ on the keypad. Using the HSDPA speeds on T-Mobile I was able to download daily BBC News video clips in about 10-15 seconds which was perfect for the trip into work each morning. If the built in browser is not to your style I recommend downloading the free Opera Mini browser which also opens full website but makes them smaller for even faster browsing.
What is also great is having WiFi built in so if like me at home you have Wireless access you will be able to connect to that for even faster internet speeds and to save your GPRS use for when you are not able to use WiFi.
Built In GPS (using Nokia Maps 2.0)
This was my favorite part of the N78 because as with me running a Nokia website it was great to be able to take photos or videos with the built in camera and within seconds using WiFi or HSDPA be able to not only upload the image but if I wanted too using GeoTagging built in I could tag the location I was so when I look back i can see where the image was taken on a map. Using Nokia Maps 2.0 supplied in the phone was a real joy because it was so accurate and fast. When outside I locked onto a GPS position within 15 seconds on average (taken over 10 attempts from a fresh load of Nokia Maps) which when you think you could be anywhere in the world is an amazing feature and 1 which I will enjoy using time and time again.
Build Quality
This is the big let down of the 6220, the build is very plastic and you can squeeze the outer case and see it bend in a little, it really was made on the cheap. The camera lens cover on the back is very loose and does not open all the way. Basicly on a whole the feel was a big let down from start to finish.
Overall Impressions
Thanks to WOM World again for provding the Nokia 6220 loan handset so I could review it. Only days after it’s release I had one on it’s way to my door.
Costing around £270 sim free and free on a contract with ‘3′ the 6220 is very affordable to those of you who put features above design and want a great camera on your phone.
The 5 megapixel camera with Xenon flash is like what is seen on the high end Nokia N82 but that is about the only thing that is the same. There is 3.6mb/s HSDPA so you can connect your phone as a modem which was great to use when pairing with my Advent NetBook when out and about totally wireless using bluetooth. It does lack WiFi but on a mid range phone that is not a surprise.
Everything else is pretty much normal Nokia, Series 60 software with Maps, OVI support to share your content and a pretty decent battery life.
As I said before if you want a great performing camera phone then the 6220 is a great choice because its very affordable and does a lot for the money, But if you want a well built phone look more towards the NSeries range like the N78 or soon to be released N79 with the same form factor but better built.
Nokia E63 Review Pt1: Hardware
November 17, 2008 by Dan Carter
Filed under Reviews
The Nokia E63 was announced recently and the team over at WOM World were kind enough to supply me with a handset on the launch day so I can share my thoughts with everyone
This is a massive plus for World Of Nokia because only a few people were given these on launch and with all the well known sites out there for World Of Nokia to be given the chance is great for the site and shows how up and coming World Of Nokia is getting so a big big thanks to WOM World for this chance.
So what exactly is the E63?, well if you see the pictures your first thought would be ‘is that just not a red E71?’. The answer to that is a 100% NO!. The E63 may look the same because of the layout the the features inside are what makes all the difference.
So this 3 part review on the E61 will cover Hardware, Software and E63 vs E71 to compare side by side which many people have asked me to do, because as luck has it, I also have a E71 in to review too!.
This is Part 1 and covers the main hardware such as the screen, keypad, specs and battery life with Part 2 coming in a few days time.
Here is a quick overview of the main specs of the phone before I start:
- S60 3.1 Edition, Eseries
- Symbian Os 9.2
- Dimensions: 113 x 59 x 13 mm
- Weight: 126 g
- 2.0 megapixel camera (1600 x 1200 pixels)
- 320 x 240 (QVGA) at 15 fps (Video Capture)
- 110 MB internal dynamic memory
- microSD memory card slot, hot swappable, max. 8 GB
- BP-4L 1500 mAh Li-Po standard battery
- Talk time (maximum): GSM up to 11 hours; WCDMA up to 4h 40 min
- Standby time (maximum): GSM up to 18 days; WCDMA up to 20 days;WLAN idle up to 170 hours
- Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 900/2100
- GPRS class A, multislot class 32, maximum speed 100/60 kbps (DL/UL)
- EDGE class A, multislot class 32, maximum speed 296/177.6 kbps (DL/UL)
- WCDMA 900/2100 or 850/1900 or 850/2100, maximum speed 384/384 kbps (DL/UL)
- WLAN IEEE 802.11b/g
The Screen
When using a smart phone having a decent screen in both quality and size makes all the difference especially when you are emailing or web browsing. The E63 packs in a 2.36″ wide-screen with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels so pretty good quality and the size makes general use very easy.
There are many themes available either on the phone or online so you can personalise the phone to your taste so every phone is different and using your own wallpaper with the big screen is really nice because of the high resolution you get the best out of your photos.
The Buttons & Keypad
The keys on the E63 are quite small but you get a QWERTY keyboard which allows fast text entry, perfect for Email or if your a heavy texter such as myself who sends near on 1500-1750 a month!. Before I get onto the keypad il cover the row of buttons under the screen first as these are for navigating your way around. Starting from the left you have a shortcut key which works with what ever option you have on the left side of the main screen i.e. Contacts/Camera etc…, you also have the green call key for making phone calls and to pick up an incoming call.
Next you have a home key which loads your main menu to get the grid of icons, a calendar button so you can get to your appointments with 1 press, perfect for someone who uses their phone as a diary too. You then have the 5 button navigation pad which is made up of a Up, Down, Left, Right silver square and a big select button in the middle. After this you have a button to load your contacts quickly no matter what screen you are in which is great as it can allow you to use a on screen shortcut for something else. Then you have a envelope which loads up your email account again from any screen so you have 1 touch email access.
To finish it off you have the right shortcut key and the red call button to end or reject phone calls.
The actual keypad is made up of letters with the numbers in grey in the middle. These can be accessed by just typing in as you would expect to make a call. When in text entry mode just hit the grey arrow in the bottom left and then the number for it to show up. Sounds complicated but its a breeze really.
Looking around the phone on the left hand side you have a mini usb port for connecting to a computer and a MicroSD card slot for expandable memory. The right hand side is totally blank. The top of the phone has the speaker phone and what will be a joy to a lot of people… a 3.5mm headset jack so you can use the headset provided or your own from say an iPod if you have one of them too. A great addition and more phone’s should have this.
The bottom of the phone is simple with a charging port and a hole for a lanyard if you wanted to wear around your neck or want to hang a charm off it.
Now onto the back. At the top you have a 2.0 megapixel camera, a LED light which also acts as a flashlight when you hold onto the space bar key on the front (what a great idea!), and a mirror for taking your own photo if you should want too. The bottom of the back there is a little latch which locks or unlocks the cover if you want to remove the SIM or battery.
Build Quality
The E63 is quite a well built phone with more of a rubberised feel to it which helps when your holding the phone so it wont slip out. The plastic and rubber help keep the cost down again cheaper than the premium version the E71 and if your looking for a hard wearing business phone the E63 could be just what your looking for with the power of E-Series applications, the battery life being in days and not hours and the well built feel of the materials.
I have been very lucky to have both the E63 and the E71 in to review at the same time so comparing side by side is easier (and will be covered in Part 3 of the review). The E71 needs that extra bit of care with the metal finish, the extra weight and just being more valuable where as the E63 just looks and feels like a phone you can throw in your bag/pocket ant take anywhere (don’t worry WOM, I have not thrown this phone anywhere) it just has that look that you know its a sturdy phone and will work when you need it most. Sort of like mixing a E51 with a 5500 (back in the days of 2006) you get the idea im sure.
Inside The E63
The E63 does have a lot of features hidden inside but it is easier to cover what is NOT included when compared to the E71
- No GPS Built In
- No HSDPA
- 2.0 Megapixel Camera (The E71 has a 3.2 megapixel camera)
These are all unfortunately things I use a lot so personally I would have to choose the E71 but there are many people out there who don’t want GPS, don’t want a high res camera and are not fussed about data speeds, they just want the phone because its great to enter data because of the large screen and large keypad and because of this you can snap up the E63 for quite a bit cheaper than the older brother the E71.
Battery Life
Battery life on the E63 is on par with the N71 because it has the 1500mAh battery included which is one of the biggest batteries Nokia have in their phones. After getting the phone on launch day I put it on the full 16 hour charge just to make sure the battery was conditioned ready for use and of course with any new device when I first get it use is always over the top what with getting email setup, installing 3rd party software and getting to grips with how to use the phone.
So after a week of using the phone normally battery life sits on about 2-3 days of use with the following conditions:
- 4-5 short calls in 1 day
- About 50 texts in the day
- WiFi & Bluetooth OFF!
- Auto checking for Emails every 30 minutes
Pretty good if I say so myself as I consider myself quite a heavy user on phones and enjoy my email and web browsing
Well that is the review on the hardware, next step is the software where the phone really gets interesting with quick access to calling your contacts, sending a text and many more handy tips.
Look out for Part 2 in a few days here on World Of Nokia
