Category: Nokia Products

Nokia is fascinating the audience in such a way that I thought to create a category for the same in my blog like I created one for Google

Should you Pre-order Nokia N8 from @NokiaIndia ?

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Even if many might have pre-ordered Nokia N8 and its really getting hard to hold the temptation to buy the camera flagship device of the mobile world, but if you look closer then sure there are many doubts that raises the question that should you buy Nokia N8 right now?

It has nothing to do with the biased reviews coming from some leading blogs or from someone, whom with all due respect, I should only call “Bitch in heat”. No!!! I still very much buying Nokia N8 coz its the best out there to serve my needs, but question is about the time. Do you really need to get it before everyone?

Preorder 

Firstly, what is a Pre-order?

As per Nokia “Preordering a product means you’ll be one of the first to receive it after it’s released. As soon as the product is in stock, we will process and ship your order to you.”

Nokia N8 is available on Pre-order for Indian Customers since September 29, 2010 on the site given below

Pre-rder

While Nokia Priority dealers asking for Rs. 2000/- or Rs. 1000/-for the pre-order amount, I am not sure that if there is a proper process of dealing this systematically in India at least. At least most of the dealers are not providing you a proper receipt or order no. (their sites are providing one, but not the priority dealers in Delhi at least). The one I visited, is only offering a local receipt from their shop name only.

Yes! you can assume that the process is still reliable, but …

Nokia N8 price, Is it decent to buy?

Sure, a price of Rs. 25000/- is not much, if you are in a world, where Samsung Galaxy sells in Rs. 29000/- and ridiculously binding you in pricy app world Apple iPhone 3GS selling in like Rs. 35000/-, but still the price at which Nokia N8 is going to launched on week 1, is no where near what they promised in April. That was Rs. 21, 500/- without taxes for god sake. Are you saying that you are charging Rs. 4, 500/- as taxes?

It will sure hurt many to buy the device in like Rs. 26, 000/- or Rs. 25, 000/-, when they were expecting in much lesser. Nokia sure loosing the USV of Nokia N8 on price point at least. If you ask me, then price of Rs. 22, 500/- was kind of reasonable.

Specially when you know that within a month, it will sell on that price, then are you ready to pay extra 2-3k for just getting it before a month? Remember Nokia N900 was announced at a price Rs. 30, 600/- and now its selling on Rs. 24, 500/-

Some of the cruel facts about pre-order …

  1. You do not get any special discount or bundled accessories or anything. I asked @NokiaIndia and they just said this, nothing else.

    nokiaIndia

  2. Booking early means paying the highest price that the device can ever get and most of the time, you pay MRP. Remember recently they launched Nokia C6-00 in Rs. 15, 600/- and within a week other retailers selling it in Rs. 13, 300/-.
  3. Even if we talk about authenticity of the device or guarantees associated with the device, then Nokia priority dealers are nothing special but a bunch of money suckers. They only provide you whatever come standard from Nokia, while the other dealers not only offer you way better price, but bundled accessories, even greater maintenance cover for the device and a much dignified gesture as a customer.

Oops!! I already did the Pre-order, what’s the way to go from here?

Yup! I understand. Many might have done so. the way to go is to wait a little. Even if you have pre-ordered, you are not forced to buy right then on the day one. If I know right, then you have 60 days in hands till when your deposit wont be consumed by them.

You might even ask for refund citing a valid reason, though that chance would be limited as they already have given you their shot that price might be max 26k and if its even 25.9k, you wont be entitled to pull back on this particular cause.

You will get a call from Nokia Priority Dealer that device is available at the store. You sure can delay the visit to Nokia Priority store for like a week and could keep on confirming the prices from other retailers (though I doubt that at least N8 gonna be available with them real soon like one week). Sure, you will still pay higher, but after a week or two, it should be in few hundreds rather than thousands.

I don’t wanna to be mean with Nokia, but honestly, I tried hard to understand the point of pre-ordering a device that will be anyway available in much lower price with other retailers within half a month, even if I understand the restlessness of holding the temptation to touch best camera phone ever.

Please offer me your views, if you ever find any profit of buying a device from a Nokia Priority Dealer leave alone the pre-order thing.

Note that I am talking about India and specially New Delhi.  May be others find some pleasant experiences as well. Do tell me, if you think otherwise or in same ways as me.

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 
 
 

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A Visit to Nokia Priority Dealer in Delhi-N8, C1, C6 and E5

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Finally after so much hue and cry about Nokia N8 and even talking to few of local dealers, I decided to visit the nearest Nokia Priority center to know the real situation in hands and visited the nearest Nokia Priority Center in New Delhi.

Let me summarize all the info that I got today …

Nokia N8 Pre-Order, Availability and Price in India:

Not in the whole world, but there are huge confusions about the availability of Nokia N8 in India as well. Some saying 15 October, some saying 8 October and some even calling that it will come by November.

Let me make it a full stop here.

1. Nokia N8 is expected to be available on all Nokia Priority dealers by October 15, 2010.
2. Pre-order customers will receive the device by October 8, 2010 or October 10, 2010 max.
3. It wont be available over other stores than NPD’s before November due to huge demands.
4. Pre-orders have began by September 29, some asking 1000 INR, some 2000 INR as deposit.
5. Final price is not clear as of now, but max is 26k or if believe @gauravh1 then 25k.
6. Pre-order customers will receive call about availability and could purchase within 2 months.

 

Take a look over Nokia N8 dummies at S.D. Enterprises, Gita Colony, New Delhi, which I seen…

Nokia N8 Black (my personal favorite)

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Nokia N8 Orange (second favorite of many, I guess its a little darker than the expectations)

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Nokia N8 Green (Not one of my favorite, but I seen many loving it as well)

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The NPD I visited had no dummies of Silver or Blue and though same might raise the doubt that if they are launching with all the five colors or not, but there are official words from @NokiaIndia that they are actually launching it with all five possible colors. Obviously, they don’t want to be like Apple.

As of now, there is no word over additional accessories or bundled offers. But following are on offer …

1. Free navigation is coming for all with latest version of Ovi Maps that will be 3.06
2. Nokia Push mail will be available for lifetime free that too with default HTML support.
3. Nokia Music Services as of now, not coming for free, though some will be preloaded there.
4. There will many great apps pre-installed like Joikuspot and Gravity trial (free versions)
5. As Vox has been closed, Nokia as of now has opted out from Share Online feature. Disappointing.
6. No big game coming with the package, not even free ones.
7. As of now, no news if they will bundle Bluetooth Headset for even pre-order customers.
8. Nokia isn’t giving the stylus with Nokia N8, makes you think which countries then?

Well!! take it my personal opinion or something, but I found Nokia N8 a little smaller in shape than I was expecting it to be. I mean, I have spend full 15 days with Nokia N900 and that screen always looked huge. May be it the compact exteriors or something but pics always looked big. Should say, its completely pocket-able and Sorry folks, to whom I always said that 4” or 5” devices would be insane. Yes! we wont mind a 4” or 5”, if that keeps the same level of compactness as SGS or iPhone or Nokia N8 have.

Nokia E5 Availability and Price in India

Yes!! very much anticipated Nokia E5 already on Nokia Priority stores on a price 11, 800 INR. Though its disappointing to see that prices on NPDs are always much higher than the market price, but at the same time, its obvious too. Market works that way. but still.. As per info from other dealers, you can make a deal on 11, 200 INR minimum for Nokia E5.

01102010894

There was no dummy of the same thing there, so I asked them for the box itself. Of course, I wasn’t allowed to open up the same. The green area on the front is highlighting the social integration here, like once Nokia was highlighting free lifetime navigation.

Definitely having a hard to hold my urge to buy one, though disappointing that like Nokia E72, this one also not coming with default HTML support.

Nokia E5 Availability and Price in India

While touch has gotten another name now days; Symbian^3, Nokia has also putting devices like Nokia C6-00 on offer. I wonder what effect this one would have caused, if would have arrived a little earlier. While there are still many reasons to discuss on paper about Nokia E5, for convincing someone to buy Nokia C6-00, you will be needed to focus on price point mostly.

01102010893

While @NokiaIndia mentioning the price as 15,600 INR, I found that its actually selling on 13, 800 INR from NPDs and even lower from the other dealers, probably 13, 400 INR minimum. Not a bad buy for newly smart phone users interested in touch and type.

The dummy I got to see was of the color white, though I would have liked to see Black one specially, but still what I see from the dummy only, at such a price point and build, its sure ready to take on over Nokia 5800.

Two more new handset spotted there were Nokia C3-00 and Nokia C1-00. Last time, I seen a light colored C3-00 and this time, it was my favorite black one here. Must say, that is the best thing you could gift someone, who don’t care about high end things like Maps or Internet and for later on..  it got wi-fi on it.

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Nokia C1-00 was the phone, the NPD guy was actually selling to someone right then, when I reached. I didn’t asked the price, though took the dummy of same in hands once to take a feel of it. Felt something like Nokia 2600 from past.

By the way, the journey to that Nokia Priority dealer was completely guided by Ovi Maps.

Ovi Maps

Though at a moment, I was completely frustrated by the fact that why Nokia India chosen to provide dealership to such an interiorly location shop than the earlier bigger shop that was located in Laxmi Nagar Main Market.

I must say, even if you are in around 50 meters away from the place, it might happen that stupid people out there will say that they never heard of the address I am talking about. You need maps in your phone, take your preference, go Nokia, go Ovi or go Android and go Google…. but have a GPS enabled phone for sure.

 

So, this was the story of my visit to a Nokia Priority dealer today. Hope it will solve many of the queries from you people and will save a visit on your behalf. Have a nice time waiting for Nokia N8. Keep tuned in.

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 
 
 

Nokia X7-00, Full QWERY coming?

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So my laziness took the crown of talking about Nokia X7-00 first and MobileGeekInc spotted the same in Ovi Store today. So, like I was already talking about rest of the devices coming from Nokia this year, after Nokia E6-00 and Tablet S, now I am back again to talk over Nokia X7-00.

X-Series was dedicated to Music as per new naming convention by Nokia but you must have spotted something else as well…. Sharp edges and rectangular builds, while C-Series seems to has curves on border, that’s a signature for X-Series.

Nokia XSeries 

So, that’s the start to build up the profile that what we have in our hands for certain, when we talk about Nokia X7-00. Oh Yes! like the last two posts, its again a calculated guess on what Nokia X7-00 would be rather than what it is or some leak… no its not a leak or insider info.

If you check the link, then you see that Angry Bird Lite is available for Nokia X7-00 that confirms Symbian^3 as operating system, means almost certain 3.5” multi-touch capacitive and may be CBD display (if we believe the pattern).

And by the way, before you get started on me, let me tell you.. the pics shown is actually Sony Xperia X1 and I have placed that here only for the purpose to show that how it would look like.

Why a Keypad?

Because, X-Series has not any till now and sure with touch-n-type devices, they know that people still shout for keypad. While looking at XPERIA X1, I really thought that if something has to become X7-00, then that would be like that. It makes perfect sense.

So, as a list, following are the things that one should expect from Nokia X7-00

  • 3.5” (may be 4”) Capacitive with CBD Display packed into rectangular build like other X-Series

  • 4 row QWERTY Sliding keypad without hinge like Nokia N97 mini .. flat only

  • Symbian^3 OS packed with some standard goodies

  • An 8MP EDOF camera with HD Recording support

  • Scratch-proof ionized Aluminum build like we seen on Nokia N8, E7 and C7.

  • A fully mature multi-touch capacitive screen (may be even a stylus) protected by Gorilla Glass.

  • ARM 11 600 MHz (Nokia getting generous, but not that to provide Cortex). No GPU

  • 256 MB RAM, 512 MB NAND, 350 MB user storage, 8 GB internal memory and support for 32Gb MicroSD.

  • Full fledge A-GPS making use of Ovi Maps services, 3G and WiFi on it from the very first version.

  • Full fledge Bluetooth 3.0 capable of connecting Keyboard and mouse in it

  • No HDMI, though Dolby sound still on board

Just this? Then why didn’t they released this till now?

Good point!!

At least three or four devices pending and as per the tradition and the bulk launches always had some common connection between them. Like launch of C3, C6 and E5 had new Nokia Messaging solutions as theme, while Symbian^3 was the theme, when they announced N8, C7, E7, C6-01 (Early N8 launch was mistimed due to provoke).

So, there must be some common connection between all the upcoming devices. MeeGo?? Might be, but Angry Bird is available for Symbian^3 only and its open for X7-00, so that shouldn’t be the possibility. Then what it would be?

If you ask me, then as their tag line saying now days, “Its not the technology, but its what we do with it”, very likely it has to do something with the services offering. Might be, we haven’t seen some bigger fruit of Yahoo-Nokia partnership yet and it has to do something with that. Yahoo coming with some Music Service? May be. That indoor navigation? No!! that was a experiment stuff, not very practical to arrive soon..

But it has to be bigger than this… something such bigger that Nokia is thinking of tuning all the tables. You should have reasons to get excited.

Once we get to know that common link, many things will be revealed about upcoming Nokia E6-00 and Nokia N9-00. So, offer me your best guesses please.

What you say? …..

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Layman’s take on Nokia C5

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Finally after a loooong delay, Nokia C5-00 reached to Layman’s take today. I already heard and knew many things about it before even taking it in my own hands, but having it in hands for a while was just another feeling. After all, this was the phone that already had bring many of my non-tech friends in the smart phone genre.

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I remember my days of entering into Smartphone genre….. not many years ago and smart phone were something else, something pricy like today’s touch phones are. There was nothing like 3G in India and not even Ovi Maps/ Google Maps were that much famous (or might be my circle was not aware of that much). Criteria of buying a phone was just the call quality and music performance. Then some people like me, who wasn’t wishing to go for an E and wanted mails etc as well, chosen to go with Nokia N70, leaving cheaper N72 and N73 (which might have been a better decision).

Few years gone and everything has changed now. Social integration, A-GPS, IMs. Emails and most importantly 3G has became the new minimum. With a price tag of 7.5k, more than a Smart phone, Nokia C5-00 is a question that why you still wanna be with a dumb phone?

Its not going to be a review of kind provided the short stay of device with me, so for that thing, you could check out posts from AAS here and from CJ here. Its just about few of my impressions about the device.

Who should buy Nokia C5-00? Categories might be many, but I wish to target two kind of people here, who would find C5-00 interesting piece for purchase.

1. If you never had a smart phone ever and wont mind buying something better, if no where costing more.

Why you are thinking about buying a phone in some 5k without some proper brand name and with compromised features, when you can spend 7.5k for everything?

ARM 600 MHz processor (‘Current’ flagship Nokia N97 had 434 MHz processor)
128 MB RAM (Its a Symbian means still 50MB of RAM available on boot)
3G with 10 mbps download and 2mbps upload
S60 V3 FP2 (the same OS, I seen in Nokia N86 and will be coming with Nokia E5-00)
S60 means seamless multi-tasking means running many apps together and switching between them
A-GPS with free life time navigation Ovi Maps 3.04 (You need to update, not out of box)
2 GB MicroSD included in package and 16 GB maximum support for hot swap MicroSD

Tell me, if anywhere else, you are getting all these things with a price tag like this.

2. If you already have a high specs smart phone and looking for a simple yet elegant backup device.

We all love to take part in debates over Smart phones. We fight for the reason, one should love touch phones or non-touch. We argue about what features a phone should has and what should be left, but end of day, at the most minimum, phones are something to make calls, send messages and may be even updating your twitter/ facebook with geo-tags. Tell me, if anything more you wanted if left with no choice.

We all face situations, when our phone goes dismay and needs Service center or might be situations, when for any reason, our ‘high specs’ refuses to work in the way, we wanted it to do, then we run for the phone, we bought for our wife/ dad/ mom or little kid, who didn’t knew that what to want from a phone and put our SIM into that to take a breath. But what minimum even we ‘geeks’ want?

Nokia C5-00 serves you as a 3G modem, not to forget, even if you leave the profits of A-GPS on board.

Some first impressions after taking it in hands

The Build

26092010865   26092010853

Such a light (just 89.3g) and yet solid device it is. Nokia E52 and Nokia E72 been like minimal standards for me for any of the solid design and even with some plastic on it, this thing completely surprised me. With a metal border surrounding the whole build and then metal plate covering the battery, this all make you feel very safe, Specially when you see it from front, then its just metal apart from keypad.

Display

The size of display is 2.2” here, while I have been with 2.4” most of the time and it was likeable when I was with 2.6” of Nokia N86. The same resolution on a smaller screen sometimes feel a little hard about fine print. The display of Nokia C5-00 seems to have a bit better brightness than the other handsets I might have seen in this range, but when I read tweets in gravity, then it seems a little bit hard over eyes.

May be my personal opinion, but its making some sense to keep the resolution of 240 x 320 for 2.4” now.

The keypad

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Even if the looks didn’t impresses much, the keypad is such a gem. The tactile feedback and effortless typing is such smooth that I started thinking that why I liked keypad of Nokia E52 more. I bet you can go on typing message on it for hours and still your fingers wont hurt. Wonder what they put inside, sponge?

Connectivity 

This thing is a bundle of joy with providing you all levels of connectivity and it can seriously hit the sales of Nokia E52 for people, who don’t care about the smaller screen.

For God sake, this beast has free life time navigation and upto 10 mbps high data speed that even my all time beloved Nokia N82 always dreams about.

Operating System and social integration

May be people saying nasty things about, when it comes to real thing on non-touch Symbian never had an alternative. My Nokia N82 did all whatever I wanted from it and I loved it when I seen Nokia N86 operating system doing better. Nokia C5-00 got the same operating system as was with Nokia N86 and so stands my detailed post about customizations of it.

Home screen with vertical standby and choice of contact bar, its right there, when you talk about latest. I hate you Nokia that why you can’t provide the OS upgrade to older but capable devices like Nokia N82 in the same way Apple or Google doing.

The facebook integration is something like we always wished. A free app that makes your contacts alive. You don’t need to place pics for your contacts anymore and even status messages from facebook will keep on following your contacts. Though what I badly missed here is the fact that it doesn’t seem to bringing anything more like Birthday syncing etc. It would have been a nice addition and I am sure not a very hard thing to do with Facebook APIs.

I also like the fact the way, transition effects are placed here. Not sure, if they were there in Nokia N86, but at least Nokia doing transitions like somewhere.

I tried a short little video in hurry. Sorry it was all blurry ..

Camera and LED Flash

When one might been with Nokia N82 for long, then it becomes impossible for any other mobile camera to satisfy you and even more than the Xenon Flash, what I missed badly was autofocus. Macro mode wasn’t even available in Camera settings. Is it with all Full Focus and even EDof cameras? Dammn!! I am throwing Nokia E7 likes of 8MP camera in dust bin.

Well!! I wont say that the camera was crap, it works enough well, when you talk about things placed after a feet (25 cm to be precise). It got even the panorama mode that isn’t here with Nokia N82 though there is shortcomings in panorama version of Nokia C5-00 due to absence of accelerometer, but still its right there and it works.

Well!! let me admit it, even if we crave and crib for non-Xenon Flash all the time, on the another side, we love the video light facility that only LED flash facilitate.

What annoyed me about Nokia C5?

Memory I really think that one should make 128 MB internal memory as a minimum now. Your Windows XP with its updates takes not more than 7Gb’s, but will you like if your vendor provides a C: drive with 7.5Gb?

50 Mb seems so low specially considering the fact that the installation of Ovi Maps 3.04 takes additional 8 mb from whatever remains from 50mb.

No extra keys At one side, you might like the minimalistic design, but no camera key somewhat diminishes some chances neither does it has a gallery key. I felt big troubles while trying to set up a shortcut key for Best Screen snap.

SIM Slot Its exactly not annoyance, but its like missing something after coming so close. Check the below pics

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When you see the SIM location above the battery, then at the first sight you get excited that you can change the SIM without taking the battery out, but its not … you just can’t. May be the reason that Nokia knew if they would have provided this then people will ask for hot swappable SIM. Isn’t it?

Nokia Messaging with NO default HTML view yet again Its getting out of every logic now and really demand a proper explanation from Nokia and their developers. What are they thinking of themselves that continuously ignoring such a small thing.

Nokia E52, Nokia E72, Nokia C5 and even Nokia E5, why there is no option of default HTML view? Why we need to open up that crap option of opening mail in web? When we can have it in older sets like Nokia N82, then what stopping you from providing it in firmwares for the devices that are dedicated for emails?

So, this was Nokia C5-00 from the eyes of Layman. Anything more you wanna know?

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 
 
 

Nokia S tablet to showcase MeeGo?

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Continuing from last very calculated guess Nokia E6-00, I am pushing a step more with some words and thoughts over an unannounced Nokia tablet code name S.

The year started the new era with Apple’s announcement of a complete multi-touch tablet, something which many were gearing for since long, but the credit was to go for the company that really shaped the touch screens in the way they are today and now we are hearing every next company coming up with their own version of ‘iPad’ish tablet. Are we missing anything in all this? Where is Nokia?

You may call it adding 2 and 2, but there are pretty big reasons that the last quarter of this very year might see the real deal of tablet from Nokia featuring MeeGo OS on it.

Why Nokia S?

Remember the second week of June this year and there was a leak all around the web, being discussed among all Nokia lovers ….

series

French: La nomenclature des produits Nokia se base sur une repartition par series et par niveaux, generant ainsi 17 categoes de produits differents

English:The nomenclature of Nokia products based on a breakdown by series and level, thus generating 17 different categories of products

17 Categories and with Nokia World 2010 closed in now, we are already with C1, C2, C3, C5, C6, C7, E5, E7, X2, X3, X5, X6 and N8. So, it leaves the room for the next announcements scheduled for the last quarter to be Nokia E6-00, Nokia X7-00, much awaited Nokia N9-00 and mysterious S Series. After all now, no one can deny that it was the roadmap of Nokia for year 2010.

What it says on S?

French: La serie S est reservee a un nombre limited de mobiles qui ne rentrent dans aucune des autres series de produits

English: The S series is reserved to a limited number of phones that do not fit into any other series of products.

The wild guess of calling S Series representing a tablet seems not fit as they called it “limited number of phones”, but as they already have said on their Nokia Conversations post that C, X, E and N complete the circle of phone models, it leaves the bet open for mysterious S being a tablet only. We can’t even remotely assume that in this fight back roadmap, Nokia could have dared to miss tablet phenomenon, when there own words were already speaking of confirmation for a tablet to coming …..

Due to the spread of cloud computing and new advances in electronics and network technology, mobile devices will increasingly move beyond smart phones to include other computer-like gadgets such as tablets, and the MeeGo platform will be an important asset for Nokia.

Overwhelmed by the amazing price point of Nokia N8, people might missing the point that why Nokia seems to be out for kill with Nokia N8 with less margins on their side. Obviously, Its just not about making a best selling phone, but it’s about placing such a huge selling beast that makes developers craving for making a fortune out of it and thus making the way for biggest mobile platform ever (as Qt will be bridging the Gap between always live Linux and biggest mobile platform Symbian).

Nokia definitely holding the temptation of bringing the tablet game on somehow, because they first want Nokia N8 to embrace the world all over first and then developers will already be developing apps for it, Apps, which will be running on Symbian, MeeGo and all touch range of devices.

Apple was able to bring iPad in, only when iPhone was getting such a success and developers were making apps for it day and night. HP Slate been hard for HP because of the only fact that WebOS isn’t a big name yet. Definitely Nokia just waiting for some successful device like iPhone to bring its own platform on the top of everything, otherwise making a device like tablet is just a piece of cake for Nokia.

What the possible specs of Nokia S Tablet might be?price

Their price roadmap also places a mark on what price one should expect on Nokia N9-00 and Nokia Tablet running MeeGo. Moreover, with Nokia Booklet 3G, we already know that what Nokia already has in its bag.

There are something that you can expect from a Nokia tablet ..

  • A size of possibly 9” with 10mm thicker build.
  • Scratch-proof Ionised Aluminium build like we seen on Nokia N8, E7 and C7.
  • A fully mature multi-touch capacitive screen (may be even a stylus) protected by Gorilla Glass.
  • ARM Cortex 9 as processor even if Intel might be pushing for its Moorestown.
  • 512 MB RAM, 1GB NAND, 2 GB user storage, 16 GB internal memory and support for 32Gb MicroSD.
  • Full fledge A-GPS making use of Ovi Maps services, 3G and WiFi on it from the very first version.
  • Full fledge Bluetooth 3.0 capable of connecting Keyboard and mouse in it
  • An HDMI port, , USB 3.0, USB on the go and Dolby.. even writing about it is exciting.
  • A 3.5mm jack for media and also two microphones for noise cancellation.
  • Loud enough speakers serving good enough for the Dolby output.
  • An 5MP EDOF camera on the front side with dual LED.

The last one might seem pushing for a little bit more, but it makes good sense for having better camera and LED on the front aiding the better video calling experience than ever and that too with a night light on (via LED).

Still have to see that what more Nokia could bring on it, being MeeGo targeted to be a Cloud platform and backing Chrome Browser as of now. Even if such a possible tablet get the always trustable name Nokia on it, it will still be just another tablet in town. So, Nokia has to bring some magic from software side as well.

Nokia already said that it will be services that will distinguish Nokia E7 from Nokia N8 and so I am already looking for some big services coming from Nokia very soon.

So, these are my thoughts on something that might make its big appearance once Nokia N8 gets settled and brings developers on the Nokia board, probably after Q4, 2011.  What you think about it?

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 
 
 

Nokia E6-00? A Revamped S60?

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If you just jumped from your chair thinking that its a leak, then sorry its not, you may choose to leave from here. Here you will get what Nokia E6 should be or what possibly it could be.

No, I am not some hacker, who might have sneaked into some Nokia Server and would have found some XML, neither do I am someone, who might have hands on some proto device, nor I am any important guy that Nokia mind to send prototype devices to understand the demands (my own country Nokia might not even know a word about me).

Who I am then and what this is all about? Just a Layman, who might not be some kind of geek or not that much into mobile developments, still he uses the phones or what we call them now days … the smart phones. Someone, who doesn’t know that his words will affect the multi-billionaire venture or not, but he dreams, he write to tell that what’s better to be included into lives of Laymans just like him.

Another Nokia world ended and reminded us that we live in a real world and nothing changes here like fairy tales. Be it Apple, be it Android or Microsoft, all are companies and follows a same systematic process for constructing things. Why were people expected MeeGo phones, when even lead developers have no clue of things around that? Why a business will release another showstopper, when one of their own still have to reach in consumer’s hand?

Expectations should have been real and then it was a great show indeed marking a superb design language in their new line of products.

Even if we kept on hearing about all these devices and watching videos of Symbian^3 in all recent days, now all of sudden, the logical mind senses a fear. A fear that its all about Symbian^3, Qt and touch screens now and S60 & non-touch might be dead now or just cheap category like C3 or E5.

So, no more those wonderful E-Series devices that had a compact screen, near perfect keypad either you use with one hand or two and those insane battery lives, which were kind of guarantee that you wont be running out of juice for whole day and even at another day, if you forgot to insert the charger pin at end of night. Really?

Nokia E6-00: A revamped S60?

While all of the future development is moving toward Qt  and as per current Qt development status, it’s very likely to get a revamped S60 now, high time to be so.

Nokia C5 and E5 OS design elements suggest that like touch phones got Symbian^3, something big must and must be on its way for non-touch phones too.

There might be much noises from many sides, but Nokia can’t afford to abandon their forte that’s been non-touch phones always and even now. Remember its the touch phone they messed up, otherwise have you heard any Android, Bada, iOS or anything else that could have compete with Symbian?

Yes!! to match the standards set by Symbian^3, its likely that Nokia coming up with a revamped S60 very soon. Question is “Are they going to mix it up with touch support like they did with S40 touch and type? Or they will concentrate more on core stuff like smooth social contacts, social messaging, much more efficient and intuitive Nokia Messaging, a proper blogging app and the updated map with features like Check-ins”.

Same about the battery consumption, as we are already hearing that despite of having 1200 mAh battery in place of 1500 mAh, Nokia E5 working as same good as Nokia E72 was, the credit sure goes to underlying tweaks to the OS and app ecosystems itself. Definitely, Nokia wont be stopping the same with cheaper and compromised devices like E5 only.

Like many around the globe, even I don’t know that what we exactly want from Nokia, but its high time that S60 should also get some love as obviously Qt has to make its way there too. The requirement of a revamped S60 might be the core reason, we have not seen a successor of almighty E72 yet, what’s say?

Nokia E6-00: What will be the shape and hardware?

e72__e71I am sure, if someone set up a poll that what shape an E-Series should take then many would think beyond E72 shape and form factor. A little things here and there, but everyone believes that the keypad shape which E71/E72 enjoyed was best of its class. A perfect device that go marry with each of your typing needs , no matter you are using one hand or two.

After announcement of E7, while it found many attracted towards it, the social web is also buzzing with opinions like its hard to survive with a ‘business’ device that might be draining battery like multimedia ones.

“Many still quoting that they are still happy with their Nokia E72 and will wait till Nokia understand that they exists.”

I find no reasons that Nokia can’t sense that.

They need to keep the same QWERTY with minor modifications like larger space bar or may be nothing.

What else you see from the design language of N8, E7, C7 etc? Mono block. Single piece of metal, which may be even ended in sacking the flexibility of changing the battery here as well as they will push for keeping the device even slimmer than Nokia E72.

The tougher part is Battery and Camera.

Battery

Nokia does not seems to be settled for any better slimmer battery than that 1200 mAh one that we are seeing in every next device of theirs now days. Though whoever had their hands on upcoming Nokia E5 had promised that its not a single bit lesser than Nokia E72, when it comes to battery. While fans around the globe wishing for come back of 1500 mAh only, which has been imprint of E-Series lately, there are strong reasons that Nokia will be settling for the same 1200 mAh one. Like they bring the concept of universal charger for devices ranging from $30 – $500, why not they might be talking on same battery among their new line of devices?

Camera

That’s the most toughest part and what compromises we expect here, are already heartening. They way, for keeping slim profile of design, Carl Zeiss and Auto Focus has been sacked from E7 and C7, its likely that Nokia ready to the same again with same 8MP camera.

Only hope is that constant buzzes of disappointment over Nokia E7 camera, which can’t scan Business cards or Barcodes, Nokia will come out of their official line that 8MP full focus is bringing not so bad results. CRAP.. CRAP … CRAP.. Nokia needs to hear this out in loud.

The success of Nokia E72 was also from the factor that it was the first business series with a top of the class camera and multi-media experience. I bet users didn’t liked nor will like the experience without Macro shots like C7 and E7 gonna give to them. 8 MP without macro shot capability is like some Ferrari,which can’t cross speed of 50kmph. Does it matter that what exterior or interior that Ferrari got?

We like our devices be slimmer like Apple, but in any case don’t want to see Nokia’s camera like Apple’s ones or like those Samsung ones coz a proper camera unit can’t fit into a slim body. Hell with the slimmer build then, we can’t accept anything lower than E72 camera. I mean what this CRAP 8 MP, should we put a big sticker of 8MP on the back of camera to show it off? We need something real.

I think Nokia need to hear it loud before its too late that its Nokia and here we expect cameras like Nokia only.

Connectivity

Nokia E-Series been always known for their top class connectivity options, so nothing spectacular when we find Pentaband frequency obvious here. Questions are after that.

Nokia has three more connectivity options now:

1. USB OTG
2. Bluetooth 3.0
3. HDMI
4. Terminal mode

Usually Nokia been providing their best of connectivity options to their E-Setries, so people will sure be expecting all of these, though last two options seem not that reasonable for something that has just 2.4”-2.6” screen size, but still no wonder if Nokia manages to include at least terminal mode in their successor of Nokia E71/E72 as that would be pure blessing when it comes to presentations in company meetings.

So, these were a few of my own quick thoughts that what Nokia E6, the successor of Nokia E72 might be look like or feel like as even Nokia admitting that Nokia E7 is not the successor of E72, but it matches like of Communicator only.

Definitely there are many other aspects that to be weighted before formalizing a design that will rival Nokia E72 likes. I might have just started the debate … but I know many wanna finish it off.. lets hear your views in loud.

Update:

I thought to update it with a formal specs sheet as well… check out and suggest me more spread the words, if you wished the same.

specs1Specs2 Specs3 Specs4

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 
 
 

New frontiers – Which one of Nokia N8 and E7 is yours choice?

[tweetmeme source=”mrnitishkumar” only_single=”false”]

When Nokia N8 was announced then it was the time, when Nokia N900 reached India. The announcement really jeopardized many possible purchases of Nokia N900 here and today as many like me were fearing, a glimpse of Nokia E7 and we are confused again that should we wait for that 4” beauty or rush in for Nokia N8 as we are already decided?

I hope that when Nokia World 2010 was marked to show off four devices together on stage, then many might have got an answer that why release of Nokia N8 was this much late.

Four devices together on biggest stage of Nokia with many never been before in Nokia features;

1. A Brand new OS Symbian^3
2. Polished Capacitive Multi-touch AMOLED Screens
3. Third generation of Bluetooth 3.0
4. USB OTG for the first time on Nokia

One may comfortably assume that if Eldar wasn’t in middle with shocking revelation of Nokia N8 and intentionally worse choice of words like disappointment of year, then Nokia was all set to put this Symbian^3 bunch once for all in Nokia World only, not before than that. The similarities in profiles, features and design language all indicate for the same fact only. But that didn’t happened …

Many will argue and curse Nokia that why they were this much slow?

Answer was their ultimate failure Nokia N97, something they came to recover. With lesser RAM and power, it was a misplaced shot that came back to hurt them only in place of making them strong in touch phones genre. Like me, they never expected that market suddenly will be ruled by touch devices only provided the advantages of Non-touch ones and their huge heritage of years with their beautifully made devices and there it went wrong …

Anyway, it was a grand show, if all of these Symbian^3 devices with new interfaces, hardware, services and just another level of design language were set to appear at once, but in the world leaks, Nokia World 2010 was a little faded like Apple iPhone 4 launch went.

Though not designed to be, but it was Nokia E7, which stole the show and kept people confused that should they really go for buying Nokia N8 that blindly as they were kind of decided to? And why shouldn’t they, when it seems to be perfecting the build with addition of only missing thing in Nokia N8, the keypad and also adds 0.5” more bigger screen in the beauty …

In last many weeks, a major portion of hits toward this blog came though one post: the comparison post between Nokia N8 and Nokia N900 and so one could understand that how much such a comparison would be required this time, when it really much more confusing as now they are all seems to be on similar ground. Lets take some sneak peaks into finer details. I am also including Nokia C7 and Nokia N900 together for the reference.

The display, the design language and build

Here is the comparison between the four devices …

Display Build and Frequency

Three new devices not only set AMOLED as new minimum standard but they do the same for Pentaband too.

The Display resolution

It was shocking to many, when they seen a 4” device having only 360×480 resolution, when rivals roaring to 900x now and may be more in near future. It was more awkward as after 800×480 resolution of Nokia N900, no one was expecting Nokia to go below than that.

Nokia’s argument is “same resolution makes the job of developer easier, when they know where have to put their pixels on through out the range of devices.”

For sake of argument on Nokia side, the basic question was what the purpose of going behind the number of pixels, when you got to deal with same 3-4” of screen and can’t be pushed to be more smaller icon? Even AMOLED gorilla glasses were not that cheaper side, then even pixels, who actually not gonna make a productive effect on experience rather than marketing gimmicks, if you would have gone beyond retina.

But on the other side …

its true that resolution matters a lot and even the Nokia fans, who would have taken a ride over Nokia N900 will argue on that. Bigger resolution means larger, comfortable space for browsing and better viewing angles for other medias.

True that while making design decisions and pricing, one has to go through compromises, but it was only Nokia, who made consumers hating the word compromise.

So, conclusion on resolution issue is …

Nokia E7-00 gets no direct advantages over Nokia N8 in terms of resolution though it gets numbers on CBD technology, which makes the display look impressive than even Nokia N8. Still we can pass out that. Nokia has to care about the fonts and icon details on a comparatively bigger screen, so that people may not feel something cheap or may miss Nokia N900 likes.

The design language and build

The statement that actually won many battles for Apple was being the slimmest. The design statement was always loud and clear from their whole range of products. Sometimes such loud that people miss the fact that at what cost these products come and what compromises they bring in their lives.

It would be certainly interesting to see if iPhone’s sales figures were really that higher when they were selling it unlocked or people weren’t buying it to Jailbreak first. Provided the major sales of Nokia comes from the countries, where they sell their phones unlocked only, they were never on the same grounds.

The rule of war is “Beat the enemy on their grounds, on what they felt them best, without leaving the skills at which you are best”. A victory in that way leaves the opponent out of courage to fight again, no matter how big they might be.

The all new design language as reflected from the three leading phones on stage (N8, E7 and C7) shows the same commitment to beat the opponent on their turf. Though they get limited by inferior camera (moving parts not allowed in slimmer builds, so heavily compromised) and were forced to restrict the removal of battery for sake of unified build, but it was sane as they maintained all the features and at least one of their device was branded to be the best uncompromised camera in the world.

Literally uncompromised camera of Nokia N8 is something which doesn’t let Nokia E7 stands a chance in that era even if Nokia E7 seems to bring the same looks and solidness in same slim profile, but with huge benefit of QWERTY for less than 1mm difference (13.6mm and 12.9mm). People really may confuse a Nokia E7 from Nokia N8 if at some distance and that’s make it tempting to go for E7, but let me show you something …

18092010822

Not a best macro shot of my Nokia N82, but such shots at workplace help you a lot and I kind of can’t think living without such macros, but the slimmer design comes with a compromise in Nokia E7 that its can’t focus on objects closer than 50 cm.

We buy higher priced phones for more features not just for more power or numbers and Nokia has made us to think Camera as integral part of Smartphones. Even if 8 MP, the Non-Carl Zeiss Camera brings Nokia E7 at somewhat the same level as of Apple iPhone 4 or Samsung Galaxy. Hope Nokia could prove me wrong, but that’s a deal breaker for me otherwise, I would have bought Nokia N95 in place of Nokia N82 years back.

Even if now, I am assured with the solidness of slider hinge of Nokia E7, Nokia N8 scores point due to literally uncompromised camera.

The processor/ RAM

People reading too much from numbers might get a surprise here …

CPU 

If you check ARM 11 Vs Cortex A8, then ARM 11 been the processor that were used by iPhone 3G once. I am not an exactly  right person to talk on this, but no one would argue that superb performance of Nokia N900 was for a reason; Cortex 8 that was also used in iPhone 3GS and known as next generation to ARM 11 and even Snapdragons. So, we come back to another ‘compromise’ here that Nokia made for keeping the costs down.

But at the same time, one should also consider the fact …

Symbian been known for bringing top notch performances from minimum processor/ RAM usages and even if we are here with an older processor, it just cut it better than other OS platforms been doing till now. An ARM Cortex 9 might be the future, when they come to MeeGo, but with Symbian^3, Nokia decided to be with ARM 11 680 Mhz.

It doesn’t make a difference about Nokia E7 and Nokia N8 as both of them share the same processor, but it thrills to see that Nokia N900 still has a place with a superior generation processor.

Greatest part is the inclusion of Graphics 2D/3D processor in all the coming phones, which was a thing that Nokia was forgotten since Nokia N95/ Nokia N82 time.

So, here no one score points neither Nokia N8 nor Nokia E7 as both are on the same level.

Connectivity

This has been a core part of discussion I posted about Noia N8 Vs Nokia N900 and after a year, now we have seen that a mobile could have HDMI and Dolby as well and could be operated by Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard. Technology is really travelling faster.

Connectivity

Connectivity features are exactly identical when it comes to Nokia N8 and Nokia E7, but its also sure that Nokia gonna come up with some exclusive features for Nokia E7 as they mentioned in Q & A rounds that it will be Software part that will come to distinguish the Nokia E7 and so will justify the price.

Are we going to see thing like remote control in Nokia’s as well? Certainly look like so.

Memory support

Memory part been the biggest reason behind the failure of Nokia N97, as even if Symbian is known to perform best even with 128 MB RAM, Nokia missed that time to take concern of escalated needs for a touch based platform. Nokia N97 Mini was correction to the mistake and after feeling well settled with 256 MB RAM of Nokia N900, even if tempting number of others on 512 MB RAM, it was no where a wrong decision on Nokia part to keep RAM settled on 256 MB for all the three devices.

Memory comparison

Note: The mentioned 135 mb in the above pics is wrong, which I realized after having N8 in my hands.

After the standardization of Processor/ RAM, it was time to address the second part, the internal memory, the C;\ drive of phone. Interesting is to note the difference of maximum user storage part between Nokia N8 and Nokia E7. Nokia N8 has only 260 MB while C7 and E7 come with 350 MB.

After living with Nokia N82’s 100 MB maximum user storage since long and also surviving the other side with Nokia E52, not only me, but other users know very well now that what important maximum user storage or C:\ of phones has. Happy to see that Nokia seems to address the same as well.

Numbers might look like otherwise, but experience says that 260 MB is more than enough for most of the users need when there is already 16 GB space available for saving all kind of media.

But still presence of 350 MB maximum user storage and 1 GB NAND memory in both of the devices E7 and C7 indicates that Nokia seems to be setting up with something big coming for these devices in near future and the those software features will keep on revealing itself in steps over time like has been in case of Nokia N8 in last months.

There is an unrest about exclusion MicroSD support from Nokia E7, but provided the USB OTG support, it seems that with already huge internal memory soon gonna make requirement of MicroSD support irrelevant. Think if there was MicroSD support, then people were asking for hot swap support as well, but now after USB OTG, hot swap is available for everything.

 

Camera

When it comes to Camera then obviously Nokia N8 is something that is made for that only.

Camera comparison

Even if no Macro Mode support disappoints big time like I mentioned in first part, definitely having a sleek camera that could record your moments in HD quality video is something been a dream for Business Phones. After all, not only marriage and birthdays like family-n-friends moments are precious, but things like visit of some big shots or some special achievements at work place also might be something that one wanna cherish for ever.. and what could have been better than HD quality video?

So, if Nokia E7 looses scores in Macro, then scores big time as a business device setting standards for the market. Remember, we have the best ever keypad here, which no business device in market could beat at the moment. 8 MP Camera still stands at it best possible.

Secondary Camera comparison1

Secondary camera bring no surprises here, but again like I always been saying… its time for Nokia to set another standard by putting some 2-3 MP camera in front place. Ok OK.. I understand not at this dimension but may be future models.

Was just thinking in Sci Fi mode that it will be possible to make superb camera lenses without moving parts, if someone could find such a material, which could change density and so focal lengths on controlled electrical probes. Isn’t it?

When it comes to camera then Nokia N8 is sure second to none because of being almost uncompromised, but still Nokia E7 is not loosing the battle as we have won a 8MP camera with HD video recording on a Business device. Remember, it was just few years back, when just 2 MP was being taken as a Business phone standard.

Nokia N8 wins in this department hands down, but Nokia E7 still has worth.

OS and Extra Features

Extra features 

There been a lots of argument and discussions around that Symbian is dead and Nokia should move on to Android at least. Why Nokia resisting the urge to do so?

There is a strong reason for that.

Symbian is not only the biggest mobile platform on the planet, but also has backing a a big loyal community that even after difficult times has kept on serving the people at their best. Going towards any other platform will be meant to loose them.

Another OS come up with different file structures and implementation of things that will be an area of concern over expectations from Nokia. It seems very reasonable that Nokia is trying to keep things on their own turf here. They know Symbian been big till year and has much more caliber to make a comeback very soon. Symbian been known for their effectiveness in least resources and had no reasons to be abandoned coz others getting ground.

Maemo on Nokia N900 was great but was an example of the same thing that bringing a platform is easy, but bringing interest of developers is not. “Developers, Developers, Developers” that exactly was the words of new CEO of the company and with free signing and many welcome changes Symbian seems to be set for bringing a new world yet again.

As about features, then again many services are yet to come when Nokia E7 will be actually available or sale and some are even being targeted and design to Nokia E7. So, its better to keep mum till something really arrive.

Power Management

This was the other area of concern, when Nokia went for such slimmer design language. Not only finding the perfectly slimmer battery was a thing, but so was to decide inclusion of non-self-replaceable battery.

Battery comparison

As of now, without finally software, its useless to comment over the mention figures about battery performance, which only time will tell. Its sure that Nokia E7 not gonna be like typical E72 like battery life being a 4” multi-touch screen neither do the stats says that it might be better than Nokia N8.

We all are keeping our fingers crosses that new OS and new battery is going to perform as well as written in stats. 12 Hours talk time would really be deal breaker for anyone, if Nokia N8 gonna just do that.

As per specs and power hungry bigger screen, Nokia N8 scores point here, which seems strange due to the fact that Business devices always been on the top in this field at least. Is it gonna change?

So, these are a few things about upcoming phones and soon to be available Nokia N8. I really think that these never like before devices gonna bring some fresh breath for Nokia and Symbian. What you think?

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 
 
 

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