Diaries of a Nokia Fan Boy

Alright, so Nokia 8800 is a series of phones which I would love to have but for their lacking of a smartphone OS, never will. Or at least that was the case up until now. Out comes the Nokia 8800 Erdos – the newest addition to 8800 line which includes the Sirocco, Arte, Sapphire Arte, Carbon Arte, and Golden Arte.

Up until this point, these phones have been functionally simplistic, outdated even, but designed with elegance and grace. This gave them a very high price and made them rather exclusive. Well I’ve always likened the phones with, for example, the Smart car – something interesting to look at, but I would never own one. And for me, the breaking point has always been the lack of a smartphone operating system since I need to connect to MS Exchange.

The 8800 line so far has seen little in the way of redesign – physically and functionally. But the Nokia 8800 Erdos comes with a completely new design and improved functionality:

• Symbian S60 (looks like 5th ed)
• 2.4″, 16M color, OLED, QVGA display
• Touch area on display
• GSM/WCDMA + WLAN
• Bluetooth 2.0 (with A2DP)
• AGPS
• 5MP AF camera with Carl Zeiss optics + LED flash
• VGA @ 15fps video
• 8GB internal memory
• Slide and lift T9 keypad

While the overall specs are not that big of an improvement, the biggest, most important improvement is the operating system. Not only does this open the handset to a wider market, but it improves overall user experience. This is also the first 8800, or Nokia for that matter, to feature a touch area on the display (different from touch-screen), which could signal the introduction of gestures. The phone, like other 8800’s before, features a T9 keypad, however this one slides up when the phone opens, making it easier to type, and if the OS really is S60 5th, then it will be the first to match that keyboard type with the OS.

Anyway, enough out of me, take a look at the sleek and sexy design of the 8800 Erdos in the video below:

-Nokia FanBoy

via: CellPassion (read)

Ok, so its been a busy week and its not looking like today is going to be any quieter. Thus, I will only update on the important things, and only mention the main points.

Qt, the development suite that Nokia acquired a while back, has added multitouch and gesture support for its 4.6 release. This applies to Nokia’s Symbian and Maemo powered devices. Actually this precludes aa interesting point, namely, this means that there will be Symbian and Maemo powered devices with multitouch capable screens. This can be achieved either by using a capacitive screen, or by using Stantum’s technology on resistive screens. Now we already know that Nokia is using capacitive screens, the Nokia X6 is an example, however I do hope that Stantum’s technology gets incorporated as that would still allow for use of a stylus.

-Nokia FanBoy

via: Symbian-Freak (read)

Ok, so I don’t have that much time today so I apologize right away for any posts that seem to be poorly researched or don’t add much more to the existing information.
Nokia released new firmware for the N97, which makes the decision ever so much more difficult again: N97 original or N97 Mini? Of course, it is expected that Nokia continue to update firmware of its flagship devices (except for N95-4 apparently – I want my v31 damn it!), and with every update the device will gain new competitive edges. When I hacked Rogers-branded N95-4 and upgrade from v11 to v20 I gained a number of improvements, including surprising ones such as greatly improved battery life. But in the case of N97 vs. N97 Mini the firmware update brings joy to existing N97 owners, and headaches to those undecided between the two devices. Take a look at the video if you’re unsure whether to upgrade your existing device, or which device to get in the first place.

-Nokia FanBoy

via: Engadget (read)

OK, so the N900 is finally, officially, released; and we didn’t even have to wait until September 2nd! Well looking at the specs, we see that this is quite a powerful machine, but that it is also far too big and heavy to use as a daily cellphone. Also, looking at the 3G frequencies, it appears as if the device will be coming out for T-Mobile’s network and the European networks. Shame that it won’t work on Rogers.

• WVGA: 848×480, 3.5″, 16M color screen
• Proximity sensor
• Accelerometer
• 32GB onboard memory
• microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
• 256MB RAM
• ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz
• PowerVR SGX graphics
• Maemo 5
• 3G @ 900 / 1700 / 2100
• HSDPA 10MBps / HSUPA 2MBps
• WiFi 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth v2.1 (w. A2DP)
• microUSB 2.0
• 5MP Carl Zeiss camera
• Dual LED flash
• WVGA (848×480) video @ 25fps
• TV-out (unknown resolution)
• GPS with A-GPS
• Digital Compass
• Stereo FM Radio with FM Transmitter
• 1320mAh battery (for unknown talk/standby time)
• Weight: 181g
• Dimensions: 110.9 x 59.8 x 18 mm, 113 cc
• Expected price: 500 Euro

So this little gem is indeed quite nice, however it also costs quite a bit. Its too big to use as a cell phone, but too expensive to use alongside a dedicated cell phone. It would, I suppose, work well as an in-car computer for music, navigation, etc. but there are some cheaper options out there (with larger screens I might add). But I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. It would have been nice to see the Rogers 3G frequencies on here, but I guess we’ll have to wait for a different version of the device.

-Nokia FanBoy

detailed specs on GSMArena
via: Engadget (read)

Well it looks like the seal on the Booklet 3G news is more leaky than a sieve! Some more info coming to us from NetbookNews and UMPC World. Lets leave the best for last and start with the specification update.

First of all, it looks like a safe bet that the CPU is an Atom Z530 (1.6GHz dual-core). That’s not necessarily a bad thing, its a pretty decent processor.

Second, the HDD is going to be 120GB. This implies that its going to be a disk drive, and not a solid state. Which is a shame because the solid state would have fared much better, as well as increased the battery life even further. To be perfectly honest, its a mystery how they’re getting 12 hours considering they have a dual-core processor and a disk drive :S

Third, and this is more of a speculation, the machine is likely to have 1GB RAM, and I am inferring this mostly from the CPU, the HDD and the fact that its a high-definition screen.

Fourth, it is quite likely that the battery isn’t going to be 12 hours, maybe closer to 6 hours with light usage, which is closer to the truth, and sounds like most other netbooks out there.

Since there are a lot more points mentioned I will just go on to the last one: the price. The Booklet is expected to have a price of $799, which, by any standards, is not acceptable for a netbook, even one as nicely outfitted as this. I believe that in order for this device to survive, it will have to be priced in the sub-$500 range, then it will have a fighting chance with the HP Mini’s, Acer One’s, and AI TouchBook’s of the world. Of course, the Booklet is meant to be subsidized by carriers, but the problem is, so are the other netbooks, and some are less than half the price! (the HP Mini 10.1″ is $350 at Costco across the street from me)

So in short, the specs are more disappointing than I would have hoped for, and if Nokia prices it at $799 the Booklet will die rather quickly. Especially considering its only differentiation is aluminum chassis, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, and HD (720p?) display with HDMI out. In today’s world that just isn’t enough for a netbook to be priced in that range.

-Nokia FanBoy

via: UMPC Portal (read)
and: Netbook News (read) – warning: non-english

Finally, an announcement from Nokia that wasn’t first leaked by Eldar. The cheap version of the 5230 might be exactly what the doctor ordered for those looking for a touch-screen phone on-the-budget. However there are a couple things to consider:

1. Specification differences
2. Lack of XpressMusic moniker
3. Speed of post-release price drop

Specification Differences:
Now, we all know that its not necessarily the specifications that make the phone, however in this case they do have some implications. See here for a full list of specification differences, but here are some of the highlights:

• Identical screen size and resolution
• Identical body size, but 6g heavier
• Less internal storage (and RAM also?)
• microSD card slot, no included memory card
• Similar connectivity, however no WiFi
• Both have GPS and include Nokia Maps 2
• 2MP Camera w/out flash (vs. 3.2MP with flash)
• No TV-out
• Identical battery, but shorter talk time
• Unknown: CPU, RAM

As you can see, the specifications are nearly identical, however there are a couple key differences: lack of WiFi, cheaper camera without a flash, no TV-out. Of course if you, like me, have a good data plan, you do not need WiFi. And the 3.2MP camera was never sufficient anyway, so the downgrade there isn’t a big deal either. And the TV-out functionality was not on a priority list, so that too will not be missed. Besides that, the specifications are so similar that I would almost suggest buying the 5230.

Lack of XpressMusic moniker
And if it wasn’t for this point, I would, without question, go out and buy this device. However this is a bit of a sore point for me. Since I enjoy listening to music on my phone (I don’t have a dedicated MP3 player), audio quality is important to me, and I fear that the lack of the the XpressMusic moniker will be this device’s demise in the audio department. Of course, I’m not prejudiced, this is simply my belief, and I hope that the good people at GSMArena put the phone through its paces and compare the audio quality of the two phones (the other being the 5800 XpressMusic).

Until such a time as a good comparison can be made, the only speculation I can have on the audio quality is that it must be at least decent with the option of inclusion of the Comes With Music service as one purchase option.

Speed of post-release price drop
Just like with the 5530 XpressMusic, the device’s success will lie in its price point. If I was to check the prices right now, I would see that the 5530 XM is either more expensive than the 5800 XM (Plemix – 5530 @ $415 CAD, 5800 @ $359 CAD), or is only marginally cheaper (Mobile604 – 5530 @ $365 CAD, 5800 @ $369 CAD). And that does not bode well seeing as how the 5800 XM is actually the superior device. Of course, the 5530 XM is still dropping price, and much in the same way I expect the 5230 to come out at a slightly heightened price point, and then quickly drop in the following 1-2 months.

The expected price of the 5230 (without Comes With Music) is 149 Euro ($230 CAD), which does not leave a lot of room for the price to drop. Which makes me question will the phone enter the market at something closer to $400 CAD and then drop to its expected price, or will it enter at its expected price and only slightly drop? Really, either one is satisfactory, however I would not pay more than $250 CAD for the phone.

Nokia 5230 Colors

Conclusion
So what is the conclusion of this rather long rant? While the spec differences are of little consequence, it is the missing XpressMusic moniker that may be the demise of this little phone. But of course everything depends on price, and as such, we will have to wait and see when it comes out. As for now, check out the video below:

-Nokia FanBoy

via: press release
and: Engadget (read)

Well it appears as if more information is leaking out about the Nokia Booklet 3G, and its not even September yet. This time we get some more pictures (including a shot with an E71!), and a rumor as to what CPU the booklet uses!

In short, the pictures are below, and the Booklet is rumored to use the Atom Z530. The CPU is the dual core descendant of the Atom family, and would be quite capable of producing 720p content, which is all one can expect from a netbook. Still, it would have been nice to see it introduced with Tegra, but I guess the Windows requirement makes things difficult.

-Nokia FanBoy

via: Reuters (read)
and: Engadget (read)

Ok, so we all know that Nokia was planning to enter the netbook/notebook market, and apparently it did so by creating a “Booklet”. The Nokia Booklet 3G is basically a slightly more powerful netbook (for an unknown price). Nokia’s Exec. VP for Devices, Kai Oistamo, had this to say about the Booklet 3G:

A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility. We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.

I must admit, the device itself looks quite appealing, with a very understated yet elegant simplicity. Indeed the device does remind us of a somewhat older, more classic, Nokia design. The Booklet 3G has some fairly impressive specs to be competing with the netbooks of today:

Nokia Booklet 3G

• Atom CPU
• 10.1″ HD Display
• Built-in Webcam
• HDMI Out
• Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/3G/HSDPA
• Several USB ports, 3.5mm audio out
• SD card reader (SHDC? SDXC?)
• Integrated A-GPS with Ovi Maps!
• 12hr battery life
• 2cm thick
• 1.25kg
• unconfirmed: Windows 7

The specs look really promising, in fact this would be the perfect in-car computer, depending, of course, on what kind of hard-drive it has. For the complete spec list and price info we’ll have to wait until Nokia World 09.

I was just thinking about the target market for this, and I realised that the potential is quite large. Students that prefer to have an always-on internet connection or that require GPS in their laptop could definitely use this. Of course while most universities now offer campus-wide Wi-Fi, this would be great for completing projects on the bus. And just like for exchange-students that would be greatly helped by GPS when navigating strange cities, travelling Businessmen would also find this feature quite helpful. However for the businessmen the built-in 3G would be more helpful for accessing internet en-route to a client’s location or at the client’s location during, say, a presentation (basically same reason someone would get the USB 3G stick).

The battery life in this beast is also quite impressive, and even more so considering how light it is. However, I would be quite interested to find out just how HD the Booklet’s 10.1″ HD screen is.

As for now, we have a video and a gallery for you to peruse.

Nokia Booklet 3G Back	Nokia Booklet 3G Blue	Nokia Booklet 3G Camera
Nokia Booklet 3G Colours	Nokia Booklet 3G Group	Nokia Booklet 3G HDMI
	Nokia Booklet 3G Open

-Nokia FanBoy

via: Nokia Conversations (read)
and: Engadget (read)
and: Symbian-Freak (read)
and: GSMArena (read)

Here is an excellent video as to why we should never pay more attention to the cell phone than to the road. The video is quite graphic so viewers beware. But parents, teachers, girlfriends/boyfriends, friends, if you know someone who is like this, please let them watch this video. I think the most sobering piece is not the crash itself (it looks a bit fake), but the fact that the driver’s friends are killed, and the 3 minutes following the crash. Make sure the culprit watches the entire video as it just won’t sink in otherwise.

For anyone who found this too graphic, I apologize, but even I am guilty of checking my phone from time to time while driving, and believe me, this video really gets to you.

Note: if the video doesn’t work, try here.

-Nokia FanBoy

via: Engadget (read)

Microsoft and Nokia had a teleconference earlier this morning and revealed some interesting, albeit expected, piece of news. The two companies are partnering to develop Office Mobile, Office Communicator Mobile, SharePoint, and Microsoft System Center for Nokia’s Symbian operating system. It is interesting that Microsoft is working with Nokia and not the Symbian Foundation on this endeavor, however it does hint that this will not be available for Samsung, Sony Ericsson, or other manufacturers of Symbian devices. There were hints that this will be an online experience, which raises questions whether this will be strictly for Symbian, or if it will be platform independent, and whether MS Office Live will be supported. Of course seeing this in action will be pretty exciting.

I must say, I’m pretty excited about this little bit of news, and the biggest reason being that it would appear that Symbian, or more specifically Nokia E-series, will be better positioned for the corporate environment. This will give RIM a run for its money, however I imagine that Microsoft will do all they can to protect Windows mobile in this sector, and I can’t really blame them for it. I would, however, like to see an improvement in Nokia’s Microsoft Exchange Server client before they go on to Office and SharePoint (the biggest beef being, of course, email handling – no HTML, folder sync, etc.).

This also seems to correspond to Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint becoming closer integrated, so not much surprise to the move. What does surprise me, however is that Microsoft is not partnering with RIM, given the number of BlackBerries out there in the corporate world. I suppose that would require extensive BB Server modifications, whereas Symbian can use the protocols provided by Microsoft.

On the side, Nokia did comment that they will be working with Microsoft on “future user experiences” for Nokia customers, and that they are “deeply committed to Symbian,” and have no plans in developing Windows Mobile devices (thankfully). the future user experience could also mean that they will bring this over to their Maemo platform for Internet Tablets, which would be quite nice given the larger screen and keyboard.

I am very excited to see where this will lead, and whether I will be able to start pointing out more Nokia models in my office.

Update:
Reading over the article from GSMArena.com, I saw the best explanation why this move will appeal to corporate clients, and frankly, why I am so excited about it:

• The ability to view, edit, create and share Office documents on more devices in more places with mobile-optimized versions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft OneNote
• Enterprise instant messaging and presence, and optimized conferencing and collaboration experience with Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile
• Mobile access to intranet and extranet portals built on Microsoft SharePoint Server
• Enterprise device management with Microsoft System Center

-Nokia FanBoy

via: Engadget (read)
and: GSMArena.com (read)