Nikolay: "I will assume that your smartphone top 5 is just for the English typing world. I mean, come on! How are you going to type on Japanese or Chinese or any outer language efficiently on N95?"
Yes, most of the articles on All About Symbian and the video clips in The Smartphones Show are all focussed on the English-speaking (and typing) world, but then the site and the show are IN English! So it's not a bad assumption. Japanese and Chinese characters are a nightmare to input (as) efficiently on any phone or smartphone. [side note to readers - if anyone has enough experience to pen a piece about how Oriental languages are handled on S60 phones in China and Japan, then please get in touch!]
"You said that smartphones are more that just features, but at the end [of show 62] you can't help yourself boasting all those N95 features as if that is the most important thing a user should look for."
Yes, I firmly hold to the opinion that, beyond a certain point, the creep in features drops off and it's more about how you use a device and what you install on it. But the point is that the Nokia N95 represents the shoulder of the function curve. Anything beneath it has some catching up to do in terms of camera functions, TV out, GPS, UPnP, and so on. So I'm quite justified in listing the N95 8GB's attributes (as I did in Smartphones Show 62), since it's one of the first in a flood of devices which will be 'good enough'. If I do a 'Top 5 smartphones' in a year's time, I expect the differences between devices will be far more about services, interface and compatibility than about mere specifications.
"Where is the value for money comparison? Prove that a N95 is cheaper than the iPhone if the a person uses the same Internet/GPS/wifi service over the course of two years. It's nice that the N95 has great specs but sending a 5mp picture over the net consumes more traffic, which if you do not have a monthly plan is very costly."
Oh, absolutely, value for money in the long term can depend on how you use a device. But the iPhone 3G costs in the order of £1000 over 18 months. The current Nokia flagship, the N95 8GB, can be gotten for free on the same 18 month contract - even after adding on a data package per month, we're still only looking at £650 or so, quite a large saving over the iPhone.
Sending large images over the net is a good example of something that should be saved for Wi-Fi though, unless you're in a very fast 3.5G area. I'd mention sending videos as well, but I know the iPhone can't take video clips - at least not yet [gentle prod]...
"Then there is the camera again. I know that, quality taken alone, N95 takes a lot better pictures that the iPhone, but I have yet to see you comment yet as to why the iPhone is the #1 device to be used with Flickr, topping the N95. Clearly there is more to taking pictures than optics, flash and megapixels. And last I heard there are still a lot more N95s out there than iPhones. So how can you make the N95 as a better camera phone when the statistics show that it isn't. I am sure you have also heard of the magapixel myth but your statements that a phone should have a 5mp camera just because it is the middle of 2008 kind of makes me doubt that."
The iPhone has certainly been dicing with the N95 at the top of the Flickr tree in recent months. Here's the very latest chart:
So, without meaning to be too picky, the iPhone isn't actually top of the Flickr stats at the moment. And the numbers of iPhones and N95s aren't that different. iPhones are heading up towards ten million and N95s are somewhat over that figure, but they're of the same order. And yet, despite the iPhone coming with flat rate data, implying that all uploads are free, the N95 - with downloads (potentially) costing the earth - still manages to keep ahead. I think that answers your question somewhat satisfactorily?
In answer to the megapixel myth point - yes, I fully appreciate that more megapixels aren't necessarily better - after all, look at the appalling results from the LG Viewty's 5mp cam, but more is usually better. And especially so when backed up by the professional glass optics in the likes of the N95. In decent lighting, the N95 (and N82) can take stunning photos.
As a 2008 baseline, I'd say that any flagship smartphone needs an auto-focus 3mp or 5mp camera, backed up with professional optics/sensor. Less than that simply isn't good enough.
"So the N95 is the most feature-full smartphone? If that was the case then N95 could be used for more things than the iPhone right? No. The better camera of the N95 does make better pictures and captures video but the iPhone integration of features is so much more powerful."
I'll gladly admit that Apple's UI and general integration of features is better than Nokia's in S60. While beginners will warm to the iPhone UI much more quickly, the difference is marginal in the case of experienced users. And I currently use my Nokia N95 to replace 9 other standalone bits of equipment, plus I have over 30 third party applications installed, to help perform other tasks. I think you'll find that the standard iPhone at least won't get anywhere near this level of 'use'. The iPhone 3G, with its AppStore, has huge potential, of course, and I'd expect much more direct competition.
"The N95 also can never be truly adapted for use by old people or the military in Iraq or as a blogging platform or in the Universities or countless other scenarios where a big screen device with no moving parts and multi touch interface is needed."
I don't doubt that there are scenarios where a big touchscreen is preferable to a smaller-screened, button-driven device. However, I'd argue that there are actually more real world scenarios where the latter is more suitable. Do you really want to use both hands to operate a handheld device all the time? There's plenty of room in the market for both device styles, of course. One size definitely doesn't fit all!
"and let's not forget the most advanced operating system in the world, and one which is a lot more practical."
Without wishing to go down the platform wars route, Symbian OS has had 3.5G data and GPS support for two years - OS X on the iPhone has only just acquired both. Symbian OS is now working at LTE speeds in the labs, with its Freeway technology. I'd say Symbian OS is 2 years ahead in terms of raw smartphone OS, while Apple are a year ahead in terms of UI design.
"I have also not seen you comment on services like Mobile Me or the AppStore. Does N95 have access to such and if it does how do they compare. They are an integral part of the full iPhone experience. You compare the camera, why not compare the services. Or is it again just about specs on the paper?"
Very good point and this is something I'll be able to compare directly once Apple's AppStore has launched. Nokia do have similar systems, with My Nokia Backup and Download!, but neither are as comprehensive as Apple's solution claims to be. Watch this space!
"It's the same with many Windows users who do not understand why Macs are so much better untill for some reason they end with with one for a week or two and can never get back to the PC."
Ah, you've hit a nerve here. Without wishing to stray away from AAS's core themes here, let me just say that I've been trying a Mac Mini with Leopard for the last week. And I was very glad indeed to get back to my Windows Vista laptop. I can see that a Mac is perfect for a 'consumer' and/or a computing beginner, but for someone who's tech savvy and wants to use specialist apps and get lots of work done, Windows applications and file systems knock OS X into a cocked hat. Sorry.
"My suggestion for you Steve is not to judge devices you have not had the time or money to put to test without the burden of years of being used to Symbian operating systems. The iPhone is coupled together with an entirely different philosophy of use that make you do more in a different way. You cannot appreciate it unless you had weeks if not months to get use to it. And only then can you ask youself the question which device gives me more more value for my money. Otherwise you are just comparing specs and those are only good if you have the same OS and imput method. Between N95 and iPhone you have neither in common."
Fair comment, although I'd argue that I've spent quite long enough with both iPhone and Windows Mobile devices to get to know how they tick - I think you underestimate me! An N95 and Apple iPhone are certainly very different devices, approaching many functions from different directions.
"You are missing also important things like being able to operate the device in 3G mode anywhere in the world. N95 cannot do that. Not to mention that iPhone supports worldwide 3 band 7.2 HSPDA while the N95 is 1,2 band 3.6 HSPDA. Who's got the better 3G now? Even the N96 cannot match the iPhone 3G specs."
You're being unfair here in that, at the time of writing, the iPhone 3G isn't even available 8-) Let's compare 3G support across the board in six months time, ok?
"Also, how can you recommend a device for which Nokia itself has showcased a successor so many months ago?"
This is how Nokia tend to work, but it doesn't seem to harm sales, since most sales are to non-geeks and who aren't so acutely aware of what's coming up. 8-) Besides, from what I've seen of the N96's styling, there's perhaps a case that it might not suit everyone?
"And just how important is the criteria ease of use for you?"
Quite important, although bear in mind that readers of AAS and viewers of The Smartphones Show tend to be quite technical - interfaces designed for a grandparent aren't really that appealing! Most interest seems to be in the highly technical devices like the HTC TyTN II and Nokia E90.
"I never looked into the iPhone manual that it came with. There is a great value in the fact that every button on the screen has its function written on it and does nothing more."
Well yes, but then the iPhone can't do very much, so you can fit everything on one screen. The 3G model with AppStore will start hitting the same UI compromises that Nokia was hitting 4 years ago. No doubt Apple will solve the problem more elegantly, but ease of use versus functionality remains a perennial compromise.
"And Nokia E71 placed as a better device that iPhone. Just try marketing that statement in any non English typing country and you will get laughed at. If you don't have multimedia and the you cannot type native characters, what is this device good for?"
The E71 comes with lots of different European, non-English keyboard layouts, I believe. No idea what happens in China though 8-)
"Come on Steve! Try comparing E71 with Blackberry Bold or iPhone with Samsung Instinct! Or what about how the HTC Touch beat the Touch Diamond in your top 5! Was it value for money?"
E71 vs the Bold and iPhone vs Omnia or Instinct are certainly comparisons I'll be looking into. I have both Touch and Touch Diamond here - tough call, but I don't really like TouchFlo 3D very much and the Diamond currently has a price premium, whereas you can pick up a Touch on eBay for a song. [Sorry, AAS, we're getting too far off topic here!]
Thanks for the letter Nikolay, I hope my answer via AAS makes sense to you and all the other phone/smartphone enthusiasts out there!
Steve Litchfield, All About Symbian, 8 July 2008