Nokia E63 Review - Part 2: Multimedia, Files on Ovi and Wrap-up

[slitchfield]

In Part 1 of my Nokia E63 review, I covered the hardware, the UI and Email. In this, part 2, I look at the E63's multimedia capabilities, I look in detail at how the bundled Files on Ovi subscription works in practice and I sum up the device - never has the term 'workhorse' been so accurately applied to a smartphone. The E63 is terrific value though, at the end of the day, with the cost considerations dominating our opinion of it.

Read on in the full article.

Thanks for this great review.

Worst review ever! Why even bother?

[slitchfield]

"Worst review ever! Why even bother?"

Well, what a superbly thought out and explained critique of my review. I stand corrected and humbled.

Rafe, remind us again why we let 'unregistered' trolls post in our forums?

Not trolling, I was truly disappointed with your review. Half of the frigging article about Files on Ovi?? Don't care about that! I am about to buy this phone when the NAM version hits over here, and want to gather as much 411 as I can on how it performs. Music, video playback etc.. and there you are plugging away Nokia services. Give me a break!

Well I like being able to post unregistered, but would never think of being offensive without putting my name to it!

Anyway moving on, despite the E63 being classed as a lowish spec, I think everyone is spoilt these days an forget about the slow S60 interface ;-) on old phones like the N73 which I still have!

Using it over the last couple of days it is by far an large a hell of alot snapier than what I had got used to. I think this would be a good phone for the messaging crowd, hey if I want to use email I will use my ipod touch which goes with me everywhere. I changed the email button to the messaging client/new message respectivly.

Keep up the good work guys!

[slitchfield]

@josexi: Yes, but you're missing the point. The E63 is utterly unremarkable APART from the bundled in-ROM Nokia Messaging Service and Files on Ovi (which you'd normally have to pay for). They're the ONLY two real unique selling points, apart from the price. And this was the first time I'd played with either in a production device, too.

Sorry if you didn't like the review. Maybe you missed part 1, which talked a lot more about the hardware?

i bought an E63 2 weeks ago for around $259 (12500 Phil. pesos) here in the Philippines. i am absolutely stoked by what this phone can do for the price... the QWERTY feel is great (not inferior at all to the E71), the specs are superb, and the unit seems durable! i do however have a niggle with the wifi, which is very dodgy and refuses to work more than half the time in my house. i'm pretty sure it's not our router because laptops work just fine. i wonder if you encountered wifi problems Steve. files on Ovi is something i'd like to try on as it will solve my constant problem of forgetting files at my home PC.

100% agree on the comment about the phone being for the messaging crowd! it's such a joy to text on it even if it seems small.

thank you for a great review Steve (and AAS), i always look forward to the reviews posted on this site.

[Tzer2]

Josesxi, do try reading part 1 of the review, that doesn't talk about services at all:

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/revie.../Nokia_E63.php

As for "plugging" services, if a device includes a free subscription to a service, it's worth including that service in the review.

Devices and services are starting to get very intertwined nowadays, not just on phones but music players, games consoles and even TVs and radios. You can't just look at the hardware any more, the extra stuff counts as part of the package you're paying for.

[Williamoni]

Criticism from 'unregistered' is a complete waste of time. Why even allow any comments from 'unregistered'? Make everyone register and a large proportion of this pointless criticism will go away.

[Rafe]

I'm basically the reason the unregistered people are allowed to comment. It means people don't have to go through the long-ish registration system to post and thereby encourage extra contributions. I am considering different options including compulsory moderation of unregistered comments, replacing the comment system (though not keen to lose forum integration) and of course switching off unregistered commenting.

Incidentally I think Files on Ovi is a great bundle for the Eseries - makes a lot of sense.

Is the soft reset during video playback deal breaking? I like it for its big screen. I know its not multimedia phone, but I'm intending to watch videos on it on long trips. But you mentioned it is not stable during video playback, so it kind of break the deal for me. It will be good if you can elaborate on how bad it is or whether if it is acceptable or it consistently soft reset in the middle of a video playback. Does 3rd party application resolve this issue?

Thanks!

[tkao2025]

the E63 is rather limited and downright boring

Hi Steve, I found this ending quite interesting.....isn't the E63 basically an E71 without the GPS Chip and better camera? So is the E71 a limited device as well? Just trying to clarify since I'm thinking about picking one of these up, but leaning towards the E63 cause of the price and also I light the slight thicker device.

Thanks for the review Steve, I'm now a proud owner and very pleased.

Does anyone know how to get those free games mentioned in the review? I checked Download! and can't find them. :cry:

Nokia E63 is a great phone "in my opinion"