Rafe's Nokia N82 review, part 2: GPS, applications, performance

[slitchfield]

In the second and final part of his definitive review of the 'Silver Snapper', the Nokia N82, Rafe proves that this smartphone is a lot more than just a great camera. Looking at GPS and navigation functions, music, general applications and overall performance, Rafe concludes that, despite a few problems and annoyances, the N82 is "an outstanding handset".

Read on in the full article.

[kontraband]

good stuff. I agree with your comment on the N82/N95 comparison. Its popping up as a question in the N95 forum a bit at the moment too.

[ChaosFire]

I disagree with the unlikely-ness of opening all the apps on this phone.
I'm using operamini on 'it' to view 'this' page. I just opened 61applications on my phone- i had 33.8mb of free RAM left. Below are the opened apps.
I have taking screenshots of all;which i wont mind gladly posting if not the limitations of the opera browser. But i'll do so when i get to a computer.

61 opened apps:

-Handy Blacklist 3.0
-Wlan Wizard
-Barcode
-Download!
-Maps
-About
-Welcome!
-Sett. Wizard
-Landmarks
-GpS Data
-Intern. Radio
-Call mailbox
-Voice Comm.
-PTT
-IM
-Web
-Search
-USB
-Sync
-Bluetooth
-Quickoffice
-Adobe pdf
-File mgr
-Speed dial
-Switch
-Device mgr
-Activ. Keys
-Message
-Memory
-App. Mgr
-Calendar
-Zip
-Clock
-Converter
-Calculator
-Notes
-Settings
-Music player
-3-D tones
-Home Media
-Lifeblog
-Podcast
-Video centre
-Radio
-Real player
-Gallery
-Profiles
-Log
-Contacts
-Opera mini(which i'm using to post this !)
-Y-browser
-Conn. Mgr
-Screenshot(used to take the to-be posted images!)
-N-gage
-Flash player 2.0
-Recorder
-Peerbox
-Spodtronic
-Coreplayer
-Download mgr
----
The only things not here are my java games, and a number of tools&utilities.

Please mind the clumsiness -it was done in haste !

[Rafe]

I meant it was unlikely a user would need to open all the applications at the same time. I reckon most people will get up to 10 or so. This presents an issue in itself as the multi-tasking switching starts to get a bit cumbersome beyond this number.

[ChaosFire]

Yeah! i'm back now on a PC,.. have attached the screenshots as proof of the hypothesis.
N82 power users can grin abit right about now.
I no its unlikely (as Rafe rightly said) for the user to open this many. But this post is just to show its possible.. to do so.!!
I also noticed .. it was abit cumbersome in switching btw apps..

[ajck]

Given the N82 is basically a physically shrunken N95 I am interested to see how the forthcoming N96 matches up, esp. as it's spec is very close to both models. Shame the 96 will not have Xenon flash.

http://forum2.mobile-review.com/showthread.php?t=69892

This is not a review, it's an infomercial.

The N82 screen is a complete joke. problably the dimmest in a high end device ever!
here is the proof:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yiFiyCdNHio

[john74]

i had the n82 2 weeks ago and i sold it because the screen size and colors were not as i expected,so i just kept my iphone,nothing comes close to the iphone sorry to say and im a full n series nokia freak,the N95 8gb is the only one that comes close

[rosh1182]

Inhibitech: N82 a joke? Are you seriously comparing it with that Samsung? 3 megapixel LED flash v. 5 megapixel xenon flash. Enough said.

[lithgow]

G'day Rafe.

You said:

Podcasting is one area where the N82 (and N95 etc.) really outshine any competition - there's nothing to match it/them on any other portable audio device or mobile phone.

I'm interested in how the Nokia podcast app outmatches Escarpod for UIQ 3 devices.

And the fact that it's built in, doesn't count. Escarpod is free, and these are, after all Smart Phones (ie. open to adding in software that exploits the full functionality of the phone).

Escarpod seems pretty cool to me, and only lacks the "find podcast" feature you mentioned. (And I'm pretty sure Nokia's would not be able to find the podcasts that I'm interested in...)

-Malcolm.

[malerocks]

A question purely on the physical appearance - does this phone come in black? I am sure it would look amazing if it did.

@rosh
Did you read my post?
I am clearly talking about the SCREEN not comparing devices.
I think YOU are a joke.
Also, the fact that the guy writes such detailed review and completly
overlooks this mayor flaw, in my opinion borders on dishonesty,

[rosh1182]

Inhibitech: I reread your post and I did misunderstand it when I first read it. Sorry about the confusion. I wonder if the differences in brightness you aptly observed is due to default screen brightness settings rather than limitations on the device itself.

Rafe or anyone else with an N82, is it truly not as bright as other devices?

[Rafe]

Originally Posted by lithgow

G'day Rafe.

You said:


I'm interested in how the Nokia podcast app outmatches Escarpod for UIQ 3 devices.

And the fact that it's built in, doesn't count. Escarpod is free, and these are, after all Smart Phones (ie. open to adding in software that exploits the full functionality of the phone).

Escarpod seems pretty cool to me, and only lacks the "find podcast" feature you mentioned. (And I'm pretty sure Nokia's would not be able to find the podcasts that I'm interested in...)

-Malcolm.

I think the not built in is an important distinction myself... The integration into music player is also a big plus. I've not used Escarpod myself, but I'll check it out.

Originally Posted by inhibitech

This is not a review, it's an infomercial.

The N82 screen is a complete joke. problably the dimmest in a high end device ever!
here is the proof:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yiFiyCdNHio

The N82s I have seen have been fine. Personally readability outside is more important for me that brightness (well past a certain point obviously). Its also worth pointing out you have to watch the settings (I;ve been using the N82 on the middle brightness setting) carefully for direct comparison as well as what is being displayed on screen (e.g. light theme vs dark theme).

Originally Posted by malerocks

A question purely on the physical appearance - does this phone come in black? I am sure it would look amazing if it did.

Not yet.

Originally Posted by rosh1182

Inhibitech: I reread your post and I did misunderstand it when I first read it. Sorry about the confusion. I wonder if the differences in brightness you aptly observed is due to default screen brightness settings rather than limitations on the device itself.

Rafe or anyone else with an N82, is it truly not as bright as other devices?

I didn't notice any major differences. Bigger screens (physically) sometimes come across as brighter (especially if they are the same resolution).

[lithgow]

Originally Posted by Rafe

I think the not built in is an important distinction myself... The integration into music player is also a big plus. I've not used Escarpod myself, but I'll check it out.

Having software built in is certainly an important distinction. However, it hardly qualifies a device that has software built in as being "unmatchable" compared to devices that can have it added for free. Which was your claim.

The integration may certainly make things better, although it would also have to be pretty well integrated to be "unmatchable". Can't tell without having a play myself.

Anyway, in reviews you guys are one of the authorities, just trying to make sure it stays that way (so be careful with your superlatives).