Nokia 5320 XpressMusic
Published by Rafe Blandford at 18:38 UTC, April 22nd 2008 under Phones in S60 3rd Edition|| 7 Comments / Post New Comment
The Nokia 5320 XpressMusic is a mid tier S60 device with a music focus. However it also includes other Ovi services such as Nokia Maps, Share Online and N-Gage (including gaming specific keys). It has a Say and Play function (voice control of music) and dedicated music play back controls as well as a 3.5mm audio jack. At 220 Euros (before taxes and subsidies) it is the cheapest S60 device [at launch].
Dedicated Music Controls
The left hand side of the device has dedicated music controls. Forward - Play / Pause - Back. They're nicely position for a quick thumb tap when holding the phone in one handed (if you're right handed that is!).
You can view the set on Flickr here.
Gallery Discussion
krisse
Comment: Ah, so there ARE two gaming keys!
The media button on the top looked awkward at first, but it's actually in exactly the same place as a shoulder button on a games console, so it should be fairly easy to use in games.
The media button on the top looked awkward at first, but it's actually in exactly the same place as a shoulder button on a games console, so it should be fairly easy to use in games.
davidmaxwaterma
Comment: > The left hand side of the device has dedicated music controls.
> Forward - Play / Pause - Back. They're nicely position for a quick thumb tap when
> holding the phone in one handed (if you're right handed that is!).
I think you'll find they favour people who are left handed....since they're on the left hand side of the phone and, when holding a phone, your thumb is also on the left of the device.....at least when holding the phone the right way up and in portrait mode; in landscape mode, I'd guess it works ok for either hand. (Yes, I'm left handed).
Someone mentioned on the other 5320 news thread about the grouping of the keys on the main keypad, and that it looks like they're shaped to look like a typical gaming keypad - I'm a little disappointed that this doesn't seem to be the case (though perhaps this isn't worth mentioning).
> Forward - Play / Pause - Back. They're nicely position for a quick thumb tap when
> holding the phone in one handed (if you're right handed that is!).
I think you'll find they favour people who are left handed....since they're on the left hand side of the phone and, when holding a phone, your thumb is also on the left of the device.....at least when holding the phone the right way up and in portrait mode; in landscape mode, I'd guess it works ok for either hand. (Yes, I'm left handed).
Someone mentioned on the other 5320 news thread about the grouping of the keys on the main keypad, and that it looks like they're shaped to look like a typical gaming keypad - I'm a little disappointed that this doesn't seem to be the case (though perhaps this isn't worth mentioning).
Unregistered
Comment: Hey Rafe, great photos there. i was just wondering the standby screen looks so different is this s60 9.3 or s40?
also is it true that the front facing webcam doubles as a gaming key.
also is it true that the front facing webcam doubles as a gaming key.
Unregistered
Comment: Only 1 LED flash? but it looks two!! :) great photos though..
krisse
Comment: [quote]Someone mentioned on the other 5320 news thread about the grouping of the keys on the main keypad, and that it looks like they're shaped to look like a typical gaming keypad - I'm a little disappointed that this doesn't seem to be the case (though perhaps this isn't worth mentioning).[/quote]
You can use phones' full keypads in N-Gage games if you prefer, which works fine in vertical mode, but it really isn't that great in horizontal mode. If you're holding it horizontally, having the control buttons and the d-pad all on one side of the phone with nothing on the other side feels very very awkward (try it yourself to see what I mean). The balance is all wrong in horizontal mode.
The only N-Gage phone which manages to successfully use the full keypad in horizontal mode is the N93/N93i, because of its unique form factor which puts the screen at the top and the controls at the bottom.
[quote](Yes, I'm left handed)[/quote]
I hope you've noticed the flip/rotate screen option which seems to be standard in the new N-Gage games. It's the first time since the Atari Lynx where you can decide which sides of the screen the d-pad and buttons go.
You can use phones' full keypads in N-Gage games if you prefer, which works fine in vertical mode, but it really isn't that great in horizontal mode. If you're holding it horizontally, having the control buttons and the d-pad all on one side of the phone with nothing on the other side feels very very awkward (try it yourself to see what I mean). The balance is all wrong in horizontal mode.
The only N-Gage phone which manages to successfully use the full keypad in horizontal mode is the N93/N93i, because of its unique form factor which puts the screen at the top and the controls at the bottom.
[quote](Yes, I'm left handed)[/quote]
I hope you've noticed the flip/rotate screen option which seems to be standard in the new N-Gage games. It's the first time since the Atari Lynx where you can decide which sides of the screen the d-pad and buttons go.
malerocks
Comment: [quote=Unregistered;374497]i was just wondering the standby screen looks so different is this s60 9.3 or s40?[/quote]
Its S60 alright. Notice the swirl S60 menu key on the keypad. Dont know about it been 9.3, although logically, that is what it should be since the n96 also is.
[quote=Unregistered;374497] also is it true that the front facing webcam doubles as a gaming key.[/quote]
Webcam as a gaming key??? How does that work?
Its S60 alright. Notice the swirl S60 menu key on the keypad. Dont know about it been 9.3, although logically, that is what it should be since the n96 also is.
[quote=Unregistered;374497] also is it true that the front facing webcam doubles as a gaming key.[/quote]
Webcam as a gaming key??? How does that work?
Rafe
Comment: [quote=davidmaxwaterma;374493]> The left hand side of the device has dedicated music controls.
> Forward - Play / Pause - Back. They're nicely position for a quick thumb tap when
> holding the phone in one handed (if you're right handed that is!).
I think you'll find they favour people who are left handed....since they're on the left hand side of the phone and, when holding a phone, your thumb is also on the left of the device.....at least when holding the phone the right way up and in portrait mode; in landscape mode, I'd guess it works ok for either hand. (Yes, I'm left handed).
Someone mentioned on the other 5320 news thread about the grouping of the keys on the main keypad, and that it looks like they're shaped to look like a typical gaming keypad - I'm a little disappointed that this doesn't seem to be the case (though perhaps this isn't worth mentioning).[/quote]
David - yes you are absolutely right. (Whoops). I tend to use a phone ambidextrously depending on what hand I have free / what pocket I put the phone in. I would note though that the phone is small enough that you reach your fingers around easily or reach up an over the screen with a thumb.
[quote=Unregistered;374497]Hey Rafe, great photos there. i was just wondering the standby screen looks so different is this s60 9.3 or s40?
also is it true that the front facing webcam doubles as a gaming key.[/quote]
Is S60 3.2 on Symbian OS 9.3. Its a custom standby screen specifically for this product, although it can be changed to the default on. No the web cam (VGA camera) is not a gaming key - the rewind / back music key is the second gaming key.
[quote=Unregistered;374500]Only 1 LED flash? but it looks two!! :) great photos though..[/quote]
It does look like that - but there is only 1. Apparently the design looked more balanced with the window in that configuration (which make sense - it stretches across the lens area).
> Forward - Play / Pause - Back. They're nicely position for a quick thumb tap when
> holding the phone in one handed (if you're right handed that is!).
I think you'll find they favour people who are left handed....since they're on the left hand side of the phone and, when holding a phone, your thumb is also on the left of the device.....at least when holding the phone the right way up and in portrait mode; in landscape mode, I'd guess it works ok for either hand. (Yes, I'm left handed).
Someone mentioned on the other 5320 news thread about the grouping of the keys on the main keypad, and that it looks like they're shaped to look like a typical gaming keypad - I'm a little disappointed that this doesn't seem to be the case (though perhaps this isn't worth mentioning).[/quote]
David - yes you are absolutely right. (Whoops). I tend to use a phone ambidextrously depending on what hand I have free / what pocket I put the phone in. I would note though that the phone is small enough that you reach your fingers around easily or reach up an over the screen with a thumb.
[quote=Unregistered;374497]Hey Rafe, great photos there. i was just wondering the standby screen looks so different is this s60 9.3 or s40?
also is it true that the front facing webcam doubles as a gaming key.[/quote]
Is S60 3.2 on Symbian OS 9.3. Its a custom standby screen specifically for this product, although it can be changed to the default on. No the web cam (VGA camera) is not a gaming key - the rewind / back music key is the second gaming key.
[quote=Unregistered;374500]Only 1 LED flash? but it looks two!! :) great photos though..[/quote]
It does look like that - but there is only 1. Apparently the design looked more balanced with the window in that configuration (which make sense - it stretches across the lens area).