All About Symbian - Symbian, Nokia and S60 unwrapped.
Gallery: Nokia E55
Published by Rafe Blandford at 14:42 UTC, August 12th 2009
Summary:
The Nokia E55 is Nokia's first half QWERTY keyboard phone; it's also one of its slimmest. This Eseries Symbian device features include a GPS with integrated compass, 3.2 megapixel EDoF camera, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The software includes the full range of Ovi services from Nokia Maps, to Files on Ovi and N-Gage.
You can also view the photos here on Flickr.
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E55 boxIt's the standard Eseries box, complete with red stripe down one side. -
E55 box from the back -
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Packaging with included Nokia Messaging and MapsThe E55 comes with a lifetime subscription to Nokia Messaging and a 10 Nokia Maps Drive subscription. -
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Nokia E55 box contentsThe usually suspects are found inside the E55 box. Battery, eadset, manual and CD, USB cable, charger, and a charger adapter (Nokia 2mm to microUSB) -
Nokia E55 wants to escape the box -
D-pad detailThe D-pad is made of aluminum (?) and has a textured pattern. This gives a firm grip and is a nice touch in the use of materials. -
D-pad detail -
microUSB portThe microUSB port is used for PC connectivity and charging. -
Nokia E55 from the topThe power button and all important 3.5mm audio jack -
Keyboard sloping detailNote how the keys are tapered from top to bottom. This results in each key bottom being higher than the top of they below it. This arrangement improves the accuracy of key hits. -
3.2 megapixel camera with flashRather than having auto-focus, the E55 has an EDoF lens (extended depth of field). This allows the camera module to be shrunk and is one of the reasons the E55 can be so thin. Performance wise it is significantly better than fixed focus, but how is measures up to an actuator based auto-focus is up for debate (basic answer - good enough in most conditions, but not equal too) -
microSD memory card slot -
The One Touch / Delete keyNote how the key is tapered upwards at either end making it easier to hit the 'right' side of the button. -
Battery cover release -
E55 email list -
Half QWERTYThe half QWERTY keyboard has two letter keys on most of the keys. It can be used in either predictive or multi-tap mode. In predictive mode you hit the relevant key once, and the predictive software does the rest. The vast majority of the time you get exactly what you intended, but if not a list of alternative options are a down key press away. In multi-tap mode you hit the key once to get the first letter and twice to get the second letter. -
SIm card slot and memory card slotThe microSD card slot is just below the lower end of the SIM card slot in this photo. You have to take the back off the phone to access it (a good thing, in my opinion, as it cuts down on the number of external openings. -
E55 batteryThe E55's battery has a capacity of 1500 mAh. It is the same battery that is found in the E71 and N97. What impresses is that the phone seems to be mainly battery and little else. The rest of the hardware is squeezed into a small space. Suggesting the size is largely dictated by the battery. -
Aluminum backingThe backs of both the E52 and E55 have an etched aluminum finish, which looks fantastic. The back pieces are also extremely light. -
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Nokia E51, Nokia E52 and Nokia E55The chnage from the stainless steel to aluminum backing is obvious here. Aside from weight saved, a key advantages is that aluminum can be colour-anodised. This means we can expect to see future Eseries devices in a greater range of colours than ever before. -
E52 and E55 -
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E50, E51, E52 (and E55)The E5x series has been on something of a diet over the years. The E52 and E55 are significantly thinner than their predecessors. -
The E5x series through the yearsThe E52 are slightly longer and wider than the the E51 and E50, but are thinners and have bigger screens. The E51 has a bigger internal memory (C: drive), but, that aside, all the hardware advantages are with the more recent devices. -
Nokia's Eseries line up: E52, E55, E71 and E7 -
E52 and E55 -
Nokia QWERTY solutionsThis picture represents Nokia's four current approaches to QWERTY - slider, thumb-board, half-QWERTY and funky slider -
Nokia E71 and Nokia E55The Nokia E55 arrives a year after the E71. Despite the short time gap there's a surprisingly large gap in the software capabilities of the two phones (and arguable the hardware too). This bodes well for the forthcoming E72, which is effectively an E71 with the software and hardware upgrades of the E55. More accurately the E55 and E72 are the same generation of Eseries devices, where as the E71 is previous generation. -
E55, E71 and E75Three different QWERTY solutions - a great example of how Nokia segments the market to gain more sales. -
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E55 versus E75 from the sideUnsurprisingly, given the respective form factors, the E75 is significantly thicker than the E55 . -
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Nokia E55 vs E52 in the handThe keyboard is the only major difference. -
Nokia E55 and E75Different approaches to the QWERTY challenge. In slide closed mode the E55 and E75 have a very similar footprint. -
E55 in hand -
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Mail for Exchange on the E55The Mail for Exchange client is the same as that found on the E75. This is a significant step up from the previous generation (standard on most Nokia phones, including the E71). It includes HTML and sub-folder support. Something that was previously only available in DataViz's RoadSync -
Nokia E55 in the handUntil you hold one in the hand, it is difficult to appreciate the slim dimensions of the E55. It's an impressive bit of industrial engineering, and, bearing in minds its capability and price points, it is hard to think of a comparable device from Nokia's competitors. -
Nokia E55 from the back -
Compass on the E55As shown here in Nokia Maps, in addition to the built in GPS, the E55 includes a magnetometer to give compass functionality. -
Multimedia softwareIncludes music search, Video centre, Real Player, Share online, Camera, Gallery, Recorder, Music store, and Radio. Bizarrely Podcasting seems to have gone AWOL, which is rather a shame (it's not in the Music player application either). -
The E55 homescreenFully configurable with 14 plug-ins, application shortcuts and the Eseries Switch mode, which allows you to have two home screens - one for work and one for home life. -
Photos applicationThe E55 has the Photos application, it launches from inside the Gallery application (rather than being stand alone). This is a sensible choice, especially on a business device, as it helps cut down on the number of application icons. -
The thin battery coverThe E55's battery cover is very thin, and doesn't feel that substantial. However, because it is made of aluminum it should have no problem standing the test of time.
Discussion
Unregistered
Great review I have been waiting for this.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Rafe
Just to point out I had a more positive experience with the keyboard, as I mentioned in my first look review. In contrast to Steve I found speeds nearer a full QWERTY device than I did a 12 key device.
I think this illustrates the issue of user choice / opinion nicely. Basically there's no way to get a full QWERTY on to the E52 form factor so the E55 solution is the best compromise. Looks like there's room for improvement though on software (I don't have the E55 so can't check what I was doing when entering punctuation etc.). I will point out it is self learning so for names etc it will get better with usage (same as T9).
I'm also a lot fonder of word auto-completion than Steve (gimmicky - not for me!)... and the Eseries switch home screen tool - I wish all Nokia devices had it...
There' also still plenty of stuff on the E55/E52 we've not talked about. I'll try and address some of this in more detail in due course (with regards to some enterprise extras).
Rafe
I think this illustrates the issue of user choice / opinion nicely. Basically there's no way to get a full QWERTY on to the E52 form factor so the E55 solution is the best compromise. Looks like there's room for improvement though on software (I don't have the E55 so can't check what I was doing when entering punctuation etc.). I will point out it is self learning so for names etc it will get better with usage (same as T9).
I'm also a lot fonder of word auto-completion than Steve (gimmicky - not for me!)... and the Eseries switch home screen tool - I wish all Nokia devices had it...
There' also still plenty of stuff on the E55/E52 we've not talked about. I'll try and address some of this in more detail in due course (with regards to some enterprise extras).
Rafe
Unregistered
The screenshots show how pathetically small the QVGA resolution. The letters are pixelised, blocky and just plain ugly.
slitchfield
Let's not get into the screen resolution debate again. For a 2.4" screen, QVGA is absolutely fine. It only starts to look blocky ON THE DEVICE once you get to 2.6" and 2.8" displays, IMHO.
Sizzers
Hi Steve! Excellent review (as always!). The quirk you mentioned with using punctuation (it'a, etc.), can than not be rectified by intoducing that as a new word? And how did you find it for one-handed use? Cheers.
xxnoelziexx
I have had my E55 & 52 for two weeks so will share a little input. For one-handed use the E52 is a much better solution.
The half QWERTY is designed to be used with two hands but it is possible to use one handed. You have to be more accurate and in a weird way I felt like I would drop the device when trying to use it one handed (My thumb was going all over the place). The E52 is a lot more comfortable one handed. I am walking around most of the time and found myself constantly stopping to text or email with the E55 were, as with the E52 it felt more natural. If you have both hands free then you won't have any issues.
The half QWERTY is designed to be used with two hands but it is possible to use one handed. You have to be more accurate and in a weird way I felt like I would drop the device when trying to use it one handed (My thumb was going all over the place). The E52 is a lot more comfortable one handed. I am walking around most of the time and found myself constantly stopping to text or email with the E55 were, as with the E52 it felt more natural. If you have both hands free then you won't have any issues.
RickyS
Hi
Just a question, slightly off-topic: how do you find out which version of Web is installed? (I have a Innov8, which is also S60v3 FP2, but I guess it's not as updated...)
Thanks
Ricky
Just a question, slightly off-topic: how do you find out which version of Web is installed? (I have a Innov8, which is also S60v3 FP2, but I guess it's not as updated...)
Thanks
Ricky
davekolmer
xxnoelziexx, does the E55 have T9 for the numeric keys? If so, that would still be a one-handed option, right?
Unregistered
Does a long press on the fullstop/comma button enable you to choose whether to have a fullstop or a comma? Likewise for an apostrophe can you long press on the appropriate key to bring up an apostrophe?
slitchfield
>>Does a long press on the fullstop/comma button enable you to choose whether to have a fullstop or a comma? Likewise for an apostrophe can you long press on the appropriate key to bring up an apostrophe?
Long press on the ., key gives a semi colon. Long press on the l key gives apostrophe.
Re: Web version: if your copy doesn't have an 'About' menu item then you have the 'old' one! 8-)
Long press on the ., key gives a semi colon. Long press on the l key gives apostrophe.
Re: Web version: if your copy doesn't have an 'About' menu item then you have the 'old' one! 8-)
rvirga
Great review!
Does the E55 have a digital compass? If so, do Ovi Maps and the N97Compass app work with it?
Have you checked to see if by chance either Podcasting or Internet Radio were available from Download!? Alternatively, does the version of Podcasting that Nokia offers as a free download for older devices work on the E55?
Does the E55 have a digital compass? If so, do Ovi Maps and the N97Compass app work with it?
Have you checked to see if by chance either Podcasting or Internet Radio were available from Download!? Alternatively, does the version of Podcasting that Nokia offers as a free download for older devices work on the E55?
rvirga
RickyS, another, slightly more scientific, method is to visit with your phone some site that show you your user-agent string, for example http://www.useragent.org/.
The older Web application uses version 413 of the Apple WebKit. For example, the user-agent of your i8510 may look something like this:
Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.3; U; Series60/3.2 Samsung/I8510/XXHJ3; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 ) AppleWebKit/413 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/413
By contrast, the newer Web app uses version 525. For example, the user-agent of the E55 is:
Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.3; Series60/3.2 NokiaE55-1/021.008; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 ) AppleWebKit/525 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 BrowserNG/7.1.13841
Version 525 is also the one used by the browser on the iPhone OS 2.0, whose user-agent is:
Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5A345 Safari/525.20
The older Web application uses version 413 of the Apple WebKit. For example, the user-agent of your i8510 may look something like this:
Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.3; U; Series60/3.2 Samsung/I8510/XXHJ3; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 ) AppleWebKit/413 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/413
By contrast, the newer Web app uses version 525. For example, the user-agent of the E55 is:
Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.3; Series60/3.2 NokiaE55-1/021.008; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 ) AppleWebKit/525 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 BrowserNG/7.1.13841
Version 525 is also the one used by the browser on the iPhone OS 2.0, whose user-agent is:
Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5A345 Safari/525.20
Ratkat
You can download internet radio from Nokia
Full instructions here
http://www.s60mobile.co.uk/2009/08/1...nternet-radio/
Full instructions here
http://www.s60mobile.co.uk/2009/08/1...nternet-radio/
Unregistered
Will you be getting the Nokia E72 in for a hands-on any time soon? I still really can't make my mind up between the E55 or the E72!
Unregistered
Has anyone measured the battery lifetime with WLAN active all the time? I'm planning to have push-mail, RSS-feeds and SIP VoIP on all the time while in range of a hotspot (e.g. at home or the office). I heared the first WLAN-enabled phones had battery issues when used this way.
Ratkat
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
Has anyone measured the battery lifetime with WLAN active all the time? I'm planning to have push-mail, RSS-feeds and SIP VoIP on all the time while in range of a hotspot (e.g. at home or the office). I heared the first WLAN-enabled phones had battery issues when used this way.
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I haven't let the battery drop below four bars yet.
malerocks
It would have been amazing if the half qwerty was the kind implemented by SE in M600 and the P1i, i.e. press the left side for Q and press the right side for W. No T9 needed in that case and it works almost like a qwerty.
Word suggestion is still a good feature though and definitely increases speed, but may not work at all.
Word suggestion is still a good feature though and definitely increases speed, but may not work at all.
Slanina
I am confused about the memory of this device. For me, the amount of RAM is the most critical information when it comes to smartphones (that is why I have N82). There is really nothing more frustrating than "Sorry out of RAM" messages while being under a time pressure.
On the official site you get the following information (http://www.forum.nokia.com/devices/E55):
Memory Functions
Maximum User Storage 60 MB
NAND Memory 256 MB
Memory Card type Micro SD
Memory Card Features Hot Swap
Maximum Memory Card Size 16 GB
Maximum Heap Size Unlimited
Maximum JAR Size Unlimited
Where is RAM? Or is NAND (the flash type memory) used as such? Could anybody please clarify this for me?
On the official site you get the following information (http://www.forum.nokia.com/devices/E55):
Memory Functions
Maximum User Storage 60 MB
NAND Memory 256 MB
Memory Card type Micro SD
Memory Card Features Hot Swap
Maximum Memory Card Size 16 GB
Maximum Heap Size Unlimited
Maximum JAR Size Unlimited
Where is RAM? Or is NAND (the flash type memory) used as such? Could anybody please clarify this for me?
Unregistered
Absolutely essential for travelling on business. Can you let us know when it arrives then I will buy either e55 or e72 according to how I like the keyboard
pintofale
I wonder if Nokia will ever make a non-touch phone better than the E90.
This one has the E90's battery but nothing has the E90's screen, even the bug-crippled N97, and it looks like hardware graphics acceleration is gone for ever. If I had to replace my two year old E90 now I could only do so with another E90, even if I take cost out of it. Or maybe Apple will have cornered the market in another year or two... they deserve to.
This one has the E90's battery but nothing has the E90's screen, even the bug-crippled N97, and it looks like hardware graphics acceleration is gone for ever. If I had to replace my two year old E90 now I could only do so with another E90, even if I take cost out of it. Or maybe Apple will have cornered the market in another year or two... they deserve to.
serwei
About the camera, is it good enough to shoot business cards? and of cos the square Qcodes lol.
Possible to post a test? :)
Possible to post a test? :)
Ammar_Dento
@Pintofale
We are on the same boat. I am using the E90 from 11 month and i used to upgrade each 10 months but now i cant find a successor even on non-Nokia and non-Symbian phones. I am afraid i will go the wrong way and buy a Netbook or WM device.
From E55 i miss:
1. Speed & performance.
2. Photos application to organize my huge images collection.
3. Better Calendar. (now using 3rd party).
4. Ngage.
But what i will miss if i leave E90 to dust is more important. I cant exchange the huge screen,keyboard for just (just fior me) Ngage.
We are on the same boat. I am using the E90 from 11 month and i used to upgrade each 10 months but now i cant find a successor even on non-Nokia and non-Symbian phones. I am afraid i will go the wrong way and buy a Netbook or WM device.
From E55 i miss:
1. Speed & performance.
2. Photos application to organize my huge images collection.
3. Better Calendar. (now using 3rd party).
4. Ngage.
But what i will miss if i leave E90 to dust is more important. I cant exchange the huge screen,keyboard for just (just fior me) Ngage.
RickyS
@rvirga Thanks! I'll check it out
Unregistered
nice 2 read your reviews !! almost perfect ;)
i have a question 4 those have this device. how is typing with it ? i spend too much time 4 texting. most handsets give me pain in hand !! ow about E55 ? how much keyboard is soft and easy ? thanx
Radin
i have a question 4 those have this device. how is typing with it ? i spend too much time 4 texting. most handsets give me pain in hand !! ow about E55 ? how much keyboard is soft and easy ? thanx
Radin
Unregistered
Can you confirm which 3G Bands are supported? Thanks!
