As part of their launch communications Nokia have uploaded a series of videos to YouTube showing off some of the key elements on the Nokia N8. Plus there's a video showcasing the N8's design with the help of a hands freestyler and another telling you about Nokia's 'Make My App' competition, through which you could win your own N8 and a trip to London. We have rounded up all these videos up into a single post - read on to see the videos and additional details.
This morning's announcement of the Nokia N8 marks, for me, the end point of a five year journey that Nokia has taken us on in the smartphone world. Yes, other manufacturers pop up in this field every now and then, but Nokia's path has been more consistent. Read on for more, including my thoughts on how the N8 finally replaces every previous smartphone camera champion. Xenon flash, stereo audio capture, intelligent digital zoom and more...
Nokia today introduced their first Symbian^3 device, the Nokia N8. It is a web aware, content creation and consumption smartphone flagship in a monoblock touch form factor. It features a 12 megapixel camera with Xenon flash and the ability to record 720p (HD) videos, a 3.5 inch capacitive touchscreen with support for multi-touch gestures, 16 GB of mass memory, microSD card slot, HDMI out, FM transmitter, integrated GPS and comprehensive connectivity options (3G, Bluetooth, microUSB and b/g/n WiFi).
The phone will ship with a full range of Ovi services (Maps, Music, Messaging and Store) and marks the debut of Web TV and Social Networking integration service. With Symbian^3 comes a number of changes both to the platform and the UI. Among the highlights are support for multi-page homescreen, re-written graphics architecture, a renewed music experience with cover flow and easier access to albums, visual task switcher, streamlined menu structure with Direct UI single tap paradigm and performance improvements across a broad range of areas.
The Nokia N8 will be available in Q3 2010 at a cost of €370 before taxes and subsidies.
Now online is the second of my beginner's guides to smartphones - Getting started with the Nokia 5530. Again, it's not aimed at hard core AAS readers. This is one to point new 5530 owner/friends to. Also updated is 'Getting started with the Nokia 5230', following your comments and feedback. I hope this growing series will prove useful to newbies throughout 2010.
In All About Symbian Insight 115 Ewan, Steve and Rafe share their thoughts on the China bound Nokia C5-01 and Nokia X5 (TD-SCDMA handsets for China Mobile). We also take a detailed look at Nokia's Q1 2010 financial results with discussion of Nokia's Symbian^3 plans. Finally we cover Offscreen's 25 million Ovi Store downloads. You can listen to AAS Insight 115 here or, if you wish to subscribe, here's the RSS feed.
Version 50 firmware, that is! Guest writer Jon Satherley has been a long time user of the Nokia 5800 and below he puts into print his summary and brief thoughts on the version 50 firmware that has given the device yet another new lease of life, along with his intentions to try another smartphone platform.
The Bluetooth SIG has announced that the 'much anticipated' v4.0 update to the Bluetooth protocol (incorporating the Bluetooth low energy technology pioneered by Nokia in Wibree) will be finalized and sent to manufacturers by the end of June. Bluetooth 4.0 could theoretically be powered for years by a coin-celled battery, has faster transfer rates, and has an increased range that can extend up to 200 feet and beyond (at higher power, obviously). Bluetooth v4.0-enabled devices should come on sale around the end of 2010.
Today Nokia introduced the Nokia C5 for TD-SCDMA (C5-01), an affordable and classically styled candy bar smartphone. It runs S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 on Symbian OS 9.3 and features a 5 megapixel camera and stainless steel materials. It ships with support for a number of services including 139 mail box, Fetion IM, MM Ovi Store and a range of pre-loaded content. The C5 for TD-SCDMA will be available, in China, from Q3 2010.
Nokia today announced the Nokia X5 for TD-SCDMA, a mid-range music focused handset for the Chinese market. It runs S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 on Symbian 9.3 and features a 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash, a dedicated music key allowing one touch access to CMCC Music and ships with a range of services including MM-Ovi Store and Fetion IM. The Nokia X5 for TD-SCDMA will become available, in China, during Q2 2010.
Nokia has released their Q1 2010 results, reporting an operating profit of €488 million, with net sales €9.5 billion (up 3% YoY). Nokia's device and service division's profits were €831 million, up 52% year on year. Margins in devices and services were 12.1% (up 1.3% YoY and down 5% QoQ). Converged devices sales (smartphones) were 21.5 million, compared with 13.7 million units in Q1 2001 (up 57% YoY) and 20.1 million units in Q4 2009 (up 3%). As such, worldwide smartphone marketshare was 41%, up 1% sequentially and 3% year on year. Full story and comments below.
Google Maps for S60/Symbian just got itself an update to v4.1. No, not free real time navigation - that's still coming for Symbian - but voice searching, along the same lines as its existing Google Search applet. Just hold down the green (Call) key and say what you'd like to search for, etc. There are also minor updates to its Settings menu and a new 'Report a problem' function. Some quotes, links and screenshots below.
It is Steve's turn for a guest editorial slot on Nokia Conversations. In 'What makes a good cameraphone?' he considers what's needed to take great photos in all conditions. The editorial is part of the blog's Design by Community season, which aims to create a concept product via community input. This weeks focus is on the specifications of the camera and related components.
