Attempting to analyse the smartphone market, from HTC's diminutive Star Trek design to Nokia's all-embracing E90 communicator, was never going to be easy. I've had a crack at it, with the help of a few coloured pens - are we getting enough smartphone bang for our buck?
Nokia has announced that Nokia Software Update is now available from many Nokia local support web pages and that it's also now available in almost 40 languages. So far, over three quarters of a million people have updated their Nokia smartphone using the service. Kudos to their NSU team. Read on for the Nokia press release.
Thanks to Darla for spotting that the long awaited N93/N93i tripod (Nokia code DT-22) is finally available if you know where to look. Expansys, for example, are offering it with only a 6 day wait and at only £15.
So... I had one last fling with the prototype Nokia E90 before it was sent away to be updated - and I'd had numerous requests to try using it to browse various web sites. Here's my account of my final hour with the big-screened E90.... online (via Wi-Fi). Make sure you read to the end for some important talking points and technical notes.
With its tiny size, slider form factor and extra telephony buttons, the Nokia E65 looks to be quite a special smartphone with a voice/business emphasis. Rafe has been living with an early production example for a week and here's his big E65 review.
Thanks to Darla for pointing out that most N80 smartphone owners can now officially upgrade their devices to 'Internet Edition' using Nokia Software Update.
Research firm IDC has issued worldwide figures for smartphone sales for 2006, reporting that 80 million shipped in all, of which Nokia accounted for around half, 38 million devices. RIM's Blackberry came in second with 7 million, with Motorola's Windows Mobile and Linux portfolio in third, at almost 5 million. (via RingNokia)
Just a heads-up that Smartphones Show programme 25 is now live and features a video preview of the Nokia E90. Includes shots of four-finger typing on the E90 keyboard and video playback. Or subscribe to the show using its RSS feed.
Rafe and Ewan have been living with the upcoming Nokia E61i for almost a week now - here's their preview of this improved variant on the extremely popular E61. What's changed, what's good and who's going to buy it?
Krisse explores the myths and deceptions involved with selling phones 'locked'. When is a free phone not really free? What about the so-called advantages of buying through a network operator? And how can you and I change the situation? Read on in another thought-provoking Krisse rant!
