Just a heads-up that both my Phones Show video review of the Nokia E7 (also embedded below) and an edition of Phones Show Chat (post-that day) are now live. The former finds the E7 to perhaps be one compromise too many, while the latter sees David Gilson, Tim Salmon, Dan Carter and myself chewing over the Nokia-Microsoft news, plus the usual chit-chat, q&a and so forth. RSS and other links below.
Two days after its investor-focused Strategy and Financial meeting, much covered in previous stories, Nokia held a more consumer-focussed press conference just before Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. While the overall message was no different to Friday's event, Nokia did provide some additional details on its short-term Symbian plans. These include a wave of new devices and significant software updates for Symbian^3. [Story updated after Rafe got back from the event]
At a Strategy and Financial Briefing, which takes place at 10 am GMT on February 11th Nokia's CEO, Stephen Elop, is expected to outline his vision for the future strategy of the company. Rafe will be reporting live from Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel, London, where the event is taking place. You can follow our live coverage using this story or via our Twitter accounts (@aas and @allaboutmeego).
A semi-official top-level changelog has emerged for the big PR 1.1 firmware update that was released this week for most C6-01, C7 and N8 variants. It's expanded and sanitised below, but it's worth noting that it's confirmed that, as I suspected in the original story, the likes of Ovi Store are now fully baked into the full firmware, so users complaining of problems getting up and running after an emergency hard reset should now be a thing of the past.
Following his 4500 word part 1 of the All About Symbian review of the Nokia E7, Rafe also took time to shoot a comprehensive 14 minute video (embedded below), up close and personal with the device. If you haven't got time to work through the review text, sit back with a cup of tea and watch this instead. The video focusses on the hardware, especially the QWERTY keyboard and with some nice comparisons to previous Communicators, but Rafe also covers some elements of the Symbian^3 software and Ovi services that power the device.
Finishing the triumvirate, All About Symbian’s Nokia C6-01 received the PR 1.1 firmware update this morning. Clocking in at the expected 7MB, this is v13.016 for the smallest Symbian^3 device. Updates include changes to the web browser, email client, music player and a number of miscellaneous issues around the handset.
Nokia has announced that "The highly anticipated Nokia E7 will begin arriving in stores in select markets this week, with broader availability building up quickly in several markets." Many readers have said that they've been texted by Nokia to say that their order is ready for collection in-store and we also now have (as you'll see from the review adjacent) a full retail E7 of our own, which Rafe has been testing intensively for a few days. More from the press release below.
The first outright firmware update (version 13.016) , also known as PR 1.1, is now available for the Nokia N8, too (the previous firmware was 11.012). The update, which is 7MB in size, is available OTA (over the air) and can be downloaded using Device Manager (type *#0000# in the dialler to get to it quickly). Updates include updates to Web and Quickoffice (gains editing facilities as standard), plus upgrades and patches for email and Music player and fixes for a lot of miscellaneous issues. There's also support for landscape mode in the dialler (call) application. Full changelog below.
Following Ewan's first (hardware) and second (software, conclusions) review parts for the Nokia C5-03, he and Emu continue to do things the wrong way round and take on a new Internet meme - a reluctant (to send back to Nokia) 'video reboxing'. Embedded below. Oh, and be sure to watch to the very end - that Emu's a sneaky bird...
The first firmware update (version 13.0.16) , also known as PR 1.1, is now available for the Nokia C7. The update, which is 6.8MB in size, is available OTA (over the air) and can be downloaded using the 'SW update' application. Updates include a noticeable improvement in overall performance (e.g. smoother scrolling and transitions), support for landscape in the dialler (call) application and a number of bug fixes.
Nokia have released a promotional video that features the Nokia E7's lead industrial designer, Shunjiro Eguchi, explaining the inspiration behind the device's design: 'making the complex simple'. It explains some of the thinking behind the keyboard, the mechanics and physical properties of the new high end Symbian^3 device. There's also a behind the scenes look at the E7's factory production line, concept sketches and more.
The Nokia Bicycle Charger accessory is now available in select markets. It can be bought from Nokia's online shops and other select retailers; the Nokia UK online shop is selling it for £25. The accessory uses pedal power to recharge the battery in your phone. It works by attaching a dynamo to the wheel that generates power as you move. Those using the accessory will need to maintain a speed of at least 4 mph and no more than 31 mph to provide sufficient energy for effective charging.
Even though we first reported on the standardisation of mobile phone chargers two years ago, the International Electrotechnical Commission has finally published its IEC International Standard IEC 62684, entitled "Interoperability specifications of common external power supply (EPS) for use with data-enabled mobile telephones". This final push has partly been made possible by the IEC signing a "memorandum of understanding" with the USB Implementers Forum. The standard has been based on specifications from fourteen companies: Apple, Nokia, Research in Motion, Emblaze Mobile, Huawei Technologies, LGE, Motorola Mobility, NEC, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, TCT Mobile (ALCATEL), Texas Instruments and Atmel.
The N8 has been something of a landmark device for Nokia. It was proclaimed at Nokia World that the fight back started with the N8. As part of this fight back, Nokia have thrown a lot of marketing muscle behind the N8, of course focussing on its outstanding 12 megapixel camera. Specifically, there has been the Nokia Push N8 contest and the N8 Producers competition. Besides those official adventures of the N8, its users and reviewers alike seem to continue to put the phone through its paces in the most unconventional ways. It is surely a testament to the admiration people feel for the device. Read on to see what some people have been up to with their N8.
Figures are now in, according to IDC, for overall phones sales worldwide for Q4 2010, for all manufacturers (we're still waiting for further breakdown into smartphone stats, though see Rafe's own chart in the Nokia Q4 results story for his (usually accurate) take on this. Quotes and a table below. Summary: Nokia down 2% year-on-year, but still selling almost as many as the companies in second, third and fourth places put together, Apple slip to 5th, but still almost double Q4 sales, YoY.
