NTT DoCoMo today announced that the SO903iMOAP on Symbian handset has started shipping in Japan. The SO903i is a Mobile TV handset (one segment technology) and features a BRAVIA banded 3 inch wide WQVGA screen along with a 2 megapixel camera and the usual music playback features. You can see the SO903i in action in on of our previous videocasts .
Never let it be said that we at AAS are afraid to speak our minds. Despite lashings of style, good overall build quality and decent music controls, the Nokia N76 is ultimately found wanting in my illustrated review, with that mirror finish and with screens that are just about impossible to see in bright light - why did they bother including a camera?
AAS's Ewan Spence only bought his Nokia N95 a week ago, but he's packed an awful lot into seven days. Here he reports back on what works well on the N95 and what.... works even better. The highlight seems to have been using it to film and then edit videos and photos from Yahoo Hackday... on the spot.
So there I was chatting to the AAS team yesterday and wondering how long it would take until the N95 received its next firmware update - and it turns out that v12 firmware is on the horizon at least, Ricky Cadden has got himself a preview and some screenshots. The main addition so far noticed seems to be Assisted GPS, in an attempt to solve the N95's legendary GPS lock-on problems.
It seems that the Nokia N80 has had a major firmware update, to 5.0719.0.2 (from v4.x), which is already available in your Nokia Software Update. For unbranded/unlocked devices, anyway. (Via Symbian-Freak)
In advance of my more detailed AllAboutSymbian review, I've included a video review of the Nokia N76 in Smartphones Show 35. Also in this show is a feature on making the most of your smartphone's battery life. Show 35 is here in MP4 format on the page, here on YouTube and here's the iTunes feed.
I don't normally shout about my print reviews, but if you're in the UK, this one's worth looking for in the newsagents. Issue 63 of PDA Essentials is out today and has my review of the Nokia E90 Communicator. And it seems that the editor has been playing with an E90 too, slapping his 'Editor's Choice Award' on the review. The review bottom line? "Great to see the line continuing and with such a cutting edge spec, but it's not for everyone". Score: 8/10.
Nokia have announced the Nokia 6121 Classic, a variant of the previously announced Nokia 6120 Classic . The 6121 supports WCDMA bands 900 and 2100 in contrast to the 850 and 2100 in the 6210. The other specifications remain the same with quad band GSM and HSDPA connectivity, a 2.0 megapixel camera, microSD support, QVGA screen and use of S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1. Read on for the explanation.
Look what DHL just dropped off! I'm still unsure whether I love it or hate it(!), but enjoy below the photos of me unboxing the Nokia N76, their answer to the RAZR generation and a nice piece of design in its own right. Just don't mix the mirror-finish N76 and fast food.....
Maybe AAS should launch 'The Observers Book of Smartphones'? Anyway, it's always worth a glance in all the phone shops in your local town. In this case (photos below), I spotted Vodafone heavily promoting their new data tariffs and the first appearance of the Motorola Z8 to the masses.
If you own an N73 then it's worth backing it up and then hooking it up to Nokia Software Update via your PC Suite. According to Ricky Cadden, there's a MAJOR new firmware update available, 4.0723.2.0.1, for many N73 variants. A2DP, FOTA and other handy acronyms(!) are reported now supported. Please comment if you do the update.
Thanks to Ares for pointing out that the Sony Ericsson P990i has had a major new firmware update (available on the Sony Ericsson Update Service). 'R6D23' has many bug fixes and improvements, positively affecting the camera, free RAM and OS speed. Maybe the P990i has finally reached its potential?
Sony Ericsson has announced a new range of music accessories for their Walkman phones such as the W950i and W960. The new accessories include the HBH-DS200 Bluetooth headset (including music and call controls), two standard headsets (HPM-90 and HPM-83), the MMR-70 FM Music Transmitter (adjustable frequency and 10m range), and the MDS-65 Music Desk Stand (with both battery powered and AC modes).
Never let it be said that we at AAS are afraid to speak our minds. Despite lashings of style, good overall build quality and decent music controls, the Nokia N76 is ultimately found wanting in my illustrated review, with that mirror finish and with screens that are just about impossible to see in bright light - why did they bother including a camera?
With the media about to erupt in a stream of iPhone reviews, Steve gets his thoughts in first, taking Jobs' original line-up of phones that are "'smart', so they say" and comparing how functional they are in daily life. Are miniature keyboards really the problem? Steve thinks (not for the first time) that a lot comes down to where, when and how you need to use your smartphone.
Look what DHL just dropped off! I'm still unsure whether I love it or hate it(!), but enjoy below the photos of me unboxing the Nokia N76, their answer to the RAZR generation and a nice piece of design in its own right. Just don't mix the mirror-finish N76 and fast food.....
