All About Symbian - Symbian, Nokia and S60 unwrapped.
Real world (p)review: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic: S60's first touch-driven phone
Published by Steve Litchfield at 7:11 UTC, November 4th 2008
Rafe's had Nokia's 'Tube' for around three weeks and has been using it day in, day out. In this, part one of a hugely in-depth two part (p)review of the 5800 XpressMusic, he introduces the device, explores the hardware and, most importantly, looks at how well S60 and touch work in daily life. With photos and copious screenshots, Rafe tells all, and I think it's fair to say that the 5800 XpressMusic has pleasantly surprised us.
"Announced at Nokia's Remix event in London, at the beginning of October, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is a mid-range, music focused phone, running S60 5th Edition on Symbian OS 9.2, with a 3.2 megapixel camera, integrated GPS, WiFi and HSDPA connectivity, and a 3.2 inch touch screen. It's the last item on this feature list which draws attention to what would otherwise be a fairly standard mid range phone.
For the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is one of Nokia's most widely talked about (and leaked) phones of recent memory. There's no doubt that it is going to garner attention, coming in the wake of the recent spate of touch phones, including, of course, the Apple iPhone. While it's not Nokia's first touch phone (Nokia 7700/7110) or its first recent touch device (Nokia N810), it is the first S60 touch enabled phone and is a significant landmark in Nokia's mobile device story. However, it is worth noting from the start that it is not "Nokia's touch phone", instead it is the first in a portfolio of touch enabled phones from Nokia. This is an important distinction because, while the 5800 can tell us much about Nokia's touch platform generally, it can only be fairly assessed in the context of its own market positioning (music focused, cost of 279 Euro before taxes and subsidies)."
News Discussion
macwhu
great little round up - look forward to the next bit.
i had a play with a couple of them at the smartphone show.
i found keyboard entry on the full screen one really easy and accurate.
but i found the scrolling a bit baffling/random. im sure it would come to you quick enough though. A bit like it took a day or so to get used to the way android mixed swipes with physical buttons for the core UI.
i had a play with a couple of them at the smartphone show.
i found keyboard entry on the full screen one really easy and accurate.
but i found the scrolling a bit baffling/random. im sure it would come to you quick enough though. A bit like it took a day or so to get used to the way android mixed swipes with physical buttons for the core UI.
BOC
Great review - would be really interested in your views in one of the future parts on how audio quality compares to N81, say.
Rafe
I agree on the scrolling - it has taken me a while to get use to it. I don't think it as elegant as it could be (sorry tried to think of a better way to put it). As mentioned there are multiple ways to do it.
It'll be interesting to see devices with a D-pad appear as I think a combining of the two delivers the best of both worlds (see Treo users on this).
BTW sorry if you tried to comment earlier and couldn't, this has now been fixed.
I am happy to answer any questions may have so please post away (some things will be addressed in part 2).
It'll be interesting to see devices with a D-pad appear as I think a combining of the two delivers the best of both worlds (see Treo users on this).
BTW sorry if you tried to comment earlier and couldn't, this has now been fixed.
I am happy to answer any questions may have so please post away (some things will be addressed in part 2).
Rafe
I'll be commenting on audio in part 2, but I would say the audio as equal or better to N81 (uses the same hardware - I think)... but to be honest I have some difficult telling the difference via ear alone.
Unregistered
Hi Rafe, Nice review IMO. Your opinions match mine pretty closely - I wouldn't swap mine for anything else. I'm not a gamer though, so YMMV.
I love the alphanumeric T9 text entry, it's like you're still using a phone :-) That was the biggest thing I missed when I used a P910 back in the day, and probably the main reason I returned to S60 from UIQ as platform of choice. Handwriting is 'cool' but that and picking letters out is a lot slower for me than the 12-key T9 layout.
Maybe it's because I'm a long time S60 user, but for me this phone is the perfect combination of familiarity and newness. I love it.
I love the alphanumeric T9 text entry, it's like you're still using a phone :-) That was the biggest thing I missed when I used a P910 back in the day, and probably the main reason I returned to S60 from UIQ as platform of choice. Handwriting is 'cool' but that and picking letters out is a lot slower for me than the 12-key T9 layout.
Maybe it's because I'm a long time S60 user, but for me this phone is the perfect combination of familiarity and newness. I love it.
Unregistered
How's the web browsing experience like? Is scrolling smooth like on the iPhone??
Do youtube videos display in full screen in the browser, and what's the quality like?
I would really appreciate if you answer those questions.
Do youtube videos display in full screen in the browser, and what's the quality like?
I would really appreciate if you answer those questions.
malerocks
Rafe, the initial part of your article says "running S60 5th Edition on Symbian OS 9.2". Isn't it SYmbian OS 9.4??
Rafe
Yes yuo're right. I'll correct it - well spotted.
Unregistered
Hey, I am yet to read the full article but I just noticed the error made. The Nokia 5800 is an S60 5th edition, Symbian OS 9.4 device. Stating this is absolutely important because it means that right now it has the most advanced operating system and platform of any smartphone ever made, far outshining the flagship Nokia smartphone (Nokia N96) and indeed that of all other manufacturers.
Now that being said, I am looking forward to reading the full article!
Now that being said, I am looking forward to reading the full article!
Unregistered
Very pleased the screen is top quality. Was worried when specs leaked inc a resistive touch that it would be crap but thankfully that is not so.
I'm in a dilemma.I want the nseries touch but I'm impatient..and this is such a nice phone. If nseries touch only offer 8mp camera, and design changes that the extra dollar won't be worth it. Including a Xenon flash would be sound and make parting with my n82 a little less daunting.
Anyone have any ideas about when the nseries touch will be announced?
Dan
I'm in a dilemma.I want the nseries touch but I'm impatient..and this is such a nice phone. If nseries touch only offer 8mp camera, and design changes that the extra dollar won't be worth it. Including a Xenon flash would be sound and make parting with my n82 a little less daunting.
Anyone have any ideas about when the nseries touch will be announced?
Dan
snoyt
Great review, looking forward to part two. I had an iPhone in my hand last weekend and I was not impressed. It looked great, but is was not faster than the N82 in menu cruising and I found the functionality bland. I am looking forward to the promised n-series touchmodels that will be released into the fold.
malerocks
Guys, this is an image I found on the web for the supposedly nseries touch. I don't know if this is true or just somebody's imagination at work, but would be really really cool if it is something like this...
malerocks
One thing I wish it had - Nokia has introduced USB charging with the N85. It should now be a standard and there should not be separate ports for charging and data transfer.
sapporobaby
@BOC
Sound is subjective. When you say, sounds better. What are the criteria to compare against? What sounds good to me will surely sound better or different to someone else.
Sound is subjective. When you say, sounds better. What are the criteria to compare against? What sounds good to me will surely sound better or different to someone else.
Jago
Rafe
Great Review - Even though I'm not interested in this phone specifically you can get a feel for the Touch GUI!
How do you think it could be implemented on a Touch Communicator?
Similar small external screen with a numeric keypad out with internal touchscreen and physical keyboard
0r
Large external touchscreen, no physical keypad and non touch internal screen with physical keyboard
or
Large external touchscreen no keypad and internal touch screen (with physical keyboard as well):biggrin:
I guess some of the Sensor APIs would need to be changed so the movement of opening the internal screen didn't trigger them (like turning off alarms etc?)
Only trouble is well have to wait until probably Q4 2009 (at the earliest!) to find out!:frown:
Cheers
Jago
Great Review - Even though I'm not interested in this phone specifically you can get a feel for the Touch GUI!
How do you think it could be implemented on a Touch Communicator?
Similar small external screen with a numeric keypad out with internal touchscreen and physical keyboard
0r
Large external touchscreen, no physical keypad and non touch internal screen with physical keyboard
or
Large external touchscreen no keypad and internal touch screen (with physical keyboard as well):biggrin:
I guess some of the Sensor APIs would need to be changed so the movement of opening the internal screen didn't trigger them (like turning off alarms etc?)
Only trouble is well have to wait until probably Q4 2009 (at the earliest!) to find out!:frown:
Cheers
Jago
Unregistered
Hi rafe, how's the browser -- any better or worse than a regular N-Series?
Jago
Rafe -
Back to the point - how integrated is the touch in the GUI?
One of the things that bugged me when I mad a small diversion to the WM MDA Vario III/TyTN before my current E90 was that a mixture of keyboard/menu keys and stylus/screen was needed to navigate around.
I know WM is not the most constent in this aspect and wondered how Touch compared? :con?
Can you navigate around and enter everthing with just the screen/stylus/finger and similarily with just the menu keys and keyboard/D-pad (if it had one!)
Thanks
Jago
Back to the point - how integrated is the touch in the GUI?
One of the things that bugged me when I mad a small diversion to the WM MDA Vario III/TyTN before my current E90 was that a mixture of keyboard/menu keys and stylus/screen was needed to navigate around.
I know WM is not the most constent in this aspect and wondered how Touch compared? :con?
Can you navigate around and enter everthing with just the screen/stylus/finger and similarily with just the menu keys and keyboard/D-pad (if it had one!)
Thanks
Jago
Unregistered
Hello guys,
Do I read there is still no possibility to charge on USB? I gave up my 6210 classic partly because of this for a Motorola. I was fed up of having to carry around a charger when I work in front of a PC and can charge my phone whenever needed. I can even charge it in the train using my laptop. Now, if the 5800 does not charge via USB, it's going to be a problem for me. Isn't it for other folks? Does Nokia have an official reason why they don't use USB for charging the phones?
Thanks. -Mich
Do I read there is still no possibility to charge on USB? I gave up my 6210 classic partly because of this for a Motorola. I was fed up of having to carry around a charger when I work in front of a PC and can charge my phone whenever needed. I can even charge it in the train using my laptop. Now, if the 5800 does not charge via USB, it's going to be a problem for me. Isn't it for other folks? Does Nokia have an official reason why they don't use USB for charging the phones?
Thanks. -Mich
Unregistered
This review is on top along the Russian mobile website. Awesome, can't wait for the next part.
Arcade
Can you put up some screenshots of the web browser ? Is it any different from the N series browser ?
Most importantly, will it be possible to copy text from an open web page and paste it elsewhere; say in notes or somethin ? Wonder if images can be saved by touching them as well.
Most importantly, will it be possible to copy text from an open web page and paste it elsewhere; say in notes or somethin ? Wonder if images can be saved by touching them as well.
Arcade
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Unregistered
Hello guys,
Do I read there is still no possibility to charge on USB? I gave up my 6210 classic partly because of this for a Motorola. I was fed up of having to carry around a charger when I work in front of a PC and can charge my phone whenever needed. I can even charge it in the train using my laptop. Now, if the 5800 does not charge via USB, it's going to be a problem for me. Isn't it for other folks? Does Nokia have an official reason why they don't use USB for charging the phones? Thanks. -Mich |
rottie
To all of you moaning about USB charging - you know that you can get a usb charging cable on Ebay for ANY Nokia for years?
Andy Pandy
Thanks for the review Rafe, what's the GPS like?....and what (if any) navigation software is installed?
Cheers
Cheers
malerocks
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by rottie
To all of you moaning about USB charging - you know that you can get a usb charging cable on Ebay for ANY Nokia for years?
|
RadicalSatDude
Since the review is so extensive (Thanks for that AAS), the big question for me is does it offer overal better value than the mighty Nokia E71.
I have serious concerns about the 5800's screen getting scratched pretty quickly and start to look banged up after a while, with all that touching.
I have serious concerns about the 5800's screen getting scratched pretty quickly and start to look banged up after a while, with all that touching.
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