Nokia N8 one year on: 10 features that still define this flagship smartphone

It’s been a full year since the Nokia N8 Symbian smartphone was released and in that time it has proved a huge hit with smartphone users the world over. With its stylish anodised aluminium design, high-definition support and, of course, [...]

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Nokia N8 one year on: 10 features that still define this flagship smartphone

HTC Sensation vs Nokia N9

Daggers drawn as HTC’s Sensation eyes up Nokia’s new N9 Form: Nokia N9 – 116.5×61.2×12.1mm, 135g HTC Sensation – 126.1×65.4×11.3mm, 148g The HTC Sensation looks very much like any other HTC smartphone. The proportions are nice and it’s got those [...]

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HTC Sensation vs Nokia N9

Nokia N8 Review

The phone-loving world has its eyes turned toward Nokia for the launch of the N8 smartphone, the manufacturer’s first Symbian ^3 OS phone. Unlike Symbian 9.x with S60 5th Edition, Symbian ^3 is made from the ground up for touch [...]

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Nokia N8 Review

Nokia shifts 1 million Lumia 800 handsets in Q4 2011

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Having turned to Microsoft and its Windows Phone 7 platform to halt the smartphone funk it had found itself in, Finnish phone giant Nokia is said to have shifted around one million Nokia Lumia 800 handsets in the final quarter of 2011.

The figures, which come from research firm Morgan Stanley, have suggested Nokia has doubled pre-release estimations selling one million Lumia devices as opposed to the 500,000 units predicted by analysts prior the handset’s official release.

With the Lumia 800 marking Nokia’s first collaboration with Microsoft and the WP7 OS, analysts have now predicted the former leader of the mobile market will shift an impressive 37 million Windows Phone handsets throughout 2012 with the dramatic increase to come at the expense of the rapidly declining Symbian OS.

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Nokia Lumia 900 official for AT&T: 4G LTE, 4.3-inch display

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Nokia took the stage at the Consumer Electronics Show and announced the company’s first 4G LTE smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 900. The device features a 4.3-inch Clearblack AMOLED display and will launch exclusively on AT&T in black and cyan color options. Similar to the Lumia 800, 710, and Nokia N9, the Lumia 900 features a polycarbonate shell that Nokia calls both bold and beautiful. The device sports a 1.4GHz processor, 4G LTE connectivity, a 1830 mAh battery, 16GB of internal storage, 512MB of RAM, with an 8-megapixel rear camera that features a 28mm f/2.2 Carl Zeiss lens and a front-facing f/2.4 wide-angle camera. The Lumia 900 will be available within the coming months and will be priced aggressively, according to Nokia. Read on for the press release.

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Nokia Lumia 800 also a bestseller on 3 UK

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Despite all kinds of analyst speculation of poor interest, the various retailer phone rankings all over Europe continue to indicate the Nokia Lumia 800 is selling very well.

The latest is 3 UK’s online store, where, when the phones are ranked by “Bestseller rating” the Nokia Lumia 800 is ahead of the much cheaper HTC Wildfire S and also cheaper iPhone 4.

While Windows Phones have never released sales numbers, it may help settle things for Nokia to finally release some solid figures.

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AT&T and Nokia may announce a 4G LTE Windows Phone at CES 2012

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AT&T may announce a Nokia Windows Phone during the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, WinRumors said on Thursday. Here is where it gets more interesting, though: The Verge said Nokia is supposedly in discussions with AT&T to make a big splash in the U.S. by launching a Lumia-branded Windows Phone with 4G LTE connectivity. If Nokia really wants to turn heads, we expect that it will launch either a tweaked version of its higher-end Lumia 800 device, instead of the watered-down Lumia 710, or a new flagship phone with entirely new hardware.

It is possible that Verizon Wireless could get into bed with Nokia for an LTE device as well, but Verizon hasn’t appeared to be a big Windows Phone partner so far. The carrier has launched a single device, the HTC Trophy, while AT&T has launched more than a half-dozen. Windows Phone Tango, the release between Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) and the more significant Apollo update, is also expected to launch in early 2012 with support for LTE, WinRumors said.

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Nokia CEO hints at possible Windows 8 tablet

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While discussing his intentions to expand Nokia’s presence in the United States, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop recently made comments that suggest his company could have a Windows 8 tablet in the pipeline. “There’s a new tablet opportunity coming,” Elop told Bloomberg in a recent interview. “We see the opportunity. Unquestionably, that will change the dynamics [of the market].” Elop described Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system as a “supercharged” version of its Windows Phone operating system, implying a hint of interest in using the OS on a tablet.

The two operating systems share a user interface called “Metro UI.” Nokia recently announced its first two Windows Phone devices, the Lumia 710 and Lumia 800, during its Nokia World conference. Elop confirmed the existence of a Nokia tablet in April, although early reports suggested it might exclude Microsoft from its tablet plans. Microsoft has already demoed a number of devices running Windows 8 and the first are expected to hit the market toward the end of 2012.

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Nokia N8 one year on: 10 features that still define this flagship smartphone

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It’s been a full year since the Nokia N8 Symbian smartphone was released and in that time it has proved a huge hit with smartphone users the world over. With its stylish anodised aluminium design, high-definition support and, of course, that stunning camera, we’ve taken a look back at all that has made the Nokia N8 such a landmark device.

Nokia N8 review

When it first arrived late last year, the Nokia N8’s most publicised feature was its ultra-sharp 12MP camera, but there was so much more to this ground-breaking smartphone than a camera alone. With its gorgeous design, high-definition video support, built-in satellite navigation and WebTV, there was plenty to love about the N8. So, a year on, we’ve taken a look at the top ten features that defined this fantastic phone.

Anodised chassis:
Crafted from anodised aluminium, the Nokia N8’s stylish, hardwearing design comfortably set it apart from its rivals, presenting itself as the high-end handset to beat. While its gorgeous looks helped catch people’s eyes, the tactile feel made it incredibly comfortable in the hand, quickly making the N8 the smartphone that everyone wanted in their pocket.

Ultra-sharp camera:
With its 12MP sensor and Carl Zeiss lens, the Nokia N8’s camera broke new records. The Xenon flash made it as easy to take high-quality pictures in low-light conditions as in bright sunlight and the N8 wasted no time in staking its claim as the perfect smartphone for capturing high-quality photos and filming high-definition video on the move.

Full auto-focus:
Thanks to the use of continuous auto-focus, the Nokia N8 made it easier than ever to record the best quality videos, no matter how near or far the subject being filmed. Using Nokia’s Active Hyper-Focal Distance technology, the 28mm lens was able to provide the largest depth of field and keep objects in full focus, ensuring your videos stayed perfectly sharp at all times.

Macro-mode:
As if the Nokia N8’s camera, lens and focus weren’t impressive enough, the addition of a macro-mode for shooting the most finely detailed photos possible sealed the deal. Letting you get up-close-and-personal and take stunning photos of the smallest subjects, the N8 was confirmed as the best camera-phone you can buy, making it the choice of photographer’s worldwide.

High-definition recording:
And it wasn’t just still photographs that the Nokia N8 excelled at. Letting you record high-definition 720p video just as easily, the N8 let you pack your digital camera and camcorder away for good and hit the road with only your smartphone in tow, making it the ultimate smartphone for capturing your life’s most memorable moments.

DivX support:
As well as enjoying your own home movies on the Nokia N8, its full support for DivX encoded videos meant you could also enjoy a wide range of the most popular video formats. Adding to its already excellent multimedia credentials, this made the N8 a full media centre in your pocket.

On-demand WebTV:
And if comprehensive video support and high-definition recording weren’t enough, the Nokia N8 even let you watch TV on-demand wherever you went, thanks to full WebTV support. Whether you wanted to watch the BBC for the latest news updates, or enjoy a bit of nature on the National Geographic, the N8 had it all, with plenty more channels available from the Nokia Store.

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Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update launches

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The Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update is now officially available and comes packed with hundreds of new features to help your smartphone look and work better than ever before. We were at the launch in London to take a close look at Microsoft’s latest and greatest mobile OS and see just what Windows Phone 7.5 Mango will bring to the first range of Nokia Windows phones – as Nokia says, ‘the fightback starts now’.

When Stephen Elop announced Nokia would switch to Windows Phone back in February at Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona, the Windows Phone Mango update seemed a very far way away. Thankfully, its now rolling out and clearing the way for the first Nokia Windows Phone.

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Nokia N8 and Symbian Belle: what can we expect?

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The Nokia N8 is the jewel in Nokia’s Symbian crown, but it’s all set to get some new shine when the Symbian Belle update arrives for the much-loved N Series handset in the next few months. Let’s take an early look at what to expect.

Symbian Belle vs Symbian Anna: how they differ

Nokia has treated us to many other handsets since the Nokia N8 went on sale just about a year ago now, but the Nokia N8 remains a firm favourite with Nokia fans around the world. Part of it is Nokia’s near-obsessive focus on keeping its 12-megapixel camera on a whole different level to anything mobile users have seen before through a series of superb updates.

But it’s also about the Nokia N8′s basic combination of looks, versatility and features.

However, it’s all going to get so much better when the Symbian Belle update rolls out over the next few months. Nokia N8 users have already seen Symbian Anna released for their device, but Symbian Belle takes things a lot further.

Here are a couple of highlights:

Six homescreens: that’s right, the Nokia N8′s beautiful 3.5-inch AMOLED panel will play host to double the homescreens that it now does, so you can get closer to the apps, contacts and services you use the most.

All-new homescreen widgets: the real Symbian Belle revolution is set to be the introduction of resizeable free-form homescreen widgets that you can arrange and lay out any way you like. You’ll be able to use larger widgets for the services you use most, and devote less space to those you rarely access – it’s all up to you!

Better multitasking: with Symbian Belle you’ll be able to see exactly what’s going on in your apps in real time when you access the multitasking view, meaning you don’t have to activate the app to see if something has changed.

All-new notification toolbar: Symbian Belle will feature a shutter-style bar along the top that will neatly house notifications of all important info like missed calls, messages, updates and the like. Simply drag it down and the panel will expand, giving you more info on the basic details you need to know.

There’s plenty more besides, but if you’re slightly disappointed not to see anything to make the Nokia N8′s 12-megapixel camera even better, we’d say that’s actually a good thing.

As we’ve seen with the double-barrel update Nokia currently has lined up for the Nokia N8′s camera, it’s treating these updates as entirely separate entities, meaning any future updates to keep pampering you with new photographic goodies will arrive when they’re ready, and won’t be tied to a bigger official update.

The only thing left on our wishlist would be built-in NFC support for the Nokia N8 so it could tap into those exciting NFC capabilities Symbian Belle also has up its sleeve. But we’ve certainly got enough to get excited about all the same!

What are your expectations for the Symbian Belle update on your Nokia N8? Share your thoughts in the Comments below!

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HTC Sensation vs Nokia N9

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Daggers drawn as HTC’s Sensation eyes up Nokia’s new N9

Form:
Nokia N9 – 116.5×61.2×12.1mm, 135g
HTC Sensation – 126.1×65.4×11.3mm, 148g

The HTC Sensation looks very much like any other HTC smartphone. The proportions are nice and it’s got those distinctively HTC style rounded corners. Generally, it’s very nice to look out but doesn’t live up to its name in terms of visual flair.

The N9’s looks are potentially pretty divisive. It is bold, brave and adventurous, but some might find it a bit ‘too much’ with wacky colours and a curved screen which contrasts with the extremely squared-off bodywork.

The handset actually looks much better coloured black in our view as the shape is already different enough, the bright cyan and magenta options are just a bit too jarring. The screen is really nicely shaped and extends right up to the edges of the device giving it a very sci-fi feel.

We actually like what Nokia has done here but with black bodywork – it’s got all the contrast it needs in the interesting shapes and looks far better with a more understated colour choice.

Winner – Nokia N9

Display:

Nokia’s N9 is fitted with a 3.9-inch Amoled capacitive touchscreen with the resolution coming in at 480 x 854 pixels while pixel density is 238 pixels-per-inch (PPI).

The display is made from extra tough Gorilla Glass and has been coated with an anti-glare polariser, meaning you don’t have to put the phone away when the sun comes out.

The N9 features multi-touch input support and an accelerometer sensor for screen rotate functionality.

The Sensation’s screen is larger at 4.3-inches and instead of Amoled it’s a Sony produced S-LCD capacitive touchscreen.

The resolution is higher than the N9’s at 540×960 pixels, as is the pixel density of 256ppi.

Gorilla Glass is used here too for a robust screen, though, it doesn’t have the anti-glare properties of the N9 so not so good for bright conditions.

The handset comes with the HTC Sense 3.0 user interface (UI) already installed and it sports multi-touch input along with an accelerometer and gyro sensor.

The S-LCD and Amoled technology behind these screens is fairly evenly matched, both offering good power efficiency and brightness along with more vivid colours than regular screens.

The larger screen size along with higher resolution and pixel density of the HTC Sensation makes it our preference on display.

Winner – HTC Sensation

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Nokia N8 Review

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The phone-loving world has its eyes turned toward Nokia for the launch of the N8 smartphone, the manufacturer’s first Symbian ^3 OS phone. Unlike Symbian 9.x with S60 5th Edition, Symbian ^3 is made from the ground up for touch rather than glomming touch elements onto a definitely non-touch OS. While the Nokia N97 running S60 5th Edition had annoying UI elements like tiny scroll bars and inconsistent tap or is it double-tap interactions, the Nokia N8 running the new OS is anything but annoying. The user interface is consistent and intuitive and the capacitive multi-touch AMOLED display is not only vibrant but responsive. Gone is the stylus (a traditional stylus won’t work with a capacitive display) and any vestiges of old technology. The N8 reminds us of the Nokia N900 running Maemo a bit, and if you imagine a merging of the old Nokia Symbian look with a pinch of Maemo, you’ve got Symbian ^3 on the N8. This is certainly the best mainstream touch phone that Nokia has produced.

Nokia smartphone veterans, and there are millions of you across the world since Nokia is still the highest volume handset maker on the planet, will find the learning curve is quite small. If you’ve used an S60 5th Edition phone, you’ll be familiar with the widgets, shortcut bar at the bottom of the home screen and top area where you can manage wireless connections. Nokia owners who haven’t used a touch screen Nokia will still feel at home with familiar icons, the usual deep profile functionality and a shared logic with S60 overall. N900 users will recognize the multi-page home screen, each with its own wallpaper, and the simplified menu structures. While S60 was mired in menus that were byzantine and unintuitive until you became an old hand at things (even then, it could be hard to remember where a particular setting was buried), menus on the N8 are simple and things are where you’d expect them to be. Like BlackBerry OS 6, the menu functionality is deeper than on the iPhone, so it’s a bit less simple in that respect, but it’s nonetheless easy to operate and powerful.

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