An advert on YouTube for the N79 Active handset. Looks great fun, but come on, do people really run around like this?
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Jumat, 30 Januari 2009
Kamis, 29 Januari 2009
N82 Firmware Update 31.0.016
So, a couple of days after the firmware update was announced, I decided to update my N82 last night. Steve at AAS had suggested the update had interfered with the Maps functionality on his phone, but on the whole most users were reporting a successful update, with suggestions that the phone operates faster and smoother, that the Auto Screen Rotation had been improved, the call ending bug had been fixed, a faster GPS lock, better battery life and improvement in the loud speakers.
I've never experienced the call end bug - apparently some users have seen the phone 'hang' for a few seconds after ending a call. As for the ASR, I have that turned off, the only time it is useful to me is in the gallery, or sometimes web browsing. Most often it is just bloody annoying. Just to see what it is like, I re-enabled this feature last night. My impression is, if this is now 'fast' then before it must have been excruciatingly slow! So, I've turned it off again. GPS in my experience on the N82 has always been fast, what I did notice is the positioning is slightly more accurate. When I've loaded Maps in the past at home, I was always located at the property next door, but last night it accurately positioned me at home. I only activated the Maps to try the log on, it seemed no quicker, but also no slower, just more accurate. Battery life remains to be seen, but the speakers are a definite improvement, even for someone like me who rarely notices these things. Play music on loud speaker now, then turn on stereo widening, and you can clearly hear the difference.
So all well with the phone, but I did wonder half way through the update if I would even have a working phone at all! The firmware downloaded ok, the update started, after a few minutes I got a message on screen saying the connection to my N82 had been lost! I started to think I may have bricked my phone somehow. I followed the message on the screen which said to remove battery, charger and USB cable from the device, then re-insert the USB cable, battery and charger, press the power button for one second and see click the retry button on screen. I did all that except plug in the charger, as I wasn't using the charger to begin with.
After about a 7 minute wait, I got the error message again! I wasn't quite panicking just yet, but was starting to get concerned. I followed the instructions on screen again, but this time did plug in my charger. That somehow seems to have done the trick as the phone kicked back into life and the firmware install started again and everything, thankfully, went through fine with no further issues.
As you can see from the screenshot, I now have version 31.0.016 running on the phone. For now all seems to be ok; I'll post up if I come across any issues.
I've never experienced the call end bug - apparently some users have seen the phone 'hang' for a few seconds after ending a call. As for the ASR, I have that turned off, the only time it is useful to me is in the gallery, or sometimes web browsing. Most often it is just bloody annoying. Just to see what it is like, I re-enabled this feature last night. My impression is, if this is now 'fast' then before it must have been excruciatingly slow! So, I've turned it off again. GPS in my experience on the N82 has always been fast, what I did notice is the positioning is slightly more accurate. When I've loaded Maps in the past at home, I was always located at the property next door, but last night it accurately positioned me at home. I only activated the Maps to try the log on, it seemed no quicker, but also no slower, just more accurate. Battery life remains to be seen, but the speakers are a definite improvement, even for someone like me who rarely notices these things. Play music on loud speaker now, then turn on stereo widening, and you can clearly hear the difference.
So all well with the phone, but I did wonder half way through the update if I would even have a working phone at all! The firmware downloaded ok, the update started, after a few minutes I got a message on screen saying the connection to my N82 had been lost! I started to think I may have bricked my phone somehow. I followed the message on the screen which said to remove battery, charger and USB cable from the device, then re-insert the USB cable, battery and charger, press the power button for one second and see click the retry button on screen. I did all that except plug in the charger, as I wasn't using the charger to begin with.
After about a 7 minute wait, I got the error message again! I wasn't quite panicking just yet, but was starting to get concerned. I followed the instructions on screen again, but this time did plug in my charger. That somehow seems to have done the trick as the phone kicked back into life and the firmware install started again and everything, thankfully, went through fine with no further issues.As you can see from the screenshot, I now have version 31.0.016 running on the phone. For now all seems to be ok; I'll post up if I come across any issues.
Rabu, 28 Januari 2009
Audio Smileys
A new application of absolutely no relevance from Nokia Beta Labs, Audio Smileys. Whilst the app has no general relevance it *is* good fun, and can create a laugh around unsuspecting friends. See the video clip below for more. In the clip the question is asked, do we want to see more apps like this or not? I think that it is good to see fun apps being thrown out for phones every once in a while, and think it should be encouraged. Click the link to download the application.
Senin, 26 Januari 2009
Nokia N82 Software Update
Steve at AAS got the scoop on a new update for the Nokia N82, but since updating has been having issues with Nokia Maps.
If you've done the update and have feedback, or if you are having issues with Maps to, pop over and join in the chat. Personally I think I'll wait and see how things go before I update my phone.
If you've done the update and have feedback, or if you are having issues with Maps to, pop over and join in the chat. Personally I think I'll wait and see how things go before I update my phone.
Nokia N82 - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!
So, after a long time deciding, I now have a sure idea in my mind what I want in my mobile phone. I still say phone, when in reality it is so much more. But Mobile Communication device just sounds naff!Candy bar is my preference, followed by flip, then slide. I want a proper alphanumeric keypad on my phone. No QWERTY, no touchscreen. It must be S60.
At the moment, the Nokia N82 fulfills my requirements for the above. But the N82 is not perfect. Here's my take on what is good, what is bad, and what is downright ugly!
The Good.
5mp Camera - With the N82 you've got to start with the standout feature, the camera. Excellent high quality pics, proper Xenon flash, quick processing. Video clip quality is very good too, more than acceptable.
Connectivity - Everything you need, from WiFi to HSDPA, Bluetooth, backed up by HSCSD, GPRS and EDGE.
Messaging - Everything covered here, too. Email is the main one I use, so much cheaper with a good data plan to email than use text or SMS. Also being S60 there are so many options for connecting to IM services, too.
GPS - If you are going to have a feature like GPS on your phone, it is good to know it will work when needed. The GPS on the N82 is damn fast, I rarely have to wait too long to get a log to the network, and with aGPS as a back up location finding is almost instant. I rarely use maps, but on the occasions I have the software has never let me down, and t hat applies to either Nokia Maps or Google Maps.
3.5mm Connector - Having a music player on a mobile phone is pretty much standard these days, but a 3.5mm connector is not. Even some handsets that are heavily branded as music phones, like the Walkman range from Sony Ericsson, lack such an obvious option.
For me, the above are the highlights of an excellent product. There is much more that the phone offers, but those are the standout features I appreciate having. But, it isn't all rosy....
The Bad
I don't like the Micro USB cable - I have so many standard mini USB cables lying around, but for that one phone I have to have a Micro USB cable. Annoying. I don't understand why Nokia couldn't stick with the standard mini USB here?
Multimedia key - Unlike some other bloggers, the multimedia menu on the Nseries range doesn't bother me so much, as I rarely use it. But that silly key does bother me, a lot. It just gets in the way, and it looks naff.
And if that key is bad, then the actual keypad is a nightmare. Although recent experience has shown me it is preferable to a QWERTY set up, it is still uncomfortable for long term usage.
The Ugly
This is ugly! Just look at that Homescreen, writing all over the place! I actually like having the shortcut icons on my screen, at the top, but I do not like in any way the whole list of writing that comes with it. Search content, share online, calendar entries, etc, it just looks so messy. I'm not really bothered about themes, as you can see I tend to stick with plain looking ones, so it is not having the wallpaper covered that bothers me but the mess. What makes the whole thing worse is knowing that Nokia could very easily implement the excellent homescreen plugins used on the Eseries. The all or nothing approach with the Nseries handsets is just not on, not with a perfectly acceptable solution just begging to be used.
So currently my screen looks like this. It just looks wrong without the six icons across the top. It's a good thing that I can create shortcuts around the Navi-Key, but it isn't the same.So, that's my thoughts on the N82 for now. By no means an exhaustive list, but just a highlight of what I like and dislike about the phone. Until a proper replacement comes along, it is the phone I choose to use.
Minggu, 25 Januari 2009
Stick With What You Know
I have always been of the mind that I don't like touch screen phones, and I have always been of the mind that I don't like QWERTY keyboard phones. You would have thought that by now, I would accept this and just deal with it. I guess wisdom doesn't always come with age!
The main thing I use my phone for is messaging, text and email. I rarely call. I web browse frequently, and I like the added extras available on most modern smartphones, such as camera, GPS, MP3 player, etc. I've tried all platforms, from Windows Mobile to UIQ to S40 to your bog standard phone interface, and nothing performs to the level of S60.
Knowing this, I still like to try out new phones, new features, new services and new products. But, every time, I go back to what I know. Of all the phones I have owned, only a few have really stood the test. Amongst those are the Nokia 6310i, Nokia 7650, Nokia 6600, Nokia N73, Nokia N95 (inc 8GB version), and Nokia N82. I wouldn't suggest I am a Nokia addict, but the phones that pass the test are for me the phones that I keep going back to, after trying something new. Before owning a 6310i, there was never a phone I was particularly bothered about, although the 2110 was ok, as was the 8110, but the 6310i was in a class of it's own. I'd buy a new phone, but nothing came up to standard, so I would go back to it. Until the 7650 came along. And the same with that, I must have bought the 7650 at least 5 times, as I would sell for a new phone, only for it not to come up to scratch, so I would buy the 7650 again! Same with the 6600, N73 and N95. Sure there would be a period in between whilst I was using other phones, but none ever passed the test the way these phones did.
And now, the latest phone to pass the 'test', is another Nokia, another S60 phone, another NSeries phone. Over the last few months, I've been using the E51, then the Samsung F480 Tocco, followed by a Sony Ericsson C905. The Tocco, whilst a nice enough phone for a touchscreen affair, just didn't cut it, especially web browsing, and text entry was a pain. The C905 is a great imaging phone, with some nice features, but the keypad was hard and lacked any decent feedback, and it just looks like an old phone. Kinda plain and normal.
So, I took the opportunity to take a look at the market, and see if there was anything new out there for me. And, rather than make an impulse buy like I usually do, I took my time and compared phones. As mentioned in previous posts, I took my choice down to mainly the E71 or E66 with the E51 as an outside option, or the N95 8GB or the N82. I nearly went for the E71, I truly did, but that blasted QWERTY keyboard, it sucks! Surprisingly usable it may be, but not usable enough. For a quick message it was fine, but once I got into a long text conversation, it wasn't long before the phone and I became bitter enemies! I did try to persist, but I can't begin to tell you the relief of putting my SIM back into the N82. No more typos! Simple, easy, T9 assisted text entry. Just what I need.
So, after all the fannying about of the last few months, I hope I will remember the lesson learned. I actually do not like touchscreen phones; I actually do not like QWERTY keypad phones; nothing compares to S60 for usability, 'customisability' and functionality.
Basically, I should stick with what I know, and right now the current hero handset that I know, the latest to pass 'the test', is the Nokia N82.
The main thing I use my phone for is messaging, text and email. I rarely call. I web browse frequently, and I like the added extras available on most modern smartphones, such as camera, GPS, MP3 player, etc. I've tried all platforms, from Windows Mobile to UIQ to S40 to your bog standard phone interface, and nothing performs to the level of S60.
Knowing this, I still like to try out new phones, new features, new services and new products. But, every time, I go back to what I know. Of all the phones I have owned, only a few have really stood the test. Amongst those are the Nokia 6310i, Nokia 7650, Nokia 6600, Nokia N73, Nokia N95 (inc 8GB version), and Nokia N82. I wouldn't suggest I am a Nokia addict, but the phones that pass the test are for me the phones that I keep going back to, after trying something new. Before owning a 6310i, there was never a phone I was particularly bothered about, although the 2110 was ok, as was the 8110, but the 6310i was in a class of it's own. I'd buy a new phone, but nothing came up to standard, so I would go back to it. Until the 7650 came along. And the same with that, I must have bought the 7650 at least 5 times, as I would sell for a new phone, only for it not to come up to scratch, so I would buy the 7650 again! Same with the 6600, N73 and N95. Sure there would be a period in between whilst I was using other phones, but none ever passed the test the way these phones did.
And now, the latest phone to pass the 'test', is another Nokia, another S60 phone, another NSeries phone. Over the last few months, I've been using the E51, then the Samsung F480 Tocco, followed by a Sony Ericsson C905. The Tocco, whilst a nice enough phone for a touchscreen affair, just didn't cut it, especially web browsing, and text entry was a pain. The C905 is a great imaging phone, with some nice features, but the keypad was hard and lacked any decent feedback, and it just looks like an old phone. Kinda plain and normal.
So, I took the opportunity to take a look at the market, and see if there was anything new out there for me. And, rather than make an impulse buy like I usually do, I took my time and compared phones. As mentioned in previous posts, I took my choice down to mainly the E71 or E66 with the E51 as an outside option, or the N95 8GB or the N82. I nearly went for the E71, I truly did, but that blasted QWERTY keyboard, it sucks! Surprisingly usable it may be, but not usable enough. For a quick message it was fine, but once I got into a long text conversation, it wasn't long before the phone and I became bitter enemies! I did try to persist, but I can't begin to tell you the relief of putting my SIM back into the N82. No more typos! Simple, easy, T9 assisted text entry. Just what I need.
So, after all the fannying about of the last few months, I hope I will remember the lesson learned. I actually do not like touchscreen phones; I actually do not like QWERTY keypad phones; nothing compares to S60 for usability, 'customisability' and functionality.
Basically, I should stick with what I know, and right now the current hero handset that I know, the latest to pass 'the test', is the Nokia N82.
Senin, 19 Januari 2009
Smart phones are Too Smart for the Average User
I saw a story over at AllAboutSymbian, referencing a survey from the BBC, claiming that many people are 'baffled' by new features on their phone.
I work in mobile retail, and the results of that survey don't surprise me in the least, in fact I'm surprised the percentages are not even higher. I get to see the 'average majority' of mobile phone users, and without exaggeration I regularly have to deal with people who cannot:
Turn their phone on!!
Do not know how to answer a call
Or read a text
Or compose a text
Or listen to voicemail
Or turn up the volume in call
Or change their ring tone (You know the people who have that damn annoying standard Nokia tone? It's just because they don't know how to change the bloody thing!)
Or lock the keypad
And so on. And those things are just the basics. So many times I have to hear people tell me how awful T9 is, that they cannot compose a message using it, when in fact little is as simple and easy! Maybe they just can't spell?
As most people I deal with struggle with the above, I am not surprised that things such as email and the like confuse people so much. I can accept that occasionally certain applications do not operate as expected, and occasionally things just 'go wrong', but that does not account for a lot of the problems. Generally, when it comes to technology, most people are ignorant, and they revel in it! They come in store, proud as anything, that even though they have given in to the evil advances of modern technology, there's no way they are going to use that as an opportunity to actually learn something! Oh no, better to be ignorant and one of the crowd than actually know something, because that might mean you are not normal! Because normal people are ignorant, only smart ass geeks understand technology. And if you are a geek, you are different, and different is bad. It's like being at school; no one wants to be the class swot, better to sit at the back of the classroom and muck about instead of actually learning something.
Of course, there is a lot I don't know; the way to learn is to ask from those who do, read, study, research. Then learn, remember, apply your learning and use that to understand the next step. Wallowing in ignorance is nothing to be proud of.
For as long as the general population remains generally thick, smartphones will always remain smarter than those who use them.
I work in mobile retail, and the results of that survey don't surprise me in the least, in fact I'm surprised the percentages are not even higher. I get to see the 'average majority' of mobile phone users, and without exaggeration I regularly have to deal with people who cannot:
Turn their phone on!!
Do not know how to answer a call
Or read a text
Or compose a text
Or listen to voicemail
Or turn up the volume in call
Or change their ring tone (You know the people who have that damn annoying standard Nokia tone? It's just because they don't know how to change the bloody thing!)
Or lock the keypad
And so on. And those things are just the basics. So many times I have to hear people tell me how awful T9 is, that they cannot compose a message using it, when in fact little is as simple and easy! Maybe they just can't spell?
As most people I deal with struggle with the above, I am not surprised that things such as email and the like confuse people so much. I can accept that occasionally certain applications do not operate as expected, and occasionally things just 'go wrong', but that does not account for a lot of the problems. Generally, when it comes to technology, most people are ignorant, and they revel in it! They come in store, proud as anything, that even though they have given in to the evil advances of modern technology, there's no way they are going to use that as an opportunity to actually learn something! Oh no, better to be ignorant and one of the crowd than actually know something, because that might mean you are not normal! Because normal people are ignorant, only smart ass geeks understand technology. And if you are a geek, you are different, and different is bad. It's like being at school; no one wants to be the class swot, better to sit at the back of the classroom and muck about instead of actually learning something.
Of course, there is a lot I don't know; the way to learn is to ask from those who do, read, study, research. Then learn, remember, apply your learning and use that to understand the next step. Wallowing in ignorance is nothing to be proud of.
For as long as the general population remains generally thick, smartphones will always remain smarter than those who use them.
Kamis, 15 Januari 2009
Steve's Smartphone Grid
Steve Lichfield, from AllAboutSymbian fame, has for a long while had a 'smartphone grid' on his 3Lib website. It basically lists a selection of smartphones and grades them based on their usability for a set list of functions. All grades are Steve's own opinion, but seeing he has been around for quite a while, I think he knows what he is talking about. I remember talking with him via email years ago as I made my first venture into the world of Psion, and looking over the scores he has given, there's little if any I would dispute. I'm also pleased to say I have no experience at all with over hyped rubbish like the iPhone, other than playing around with one in the shop, and am not too well versed in recent Windows Mobile phones either.
Anyhow, enough of the waffling. I've played around with this smartphone grid a few times, and it always used to tell me, based on the criteria I selected, that the E90 was the phone for me. I could see why this handset was recommended, based on my selections, but I just didn't like that phone. Too big, see.
A few weeks ago, toward the end of December Steve posted about some tweaks he'd made to the smartphone grid, so I thought I'd pop on over and give it a go. After all, I'm still not totally decided on my next phone purchase, what with the E71 I purchased yesterday throwing a spanner in the works! (See post below)
After entering in all my choices, the top three phones recommended for me, are, in reverse order:
3rd Place: Nokia N95 Classic/N82 tied with 246 points
2nd Place: Nokia N95 8GB with 250 points
and the clear winner:
1st place: Nokia E71 with 267 points!
The E90 which was regularly my number one recommended handset is now in fourth, with 244 points.
So, is it to be the E71 that I roll with? Well, I've spent most of the day getting the phone set up with the configuration I like, installing maps, changing layout, setting email, installing my usual applications, and so far I like what I see. It may just be possible that if I don't stick with the N82, then this is the phone I will go for. The main issue for me, the QWERTY keyboard, is surprisingly usable, so this no longer counts as a negative mark against the phone. What I really need to do is get it unlocked and use it with my main T-Mobile SIM. Currently it is locked to Three, so I either risk dealing with the notoriously poor Three customer services, or try my luck with one of the local market stalls. Thing is, they would need to send the phone away for a few days, which isn't my preferred choice.
I'll give it a few days, and see how it goes. One thing I've noticed, as an aside, is how much better HSDPA is than 3G. Yeah, I know that's an obvious thing to say, but seriously, 3G is just so slow! Where I live I get HSDPA on T-Mobile, but only 3G on Three, and downloading some apps to the phone, was just painful. I realise that I'm spoilt with choice, but 'stepping back' to 3G is not something I'm enjoying!
Anyhow, enough of the waffling. I've played around with this smartphone grid a few times, and it always used to tell me, based on the criteria I selected, that the E90 was the phone for me. I could see why this handset was recommended, based on my selections, but I just didn't like that phone. Too big, see.
A few weeks ago, toward the end of December Steve posted about some tweaks he'd made to the smartphone grid, so I thought I'd pop on over and give it a go. After all, I'm still not totally decided on my next phone purchase, what with the E71 I purchased yesterday throwing a spanner in the works! (See post below)
After entering in all my choices, the top three phones recommended for me, are, in reverse order:
3rd Place: Nokia N95 Classic/N82 tied with 246 points
2nd Place: Nokia N95 8GB with 250 points
and the clear winner:
1st place: Nokia E71 with 267 points!
The E90 which was regularly my number one recommended handset is now in fourth, with 244 points.
So, is it to be the E71 that I roll with? Well, I've spent most of the day getting the phone set up with the configuration I like, installing maps, changing layout, setting email, installing my usual applications, and so far I like what I see. It may just be possible that if I don't stick with the N82, then this is the phone I will go for. The main issue for me, the QWERTY keyboard, is surprisingly usable, so this no longer counts as a negative mark against the phone. What I really need to do is get it unlocked and use it with my main T-Mobile SIM. Currently it is locked to Three, so I either risk dealing with the notoriously poor Three customer services, or try my luck with one of the local market stalls. Thing is, they would need to send the phone away for a few days, which isn't my preferred choice.
I'll give it a few days, and see how it goes. One thing I've noticed, as an aside, is how much better HSDPA is than 3G. Yeah, I know that's an obvious thing to say, but seriously, 3G is just so slow! Where I live I get HSDPA on T-Mobile, but only 3G on Three, and downloading some apps to the phone, was just painful. I realise that I'm spoilt with choice, but 'stepping back' to 3G is not something I'm enjoying!
Rabu, 14 Januari 2009
Changing my mind?
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It's like I'll never decide what I want!When it comes to phones, I never normally have to make up my mind, as I regularly change handset. New phone released, get a new deal, new number or upgrade, sorted for a few weeks til the next one comes out. With a few recent changes I no longer have the option to change as often as I used to, basically I'm cutting down on the number of commitments I have with the networks. They get too much of my money as it is!
Recently I've been posting about my decision on choosing a new handset, and I had it down to basically three Eseries, the E51, E66 or E71, or the N82. There were other choices but I discounted those. Now, it is probably obvious that my bias lies with the Nseries range, after all that is what this blog mainly focuses on. I picked up an N82 recently, and I was reminded just how good a phone that really is, til the camera stopped working, that is. (Still not fixed either!) But all round the N82 is hard to beat, quick GPS, email, web, looks good, nice size, etc.
I was in town today though, and found an opportunity to pick up an E71 for a really good price, which I covered through some sales on Ebay recently. I've played around with the E71 in the shop a few times, and every time someone comes in looking for a Blackberry or similar device, I always recommend the E71. Once you start listing 3G, HSDPA, WiFi, Email, Web, GPS, etc, then looking at it, the build quality, the look, an excellent QWERTY keyboard, fantastic battery life and more, I think I've sold myself the device too. I've downloaded the latest firmware to the device this evening, and copied my back up from PC Suite. This is a real nice product.
Thing is, there's no point in keeping both phones. I can only use one at a time after all, apart from my contract SIM all others are PAYG and I only keep them around for who knows what, I make no regular usage of them. So, I'm back to square one.
N82? Or E71? Decisions, decisions....
Senin, 05 Januari 2009
Still No N82
My phone didn't get back from the repair centre in time for the weekend, and the earliest I can pick up now is tomorrow. So I am still using the 6600. The lack of HSDPA, good music player, and decent web browser is very frustrating. It has been hard to get used to not using the features I am so used to on a phone. There is one positive on the phone though; it has an excellent keypad!
I just hope my N82 is back tomorrow.
I just hope my N82 is back tomorrow.
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