Video: Behind the new Nokia homescreen – multiple homescreens coming soon?

July 14, 2009 at 5:13 pm | In 5th Edition, Nokia, Nseries, S60, Suggestions, Symbian, Video | Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

In this video, the Nokia designers explain how the homescreen, as we have seen on the Nokia N97, has come about.

Initially, I wasn’t sold on the subject when I heard about the homescreen – I thought it was like Nokia’s “active standby” just slightly beefed up.

MNB000072

Having used it for over a couple of weeks, I’ve grown attached to it. I’ve got 2 shortcut widgets, giving me access to 8 frequently used apps from the homescreen.That’s good, but what I really love are:

  • email widget – with nokia messaging pushing my emails straight to my phone, I can glance at who it’s from and the subject of the email.
  • gravity widget – the latest tweets from Nokia related contacts
  • facebook widget – latest facebook statuses from my friends/family as well as info on new messages/requests.

Without even having to open up my email/gravity/facebook app, I can glance at the information already on my homescreen…I can either ignore these widgets or if there’s something that interests me, with a tap, they all open up really quickly. These three widgets have kept me more connected to those networks more than I’ve ever used those networks before – and all without being chained to a computer.

MNB000085

Only gripe about email widget is that it doesn't show all the email in the inbox - instead showing email from one particular account. I have several email addresses routed to a single gmail - but the widget doesn't know that and only shows email sent directly to that one account

Multiple Homescreens

It’s a shame though that we’re just stuck with a 5 widget screen and then just a blank one.

Sometimes, I want to have the music player widget on there, so I can pause/skip tracks without going through the player app, but to do that, I’d have to swap a widget around – and the five I’ve previously configured are the most convenient for me 90% of the time. It’s not just music widgets, there’s others I’d love to have quick access to, depending on the situation/location I’m in.

It would be great if we had multiple homescreens giving immediate access to preconfigured combination of widgets. Perhaps, 3 homescreens accessible by horizontal swiping. e.g. from the main/middle homescreen:

  • a swipe left could change the layout to a work oriented homescreen – emails/stocks/news/calendar
  • a swipe right could change the layout to a “home” homescreen – music player/facebook/bbc iPlayer
  • for a blank homescreen, you could have vertical (up/downward) swipe – or being greedy – just have the upward swipe for blank homescreen and have a downward swipe for the classic/5800 style homescreen?

Another touch of laziness/convenience I seem to have already written about in a previous post:

Also, what if these multiple homescreens were to change for different locations, as determined by the GPS. This would be great as you don’t even have to remember that “Oh I’m in work, I need to have these sorts of widgets to tell me about X and Y”, once you set a few locations, the phone remembers where you are and changes settings accordingly.

We may see such multiple homescreens soon on the Nokia N97. At around 01:55 of the video, Lee Cooper asks, what next? To which we’re told “one idea is multiple homescreens…you might have one for work, one for home and one for the gym”. Fingers crossed it comes to the August firmware update (as well as bug fixes!).

via Nokia Conversations

Video: The Nokia N86 has ‘real’/usable digital zoom!

July 13, 2009 at 8:26 pm | In 3rd edition, Nokia, Nseries, S60, Video | 2 Comments
Tags: , , , , , ,

Digital zoom – probably the first thing you ever hear when you first start using any sort of digital camera is NOT to use it. Take the photo/video and crop it when you get the file to your computer.

Now this is still true for photos. The only thing the digital zoom is good at is readjusting the light within your zoomed window, i.e. if you zoom in on a bright light, the camera adjusts so instead of being a wash of light, you can make out some detail.

Other than that though, especially in video, you shouldn’t really bother at all with digital zoom as you just loose out on detail. (If you just want to quickly upload/share something – then go ahead and use the digital zoom)

Steve Litchfield shares an interesting find from the Nokia N86 (stumbling upon this gem from here) – it has somewhat of a usable digital zoom. Instead of being limited to expanding VGA pixels, resulting in horrendously blurry videos, the N86 apparently uses the whole sensor which maintains more of the details within the VGA video when you use the digital zoom.

It’s no optical zoom – but it’s a really good start. I’d like to see comparisons with an N93 to see how well this new digital zoom compares to Nokia’s optical zoom. On the flip side of this exciting discovery, James Burland’s comment points out yet another Nokia flaw. Apple would have this feature in your face right about now.

This video makes me extremely depressed. If Nokia could not see a way to market this feature, or even just tell bloggers about it then there is something serious amiss with their marketing department.

What a wonderful feature! A killer feature in fact. Nokia you need to make some noise about this. Seriously.

Usable digital zoom aside, there’s something obscenely annoying about the video and that’s the jerkiness of the zoom.

Other rooms for improvement include autofocus during video perhaps? Anyone remember when the N93i was shown to have autofocus during video but then it got removed? The barcode reader app had somewhat of continuous autofocusing…

Video Advert: Introduction to the Nokia N97

July 13, 2009 at 1:02 pm | In 5th Edition, Nokia, Nseries, S60, Symbian, Video | 3 Comments
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The Nokia N97 looks absolutely stunning in the first 30 seconds of this video. It’s a new advert to showcase some of the major features of the N97.

  • Homescreen
  • Facebook
  • Full Web Browsing
  • Ovi Store
  • Navigation with Ovi Maps
  • Camera capabilities with Carl Zeiss Optics
  • Uploading to Ovi Store
  • Enjoying Video and TV
  • Email
  • Buying music on the go

I love how it opened up by itself at 00:24. Maybe if Nokia continues with this form factor, they could work out a way for the keyboard to pop up with a button press or a switch?

See how good the viewfinder looks when you can use the entire screen (01:44)? Now will we ever get widescreen photos?

And oh – video and TV: Loving BBC iPlayer – but when will we get support for DivX so we can use our N97’s as portable movie players too? DivX player works, but it’s not optimised for 5th Edition S60 so videos are choppy.

How to: Calibrating the Nokia N97’s compass in 3 seconds.

July 12, 2009 at 9:51 pm | In 5th Edition, How to:, Nokia, Nseries, S60, Symbian, Video | 2 Comments
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Nokia N97 has a compass mainly for rotating your maps to align with the roads/surroundings as you turn your phone. It doesn’t rotate instantly towards north like a real compass – and so, needs a bit of calibration, which according to the manual, the method is to swing your phone in an 8-shape like an idiot. If you wait a bit, it does come on by itself.

Norman John from SymbianWorld has found out an even better solution – 3 or 4 sharp downward swipes and the compass is calibrated. Tried a few times and it works. Note, the compass only works if the map is centred on your position and you’re zoomed in enough. In Ovi Maps 3.0, to centre on your position, just swipe the map so you can’t see your position (red dot), then press the red dot that appears on the top right.

If you’re using this for pedestrian navigation, you will look less odd, appearing as if you’re just frustrated with your phone instead of twirling it like you were part of a baton parade. Now, in reality, we shouldn’t really have to do any of this.

In google maps, there’s an arrow which always points in the direction you’re going. What if the map just oriented itself based on the last linear movement. Though it would only work if you held the phone in the direction you were heading (none of that fancy twiddling the phone in circles and watching your map rotate) – but it’s calibration free and would work as fast as getting the gps lock.

From SymbianWorld vis thenokian97

Two thumb typing on the Nokia N97 (or lack of)

July 12, 2009 at 8:45 pm | In 5th Edition, Nokia, Nseries, Rant, S60, Symbian, Video | Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Nokia N97, if you take the time to get accustomed to it, has a pretty decent physical QWERTY keyboard. However, there are times that I need to use the onscreen alphanumeric keypad, like when I’ve only got one free hand or if I simply just want to text with the phone closed.

The latter of “two handed T9″ I cannot do because the screen keyboard only registers single keypresses. If you have your finger on one key, it locks out all the others.

This means I cannot type as fast in T9 mode with two hands on the N97 as I can with a traditional physical keypad. This is an issue already raised by 5800 users. But it’s not like the screen itself cannot register multiple keypresses. A video a while back of an app on the 5800 shows what appears to be “multitouch”.

It’s no iPhone, but it’s a start.

I can’t find the download link for that game, but you can sort of try it out “multiple-touch” for yourself – go to the menu and a grid full of apps. With one thumb at one corner and another at the opposite end, you’ll see that the screen registers both keypresses. Depending on the ‘pressure’, you can also control which icon is highlighted (see video below).

it’s not multitouch, I’m just wondering if there could be a workaround, like in the first video, to somehow get multiple keypresses registered onto the on screen keypad? Or is that just not possible and the most we’d ever get is selecting the key inbetween the intitial two key presses? (AAS’ Steve Litchfield has already proposed such for the 5800’s QWERTY).

I don’t really know how it works or the limitations imposed – perhaps at least for the N97 it’s in Nokia’s best interest to keep two handed use for the QWERTY and one handed for T9.

What I do know is what I want, and that’s for the next flagship touchscreen device from Nokia to have native support for multitouch and finger gestures.

Also worth noting is the video (from this same post) with versatile multitouch on a resistive screen – until they get to the same feather pressure sensitivity as capacitive, Nokia really needs to switch to capacitive.

Video: The Phones Show – Episode 85 – James Burland on the iPhone 3GS (and Nokia Rant)

July 9, 2009 at 11:32 am | In Nokia, Nseries, Rant, Video, aPPLE | 2 Comments
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Episode 85 of the Phones Show focuses on the new iPhone 3GS, with James Burland of NokiaCreative giving us a tour of its new features.

But before that, Steve also briefly takes a look at:

  • HTC Hero – Android Smartphone which interestingly has full adobe flash
  • New Firmware updates of recent Nokia phones, notably N97, N96 and E71
  • Ovi Maps 3.0

The star of the show is Apple’s iPhone 3GS.  I am really overwhelmed at what Apple’s been able to do with the iPhone. It is extremely impressive on the visuals and execution of these new features. Something as simple as being able to switch between video and photo at a single tap.  Nokia – why did you take that out of the N97/5800? Though it wasn’t the best interface with S60 3rd edition, at least with initial start up of the camera, the first option within one click is to switch between photo/video. Ideally though, it would be a hardware switch – so that you can immediately start in the prefered mode without having to wait to switch.

At times when my friends ask me about Nokia things and I get a little rant started, my only excuse for those shortcomings is to suggest some sort of saboteur at the helm ofcontrols, slowly passing off undoubtedly crap decisions as something good for Nokia. The blogosphere is screaming to Nokia what they should be doing. Their suggestions aren’t risky fantasies as you see those suggestions for Nokia becoming standard features amongst its competitors.

However, Steve is quick to point out (and cool my 3GS amazement) that:

  1. “there are still no background third party applications. So that means waiting for each game to start up again after each interruption. Though the extra speed does indeed help here. Also this means no background streaming radio and no background social media applications keeping track of your life.
  2. iPhone’s safari still has no Flash
  3. iPhone’s camera still doesn’t have LED flash
  4. Battery life still rather poor
  5. No user accessible file system.

All Nokia fans can do now is wait in hope that Nokia have something brilliant up their sleeves; that it’s taking them so long to put out because it will be truly mind blowing, something overwhelmingly unexpected, bringing a new breed of device(s) that symbolize Nokia’s worthiness in being the number 1 phone manufacturer in the world. Ultimate hardware, advanced yet user friendly software and streamlined services – from Nokia? Or will it forever be just a dream?

In the mean time, we’ll get these interim(a.k.a. half-assed) solutions to keep interests in Nokia devices and services (though at the same time frustrating them, tarnishing the Nokia reputation with the confusingly poor compromises being taken).

Via 3lib

Review: Mobileburn’s Monster Review of the Nokia N97

July 7, 2009 at 9:41 pm | In 5th Edition, Nokia, Nseries, S60, Symbian, Video | 1 Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is one of the Nokia N97 reviews I have been waiting for, and it was a nice surprise to see Ricky Cadden, the Guru, take the helm of such a major handset review.

nokia_n97_nokia_n97IMG_5604

Transition black looking stunning with this charcoal grey and gun metal rim combination.

Spanning 8 pages, the review is extremely in depth, covering the following topics, as typical of MobileBurn:

  • Physical Aspects
  • Core Functions
  • Multimedia/Applications
  • User Interface
  • Conclusion
  • 3 gallery pages.

nokia_n97_nokia_n97IMG_5615

To sum it up – excellent build quality, great multimedia, let down by lack of RAM and unstable firmware. I’d discuss it more in depth but I don’t want to get into another full blown Nokia rant tonight. Check out the review, Ricky pretty much covers all that needs to be said.

Via MobileBurn

_____

Oh…can’t hold it in:

Grrr at:

  • the slow loading of content to the 32GB via cable. Much prefered the memory card+reader route. Files load in seconds. There’s a memory card slot, but it’s hidden from you under the battery cover. What a pain!
  • Slow starting camera that performs really bad in low light
  • No N-gage support yet

…Ok…ok…I’ll stop there. I realise I am getting too overly critical without showing too much love for Nokia. >_< It’s just that I really want to see them improve and stay ahead of the game – reinforcing awareness of faults that users have experienced will hopefully somehow trickle down to someone who can sort these issues out.

Video: iPhone 3GS vs Nokia N97

July 5, 2009 at 7:49 pm | In 5th Edition, Nokia, Nseries, S60, Symbian, Video | 1 Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Previously, Michael Sherlock compared the browsers of the iPhone 3GS and Nokia N97. Now Michael compares other aspects of both handsets..

[Note, that although the N97 is more expensive in the US due to it being unsubsidised/unavailable on contract, outside the US, and at least in the UK, there are some really good deals that work out much cheaper than the iPhone]

Topics covered include:

  • Opening of apps - iPhone via app launcher screen and N97 either via homescreen on S60 menu.
  • Multitasking - Michael points out that the iPhone doesn’t really have true multitasking whereas you do on the N97.
  • Text input - Full physical QWERTY on the N97 versus on screen QWERTY on the iPhone
  • Application Store – App Store versus Ovi – absolutely no competition.
  • Camera - 5MP Camera on N97 with several settings and LED flash vs simple 3MP on iPhone

It seems on the points covered, both iPhone 3GS and N97 are pretty close. However, in “real life” situations, some factors have more weighting than others, such as the wealth of applications and the “easier” UI enabling quicker accessing of apps on the iPhone.

Certain issues can be forgotten by seasoned S60 users, such as ease in getting to applications. At the moment, if you have many applications on your S60 phone, it will take a lot of unintuitive scrolling. However, most seasoned S60 users will have organized their phone into folders, making all apps accessible within 1-2 taps of pressing menu.

The keyboard front – the QWERTY does take some getting used to. It’s not the best out there, but things like the placement of the spacebar is most certainly a non issue, and after a few lengthy emails/messages you’ll get the hang of it.

The Ovi Store – I feel like constantly banging my head against a door at this one. This is something crucial for Nokia to get right. The lack of applications is slightly understandable – though it is worth noting that there are way more applications available for the N97 than there are actually catalogued in the Ovi Store, and it’s slightly frustrating that they aren’t all available through Ovi.

The bigger issue is how cumbersome Ovi Store feels. Hindered by Ovi Store’s need to cater for multiple platforms, it’s just not as intuitive as it can be for S60 5th Edition handsets.

Video: Nokia N97 Review

July 4, 2009 at 9:21 am | In 5th Edition, Nokia, Nseries, Reviews, S60, Symbian, Video | 1 Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is TeknoReview’s review of the Nokia N97.

Part 1 covers the hardware aspects of the phone including:

  • build quality/aesthetics
  • slide mechanism
  • keyboard
  • screen
  • speakers

They also cover the S60 UI slightly.

Part 2 covers most of the N97 software.

  • User interface/Homescreen
  • Ovi Store
  • Web Browser
  • Camera
  • GPS Navigation
  • Video Playback (ooh, I felt the pain when he talked about the lack of codec support. DivX player, for S60 5th

Finally, the conclusion

TeknoReview via @MickyFin

___

You might also want to check out their reviews of the HTC Touch Pro2; another tilt screen + keyboard device similar to the N97.

Here’s Part 1:

In TeknoReview’s next video, the N97 is pitted against the Pro2

Video: The Phones Show – Episode 84 (Review of Nokia N86 and

July 2, 2009 at 10:32 pm | In 3rd edition, 5th Edition, Nokia, Nseries, Reviews, S60, Symbian, Video | 2 Comments
Tags: , , , , ,

In episode 84 of The Phones Show, Steve:

  • takes a quick look back at the E75
  • reviews the Nokia N86, 8MP camera phone
  • interviews Lee Williams, Executive Director of the Symbian Foundation

The interview of Lee Williams is slightly disheartening as there are various indications that Symbian will predominantly focus on hard key input, and not the growing trend in touch.

When asked about where he stood on Touch vs Hardware button control [at 08:04], Williams answers,

“Well I think when you look at the total size of the smartphone market and the types of products that are relevant for consumers in that market place, I speculate that no more than 30% of that overall market will actually end up being occupied by touch screen products and display only products. So I think you have at least 70% market place out there that will always be well represented by products of a different form factor where people really like their QWERTY, really like their hard inputs and really like the fous that shows up in the UI so that you can one handed and use it in many different aspects of your life”

I’m sure one handed use is not a virtue of hardware keys alone.

Right now, touch screen handsets are the ones bringing innovation to the mobile phone world in terms of changing how the masses perceive how we interact with phones. If Symbian is going to try and entice developers into producing apps, those apps MUST be optimized for touch.  Maybe it shouldn’t be touch vs hardware input, but a combination of the two – but both being equally optimised forms of input, e.g. Palm Pre, G1 and perhaps even the N97.

The interview also covers the new branding of Symbian Foundation, with images that “look like something my four year old can draw”. Hopefully, it is meant to say that the future of Symbian is something so user friendly, that even a four year old can pick it up and use it.

Another interesting part at 10:40, Williams shows us his Samsung i8910 and Nokia N97, but doesn’t show us  the prototype he’s carrying. Maybe the Sony Ericsson Satio? Or could it be a new Nokia? That’s not really the interesting bit – it’s that Williams favours the Samsung product over the Nokia handset – that’s right. Not Nokia….the manufacturer that SHOULD be the king of Symbian handsets.

via 3lib

Next Page »

Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.