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Just after the announcement discussions flared up at specialized forums and the majority of
participants confirmed that would be a hit. And the model is truly the most functional for
today considering paper specifications (the screen, Wi-Fi, UPnP support, 3MP camera). And
now let us look at the device sensibly and estimate its potential and perspectives.
Well, what caused such a flurry, why so much attention is plaid to the model, let us list
differences from other models (we consider direct and indirect rivals):
The model distinguishes the slider form-factor;
That is the first time Nokia's phone is equipped with a 3MP camera, which explains this
lion's share of attention. The user expects this camera feature better characteristics than
in Nokia N90 at acceptable size and weight;
The best display among smartphones;
S60 version 3 FP1;
Wi-Fi support;
Support for quite new UPnP standard.
Will the model hit the sales? The answer is more yes than no. Unfortunately, we cannot give
a single meaning conclusion yet due to raw samples of the N80 given for tests - we observed
a body backlash, the software installed is S60 v3 without FP1, it is slow, serious problems
with camera (including low photo quality), short battery life unstable Wi-Fi work and so on.
And as soon as we get a commercial workable device we will publish a complete review with
all points highlighted. However even now we can provide preliminary conclusions.
Take the phone in hands and admit the phone size is not big; the dimensions are quite
acceptable if compared with smartphones. It is smaller than Nokia 6680. However it will look
large if placed near a usual slider phone. The dimensions form 95.5x50x23.5 mm, and the body
thickens to 26 mm around the camera module, which is quite a negative factor as a user has
already got used to slim solutions. The general feeling of the phone is equal to Nokia 7650,
which is bigger (114x56x26 mm). The weight is average for smartphones and reaches 134 g.
This device is comfortable to carry almost in any way - you won't feel it in a pocket of
your jacket, in a shirt pocket it will be noticeable and mainly due to its thickness it will
be felt in jeans.
The design is rather strict, without excesses and simplicity is at the head (in a good sense
of the word, the same that concerned plain design of Sony Ericsson t610/t630). Top and
bottom ends are splay. This model has peculiar design, which can be called classical or
business. However tastes differ and some people will be delighted, while someone may prefer
round shape of Samsung D500/D600.
The top panel is made of silvery plastic with metallic border rounding the screen and the
keys. The Metal pleasantly gleams in the sun, giving its origins away. Generally the body is
reliable, the assembly is good with unnoticeable joints (however now we observed slight
backlash of the body parts).
You can perform all actions with the phone, except only for entering text and phone number,
without opening. A 5D navigational button, surrounded by a collection of two soft-keys and
call accept and cancel buttons, is put under the screen. The bottom line represents a
standard set of control elements and a media key button for fast access to the main
functions.
You may open the phone with one hand, and thus reveal the keypad. The movement is smooth,
however automatic finishing is absent. Though the keys are located closely to each other,
you will experience no problems with them. Also you won't press two buttons at the same time
by pressing their joint, as the keys may not be pressed in this area at all. The area to
press is smaller than the visible one. The keypad is convenient, it is not necessary to get
accustomed or adapted to it. The only cavil that may rise is the key motion is less than one
would like. The blue backlighting is well seen in the dark, it is automatically adjusted by
the light sensor.
A CIF camera for videocalls found room under the screen. The back cover features the camera
gap and the battery compartment, while on the top end an IrDA gap and a power button are
placed.
A miniSD connector closed with a plastic cover is on the left facet. Gradually the company
transfers all its products to this type of memory, rejecting MMCmobile. The maximally
accessible capacity of miniSD card is 2 GB. In fact, no problems with buying the maximum
volume card may appear by the release moment. For better vision of a memory card price below
we provide current FOB prices of Taiwanese manufacturers (without shipment, customs and
extra charge). By the way, wholesale price has been growing for the last half year due to
high demand on this memory type, and the maximum capacity cards are in shortage:
MiniSD 128 Mb – $10.40
MiniSD 256 MB – $16.80
MiniSD 512 MB – $29.80
MiniSD 1 ?? – $51.50
Hot card change is realized; however all running applications close when opening the slot
The right side features a camera button and a gap for one extra loudspeaker (though the
volume is higher than average, still it is not enough for hearing the call signal in noisy
conditions).
A strap hole is placed on the bottom (you can carry the phone on your neck) and a slim
connector for a charger. And here is also a standard slot for synchronization of the headset
connection. Let us consider it in details. The quality of mp3 playback and radio is equal to
Nokia N70, no changed were carried out. To tell the truth, the package should include an
adapter for you to connect your lively earphones. But the most interesting moment is
connection to a computer via USB. Three regimes are available - you can set one in the
settings or select at each connection.
Mass storage - memory card is connected as a usual data carrier, no drivers are required;
PS Suite - standard mode;
Picture Bridge - direct access to printer, which supports this standard.
This function will become standard for all Nokia's smartphones.
For the moment, this screen is the best among all similar ones. It has the resolution of
352x416 pixels and shows about 252 K colours. Good view angles and colours are not inverted,
even at the level grade you will make out the image, however some colours change. Good
behavior in the sun, though the screen fades, information may be read without problems.
Backlighting is 5 grade. In fact, the only disadvantage of the screen is small diagonal size
- 34x41 mm (2.1"), and 2.2" is standard for non-touchscreen smartphones.
The phone's weak point is its BL-5B battery capacious of 820 mAh, it is the same as in Nokia
N90. Even using mostly as a phone (40 minutes of talks in Moscow Megafon network, an hour of
MP3 and 20 minutes of works with programs), you will hardly have the handset last even for a
day. And let alone very fast battery exhaustion when using Wi-Fi. You should be ready to
recharge the phone once a day, and the thriftiest ones will manage to prolong the battery
life to two days.
Wireless interfaces
Integrated Bluetooth modules have become a standard, and thus we can avoid speaking about
it. Here it is 1.2 and the following profiles are supported: Basic Printing Profile, Generic
Access Profile, Serial Port Profile, Dial-up Networking Profile, Headset Profile, Handsfree
Profile, Generic Object Exchange Profile, Object Push Profile, File Transfer Profile, Basic
Imaging Profile, SIM Access profile and Human Interface Device Profile. Several connections
at the same time are supported. The main disadvantage is the absence of A2DP profile
(Bluetooth stereo).
The handset supports Wi - Fi (IEEE 802.11 g). All security standards are supported (WEP,
WPA, WPA 2), the settings are maximum, though convenience in connection and its simplicity
is hard to compare with Zero Configuration in Windows mobile. That is the first mobile
device, which supports Universal PnP (UPnP), the heir of the wire standard PnP. With its
help and using Wi- Fi connection, you can transmit slides to the television set, and music -
to the stereo system, photographs to the printer. To a certain degree UPnP resembles a
superstructure above the infrastructure (above Wi- Fi as one of the versions) in the form of
Bluetooth-like services, this is a program superstructure. Thus far the support of the
standard is interesting from a theoretical point of view, the wide acceptance of this
standard is a matter of future; however, even now the list of companies, which support the
standard, it impressing. You can get acquainted with a complete specification of UPnP. Be
sure to check a Home Media Server program included into the package. It allows connecting to
a desktop PC via a home wireless network.
Camera
As the camera objective is not closed with anything, you can easily mark it. Traditionally
for Nokia's smartphones the camera settings are very rich. Several shooting modes are
available in usual mode - Automatic, User, Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night Landscape (no
flash), Night Portrait (flash). White balance settings are AWB, Sunny, Cloudy, Incandescent,
Fluorescent. An Exposure Value ranges from -2 to +2. Norma, Sepia, B&W, Negative are
available color effects. Three grades are available for image sharpness - Hard, Normal,
Soft. You can take a series of photos with the speed from 3 fps to one frame per 15 minutes;
you can place the phone on its side and watch the things in the office, for instance. Timer
values are 2, 10 or 20 seconds. And finally you cannot switch off the shutter sound.
Four resolutions are available:
Resolution:
3 ? – Large (2048x1536 pixels)
2 M – Med
1.3 M – Small
0.5 M – Email
0.3 M – MMS
You can manually switch to macromode (the trigger is near the objective). Then it is
possible to take pictures in a distance of 15-25 cm, and a special text shooting mode is
available.
Many people laid great hopes on the camera and its quality. Actually, the nominal resolution
of photographs grew, but the quality is inferior not only to Nokia N90, but also to Nokia
N70 (color rendering, whitening of light regions). Let us hope that the developers simply
did not have time to finish software for the new camera module. Any way you should not
expect miracles from the camera - there is no auto-focus, flash is useless. The company
deliberately avoids competition with another model of the series, which is not represented
yet (supposedly N95). And the latter will gladden with the maximum camera capabilities
Three resolutions for video can be set - High (MP4), Normal (3gpp), Low (3gpp). And still
the quality significantly loses to Nokia N90.
Preliminary conclusions
At the current moment this is the most functional smartphone on the market. However, let us
return to the list of innovations and dismantle what actually stands behind them.
The 3MP camera without autofocus and with a useless flash. Not the best photo quality.
Nominally the number of pixels grew, and extra macro mode is provided, which are advantages;
Wi-Fi and a new high resolution screen. That will be a standard for smartphones in 2006,
however now that is an innovation;
UPnP, which is in the start of its route and now it is interesting from only theoretic point
of view;
S60 of the third version. On the one hand these are new capabilities, on the other hand -
still no workable third party programs for this operating system (all applications should be
recompiled and signed). The situation will have improved only by the middle of 2006;
It turns out that very soon we will see Nokia's devices not inferior in capabilities. The
situation with the software will make the most active customers postpone the purchase
approximately for half a year, and then another model will become the leader.
SRC=www.mobile-review.com
PLease say if u like this..I will forward more !!
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i want this phoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :-) wow kya cheez hai haina? When is it out in Europe??
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awesome man! whats the price?
ps: SE's t610 sucks!!!!!!!!
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RAni and endurer..In saudi it is said to be arnd 2500 saudi riyals..I guess abt 500-600$
But i bet this is a revolution with 3 MP
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It's pretty economical, keeping in mind the 3 mega pixel camera.
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tHATS WHAT i told u bro !!I was waiting for it ..will post my personal review when i get i t..thatl be ina wekk at most..
If any body who luves nad knows to play with tech toys go for i tthen !!
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Looking forward to your review :ye:
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Ill be pasting it soon..ina week .Thanks all...
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Yar i search for that in Pak but it was shrotage of that set
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I c Dreamboy!!
But u can always buy that in Dubai !!
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