3's X-Series platform reviewed on Nokia N73
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 15th 2006 4:40PM
posted Dec 15th 2006 4:40PM
With cellular providers upping fees left and right, it's refreshing to finally see a provider offer up a valuable package to its users with a halfway decent pricetag. UK's 3 has struck a nerve with 3G gurus and multi-taskers alike, and its flagship X-Series platform has received a thorough critiquing from the folks at Digital Lifestyles. Currently running on Nokia's N73 (with Sony Ericsson's W950i to follow in January), the all-you-can-download approach to utilizing 3G applications apparently did fairly well in testing. Garnering praise in the diversity and usability departments, reviewers were pleased with the inclusion of Skype, Yahoo Go!, Mobile Mail, 3's web browser, and Windows Live Messenger -- all of which performed at least up to expectations for the low £5 ($9.85) per month fee. The only major digs came from the lack of SkypeOut support (which is promised for the future), no caller ID data on incoming Skype calls, and the inability to control / watch recorded shows via SlingPlayer. Of course, the latter headache will only bother those who spring for the £10 ($19.70) monthly package, which includes the ability to purchase the Sling software for a discounted £99 ($194.95) and use OrbPC to boot. Overall, the crew was generally pleased with the service and its performance on the N73, and while it called the SlingPlayer "a pig to set up," it dubbed the X-Series platform "the future" of cellphones.
I had a Gold X-Series Nokia N73 from 3 and sent it back. The programs just wouldn't work, with Skype and Slingplayer they kept trying to upgrade, but after the upgrade they said the same thing again and would never actually work.
MobileMail would never take me to the screen to type in the settings, it showed a blank white screen. Support said they had heard several people with with the same problem and they're advice was to wait 24 hours as they had no idea. Still the same a week later.
Trying to register with "3's" version of Orb was impossible (for me) it never sent the confirmation text. So would never let me actually use it.
I so wanted X-series to work and it would be fantastic if it did, but unfortunately the experience I received was worse than any beta software I have ever tried.
The last problem and anyone who has tried to use 3 in the past will know, unless you live in a city you're not gonna be able use any of the 3G features other than standard voice and text even when their website shows you are covered for video.
I got my N73 X-Series Gold yesterday and I agree with the parent poster - most of it just doesn't work. MobileMail hangs when I try to configure it. Skype doesn't work. Can't comment on SlingBox as mine isn't plugged in. I did get Orb to work but I can't do things like search YouTube as the 3 website said. IM worked - then didn't until I downloaded it again.
Also - I never know what I'm being charged for (do I get charged for Googling?). I also really wanted this to work but it'll probably be sent back in a week if these glitches aren't sorted out.
Sort it out 3 or you'll lose another customer!
I have had X-series Gold from shortly after launch and mine works extremely well.
Mobile Mail works fine but does drain the battery.
Skype works fine but my absolute favourite is Orb.
It is great being able to listen to internet radio on the move in the car..N73 via an audio adaptor to one of the now legal little FM transmitters sounds wonderful over the car hifi!!
YouTube, Google Video etc does work fine, though it is important to make sure the correct codecs are loaded which is throughly explained on the Orb website.
Use of the internet is great allowing browsing and worry free data usage of things like Google Mobile Maps etc.
All in all its revolutionary, to say I am delighted with it would be an understatement.
Steve
I have fought tooth and nail and have got most things to work. I had to get a replacement phone in the end.
Do the software upgrade found on the nokia site - that is a good start. Be careful though because the backup/restore is unreliable. Back up your data in a secondary way before doing the upgrade.
Also, you may need to go to a Nokia service centre to get your phone 'flashed'.
Still, Skype is fairly unreliable and often hangs signing in. It never seems to hold login details and these have to be re-entered.
The N73 has got a little more stable following updates but still crashes regularly.