Nokia 5800 Tube browser screenshots appear, underwhelm

Well, we've seen the Nokia 5800 Tube's keyboard, home screen, video player, and uh, Bat-Sonar, so we might as well keep going with these shots of the browser. Kudos to Nokia for delivering something just slightly more impressive this time around than we're used to from S60 Touch, but we're still not feeling the super-90s aesthetic -- check out those icons at the bottom. We're still hoping to be blown away when this thing finally launches, but it's looking less and less likely with each new screenshot.

[Thanks, Marie]

[avester @ Aug 5th 2008 10:57AM]

Although it may be weird for some people to understand, but pretty graphical gimmicky and usability don't go hand in hand.

[avester @ Aug 5th 2008 11:11AM]

I thought that the softkeys were still there...

[Blaine Oliver @ Aug 5th 2008 11:22AM]

Function before Form please.

[TareX @ Aug 5th 2008 11:31AM]

@ avester

Have you heard of the iPhone?

It doesn't exactly have the ugliest UI, neither does it have the worst usability, eh?

You don't have to be ugly to work. This isn't medicine.

[w @ Aug 5th 2008 12:09PM]

engadget uses unnecessary bias, underwhelm, loses credibility

the super-90s aesthetic, "pretty graphical gimmicky" free, is probabbly good enough for development phases.
you can't be sure this is the final product and the last time i checked the s60 touch ui was still under development.

[maff @ Aug 5th 2008 12:28PM]

mindless comments like steffen's should see an IP ban if done more than 5 times, i'm scrolling for info, not rubbish

[Akshay @ Aug 5th 2008 12:31PM]

Christ Nilay, I thought you were one of the few unbiased writers left, and you say this? Come on now, how can you base anything on icons? While there does lack innovation to the placement of the icons and the 2 usual context menu buttons down there, S60 has always been about simple, but effectiveness. Will those buttons prove to be functional and effective, I can't say for sure, time will tell. But, looking at the design of the icons, they don't look too bad and cannot, in any way be a basis for the complete browser.

[Asher Madan @ Aug 5th 2008 11:02AM]

i wish it was more like the iphones, oh well, its still a prototype, we'll see how it performs when it really comes out.

[avester @ Aug 5th 2008 11:11AM]

Yeah, let's try to ask Nokia to make the battery unremoveable and to remove the possibility to use your own software.

[Sergio @ Aug 5th 2008 11:28AM]

Yeah and lets ask Nokia to roll out a cliche fruityphone for the massess of dead followers. That doesent take VIDEO nor BT.
AND make it look like crap, like a big deformed soap.
FruityPhone sucks dikkkkk!
Remember second best the fruit is.

[sr1329 @ Aug 5th 2008 11:53AM]

Why don't you take your dumb ass to the Apple store if you want an iPhone?

[helloUser @ Aug 5th 2008 11:01AM]

so because it doesnt have pretty icons, engadget and nilay patel seem to think it 'underwhelms' regardless of funcionality?

Great, i see how it works..

[John Doe @ Aug 5th 2008 11:07AM]

yeah...put some iphone-ish icons and they'll praise it to heaven

[Muhammed @ Aug 5th 2008 11:17AM]

well said, I mean honestly, would you take Nilay's word for granted ?
I know I wont.

its 90% Likely that we will be blown away by the new S60 touch, because when nokia releases it's shit it just focuses on one thing, Functionality.

And for me, I'd prefer functionality over the iphone's eye candy.

[Jeff Lewis @ Aug 5th 2008 11:31AM]

Actually, no, adding iPhone-like icons wouldn't make them praise it.

Then they'd be calling it an iPhone-ripoff or iPhone-wannabe and complaining that it's not innovative.

That's how the game works: if it's not the SAME as the iPhone it's crap - but if it IS the same, then it's a ripoff. No way to win for anyone but the iPhone - no way to lose for the Apple fanbois.

[giuliop @ Aug 5th 2008 11:57AM]

Of course, some pretty icons would make a world of difference, just as long as they are not iPhone icons, because that would cause the usual infinite brain-damaging loop in the writer's head:

"Ohhh! Awesome icons! Just like the iPhone!
But wait, they are just like them: FAKE!
But... Ohhh! Awesome icons! Just like the iPhone!
But wait, they are just like them: FAKE!
But..."

[WickedEast @ Aug 5th 2008 1:56PM]

This "article" underwhelms.

[Mark Anderson @ Aug 5th 2008 2:23PM]

If only we could skin the browser or use the new Opera touch enabled browser instead!

...

You mean we can?

[aaron @ Aug 5th 2008 11:02AM]

Wow....that....looks.....really.....nice?

[MattWPBS @ Aug 5th 2008 11:15AM]

Looks great to me too. Guess people's tastes are just different.

[aaron @ Aug 5th 2008 12:13PM]

I find it hilarious that people took my comment genuinely.

[0megapart!cle @ Aug 5th 2008 11:07AM]

Yea, let me second the fact that not liking the design of the icons has nothing to do with the usability of the browser. It seems to be rendering that fairly complicated page well, which is a good sign.

I really don't get Engadget's point of view sometimes.

[sr1329 @ Aug 5th 2008 11:52AM]

They are a bunch of Apple whores over here. The browser looks pretty darn good.

[L @ Aug 5th 2008 12:02PM]

Of course the page looks pretty darn good - after all, it's using the same rendering engine as Safari, the open source WebKit...

And yeah, I really don't see what's wrong with it either.

[iofthestorm @ Aug 5th 2008 1:34PM]

Yeah, I looked at the screenshot and thought "It rendered that entire page on one screen, looks good" and had no idea what the stupid bloggers here are complaining about.

[sam @ Aug 5th 2008 11:11AM]

sh*tload of eye candy is what good cell phone makes?? well, thanks for sharing your priorities...

[avester @ Aug 5th 2008 11:13AM]

And also it might be that the browser isn't in the fullscreen mode...

[SHoe @ Aug 5th 2008 11:19AM]

Here is why Engadget is off-base with it's 'iunderwhelmed' swipe: this has a 640 × 360 screen. So it is rendering this web page in more detail then say.....a frickin iPhone. Fine if you guys want to cover the iPhone so much - I get it. But don't fawn over it and then dismiss (in 3 sentences) an impressive, key spec of the competition. BTW: Why no mention of the screen res here? And I know there are similar devices with even higher res screens, but it is none-the-less worth noting here as it gives this blurry image some context.

[Enry @ Aug 5th 2008 11:22AM]

Yeah, and if this were the 'Apple 5800 Tube', it'd be the second coming (or are we on third or fourth?).

[Bazza @ Aug 5th 2008 11:22AM]

I think they want it more like Meizu so they can change "underwhelms" to "icopy", it makes better news that way.

These article writers really surprise me, its like reading tabloid newspaper articles written by people that should know ALOT better.

[riggs @ Aug 5th 2008 11:22AM]

id rather have that then the bs browser that i have on my phone, so color me impressed....if it was a color.

[Bazza @ Aug 5th 2008 11:23AM]

I think they want it more like Meizu so they can change "underwhelms" to "icopy", it makes better news that way.

These article writers really surprise me, its like reading tabloid newspaper articles written by people that should know ALOT better.

[jere @ Aug 5th 2008 3:42PM]

I think this is the first time I've seen a double post with both posts highest ranked. To make this relevant, let me agree with you. I got an iphone 3g as soon as I could get my hands on one, but I hate the way so many other phones are so callously dismissed. If the phone's such a drag, why post about it?

[Justin B @ Aug 5th 2008 11:23AM]

Translation: This isn't an iPhone; therefore, this phone's web browser sucks.

Icons? Really? I'd rather read the comments here than your YouTube styled commentary.

[Tes @ Aug 5th 2008 11:45AM]

Seeing as Engadget are going to be lazy on this one (suprise suprise) I'll just point out to the folks willing to read it that, being an s60 device, unlike the godlike iPhone there will be scores of themes and skins for the interface so it's easily changable...seeing as that's Engadgets main beef with this thing.

http://s60theme.com/

http://www.nokthemes.co.uk/

http://www.pizero.net/

[Stu L Tissimus @ Aug 5th 2008 11:26AM]

The 90's aesthetic is indeed disappointing, especially considering Nokia's great looking browser UI for its internet tablets. They could do better, is all.

Still, yay for mobile browsers that can actually display stuff!

[rodman @ Aug 5th 2008 11:44AM]

iPhone killer has arrived!

[Kizorblade @ Aug 5th 2008 11:39AM]

Who cares about the usability or how beautiful it looks when all I want to know is what on earth is he looking at?

[anmol @ Aug 5th 2008 11:40AM]

OMG!!! An iphone 3g with 3.2 megapixel camera, higher resolution screen, removable battery, microSD slot, more software, and 2 soft keys!!!!

BRILLIANT! you did it again apple!!
.... oh wait this is a Nokia?... this underwhelms

[jk @ Aug 5th 2008 11:44AM]

Underwhelms, eh?
You do realise it is basically the same browser as in iphone? Both use webkit.
Biased much?

[SHoe @ Aug 5th 2008 3:26PM]

Exactly: same browser. However, this screen has 66% more pixels than the iPhone with which to render those web pages. So that makes this 'underwhelming' pic even more impressive.

[Tejas @ Aug 5th 2008 11:56AM]

To be honest, I liked all the screenshots that've come out for this device so far! Except the guy wearing the biking helmet!

Let's talk about the keyboard. A lot of people complain that the keyboard screenshot was UGLY. Honestly, I thought it is probably the most usable on-screen keyboard! Sure, the keys seem big and all, but the biggest gripe my dad had with the iPhone when he tried it was that he couldn't get the right keys pressed. When it comes to Nokia, it's about Universal Usability and a certain quirky Finnish flair. Sure, you would diss the screenshots now, but when you use it, tell me how it feels when each key you type with those hyperactive thumbs of yours! How does it feel to type really quick, rivaling the proper keypad users? I guess we'll have to wait and find out!

About the browser screen, you really need to try and use the device before you can comment on the browser! Besides, since this is a S60 device, you can always install Opera or the upcoming Mobile Firefox app! You've got flexibility... that's what Nokia brings to the table... choice, freedom and flexibility!

About the so-called Home screen shot. Geez, that's the menu screen! You can just tell if someone's really familiar with the way a Nokia works when people confuse the Menu screen with the Home screen! The Nokia home screen is almost always clean and well laid out. For reference, just go through any Nokia's review and you'll see the way the home screen looks. I personally find it very useful and quick to access.

I believe that this, being a Nokia, will have a lot of functional gems involved in it. They'll definitely bring in the choice of apps too! Things that people trust by default, unlike the app store where thing keep dropping off the radar.

Don't judge a product before you actually use it! Engadget (and Nilay in particular) needs to learn a lot about this! His objectivity is certainly in doubt with a lot of his posts. Please review before posting an article.

[Jubei @ Aug 5th 2008 12:02PM]

So many "me too" devices coming out from these competitors. All of course substandard compared to the iPhone. They have had years to develop ground breaking devices, yet it took Apples true innovative iPhone to wake them up. Instead of producing their own groundbreaking device, they all did the MS MO in business. Copy Apple, copy Apple, copy Apple.

[Arcanum @ Aug 5th 2008 12:16PM]

What the HELL are you talking about. This phone is miles ahead of the iphone in terms of specs. And so are many others.

And how did apple do everything right when they had to release a slightly updated version of the iphone only a year after the original came out?

[fehu @ Aug 5th 2008 12:16PM]

really?

[Pdexter @ Aug 5th 2008 12:26PM]

I wouldn't say so. Nokia had it's iphone like TS device with just big screen in 2005 already called 7710.....
Tech just wasen't ready for it at it's time so you could have had all out of it.
It's kinda silly to talk that iphone would be something ground breaking, but it showed big market that Nokia, Samsung, SE have been ignoring for too long and now are releasing their own devices. Thought it's not like Nokia didn't have it's TS devices coming like those demo videos in 2006 showed, but iphone surely made them to release them faster.

Iphone was great for us consumers because those wanting TS devices should be getting some cool devices in coming months.

[Jubei @ Aug 5th 2008 12:30PM]

Funny. What a bunch of crock. Please what they had was nothing compared to the iPhone industry leading UI and OS. Its underlying OS based on Mac OS X foundation simply makes other devices antiquated. To try and equate your Nokia to the iPhone OS platform and UI is a joke.

[sam @ Aug 5th 2008 1:19PM]

the underlying os in iphone is branded as osx, we have no idea what it's based on. judging from the limitation apple poses on the developers, it doesn't seem to be very advanced. judging from the problems users are having with it, it seems to be work in progress.

[Sarig @ Aug 5th 2008 1:21PM]

Dude. s60 lets you both copy/paste AND multitask. How's the super-underlying OSX iPhone OS doing again?

[Jubei @ Aug 5th 2008 1:29PM]

I see how desperate defenders are using the non issue of Copy and Paste to help trump up their cause. It's a non issue. Are none of you capable of memorizing a simple tracking number. Perhaps that is why these "me too" devices are so uninspiring and rely heavily on copying Apple and why copy and paste is so important to their misguided users.