Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic phone intimately detailed on video

If you've been enjoying those still pictures of Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic touchscreen phone, but feel you're lacking an in-depth experience, we think we can help. A slew of demo and instruction videos have just been slapped up on the Ovi Share site, allowing you to get a better idea of just how the device works, and what it looks like when it's doing it. Luckily for you, we've taken the trouble of including all of the videos after the break for your viewing pleasure, saving you the painful and laborious experience of hitting a read link. Enjoy.

[Via Cellpassion]

[McLovin @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:12PM]

Turns out I didn't want to get as intimate with this phone as I thought I would

[wako @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:34PM]

same... text entry turned out to be very underwhelming (hoping to be more like the iPhone), and the UI just looks like the same UI all the other Nokia phones have just that you touch it now rather than using a D-pad...



Maybe ill wait for their next touch device =/

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:02AM]

So am I the only one excited about alternate text input methods like T9 and frickin hand writing recognition for god sakes.... Granted the on screen keyboard needs a lot of work but that is nothing a firmware update wont fix. But I like the option of using the stylus and writing notes the old fashioned way. All of our qualms with the software will slowly but surely be addressed in due time. However, hardware is what is not changeable and memory expansion is something I like aswell as the loud speaker and the resolution and built in GPS and wifi...Symbian OS not to mention the price tag too. I'm still getting my N85 though.... It will hold me down until next Christmas 2009 when hopefully the perfect PDA will of been released..

[Dan @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:40PM]

Certainly tempting to get ths. The price is extremely competitive. However I'm going to wait for the N Series touchscreen device.

The Iphone is sleeker but the functionality is just not there. The crippled bluetooth and Camera are deal breakers for me. Iphone is not that popular in Europe. I can't even remember seeing someone with one. I see Nokia n95 all the time.

[Homeboy @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:17PM]

Now we're gonna see this phone in every up and coming Rihanna music video.

[papari @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:17PM]

Geez Nokia come on! I mean no doubt Nokia can produce some killer hardware but that interface just sucks tremendous ass. It's sssslooooowwwwwww, ugly and looks painful to use.

[vibhor goyal @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:19PM]

Interesting but.. what about touch... I don't wanna revert back from highly intimate touch of iphone to this old style stylus touch...

[Ebeb @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:59PM]

GRAMMAR ALERT
You can't "revert back" to something. Sorry if I sound like an asshole, I just hate it when people use incorrect grammar.

Anyway, I think that there are different advantages and disadvantages for using either fingers or a stylus to interact with a phone, but at the end of the day, I'd rather have stylus support.

[Imran @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:18PM]

Yum, nice to see that Flash icon in the browser...

[katatonic @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:42PM]

i'm sooo getting this!

[V.I. @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:56PM]

Man, this looks real good. Better than I expected, I hope it comes to the US this year with all of the features listed.

[grifforama @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:27PM]

Inbox Plectrum ? WTF ?
I hate phones with stylii

[Bigg @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:30PM]

How come it looks so bad ass in Batman? Good thing it's only $400 usd, Which mean i could get it about $320 after a few month of release.

[quag @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:43PM]

Um, maybe because Batman is a movie.

[Perspective @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:34PM]

"intimate touch of iPhone"? Dude, that's NOT what the 3.5 mm jack is for!

[y3k.nik @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:04PM]

I was going to put a thats what she said comment there, but I really dont think she will be saying anything at all after seeing that happen

[quag @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:40PM]

This is a perfect example of how much Nokia's marketing completely SUCKS ASS.

First, I went to the Nokia website linked to from the story and click on the movie that seems most like what I was looking for. I was rewarding with a movie that had some completely annoying techno crap as the soundtrack. I killed that before I got too far because it made my head hurt. Seriously, is this phone just for Europeans and other people with no taste in music?

Then I clicked through to this page. Notice the seven (seven!?) product videos. I played the first one, which has no voiceover and no is just a random series of short feature demos. WTF? At this point I lost interest.

Nokia, it's time to fire all the engineers working in marketing and hire some real marketing people. You also might want to hire some Americans for the marketing in the states since we are Xenophobic and we generally don't trust talking heads with foreign accents. Lame, but true.

Bottom line: this might be a great phone, but I'll never know because NOKIA'S MARKETING IS SO AWFUL.

[Marcelo @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:49PM]

Wow.. congratulations. you're the douche of the day. Nos please STFU.

[quag @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:18PM]

I didn't say "I don't trust people with foreign accents", I said that Americans generally don't trust people with foreign accents. Or, to put it differently, Americans generally are more trusting of people who sound like them, which is true of all people. It's called "human nature."

This is why US companies produce localized versions of their advertising when they market their products globally, even in other English-speaking parts of the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCvR9Z2R7R8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-3MtYn9W5w

I don't know why Nokia doesn't get this.

So, Marcelo, why exactly am I a douche?

[designguroo.com @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:07PM]

okay, am from the USA. Am cuban too, I have an accent. Am also in marketing and you are so wrong...you are also an idiot. Every American i know has a different accent. From Old Southern to east India. Just because we were born in the USA means we all sound the same. In fact, if you crawl out from under your rock, you would notice America is a melting pot of cultures. That is why America is so great. Well, Ideally.

Dude, idiots like you is why the rest of the international community hates Americans. What a dumb thing to say.

[azz0r @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:49PM]

Just signed an 18 month contract for an N96.

Hopefully I'll be 8 or so months in by the time this is released so I can do some sort of deal to get this.

[Dzcrayton @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:43PM]

I have to agree with Bigg. When I spotted this phone in Batman, I thought it was going to be bad ass. I was looking forward to Nokia releasing a sexy phone, that could truly be an alternative to that other phone. I am not impressed. The phone looked good in Morgan Freeman's hand but that is not enough to make me go out and buy one.

[sugna123 @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:50PM]

That double tap thing is gonna get really annoying really quick!

[Dzcrayton @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:50PM]

We all know Batman is just a movie. But product placement does not come cheap. To see a pre-release version of this phone in a major blockbuster movie, leads one to expect something special is coming. The release of the Tube isn't special in my opinion.

[CB17 @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:52PM]

Did he just pull out an effing GUITAR PICK for a stylus??

Neeeeeeeeext!!!!

[Fernando @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:41PM]

Guitar pick = another option, that's not finger control or the regular stylus.

Also, it's gonna be used for guitar hero http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Various/Nokia+5800+XpressMusic/news.asp?c=9278

[CB17 @ Oct 4th 2008 12:32AM]

Ok fine, but did you look at that keyboard??? That's worse than Windows Mobile's!

[nomadmnemonic @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:19AM]

Very cool interface. I know it's not for everyone, especially since it's based on the Symbian S60 OS. My previous experience with a Nokia smartphone, the 3650, was very positive. Aside from the quirky design I got alot of compliments on it. The UI was easy on the eyes, there were apps, games, and you could even play music and video. Its nice to see that Nokia has a touchscreen version of their OS. I like the wallpaper as a background, the controls, and different views on the main screen. So far, it already has a number of features that I like

Pros
A2DP
Bluetooth syncing for music, photos, contacts, and calendar for both Windows and Mac
Documents to Go is available for the S60 platform (not sure if touch controls will be allowed)
fairly decent app store through Nokia's site, handango, yahoo mobile
Mail has always been easy to set up

Cons
Small album art display
unknown 3rd party app support for resistive touchscreen controls
storage limit
Slow responsiveness to touch commands
no built in app store
Symbian S60 is not as widely used in the US

overall I give the phone a 7 out of 10. Knocking off a point for useability, no built in app store, and storage capacity options.

[StefanH @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:20AM]

Another con: S60 3rd party application community sucks, because of Nokia being control freaks. It takes forever for a developer to get their application signed (if ever), and installing unsigned apps is not something for the common user.

[ZSX @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:23AM]

Truly, symbian signed hamstrings what would otherwise be a wonderful platform. What's worse is that the certificates (if granted) are time limited, which means they can expire and if you want to install an older program (or even reinstall it onto your phone) this may be denied. Otherwise symbian is a great smartphone OS, and will only get better when it goes open source soon.

[frezbro @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:15PM]

@ quag. Amen brother, amen. Nokia marketing is so bad that it makes me wonder who runs that part of the organization anyways? They need some fresh product marketing skillz and fast!

[Glennisbest @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:19PM]

iPhone looks much slicker, if you can deal with iTunes.

[jon @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:17PM]

where's the t9 and NON overly produced hands-on video? it looks the hand is not really touching anything and it's just a mock-up. someone explain to nokia that it looks really painful to do anything on this phone via the video...

[Ed @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:26PM]

I agree, the double tapping is annoying after watching the girl just navigate the menu.

[me @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:33PM]

i think the iPhone is still no. 1, nokia is awesome no question but this phone cannot compete with the iPhone

[Auras @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:33PM]

A poor man's iPhone it's what this is.

[noyp @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:59PM]

an apple logo would double the price though

[Shola @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:40PM]

Seriously...a guitar pick?

[Fernando @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:42PM]

Sorry for repeating this, but it is only an option.

Plus, guitar hero will use it http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Various/Nokia+5800+XpressMusic/news.asp?c=9278

[asg84 @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:06AM]

u can use either finger , stylus or guitar pick,

guitar pick is in the strap , so it will be a handy option sometimes

[Phil @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:24PM]

who sits down and watches almost TWO HOURS of promo videos? i mean, seriously, who? i got bored about 1 minute into the first one.

concerning the phone itself - it's an awfully tempting deal for the price (and unlocked, no less!), and since i really would like a phone with gps, i'm almost considering this. but then, the resistive screen and wonky software are real dealbreakers for me. i mean, even in their official promo vids they dont get the buttons to work sometimes. that is not something i want to see in an ad.

[Harkonian @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:28PM]

Ovi Share (where the vids are hosted) is a great media sharing service. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a looksee. http://share.ovi.com

[Chris @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:29PM]

Damn this is such a let down. Been anticipating this phone for a while now. Trying to boycot the iPhone because of the whole 2 year contract thing and every 'normal' feature you need to add by buying an application but these clips are really dissapointing.

They made the screen too narrow. Are you kidding me? No full qwerty keyboard? Only if you use a stylus? Phone seems slow too. Interface isn't attractive.

Got my N95 8GB in december 2007, could have renewed my contract in June this year. Awaited October for the release of all these new phones. HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) coming to Europe Q1 2009 ffs, HTC Diamond HD.. same slow processor as the Diamond Touch en Diamond Pro? Come on. Sony Ericsson Xperia seems to be a let down as well, very slow responding in the clips I've seen. Samsung? Hell no not burning my fingers with their poor software.

Maybe I should go sim-only for a year or something..

Nokia you broke my heart.

[Sean @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:10PM]

There is a full qwerty on there look at the last vid

[fadi @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:44PM]

is the touchscreen a multi touch version like the iphone??

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:06PM]

No but if you read this it looks like there's going to be many new nokia touch screen phones in the next couple of months however the only thing that's making me think twice about this phone is the lack of apps. Sure you can download new apps but they're utter crap compared to iphone or Google android but the low price of (roughly) £220 is really reasonable. As for input methods, there is the plectrum, stylus and finger. But i may buy this as my next phone.

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-and-s60-to-go-multi-touch--473026

[Adrian Williams @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:45PM]

With all you can eat music I could deal with the slow UI

[superted @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:03PM]

being a previous owner of a Nokia N73 after a 10 year drift away from Nokia, i can say that the lag in their OSes are really quite infuriating!

It seems to get worse as the phone gets older, possible a shared memory with storage capacity memory, but it's very difficult to put up with.

Moving to an iPhone 3G isn't exactly the dream i expected to be honest with similar tinges of slow down but from that video it seems the iPhone does look slicker (when it's not crashing or loosing signal entirely)

winkingsmiley.gif

[Jerome @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:00PM]

sigh...Nokia >< I really want to love them so badly....but a guitar pick? :|

[Tres @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:24PM]

I KNEW this would happen.

I was a big fan of Nokia for a long time, but I feel like they just don't get it any more, that phone looks incredibly awkward and frustrating to use. There is little to no visual feedback when you interact with it, it seems slow, the menu system looks terrible, the screen is too small and despite all that it's thick as hell.

And let's not forget that it's running Symbian, quite possibly the worst embedded OS I've ever had the misfortune to use (not counting Windows Mobile). Symbian is just a bad operating system, the menus are confusing and hard to navigate, it's fairly unstable for an embedded OS and it just feels terrible to use.

Nokia, wake up. You can't just keep shoehorning new phones with new hardware onto the clusterfuck that is Symbian OS and expect to succeed, especially with the iPhone and Android phones on the market now.