Mysterious new Nokia touchscreen interface and handset unveiled (sort of)

In a presentation given at Nokia's Capital Markets Day 2008 last week the company quietly displayed a previously unseen handset, complete with an edge-to-edge touchscreen and subtle, attractive stylings. Perhaps even more interesting is that the screen is sporting an all-new heretofore unseen S60 touchscreen interface, giving hope to folks let down by S60 5th Edition's minor changes to the formula. Unfortunately, Nokia hasn't made any other reference to this phone or the revised OS, and could have very well trotted them out as a proof of concept of the company's direction -- particularly likely due to the fact that they were trying hard to butter up investors at the meeting. Still, the "Tube" started off as little more than a presentation (complete with hints at interface improvements that have yet to emerge), and look how that ended up.

[Warning: PDF link; via Boy Genius Report]

Gallery: Nokia Capital Markets Day Presentation highlights

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[KezMondo @ Dec 8th 2008 4:35PM]

I wonder what they'll compare this to...

[Jamma @ Dec 8th 2008 4:43PM]

Well it does look a lot like symbian on the N95....

[David Russell @ Dec 8th 2008 5:52PM]

Sorta looks like the LG Prada... or Apple's Prada copycat: The iPhone. Right?

[iKurt @ Dec 8th 2008 5:04PM]

iPhone!

[ILoveApple @ Dec 8th 2008 5:09PM]

@Paul Miller: Please look at the concept device shown at the GoPlay event that you linked to. That is NOT the Tube. I'm sorry but have you even looked at the real 5800? It doesn't look a thing like what was shown during the presentation.

[yokken @ Dec 8th 2008 5:25PM]

if(!physicalkeyboard){
printf "FAIL";
}else{
printf "WIN!";
}

[Patriks7 @ Dec 8th 2008 5:25PM]

I think the HTC Touch HD would be the best to compare this to..

[Mark Anderson @ Dec 8th 2008 6:31PM]

All those disappointed by S60 v5's minor changes?

Like who, Paul?

Who exactly?

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 8th 2008 6:49PM]

Palm Treo, definitely :P

[Kel @ Dec 8th 2008 8:07PM]

That looks like the phone interface in Britany Spears new video... That terrible Womaniser thing!!!

[Saad Rabia @ Dec 8th 2008 4:36PM]

1. Fusion: Wow, it is rectangular and has a screen, this must be an iPhone copycat!

2. Ocean Clak: "i" Would buy that.

3. iEye: This the S.H.I.T.E.

[wako @ Dec 8th 2008 4:38PM]

LOL, pretty much sums up what the next couple posts will be

[Oli D @ Dec 8th 2008 4:59PM]

Nothing from them yet, maybe they are all (one person) asleep, or recharging.

Even Split personality Blogbots have to refill their six-cell batteries once in a while.

[StalematE @ Dec 8th 2008 5:03PM]

You win the whole day.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 8th 2008 4:39PM]

I sent this in on Friday. Before Boy genius knew about it.
I like but I will reserve judgement until I find the Specs.

[Chase @ Dec 8th 2008 4:39PM]

i've seen that wallpaper on google images. its a modded ps3 xmb wallpaper. this cant be a release from nokia. it has to be from an end user.

[Mic2000 @ Dec 8th 2008 4:53PM]

indeed, one big hoax. Really bad photoshopped presentation slides. Not the work of Nokia

[Anoldcarsnickname @ Dec 8th 2008 5:02PM]

Too bad, this is actually a layout that would improve Symbian a lot. The only downside is that it would still be symbian underneath and thus slow.

[King Mustard @ Dec 9th 2008 4:43AM]

The wallpaper is called Stream of Light and can be found on deviantART.

[Neophytos @ Dec 8th 2008 4:40PM]

You're a moron if you compare this handset to an iPhone. The UI looks miserable.

[Mark Anderson @ Dec 8th 2008 6:29PM]

Because you can really judge a UI from photoshopped pictures, right?

Fucktard.

[Dubb @ Dec 8th 2008 6:30PM]

I don't know about you but I love 16x16 icon pages that can never be changed as my phone's desktop...

[Dave Chappelle @ Dec 8th 2008 9:22PM]

A very appropriate use of the word 'fucktard' i must say Mark Anderson.

Phone looks brilliant but with the N97 coming out in Q2 2009 this looks more like a fantasy at the moment.

[Johan S @ Dec 8th 2008 4:40PM]

The video playback on the N97 was crap. It looks like it drops frame and has redraw issues for screen changes and action shots.

[Johan S @ Dec 8th 2008 4:42PM]

oops meant to say I hope they fixed those.

[eggothewaffle @ Dec 8th 2008 4:44PM]

Considering Nokia devices with far larger and higher resolution screens like the N810 don't drop frames or have redraw issues, how are you sure that it isn't the camera taping the action which isn't causing the shutter effect you're describing?

[Patriks7 @ Dec 8th 2008 6:36PM]

(I posted a comment but it didn't seem to go through, so don't kill me if I double post..)

So to get this straight, you are bashing a phone that isn't even out yet, which will get get many changes before it is actually released (hardware and software wise at least, not design wise), and also which you at best saw in a YouTube video? Either you really hate Nokia, or were infected by Engadget, which really, but really, hates Nokia..

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 8th 2008 4:41PM]

That looks really nice, and Champions League live scores? Must have :)




iEye and CLAK, don't say a word.

[holycow @ Dec 8th 2008 4:59PM]

You said it! The Live Scores widget makes it that much more attractive!

[Kris @ Dec 9th 2008 2:07AM]

30% of people dont show up for that course.

[blueangel00100 @ Dec 8th 2008 4:41PM]

-NO ONE uses Nokia
-EVERYONE uses Verizon

[Kris120890 @ Dec 8th 2008 4:45PM]

Nokia make mobiles. Verizon don't.
I think you = Fail.

[bill cant fart @ Dec 8th 2008 4:46PM]

But what about the people who use Nokia and the people who don't use Verizon? What did you do!?!

[tpadekar @ Dec 8th 2008 5:37PM]

Someone never showed up for Statistics 101!

[Félix @ Dec 9th 2008 4:36AM]

No one uses Nokia rofl...
1st Phone manufacturer in the world maybe ?
Where do you live, not knowing this, Ethiopia or something ?
No wait I know : USA.

[Joe Anstine @ Dec 8th 2008 4:41PM]

I like this better than the n97 that they debuted. It seems like it would be smaller and thinner from the picture.

...I wonder if I will like the price tag more too (probably not -_- )

[Mic2000 @ Dec 8th 2008 4:47PM]

Hoax

[Fernando @ Dec 8th 2008 5:33PM]

No.

Learn to read: http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/10/107224/cmd08/CMD08presentations.pdf

[GON @ Dec 8th 2008 4:48PM]

These concepts look great!

[Fernando @ Dec 8th 2008 4:49PM]

Repeat with me guys: THIS IS A CONCEPT!

it's not a real device, it's probably not a real UI too, there might be nothing like this!

[kjb434 @ Dec 8th 2008 4:53PM]

Looks very similar to WinMo skins.

[iKurt @ Dec 8th 2008 4:57PM]

Is it coincidence that manufacturers are going for "all-touchscreen" devices after the iPhone debuted last year?

[Saad Rabia @ Dec 8th 2008 4:59PM]

Is it coincidence that Apple went "all-touchscreen" device after LG Prada debuted 2 years ago?

[Oli D @ Dec 8th 2008 5:00PM]

look at the text screen back left, thats pretty similar to iphones context sms system in my eyes...

[holycow @ Dec 8th 2008 5:02PM]

iPhone debuted last year? Please remove that 'i' from your nick now. As this just proves that you are not an Apple fanboy.

[7710user @ Dec 8th 2008 5:05PM]

Nope, Nokia had a touch screen phone in 2004 long before many other manufacturers released their touch screen handies. Nokia's even had a 640x320 screen. Slightly less than the 5800/N97 but still higher res than many other touch screen phones (iphone 480x320).. It's a shame they've been so damn slack releasing a new one.. But there you go.. never expect anything on time or to spec from nokia! Touch screen is a very obvious progression for decent phones.. Nokia, pffff. Lazy

[Kris120890 @ Dec 8th 2008 5:12PM]

Nice to see your fine tuning the worst trolling in a long time. Who are you iEye or Clak or Cockface.

[Patriks7 @ Dec 8th 2008 5:28PM]

Well then I think it's not a coincidence either that Apple made an all touchscreen phone after all those touchscreen navigators and PDAs released years before?

[Peter @ Dec 10th 2008 6:41PM]

Engadget: can we make it a deletable offense to re-hash the "who introduced touchscreens" debate here?

[Pdexter @ Dec 8th 2008 4:58PM]

C'mon engadget you can do better. This was one of the pictures in over 70 pages of info given. It's nothing. Not even a concept.

There's still the real Symbian S60 v9.5 yet to come rather than the 5th edition used now. V9.5 will be the Symbian Foundation, but this isn't it.