Symbian is a headache. I've gone from WinMo to iphone to android to symbian s60 and currently have a BB 8900 right now (long story...) and I have to say that s60 is just about the biggest piece of nonsense ever.
It really is a huge detriment to the great hardware Nokia has been pushing out. I've always been envious of people with the e71 because the phone just screams out "I'm a million bucks!" But after using it myself, you can tell its a really dated headset. Worst part, of course, is s60.
I found it far from usable even for business. I had it connect to google app through Exchange but s60's inbox system was worse than winmo 6.0's. If not for Opera Mini, the entire phone would have been unusable for me.
Nokia really needs to push out an OS that doesn't scream out "90's Operating System here!!!"
I'm not a huge iphone OS fan but I definitely know why the Europeans got so excited when the iphone entered their markets! Whats worse, app support in the US is horrible. There are no developers for the platform here. If not for, oddly enough, Google's various s60 apps, the e71 might as well have been a dumbphone for me. (One huge exception being Ovi Maps).
If we view iOS 4 and Android 2.2 as the gold standards of where phone OS' should be right now, S60 is the biggest laggard out there! It doesn't have the simplicity of the blackberry OS, no huge app library of WinMo 6.5, and doesn't have the grace of WebOS. (although, it does have genuine multi tasking...).
It's ironic that blackberry gets knocked on for having few apps b/c when I went from s60 to BB OS i moved from not having much of anything to Slacker & Pandora, Stitcher for podcasting, native facebook & Twitter- Seesmic, Bing & Google Apps, foursquare and of course... a pretty good engadget app. All were things I just took for granted on Android- found lacking on symbian s60 and refound on the blackberry.
Nokia- your hardware is pretty awesome when you're running on all cylinders but you need to do something drastic w/symbian. SonyEricsson and everyone else has jumped ship w/it... maybe you guys should too. Of maybe even pull a Microsoft and reboot the entire OS for something no one else is doing on the market. ...
1. Symbian has a huge app library. GetJar is one source off the top of my head. Remember that Symbian can install java apps, not just Symbian-specific apps.
2. Comparing iOS and Android to Symbian on an E devices is like comparing airplane wings to car wheels. These are 2 classes of OS designed for specific device forms and usage.
Symbian is highly optimised for 1hand devices and operations. I'd like to see iOS or Android be put into a form factor like the E71 and then be as usable. Fact is, IOS and Android were designed specifically for touchscreen phones. They aren't the gold standard for smartphones. They are standards for touchscreen smartphones. Symbian is the gold standard for more traditional form factors (read, keypad). You simply cannot compare the OS in the same manner.
The problem with people who slag Symbian is that their views of what is a smartphone is very narrow. You seem to think that touchscreen phones are the standard for smartphones. They aren't. The general smartphone market is far larger than the touchscreen market and they come in all sahapes and sizes. And beyond the opinion if we like symbian or not, the fact remains that it is the single most effective smartphone OS for the form factor.
That is bull. I went from BB to Nokia and had huge improvements across the board. You are seriously talking out of your rear to call it the biggest laggard as an OS, when you compare it to touchscreen OS's.
What OS can hold its own against Symbian on a non touch device. BB OS? Stop kidding yourself. The E71 was far superior to any BB device out there.
We really should not view iOS or Android as the gold standards. Long before any of those existed, "europeans" were video calling on their nokia's, enjoying reasonably priced plans, and great build quality. Elsewhere, there was the "razor". Right now, neither of the 2 OS you mention has similar capabilities. Nor was the Iphone the saviour of poor europeans. For people that were able to handle Symbian well, the Iphone was a huge step down. Stop spreading your FUD, based on your inability to use the OS properly. Or find Gravity for that matter.
I do have a narrow view of smartphones, namely ones that suck! =D haha- sorry, I seem to have hit a nerve, I'm just messing with you.
I do not think touch screen phones are the standard for smartphones. If you remember, Android is actually designed to be run on non touch screen phones! I don't think the touch screen really has anything to do with my criticisms of symbian. As an aside, I have no idea why those two need to be mutually exclusive. They don't. (Palm, HTC, Samsung... and even Nokia agree with me on this point) BUT even if you look simply at non touchscreen smartphones (ie. "smartphones" w/o touch screens), you're telling me you don't see where improvements can be made w/s60? OR are you saying that the developer base for it is on par any of the mobile operating systems that I mentioned?
I cited my specific examples of applications as things that all mobile operating systems should be able to do. I understand of course that not everyone will want to use them but I see it as a sign of something horribly wrong with your platform when you lack the ability to do so.
Symbian highly optimized for one handed operation? I really dont understand what you mean by that. With exception to typing, what phones are not optimized for one handed operations? Do you mean to say that non touch screen smartphones dont have a touch screen and thus things like multi touch (which doesn't really require more than one hand) isn't a concern? How is the e71 any more specialized for one handed operations than a blackberry? (I'm not being sarcastic... that's a real question.)
Real question: What do you guys use for email and web browsing? If you're connecting to your work place, mail for exchange right? Aren't the control options for that seriously lacking? Do you keep it connected or are you pulling? Web browsing? Are you using Opera Mini or the stock browser? Opera is JUST barely able to get the job done and the stock browser is a joke right? right...?? If we can't agree on that point, this is pointless.
Notice none of these criticism has anything to do with the touch screens.
@JHF why is the e71 better than any blackberry out there? Again, serious question. I really don't understand. I get no joy from running little java applets from the 90's. It takes the gps forever to lock on the e71 and even scrolling down a long document takes forever.
Everyone keeps talking about how great it is for "work" uses but what are you using as your pdf viewer? Don't you miss things like threaded conversations? I'm not just talking about SMS here either. Emails, IM's... all of that. When using your gps, how long does it take it to lock? How long does it take for it to lock? FOREVER? ... Mosts of the time, does it even lock or are you stuck w/a large A-GPS bubble that kinda gives you your location?
Yes, I AM saying that iOS and Android are the current gold standards for what one would want a mobile operating system to be. You can disagree but If you're a developer, what would you be writing applications for? If you're a user and you know a new app OR feature is coming out, on what platform do you expect it to be on?
And skip the "business" or "personal" use distinction because that is a false choice. JPL buys their employees iphones not so that their scientists can run around listening to music. The biggest proponent of the business/personal divide was microsoft and even they're coming around to seeing that the two markets are really just one.
Finally, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT SYMBIAN WAS DOING GREAT THINGS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE. Nor does it matter that video calls were possible in Europe before the US.
Finally, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT SYMBIAN WAS DOING GREAT THINGS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE. Nor does it matter that video calls were possible in Europe before the US.
@ounkeo I agree completely. You also have to consider what is in the price range. Seriously, how many Android phones do you know at this price? Engadget seems to cut Blackberry more slack for making phones like these. The fact of the matter is that this is the best NON-TOUCHSCREEN phone by miles on T-Mobile.
You certainly have a narrow view ;) You mentioned two touch OS while comparing to a non touch OS. And besides, I like a different touch OS better than the two you mentioned. Anywho:
GPS lock, unassisted, about 30 to 60 seconds. With AGPS, about 5 to 15 seconds. Completely acceptable in my book.
I have no issues scrolling down larger files, although I generally used pdf files on the device, maybe other docs are a different story. (Note, the E71 is owned by the gf, not me).
From an app perspective, I think its a wash between the E71 and the Blackberry Curve I used. Gaming on both devices suck, and the rest of the app field is pretty leveled I think. (Although I think Gravity beats all of the BB apps). The FB app on the Curve was ok though.
The E71 beats any blackberry because:
Ovi maps Build Quality Camera (small difference, but still wins) Not going through RIM's servers Not paying RIM data rates (in the EU, these are 6 times as much as general use. I am right now paying 1.26 Eur/Mb in Italy, while I would pay 8 to 9 Eur/Mb. Did I mention build quality? BB also used to have trackballs which sucked. For all the knocks S60 gets, it still looks a LOT better than the DOS looking BB OS. Reception. My gf's E71 would have 2 bars when my BB would have none.
Also:
"Symbian highly optimized for one handed operation? I really dont understand what you mean by that"
Not my remark, but allow me to answer. It means being able to do anything while holding the device with one hand. I think the E71 is not the best example of symbians strength in this area, as it is a full qwerty. But, touchscreens require you to use both hands when typing. In fact, Nokia knows this so well, that they have chosen to go with a T9 layout for portrait mode on the N8. You cant operate portrait qwerty with 1 hand. Then, if you use two hands, you might as well use the extra real estate in landscape. Also, using a d-pad enables you to do anything in the device. BB OS is ok with one hand operation, but its harder than S60 5th.
Even if S60 would be worse than BB OS, which it isnt, I would take the E71 as it makes the BB devices feel like cheap plastic toys.
My wife just bought BB 8500 (Gemini) after using Nokia e63 for more than a years. The reason is unique, many people in Indonesia use BB as a social status and communication not as a corporate tools like for u guys in the US. So, they don't even think about feature or technology.
Anyway, from what i see..actually BB OS 5 is still kinda not as modern as Nokia S60 3rd E63 has. The visual style is nice on the homescreen and app menu grid. If you go deeper, they started showing their age.
Nokia also have a better browser from my prespective. And they have a new chat apps that works good (Nokia messaging).
Don't even tell about the build quality. Recently, is some local forum, people is discussing about this issue.
Ah Treo! I used one, sporting WinMo though, that thing was so huge and slow. Actually while working in the US I have had to use such stellar devices as the Treo, and the Samsung Blackjack. How I prayed for an E71 instead. :)
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Symbian is a headache. I've gone from WinMo to iphone to android to symbian s60 and currently have a BB 8900 right now (long story...) and I have to say that s60 is just about the biggest piece of nonsense ever.
It really is a huge detriment to the great hardware Nokia has been pushing out. I've always been envious of people with the e71 because the phone just screams out "I'm a million bucks!" But after using it myself, you can tell its a really dated headset. Worst part, of course, is s60.
I found it far from usable even for business. I had it connect to google app through Exchange but s60's inbox system was worse than winmo 6.0's. If not for Opera Mini, the entire phone would have been unusable for me.
Nokia really needs to push out an OS that doesn't scream out "90's Operating System here!!!"
I'm not a huge iphone OS fan but I definitely know why the Europeans got so excited when the iphone entered their markets! Whats worse, app support in the US is horrible. There are no developers for the platform here. If not for, oddly enough, Google's various s60 apps, the e71 might as well have been a dumbphone for me. (One huge exception being Ovi Maps).
If we view iOS 4 and Android 2.2 as the gold standards of where phone OS' should be right now, S60 is the biggest laggard out there! It doesn't have the simplicity of the blackberry OS, no huge app library of WinMo 6.5, and doesn't have the grace of WebOS. (although, it does have genuine multi tasking...).
It's ironic that blackberry gets knocked on for having few apps b/c when I went from s60 to BB OS i moved from not having much of anything to Slacker & Pandora, Stitcher for podcasting, native facebook & Twitter- Seesmic, Bing & Google Apps, foursquare and of course... a pretty good engadget app. All were things I just took for granted on Android- found lacking on symbian s60 and refound on the blackberry.
Nokia- your hardware is pretty awesome when you're running on all cylinders but you need to do something drastic w/symbian. SonyEricsson and everyone else has jumped ship w/it... maybe you guys should too. Of maybe even pull a Microsoft and reboot the entire OS for something no one else is doing on the market. ...
@forward199
1. Symbian has a huge app library. GetJar is one source off the top of my head. Remember that Symbian can install java apps, not just Symbian-specific apps.
2. Comparing iOS and Android to Symbian on an E devices is like comparing airplane wings to car wheels. These are 2 classes of OS designed for specific device forms and usage.
Symbian is highly optimised for 1hand devices and operations. I'd like to see iOS or Android be put into a form factor like the E71 and then be as usable. Fact is, IOS and Android were designed specifically for touchscreen phones. They aren't the gold standard for smartphones. They are standards for touchscreen smartphones. Symbian is the gold standard for more traditional form factors (read, keypad). You simply cannot compare the OS in the same manner.
The problem with people who slag Symbian is that their views of what is a smartphone is very narrow. You seem to think that touchscreen phones are the standard for smartphones. They aren't. The general smartphone market is far larger than the touchscreen market and they come in all sahapes and sizes. And beyond the opinion if we like symbian or not, the fact remains that it is the single most effective smartphone OS for the form factor.
@forward199
That is bull. I went from BB to Nokia and had huge improvements across the board. You are seriously talking out of your rear to call it the biggest laggard as an OS, when you compare it to touchscreen OS's.
What OS can hold its own against Symbian on a non touch device. BB OS? Stop kidding yourself. The E71 was far superior to any BB device out there.
We really should not view iOS or Android as the gold standards. Long before any of those existed, "europeans" were video calling on their nokia's, enjoying reasonably priced plans, and great build quality. Elsewhere, there was the "razor". Right now, neither of the 2 OS you mention has similar capabilities. Nor was the Iphone the saviour of poor europeans. For people that were able to handle Symbian well, the Iphone was a huge step down. Stop spreading your FUD, based on your inability to use the OS properly. Or find Gravity for that matter.
@ounkeo @JHF
I do have a narrow view of smartphones, namely ones that suck! =D haha- sorry, I seem to have hit a nerve, I'm just messing with you.
I do not think touch screen phones are the standard for smartphones. If you remember, Android is actually designed to be run on non touch screen phones! I don't think the touch screen really has anything to do with my criticisms of symbian. As an aside, I have no idea why those two need to be mutually exclusive. They don't. (Palm, HTC, Samsung... and even Nokia agree with me on this point) BUT even if you look simply at non touchscreen smartphones (ie. "smartphones" w/o touch screens), you're telling me you don't see where improvements can be made w/s60? OR are you saying that the developer base for it is on par any of the mobile operating systems that I mentioned?
I cited my specific examples of applications as things that all mobile operating systems should be able to do. I understand of course that not everyone will want to use them but I see it as a sign of something horribly wrong with your platform when you lack the ability to do so.
Symbian highly optimized for one handed operation? I really dont understand what you mean by that. With exception to typing, what phones are not optimized for one handed operations? Do you mean to say that non touch screen smartphones dont have a touch screen and thus things like multi touch (which doesn't really require more than one hand) isn't a concern? How is the e71 any more specialized for one handed operations than a blackberry? (I'm not being sarcastic... that's a real question.)
Real question: What do you guys use for email and web browsing? If you're connecting to your work place, mail for exchange right? Aren't the control options for that seriously lacking? Do you keep it connected or are you pulling? Web browsing? Are you using Opera Mini or the stock browser? Opera is JUST barely able to get the job done and the stock browser is a joke right? right...?? If we can't agree on that point, this is pointless.
Notice none of these criticism has anything to do with the touch screens.
@JHF
why is the e71 better than any blackberry out there? Again, serious question. I really don't understand. I get no joy from running little java applets from the 90's. It takes the gps forever to lock on the e71 and even scrolling down a long document takes forever.
Everyone keeps talking about how great it is for "work" uses but what are you using as your pdf viewer? Don't you miss things like threaded conversations? I'm not just talking about SMS here either. Emails, IM's... all of that. When using your gps, how long does it take it to lock? How long does it take for it to lock? FOREVER? ... Mosts of the time, does it even lock or are you stuck w/a large A-GPS bubble that kinda gives you your location?
Yes, I AM saying that iOS and Android are the current gold standards for what one would want a mobile operating system to be. You can disagree but If you're a developer, what would you be writing applications for? If you're a user and you know a new app OR feature is coming out, on what platform do you expect it to be on?
And skip the "business" or "personal" use distinction because that is a false choice. JPL buys their employees iphones not so that their scientists can run around listening to music. The biggest proponent of the business/personal divide was microsoft and even they're coming around to seeing that the two markets are really just one.
Finally, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT SYMBIAN WAS DOING GREAT THINGS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE. Nor does it matter that video calls were possible in Europe before the US.
@forward199
Finally, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT SYMBIAN WAS DOING GREAT THINGS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE. Nor does it matter that video calls were possible in Europe before the US.
@ounkeo
I agree completely. You also have to consider what is in the price range. Seriously, how many Android phones do you know at this price? Engadget seems to cut Blackberry more slack for making phones like these. The fact of the matter is that this is the best NON-TOUCHSCREEN phone by miles on T-Mobile.
@forward199
why is my original comment being hidden?? Everything is said was true and legitimate!
Gosh- Nokia fans are soo intolerant! Typical! =)
*oh!* got you guys again!
yeah yeah- go ahead and rank this as low too! Never engaging in a discussion w/Nokia fans ever again. bye!
*walks off...*
@forward199
"You can disagree but If you're a developer, what would you be writing applications for?"
The one with the biggest user base.
@forward199
You certainly have a narrow view ;) You mentioned two touch OS while comparing to a non touch OS. And besides, I like a different touch OS better than the two you mentioned. Anywho:
GPS lock, unassisted, about 30 to 60 seconds. With AGPS, about 5 to 15 seconds. Completely acceptable in my book.
I have no issues scrolling down larger files, although I generally used pdf files on the device, maybe other docs are a different story. (Note, the E71 is owned by the gf, not me).
From an app perspective, I think its a wash between the E71 and the Blackberry Curve I used. Gaming on both devices suck, and the rest of the app field is pretty leveled I think. (Although I think Gravity beats all of the BB apps). The FB app on the Curve was ok though.
The E71 beats any blackberry because:
Ovi maps
Build Quality
Camera (small difference, but still wins)
Not going through RIM's servers
Not paying RIM data rates (in the EU, these are 6 times as much as general use. I am right now paying 1.26 Eur/Mb in Italy, while I would pay 8 to 9 Eur/Mb.
Did I mention build quality?
BB also used to have trackballs which sucked.
For all the knocks S60 gets, it still looks a LOT better than the DOS looking BB OS.
Reception. My gf's E71 would have 2 bars when my BB would have none.
Also:
"Symbian highly optimized for one handed operation? I really dont understand what you mean by that"
Not my remark, but allow me to answer. It means being able to do anything while holding the device with one hand. I think the E71 is not the best example of symbians strength in this area, as it is a full qwerty. But, touchscreens require you to use both hands when typing. In fact, Nokia knows this so well, that they have chosen to go with a T9 layout for portrait mode on the N8. You cant operate portrait qwerty with 1 hand. Then, if you use two hands, you might as well use the extra real estate in landscape. Also, using a d-pad enables you to do anything in the device. BB OS is ok with one hand operation, but its harder than S60 5th.
Even if S60 would be worse than BB OS, which it isnt, I would take the E71 as it makes the BB devices feel like cheap plastic toys.
Just my 2 cents.
@JFH
I've said it before and I'll say it again when it comes to usability, I'll take my Treo 650 with old school palm os over my E72. I own both.
hmm..
My wife just bought BB 8500 (Gemini) after using Nokia e63 for more than a years. The reason is unique, many people in Indonesia use BB as a social status and communication not as a corporate tools like for u guys in the US. So, they don't even think about feature or technology.
Anyway, from what i see..actually BB OS 5 is still kinda not as modern as Nokia S60 3rd E63 has. The visual style is nice on the homescreen and app menu grid. If you go deeper, they started showing their age.
Nokia also have a better browser from my prespective. And they have a new chat apps that works good (Nokia messaging).
Don't even tell about the build quality. Recently, is some local forum, people is discussing about this issue.
@bl
Ah Treo! I used one, sporting WinMo though, that thing was so huge and slow. Actually while working in the US I have had to use such stellar devices as the Treo, and the Samsung Blackjack. How I prayed for an E71 instead. :)