Strap yourselves in, pilgrims. Nokia's next great handset has resurfaced in London today, and this time we were even allowed to turn it on. There's pretty much no way you could be unaware of the N8 by now -- Nokia's done the
viral video thing, the
teaser demo thing, the
feature walkthrough thing, we've covered it to near-exhaustion. But we've never seen it, you know,
doing stuff. You can now consider that omission corrected, as we've finally powered up the 3.5-inch OLED screen, entered the overhauled Symbian^3 wonderland, and come back to tell the tale. In-depth impressions and video after the break.
Well, now we know why Nokia didn't let us see this thing working back when we
first encountered it a month ago. The software is still extremely fragile and apps seemed to believe crashing randomly was part of their runtime. Maybe it's just a very aggressive power management feature?
All joshing aside, the N8 remains an unfinished product on the OS front and we remain wary of passing final judgment until the bugs and crashes have been cleaned up. What we can say so far is that hardware remains the major attraction here, with highly impressive camera and video functionality, healthy battery life, that svelte anodized aluminum body, and a 640 x 360 3.5-inch OLED screen. The latter comes with the usual disclaimer that OLED displays aren't as useful in direct sunlight (
see for yourself).
Nokia threw together the above demo video to demonstrate the N8's recording capabilities and HDMI-out playback. It illustrates the phone's stereo mics minimizing wind and traffic noise while emphasizing the birds chirping nearby and the girl's voice. There's no getting around it, this phone is indeed a terrific performer when it comes to video, and a 30-second clip we recorded took no longer than a couple of seconds to process and return us to a position where we were ready to film again. The camera is similarly snappy (we
had to do it), with Nokia claiming a half-second delay between shots. Our unscientific experience seemed to corroborate the claim. That says a lot about the processing power encased within the N8, but Nokia also notes that this handset has the biggest sensor that's yet been integrated in a phone. The 1/1.183-inch imager might be the biggest physically, with Nokia echoing Apple's contention that it's all about getting those photons on the biggest possible pixels, but we wonder if output quality wouldn't have been even better served by a less ambitious pixel count. Photos looked pretty spectacular on the N8's own screen, but then most phones manage that pretty well these days -- even stretching them on an HDTV doesn't provide enough of a test as a 1080p display is still nowhere near a dozen megapixels in resolution, so we'll retain our skepticism on quality until we see the N8's pictures in their glorious full size.
What else is there to this phone, you ask? Well, we prodded Nokia on the key advantages of Symbian^3, and they seemed to be threefold: ease of use, speed, and familiarity. Can't say we care much for the latter, but Nokia believes that retaining some themes from earlier versions of the OS will allow long-term users to easily slide into the new touch-centric experience. Speaking of which, the ease of use advocated here revolves around the capacitive touchscreen, its increased sensitivity, and a related minimization of "are you sure you want to do X?" prompts. For our money, aside from getting crash reports and WiFi alerts every other minute, this was certainly true enough. All the long-press edit and submenu options really do make it easy to customize things on the fly, and menus are laid out in a sensible and intuitive manner.
We had some issues with the screen failing to recognize our taps, and although this can be put down to software again, our feeling is that on occasion the OS expects you to be
too precise. There are too many instances where we are required to click a sliver of text instead of a boxier and more finger-friendly item as one might find on other touchscreen devices.
You'll already be familiar with the central UI concept of three home screens with up to six widgets per screen, and though that hasn't changed, we found it reassuringly flexible and capable of operating in portrait mode. Earlier demonstrations showed it in landscape, but the widgets rearrange themselves well enough when you flip the phone vertically. An additional menu contains your other apps, but we imagine most people will install their most used utilities -- things like Facebook, the media player, email and the like -- on the home screens and avoid entering the menus for the most part.
Multitasking was another big feature touted by Nokia and it deserves to be. Described as the proper, full fat variety, it's implemented pretty darn well here, with a visual interface showing you both a preview of what's running and a nice big X to kill any apps you no longer require. It's also logically done in terms of how you choose which apps to kill and which to keep running in the background. If you are entirely finished with an app, you can hit the soft Exit button and kill it, or if you want to have it hang around, you just hit the physical home button at bottom and it remains running in the background. Nokia's reps tell us they've had up to a dozen apps running at a time, which indicates it'd be plenty capable for most workloads. What that does to battery longevity, however, remains to be seen. We're just happy to see an instantly accessible and intuitive task manager. Don't freak out, we don't think Nokia blew it at all. We like this stuff.
Two-way sync is available for your email, with filtering on tap by sender, date, email account, etc. You can have a unified inbox or separate them out, depending on what you like, and the whole thing generally looked like a well thought out affair. Notifications for incoming mail and messages find their way onto your home screen by virtue of a widget. Messaging is threaded, though we had a little scare when we saw a
12-button soft keyboard with the phone in portrait mode -- it seems like you'll only get the full QWERTY keypad when in landscape.
To summarize then, Nokia has put together a growling multimedia powerhouse, but the OS is so far from being fully baked we can still see the dough. Clearly the only thing holding the N8 back is finalizing the Symbian^3 environment, which we're told is still scheduled to happen in Q3 2010. To quote a line we overheard at this presentation, "it's just a matter of
Anssi being happy with the software" at this point, though if we were him, we'd feel pretty far away from that magical time. Let's see what the devs manage to cook up -- the ingredients are all there, and navigation doesn't seem to suffer from very much lag, so it's just a matter of knuckling down and tidying it all up.
Nokia has confirmed Vodafone as a UK carrier already, and we're hearing suggestions that the N8 will probably find its way onto all UK networks by the time it finally launches. Price is set at €370 ($448) minus subsidies and taxes, and -- again, we're reiterating suggestions rather than confirmations -- you should be able to get it for free in the UK on long-term contracts at around £25 ($36) or £30 ($44) per month.
posted June 14th 2010 8:00AM
Sweet, but I'll steel wait for the N9, or more likely next year's iteration of it as I ain't buying it if it comes with cap. screen or w/o qwerty keyboard.
@incognito
symbian on anything is rubbish. Why would anyone want this with all the great Android options
meh...
tacky.
boring.
symbian lol.
nokia is pure fail. they just have no idea. remove this mediocre mgmt.
@doutorpiranha
Pure fail? Sure if you consider almost 60% of the smartphone market share a fail than by all mean it is one
@doutorpiranha
Yes being world leaders by a big margin in worldwide phone sales isn't good enough for some fanboys.
@DefPoet
Symbian smartphone market share 2010 (est) by Strategy Analytics is 39 and set to fall to 31% by 2012 IF trend continues. Even 2009 Symbian share was just above 40%.
60% You must be thinking 2007, but that's ages ago.
@vasra
2009 - 40%
2010 - 39%
...
2012 - 31% if trend continues? Huh?
@xbit http://xkcd.com/605/
@Android looks Hacked Together
Douche. Where are you getting your info from, your mom? Check your sources before you make an claims.
A.) Android market share is now 10% (Gartner, May 2010), and growing fast.
B.) Nokia has been around for years, Android...less 2 years. Pretty damn good. And just you wait.
For the record, what phone/os do you use?
@spielnicht
If N97 can become a huge success even with that crappy software and hardware, N8 with such a price tag and Hardware capabilities can surpass N95 records..
@DefPoet
I kinda agree with him. Nokia's OS looks stale, old, and stiff. I've always been a fan of Nokia phones, but I just don't see how this is going to have much appeal over something like an iPhone 4 or an EVO (at least in the US).
Yes, we all know about Nokia's worldwide dominance. People bring it up EVERY SINGLE time Nokia is mentioned. However, they are just riding on their success from a time when iOS and Android didn't exist, and it's hard to argue that the emergence of those two operating systems has not dealt a very significant blow to them. If you think that "60%" number will continue into the future as Apple and Google continue to step up their games, well, then I think you are being quite ignorant about the whole situation.
yawn..
@fourthletter GM was market share leader as well, until.. well, u know the rest of that I'm sure
@pedroostee
Motorola RAZR was a one phone model wonder until well you know the rest...
@ebgolfin
Symbian would appeal to people that want an OS that has a practical, usable UI, old fashioned multitasking, and that doesn't need a 1Ghz processor and 512MB of RAM to run smoothly.
You know, people who care about how it looks less than they care about what it does.
So tell me one single thing that Android or iOS can do that can't be accomplished with a symbian device (and no, accessing Apple's and Google's App stores doesn't count). Then i'll stand corrected.
In the meantime, i wonder if there is any good turn-by-turn navigation app on either Android or iOS that is free and can be used offline. Just wondering.
@ebgolfin
For me Nokia has always done a great job with the video/camera aspect and their build quality is always solid. As long as the software is stable (i.e. multi tasking, solid email, and IM) I'd take this over the EVO and it's screen issues. The EVO specs looks great but I'm not investing in sub par build quality
@Hamaki
@Hamaki
Er, yeah, it's called google maps and navigation; free and works very well. No it isn't available offline but then again you need a data connection to get an android phone so it's always connected. Besides, being online based means it's constantly being updated rather than having to buy expensive DVDs like with Garmin etc al.
@Shooter McGavin
You are missing the point, again. Offline is better for roaming. Thats why Ovi is significantly better for people in countries smaller than the US, where a border is hit more easily. Within the US, the benefit is that your GPS will work when you have no cell reception. For large parts of the US, that is a huge plus as well.
@JFH
Could you explain to me where I missed the point the first time? He asked if there was good, free offline navigation on android or iPhone, there is, it just doesn't meet one of his criteria points. Yeah, if you live near a border and get charged extra for roaming than offline nav might be a better idea but I don't think that's the case for the vast majority of people.
@JFH in Scandinavia I can get 2 Nokia N8 for 1 Iphone4 - and this offers so much more content creation. This will compliment my ipod touch nicely, if Nokia can give it some tlc firmware releases ironing out remaining bugs.
@Hamaki This also goes for the BlackBerry OS. This weekend, I was making calls on my new Google Voice phone number, reading Forbes with its BlackBerry app, listening to Pandora on my off-hours during a convention I was managing for one of my firms, and using Viigo and Poynt. I can do all this on a Curve with just 100 megabytes of internal memory.
This said, both Nokia and RIM need to step up their game in the smartphone arena. The UIs on both need a refresh and, for RIM, more internal memory would be great. But to say either one of these OSs are behind the times is are complete overstatements. All the OSs out there have their benefits and drawbacks; it's just a question of which ones a user is willing to take. I like all of them, but choose BlackBerry. Others choose Symbian, Android, iPhone or WinMo/WinPhone. To each their own.
@Shooter McGavin
In a later comment. Not this specific one.
@Shooter McGavin
Am I better or worse covered because Google Maps is available also on Symbian? Also even if I never crossed a border, Google maps navigation isn't available where I live. Also with our developed mobile market, I can get a phone and use it with or without a data plan as I see fit. I really wouldn't want to pay extra every month just because I wanted to have a navigation system.
Also in case you haven't seen OVI maps homepage, navigation, map updates etc. are completely free. Which is better than stand alone GPS updates (mostly).
@Hamaki
Maybe for A LOT OF PEOPLE it is important also how things are done...
Symbian has become a laggy UI in comparison with the rest. It for sure can make a lot of things but it´s a pain in the ass to get them done in comparison with other UI.
This model, which is yet to come -do not forget this point-, is the first Nokia with capacitive screen a pinch to zoom...it has the same screen resolution as my 5800XM, the same ram, and maybe the same processor but overclocked (the GPU is different, I know)...
It will sell a lot for sure but it´s a midrange phone, it cannot compare with Iphone4, Galaxy S, EVO or the like, by no means. Neither SW nor HW, it´s a fact.
@Kohai
I totally disagree unless you can point me to other handsets in that price range that use an anodised aluminium shell and capacitive AMOLED display.
Let's face facts here. Most people don't give a s**t if the UI is the absolute best as long as it's good enough. Microsoft kind of learned this point with the early versions of Windows (in fact right up to Windows 7) which is why they demolished the more usable Mac OS. All Nokia have to do is get it nice enough and they have a competitor.
Secondly, the screen is a capacitive AMOLED . It has the same resolution as the 5800 but AMOLED is superior to TFT in terms of colour resolution. The ppi on the N8 is actually less than that on the 5800 given it's a 3.5" screen not a 3.2" screen but since it's over 200 it's a moot point. Also, I'd point out that I have an N86 and a 5800 and the screen quality on the N86 is considerably better than the 5800's despite the fact it has a ppi of 154. Yes, AMOLED really is that much better.
Oh and before anyone goes on about AMOLED and sunlight I would point out that IPS TFT screens are considerably worse. Just a thought.
As for software, it depends what you mean. Does it have flashy transitions? No. Does it have a slight lag on some transitions? At the moment yes.
However...
Does it let me install what I want on it from where I want? Yes. Is it dependent on a proprietary piece of software to even work? No. Does it allow me to operate completely independently from a PC? Yes? Does it run in VM mode? No. Is it power hungry and therefore requires a bigger CPU to do the same functions? No.
Oh yeah... and of course the N8 has a GPU to do the heavy lifting which is why it can pinch and zoom a 12MP image with no slow down at all. Yeah, poorer hardware. Right.
It's really a case of what you want so when you say 'not as good' what you really mean is 'not as pretty but functionally more useful'.
Now, doesn't get me wrong - Nokia have a history of ballsing up firmware and releasing unfinished goods to the public. They've gotten away with it so far because of their market share and because they always fix it quickly. However that's not going to fly this time - this needs to be good (not necessarily perfect) from the get go. I'm prepared to wait for that because, frankly, this phone kicks the s**t out of everything else that's out just now or that's been announced this year if they do get it right.
@Shooter McGavin If you're using the GPS for a road trip as many do, there's a good chance you'll end up somewhere without service. Or at least out West you will.
@vasra
from the way my current and previous nokia's have been treating me, with update after update of sloppy firmware's, you can count me right into that statistic regarding lesser sales volumes, because nokia has good hardware, but buggy software.
For the first time in a while I really like the look of a Nokia (though I still don't like the font).
A slightly higher res screen would have been nice but other than that looks pretty good.
@lookseehear
Yeah the device looks sweet. Liking the different colors too.
@lookseehear
Seriously, this is one of the sweetest looking devices out there. I saw the comparison sheet to the iPhone 4 and Evo and was thinking, "Where the hell did this come from?"
@huzzlehoff
Ofcourse what would be life without some Engadget gems:
"but we wonder if output quality wouldn't have been even better served by a less ambitious pixel count. "
I guess Engadget will keep wondering the above till God Jobs unveils the "Retina Camera" 2 years later and then it will be all about how the highest pixel count is the best just like the "Retina Display" gimmick. :roll:
"Well, we prodded Nokia on the key advantages of Symbian^3, and they seemed to be threefold: ease of use, speed, and familiarity. Can't say we care much for the latter..."
Ofcourse Engadget would not care but 50% of the mobile device market would. Sorta evens it out I guess.
The S^3 interface looks even better than I expected from my short encounter with it. It will sell in huge quantities in the rest of the world, but please please Nokia get your marketing team out of their slumber and nail a deal or two with carriers in the US - the US consumer is heavily in need of education as to what is a real smartphone. They think it is something which can mostly run 1 app at a time and shoot 5MP pictures.
For Android users claiming how Android is oh-so-smooth, sorry to break it to you but even Froyo with its 450% performance improvement lags behind the S^3 UI - I personally tested my N1 with Froyo side-by-side with my friend's N8 running one of the S^3 builds from April '10. Having moved to the Android camp after the N97 disaster, I think Nokia is getting its mojo back. The problem for competitors is that it is far easier for Nokia to make better software than for its competitors to replicate the huge production, supply chain and distribution juggernaut that Nokia had built over the years. As Google learnt the hard way, being "cool" and "hip" in the blogosphere and valley digeratti does not equal to great sales numbers.
@naashak
The thing with Engadget, they didn't take the time in this case to do a little checking of the available data concerning the camera. The pixels on the N8 are NO SMALLER than those on the Iphone 4 as much as they'd like to think so. They're the same size and they can verify this claim if they choose to. So no matter how they try to twist, the N8 will produce better pics, end of.
@naashak
I hope you are right dude. iOS and Android do not appeal to me, I am waiting for this device to be awesome, and to become my spare when the N9 comes out. Did you have a chance to play any games yet on the N8?
@lookseehear
For me the N8 looks like a winner, even though the typical Engadget poster will find something to complain like "the home screen looks too busy" (after installing tons of widgets) or "the transitions are not as smooth as a heated knife cutting through butter at 110 degrees Fahrenheit".
Oh well, baby, what can you do if these are your priorities?
i sorta want it but i think the iphone will be the way to go or EVO
@Android looks Hacked Together
id rather have something with a real processor, good screen, and operating system
@Android looks Hacked Together
yeah i read the same article, i remember when everyone freaked out about the 3gs cracking and the white 3gs burning, the palm slider breaking, yes there are minor problems with all phones but most are isolated, since this phone hasnt been released i think its unfair to compare issues such as that.
@Zeroexe43
Sorry but my evo. Screen kinda sucks. It's big yes but its also has a 65k color limit that really shows when watching movies or YouTube
@DefPoet
awww well id rather that then the N8, you have android :P i am on a HTC magic with 1.5 android... i dont see how people complain lol
@Zeroexe43
1. 5. Dude. You NEED to head over to
Xda-developers.com ASAP and get an overlooked optimized software free 2.1 Rom
@DefPoet
i would but its hard to root the phones from canada, they are different then the us ones so it sucks, if you find an easy guide for the Canadian HTC magic please send lol
@Zeroexe43
You NEED to go try the N8 out when it is out. :)
Nokia, I have a great idea for you: Android.
@Frasier
Maybe they could also make Android phones, but its great to have variety and freedom of choice.
@Frasier Dude, Android isn't as good as Symbian, at least not S^3. Just because it's, "new" and, "exciting" doesn't mean it's better, especially in the multitasking area.
@Frasier
That is actually a very good idea. I don't understand why your comment was down ranked. A Nokia device with Android on top would be a total win. Nokia makes great devices, Google makes great software. It's a match made in heaven, and it would be a big hit to Apple. It would bring more unity to the mobile market and Nokia would get a lot of sales. And I'm sure Nokia and Google could work something out (e.g. Nokia could include Ovi Maps on their device -- I would love that! Navigation without data connection FTW especially when going abroad). And, it's not like Nokia didn't buy Symbian and then completely drop it. They afford to make big changes. I wish they'd make this one.
@The Madman
You might be right, but developing apps for Android is much simpler than developing for Symbian. This means there are a lot more apps for Android than for Symbian (and there always will be). Which is a great plus, if you ask me. Also, I hate the Ovi store (I used to have a Nokia phone). Android Market is much better organized.
@Znupi EXACTLY!
@Frasier
Nokia just spent the last 5 years becoming a content supplier and web services supplier why on earth would they hand all that over to Google ?
I still think S3 looks like a rip of Android though.
@Znupi
Developing for N8 is seven better with QT. Symbian C++ is not considered beginner friendly though.