N81 -- Engadget

N-Gage First Access hacked for N95 8GB, others

by Paul Miller posted Feb 6th 2008 at 8:29AM

That didn't take long. A mere day after the release of Nokia's N-Gage First Access gaming preview exclusively to N81 users, the app has been cracked open to work with any N-series device with enough horsepower. The hack was performed by Nokia regular P@sco, and comes in a convenient downloadable form, or an only slightly involved guide to hacking the app yourself. No rocket science here, and while we're sure Nokia could easily fight back, what we've really got to ask ourselves is why didn't Nokia just open it to everyone in the first place?

[Thanks, Michael J.]

Nokia rolls out N-Gage First Access to N81 users

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 5th 2008 at 1:31AM

The delayed, revamped N-Gage client still isn't ready for prime time, but the First Access preview service -- which is just a little bit more functional than the preview shipping on some Nseries devices already -- has finally launched. The service introduces a full suite of social gaming tools (though with compatibility officially limited to N81s for the moment, that's a very small social circle indeed) and lets users download several game demos; Nokia promises that the service will evolve and expand as it ramps up for a full-scale release, so don't get too down on the lack of content and community just yet. Oh, and just a word of warning, downloaders: your data will get reset prior to the full-scale launch, so don't get too attached to your high scores, k?

[Via All About Symbian]

Nokia's N-Gage First Access delayed to 2008

by Paul Miller posted Dec 21st 2007 at 9:35AM

We suppose it was just too good to be true, having a solid release window and target device for N-Gage, even if it was going to be merely in the form of a "First Access" test service. Nokia has been going over the service internally with about 1,000 testers, and has uncovered an "issue" that it needs to address, but wouldn't elaborate much further about the problem, other than that the games and service are supposedly working smoothly. That means Nokia won't be releasing First Access for N81 users this week as promised, but instead will wait until the new year to finally make its new push back into the gaming market. Don't worry Nokia, it's not like we've got anything else going on.

[Via Pocket Gamer]

Nokia's N-Gage hits the N81 next week in pre-release form

by Paul Miller posted Dec 14th 2007 at 9:16AM

It's a good time to be an N81 or N81 8GB user, since Nokia's got some pre-release versions of full N-Gage titles just for you as of next week. Nokia's hoping for some feedback with this "N-Gage First Access" setup, since the full service isn't quite ready to go yet. Of course, the N81 has game demos on it out of the box, but this time it'll have "exclusive access to the pre-release version of the N-Gage application and one or more N-Gage games!" They're certainly taking their own sweet time getting the relaunch of N-Gage ready, but given the failure of its first two iterations, perhaps we should be grateful Nokia's waiting to get it right this time. But seriously, hurry up already.

[Via NokNok; thanks James B]

The Nokia Music Store video review -- hint: a "doddle" is good

by Thomas Ricker posted Nov 5th 2007 at 7:21AM

Unless you're living in the UK, it's hard to get your hands dirty with Nokia's new Music Store. Unless you're living under rock, you know that it's Nokia's intention to take the service global as it vies for dominance over digital downloads. Fortunately, a quickie, video review from Nokia's new N81 has been posted by NokNok.tv. They claim that "hunting out tracks is a doddle, as is downloading." A good thing, apparently, judging by the 4 / 5 stars awarded. Check the action after the break.

Continue reading The Nokia Music Store video review -- hint: a "doddle" is good

Nokia's N81 8GB now shipping with N-Gage preview

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 22nd 2007 at 3:09AM

Nokia's N81 is now, at this very moment, "available globally" according to Nokia. Pre-tax, pre-subsidy €360 / $515 for the 2GB microSD model or €430 / $615 for that full 8GB of on-board flash experience. Since the revamped N-Gage platform isn't online yet, the N81 comes pre-loaded with three playable demos of FIFA 07, Asphalt 3: Street Rules, and Space Impact Light. Those same games will be available for free download-and-preview over HSDPA when the service goes live sometime "later in 2007." Still, while Nokia touts a global launch, the fact that this quad-band GSM phone only sports 2100MHz WCDMA will limit its effective use in North America -- even if it is FCC approved.

Nokia's N81 shows up in FCC, gives Americans hope

by Darren Murph posted Sep 18th 2007 at 11:19AM

While the N81 has managed to capture the hearts of many thus far, we Americans have been forced to look longingly at it as we wonder if it will ever come to our shores. Thankfully, it seems that there's at least a glimmer of hope, as the sexy handset managed to wind up on the FCC's website, although the documentation has since been removed. Nevertheless, this ought to mean that the handset is well on its way to being sold in US outlets, so why don't you give those hands-on pictures a more serious glance till we find out more, cool?

[Image courtesy of SolNew]

Nokia's N81 slider is an 8GB N-Gager

by Thomas Ricker posted Aug 29th 2007 at 6:14AM

Remember the sidetalkin' N-Gage? Yeah... well, this isn't it. This is Nokia's new N-81 gaming device built upon their revamped N-Gage gaming platform. The S60 device packs HSDPA (sorry, no US band support) for on-line gaming, integrated speakers (and 3.5-mm headphone jack), and D-pad navigation for getting your game on. Still, it's not just for gaming as it fully supports all the audio and video you'd expect in a new "pane-driven," UI which carousels your windows instead of lining them up in tabs -- a UI which will evolve in the coming months in line with Ovi. On sale Q4 in Europe in an 8GB flash model (€431/$585) or €360/$490 pre-bunged with a 2GB microSD card. You did see our hands-on, right?

Gallery: Nokia's N81 slider is a real N-Gager

Nokia hands-ons at Engadget Mobile!

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 29th 2007 at 6:05AM

We've had the good fortune to spend some time with several members of Nokia's just-announced lineup: the N81, the 5310 and 5610 from the XpressMusic series, and the US spec N95. So is an N95 packed with HSDPA 850 / 1900 like the best thing ever? Check it all out over at Engadget Mobile!

Read - US N95
Read - N81
Read - XpressMusic 5310 and 5610

Nokia music store, N-Gage, N81, 8GB N95 all confirmed for tomorrow

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 28th 2007 at 9:09PM

In case you haven't heard, Nokia's blowing it out tomorrow, London style. We can't be certain what exactly is going to get announced until the curtain drops, but as the date and time draw near, we're hearing whispers from across the 'nets about what we can expect. Latest across our desks is this itinerary from The Nokia Blog, detailing the day's events; from it, we can see that the N81 and 8GB N95 are both on the docket, ensuring that the high end will be well represented. Also up are the rumored music store and the revamped N-Gage platform we've been hearing a solid buzz about recently. Stay tuned, we're just a few hours away now!

Nokia N81 shown up close and personal

by Ryan Block posted Aug 28th 2007 at 4:21PM

We know Nokia's got a big event planned for London tomorrow, but Unwired View's got the images of just what's being shown: among the releases, the 8GB N81 gaming / media phone will be there (though we've little more information the device itself). Also mentioned: the "N95 8GB" device and some new XpressMusic phones. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.

[Thanks, Staska]

Continue reading Nokia N81 shown up close and personal

Nokia N81 and N82 come to light

by Peter Rojas posted May 10th 2007 at 10:50PM

Symbian-Guru has the scoop on not one, but two unannounced new high-end Nokia handsets, the N81 (pictured on the left) and the N82 (pictured on the right).

The slider-style N81 looks it'll be the successor to their N91 musicphone (except less, uh, busted-looking) and sport a full 8GB of memory, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, quad-band EDGE and 2100MHz HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The N82 has a more traditional candybar form-factor and'll have a five megapixel camera with Xenon flash and auto-focus Carl Zeiss lens, quad-band GSM (doesn't say whether it'll be GRPS or EDGE, but we're guessing EDGE), 2100MHz HSDPA, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, integrated GPS, FM tuner, and a microSD memory card slot.

Doesn't sound like either will be out until Q4 of this year.

[Via Ring Nokia]