xpressmusic
Latest
BlackBerry OS seemingly ported to Nokia 5700 for some strange reason
First, a disclaimer: we don't really know what's going on here. That said, there's a video accompanying the images posted on the forum Maxpda that have us believing some really, really smart dude with considerably too much time on his hands has managed to shove the BlackBerry Pearl 8220's build of OS 4.6 onto a Nokia XpressMusic 5700. Why you'd want to do that is anyone's guess -- we're assuming "because it was there" is a possible answer -- but as far as we can tell, the result is at least semi-functional. So if you've always dreamed of a BlackBerry / Nokia Frankenstein, hey, at least you know who to ring now. Follow the break for some quick video "proof."
Nokia 5130 XpressMusic comes to T-Mobile
T-Mobile subscribers looking to get in on the whole musicphone craze at a bare minimum of expense need look no further than the just-announced Nokia 5130 XpressMusic, a colorful candybar previously announced for other parts of the world that features a 2 megapixel cam, 2-inch QVGA display, integrated FM radio, and -- most importantly -- a 3.5mm headphone jack. Considering that there's no 3G, we're not necessarily sure why you'd pick this over the stylish 5310 -- especially considering that it's now free on contract -- but if you're digging the new model in either its Black / Red or White / Aqua color schemes, you're welcome to grab it now for $29.99 on a two-year deal after discount and rebate.
Nokia X6 video hands-on: proof that capacitive touchscreens are better
While Nokia wouldn't invite us to Nokia World this year, we were fortunate enough to discover a pair of its new X6 handsets on the IFA floor here in Berlin. On hand were two engineering prototypes, one of which was peeling away from its plastic shell while the other seemed less responsive to our finger-taps. Still, it's clear that the capacitive touchscreen is far more responsive to human touch than the resistive screens found on its N97, or the 5800 XpressMusic especially. This was made abundantly clear when using the on-screen keyboard although some of our swiping gestures were inexplicably ignored in other elements of the interface. But given the choice of the screen being awesome or super-awesome (remember, we're comparing it to Nokia's resistive touchscreen legacy), we'll have to settle on the former for now. Of course, underneath you've still got S60 5th, for better or worse, pumping away inside a chubby little candybar -- no screen tech can change that. See the action in the video after the break then jump into the gallery to see it sized up with a few of its S60 cousins five times removed.
Nokia rumors: Xseries is XpressMusic successor, new Nseries touchphone in '09?
German site NokiaPort has rounded up a nice little cache of juicy Nokia details that it says is culled from "official information from Nokia, confirmed rumors and reputable sources of information," and while we can't personally vouch for most of what we're seeing here, it's all sounding reasonable enough -- and with Nokia World right around the corner, we figured this would be a grand opportunity to lay it out and see how the chips fall. First up, Cseries and Xseries are said to be presented at the show, with the first Xseries model being an upgraded version of the just-launched 5530 XpressMusic with 3G thrown in, probably spelling doom for the 5800 -- in other words, Xseries is very likely a wholesale rebranding of the XpressMusic line, which totally makes sense. Speaking of touchscreens and Nokia branding, the site says that we'll see another touchscreen Nseries model to keep the N97 company before the year's out, followed by Eseries' first S60 5th Edition model in 2010. Coincidentally, they've got a part of a supposed new touch model pictured on the site (see above), though we're not clear on what we're seeing. In the Maemo department, the N900 is likely to be the only Maemo 5 device for the better part of the year, though there's apparently a mysterious N920 already making the rounds in the Espoo campus. As technologies go, xenon flashes are apparently on the outs with Nokia -- better hang onto your phones, N82 owners -- while capacitive screens should start to take hold. Samsung has already proven that S60 works just fine and dandy with a capacitive display on the i8910, so we're stoked to see where Nokia takes it. Finally, OMAP3 cores are said to be working their way into the lineup following a Cortex A8-based introduction in the N900; Nokia has historically lagged its competition as processing power goes, so it'll be great to see them start to match up with the Pres and the iPhones of the world -- at least as far as raw computational might goes, anyhow. [Thanks Hermann S., image via Eldar Murtazin]
Bunch of unreleased Nokias caught chatting amongst themselves
At a quick glance, you might write off this picture as nothing more than a rehash of recently-launched Nokia models. Look closer, though -- way closer -- and you might notice that the phone in the front is actually an N97 Mini (check d-padless keyboard, for instance). Going around the table, you realize that we're actually dealing with a who's-who of new and unannounced gear: a 6760 (Yanks know this as the Surge), an E72, E52, and a chromed-up touchscreen device that looks like it could be the long-rumored 5900 XpressMusic. Who has access to all this awesome stuff? Some retailer, apparently, who's got a public Flickr account and a happy shutter finger. We'll take one of each, please. Update: At the owner's request, we've had to pull the photograph. Sorry, folks!
Nokia 5900 XpressMusic spotted from the back?
At a quick glance, you might think that you're looking at the back of a 5530 here, but look closer -- the camera's a little different, and we don't know what's up with that grille or the slits underneath. Indeed, we could very well be looking at the back of a rumored 5900 XpressMusic, a phone allegedly set to bow at Nokia World in Stuttgart next month with a 5 megapixel camera, S60 5th Edition FP1 (first we've heard of an S60 5th Edition feature pack), and -- get this -- support for SDXC, which would give the phone truly insane expandability options. It's also apparently a bit thinner than the 5800 it'd be replacing, though the SDXC rumor is truly off the wall -- we'll need to wait right up until Nokia World until we believe that particular tidbit. [Via mobile-review] Update: Looks like the photo's been floating around for a while -- hard to say whether it's legit or not -- but these spec details are new. Of course, time'll tell whether they turn out to be legit -- everyone got their German vacations booked? Thanks, Symbian Freak!
Nokia 5530 XpressMusic out of box, handled on video, preferred over 5800
As far as we're concerned, Nokia's 5530 XpressMusic far and away out-classes its more expensive older brother the 5800, even if it is lacking in the 3G department. British phone retailer mobiles.co.uk thought it best to tease us with an unboxing video of their own, along with some quick impressions of the touchscreen device. It's certainly a looker, and a sleek device they're pretty confident will do well. Some of the S60 5th edition additions are very welcomed, such as the new scrolling contacts bar, but for better and for worse (mostly worse), it's still S60. See it for yourself after the break, and if you wish really hard, there's a good chance this still won't get 3G, but at least you can say you tried. [Via Cell Addict Blog]
Carphone Warehouse gets UK exclusive on Nokia 5530 XpressMusic next week
If you're looking for the cheapest possible way to get in on this S60 5th Edition craze that's sweeping the globe, you've probably got a keen eye on Nokia's 5530 -- a phone that strangely looks much nicer than its pricier, more full-featured 5800 big brother -- and if you're in the UK, you won't be waiting much longer. Mobile Today is reporting that Carphone Warhouse has nabbed itself a nice little six-week British exclusive on the phone starting August 11, running a totally palatable £130 (about $218) on a pay-as-you-go deal. We'd have a hard time adapting to EDGE, but who knows -- if you've got enough open WiFi networks in your daily route, maybe it's doable.[Via Unwired View]
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic sees v30 firmware update
Don't get too excited -- this isn't bringing the 5530's revamped home screen or anything awesome like that -- but Nokia has now started releasing v30-level firmware updates for its various 5800 XpressMusic product codes around the world. Despite the seemingly significant boost in version number (the last big one to go around was v21), this appears to be mainly a maintenance release focused on bugs and such -- the headlining feature so far seems to be the addition of email notifications on the home screen for Nokia Messaging, so yeah, don't expect the world from this one. [Via All About Symbian]
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic gets America-flavored firmware update
It's not going to turn as many heads as the recently-launched N97 update, but Nokia's other S60 5th Edition handset got its own firmware boost earlier this week. Version 21.2.025 for the NAM 5800 XpressMusic doesn't seem to do much in the way of new features, so odds are this is going out strictly as a stability release -- which, in itself, is a testament to the fact that Nokia seems to care more about the North American market right now than it ever has before. Keep it coming, guys.[Via Symbian-Guru]
Nokia 5530 XpressMusic gets FCC approval, still no 3G to be found
Call us hopeless optimists, but some part of us was holding out some truly foolish belief that we might yet see a version of Nokia's pretty 5530 XpressMusic with 3G on board. Despite the fact that it looks considerably better than the supposedly higher-end 5800, the 5530 tops out with EDGE for the WWAN, relying instead on WiFi for the heavy data lifting in exchange for a dirt-cheap unlocked retail sticker price. That said, we'd still take one if they were available. At least Nokia stuck this FCC lab with the less attractive black / red color combo, so our usual bout of raging jealousy is just a tad tempered this time around.
T-Mobile roadmap shows Dell netbooks, BlackBerry Gemini, and more
Leaked carrier roadmap documents of unknown age and origin aren't necessarily the most accurate things in the world, but they are one very awesome, important thing: leaked. Pictured above is a fragment of one such spreadsheet that we've had the good fortune of receiving for T-Mobile USA -- obviously it's a little bit on the small slide, but no sweat, we'll walk you through what it's saying. Again, we wouldn't take these dates as the gospel truth, but we'd venture to say they're a good rough guide for what to expect out of these guys for the next few months. Move along for the full list![Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Nokia 5630 XpressMusic bows across Europe
If you've been desperately seeking a phone that could best be described as the Nokia E52's misbehaving younger brother who can't hold a job and spends most of his time in his mom's basement blaring death metal, look no further than the 5630 XpressMusic. The phone's essentially an E52 clone that's had some of its uptight bits swapped out for funkier ones (just look at that wild keyboard, for instance), emphasizing the music capabilities but toning down some of the productivity goodies like advanced profile support and integrated Nokia Messaging. Interested parties in many European locales can now latch onto a unit of their own -- take Nokia Finland's online store here, for example, where it's selling for a totally reasonable €255 (about $360). No sign of an American release at this point.[Via All About Symbian]
Rumored Nokia 5900 XpressMusic is actually a lower-end 5530?
We were cautiously optimistic after seeing the alleged 5900 XpressMusic leak out a few weeks ago that Nokia was taking a keen interest in upgrading the plain-vanilla looks of its midrange 5800 to give it more of a premium feel, but strangely, it sounds like there might be very different forces at play here. Cellpassion says that it can "confidently say" that the silvery device here is actually a downgrade from the 5800 -- a model 5530 codenamed "Kenzo." Rumored specs include a 3.2 megapixel AF cam (same as the 5800), a lower-res QVGA display clocking in at 2.9 inches, 150MB of onboard storage, and -- here's the kicker -- no 3G or WiFi. It's said to be looking at a retail price under $200, which makes us wonder if this couldn't actually be the domestic Chinese version of a device that could launch in other markets with 3G and / or WiFi enabled. Just a guess, but here's hoping we get some concrete answers shortly.
Nokia XpressMusic 5900 leaks out?
Sure, this could just be a really nice KIRF, but we've got a hunch these pics of an upcoming Nokia XpressMusic 5900 are the real deal -- it's just too understated to be shanzhai. Compared to the 5800, the updated handsets are said to feature a slightly larger 3.5-inch display, a five megapixel camera, and more or less the same build of S60 5th edition, all in a slightly thinner case. That's all we know for now, but we're told we'll find out more soon -- keep it locked.
Cincinnati Bell lands Nokia's XpressMusic 5800: $149.99
Good one, Cincinnati Bell -- you totally got us. Oh, wait. This isn't a joke? For the second time in as many months, the aforesaid carrier has somehow managed to land a white-hot Nokia handset before any other operator in America. This go 'round, the company is becoming the first in the US to offer a subsidized version of Nokia's polarizing XpressMusic 5800, bringing it to customers in the Ohio region for $149.99. Those looking to do without any strings can procure one for $349.99 (which is still $50 less than what Nokia's asking), but it's the bragging rights here that make it all worthwhile. So, how long before a real carrier follows suit?Update: And here's the press release.[Thanks, Adam]
Nokia Music veep addresses slow Comes with Music sales in the UK
After some rather disheartening (albeit unconfirmed) estimates last week that Nokia's Comes with Music service had snagged only 23,000 subscribers in the United Kingdom, Rob Taylor, vice president of Nokia Music says that the company is pretty "happy" with what its learned there so far. He admitted that the UK launch (the service's first) devices -- the 5310 Xpress Music and the 8GB N95 -- were "slightly out of date" at the time pointing out that the service was doing much better in subsequent markets, which all boast the 5800 as their hero device. Taylor said he also recognized that Nokia needed more retail partners to help move units, and that the company is not "giving up" on the UK as a market for CwM, adding that they'll be bringing the 5800 there in the future. No word on when that might happen yet -- but we're going to keep out eyes peeled for you.
Star Trek edition Nokia 5800 announced: officially awesome
We knew that endless product tie-ins would come along with the new Star Trek film, so this isn't too big of a surprise (though it is rather a welcome one). A new Star Trek special edition of the 5800 has been announced to coincide with the release of the new J.J. Abrams epic, and while it doesn't appear to be an official Nokia release, it does appear to be pretty rad. The handset is going to boast four animated screensavers, three wallpapers, and eight exclusive ringtones, including ones named "Phazer Shot," "Red Alert" and "Kelvin Communicator." We've also heard tell of a special "Phazer application," and though we don't yet know what that entails, we have really high hopes. The stellar 5800 will be available starting May 1st exclusively at Phones 4 U in the UK in blue, red, and black/silver on Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and O2. Make it so.
How would you change Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic?
Nokia's first ever full touchscreen S60 phone has had quite the bumpy ride into reality. After launching here in North America, it was on the receiving end of heavy pounding from early adopters who couldn't adequately take advantage of 3G services. Now that those issues are ironed out (and you've had five minutes to cool your jets), we're wondering how you'd tweak / change / overhaul the 5800 XpressMusic. Needless to say, our own personal list would likely span a few pages (collated, double-spaced, 1-inch margins), but this post isn't for us. In fact, it has been specially crafted just for you, so feel free to let off some steam in comments below. Just keep it constructive, okay?
Report: Nokia's Comes With Music not selling very well in the UK
After hearing initial reports that Nokia's Comes With Music subscription service was doing "okay," word on the streets is now... even less good. According to estimates released by Music Ally at an Association of Independent Music conference in London, Nokia's gotten about 23,000 subscribers to the service since it launched last October. That's not a great number, if it's anywhere near accurate... though Nokia has "refused to confirm" whether or not it is. Tim Grimsditch, head of Nokia's product marketing division added that it's "a very new business model, we're live in five markets and the numbers only mention one. We're going to continue to develop the model and fine tune how we market it." That said, the report can't be terribly heartening either way you slice it, and is rather reminiscent of N-Gage's niche market status if you ask us.
