nokia world 2010
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Anssi Vanjoki on quitting Nokia: 'I didn't become the CEO. It is as simple as that'
We're really going to miss Anssi Vanjoki when he leaves Nokia in a few months. The straight-shooting Finn brings a sometimes astonishing but always entertaining level of honesty and passion to an otherwise staid consumer electronics industry. Of course, we've all been wondering why Anssi announced his resignation from Nokia so suddenly after saying in July that he was "committed, perhaps even obsessed" with taking Nokia back to the number one position in high-end devices. Easy, "I didn't become the CEO," said the 20 year Nokia veteran in an extended version of the interview first published on Tuesday. Anssi then added, "You know who the guy is it's not you... so what do you do, you stay or you leave. I decided to leave." While not regretting the decision to stick with Symbian in the last few years, he does admit that it couldn't compete with Apple's iOS or Google's Android in touchscreen smartphones -- the Symbian rewrite took (or is taking, depending upon your perspective) too long. The second problem, he says, is Nokia's absence from the US market. In particular, Silicon Valley, the "nucleus," as he calls it, for the software development behind all those "crazy apps everyone keeps talking about." Unfortunately, the 54-year-old Anssi has no future plans that he's willing to discuss. "I need a plan. My plan is to plan," he says.
Nokia C3 Touch and Type hands-on
Nokia continued the precedent set by the X3-02 at Nokia World last week by rolling out the C3 Touch and Type, its second Series 40-based handset to make use of that pretty unusual touchscreen / numeric keypad combo. Unlike the X3-02, the new C3 variant features a more traditional keypad layout by dropping the *0# row down below the 789 row, but since T9 only makes use of the first three rows to do its thing, it shouldn't make much of a different in practice for typing usability. Besides a 2.4-inch QVGA display, you get a 5 megapixel camera, full HSPA, microSD support up to 32GB, and 802.11n (yes, n!) WiFi, making it a surprisingly well-equipped device considering that it falls toward the bottom end of Nokia's budget-themed Cseries. We played a bit with the diminutive candybar at Nokia World, and though you can't really tell from the pictures, we know where Nokia's saving the money on this one: the build. Put simply, it feels like a pretty cheap phone all the way around with flimsy plastic, a so-so display, and a resistive touch layer with plenty of give. Trust us when we say that's not a knock -- at €145 ($189) fully unlocked and subsidy-free, you're getting a lot of capability -- but would-be buyers should be warned that this doesn't have anywhere near the premium feel of the N8. That said, it's extremely thin, light, and small -- and the on-screen controls are all plenty large for fat-fingering your way through the UI -- so we could see it making a serviceable backup phone even in the developed markets where Nokia doesn't plan to push a lot of these. Check out the gallery!
Nokia's Plug and Touch turns your HDTV into a giant N8 (video)
What do you get when you combine the N8's HDMI output, its 12 megapixel camera, and your trusty old TV set? As Anssi Vanjoki might say, you get a big new smartphone. Nokia's research labs have thrown up a neat little "prototype" app called Plug and Touch, which enhances the N8's already famed HDTV friendliness with the ability to recognize touch input. This is done by positioning your aluminum-clad Nokia about five feet away from the display and letting its camera pick up your hand's gestures and touches, essentially resulting in a massively enlarged Symbian^3 handset device. Naturally, it's not terribly precise at this stage and there are no plans for an actual release, but it sure is a tantalizing glimpse of what may be coming down the pipe. Video after the break.
Nokia's fall accessories: Bluetooth headsets for every budget... and some colorful spheres
Though they were obviously overshadowed by the handset announcements, Nokia World also saw the introduction of a number of new Bluetooth headsets and miscellaneous accessories like the DT-600 this year. We took a look at the new headset line, and we've got to give Nokia some credit here -- they're serving pretty much every possible segment of the Bluetooth headset-wearing public, from the budget shopper to the occasional user to the hardcore, I-feel-naked-if-I-don't-have-it-on types. The ultra-low end BH-108 is constructed almost entirely of matte plastic and doesn't offer any DSP noise reduction or other tricks, but at €20 ($26), it's one of the cheapest headsets from a top-tier manufacturer you can buy. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the mighty BH-609 and BH-806 -- priced at €59 and €99 ($77 and $129), respectively -- that offer maximum functionality or style depending on what you're looking for. The BH-609 offers wind noise reduction and voice prompting, but isn't much to look at; the BH-806, on the other hand, is one of the nicest-looking headsets we've ever seen but relies on DSP alone to cut noise... so yeah, pick your poison. Like a couple of Nokia's new lower-end offerings, the 806 features a neat dock that keeps the headset turned off and disconnected when attached; only when you remove it does it turn on and connect, which means you get significantly more standby time (several months' worth) and you don't have to keep it in your ear when not in use. Surprisingly, it connects fast enough so that you can pull it out of the dock to use it only when the phone rings. To quote Monty Python, "and now for something completely different." The MD-11 is a battery-powered blob available in several colors; it starts life as a powered speaker with a spooled 3.5mm audio cable attached to it, but you can string two of them together (see above) to create a stereo setup on the fly. Rubber loops on the side let you hang them on a wall, though we can't imagine that mode of operation is going to see too much use; they're €19 apiece, so figure on spending about $50 to get a full boombox going with these things. Everything you see in the gallery below will be available between this month and the end of the year -- and we definitely see a few promising stocking stuffers in the mix. %Gallery-102421%
Stephen Elop chants 'Developers, developers, developers' to close Nokia World (video)
It was short and sweet but ex-Microsoftie Stephen Elop closed Nokia World by handing out a one million dollar developer award (well, "investment"). But hearing him chant "Developers, developers, developers" in a mild-mannered drawl worthy of Nokia's conservative roots was definitely the highlight.
Nokia Charging Plate DT-600 hands-on: 'charge in style' is all you need to know
Nokia's official marketing documentation for the just-announced DT-600 says that you can "charge in style" and "enjoy the life with full battery." After checking it out here at Nokia World, we don't think we could say it any better ourselves. The device is basically a rubber tray for setting your battery-dependent gadgets with a squid-like array of charging cables coming out of the corners; there are very similar products to this on the market already, but Nokia's got a couple trump cards up its sleeve. Actually, one of them is less of a trump card and more of a Wild Draw Four: although one cable is micro-USB, two of the others are permanently connected 2mm Nokia jacks, an odd decision considering that modern Nokias are moving away from those to micro-USB -- as are most manufacturers -- so we guess they're expecting you to keep a few antiques juiced up. The other differentiator, though, is that you don't need to snake your own chargers through the mess -- the fourth cable is interchangeable and connects to one of two USB ports on the side, and you can use the other port for a fifth cable that isn't routed through one of the four corners' holes. Nokia includes mini-USB, LG, Sony Ericsson, and two flavors of Samsung connectors for this one; Apple's noticeably missing, but we're sure these guys had zero interest in licensing the 20-pin design -- and obviously, you can just use your own cable if you like. In a nod to Mother Nature, the DT-600 burns no power when devices aren't connected, but if you're in the US, tough luck -- there's no plan in place for availability there. Hit up the gallery for a few in-the-wild shots (taken at Nokia's Experience Lounge coffee bar, by the way, so the phones weren't the only things getting juiced up). %Gallery-102168%
Nokia CBD vs. Apple Retina display fight, part deux: sunlight edition (video)
You asked for it, so here it is: the iPhone 4's retina display versus a prototype Nokia E7 with new AMOLED Clear Black Display in direct sunlight. With both displays set to 100 percent brightness, we'd say that the EPD had a very very slight edge as it offered the best visibility under the most extreme viewing angles. Having said that, both are equally uncomfortable to use in intense sunlight, even as that's defined on a cloudless morning in London. Feast on the gallery below and video after the break to see the two under a variety of viewing angles.%Gallery-102275%
Nokia's VP of Design has a plan to crack the US market with MeeGo, and we're all accomplices
One look at the N8 and E7 should be enough to convince the casual observer that Nokia is serious about design. The man behind Nokia's hardware and software design for the last year is Marko Ahtisaari, Senior Vice President of Design and former CEO and co-founder of Dopplr. We asked Marco what it would take to be successful in the US market. His response, while not direct, was still illuminating and gives us implicit insight into how MeeGo, not Symbian, might be Nokia's near-term play to conquer the American smartphone market. While gesturing to the N8, Marko had this to say: "In the US I think it will require a somewhat more consequent approach in the high end. No matter how smooth and fast we make this, and we improve the camera -- this is the best camera right -- it still won't cut though enough until we do an operating system level innovation. It will do extremely well in the market but it's not a breakthrough device." Marko later added this clarification: "In order to cut through in the media environment, I think you need to do operating system level innovation. The products will be cut-through successes in the market, in people's hands, in share of palms and share of thumbs it will be successful. But in order for it to cut through and people to say, whoa, why didn't somebody else think about that and that's kind of what Nokia should do, it will be easier to cut through, from the media point of view, with MeeGo." In other words, it's the media (read: us), in Marko's opinion, that will affect consumer opinion by influencing enthusiasts (read: you) who will in turn evangelize Nokia's products throughout the US. MeeGo, not Symbian, is the product that will generate that degree of buzz and excitement. Marko finished by adding, "My goal is that very soon it will be cool to upgrade to the Nokia." So, what will Nokia's high-end MeeGo devices look like? Click through to find out.
Nokia C6-01 hands-on redux: if this is recycled metal, count us in
When we saw the C6-01 in the flesh for the first time earlier today, we'd thought the matte black rear end was cheap plastic -- this is the budget phone of today's introductions, after all -- but on a follow-up visit this afternoon with an untethered silver example, it turns out that the back is actually part of the phone's recycled metal shell (we found out when our ring clanked against it). In fact, when we were able to handle the phone without a massive security mechanism glued to the back, we were really impressed with how the phone feels; subsidized price is going to be key, of course, but if they can keep it pegged to the budget range they seem to be targeting, it'll be pretty remarkable considering the high-tech AMOLED display and the general lack of plastic. It's really small compared to its bigger siblings (check the gallery for some good comparison shots) but still feels weighty -- "high quality" weighty, not "this is going to be annoying to carry" weighty -- and that always works wonders for the perception of a mobile device's quality. The million dollar question: would we buy it? Over a C7, quite possibly, but we're thinking the E7's wiles are still a bit much for the power-drunk maniacs here on the team. %Gallery-102156%
Nokia CBD vs. Apple Retina... display fight!
Come on, you knew this post was coming. Here we have a prototype Nokia E7 and its new 4-inch, 640x360 pixel Clear Black Display pitted again the iPhone 4's 3.5-inch 960x640 pixel Retina display. To our eyes, the iPhone 4 display has a noticeable blue warmth and wasn't as vibrant or bright as the CBD. The CBD, however, did come across a bit oversatured (just look at those red "breaking news" bars), but hey, it's AMOLED. It certainly looks just as good as the Galaxy S' Super AMOLED. We'll have to see how the polarized layer on the CBD affects sunlight viewing. More on that later. Until then, play nice dear readers.%Gallery-102126%
Video: Nokia E7 demoed live at Nokia World
We've just spent a little bit of time ogling a very, very green E7 here in the so-called Experience Lounge at Nokia World 2010, and needless to say, this thing makes an impression -- you might think from the shots you've seen so far that it's roughly the same size as the N8 (especially since it shares the same case design), but it's actually quite a bit larger and more imposing. A friendly booth rep walked us through the beast's hardware and software highlights on video; check it after the break. Oh, and yes -- when it launches, it'll be available in five colors, so you don't have to get the green if you're not cool enough for it.
Nokia E7 first hands-on
Wow. That's the feeling that hits when you pick up the Nokia E7 for the first time. That 4-inch "Clear Black" display really pops as you'd expect from AMOLED and the full QWERTY slider is packed into an incredibly svelte and attractive form factor. Impressions coming up shortly. Until then, check out the E7 next to its N8 cousin and iPhone 4 foe. Update: Follow the break for some quick thoughts on this bad boy. %Gallery-102120%%Gallery-102151%
Nokia C6-01 first hands-on
So the C7 might be the sexiest Symbian^3 device... but the C6-01, well, it just may be the cutest. Just all depends on what you're looking for (and how much you're willing to spend), you know? Like the C7, we had a little difficulty getting screen swipes to register while trying to change home screens, but considering that the top of the bezel had the very prototypish "C0" mystery name badge, we're more than happy to cut it a little slack. Having come directly from the C7, it's a little tricky to be comfortable with the smaller display -- not to mention the thicker body -- and the back definitely tends toward the cheap side with matte hard plastic, but again, this is clearly designed to be a budget device. And hey, how many budget smartphones can you think of with AMOLED displays that have extreme black levels? Check out the gallery for a few shots. %Gallery-102115%
Nokia C7 first hands-on
We've just played with both black and silver versions of Nokia's just-announced C7 -- a phone that you might call an N8 for the masses -- and we think it's probably going to come away with the "sexiest Symbian device" crown by the time it's on shelves. We're a little concerned with screen sensitivity; on both the C7 and C6-01, we had a little difficulty getting home screen swipes to actuate -- but you never know what the deal is with these well-handled protos, so we're going to hold off on passing judgment until we've got retail units in our hands. The black's a little unnotable, but the silver really pops in person -- maybe it's just the lighting -- and the screen seems to perform nearly as well as the C6's so-called ClearBlack AMOLED, so unless you need a monster cam, the C7 might be your Symbian^3 device of choice when it launches later this year. Hit the gallery for shots of both colors! Update: The display seemed to look as good as the C6-01's because we've confirmed that it is ClearBlack! Rock on. %Gallery-102113%
Live from Nokia World 2010
Got an itch that only Symbian can scratch? Then pull up a chair and get ready for a deep tissue rub down and Espoo mud pack, we're coming at you live from Nokia World 2010 in London, ready to bring you anything that Nokia chooses to dish up with the launch of its Symbian^3 OS. Question is, will we see any MeeGo devices or will this be an S^3 only event? Stay tuned, it all gets going at 0900 London time.
Nokia's Anssi Vanjoki resigns, the search for a new smartphone chief begins
Holy moly, it's all gone topsy turvy over in Nokia's camp. After Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo was given his marching orders on Friday, this week it's the turn of Anssi Vanjoki -- who only recently became the company's Mobile Solutions leader -- to announce his departure. Anssi has handed in his requisite six-month notice along with the following statement: "I felt the time has come to seek new opportunities in my life. At the same time, I am one hundred per cent committed to doing my best for Nokia until my very last working day. I am also really looking forward to this year's Nokia World and sharing news about exciting new devices and solutions." It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to recognize that Anssi's sudden desire to explore new opportunities is at least in part motivated by Nokia's choice to install Stephen Elop as its future CEO at the expense of good old OPK. Still, you've got to think there could've been a better time to announce such heart-stopping news, maybe after your company's most pivotal Nokia World convention in recent memory? [Thanks, Ted]
Nokia said to be launching E7 smartphone next week
Well, it looks like the mystery of Nokia's Symbian^3 slider may soon be solved -- Reuters is reporting that the company will introduce its new "flagship" E7 smartphone at its Nokia World event in London next week, and it says that the device will pack both a "large" touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard. That's further backed up by the existence of an XML file on Nokia's own site, which seemingly confirms that the E7 does indeed run Symbian^3, and that it boasts a 640 x 360 display along with that QWERTY keyboard. Not much more than that at the moment, but those previous leaks suggest that we're basically looking at a slider version of the Nokia N8. [Thanks, Wes]
