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Nokia busts out its own 8 megapixel slider: the N86
Whoa, Nelly! While Samsung is strutting its 8 megapixel Memoir and Sony Ericsson is letting us all in on the forthcoming 12 megapixel Idou, Nokia is getting even with its 8 megapixel N86. Amazingly, we saw that the suits in Espoo had this thing on the brain way back in 2007, but not until today have we seen a real live product. The N-series slider boasts a Carl Zeiss lens, AutoFocus, dual-LED flash and Symbian S60, not to mention a 2.6-inch OLED display, 8GB of internal memory, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, microUSB connector and Share on Ovi integration. We're left in the dark when it comes to pricing and availability, but we're hoping to hear more really, really soon. More shots are waiting in the read link.Update: The full specs sheets have just leaked, yum!
Nokia Ovi Store unveiled, launches in May
Nokia's just announced at its Mobile World Congress presentation that, lo and behold, the company's launching its own online app and media portal, the Ovi Store. Download, Mosh, widgets are going to be focuses of the Ovi Store. The N97 will be the first device to be "pre-integrated" with Ovi Store, but "tons" of existing S40 and S60 customers will be able to download the service starting in May. The company says it'll learn your tastes over time and anticipate what you want, as well as make recommendations based on your geographical location. A developer site has launched, and is touting a 70% revenue share, which appears to match what Apple's doing with its respective app store.
Nokia Ovi crash results in three weeks of lost user data
There's definite risks to hosting all your personal data in the cloud, and users of Nokia's Contacts on Ovi service just got a taste of the dark side: a database crash yesterday erased all data entered since January 23rd, when the service superceded Nokia Chat. That means contacts and images simply disappeared from people's phones overnight with no recourse, which should give pause to all of us relying on third parties to manage and maintain our data. On the other hand, Ovi users now get to relive the past few weeks all over again, so maybe there's a silver lining in there for someone after all.[Via Unwired View]
Nokia Chat bows out as Contacts on Ovi steps in
Nah, there was no inauguration ceremony for the departure of Nokia Chat and the swearing in of Contacts on Ovi, but there was a blog post penned by a Beta Labs staff member. For those totally into Nokia Chat, you may have noticed a dearth of updates over the past few months. Needless to say, that time was being spent honing the future release of Contacts for Ovi, a natural replacement and one that's fully compatible with S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 / Series 40 handsets. Backwards compatibility with existing Nokia Chat clients was included, and you're being summoned by Nokia to give this app a shot and report back with your opinions. So, you down or what?
Nokia's Mail on Ovi email beta now live worldwide
For Nokia handsets not quite fancy enough for Email, there's Mail on Ovi. The application, which was developed for low(er)-end S40 mobiles, is expected to give many individuals in developing nations their very first email address and internet identity. In theory, these people will use their phones to access email more than a PC, thus the newest public beta enables users to setup their accounts right on the handset with no PC required. There's a ridiculously long list of compatible handsets in the read link, so hop on down if you think you're interested.
Engadget's NYC reader meetup / holiday party is tonight!
This is it! The Engadget reader meetup / holiday party is happening tonight in New York City! All of the information you need is below, but we'd like to stress a few points: The venue capacity has a limit, so make sure you get there early, and plan to wait in a bit of a line. It is snowing like crazy in New York -- so please bundle up and come prepared for the elements! We'll do everything we can to move people inside as quickly as possible, and there's a coat check at the venue for your heavier gear. Bring your ID! Without it, you can't get in! And the rest of the details about the event: We're giving away tens of thousands of dollars in gear! Including... SanDisk 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB microSD cards for the first 200 people through the door! Free food, and free drink tickets for the first 500 people Live Q&A session with Engadget editors Music for the evening will be provided by Justin VanDerVolgen (of !!! and Outhud) The event is 18 TO ENTER / 21 TO DRINK, AND YOU MUST BRING AN ID. ADMISSION IS FREE. Sorry younger readers, but we'll do a follow-up all ages event soon! The venue capacity tops out at a tiny bit over 1000, so you if you're coming, be sure to get there early! When: Friday, December 19th, 7:00PM to 12:00AMWhere: Hiro Ballroom, 371 W. 16th St., New York, NY. 10011You can discuss plans for the event on Facebook here. View Larger Map For media interested in attending, please ping us at: nycreadermeetup [at] gmail [dot] comNote: space for media is very limited as this is a reader event. Readers, you're all set -- no need to email us.
Engadget NYC reader meetup, December 19th: new giveaways, more info
By now you should have heard about the Engadget NYC reader meetup / holiday party taking place TOMORROW, Friday, December 19th. If you're not clued in to all the happenings, this should bring you up to speed. We'll have participation (and giveaways) from the following companies: Nokia, Microsoft (Zune and Xbox), T-Mobile, Palm, HP, SanDisk, Peek, VIA, Sling, Bug Labs, Neat Receipts, Panasonic, Livescribe, Rhapsody, and Make.Some new additions (to the already large stack of items): VIA has just handed over an Artigo A2000, Peek is going to be flooding the event with a whopping 12 handhelds to give out (celebrating its 12 days of Peekmas), Bug Labs is offering a BUGBundle, and Livescribe has provided us with a Pulse (courtesy of Target)! And remember, those are just a few of the goods on offer.Remember, feel free to bring any hacks, mods, or other generally awesome tech you want to show off to us and other Engadget readers -- you don't get the chance too often!Here are some super-important details about the event: We're giving away tens of thousands of dollars in gear! Including... SanDisk 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB microSD cards for the first 200 people through the door! Free food, and free drink tickets for the first 500 people Live Q&A session with Engadget editors Music for the evening will be provided by Justin VanDerVolgen (of !!! and Outhud) The event is 18 TO ENTER / 21 TO DRINK, AND YOU MUST BRING AN ID. ADMISSION IS FREE. Sorry younger readers, but we'll do a follow-up all ages event soon! The venue capacity tops out at a tiny bit over 1000, so you if you're coming, be sure to get there early! When: Friday, December 19th, 7:00PM to 12:00AMWhere: Hiro Ballroom, 371 W. 16th St., New York, NY. 10011You can discuss plans for the event on Facebook here. View Larger Map For media interested in attending, please ping us at: nycreadermeetup [at] gmail [dot] comNote: space for media is very limited as this is a reader event. Readers, you're all set -- no need to email us.
Nokia flings out two new colors of Supernova handsets
We're always down with new shades of old mobiles, and we're particularly find of new ones that bring along something extra. Nokia has just expanded its Supernova range with a Graphite and Passionate Purple Supernova 7610, 7510, 7310 and 7210. Each of the newcomers also brings along "enhanced services" that enable users to "share their images and video with friends through Ovi Share, as well as keep up to date with friends via Nokia Maps and instant messaging with Windows Live Messenger." There's no mention of pricing, so we'll go out a limb and assume they'll remain the same as the colors already available.
Reader meetup update: 'Fallout 3' bundles, Nokia N-Gage / Ovi, Make, and more!
Say there, perhaps you've heard about that little Engadget NYC reader meetup / holiday party happening on December 19th? Well we've got a little more info for you (and some important details) that might be of note. First we wanted to show off some of the stuff we're going to be giving away, and we thought there would be no better illustration than these amazing Fallout 3 "Nuclear Winter Survival Kit" bundles from Microsoft (pictured above). Some details:PC bundle Alienware Area 51 m15x laptop Fallout 3 Collector's Edition (PC) Fallout 3 Token (redeemable for Operation: Anchorage premium downloadable content in January '09) SideWinder mouse Wenger Impulse Notebook Case by SwissGear Emergency blanket Xbox 360 bundle Xbox 360 Elite console Fallout 3 Collector's Edition (Xbox 360) Fallout 3 Token (redeemable for Operation: Anchorage premium downloadable content in January '09) 1-yr Xbox LIVE Gold Subscription Emergency blanket These are just two of many, many succulent giveaways you could walk away with if you attend. Nokia has also graciously offered up some free N-Gage content. If you're an N-Gage user, you can bring your device to the meetup and they'll hook you up with a free game! The company is also outfitting a handful of readers with Ovi-equipped devices during the event so they can stream live content. Five (5) readers will be selected -- if you'd like to be one of the chosen few, leave a comment on this post, and we'll contact you with more info!Additionally, our main homeboys from Make are going to be in attendance with some projects and magazines, as well as a pretty cool surprise to show off that we're awfully excited about.Just added: LIvescribe will be giving away a Pulse (courtesy of Target), Palm is handing out a Treo Pro, and Neat Receipts has graciously offered up 3 Neat Desks!Read on after the break for more details about the meetup!
Nokia Maps gets upgraded, Messaging hits most devices
The news is flowing hot and heavy from Barcelona, and the latest succulent tidbits to land in our laps are these. First up, a fresh version of Nokia Maps is on tap, which includes "a number of new features such as high-resolution aerial images, 3D landmarks for 216 cities and terrain maps, as well as a new route overview during routing and during Drive, the purchasable turn-by-turn car navigation guidance." Furthermore, users will find new options such as access to real time information (camera alerts, safety spots, traffic information, etc.) and Wcities event guides that give real time information for events and movies in over 450 destinations. Next is Nokia Messaging -- which is bringing popular IM services to the majority of Nokia handsets -- and Mail on Ovi, which enables PC users to "create and access Ovi email accounts as well as gain cross access to other Ovi services with just a single sign-on account." Plunge into the links below for more details on each.Read - Nokia Maps updateRead - Mail / Messaging%Gallery-38333%
Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic phone intimately detailed on video
If you've been enjoying those still pictures of Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic touchscreen phone, but feel you're lacking an in-depth experience, we think we can help. A slew of demo and instruction videos have just been slapped up on the Ovi Share site, allowing you to get a better idea of just how the device works, and what it looks like when it's doing it. Luckily for you, we've taken the trouble of including all of the videos after the break for your viewing pleasure, saving you the painful and laborious experience of hitting a read link. Enjoy.[Via Cellpassion]
Nokia takes beta label off Files on Ovi
Alright, free ride's over, folks -- Nokia says Files on Ovi is now a production, non-beta service, and that means it's plan choosin' time. Subscribers are still entitled to a free trial, but after that, users of the remote PC-to-handset file transfer service will need to opt into one of two annual packages: 10GB of online storage for $79.99 a year, and 30GB for $149.99. Sounds pricey at first, but remember to divide by twelve.[Via All About Symbian]
Files on Ovi goes beta
Nokia has flipped the switch on a new component of its Ovi platform, the aptly-named Files, which allows music, photos, and a variety of miscellaneous files on a Vista or XP-based desktop PC to be accessed straight from your phone. The technology is actually nothing new -- it stems from Nokia's acquisition of Avvenu, which powered the similarly styled Motorola SHARE -- so it's really only the re-launch on Ovi that's making news. Unlike some other Ovi components, you'll have to pay to play with Files; subscriptions will be available with 10GB or 30GB of storage, which allows "Anytime Files" to be uploaded and offered even when the PC's off. Right now, the only option is to sign up for a 60-day free trial, but Nokia will eventually be making the rounds to get your credit card information.[Via MobileBurn]
Nokia soothes France Telecom into submission over Ovi
Slowly but surely, Nokia's winning over even the most skittish critics of its push into the content space, and the latest win might be the most symbolically satisfying for them of all. France Telecom, parent of Orange -- an early dissenter of the Ovi plan -- has announced that it has entered into a broad agreement with Nokia to co-brand its services with Espoo's own, much the same way T-Mobile Germany and others have done. The three-year deal will see music sales coming from Orange's stores and search and mapping solutions coming from Nokia, while both companies will offer video games. Despite the massive investment, it's starting to look like that 2010 payoff date Nokia has planned might not be unreasonable in the least.[Via textually.org]
Nokia: services effort to pay off in 2010
Mobile services are a tough nut to crack by any standard, so when a new player wants to step up to the plate, they'd best have a whole heap of cash in tow and a dedication to stick it out for the long term. That's exactly the path Nokia finds itself going down, with the CFO admitting last week that it dropped nine figures (in euros -- not dollars) last year ramping up various segments of its Ovi initiative -- chiefly the Music Store, we'd imagine -- and will continue to shovel giant piles of cash in that direction until at least 2010, at which point the company hopes to finally see a profit for its efforts. That's a long time to commit to being in "investment mode" as they're calling it, but when you control a crushingly massive percentage of the world's mobile market share, you can probably afford those sorts of things.
Maps on Ovi promises to span the phone-PC navigation bridge
Nokia's just unveiled an interesting add-on to both its Ovi suite of multimedia services and its very capable Maps navigation app called "Maps on Ovi" (naturally). Perhaps sensing the trend toward connected, social navigation devices and services, Maps on Ovi allows users of Nokia Maps to sync routes both to and from devices, ultimately sharing planned and traveled trips online with other Ovi users. Seeing how waypoint searching and routing is something you probably don't want to do exclusively on your phone, the program sounds like a pretty brilliant idea from that aspect alone, and tying in the sharing capability is just icing on the cake. The tentative plan is to have a build ready for public use this summer; S60 devices (read: Nokia Maps clients) will be the first to benefit, but it sounds like Nokia wants to expand it to other platforms in the future.
Nokia, T-Mobile make nice, pair Ovi with web'n'walk
When we'd heard that T-Mobile Germany was at loggerheads with Nokia over its Ovi services, the carrier was quick to point out that it didn't offer any Ovi-compatible devices in its lineup to begin with and that it was "in discussions with Nokia about this topic and [was] confident to find a common path in the near future." Sure enough, it looks as though that "common path" has now been found with an announcement that Nokia will be working closely with T-Mob to integrate its web'n'walk mobile internet service with Ovi for deployment on future devices customized for the carrier. There's no telling what sorts of contracts got signed behind the scenes here, but if we had to guess, we'd say most of T-Mobile's existing content-based revenue streams are going to end up being preserved by appearing within the Ovi sandbox on these new phones. A loss for Nokia? Not if it wants its phones to keep appearing on T-Mobile Germany's store shelves, it isn't.
T-Mobile Germany freaks out, pulls Ovi-capable Nokia phones? Not so much
Reports out of Germany suggest that T-Mobile's German network has pulled all handsets capable of accessing Nokia's all-encompassing media playground, Ovi, over concerns that the service will interfere with programs T-Mobile is planning on launching itself. It's long been suspected that carriers would frown on Ovi, fearing that it'll cannibalize profits from carriers' own offerings -- but shows of support from Vodafone, TIM, and others have more recently seemed to give the whole scheme an overwhelming vote of confidence. A quick scan of T-Mobile Germany's online store reveals that the N73 and N95 are still holding it down, but yeah, that's about it as far as Nseries fare goes -- and Nokia made a point of mentioning today that its new 6650 has specific support for T-Mobile's own services. Hopefully they'll be able to get this whole spat resolved sooner rather than later, possibly by taking the Vodafone route and bundling Ovi side by side with the carrier's branded services, because we're pretty sure no carrier -- particularly a European one -- wants to go very long without offering Nokia's mainstream stuff.[Thanks, Khattab]Update: We've received an official statement from T-Mobile International on the matter, and in short, Ovi handsets weren't pulled because they weren't being offered to begin with. T-Mobile and Nokia are working together to figure out exactly how their respective services will be offered in the future, but yeah, we're not so worried that this is the death of Nokia on T-Mobile's German network. See the full statement after the break.
Samsung to go head to head with Nokia's Ovi?
It still hasn't been conclusively proven that Ovi's going to fly with carriers -- well, maybe it has, since the Vodafone juggernaut has jumped in head first -- but either way, it's looking like Samsung wants a little piece of that action. It's unclear at this point just how far-reaching Samsung's initiative will be, but the company announced its intention at MWC to develop unified internet services for its handsets, which we figure is pretty much code for "we want to continue to make money from our devices after they're in customers' hands." As RCR points out, features like its blogging client and navigation are currently outsourced to ShoZu and Navigon, respectively, and moving forward, all that stuff will be rolled up and maintained in-house. Whether doing so is going risk stepping on carriers' revenue models the way Ovi has done, though, remains to be seen.
Nokia cordially invites Apple to join Ovi
Don't hold your breath, guys! A Nokia board member has gone on the record saying that the "door is open" to Apple to join its Ovi initiative -- a collection of multimedia-centric services delivered directly to handsets through a portal app -- by adding iTunes into the mix. Of course, Nokia has its own Music Store, a direct competitor to iTunes -- but in the bigger scheme of things, it's hard to argue against the clout (Nokia calls it "enrichment" for its customers) that the largest digital music store in the world brings to the table. We suspect that Nokia's recent ribbing of the iPhone (not to mention that these two giants are sworn enemies on several levels, or the fact that Apple is one of the less cooperative companies in the biz) will probably put the kibosh on any possible deal, but it's all good, Nokia; you just keep on keepin' on with that iPhone of your own and roll deep with your own store.
