The Nokia N8 model has won many titles, and quite justifiably. It is called the best smartphone running the Symbian operating system, the fastest and most stable smartphone of the company, as well as the cheapest flagship, which also has no problems in terms of assembly.
The delivery set is quite large. It includes the Nokia H8 smartphone itself, the characteristics of which will be given below, with a capacity of 1200 mAh, a charging unit with a USB-type cable, a USB OTG cable, an HDMI cable, a wired headset, instructions and a stylus.
From the very first seconds of use, you can feel how comfortable the device is in your hand. There is no bad word to say in this regard. The characteristic "Nokia H8" indicates that the phone is a monoblock type. That is, the sudden opening of any part should not be expected.
When developing the device, the company decided to abandon the use of a compartment that was used to integrate the battery in the past. There are two screws on the bottom of the smartphone. They actually cover the battery connector. Due to their presence, it was possible to solve the problem with backlashes, which is good. But there may be a situation when you need to change the battery. To do this, you need to buy a special type of screwdriver, especially for screws.
Warranty with careless operation or inaccurate disassembly can be lost very easily.
The subject of long conversations may be the strength of the Nokia N8. The characteristic as a whole says that there are no problems with the assembly, with the design of the phone at first. Of course, with a careless attitude, any device will give a hole. This device withstands about 10 drops on a flat tiled surface from a height of one and a half meters. After that, you can already notice scratches in some places. But this is already deliberate sabotage, and such options are not considered.
It is known that this model is supplied to the smartphone market in 5 different colors. It is dark gray, silver, as well as blue, orange and green. It is worth noting the fact that in any color scheme the phone looks bright and beautiful.
The dimensions of the device in all three planes are as follows: the smartphone reaches a length of 113.5 mm, a width of 59.12 mm, and a thickness of 12.9 mm. The weight of the device is 135 grams. "H8" is not too heavy model. However, its weight in the hands is still felt. In general, the dimensions were chosen perfectly: the device is neither small nor large. It is impossible to talk about any advantages and disadvantages of dimensions.
The left one holds a MicroUSB connector. You will not see any plugs there, this is not a defect. A little higher are 2 slots. They are reserved for a flash drive, as well as for a SIM card. The design in this regard is different for the model, if you often use plugs, they can easily come off. That is why it is worth exploiting them with special attention and caution.
The right side contains keys for adjusting the volume of music playback, as well as the background sound mode. Very easy to use slider to lock the device. The bottom end contains a connector reserved for the charger. In the best tradition, there is a 3.5 mm wired headset jack on the top edge.
In addition, on the top edge there is an HDMI input, as well as a power button, that is, turning the device on and off. Some phone users say that the sound in the headset is of poor quality. In fact, you need to insert it all the way, until it clicks. Only in this way will the necessary contact be ensured.
Particularly boasting will not work with the Nokia N8. The characteristic says that it is 640 by 360 pixels with a screen diagonal of 3.5 inches.
The display is covered with glass. Color reproduction is 16 million different colors and shades. The screen design has a built-in layer that is designed to work outdoors. Through the use of special elements, it increases such a parameter as readability. The advantage of the model in terms of display can be called the readability of the text in natural light. "Nokia H8" gives the user the ability to adjust the brightness level manually, without the participation of an external sensor. The contrast and brightness of this model, in principle, are at an average level. It is due to this that the device is quite actively diverging in the smartphone market.
Three can be selected using the settings, and usually about 16 lines of this or that text are displayed on the screen. “H8” supports multi-touch technology. It can be used both in the Internet browser and in the gallery of photos and images.
The screen belongs to the capacitive type. Sensitivity is good, no problems should arise. Rarely, the sensor may fail and not respond. But this is most likely a software problem.
In general, we can say that the screen is quite good. Even if it does not have such a high resolution, even if the color reproduction is not the best kind, however, the level in this price category is above average.
According to the standard, the built-in RAM is 256 MB. Built-in size - 16 GB. The user can purchase a flash drive up to 32 GB for a fee.
The speed of work due to this amount of “RAM” has increased, but the stability of the work, if not dropped, then remained at the same level. The Nokia N8 characteristic indicates that, according to the amount of memory, the device falls into the range of medium models.
In most cases, users' problems lie in the use of an Internet browser. It slows down the entire device quite a lot. Other applications do not bother the user with such problems. You can run up to 5 programs at the same time. At the same time, the phone behaves quite cheerfully. It remains only to hope that the unstable operation of the device when the browser is running lies in the browser itself, in the software. So, software updates should correct these inaccuracies.
Nokia H8, whose battery performance is also at an average level, can work up to 400 hours in standby mode, and function in continuous talk mode for half a day. The capacity of the lithium-ion battery is 1200 mAh.
The new architecture made it possible to increase the time of possible operation of the device in various modes. For example, you can watch video for about 6 hours, listen to music for about 45 hours, record video for 3 hours, play the same video using an HDMI cable for 5 hours.
In principle, the operation of the device is enough. But there are many devices whose energy efficiency is at a higher level. The Nokia H8 00 model does not have this. The characteristic shows that although the operating time has been increased, but not significantly.
An ordinary user can spend 2 days without recharging the phone. The largest percentage of energy is consumed by desktop widgets. Using the Internet browser also drains the smartphone. Moreover, the more pages, the more energy is needed. The maximum brightness set on the display will immediately reduce the operating time by 20 percent.
Using the USB synchronization mode with a personal computer involves choosing one of three connection options. One of them allows you to see the phone as well, the second allows you to access hardware features, and the third allows you to print photos. The maximum value of data transfer via USB can be 5.5 MB per second. You can also charge your device using the cable.
The installed Bluetooth version is 3.0. The work is not very stable, there may be disconnections and the loss of a device that is literally a meter away. Wi-Fi works with three standards: b, n, g. There are no complaints about him. The characteristics of the Nokia N8 phone in terms of communications are not bad, the device gets a solid four. And this is only due to the fact that some technologies are incompatible with the flagship and are absent on it.
If you are an ordinary user, for whom the main parameter is the stability of the phone during calls, ease of text messaging, then this model is for you. The main parameter that users pay attention to when buying a Nokia N8 is a feature. The instruction is supplied with the device, it will not take much time to study it.
If you belong to the class of active users, then you should look at other devices in a similar price category. Samsung smartphones, for example, may be suitable for purchase. The main manufacturer of Nokia N8 is China, but the characteristics do not depend on this.
Passionate about the mobile hi-tech sphere, they saw or expected to see a confident and significant step forward on the part of the Finnish company in the forthcoming flagship. Many did not have to wait until the end of 2010 to see the manufacturer's precarious prospects, in particular in the segment of top devices.
By the way, the N8 was being prepared slowly: the official announcement of the model took place back in April. Then both the exterior of the smartphone and its detailed technical characteristics became known. But in order to be on the shelves, the communicator took five months - a delay, admittedly, significant.
It would be logical to assume that the reverse, positive side of this pause will be a modified, polished and truly innovative filling with intriguing functionality. The specs of the N8 are really interesting, especially when it comes to the multimedia mix of the 12 MP camera and the HDMI connector. But what is the device really? Finally, we have the opportunity to independently and impartially answer this question.
We include a description of the package bundle, which is uncharacteristic for our reviews, since in the case of the N8 it is definitely extended. Usually in the box we find a more meager set of accessories.
First of all, two adapters draw attention to themselves: mini HDMI - HDMI and microUSB - USB. Two special characteristics of the smartphone are directly related to these wires: HD video broadcast to an external monitor (TV) and the USB On-The-Go option, which provides for “hot” connection of peripherals with the appropriate interface. These adapters are inflexible, it is not easy to deform them.
Another interesting find among the complete accessories is a case. This is a translucent elastic rubber "skeleton" that covers almost the entire surface of the case except for the display area and connectors. It allows you to protect the smartphone from mechanical damage, but slightly increases its size (it does not fit snugly against the case and can be removed quite easily) and blurs the effect of the design.
A more familiar companion is a wired headset. She liked the functional control unit (it also contains a microphone for talking): on the front side there are media player control keys, and on the end there is a volume rocker and a call accept / reject button. Headphones have a closed plug-in design (“gags”), and their quality will satisfy only an unassuming listener.
The extended delivery package, which allows you to use the functional potential of the device without additional worries and purchases, is definitely a plus of the smartphone.
Nokia managed to design the N8 in such a way that it would look individual and memorable. With a high degree of probability, it can be assumed that if a person sees a similar form later, he will have an association with this model.
The design is dominated by straight, well-defined edges. A small thickness (the protruding area of the camera reminds of this) emphasizes the severity of the lines. The case looks almost like a perfect rectangle, the ends at the top and bottom are beveled, not rounded, as is often the case. This form enhances the perception of the model as a solid, single bar. The feeling of solidity, by the way, is not deceptive.
The manufacturer did not foresee that during standard use of a smartphone, the consumer would disassemble it into parts. There are no detachable parts, with the exception of the slot covers. To open the battery compartment, you will need to remove the cover from two screws.
This design certainly affected the build quality. Finding fault with Nokia because of this nuance would be unjustified: neither backlash nor creaking was noticed.
The material also played a role in the strength of the case - N8 is made of anodized aluminum. This metal is tactile and visually pleasing, as well as beneficial from a practical point of view.
Strict lines, the rejection of plastic in favor of metal - these moments create a general industrial spirit of the smartphone, corresponding to its hi-end positioning.
The "technicality" of the device is also expressed in the active use of connectors, controls: in fact, each side has additions.
At the top of the left side are two slots - for memory cards microSD (above) and SIM. The design of the covers of these slots is such that you can open the SIM compartment only after unfastening the latch of the microSD slot. This prevents accidental opening of the SIM slot. A little lower, also on the left side, there is a microUSB connector not covered by a plug. A small LED is placed next to it, indicating the charging status.
The right side features a volume rocker, a screen lock lever, and a dedicated camera button. At the top end there is a power button, an HDMI connector (covered with a plug) and a 3.5 mm audio jack (without a plug). The bottom end is not so tightly equipped, there is a thin charger plug known from other Nokia models.
On the front panel there is only one key - "Menu". Its location - at the very bottom left - organically fits into the design of the smartphone, the button does not stand out in any way. But from the point of view of ergonomics, this is a controversial decision: it is somewhat difficult to hit this key with your finger while operating the N8 with one hand. If you hold the device in both hands, then there is no inconvenience. By the way, this button has a built-in LED, which is activated when a new event occurs - a call, a message, a reminder.
If you keep the phone in a case, all keys and connectors (with the exception of slots for SIM and microSD) remain accessible. True, due to the additional rubber layer, the tactile connection with the buttons worsens. For example, it is more difficult to distinguish them blindly.
The main speaker is located in the camera area, on a ledge. Despite its only one slot, it sounds piercingly, very loudly and at the same time does not wheeze - in a word, it is of high quality. The microphone is placed on the front panel and placed closer to the right side.
An additional microphone cuts off external noise, it can be found at the lower edge of the protrusion of the same area of the camera. The interlocutor really hears you well, extraneous noises do not interfere with the conversation, they are leveled. This takes some getting used to: when there is noisy around, the subscriber, as a rule, raises his voice, as a result of which, due to active noise cancellation, the other participant in the conversation will receive a too loud signal.
From previous touch phones running Symbian, the N8 smartphone received a display size and resolution: 3.5″ diagonally and 360x640 (nHD), respectively. Fortunately, the column "General" ends with these characteristics. The type of matrix has become new in the device - now it is AMOLED. Compared to Nokia's traditional TFT screens, the qualitative difference is noticeable to the naked eye: the shades are more saturated, the image is brighter, and the viewing angles are maximum.
The display leaves a very good impression when compared with models from other manufacturers. Subjectively, this matrix is superior in quality even to AMOLED screens in NTS communicators. So, a significant advantage of the Nokia display turned out to be good resistance to the sun: the picture “fades” as expected, but remains distinguishable to the details.
I was also pleased with the capacitive sensor used with the screen. Its sensitivity, according to subjective feelings, is on the same level with the Nokia X6 sensor and is slightly inferior to capacitive matrices from other manufacturers. The sensor supports multi-touch technology, which is used in the browser and when viewing photos.
In general, the display leaves a positive impression: the matrix used is very decent and is able to compete with other offers in the hi-end segment on an equal footing.
We warn you right away: a revolution should not be expected. In the Symbian^3 edition, you will recognize the absolute majority of the details of the old interface: this concerns both their appearance and functionality. Below we will focus on those elements that are specific to the new modification.
The first thing that literally catches your eye is the constantly illuminated analog clock. The backlight intensity is set to the minimum level; the size of the virtual dial is large enough to tell the time at a glance. In this standby mode, only the clock is available to the user for viewing. After a single press of any key, the number of items on the splash screen increases: a display unlock button appears and information about missed calls, messages or upcoming events (if any), as well as system data about the level of signal reception and the remaining battery life.
On the main screen, of course, you can place widgets. Each sheet holds up to 6 widgets. Custom, individual widget window sizes are not about Symbian, unfortunately. Each widget is allocated a narrow, elongated strip of a fixed size. Such strict frames are a poor solution compared to the more flexible widget settings on other platforms (Android, TouchWiz in Samsung). They do not allow you to fully realize the potential of widgets, some of them could be much more informative if they had larger sizes.
The desktop is displayed in both portrait and landscape orientations. The position of widgets, respectively, can be as follows: six in one row or three in two rows.
The new version of Symbian also looks different in the running applications manager. Now the pop-up window displays not only icons of active programs, but also "mini-windows" that visualize the last state of the application window before it is minimized. The positive aspect is visibility, easier navigation between applications. The disadvantages include a smaller number of icons simultaneously displayed on the display.
The design of the main menu, its organization and a wide range of standard interface elements have remained unchanged compared to the previous version of Symbian. This applies to the virtual keyboard (telephone or QWERTY - in landscape mode), contacts menu, calendar, journal and other PIM functions.
On the other hand, minor additions have been added to the shell that make it more functional. For example, more often a long press on an element brings up a context menu with additional options. Small pop-up boxes have also become more common: for example, when connecting (via GSM, Bluetooth, WLAN channel), this message appears for a short time.
There are not many software add-ons (with the exception of media utilities). Perhaps the only significant application is "Social networks", which allow you to manage accounts on the most popular social resources: Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. The interface and functionality of the client are satisfactory, it is convenient to use it. Updates (mentions, messages) can be displayed in the corresponding widget directly on the main screen. The weak side of the client is the loss of status when it cannot be updated (due to network loss, for example). It is also not entirely clear why the developers installed such a thin and therefore not very aesthetic font.
A less significant addition is a small "Here and Now" web utility. It contains basic information related to the current location: weather forecast, nearby places marked on the map (cafes and restaurants, entertainment centers).
The N8 retains the Ovi services system and links to them: contacts, app store, music store, maps.
Applications written for Symbian 9.4 are compatible with the smartphone (more precisely, with its updated platform). This indicates that there are no cardinal changes in Symbian^3 compared to the previous edition.
The device in question has an ARM11 processor with a clock frequency of 680 MHz. The amount of RAM was 256 MB (about 100 MB is occupied by system tasks).
One of the details that Nokia focused on during the release of the smartphone is the hardware graphics accelerator. With its help, according to officials, N8 was able to process up to 32 million polygons per second.
But the delay in the release of the device led to an unpleasant situation. While the Finnish developers were finalizing the new flagship, devices with much more productive stuffing appeared on the market. For example, the iPhone 4 is capable of processing up to 88 million polygons per second, while the current record holder is the Samsung Galaxy S with 90 million polygons per second.
It turns out that the N8 model turned out to be one step lower than its current competitors. Nokia's top smartphone can compete on an equal footing with older models: for example, the iPhone 3GS (28 million operations per second) or Google Nexus One (22 million operations per second).
If we consider the capabilities of the device compared to previous Nokia models, then the increase in performance is noticeable. According to the results of the test, simultaneously launched on N8 and N97, the first works faster by about 2.5 times.
When used directly, this manifests itself in faster operation of the standard interface, menu navigation, application launch. But here it is important to understand that faster relative to other Nokia smartphones does not mean fast in principle.
Against the background of the declared powerful characteristics, bugs and brakes that appear out of the blue seem to be especially strange and disappointing. A typical example is browser behavior. Not only has it not undergone any significant changes compared to the previous edition of Symbian, it also occasionally produces depressing errors.
Let's try to analyze this using the example of a domestic situation. Attempts to access the “desktop” version of the VKontakte resource were unsuccessful in 100% of cases: after loading the page, the browser closed spontaneously. First, we tried to justify the system with a large number of open background applications. But the browser behaves exactly the same, even if it's the only one running.
An attempt to correct this situation with the launch of Opera Mobile gave mixed results. I managed to surf the Vkontakte website, but only before the first attempt to change the display orientation from portrait to landscape.
The launch of the popular game Angry Birds was also not without incident. With active gameplay, the animation played without delay. But as soon as the application was minimized and the search for WLAN networks was launched, the system forcibly closed the game with an unsaved result.
The periodic occurrence of errors in Internet TV (more on this section below) and the subsequent forced exit from applications are also surprising.
As far as the opinion about the speed of the device was contradictory due to the situations described above, the multimedia part of the smartphone left such a positive impression.
First of all, the music player has been updated in the N8. If in portrait mode its structure has hardly changed, then by turning the device over, you can see a redesigned and "glossy" design of an alternative interface.
Music features also include FM radio. The quality of radio signal reception is very high, in automatic mode the smartphone detected 17 radio stations (in Minsk) the first time.
The device itself can broadcast an audio signal on a given FM frequency using an FM transmitter. To avoid interference, it is necessary that the distance between the phone and the sound source does not exceed 2-3 m.
Video capabilities have been expanded with the Internet TV set mentioned above. These are a few applications that allow you to watch partner clips in video streaming mode. From the list of available videos, you select the story you are interested in and download it. Among the partners: CNN, Vesti (news), National Geographic (special stories), Paramount (film trailers). Additionally, you can download similar apps from other partners (such as Arabic or Indian TV channels) from the Ovi Store.
At the same time, the smartphone has become famous thanks to the support of HD-quality video (1280x720 pixels). The device allows both viewing such clips and recording them using the built-in photomodule.
Again, the N8 can show videos on more than just its own screen. To broadcast them to an external large monitor, the device has an HDMI interface of version 1.3a.
The smartphone is connected to the TV without additional settings: as soon as both parts of the wire are connected, a “copy” of the phone screen appears on the external display.
When the TV is not playing a video file, you can directly watch the N8 interface on it in its native resolution of 640x360 pixels. In this resolution, the picture does not look very clear, which is why the eyes get tired.
It is interesting to implement video viewing in the browser (when all actions are duplicated on the big screen). When the flash player is activated, only the video image is displayed on the external monitor, and a web page is displayed on the phone screen, which you can continue navigating.
But the video played from a smartphone has a very high quality, artifacts in the image are not noticeable. Sometimes (once a minute or two) the picture slows down for a short time period and in the next second “catches up” with the broadcast - the limited performance capabilities of the device affect.
Can N8 be recommended as a portable media player? Quite: a smartphone with minimal distortion copes with 720p, and videos in a lower resolution can be played without any delay at all.
Another intriguing technology that is implemented in this device is USB On-The-Go. It is for her that the complete microUSB - USB adapter is intended. Subjectively, the potential of this technology is not fully realized: the USB port recognizes external media (USB flash stick as the most likely option), but does not recognize the keyboard, for example. It’s a pity: if you display an image on a TV via HDMI, connect to the Internet via WLAN or 3G, and connect a mouse and keyboard via Bluetooth and USB, respectively ... Well, that’s, in fact, the implementation of the “office in the palm of your hand”. Fortunately, no one canceled Quickoffice, which is typical for Symbian smartphones.
The main complaint about the images is the decrease in the sharpness of the frame when the flash is off (if the lighting conditions are insufficient). However, this is a typical problem for photomodules with built-in optics.
The video is recorded in 1280x720 resolution, the clarity of the video sequence is high even in the dark. I liked that the zoom is smooth and will be appropriate, including during active recording.
The capacity of the battery used in the N8 is not a record for today - 1200 mAh. The full resource of the battery is enough for:
Half a day of the most intensive work: a smartphone is used to organize a mobile access point (energy is spent on active data transfer in HSDPA networks, as well as on supporting a WLAN connection);
a full day of active use, including an hour of data transfer and about an hour of video viewing;
Approximately two days with moderate use: 15 minutes of calls, three SMS, 40-50 minutes of music and no more than 20-30 minutes of data transfer daily.
I liked the fact that even with significant loads, the back side of the device does not begin to resemble the surface of a frying pan on a working stove. And this despite the aluminum body.
The power saving mode can be useful - it is very simple (de)activated, just click on the corresponding icon in the system context menu. This mode involves a forced decrease in screen brightness to a minimum and work only in networks of the second generation.
We did not lie when we wrote that after using the Nokia N8, an ambiguous impression remains. For external data, the device can be put a plus - the smartphone is ergonomic, durable and has an individual style. The display pleased relative to previous models of the Finnish company, but did not impress when compared with competitors from other manufacturers in the same price range (at the moment).
The software platform does not match the level of the top segment model. The Symbian^3 release was a fix to the previously introduced v9.4. Subjectively, it is with such an OS that I would like to see, or at least N97. Although some weak points still remain. These are widgets limited in settings, a meager online application store (and, in principle, a meager software base compared to iOS or Android), mysterious slowdowns when working even with pre-installed applications.
Although Symbian is very popular in some parts of the world, this platform is not very well known in our country, because it lags behind competitors in usability and functionality. The Symbian 3 operating system is a good attempt to remedy these shortcomings, and the Nokia N8 is the first smartphone to run on the updated OS. Much-needed improvements are visible at a glance - a simplified touch interface and enhanced multimedia capabilities.
The N8 is also one of the best camera phones on the market today and offers good call quality and long battery life. However, it still falls short of the competition in a number of areas, including ease of use, navigation, and integrated services. All this, combined with the expensive $549 price tag, doesn't make it a mainstream gadget. Despite the fact that the Nokia N8 is a good smartphone, consumers are more likely to choose Android or iPhone devices.
For the most part, Nokia always makes quality hardware, and the N8 is no exception. As soon as you take it in your hands, you will notice a strong and at the same time beautiful case with metal inserts and a glass display. The gadget has the following dimensions: 4.47 inches high, 2.32 inches wide and 0.51 inches thick. That's a good size for a smartphone: it's big enough to have a large screen, yet thin and compact enough to be easily carried around and held in the palm of your hand. On the back, there is a slightly domed camera that sticks out a bit from the streamlined design, but it's not an inconvenience.
The front of the phone is adorned with a 3.5-inch 640x360 resolution and support for 16.7 million colors, the display looks bright and clear. However, the image does not look as sharp as some of the latest smartphones. Compared to devices such as HTC Evo 4G and Samsung Galaxy S series, text and images do not appear as harmonious and pixels are more prominent. It doesn't interfere with using the phone, but you will definitely notice a difference.
The display offers a built-in accelerometer and fingertip zoom support. The performance of both functions is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes the response may be instantaneous and other times there may be a slight delay. This also applies to the operation of the touch screen in general. Scrolling through lists and desktop panels isn't quite as smooth as some other competing phones.
An on-screen keyboard is displayed for text entry in both portrait and landscape modes, but the QWERTY option is only available in landscape orientation. This means that if you want to type any messages in portrait orientation, you will have to type them on the alphanumeric keypad.
In addition to the touch screen, the device has a couple of controls designed to help you navigate and perform other functions. There is one button below the display that switches to the main menu or to the main screen if you are in another application. On the right side is a paired volume rocker, a lock switch, and a camera activation/capture button.
What else does it have? There is a power button, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the device. On the left side are the SIM and microSD slots, as well as the micro-USB port. On the back, you'll find a 12-megapixel camera with xenon flash. It is curious that, unlike other phones, the Nokia N8 does not have a replaceable battery. Therefore, the battery cannot be replaced.
The N8 comes with a good range of accessories, including a charger, USB cable, HDMI cable, USB On-The-Go adapter, wired stereo headset, and reference materials. Although the charger has an international adapter, the phone can be equipped with a micro-USB charger. N8 is available in five colors: dark gray, blue, green, orange, silver white. In addition, if you wish, you can choose a case for Nokia N8 of any color.
One of the main shortcomings of the Symbian S60 platform is its "poor" user interface. Ascetic appearance, archaic menu and not very convenient navigation - all this contributed to great disappointment among users. Symbian 3 fixes a number of these shortcomings and makes the N8 mega-modern compared to previous Nokia smartphones. However, it still lags behind the competition in a number of features and amenities. In order to change anything on your device, you will need a security code for your Nokia N8.
Symbian 3 now offers a single control model through the user interface, so you don't have to go through multiple steps to complete a simple task or exit a menu. This unified system has made the phone easier to use, but it still lacks quick access to features within the app. For example, to reply to an email message on the Nokia N8, you must first select "Options" and then only turn on reply. On Android, a similar option is located on the same email page.
The desktop screen currently consists of three panels that can be customized with various widgets, including messages, social networks, music player, favorite contacts, RSS feeds and so on. Widgets can provide you with a quick view of the latest information, and if you want to view more, you can click on it to launch a standalone application.
The main menu largely repeats previous models, representing a grid of your applications (you can change the display to a list). There is a useful feature - if you hold down the menu key at the bottom of the screen for a long time, it will organize the icons of all your running applications. From there, you can swipe through the list to switch between tasks or exit the app.
The Nokia N8 offers hands-free calling, speed dialing, conferencing, voice dialing, vibrating alerts, text and multimedia chat messages and more. The phone's address book is limited only by the amount of available memory; only a SIM card can provide additional contacts. The directory has a separate entry for storing multiple phone numbers, work and home addresses, e-mail, birthday and other important information in each contact. You can also assign each contact a photo, a group ID or a custom ringtone, which is very convenient according to users.
Unlike devices on other operating systems, Nokia N8 (original) does not automatically sync information from your email and social network accounts. You'll have to use features like the Ovi service or the ISYNC plugin, which isn't very convenient.
The N8 is compatible with several email protocols, including Exchange, Lotus Notes and POP3/IMAP, and offers HTML and folder support. At the same time, access to mail options is not always simple and clear. For example, if you want to get to your folders, you need to click on the "Inbox" tab at the top of the screen, and then select the one you need from the drop-down list. It's not the biggest problem, but it all comes down to usability.
Wireless options are well presented with Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi (802.11b/G/N), GPS and five-band 3G support (WCDMA 850/900/1700/1900/2100). The WebKit browser integrated into the N8 is quite decent. It offers support for Flash Lite 4.0 and multiple windows, and pages open pretty quickly. Navigation, however, judging by user feedback, could be much better. Something as simple as entering a new web address requires launching a separate menu and entering the URL followed by clicking Go. It really shouldn't be that hard.
The Nokia N series has always been known for its multimedia capabilities, and the N8 continues that tradition. In Symbian 3, the integrated music player gets a nice bonus in the form of Cover Flow - an interface for viewing music. It offers core features such as shuffle and repeat play, on-the-fly playlist creation, and support for MP3, WMA, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, AMR-NB, and AMR-WB. There is also an FM radio. Since the Nokia N8 battery is quite powerful, you can watch videos and listen to music for hours on end.
We can say that the best feature of the N8 is its 12-megapixel camera. Equipped with Carl Zeiss optics, xenon flash, and numerous editing options, it produces excellent image quality. In this part, the smartphone is significantly ahead of its competitors. The images taken with this camera have bright and rich colors, as well as sharp details that are not visible in most photos taken with a phone. The camera is also able to successfully cope with shooting in various environments - indoors, outdoors, on the move (reviews confirm this).
Other integrated programs for the Nokia N8 include the QuickOffice suite, a PDF reader, a ZIP manager, a voice recorder, a dedicated YouTube app, Maps Ovi (which offers free navigation). In addition, you can find and download more applications from the Ovi Store. The store's catalog contains about 15,000 items. Of course, this is a very small selection compared to the 80,000 apps in the Android Market and 250,000 apps in iTunes, but Nokia has done a good job of updating the store interface. The N8 offers 16GB of onboard storage and an expansion slot that accepts cards up to 32GB.
Now let's talk about the design of the device, the main features of the new OS version, Symbian ^ 3? I will repeat the key features of the smartphone a little. This is a capacitive AMOLED screen with glass protection and multi-touch, a 3D hardware accelerator, the ability to shoot HD video with stereo sound, and so on. What was badly done in last year's N97 flagship is fixed here. N8 was brought up to the level of the flagships of other companies in terms of hardware, plus a good camera (12 MP with xenon), USB OTG chips (connecting a flash drive and even a hard drive to the phone), viewing unconverted video (mkv, avi in 720p play without problems), HDMI connector, Dolby Mobile 5.1 sound, 16 GB of internal memory + card slot, anodized aluminum metal case with one of five color options. The price at the start is less than 20 thousand rubles.
With such a pricing policy and characteristics, the appearance of the Nokia N8 takes out the delayed, relatively priced Android smartphones such as Motorola XT720, SE X10, HTC Legend from the market, and also casts doubt on at least some success of a number of upcoming multimedia devices, in particular, replacement Samsung's first bada smartphone, Wave II. There are various arguments that Android OS is somehow better, or the screen resolution is higher, but in terms of the totality of characteristics, the N8 is now out of reach, it's hard not to admit. Camera, memory, work with video, free navigation and so on and so forth. I have no doubt that this device will become an unconditional bestseller from the first days of mass sales, in fact, the received huge number of pre-orders, contracts from European operators only confirm this. All other devices in this price segment remain in the shadows, their sales will fall by an order of magnitude. Here I'm talking not only about the devices of competitors, but also the models of Nokia itself. Against the background of the perfectly balanced N8, the Nokia C7 makes no sense, which will cost comparable, but less functionally. Also, the previous flagship N97 mini will disappear from sale in the near future, the regular N97 is already disappearing. In the coming months, the N8 will take the place of the best multimedia smartphone not only in the Nokia lineup, but in the market as a whole.
Features of Nokia N8:
· networks : GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS / HSDPA 900/1900/2100
· Display: AMOLED 3.5”, multi-touch capacitive, 640x360 pixels, 16M colors
· Camera: 12 MP, autofocus, Carl Zeiss optics, video 1280x720.25fps xenon flare
· Memory: 16 GB built-in, support for micro-SD memory cards
· Communications: Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, TV Out ( HDMI)
· Built-in GPS module, free navigation OviMaps
· USB on the go
· 3.5mm headset jack, DolbyMobile
· Battery: BL-4D, 1200 mAh
· Talk time - up to 12 hours
· Standby time - up to 400 hours
· Operating time in the player mode - up to 50 hours
· Size: 113.5x59.1x12.9mm
· Weight: 135g
· Price: 19 990 rubles
· Early October 2010
I am pleased with the new design concept – beveled corners, minimalist design, noticeable metal texture. N8 is the first smartphone in this style, later similar options will appear, first of all, E7. If earlier the same design could be found within the same line (for example, N78-N81-N86, or E51-E66-E71), now the naming system has changed and devices belong to the lines only by their characteristics. Hence the similar devices in different series, they are united by the release time.
Whatever the case, the N8 is a nice step up from previous plastic Nseries, except for the latest model (N97 mini). The device is metal, made of aluminum sheet, only on the top and bottom there are small plastic inserts to match the case. There will be 5 colors in total - black, silver, blue, green and orange. Variety of color schemes is a new trend for Nokia, most devices get bright colors, and I frankly like this trend - the standard black, white and silver options are pretty boring. In addition, diversity is always a plus, not a minus.
The build quality is excellent, there are no gaps between metal and plastic, as seen on some other devices. The one-piece body is also a plus in terms of build quality. The problem (or rather, a related feature) is the non-removable battery. The Nokia N8 is rebooted by holding down the power key for 8 seconds in case of a freeze, but during the use of such problems did not arise. When falling, the plastic of the ends can be damaged, I saw N8 where cracks appeared, but this was due solely to a fall from a great height. With careful use, there will be no problems.
Compare with Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and Tag Heuer Meridiist GMT:
The slot for a memory card and SIM, respectively, are external, covered with plugs, they can be changed on the fly, but a reboot is required to search for a network. Immediately, on the left side, there is a micro-USB connector with a small LED. Below is another charger socket (2 mm), compatible with old chargers. On the right side are the volume buttons and the camera/shoot button, plus a very handy lock slider. At the top end there is a standard 3.5 mm jack, a power button and mini-HDMI under a plug. The location of the connectors is quite convenient, it does not cause any complaints, except for the plugs for the memory card SIM pretty tough.
On the front surface there is a single button that is responsible for calling the menu, switching between applications. Acceptance/hangup of a call is virtual, which is not very convenient - for example, it will no longer be possible to break the GPRS connection by holding the end button.
What else I want to note is the very good quality of the surface coating. I noticed a video on the network where a smartphone is scratched with an iron coin, after which no traces remain on it. During the operation of several prototypes, plus a commercial sample, there were no scratches on the surface.
The screen is large, 3.5 inches, 43x77 mm, has an aspect ratio of 16:9. That is, the same size as N97, but made using AMOLED technology, capacitive type, glass protection, and so on. That is quite modern characteristics. Resolution of 640x360 pixels, qHD, compared to WVGA screens, the picture is not so smooth, but you should not find fault with this resolution - pixelization is imperceptible anyway, for 3.5 inches this resolution looks good.
Color reproduction is excellent, as are viewing angles thanks to the use of an AMOLED matrix. It's not Samsung's Super AMOLED in the Galaxy S, which has higher brightness and higher resolution, but the difference in perception is minimal even when comparing these screens head-on. Well, when you buy it in a store, the Nokia N8 screen will seem perfect to you, or close to it. Indeed, this time the company managed to make an excellent product in terms of the screen, after a couple of years of lost leadership in technology. The behavior in the sun is also remarkable, the information is fully visible, there is a reflective transreflective layer.
Everyone has already seen the comparison of screens in Samsung Galaxy S, I will give a comparison with Sony Ericsson Satio (the same resolution, size, but TFT technology). The advantage of the N8 is obvious, the colors are more natural, there are no overexposures in the light areas.
There is an ambient light sensor that adjusts the backlight intensity of the screen, as well as a proximity sensor. When you approach your face during a call, the screen is locked, the description of this feature is standard and is used in many touch solutions. But you cannot force the maximum brightness, the phone will adjust the brightness depending on the lighting conditions, this was done to save energy more.
The Nokia N8 has the largest list of hardware features of the top camera phones to date. 12 MP resolution, Carl Zeiss optics, large sensor size (1/1.83”), 28mm wide-angle lens, xenon flash, mechanical shutter, HD video with stereo sound (dual microphone system), extremely high speed. We checked the quality of shooting on many examples, compared with competitors, you can read all the conclusions about the camera in a separate article:
Nokia N8 comes with a type B battery L-4D (capacity 1200 mA * h), this is the standard in the current line - exactly the same batteries for Nokia E7, C7, E5 and N97 mini . In some modes, the device shows record results, these are 45 hours of MP3 playback, more than 6 hours of video playback, 4 hours of games, 6 hours of web browsing. WiFi , 5 hours of GPS navigation.
That is, the difference with the previous type of battery (1500 mA * h) is compensated by another optimization of energy consumption. And we have to admit that Nokia one of the best in this area, at least switching to N8 after a long time of use Android -smartphone brings only positive emotions in terms of advantages in terms of work time.
For most users, we get two days of stable work, this is subject to active widgets, listening to music for two to three hours a day, using the camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, and so on. Not a bad result for such a functional device, sufficient for many. With the reduction of some activities, the work time can be up to 3 days.
Traditionally, there is a built-in Wi-Fi module, only 802.11 n has been added to the b and g standards. There is also WLAN Wizard, a simple connection setup assistant. There are quite a few options, if there is any network, it is proposed to create a connection, define a default access point, there is network filtering. Security standards - WEP, WPA, WPA 2. The settings also specify the time to scan for WLAN networks.
The USB standard is 2.0, Full Speed (data transfer rate is about 4 Mb/s), so the smartphone is quite comparable with other Symbian devices, N97 in particular, in this parameter. There is support for the Mass Storage mode, you can choose how to use the device - a disk drive, PC Suite, Image Print, Media Player. As a removable disk, both a memory card and a built-in 16 GB flash memory are visible. As I said, for the first time phones have the USB function from the go, that is, the ability to connect a regular flash drive. Someone will obviously like this option, at least there are no analogues from other manufacturers. I note that you can connect not only a flash drive, but also hard drives, the only limitation is that FAT 32 format is required, although, most likely, NTFS support will be added in future firmware.
Bluetooth version, according to the specifications - 3.0 + EDR, all major profiles are supported. Nokia N8 becomes the second device after Samsung S8500 Wave with this version of Bluetooth. Most importantly, the data transfer rate is much higher, but the receiving device must also have this technology. And there are a couple of such phones on the market.
One of the main features of Nokia N8 is its video capabilities, in particular, a mini-HDMI output and video transmission to a TV screen, and even a regular (!) Cinema. Yes, this is not an exaggeration at all, a demonstration of this process can be easily found on the Internet. This does not require any settings, the HDMI cable is included, you just have to connect the device to the TV and start the movie (or photos, any video, games - to choose from). When playing video, the Dolby mobile 5.1 setting works - as the name implies, this is 5.1 channel sound. Naturally, the effect is heard in the presence of an appropriate system. Great feature, let me tell you.
Movies can also be watched from a flash drive, hard drive, they don’t even have to be stored in the N8’s memory. In general, for the first time there is such a device that combines these features. Illiterate observers may argue that before the N8 there were devices with an HDMI connector on the market (for example, Motorola XT720, Acer Stream), but can they still do the same in terms of video playback? No, they do not, and this is a fact that is difficult to argue with.
The last feature is a built-in FM transmitter that can broadcast audio to a compatible system, such as in a car.
I would like to pay a little attention to the hardware platform. What was used in Nokia N97 could not cope with many tasks, the speed of operations was unsatisfactory. As I said, N97 is the first Single CPU smartphone in the N9x line, without a hardware graphics accelerator. Nokia N8 uses a different processor, which is already quite adequate for most tasks. This is ARM 11, 680 MHz, and in terms of graphics acceleration, thanks to the Broadcom N8 co-processor, it is in the lead, ahead of many modern flagships. Scrolling and redrawing are performed at a speed of 60 fps, 4 times faster than in the same N97 and all other Symbian^3 smartphones.
The amount of RAM is 256 MB, the memory allocated for running the application (Heap size) and the size of the executable Java application (Jar size) are unlimited. The amount of built-in memory is 512 MB, of which about 360 MB are available to the user, plus there is flash array 16 GB and support for micro-SDHC memory cards (up to 32 GB). Quite sufficient amount of memory in the current realities. Not the maximum, but compared to the meager 2 GB of internal memory in the Samsung S8500 Wave and the lack of mass storage as such in Android smartphones from HTC, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, this is a big plus.
There is an accelerometer to automatically rotate the interface depending on the position of the smartphone, mute calls, everything is similar to the N97 and other models. But, unlike its predecessors, the reversal occurs without delay, the interface is redrawn smoothly.
The GPS module, respectively, is also available, the version of Ovi Maps is 3.04 (in the future - 3.06 with support for multitouch when zooming maps), free voice navigation is also available. Actually, maps in Nokia smartphones and free voice navigation are a good bonus, other manufacturers don’t have this (I don’t consider online Google Maps with navigation for some countries here, although they have their advantages). We have repeatedly talked about the capabilities of Ovi Maps and navigation in detail, it makes no sense to repeat, so I will give screenshots of the new version with Nokia N8.
Some impressions: this version of Maps is much more stable, faster than in N97, where speed was the biggest problem. As a result, the N8 is quite good as a navigation smartphone. The only thing that upsets is the detail of the maps and the lack of house numbers (this, however, is true for Russia, but in Europe the situation is different). The plug-in service is already operating in 22 countries of the world, Russia is still on the waiting list, but next year, I think, the service will be launched here as well. In a word, taking into account the free navigation, this is an excellent addition to the functionality of Nokia smartphones, especially useful in other countries where online services such as Google Maps are simply useless due to roaming rates.
The key differences from the user's point of view are that Symbian^3 uses a single click system, scrolling speed has increased 4 times, the task manager has been changed? Many applications have been redrawn, but in total there are more than 250 changes. Of course, not all of them will be noticeable to users, many relate to the organization of individual applications, so we will consider the most important ones.
For me, Symbian^3, after the first acquaintance with it, turned out to be a suitable OS for most tasks. This is far from S50 5 th Edition in N97. The speed has increased significantly, smooth kinetic scrolling in all menus without delays, a single touch of the screen to select one or another item (the double-click system did not suit many), many applications have been redrawn, primarily multimedia ones, 2 additional desktops have been added, on which you can place widgets. Also important for me is a bonus in the form of free full-fledged navigation and offline Ovi maps stored in the phone’s memory, a very good call service (Android is extremely inconvenient in this regard). But a little more about everything.
There are three desktops in N8, this is the first difference from Symbian ^ 1. It seems to some that three is too few, but I don’t think that someone uses 10 desktops in the same Samsung Wave. Two desktops were enough for me to place the necessary icons and widgets, I turned off the third one. The number of widgets that can fit is fixed, as is the size of each. These are five rectangular windows, in vertical or horizontal mode, which are arranged in the correct order. The windows do not overlap, the desktop looks neat, but the small number of widgets available on the screen at the same time and their small size is a drawback. This becomes especially noticeable when working with the social network widget, only one message can fit on the screen. Widgets can be either online (automatically update information) or offline if you don't want always-on data transfer.
In addition to widgets, there are traditional panels of quick access icons and favorite contacts, they can be placed on the screen along with mini-applications. There can be 8 quick access icons (two panels with four shortcuts each), contact panels - two.
The main menu hasn't changed, I don't really like the icons, which are too similar to the first representative of touchscreen smartphones, 5800 XpressMusic. True, due to the bright AMOLED screen, the icons on the N8 look much nicer, but they fall short of the level of drawing in the iPhone. As usual, you can change the order of items, create folders, change the font size. Good level of customization in general.
I liked that the horizontal mode has been redesigned, the virtual soft buttons are now located at the bottom, and do not occupy a significant part of the screen on the right, as it was in Symbian ^ 1.
The application manager has changed. It has become less convenient (only one mini-window of the program is placed on the screen at a time), but more informative and beautiful. It is still called by holding the menu key for a long time.
Text input. The virtual keyboard hasn't changed much since Symbian^1, so the typing experience is average. There is no QWERTY layout in the vertical screen orientation, there is no separate button for switching the input language (this is done in three clicks), there are no punctuation marks on the main keyboard, only a dot. In general, the keyboard from HTC is far from ideal in terms of typing.
Browser. The browser is based on the same Konqueror project, it supports HTML 4.01 (full-fledged work with tables, frames, forms), JavaScript 1.5, CSS 1 and 2, RSS, flash content. Browser localization includes support for 46 different languages, however not all languages are supported by every phone. As in firmware, there is the concept of a "language pack" - a set of supported languages, depending on the region where the phone is sold. The Russian language is fully supported (KOI-8R, Windows-1251, UTF-8). But everything that was good a few years ago now looks outdated, the browser interface is the main drawback of current smartphones with Symbian ^ 3.
There is no normal work with several windows, pop-up submenus, the bookmark service is archaic and inconvenient. In a word, the browser is bad. The only thing that pleases is multi-touch support and a complete understanding of flash content, objects load quickly, there are no problems.
Social media. There is (finally!) its own pre-installed client for social networks twitter and facebook, with its own widget. The client looks beautiful, but in the first version it has a number of drawbacks, such as a small number of downloaded messages and the absence of any settings. However, there are practically no functional clients other than Gravity, so this pre-installed and free option will suit many. I would like to wish it further refinement, since the design is already quite good, only additional functions are missing.
Active Notes. Notes in the usual sense of the word were only text documents, from the options for working with them were printing and sending, now with the Active Notes application, in addition to text, it is possible to insert any objects - images, sound, video files, contact business cards, other files, such as the resulting file is XHTML. Such an extended note can be opened using an Internet browser, as well as sent via SMS (in this case only the text of the note is sent), MMS, Bluetooth and infrared. A note can be associated with a contact or a group of contacts, while in the application settings menu there is an item - displaying a note when calling.
office. QuickOffice application for viewing Microsoft Office files: Word(*.doc), Excel (*.xls), PowerPoint(*.ptt). You can view files of different versions of Office (97, 2000, 2003), but the document editing options are reserved for Nokia Eseries business devices, so you will have to install the full (paid) version of QuickOffice on the N8 to edit.
OviStore. The version of the Ovi application store in Nokia N8 is updated, it is much more convenient than the previous one in the same N97. This applies not only to the speed of work, but also to the general organization, sorting and searching for applications. Quite a good client, though there are, of course, ways to improve. I am glad that there is an operator billing, it is not necessary to pay for applications only with a credit card, as in the same Android. The prices for the programs are not encouraging, so I hope that with the advent of more programs, the prices for them will also change, because now the competition is not so high.
Other pre-installed applications include a YouTube client, Adobe PDF (for viewing relevant files), a ZIP archiver, a dictionary with downloadable databases, a photo and video editor, device search, as well as the Internet (version 5.00, a very useful application), Here and now (application for displaying nearby restaurants, cinemas, weather, using GPS and cellular data).
Nokia N8 is one of those phones that can be considered perfect until you meet something “even more perfect”. It seems that there is not much to complain about, but in the process of getting to know the model, the caustic aftertaste of the “belated” announcement does not go away. Nokia would hasten with the release of N8 for a year - this handset would not have had a price.
Detailed list of characteristics in our catalog: .
iXBT TV webcast, which shows and talks about the functionality of the Nokia N8 smartphone, which we will not focus on in this review so as not to repeat:
Nokia N8 comes with a charger, USB cable, HDMI cable, silicone case and wired headset and instruction books.
Nokia N8 distinguished itself by its design... so classic for communicators that it's hard to understand where to begin the description. You can, for example, from the button on the front panel. If you pull a silicone case over the handset, the button becomes almost invisible, despite the fact that in normal mode it periodically winks at the user with a backlit rim.
The dimensions of the model will seem familiar to those who have ever used communicators of the mid-2000s. On the one hand, the phone is small: a large display could not fit within the model. On the other hand, it is not so small: even in a jacket pocket, the device will become a serious burden due to the plump body.
Separate words deserve a silicone case that can protect the device from scratches, excess moisture, shock when dropped. This uncomplicated accessory will also protect from prying eyes: in a case, the smartphone becomes not very beautiful. By the way, silicone is a completely non-slip material, and therefore the “dressed” N8 is held very securely in the hand. By the way, recklessly located in the front pocket of jeans, the phone will successfully turn it inside out the first time you take it out.
If you remove the cover, the device may seem quite nice. There was no place for exotic designer solutions in it, and therefore the model looks very strict and cultured. The body of the N8 is cast and gives the impression of something very reliable: no squeaks, no swaying of the back cover. Of course, such a solution also has the obvious disadvantage of a permanent battery, but who in these days of overflowing landfills will think about replacing a used battery in an old phone instead of buying a new one?
The "back" of the phone, however, has its purpose: it is here on a small elevation that the lens of a 12-megapixel camera with a xenon flash is located, as well as the main "music" speaker of the smartphone.
The front panel of the phone is mostly occupied by a touch capacitive display. Its resolution is small: 360 × 640 pixels with a diagonal of 3.5 inches. The model uses AMOLED-matrix, so the phone gives a bright contrast picture. Under the common glass with the display is a camera lens for video calls and a proximity sensor.
On the right side of the case is a mass of hardware controls. Here you will also find the speaker volume joystick (only works during a conversation and listening to the player or radio), and the lock lever, and the camera button.
At the top end there is a button to turn on the device. That's right - in a diminutive form, because she is very small and, judging by the difficulty of finding her, very shy. Here, at the top, there is an HDMI port for connecting to a home theater and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
On the left edge, there are plugs for the MicroSD memory card and SIM card slots. By the way, if you think that this position of the SIM-card implies the possibility of hot-swapping, then you are deeply mistaken: when you move the card, the phone reboots the system.
And finally, the bottom line. There is a connector for the power supply, an eyelet for a cord and the inscription "Made in Finland", which indicates a rare assembly of European origin these days.
Nokia N8 is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless modules. WLAN settings allow you to enable automatic search for all available networks online: in fact, you can simply select the desired network from the menu at any time without wasting time searching for available points. This behavior of the phone is not rational (in relation to battery life), but, nevertheless, this particular mode is enabled by default.
The Bluetooth interface offers a standard set of settings (on/off, access level, name), as well as the ability to enable remote access to the SIM card.
The process of setting up a USB connection turned out to be very obvious and convenient: through the menu, you can select one of several options, “sharpened” for a specific task. Among the options: Nokia Ovi Suite (for managing the Ovi library from a computer), Storage (like a regular “flash drive”), media file transfer (synchronization with Windows Media Player or Nokia Ovi) and connecting a PC to a network (for the phone to work as a 3G modem ).
The smartphone has a GPS module and its own routing software. The phone finds its coordinates very quickly. But the Maps navigation program cannot be praised: information about the roads in it is downloaded from the network and has an extremely large scale (practically, only the main transport arteries of cities are displayed).
The first thing a new smartphone owner will encounter is the menu search process. The author of this article still remembers with a smile 5 minutes of getting to know the handset, when over and over again, instinctively clicking on the "Functions" menu in the lower left corner of the main screen got into a gloomy list of four items (See Open applications, Change the main screen. , Offline Widgets, Manual). Nothing more suitable for the role of the main menu was noticed, and the only hardware button of the handset was skillfully hidden under a silicone case and was not noticed at all.
Well, our process of getting acquainted with the device began with... the manual, no matter how ashamed it is to admit this to a mobile phone tester in Russia. The only excuse here is that the reason to open this menu item was a banal curiosity: we have not seen anything like this in similar phones (at least in such prominent places).
The leadership turned out to be lush, sprawling and branchy, like a hundred-year-old oak. Literally every smallest step, every breath of the user in the direction of the handset was carefully and with dignity considered by a technical writer from Nokia.
However, if we return to the topic of the main menu and still talk about its location, then everything turned out to be very simple: we press the hardware key and a screen appears with several icons that display the main software capabilities of the smartphone.
Among the main menu icons are: Calendar, Contacts, Music player, Internet, Messages, Photos, Store (download applications from the OVI service), Maps, Video clips, Settings, Internet TV, Applications (all programs that do not fit on the main menu screen). The list, as you can see, is not very large, and therefore it fits on one screen without requiring scrolling.
The options menu consists of the following items: Profiles, Themes, Phone, Application manager, Call, Connectivity and Application settings. Here, while exploring all the points in search of anything interesting, we found a very interesting thing in the "Communication" menu: an FM transmitter. It is the transmitter: you can set any arbitrary frequency and broadcast your playlist records on it using a media player. This function works at a short distance (up to 2 meters) and may be useful for motorists.
Among other interesting points, the developers' attention to the phone's operating modes aroused particular interest. With all the abundance and variety of profiles, the user has the opportunity to create their own, fine-tuning the phone's response to every conceivable signal.
The message menu is quite standard, with the exception of a separate item "Conversations", as well as the location of delivery reports in a separate folder.
A new message is entered in a separate window, consisting of two fields: the recipient's phone number and text. To enter a number, you can use both your own memory and a virtual numeric keypad, as well as the contact book (the button for calling the notebook is located at the very bottom and is hidden under the virtual keyboard in the manual number entry mode).
Entering a message is possible in two handset positions: portrait or landscape. Holding the phone vertically, you use a virtual likeness of a classic mobile keyboard. By placing the smartphone horizontally, you turn on the QWERTY keyboard. By the way, the handset can turn only in one direction (counterclockwise): turning clockwise or “upside down” is ignored by Nokia N8.
You can attach images, video or audio clips, slides to outgoing messages, you can create dictaphone, video or audio recordings directly from the message editor, as well as send ready-made templates, notes or your own business card.
Reading SMS is available both in classic mode and in dialogue format. The first allows the user to reduce or increase the font of the message, and the second - to open the card of the interlocutor or add additional recipients.
The smartphone allows you to use both the handset's own memory and the SIM card as a notebook.
The set of fields for a new contact is large enough: First name, Last name, Mobile, Phone, E-mail, Address, Image, Ringtone, Video call, Internet phone, Organization, Position, Synchronization type.
As for contact groups, it is proposed to create them on your own to your taste. However, the "set" of parameters for the group is one single name, so you can't go wild with the setting here.
In the process of work, an original feature was discovered: at the moment when the vast majority of all phones, when clicking on a contact number, opens a dialog box with the question: “Dial such and such a number?” - Nokia N8 is already starting to dial it, displaying the familiar conversation interface on the screen. At first, such a sparkling reaction is a little scary, but after a couple of days it becomes familiar.
The log turned out to be standard: three tabs for missed, dialed and accepted numbers. They are displayed in chronological order without repeating names, that is, each newly dialed contact is transferred to the top of the list, and not duplicated.
As already mentioned, the manufacturer offers many profiles for the phone to work: Normal, Silent, Meeting, Outdoor, Pager, Offline. You can add your own settings to them.
Business applications in Nokia N8 are scattered across all menu levels. In the root directory, we found a calendar and an Internet browser, in the application menu we found a whole folder "Office", a separate email client and note-taking.
The calendar can serve as a diary: here you can create all kinds of records about meetings, business and other important events. The note editor allows you to add an arbitrary text entry to the device's memory.
Separate words deserve an Internet browser, which can rightfully be recognized as one of the most inconvenient, which is especially offensive in the context of a serious smartphone manufactured in 2010. However, judging by the Ovi app store, Opera Mobile is a success with users, so the owner of the N8 should not have problems with surfing the Web.
The office suite includes: File Manager, Dictionary, QuickOffice, ZIP Archiver, Calculator, AdobePDF, Voice Message Reader and Voice Recorder. Original and strange, but true: the stopwatch on the smartphone could not be found.
Media content is controlled through applications: Music player, Photos, Video clips, Internet TV, Photo or video editing, Radio. There is also its own Ovi store client and a separate link to the music of the same service.
The music player has the usual organization today: music is uploaded to the music library, scanned and displayed by artists, albums and other meta-information. As such, we did not find a music browser, so to create some kind of collection of different artists, you will have to “sweat” a little by setting a common name for the album.
The photo editor in the phone will entertain its owner with the opportunity to mock friends in photos, distorting them with funny smiles and other expressions of emotions.
The option described in the previous paragraph may also appeal to users because the smartphone does not have a single pre-installed game! Perhaps, in the age of Internet content downloaded in seconds for every taste and color, the lack of games will not be a big problem, but including at least a couple of banal standard games in the standard set was not at all superfluous.
Camera performance can be described as "acceptable" if you're going to be using your phone to write photo blog posts. For more serious purposes, the camera will not be suitable due to the unresponsive shutter button, fuzzy autofocus and extremely high noise levels when shooting indoors.
