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Wikipedia describes a digital media receiver or or digital media adapter as a “home entertainment device that can connect to a home network to retrieve digital media files (such as music, pictures, or video) from a personal computer or other media server and play them back on a home theater system or TV.” Receivers such as the Apple TV, VUDU and Netflix player by Roku all fall into this category. The beauty of these devices is that you can watch the content you want, when you want to watch it. Lately I’ve been using my 5800 XpressMusic’s TV-out function to view video podcast (vodcasts) downloaded by the Nokia Podcasting app. This basically makes the 5800 XpressMusic and the soon-to-be released N97 in combination with the Nokia Podcasting/Video Center a portable digital media receiver, similar to devices such as the Apple TV. Just like the Apple TV it can download video, that is made available via web syndication and automatically identify and retrieve new episodes when they are made available via a web feed. And just like these receivers it can stream video from sites like Youtube. In similar fashion it hooks up to your TV to play the content.

With some pretty great daily or weekly programs, I find myself watching more and more the content on the 5800 XpressMusic than my cable TV, as the content that I want is right there when I want to watch it. Through the magic of web syndication you can stay up to date with hundreds of the latest episodes, as you don’t have to go each individual website to check for new content. It is all downloaded and updated seamlessly and stored on the device ready to be watched. These dedicated receivers do offer better video quality via higher quality HD content and in some cases a HDMI connection. They even offer premium content from the likes of Amazon or ITunes, but there’s no denying the fact that Nokia podcasting is free, including the thousands of free content out there.It’s just a matter of adding the feed into the Podcasting app. The 5800 XpressMusic/N97 solution is certainly more pocktable and with the right accessories such as a Bluetooth keyboard should be able to provide a similar experience.

The biggest difference between the Nokia solution and these other players is the integration with some of these premium services like Amzon’s video on demand, but it’s not like something Nokia can not add to the Podcasting app. Add a more up to date TV-out cable such a component or HDMI and the ability to handle HD video smoothly, you could quickly end up with a portable device that can give some of the players a run for their money.

Is this the direction the Podcasting app should be going? Better integration with premium video download/streaming services,making Nokia devices an even better dedicated digital media receiver ?

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Available as both a download via the Nokia Software Updater or via FOTA, firmware v.21.0.025 went live for additional product codes for the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. This comes in just days after the same firmware went live for selected APAC (Asia-Pacific) product codes. During the coming weeks and in some cases months, we can expect this firmware to trickle down to other remaining product codes. While not a major firmware update, it does bring some useful, albeit small changes. The updates include a new Standby Breathing light and larger album art for audio files. The Standby Breathing light is similar to the one found on the E71, where the white light on the menu key of the 5800 slowly turns on and of to notify that the phone is turned on, but in power-saving mode with the screen turned off. This is different from the Notification light feature that was already present on the 5800 XpressMusic. This last feature quickly pulses the same light when a new message, email or missed call is received. The difference can be seen in the videos below:

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A recent survey for Nokia Ovi Suite, right here, seems to indicate that Nokia might be getting ready for a newer or another version of the 5800 XpressMusic, simply called the “Nokia 5800.” A typo perhaps, but this seems to be in line with a report from Digitimes that: “Nokia plans to replace the resistive touch panel currently used in its 5800 handset with a capacitive touch panel in order to compete effectively with rival models from Apple, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, according to sources at Taiwan handset component suppliers.”

The reports  goes on saying that that: “Nokia’s initial orders for capacitive touch panels will be enough for the production of two million 5800 handsets, with shipments of the new version to begin in May-June, indicated the sources, who are familiar with Nokia’s roadmap.”

Nokia has a history of accidentally leaking unreleased products on their own sites, one example being the N95 8GB NAM version, which was spotted on a Nokia mobile site just before it’s launch.

What do you think? Typo or is the 5800 in the works?

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Ever since their introduction in the late 90’s, MP3-player are still alive and kicking. The demand for MP3-player’s and let’s not forget the iPod culture has also created a blooming “ecosystem” of accessories to go along with all those Digital Audio Players (DAP). When it comes down to actually producing the music, there are plenty of impressive earphones/headphones to choose from, like the Shure SE530PTH we recently reviewed.

At the other end of the spectrum we have portable speakers, where the less than stellar performance actually seems to be the norm rather than the exception. In the middle of the portable audio scene, come the people at Soundcast with their latest offering: the Outcast! Their solution is done a bit different when compared to your typical portable speaker. They not only use a larger-than-normal unit, housing a an equally large 8” woofer, but they also use four 3” high frequency drivers placed in an uncommon (for portable speakers) omni-directional array.

Add the fact that the unit is rechargeable, all-weather and includes a wireless transmitter, there’s no denying that the Outcast is not your typical portable speaker. But the question is, do these features add up to a great portable system ? And does it sound equally good?

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Ever noticed that when Nokia releases a new device, they mention the largest microSD card currently supported by the device? Only problem is that they don’t mention the maximum capacity supported. Let’s take for example the N97. It’s press release mentions that “The Nokia N97 supports up to 48 GB of storage, including 32 GB of on-board memory, expandable with a 16 GB microSD card for music, media and more.” What about the 5800 XpressMusic press release: “the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic offers all the music essentials, including a graphic equalizer, 8GB memory for up to 6000 tracks”

Considering that both of these device are microSDHC compatible, means according to Wikipedia that it: “allows standard-compliant capacities in excess of 4 GB’” and that “the SD Card association has artificially defined the maximum limit of SDHC capacity to 32 GB” This basically means that SDHC, microSDHC and miniSDHC compatible devices such as for example the N97, 5800 XpressMusic and yes, even the classic N95 (with latest firmware) should support cards of up to 32GB.

In the case of of the N97 press release I can understand that they want to talk about currently available products such as the 16Gb microSDHC cards, but to the average Joe or Jane this could be giving out the wrong message. To the average consumer that many times is left comparing specs given by the manufacturer, this could signify that the N97 won’t support 32GB cards, when in fact technically it should.

The 5800 XpressMusic press release is even worse, as it not only implies that the it supports up to 8GB cards, but also “up to 6000 tracks.” Up to 6000 tracks? I’m currently using a 16Gb card in my 5800XpressMusic and I’m sure with tracks encoded  with the right bitrate it should support even more tracks and that when 32Gb card do come along, it will support even more.

In the world of technology, manufacturers are in a constant battle trying to showcase technological supremacy by showing us that their specs are better. In Nokia’s case they have the right weapons and they are just not using them all. A press release should indicate everything a device is capable of Nokia, yes even that it supports up to 32GB card!

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Older Nokia smartphones had the “C” key which allowed you to quickly delete files or close application by pressing a single key. Holding the menu key, selecting the appropriate application and pressing the “C” would instantly close the application. A device such as the 5800 XpressMusic doesn’t have “C” but there is a way to close open applications without opening them. Press and hold the middle menu key and a list of open application will pop up. Press and hold the app you wish to close. By now a second pop-up menu should open giving you the option to “Close” or “Open” the app.

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We usually don’t cover new third party themes here at The Nokia Guide as there is such a wide selection and they are updated too often (with varying quality), which makes it something a bit difficult to effectively keep track of. On top of that themes do remain a very subjective matter. With so many out there it’s easy to find something to fit your taste, but what’s actually difficult to find are those original Nokia themes. Most Nokia devices come with just 3-5 preinstalled themes, making them pretty rare beasts, let alone getting hold of  the original .sis file. In the case of the 5800 XpressMusic you only get 1 theme done in the color of the model you purchased, either Red, Black or Blue.Luckily, all three flavors of the 5800 XpressMusic theme are up for grabs. Interested in seeeing how your 5800 will look like with the other themes? Click here to download them.

Source: DailyMobile and The Nokia Blog

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In CNET’s latest Prizefight, the BB Bold is put against the Nokia E71.  CNET thinks that the E71 is sexier and sleeker and matches the Bold in features, but in the end the Bold is declared the winner due to the better multimedia features and navigation.

Do you agree? What if the Bold was put against the E75, would the Bold still win?

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Ms. Jen over at Black Phoebe, who is one is of the very few people I know that truly pushes the imaging and blogging capabilities of the Nseries has had a chance to try a prototype of the soon-to-be-released N97. Even though we are talking about a prototype here, which means that it’s not quite ready yet for release, it does give you an idea of the current state of the N97 and most importantly what to expect in the final version. A lot can change before the release and most of the time it does change quite a lot in favour of the device , but I do not expect miracles to happen neither. Judging by the images being produced so far, it seems that N97 should be able to match the N95 in imaging quality when its released by the end of June. This should still put the N86 8MP and N82 ahead of Nokia’s flagship, which isn’t a surprise as the latter two device are aimed as imaging devices.When comparing the N95 images against the N97 prototype, how will the final version of the N97 rank among Nokia’s other 5 or 8 Megapixel devices?

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