Nokia is well known for their retail/distribution channels, but also notorious for their ability to bring phones and smartphones to incredibly low price points. Windows Phone, once only available in the upper price range is starting to come down in great part thanks to Nokia. The  release of Windows Phone Tango made it possible for cheaper devices like the Lumia 610 which come with just 256MB of RAM possible. The lower price range of these devices is attractive, but should you buy one? Here are a few things to consider when buying a lower-end Nokia Lumia devices and why maybe you should save up a bit and get a higher-end device like the Lumia 800 or 900.

One reason to stay away from a lower-end Windows Phone device, are the significant restrictions when it comes to features and performance. These limitations include:

• Windows Phone Marketplace app restrictions – Some more processor-intensive apps have memory requirements, and won’t work on phones with 256 MB of RAM.

• Podcast Subscriptions and Video Podcasts – Managing podcast subscriptions or watching video podcasts is not available if your phone has 256 MB of RAM.

• Local Scout – Bing Local Scout is also unavailable if your phone has only 256 MB of RAM.

• Fast app switching – This feature doesn’t work on phones with 256 MB of RAM.

• SkyDrive automatic photo upload – You can’t upload pictures automatically to SkyDrive if your handset has only 256 MB of RAM.

• HD video playback – Videos compressed with certain codecs won’t work on phones with 256 MB of RAM.
• Background agents – To free up RAM for the foreground on 256MB devices, generic background agents (PeriodicTasks/ResourceIntensiveTasks) are disabled.

Secondly Skype for Windows Phone has just come out BETA reaching v1.0, but won’t work on won’t work on 256MB devices such as the Lumia 610, as it requires to a minimum of 512MB of RAM. When Windows Phone Tango was released, Microsoft did say that about 5% of apps won’t work on these more affordable devices and it now seems that Skype is going to be one of them. This can go either one of two direction. Either Skype releases a “lite’ version specifically for these low-end devices lacking some features or these devices will remain without an official Skype App.

Lastly, the prices of the higher end Lumia devices are already pretty affordable. With the arrival of the Lumia 900, prices for the 800 are dropping with some pretty good deals to be fond online, enough to keep you away from the lower-end devices. As for the GSM versions of these devices, they can be had for free on contract and in the US, the Lumia 900 can be had for a pretty affordable $99, a pretty good deal for a high-end device.

Considering all of this and the dropping prices for the Lumia 800, I’d say go for at least the Lumia 800, unless you really have to get the 610.

Update:  Engadget is now reporting that the Lumia 610 WILL get skype. This does mean however that there are still a small percentage of CPU or RAM intensive apps still won’t work. The limitations mentioned in point 2 also still apply.

By now, most of you have heard of the 808 Pureview, Nokia’s latest super camera phone running on their Belle operating system. The 808 continuous an old Nokia tradition of having the best camera phones on the market, a tradition continued by earlier devices such as the N93, N8 and N86 8MP. The 808 is miles ahead of anything available on the market when it comes to its camera and probably will remain so until its own successor arrives. Despite having all this amazing technology and essentially being the best camera in a phone, I think you should skip it. Here on The Nokia Guide, I’m  usually telling you how amazing these Nokia devices are and why you should buy them. In  this post I’ll explain why you shouldn’t buy the 808 and I why I’ll definitely skip it myself and go directly to the Lumia 900.

1.Symbian (Belle) is a dying ecosystem. The Nokia 808 PureView has a 41 megapixel sensor, Carl Zeiss optics, a new pixel oversampling tech, superior low-light performance, 1080p video recording, 4X lossless zoom in video and CD-quality recording. So what’s wrong with it? Basically, Nokia put all the right technologies in the wrong phone. Fact is that despite having a new name and new UI, Belle still is and will remain pretty much the same old Symbian operating system, a dying ecosystem that even Nokia has decided to drop in favor of Windows Phone. As always, Nokia will support their Symbian devices years after the launch with plenty of software updates.  However, fact is, I just can’t recommend this 450 Euro device, even with its amazing camera, knowing that in a few years this once thriving ecosystem will be gone. Knowing this fact, many developers are simply packing their bags and gravitating towards Windows Phone. This means that you’ll feel the results as soon as you start looking for apps on the 808. Many big name apps and brands simply skip Symbian, concentrating on the big three: Windows Phone, iOS and Android. Knowing that all their work will be useless in a few years if they make apps for Symbian, they simply move to other operating systems where continued profit is guaranteed. While Symbian has proven to be very profitable for devs, most developers will jump ship and go other operating system that at least promise to have a longer life.

This aspect should also be considered from the consumer’s perspective. Other than technology enthusiasts who change phones every few months, for most people getting a phone  doesn’t only mean investing in a device for the next 1 to 2 years, but it also means investing in an ecosystem of apps and services, but also their time, getting to know the different aspects and features of a device. When I invest my hard earned cash in apps, services and content I want the peace of mind that it can all be used on my future devices. Buying into a dying ecosystem means that I’ll need to start all over building a new collection of paid apps and getting to know an all new operating system. Buying a Lumia device now (or any other device from the big three) means having a head start and knowing that your investment is safe in the long run.

2.It’s not just about the camera. I consider a phone’s camera an important feature, but it’s not the only important feature and it’s definitely not the only feature people look at. Perhaps in the early years of the smartphone revolution the camera was considered as one of the go-to features for bragging rights, but now it clearly isn’t. When I buy a phone, I do look at the camera function, but fast operation, availability of all the apps I like, plenty of software updates and ease of use are just as important. The Lumia 800, iPhone 4s, the Galaxy S line are all devices with good cameras, obviously not as good as the 808 pureview, yet they are all very popular devices. Why? They are a combination of many good features and not just one extremely good feature. Smartphone nowadays aren’t just people’s camera, but their everything: social media hub, portable office, organizer and entertainment. The 808’s camera is extremely good, but in other aspects it will easily be surpassed by Nokia’s own Lumia line, since a product is as good as it’s weakest link. I consider an outdated UI, lack of popular name brand apps and a dying ecosystem a lot weak links.

Now consider how people use the cameras on their phone: taking snaps of random events throughout the day. In these cases most don’t need DSLR quality images, it just has to be good enough. Judging by the images uploaded by the various devices out there to different social communities, I’d say it’s all good enough and many would agree. Most uploaded images that end up on Twitter or Facebook don’t need to be larger than 800×600. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a tech enthusiast and I welcome any form of advancement in the tech world, but I just don’t think people are going to drop their current favorite devices just to get a good camera on a lackluster device. Why, because they have been doing quite well with the current crop of cameras, even if it isn’t close to the level of quality found on the 808.

3.Microsoft and Nokia blessings. If you do want a Nokia device, why not take a look at the Lumia line? Once I saw the Lumia 900, I was sold, I’m getting one. With the support of both Microsoft and Nokia, you’re certain that’s there going to be great support and features. It’s like not like they have any other option: Microsoft want Windows Phone to succeed and Nokia needs Windows Phone to succeed, since they’re not betting just the farm, but even the farmer’s daughter on Windows phone. Considering the integration with Windows 8 and Xbox, things are going to get interesting with Windows Phone.

4.Pureview coming to Windows Phone. The biggest reason why you shouldn’t get to the 808 is simply because the Pureview technology is coming to Windows Phone. By the time it does, there’s no doubt that we should see improvements that should make it even better. If you look at the 808, one of the first things you’ll notice is big camera module. I’m sure they could have put all of this in the Lumia 900, but that would mean taking away from the beautiful design, which is probably why they decided to use test the technology out in the ugly duckling, untill they can miniaturize for use on the Lumia devices. Nokia mentioned, that one of the most asked question they got at MWC 2012 was: Why didn’t they put the Pureview tech in Windows Phone. This clearly shows that people ideally want Pureview in Windows Phone and not in Symbian.

Are you skipping the 808 Pureview?

Last week I wrote 13 Reasons Why I Love The N8, but hey, it’s not perfect. As I wrote in that post, there is a lot to love about the N8, but if you’re considering of getting one, you should be aware of the less than ideal sides of the N8. These are my personal findings

1.Exposed Camera Lens: This has got to be my biggest issue with the N8. Worth noting is  that the piece of clear plastic you see on the back is not the actual lens, but an added protective clear cover to protect the vulnerable lens behind it. Fact is that light has to reach the lens to capture images and this very same light has to pass through to this clear piece of plastic in front of it. Good image quality is dependent on getting lots of light and therefore a clear and clean cover and lens are key. Problem is that this cover is always exposed. Fingers touch it almost all the time just by holding the N8 and than there’s the dust that constantly collects in this area.

The N8 is a very robust piece of technology with its gorilla glass and metal body, but the exposed clear cover is on the other hand a weak point, requiring me to sometimes baby the N8, always thinking were I put or how I hold it.

The plus side to all  of this is the  that the  camera is available to you, without the need open any lens cover and the fact that the device can be made a lot thinner. The camera is one of the N8’s biggest features, but perhaps also the chink in such a robust armor. Getting it scratched could ruin that top feature of the N8.

2.Screen Auto-lock CAN’T be disabled: Previous Symbian^3 devices allowed you to disable the auto-lock feature, but on Symbian^3/N8 there is simply now way to turn this off. No matter what you do, the N8 is always going to auto-lock it’s screen requiring me to use the lock switch or pressing the menu button and than the “Unlock” button. Imagine having to this several time a day and you’ll quickly see how this gets annoying. There are several  temporary solution to this, like PocketLock.

When I’m sitting at my desk I usually have my N8 near me and every few minutes I like to check my emails or twitter, requiring me to unlock the device each time. This can wear the lock switch out and it can become annoying. The best solution would have been the ability to not lock the screen, until I lock it with the switch. 

3.Nokia Social  is network/SIM card dependent: I bought an unlock N8, meaning I should be able to use it anywhere. Problem is that Nokia Social doesn’t recognize certain smaller local carriers, as a result you simply can’t use it. If I use a Truphone SIM it suddenly works. I’ve written about this issue right here.

4.No Kick-stand: Nokia devices were one of the very first to introduce the kick-stand. Everything from the N96, N900 to the N810 had a kick-stand that allowed me to  hold the device upright to watch a video or simply as clock and twitter. A kickstand shouldn’t add much bulk to thin device, it just requires a piece of thin metal to hold the N8 upright. As a result I have to lay it flat on the desk or hold it in my hands. This could have been also quite handy when connecting it to a TV using HDMI out. I really miss a kick-stand on the N8.

5.Speaker position: The N8 has a loud single speaker, but when you put the N8 on a soft surface like a bed, the speaker is covered and you can barely here something.

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One features that many modern desktops and laptops have, is the ability to do a bit-for-bit factory restore. Basically restoring the machine to the very exact same state it was when it came out of the box with all it’s pre-loaded applications, settings and other customizations through either an included DVD or separate partition on the hard drive. So how does this apply to the mobile space? Let me tell you.

As it currently stands, I’m not aware of any consumer friendly way to restore Nokia’s current Symbian^3 devices to the exact out-of-the box state, without causing any negative effects. The N900 is one exception to this rule, with a procedure that restores it to the exact factory defaults, but this method is exclusively for the N900, which you can find here, but it’s far from the ideal one-click option that I would consider “consumer friendly.” Any mobile enthusiast would agree that a complete factory default is critical feature for these devices: I know many mobile users that like to restore their devices from time to time, clearing out “junk” and bringing back that smooth operation you had when you first got your device. Or maybe you’re selling your device or giving it to family member or friend, having the ability to do restore your device will not only give them that fresh out-of-the box software, but it will remove all private data and those other customizations that isn’t really relevant for them.

Isn’t there anything I can do?

Presently there doesn’t seem to be any way of resetting your device to this factory state, without deleting some very critical files or programs. These are the current options:

1.Three finger salute or “Volume Down” + “Camera Key” + “Menu Key”

Let me start by saying that if you love and enjoy your Symbian^3 device, don’t ever do this as it will restore the N8, but deleting many critical files causing problems with things like OVI store or even Nokia Social. I’ve written about this here. A restore that deletes critical files for normal operation doesn’t isn’t of any use for us, so let’s explore the next option.

2.FOTA

Firmware-Over-The-Air (FOTA) is a handy feature that will upgrade your software to the latest version, but leaves the device untouched when it comes to your applications or personal data.

3.OVI Suite/PC Suite/Nokia Software Updater.

Nokia’s trio of desktop software will update your device to the latest software, but again leaving all software customizations, personal data and applications intact. A few years back I remember that Nokia Software Updater was able to reinstall your software and it even did restore it to the factory defaults, without deleting critical programs or files. Right now you don’t even get the option to reinstall the the software.

4.Phoenix

Some people have been trying their luck with other alternative, such as Phoenix, but reports seem to indicate that this too will reset the device, leaving out many important pre-installed files, again totally missing the mark.

What should be done?

Nokia should leave FOTA as is, a convenient way to update your device while still being able to restore all your files and settings.

As for the desktop front, I think they should reconsider adding the option that allows you to reset your device, to the very EXACT state it was when it came out of the box with all the extras, applications and settings. The user should be able to choose to just install an update, keeping all their files, but there should be an option that restores EVERYTHING. In the case of the N8 owners that have had trouble with their device due to the three finger salute, should be able to use one of these desktop software options to restore all of the missing software. This especially counts for mobile enthusiast that want to experiment with their device, but should have the peace of mind that they will be able to restore their devices when something does go wrong. In the process this should lower the amount of work for Nokia’s own Care Centers. As it stand, there is no way to really reset your device without causing damage and that is one major flaw.

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As a Nokia N8  owner, I can definitely say that one of the added bonuses is the ability to charge via either the microUSB or the Nokia 2mm Charging connector. When comparing the N8 to the newer E7 I noted that the latter lacked this feature, perhaps indicating that Nokia was now  committed to using microUSB exclusively on their newer devices. After using the N8 as my main device, I’m convinced that they should keep both charging standards, especially in their high-end smartphones and these are here’s the reason why.

One charger for both device and accessories

One major difference between Nokia and other manufacturers is that they take accessories very seriously. Just look at the original Nokia accessories being offered for the N8 or E7 and compare this to the original accessories being offered for other devices by their manufacturers  and you’ll quickly  see one major difference: Nokia offers a lot when it comes to accessorizing your device.  Another difference, but one that’s not so obvious, is that most of these Nokia accessories don’t use microUSB, but instead Nokia’s own tried and true 2mm Charging connector. My Nokia BH-905, the BH-214 and even the BH-505 use the 2.0mm charger and not microUSB, probably due to size and space constraints. But the result of all of this is that you’ll probably end up with a microUSB charger for your device and a Nokia 2mm charger for your accessories. Why not have just one charger? With the N8 I can just keep this one charger for both my accessories and my device. Nokia E7 users, sadly, can’t say the same.

2 connectors, more chances of finding the right charger

Despite writing for The Nokia Guide and being a tech enthusiast, I don’t always have some fancy external battery or charger with me. Many times it comes down to ending up with an empty battery and having to borrow a charger from a friend or colleague. Some have USB chargers, while other have Nokia devices with the 2mm charger connector. Point is that having both connectors, increases my chances of being able to find something that will charge my device, enough to make or receive that very important call.

Also consider this, Nokia sold billions of devices and as a result there are millions or billions of these 2mm chargers around. You’ll be surprised at how many places people just happen to have these charger laying around, perfect if you need a quick charge.

I scratched my device with the microUSB!

If you look at the microUSB connector, you’ll notice that it’s quite sharp. I once scratched my N97’s screen when trying to insert the USB connector, my hand slipped and as a result I ended up with one deep giant scratch. I’ve hear similar stories where people with deep scratches on their device, all because microUSB connector. Even now when I’m connecting the USB cable to the N8 I’m very careful not to accidentally scratch the metal body of my trust N8. The same cannot be said about the 2mm connector, which has a rounded edge, making scratching your device almost impossible. It’s also a lot simple simpler: insert and your done. With microUSB I have to look at the connector to see which is the flat side all while being careful not to scratch the N8.

I’m sure many prefer microUSB, but as always having choices is ideal. I’m just happy that the 2mm charger is still around on my N8 and hope that Nokia continues this dual charging method.

Images courtesy: NokiaN8

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You know the drill: getting a new phone usually means getting a matching case and perhaps even a screen protector. The reasons vary, but many times it’s to protect your device, you just want it to look good or perhaps even for resale value when you do decide to sell it. Problem is that I always felt that I had to, but I didn’t want to.

Sure, a screen protector helped in preventing scratches, but makes using the touch screen an  uncomfortable task. It’s simply not as smooth, especially true for multi-touch devices, like the N8. Responsiveness aside,the screen simply doesn’t look as good as without the screen protector on, no matter how much they tell you that there using some amazing “clear screen” technology. For these reasons I always felt like my beautiful screen was stuck behind this piece of plastic that I must use, otherwise I would have to live with scratches or anything daily use throws at my screen.

The same can be said about using a case. It adds bulk and you constantly have to get your device in and out of some of these cases. By the time you’ve managed to get the device out, you’ve probably missed the shot or the phone call. While there are some models that allow you to use the phone with the case on, you still have the added bulk that takes away from the design. Or even worse,  you’re stuck with some hanging flap, like with the N900 and it’s CP-408 case.

So, when I finally decided to get a Blue N8 I realized that didn’t have to get a case or even a screen protector! A device such as the N8, with it’s amazing camera is one of those devices that just begs you to use it without a case, allowing you to instantly capture a spontaneous moment. I was free to use it without needing all of those accessories, finally! With such a beautiful design , who would want to use a case anyway?  But wait, no case?

There are actually two reasons for this added freedom. First of all, it has an Anodized Aluminum body that’s pretty tough and should help against daily use and light scratches as you can see from the video below. The matte finish even helps hiding those finger print. (Nobody has to know that you ‘haven’t wiped your device clean for over a week )

Secondly, the gorilla glass on the screen means no need for screen protectors, which can be difficult to apply and expensive. Even taking a key and trying to scratch it won’t cause any damage, it’s that good!

Many mobile bloggers seem to agree. Take for example Rita El Khoury from Mobile R ’n’ R who says “no case so far”  when it comes to the N8. Mike Macias from Mobile Fanatics hasn’t been using any protection for his N8, but the device still looks good, even after quite a few falls.

I plan on using Nokia’s vary own Blue CC-1005 silicone cover from time to time to add some grip in situation where I know the device has a higher chance of accidentally falling (like hiking in the mountains), but it’s nice to know that I can take the silicon cover of any time (and I will) with the peace of mind that the N8 can withstand A LOT.

Now these added features won’t protect the device from a serious fall or abuse, but it does mean that the N8 is one of those rare devices designed for use in the real world, not just some chrome device that only looks good all polished behind some showcase.

What has been your experience with the N8? Is it really tough for your daily use? Let us know.

Mobile phones

The mobile space has changed a lot. It’s very different from just a few years ago and there is a lot of competition. Strong competition. All good reasons why Nokia fans might be considering other brands  as their main device or as a second phone. Think again. Here are a few reasons why you should reconsider getting another device.

Nokia and it’s devices are very green: Nokia takes the environment very seriously and is considered one of the greenest companies on the planet, even getting Greenpeace’s nod of approval. Talking to many Nokia product managers shows that  environmental considerations play a huge role in every aspect from design, production and even disposal of the devices. A simple look at Nokia products reveals product packaging that seem to be getting smaller, using recycled material, high efficiency chargers and even something as simple as a message on Nokia devices telling you to disconnect your charger from the wall socket to conserve energy. Choosing other brands, many times means choosing products that are perhaps good, but certainly not as serious about the environment.

Who needs an MP3 Player? I’ve been saying it a lot and I’ll say it again: many high-end Nokia, especially from the N- and Xseries, show exemplary audio performance when it comes to the 3.5audio jack. Enough to be on par with or beating the best in dedicated MP3 players. If you have good headphones and high resolution music files, you’ll notice that Nokia devices have a cleaner, neutral output and plenty of juice to power everything but the most high-end earphones, which will require a portable amp. If you are serious about music and audio quality, you aren’t going to get the same kind of performance from those other devices. A good example of this is the N8, a device capable of audiophile performance.

Still the best cameras: Nokia really knows how to make phones and smartphones with good cameras. They even have the smartphone with the best camera in the form of the N8. When it comes to cameras, we’re talking about tons of options, great onboard editing and fast performance. The devices even excel in low-light conditions, that one area where all other brands just flat to the ground. Nokia consistently makes great cameras, not only in the most high-end devices. One of the biggest offender here are BlackBerry devices. Even popular Android devices can’t come close.  While Apple’s can compete, we’re still talking about a devices focused on the upper end of the price class.

Mobile broadband

Built-like a tank: Nokia are built like a tank. I’m sure you’ve heard the stories of Nokias surviving some pretty harsh conditions or severe damage. They even have some skinny tanks like the N8. Many Eseries devices, especially the E71 and E71 are other great examples of devices that look great but are also really durable.

Long Battery life: 1Ghz phones are all the rage these day, but they barely last a day. Many Eseries and Nseries smartphones strike a balance between performance and good battery, it’s all about efficiency. There have been a few exceptions, but generally Nokia devices have a good battery life that should last you an entire day with heavy use. Especially the Eseries are known for their extremely long battery life.

Cutting Edge, useful features: I’ve been considering phones from other brands, among them those based on Android. But it always comes down to some feature I’ve come to rely being missing. Examples of these are FM transmitter, USB On-the-go, TV-out and even something as simple as an FM Player. Nokia has some pretty killer and exclusive features that simply can’t be found on other devices.

Awesome reception and call quality: Reception depends on many factors, but the device itself  plays an important role. Nokia device are famous for their amazing ability to maintain a strong reception, while other smartphones have just a few bars or even no bars. Owning a Nokia sometimes literally means being able to make a call or not. I’ve experienced sitting in a group where only the Nokia devices had reception while others had little or no bars. Just ask the guy with the iPhone.

Have you considered these points when considering a non-Nokia device?

Mobile phone plans

Cheap Calls to Australia

Nokia is known for it’s excellent camera smartphone’s but what many are not aware of is that under the hood, some of these are amazing music devices. We’re not just talking about devices marketed as “Music phones”: edgy look, bundled improved quality headphones (or speakers) and media keys. While some of the Nokia devices do have many of these traits, they’re actually capable of pumping out some seriously good tunes using audiophile grade head/earphones. Perfect examples of these are the N91, N91 8GB, N81, N81 8GB and even the N900.

With the N8 now readily available, we wanted to check out how it truly faired on the music front. Testing the N8 would also give you an idea of what to expect from the C6, C7 and E7 as they all share essentially the same hardware.

When we’re talking about audio quality, we’re not talking about the built-in speaker or the Dolby surround feature using HDMI out. In fact surround sound does not necessarily equal good audio quality, as many would think. In this case it’s purely the stereo output through the built-in 3.5mm headphone jack and doing some serious listening, using some audiophile grade in-ear monitors (IEM) from Shure and 320kbps MP3 and Wav files.

I started the test with Lakmé’s The Flower Duet, testing the N8’s capability to cope with a very dynamic classic. The N8 passed the test with flying colors, faithfully producing The Flower Duet with all it’s dynamic complexity while still being able to drive the Shure earphone without a portable AMP at glass breaking volumes. I was also impressed with the amount of detailed produced during the low-volume parts of this piece. Older Nokia’s were plagued with lack of ample audio headroom, but the N8 is another those devices can go loud, and I do mean loud.

I played a bit with the equalizer, but felt that using the default setting, the N8’s output was good enough to get the most out quality headphones without the need for further adjustments.

I continued the test with Cirque du Soleil’s Ibis at max volume to see how it would perform with a more dramatic and energetic piece. The deep tones at the beginning of the sound were nicely produced with the N8 and Shure combo and all the string instruments at ending stood as the combo revealed some impressive details. The N8 was definitely capable of driving earphones without the need of an external AMP, impressive!

The music player benefits great from the N8’s speed and graphics processing power to quickly and naturally zip through the tracks with the added visuals of the album art displayed at 60 frames-per-second, but definitely missing is a search feature to quickly get to a specific feature. The N8 a powerful graphics system, so where are the visualization effects?

Alphavile’s Forever Young played with authority and the dramatic echo was now clearly heard adding a dramatic effect, something that  would barely be audible using a lesser combo. Adam Lambert’s Whataya want from me sounded a bit harsh at higher volumes, bit faired excellent at up to 95% of the volume, the N8 reached it’s limit driving the Shures, indicating that some songs would actually benefit from an external AMP. The N8 was still impressive, on par with the best out there, but a notch below the golden standard: The Nokia N91.

Lastly we tested the N8’s ability to drive the Shures using base-only THX’s World’s Deepest Bass! The Shure went deeep without any problems or serious flaws, again showing the N8’s audio prowess, even when it comes to low-pitched audio frequencies.

Conclusions

The N8 joins other impressive Nseries devices capable of some serious audio performance. This also gives us an idea of what to expect from other devices like the C6, C7 and E7 as they all share the same hardware. The N8 is capable of driving even high-end earphones at high volumes levels, while still producing the most detailed and complex parts. In some cases ( and those cases were rare) I would still recommend an external portable AMP, but I admit that were talking about $500+ earphones in those specific cases. The UI is simple yet beautiful and greatly benefits from the added speed and graphic hardware-acceleration. A big negative is the lack of search feature, although the speed at which you move through tracks is remarkable. Also where are the visualization effects? The N8 could easily be used as a dedicated music player and even audiophiles should be happy. It is however a step below the N91.

Find out more about the Nokia N8 phone online with Dial A Phone where they have a great blog which reports all of the latest news in the mobile phone world.

In a previous post I talked about how the N900 combined speed, eye candy and impressive multi-tasking with “just” a 600Mhz CPU, impressive considering current trends marching beyond the 1Ghz CPU mark.

The same can be said about Nokia’s latest wave of (Symbian) devices. Symbian, known for running acceptably on very low-clocked hardware, still continues this  tradition but with the addition of a new element: Speed! While 512Mb of RAM combined with a 1Ghz CPU are fairly typical Android specs, the N8 for example, is fast with “just” 256MB of RAM and a 680Mhz CPU. Using the final hardware (and software) of the Nokia N8, I was amazed at how fast it worked: applications opened in the blink of an eye yet it could maintain this speed with several application open. Even animation remained smooth and I could zoom into those 12 Megapixels images without it even breaking a sweat. I was impressed. All of this with just 256 MB of RAM on a 680MHZ CPU?

The lower clocked CPU even as an added plus. The Nokia N8 is one of few modern smartphones that can last an entire day with heavy (or even a bit more if you’re careful). All of this applies to other devices from the current “wave” like C7 and E7 as they all essentially have the same internals. Finally we can forget about that device with the N, the 9 and the 7.

Are you happy with the performance of the current wave of Nokia’s Symbian devices?

Are you on the look-out for a new handset? Check out the best mobiles phones on offer at www.phones4u.co.uk.

A quick search on various online stores reveals something interesting about the Nokia N8’s availability: both Blue and Orange are either not in stock, backordered or not even shown. Everything from Amazon, to JR, Plemix, MobileCityOnline don’t seem to have the Blue or Orange N8. Only regional sites of Nokia.com like NokiaUSA.com are showing these color, although we’re not sure that they actually have these colors in stock.

Is Nokia making these colors an exclusive for Nokia.com? Are these two colors more popular? We doubt it. A poll on Nokia Conversations, indicated that Dark Grey and Silver White are the most popular color, so we’re not sure what’s going on.

Where did you buy your Orange or Blue N8?