Even with the recent news of newer firmware being released later this year, it is wise that I not consider a third N97. After some thought, I actually decided to go for the E72 when that supposedly arrives in the late third quarter. A part of me is attracted to having all of that internal storage for media content, but I honestly don't really use it for more than just playing back music. Watching videos is rare for me and handling documents and occasional pictures is nothing that a few GBs on one card can't handle. Once I stop justifying the need 32GB, the N97 still remains a most challenging model for me in regards to its qwerty and touch interface.
Truthfully, I am turned off by the fact that the interface does not replicate the iPhone or HTC TouchFLO 3D. I find those two versions to be the absolute best for me in regards to quick and easy navigation through icons and menus. The touch S60 5th edition feels too basic and clunky, and I don't think that any sort of kinetic scrolling or other upgrade would appease me. I believe that S60 is made perfectly for non-touchscreen, and I am more than willing to revisit the ESeries line on those terms. The E71 still remains to be my most favored device from Nokia even after the announcement of the N900 and XSeries models, and the E72 may be in the cards for me...but I shall speak more on this later.
Samsung's TouchWiz UI and S60 5th edition with capacitive screen is not really much better than N97's resistive input since I had a chance to play with a friend's Omnia HD. Even with capacitive touch, I still found S60 5th edition to be cumbersome to work with. The lack of a hardware qwerty really turned me off as well and in one case made the situation much worse: the ENTIRE screen being dominated by the virtual qwerty and its touch commands, leaving only a small rectangular (CLAUSTROPHOBIC) space for entering text. The Samsung widget features only made the phone confusing and took away from the any kind of professional, business-like feel for the OS appearance. Granted, the Omnia HD is not marketed as a business device, but it would have been nice to not have to deal with a UI that seemed to be made for grade school kids with its hyper-bright widget coloring and youthful graphics. In a matter of minutes, I was so turned off by the touchscreen only variant of S60 5th edition that I immediately gave back the Omnia HD to my friend and gladly returned to using my TP2. The upcoming Samsung Omnia Pro seems to be a good candidate to complement my HTC, but its lack of 3G, TouchWiz UI, and potentially-subpar qwerty offer no reassurance to switch. Much like the old HTC Touch Pro, opening the device to landscape only reveals a set of icons instead of the normal interface desktop. Once again, HTC has done a stellar job at masking Windows Mobile and making it more user-friendly, but Samsung may have much to learn with the Omnia Pro if it still plans to use TouchWiz on it.
The Touch Pro 2 is a marvel in its own right, but it is mainly due to the ingenuity of HTC's TouchFLO 3D. The other night I decided to turn off TouchFLO 3D and try out the default Windows Mobile OS. OH MY GOD! I would almost prefer the N97 interface over using Windows Mobile in default mode again! HTC did an amazing job in covering up the complexities of Windows Mobile with TouchFLO 3D, and it looks/feels professional, vibrant and beautiful at the same time (without trying too hard). HTC single-handedly made Windows Mobile accessible to me in a way that rivaled the iPhone and NON-touchscreen S60 OS, and I will always remain a big fan. One caveat of my TP2 is the lack of AT&T 3G, and I certainly feel the pain in using data services over EDGE and not having Mac tethering capabilities. The dropping of calls in my house is still a nuisance, but one that is easily overcome by the benefits of TouchFLO 3D, a spacious touchscreen, adequate stereo speakers, and a PERFECT hardware qwerty! After finding the SportyPal application to take the place of Nokia Sports Tracker, I have finally come to a point where I can truly live without Nokia ESeries...if I wanted to.
Android, Maemo and WebOS all seem to have much potential, but I doubt they can meet the challenge of becoming integrated into my daily routine without too many compromises. I love to use my mobile device as an office processor/multimedia viewer/PDA/GPS tracker/suitable camera/Mac tether/Mac syncer, and Nokia S60 and Windows Mobile have been the ONLY versions so far that have been able to step up the plate and hit homeruns! Windows Mobile only recently joined the ranks of Nokia S60 due to the SportyPal application being so comparable to the Nokia Sports Tracker. Whether these new OS models have what it takes remains to be seen, but there is also a necessary balance that must be obtained between the hardware and software. In regards to hardware, none of the devices for either Android, Maemo, or WebOS grabbed my attention in even the slightest bit. Well, I was mildly intrigued by the N900, but was all! Even if the hardware of an OS other than S60 or Windows Mobile catches my interest, the software would have to meet my demanding routine. So far, I haven't seen anything succeed at doing just that.
Speaking of the N900, there was one aspect mentioned by a colleague that I didn't realize: the screen orientation being practically locked in landscape mode when the phone app is not in use. This could really place a damper on versatility for daily use if one must require the use of both hands for most tasks. Now that I think of it, that could have been an unbeknownst factor in why I had sold my N810 tablet years ago. Yes, the lack of support for AT&T 3G is yet another concern to consider. Anssi's mentioning of that device eventually being upstaged by a more robust Nokia OS version in the coming future does potentially add some complication. Some customers may go for the N900 while others choose to wait until the next OS announcement. Other than that, I really can't think of any other potential caveats besides the usual concern for app compatibility. Understandably, if this is meant to primarily be a tablet that just happens to have phone capability, there is definitely a chance of the smartphone side of the N900 feeling like a second thought. As much as I would like to try out a new OS, I refuse to become a Maemo guinea pig and be left hanging without app support for functions such as Mac syncing, word processing and GPS tracking. I hate to say this, but Maemo really doesn't seem to look that much different from S60 5th edition. Further opinions shall be reserved until the reviews start coming in, and I may most likely request a review unit from WomWorld Nokia.
With all of that said, the E72 seems to be the next natural move for me. I certainly favor the form factor and talents of my TP2, but every now and then I also crave the ease-of-use of the qwerty bar form factor. While I may despise Nokia S60 for touch, it is still quite handy in non-touch environments. Not to mention that ESeries devices always happen to display amazing craftsmanship with metallic housings and solid mechanisms; a contrast to the plastics of the NSeries devices. Certain newer features of the E72 also peak my interest as well, and I am glad to at least see support for the 1900 3G band. It may not officially handle the AT&T 3G bands of both 850 and 1900 at the same time, but having at least 1900 in my area still grants me access to 3G! This kind of access to faster data services could possibly place the E72 in a preferred placement over my current Touch Pro 2, but I will have to wait and see. I really have no initial worries about the E72 since I have already grown familiar with the E71, and returning to non-touch may have its initial benefits for my daily use.
Another alternative could be the Tilt 2, AT&T's version of the Touch Pro 2. That would solve the 3G access issue, but could involve more issues in regards to installed carrier ROMs packed with unnecessary games and apps. Being subjected to such bloatware and a possible chance of losing smartphone flexibility in installing apps is not acceptable. While a minor inconvenience at the most, the rearranging of the qwerty keys takes away from a layout that had absolutely nothing wrong with it! I could live with the Tilt 2 if I had to, but fortunately I can exercise my freedom of choice and go with the E72 as a backup to the Touch Pro 2.
TRENT
Sent from my HTC Touch Pro 2
TRENT SENSE blogger/netcast host
trentsense.com
youtube.com/absolon3
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Nokia World webcast impressions
I just finished watching a live online presentation from Nokia World in Stuttgart, Germany, and it is half past 4 in the morning right now. As tempting as it is to fall asleep, I feel the need to say a few things about what I had witnessed. Despite my initial feelings of the event, I was at least glad to have a great time chatting with my fellow gadget brother from the West coast of the US as the "excitement" unfolded.
Honestly, I left the online event feeling validated in my preconceived notion of Nokia's lack of potential in keeping my interest as a customer. I found a link to the live webcast from an Italian blogsite and arrived in the midst of a lengthy introduction from the President and CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. By no means did he garner any kind of intrigue or captivation from me as an audience member, for it seemed like he was only biding his time with useless rhetoric. As Mr. Kallasvuo continued to speak, the only things that entered my mind were a constant need to fight nodding, the words "blah, blah, blah," and the man's slight resemblance to Arnold Schwarzenegger (which somehow spawned a plethora of action film flashbacks). There was no excitement in the air and the audience silence possibly resulted more from boredom than anticipation. I could have been doing something else (like sleeping), but I fought the urge to log off my Mac and really wanted to believe that something worth waiting for was yet to come. After he was finally finished, Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's Executive Vice President of Markets, took to the stage.
He was no better than his predecessor as he attempted to appease the crowd with empty jokes that lacked any real sense of humor. What registered to me as being off-base was how he firmly pointed his index finger in response to music piracy and said, "Don't do that!" Wow! There's nothing like a slight dose of an authoritative father figure to have an illegal media downloader shaking in his boots! Yes, the action was certainly in jest, but nonetheless utterly corny and unnecessary. When he announced the N97 Mini with such excitement, one would think Mr. Vanjoki had been the one to actually create the device from scratch from his own inventive mind. It was as if he expected the audience to somehow react with a sort of fanfare that could only be matched by an Apple Keynote with Steve Jobs. I could not help but laugh aloud when his N97 Mini unveiling was met with a brief silence from what seemed to be applause hesitation. Spy shots of this device had already been circulating online articles and blogs, so it was definitely nothing new...NEXT!! I distinctly remember him making the statement of how Nokia was going on the attack and taking the offensive position. I chuckled.
If anything, Nokia could be making a sad attempt at spreading itself across too many platforms in the mobile industry and the writing may be on the wall. It's one thing to complete a few duties in an average manner, but something else to focus on one or two things and be the master. The company may have its hands in too many cookie jars in regards to software services and hardware solutions. Either way, I only know that the newly unveiled devices of the X6, X3, Booklet 3G, and N900 don't do much to impress me. The XSeries models seem like a wannabe iPhone/iPod Touch paired with a music service that cannot compete with iTunes and the Booklet seems a waste amidst computer manufacturers saturating the netbook market. However, the N900 is another story all in its own right.
When it was announced that a Maemo OS qwerty slider could possibly take the place of the lackluster N97, there seemed to be much promise. Unfortunately, all of that went out the window with a few words from the same man who announced the N97 Mini. According to Anssi Vanjoki's statement, Nokia was undergoing a major overhaul to its OS for upcoming devices that was occurring in five gradual steps. The N900 with Maemo was the fourth step in this process. I don't know about anybody else's reaction, but my online chat friend immediately had the same as my own: utter shock. While it may be exciting to know of an upcoming OS platform, he basically said that the N900 was just another rebound device before the next big thing. While this is true of ANY device that is created due to inevitable upgrading, it is not normal for a company to polarize its customer base in such a manner. Immediately, there could be those who want the N900 while others have justification to wait for the next OS transition of Symbian or Maemo or whatever else Nokia has up its sleeve. I seriously wonder if he had meant to mention this fifth step during his presentation. Even if the N900 has a chance, there is still the issue of Maemo compatibility with the extensive S60 3rd party app library. Things could be relatively painless if Maemo becomes more popular amongst end users.
Anyway, I am still not entirely convinced that Nokia can fully come back from the travesty that was the N97. Since then it has turned me off to S60 5th edition OS and rendered S60 3rd edition obsolete in my mind. As time continues on, we shall see if there can be successful avoidance of the troubles that eventually hit Palm. In the meantime, I will be moving on with my HTC Touch Pro 2.
TRENT
Sent from my HTC Touch Pro 2
TRENT SENSE blogger/netcast host
trentsense.com
youtube.com/absolon3
Honestly, I left the online event feeling validated in my preconceived notion of Nokia's lack of potential in keeping my interest as a customer. I found a link to the live webcast from an Italian blogsite and arrived in the midst of a lengthy introduction from the President and CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. By no means did he garner any kind of intrigue or captivation from me as an audience member, for it seemed like he was only biding his time with useless rhetoric. As Mr. Kallasvuo continued to speak, the only things that entered my mind were a constant need to fight nodding, the words "blah, blah, blah," and the man's slight resemblance to Arnold Schwarzenegger (which somehow spawned a plethora of action film flashbacks). There was no excitement in the air and the audience silence possibly resulted more from boredom than anticipation. I could have been doing something else (like sleeping), but I fought the urge to log off my Mac and really wanted to believe that something worth waiting for was yet to come. After he was finally finished, Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's Executive Vice President of Markets, took to the stage.
He was no better than his predecessor as he attempted to appease the crowd with empty jokes that lacked any real sense of humor. What registered to me as being off-base was how he firmly pointed his index finger in response to music piracy and said, "Don't do that!" Wow! There's nothing like a slight dose of an authoritative father figure to have an illegal media downloader shaking in his boots! Yes, the action was certainly in jest, but nonetheless utterly corny and unnecessary. When he announced the N97 Mini with such excitement, one would think Mr. Vanjoki had been the one to actually create the device from scratch from his own inventive mind. It was as if he expected the audience to somehow react with a sort of fanfare that could only be matched by an Apple Keynote with Steve Jobs. I could not help but laugh aloud when his N97 Mini unveiling was met with a brief silence from what seemed to be applause hesitation. Spy shots of this device had already been circulating online articles and blogs, so it was definitely nothing new...NEXT!! I distinctly remember him making the statement of how Nokia was going on the attack and taking the offensive position. I chuckled.
If anything, Nokia could be making a sad attempt at spreading itself across too many platforms in the mobile industry and the writing may be on the wall. It's one thing to complete a few duties in an average manner, but something else to focus on one or two things and be the master. The company may have its hands in too many cookie jars in regards to software services and hardware solutions. Either way, I only know that the newly unveiled devices of the X6, X3, Booklet 3G, and N900 don't do much to impress me. The XSeries models seem like a wannabe iPhone/iPod Touch paired with a music service that cannot compete with iTunes and the Booklet seems a waste amidst computer manufacturers saturating the netbook market. However, the N900 is another story all in its own right.
When it was announced that a Maemo OS qwerty slider could possibly take the place of the lackluster N97, there seemed to be much promise. Unfortunately, all of that went out the window with a few words from the same man who announced the N97 Mini. According to Anssi Vanjoki's statement, Nokia was undergoing a major overhaul to its OS for upcoming devices that was occurring in five gradual steps. The N900 with Maemo was the fourth step in this process. I don't know about anybody else's reaction, but my online chat friend immediately had the same as my own: utter shock. While it may be exciting to know of an upcoming OS platform, he basically said that the N900 was just another rebound device before the next big thing. While this is true of ANY device that is created due to inevitable upgrading, it is not normal for a company to polarize its customer base in such a manner. Immediately, there could be those who want the N900 while others have justification to wait for the next OS transition of Symbian or Maemo or whatever else Nokia has up its sleeve. I seriously wonder if he had meant to mention this fifth step during his presentation. Even if the N900 has a chance, there is still the issue of Maemo compatibility with the extensive S60 3rd party app library. Things could be relatively painless if Maemo becomes more popular amongst end users.
Anyway, I am still not entirely convinced that Nokia can fully come back from the travesty that was the N97. Since then it has turned me off to S60 5th edition OS and rendered S60 3rd edition obsolete in my mind. As time continues on, we shall see if there can be successful avoidance of the troubles that eventually hit Palm. In the meantime, I will be moving on with my HTC Touch Pro 2.
TRENT
Sent from my HTC Touch Pro 2
TRENT SENSE blogger/netcast host
trentsense.com
youtube.com/absolon3
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