Nokia: Touch interface in presentation don’t point to new product
Sure, we try to front as world-weary cynics, but when we pinged our folks at Nokia for a statement on that suspiciously-awesome slide about a previously unseen touchscreen interface and device concept, we were totally hoping for a “oh, our bad, that’s a real phone and it’s awesome and it’s being released in the States tomorrow.” Naturally, that was not the case. Here’s what Nokia had to say on the matter:
“The story you sent over was from a non-public presentation that discussed some UI enhancements – NOT a new product. The form factor shown was a generic form factor and not meant to showcase a new device / product.”
So, yeah. They’re not really going to fess up to a lot here, but if we were to read between the lines we’d say these “UI enhancements” are much more likely to get real and official someday than whatever vaguely-hinted-at device was shown off beneath them. Maybe. Reading in further, we’d say it’s a little odd that Nokia’s demonstrating to investors its “best in class touch” capabilities by using a mockup interface on top of a mockup device, but perhaps that’s why we were never so good with “the monies.”
Josh’s Verdict: Yeah right, Nokia. Shut Up, you used to be a Wood-Pulp Mill.
New to Josh’s Blog? Make sure you follow my RSS feed so you don’t miss anymore great stuff!
Possible image of next-generation Nokia touchscreen handset revealed
Just days after Nokia dropped a touchscreen bomb and revealed it upcoming flagship N97 handset, we may already be getting a first look at Nokia’s next order of touchscreen business – maybe. The above image is reportedly a marketing slide from Nokia Capital Markets Day in Brooklyn yesterday. It allegedly depicts an upcoming touchscreen-only handset with a UI that looks absolutely nothing like S60 and gesture support complex enough to warrant a notation beside the mock ups. We’re skeptical at best, but we do know that the Finns have some big plans for touchscreen devices in 2009 so it certainly is plausible. If this is in fact a handset we can look forward to in 2009, Nokia apparently has finally recognized Apple as a major competitor and given the mobile industry up-and-comer the best form of flattery. If not, meh, it was fun while it lasted. Read
Josh’s Verdict: Looks too good to be a fake, and that weather User Interface reminds me of HTC’s all too successful TouchFLO 3D Interface. Nice phone in that picture too, reminds me of a HTC Max 4G with that huge screen? We’ll see. I don’t even think the sales of Nokia’s XpressMusic 5800 are doing that well… that iPhone copy..
New to Josh’s Blog? Make sure you follow my RSS feed so you don’t miss anymore great stuff!
Nokia unveils flagship N97 phone
Details are in, Nokia has a new flagship phone. The N97 packs a 3.5-inch, 640 x 360 pixel (that’s a 16:9 aspect ratio) touchscreen display with tactile feedback and QWERTY keyboard into this sliding communicator with an “always open” window to favorite internet or social networking sites. Nokia calls it the “world’s most advanced mobile computer.” To back up the claim they’ve dropped in HSDPA, WiFi, and Bluetooth radios, A-GPS, a 3.5-mm headjack, 32GB of onboard memory with microSD expansion (for up to 48GB total capacity), and a battery capable of up to 1.5 days of continuous audio playback or 4.5-hours video. 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss glass and “DVD quality” video capture at 30fps, too. The specs are certainly impressive, let’s see if the S60 5th Edition OS can support it. The N97 will launch with a retail price set at around €550 ($693) excluding subsidies and taxes, phone to ship in H1 2009.
Josh’s Verdict: Oh yes, another iPhone competitor, just like the Nokia XpressMusic 5800. But seriously, this looks a lot better and much more promising then the 5800. We’ll see.
New to Josh’s Blog? Make sure you follow my RSS feed so you don’t miss anymore great stuff!
Nokia N85 now available at Amazon for $556 unlocked
No matter how accustomed we should be by now, it’s always jarring to see one of the Nokia N-series phones drop at some outlandish unsubsidized price — if you think the $556 tag on this N85 is hefty, keep in mind that Amazon is claiming that’s already been steeply discounted from an atmospheric $1,200 “list price.” While the phone is available to “buy” right this second at Amazon.com, there’s a 3 to 5 week ship time quoted, so there’s no telling if this’ll be the first spot to nab the hotly-anticipated, N96-besting AMOLED handset in the States — though it might be the first to take your hard earned cash for such a purpose. Read
New to Josh’s Blog? Make sure you follow my RSS feed so you don’t miss anymore great stuff!
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic launch dubbed ‘stunning success;’ 120 Russians can’t be wrong
New to Josh’s Blog? Make sure you follow my RSS feed so you don’t miss anymore great stuff!
Nokia’s 5800 XpressMusic goes on sale
If you’ve been gritting your teeth and letting the PR onslaught of the iPhone 3G, Storm, and G1 knock you around as you waited for Nokia’s entry into the widescreen, touchscreen superphone market — that wait appears to be nearing it’s end. Nokia has gone and gotten all official and release-y with it’s anticipated (if somewhat disappointing) 5800 XpressMusic… or as we know it, the Tube. According to the company’s PR, the device “is now, or will be soon” available in Russia, Spain, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Finland, “among others.” If you’ll recall, the phone boasts a 3.2-inch, 16:9 resistive touchscreen (hey, they throw in a guitar pick stylus), a 3.2-megapixel camera, 8GB of on-board storage, and the constant assurance that you’re using a phone once called the Tube. No word on price or plans, but we expect cheap, and lots. Read
New to Josh’s Blog? Make sure you follow my RSS feed so you don’t miss anymore great stuff!
