MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that...

How Wireless Will Pave the Path to Neobank Profitability

I'm delighted to bring you an opinion...

An end of an era: Vodafone UK turns off 3G services

I thought it was worthwhile highlighting this...

Whatley Wednesday – Nokia’s Latest “Music” Phone

Nokia’s Latest ‘Music Phone’ The N81 8GB.

27112007050

First off can I state, for the record, that I tried.
I tried and I tried and I tried.
I really did!

Whenever I get a new handset I am aware there’s that ‘bedding in’ period of a couple of days where you have to get used to the nuances in the UI and re-learn the layout of the buttons etc… (you can stop grinning now you there at the back with the iPhone) …so please believe me when I say I was chuffed to bits when I got an email from those lovely people (and friends of SMSText News) over at Nokia WOMWorld asking me if I’d like to Trial their latest music device – the Nokia N81 8GB.

My response? YES PLEASE!
Always happy to try out the latest handsets – they’ve sent me a couple before and irrespective of whether I liked the phone or not – it’s always been nice just having a play, y’know?

So, before I rant, here’s the good stuff:

The slider mechanism is the nicest to date. Every hand I’ve put it in has resulted in a ‘Ooooo… that’s nice’.
Taking photos is now easier. Simply hold down the ‘Shoot’ button to boot the cam and you’re away, (a’la the newer N95 models).
And that… is… Oop no – sorry – it’s got a really nice screen too. Yeah, that too.
Ok – that’s it.

Now for the bad stuff:

A complete lack of joined up thinking through the entire design of the handset.
Yes it’s a phone. Yes it does all the things a phone should do but it’s the little things that get me.

For instance:

The ‘c’ button is right next to the ‘play/pause’ music button. AARGH! Sorry. I say ‘right next to’ I mean ‘may as well be the same button’.
That’s right – a negative button right next to a positive button. By pushing the button that I want to stop doing something I accidentally push the button that starts doing something.
In this instance Kate Nash starts blaring out at me whenever I try and correct a misspelt SMS!

That ONE thing frustrated me SO much that within a week I went back to my N95. For the record you have NO IDEA how hard it was to not go back after day one. “No” I told myself “You must TRY and use it properly” –
(so good luck to Ewan on his ‘Normob Challenge’, I know I couldn’t do it)

There are a couple of other things that annoyed me – the overall ‘feel’ of the handset is a bit too plastic-like for my tastes. It’s like one of those dummy models you might find on the shelf of your local P4U.
The keylock system has changed. The N81 now features a ‘flick’ switch on the top that locks and unlocks with a quick flick. Which is fine up until it gets stuck in the flicked position where upon the phone continuously locks and unlocks until you un-jam the button.

*sigh*

Don’t get me wrong – Operators/Nokia will probably sell a bunch of them this Christmas as the cheaper alternative to the iPhone. What with it having an 8GB internal memory and being about £200 cheaper on an a similar contract. Yeah, why not?
It’s EVEN got the ipod-esque ‘Navi-Wheel’ – but even that has managed to become an annoyance…

(WHY have something as a USP on a handset and not even have it switched on out of the box?! YES. That’s right. You have to go in to your phone’s settings and manually switch the Navi-Wheel to ‘ON’ to actually get it to work)

The whole phone feels completely rushed and not thought through at all.
When shopping for a new phone this Christmas by all means have a look at the N81 and have a play too.. but I personally would not recommend it.

You (and Nokia) can do a whole lot better.

3 COMMENTS

  1. nice review 🙂 i recently played with one in an electronics store, and i thought the plastic-y feel was not too bad.. for me, the feel was just belonging to the design of the whole thing (meaning: some will like it, and some probably don’t, but it’s not per definition bad). also, another important point for the positive side would be the excellent audio quality, which by far exceeds the one of lets say an ordinary N95-X (i have that from other revives – not tested myself). however, for a “music” phone, i also would much prefer to have more easily accessible music control buttons, and not just buttons that easily can be missed, or not even be found in the first place.. *g* cheers

  2. Our Company is Registerd and Legitimate With a Work Force of
    Over 150 Staffs and 70 R & D Research Engineers that always
    make sure that all products are delivered in good condition.
    We supply all kinds of mobile phones and electronics and We
    are using this medium to look for buyers, we are offering
    Very low discounts with low shipment fee, Our product are
    imported from Finland,Hungary and Singapore; they are
    factory sealed with original packets with complete
    accessory, e.g. charger, extra battery and software c d. The
    phones are simfree and it’s never lock to any network,
    specification: (europeans/usa-specifications) general
    network gsm 900/gsm 1800/gsm 1900 platform – tri band
    (gsm900 + 1800 + 1900 MHz: country of manufactured origin:
    Finland,Hungary and Singapore.
    Contact this E-mail address for bookings/Inquiries…: .
    smtcommunicative@doramail.coM]
    smtcommunicative@myway.com

    Price catelog:
    APPLE IPHONES:
    Apple iPhone 16gb……€300euro
    Apple iPhone 8gb…….€280 euro
    Apple iPhone 4gb…….$200usd

    Nokia n96 16gb…… €250 euro
    Nokia 8800………. €200 euro
    Nokia N70………. €160 euro
    Nokia N71………. €165 euro
    Nokia N90……….. €200 euro
    Nokia N91……….. €210 euro
    Nokia N92……….. €220 euro
    Nokia E90……….. 200 euro
    Nokia E70………… €220 euro
    Nokia E60………… €200 euro
    Nokia E61…………. €200 euro
    Nokia N95………… €170 euro
    Nokia N95 8GB…….€200 euro
    Nokia N93……….. €180 euro
    Nokia N76 ………..€250 euro
    Nokia N75……….. €240 euro
    Nokia 8800 SIROCCO……..€240 euro
    Nokia N80…………………. €200 euro
    Nokia N78………………€300 euro
    NOKIA N81 8GB………….€300 euro
    Nokia 8800 sirocco……..€240 euro
    Nokia Aeon…………… €700 euro
    Noeman GSM………….. €500 euro
    NOKIA E65………………€300 euro

    Motorola Razor v3x……..€145 euro
    Motorola V3i………….. ..€140 euro
    Motorola A1010……….. €110 euro
    Motorola A1000……….. €100 euro
    Motorola Rock1……….. €120 euro
    Motorola W220…………. €160 euro
    Motorola Q for Verizon….. €200 euro
    Motorola Mpx 220……….. €122 euro
    Motorola Mpx 300……….. €130 euroLG MOBILE PHONES

    LG CHOCOLATE :…….€230 euro
    Pink and White Chocolate LG ………….€200 euro
    LG PRADA:…………€240 euroNextel i930……….. €120 euro
    Nextel i870………… €110 euro
    Nextel i860…………. €100 euro
    Samsung D880………….. €280 euro
    Nextel i850…………. €90 euro
    Palm Treo 650…………. €140 euro

    Samsung j700…………… €200 euro
    Samsung E800………… €125 euro
    Samsung u700…………. €250 euro
    Samsung E250……………€280 euro
    Samsung SGH-G800………..€300 euro
    SAMSUNG SGH-E950…………€350 euro

    o2 xDA Exec …….. €280 euro
    02 XDA Atom …….. €260 euro
    02 XDA NEO …….. €265 euro
    02 XDA mini S ……. €270 euro
    02 XDA II mini …… €200 euro
    02 XDA IIi ……… €180 euro
    02 XDA IIs ……… €185 euro
    O2 X2i ……… €120 euro
    02 X4 ……… €130 euro
    02 ……… €120 euro
    02 x7 ………. €140 euroQtek S200 €180 euro
    Qtek 8300 €125 euro
    Qtek 8310 €135 euro
    Qtek 8500 €145 euro
    Qtek 8600 €200 euro
    Qtek 9600 €240 euroBlackberry 8800 €220 euro

    Sony ericsson P910i €150 euro
    Sony Ericsson P900 €140 euro
    Sony Ericsson P1000 €154 euro
    Sony Ericsson W600i €170 euro
    Ericson W960i 8gb €250 euro

    I-Mate JAM………….. €180
    I-Mate JAMin …………..€200
    I-Mate JASJAR Quadband …………..€300 euro
    I-Mate K-Jam QuadBand………….. €200 euro
    I-Mate Smartflip QB…………… €200 euro
    I-Mate SP5 €140 euroTomTom Mobile 5 …………..€220 euro
    TomTom GO GPS Car Navigation System €280 euro
    TomTom Navigator 5 Bluetooth GPS …………..€270 euro
    TomTom Mobile GPS for Smartphones …………..€260 euroAPPLE IPHONE 4GB:€110 euro

    APPLE IPHONE 8GB:…………..€150 euro
    APPLE IPHONE 16GB:…………..€180 euro
    APPLE IPHONE 3G 16GB:…………..€250 euro
    APPLE IPHONE 3G 8GB:…………..€200 euroApple Ipod 60Gb video…… €120 euro
    Apple Ipod 30Gb video…… €100 euro
    Apple Ipod nano 4Gb…….. €70 euroSIDEKICK 2…… €120 euro
    SIDEKICK 3…… €150 euroSony PSP Giga Pack ………….€80 euro
    Sony PSP Value Pack…………€90 euro
    Nintendo wii Console………..€150 euro
    Xbox 360 Platinum System ……€170 euro
    Microsoft Xbox 360 Core System. €175 euro
    Playstation 2……………….€110 euro
    Playstation 3 (20 GB)……….€ 200 euro
    Playstation 3 (60 GB)……….€220 euro
    Playstation 3 (120 GB)………..€280 euroLAPTOPS:
    Toshiba Satellite 2.2GHz w/DVD/CDRW Laptop
    Computer:€550usd
    Toshiba Qosmio G25-AV513 Laptop:…………..€700 euro
    Toshiba Satellite 2.0GHz Pentium M Laptop
    Computer:€650 euroSony VAIO N110W 1.86GHz Core Solo Laptop:…………..€550 euro
    Sony VAIO VGN-N220E/W Notebook:…………..€450 euro
    Sony VAIO VGN-FJ290L1B Notebook:…………..€500 euro
    Sony VAIO VGN-FS875P/H Notebook:…………..€500 euro
    Sony VAIO VGN-C140G/B Notebook:…………..€750 euro
    Sony VAIO UX180P Micro PC:€700 euro
    VAIO BX540 PM 780 2.26G 1GB SYST100GB DVDRW 14.1-SXGA
    XB EDGE XPP:…………..€800 euro
    Dent Dell C840 2.0GHz P4 Laptop Computer: €450 euro
    Acer Aspire 2.0GHz Turion 64 Laptop Computer:…………..€600
    euroTELEVISION
    Panasonic TH-42PD50U Television…..€600 euro
    Panasonic TH-42PX50U Television…..€1000 euro
    Panasonic TH-50PX50U Television……€1500 euro
    Panasonic TH-42PWD6UY Television….€500 euro
    Panasonic TH-42PD25U/P Television…€400 euro
    Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK Television…€450 euro
    Panasonic TH-65PHD7UY Television….€2500 euro
    Pioneer PDP-5050HD Television…….€1000 euro
    Panasonic TH-37PX50U Television…..€500 euro
    Panasonic TH-42PX500U Television….€800 euroSony KLV-32M1 Television…………€400 euro
    Sony PFM-42V1/S Television……….€500 euro
    Sony KDE-61XBR950 Television……..€500 euro
    Sony KDE-42XBR950 Television……..€1000 euro
    Sony PFM-42X1/S Television……….€500 euro
    Sony KDE-42XS955 Television………€550 euro
    Sony FWD-50PX1/S Television………€1200 euroSamsung HP-R4252 Television………€500 euro
    Samsung LN-R328W – LCD TV – 32……€500 euro
    Samsung LN-R408D – LCD TV – 40……€800 euro
    Samsung LTM 225W – LCD TV – 22……€500 euro
    Samsung PPM63H3-plasma panel 63…..€2000 euro
    Samsung HP-P5071 50-inch 1366X768 HD Plasma TV Ref…..€800 euro
    Samsung HPP5031 – plasma panel – 50.€1000 euroPioneer PDP-5050HD Television…….€1000 euro
    Sharp 32″ Aquos HD-Ready LCD TV…. €500 euro.
    Sharp AQUOS LC-52D62U 52″ LCD HDTV-€500euro
    Samsung LN-S3251D 32″ LCD HDTV –€400 euro
    Canon PIXMA MP600 All-In-One Inkjet Printer–€600 euro
    Sony BraviaKDL-40V250040″LCDHDTV–€500euro
    Vizio L37 37″ LCD HDTV —€450 euro

    If you wish for any product not listed here please email us
    the product Brand Name and Model and we will source it from
    our warehouse Our product are brand new, you can book your
    order at our Sales Manager Company Email Below…
    SMTCOMMUNICATIVE@DORALMAIL.COM
    SMTCOMMUNICATIVE@MYWAY.COM

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recently Published

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that next to nothing from Mobile World Congress would break through into the mainstream media. I was right,...

How Wireless Will Pave the Path to Neobank Profitability

I'm delighted to bring you an opinion piece from Rafa Plantier at Gigs.com. I think it's particularly relevant given the recent eSIM news from...

An end of an era: Vodafone UK turns off 3G services

I thought it was worthwhile highlighting this one from the Vodafone UK team. For so long - for what feels like years, seeing the...

Mobile World Congress: Did the mainstream media notice?

I resolved this year to make sure I wrote something - anything - about Mobile World Congress, the huge mobile industry trade show taking...

NordVPN: Thanks again, Revolut

When I upgraded to Revolut's Ultra offering, I did so with a strong focus on the Financial Times digital subscription which normally retails at...

Revolut’s Roaming eSIM: 1 week later

This week I have been using Revolut's new eSIM capability whilst I was in Sweden for Stockholm FinTech Week. I'm an Ultra subscriber so...