Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Hands-On – First ImpressionsIn this article we would like to cover some elementary facts of the device, which is widely discussed in the most tech-forums. Our site also witnessed the intense interest of the users in this handset. So, let’s briefly get acquainted with Nokia 5800 and become convinced of its positioning.Recalling rumours of the past years, we can easily find that moment, when we learnt about a S60-based touchscreen smartphone from Nokia for the first time, thanks to the systematic news leak set in more than 18 months ago. Of course, the community besides this scant information has some facts to think about: the lacks of the protective glass in the N93 and N95, higher visualization of the interface with some duplicates on the screen and active work of some manufacturers in the communicator niche. Last year, as you remember, brought about Nokia’s new successful strategy launching a new functional solution, which was to be developed and subdivided into several new devices with different functions. At the same time they have been developing another new project, TACO, with was initially bounded with Symbian 9.5. And all things would normally have developed, unless the other manufacturers were stirred up by the new wave of touchscreen devices with minimum navigational keys to the users’ joy. At first the market was worked up by Apple, than followed the similar solutions from Samsung, LG and HTC. The latter gained the opportunity to introduce their communicators in the new niche bringing into play Touch subbrand. The active work of the rivals, as well as the market proved to be unready to such a revolution of the user interface, was far from the ideal one forecasted by Nokia. The established product line also rejected a new device with the touchscreen. In this situation the quick market analysis could lead to the introduction of the N95-2 with a touchscreen or S60 Touch, however, the company hasn’t reconsidered its plans due to which, we get the most correct result among all possible. Positioning  Well, let’s discuss the way of positioning Nokia 5800 XM and why it is important for Nokia. To find the answers we should recall the rumours about the 5710 in the last autumn, which hasn’t still appeared on the market because of some reasons. And this very reason is our guest caused this heated discussion, as the positioning and sale rate of the 5700 turned to be successful among those users, who are eager to buy the S60-based smartphone not only because of the installed programs and various functions, but the name “smartphone”. As the complaints about new implementation of S60 were guaranteed, the company had no much choice for the targeted audience, which static perception made the company sacrifice of Xpress Media subbrand for the old music line presented by successful 5310&5610. These facts, de jure, position the new device as the reliable aimed at providing for a comfortable work with the multimedia functions. The same aim was successfully carried out by the predecessor, the 5700. Considering this fact, we can understand why the 5800 Xpres Music is positioned in the youth segment; the announced price ˆ279 is not a trifle at all. The handset is designed to compete with IPod Touch, rather than Apple IPhone. It does seem like a revolution, in result of which the mobile phones from subsidizing our common players move to the PMP. When we realize this fact, we can understand why the 5800 has this set of functions. Among the possible rivals we can mention Acros 500 series devices and that IPod Touch. We will discuss once again the add slogans and peculiarities frequently used by Nokia, but now let’s frequently cast a glance at the device itself, as today we intend to share our first impressions. The detailed review of the device will be later published on our site. Furnishing, Casing, Controlling A brief survey of Nokia Way left in the memory contradictory impressions caused both by the noisy atmosphere and dim light and overall stir of the colleagues. Now, when the 5800 XM calmly lies near me, it is much easy to describe the impression from the casing, as well as the classic design is much more convenient for detailed scrutinizing. The smartphone Nokia 5800 Xpress Music is a common candy-bar device measuring 110.7 x 51.8 x 16.2mm, which size can be compared with that of N81 and N72. Though the feedback from using the smartphone is quite different from the abovementioned handsets in spite of a small slant in the bottom part and enough glassy panels. But the jetting out frame of the front panel changes the impression from the phone to the better. Nokia 5800 appears to be similar to a handy bar of plastic having a think frame on the front panel, while the glassy plastic on the front and on the sides combined with the matt rear cover give the ground to compare the device with the N73.  The dimensions are not uncomfortably large, however, in comparison with the HTC Touch Diamond our guest is enormous, though the latest candy-bar smartphones from Nokia proves the axiom, that everything is relative. While we have already mentioned N82 and N78, we should say a high building quality featuring no spaces and cuts in the casing.   As to the control elements we should mention three thin buttons placed in the lower part of the front panel, which provides handy clics. But the lack of soft keys and affirmative keys may reduce many fans of the S60-smartphones from the targeted audience.   The other control elements are concentrated on the right side of the casing including a large volume rocker key, as well as the handy slider blocking screen and camera. Here we can see a handy shutter release camera key. The top end of the handset features a tight power key.   By the way, the manufacturer concentrated above all communicational jacks, while the bottom end has only a pin hole and a deep cut for nails designed to simplify the process of removing the rear cover.   The cover is also has to be mentioned due some interesting features, which include a metal frame of the 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, which can be compared with the N78. To cap it all, there is a big hollow between the cover and the battery compartment. Those users, who are familiar with the acoustics will understand the unreasonable increase of the thickness, as the volume provides for the playing back the distinct lower frequencies. The latter do exist here and can be compared with broadband small speakers for PC and laptops.   To remove the cover you’d better pull out the stylus from the silo, which is fixed by the plastic larch near the camera. The stylus is a peculiar chip having the same style as that in Sony Ericsson W960i. After removing it, we need to pull the cover back applying some efforts, till it dashes out. And of course, don’t forget to look at the splendid tracery on the back fascia of the battery cover.    Under the cover you find a new model of 1320 mAh BL-5J battery. This Li-Ion battery is more compact then BP-4L, while their capacities differ on less than 20%. The battery life from one charge will be discussed in the next review, and now we can say it lasts 1.5-2 days with 30 minutes of talking and 3 hours of music playing.   The battery hides a peculiar SIM-card slot, which is, in fact, a through hole in the motherboard allowing to pull out the card inserted in the cut on the left side. This cut is covered with an irremovable plug similar to that placed nearby and covering the microSDHC memory card slot.   Screen Nokia 5800 XM utilizes one of the most perfect screens from the company. Some users may don’t pay much attention to the TFT matrix capable up to 16.7 M colours, while 3.2-inch display with 640x360 resolution is worth attention. Thus considering 38.7 x 69.5 mm dimensions of the screen we can calculate a 0.1 grain, which, of course, isn’t the most perfect sharpness, but it is enough to enjoy the photographic sharpness of the picture. Just think it over, the refinement of a still done with 5800 is 254 dots per inch, while the acceptable norm for printing starts from 300 dots per inch. Besides, the utilized screen can boast about perfect colour rendering with deep black and rather good white details. The minimal brightness level is enough for reading in the darkness, while when on the maximal brightness, the handset can perfectly serve as a torch.   As to the resistive touchscreen, its glassy active film and its convenience, we can say the following. The sensor cover has no glass surface layer, thus the engineers made the necessary form of the sensor part without any efforts, as well as added some active part under the front camera. This space calls up the active panel of the main functions of the smartphone. The screen is notable not only for the resistibility that allows use any things as a stylus and at any weather, but also for a comfortable taps. A common touch doesn’t lead to any result, but when lightly pressing the screen makes the sensors work. With the stylus the screen provides the same comfort work and we can’t reproach the 5800 with the flow inherent in many WM-communicators. Hardware and Software Despite all rumours and guesses Nokia 5800 Xpress Music is based on the standard company solution with an integrated BB and 369 mHz Application processor ARM1. The RAM hasn’t been changed, though the 128MB installed module gives to the user only 60 MB at disposal. The manufacturer had no problems with the user data, as it provides him/her with 80 MB space at the C disk for the main information and software. Music, video and other programs are to be stored at the available 8 GB microSDHC Class 4, the same as in the N85. Here we should mention the steady connection to the PC via USB 2.0 High Speed, allowing to fill the memory card from the sales pack at 15 minutes non-stop thanks to the speed reaching 6 MB/s.   But these details seem to be not so important, as it is the 5800 XM that is to be the first model utilizing S60 5th Edition based on Symbian 9.4, though many expected it would make use of OS 9.5.   Giving the aim of our today’s review, we are not going to describe you in detail, as we didn’t have enough time to study it, that’s way we offer you a number of screenshots highlighting the changes of the new way of information input.                   By the way, as to the input, our sample has a new firmware 10.0.004 dated October 16, 2008. The most stable and compatible work is provided by the virtual letter-numerical keypad in the main phone format, while the full-screen QWERTY is handy only when working with main application, for example, messages or notes. To call up a keypad you need to meet one condition, you should have a text field where you can fix a cursor by two taps. The tapping in the small fields has to be done, of course, with a stylus. The drawback we have already mentioned in the review Nokia Way 2008.       Pleasant Experience The first pleasant moment from working with the 5800 is its absolutely compatible with the themes for QVGA-screen. If you have some vector themes in store, you’d better choose them, as the high resolution of the screen allows to forget about inclined line in the form of stairsteps. As to the programs, the things are not so good, to be precise, all you collections of SISX-files should be checked for the new certificates, as even when rejecting this checkup, they have to be checked up for the minimal date between software and firmware. And all your tricks to avoid it by switching to 2007 and others are futile. To break the protection is beyond the question, at least now. Among those programs, which can be installed in the phone, the highest functionality is achieved with those, which have no their own interface and work with Java-midlet. Otherwise the programs need the softkeys, which the handset lacks.         At this very moment we’d like to stop the description of the 5800, as it has lots of controversy features and peculiarities, which should be discussed after the detailed scrutinizing. We hope, that after reading this article, you will have the first impression from the 5800 XM similar to the position, which Nokia plans to promote it from in December, which doesn’t provide for any connection with IPhone and other handsets like Samsung F480, HTC Touch Diamond and others. Therefore they are to bet on music, video, perfect screen, which we will place for your consideration before long. © Written by Tikhonov Valeriy, Mobiset.ru Translated by Arina Urban. Published — 2 November 2008. |
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