Barring the obvious differences in picture quality (which also make clear the advantages of a dSLR working in good natural lighting), aren’t the similarities between the Nokia N96 and the N81 8GB as apparent?

Much better pics and a review to follow, in that order. For now, here’s another pic for your satisfaction:

Let’s hope the N96 isn’t as slow as its older counterpart. Dun dun dunnnn!!

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I’ve shared some info on the naming convention used by Sony Ericsson. Again, I turn to Wikipedia, which has a very detailed article on how Nokia names its phones.

For those who’ve been under a rock for the past 10 years, the top cell phone manufacturer in the world usually uses four digits to designate its models, reserving the special “N” and “E” prefixed for some of its most versatile and capable products.

1. 1000 “Ultrabasic” – The cheapest (or “affordable” as marketing peeps would say) phones offered by Nokia. My experience has been that these phones usually only do calls and SMS, but do them pretty well. The lack of high-end features also means that 1000 series phones are usually the most responsive.
2. 2000 “Basic” – Also cheap, but carry some extra features like Bluetooth. Some “higher-end” variants even have cameras built-in.
3. 3000 “Expression” – Another creative way of saying “cheap”. More recent (as of 2008) 3000 models are borderline mid-range, color-screen gadgets that are capable of taking pictures, playing music, and even connecting to a PC.
4. 4000 – For some reason Nokia hasn’t named any phones 4xxx (as far as I know). Maybe the Finnish company could start doing so once they use up the other 8000+ digits?
5. 5000 “Active” – A fitting series name, especially when you look at models like the relatively old 5500 (a ruggedized product meant for jogging), the 5300, 5700, 5310, and 5610 (all music-oriented phones).
6. 6000 “Classic Business” – Here’s where Nokia starts blurring the lines. Granted, the 6500 Slide is pretty mid-range, perhaps even high-end. But that’s not the case with the decidedly entry-level 6030. The confusion is probably due to the so many Nokia phones out there starting with a 6.
7. 7000 “Experimental” – Very descriptive of the series, since the first S60 smartphone, the 7650, falls under here. You’ve also got aesthetic experiments like the Prisms. And who can forget the 7110, with the roller and snappy keypad revelation?
8. 8000 “Premium” – To be honest, the only experience I have with these series is that phone from the first Matrix. I did witness a friend confidently take his phone out, and press the button to release the cover, only to have it fly off! Lol.
9. 9000 “Communicator” – Every geek knows this as the predecessor to Nokia’s current E series (see below). First models of this series even ran on GEOS, not Symbian, while latter ones worked on the defunct Series 80.
10. E-Series – The “E” stands for Enterprise. This series is literally all about business, usually featuring phones with minimalyst styling, comprehensive feature set, and best of all, responsiveness. I fell in love with the E51, E61, and E6i1 for these very reasons, and I’m totally excited about the upcoming E71.
11. N-Series – I’m less ambivalent about the N-Series, and it’s not only because of the high-end prices. I totally understand Nokia’s push to cram everything imaginable into a phone, but does it have to come at a cost to responsiveness, battery life, and many others? A few models have won me over though, especially the N82.

Yes, just like with Sony Ericsson, there’s a lot behind the name of Nokia phones. By the way, I didn’t cover the Mobira series, which existed during Nokia’s infancy on the mobile market, and the failed N-Gage dedicated gaming phones; check out the source for more details.

Source, image from newlaunches.com.

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There’s a leak on the new Nokia E66 slider mobile phone (successor to Nokia E65) . It’s been given the codename “Liam,” but the “E” name will be stamped approved by the time it launches in Q2 2008. Its got wifi, GPS, 3.2 Megapixel camera, quadband, MicroSD space till 8GB and bluetooth with a 320 x 320 display. So now you’ve got another Nokia with GPS enabled, besides the Nokia N82, Nokia N95 and Nokia 6110

Update: Bummer. The display should read 2.4 inch 240×320.

via

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Looks like this is one of the best announcements from the CES 2008. Sony Ericsson finally releases a Walkman phone with tri-band HSDPA for those who want to move away from Nokia phones. The Sony Ericsson W760 will even have integrated GPS, to fight for market share with the Nokia N95 8GB and Nokia N82 perhaps? Colorwis, I like the yellow/black combo.

Other great specs include 3.2MP camera, Shake control, 2.2 inch glorious screen, twin speakers with Stereo Widening plus, SensMe and widescreen gameplay. Dimensions of the Sony Ericsson W760 mobile are 103 x 48 x 15 mm and it weighs in at 103 grams. Its open for orders in Q2 2008.

via Sony Ericsson W760 with HSDPA, GPS

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At first sight, the leaked Nokia N96 looks like a bigger version of the Nokia N81 8GB, with the same slider design and rounded keys. There’s not much specs to go around but it said to feature the S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2, 5 MP Carl Zeiss lens with a dual LED flash for brighter pictures. So keep ya wallets for the new Nokia N96 and feedback touch-screen Nokias. Don’t let my Nokia N95 or it will throw a fit.

More pics on the Nokia N96 here

via

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Looks like Nokia has released a new Nokia 20.0.015 firmware version for the Nokia N95 phone. Its supposed to cure the slow response of shot to shot times and finally a long press on the camera button brings up it up. I will be upgrading it when I reach home later to see if this update is as good as it seems. Here’s more info on the new firmware upgrade below :

via

It’s Out! Version 20.0.015 firmware for the Nokia N95 classic is now available via Nokia Software Update. This includes demand paging (!), so 30MB plus free RAM after booting, faster operation, N-Gage game store previews and portal stub, new camera software, integrated Search, new Welcome apps and more.

* New Welcome application

* New camera software and tweaks from the 8GB model – FAR faster shot to shot time, with ‘Processing image message’ during any delays. I suspect the image processing algorithms have changed too, to remove some of the remaining artificial edge enhancement in the v12 firmware.

* Long press on camera button launches camera if shutter is open

* New My Nokia SMS tips and mobile web portal system

* Demand paging (for ROM applications) with 30 plus MB free RAM after booting.

* Search 4.0 integration on standby screen.

* Old multimedia menu still there, i.e. it’s not the new style

* N-Gage game previews (FIFA, Asphalt) and portal/shortcut to upcoming N-Gage client, as in N81 and N95 8GB

* Nokia Music Store client, although the store server hasn’t been updated to handle the N95 yet – maybe this’ll happen later today

* Keypress bug gone(!), I think

* Music player has a new visualisation and also remembers where you got to in a podcast, so you can pick it up again later on

* No auto-screen rotation, looks like I was wrong predicting this, so we need Samir’s RotateMe after all – someone please help him get this signed ASAP!

* Assorted other minor tweaks, along the same lines as the N95 8GB, with video ringtones and theme animations

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Nokia launched N81 8GB and N82 just not long ago, but yet there is already an argument around my friends on which is better. Well, both phones looks sexy, though it is again the standard Nokia candybar/slider “Shape” But you may spot the difference of two phones pretty easily, by comparing the technical specification.

The N81 8GB is marketed as a music + gaming phone, with a built-in 8GB internal memory. Its on the same family range as the N91 8GB & N95 8GB to give you more space to store your songs and pictures. To extend Nokia’s plan in entering the game market, N81 8GB has dedicated control keys for playing games (just like N-Gage) so gamers could find handling it easily.

To me, the Nokia N82 caters more for the mobile traveler who requires not just entertainment but also the ease of accessing information too. Instead of having just 8GB internal memory, the Finnish phone maker decided to have expandable micro-SD Card to ease business travelers who might frequently need to exchange information or keep documents. The downside for this phone is that the internal memory of 100MB might not enable us to install much applications.

In conclusion, the N81 8GB will be better for one who requires only “light” business applications but a heavier “fun” factor. The lack of GPS, Xenon Flash & HSDPA on this N81 8GB also makes this phone a less mobile internet phone.

I was told sometime ago that the Nokia N82 supports VoIP, where you could configure this phone to be a part of your corporate voice network, but I have no idea how it work just yet.

Source:
Nokia N81 8GB
Nokia N82

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Below : The Nokia Insider S60 Meet starts around 715pm

Below : The Nokia Insider S60 Meet starts. The slide show goes on. Reaching the future with the S60

Below : Mr. Mahmood Kalantar from Nokia APAC Singapore explains what S60 is all about.

Below : Thanks to David from the Nokia PR for the good food and invite.

Below : My entourage for the evening. Robin, Nixon, my wife and me

Below : David showing how to activate 3G on the Nokia N95. I should kick myself for not knowing that. Suanie looks on…

Below : Suanie the famous blogger who was featured in the Star paper back in 2005 and me.

Below : Paul Tan the famous blogger and me.

Below : Hazel from Nokia pulls out all the S60 devices and crowd goes crazy

Below : Nixon and Robin looks at the S60 devices

Below : I am holding the Nokia N82. Wow. It was lauched in Finland about an hour ago.

Below : The excellent Nokia N82 up close

Below : The excellent Nokia N82 up close with my face again

Below : The Music Store shows up on the Nokia N82

Below : The Nokia N82 main screen

Below : The whole S60 family on the table.

Below : The whole Nokia N series family on the table.

Below : The new Nokia N series kids. N82, N81 and the N73

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Nokia N81 is slow source

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I have uploaded my pictures for the event here as my friend Robin took a lot (Part 2) too that day. You may also want to see Part 1 of the Nokia N81 and N95 8GB Kuala Lumpur launch.

I had the chance to play around the N81 and N95 8GB and these are great phones. Too bad I won’t be able to buy the N95 8GB since its a costly RM2999. Stocks should be out in Malaysian stores around mid November. The roadshow in 1 Utama will last until Sunday as they are pitting 4 contestants in a contest to the end to win a N95 8GB.

Nokia N81 and N95 8GB Kuala Lumpur launch Part 1 video

See below for all the other videos and pictures for the Nokia launch. It took me more than 4 hours to upload all of them to Revver and Divshare.

Nokia N81 and N95 8GB Kuala Lumpur launch Part 2 video

Nokia N81 and N95 8GB Kuala Lumpur launch Part 3 video – Ovi

Nokia N81 and N95 8GB Kuala Lumpur launch Part 4 video

Nokia N81 and N95 8GB Kuala Lumpur launch Part 5 video – Girl talk

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