Analyzed: Nokia 808 PureView

Well, the diesel lens equipped Nokia 808 PureView is finally here in India and we gave it the beans to see if the hype was really worth it. In not so many words, we are on the fence. While there some features that we absolutely love, some aspects of the phone left us a little sore. The best feature of the phone is what you see in all commercials, the camera. You can take incredibly detailed photos from near and afar, and the image is still crystal clear upon zoom. While the sensor has a 41MP resolution, the maximum resolution for still images is 38MP in 4:3 mode and 34MP in 16:9 mode. Where the 41MP lens comes in is to ensure images still remain clear upon closer review. Think of it as a 41MP image compressed into an 38MP one (about 11MB per picture). Videos captured using the 1080P capable lens are also phenomenal and are among the best we have seen.

Another feature which we haven't seen being promoted is the sound. With Dolby surround sound from the built in speakers (and its dual microphone), it is the best we have heard in a long time... even from the  Beats audio equipped HTC One X. Try it with a pair of decent headphones and you will really enjoy any videos on the 4 inch display. Speaking of, here are some of the specs:

1. 4" display at a resolution of 640 x 360 pixels
2. 1.3GHz single core ARM processor
3. 512MB RAM
4. 16GB storage expandable to 48GB via microSD
5. 41MP rear camera with Carl Zeiss lens and Xenon flash
6. 640 x 480 pixels front facing camera
7. 1080P capable video recording at 30 frames per second
8. Operating system: Symbian Belle
9. Weight: 169g
10. Battery capacity: 1400mAh

Unfortunately for the PureView, the good aspects have already been covered. The list of negatives definitely outweigh the positives. Let's take a look at some of them shall we. First the weight... we carry Samsung Galaxy Notes and it isn't exactly light. When we first held the PureView, our thought was, "Wow this is heavy!" And it isn't evenly distributed. Granted the camera and lens are very powerful, but that's where most of the weight is. It just doesn't feel right. And it will not feel comfortable in your pocket either. The display resolution could have also used some work. Videos look good but not as good as they can be. It is surprising Nokia went all out with the camera only to equip the phone with a mediocre display. What good is a camera if the photos you take don't look their best?

The story goes on... Nokia just announced a long term deal to switch away from their in-house Symbian operating system to Windows Mobile. We wish the PureView had made the switch before being released into the wild. The Symbian Belle operating system really detracts from the overall experience of the phone. And now that you know support for Symbian will end at some point, one has to consider if it is really worth spending all that cash on a soon to be obscure product. Silver lining here though, Nokia is planning on equipping its Lumia line of phones with the sensor used in the PureView. The battery life is decent and should net you about 6 hours with moderate to heavy use but if you start using the camera with the flash on that time will reduce drastically. Not so good if you are about to drop about $600 on a phone.

In closing, it looks to us that the Nokia 808 PureView is more of a test in the market to see how it would react to some of Nokia's cutting edge technology so that it can be included in their mainstream offerings. Yes the phone could possibly replace your point and shoot camera with the lens and settings at your display but you'll have to be prepared to put up with a less than desirable operating system. What we would like to see if the next generation of Lumia phones equipped with Windows Mobile AND the kick ass sensor in the PureView.

Our Rating: 

The Nokia 808 PureView is currently on sale in India for Rs. 33,300 (~$600).

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Analyzed: Nokia N8

Before the newest crop of smartphones hit the market this year, the Nokia N8 was considered among the top of the line models. Its shot at fame was all due to the 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics. It also came in an affordable package which drew a lot of customers towards it. It may have been overtaken by Nokia's own Lumia series at this time, but we decided to take a look at the N8 any way. Before we get going, here are some of the specifications:

1. 3.5" display at a resolution of 640 x 360 pixels
2. 680MHz ARM 11 single core processor
3. 256MB RAM
4. 16GB storage expandable to 48GB via microSD
5. Dedicated camera button
6. HDMI port
7. 12MP rear camera with Carl Zeiss, Tessar lens with 2x digital zoom
8. VGA front facing camera
9. 720P HD video recording at 25 frames per second with 3x digital zoom
10. Operating System: Symbian^3
11. Weight: 135g
12. Battery capacity: 1200mAh

So it's not exactly quick compared to similarly optioned phones. You will notice significant lag even while trying to do the most mundane of tasks on the N8. Considering how quick the phones in the market are these days, it really feels like you could be doing something more worthwhile with your time. In the looks department, the N8 scores well. It is very similar to the Lumia series that Nokia has introduced. You also get a dedicated camera button to showcase the 12MP camera. Once again, we just wish it were a lot quicker than it is. Taking a quick photo isn't possible. It will take you at least 7 seconds to start up the camera and take your first shot. And that doesn't take into account the recovery time after snapping a picture before you can take the next one. Take away the speed factor, and the pictures are quite crisp and detailed. But compare it to the new camera in the Samsung Galaxy S III or the HTC One X, despite having a lower resolution, the images are clearer and colors more vibrant in the Samsung and HTC. Battery life is also lacking and we were barely able to get 6 hours on a complete charge with heavy use.

Symbian is an operating system that is definitely not for everyone. It lacks the flair and look of the iOS or Android operating systems. And it also loses out in the quickness factor. With Nokia marketing their newer phones with Windows Mobile, one has to wonder how much longer Symbian will be around. Yes you do have app support with Nokia store, but it isn't enough to keep up with the big guns. There are other Nokia phones we would rather have than this one, at the same price point.

Our Rating: 

The Nokia N8 is currently on sale in India for about Rs. 19,000 (~$380).

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Analyzed: Nokia X7

Granted this isn't a new phone, but the Nokia X7 is still being sold in the Indian marketplace. To be honest we are surprised it is still on the market especially considering the current crop of smartphones on sale. We figured its unconventional yet functional design warranted a review just the same. The X7 is packed with high end features and runs on Symbian Anna.

From a looks perspective, the chassis has a rather pleasing design, with angled corners which house speakers in the sides (only on 2 sides though). The Nokia X7 feels solid and looks... well... different, with a metal backplate that also gives it a rugged feel. It looks like it can withstand the occasional drop and some tough use. Despite all this, the X7 is a little on the heavier side compared the similarly equipped smartphones, but we doubt you'll be able to tell the difference. Here is a look at some of the main features of the X7:

1. 4" display at a resolution of 640 x 360 pixels
2. 256MB RAM
3. 8GB storage expandable to 32GB via microSD
4. 8MP rear camera with 2 x digital zoom and dual LED flash (no front facing camera)
5. 720P HD video recording at 30 frames per second
6. Operating system: Symbian Anna
7. Weight: 146g
8. Battery capacity: 1320mAh

Using the phone might take a little getting used to especially if you haven't used a Nokia before. The touchscreen interface is a little slow to respond to the touch and scrolling is a little laggy as well. We must say though, we enjoyed watching videos on this display though... the color contrasts were pretty good and pixelation was at a minimum.With the 8MP camera on board, the Nokia joins like the likes of Samsung and HTC. Also included is 720p video recording, and a good double LED flash that sheds more light than usual on indoor scenes. You get an Instagram like image editing software on board that you can use to play with your photos after you've taken them. Nokia says the battery will provide 6.5 hours of GSM talktime, 4.5 on 3G, 6 hours of video playback and 50 hours of music playback if you are offline. You also get several apps pre-installed and can download other from the Nokia store.

Overall, this is a well packaged phone with a lot of usable features, but considering the newer models out in the market (including Nokia's own Lumia series), it is definitely dated. Now the question is, with Nokia's new found love with Windows Mobile and Microsoft, how much longer will we see them on the shelves!

Our Rating: 

The Nokia X7 is still on sale in India for around Rs. 20,000 (~$400).

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Analyzed: Nokia Asha 303

Lately, Nokia has been undergoing a complete revamp in its quest for sustainability and profitability. It has been cutting its losses and has teamed up with Microsoft for its flagship model the Lumia. But the top of charts isn't the only place Nokia has been working on. They have been busy at the bottom of the ladder as well and have been pushing the Nokia Asha 303 hard, especially in the Indian market. We tested the Asha and must say, we were pleasantly surprised.

With the Asha 303 you get all the features of a higher end smartphone like a touchscreen display, expandable memory card slot, HD camera (for still images and video recording) and a 1GHz processor for a fraction of the price. It feels ergonomically designed and is comfortable to hold for extended periods of time. Good thing it comes with a decent battery that will last over 9 hours on a single charge (with heavy usage). You also get a QWERTY keyboard which is very handy considering the size of the display. In that aspect, it kind of reminds you of the Blackberrys. It is no powerhouse by any means, but it has more than enough to get the job done. It also uses Nokia's own operating system and as a result you won't have the same number of apps as an Apple or Android product, but the Nokia store (it's called Ovi) has enough to keep you coming back. Here is a look at some of the specs on the Asha 303:

1. 2.6" LCD touchscreen at a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels
2. 1GHz single core processor
3. 128MB RAM
4. 100MB built in storage expandable to 32GB via microSD card
5. Nokia S40 Asha operating system
6. 3.2MP camera with 4x digital zoom
7. Weight: 99g
8. Battery capacity: 1300mAh

Now despite having a 3.2MP camera, honestly we expected the images to be a little more crisp than they are. We had the camera resolution at the highest setting and still felt the images were blurry. Surprisingly videos looked a little better even though they are shot at 640 x 480 pixels at 15 frames per second. Still, considering the price, the Nokia Asha 303 feels like a well thought out and packaged device.

Our Rating: 

The Asha 303 is currently on sale in India for around Rs. 7,900 (~$155).

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Analyzed: Nokia Lumia 710

Well well well. What have we here? We're looking at the Nokia Lumia 710 which by the way happens to be a direct competitor to the Samsung Omnia W that we tested earlier. Both phones are virtually identical when it comes to their specs and price for that matter. We'll do a comparison between the two in a separate article but for now let's keep our attention on Nokia's entry level smartphone.

It's not a particularly good looking phone this, sure you have a gorilla glass covered display but the Nokia didn't feel entirely comfortable when we held it in our palm. Some parts felt quite rubbery to be honest. The buttons at the bottom also felt like raised pieces of soft plastic as opposed to being part of the touchscreen. You also get a dedicated camera button on the side of the phone but unfortunately you will use a lot of your strength and patience just trying to take a simple picture (more on this later). On the technical front, the phone is equipped as follows:

1. Single core Qualcomm 1.4GHz processor
2. 3.7" display at a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels
3. 512MB RAM
4. 8GB storage (which cannot be expanded)
5. 5MP rear camera with 4 x digital zoom and LED flash (with no front facing camera)
6. 720P HD video recording at 30 frames per second
7. Battery capacity: 1300mAh
8. Weight: 125.5g

As you can see from the specs, it is very well equipped for an entry level phone. These features seem to be standard these as seen in the Nokia and the HTC One V or the Samsung Omnia W. Sadly though, in the Nokia's case, even the base features weren't quite up to far. Take for instance the camera. The auto focus feature on the camera is absolutely horrible. Trying to get it to work especially using that dedicated camera button will test your patience. You have to hold down the camera button using the right amount of pressure or it will just end up taking an out of focus shot. The recovery time after each shot is measured in seconds as opposed to milliseconds. Another miss. 

Compare the Lumia 710 to the Lumia 800 and you can instantly tell the difference in speed while trying to scroll through apps or doing normal tasks like browsing the web or watching a video. While the display was bright, it suffered from heavy pixelation as was noticed while we played the HD version trailer of The Avengers. It took away the effects of the film. Not cool at all. The sound was fairly decent but it kind of defeats the purpose if you can't make out the video! You do get fairly average mids and highs which will be appreciated when listening to music. We thought there might be a silver lining to all this with the battery, but we were sorely disappointed. We couldn't even manage to get 6 hours out of a full charge while using the phone heavily (gaming, videos, music, browsing, document editing). In case you haven't noticed yet, the phone just felt sub-par. Considering how good the Lumia 800 is, we couldn't help but wonder if Nokia spent all their time developing the higher models than their entry model.

Our Rating: 

The Nokia Lumia 710 is currently on sale in India for Rs. 15,300 (~$306) at Nokia stores.

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First Intel and now Nokia. In India and Russia first. A 41MP camera in your smartphone.

That's right folks. It looks like the East is becoming the new test bed for the tech giants in the West. First, Intel announced they would be getting into the smartphone game by introducing its chip in the Xolo X900. Following Intel's move, one of the stars of the 2012 Mobile World Conference, the Nokia 808 PureView that is equipped with a mindblowing 41 megapixel camera sensor with Nokia Pureview Pro imaging technology and Carl Zeiss optics is going to be introduced in Russia and India (before the rest of the world) this month. 

Along with that crazy 41MP camera, you can look forward to 16GB built in memory expandable to 32 or 48GB, 4" display at a resolution of 640 x 360 pixels, gorilla glass touchscreen interface, Nokia's Symbian Belle operating system, HD video recording at 30 frames per second, 4x digital zoom, xenon flash and a dedicated graphics processor with a 3D image engine that will surely come in handy for those handheld games that are all the rage these days.

Pricing and the exact launch dates have not been announced yet but we will be on the look out for when they do. Stay tuned!

Update: Here is some additional information on the camera from Nokia's press release. "The Nokia 808 PureView features a large, high-resolution 41 megapixel sensor with high-performance Carl Zeiss optics and new pixel oversampling technology. At standard resolutions (2/3, 5 and 8 megapixels) this means the ability to zoom without loss of clarity and capture seven pixels of information, condensing into one pixel for the sharpest images imaginable. At high-resolution (38 megapixels maximum) it means the ability to capture an image, then zoom, reframe, crop and resize afterwards to expose previously unseen levels of details. With superior low-light performance and the ability to save in compact file sizes for sharing in email, MMS, and on social networks, the Nokia 808 PureView makes it possible for anyone to capture professional looking images in any conditions."

Click here for the complete press release.

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What's next for the Angry Birds?

If you own a smartphone, doesn't matter what kind, you have heard of Angry Birds. The game is available across all market places, the makers have collaborated with movie producers, they were named the #1 developer of 2012, they got their logo on the helmet of a Formula 1 driver and Angry Birds is the most downloaded/famous app right now. So what's next for this crack team from Finland? An animated series of course! You heard that right. Angry Birds is to be turned into an animated series, game designers Rovio have confirmed. The successful smartphone app will be made into 52 short episodes that will be released on "all possible platforms". The company first revealed it was working on a series of short videos last October. The animated series is expected to be released this Fall. A film version of the game also in the works, first announced in 2011, will not be released until at least 2015.

Rovio, the maker of the Angry Birds franchise, which is based in Finland, bought an animation studio based in Helsinki last year to work on projects outside gaming. Angry Birds has now been downloaded more than 700 million times across all platforms and its latest game, Angry Birds Space, is number one in nearly 100 app stores across the world.

Which version are you currently playing?

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Analyzed: Nokia Lumia 800

We were a little skeptical when this phone came out. Nokia seemed to be lost as to the direction it should be heading in, but we know now that we were plain wrong. Everyone always talks about the Android Market or the App Store but it looks like there is a legitimate contender in the Windows Phone marketplace. We take a look at Nokia's new offering, the Lumia 800 and the Windows Mobile platform (code name Mango).

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