Nintendo's response: While the PSP GO!'s drywall penetration is clearly superior vs the DSi's particle board penetration, we here at Nintendo are happy with the wallet penetration the entire DS line holds. #nintendodsshotthroughwall
Well, here is my take. From the title, I expected this to be the biggest fail phone ever.
But, it doesn't sound like it is. Just not perfect, and certainly doesn't (in your opinion) come close to the iPhone.
I don't understand why that makes Nokia doomed.
I'll use the internets favorite failure analogy: Vista, was for all intents and purposes a big failure (Im writing this from a Vista64 machine that I adore). MSFT is the number 1 maker of operating systems, and Vista was fucked. However, MSFT righted that ship and Windows7 is a much different story (even though it really is just shinier, better version of Vista).
So, Nokia puts out a phone that isn't a total steaming pile of shit. They can hopefully do a better job next time. It sounds like the real issue is the paultry processor and the shameful OS, which are two things that are design flaws that can be rectified. Corporate dogma, on the otherhand, cannot.
I'm actually interested in this-- I like the 97 fine, and I've been debating grabbing one and pairing it with my e71 (unlimited data and texts for $30 from AT&T is much, much better than unlimited data and texts for $50 for a carrier-locked smartphone) but I've been a bit turned off by the lackluster reviews. I figured some revisions were going to happen sooner than later-- this might be what I need, that I should jump in on this guy.
@wild homes loves you but chooses darkness!:
don't get it. you'll regret it. I've been trying with AT&T & a Nokia N82 for a year now. You'll enjoy it at first but then you'll realize the OS is slow & unresponsive, especially when it becomes full with content. Also it sucks to have a lot of features on your phone that aren't supported by your service provider.
@friktionn: I appreciate the viewpoint, my friend-- but I'm already using an E71, and I'm interested in the N97 BECAUSE of Symbian. I appreciate that I can make it do whatever I want it to do-- and while I agree with you that it's oddly unsatisfying to have so many of your phone's features fall unsupported by a crappy carrier, it really doesn't diminish the value of the handset for me.
@nbolmer: Yeah but they phone maker has to let them have it in the first place. There is some give and take. Nokia doesn't seem willing to give much.
I find it extremely hard to believe that any carrier wouldn't of wanted either the N97 or the 5800. Even looking at that N97 mini I want it, just not enough to pay an unsubisidized price for it. Supposedly that is the thing about the mini one though, its a better price.
Gizmodo you are a bunch of fanboys. I'm going to have to stop reading your site with all the pro apple crap. I'd be surprised if you weren't subsidized by apple.
I have an n95 and I find symbian highly usable. The camera rocks, gizmo project / skype client rocks, web experience could be a titch improved but nothing major that I've experienced. Google maps client for GPS and street view and google latitude.
There has only been one thing I can't do from the symbian n95 that I am sad about. I can't ssh in to my webserver. I'm sure there is an app for it I just haven't found it, and I don't care enough to search for days for it.
the fact that every major phone retailer at some point steps up and makes its case for why their phone is better than the iPhone speaks volumes about how awesome the iPhone is.
you dont see nokia rocking the boat to compare their shit to the pre, or to the G1. you dont see palm trying to one-up the G1 or the nokias. they're all scrambling like mad to make their case... and in doing so givin the iPhone a lot of free press and continued presence in the minds of consumers as the phone against which all others are measured.
@nutbastard: The fact that so many companies compare their phones to the iPhone says more about how well it is marketed. If it was the best phone in the world but no one had heard of it then making a comparison to it would be meaningless to consumers. It's more about the perception of the product than the quality of the device.
"It's more about the perception of the product than the quality of the device."
but it isn't - i and many others have tried a plethora of different phones, and even those who ultimately decide to forgo the iPhone in lieu of something else, they STILL recognize that the iPhone is something special, that it has a certain je ne sais quoi that no other phone has. it's PLEASANT to use, not just efficient or capable, it somehow feels nice to use, even for mundane tasks.
@Rustydog: and YET, they feel compelled to compare their product to the iPhone, as so many other phone companies do. You just don't get it do you? Nokia's yearly phone sales continue to fall, and their dominance as the number #1 worldwide phone distributor continues to falter, and you just don't get WHY they're afraid, do you?
Whatever people think about Nokia, I don't think that quote is unreasonable. He just says that the iPhone 3GS has a low megapixel camera and is expensive. Both of these are true.
@tande04: Yeah, it's sort of odd, given that Apple seems to go out of its way to make its new models look new. I guess it's hard to work different design elements into the iPhone without changing the functional elements that people seem to like.
Saying that a phone that costs $100 more than an unlocked iPhone is a great deal because it has a better camera yet the other 95% of the device is completely unusable relative to the iPhone or even Android is incredibly silly.
I'd take a phone with usability and a compact point and shoot if that was my criteria ANY day.
@tande04: I'm getting the feeling that this has to do with establishing continuity in the iPhone line up. Software and applications are becoming the most popular reason to get an iPhone, so maybe it makes sense to promote the idea that each generation is just a variation of the same platform. It's not like say, the iPod Nano, for which they want you to forget each old generation so the new version will seem brand new.
hmm the cool thing about N97 is that you can make long distance skype calls over the network with the embedded Skype app. Symbian is meh but whatever the browser is pretty nice, just get Skyfire if you arent happy with it.
I'd rather have my iPhone 3Gs (That'd 3 Gs as cost of ownership over 2 years.) than the Nokia to be rather honest. The app store alone makes it worth it. I use the apps, the compass, and the GPS constantly to find things near me. Grocery stores, restaurants, directions... Everything.
It's an amazingly useful phone for doing things other than calling people, texting people, and checking e-mail. I use the Zillow app to check home/tax prices and what not.
Nokia will never learn. Someone should ask one of the executives there to show how apps install on the phone. That ought to be enough to shut them up in itself. Everything takes 400 steps with Nokia and although the devices are nice, it doesn't make up for the poor experience.
What a superficial world. I can't believe how users of the iphone are so impressed with graphics. I have been drooling over the N97 for 6 months and finally got one last week. i love the phone. i don't understand the comments about the UI. the home screen is the best one on the market by far. i rarely have to go into any other screen, as i can do everything at a glance. no other phone can claim that. i will gladly take a longer battery life, push email, free tethereing, replaceable battery, fantastic camera, great third party apps, indestructable design and a real keyboard over flashy graphics and a corporate spin machine. when intelligent people see what the N97 really offers, they won't look at any other phone.
11/04/09
11/04/09
11/04/09
11/04/09
11/04/09
I've been smashed with both a particle board sheet and plywood.
I am not impervious to both XD #nintendodsshotthroughwall
11/04/09
08/24/09
But, it doesn't sound like it is. Just not perfect, and certainly doesn't (in your opinion) come close to the iPhone.
I don't understand why that makes Nokia doomed.
I'll use the internets favorite failure analogy: Vista, was for all intents and purposes a big failure (Im writing this from a Vista64 machine that I adore). MSFT is the number 1 maker of operating systems, and Vista was fucked. However, MSFT righted that ship and Windows7 is a much different story (even though it really is just shinier, better version of Vista).
So, Nokia puts out a phone that isn't a total steaming pile of shit. They can hopefully do a better job next time. It sounds like the real issue is the paultry processor and the shameful OS, which are two things that are design flaws that can be rectified. Corporate dogma, on the otherhand, cannot.
07/29/09
07/30/09
don't get it. you'll regret it. I've been trying with AT&T & a Nokia N82 for a year now. You'll enjoy it at first but then you'll realize the OS is slow & unresponsive, especially when it becomes full with content. Also it sucks to have a lot of features on your phone that aren't supported by your service provider.
07/30/09
Cheers!
07/29/09
07/29/09
07/29/09
I find it extremely hard to believe that any carrier wouldn't of wanted either the N97 or the 5800. Even looking at that N97 mini I want it, just not enough to pay an unsubisidized price for it. Supposedly that is the thing about the mini one though, its a better price.
07/08/09
Like the 3.2 megapixel camera in the Nokia 5800XM?
07/08/09
Gizmodo you are a bunch of fanboys. I'm going to have to stop reading your site with all the pro apple crap. I'd be surprised if you weren't subsidized by apple.
I have an n95 and I find symbian highly usable. The camera rocks, gizmo project / skype client rocks, web experience could be a titch improved but nothing major that I've experienced. Google maps client for GPS and street view and google latitude.
There has only been one thing I can't do from the symbian n95 that I am sad about. I can't ssh in to my webserver. I'm sure there is an app for it I just haven't found it, and I don't care enough to search for days for it.
You guys are pissin me off now.
07/08/09
07/08/09
it's about the god damn OS.
07/08/09
you dont see nokia rocking the boat to compare their shit to the pre, or to the G1. you dont see palm trying to one-up the G1 or the nokias. they're all scrambling like mad to make their case... and in doing so givin the iPhone a lot of free press and continued presence in the minds of consumers as the phone against which all others are measured.
07/08/09
07/08/09
"It's more about the perception of the product than the quality of the device."
but it isn't - i and many others have tried a plethora of different phones, and even those who ultimately decide to forgo the iPhone in lieu of something else, they STILL recognize that the iPhone is something special, that it has a certain je ne sais quoi that no other phone has. it's PLEASANT to use, not just efficient or capable, it somehow feels nice to use, even for mundane tasks.
07/08/09
Well of course they're not going to compare their crappy iphone knockoff to other crappy iphone knockoffs...
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/08/09
07/08/09
07/08/09
07/08/09
07/08/09
It's true but it ignores the context of reality.
Saying that a phone that costs $100 more than an unlocked iPhone is a great deal because it has a better camera yet the other 95% of the device is completely unusable relative to the iPhone or even Android is incredibly silly.
I'd take a phone with usability and a compact point and shoot if that was my criteria ANY day.
07/08/09
Not unlike what apple has done with the entire iPod line for its entire life cycle.
If they want to make every phone from here on the same design wise they can. Motorola will tell them thats not a good idea though.
07/08/09
07/08/09
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07/08/09
@MosesMonster: There are limits.
For example, I still carry keys and a wallet.
07/08/09
It's an amazingly useful phone for doing things other than calling people, texting people, and checking e-mail. I use the Zillow app to check home/tax prices and what not.
So, as far as I can tell Nokia is smoking crack.
07/08/09
07/08/09
It's usually
Do you want to install X?
Accept License Agreement Yes/No
Install on memory card/Phone memory
Installed...OK
07/07/09
07/07/09
08/24/09