Ideas & Opinions, Products & Services
A mixed salad of Nokia thoughts
By Charlie on 30 July 2009
BOSTON, USA – As I read the past month of articles in my feed reader, I found a bunch of articles pertaining to Nokia that might not have been necessarily big news, but that did resonate with some of my thinking.
Ranging from new devices and a device retrospective, to acquisitions and spin-offs, to clever employees, and to a thoughtful video – the last month was rich in things that made me think.
Before we get to the notable acquisitions and spin-offs, let me first start with a device that is dear to me: the Nokia N86 8MP.
Old and new
Steve Litchfield paused for a moment to make a detailed technical analysis comparing the Nokia N95 to the Nokia N86, as a way to measure the evolution of mobile devices at Nokia. While it is without a doubt that the N95 was a game-changer, the comparison Steve made almost puts the N86 out there also as an über-device.
I’ve used both devices and, as a device within its time, the Nokia N95 was reaching for the stars, whereas the N86 is where all devices should be at the moment. While technically the N86 and N85 are the true next models after the N95, the top of the line has continued moving, placing the N86 one tier below. To me (and I certainly am not expressing the official opinions of Nokia) the N86 is to the N97 what the N73 was to the N95.
Do you think so?
What is most disturbing to me, now that I live in the USA, is that the N95 still trumps most of the phones that are currently available here (story for another day). The N86’s arrival to these shores is immanent and I wonder how it will be received (one more story for another day).
What’s with the keyboards?
Another observation about the US market is that operators here are keyboard-happy. Especially AT&T. In addition to the Nokia E71x, AT&T offers a wide range of keyboard devices from various manufacturers.
The latest one is the Nokia Surge (AKA the Nokia 6760 Slide).
The interest in keyboards seems to be much greater here in the US than back in Europe. But an earlier article on this subject, by Mike, generated a discussion that suggests that folks outside the US would like to see more keyboard devices, as well.
No?
Removing the complement
Ewan Spence has a nice observation that made me pause. Normally, I suggest folks think of how the mobile and desktop environments can complement each other, for example, setting things up on a larger screen computer and then having it send info over to the phone (think Ovi Maps).
But Ewan points out that the folks who are really active in using mobile browsers might not have (or ever have) a desktop computer. It could be that the mobile phone will be their only computer.
Yes, he’s right. But I’ll spin it a bit and suggest that in those nations, you will have those who have their own desktop machine or use a shared machine occasionally or will go to repair shops where there is a computer. That changes what one might expect from native or Web-based apps for complementing mobiles, with varying expectations of access to desktop computers.
Fun, eh?
A social phonebook
I claim that the phonebook on the mobile is the best social networking app. But we do know that the Nokia’s S60 phonebook has not progressed much from its early days. Yes, there were some apps trying to add some more social dynamism to the phonebook, but nothing that really stuck.
Well, we hope that Nokia’s new jewel, Cellity, a social phonebook company that Nokia recently acquired, will be able to transform the Nokia phonebook. I know some folks from Cellity and am elated that they are now joining Nokia as part of the teams out of Berlin (where the Maps guys are based).
Exciting.
One in, one out
Lots of folks love the Nokia Sports Tracker app and service. Indeed, I’ve used it on and off since the days it was in research and I have given a ton of feedback over the years.
Well, there have been some things going on that have worried everyone that Nokia is going to kill it (see what Ricky has been fretting about).
I did a quick search online and I think that this news hasn’t really been broken. For the most part, we weren’t going to make a big deal about it, and would be explaining more as folks asked.
So, since you are all wondering, Nokia is not killing Sports Tracker, but giving it some wings and will discontinue the Nokia Sports Tracker beta towards the end of 2009 migrating it to Sports Tracking Technologies, a company founded by the creators of Sports Trackers (Ykä Huhtala and Jussi Kaasinen, if you care to know). Given more breathing room, the Sport Tracker guys will be able to start developing other related sports apps.
What do you guys think of this move?
The great Russ
Nokia is fortunate to have a ton of clever and creative folks working for them. Russell Beattie is one of these folks, having a long history of following the industry, creating mobile apps, and being about 3-5 years ahead of everyone else.
I just found out, via the Guru, that Russ created a cool search widget. The interesting thing is that it took him only 3 hours and 30 lines of code to build this widget.
Cool.
Obsessing about customers
I close out this article with a video from Jeff Bezos about his acquisition of the online shoe store, Zappos. The reason I find this video so great is that Amazon and Zappos are two companies who are obsessed with customer service. I think every company can learn that profits, success, and fun are very compatible with a healthy obsession with the customer.
That’s an inspiration to us all.
Enjoy.
Image from Laurel Fan
Related posts:
- Thoughts for the day
- Nokia bags two awards at Mobile World Congress
- Thoughts on the ever-changing science and practice of making things
Tags | amazon, cellity, Nokia 6760 Slide, Nokia E71x, Nokia N85, Nokia N86, Nokia N95, Nokia Sports Tracker, Nokia Surge, Ovi Maps, Widgets, zappos
July 30th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
RE: The great Russ
Over at http://www.moubail.com there is also a new Search Widget inspired by the wonderful Russ.
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July 30th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Appologies for the rant in advance, but with regards “Obsessing about customers”
I have spent over 8 hours on the phone to Nokia Care without having got through to anyone in Technical (or Premium Technical, as they have been described). I haved been promised three call back of which I haev received None (The first time I was told thay had called me three times, yet no missed calls or messages). I have also sent many e-mails to Nokia Customer Care from which I have mostly only received the automated e-mail informing that my e-mail has been received. I have also phoned the N97 dedicated help line to be told that my problems would have to be passed to Nokia Care (See above).
Nokia Care in the UK are no longer transfering people to technical anymore, but arranging call backs (see above).
Hopefully this will improve based on the “Obsessing about customers” sub-article. At present it couldn’t get much worse.
It used to be excellent, having been a Nokia phone user for over 12 years.
When I have managed to get a response via e-mail I was informed by a product expert that N-Gage is not released for N97 yet although I know it is and have it on my phone.
A colleague of mine was informed that the GPS lock issues presently being observed by many with N97 and OVI Maps 3.0 on the discussion forums was due to faulty satellites althought the problem does not occur with the pre-installed Nokia Maps 2.0 on the N97.
This is not good.
Rant Over.
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Charlie Reply:
July 30th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
@mbrett, And this is precisely why I bring this up. Thanks for sharing.
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July 30th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
And what about Nokia Internet Radio? When will there be a version for touch devices?
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Charlie Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 3:08 am
@Oliver, I have nothing to report on a touch version of Internet Radio. Tsk, tsk. You should know better than to ask us about unannounced products of features.
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July 30th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Quote:
“the N86 is to the N97 what the N73 was to the N95.”
Sorry, not a good comparison.
First, optics.
The N86’s camera is much better than the N97. The reverse is true for the N73 and N95. The N97 has really poor digital zoom in video mode compared to the N86, while the N95 had a large leap in video quality over the N73.
Second, the UI.
There were so many upgrades in moving from the N73 to the N95. New features that came with the N97’s addition of wifi were internet calling and home media sharing. Strange that those great features are missing on the N97.
Third, hardware.
A simple search at forum.nokia.com can get specs for all four phones discussed.
The N97 presented a large leap in hardware from the N73, with a new generation processor with 3D support.
The N97 and N86 share the same processor that doesn’t have 3D support. The N86 makes good use of it while the N97 struggles to stay lag free.
Forth, OS
This is the only part of the comparison that is true.
The N95 came a generation later after the N73, same is true for the N86 to the N97. The N73 was one of the best S60v3 phones made, while the N95 needed many revisions to get S60v3FP1 right. We could probably say the same thing for the N86 and N97 as well. The N86 is pretty good as is while the N97 needs a lot of work.
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Charlie Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 3:14 am
@Al,
You make some good technical points. I was just going on my own feel from having used all those devices. Thanks for sharing.
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July 30th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I thought it would be easyer to understand my touhgts if i commented each one at a time, so… here it goes:
Old and new:
Ok, so thee N86 brings more to the phone world, but: Is it enough? I mean, whoever is interested on mobiles and visits some known forums knows the overall impression that Nokia’s latest phones leave: It’s good, but it isn’t an N95.
I’ve already said that i’m impressed with the N86, yes.. But i’m only impressed with its capabilities, and i’m not surely impressed on the inovation it brings. Nokia is evolving just like Apple: update slowly, but act like it is BIG.
Well, it’s not big, and i’m a bit disapointed with Nokia these last months, when i was expecting to be released a truly flagship device.
Sorry, but that’s the way i think.
Btw, yes, N95 still kicks its competitors, and it will allways be remembered as “The Flagship”, but i think the N86 will only have the same importance to those who place photography above the rest.
What’s with keyboards?:
You’ve got it right: Keyboards are selling more over the US, but it has a logical reason:
The big target of keyboard phones are woman, (I know that e-series devices have a diferent perspective, but i’ll leave it out), and in my opinion, womans (in general, sorry Darla Mack;) ) don’t want to give away 700€ for a phone, only because it has a qwerty keyboard (and they don’t need all the extra functions).N97 is sexy, its slide is sexy, and if there was a pink N97, with less features (like it was possible) and a lower price, i bet it would sell like or better than the 5800 (another atraction for the womans, because of the touch).
I’m not sure if i’m right or wrong, but it is my opinion, and we’ll see if it’s true when the 6760 Slide comes to the European stores.
(quick note: My intention wasn’t to offend anyone, nor be sexist. My apologies to whoever gets offended with my perspective.)
One in, one out:
Well, in my opinion it will be just like the title says: The app wins, and Nokia looses.
The app will probably change a bit (along with the name), and will definitely win some new “bling bling” too, but Nokia will loose ONE service. I like the fact Nokia cares to please the costumers, not only with the phones, but also with its usability.
But i’m nobody to speak about it, as i’ve read poorly about the app itself, and never used it.
Obsessing about customers:
Well, this is surely the most valuable lesson for Nokia. They need to know that it isn’t hard to bee good. What’s hard is to keep good.
Please read, ASAP!
Btw Charlie, thanks for bringing all this up! Good job!
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July 31st, 2009 at 1:10 am
I wish that I could have made it into this update. I hosted the Carnival of the Mobilists via my N95 and Nokia’s Mobile Web Server a few weeks ago (http://tinyurl.com/cotm-182). That would have been some great pub for the folks that put that application together…
…though I do have to say that since doing that hosting, that I’ve not had much success keeping my MWS up. It would seem that it might have gotten attention, just not enough of the good kind in this case.
Great compilation of articles nonetheless, thanks for sharing these.
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Charlie Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 3:16 am
@ARJWright, Heh. I am currently writing an article where I mention the Carnival of the Mobilists as a great resource for industry news.
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ARJWright Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 3:18 am
@Charlie, Sweet
Now, if I can only get that gateway working so that you can reference CotM #182
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July 31st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Sports tracker was the only Nokia website I ever bothered to use. Does not sound like a smart move.
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