People Hub super-app on the Nokia Lumia

Trevor Davies explores the People Hub, one of the cornerstones of the Nokia Lumia experience

Published by Trevor Davies on November 9, 2011

People on your Nokia Lumia

LONDON, United Kingdom – The Nokia Lumia 800 price of around £400 looks better and better value the more I explore this phone.

The main reason is that stock features like the People Hub, Nokia Drive, Nokia Music and the messaging system feel like apps that haven’t been invented on other phones I’ve tried.

Over the weekend I’ve been exploring the People Hub.

I set aside Friday evening to load up my contacts and add my social networks.

I soon loaded my contacts via Bluetooth using the Contacts Transfer app in about three minutes and linked my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Hotmail and Google mail accounts on the People Hub in another five.

The rest of the evening I was free to sit in front of the TV, playing with the People Hub. It brings your contacts to life, making them far more than just a list of numbers and addresses.

It gives you a proper joined up picture of them as people.

For example, I go to colleague Adam Fraser’s People Hub profile and there’s a picture of him and his latest online post next to it, about him growing a moustache for charity.

From here, with one touch, I can chat via Facebook or post on his wall, mention him on Twitter or email him. It even tells me where he lives and with one extra tap on his address I can find directions of how to get there on a map. The apps aren’t just connected, they’re joined at the hip..

I don’t have Adam’s personal phone number, but I can add it and it will be there on this profile allowing me, with one extra touch, to text or call him.

All good so far? But it goes a lot further.

The People Hub is one the first places to go

I can create groups of family, friends and colleagues and pin any or all of them to my home screen. I can also link several so that they are all on the same screen.

So you could put very close friends in a group or link them, either way you can keep in touch so much easier with the People Hub than on any other phone’s interface.

On other UI’s you find yourself going between apps all the time chasing email alerts of activity in various accounts.

Also, using the Nokia Lumia 800’s impressive 8-megapixel camera, you can load pictures to your social network very quickly.

When you start messaging people via the People Hub, you get replies in the messaging area. This is integrated too, so that no matter whether it’s a text or chat message, you see it in the same inbox. How many times have you missed a message from someone on a chat message, because you’ve been focused on your text inbox!

The second of the three People Hub pages is the news area, where you get all your updates under one roof. Again, this is a big step forward over other phones I’ve used, enabling me not to miss an update on Facebook because I’m lost in Twitter. It also removes the step of being notified of a Facebook or Twitter alert via email, closing your email and opening the relevant social network app.

The third area is called ‘recent’ and displays all of the people you’ve had recent contact with or even just loaded or looked at.

It’s like a human pasteboard showing all the people who have been on your mind recently.

All of these appear as mini tiles, with pictures and names on.

All the details: Nokia Lumia 800

All about our stunning new smartphone.

The specs; the price; the facts

You’ll find the main People Hub tile on the top right of your home screen, next to the phone tile, and you won’t want to move it from there.

I’d classify this as a superapp, because it incorporates and manages other apps, simplifying everything.

So, just now I got a message in my message inbox. It was from Facebook confirming a meeting tonight, along with a phone number.

It strikes me that this phone is actually making it easier to stay connected with free messaging via social networks as an alternative. So it could even save you money.

Straight afterwards comes another Facebook message from someone at the Lewes Fireworks parade in southern England with a picture of some weird and wonderful Guys they are about to put on the fire. I wish I was there to see them burn, but I’ll just have to make do with watching the display from my back yard in south-east London.

Comments

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  • Cod3rror

    Windows phone 7 is so much mobile internet/wifi dependable os so if you lose  internet then tiles homescreen looks messy and not to mention that NOT every one have those fancy good looking ladies and gents as friends in social networks or friends circles etc thus most of times that tiles homescreen would look annoying and depressing so overall this fancy tiles concept is very ugly and messy in real time scenarios and wp7 as a mobile os only attracts some specific age gender users that too with 24/7 internet availability all the time…..verdict…It FAILS! …it is just another burning platform.

    • http://aani.nokia.fi Heidi

      Question: why would you want to own a smartphone, if you don’t want to connect it to the internet? I’m not saying everyone needs to be on the internet 24/7, but if you’re not into that, why don’t you just get a regular feature phone?

    • http://aani.nokia.fi Heidi

      Question: why would you want to own a smartphone, if you don’t want to connect it to the internet? I’m not saying everyone needs to be on the internet 24/7, but if you’re not into that, why don’t you just get a regular feature phone?

      • Jukka

        Because 3,2″ screen of the smartphone serves better as viewFinder for camera in contrast with smaller screens of regular phones. (It’s only one example)

      • Jukka

        Because 3,2″ screen of the smartphone serves better as viewFinder for camera in contrast with smaller screens of regular phones. (It’s only one example)

      • Jukka

        Because 3,2″ screen of the smartphone serves better as viewFinder for camera in contrast with smaller screens of regular phones. (It’s only one example)

      • Jukka

        Because 3,2″ screen of the smartphone serves better as viewFinder for camera in contrast with smaller screens of regular phones. (It’s only one example)

      • Jukka

        Because 3,2″ screen of the smartphone serves better as viewFinder for camera in contrast with smaller screens of regular phones. (It’s only one example)

      • Jukka

        Because 3,2″ screen of the smartphone serves better as viewFinder for camera in contrast with smaller screens of regular phones. (It’s only one example)

      • Jukka

        Because 3,2″ screen of the smartphone serves better as viewFinder for camera in contrast with smaller screens of regular phones. (It’s only one example)

      • Jukka

        Because 3,2″ screen of the smartphone serves better as viewFinder for camera in contrast with smaller screens of regular phones. (It’s only one example)

      • Jukka

        Well, it’s all about Angry Birds, you know…
        Seriously, the smart phone is a tool that makes possible to make a phone call and simultaneously check notes or may be check some pictures you’ve taken with phone camera. Make an appointment in calender when you talking to someone. Make a video call. Send/receive e-mail. 
        Smart phone makes it possible to do several operations when making a call. That’s what smartphone is about. Multitasking.

    • http://aani.nokia.fi Heidi

      Question: why would you want to own a smartphone, if you don’t want to connect it to the internet? I’m not saying everyone needs to be on the internet 24/7, but if you’re not into that, why don’t you just get a regular feature phone?

    • http://aani.nokia.fi Heidi

      Question: why would you want to own a smartphone, if you don’t want to connect it to the internet? I’m not saying everyone needs to be on the internet 24/7, but if you’re not into that, why don’t you just get a regular feature phone?

    • Stefan Vogt

      I disagree highly. I am definitely not one of those 24/7 internet addicts (way too old (42) and way too much into actually meeting people). But this weaving of different information channels into a single one, which can also be filtered, is spectacular. I have been using WP7 for 10 months now and I will (at least for the forseeable future) wander off to another ecosystem. In addition to that: The vast majority of my friends, whom I showed WP7 are considering it or have already switched. You have to use it for a few hours and you will never go back. Really!

      P.S. Since English is not my mother tongue I apologize for any weird phrases or typos.

      • Stefan Vogt

        I will of course NOT wander off to another ecosystem…. *g*

      • Stefan Vogt

        I will of course NOT wander off to another ecosystem…. *g*

      • Stefan Vogt

        I will of course NOT wander off to another ecosystem…. *g*

    • Stefan Vogt

      I disagree highly. I am definitely not one of those 24/7 internet addicts (way too old (42) and way too much into actually meeting people). But this weaving of different information channels into a single one, which can also be filtered, is spectacular. I have been using WP7 for 10 months now and I will (at least for the forseeable future) wander off to another ecosystem. In addition to that: The vast majority of my friends, whom I showed WP7 are considering it or have already switched. You have to use it for a few hours and you will never go back. Really!

      P.S. Since English is not my mother tongue I apologize for any weird phrases or typos.

    • Stefan Vogt

      I disagree highly. I am definitely not one of those 24/7 internet addicts (way too old (42) and way too much into actually meeting people). But this weaving of different information channels into a single one, which can also be filtered, is spectacular. I have been using WP7 for 10 months now and I will (at least for the forseeable future) wander off to another ecosystem. In addition to that: The vast majority of my friends, whom I showed WP7 are considering it or have already switched. You have to use it for a few hours and you will never go back. Really!

      P.S. Since English is not my mother tongue I apologize for any weird phrases or typos.

    • Jeettak

      Well there you have it folks.  Cod3rror has given his verdict about Windows Phone 7.  Its a big massive fail. No need to look to anyone else for an opinion, he know what the best platform is.  He is after all ‘THE ONE’.

      The people who I have as contacts are known to me.  I’ve chosen to have them in my life and be part of my social network, regardless of how they look.  Seeing friendly faces I know on my people hub, would definitely not be annoying or depressing.  I feel sorry for all your mates.

    • Trevor Davies

      Have you tried it for yourself? Your comment doesn’t read as if you have because a lot of it is not true. The tiles don’t look messy out of internet range. The Lumia 800 is not WP7, it’s WP 7.5 with some amazing Noia native apps that nobody else has. I think your verdict is very ill informed.

      • Cod3rror

        People need options to have clean or customizable home screen ui on their smartphones thatswhy iphone and android phones are good …..while wp7.5 is all about square tiles with so much restrictions so it is either Love or Hate!
         
        “amazing Nokia apps that nobody else has”…..Nokia drive and Nokia music are already available for non-nokia wp7 devices….just check engadget about that….and btw engadget is showing links about how to get those apps for non-nokia phones too…..bad blogging isn’t it?

        • http://conversations.nokia.com Ian Delaney

          Everything is “available” if you want to steal it. Most people are a little more decent than that.

      • Cod3rror

        People need options to have clean or customizable home screen ui on their smartphones thatswhy iphone and android phones are good …..while wp7.5 is all about square tiles with so much restrictions so it is either Love or Hate!
         
        “amazing Nokia apps that nobody else has”…..Nokia drive and Nokia music are already available for non-nokia wp7 devices….just check engadget about that….and btw engadget is showing links about how to get those apps for non-nokia phones too…..bad blogging isn’t it?

  • Cod3rror

    Windows phone 7 is so much mobile internet/wifi dependable os so if you lose  internet then tiles homescreen looks messy and not to mention that NOT every one have those fancy good looking ladies and gents as friends in social networks or friends circles etc thus most of times that tiles homescreen would look annoying and depressing so overall this fancy tiles concept is very ugly and messy in real time scenarios and wp7 as a mobile os only attracts some specific age gender users that too with 24/7 internet availability all the time…..verdict…It FAILS! …it is just another burning platform.

  • Cod3rror

    Windows phone 7 is so much mobile internet/wifi dependable os so if you lose  internet then tiles homescreen looks messy and not to mention that NOT every one have those fancy good looking ladies and gents as friends in social networks or friends circles etc thus most of times that tiles homescreen would look annoying and depressing so overall this fancy tiles concept is very ugly and messy in real time scenarios and wp7 as a mobile os only attracts some specific age gender users that too with 24/7 internet availability all the time…..verdict…It FAILS! …it is just another burning platform.

  • Cod3rror

    Windows phone 7 is so much mobile internet/wifi dependable os so if you lose  internet then tiles homescreen looks messy and not to mention that NOT every one have those fancy good looking ladies and gents as friends in social networks or friends circles etc thus most of times that tiles homescreen would look annoying and depressing so overall this fancy tiles concept is very ugly and messy in real time scenarios and wp7 as a mobile os only attracts some specific age gender users that too with 24/7 internet availability all the time…..verdict…It FAILS! …it is just another burning platform.

  • Cod3rror

    Windows phone 7 is so much mobile internet/wifi dependable os so if you lose  internet then tiles homescreen looks messy and not to mention that NOT every one have those fancy good looking ladies and gents as friends in social networks or friends circles etc thus most of times that tiles homescreen would look annoying and depressing so overall this fancy tiles concept is very ugly and messy in real time scenarios and wp7 as a mobile os only attracts some specific age gender users that too with 24/7 internet availability all the time…..verdict…It FAILS! …it is just another burning platform.

  • Cod3rror

    Windows phone 7 is so much mobile internet/wifi dependable os so if you lose  internet then tiles homescreen looks messy and not to mention that NOT every one have those fancy good looking ladies and gents as friends in social networks or friends circles etc thus most of times that tiles homescreen would look annoying and depressing so overall this fancy tiles concept is very ugly and messy in real time scenarios and wp7 as a mobile os only attracts some specific age gender users that too with 24/7 internet availability all the time…..verdict…It FAILS! …it is just another burning platform.

  • Cod3rror

    Windows phone 7 is so much mobile internet/wifi dependable os so if you lose  internet then tiles homescreen looks messy and not to mention that NOT every one have those fancy good looking ladies and gents as friends in social networks or friends circles etc thus most of times that tiles homescreen would look annoying and depressing so overall this fancy tiles concept is very ugly and messy in real time scenarios and wp7 as a mobile os only attracts some specific age gender users that too with 24/7 internet availability all the time…..verdict…It FAILS! …it is just another burning platform.

  • Cod3rror

    Windows phone 7 is so much mobile internet/wifi dependable os so if you lose  internet then tiles homescreen looks messy and not to mention that NOT every one have those fancy good looking ladies and gents as friends in social networks or friends circles etc thus most of times that tiles homescreen would look annoying and depressing so overall this fancy tiles concept is very ugly and messy in real time scenarios and wp7 as a mobile os only attracts some specific age gender users that too with 24/7 internet availability all the time…..verdict…It FAILS! …it is just another burning platform.

  • lordstar

    The people hub is pretty impressive, that’s one advantage of the lumia 800 over the N9. Oh wait, there’s the nokia mix radio. But the swipe ui of N9 kinda trumps everything. Haha this is very very confusing.

  • http://twitter.com/wajon68 Jon

    The more I read about the WP interface, the more I’m warming too it. I really like the idea of the people hub where multiple media’s become one, and you’re having a conversation on text/messenger or facebook, and it all appears in the same thread. As you say it simplifies things, which can only lead to great time savings.

    • Anonymous

      this was also on nokia n9, it have single app for google talk, msn, skype, facebook chat

    • Anonymous

      this was also on nokia n9, it have single app for google talk, msn, skype, facebook chat

    • Anonymous

      this was also on nokia n9, it have single app for google talk, msn, skype, facebook chat

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  • Mohammed

    Anyone has any idea when it is going to be released to Middle East, will just tell me please? I have been searching on the web and i found no clue whatsoever about the Middle East market for Lumia 800 :( I’m not going to make the same t mistake i made with the N8 because Nokia is so clever (the opposite is true) to specify certain product codes to certain regions that makes as a consumer stick by force to limited languages. I personally do not blame them, because they do not know that an arabic person wants to be N8 from the UK, they think all who buy the N8 in UK are cockneys ;)

    • Jihad Awada

      I received a message assuming that in mid 2012 ( maybe in june) , let us hope that

      • Mohammed

        Thanks Jihad for your updated news. Let’s not hope that, because its not rational that people in UK get it in November or at least January, whereas we as customers of the Middle East have to wait till June. It’s unfair if that’s right, because one of the reasons I love Nokia is they have the ability to release new products around the globe at the same time. And if I’m going to wait till June I’ll have more options not to stick to Lumia 800, HTC Titan for example is reachable and affordable. I hope some of Nokia conversational staff give me an answer :)

      • Mohammed

        Thanks Jihad for your updated news. Let’s not hope that, because its not rational that people in UK get it in November or at least January, whereas we as customers of the Middle East have to wait till June. It’s unfair if that’s right, because one of the reasons I love Nokia is they have the ability to release new products around the globe at the same time. And if I’m going to wait till June I’ll have more options not to stick to Lumia 800, HTC Titan for example is reachable and affordable. I hope some of Nokia conversational staff give me an answer :)

    • Jihad Awada

      I received a message assuming that in mid 2012 ( maybe in june) , let us hope that

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  • Jukka

    groups for friends and family, putting links on the screen, quickly loading pictures to social networks, all that stuff is possible in Symbian too.

    how hard it was to implement one list for recent messages/calls/e-mails/chats/shared pictured and so on in Symbian?

    All That wonderful WP tiles,… how hard is to make a grid oppset for widgets in Belle that look/functioning exactly the same way as tiles? And it’s more flexible.

  • Anonymous

    i rather  have nokia n9 than windows phone.

  • Anonymous

    i rather  have nokia n9 than windows phone.

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  • Anonymous

    The social integration is there and it’s pretty good, definitely one of the few things that WP7 gets right.

    I must say though I don’t quite understand why this article is necessary. People Hub is a general WP7 feature, not exactly Nokia specialty. I don’t see how this makes a Nokia device unique

    Oh and from experience, I think pinning certain Groups of contacts is much more efficient than working through the People Hub, which will eventually be so cluttered and messy with so many updates and contacts that you’ll wish you had search feature in the dial pad (yes WP7 has disregarded this feature so far)

  • Anonymous

    The social integration is there and it’s pretty good, definitely one of the few things that WP7 gets right.

    I must say though I don’t quite understand why this article is necessary. People Hub is a general WP7 feature, not exactly Nokia specialty. I don’t see how this makes a Nokia device unique

    Oh and from experience, I think pinning certain Groups of contacts is much more efficient than working through the People Hub, which will eventually be so cluttered and messy with so many updates and contacts that you’ll wish you had search feature in the dial pad (yes WP7 has disregarded this feature so far)

  • Jukka

    Let’s take a little analysis of the first picture.
    6 tiles.
    Calling (green Call button in symbian for call list)
    People (address book. In symbian we have a single contact widget or group of contacts)
    Messaging (Symbian Widget / possibility to have different widgets)
    E-Mail (the same as Messaging)
    Drive / Maps (well, it’s just a link, right. We have it in Symbian too)
    Office (Well, technically we can have a link to Quick Office)

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  • Pat

    I don’t want to be obliged to create a windows live account to connect to Twitter or any other INDEPENDANT account from “windows”.
    Ridiculous tracking.
    I want to keep my freedom.

  • Haspemulator

    “Also, using the Nokia Lumia 800’s impressive 8-megapixel camera, you can load pictures to your social network very quickly.”
    - oh really? load pictures to social network using the camera? proofread before posting.

  • Haspemulator

    “Also, using the Nokia Lumia 800’s impressive 8-megapixel camera, you can load pictures to your social network very quickly.”
    - oh really? load pictures to social network using the camera? proofread before posting.

  • Haspemulator

    “Also, using the Nokia Lumia 800’s impressive 8-megapixel camera, you can load pictures to your social network very quickly.”
    - oh really? load pictures to social network using the camera? proofread before posting.

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  • http://profile.yahoo.com/BFODHVLTQQ6L7QSCFMRZVXGYAI chinni

    I really love the phone… especially it’s fast streaming of videos… I watched a whole movie on my phone ;)… and it doesn’t matter how many accounts you create and hook it up to contacts, you can always filter your contact list and you can create your own group and pin it to contact’s list… denfinetly unique feature…kudos to Nokia..