Nokia N8 Megathread

long_b · 01-11-2010 6:21pm

KrisW wrote: »

e-Mobile: €149 Billpay, on a 12-month contract. Minimum bill is 100 min + 100 text + free to landlines + 1Gbyte data = €29/mo. You can get that down to €25/mo if you sign up for 18 months.

Meteor €149 also on Billpay (surprise, surprise - same as e-Mobile)

For me, the e-Mobile offer was the best deal, so I signed up yesterday. Interestingly, the MMS settings still say my server is "Meteor"

3 are officially launching this today.

I can check the SIM-lock on my phone this evening.

So far, I really like it: only downsides are the web browser and some text entry/keyboard niggles. I saw a video of the new browser last week, and that made up my mind (the clip has been pulled since).

Is it unlocked please?

donkey balls · 01-11-2010 6:25pm

Jimmy could you post back what the ear phones are that came with the N8 and what is the speaker quality like.
Thanks DB

jimmynokia · 01-11-2010 6:53pm

donkey balls wrote: »

Jimmy could you post back what the ear phones are that came with the N8 and what is the speaker quality like.
Thanks DB

the inbox headphones as per usual with nokia leave alot to be desired
the speaker is loud LOL:D

podgeandrodge · 01-11-2010 7:42pm

Kenny Powers wrote: »

Ah no worries did it come in a nokia box someone on here was saying the ones in Nokia boxes are unlocked thinking of buying one online later myself.

problem is you could end up getting one from a newer batch which was sim locked? Risky to do online on that basis - at least in a shop you could look at the box first? Even still I would want to try another sim in it before I parted with the cash!

jimmy_t · 02-11-2010 9:45am

Jacky08 wrote: »

What about the apps's - uploading to Facebuke, You Chube etc:)

ohh and the music player

My last experience with Touch phones was with a Tocco but I'm due and upgrade and I just want a smart-phone with

good camera
good battery
good internet/browsing (use it on the train etc)
good music player

The camera is fantastic and in another league to any other smartphone, the battery is very good for a smartphone, should get 2 days with normal use, the internet badly needs an upgrade but its coming this month, opera will suffice in the meantime, its cheaper to use opera when on 3g anyway cos it compresses data before it is sent to your phone.
the music player is very good, nice cover flow like itunes, very simple to use.
Thers is no youtube app like there was on s60, i would guess its coming cos it was on s60 but thats only a guess, youtube plays fine through the web browser though but id prefer an app.
There is an array of social networking apps so im sure youll find something to your tastes there for facebook, i havent uploaded anything to it.
The ovi store seems to have plenty of interesting apps and im sure itll only get better as s^3 is very new and meego and s^4 will all share the same apps, but ive found it to be fine so far not great cos its missing youtube and skype and a few other big hitters too im sure but its fine.

On another note i said in a previous post that you could set opera as your default browser, but this hasnt worked out so well so you really are gonna have to wait til the new browser comes out at the end of the month for a browsing experience that can compete with other smartphones. Opera is still good though but has to be launched manually, i found.

Jimmy could you post back what the ear phones are that came with the N8 and what is the speaker quality like.
Thanks DB

the speaker quality is quite good i found, clear and crisp but theres only one speaker and its on the back so it will be muffled if you leave it on something soft, it hasnt bothered me yet though

i tested out the earphones driving home last night and was very surprised by how good they are, now let me just say i have never bought expensive earphones and am no music aficionado so in my humble opinion they were very good, i have used nokia earphones before and they always left a lot to be desired but these are well above your average. they are the type of ones that plug into your ear canal (which i had never used before so ive nothing to compare) and block out all external noise and the sound quality i thought was excellent, a much better experience than listening on my car radio even, i was very pleasently surprised and would find no need to buy more earphones but as i said i am no expert on earphones. The only thing about them is if you get a call the mic is on the button controller part of it which will be halfway down your body and youll have to pull it up to your face if you get a call or else have it attached up near your collar in the first place.

Jacky08 · 02-11-2010 11:40am

Fair play Jimmy - thanks for that

jimmy_t · 02-11-2010 12:15pm

Some tips i found on the net for n8 owners that help a lot:
First how to improve your textual experience:
This auto completes your word with a suggestion that you tap on or press the right key on the keyboard to select, very nice feature.

Launch Notes/Messaging and create a new one.
Rotate your N8 into landscape orientation. This MUST be done to access the proper settings.
Tap the '3 line' key between the forward arrow and return key.
Tap Input options>Activate prediction.
Again tap the '3 line' key.
Tap Input options>Settings.
In here tap to turn on word auto-completion, text correction level to high, and text correction mode to show suggestion.

I am not positive about the correction level at high, but it sounds good.

Second this changes the swipe from home screen to home screen to an instant flash between screens with no sliding or visual effects, its instant but not as pretty, if the lag annoys you it could be for you.

This will make Home screen swiping instant, removes perceived lag between screens. Go to Menu> Settings > Themes > General > Options > Theme Effects and select Off.

lolie · 02-11-2010 5:22pm

has any1 sign up with d n8 on emobile yet, if so is the phone unlocked? thinkin of goin for d 18 month 100mins & 100txts & free landline calls for €14, phone costs €149. bit worried bout signing up for 18 months though, not too worried bout phone breakin as i hear it fairly tough, more worried bout losin it on a saturday night;) on 3pay at minute but their prices for n8 are a rip off:)

jimmynokia · 02-11-2010 6:57pm

meteor have just stuck it up online

a whopping 459 PAYG :eek::eek::eek::eek:
from 39 euro on bill

irlpic · 02-11-2010 7:51pm

I phoned e-mobile today and i was told that they are expecting their first batch of N8 handsets next week.

At the moment they are taking contact details of those interested and will get back to you next week.

Their lowest monthly plan (select 100) will see the N8 priced similarly to the Galaxy S @ E149 ( he could not confirm this though 100%)

Select 100 plan priced @ E19 for eircom customers, offers - 100 mins any n/w calls, 100 any n/w texts, calls to landlines but no data download. A 1GB data add on is priced @ E9.99.

Dionysus · 02-11-2010 9:21pm

Looking at this in the Meteor store yesterday and the only colour they have for the Billpay is black: https://phones.meteor.ie/phones/nokia_n8/#what-you-get-tab

Bizzarely, Meteor offers grey as a colour if you're a PAYG customer: https://store.meteor.ie/phones/nokia_n8/#what-you-get-tab

Why would Meteor not give us a choice of colours? The N8 is available in five colours according to the Nokia website: http://events.nokia.com/NokiaN8/

jimmynokia · 02-11-2010 9:35pm

Dionysus wrote: »

Looking at this in the Meteor store yesterday and the only colour they have for the Billpay is black: https://phones.meteor.ie/phones/nokia_n8/#what-you-get-tab

Bizzarely, Meteor offers grey as a colour if you're a PAYG customer: https://store.meteor.ie/phones/nokia_n8/#what-you-get-tab

Why would Meteor not give us a choice of colours? The N8 is available in five colours according to the Nokia website: http://events.nokia.com/NokiaN8/

as always with nokia they release one or two colours first and the rest follow suits there is many complaints the uk regarding people ordering a certain colour and still have not received it,so given some time more will become available ,but thats another thing its whats available to the networks.....

Dionysus · 02-11-2010 9:43pm

jimmynokia wrote: »

as always with nokia they release one or two colours first and the rest follow suits there is many complaints the uk regarding people ordering a certain colour and still have not received it,so given some time more will become available ,but thats another thing its whats available to the networks.....

Ah. I never knew that. Thanks. How long usually would one have to wait for, say, the blue N8? Considering Meteor have one colour for billpay and one for PAYG, do you think if I asked for the PAYG colour for my bill phone phone they'd be amenable to the idea?

jimmynokia · 02-11-2010 9:54pm

Dionysus wrote: »

Ah. I never knew that. Thanks. How long usually would one have to wait for, say, the blue N8? Considering Meteor have one colour for billpay and one for PAYG, do you think if I asked for the PAYG colour for my bill phone phone they'd be amenable to the idea?

it would not be long before the blue is available,but weather meteor get it is another issue,as for the colours available now i dont know what will happen you might be able to if say the colour you wanted was out of stock for example ,again with meteor anything is possible im surprised they did not go for the orange one LOL

jimmynokia · 02-11-2010 10:01pm

i think that is a mistake by meteor dark grey and black are the same.there is only 5 colours available,blue,silver,green,orange and dark grey ,but the dark grey is more black looking .

podgeandrodge · 02-11-2010 10:44pm

any confirmation of sim free status from various networks??

irlpic · 03-11-2010 1:08am

jimmynokia wrote: »

i think that is a mistake by meteor dark grey and black are the same.there is only 5 colours available,blue,silver,green,orange and dark grey ,but the dark grey is more black looking .

Yeah, forgot to mention that the e-mobile guy today said that they will have the - as he put it "the creamy yellow colour" model in stock next week. Think he means the gold coloured model (may be green, hard to tell looking at the n8 mini-site).

Queerdub · 03-11-2010 2:03am

irlpic wrote: »

Yeah, forgot to mention that the e-mobile guy today said that they will have the - as he put it "the creamy yellow colour" model in stock next week. Think he means the gold coloured model (may be green, hard to tell looking at the n8 mini-site).

That's hilarious!! I've been advised by eMobile staff that they are launching in black and silver colours. They can't be getting the green one as that's exclusive to Vodafone...so that leaves blue and orange.

jimmynokia · 03-11-2010 10:47am

meteor update they have it online yet its not avaiable to buy online till next week or buy over phone another disaster and false advertisement

Adverts.ie: Eddie · 03-11-2010 10:53am

I'm just waiting for jimmynokia to post one of these on adverts.

jimmynokia · 03-11-2010 11:01am

Adverts.ie: Eddie wrote: »

I'm just waiting for jimmynokia to post one of these on adverts.

step ahead of ya i got a few do ya want one lol

DubOnHoliday · 04-11-2010 1:41pm

Just got mine yesterday, very happy with it, except for one issue, the radio... the reception seems to be crap, with the sound fading in and out repeatedly and thats in normally good reception areas. Anyone else have the same issue?

feelgoodinc27 · 04-11-2010 8:06pm

Has anybody used the fm transmitter or usb on the go? I'm wondering if it could be hooked up to a 1 TB external with its own power supply.

masker · 04-11-2010 9:47pm

wats the software feel like ? any review from any user

jimmynokia · 04-11-2010 9:55pm

its pretty good ,faster than previous s60 and good at multitasking

masker · 04-11-2010 9:58pm

i m using htc desire at the moment. was using iphone before that , how u compare it with android and ios

jimmynokia · 04-11-2010 10:10pm

android has faster web capabilities but you can install opera as your browser in the N8,everything else works just fine ,and there is new updates for the nokia web browser coming and some exciting apps i player angry birds on the N8 and is so smooth .

Thirdfox · 05-11-2010 1:19am

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

Just got mine yesterday, very happy with it, except for one issue, the radio... the reception seems to be crap, with the sound fading in and out repeatedly and thats in normally good reception areas. Anyone else have the same issue?

I suspect you need to turn off AF function on your radio (this is where the radio would automatically switch frequencies (micro-adjustments) when it feels the signal isn't strong enough - leading to a lack of sound for a few seconds).

At least, that's what happened with my 5800 - I just turned AF off.

jimmy_t · 05-11-2010 9:50am

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

Just got mine yesterday, very happy with it, except for one issue, the radio... the reception seems to be crap, with the sound fading in and out repeatedly and thats in normally good reception areas. Anyone else have the same issue?

No i listened to the radio on it for half an hour last night in the car on several different radio stations and reception was perfect, loved the feature where the title and artist of the song being played on the radio comes up on the screen!

feelgoodinc27 wrote: »

Has anybody used the fm transmitter or usb on the go? I'm wondering if it could be hooked up to a 1 TB external with its own power supply.

i can check out that for you this evening or over the weekend

masker wrote: »

wats the software feel like ? any review from any user

the software is quite good, little bits of lag every now and then but that could be just my handset, slow to rotate the screen too which can be annoying, not very annoying just a little annoying, widgets are brilliant, i have to say i love the home screens, definately better than iphone and imo also better than android, i love the way theyre circular (ie the end is the beginning), you can get 6 widgets or 24 apps on each screen so i dont see the need for more than 3 and each screen is only one swipe away. ovi maps is good. games are great, never any lag or issue, need for speed is very good and as jimmynokia said angry birds looks great and is great fun. music player is great. web browser is crying out for its update. battery life is really surprisingly good if you dont play games or use flash, if you do youll only get a day, writing messages can be annoying until you get used to it, keyboard layout is quite good and the prediction is great, yahoo email sync was seamless, so was th social app to facebook and twitter, camera is unreal, sync to wmp is very handy, file manager is good, loads of great little things about it and tasty features, i could go on for ages, very happy with phone, so to recap everything about it is between good to great except for: occasional lag, messenger can be annoying, and web browser needs an update. hopefully the next firmware will sort at least 2 of these out and itll become a really great phone but right now its a very good phone.

DubOnHoliday · 05-11-2010 11:47am

It turned out to be a user error on my part, hadn't forced the jack in far enough, now the radio is perfect. Thanks.

Sitec · 06-11-2010 11:43am

Bought the N8 yesterday on O2 PrePay, delighted with the phone. First smart phone and have to say it has everything I need on it.

The music player is great and the loud speaker is nice and clear. The FM transmitter is a nice feature too.

Camera is very good aswel as video.

Hardware is very well built.

Display is very nice.

Battery seems to be good the power saver mode is excellent.

I upgraded from a Samsung C3050 so this is a big improvement!

who_ru · 06-11-2010 3:41pm

hi guys,

what store, online or high street, seems to have the best price on the N8 to buy outright?

donkey balls · 06-11-2010 5:41pm

Lads whats the UI like on the N8 is it as fast as the iphone4?

Pete2k · 06-11-2010 7:44pm

Can anybody tell me if megavideo plays ok on the N8? Also, does tvpc.com channels work on it eg Fox, ABC, etc. I know it's not the full flash player on it so was wondering how it handles these. Thanks.

jeremyr62 · 07-11-2010 12:58am

I went into a O2 store in Limerick to look at a N8. I 'm on O2 billpay and I have a upgrade available at the lowest level so I could get it for euro289. However I don't realy need it... so I asked if it would be locked to the network as I wouldn't be buying it if it was. The sales assistant didn't exactly say that it would be, but that they would have to send away for the unlock code. They couldn't say when the unlock code would be forthcoming either. All seemed a bit odd to me. I was actually suprised that would offer to unlock it at all as I thought you had to have it for 12 months before they would do this. Makes me wonder why they lock them in the first place if they will offer to unlock them straight away.

vasch_ro · 07-11-2010 10:00am

Hi guys was just wonderig does the usb charging affect battery life as my phone keeps charging evrerytime I go to snych up my music etc
normally i would be fairly anal about letting the battery empty on my other phones before re charging but have not has a usb re-chargable phone before

Queerdub · 07-11-2010 3:25pm

jeremyr62 wrote: »

I went into a O2 store in Limerick to look at a N8. I 'm on O2 billpay and I have a upgrade available at the lowest level so I could get it for euro289. However I don't realy need it... so I asked if it would be locked to the network as I wouldn't be buying it if it was. The sales assistant didn't exactly say that it would be, but that they would have to send away for the unlock code. They couldn't say when the unlock code would be forthcoming either. All seemed a bit odd to me. I was actually suprised that would offer to unlock it at all as I thought you had to have it for 12 months before they would do this. Makes me wonder why they lock them in the first place if they will offer to unlock them straight away.

289 is a ridiculous price to pay on a contract. eMobile are charging 149 as far as I know on their lowest plan. I'll be getting it off them for 99.

The mobile networks, if they are customer oriented, will unlock a phone for a customer in a timely fashion. One is not paying the respective network only to use their network for the contract period. One pays them the initial contract associated price and the monthly fee for the calls/mins/data available. As far as I see it this is only two things - buying the phone on the basis of adhering to the agreed contract fee for the 12 or 18 months and getting calls/mins/data as well. Locked/unlocked should not come into it. Keeping a phone locked for a customer is very poor customer care, it goes completely against the customer's needs.

Given that the networks here charge ridiculous amounts for data roaming (and the media have engaged in a lazy analysis of this issue, not even mentioning the facts at hand) and the skyrocketing use of smartphones by the Irish market, there is no way they can hope to keep a customer on side by not unlocking the handset in question immediately when a customer asks for this. What would be the point of keeping a handset locked? There is no domestic financial benefit for a customer during the contract period so this really has more to do with their gouging of customers through their roaming pricing for which there is zero competition (with the exception of Three perhaps with their networks in other member states).

They get away with their gouging abroad because the media are not doing their job on this aspect of pricing and the public doesn't seem to use roaming that much. Roaming in the UK is cheaper than the rest of the EU so it would seem that where there is a real need for roaming the pricing falls. So the networks get to sit on their asses with regards to the rest of the EU. The Commission capping calls/texts slightly makes the roaming customer satisfied enough that he doesn't care to complain, and reduces the image of the networks as profiteers without anything done on the part of the networks - in fact they lobbied against any interference in their price gouging of roaming for calls/texts.

The media let the rip off from data roaming go completely under the radar. Why are they so lazy? Is it that they don't understand the facts? On the one hand we have the Commission caps in this area: 1. the wholesale cap of 80 cent up until 30.06.2011, then 50 cent on 01.07.2011. This is the maximum price the Irish networks have to pay the local operator for 1 megabyte of data. 2. The networks have to stop their customers from going over 60.5 eur of data roaming, unless the customer opts out of this cap. This means the profiteering is minimised, but the profiteering is not stopped at all. The networks still charge ridiculous amounts per megabyte: 02/Vodafone some 5/6 eur per mb, Meteor/eMobile 10.24 per mb. It's very strange the the Commission has gone for these wholesale caps rather than retail caps. They do nothing for the customer and allow the networks to make huge profits from each megabyte used.

So given the above, it would be stupid for any of the networks not to agree to unlock a handset at the request of a customer, and if the customer is aware of the ridiculous pricing they will demand for the handset to be unlocked and will get it unlocked easily.

Sorry for such a long rant.

jeremyr62 · 07-11-2010 7:02pm

Don't apologise, that was useful. I now see I can get the phone much cheaper by moving networks. I suppose my next question is, is this what phone/network savvy people do? Everytime their contract expires they move networks or negotiate with their existing network to get the phone cheaper and unlocked pretty much straightaway?

This has moved off the N8 so to keep it on topic the one I looked at in the O2shop didn't impress me as much as I thought it would. However I do like Symbian so if I don't get an N8 I will be getting the E7.

Dionysus · 07-11-2010 10:01pm

How good is the camera? What's the picture quality like and can you take photos in black & white, cool blue, sepia etc? I often find myself near something wanting to take a more panoramic photo. Is the lens on the N8 good for that sort of photo?

How long could you record for on it, and is the quality (picture and sound) excellent?

Thanks.

lolie · 08-11-2010 2:17pm

emobile now have the n8 on the website, picture of both the dark grey and the blue one but only have dark grey one in stock. hope their gettin in the blue one. if they do then im buyin:rolleyes:

kmart6 · 08-11-2010 3:11pm

Dionysus wrote: »

How good is the camera? What's the picture quality like and can you take photos in black & white, cool blue, sepia etc? I often find myself near something wanting to take a more panoramic photo. Is the lens on the N8 good for that sort of photo?

How long could you record for on it, and is the quality (picture and sound) excellent?

Thanks.

Google is always your friend.....there are some amazing pictures going around from the device!

podgeandrodge · 08-11-2010 8:55pm

Queerdub wrote: »

eMobile are charging 149 as far as I know on their lowest plan. I'll be getting it off them for 99. ........The mobile networks, if they are customer oriented, will unlock a phone for a customer in a timely fashion. ......Keeping a phone locked for a customer is very poor customer care, it goes completely against the customer's needs......

So given the above, it would be stupid for any of the networks not to agree to unlock a handset at the request of a customer,

Emailed Emobile - their response for unlocking is as follows:

"The procedure for requesting unlocking code is that you should have topped up by 130EUR as a registered pay as you go customer or pay the same amount in bills as a bill pay customer."

So if I go on a €14 a month plan do I have to wait 10 months to unlock? Or could I frontload them with an upfront €130 to cover the next 10 bills? That's what I've emailed them with and am waiting for response.

ps any update on unlock status of N8's from various networks i.e are they all unlocked anyway?

Queerdub · 08-11-2010 10:05pm

podgeandrodge wrote: »

Emailed Emobile - their response for unlocking is as follows:

"The procedure for requesting unlocking code is that you should have topped up by 130EUR as a registered pay as you go customer or pay the same amount in bills as a bill pay customer."

So if I go on a €14 a month plan do I have to wait 10 months to unlock? Or could I frontload them with an upfront €130 to cover the next 10 bills? That's what I've emailed them with and am waiting for response.

ps any update on unlock status of N8's from various networks i.e are they all unlocked anyway?

they will allow you to credit your account with 130eur and will unlock your handset straight away. That's what meteor did for me. But I'll give eMobile hell over this, i don't want to be putting money on my account without a fight. I feel very strongly on this unlocked handsets issue.

podgeandrodge · 08-11-2010 10:19pm

Thanks. Are you just assuming they would let people frontload their accounts because Meteor allow that or do you know Emobile do this in their own right?

Let us know how you get on!

jimmynokia · 08-11-2010 10:25pm

Queerdub wrote: »

they will allow you to credit your account with 130eur and will unlock your handset straight away. That's what meteor did for me. But I'll give eMobile hell over this, i don't want to be putting money on my account without a fight. I feel very strongly on this unlocked handsets issue.

why do you feel so strong? Most of the first batch of a new high end model is not branded either due to allow for immediate update with firmware or no time to produce the operator branding etc ,if you know somebody in 3 ask them see if they tell you or try slip another sim in voda was told to tell people they where locked so i would presume they all where,

Queerdub · 08-11-2010 10:51pm

podgeandrodge wrote: »

Thanks. Are you just assuming they would let people frontload their accounts because Meteor allow that or do you know Emobile do this in their own right?

Let us know how you get on!

assuming based on similar practices as they are both part of eircom. Will let you know

jeremyr62 · 08-11-2010 11:15pm

jimmynokia wrote: »

Most of the first batch of a new high end model is not branded either due to allow for immediate update with firmware or no time to produce the operator branding etc ,

Yeah, thats why I want an unlocked one. The new Symbian 3 models will be getting plenty of updates and I don't want to be locked to a network firmware that never gets updated (O2 E71 as an example). I realise this is not the same as being simlocked to a network but I don't want that either...

murfo · 09-11-2010 12:09pm

Dionysus wrote: »

How good is the camera? What's the picture quality like and can you take photos in black & white, cool blue, sepia etc? I often find myself near something wanting to take a more panoramic photo. Is the lens on the N8 good for that sort of photo?

How long could you record for on it, and is the quality (picture and sound) excellent?

Thanks.

camera is excellent, no default panoramic mode included but there is a free app on ovi called nokia panorama that allows you to take great panoramic shots through a guided ui. b&w, sepia, normal, and vivid are the default options for colour tone.

got this last wednesday from vodafone as an upgrade and its unlocked/unbranded

whirlpool · 10-11-2010 4:26am

The processor is 680Mhz, whereas a lot of smartphones are offering 1Ghz. Do any of you who have used the Nokia N8 feel that this processor speed has proved to be a hindrance in any way?

herrzeba · 10-11-2010 1:53pm

I was just talking with meteor customer service. They said if I want the phone to be unlocked as a first time Meteor bill pay customer they will do it after 2 months.

I am on pre pay now. I was told they can transfer my prepay balance into bill pay, I will be of course keeping my old number. When asked can I top up 2 months in advance to have the phone unlocked I was told NO. Because they want to see I'm a faithful customer and I'm paying my bills on time.

With Smart Plan 12-months contract 30€ a month including 1gb data handset costs 169.99€. This is almost this same price as Emobile, but Meteor still gives you free Meteor to Meteor txt and calls for a year. Overall if you don't spend more that you have on your bill pay plan after a year you end up paying € 530 (handset + 12x 30€) for Nokia N8 while pre pay handset costs €459 without any price plan. So it's definitely a good deal for Meteor customer.

I will check personally today in the shop about this unlocking issue.

Nokia N8 Megathread

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