Nokia N8 Megathread

wildefalcon · 11-12-2011 5:30pm

CyberGhost wrote: »

Of course I'm going to say the OS, but other than the OS, there is the hardware too, face it the 4S' camera might not be as good as the N8's but it's pretty damn close, and the 4S runs on the latest and greatest hardware, much faster than the N8.

The camera on the N8 is far superior, much better glass, and flash, as for the rest I don't really care what is inside it as long as it works - the phone is excellent, coverage is great, and the casing/hardware is very well engineered. Heavy use gets a day on the battery, occasional phone calls get 2 days.

As for the OS, uhhh, where do I start? First let's start with the updates, with iOS and the iPhone, you get a new version of the OS with the purchase and subsequently two extra annual updates, how are those updates coming along for the N8? Not very well.

I've had the phone for 6 months - 1 major update, and one due in the next month. Works for me.

Can you search in the music app on the N8?

Yes, there is a scroll function allowing one to scroll UP and Down to find a particular track, or album, or genre.

The keyboard is abysmal, it still does not have a multitouch support. When you are typing on the N8, you have to surgical.

Swype is superb, though it does require you to know the qwerty keyboard.

The cut, copy/paste is atrociously implemented.

select text, select cut, select app, select paste - atrocity? Not to me.

Photo viewer lags on the first pinch-zoom gesture, no kinetic panning when zoomed it the picture, no bounce effect(on both max zoom in and out).

Possibly true, but I've never found any problem showing the photos - the 12mega pixel photos, taken with a Carl Zeiss lens

Can Symbian even rotate to landscape to both sides or does it still not do that?

No, however I nave never found the need to stand on my head to use the phone - not a deal breaker for me, I can remember to turn the phone one way each time.

Nokia Maps go ruined, it's super basic now. Third party GPS applications aren't being updated anymore, in fact almost no applications are being updated anymore.

I've used it to cover Ireland, the UK and France - it works very well, covers driving, walking, superb lane management (essential on French motorways in a RHD car) updates on a regular basis, and is free.

There is a very basic design to the interface, which is deliberate and allows it to be used by a driver in a car when on the road. It is possible to access the complex stuff underneath if you need to.

Lots of things in fact got dumbed down since the S60v3 days.

So you got an FM transmitter, with it's crappy quality, who needs that?

I use it daily to listen to the internet radio on the ordinary radio - who needs a specialist dock?

The browser is horrible, so is the email client.

Opera is superb, the built in browser is reliable. Flash movies and the like play well in it. The email is basic, I agree, but so far I've found it sufficient, and not gone looking for an alternative.

Do you have Viber? Firefox Home? Groceries? Soulver? Adverts.ie app? Eirtext Pro? PlainText(Dropbox sync for notes)? Skype with video?

Skype with video is the only one of those I'd like, the rest I can just look up on Opera.

Can you easily set up Google services sync? Calendars, Contacts, Notes?

I don't know, as I don't use those, I don't fully trust Google with my personal stuff.

Everyone else has moved on while Nokia is still battling the 4 year old problems like a basic browser, smoothness and usability.

You guys don't even have an official Dropbox app. Symbian is a platform everyone is abandoning, it's sinking ship. The captain has jumped.

And contrary to a popular Symbian fan's belief, we CAN play DivX/Xvid/MKV/FLV and everything else on iOS.

Well done, I'm glad, Its not something I need but I think there is a "drop box" application available from the Beta Labs, a place where you can discuss the design of upcoming applications with the Nokia Developers. I agree the symbian platform has a great deal of history, but do you know what? It works.

As for the price, I'm quoting from well known sources, Expansys, everyone replies with "LOL, 400!!? no way" yet no one has showed a lower price. It's price is 400 euro, super overpriced.

I got mine free with a £20 per month contract -and am delighted with it. 6 months later, after a very hard life, it is as unblemished as it came of the box. I believe that the iphone can be purchased for a similar amount.

In general I have found your comments incendiary, and somewhat unnecessarily derogatory, and I worry that perhaps you are just a bit overcompensating? Or trying to provoke a response?

I fully agree that the iphone does a very good job with the user interface, it is a truly great example of a device designed to be used by people.

I would not agree that it is the best at everything, and I still consider the N8 a more capable phone. I can overlook some of the weaknesses in the user interface if the phone does what I want, which is act as a phone, take pictures, find my way home, allow me to look up stuff when I'm out and about.

Given a free choice, as I was when I bought the phone, I'd not pick another model.

Android is too fractured, and the support is too patchy, I'm too old and too busy to be mucking about with rooting in order to get the apps on it. I looked at the Galaxy II at the same time - the N8 won, hands down, on the structured nature of the OS - it was more mature, more finished, and more logical.

The UI on the iphone does appeal - there are superb design features I like, but the "locked in" nature of the apps, and the poor call and connection quality would really annoy me. I need a phone that works - if I can't talk to my customers I lose money.

I hope you enjoy your iphone, a great product indeed! If I didn't need a phone I'd seriously consider one - cheaper than an ipod touch!

wildefalcon · 11-12-2011 5:45pm

If I was to replace it through loss or damage, I'd get another N8. Unless the rumours of a replacement with Carl Zeiss optical zoom camera and even larger pixel count!

I'd have to get a bigger microSD card then.

Which reminds me, what's the largest microSD card the iphone can take? The N8 is limited to 32gb, I think.

jimmynokia · 11-12-2011 9:03pm

wildefalcon wrote: »

If I was to replace it through loss or damage, I'd get another N8. Unless the rumours of a replacement with Carl Zeiss optical zoom camera and even larger pixel count!

I'd have to get a bigger microSD card then.

Which reminds me, what's the largest microSD card the iphone can take? The N8 is limited to 32gb, I think.

the iphone does not take microSD cards.

Ive been a long fan of nokia and moved to android and doubt i will fully use nokia as my primary phone again,i have the N9 and lumia 800 and again limitations are failing me.
Now with windows im hoping to see some improvements been implemented with updates soon.
Currently i use the galaxy S2 as my primary phone and its just superb

wildefalcon · 11-12-2011 9:42pm

If it doesn't take MicroSD cards, then how do you add memory? Sounds odd. You must be mistaken.

Who'd buy a phone you couldn't add memory to? Even my 3720 had a MicroSD card, hell, even my trusty Palm Treo had a SD slot, and that was designed in the last century (still going - 8 days battery life).

jimmynokia · 11-12-2011 10:03pm

wildefalcon wrote: »

If it doesn't take MicroSD cards, then how do you add memory? Sounds odd. You must be mistaken.

Who'd buy a phone you couldn't add memory to? Even my 3720 had a MicroSD card, hell, even my trusty Palm Treo had a SD slot, and that was designed in the last century (still going - 8 days battery life).

i think if you actually look up specs on the iphone you will actually see i am not mistaken.

GreenWolfe · 11-12-2011 10:15pm

wildefalcon wrote: »

If it doesn't take MicroSD cards, then how do you add memory? Sounds odd. You must be mistaken.

Who'd buy a phone you couldn't add memory to? Even my 3720 had a MicroSD card, hell, even my trusty Palm Treo had a SD slot, and that was designed in the last century (still going - 8 days battery life).

I really thought you were joking there tbh. No, the iPhone doesn't take removable memory- you're stuck with whatever capacity you buy it with. Some of the latest Androids don't either like the HTC Sensation XL and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Wow, that troll really mucked things up. Let's get back to complaining about the Belle release date instead!

jimmynokia · 11-12-2011 10:34pm

EarthlyPangaea wrote: »

wildefalcon wrote: »

If it doesn't take MicroSD cards, then how do you add memory? Sounds odd. You must be mistaken.

Who'd buy a phone you couldn't add memory to? Even my 3720 had a MicroSD card, hell, even my trusty Palm Treo had a SD slot, and that was designed in the last century (still going - 8 days battery life).

I really thought you were joking there tbh. No, the iPhone doesn't take removable memory- you're stuck with whatever capacity you buy it with. Some of the latest Androids don't either like the HTC Sensation XL and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Wow, that troll really mucked things up. Let's get back to complaining about the
Belle release date instead!

Yeah well i seen that coming after the anna fiasco,i think nokia have put things on hold to support windows phones.

wildefalcon · 12-12-2011 10:39am

That iphone is more crippled than I thought, You couldn't store a large presentation on it, if you wanted to keep your music and maps, could you.

Well, I suppose if you had a large presentation you could just load it on to a USB stick and play it over the OTG USB cable, to the HDMI projector, like the N8.

Couldn't you? Otherwise the iphone would be little more than a toy, rather than a professional piece of kit.

[has the fanboi gone yet? I can go on!]

Davy · 12-12-2011 4:55pm

wildefalcon wrote: »

[has the fanboi gone yet? I can go on!]

Can we keep it about the phones rather than the poster. Im all for the debate just don't make it personal, thanks

G.U.R · 19-12-2011 1:42pm

hey, hopin for some help here.
I alway's set my phone's to save my pics to the memory card but some how i have pic's stored on my n8.

I cant seem to find a way to transfer these to the card. I dont have alot but there important. I'm due an upgrade soon and i always just popped my memory card into my new phone.

I'm sure its simple enough but i cant figure it out. Any help i would be very grateful

kmart6 · 19-12-2011 5:55pm

St connect it to your PC/Laptop...open Mass Memory and Memory Card....find the photos and transfer them over!

G.U.R · 20-12-2011 1:42pm

kmart6 wrote: »

St connect it to your PC/Laptop...open Mass Memory and Memory Card....find the photos and transfer them over!

thanks! I can manage that

lolie · 20-12-2011 11:05pm

kmart6 wrote: »

I'm after putting the latest CFW of Belle on my phone now...third version I've put on it!

I'd recommend it to anyone...it's really easy and will give you a new phone!!!

Hi kmart6. I'm half tempted to put the CFW Belle on my N8 over christmas. Did you find any negatives over Anna. Also did you see any downgrade in camera quality as some people have posted online? Thats the one thing that might stop me updating it.

kmart6 · 20-12-2011 11:57pm

Nah all positives really...a friend of mine in Ireland has one of my N8's but getting it back soon and soon as I do Belle's going on it...couldn't imagine using Anna again!

There was with one of the versions...but it's back to where it was the latest version!

lolie · 21-12-2011 12:13am

kmart6 wrote: »

Nah all positives really...a friend of mine in Ireland has one of my N8's but getting it back soon and soon as I do Belle's going on it...couldn't imagine using Anna again!

There was with one of the versions...but it's back to where it was the latest version!

Might hav a go with it next week.
If i had of know updates were gonna take so long i'd have bought i different phone but glad i didnt if just for the camera. How much improved is the browser, any flash?

wildefalcon · 23-12-2011 7:00pm

I've just been prompted to update my Nokia Suite - one of the touted benefits was the "Belle" update. It's on it's way! Any month now.

G.

zinzan · 23-12-2011 8:40pm

Belle for existing devices February 2012.

Belle

GreenWolfe · 24-12-2011 11:56pm

zinzan wrote: »

Belle for existing devices February 2012.

Belle

I read this, and imo next week, or next fortnight is soon. February 2012 is not 'soon' :mad:

GLOBAL - The all new Nokia Belle (previously Symbian Belle) user interface will soon be available for download to some existing smartphones and begin shipping with a selection of smartphones that are already on the market. Launched earlier this year with Nokia 701, Nokia 700 and Nokia 603 smartphones, the UI has received lots of positive feedback from our customers.
The enhanced versions of Nokia N8, Nokia C7 and Nokia C6-01 have now started their journey from the factories to the shops with Nokia Belle preinstalled, arriving first in China, then around the world.
For those already owning a Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia E6, Nokia X7, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7, and Nokia Oro, the wait for Nokia Belle is almost over. Starting in February 2012, Nokia will release the all new Nokia Belle software update to existing customers and you’ll be able to download it right on to your phone, bringing a whole heap of improved features.

Nokia Belle brings you more home screens, expanding the current three home screens you get with Nokia Anna to six. That’s more screen real estate to host your apps and widgets.
The home screen widgets have been improved and made more functional than before. Plus some of them, such as the email widget, give now much more information making reading emails much easier at a glance.
For more details on Nokia Belle, we’ve got all the facts, features and pictures in a previous post. And some answers to your questions about this post. Another answer has also been given to another claim.
Are you ready to make your current phone anew?

Andrew33 · 25-01-2012 5:40pm

Does anybody know how to get music from my laptop to my N8? If I rip a CD to laptop it's no problem but if I download an mp3 file the Ovi suite just completely ignores it.

kmart6 · 25-01-2012 6:18pm

In Nokia Suite(Ovi doesn't exist anymore), have the phone connected, go to the Music Player, then click on I think it's Edit or Files on the top left, select add files to collection, that'll let you browse your laptop for whatever music files you want to add!

Andrew33 · 25-01-2012 7:54pm

kmart6 wrote: »

In Nokia Suite(Ovi doesn't exist anymore), have the phone connected, go to the Music Player, then click on I think it's Edit or Files on the top left, select add files to collection, that'll let you browse your laptop for whatever music files you want to add!

Thanks kmart, I'll give that a go.

Nope, that didn't work. Songs are on my media player playlist on laptop but Nokia suite completely ignores them.

Davy · 25-01-2012 8:36pm

Andrew33 wrote: »

Thanks kmart, I'll give that a go.

Nope, that didn't work. Songs are on my media player playlist on laptop but Nokia suite completely ignores them.

You can sync very easily with windows media player.

ofcork · 25-01-2012 8:52pm

I used windows media wnen i had the n8,you just drag the tracks you want over to the right side and create a sync list and away you go.

cena · 01-02-2012 12:24pm

Is there a new verison of the nokia radio out. I can't get some of the stations to work that like listen to.

mollser · 02-02-2012 11:46am

http://community.o2online.ie/t5/General-Handset-Questions/Handsets-Coming-Soon-to-O2/td-p/327956

I see O2 have approved the Symbian Belle update - good to see that they seem to be on top of this one. Must be iminent at this stage...

Italia · 07-02-2012 3:32pm

Nokia Belle is here.
Downloaded and installed it - 194Mb.
Installation smooth, no hiccups.

First impressions are...awesome update. Very smooth. Feels like a new phone. A hint of 'Android-like' appearance. Maybe where the N8 should ghave been at launch!!

Just a word of caution - when installing Belle, it wipes out the C drive/partition.
Some stuff is backed up, but any applications installed to C, will be deleted. I lost Profimail, Skype and a couple of other apps. Some of the deleted apps will no longer install (nice message to this effect at OVI store).
Also, any custom folders that you create, will be deleted. I created a folder on one of the homescreens, to hold all my games ....gone.

There are a few other quirks that I haven't figured out - like how to set 'meeting' profile from he main homescreen. The pulldown menu gives me the option of silent or general profile, but not meeting.

g0g · 08-02-2012 12:31am

Italia wrote: »

There are a few other quirks that I haven't figured out - like how to set 'meeting' profile from he main homescreen. The pulldown menu gives me the option of silent or general profile, but not meeting.

You can put a "Profiles" widget on your homescreen!

Some of my issues so far:

GMail ap is gone and I can't find it anywhere online to replace! Anyone got a link? I thought it was m.google.com/mail but can't find anything there!
Why can't you have different Favourite Contact bars? If I add a second it's the same contents as the first! I'm trying to create a home screen of contacts! The individual contact widgets are a good bit bigger each!
Don't seem to be able to delete conversations by long pressing them before you open them - I had this in the past.
All my profile settings, bluetooth devices etc seem to have been deleted - a bit frustrating!
Can't find the notifications widget anywhere - I really liked that on Anna

Overall though it's running very smooth and I'm happy! Haven't had a proper look around yet so might resolve some of the above. I like the browser it seems different and faster!

kmart6 · 08-02-2012 5:30am

Typical of Meteor and not surprising....

JonnyM · 08-02-2012 12:30pm

how or where can i download 'belle' from??

g0g · 08-02-2012 12:33pm

Next weird thing noticed - photos are stored differently on the mass memory now - new directory structure

Nokia N8 Megathread

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