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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
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Nokia Lumia 800 review
Reviewing the Lumia 800 is a hard and, dare I say, unprecedented task. Never before have we seen a phone like Nokia's N9 — a benchmark setter in some design aspects, yet a complete dead end in terms of software ecosystem — and now the 800 arrives ensconced in a nearly identical physical body. How do you begin to grade a device that feels, superficially at least, like a cuckoo — a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another? Well, you probably start by dispensing with such romantic notions and treating the Nokia Lumia 800 as what it is: a Windows Phone 7.5 handset with a competitive, if unremarkable, spec sheet and the full backing of Nokia's engineering, development, and marketing might.
The similarities shared between Nokia's Harmattan and Windows Phone devices aren't actually the most pertinent topic of inquiry here. What will truly matter to end users of the Lumia 800 is how much of an upgrade this new flagship phone represents relative to previous, Symbian-powered generations of Nokia hardware and, potentially, the rest of the current Windows Phone crop. Whether you're actively contemplating jumping aboard the good ship Microkia or just a curious onlooker, read on for all the answers.
Comments
A beautiful review for a beautiful phone!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:16 AM EDT reply Recommend (83) Flag actions
Amen to that.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:17 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Vladasaurus, I think you are seriously pushing for being the best reviewer at The Verge… and I say The Verge has the best tech reviewers on the ’net.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:07 PM EDT reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Think tnkgrl takes that crown.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:17 PM EDT reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
tnkgrl FTW
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 11:32 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
would love to see her brought into the fold!
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 1:47 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
tnkgrl is the senior mobile editor for engadget right now.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 4:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That didn’t stop the rest of the team from coming over ;)
I still listen to Engadget Mobile podcast btw. She hosts it now and I forget the guy’s name who’s on it now.
Posted on Nov 08, 2011 | 11:59 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
NO to tnkgrl pls.
Posted on Nov 09, 2011 | 12:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You know, it’s interesting, the last two or three weeks I’ve listened to her on the podcast, I am with you now. She has been just raging, absolutely raging about stuff on there, throwing a lot of profanities. I don’t mind that in the least, but when it just comes from anger about the companies you are reviewing, it gets old.
Posted on Nov 23, 2011 | 6:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Just adding a comment that Internet Sharing/Hot Spot capability might be turned off in some local operator specific customizations – Nokia is known to do that with other systems as well. So may be need to double check on that.
Otherwise yes, a beautiful review for a beautiful phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:41 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yep. If you check Windows Phone news, you’d know that even now, carriers are still rolling out updates to enable it. As far as I know, all devices have it – it’s just hidden until your carrier sends an update.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:03 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
And the best videos!
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 9:30 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Totally agree, nice work Vlad.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:20 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I love that all the articles on the Verge look magazine like!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:20 AM EDT reply Recommend (28) Flag actions
It makes the texts much more pleasant to read! :D
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:27 AM EDT reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
I actually think the Verge’s emphasis on looking like a magazine hurts readability and navigability, at least on desktop computers. The whole thing feels like it’s really intended for tablets (or paper), and the UX on normal desktop computers just isn’t as good as conventional blogs. It’s funny that a bunch of iOS fans made, effectively, the Android 1.6 of tech sites.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:07 AM EDT reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
Vergers, You did a great job with this project and I’m glad i stuck with you since you left engadget. But i have to agree with @Arbee’s, the site is difficult to read and navigate on my Mac, but better in on my tablet.
On the desktop it looks very clouted with too much information. I would be good to keep only a few topics with pictures not every single thing.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:13 AM EDT reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
I’ll have to disagree with you and Arbee. The abundance of pull quotes and photos makes it easy to skim articles on the desktop and get the gist of it. I find the frequent breaking up of text by shifting its justification to move the eye and prevent fatigue. The page is visually interesting, like a good photograph should be.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:16 AM EDT reply Recommend (23) Flag actions
Well.. this is way makes us human. we all see things differently so you are entitled to your opinion.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:21 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I’m with Arbee’s with this. When you first click on the article, you see this HUGE! pic of the phone (and article title). You then have to scroll down a quarter of the page just to start reading content. Seems a little overwhelming at first sight.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:23 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Again, nobody can agree on anything! haha
When I clicked the article and was greeted w/ a high-res photo, I thought it was a nice way to introduce the review!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:48 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Oh, it looks great, but I think 30 years of GUI design has revealed that looking good doesn’t translate to optimal usability. Like I said, the Verge has a perfect design for paper, or iPad. It just doesn’t translate as well to conventional web browsers.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:02 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
That’s not a problem. Just visit mobile.theverge.com on gour desktop and you will be greeted to a near perfect experience – save for the wide paragraph formating and huge pictures
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:25 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Yeah I like the big picture also. I can understand why some folks see the front page as a little distracting but I simply can’t agree with any criticism of how these reviews are laid out.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:57 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It’s very slow loading. For instance, on 3g data on my CR48, the review is far far too slow loading and heavy. I really love the design, but it’s so heavy that it makes it hard to bear clicking from page to page.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:12 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The Cr48 can be slow at loading many graphic-heavy sites. You shouldn’t be using that as your measuring stick, especially on Verizon’s relatively slow 3G. How do I know these things, you ask? I’m typing from my Cr48.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:47 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I find it to be a very pleasant and readable design. when I arrive at a blog post with tons of text, I find it to be overwhelming and visually just boring. the articles here at The Verge, however, are visually stimulating. because the text is broken up by photos and other design elements, it doesn’t seem like an overwhelming task to read it all.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:26 AM EDT reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
I actually “read” the Verge in Google Reader now. The desktop version is painful.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:59 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
this site’s layout is so bad…….. i love these guys but the site is just…. painful to read.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 11:33 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
+1
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 11:54 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m not sure what browser / OS you’re using, but the site is very readable and navigable on my laptop. And it works stunningly well on my iPad.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 8:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
navigability what?, i am using two fingers only in this site.
This is best “easy looking” yet beautiful lay out for a tech site so far, at least for me.
Intended for paper or tablets? try to make your screen grayscale with this site, it is still look beautiful ;)
Posted on Nov 07, 2011 | 3:59 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I think it is an amazing design.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:22 AM EDT reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Not to be critical, but this is how to design a website properly (forget about your bias for a second). The Verge could learn quite a bit from these guys.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:54 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Not to be critical, but this is how to design a website properly (forget about your bias for a second). The Verge could learn quite a bit from these guys.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:55 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I am pretty sure if I use the Verge RSS on Flipboard, my iPad would start peeing rainbows
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 9:48 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Exactly! Beautiful charts and elements.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 5:47 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
BTW Vlad Nokia says that Internet Sharing is coming for the lumia 800 and 710
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:23 AM EDT reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
They can only review on the product they have, not what’s coming or what should be there.
Posted on Nov 08, 2011 | 7:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It truly is :) Joanna, I have one suggestion, can you cycle through the images in the slideshow by default? This would be cool so for example, I scroll down to the display part of the review and it automatically cycles through all the images without me having to click next next. Kinda futuristic :)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:23 AM EDT reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
agreed, but I love the review style anyway, it’s awesome :)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:28 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
That would be awesome…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:33 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
That would be fantastic!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:30 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’d get one if it had the front facing camera. Leads me to think that, Lumia 800 is an excellent item to buy Nokia time. It was to show what they can do when pushed. The next one will show what they’ll do when they’re comfortable!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:34 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Amen
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:36 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The metro UI and Nokia hardware to make a great looking combo, shame about the other shortcomings. Great review.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:57 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I appreciate your quest to be as correct as possible, but I must protest the exaggerated precision of your scoring. I understand that it is easier for the reviewer to grade a device this way, but the TOP devices of today, the iphone and the galaxies and the rest are not 8.x and respectively 7.x devices. They are all better than the perception that the “average grades” 7 or 8 convey.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:13 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Could you guys offer a more standardized battery test for smartphones and tablets? You have one for notebooks, so why not for these devices, too? I don’t like seeing this in reviews " I used the phone for about a day, while checking my e-mails, doing some calls, and some browsing".
That doesn’t tell me anything. Plus, there are multiple reviewers, and each of you uses the devices differently, so it’s hard to compare them accurately.
It would be nice if you could do a standardized performance test, too. I’m talking about real tests, not using synthetic benchmarks. This one might be harder to do than the battery one, since you probably can’t use the same apps across platforms, but I’m sure you can find a better way than simply saying “this phone feels fast” or “this phone feels VERY fast”.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 8:46 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Agreed. Off the top of my head I can think of an app that calculates Pi to a hundred digits and returns the time it took. Flash could be a good benchmark as well.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 1:35 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The review is superb. I am not sure about the phone considering objectively that Mange does not offer 60% of the features N9 or any other Symbian Belle phone has.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 2:52 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great review. An awesome OS combined with this sick hardware makes a very nice phone. I’ll wait for the N9 before deciding what if I should buy.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:17 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’m loving the display but I wonder how big a problem a missing gyroscope would be. No FFC I can live without…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:17 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It has accelerometers, and a compass which, due to the Microsoft API’s, the end user will never know the difference. The way that MS wrote those API’s, the dev bascially has a few lines of code to put in and all of the calculations are done for them to make it all appear seamless and a consistant experiance from one device to the next. whether they have gyros or not. This is really a minor thing.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:22 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
There arent many apps that take advantage of the gyroscope on WP 7.5. Maybe with the arrival of WP8 (Apollo) it will be utalised. For now a 3D accelerometer will work just fine. Complete agree with you on the FFC, i can never see myself using one, actually i have never seen anyone use one… in the UK anyways.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Nokia seems to be off to a great start with WP. We need the competition in this market!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:18 AM EDT reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
I don’t think so, Tim.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:35 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Oh, my. You were a bad, bad Borland…
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:40 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
If I ever switched from an iPhone, it would be for this phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:19 AM EDT reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
And if I ever switched from Android this would be my next phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:21 AM EDT reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
Tell me about it, between the design and the interface I would consider jumping ship from Android to this.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:32 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Agreed, but that’s just the problem of this phone.
People that love well-designed phones, a great camera, and a fluent and easy-to-use OS will have to choose between this and the iPhone. And as for now, the iPhone has a big lead with it’s ecosystem (not only apps, but also accessories).
IF i ever switched from the iPhone, which I probably won’t…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:23 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Also, I think this interface is more complicated than an iPhone interface, though it is nice looking
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:25 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
No… WP7 is not more complicated, its a very intuitive and by most accounts, far less complicated than either iOS or Android. New? Different? yes…. complicated, absolutely not.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:25 PM EDT reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
If you’ve drawn this conclusion without playing around a bit with the UI, you should. Especially with MS and Nokia stepping up the advertising there should be WP7 booths for you to test out the OS soon.
WP7 UI isn’t complicated. The UI is one of the most loved elements amongst those at the Verge for a reason.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:10 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Let’s just say that it’s good to know that you have a plan B.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:56 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Me too. I love the way this phone looks, and the way Windows Phone looks (never thought I’d say that about an MS product) but I have too much invested in the iOS ecosystem now, and iCloud just makes it even ‘stickier’.
I’m too happy with iOS right now to switch, but it is nice to know there are other good options out there.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:50 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I always feel a bit creeped out by the idea of being too invested in a certain ecosystem to the point that I can’t choose an alternative. : \ Probably one of the reasons I’m not a big fan of Apple.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:13 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
At last, Great review. 13 days left.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:20 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Thanks for the great review! And the hardware alone makes me lust after this thing.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:20 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
so why is the video posted in youtube…my great corporate firewall doesn’t let me go there
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:20 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Hi mcrommert. Video was changed. Check it out!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:48 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It blows me away how beautiful WP7 is every time I see it.
As stated before me, if developer support ever picks up for this, and there’s one piece of absolutely gorgeous hardware, I’d consider switching from my 4S.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:21 AM EDT reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
Totally disagree regarding the UI, it looks like a feature phone UI to me. I’m not happy that Microsoft is bringing this to Windows 8.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:27 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I think I might just be a freak for beautiful typography and text heavy operating systems.
Probably in the minority.
But I agree about Windows 8.
I see the Metro style translating well on tablets to a degree, but keyboard and mouse desktop environments would seem like a nightmare.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:08 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The typography is attractive, but white text on highly saturated colour blocks is not, or at least not for very long. Don’t even get me started on the icons, the Internet Explorer icon is not something I ever want to see on my phone, it does not summon happy feelings.
I give MS props for producing something different to iOS, but that doesn’t mean I’d want to spend time looking at it.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:14 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Dont worry, IE in 2011 is a far cry from internet explorer 6 that you remeber before switching to firefox!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:30 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Perhaps, but I’m scarred for life. It’s like a guy who had half his face eaten by chimps is gonna freak out when faced with a Bonobo.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:28 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I had a WP7 device (LG) but it turns out the Marketplace is not available worldwide. That made me return the phone. I was so pissed.
My account couldn’t be used to access it. I had to make a US Hotmail account to be able to reach it but couldn’t buy anything.
The overall experience seemed right, but the hassle to get it to work as I intended made me return it and stick to my Nexus S.
The good thing is that ICS will kick ass, and if I kept the WP I would have tossed it away in December :-P
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:52 AM EDT via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
totally with you on that one. the Metro UI has intrigued me ever since I saw the first screenshot of it, and having owned a Samsung Focus since March, my opinion still holds. the Marketplace has a long way to go before it feels as robust as that of iOS or Android, but I’ve already found it to be a very pleasant experience.
there’s just something about Windows Phone 7’s homescreen and lockscreen that I can’t get over.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:38 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great review Vlad. And no London flat is complete with a Henry!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:21 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Oh darn it. You mentioned the Henry first…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:33 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I think it’s a fantastic first effort for Nokia, and I hate to nitpick, but my my, the app font on the box is absolutely hideous.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:21 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I dunno if I’d call that boxy-ass UI “attractive.”
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:21 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Using it makes it attractive. Is difficult to explain, but the smoothness and ease of use kinda fits the squares…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:54 AM EDT via mobile reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Not a fan of Tetris, then?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:59 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
As always, it’s completely subjective, and the majority of people that see it, love it.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:25 PM EDT reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
When I first the UI of Windows Phone 7 I thought it was a joke. I had lived in world of icons, icons and icons. But when you use it you will fall in love with it, just like I did :)
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 8:17 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Only getting audio from the videos in the review via iPad, just seeing a black screen!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:23 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m sorry but that is one FUGLY phone …I know its got its fans but that UI really does look dated to me.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:24 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
says the dude with the apple next to his name..hehe
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:25 AM EDT reply Recommend (33) Flag actions
I find dated the already OLD iOS icons, handles, etc. The faux 3D and materials have been removed even from Leopard. Brushed metal is already dismissed from every design decision. Photorealistic icons can’t afford to hide the fact that you just have an App launcher as your homescreen. Completely unintuitive and ancient paradigm.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:57 AM EDT via mobile reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
An app launcher seems entirely intuitive, actually.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:58 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
yeah for the 1990’s maybe
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:29 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Must be why OSX desktop is usually displayed with tonnes of icons… oh wait.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:19 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Why does everything have to be NEW NEW NEW? I guess iPhone icons are 4 years old but still, if something is good, it doesn’t need fixing every two months!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:18 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Having a grid of static icons is not the best solution, period. Having a grid of static icons to complement some dynamic content would be fine, but that is not the case (no, I do not consider a restrictive notification centre to be a whole solution).
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:08 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The alternative is a grid of icons, and folders to batch up more icons. I guess I prefer a phone that integrates, not one that is used to simply launch apps.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:27 AM EDT reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Exactly.. these tiles arent just static their ALIVE and integrated as a part of the OS. Press one to immerse yourself beyond what the tile shows into all the things you care about!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:31 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
It’s more than that. There’s deep linking to jump into specific parts of apps, and multiple tiles per app. These are what sets Tiles apart from widgets – they are tied to and extend the usefulness of an app.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:09 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The minamilist design of Metro is actually ultra modern imo.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:39 PM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
This is a fantastic review Vlad, and the phone is freaking awesome. I want it so badly. It makes me wanna sell my iPhone 4 and buy one. For the first time the hardware is as beautiful as Windows Phone 7. Nokia have done a great job and once again great review! The Verge is where it’s at!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:25 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The main problem is that Windows Phones are the IF I switch from …. OS. Somehow that needs to change before it can become big.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:25 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Your opinion of the direction WPs need to go is correct. But phones like this will take them far towards that goal, and with enough purchases will create the ecosystem they desperately need.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 9:00 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Thank you for the review! Still, I think you are being too nice with that 7.8 score. (Especially with that 8 for software and a 7 for that camera ).
Some notes:
The hardware seems great, but the camera seems surprisingly bad.
WP7 looks really weird to me, though the homescreen is clean, there’s a lot of not used space. Bing search results in the photo look horrible, just blocks of dumped text.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:25 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Screenshots don’t do it justice. And not used space =/= bad. Whitespace creates calm, and that’s good.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:19 AM EDT reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
Nope, don’t try to explain the Rule of Thirds to people, they don’t want to understand it nor care for it. They really don’t want to know that things look better when they’re offset instead of centered.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:25 AM EDT reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
sigh sadly you’re right. few people care or understand this.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:18 PM EDT reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Damn, you beat me to it.
As a one-time copy/layout editor I really appreciate Metro’s design.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:31 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I agree about the camera, at least. I guess I’m not sure what I was expecting, but Nokia’s reputation for having excellent camera optics was a large part of why I was excited to see WP7 on Nokia. I’m still hopeful that a Nokia superphone for the American market will have a camera that lives up to the hype, but the camera on the Lumia 800 just isn’t doing it for me.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:36 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
No front facing camera is kind of a fail at this point…. They don’t compensate for its absence either
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:28 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
do you video call? you must or this wouldnt be a fail point for you right?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:33 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
How is this phone getting a higher rating than the galaxy s II? It has a less developed OS, significantly inferior specs, and (depending on taste) equally good looks. I know Vlad loves Nokia but come on man, this phone and OS is cute, it’s just not there yet
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:29 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Most differences in specs (at least processor speed/type) don’t matter across OS’s…1.4GHz is plenty for WP7 at this point…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:38 AM EDT reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
This argument will be useless when the Focus S comes out. It will still have better specs, because of its front facing camera.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:54 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
so i guess you video call alot to. Or the lack of a FFC wouldnt be an issue. right?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:35 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
To be specific, he apparently needs video call ON THE GO. A webcam isn’t very expensive and a very good investment if you spend a lot of time chatting to distant friends/family.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:11 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Let me guess: You have a Galaxy S II. It’s okay, it’s not a bad phone. But you have to understand people tend to like what they have a lot more than people who review things for a living do.
The phone has a very different OS from Android, with much smoother graphics and animation, a more sleek, modern look to it, and all sorts of different approaches to problems. The phone also has a fast processor combined with an OS that doesn’t slow down very easily.
The looks is entirely subjective, of course, but I think the Lumia 800 will be remembered (in terms of looks) much longer than the S II, mainly because the S II already has the iPhone 4 to live up to. (whether you consider it stealing or not, the S II shares a lot of things with the iPhone 4, like the S I before it did with the 3GS).
Also, this is a one-of-a-kind phone. It’s not an Android phone where each design is made four times by different companies and each screen size is being used simultaneously. This phone is much more unique than most Android phones by merit of having a smaller following.
I like this thing. It’s subjective, but I think it’s nice. The S II is evolution, this, in my opinion, is a start of something new.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:50 AM EDT reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
you have bad taste, this looks miles better the galaxy s2
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:53 PM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
This looks like something Fisher Price could try to sell. I think it’s among the ugliest smartphones in the market, maybe he’s on the same boat (and most people seem to love the design, so we probably are the weird ones).
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 8:31 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Weirdo.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:11 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I’m not sure which you haven’t used – the SGSII or WP7, but I can take a wild guess. The fact of the matter is, the SGSII – still – after all this time, running a DUAL CORE processor, still has that Android lag to it. To some, it’s not noticeable, but to people that use WP7 or iOS, it’s completely noticeable.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:28 PM EDT reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
This phone is drop dead gorgeous.
It almost compels me to leave my GalaxySII and return to Nokia, and embrace Microsoft.
But alas… not yet. Windows Phone must mature first
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:29 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Mature how? I’ve heard that word used a lot but no one actually says how they want it to Mature.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:18 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
More Apps maybe ? Because most other services are there (with the nokia phones at least, you know, navigation and music store/stream/radio plus the live services of MS).
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:38 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
WP has the fast growing app market of all platforms…. give it another year and it will be way on the way to 100,000. Plus most of the popular apps people use on other platforms are already in the Marketplace
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:37 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Key point: give it another year. The selection is still slightly lacking – good enough for me, but I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:12 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I think that is a catch phrase to a lot of people, meaning “until all my friends approve of it”.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:39 PM EDT reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
I’m sure with something as slick as the 800’s design it will compel ones friends to approve it. I could be wrong.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:27 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Fantastic Review! Seriously very impressed with The Verge it truly is the tech news site of my dreams, awesome job everyone!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:30 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
The hardware make me long for a unibody iPhone. I love my iPhone 4’s Glass-sammich-look but I’d be remiss if the idea of a iMac/iPod Nano like body for a phone didn’t get me excited.
I’d be all over this phone if I didn’t find WP7 less than amazing.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:30 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This is my next phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:31 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I know score doesn’t mean anything but why only 7.8 when N9 got 7.9?
And why it got only 9 points for design whereas N9 got 10?
Just look at the score comparsion: http://i.imgur.com/12XpR.jpg
Anyhow, great review Vlad!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:32 AM EDT reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
1st time impression maybe? I would knock it down too if the exact same physical design was used for another OS… I would check if they knocked down the iPhone4s design but I’m not that interested.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:34 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It’s hard to tell, becouse iPhone 4 review is not avaiable on The Verge, but 4S got an 8.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:37 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The 4S got an 8.6, actually.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:58 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I meant for design, not the overall mark ;)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:02 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’d knock it down for having no front-facing camera, no 1080p, limited CPU/GPU for gaming, and more specifically, it lacks the 64GB the N9 had…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:59 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
A big question is how on earth did the Lumia 800 score lower than the N9 for battery life? The Lumia 800 has a significantly better battery life than the N9
Lumia 800 battery life:
“Up to 13 hours talk time
Up to 7 hours video”
N9 battery life:
“Up to 11 hours talk time
Up to 4.5 hours video”
source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/nokia-lumia-800-vs-nokia-n9-the-tale-of-the-tape/
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:58 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Those scores are not based on any objective measure. They lack a scale, what renders any numerical scores meaningless.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 8:34 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Assuming Engadget got the specs from Nokia, you think they are flat-out lying?
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:13 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
No. Of course not. What I meant was that Verge ‘s scores are meaningless, because they didn’t set any kind of scale, and therefore, Battery life:=7 and battery life:=8 are both meaningless numbers, I didn’t mean to say Nokia’s numbers were lies.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 5:30 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Review says N9’s buttons are laid out better, and the speaker is better placed
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:04 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The design of the N9 is slightly different.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:06 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
possibly the buttons were not as good on the 800 as the N9, he mentioned the volume rocker didnt feel great.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:42 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I always find statements like this suspect. In any manufacturing process, you have devices that make it through that aren’t up to standard, so it could be this one device could be the 1 in 1000 that has a slightly loose switch. So I always take statements like that with a grain of salt.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 11:19 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
N9 designed a damn FFC.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:32 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I would think the drop would be justified by the fact that the N9 runs an OS with shapes and icons that mirror the soft round edges of the hardware whereas the Lumia 800 runs an OS dominated by sharp edged tiles. Since day one I’ve been hoping to see WP hardware that mirrors the aesthetics of the OS, sort of more like the Zune HD or the rendering of a fictional generic WP device that they use in presentations and whatnot.
Posted on Nov 08, 2011 | 8:01 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What a beautiful phone, too bad they nixed the front facing camera. Second, Microsoft needs to start integrating NFC services into their software, and quick.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:32 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It’s coming soon, probably going to see it in the upcoming Tango update. Nokia is pushing them hard to include it, so I am sure that they will. Even though “Tango” is going to be a minor update, it should be here in the first part of 2012.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:44 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I believe Vlad was the wrong person to let review this phone, but that’s just me. His irrational love for the N9 has impact on this review.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:34 AM EDT reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
There’s nothing irrational about loving the N9. In fact, I think both the N9 and Lumia 800 should have gotten higher scores. It’s very refreshing to see something different for once.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:36 AM EDT reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
My point was that he subtracts points from the Lumia 800 just because it looks like the N9, while the 4S gets points because “it’s still beautiful!” .
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:38 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The 4S didn’t take the design of the 4 then add some buttons, remove the front facing camera etc. etc. etc. Keeping a design constant is ok, but making it worse loses you points – what else should it do?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:17 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Yeah, even better… the design between the 4s and 4 are identical!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:46 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Glad you mentioned what I was thinking as I read this article: iphone receives a complete pass, if not a bonus for remaining identical to to its 16 month old previous version, but this phone gets marked down for looking too much like the last, even though it has changes. Over all a good review though.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 9:25 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
i don’t understand his outlandish affection for this phone and harmattan/wp7 when he does the galaxy nexus first hands on and acts like it’s nothing new and is the only person ever to claim that the software is laggy…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:47 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’m actually complaining about that his love for the N9 is hurting his views on the 800. This should’ve had more points, imo.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:56 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It seems inferior to the N9 hardware-wise…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:00 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The processor is actually better, it’s missing the FFC and NFC, but otherwise, why did it lose a point for design?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:06 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It loses a point for design because it’s clear the design doesn’t quite meld with the OS.
The N9 design philosophy & body it borrows, was intimately designed from the ground-up to relate to Harmattan.
As/if Nokia integrates much more of their own apps/UX, the “melding” will happen.
I’m not sure if that’s what loses it the point though, there’s many other reasons.
N9 hw advantages:
*BT4.0 (PR1.1)
*FMTX/RX (community solution almost done)
*FF cam (Peregrine/PR1.1)
*Pentaband
*1GB RAM
*64GB RAM
*NFC
*3.9" (& slightly higher PPI)
*The N9’s CPU clock-for-clock is actually better performing (slightly).
*no doubt I’m forgetting something.
Considering N900 was easily OC’d 60% on avg.
And that N9 is a 45nm die-shrink (plus few other subtle improvements) of the same CPU.
It should quite easily/comfortably OC to 1.4Ghz.
GPU’s overall performance is about the same for both phones.
N9 has a diff.
more priceymanufacturing process for body, YTBC if it makes a difference w/radio RX/TX.Subtle differences in camera modules, exact/all details YTBD.
As per review, much of the sw & underlying algorithms for photos & vids, is still better on the N9.
Lumia’s hw advantages:
*1.4Ghz CPU (this is debatable though)
*Dedicated camera button (N9 will have one of it’s button re-mapped for that purpose easily enough)
Lumia’s a decent phone, but there’s some substantial sw/hw diff’s that justify a higher score for the N9.
N9 had a a lot knocked off it already, because of the uncertain future of the OS/related-ecosystems.
Nokia Ace “may” close the gap… but it remains to be seen…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:53 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
man this forum sw blows, verge needs to get rid of it quick-smart.
Else im not hanging around, eeeiiiww….
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:55 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
800 also has slightly higher capacity battery.
YTBFC if it translates to a real advantage in rw usage for most users.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:57 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Oh & N9 has better Audio DSP/DAC, which includes DD/DH etc.
I’m sure there’s other stuff I’m forgetting…
But my point is the 800’s clearly not targeted at the very top-end.
That will probably come with the Nokia Ace (900/901).
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:05 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
… Only… person…. ever…. Android… software… laggy??? Have you met internet?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:30 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Would you not agree that Android is laggy? Even on the GS2? My sister has one, I see it clearly.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 8:04 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
VLAAAAAAAAAD, great review mate.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:34 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
If it weren’t for the Galaxy Nexus, I’d just get this.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:34 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Can someone explain to me how this got a lower score than the N9! i know its only 0.1 but still, they are pretty much the same hardware and WP7 is arguably a better OS than MeeGo.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:36 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I would argue Harmattan is a better OS than WP, because it is. As for the UI, well i guess thats down to personal preference.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:29 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
But one OS has a future and the other doesn’t… did you take that in to effect when you said it’s “better”.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:47 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:53 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The no buttons design of the N9 is cleaner but this looks good to. I just wish the windows buttons were 1/4 inch lower. That would look better and prevent accidentally touching them. On my Omnia 7 i touch the search button a lot (mostly in fruit ninja but still)…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:36 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I have the exact same problem. And I think it’d be even worse on the Lumia 800, looking at the placement of the buttons
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
You should have received an update that disables the capacitive buttons when you are touching the screen. Doesn’t totally fix the issue, but it helps on occasion.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:16 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Nice phone, but weird number. 7.8? Wtf?!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:36 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I would say this phone deserves at least an 8.0
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:38 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review, very concise and covered all the bases, if it just was a bit bigger with a front facing camera to use Skype then I would even think about breaking my contract, as it is today its nice but not nice enough. I can see in the near future when I am eligible for upgrade to get a Nokia phone..
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:39 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Very nice phone but N9 is even better. Still missing hardware portrait qwerty.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:40 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great article Vlad. I must admit I haven’t been your greatest admirer previous to this but I really enjoyed the review. Almost as much as I enjoy this phone!
I ordered one yesterday purely for the hardware and the OS, two shining examples of great design meshed brilliantly.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:40 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
@Verge – please set wmode to transparent on all flash content. Thx
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:41 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
and I cant get to home site from top panel so if i want to go to main site I have to scroll to the bottom (or to the top) of current site.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:43 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I agree, Home button on that top panel would be real nice. Even just a little V logo…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:37 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Excellent! I love this site so much. I’m on the mobile site right now and it’s the most beautiful mobile site I’ve ever seen.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:43 AM EDT via mobile reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
amazing review. I can’t saw enough how much I like this new website. I love being able to view the different pics without leaving the review page. Aces!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:45 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
“generate an innocuous, though irritating, rattle”
So it’s an unlikely to irritate, irritating rattle then? Which doesn’t quite fit in with " Nokia’s reputation for attention to detail and insistence on high build quality" does it?
On a more positive note, fantastic looking review.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:46 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Thank you Josh Topolsky for helping create the Verge. I was having to jump from site to site to compile reviews to finally draw a conclusion on each gadget.
After this review I can honestly say that won’t need to happen any more. Great review and very nice device!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:50 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
If this comes to the USA, This Is My Next Phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:51 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
If I were to leave my iDevice, this would be the phone I would do it for. I plan on buying it anyway, have to find a way to get it to the US! Excellent review.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:53 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
My suggestion is to wait. This is just the start for Nokia/WP7, they have not even announced their US launch devices. By Nokia’s numbering system for WP7, this is a mid-range phone. Nokia has stated that Nokia USA is designing devices targeted at the US market. They will probably be making their announcements of the devices that they are bringing to the US market at CES, and we should expect to see a 900 series. The said that we will see kind of a family of design, meaning you will be able to look at a couple of phones and be able to say, “Ok, I see a family resemblence here, like parents to kids.” (I didn’t say that very well, but hopefully you get my point.)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:03 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
There is a limited window (pun intended) for Microsoft to get me to buy a Windows Phone.. A Nokia like this has the potential to get me to take that plunge and give this platform a shot. However… They aren’t being released in the US yet and all we have is “sometime in early 2012” to go on. Not good.
I’ll take mine in blue on Verizon please. Get with it Nokia/Microsoft/Verizon. Your customers are waiting to give you their money.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:54 AM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Expect an announcement around CES in January.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:04 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Most beautiful phone ever!
But I tend to go with the N9 …
http://versusio.com/en/nokia-lumia-800-vs-nokia-n9
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:55 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
That ‘comparison’ is full of false info:
1) Lumia 800 doesn’t have a gyroscope, it has magnetometer (compass) and accelerometer, just like the N9
2) N9 can be updated OTA
3) N9 doesn’t have HDMI out, it has TV out, PAL/NTSC through 3.5mm connector
4) Lumia 800 has dual microphone as well (the second mic is located just above the flash LEDs in that small hole)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:04 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Good review… I ended up buying a Titan. Though I was (still am) very intrigued by the Lumia lineup of phones.
People eat banana sandwiches?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:57 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Thoughts on the Titan? Do you have it yet? How does the screen compare to older HTC devices? I think it’s basically down to the Titan vs. a US Nokia device for my next phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:40 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m not the best judge, having only had a short amount of time with the Titan, but it was seriously huge. Luckily most of the space is taken up by the screen, but it felt considerably bigger than my Omnia 7. If you want a big phone though, that’s the one to go for
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:14 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’ll be upgrading from the 3.6" screen on the HTC Arrive, so it’ll take some getting used to. I had the Evo for ten months and really liked the size of the screen, so I think the Titan’s screen size will end up being just fine. What I’m really interested is how the screen looks. Reviews have been favorable, but I was just wondering what Titan owners think.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:52 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This is the phone that would make me switch over from my iPhone 4 if I had the chance. I love the design of both the hardware and software.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:58 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Vlad, could you please consider a tripod next time? :) Loved the review, and the layout is amazing!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:01 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Excellent review, extremely thorough. I’m a bit disappointed with this device really. While it’s an all around good phone it’s the little details that are bothering me. No front facing camera so I can’t Skype with people. No Wi-Fi hotspot which I use quite a lot when I’m out and about. There was a lot of motion blur on that sample video so I don’t know how useful it would be as a video camera. Shutter speed on the camera’s not great. No NFC so no hope of using my phone for mobile payments in the few years I have it. All little things on their own, but added up I don’t think this’ll be my next phone, despite the beautiful hardware and screen.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:01 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The fact that you read the review of a Nokia phone and even considered buying it is a #win for Nokia. I think that’s what they are aiming for with this beautiful, beautiful phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:22 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The video mentions Mix Radio playlists and says you have to be online to use them.
If I’m not mistaken, Nokia made a big deal about the ability to save offline playlists?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:03 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great review. And what a beautifully designed phone. Really happy for nokia.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:05 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Beautifully written review fitting for the phone which I would be all over had they not got rid of the front camera, seriously why in this day and age it seems a ridiculous omission. Though i might be biased as i do actually video chat quite a bit. In terms of re-using the design though its a good idea they really should consider refreshing the E7 with a quicker processor and windows 7.5 I can but dream.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:05 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
What an eloquently written review. Far exceed Vlad’s N9 review by miles. Comparing both N9 and Lumia 800, I have to pick the N9 due to the software underpinning it. It’s a shame that Nokia wasn’t able to pull an Amazon trick and rework the AOSP code to be similar to Harmattan.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:05 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I must say that it’s a little unfair for Vlad to be reviewing the 800. I love his reviews, but he loved the N9 so much, I am sure that played into a lower score for this. It’s like trying to be positive about life after your child just died. Everything becomes a little jaded.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:06 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
But it can’t be helped though. Both the N9 and Lumia 800 are not available across the pond, so that left Vlad to review both phones. I’m sure the guys in US are itching to get their hands on some of Nokia’s latest hardware too.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:06 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Umm… maybe it’s just me…
….but is Vlad encouraging Nokia to fragment WP7 with stupid addons the same way HTC et al. have fragmented Android with worthless skins? NO! In the name of all that is holy, NO! Why would you want that?! The whole point of WP& is that it’s consistant and predictable across manufacturers, without useless OEM addons. PLEASE don’t encourage them to add on needless customizations.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:07 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s almost funny how Nokia has the key to some really stand-out UI improvements that would take WP7 to another level, but it’s not in their best interests to share with all of WP OEMs, and it’s not in the interests of MSFT to let Nokia fragment their OS a la Android.
I really am feeling like MSFT’s best move is to buy Nokia – at least the SP devision. There is so little good hardware differentiation that a case could be made for WP7 being more effective on a smaller suite of devices made by MicroNok. WP really lends itself well to a whole-widget approach.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:28 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Wait, are you suggesting for Microsoft to do everything in-house? Because sustaining a multi-manufacturer ecosystem while competing in it yourself does not work. Period.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:20 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m suggesting they take the multi out of multi-manufacturer ecosystem. I don’t feel like that market benefits by having 7+ models. They would be better off with 1-3 devices tops. No need for tonnes of OEMS to all make essentially the same phone.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 1:25 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Areee!!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:10 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I mostly really like the review, and as others have stated it really is a beautiful review for a beautiful phone. However, I find the points made about the lack of Nokia customisation is ridiculous. The WP7 keyboard is one of the best around, and if Nokia started changing the keyboard and introducing weird gestures that aren’t common to the WP7 platform it’d be super unintuitive.
From what I understand Nokia will be working with Microsoft to try to improve the WP7 UX as a entire platform, not segregating themselves off with a strange Nokia version of the OS. I think the best way for manufacturers to add value is by giving free useful apps and that’s what Nokia has done. I also find it strange that this phone got a lower score than the N9, which essentially was DOA, however beautiful the phone and OS.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:10 AM EDT reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Actually wp7 has the best touchscreen keyboard around.. you can type 3 words together and make mistake with the spelling with each one of the words but it will still manage to auto correct it for you.. The review is good but I think his personal feelings played quite a part.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:15 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I think Vlad’s fondness for the N9 might have weighed in on this. There is no way the n9 should have gotten a higher rating than the Lumia .. I did an average score breakdowns and the whiles the n9 had 7.5 Lumia800 had 7.75 .
Lumia has a more stable software, slightly better ecosystem…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:13 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The problem that a reviewer has is that, whilst the majority of people are looking at the 800 as a potential purchase, the reader with any experience of the N9 is going to take one look at a review that leaves the N9 out of the equation and rip it apart, until the review ends up, unfairly or not, losing a degree of credibility.
The 800 is, beautiful or not (and dear god, it is stunning to me), still a rework of an older design, and that has to be acknowledged.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:07 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Really good review, I think give Nokia time and the next Windows device may be what everyone was praying for and really be a game change for the windows phone OS. I can see the Nokia Microsoft partnership really paying off together they could be brilliant.
p.s. love the verge review style much better than other competing tech news outlets. very easy follow and feels natural.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:13 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Wish it had a front facing camera and less bezel. A beautiful phone and an excellent review, though.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:13 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I guess the real question is do you recommend this over the Titan which we know you love?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:19 AM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
I am really surprised that MSFT separated the launch of Mango from the launch of the L800. I know that they needed to get Mango out the door but, if Apple has taught us anything, it’s that you can use new software to make hardware way more exciting.
Can you imagine if the L800 had been the launch device for Mango? “We’re launching all these great new features with some great new hardware….free update coming to all older devices in a few weeks…” Such a missed opportunity. It’s like MSFT and Nokia really didn’t work together/strategize this launch out. They both missed out on some really good co-op buzz.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:19 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
But on the flipside of that, by getting Mango out to the world ahead of the 800, there is built in knowledge ( from a general real world point of view) that the software is up to the functional level of the beautiful hardware.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:18 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s true – but do you feel that the knowledge really spread beyond the WP faithful?
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 1:26 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It is moving in that direction… everyone that I show my phone, they love it and when they ask me how I like the OS, I tell them that I love it. The tech press is all onboard with the OS, some rap on it for the lack of apps, but I have not heard anyone say that they disliked it. (other than the trolls on -ine that have never tried it, some of which claim to have actually used it, but just messed with it for 2 minutes in the store).
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 11:26 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Certainly I would agree that WP7 devices seem to delight people when they play with a friend’s. I haven’t seen someone dislike it after a hands on. My point though is, at a macro level, these aren’t being recommended by sales staff, aren’t being advertised properly, and they could have really used the publicity of a joint hardware-software launch to help that situation.
Posted on Nov 08, 2011 | 10:38 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
nice review. i am disappointed with the lack of ffc & not that great rear camera
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:20 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Not sure if editors will see this but I noticed something. On all reviews you can get the final score by adding all the totals and divide to get an average EXCEPT on the N9 review. It should have been a 7.5, making it .3 lower than the L800. I know its petty but I do think that this will be better than the N9.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:21 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
that was what I also noticed
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:37 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The final score can be adjusted by the reviewer as it reflects the reviewer’s opinion on it. If you’re looking purely at what this device is, it’s probably a much better product than the N9.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:22 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review Vlad. Considering I have the hots for this, I am extremely glad that you have got this article out before preorders start. Hopefully Nokia will enable the internet sharing. Whilst I already have the facility, it’s a pain swapping cards (and putting on an adaptor).
Still, I am going to go for one, there’s plenty of positives in the review to make it a comfy decision.
Thanks again.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:23 AM EDT via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
They have already announced that, Tom Warren at Winrumors put out this article yesterday.
http://www.winrumors.com/nokia-working-on-lumia-800-software-update-to-enable-internet-sharing/
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:21 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Everytime opening that lid to charge the phone would really get on my nerves!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:25 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
btw Vlad, Nokia is working on internet sharing in 800 : http://www.winrumors.com/nokia-working-on-lumia-800-software-update-to-enable-internet-sharing/
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:27 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Damn it, was having a tough time choosing between cyan and black. Turns out I’ve got no choice if I want one day 1. Black it is!
The disabling of internet sharing is bizarre, update in the works or not, it’s a poor decision.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:02 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Style seems to be a genetic thing for the Europeans. Phone looks great and I hope we get to see something in the US soon. It would also be nice to see MS make greater strides in the mobile market. BTW, the review was very well done!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:28 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The ‘Smartphone’ – The only consumer electronics product that’s primary purpose is the least relevent / important / interesting to buyers?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:30 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Never read a N9 review until now, even though I thought it was suppose to be about the Lumia 800.
And how is a 23 hour battery life bad. Have you read the 4S stories yet?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:33 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Compared to what Nokia phones of yesteryear offered, it is relatively bad. But otherwise it is better than some other phones.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
For a smartphone, how is the battery? How is it in comparison with other WP7 phones, Android, or iPhone?
When I read Tom Warren’s Lumia 800 review, he compared it to the Titan by subjecting them both to the WP Bench battery drain test. Titan @ 3h2m Lumia@3h10m.
Granted that some customers will be coming from Symbian (or Meego), but a large chunk of us will be coming from other Windows Phone 7, iPhone or Android. How about some other useful comparisons?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:34 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Good review! The phone looks great and I love the windows interface. So basically the bad points are no front facing camera which I don’t ever see myself using so I’m pretty sure this will be my next phone once its out here in Ireland :-D
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:42 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The Verge reviews 1 – 0 Engadget reviews
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:43 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
7.8 for a Windows Phone on The Verge/TIMN is a very good score. Didn’t Galaxy SII got the same 7.8 or was it 7.5?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:44 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
7.5 for s2… which makes NO SENSE at all…….. man wtf..
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 8:33 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I agree with Nokia. This is THE first real Windows Phone. The hardware looks beautiful. This is the first phone besides the iPhone that intrigues me.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:52 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Even thought it’s missing a front facing camera, I’d still make this phone mine if it came to the US with CDMA. Alas, I don’t see that happening. My fingers are crossed for some CDMA love soon, though.
BTW, I think this review is very fair and accurate. Thanks, Vlad and the Verge!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:56 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
+1
I can Survive without the FFC, But was dsaddened by the Lack of NFC. Still this is my next phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:57 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I too am in the US, and all this does for me is make me hyper excited to see what they are going to be bringing. From everything that I am seeing from Nokia, from this phone to the advertising that they are doing in Europe, to things that I have heard the execs saying, Nokia is bringing it!! The want and really need to get back into the US market in a big way and I think that they really get it that they have to come out swinging a big bat. As for the CDMA, it’s coming, there were quite a number of VZW reps spotted at Nokia World.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:31 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Question: Does anybody actually USE a front facing camera on their phones? I ask this because Facetime on iPhone doesn’t seem to catching on that fast. Its more of a novelty than a useful thing.
But anyway, my main point: I don’t think smartphones should have cons of “It doesn’t have a front facing camera”. I may be in the minority on this, but that’s opinion
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:57 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You must be socially challenged, because everyone I know uses their front facing cameras all the time to take self-portraits with friends when they are out and about. Besides that many people I know use it to video chat, including myself, and sometimes I even use it as a mirror in a pinch.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:00 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I think Lumia 800 will be stepping stone for Microsoft and Nokia. It doesn’t matter that it cannot match iPhone or any of the high-end Android phones out there. Nokia has one clear advantage: they can put it in markets that none of the other big players can reach easily.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:01 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Hmm.
A Windows related review. By Vlad? A recipe for disaster. Vlad was never very shy in his affiliations before.
But this is a very fair review. Not quite glowing, but extremely positive and in line with what I’d expect from Nokia’s first Windows phone.
Solid review. And yes, while the front page layout is a busy disaster, this was a good read.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:04 PM EDT reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
To clarify, I meant extremely positive relatively. This isn’t a “rush out an buy this phone” review, but a “it’s a very solid, well built phone but not without its downsides” review. Which, for Windows Phone, is extremely positive.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:05 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I have been very critical of Vlad’s articles in the past but I am happy to see that The Verge is bringing out the best in all of its staff. Excellent article Vlad.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:08 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Literally first thing I said when hitting the front page was “Holy !@#$”. Coming from TIMN-with such a simple but effective layout, to this was jarring at best. I hope they can clean the front page up as time goes on.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:21 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
There is an update coming to the lumia 800 that will bring internet sharing
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:08 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I more or less immediately ‘fell in love’ with the design of the N9 (and thus also the Lumia 800) when pictures of it started to spread on the interwebs.
I believe Nokia has leap-frogged the likes of HTC, Samsung and LG design-wise on this phone. It has really put them back in the game. However, they are riding a trailing horse when it comes to Windows Phone and I still believe they would have gotten traction a lot faster had they chosen Android.
The N9 is already buried and I’m just hoping the same thing won’t happen to the Lumia.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:08 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Awesome review, great style, premium quality.
On a side note, whereas I find this format beautiful to look at I miss the ability to quickly scan for new content on the main page. The blog format of old is excellent for scanning for new content but now I find myself looking up and down and left and right trying to sort threw sticky posts, what is new, what is featured etc. without any clear understanding of how this is arranged. Other than that everything else is brilliant.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:10 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review Vlad and great work on this site all of you. I do have to agree with some of the comments regarding changes Nokia could have added. Pretty much every review I have read has the WP7 keyboard as top notch so I don’t see why Nokia would choose that to add value and differ from other OEM. I guess there is a thin line between not fragmenting and making yourself different from the pack. I recall MS picked them to make stellar hardware vs standing out in the UX dept and it seems like Nokia came through.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:15 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
One of the best reviews of all time. Great work.
And this is a superb phone. Well done Nokia.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:15 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review, and man what a phone. Nokia needs to get its stuff stateside soon, I Don’t know if I can wait out much longer.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:18 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review.
Vlad, you have an awesome name and a crazy accent.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:18 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This looks like a very well thought out phone but it looks too European imo. In America F-150s outsell VW Golfs. This phone looks too much like a toy.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:19 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
wow… I’m American and even I think that was the type of comment that makes the rest of the world think that we are arrogant A**holes.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:39 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Not arrogant, just stupid. ;)
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 8:10 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Very good review. Definitely a premium site.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:20 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I am an iPhone user and have been since it first came out. It’s not that I am opposed to the other OSs at all. In fact I wish I could afford to have one of each just to play with them. However, I have to choose.
I have to say that this phone is one that I think could make me switch. I have been a fan of WP7 since it was announced and when you add Nokia hardware into the mix it becomes harder to resist. We will see.
Great review! As always.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:21 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Vlad , would you take the iPhone 4S’s camera or the N9/Lumia 800’s ? like in day to day use and for hard core snappers
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:24 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
A wonderful review Vlad, great job!
One thing just doesn’t get off my head.
How can you possibly not include a front-facing camera into your flagship phone, Nokia? Just how?
I mean there are some disadvantages that I can live with, but that? Vlad said, nobody’s gonna laugh at you because you’re a Symbian user any more. You know what’re they gonna laugh at? Yes, you got it.
I fell in love with N9 at the first glance. And this case just drives me crazy.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Hmmm, no mention that this phone only has 16GB of storage.
I’d rather have 32GB or 64GB than a front facing camera.
That lack of internet sharing is a disappointment. I thought Nokia was going to have halo devices for the whole WindowsPhone ecosystem.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:28 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Now THIS is a Windows Phone that definitely catches my eye.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:30 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Love that Banana sandwich quote. Kudos to you Vlad
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:30 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Good review. I’m still not too keen on Windows Phone though. I love my N9!
By the way, no volume control/mute on the video? I like to mute videos when they’re loading in the background.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:31 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review.
Could the “post a comment” link be moved to the top of the comments on the mobile site? It takes forever to scroll to the bottom on a mobile.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:41 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
“N9” was used a total of 24 times in this review. Love the N9. Hate Microkia.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:45 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great and visual review Vlad, keep up the good work.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:45 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Overall good review. It looks like Nokia has done well but needs to step up (probably because of MS’s support). That will come as the months roll on probably.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:51 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This is an awesome review: thorough, and well organized. This site just keeps getting better and impressing the hell out of me!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:52 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
When I saw this phone from Nokia World 2011 in London, I was shocked. But, not the bad kind of shocked, the kind of shock of, “Damn, Nokia could be back” shocking. After seeing and reading reviews upon reviews, I was starting to like it more and more. When it get’s released in the US in 2012, this could be the one phone that I take over my iPhone 4S (which would be a first time since ’07 of only being an iPhone user).
This is the best review of the phone by far on the web.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:53 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
If MS can get AAA mobile games on their phones (WTF XBX LIVE?!?!?!) i would get a WPNokia devices, as it is right now, iPhone 4s seems to be the one ill get.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:55 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
So, according to The Verge, the Titan, The N9 and the Lumnia 800 are all better than SGS II. That’s just non sense. I love Windows Phone 7, but all of the devices running it are underwhelming. There’s a clear problem with your scoring system (a bunch of numbers without a scale isn’t objectivity). The screen on this phone is a Pentile AMOLED, and it gets 9, while a bigger Super AMOLED Plus screen gets a 7, and there you have it, the problem with your numbering system is that there’s no scale. Just remove it, or introduce some kind of objective scale, is it to hard to ask for a brightness measure? contrast? a closed up picture to see subpixel arrangement?
Well, at the end of the day that’s reason why Anandtech reviews simply and utterly crush Endgadget’s, This is my next/Verge’s reviews.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:55 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This phone needs to be brought stateside – now. There isn’t any reason to just get this in stores and let it organically grow until Nokia fires their marketing guns at the ol US of A. It’s GSM – let’s do this Nokia. Soft launch it.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 12:58 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Its a manner of ramping up production. The places that they are launching are tradtionally strong markets for Nokia. They aced themselves out of the US market years ago by not adapting to the US’s subsidized model. That’s changed, but when they hit the US market, they want to do it big and hit HARD. WinPhone has already had one soft launch, we have been seeing that for the last year. If Nokia was too “soft luanch” it would appear to a lot of consumers they they are limping in with a weak product.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:50 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This is a very sexy design and a very awesome OS, I wouldn’t be surprised if nokia came back even stronger than before with microsoft handing their software needs. jNokia has always been much better at hardware than software; so this merger is a wonderful match
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:01 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Obviously build quality is a large part of their objective measurement. Nokia wins here, but they lose on every objective measurement.
WP7 wins because it isn’t the mess that is Android.
I’m waiting to see the Focus S reviews. That is a better comparison.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:02 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
For how much I love Apple I do love the different experience that Windows provides. They just need to step up the development process. Also, I love how Vlad says Lumia. It is so elegant.
There just needs to be great phone produced with Nokia for Windows. Work hard on it with a strong development for the software behind it and I’d like to see Windows be number 2 rather than number 3.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:06 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Serious question.. what do you mean by Microsoft needs to work on development? The OS or the availability of apps?
This platform is only a year old, and from the app perspective, its the fastest growing app marketplace at this point. (More apps than the other platforms had at the same time in there lives). Currently, WP7 has close to 38,000 apps available with more coming every day. Most of the big name apps are here, and most of the ones that aren’t, spotify and pandora for example have already stated that they have apps on the way in development.
As far as the OS, its easily on par with the other guys.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:00 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Let’s face it they are behind so their development should be increased by 3x than what the iOS or Android development of the iOS is. And I’m referring to the apps.
Microsoft has something good going for them but they need to remove the Windows branding from it. Retire the name!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:52 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I just had an awesome dream.
If Nokia had chose to go for Android instead of (or in addition of) WindowsPhone7, Nokia could have bean the new Nexus manufacturer instead of Samsung.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:08 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The Nokia Nexus Prime would have been an amazing phone!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Excellent review! I’m kind of disappointed that the Lumia 800 isn’t the perfect Nokia Windows Phone out of the gate, but hopefully over time we will see Nokia push out even better phones to prove their relevance!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:13 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Currently have an iPhone, but UGH, yes, NOKIA. You have delivered WP7 to me! I want one!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:17 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I don’t have anything interesting to say about the phone but I just wanted to once again say how much I love format of the reviews. The whole site is really well designed but the review and feature articles really stand out. From how the galleries are integrated to the headings, the colors and even line height are all very well thought through.
If I had to nitpick, I would argue that for the main body text Verdana would be a better choice on Windows than Arial. Given same size it has better spacing and appears slightly larger making it easier to read. I also think it fits better with the design of the site as Arial seems just so mundane and generic.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:19 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Awesome review, I think the next round of Nokia Windows phones will be the ones to take more into consideration than this.. can’t wait to see if then Nokia will have the power to make the mobile space a 3 horse race again
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:21 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
To be honest, the only highlight is the design, hardware design to be more exact.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:24 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s weird ppl complain that Android is to fraagmented then ppl complain that iOS is to restricted. I think Windows Phone strikes a good balance of both.. I do want to feel that when I upgrade to from my current windows phone device to say a Lumia 800 that its still the same but with some added features like the maps or music mix, its nice that Microsoft is atleast letting the OEM customize to a certain point (albeit none of them at this time actually bring any added value) But I can definitely see myself getting this beautifully crafted device..
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:32 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Well said!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:03 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Excellent review as always Vlad! I got to play around with the N9 before so I can definitely attest to the magnificence of the hardware. While we can all agree that WP7 isn’t still up to par with iOS and Android, I think it will eventually get there. Their only problem is if they’ll be able to convert enough consumers to help them sustain in the development of the WP platform and ecosystem.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:34 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Excellent review. My only gripe is that I don’t understand the complaint that Nokia didn’t somehow “customize” WP 7… I for one am glad they didn’t.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:36 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Nice review. Looks like a great phone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:39 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I find it a bit strange that unskinned Android is a plus but Unskinned WP7 is a negative. Is WP7 that limited that we need to add things to it or is it that Android skins are so bulky they are in their own league?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:40 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Not at all, and I think that keeping the wp7 experience the same across hardware is crucial to keeping people on board. Whos going to buy any alternative wp7 handsets if Nokia has all these exclusive features. I dont think Windows should exclude their other hardware partners.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:45 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:47 PM EDT reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
Love it! LOL
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:05 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Fantastic review and fantastic phone. Without a doubt one of the best looking phones on the market today. Too bad there’s no such Android device. I would get it in an instant. STUNNING design. Did I mention I LOVE the design? ;-)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:48 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Beautiful hardware made even more beautiful by the software. It feels like Metro UI was designed for this device.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:48 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Well done Mister Savov! Another delightful review indeed! :-)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:49 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Certainly intrigued.. Verizon has so far seemed unimpressed with the latest MS WinMo so I guess I wouldn’t be able to get this when it does eventually make its way to the US.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:49 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This is my next review style.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:50 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Mango looks beautiful on any device, but on the Lumia 800, everything combines to make a phone that rivals the iphone or the pre (before HP bought out palm).
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:53 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I am loving the look of the reviews page. Very cool.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:54 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Fantastic review .. thumbs up!
i love this phone, probably gonna be my next :)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 1:56 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
My first time on the site, and this was the first article ever read from you guys. It was a good review and seemed to be missing much of the slant I am used to with some of these articles. As a WP7 fan, I of course came away slightly miffed at the slight suggestion that the OS is somehow not up to snuff. We don’t have the apps YET, but compared to the other two, I would stack the user experience of this OS up against those two any day of the week. It is a 3 horse race now, and at the moment WP7 is third and gaining. Nice job.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:02 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great Review Vlad!!
I have a question, The performance and the software bot got an 8. Reading your review the phone seems fast and responsive. I usually do not get stuck in a score but I’m wondering what in particular detracts from the experience to get that score?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:03 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Fantastic review, Vlad. I especially loved: “…so combining the two is like making yourself a banana sandwich, new and potentially tasty, but not an altogether unpredictable combination.” Though I’d have used a semicolon after sandwich.
Excellent review. I hope we see this phone in the US.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:04 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
why hello there jake.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Really awesome design, I hope this is the start for a Nokia turnaround.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:05 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I have grown tired of iOS, and am now trying android for the first time, must say that I’m kind of underwhelmed with 2.5, so I’m strongly considering this phone… great review!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:05 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I have a very serious question that requires a very serious answer:
How is it possible that I am on the internet, on a tech website, and reading comments THAT ARE SO GOOD!? How are people being polite, and stating opinions clearly? How are people writing coherent sentences?
This feels like dividing by zero. I really do not understand how anything that I am seeing can be this good with no drawbacks.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:11 PM EDT reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Welcome to the FUTURE!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:12 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I like it, but it’s terribly confusing. I don’t even like trolling but I feel the need to go to youtube and argue to offset the goodness here, to preserve it.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:14 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I know the feeling.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:17 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Maybe this is just the honeymoon period before the inevitable cycle of emotional abuse and broken crockery.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:22 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Heh. Perhaps. But when has anything on the internet lasted an hour in that sweet love honeymoon phase? Nay, not one hour, much less 24.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:27 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This too will change when the inevitable anti-Windows bias that is built inside all of these (tech/Mac fanboy) bloggers, surfaces. I suspect that will start day after tomorrow. I was only being nice with my first comment, and welcoming these guys to the fire.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
heh.
Possibly. but windows 7 was actually quite nice, and I actually will choose to use it over Mac OS but not over ubuntu. And windows 8 has some flair to it too, although I installed the dev and haven’t booted to it since.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:52 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This is the phone (OS included) i’ve wanted forever. If only they were releasing it in white just like the N9…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:13 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I would not count it out…. maybe around the time of the US/North American launch. And just asking, but was the N9 ever really announced in white? I know that there was one spotted in the wild, but I don’t know that they actually announced anything, kind of like when everyone knew that Apple was working on a white iPhone.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:27 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Straight from the horse’s mouth: Nokia N9 gets a new colour and a software update
And to quote:
The white Nokia N9 sports a glossy finish, so it looks slightly different from its matte sisters in black, magenta and cyan. It will be available during the fourth quarter of 2011, starting with the 64GB version.
And here are a couple of hands-on videos from NW2011:
Nokia N9 white MeeGo smartphone hands-on
Nokia N9 Hands on & MeeGo Tour!
Unquestionably the most beautiful device Nokia has ever produced – and one of the most beautiful phones ever created.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 6:37 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Cool!
Microsoft has won several design awards for WP7, I wonder how far off til Nokia starts getting some for the N9/800.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 7:21 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Not far, Nokia N9 wins best design, best camera and best mobile of the year in Swedish Gold Mobile awards… Of course, they’re practically on home turf so it’s probably biased, but it’s not that far off…
Posted on Nov 12, 2011 | 11:26 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That looks like a beautiful phone from Nokia.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:14 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
There’s something inexplicably alluring about that curved glass screen.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:19 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great phone, hopefully giving Windows Phone 7 the attention it sorely needs.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:21 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great revew, really enjoyable to read. I love the design of the reviews. Windows Phone is becoming much more interesting to me, I’m not sure if I will ever buy one but I know that I’ll at least consider them from now on. I think it will take time for Windows Phone to become more competitive but this is a step in the right direction.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:24 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I cant wait to hold it.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:27 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I seriously hopes this takes off to give nokia the boost it so desperately needs. WP7 is visually very sleek and innovative and once the apps and functionality aspect catches up, it can really become something great. Nokia makes some sexy hardware but has been held back by crappy software. The two together could really ramp up the competition in the smartphone market. Good luck Nokia!
oh.. and great review!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 2:48 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great Review, I really dig the WP OS so I think this could be my next phone. I’m stuck with the milestone 2 that still in FROYO, and has become very laggy to me. Maybe It’s time to switch.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:02 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I can’t get over how great the site looks. Awesome job laying out the reviews.
Anyways, great point about this seeming “unexciting”. I love how WP7 looks, even though I haven’t used it, and the N9 hardware was really impressive.
Something new and different needs to be tossed in. Something that doesn’t require an ecosystem.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:04 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Hope they make the white one. This is the phone that can make me give a chance to Windows Phone 7
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:05 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Vlad must really like the word “trifecta” Ii see it in enough of his reviews to make note of it.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:10 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I love the look of the phone. Seems like something I could give a shot to for the right price.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:16 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The debate within myself is whether to wait for the second generation Nokia/Windows phone, which may be a year from now, or make a short hop over the Mexican border and buy the N9 now. Hmmmm. The Nokia website for Mexico is only featuring the red and black N9’s. I would prefer the blue one so maybe it will arrive later. I hope.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:17 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Nokia is not Apple, this phone is just the first round of Nokia WP7 devices and you will see more a lot sooner than a year from now. Nokia stated months ago that Nokia USA was working on designs targeted at the US market. I expect that we will be seeing the “portfolio” of devices, that Stephen Elop talked about, being unveiled at CES in January, including a 900 series device.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:38 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
My reference to second generation was alluding to the rumored “Apollo” that is slated for next summer. I don’t know if that is to be an update for 7.5 or if will be an altogether different system exclusively for Nokia phones. Either way, it is my assumption that it will be nearly a year for the two to be paired and I may just wait for that once I see what is annouced in early 2012.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:56 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Oh.. no Apollo will be available to all Windows phones from all builders like Mango was for the first gen phones. Now whether the first gen phones will get Apollo or not, that is a matter of debate, and a little fuzzy. It is partly going to be dependent on carriers approving it.
Apollo is starting to look like a convergence of Win8/WP8, with both running the MinWin kernal. (according to Mary Jo Foley).
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 11:37 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Thank you for a rereshingly honest review….would prefer the N9 myself
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:31 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Vlad, very nice review. Love the design of the 800. Best looking phone I have seen in a long time. This would be a perfect device for me if it had a FF camera. That is the biggest oversight on this phone by Nokia, not the uniform Windows Phone OS or hohum Nokia software.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:33 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Question for Vlad. I currently have an Omnia 7 which suffers from stupidly low volume levels through the headphone jack rendering it useless at the gym. How does the 800 fair when you’ve got some earphones plugged in? And on that note, what’s the sound quality like with a decent pair of cans plugged in….ohhh say the B&W P5s? Cheers!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:35 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
So it’s not just a problem with mine!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:17 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Yeah it is immensely annoying and I was hoping it’s particular to the Omnia 7 and not a WP7 problem in general.
I was also hoping that Nokia would sell a 64GB version of this phone as they have done with the N9 – the lack of 32/64GB storage space on any Mango devices is an absolute deal breaker for a lot of people. No matter how often it is said that the future is spotify and the cloud, that time is not now because it comes with poky 3G reception, non-instant playback, high data costs and an extra £10 a month. Give me the ability to store the music I have collected over the years all in one place anyday!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:10 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
found a solution to the quiet omnia 7.
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/how-to-enhance-samsung-omnia-7-headphone-sound/
that’s for the earphones, and there’s another guide out there for the speaker volume (though I think that’s loud enough already). this fix definitely made my phone a lot louder!
Posted on Nov 10, 2011 | 12:52 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I had the same problem.. I had to change setting in the diagnosis app to overclock the sound output!
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 6:01 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Or Dre Beats test :)
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 6:02 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Good review, Vlad.
Well done, Nokia, you’ve designed a good looking device, without resorting to aping Cupertino’s products.
I’d totally get one of these if they were available in the U.S. for a local carrier.
Also, I am kind of disappointed at Nokia’s decision to disable the tethering feature; it’s something I’ve used on my other devices, and even older Nokias, so this omission sucks.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:37 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
There was a story just yesterday on WinRumors that Nokia is coming out with a tethering update soon. That said, it is still going to be up to the carriers to decide if they are going to enable it.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:43 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
You would think though that the combined Nokia-Microsoft would have a stronger hand in dealing with the carriers, with not disabling or messing with the device features.
Why is Apple the only ones that can make take-it-or-leave-it demands to the carriers? I’m sure Google, the Android OEMs nor Microsoft could get away with something like iMessenger, which is a shot across the bow at carriers’ messaging plan revenues.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:09 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
You’re kidding right? Nokia-MS is not an alliance of strength, it’s an alliance of weakness. It’s possible that together they may be strong enough to build a credible platform but right now neither of them has anything resembling pull with the carriers in first world markets.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:07 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Nokia has plenty of pull with carriers in first world markets, with the exception of the US, But Nokia had basically abandoned the US market years ago. They were still here, but because they wouldn’t adapt to the US model of subsidized phones, and the US consumer saw what appeared to be inexpensive phones, compared to the relatively high cost of an unsubsidized Nokia, they went to the other phones.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 11:46 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Nokia had pull with carriers in Europe, but no longer. These days their presence in the UK is mostly restrictied to the cheap end of pay as you go.
Carriers buy what sells, and Nokia haven’t been delivering it for a while now. Oh, and the idea that the US is the sole home of subsidized phones is a typically parochial one. You can get an iPhone-4S right now in the UK subsidized down to £0 down. We’re more subsidized than you are. Nokia had no problem with subsidies – they just had problems getting carriers to care about them enough to offer them.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 4:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Tethering impacts the carriers networks, according to them. But there is more at work here than that. The carriers are attempting to gouge the consumer. On most carriers, if you want to use tethering, its going to cost you more.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 11:50 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Beautiful phone, shame it lacks that front facing camera. I can see it being a hit in the UK
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 3:41 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Yep, another unfortunate omission.
Skype video chat isn’t in the cards for the Lumia line, apparently, without a front facing camera, in addition to the all important Facebook-self-portrait shot.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:14 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
since when have people even used a FFC in the UK i have yet to see a single person. Not even my friend use their FFC’s
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 6:00 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
What exactly is the problem with the WP ecosystem?
I can’t think of one myself, so i was just wondering what do some really hardcore users find to be the problem there?
Nice review though.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:14 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Not so much anymore, but there are still the few things that you can do on feature phones, that I can still do on my old Nokia E72, that still can’t be done on Windows Phone.
Simple tethering, that isn’t dependent on carriers say-so, for one. On the Symbian Nokia, it’s simply ‘Settings-Use my data connection’ and done. Dumbphones have hot swappable microSD cards, where you can have virtually limitless local storage, that isn’t dependent on ‘the cloud’, which requires always-on data, data caps, and overage fees.
Another little niggle, Bluetooth file sharing. Sure newer uses of NFC mimics this, but it’s still not present in most phones, while Bluetooth capability is. I can use my Nokia, with just one button press to send a photo, a message or any media (music or video) file to any nearby smart phone or dumb phone.
So, yeah, WP is promising, but I would be missing stuff like that. For me, it would be more of a lateral move, rather than a true upgrade.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:25 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t see how any of those have anything to do with “ecosystem”. Especially SD card problem.
But i do agree that it would be nice if those three were to be “fixed”.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 5:25 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I love the hardware, just something makes me wish it was running Google Android instead of Windows Phone 7.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:16 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Why did performance get an 8? From what I read, it probably deserves more. Even if it is a single core 1.4, it does amazing things with it
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 4:21 PM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The commenters on this article are way too enthusiastic. It’s a piece of plastic, a rather chunky piece of plastic for that matter. You act like it’s Jessica Alba. Come back to reality. Not even Apple fanboys are this bad.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:06 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I see your pinned The Verge tile, Vlad
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Apart from the impeccable visual design of the review page and the great way it is structured, don’t you guys think that Vlad is such a good writer?
I think him being based in Europe contributes with the “like a breath of fresh air”-effect among the other excellent writers in this site.
Wouldn’t any one agree?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:18 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m very impressed with both this review and Vlad’s writing style. Keep it up
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:34 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
What a beautiful phone. But I just don’t understand why they reduced the RAM. WHY??
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:48 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Thanks for the great review. The Verge is such an awesome website.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 5:49 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
god that hardware is beautiful
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:03 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review Vlad. Nice writing skill.
For me though, I don’t like this phone. The shape doesn’t inspire me and I still find the Windos OS to be terribly ugly. Especially when the tiles are red….yuck!
It would have been far better if it was running webOS instead…not that I’ve used it, mind you, but from what I’ve seen it looks far better.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:06 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review and I’m really liking the review page. Great bar on the side to skip around and the layout looks very good. Keep up the good work.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:14 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Having Vlad review this was clearly a mistake.
He disregards it for being familiar because of the OS, when in fact it is the opposite for 97% of the world. Nobody has seen what Windows Phone has to offer, and this is the phone to show it to them. It really does look like it was made for Windows Phone.
And for crying out loud, no one cares about front facing cameras or NFC. No one. I have yet to meet a single person who uses any of those features for anything else than “Look, it can do this too!”.
For the record; I am glad they chose Windows Phone over Meego. Meego has no apps and no music store and no cloud what so ever, and the worst part probably is that despite having innovative features, it remains a static grid of icons.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:19 PM EDT reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Well said. It is a shame that people haven’t taken the time to try windows phone (I’ve had a Trophy since it was available on Verizon). I get a little upset seeing people in these chats talking about how clunky the software is and how its has been an awful user experience. Those statements make it easy to see they haven’t a clue.
I also agree that the lack of a front facing camera or NFC is not a deal breaker. I do think that when this is released in the USofA it will have those features and Skype integration built in. I tend the use the voice to text and voice commands on Mango. They are great, but could be better. I particularly like it when I’m driving. I have a Ford with Sync and responding to texts are so much better with Mango. I just wish I could train it to my speech a bit better than it is currently working. It needs to learn faster.
Great review Vlad!
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 1:55 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’m a WP7 user but MeeGo but is not a “static grid of icons”. At least not more than the application menu of WP7 can be called a static grid of icons too (with one column).
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 10:50 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
To be fair, N9 has a music store, plenty of good apps. Not sure what you mean by cloud.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 1:24 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
i can get used to these types of reviews very easily…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:28 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Fair revue – about what expected from their first effort, but I do think you’re being a bit too critical of the WP operating system (at least MS offer their users mandatory updates)
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:50 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Nice review, thank you! I’m still sitting on the fence, trying to decide what handset to get.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:53 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Not to be critical, but this is how to design a website properly (forget about your bias for a second). The Verge could learn quite a bit from these guys.
http://conversations.nokia.com/
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 6:57 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The whole point of windows phone, is not to skin it, i hope nokia never does. They have proven before, they suck at software, so stick to hardware.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:15 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’m officially attracted to Vlad’s voice. Please can vlad do every video review
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:16 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Goodness gracious…., I would have to agree with the “Cons” posted. Honestly “Nokia”…? What’s up with not including a front facing camera..? That should have been a new WP7 requirement at this point. Also…, the idea of not using my device as a personal “HOT SPOT”.., is sooo…, 2010. All in all though…, I’m still very much a fan of the device and the WP7 Mango platform. My thinking is “Microkia” will blow these issues out the park with the US versions and “Apollo”.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:32 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I don’t think the front facing camera is not the big deal some people make it out to be… honestly I never use mine. For video conferencing I usually use my PC… And the Internet Sharing feature is coming soon through an update.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:48 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Dont you mean ‘Sooo 2007!’
Anyway, Hotspot is coming in an update.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 1:08 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s interesting how many comments this review attracted, especially given how objectively this isn’t really a very interesting device – since it’s the bastard love child of the N9 and any WP7 phone you care to choose.
Clearly Nokia still stirs strong feeling amongst the digerati, it will be interesting to see if they extend to the mass market too.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:32 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
This is pretty much what my dream phone. I loved the N9 design and Windows Phone is so amazing and unique… They clearly think outside the box.
And for the people who isn’t convinced yet, we can all agree that this is a good first step in the Nokia-Microsoft partnership…
Much Love!
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 7:45 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
total BS… how did this get a highers score on SCREEN than a GS2?? i like u vlad but wow. this is just wrong…
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 8:32 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
EXCELLENT REVIEW, just excellent!!! great read, hella work Vlad
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 8:46 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review Vlad. I just wish that windows phone would intergrate more with the XBOX and take advantage of all the awesome content on xbox live. Well here is to hoping.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 8:52 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Darn, Fantastic layout! it’s just amazing.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:46 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I like the phone hardware, but WP7 does nothing for me.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 9:50 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
While this review is solid and greatly written, I believe the perspective seem to be coming more from the existence of the N9 instead of considering it as a new device. If N9 was never released, how would this review turn out to be?
Also, is it just me or is the waiting time for videos to load too long? It seems that I’m waiting like forever for the videos to start playing.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:13 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Okay, this is gorgeous. But knocking it for no NFC? That’s by no means a standard feature, it toally shouldn’t lose points for that. And why is there a blank space where the vid should be? Don’t tell me The Verge’s video is all in Flash…why???
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:21 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:30 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
best design ever…even better than iphone 4/4s
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:37 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m curious about Windows Phone, which almost feels wrong considering I’ve been a Mac guy my whole life. I do like the minimalist look, however, and the design of this phone really fits with that aesthetic.
It’s a shame that I can’t split time between this an my iPhone because mobile carriers tie new phone purchases to a contract (unless you pay and arm and a leg). In a perfect world I’d own both and just switch SIM cards when the mood struck me to use the other.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:40 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
How much is it and does it support AT&T bands?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 10:55 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
It would be an arm and a leg to import more than likely. I don’t know about the AT&T bands.
My suggestion is to wait to see what they bring to the US. This phone was a rush to get something ready for Nokia World. Expect to see the US launch announced at CES in January. There is likely to be a US version of this, maybe including FFC, may have a NFC chip in it for when MS puts NFC support in one of the next two updates. (Tango or Apollo) According to Nokia, they are working with all 4 major US carriers.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 12:11 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
i have to say Nokia still produce phones that are among those with the highest quality in the market, but sometimes, that’s just not enough
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:24 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s one pretty phone
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Beautiful phone. There’s just something I really hate about product names with numerical suffixes on them. Doesn’t Nokia Lumia alone sound awesome?
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:37 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Awesomeness! Ok, I love the new layouts.
Posted on Nov 03, 2011 | 11:52 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Gorgeous phone, but I prefer the one with Harmattan in it.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 12:09 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
These chaps are pro samsung/android, this is blatantly obvious Everyone knows the GS2 has very poor call quality/reception, a screen you can’t read outdoors, and terrible battery life, yet somehow David and Chris feel that these are not important issues on a smartphone..
This phone does a number of things extremely well
1. Call handling
2.GPS Navigation
3.Messaging
4. Email, particularly Mail for Exchange integration and syncing
I don’t know about the fanboys here, but these features are extremely important to me
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 1:20 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review! And an honest one too. Engadget’s review was honest too but was very harsh, I was thinking about not upgrading to 800. And then I came here and read this review. And I felt that it is not that bad afterall, it is only lacking wi-fi tethering, NFC and front cam. Whereas Engadget made me feel like…. “What!? No NFC, No front cam, not wifi tethering, poor camera…this thing totally sucks!”
And the images captured by 800 have a low contrast, I’m used to post processing the images so it dosen’t matter to me. And I never shoot in auto mode. Whereas Engadget made me feel that its camera is totally useless.
This is the true art of reviewing the products.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 1:51 AM EDT via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Great review! And an honest one too. Engadget’s review was honest too but was very harsh, I was thinking about not upgrading to 800. And then I came here and read this review. And I felt that it is not that bad afterall, it is only lacking wi-fi tethering, NFC and front cam. Whereas Engadget made me feel like…. “What!? No NFC, No front cam, not wifi tethering, poor camera…this thing totally sucks!”
And the images captured by 800 have a low contrast, I’m used to post processing the images so it dosen’t matter to me. And I never shoot in auto mode. Whereas Engadget made me feel that its camera is totally useless.
This is the true art of reviewing the products.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 1:51 AM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Nokia needs to make Android now.
This product is like pissing in the snow.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 1:59 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Never going to happen… but good luck with Motorola.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 12:15 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Totes adding you to XBL now, Vlad :P
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 1:59 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I love the new scoring system. And your guys reviews are completely amazing. Wow I love this website!
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 3:28 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
My next phone will definitely be a Nokia’s Windows Phone! Awesome Review btw.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 5:13 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Ah I would’ve given it an 8. I wouldn’t mark down a phone for it choosing to have less features, but by judging how well the features it does have function.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 6:21 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review. I can’t wait to replace my HTC Desire with a Windows Phone 7.5 handset… I’m considering this one :)
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 6:42 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
If the design is so great why not rate it 10 like n9?
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 7:07 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I think that’s exactly the reason! Nokia has used the same design and not noticeably improved on it but actually cut a few corners on hardware (with the Front Facing Camera, NFC, and for me, importantly, the notification LED)
I can’t imagine why their ‘come back’ phone misses out on these. They’ll sure have thought of the next update which will bring in NFC sharing and video chat..
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 8:16 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great review and great phone. But i think it does not have enough unique features to beat android and iOS.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 7:51 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m ditching my HTC Android for this phone, and I haven’t even used a WP yet. but 18 months of Android has not convinced me that it’s “all that.”
I’m sure I can live without having to recharge it twice a day and the GPS radio telling me I’m 10 kilometers from where I actually am, and constant warnings that my 500mb memory is maxed out, even though I have only 30 or so apps on it, none of which take up more than 5 mb.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 6:49 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Good review. Good portal.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 8:16 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great Review. I am actually looking forward to this phone. Seriously considering this as a Enterprise offering for our company.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 8:35 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I understand why Vlad avoided it, but the article somewhat lacked a blow-by-blow contrast of the N9 and Lumia 800. I noticed Thomas Perl (a longtime developer of apps for Nokia smartphones, along with Linux and OSX) put up a list of what he called non-obvious (at least to someone not familiar with one or the other device) differences, and I was interested to hear that if it’s off but you have an alarm set the N9 will turn itself back on to do so . He goes on to say that it “shows that when a vendor controls both hardware and software, they might be able to put together a more interesting HW/SW mix compared to the situation where someone else controls the software.”
Anyways, does WP7 really not have Skype yet? Meanwhile the N9 shipped with Skype integrated . . . see, this is why I’m skeptical of the “ecosystems” argument.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 9:37 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
My favourite Vlad quote: “a parasite occupying the shell that rightfully belongs to another?”
Awesome quote, nice phone, great review.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 11:01 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Overall a good review, but considering so many people will never have seen or likely to see the N9, I think there was a bit too much dwelling on this fact. You really should have distanced yourself from this.
Looking at other WP devices there does seem to be a common problem with relation to the camera’s (video aspect) so I think this might be an MS issue. If Nokia can fix the white balance issue with the final firmware I am sure they will.
Like a few others have commented on, Internet sharing is indeed coming soon.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 11:20 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I have to say, I’m really impressed with this review and I think the points brought up are valid. It’s miles above your old employer who manages to make points feel as invalid as possible.
I hope to see this level of sophistication in your future reviews and hopefully this does not degrade into partisan, overly biased reviewing metric.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 11:23 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Great Job on the review and great job on the design of this site. This review is so beautiful it almost deserves a review of its own. And the video was great.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 2:27 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Nokia has finally done it right.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 2:33 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
“We’ve seen both Windows Phone 7.5 and the Lumia 800’s chiseled physique already, so combining the two is like making yourself a banana sandwich, new and potentially tasty, but not an altogether unpredictable combination.”
I thought that analogy was amazingly accurate.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 2:33 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
where can i buy this, will they be able to ship in the states
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 3:10 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Wait and see what they announce the US launch and see what they are bringing here. Chances are that they will have this, but like an 801 that fills in some of the negitives that were mentioned in this review. Nokia is going to be hitting the US market like Ray Lewis with a clean shot on the QB.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 12:23 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Such great hardware. A lot of people seem to hate on Windows Phone but I think the UI looks great.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 6:21 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
awesome
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 6:34 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
To me this phone is really ugly.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 7:44 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t understand why they limit it to 16 GB while there is a 64 GB version of the N9.
Posted on Nov 04, 2011 | 10:55 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The video reviews on this site are some of the best I have ever seen.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 2:31 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I was looking forward to this device, having been disappointed by the very lazy iPhone 4S. (I currently have an iPhone 4) Sadly it’s just not good enough, so I’m sticking with my iPhone for another year, and will probably get an iPhone 5 if it’s a major upgrade.
I wonder how many of this device’s shortcomings are actually Windows Phone limitations? Does anyone know? For example, quad/dual core GPU, quad/dual core GPU,. 32/64gb flash, no front facing camera, low res screen… At least the small screen size can be blamed completely on Nokia. My iPhone’s screen is absurdly small, drives me nuts, for me I think 4" should be the absolutely minimum.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 6:12 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Let me try to honestly answer some of your questions.
Dual core- Currently WP7 does not support dual core but its not needed. WP7 does more with less and runs super smooth even on my first generation HTC Trophy with a 1Ghz processor. Those “geeks” that say that its lacking the dual core are what I call Spec whores.(Multi-core support is expected with the Apollo release). Honestly though, right now, WP7 does not need it, its buttery smooth with ZERO lag and super smooth transitions. My Trophy boots in 26 seconds. The OS is light but powerful. Dual core would be an un-needed drain on the battery.
32/64 GB storage: Thats on the OEM’s not putting it in. They can put in whatever they want.
No FFC: Again, an OEM issue, Mango fully supports FFC.
Screen res: That is a stanard for WP7 to prevent fragmentation like Android is seeing. Developers can write thier apps and be assured that it will look the same on any WP7, they don’t have to re-write it for different devices.
Screen size: yes, OEM decision. but Nokia has stated that they feel the “sweet spot” for phones is 3.5-4" range, for hand feel and pocketability.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 12:46 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Well I have an Omnia 7. As long as I use normale apps which display pictures, some animations or lists it is smooth. This is no big surprise since even Mango has no true Multitasking (parallel execution of Apps like messenger, GPS traching etc.).
But as soon I start as CPU demanding app like Outdoor Navigation (GPS tracking, offline and online maps) it lags. Sometimes it gets really slow.
As for the urban legend that multi-core would drain the battery this is actually not true. In fact modern-dual core CPUs save energy because two cores running parallel threads instead of one cpu running the same parallel threads don’t require the permanent context switching. Thus requiring less CPU cycles, less energy and they can do it also at a lower clock per core.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 1:49 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Why do you need to run dual threads on a phone? Are you trying to watch an HD video at the same time as you are crunching a 10k line spread sheet?
As someone that has a background in Electric Engineering, I find the claim that more cores=less power drain to be laughable. You still have to POWER those cores, no matter how you slice it, its more circuitry to power. If you do the math using Ohms Law, it makes your statement impossible. Now, when comparing a single core of a few years ago to today, today’s singles do beat the old ones. But when comparing todays single core vs dual cores, still the same tech, just more of it.
One of the primary concerns of MS with createing WP7 was great battery life. If a dual-core would “save” power, wouldn’t they be all over it? Their stated position is that the slight performance gain of a dual core is not worth the significant decrease in battery life.
Too many people are hung up on specs such as this. When the software is properly written, it will perform well without need of additional “power”. I used to be in the Spec whore crowd, but I have figured out that you don’t need all that to have a VERY good experience. All too often, people use “more power” (grunt) to cover up and make up for inefficent coding. This has LONG been a problem in the world of computers in general.
As far as Outdoor Navigator goes, that app still has not been updated for Mango. In the Mango SDK, they have a performance profiler to help the dev tweak the performance, something that was not available before. So it entirely possible (probable) that the problem you are seeing is due to coding problems within that app. But for the record, I have outdoor naviator and I do not see the issues that you describe.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 2:56 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
You just parrot the current MS marketing line. There was already a leak that MS wanted to support dual core with Mango but did not because Nokia was not ready. The next generation Windows Phones post Mango will be dual cores.
Also it appears that you seem to believe that semiconductors work like ohmic resistors. But they do not. Power dissipation and heat are not simple linear functions of power and clock input. Two CPU cores running at 1 GHz consume less power than a single core running at 2 GHz and will not get as hot. This is the reason multi-core CPUs were invented in the first place instead of just doubling the clock frequency with a single core. Which would get extremly power hungry and hot at some point. Go figure.
Posted on Nov 29, 2011 | 4:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
As for Outdoor Navigation try to load some bigger offline maps. I have tried it on several phones and it always lags.
Posted on Nov 29, 2011 | 4:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Also why I want to have real multitasking?
Because I want Outdoor Navigation to keep running in the background while I do something else with the phone. Right now it stops if I switch to another app.
Posted on Nov 29, 2011 | 4:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I run Outdoor Navigation on my Focus with Mango, and it works perfectly with no lag. Same for Navigon USA, which I would expect is more CPU intensive.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 7:45 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Just had a look at the Windows Phone App store. Wow, what a wasteland. I’m not sure I’d give the ‘ecosystem’ score any more than a 2 or 3 out of 10. It’s just barren. I play a lot of games on my iPhone to pass the time on boring commutes, and I don’t see anything I’d want to play on Windows Phone. Bizarre really given the Xbox Live aspect of Win Phone.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 6:14 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s funny, I just went on the Windows Phone App store to make sure I can have all my apps I’m used to that are on my HTC Android, and aside from Soundhound, I found them all.
I understand that I won’t need Soundhound, though, because of Shazam. We’ll see about that, but I’m happy I won’t be without the apps I need.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 6:54 AM EDT reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
You wont even need Shazam because of the built in Bing music that will identify a song in usually about 5 to 10 seconds.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 12:50 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
SoundHound is now out in the Marketplace ;)
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 3:58 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
And speaking of commutes, I hear Nokia will introduce an App called Nokia Public Transport, which will collect live data of all the public transit in your city and overlay it on a map, showing you the quickest way to get somewhere.
Now, that’s a huge selling point for the millions of commuters out there!
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 6:57 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
The Nokia N9 and Lumia 800 are so similar, but the N9 just nails that “desirable” factor on a totally different level. Even knowing that the OS is dead-on-arrival, I still want the N9 just because. For some reason though the 800 lacks that special appeal, and not because of the OS, WP7 is great, but just because it feels like we’re settling for something less than the N9.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 8:09 AM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The lack of a front-facing camera was an inexcusable decision, particularly as the N9 already had one. With Tango and Skype on their way, it leaves this handset missing critical functionality.
Also, the NFC from the N9 could have really made this handset stand out even more. It almost seems like Nokia didn’t want this to trump the N9 – I’m sure the staff are happy that way.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 10:21 AM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
Looks like a great phone with a great design, hardware and OS. Hope it comes to my region :)
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 1:33 PM EDT reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
After seeing pricing on my network (Vodafone), I almost gave up on the 800, since it is their most expensive device, bar Blackberry (pfft) and iPhone (object of lust). However, the cold light of day has set me straight.
Basically, what if we never see this level of attention to detail again? What if the 800 is being used to make the N9 production line cost effective?
I am more likely to regret not getting a Lumia, than regret getting one… That may not sound like a good reason to get a device, but I haven’t been this impressed by hardware since the HTC Legend, and there is nothing like that on the market now.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 1:51 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
If we never see this level of attention to detail from Nokia again, then you’ll be jumping aboard a platform with a future of mediocre phones won’t you? You should be buying into this if you believe that Nokia will maintain the same level of build quality, and not if you fear that they won’t.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 4:19 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
What if their WP7 future consists of models like the 710? Why didn’t Nokia go with Windows versions of the N8 and E7? As for the OS, I like the Metro UI.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 6:45 PM EDT via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Remember, this is just the first phones. Many more to come, rumors are of possibly 12 new phones in the next year.
Posted on Nov 05, 2011 | 7:26 PM EDT reply Recommend Flag actions
I dont get how this is rated a step lower than the N9?!
Its a good phone but I dont think its a great phone. Microsoft and Nokia, amongst others had a real opportunity to equate to or surpass the iPhone 4S but they dropped the ball. The storage capacity is paltry and dont come back with “the cloud” argument because Microsoft just hasnt integrated the cloud well enough. Google and Android are the forerunners with their cloud integration and iCloud is very RC at this point.
Ive always heard that Noka devices had spectacular cameras. If thats the case, how come the Lumia 800’s isn’t as good as the iPhone 4s? They have the same specs but obviously the quality isnt there.
I do give them credit for launching this worldwide and I do think its the best strategy but they should have at least given some insight to whats going on stateside. Microsoft needs a flagship phone for their platform right now, something akin to the Nexus strategy from Google.
I dunno but the release of this phone had me feeling very anticlimatic, very meh and very sigh-ish.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 12:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Probably my next phone, iOS(5) is starting to feel old and Android is too chaotic for my taste.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 | 2:58 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Microsoft employee was fired because he rated this 8/10. Verge, You’re fired too!
Posted on Nov 07, 2011 | 5:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
@Vlad: Is it true that Nokia doesn’t offer TRUE Offline Navigation anymore? The reason why I ask is the following statement:
Nokia Navigation (Drive) needs an Internet connection for search and routing. The map data itself can be downloaded on the device for offline usage, what significantly reduces the mobile data usage. As the map data has been downladed completely, the "Drive Assistance" (travel time, travel speed and current road) does not need an Internet connection, only the initial routing or the POI search needs the connection. This allows us to always provide the most recent information for the user…
Can you confirm this statement? Thanks!
Posted on Nov 08, 2011 | 7:49 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Maybe it’s a little late, but, Vlad, do you still think WP7 calendar is the best after ICS came out? I thing the new Android core apps look amazing, dying to see a review for this new OS.
Posted on Nov 08, 2011 | 11:17 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I wish I had the time to search through the comments and find something about the screen size. I can say that I am all about the smaller the better. I had a droid x and hated how big it was. Sure it was nice having the extra screen room for videos and pics is nice but as for having it in my pocket I couldn’t stand it. Give me a iPhone Nano! I want a iPhone the size of a HP Veer! Call me crazy.
Posted on Nov 08, 2011 | 1:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t think you’re crazy – I actually think we’ll see such a device from Apple one day as a Siri powered upper-tier feature phone/lower-tier smartphone. They’ll need better asian language support for Siri though first.
Posted on Nov 09, 2011 | 4:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“We’ve seen both Windows Phone 7.5 and the Lumia 800’s chiseled physique already, so combining the two is like making yourself a banana sandwich, new and potentially tasty, but not an altogether unpredictable combination. "
love that quote
The Verge
Posted on Nov 08, 2011 | 8:33 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This is a beautiful phone!
Posted on Nov 09, 2011 | 2:57 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Nothing to distinguish it from other WP7 experiences via software??
That is a giant PLUS, not a down side! No one wants a fractured experience. I cannot understand why you would not want pure unadulterated WP in favour of some Nokia flavoured variant, or pre-loaded bloatware.
mind boggled.
Posted on Nov 13, 2011 | 10:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Have never read such a detailed review.. You have covered almost every topic..good work..
Posted on Nov 15, 2011 | 4:05 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The only reason that is going to holding me back from considering this phone is the OS – Windows phone 7. The monocolor texts and 2D rectangular tiles are too boring and ugly, I prefer icons and pictures.
Also, too many WORDS!
Posted on Nov 19, 2011 | 2:22 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If I get a Windows phone this will be the one. Good stuff from Nokia.
Posted on Nov 24, 2011 | 11:34 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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