What does your N-Series wishlist for 2008 look like?

[NZtechfreak]

Hi everyone, given the time of year I thought it would be interesting to see what everyone is looking forward to in 2008.

I've posted some thoughts over at my blog to get things started.

Here they are for those too lazy to catch a link

Optical zoom on flagship N-Series devices. There are a few solutions out there that could facilitate the inclusion of optical zoom without blowing out device size.

Xenon flash and lens protection standard on all high-end handsets.

Snappier UI in general, but with particular emphasis on the camera application.

Larger, higher resolution screens - N-Series iterations sporting the touch interface should meet this need.

An N-Series QWERTY please! For my money the Helio-Ocean styled QWERTY 'landscape slide' is the best option as it doesn't destroy the aesthetics of the form-factor. Just make sure the top row keys are nicely accessible, its a simple thing, but a design error that crops up with stupifying regularity from a myriad of device manufacturers nevertheless.

Improved TV-Out implementation - would be really nice to have the ability for users to select the TV-Out resolution for applications. I use my N95-1 quite a lot for the productivity side of things, I'd really love to be able to view/edit word/excel/powerpoint/PDF documents and browse the web at a decent resolution.

More RAM. Now don't get me wrong here, the increased RAM that Nokia began using in response to criticisms leveled at the N95-1 is great and now multi-tasking is a breeze. . . but. . . you still can't watch a full length movie at 640x480 via TV-Out without problems. I'd really like my N-Series device to be both my homes multimedia hub, and my portable movie player, but as things stand this isn't a reality.

Please release the NGage platform in 2008. Please?

While on the topic of NGage - please ensure the release of some games that utilise the 3D acceleration of the higher-end NGage handsets! I understand the need for initial releases to capture the largest potential user-base, hence the inclusion of the N73 and so forth, but I want eye-candy! In all seriousness though, capturing the hardcore end of the gaming spectrum, and winning some credibility for the platform and mobile gaming in general requires this.

The corollary to that last point is that a commitment should be made to include 3D acceleration in the hardware of all future N-Series releases.

Keep improving the S60 UI, there are plenty of small optimisations still needed to really hone the end-user 'out-of-the-box' experience. Little details like the new text message alert actually displaying the name of the sender, or using the same method to exit from every application really make a difference for users - particularly the less tech savvy.

Improve the backup process. I'm certainly not the only person to have mentioned this recently, but having to reinstall all your software after a firmware upgrade is a real hassle, to mention nothing of the problems faced if a user tries to restore their phone settings across a firmware upgrade.

Improve the build quality. Based on my experience with the N82 at Nokiaworld, I'd say the Nokia has taken a step in the right direction in this area, but there is still a ways to go. While the N82 doesn't creak and feels nice and solid, it still feels like a 'plasticky-toy' in your hands, which is not what users are looking for in a device of that cost. Perhaps the S60 Project Managers could take a look at what the S40 people are doing? The S40 handsets shown at Nokiaworld were rock-solid; I can't say how much I'd love my next N-Series phone if it felt that like in my hand.

Here's a particularly 'kiwi-centric' wish: Maps updates please! The NewZealand maps are terrible, which is a huge turn-off for new N95 owners here, many of whom purchased their N95 largely on the basis of its GPS functionality. I spoke with the person manning the maps display at Nokiaworld, and he basically just pointed out that Nokia contracts a third party to produce the maps, so he couldn't give me any timeframe around updates. His advice was "just keep checking". This is unacceptable! While responsibility for the actual production of maps may reside with a third party, the overall responsibility for the end-user experience must reside with Nokia. If you talk with users from affected countries, even ones who understand where the maps originate, you won't hear them cursing a third party - its Nokia whose image is tarnished by this. Take note Nokia.


I think that list should be pretty achievable, and there are a few items I'll be sorely disappointed about if they fail to eventuate in 2008.

What do you guys think?

[marty3]

im very much looking forward to the new touchUI devices coming, very very excited.. not so much for the actuall touch screen devices, but the ones that will be running the same OS and have the same wonderfull VGA screens, and the normal 12 key number pad, and maybe a qwerty also

i was looking forward to the ngage platform, but ive washed my hands with that now and quite frankly dont want to hear nothing more about it..

[NZtechfreak]

im very much looking forward to the new touchUI devices coming, very very excited.. not so much for the actuall touch screen devices, but the ones that will be running the same OS and have the same wonderfull VGA screens, and the normal 12 key number pad, and maybe a qwerty also

i was looking forward to the ngage platform, but ive washed my hands with that now and quite frankly dont want to hear nothing more about it..

I understand where you're coming from, but I'm pretty accustomed to this sort of thing in the gaming world, so I'll just hang in there. Put it this way, its far less damaging to my perspective on Nokia than the awful New Zealand maps.

[heineken702]

too much to list for me... but in short? VGA screen, bigger than 240x320 right now, FP2, touchUI, keypad, at least 5mpx camera w/ xenon flash... pretty much like Marty described

[marty3]

oh me too, i been pc gamer for many years, and take crysis for example, this took years to get released, but not once did crytek, or ea games say "its going to be released next week" and then next weeks comes to find out its going to be at least another month

most gaming companys, or communites are honest. they say a release time when they 100% know for certain there is no more bugs, everything working how it should be and yes, we will put it out there next week.. not say it and then say actully, naaahh, we leave it for a month or so.. and at this time of year aswell, its just pathetic, its sad and degrading for nokia as a gaming platform.. you ask anyone (any seroius hardcore gamer) and ask them what they think about nokia creating a gameing community, they will all just laugh at your face and say it is a joke, ive heard all kinds of comments like "dont they have enough money already" and "havent they learned from there first huge ngage failure" and now this yet another set back (i think something like the 5 or 6th delay), how is this looking on there ngage platform now? we be soon reading all whole new breed of comments becuase of this.. like "they just cant cut in the gaming industry" and such like comments.. well im not going to back them up on it no more, as they have let me down, theyve let the whole ngage communty down with yet another "broken promise"

[NZtechfreak]

All true, but fortunately for Nokia the success of the NGage platform doesn't live in the hands of Hardcore Gamers - its more about the casual gamer. That said, the Hardcore gaming crowd is not insignificant by any means, and they're certainly losing vital traction in the battle to win some credibility with Hardcore Gamers with all these delays. . .

[marty3]

indeed, it is my point exactly.. but like you said, there main audiance is not the hardcore gamers, if it was, they certainly would not of used a device lacking 3D graphic acceleration hardware as there launch device and there primary ngage gaming phone which is kinda silly i think, they should aim there sights higher, much much higher in fact, and take on the psp and nintendo whateveritscalled

but it seems nokia have got a huge disliking to lovely hi res VGA screens so they wont never have a proper gaming platform or gaming device on crappy QVGA

[NZtechfreak]

I agree, I think they should set their sights high.

From a technology standpoint competing with the PSP is tough, but graphics-wise the DS should be within Nokia's sights.

[marty3]

thats it the DS complety sliped my mind...

and yes, i think even the psp is well within there reach, it is a few year old device now, and doesnt have no new technology on it atall they could make a device simeler, or smaller with same size screen and also have the symbian os on it with of course all telethony GSM capibilitys on it awsell..

and yes, the DS most defintly, this is rubbish impo, is why i ever forgot what the dam thing was called lol.. it was more of a novelty thing with the 2 screens, 1 primary aimed to be the user imput screen.. but there not the best screens, however the psp 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD 480x272 pixel high-resolution screen is just amazing

[NZtechfreak]

however the psp 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD 480x272 pixel high-resolution screen is just amazing

Yep, the PSP screen is a beauty alright, no arguments there!

and yes, the DS most defintly, this is rubbish impo, is why i ever forgot what the dam thing was called lol.. it was more of a novelty thing with the 2 screens, 1 primary aimed to be the user imput screen.. but there not the best screens

Thats the interesting though right, it might be grossly inferior from a technology point of view, but it spanked the PSP in sales didn't it?