3 January 2008

Nokia N82 -:- User Review [UPDATE]

Ok guys, i just wanted to add a few more things to this review, just a few more thoughts and views on this device from a users point of view, as i did use this nokia n82 device as my primary phone for more than 2 months. And i will also talk about some things in which i didn't mention before, things like the GPS and how the phone performs in general every day use as an user.

Like i said, i used the n82 as my main phone for more than 2 months, and i came to like the device very much, apart from some minor flaws like the dpad and minor issues which can be fixed with firmware updates, the nokia n82 is a power house of a phone.

The RAM capacity of this device is really incredible, and mix this with the fact that this phone has ODP enabled (on demand paging, or demand paging) you will not EVER have any memory problems with this device what so ever. Well like in the video i demonstrated on page 6 of this review, in which showing the true power of the multi-tasking capabilities this device has, where i was able to open every single application in the device, and also lots of 3rd party software applications, and all ran without a problem in the background. 70+ applications running at once, is an extremely impressive task to achieve, some computers could not handle such a thing and to see it done from a phone and still run stable is an extremely impressive thing to do, I'm sure you will agree.

Nokia Maps 2.0

Something i completely forgot to talk about throughout this review, was the GPS. Myself personally, i don't use the GPS a great deal on my nokia n95, as i don't go out that much, but i did try it on the nokia n82, and compare with the nokia n95.

I found with the recent release of the nokia maps 2.0 public beta, the nokia n82 was connecting to satellites a great deal faster than what it was with previous versions, which was one of my main concerns with the n82.

It was taking quite some long periods of time before maintaining a lock onto the satellites, sometimes even more than 10 minutes. I used to experiance the very same problems on my nokia n95 (before the latest firmware version) when i 1st purchased my n95, it had the firmware v12 installed, and was sometimes very hard to get a lock to use the GPS software, but this all changed with the latest firmware version (currently v20.0.015) as now it connects everytime between 5 - 30 seconds.

I think the nokia n82 can also come to do the same thing with future firmware updates, but like i said, it seems to have improved a little with the new version of nokia maps 2.0 beta. With the n82 defualt version of maps, it can take quite some time to connect, even using A-GPS (assisted GPS) which uses your phones network access point for help, or assistance to maintain a lock.

The Fundamentals of GPS

The nokia n95 and nokia n82 both have the very same GPS module, and im sure the connection to sattelittes will be greatly improved even more with future firmware updates, just like it was greatly improved in the nokia n95. And im sure the final release of the nokia maps 2.0 will also bring huge improvments to the connection times.

The new maps has had quite the large facelift in terms of changes to the User Interface. I think it has massively improved adding much more features and so very much more user friendly. It actually looks, and behaves like a real GPS navigation software now, and upon using it, you would even forget that this device is actually your phone, it really is very impressive update

Nokia Maps 2.0

I wont go into it in great detail as im not here to talk about this application, but i will leave you with this link to find out more information, and download and try out this great new updated nokia maps version.

The n82 is still relitively quite new, and more firmware updates with improvements are to be expected. Nokia did release a new firmware for the n82 just a few weeks ago (v11.0.117), but unfortunately was only a very small update bringing just minor changes that fixed a few small bugs in the Camera application, the maps application and the music player. (Find the full changelog here.) Quite dissapointed really, i was expecting to see some more changes with the devices first firmware update, but im sure nokia will bring some more bug fixes to the n82 in future.

I would like to have the ability added to flip/rotate the screen on the active standby, or home screen as this can get quite annoying, especially if your like me, and use the nokia SU-8W Bluetooth keyboard a lot, as upon entering the menu while device is in landscape mode sat on the keyboard, flips the screen back to landscape, as Ive mentioned in earlier pages on this review.

Ive allready discussed my thoughts and views on this device on the end of the page 7 and just like to answer a few questions of which some people asked me via emails and private message over at our forum section.

Q. Is the Device completely scratch proof all over?
A. Yes it is, the n82 has a great smooth finish to it, and it most definitely will not peel off, or scratch easily, this is for certain.

Q. Have you manage to pair your N82 to a stereo bluetooth headset, specifically Nokia BH-501?
A. I have not paired the n82 to that specific headset, but the nokia n82 has full support for the A2DP bluetooth profile, so there wont be any problem what so ever pairing the nokia n82 with the nokia BH-501 stereo headset.

Q. Does not having a pencil key make a great deal of difference?
A. In my personal opinion, i believe that it does, for my general everyday use anyway. I did really miss the pencil key the whole time i used the n82, not just for copy and paste related problems, but for also some of my most fav applications rely on the pencil key.

Q. How is the battery life compared with battery life of n95?
A. I found there to be quite a lot of difference, the n82 1050mAh battery, compared with the n95 950mAh, did make quite the difference, i believe the LED flash in n95 is more power hungry than the far Superior xenon which is present in n82.

Q. Which is ready to take pictures faster, n82 or n95?
A. N82 beats the n95, i think due to the more usable RAM available for the n82 makes it much quicker to open the camera software and ready for taking image faster. The n82 also boots faster than the n95 as well, again i think it is due to the more RAM in n82. So yes, the nokia n82 does load the camera software quicker than nokia n95.

Q. Is the dpad really as bad as you say it is?
A. For me it is, yes. maybe it is because i have fat fingers and thumbs lol, but yes, i did find it to be quite a problematic dpad for me unfortunately.

Q. The new multi media menu, is it better than the older one we have on the n95?
A. I personally don't think it is, i think i am the only person in the world who loves the nokia n95 multi media menu, the amazing sound effects, and theme changes, add your pictures, blend it with your current theme, add as many applications you want. you can even add them all to it if you wanted. But the new one in n82 and all newer s60 devices seems to lack any kind of optimisation at all unfortunately, your not able to add your apps or games to it, all your able to do is re arrange the tiles. Hopefully this multi media tiles type menu will improve, but to answer your question, i very much so rather the older n95 style MM menu.

Q. When is this phone going to be released in black, and is going to be a 8GB version with some better hardware components, like a bigger screen maybe?
A. I have absolutely no ideal what so ever, i know we have seen many many images of the nokia n82 popping up all over the net on a number of different blogs and forums, but there has not been any official announcement from nokia at all to prove such a black n82 will be released, personally i don't think that we will see one, and they were all just rumours.

Q. Would you buy it?
A. Yes i would, without thinking twice about it. Even tho Ive mentioned some minor flaws, the nokia n82 is still a power house of a device, it offers all the nokia n95 offers in hardware perspective, and the amazing xenon flash which as you can all see on the images on this review, makes a massive huge un comparable difference to the LED flash on all over nokia s60 devices, n82 is capable of taking incredible photos, especially in low light condition situations. It really is a fantastic device, and its been nothing more than a pleasure testing it out for such a long period of time..

Just like to thank the amazing guys at womworld for giving me the opportunity to try the nokia n82 for so long. I didn't really want to give it back lol.. Nseries womworld team are really great, never have i worked with more friendly people in all my life.. thank you once again guys.

Marty

SF Review: Nokia N82 -:- User Review
Originally posted: 03.01.2008
Last Updated: 15.02.2008
Author: Martyn Britton (AKA Marty3)
Copyright: Symbian Freak 2004 - 2008; all rights reserved

.:[ Nokia N82 - Technical Specifications ]:.