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View Full Version : Avoid Nokia S60 Phones


LiquidRain
01-02-2009, 08:40 AM
Here's an example of why.

Nokia S60 phones (the e-Series and n-Series smartphones) have the same SMS features as dumb phones, except it takes 2 seconds for it to load and draw on the screen any SMS as you flip through them. Nokia finally released "Conversation" - threaded SMS like the iPhone.

But Nokia Conversation pisses me off. It embodies everything that Nokia does right, but more than that it embodies everything it does wrong.

So we finally get threaded SMS that works. There were some 3rd party apps you had to pay for, or the broken beta of Conversation available only on select few phones. (another rant altogether - not all S60 devices can run S60 apps, even if the class is the same [some apps only run on an N95, etc]) Anyway, it's great we finally have Conversation. No more hideously slow flipping through text messages or multiple click-downs just to see what messages I have received. Modern messaging at last.

Except, why is it that when I have my threads sorted by contact, I cannot begin typing my contact's name to shortcut to him? Pressing the keys on my phone does nothing. I have to scroll.

Why is it that when I press "OK" on a conversation, it focuses on the last message instead of the text input box? Earth to Nokia: When I open a conversation, it's very likely that I would like to continue it.

Most importantly, why the hell does my phone still open text messages in the old interface instead of Conversation when I get a new SMS? I don't WANT the old interface. I specifically got Conversation in order to get rid of the old crappy one.

Sure, we finally get threaded messaging, but it means squat until Nokia can get basics down! This is the precise problem that plagues every single app and OS Nokia does! Something fundamentally basic is always wrong! It's clear they have no defined UI practices, but do they not hire UI designers at all? Do they not do any user acceptance testing? Or do they just spit this garbage out and tell us to deal with it?

I cannot stress that this sort of stupidity and lack of user testing and interface design is everywhere in Nokia's smartphones. It's horrid.

People wonder why, after buying one of Nokia's best phones (an N82), I recommend avoiding them at all cost. Well, this post is why. Nokia has good hardware, if a little on the chunky side, but their user interface is absolutely terrible and should be completely avoided.

Adam Blue
01-02-2009, 08:45 AM
One, S60 is the best.

Two, there are iPhone app clones that will take care of what you want. We're talking about Symbian here...you can do anything.

Also, out of all the choices I wouldn't go N82. 95 is still king, but there are many other great ones out there.

TrackZero
01-02-2009, 08:45 AM
thread-ed s-m-s? What voodoo do you speak of?

LiquidRain
01-02-2009, 08:48 AM
One, S60 is the best.

Two, there are iPhone app clones that will take care of what you want. We're talking about Symbian here...you can do anything.

Also, out of all the choices I wouldn't go N82. 95 is still king, but there are many other great ones out there.
If you have any free alternatives to Nokia Conversation, feel free to link.

The reason I have the N82 and not the N95 is that the N95 does not have a xenon flash for its camera, or a lens cover. I don't have a data plan, since they're ridiculously expensive in Canada, so 3G makes no difference to me. Note how I said one of Nokia's best phones, not the best. The N82 is still a modern n-Series device, even if Nokia won't give us Feature Pack 2. (another rant against Nokia)

At the end of the day, though, one must still deal with Nokia's crap-for-brains software designers and the hodge podge of collected UI cruft that Nokia's built up over the years. I don't care if Symbian has a nice app installation interface on my PC when my phone's hooked up to USB, etc. etc, until Nokia gets some damned basics right in the phone UI department.

Stmfuller
01-03-2009, 06:27 AM
thread-ed s-m-s? What voodoo do you speak of?

on my blackberry, if you don't delete the texts as they come in (like I do 99% of the time). It shows as an IM conversation would show on your computer.

DangerousDaze
01-03-2009, 06:34 AM
on my blackberry, if you don't delete the texts as they come in (like I do 99% of the time). It shows as an IM conversation would show on your computer.

Same on my Windows Mobile powered HTC Touch Diamond. Pretty standard these days.

Stmfuller
01-03-2009, 09:42 AM
Same on my Windows Mobile powered HTC Touch Diamond. Pretty standard these days.

I really like my blackberry device, but I hate how damned locked-down the thing is.

I'm thinking about switching to a win device next upgrade.
Maybe.
I am kind of a blackberry whore now.

LiquidRain
01-03-2009, 10:57 AM
Switching operating systems won't help. If you're on AT&T or T-Mobile, you need to "de-brand" your phone. De-branding removes all carrier branding off the phone, all their customizations to the phone's firmware, so you're free to use the device as you wish. Unlocking a phone refers to being able to use an SIM card on it.

If you're on Verizon or Sprint, you need to move to AT&T or T-Mobile. You can't de-brand or unlock Verizon or Sprint phones.

KingGorilla
01-03-2009, 11:39 AM
Crazy thought, it is a "smartphone" why not twitter?

LiquidRain
01-03-2009, 11:43 AM
Because that requires a data plan.

KingGorilla
01-04-2009, 12:54 AM
Question two, why have a smartphone without a data plan? Why pay the extra hardware costs without the features?

DangerousDaze
01-04-2009, 05:48 AM
Crazy thought, it is a "smartphone" why not twitter?

What if you want to message someone without a smartphone.

Stmfuller
01-04-2009, 06:38 AM
Switching operating systems won't help. If you're on AT&T or T-Mobile, you need to "de-brand" your phone. De-branding removes all carrier branding off the phone, all their customizations to the phone's firmware, so you're free to use the device as you wish. Unlocking a phone refers to being able to use an SIM card on it.

If you're on Verizon or Sprint, you need to move to AT&T or T-Mobile. You can't de-brand or unlock Verizon or Sprint phones.

I didn't mean unlock my phone in that respect, I have a verizon phone and know EXACTLY what it means to have a locked down phone (all the dumb phones available for verizon are terribly locked down and useless).
Blackberries and other high end verizon phones are never locked down (basically to the point where you're really out on your own), but the blackberry service by default (no matter where you get it from) is very strict to begin with and all the fun programs seem to be on win mobile :(

LiquidRain
01-04-2009, 10:39 AM
Question two, why have a smartphone without a data plan? Why pay the extra hardware costs without the features?
Getting a data plan in Canada is the difference between a monthly bill of $30 and a monthly bill of $90. You can't get a data plan without an equally expensive voice package. I bought my smartphone not for the smartphone aspect, but purely for the camera.

I didn't mean unlock my phone in that respect, I have a verizon phone and know EXACTLY what it means to have a locked down phone (all the dumb phones available for blackberry are terribly locked down and useless).
Blackberries and other high end verizon phones are never locked down (basically to the point where you're really out on your own), but the blackberry service by default (no matter where you get it from) is very strict to begin with and all the fun programs seem to be on win mobile :(
Ah, I didn't know that. Fair enough.