Nokia's future iPhone killer outed...
Guess the N97 isn't what they meant by iPhone killer, but next time they are serious. More screen/area=hotness?
This past Friday, a slide from Nokia’s Capital Markets Day appeared on the internet depicting a touchscreen-only Nokia handset with a striking UI. Sure the slide looked a bit iffy and the wording of the accompanying notes isn’t your grandfather’s English, but anyone who has sat through a presentation given by a handset manufacturer knows that’s nothing out of the ordinary. Whiners immediately attacked the slide and shouted it was fake - even we were skeptical as to its authenticity. As it turns out, it’s as real as they come. The slide, pictured again above, is part of a large presentation from Capital Markets Day that is now publicly available. Sure the handset pictured is a mockup but it was indeed created by Nokia. While it does not necessarily depict an actual handset currently in the company’s pipeline, it does give us a glimpse of one of the directions Nokia is headed. Most substantially no doubt, is the fact that the mockup shows a UI that remarkably does not look like something out of War Games as does S60.
Could this be the first official hint that Nokia is looking to finally build a UI as visually pleasing as its OS is capable? Only time will tell. As to the concept of a touchscreen-only handset in the works from Nokia, the full presentation is peppered with mockups of touchscreen-only handsets. In fact, Nokia even used a closed N810 as a mobile phone in several images. While this could lead many to believe that Nokia does intend to release a similarly-styled device in the near future, it could also simply mean said mockups were deemed the best way to have the audience focus on the screen shots being presented without being distracted by the handsets. Hit the read link for a PDF download of the full 20 MB presentation and enjoy.
[Via NokiaUsers]
Read (PDF warning)
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Comments (13)
Yup, and someone please tell me who was actually the first one and ahead of its times with touchscreen UI which specificationwise was much better than Iphone (800x480 display anyone) - of course Nokia with N7710.
Unfortunately there were not enough buyers to keep them improving this branch of devices... too bad.
Doesn't look too bad to me. Probably good enough to get by on until Apple gets out from under AT&T's thumb.
Looks like US byers can soon buy deasent phones. And cariers there realise their own good...
oh yes, you know... 'deasent phones'!! that is 'phones that can dease!!!' you're so excited your spelling has gone to pot! with or without spelling mistakes... the second phrase is absolute gibberish!
— Terry Pratchett, Maskerade
So this is not a real handset then. You had me all excited for a sec.
The expected release date is sometime in Q2 of 2009. Until then readers can view the N97 specs and photos here http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n97-2615.php
I really don't see what's to be excited about, even if real this ui doesn't bring anything new but the color scheme. The biggest problem with these phone companies is in their constant efforts to out iPhone the iPhone and in doing so loose all consistancy in their own range, straight after releasing their 1st touch phone they are already talking about a completley different ui to learn.
stories like this fuel my macworld curiosity...
Why are Europeans always so defensive about Nokia. Anyone who criticizes it seems to get in verbal rant from them.
The companies are global corporations and are not loyal to any one country or region.
Even if these companies are global ones, their products have bias towards certain markets (and preferences).
Apple gets the US market perfectly, Nokia gets the European market quite well. You can see why it's hard to understand why the "other side" gets so excited about a product - if it's not according to your local preference. (Even if I don't agree with your generalization.)
And please observe how everything is "an iPhone killer" or "iPhone competitor" or how the verbal rant goes both ways.
The world is still the sum of local markets, not one global one.
I think the interface looks really cluttered and messy. Why does the theme have to be so dark and the fonts so ugly?
Journalism for Teens, 3rd Edition.