Nokia N8 macro ISO 500+
By release around Sept / October 2010 the N8 disappointed me a little.
I was really looking out to the next major camera phone but already using Linux on the N900 (and if you permit, the most beautiful and open implementation of Linux on a commercial phone so far) I was spoiled for about a year in terms of ergonomics of the user interface.
Let downs of the N8 at release:
-Aluminum unibody (Apple PR) seemed to have plastic ends (understandably for better antenna reception)
-The new Symbian^3 OS, at that time the newest version of Symbian starting to integrate the QT Framework for easy porting of applications between all other OS that make use of this framework (yes, like the Linux N900) was a little bit slower than expected.
-The screen resolution was not too high - and still is not on the 808 (limitation of Symbian)
-The non-removable battery.
-Nokia left out the many years standard feature "share online" and you now needed to use 3rd party programs like pixelpipe to share pictures on FlickR for example. (seriously, for a camera phone?)
-no integrated Skype like Nokia promised on their 2009 Barcelona press release about.skype.com/2009/02/skype_and_nokia_partner_to_int.html
-no portret virtual qwerty keyb (fixed in later Symbian versions)
-Last but not least: the arrogance of Nokia thinking it can still continue to compete with its own devices and get away with it. At the same time the E7 got launched WITH hardware keyboard but without the nice camera of the N8. Why Nokia can't include its best features in one great device?
So I felt a little bit stubborn to appreciate the N8 while on the other hand I liked it for the many integrated top features.
My girlfriend has one since release (the grass green version) and occasionally I got amazed by:
-the quality of the pictures that you could display directly on HDMI Plasma screen.
-enjoying the FM broadcast form your personal N8 DJ during long car travels into the wild :)
-balance between performance and battery life
-excellent free offline navigation
Later, beginning 2011 as a fan of Nokia Linux devices I have witnessed the destruction of Maemo line of devices by Nokia in favor of the (future) Windows Phone line and the last and final version, the N9, featured a very mediocre Camera and even no hardware shutter button to add to the insult.
I could now really give up the wait for the ultimate Camera phone = N8 + open Linux.
It is a pitty as thanks to the open Linux on the N900 it went already as deep as offering RAW shoot through the Frankencamera drivers.
www.slashgear.com/fcam-adds-raw-and-hdr-capture-to-nokia-...
Meanwhile:
-Symbian got upgraded to Anna then Belle versions making it a more smooth and accessible experience especially for non-long term Symbian users.
-Keyboard portret got fixed
-Camera Pro alternative camera software had been through many updates
-I have enjoyed from Oct 2011 till August 2012 my 2nd hand 280 (200 purchase + 80 screen replacement) Euro N8 with more mature software as a good, creative, always with me camera platform.
-it is an excellent phone
Regarding the C905, I have heard it is pretty good for pictures but I have no experience with it.
The Nokia N8 will have a little higher detail I presume. But for the rest I suggest to brows photo sites and let users pictures speak for themselves :)
Pre-advice for purchase of an N8:
-Be very careful not to buy a used or new N8 with the purple screen problem. Nokia is aware of this problem and will change the screen on demand but new devices are not being recalled for it and you may end up with the dreaded purple screen.
-nothing matches the 808 of course :p
Nokia N8 macro ISO 500+
By release around Sept / October 2010 the N8 disappointed me a little.
I was really looking out to the next major camera phone but already using Linux on the N900 (and if you permit, the most beautiful and open implementation of Linux on a commercial phone so far) I was spoiled for about a year in terms of ergonomics of the user interface.
Let downs of the N8 at release:
-Aluminum unibody (Apple PR) seemed to have plastic ends (understandably for better antenna reception)
-The new Symbian^3 OS, at that time the newest version of Symbian starting to integrate the QT Framework for easy porting of applications between all other OS that make use of this framework (yes, like the Linux N900) was a little bit slower than expected.
-The screen resolution was not too high - and still is not on the 808 (limitation of Symbian)
-The non-removable battery.
-Nokia left out the many years standard feature "share online" and you now needed to use 3rd party programs like pixelpipe to share pictures on FlickR for example. (seriously, for a camera phone?)
-no integrated Skype like Nokia promised on their 2009 Barcelona press release about.skype.com/2009/02/skype_and_nokia_partner_to_int.html
-no portret virtual qwerty keyb (fixed in later Symbian versions)
-Last but not least: the arrogance of Nokia thinking it can still continue to compete with its own devices and get away with it. At the same time the E7 got launched WITH hardware keyboard but without the nice camera of the N8. Why Nokia can't include its best features in one great device?
So I felt a little bit stubborn to appreciate the N8 while on the other hand I liked it for the many integrated top features.
My girlfriend has one since release (the grass green version) and occasionally I got amazed by:
-the quality of the pictures that you could display directly on HDMI Plasma screen.
-enjoying the FM broadcast form your personal N8 DJ during long car travels into the wild :)
-balance between performance and battery life
-excellent free offline navigation
Later, beginning 2011 as a fan of Nokia Linux devices I have witnessed the destruction of Maemo line of devices by Nokia in favor of the (future) Windows Phone line and the last and final version, the N9, featured a very mediocre Camera and even no hardware shutter button to add to the insult.
I could now really give up the wait for the ultimate Camera phone = N8 + open Linux.
It is a pitty as thanks to the open Linux on the N900 it went already as deep as offering RAW shoot through the Frankencamera drivers.
www.slashgear.com/fcam-adds-raw-and-hdr-capture-to-nokia-...
Meanwhile:
-Symbian got upgraded to Anna then Belle versions making it a more smooth and accessible experience especially for non-long term Symbian users.
-Keyboard portret got fixed
-Camera Pro alternative camera software had been through many updates
-I have enjoyed from Oct 2011 till August 2012 my 2nd hand 280 (200 purchase + 80 screen replacement) Euro N8 with more mature software as a good, creative, always with me camera platform.
-it is an excellent phone
Regarding the C905, I have heard it is pretty good for pictures but I have no experience with it.
The Nokia N8 will have a little higher detail I presume. But for the rest I suggest to brows photo sites and let users pictures speak for themselves :)
Pre-advice for purchase of an N8:
-Be very careful not to buy a used or new N8 with the purple screen problem. Nokia is aware of this problem and will change the screen on demand but new devices are not being recalled for it and you may end up with the dreaded purple screen.
-nothing matches the 808 of course :p