KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Nokia and Microsoft recently launched their latest mobile offerings in Malaysia to much less fanfare than the massively hyped iPhone 4.
The Finnish phone-maker trotted out its new N-series device, the N8, and boasted that it was the “best cameraphone in the world.”
At the same time, the United States software giant showed off two phones carrying its new mobile OS, Windows Phone 7.
As upbeat as they were about their devices, it can’t be denied that the current king of the smartphone heap is Apple.
The iPhone has become iconic, a status symbol, the latest must-have.
No other phone has had people queuing up for days despite cries from tech pundits everywhere that “it’s just a phone, people!”
At every new smart-phone launch, someone will ask: “Is it the iPhone-killer?” Is the N8 one? Does Microsoft have a chance at killing the Jesus-phone?
Sorry, Nokia, Microsoft. There can only be one phone Messiah and you don’t have it.
Windows Phone 7: impressions
One thing you can say about the Windows Phone 7 interface: it sure is pretty. Windows Mobile has been put to rest as the new UI has gone through a complete facelift. There is a fluidity and slickness that rivals the multiple screen changes of the iPhone and Android phones.
So far only two models will be available in Malaysia come November: HTC’s HD7 and the HTC 7 Mozart. The former will be a Maxis exclusive, retailing at RM2399 while the cheaper Mozart will come in at RM2099.
Though the pricing is competitive, the phones will have a tough time breaking the consumer market.
Why? It’s obvious that Microsoft is pushing Windows Phone 7 squarely at the enterprise market. Take the integrated Office Hub, the most polished of the phone’s featureset that gives users easy access to Word, Excel and PowerPoint. There’s also SharePoint integration as well as easy connections to the cloud storage service SkyDrive.
Earth to Microsoft: how many people in Malaysia (besides Microsofties) use SkyDrive or have even heard of it? You get the feeling thatMicrosoft is aiming hard at the enterprise market currently claimed by RIM and its BlackBerries.
Microsoft has left out one feature, though. Cut and paste. Ironic, considering Microsoft invented the function. Malaysian users will also have no access to Marketplace, its online app store and neither will they be able to use the Zune music store or Xbox Live integration. And what’s with the missing IM client, Microsoft?
Despite the polish of its interface, Windows Phone 7 is neither groundbreaking nor all that innovative. It does however give us hope that unlike Windows Mobile, future phones running on it won’t suck.
Nokia, oh, Nokia
Once upon a time, Nokia unleashed the ultimate do-it-all phone. They called it the N95. After that model, Nokia has yet to produce anything as good. The N96 was boring, the N97 a bug-ridden paperweight and now the N8 is a step forward in some ways, a step back in others.
The N8 is still running Symbian, an OS that has not aged well. What might get people buying it here is the ridiculously low price of RM1690. You are getting incredible bang for your buck with that price as the N8 has features that include:
A 3.5-inch AMOLED widescreen
16GB internal storage
12-megapixel camera with Xenon flash with autofocus
HSDPA/3G/EDGE connectivity
If it’s anywhere as good as the N82, the N8 will be one heck of a cameraphone. Everything else? Well. Symbian is an OS that tends to be fiddly but Nokia faithful will find the UI as familiar and as easy to use as ever.
Build-wise, the N8 is probably one of the sexiest designs Nokia hasever produced. It makes you wonder if the Finns finally saw sense and kidnapped someone from HTC — it’s light, svelte and has a display to rival the iPhone’s much touted Retina display.
It’s ridiculously affordable but you don’t feel Nokia cut any corners. If you’re not into apps but more into multimedia, the N8 takes great pictures and HD video, plays high quality video as well and is a serviceable music player.
All in all, neither phones are serious challengers in the smartphone market. The Nokia N8 is a multimedia bargain while the Windows Phone 7 OS looks promising. But for the latter, with some features conspicuously missing, I’d suggest buyers wait until the platform is updated. Microsoft says that will likely happen in early 2011.
The smartphone market looks seriously crowded at the moment but for consumers, more choice is always a good thing.
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