Nokia Hints at Switch to Android

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SilverSky

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http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/01/27/nokia-hints-at-switch-to-android/


Take what you want out of it. For those that think that Nokia is canceling Meego (which I've seen in other posts recently), this should help reassure that Meego is still on track to launch this year...



"So far, the company has been clear that it won’t adopt Android but rather build its smartphones around Symbian and the new MeeGo platform, which it expects to use in high-end devices starting later this year."
 
I could see them locking down a handset and creating their own custom UI with Ovi (for android) as the default app store and Ovi Maps as the default map application (and Ovi chat as a replacement for Google talk?). Although I would hate to see Symbian die off :(

SE has been pretty successful at keeping their proprietary programs off competitors phones (timeline) and Garmin with their map application (I've yet to see Garmin on anything besides their own branded rom). It's definitely possible to keep a future Nokia experience primarily on a Nokia.

Only thing I dislike is that while Android is an improvement in UI when compared to Symbian, I would like to see Nokia aim to surpass Android UI. Maybe I'm spoiled by my wife's windows phone 7 ;)
 
Garmin XT which is no longer available ran on my N95, then my Nokia 5800 XM, and now it runs on my N8. It also runs on Windows Mobile 6.x.
 
I think this is about the Garmin thing I brought up before? I guess I should have clarified by saying that I meant Garmin on Android. The only way to get Garmin on Android is to purchase a Garmin-branded Android handset. It's not possible to extract the Garmin apk and install it on any other Android phone.

If Nokia ever went to Android, they can lock Ovi Maps to their handsets (well, roms) to differentiate their offerings from other manufacturers.
 
Yup, stupid headline. It was an analyst that said that going to Android would be the most likely option... WSJ takes the analysts analysis and assumes Nokia is going to do that. Just looking at how the article was written, it's very biased.

I hope Nokia sticks it out with Symbian and improves it to where it needs to be.
 
The important part is that this could only be for the north American market, where Nokia struggles. In other markets where symbian does well I don't think they care to change. Almost like a one time experiment.
 
I wish that Nokia would sell both options.
Release a N8 version with Android 2.2 or 2.3 at the same time as Symbian.

If they think Symbian is so great then they shouldn't be worried that android would be the better seller.
They are losing marketshare and will continue to do so unless something drastic comes out of Finland. Sometimes hardware can only go so far. Even though I never had a problem with Symbian as a OS the problem that I encountered was lackluster browsing experience (even when using opera), e-mail just sucked on symbian, and the messaging was slow as molasses. I cringed when I had to open up the txt messaging application since it was so slow. My N-95 messaging was sooooo much better.
 
Well lets assume Nokia would upgrade the N8 to be able to run Android while having both released at the same time then.

Or even better, When the new N9 is released release three options, Meego, Symbian, and Android 2.X
See which OS would be the favorite and this can be a test for Nokia to see what OS's they should be adopting to for the future.
Also, I am not saying to get rid of Symbian, just give its consumers the option.
I love Nokia Hardware, just the lackluster items I posted above was the final straw.
 
the last thing they need is to come out w/ a phone w/ Android for just the USA (Mexico and Canada gets higher end Symbian phones on carriers)....
Android can't run on anything close to Symbian hardware...
the Motorola Backflip has more RAM and a faster processor and is way slower than the N97.....
I mean waaaaaay slower....
sticking it out w/ Symbian and Meego is the best course...
as far as services, an integrated Amazon music store would be nice...
adding yahoo's search engine to Ovi maps could give a better solution when searching for interesting points of view.....
 
they still have an advantage over samsung and RIM on their home turf...
though, they need to do something to retain that lead...
 
I'd tend to agree with you, in terms of real world performance.

Unfortunately, in this same real world, the end user compares specifications and will sometimes make a decision based on processor speed, or based on something a review has said about how ancient the Symbian menu system appears to be.

When you compare the specifications of the Nokia N8 vs the Apple iPhone 4, armed with no other information, you'd reasonably draw the conclusion that the iPhone totally decimates the performance of the N8.

But when you are holding and using both N8 and iPhone 4, there doesn't seem to be anything like the kind of performance difference you'd expect from just comparing the specifications. The end user, with both devices in his hand, stock vs stock, might even come away preferring some features and operations of the Nokia N8.

I'm really rooting for Nokia.

I hope they make it and find a way to market Meego and Symbian 3.

But I'm afraid that at this point it's a steep uphill battle for them in North America, the UK and Europe.
 
I own both an N8 and and IP4 and I disagree. The IP4 is significantly faster at pretty much everything... Launching apps are near instant, the UI is very smooth and polished all around.

Symbian is still clunky. Launching the camera lags, launching apps can be a painful experience half the time.

Really the only things the N8 has over the IP4 is the camera, the ability to do BT transfers and the fact that it still uses a regular sized sim so it's nice to travel with (pre-paid sim cards).

The only other thing I really liked about the N8 was leveraging Joikuspot with my iPad, but, with iOS 4.3 this is no longer an issue.
 
^ i had them both at the same time and I find the n8 quick enough to were i don't miss the ip4 at all. The built in fm transmitter, the HDMI, and the usb on the go, and the fact that I don't have to deal with itunes is more than enough for me to take the n8 over the ip4. And the camera.. well that is just a nice addition : )

Here is a nice sample of what it can do.. i took this couple of weeks ago

http://www.esato.com/phonephotos/cam/nokia/n8_00/201101280926gSbU5V.jpg
 
Nothing beats the Pacific Ocean, I live close to the coast in Oregon. You are a good photographer regardless. I bet you could take good photos with any decent camera where for me it just luck when I get a good one. What settings did you use, night mode?
 
No it can. At least the OS can. But Android apps will have problems with the resolution it uses which is VGA.

Just to let you know, Android 2.2 is quite snappy on a 600Mhz ARM11 powered LG Optimus One.

With an N8 like device, the screen either has to be upgraded to an 480x800 WVGA or downgraded to a 320x480 HVGA.
 
The problem of that is the low end in both countries are being filled with Indian and Chinese manufacturers. Yes, India has their phone manufacturers now.

The smartphone market is increasingly being penetrated with low and mid end Androids from China, HTC, Samsung, Motorola and LG. Indian manufacturers are also now getting into the act of brewing their own Androids.
 
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