*OFFICIAL THREAD: Nokia E71
- Thread starter growing2blikehim
- Start date
It has been a couple days with this new device shipped to me by WomWorld, and I am particularly impressed with a some features. At the same time, however, I was equally unimpressed with others.
Let's begin with the negatives of this qwerty bar device. Flash is enabled on the S60 web browser and allows for the playback of YouTube videos directly from the website, but after one day I have run into this feature no longer working. Whenever I access a YouTube page online the area for the uploading video feed remains blank, and there is no apparent solution.
Though not considered to be too big of a drawback, the solitary speaker at the top of the phone doesn't share the same stereo glory as the E90. Music tracks can sometimes sound like there is a lack of bass feedback as well as slight distortion in the upper levels. Nonetheless it is sufficient in providing ample amounts of volume for the speakerphone and multimedia playback. I personally liked playing back audio podcast episodes from a few subscriptions in the Podcasting application.
The word prediction feature can be quite helpful, but also a nuisance since it doesn't always seem to work as flawlessly as Windows Mobile. There is no way to complete a word without typing only the space bar, and normally this wouldn't be a problem...unless the word happens to be before a punctuation mark. In Windows Mobile one can complete a word by pressing the punctuation key to continue on...but not in Symbian S60. I have to press the space bar to complete the the word and then press the backspace key to then input the following punctuation mark. A couple of unnecessary steps aren't really all that bad, but it can take away from one's typing speed. Speaking of typing efficiently, there are a few symbols that aren't located on the qwerty for access and have to be looked for in an alternate symbol listing by pressing the "Chr" button in the lower right corner.
After a welcomed facelift to the interface menus for this E71 I guess it would have been too much to expect the same for the Messaging application, especially the native email client. Being spoiled with the full HTML support from Windows Mobile's Outlook and even the iPhone's email client has left me troubled as to why emails continue to be uploaded without HTML being supported on Nokia devices. As most Nokia owners already know, HTML can be accessed by clicking the corresponding attachment. Once again here is yet another extra step that can be avoided in the daily usage of this phone. This also brings up the calendar and its lack of support for categories. Setting up appointments just seems to be more amateurish than the Outlook alternative on Windows Mobile smartphones. While the calendar is sufficient in its own right, I wish that it could exhibit more seamless compatibility with my computer's functions.
There are some occasions when I write papers for school and sometimes like to use my smartphone to edit them on the go or on a break. The monkey wrench thrown into this arrangement is that the mobile office suite of Quickoffice version 4 is not compatible with Office 2007 files. While my Windows Mobile devices offer native support right out of the box, I would have to pay extra money for the Quickoffice 5 upgrade. Since I primarily have been using my WM smartphones there was really no urgent need to update the E90 and this E71 is no different. All in all it really is a drawback to not have any functionality in accessing documents and presentations created in Office 2007, but I am just not willing to spend the additional money.
A major issue that I have been enduring with Nokia phones is the lack of a reliable sync utility and data tethering method for my Mac. While the Nokia PC Suite is the best thing going it is not Mac compatible and there is simply too much hassle in using a Mac/PC setup via Boot Camp or Parallels. There is a plug-in available for Apple iSync with individual Nokia models and I have used one for my E90 Communicator that was downloaded from the Nokia website. Things had worked well for a while, but then I began to notice bugs in regards to duplicate calendar entries and contact information errors. Stability for this software eventually was thrown out the window so I uninstalled the iSync plug-in and vowed to never use it again. Since then I had been updating the PIM data on my Mac and my E90 separately which is an utter inconvenience to say the least. This E71 is no different since a viable syncing option is still not available for my Mac, but there is a promising prospect from the Missing Sync software made by mark/space. I have tested a public beta for the Missing Sync Symbian version with my E90, but it had only the capability to sync contacts and not calendar entries. Worst of all, I did experience some bugs involving the accuracy of the contact data when it was ported to the E90. Hopefully this will be just as reliable as Missing Sync for Windows Mobile after a few growing pains, otherwise I shall continue to update my Nokias and my Mac separately. Tethering my Nokias to my Mac has always been a huge endeavor without the Nokia PC Suite and I have yet to be consistently successful. There was one point a couple years ago when I happened to come across a fluke when I entered settings that just happened to work...for only 2 days!! Since then my Mac hasn't been able to effectively link to any of my Nokias for any kind of tethering and the E71 is no different.
If I had to be picky about something it would have to be the manner in which the Gallery is implemented. While having a basic menu layout with preview thumbnails is okay for a business device, there can at least be a slide show feature added for the pictures! However, as long as the d-pad continues to work to move from one picture to the next then I guess this isn't a big bone to pick at this point.
Next is the video camera for the E71 and its ability to shoot video only up to 15 frames per second. At the very least I would have expected a duplicate of the E90's camera which can shot TV quality footage at 30 frames, but I guess there has to be a way to keep manufacturing. costs to a minimum. Honestly, I do think that the camera will be more than enough for the average E71 user. One more thing is the placement of the microphone to only on one side of the device. Watching video footage recorded by the E71 can cause some concern with the audio sounding unbalanced and out of sync. Having either stereo audio recording like my old N93 or a mic on the bottom may prove to be the solution to this.
Lastly there is the case of the battery door. Past models provide access to the battery with the pressing of one button to slide the door open, but not the E71. There are two small buttons toward the bottom on either side of the device that are to be pressed in at the same time to allow for the door to be lifted open. While this isn't a tedious task, it does seem to be more cumbersome than the one button alternative.
Now I will finally get into the good aspects of this device:
Hands down from the start my most favorite features would have to be the compact qwerty keypad and the added word prediction. Using my E90 was often a chore whenever I had to write on the run without word prediction to help speed things along, but nonetheless I still enjoyed using the full qwerty keypad. To finally have this element on a Nokia qwerty device really places this E71 in same league as my Windows Mobile devices in regards to text entry and document editing. The slimmer qwerty layout is much more attractive than the wider E61i model with no spaces between the keys, but one has to be more careful to maintain accuracy and avoid typos. At my current typing speed, I wouldn't be surprised if a couple misspelled words appeared in this blog entry. The keys themselves are of a good size with rounded tops that are easily detected by my fingertips, and the backlighting is very adequate in dark conditions. I have read online about concerns with the "Z" key being placed below the "A", but this hasn't affected my typing at all so far.
In addition to the qwerty keys there are other tactile keys such as the app shortcuts on either side of the ubiquitous silver d-pad ring. Designated for Home, Calendar, Contacts and Messaging mailbox, these buttons are sizable enough to be pressed by my fingertips with no trouble. When on the Home screen the Home key also doubles as the Menu key which will take you to the various settings of the device. The reliable d-pad ring with the central select button is the same as the one I have used on the E90, E61i and E51.
One brand new addition to this d-pad ring on the E71 is a notification light that illuminates the entire perimeter of the select button! Whenever activated by either a missed call or new message (SMS, MMS, email) this light repeatedly fades in and out for a certain period of time that can be set from 5 minutes up to 2 hours. At the top of the phone is the red power button with good tactile feedback and then there are the volume controls and voice command key on the right side. What makes the volume and voice keys different on the E71 is that they are of glossy black plastic and are backlit in white light. A far cry from the rubber keys on the E51 which were very difficult to press, these keys have excellent feedback and are easily distinguished from one another by their shaping.
Voice dialing is still competent with the use of the voice key and I very much enjoy the feature of my Nokia saying aloud the contact name of known callers in between rings.
The quality of voice calls is nothing short of outstanding on the E71 with its clarity and ample earpiece volume! Reception is great, but I think that the limitations of the network on AT&T can pose a bit of a challenge in this aspect. I may notice a change in this if I ever get the model that is compatible with AT&T North American 3G, the E71-2. Speakerphone volume is plenty loud and quality is good even though there are some moments when volume tends to fluctuate, but once again this could be a fault of my carrier service.
The still pictures from the 3.2 megapixel camera can be very adequate provided they are taken in well-lit settings, otherwise one is liable to have graininess on the image. Pictures taken in total darkness with the LED flash have a lot of graininess in Auto and seem to be worse off than those taken with the E90 camera. Overall the camera on the E71 is not too bad for occasional snapshots.
Although I am critical of the calendar's capabilities, I am still impressed by its overall interface revamping. It appears to have graphics that are much smoother and the E90-like split screen view is a welcomed feature as always. I especially like the way that events fade into view on the right side of the split screen when dates are selected.
When on standby the E71 has a new feature that basically shows the date and time in large font when the d-pad button is held down. There are also new notification icons that appear as cartoon bubbles at the bottom of the Home screen to announce new messages, voicemails and missed calls. These icons can be selected by the d-pad button on the Home screen to go directly to the message itself or simply hovered over to reveal a short preview of its information.
The screen still looks impressive with all of its vibrant colors and its resolution appears sufficient for everyday. Even though it is smaller than the E61i, I figure if I can tolerate the Treo 750 then anything else would be a welcomed luxury. Surfing the web on it is manageable as I try my hardest to not think of the E90's widescreen.
The accompanying leather pouch lined in red suede-like material is a great addition for protection while holding the E71 in my pocket.
In comparison to the previous E61i there is no doubt that the E71 has gone through a slimming down of its outer dimensions. This new compact sizing basically places this Nokia in the same measurement class as the old iPhone with a slightly thinner profile. As a result the E71 is a pocketable mobile office for any consumer or business person alike and I am truly impressed with it!
Though a part of me is experiencing Windows Mobile touchscreen withdrawal, I am intrigued by the charm this E71 and how it operates. Whether I will consider this to be a future device of my own remains to be seen as the reviewing days go on.
TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E71
Let's begin with the negatives of this qwerty bar device. Flash is enabled on the S60 web browser and allows for the playback of YouTube videos directly from the website, but after one day I have run into this feature no longer working. Whenever I access a YouTube page online the area for the uploading video feed remains blank, and there is no apparent solution.
Though not considered to be too big of a drawback, the solitary speaker at the top of the phone doesn't share the same stereo glory as the E90. Music tracks can sometimes sound like there is a lack of bass feedback as well as slight distortion in the upper levels. Nonetheless it is sufficient in providing ample amounts of volume for the speakerphone and multimedia playback. I personally liked playing back audio podcast episodes from a few subscriptions in the Podcasting application.
The word prediction feature can be quite helpful, but also a nuisance since it doesn't always seem to work as flawlessly as Windows Mobile. There is no way to complete a word without typing only the space bar, and normally this wouldn't be a problem...unless the word happens to be before a punctuation mark. In Windows Mobile one can complete a word by pressing the punctuation key to continue on...but not in Symbian S60. I have to press the space bar to complete the the word and then press the backspace key to then input the following punctuation mark. A couple of unnecessary steps aren't really all that bad, but it can take away from one's typing speed. Speaking of typing efficiently, there are a few symbols that aren't located on the qwerty for access and have to be looked for in an alternate symbol listing by pressing the "Chr" button in the lower right corner.
After a welcomed facelift to the interface menus for this E71 I guess it would have been too much to expect the same for the Messaging application, especially the native email client. Being spoiled with the full HTML support from Windows Mobile's Outlook and even the iPhone's email client has left me troubled as to why emails continue to be uploaded without HTML being supported on Nokia devices. As most Nokia owners already know, HTML can be accessed by clicking the corresponding attachment. Once again here is yet another extra step that can be avoided in the daily usage of this phone. This also brings up the calendar and its lack of support for categories. Setting up appointments just seems to be more amateurish than the Outlook alternative on Windows Mobile smartphones. While the calendar is sufficient in its own right, I wish that it could exhibit more seamless compatibility with my computer's functions.
There are some occasions when I write papers for school and sometimes like to use my smartphone to edit them on the go or on a break. The monkey wrench thrown into this arrangement is that the mobile office suite of Quickoffice version 4 is not compatible with Office 2007 files. While my Windows Mobile devices offer native support right out of the box, I would have to pay extra money for the Quickoffice 5 upgrade. Since I primarily have been using my WM smartphones there was really no urgent need to update the E90 and this E71 is no different. All in all it really is a drawback to not have any functionality in accessing documents and presentations created in Office 2007, but I am just not willing to spend the additional money.
A major issue that I have been enduring with Nokia phones is the lack of a reliable sync utility and data tethering method for my Mac. While the Nokia PC Suite is the best thing going it is not Mac compatible and there is simply too much hassle in using a Mac/PC setup via Boot Camp or Parallels. There is a plug-in available for Apple iSync with individual Nokia models and I have used one for my E90 Communicator that was downloaded from the Nokia website. Things had worked well for a while, but then I began to notice bugs in regards to duplicate calendar entries and contact information errors. Stability for this software eventually was thrown out the window so I uninstalled the iSync plug-in and vowed to never use it again. Since then I had been updating the PIM data on my Mac and my E90 separately which is an utter inconvenience to say the least. This E71 is no different since a viable syncing option is still not available for my Mac, but there is a promising prospect from the Missing Sync software made by mark/space. I have tested a public beta for the Missing Sync Symbian version with my E90, but it had only the capability to sync contacts and not calendar entries. Worst of all, I did experience some bugs involving the accuracy of the contact data when it was ported to the E90. Hopefully this will be just as reliable as Missing Sync for Windows Mobile after a few growing pains, otherwise I shall continue to update my Nokias and my Mac separately. Tethering my Nokias to my Mac has always been a huge endeavor without the Nokia PC Suite and I have yet to be consistently successful. There was one point a couple years ago when I happened to come across a fluke when I entered settings that just happened to work...for only 2 days!! Since then my Mac hasn't been able to effectively link to any of my Nokias for any kind of tethering and the E71 is no different.
If I had to be picky about something it would have to be the manner in which the Gallery is implemented. While having a basic menu layout with preview thumbnails is okay for a business device, there can at least be a slide show feature added for the pictures! However, as long as the d-pad continues to work to move from one picture to the next then I guess this isn't a big bone to pick at this point.
Next is the video camera for the E71 and its ability to shoot video only up to 15 frames per second. At the very least I would have expected a duplicate of the E90's camera which can shot TV quality footage at 30 frames, but I guess there has to be a way to keep manufacturing. costs to a minimum. Honestly, I do think that the camera will be more than enough for the average E71 user. One more thing is the placement of the microphone to only on one side of the device. Watching video footage recorded by the E71 can cause some concern with the audio sounding unbalanced and out of sync. Having either stereo audio recording like my old N93 or a mic on the bottom may prove to be the solution to this.
Lastly there is the case of the battery door. Past models provide access to the battery with the pressing of one button to slide the door open, but not the E71. There are two small buttons toward the bottom on either side of the device that are to be pressed in at the same time to allow for the door to be lifted open. While this isn't a tedious task, it does seem to be more cumbersome than the one button alternative.
Now I will finally get into the good aspects of this device:
Hands down from the start my most favorite features would have to be the compact qwerty keypad and the added word prediction. Using my E90 was often a chore whenever I had to write on the run without word prediction to help speed things along, but nonetheless I still enjoyed using the full qwerty keypad. To finally have this element on a Nokia qwerty device really places this E71 in same league as my Windows Mobile devices in regards to text entry and document editing. The slimmer qwerty layout is much more attractive than the wider E61i model with no spaces between the keys, but one has to be more careful to maintain accuracy and avoid typos. At my current typing speed, I wouldn't be surprised if a couple misspelled words appeared in this blog entry. The keys themselves are of a good size with rounded tops that are easily detected by my fingertips, and the backlighting is very adequate in dark conditions. I have read online about concerns with the "Z" key being placed below the "A", but this hasn't affected my typing at all so far.
In addition to the qwerty keys there are other tactile keys such as the app shortcuts on either side of the ubiquitous silver d-pad ring. Designated for Home, Calendar, Contacts and Messaging mailbox, these buttons are sizable enough to be pressed by my fingertips with no trouble. When on the Home screen the Home key also doubles as the Menu key which will take you to the various settings of the device. The reliable d-pad ring with the central select button is the same as the one I have used on the E90, E61i and E51.
One brand new addition to this d-pad ring on the E71 is a notification light that illuminates the entire perimeter of the select button! Whenever activated by either a missed call or new message (SMS, MMS, email) this light repeatedly fades in and out for a certain period of time that can be set from 5 minutes up to 2 hours. At the top of the phone is the red power button with good tactile feedback and then there are the volume controls and voice command key on the right side. What makes the volume and voice keys different on the E71 is that they are of glossy black plastic and are backlit in white light. A far cry from the rubber keys on the E51 which were very difficult to press, these keys have excellent feedback and are easily distinguished from one another by their shaping.
Voice dialing is still competent with the use of the voice key and I very much enjoy the feature of my Nokia saying aloud the contact name of known callers in between rings.
The quality of voice calls is nothing short of outstanding on the E71 with its clarity and ample earpiece volume! Reception is great, but I think that the limitations of the network on AT&T can pose a bit of a challenge in this aspect. I may notice a change in this if I ever get the model that is compatible with AT&T North American 3G, the E71-2. Speakerphone volume is plenty loud and quality is good even though there are some moments when volume tends to fluctuate, but once again this could be a fault of my carrier service.
The still pictures from the 3.2 megapixel camera can be very adequate provided they are taken in well-lit settings, otherwise one is liable to have graininess on the image. Pictures taken in total darkness with the LED flash have a lot of graininess in Auto and seem to be worse off than those taken with the E90 camera. Overall the camera on the E71 is not too bad for occasional snapshots.
Although I am critical of the calendar's capabilities, I am still impressed by its overall interface revamping. It appears to have graphics that are much smoother and the E90-like split screen view is a welcomed feature as always. I especially like the way that events fade into view on the right side of the split screen when dates are selected.
When on standby the E71 has a new feature that basically shows the date and time in large font when the d-pad button is held down. There are also new notification icons that appear as cartoon bubbles at the bottom of the Home screen to announce new messages, voicemails and missed calls. These icons can be selected by the d-pad button on the Home screen to go directly to the message itself or simply hovered over to reveal a short preview of its information.
The screen still looks impressive with all of its vibrant colors and its resolution appears sufficient for everyday. Even though it is smaller than the E61i, I figure if I can tolerate the Treo 750 then anything else would be a welcomed luxury. Surfing the web on it is manageable as I try my hardest to not think of the E90's widescreen.
The accompanying leather pouch lined in red suede-like material is a great addition for protection while holding the E71 in my pocket.
In comparison to the previous E61i there is no doubt that the E71 has gone through a slimming down of its outer dimensions. This new compact sizing basically places this Nokia in the same measurement class as the old iPhone with a slightly thinner profile. As a result the E71 is a pocketable mobile office for any consumer or business person alike and I am truly impressed with it!
Though a part of me is experiencing Windows Mobile touchscreen withdrawal, I am intrigued by the charm this E71 and how it operates. Whether I will consider this to be a future device of my own remains to be seen as the reviewing days go on.
TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E71
helterskeltergoneawry
New member
How's the voice quality on this phone?
Most importantly is it loud enough?
I used to have a Nokia 6682 years ago but wasn't impressed with the max headset volume. TIA!
Most importantly is it loud enough?
I used to have a Nokia 6682 years ago but wasn't impressed with the max headset volume. TIA!
backwardsmom
New member
Nokia's marketing sucks.
Freedom Junky
New member
I bought this, tested it on my old blackberry 8700 and worked great, for 65 cents, problem solved.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320264444235&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320264444235&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011
MadysenJulia
New member
I'm really liking the white E71...
Another disappointment. After forgetting about phones for the day, I played golf, had a few beers and thought I might be surprised by some nice announcement. I guess not. Its looking like Nokia is going to be upstaged by BB on Monday. I wonder if there are some technical issues with the device.
Average American
New member
Did I miss something? Where'd that part come from?
jellybean_moo
New member
also, does anyone know if the E71 is SDHC compatible for the micro SD cards?
Chato Potato
New member
LMAO! Exactly ... we can even set the screen lock or device lock out!
growing2blikehim
New member
Nokia complains about Nokia leaked images..
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/20/nokia-leaks-cause-us-major-problems-us-so-get-your-act-togeth/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/20/nokia-leaks-cause-us-major-problems-us-so-get-your-act-togeth/
As per earlier rumours, it was supposed to be available in Q2. If they announce it in May 08, I donot think it would be available atleast by September 08.
Are we looking at Q4?
I don't think I can stay with my backup for that long :crying:
I hope my impatience doesn't make me go and buy a BB Curve :befuddled
Someone tell me if the E71 is going to support BBC ( unofficially) in the frst place, else my wait would be totally futile.
Are we looking at Q4?
I don't think I can stay with my backup for that long :crying:
I hope my impatience doesn't make me go and buy a BB Curve :befuddled
Someone tell me if the E71 is going to support BBC ( unofficially) in the frst place, else my wait would be totally futile.