Well, as you mentioned, the camera for me is the killer. Going back to a 2mp camera without flash or autofocus would just be too big of a step back for me to handle if I'm spending $400+ on another phone. Like others, the N73 spoiled me.
The other HUGE thing that bothers me is the 4 dedicated keys. I think I'd only use the Contacts key, since I have no use for the Teams app, I never use the Mute function, and I just don't like the idea of a Web key even though I use the Web often. It reminds me of a SE or Samsung with a dedicated Web key, ew. I liked the idea of a configurable key instead (on Euro versions I suppose?), but I don't know how to get a model with that hardware.
Other details, like it looking a bit too s40 and having an ugly (though seemingly easy to use) keypad make it lose points as well. I don't like the E-series for the almost completely disregarded media functions either.
There's no doubt in my mind that the E65 would be fantastic on funtionality, (shy of camera use) but it's kinda like a one night stand. The sex was great while I was still intoxicated, but I'd hate to wake up to that phone in the morning.
lol...actually, you can configure the "web" key, which Nokia calls "own key," to any application you want...it's software based. As for the team apps key, it's a conference call key...which might be part of the team apps, but i've never used that program.
lol...actually, you can configure the "web" key, which Nokia calls "own key," to any application you want...it's software based. As for the team apps key, it's a conference call key...which might be part of the team apps, but i've never used that program.
Oh, I'm sure I could, but it wouldn't make much sense to me if I had SmartMovie or RotateMe open when I hit a button with a globe on it. I'd much prefer the new four curvy lined icon rather than the globe.
I can't remember the last time I needed to talk to more than one person at the same time, and I don't even know if T-Mobile allows for such a thing. I remember reading about it not being compatible in the US, but even if it is, it's another button wasted for me.
What about a new SMS button? Or a gallery button that doesn't launch on the last picture taken? As if we didn't have enough choices for where we want to launch our most used apps, now we have buttons to tell us.
BUT! The pencil key on the side of the phone is very nice. That makes the E65 the first phone that can copy/edit/paste with one hand on s60.
Well, as you mentioned, the camera for me is the killer. Going back to a 2mp camera without flash or autofocus would just be too big of a step back for me to handle if I'm spending $400+ on another phone. Like others, the N73 spoiled me.
The other HUGE thing that bothers me is the 4 dedicated keys. I think I'd only use the Contacts key, since I have no use for the Teams app, I never use the Mute function, and I just don't like the idea of a Web key even though I use the Web often. It reminds me of a SE or Samsung with a dedicated Web key, ew. I liked the idea of a configurable key instead (on Euro versions I suppose?), but I don't know how to get a model with that hardware.
Other details, like it looking a bit too s40 and having an ugly (though seemingly easy to use) keypad make it lose points as well. I don't like the E-series for the almost completely disregarded media functions either.
There's no doubt in my mind that the E65 would be fantastic on funtionality, (shy of camera use) but it's kinda like a one night stand. The sex was great while I was still intoxicated, but I'd hate to wake up to that phone in the morning.
As for loss of media functionality, if you're talking about no pan-n-zoom gallery app or lack of camera features then ok as that's all that's really missing from an N-Series in terms of media.
I can't help you with the rest but let it be known that this has one of the best (if not the best) symbian implementations to date on any phone, let alone a compact one.
Originally Posted by JonnyBruha
BUT! The pencil key on the side of the phone is very nice. That makes the E65 the first phone that can copy/edit/paste with one hand on s60.
Meh, I don't know how you intend on doing that. I can't figure out any comfortable way to highlight/copy/paste all with one hand.
Anyways, to each their own. I'd like to see how the N95 turns out since that's the only N-Series phone (w/850mhz) out there worth getting these days...
Great review. I thought the phone looked awesome as well when I saw it....I just can't understand why Nokia doesn't allow Lifeblog to be used with the E-series....
JP, great review.
You hit all the top and bottom points of the E65 right on.
I might add that the E65 is missing Stereo Bluetooth aka A2DP, which would make it have an extra 1/2 a point. And the camera does suck, but I've had phones that have 3 plus MP's: Nokia N73(best pic's), SE K790a(also good), and the D900(good), but the phone and UI of those phones were not as good as the picture's.
Bottom line is there are Camera Phones and Business Phones without Camera's. Music Phones and PDA's with or without WiFi. Blackberry's and Flip Phones, Slider's and CandyBar Phones. IMO the E65 bridges alot of gaps between all these devices.
You just about get everything you need in a great form factor.
JP, great review.
You hit all the top and bottom points of the E65 right on.
I might add that the E65 is missing Stereo Bluetooth aka A2DP, which would make it have an extra 1/2 a point. And the camera does suck, but I've had phones that have 3 plus MP's: Nokia N73(best pic's), SE K790a(also good), and the D900(good), but the phone and UI of those phones were not as good as the picture's.
Bottom line is there are Camera Phones and Business Phones without Camera's. Music Phones and PDA's with or without WiFi. Blackberry's and Flip Phones, Slider's and CandyBar Phones. IMO the E65 bridges alot of gaps between all these devices.
You just about get everything you need in a great form factor.
I also forgot to mention the E65 has automatic Bluetooth Profile switching as well. For me, when I have the E65 set to Normal mode in my pocket, I get in my car, the E65 sync's to my BT car setup and auto switches to "Car" mode, which I have already setup as Silent mode for ringing, since my car will ring if there is a call, but the E65 will play a sound for a Message. Get out of the car and the E65 auto switches back to Normal mode. Cool...
As for Mac people like myself, the E65 works great with iSync and iCal and Contacts. In fact it even transfers Contact Pictures right from the Mac to the E65.
I'm telling you people, this phone is feature packed. But I still believe its target price is about $350-$399 MAX. Yup, I paid $449 to be the first on the block with one.
one small downfall so far is that the camera doesn't have landscape mode.....likely that will come in future update
other than that small issue, this phone is excellent for the $$ compared to any other brand/model in its price range with same features/specs
I suppose you could always install RotateMe and use the camera in landscape mode that way, if you desired? I don't think any firmware updates will ever include landscape style shooting because it doesn't have a shutter button on the right side.
I do like this phone, on paper. The battery life, WLAN, speedy menus, better keypad (than N73, though uglier), thin profile, and pencil key on the side are very appealing, but I can't get over how ugly it is and those buttons I'd never use.
@JP, I had imagined that you could highlight with the left hand, with your index finger on the edit key and your thumb on the joystick? Maybe not?
I suppose you could always install RotateMe and use the camera in landscape mode that way, if you desired? I don't think any firmware updates will ever include landscape style shooting because it doesn't have a shutter button on the right side.
I do like this phone, on paper. The battery life, WLAN, speedy menus, better keypad (than N73, though uglier), thin profile, and pencil key on the side are very appealing, but I can't get over how ugly it is and those buttons I'd never use.
@JP, I had imagined that you could highlight with the left hand, with your index finger on the edit key and your thumb on the joystick? Maybe not?
I also forgot to mention the E65 has automatic Bluetooth Profile switching as well. For me, when I have the E65 set to Normal mode in my pocket, I get in my car, the E65 sync's to my BT car setup and auto switches to "Car" mode, which I have already setup as Silent mode for ringing, since my car will ring if there is a call, but the E65 will play a sound for a Message. Get out of the car and the E65 auto switches back to Normal mode. Cool...
I don't know which s60 did that first, but I do know the N73 does that also. That might just be part of s60v3 as a whole now.
I had been salivating over this phone for the past few weeks, but your review was a bit of a buzz kill.
I sent a lot of SMS, and the feature which I love on my S40 6131 is the recent contact list for sending a message. It becomes easy to hit my down button to get to SMS, then the middle button 3 times and i'm ready to start T9'ing away.
Since there is no recent contacts list, how do you send messages to people you SMS multiple times a day? can you hold down a shortcut key so that it inputs their phone number, or do you essentially have to scroll through your address book or type in their name and then select?
Second, I really hope some third party developer writes a program to reassign the 4
hardware keys to non-business uses.. I dont conference call, and if I do, i have no problem dialing the 800# and my pin. This is a waste of a button for me. Hopefully I can attach it to something useful like my Gmail java app or something else.
Since there is no recent contacts list, how do you send messages to people you SMS multiple times a day? can you hold down a shortcut key so that it inputs their phone number, or do you essentially have to scroll through your address book or type in their name and then select?
You can begin entering a name instead of a phone number in the To: field of a text message, so if you want to send a message to Frank, you can type FRA instead of his number or his whole name to send him a message. If there's also a Franny or Francis in your Contacts, a window will pop up asking to which of the three you'd like to send the message. Using this, you don't have to open your contacts at all to find a recipient.
I keep my girlfriend's name in my contacts with a bunch of characters surrounding it, starting with a . (period), so that when I go to text her, I only have to press 1 (for the period) so it sends without any further navigation or typing.
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Originally Posted by JonnyBruha
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