Nokia’s Touchscreen Tube out in the wilds

Like detective work? Good, this ones for you. Thats the supposed first picture of Nokia Tube which we have enhanced a bit to see all the detail. According to Symbian-Freak, the device code-named “Tube” will be Nokia’s first touch S60 device but will not be a flagship phone. Another higher spec’d phone will ship “shortly after.” The display is said to be between 3- and 3.5-inches with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a camera (with another up front based on the picture) which they say is “way better” than the iPhone’s but not on par with the existing N-series shooters. The phone is said to ride atop quad-band GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA radios with built-in Bluetooth, WiFi, uPnP support and a stylus. Something you’ll apparently need judging by that skinny scroll bar. GPS? Yup, that too. No multi-touch on this model but it is said to provide haptic feedback in a package supposedly smaller (maybe a little bit wider) than the N73.I also notice an “XpressMedia” label on the phone which would indicate an affiliation with Nokia’s XpressMusic class of media devices. You’ll also notice that the icons have been slightly revised since we went hands on with the S60 Touch UI back in February. Real deal or not, it’s a mystery worthy of your skills.

Nokia's latest mobile phone gives you more time for the important things in life

More and more consumers are using their mobile phones for tasks such as downloading music, streaming video, browsing the Internet or receiving emails with attachments. The compact Nokia 6120 classic phone makes these tasks faster and easier by utilizing HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), an evolutionary technology offering downloads up to 10 times faster than over usual WCDMA networks.

Giving the Nokia 6120 even more functionality for busy lives, the new phone features two cameras -- a 2-megapixel camera with 4-times digital zoom, flash and panorama mode for taking high-quality photographs as well as a second camera in the front that adds a personal touch to calls by making use of the video call feature.

The Nokia 6120 classic has even more ways that consumers can save time. For instance, with only a few short steps using the pre-loaded How-To Guides and a Set-up Wizard on the Nokia 6120 classic, consumers can have their email, messaging and Internet connection up and running in less time. The Data Transfer application allows consumers to transfer contacts, calendars, photos, videos and files from their previous Nokia to their new Nokia 6120 classic, even when the SIM card is removed. And, by synchronizing their calendar from their office computer with the calendar featured in the Nokia 6120 classic phone, consumers can always have their schedule with them.

"Mobile phones have taken on a much larger role in our busy lives," said Peter Ropke, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "We recognize that having the capability to utilize the mobile phone in many ways gives consumers a better balance between work and play. With the HSDPA technology, S60 operating system and the wide range of features of the Nokia 6120 classic, consumers will be able to make their daily lives more manageable."

In many countries, 3G technology has offered consumers an enhanced mobile experience with faster browsing, streaming, music downloads and email and Internet access. The new Nokia HSDPA technology makes these applications, and many others, more accessible.

The Nokia 6210 classic is based on S60 software that lets users download and use additional applications in addition to the ones already found on the device. Users can personalize the phone with a wide variety of add-on applications, enhancements, content and service. S60 also allows users to run several applications at the same time enabling them to browse the Web while listening to their favourite music.

The Nokia 6120 classic is expected to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2007 with an estimated retail price of €260 before subsidies or taxes.

GDC 2007: Nokia opens up to Pocket Gamer in N-Gage podcast

This week's GDC show in California is effectively the big coming out party for Nokia's new N-Gage platform, with announcements about new games, publisher partners, and how developers can get involved with the platform.

Naturally, we're covering the news here on Pocket Gamer, but if you want to dig a bit deeper, Nokia has just taken part in a podcast compared by our very own Jon Jordan, in which Nokia's Jaako Kaidesoja, Gregg Sauter and Mark Ollila discuss N-Gage.

The podcast clears up some basic questions, such as the fact that N-Gage games will work on Nokia phones running the third edition of the Series 60 operating system, but that the platform won't be on ALL these handsets – where it isn't it will be for ergonomic reasons, or because the phone is targeted at a non-gaming audience.

What if you've got a phone from a rival manufacturer that runs Series 60? Don't hold your breath for N-Gage to leap over.

"Technically, it's complex enough to create this platform for Nokia devices," Kaidesoja tells Jon Jordan. "It's running on the third edition of Series 60, and technically there are possibilities to expand that platform, but first and foremost we want to focus on our Nokia consumers on the Nokia platform. We'll work on that and see where it goes from there."

Meanwhile, Nokia is busy encouraging developers and publishers to make use of N-Gage's connected features. Sauter hints that Gameloft, for one, may be including online play in the N-Gage version of Midnight Pool.

"Because we're reaching so many people, it enables publishers to bring a big variety of content," he says. "Look at Gameloft's titles that they're bringing to the platform: everything from Brothers in Arms and Asphalt, which are real gamers' games, to some real casual stuff like taking a pool game and driving community there, and doing tournaments."

Also, we can stop pussyfooting around the name of the all-new N-Gage platform. It's going to be called... N-Gage. However, Nokia did consider changing it.

"The brand was a big discussion internally, about whether we go with N-Gage or invent something new," says Kaidesoja. "The bottom line is we have a fanbase, a userbase who like the brand, we've interviewed them, and they say go with the brand, we like it."

Finally, Nokia is keen to ensure N-Gage games make use of other features within the phones, such as cameras and music.

"90 per cent of the people who own these devices will have music on them too, so why not be able to access that music within your game, or outside the game?" says Sauter. Sounds interesting.

To download the full podcast from this link:
http://blog.n-gage.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/GDCfuturewatchpodcast.mp3