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Nokia N8 Unlocked GSM Touchscreen Phone Featuring GPS with Voice Navigation and 12 MP Camera (Gray)
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Nokia |
Model Name | N8 |
Wireless Carrier | AT&T |
Operating System | nokia symbian |
Cellular Technology | 3G |
Memory Storage Capacity | 16384 GB |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi |
Color | Gray |
Screen Size | 3.5 Inches |
Wireless network technology | UMTS, GSM, Wi-Fi |
About this item
- 3.5-inch AMOLED display
- Unlocked quad-band GSM cell phone compatible with 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies and US/International 3G compatibility via 850/900/1700/1900/2100 UMTS/HSDPA plus GPRS/EDGE capabilities. 3G-enabled smartphone in gray with Symbian^3 operating system
- 12-MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics and 720p video capture; Wireless-N Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 3.0; 16 GB internal memory; microSD expansion; HDMI output
- Up to 5.8 hours of 3G talk time, up to 400 hours (16.7 days) of standby time; released in August, 2010
- What's in the Box: handset, rechargeable battery, compact travel charger, connectivity cable, adapter for HDMI, adapter for USB, wired stereo headset, quick start guide
- Unlocked cell phones are compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile as well as with GSM SIM cards (e.g. H20, Straight Talk, and select prepaid carriers). Unlocked cell phones will not work with CDMA Carriers like Sprint, Verizon, Boost or Virgin.
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Product Description
Product Description
Make the most of every moment, then play it all back in HD with the Nokia N8. This high-tech device offers video recording in HD, plus instant video editing, a 12 megapixel camera and the ability to upload video to share with your friends and family. The Nokia N8 also packs a 3.5” touchscreen, free* voice-guided navigation from Ovi Maps, apps from Ovi Store and an impressive design, making this the phone that has it all. Live in high definition. The Nokia N8 lets you shoot HD video in 720p resolution right on your phone, while preloaded editing software makes it easy to instantly edit your video. Built-in HDMI output allows you to use an HDMI cable (not included) to connect the device to your compatible TV or computer and play back your videos and other HD content on your device in breathtaking HD. Or upload your videos to your PC to share with friends and family. The Nokia N8 also features a best-in-class, 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics to capture high-quality images. Get what you want and get where you want to go. Ovi Store offers thousands of available apps, games, videos and more. Stay in touch with apps like Snaptu; experience the best in photo and video apps with Qik, Photo Twister and Snapfish; and get ready for other great apps coming soon, including Open Table, SalesForce, Pocket Movie and Accuweather. Plus, find the route to anywhere with preloaded Ovi Maps, complete with free* voice-guided navigation to get anywhere you need to go, 3D landmarks and a share location feature to let Facebook friends know where you are. Discover a new standard in mobile entertainment with a vibrant 3.5” OLED capacitive touchscreen display. Connect your device to your home theater system to take the HD experience even further with Multichannel 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound. With an eye-catching exterior to match the on-screen experience, the Nokia N8 always looks good. Connect in HD today with the Nokia N8. * Data charges may apply.
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Intuitively connecting you to the people, places, and online services that matter the most to you, the Nokia N8 smartphone debuts the new Symbian^3 operating system, featuring a wealth of personalization features, usability enhancements, and a faster and more responsive interface. The 3G-enabled N8 smartphone offers a 3.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, a 12-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, and 16 GB of internal memory (with memory expansion up to 32 GB via optional microSD cards). It's also compatible with 3G networks found on both AT&T and T-Mobile.
The Nokia N8 comes in a range of colors (see larger image).In addition to this model in gray, the N8 also comes in silver, green, blue, and orange.
With the 12-megapixel sensor and Carl Zeiss optics, you can capture great images as well as 720p high-definition video and then add music, images, text, and transitions before sharing them with the world. The Xenon flash allows you to take high quality pictures in low-light conditions as well.
The Nokia N8 provides access to local and global Web TV services that deliver TV programs, news, and entertainment from channels such as CNN, National Geographic, E! Entertainment and Paramount directly on the homescreen. It also offers a true home theater experience with Dolby Digital Plus surround sound. And you can plug the device to your home theatre system with an HDMI cable.
You'll stay on track thanks to the integrated GPS with free Ovi Maps Navigation for voice-guided directions, and you can find nearby restaurants, landmarks, events and other points of interest as you travel from place to place. Keep on top of your emails from your phone or computer using the free Ovi Mail service, and discover and download apps and games via the pre-loaded Ovi Store--where you'll find thousands of different applications to constantly upgrade and improve your device.
Update your status, share location and photos, and view live feeds from Facebook and Twitter in a single app directly on the home screen. Calendar events from social networks can also be transferred to the device calendar. Personalize your phone by adding your own widgets and configuring three live home screens, which you can swipe between with an easy gesture.
Other features include Bluetooth 3.0 for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, support for both personal and corporate e-mail, full browsing of real Web pages with pinch to zoom, multi-format music player, FM radio plus FM transmitter, accelerometer for screen switching and gameplay, Flash Lite 4 support, and up to 5.8 hours of 3G talk time.
Unlocked Phone
This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider. It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider. This phone comes with a full manufacturer's warranty.
Update your status, share location and photos, and view live feeds from Facebook andTwitter directly on the home screen.
When paired with a compatible 3G network, you'll enjoy a high-speed connection offering a variety of feature-rich wireless services--from data connectivity to your office to multimedia streaming, and take advantage of simultaneous voice and data services. In areas not served by a 3G network, you'll continue to receive data service via EDGE network (depending on network compatibility).
Note that the downloading of maps, games, music and videos and uploading of images and videos involves transferring large amounts of data. Your service provider may charge for the data transmission, and the availability of particular services and features may vary by carrier.
Symbian^3 Operating System
The Nokia N8 marks the global device debut of the new Symbian^3 software, enabling you to enjoy over 250 new features, including:
- Usability enhancements across the user interface, including single tap, multi-touch and support for gestures such as "pinch-to-zoom."
- Three personalizable homescreens, easily maneuvered through by a simple flick.
- Faster and more responsive user interface with new 2D and 3D graphics architecture that takes full advantage of hardware acceleration
- More efficient memory management allows more applications to run in parallel for a faster, more complete, and efficient multi-tasking experience. And a new visual task manager lets you switch apps with a swipe and a tap.
- Intelligent network management tailors performance to the your needs: optimizing for high speed when uploading photos or smooth streaming for a VoIP call or video feed.
Key Features
- Fast 3G connectivity on both AT&T and T-Mobile with broadband-like speeds via 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz UMTS/HSDPA (with EDGE data connectivity where 3G not available).
- Integrated assisted GPS (A-GPS) receiver with free Ovi Maps enables you to find your route quickly and easily, whether walking or driving. Use the Walk pedestrian navigation to find your way, or the voice-guided Drive navigation to find the best route. (Learn more)
- 3.5-inch capacitive AMOLED touchscreen display (640 x 360 pixels, 16.7 million colors) with proximity and orientation sensors, ambient light detector, and compass (magnetometer).
- On-screen alphanumeric keypad and full keyboard
- Three fully customizable home screens allows you to make one for work, use one for fun, and have one with your favorite picture as the wallpaper.
- Instant access to Ovi Store for downloadable apps, games and other cool content
- Web TV delivers local and global TV favorites right to the home screen. Access your favorite TV channels like Paramount and National Geographic.
- HDMI audio/video output for connecting to compatible HDTVs and external monitors
- Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound compatible with home theatre systems
- Anodized aluminum casing
- 12-megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics with Xenon flash, face recognition software, up to 2x digital zoom, automatic geotagging, and photo editor.
- 720p high-definition video capture with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, 25 fps, 3x digital zoom, and settings for scene, video light, white balance, and color tone (shoots in MP4 and H.264 formats)
- Secondary camera on front for video calls (VGA, 640 x 480 pixels); requires compatible cellular service and additional charges may apply.
- Digital audio/video player with compatibility for MP3, WMA, and AAC/eAAC/eAAC+ audio formats, plus MP4, H.264, and 3GPP video formats and Flash Lite 4 streaming video.
- Ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
- Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity provides faster throughput while minimizing on power requirements. It's compatible with new Bluetooth 3.0-enabled devices as well as backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as headsets and printers. It includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
- 16 GB internal memory
- Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.
- Unified e-mail client with attachment support for images, videos, music and documents .doc, .xls, .ppt, .pdf, and .zip; HTML support for e-mail
- Access to personal and corporate e-mail including: Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, Windows Live, Hotmail and other popular POP/IMAP services, Mail for Exchange, IBM Lotus traveler
- Instant messaging support including OVI Chat, Yahoo, AIM, Windows Live, Gtalk, MySpace
- Unified MMS/SMS editor plus conversational view for SMS
- Full web browsing of real web pages with pinch to zoom capabilities, RSS reader, and support for Flash Lite 4 (which provides compatibility with a majority of Flash Player 10.1 content)
- FM radio
- FM transmitter for playing stored music over an external radio
- Dedicated graphics processor for gaming with OpenGL 2.0 enables 3D graphics
- Organizer tools including calendar, to-do list, notes, voice recorder, calculator, and clock
- Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off
- Micro USB connector (version 2.0) with charging capabilities
- Integrated hands-free speaker
- Automatic switching between 3G and GSM bands
Vital Statistics
The Nokia N8 weighs 4.76 ounces and measures 4.47 x 2.32 x 0.51 inches. Its 1200 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.8 hours (350 minutes of 3G talk time (12 hours, or 720 minutes, of standard GSM talk time), and up to 400 hours (16.7 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies plus the 850/900/1700/1900/2100 3G frequencies (compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile).What's in the Box
Nokia N8 handset, rechargeable battery (BL-4D), compact travel charger (AC-15), connectivity cable (CA-179), adapter for HDMI (CA-156), adapter for USB (CA-157), wired stereo headset (WH-701), quick start guideFree Worldwide Walk and Drive Navigation
Nokia now offers its Ovi Maps walk and drive navigation application free across the globe. Drivers receive turn-by-turn voice guidance including lane assistance, traffic information (in 10 countries including the U.S.), and safety camera and speed warnings, while pedestrians will be guided on shortcuts through parks and pedestrian-only zones in over 100 cities across the globe. And unlike other mobile navigation mapping solutions, Ovi Maps works offline--no cellular service is required.
Driving directions. Lonely Planet guide.
With the new Ovi Maps for mobile you get for free:
- Maps for over 180 countries and free map updates
- Drive and Walk navigation available in over 70 countries with real-time voice guidance
- My Position enables you to find your current location easier and faster than ever.
- New one box search for quicker access to finding places and addresses.
- Save your favorite places and routes, then synchronize them with your Ovi account over the air.
- Car navigation with voice and visual instructions, lane assistance and speed limit information. Now also with text-to-speech voice guidance.
- Pedestrian navigation with routing through pedestrian zones and shortcuts, pathways through parks and buildings, stairways and plazas. Now with text-to-speech voice guidance.
- Get real-time weather information including a 5-day forecast, for your current or any location found via search.
- Lonely Planet and Michelin offer you dynamic access to the best and most relevant editorial travel content for over 1000 destinations. Find thousands of listings for sights, restaurants, hotels, shops, nightlife, and more. Look these places up on the map and get to them with Walk and Drive navigation.
- Discover the events happening nearby your location on the map or any place found via search.
- Share your location on Facebook--where you are, what you are up to and finish with a photo. No Hidden Costs
The new version of Ovi Maps comes with all the maps and high-end, car grade navigation features you need for free and is yours to keep for the life of the smartphone. No additional licenses needed for extra countries, regions or services like traffic information or city guides. Data charges from network operators may apply.
Voice Guidance and Traffic InformationTurn-by-turn, voice guided navigation comes free for both drivers and pedestrians. For drivers this includes lane assistance, traffic information, safety camera, and speed warnings. For pedestrians, this includes shortcuts through parks and pedestrian-only zones for over 100 cities around the world as well as 6,000 3D landmarks in over 200 cities to help you find exactly where you are.
Unique Hybrid TechnologyOvi Maps is built on an advanced technology called hybrid vector maps. Vector maps are high quality but less data intensive and allow you to continue to navigate even if you lose your network connection. This means that maps downloaded or updated across a network connection are about half the size of bulky bitmaps used by other mobile map providers. The hybrid technology ensures that, unlike other providers, any downloaded map data is stored on the device for future use.
No Network Connection Required When NavigatingAvoid expensive, battery-draining network connections with Nokia's unique hybrid technology. Maps can be pre-loaded on to your Nokia smartphone so you can set Ovi Maps to offline mode, saving battery power, and the navigation system will still work. This is particularly useful for those worried about data connection costs when travelling abroad or when you are travelling through areas with little or no network coverage.
Best Global CoverageYou take your mobile with you wherever you go in the world so, as standard, voice guided navigation for both pedestrians and drivers is available for 74 countries in 46 different languages and there are maps for over 180 countries. This gives you the best maps with the largest global coverage for free.
What's in the box
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Introducing the N8
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Nokia N8 TV Commercial
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N8 Series POV
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 7.68 x 7.28 x 1.38 inches |
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ASIN | B003ZX7RL4 |
Item model number | 002T287 |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | Yes |
OS | nokia symbian |
RAM | 2000000 MB |
Wireless communication technologies | Bluetooth, Cellular, Wi-Fi |
Connectivity technologies | Wi-Fi |
Special features | dual-camera, smartphone, touchscreen, quad-band |
Display technology | OLED, AMOLED |
Other display features | Wireless |
Human Interface Input | Touchscreen |
Scanner Resolution | 1280 x 720 |
Other camera features | Rear |
Form Factor | Smartphone |
Color | Gray |
Phone Talk Time | 12 Hours |
Phone Standby Time (with data) | 390 hours |
Whats in the box | Adapter |
Manufacturer | Nokia |
Date First Available | September 29, 2010 |
Memory Storage Capacity | 16384 GB |
Standing screen display size | 3.5 Inches |
Warranty & Support
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the build quality, value, and camera of the cellular phone. They mention that it's well-made, durable, and sturdy. Some appreciate the camera. Others however, are not happy with the lack of good apps and the poorly designed browser. Opinions are mixed on ease of use, service, performance, and battery life.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the camera of the cellular phone. They mention that it has an incredible camera and video. The Xenon flash is found to make photographs look fantastic. The camera is well designed and takes awesome pictures. However, some customers report that the pictures can be pretty bad depending on the conditions.
"...Very fast throughput and a cool, useful control panel. Camera Pro takes awesome pix (same as the OEM app), and you can turn off the red pre-focus..." Read more
"...The Belle version is fine. I am happy with everything else that I use -- contacts, calendar, email, browser, occasional text message...." Read more
"...will look less attractive, but to my surprise, it looks great in Nokia N8...." Read more
"...The pictures are for the most part amazing but they can be pretty bad depending on the conditions, I have learned to use the different scene modes..." Read more
Customers like the build quality of the cellular phone. They say it's well-made, durable, and responsive. They also appreciate the anodized/painted aluminum finish and the sturdy hardware. Some customers also mention that the call quality is great and the GPS reception is great.
"...'s the great and fast offline GPS, and the 802g/n WiFi, and the build quality, and the FM broadcast, and the 16 gb internal memory, and the extra..." Read more
"...It makes a difference, as it is not only a pleasure to hold something well-made, but it feels better in the hand than anything I've owned from other..." Read more
"...So far what I like:- Great call quality for both voice and video calls.- Excellent signal/reception...." Read more
"...Bottom Line:This phone is extremely well built and has pretty much all the hardware options you can ask for in terms of camera, video shooting..." Read more
Customers like the value of the cellular phone. For example, they say it's a great product for the price, worth the purchase, and has high-end specs. Some mention that the Ovi store is really good. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...And the price is very good now that the N9 has gained a foothold...." Read more
"...you want a superbly-made unlocked phone made for serious adults at a good price, this is a great choice...." Read more
"...(this alone makes it worth the purchase), FM extras (radio and radio out)...." Read more
"...The n8 is a very good phone and one of the best symbian phones out there(at par with the e7 & e71/72 in my opinion)...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the cellular phone. Some mention that the FM radio transmitter works very good, and the GPS works perfectly on the N8. However, others say that the phone sometimes would not turn back on for an extended period of time while connected to a charger, and that it randomly reboots over and over again.
"...The camera is excellent. The only thing that does not work well, and never has, is Mail for Exchange, at least when you attempt to use it to sync..." Read more
"...the flash on the camera: It didn't work at first, but then it started working great, and that ushered in a 4-week period when everything was good...." Read more
"...It will auto shut off. Lame. And why, in the Notes app, do I have to click 3 different things to even begin typing? It should be one click. ONE!..." Read more
"...It is very powerful, none of the mobile has it integrated like this...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the service. Some mention that the Symbian 3 is a superior and very fast OS, the transfers are really fast, and the phone picks up a signal quickly. However, others say that the response time of the phone is somewhat slow, the default web browser is sluggish, and all three phones have shown sudden slowdowns.
"...Yes, it recharges quickly, but an inconvenience when I want to use it NOW...." Read more
"...Sometimes the interface gets a little sluggish, and the screen goes black for a few seconds, but my son's iPhone 4s screen freezes, forcing him to..." Read more
"...The transfers are really fast compared to the older version...." Read more
"...when you slide your home screens with your finger, it takes a while to load all your icons which is not acceptable by today's standards...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use. Some mention that the interface is very easy to use and Nokia provides many useful tips in the form of. The user experience has been improved, but only marginally. However, others say that web browsing is slow and not so user friendly than e.g. in iPhone, it's difficult to navigate, and you need more steps to use some applications.
"...This turned out to be a good decision. The user-interface is greatly improved and finally gives Symbian a look and work-flow that is competitive..." Read more
"...I am glad that it is there but at the same time it has not been that easy to manipulate, especially with a cover on the phone...." Read more
"...+ General use is generally snappy in and out of menus.-..." Read more
"...Texting: The keyboard is OK, not the best ever but I can live with it...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the battery life of the cellular phone. Some mention that it has a great battery life, and the power saving mode is nice. However, others say that it consumes a lot of battery and needs to be replaced.
"...STANDARD, REPLACEABLE BATTERY, you're thinking. Is this guy mad? No,look on youtube, or download the free Nokia N8 service manual...." Read more
"...One issue: battery life. Running Belle, with light usage, the battery is exhausted by the end of the day and has to be recharged for the next day's..." Read more
"...Conclusion: Battery is really good in N8. 10) WebTV. Nokia N900 doesn't have this capability...." Read more
"...I travel quite often so the ease of swapping SIM cards and SD cards makes me very happy...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the apps on the cellular phone. They mention that there are not many apps available, the browser is poorly designed, and the OS needs improvements. Some customers also say that the touch interface is still not polished.
"...Belle, the results appear in a font about 2 pixels high, and so it is unusable...." Read more
"...Even though N8 has internet radio concept, it is basically app based, which means whatever stations the app is providing, thats what you are going..." Read more
"...pictures are for the most part amazing but they can be pretty bad depending on the conditions, I have learned to use the different scene modes to..." Read more
"...Better menu and browsing experience. Still not as good as Opera Mini, but hey - huge improvement from the old stuff! Kudos!..." Read more
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1. The box on the Amazon replacement phone was sealed with a little blue "Nokia" factory seal.
2. ALL of the accessories were in the box, and they were all sealed in bags. Both of the 6-inch long USB adapters were missing from the first phone, and the bags that were in there were sealed with Scotch tape.
3. The protective stick-ons were super tight on the AMAZON phone. The ones on the "affiliate store" phone had been obviously re-applied, with large air bubbles under them.
4. Last but NOT least: The games on the phone that failed were already set up for the German language, and the menus and screen display said "T-Mobile." I had to do all that setup stuff from scratch with the new N8 from AMAZON.
The first phone also had the "No camera sound" option, but the American market one from Amazon did not. That means the first one was a Euro market phone.
So it's all good now. The phone is amazing, and the photos embarrass those from other smartphones. Sometimes the interface gets a little sluggish, and the screen goes black for a few seconds, but my son's iPhone 4s screen freezes, forcing him to turn it off and back on (I have to do that sometimes too). Part of my problem is that I have over 800 photos on my phone, and a lot of apps, which burden the processor. Did you know that the sensor in the N8 is .802 inches diagonal (21.5mm), not under a half-inch like those in other smart phones and even most point-and-shoot megazooms? So the digital zoom on the N8 works well without excessive pixilation. And then there's the great and fast offline GPS, and the 802g/n WiFi, and the build quality, and the FM broadcast, and the 16 gb internal memory, and the extra memory card capability, and the standard, replaceable battery.
STANDARD, REPLACEABLE BATTERY, you're thinking. Is this guy mad? No,look on youtube, or download the free Nokia N8 service manual. If you can change your car's tail light bulb, you can do it. You just need a small Torx screwdriver, and some basic fine motor skills. The battery is an off-the-shelf BL-4D. Another thing that most people don't know is that the flash on the N8 will trigger a Xenon "slave" flash, which greatly improves picture quality in dark settings. I use a little Vivitar DF-120 flash that's about a third the size of the N8 (but it's thicker). It worked perfectly at a party in a Marriott banquet room, which got me designated the official cell phone photographer. You know that TV commercial where the Samsung Galaxy III owners touch phones to exchange playlists, while the iPhone users look on in amazement and jealousy? You should have seen my co-workers at that party when I used my N8 and my shirt-pocket Vivitar slave flash. You can even hold the slave flash at arm's length to avoid the red/white eye problem that haunts most phone cameras. The FM broadcast blows them away, too. Our office pool cars have basic FM stereo radios, but no matter! I just tune to an unused station slot, queue up one of my favorite playlists, or Internet radio, and rock on! You just have to set the phone somewhere near the radio. How do other smartphone owners survive without that feature?
TWO must-have apps: Joiku WiFi hotspot, and Camera Pro. Trust me. I have the last version of Symbian ANNA on my phone, and they work great. The Joiku hotspot app is the best I've ever used. Very fast throughput and a cool, useful control panel. Camera Pro takes awesome pix (same as the OEM app), and you can turn off the red pre-focus light and the shutter sound.
UPDATE JUNE 21: I now regret purchasing this capable but "glitchy" phone. My next phone will not be a Nokia. ONE DAY after my 30-day return period with AMAZON ended, the bottom 2mm charging socket went dead. The USB mini-port still charges, but in 2 days I head to Ocean City for a week, so now I have to buy a universal USB charger kit at BB so I can use the phone on vacation. Then it's back to Nokia because Amazon won't take it back unless I agree to take a bath on the credit. I'm a professional engineer, so this was not abused (ie: I don't throw my phone around or beat people on the head with it), and I only charged it at home or in my office with the approved Nokia charger. Resetting the phone only cost me my shortcuts: It had no effect on the charging pin. I repaired over 300 laptops when I worked for a computer company called Odyssey, and I've rebuilt or repaired numerous cellphones, iPods, and iPhones, so I'm very familiar with small electronic devices. The pin socket is not loose or damaged. This appears to be a board-level component failure. My web research indicates that there are fusible links on the main board that can open up, and this is most likely the cause. My Nokia chargers work great with my Nokia-China made N82, which thankfully I kept. I thought the Finnish factory phones were better quality?
In the beginning, the only thing that acted weird was the flash on the camera: It didn't work at first, but then it started working great, and that ushered in a 4-week period when everything was good. AT&T did discover that I was using a "Smartphone" with a standard SIM card, but they allowed me to do the $10/month unlimited data plan because I'm the primary accountholder and I've been with them forever.
All-in-all, this phone is a big disappointment. The N9 is probably just as bad. It's time for me to ditch Nokia!
By the way, after the factory reset a lot of built-in applications like the photo viewer and camera button didn't work. After playing with the settings, they magically started working again. Also, when I received the phone, the stick-on labels had obviously been re-applied by a previous owner. When people return devices within their 30-day free trial, Amazon and its sellers should be honest and label them "refurbished" like the cell phone carriers do.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
This is my first touchscreen-only phone, and I'm still in a learning curve. But it's not the phone's fault. I have very dry skin, so every touch screen I've tried, including the iPhone, is buggy with me. I restore vintage electronic tube gear, so the dry skin has probably saved my life a couple times.
From a build quality standpoint, this phone very solid. The little plastic doors for the SIM and memory cards are typical cell phone quality, but the case is very solid. WARNING: the case is very slick, so when you order the phone, order an Otterbox or similar case at the same time, or you WILL drop the phone.
Here are some pros and cons:
PROs:
- Real GPS that finds satellites even in the men's room at my office. I downloaded the entire US and Canada for free in about 2 minutes using my home network.
- Real WiFi, that works for free in a million malls, fast food places, coffee shops, and the like all over the country. Why pay for the cow when you can get the milk for free?
- Great signal strength if you go to Settings and set it to 3G. Until I did that, mine didn't get reception down in my basement clubroom. Now it gets 3-5 bars.
- Loud, clear speakerphone. I use my phone for small meetings sometimes so this was important.
- If you have a standard phone account, and you just slip in your SIM card, AT&T doesn't call you and force you to buy a data plan. Also, the phone doesn't brick within 30 minutes. Stick a standard SIM card in an iPhone and you'll see what I mean. Just kidding, don't do that. You'll have to take it to the Apple Genius bar and have it reprogrammed.
- The camera. Go to Flickr or some other photo sharing site and look up pictures taken with the Nokia N8. And the videos are the best 1280x720's I've seen, at least in a phone. Photo sharing sites don't do them justice unless you download the videos and view them from your computer's hard drive because Flickr, Youtube, and others can be jerky with videos. Outdoor pictures rival most pocket cameras. I used my N8 at my daughter's end-of-season soccer team party and no one can believe I was using a cell phone camera until they check "properties".
- If you had an N82, ALL of your accessories will work with this phone.
- Uses a 3.5mm headphone jack. Has an HDMI connector and the cable comes with it.
- The phone charges from a charger or the mini USB cable.
- The audio volume control is truly variable, instead of in "steps".
- Has the same cool music player interface features as the iPod touch and iPhone, etc. Shows the dates of groups of pictures, the alphabet letter of music albums, and so forth.
- All sorts of voice commands but I'm still learning about that.
- 16 GB internal mass memory
- The adaptive touch screen for texting is impressive.
- It doesn't make that annoying "dit-dit-ditdit" sound when I send a text and I'm at my computer (like other phones do) so the shielding must be good.
- BATTERY: This uses a standard BL-40 battery: It's just internal. All you need is a #4 Torx screwdriver. There dozens of diagrams with instructions online. Bottom Line: If you're smart enough to use a smartphone, you should be smart enough to change this battery.
- Too many other features to discuss here, but the main ones are above.
CONS:
- Slippery case. Get a nice rubber skin case, or suffer the consequences.
- The new Belle OS upgrade supposedly has a better texting keyboard, but it has bugs in other areas.
- The audio volume for the Music player is too low, so you have to use high-efficency headphones. Even my UltraSones aren't as loud as I'd like.
- The external speaker isn't as effective as the twin stereo speakers on the N82
- I haven't found a way to alter the pre-set music equalizer settings, but there's probably an app for it.
- No standard Bar Code reader, but there ARE several apps for that, including some that some claim are as fast as dedicated code readers.
All in all, a great choice if you have an existing T-Mobile or AT&T account and just want to buy a phone and slip in your SIM card. And the price is very good now that the N9 has gained a foothold. I still wish Nokia had finished their design for the "N99", because it had a keyboard, but I guess that was a pipe dream.
By the way, when I see negative product reviews, I immediately read them to see if it's the product, or the reviewer. Phrases like "It don't turn on" or "this phone no gud" in a review indicate that maybe the reviewer was just in over his/her head.
I had a two-year fling with Android, where I saw a serious mobile system gradually turn into a circus act; the latest version of Android on the top Samsung phones looks like a video game to me. They are obviously targeting the young, which is probably a smart business decision. But if you are a mature adult who wants a serious appliance that helps to keep you organized and to communicate via voice and message, all of this extraneous nonsense is a distraction and an annoyance. Yes, some of what bothered me could have been customized away, but there were other issues that led me to conclude that the latest Android was not for me.
I had watched, with interest, the introduction of the N8 by Nokia and its impressive specifications, and the subsequent tribulations of the product, plagued by problems that resulted in too many dead devices. But two years after its introduction, with the price dropping and unhappy with the direction of Android, I decided to buy one. I've had the phone now for a little over a month, and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised.
First of all, the hardware. It is typical Nokia, just beautifully made. It makes a difference, as it is not only a pleasure to hold something well-made, but it feels better in the hand than anything I've owned from other manufacturers (Motorola, Samsung). It was delivered with Symbian Anna, which exhibited some of the old, confusing user-interface design that has brought Nokia to the brink of extinction. After consultation with some folks on the Nokia forums, I decided to upgrade to Belle, about which the signals were mixed. I decided that the people who seemed to know what they were talking about liked the system and I went with their advice. This turned out to be a good decision. The user-interface is greatly improved and finally gives Symbian a look and work-flow that is competitive with Android or the iPhone. Unfortunately for Nokia and Symbian enthusiasts, it comes too late. But it's good, nonetheless. They also fixed some bugs that I cared about. For example, the FM radio application, which I use, did not work correctly in Anna, at least for me. The Belle version is fine. I am happy with everything else that I use -- contacts, calendar, email, browser, occasional text message. The camera is excellent. The only thing that does not work well, and never has, is Mail for Exchange, at least when you attempt to use it to sync with Google contacts/calendar. This software was broken three and four years ago and it's still broken. I have resorted to going back to maintaining my contacts, calendar and todos with Microsoft Outlook, which is an inconvenience for me, since I use Unix/Linux most of the time, not Windows. But Nokia's synchronization application works well, as does Google's application to sync their stuff with Outlook. A bit of a Rube Goldberg setup, but it works. It would have been far better for Nokia to have fixed Mail for Exchange -- they certainly had ample notice that it was bug-ridden -- but that won't happen now that they are fighting for their lives, hoping to be rescued by Windows 8.
To summarize, if you want a superbly-made unlocked phone made for serious adults at a good price, this is a great choice. Be aware, though, that Nokia has, of course, abandoned Symbian (Accenture is maintaining it now) and it is unlikely that there will be any further development of the system. It's a dead-end for application writers as well, though there is a large body of Symbian applications already available. Whether they work well with Belle is a separate question (I purchased a financial calculator for my E71, and got the latest version for the N8. It worked fine with Anna, and while it works with Belle, the results appear in a font about 2 pixels high, and so it is unusable. I have contacted the author and he is unable to fix the problem, due to some authentication issue. It's obviously a side-effect of Symbian now being a dinosaur.)
Update (3/24/2013):
I've now had the N8 for almost 6 months, and my opinion of the phone has not changed. If anything, I'm even more impressed by its quality and usability. One issue: battery life. Running Belle, with light usage, the battery is exhausted by the end of the day and has to be recharged for the next day's use. However, there is a so-called "power-saving mode", and it works beautifully. With this enabled, the battery will last for days, at least the way I use the phone. For me, the phone is perfectly usable in this mode, and the improvement in battery life is a real plus. Before I discovered this, there were times when I was inconvenienced by having forgotten to put the phone on the charger overnight, needing to use it the next day, and finding it dead. Yes, it recharges quickly, but an inconvenience when I want to use it NOW. The tremendous improvement in battery life in power-saving mode essentially eliminates this problem.
I would also mention that there is a battery monitor application available from the Nokia store that is quite useful, and I recommend it to anyone using an N8.