Our sources have informed us that the first shipment of Sandisk 16GB micro SDHC memory will be arriving shortly. Does before the end of September sound good to you? This should come as extra good news to all Nseries or other Nokia devices that are microSDHC compatible, but Nokia N95 8GB and N81 8GB users are of course out of luck this time.

Our sources tell us that the N95 passed the test with flying color using the firmware version 21.0.016. With older firmware versions: “the Nokia N95 will not handle the card well at all.” And that: “it may trigger some O/S freezing and rebooting when you try to open the Gallery or Music Player.” After upgrading the  firmware: “the phone performance was rock solid and we saw no more of the unpredictable behaviour.”

Over 10GB of music files were loaded onto the SanDisk card and based on the test we were informed that:

-Selecting music tracks via the File Manager was reportedly: “straightforward and quick.” We were also informed that the: “menu lists of music folders, and mp3 files from the memory card updating on the screen with no noticeable slowdown compared to onboard storage. (thats a massive improvement on early symbian phones).”

-“The playback of the tracks stored on the card was also faultless, without any skipping or buffering problems, from up to 320kbps encoded MP3 right down to lower bit rates.”

-“Going to the Gallery and into Tracks, or into the Music Player from the Music menu folder is a different matter. To those familiar with the Music Player app, this is where a scan of the card contents will commence to update the cached track list. Due to the large number of files (over 4000 MP3 files in this case) this process is very slow. However it is a once only operation, as after the first scan, the cached file is only needing a refresh. To avoid this lengthy scanning process it is possible to upload the tracklist via the Nokia PC Suite which stops your phone having to generate it for you.”

Once again it shows that having devices like the Nseries, that are firmware upgradeable is a must! It’s also clear that phones should not only come with built-in memory, but having a memory card slot makes them quite future proof.The first batch are set to arrive September the 23^rd

Be sure to check out our sponsored link to pre-order your sample right here, as they are set to arrive on the 23^rd.

Despite having done various comparisons here at the Nokia Guide between the N82 and N95 8GB, the battle goes on! People are still unsure whether to get the N95 8GB with its unique form-factor and large screen or the N82’s compact size and amazing camera. One of the more talked about differences between these two devices is the camera and when talking about the camera there is one difference that is always mentioned: The Xenon flash on the N82. Based on the tests performed here, it’s obvious that Xenon will have the upper hand when it comes to low-light photography; this is even the case when compared to the newer dual LED-based devices. As Dotsisx at the Symbian-Guru has pointed out, the dual LED solution on the newer N96 and N85 are “still swept in pictures,” when compared to the N82. 

At the N82 launch we were told that it uses the same 5 megapixel camera module as the N95. With this in mind, many tend to explain this picture quality on the N82 as being “due to the inclusion of a Xenon flash”, but does this paint the full picture? If the Xenon flash is turned Off, would we see any differences? Let’s find out!

Despite using the same 5 megapixel camera module, these tests reveal that the N82 is better even when the flash is turned off. In the first test both devices were used to capture the fine details on a 50 Guilder bill. The bill has fine dots that are truly captured by the N82, while on the N95 8GB they appear to be almost washed out. In the second test the N82 shows colors that are true to the original and the overall image is much sharper. This difference can be explained by a better in-camera image processing software on the N82. Conclusion: The N82 takes better pictures not only because of superior flash, but also due to better image processing software. Based on these test it’s clear that if you have a N82, it would be a very good idea to hold on it, even as newer devices are coming out, as even these can’t quite match the mighty N82’s imaging powers.

Just recently I decided to move from PC Suite to the new OVI Suite. OVI Suites sports a few features that PC Suite lacks and a hidden one that I recently found out about are the DNLA (UPnP)-based Home Media Server capabilities. This basically comes down to using your UPnP based device, in this case either the N95, N95 8GB, N82, N78, N96 and probably the N85 and N79 to share and control your media among your PC, notebook or other UPnP devices. All of this is wirelessly done via WLAN. Previously Nokia recommended the Home Media Server by SimpleCenter as a separate add-on, but this functionality is now finally fully integrated into OVI Suite. With this added functionality OVI suite with its online services is quickly becoming a very impressive all-in-one solution. In case you don’t have OVI Suite and are still using PC Suite, you could always use the Nokia recommended SimpleCenter software or Windows Media Player 11.

To access the feature in OVI suite, go to Tools and select “Home Media Server.” Here you can select the folders you want to share or turn media sharing OFF altogether. The latest version of OVI suite can be downloaded right here.

As you may or may not know Nokia has strangely blessed both the N81 and N81 8GB with FP2 –style menu transition effects with the latest firmware v 20.0.056. Let me tell you, these effects simply look great and adds a breath of fresh air to the now familiar UI. I do have to wonder however, why the N95, N95 8GB and N82 haven’t received such effects in their latest firmware updates. I definitely don’t think it’s the hardware as these devices even have the far superior TI OMAP 2420 chipset, something the N81 lacks and just like the N81 they are FP1 devices. A N82 with FP2 menu effects like the ones on the N81 could very well prove to be a capable (and cheaper) alternative to the N85. Have a look at menu effects on the N81 with the latest firmware v 20.0.056, shouldn’t the N95, N95 8GB and N82 receive such an update?

The legendary N91 and N91 8GB are known for their impressive audio quality through their 3.5mm audio jack. The N91 has impressed many with its audio quality that is said to rival any standalone audio players and is also said to belong to one of the best on the market, even after2-3 years after its launch. Yet it manages to do all of this, despite the fact that it’s not just a dedicated audio player. Over the years the N91 and N91 8GB have made way for a smaller device that this time is not only positioned as the best in music, but also the best in gaming: the N81 and N81 8GB. Armed with the equally impressive Shure SE530 In-Ear Monitors I wanted put a question that is asked a lot to rest: what is truly the best sounding Nseries device? The N91 (8GB) or the N81 (8GB)?For reference the N95 8GB was also used.

When I started listening to all three devices one thing became quite obvious: the N95 8GB was definitely not in the same league as the two others. The audio quality was not only lower, but there wasn’t enough volume headroom like on the N91 8GB and N81 8GB. The original N95 would score even lower due to some audio hiss, that isn’t present on the N95 8GB. To put things into perspective, the N95 8GB was quite an improvement when it comes to audio over the classic N95, yet both the N91 8GB and N81 8GB leave the N95 8GB FAR behind in the audio department. The N82 on the other hand slots in nicely between the N95 8GB and N91 8GB/N81 8GB.

I must say that the audio quality on both the N91 8GB and N81 GB is extremely impressive and will easily get the best out of any headphones, earphones or IEM and could easily rival any dedicated audio player on the market. With ample storage capacity, all-in-one functionality and the fact that they could be considered “smart and connected” music players, I personally don’t see any reason to buy a dedicated music player. But which one is the best? First thing worth mentioning is that the N91 8GB and N81 8GB are awfully close when it comes to audio quality and the difference will most likely only be heard on high-end earphones like the Shure SE530. The N91 8GB does however have more audio volume headroom and overall produces a much clearer and dynamic sound. The N91 has an extremely clean output and overall produces the sound as intended, while N81 slightly colors the sound produced. There you have it! When it comes to audio quality, even after 2-3 years on the market, the N91 and N91 8GB are still the best when it comes to audio quality through the 3.5mm audio jack. The N81 and N81 8GB came just slightly below the N91 in terms of audio quality, but we can’t forget that the N81 does present a more convincing and overall smaller package.

I don’t know what Nokia used in the N91, but they should quickly apply that to newer devices as the N81 doesn’t seem to be quite there yet. With the announcement of the N79, N85 and soon-to-be-released N96 I’m wondering  (and hoping) that the N91 will finally be dethroned, but honestly I do not expect this to happen. For me, if the N91 had removable storage, I would stick to it and use it as my dedicated music player, until something equal or truly better comes along when it comes to audio quality.

Back in april when Nokia launched the N810 WIMAX edition they also promised an updated version Internet Tablet operating system 2008 in the form of the OS2008 Feature Upgrade, also known as Diablo. The upgraded OS2008 introduced several useful new features to the platform, including an enhanced e-mail client, support for Chinese character rendering in the browser and RSS feeds. But one of the more important upgrades was the”Seamless Software Update” functionality to eliminate manual software updates.

With my N800 connected to the Wi-Fi connection, I got a strange orange icon ( with exclamation mark)in the Status bar. Upon clicking this icon you are notified that there’s a “New Software update availble.” Here it shows  wheather it’s a Nokia software, Third party software or Operating system update. In this case it was an update for the Nokia software. You click to install via Application manager and it will show you that there’s  “OS2008 Feature Upgrade” that have to do with “Updates to Email and Browser stability. The file itself is about 14MB and brings to OS2008 Feature Upgrade to version 4.2008.30.2. Once you do proceed with the update you are asked to an optional backup.

It first dowbnloads the update and then restarts, where the screen actually stays dimly lit and the notification light blinks several times and voila, no more updates via the PC!

By now most of you are aware of the $999 dollar “I AM RICH” app for the iPhone, if not, it’s basically a $999 application that displays a red gem (supposedly a Ruby) with a "secret" text saying: “I am rich I deserv it I am good, healthy and successful” Now you can have the N800/N810’s version of the app and add some serious bling to the Internet Tablet. Interestingly called “I AM FREE,” you can get the app for the unique price of only $0. However It does lack the secret mantra or the I AM RICH app’s startup animation, but hey considering the $999 price difference between the two apps I’d say it’s a steal! Get your I AM FREE app here.

Below, a look at the original IAM RICH app.

Recently I found about this great show called The Gadget Show, a program all about tech airing on UK’s channel 5. This is a UK only TV program, making it out of reach for the rest of the world, luckily I’ve been able to watch it on Joost, but because it isn’t quite up to date with the latest shows I’ve missed their latest comparison where they put the iPhone 3G against the Nokia E71.  Fortunately, the guys from Dialaphone found about this comparison and posted it in their first look of the E71. The E71 managed to equal the iPhone 3G’s 4 out of 5 score on the Gadget Show and guys from Dialaphone agree, calling the E71 vs iPhone 3G an “evenly matched battle that has gained so much attention.”

At first glance you’d be more inclined to put the N96 or even the N95 8GB against the iPhone, but once you think about the E71’s stylish and thin looks, it indeed could be a rethinking and even better alternative to the slim and almost button-less iPhone 3G. What do you think? Are the E71 and iPhone 3G evenly matched?