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2007-08-03
, 16:39
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Posts: 3,220 |
Thanked: 326 times |
Joined on Oct 2005
@ "Almost there!" (Monte Christo, Count of)
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#12
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Originally Posted by sapporobaby
I liked how the article looked at the E90 from the perspective of former Communicator users. I only used a Communicator for a very short period of time (a 9500), but I really liked how it continued the old Psion philosophy of "a computer in your pocket" (meaning that you could do anything with it you could do with a desktop -- at that point in time, obviously).
Hey Karel,
Great article. I am still getting an E90 for very simple reasons. The same software that I run on my N95, I can run on the E90. This is one thing the article did not mention or I missed it. Many people, many, many people did not like the fact that they had to purchase two different licenses for the same piece of software. If I want to run x on my N95, I can, while I can run the same software on the E90. Also, there is a plethora of biz software out there (some of it not free) that users can install that is often better than what Nokia has bundled. I pitched the E90 to the State Department and they are seriously taking a look. It fits more than most needs and has a nice feature set. Yes it is more expensive than the N95 but they are two different types of phones. For me, I could not care less as I either get the devices for free from work, or I buy them myself. I make enough money. I will agree though that the E90 is sort of a buzz device but then again so what. What is wrong with having a device that generates interest. Marketing is all about this. Personally, I am glad to see a standardization on the Series 60 platform, and there is nothing wrong with Nokia trying to save money.
The E90 clearly abandoned that philosophy and while interoperability is a nice feature, it is not the main concern of the target demographic of the Communicator. Having more people developing more and cheaper software for the E90 is something that target couldn't care less about.
Anyway, are you still in Belgium or did you finally bail?
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2007-08-03
, 17:24
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Posts: 61 |
Thanked: 2 times |
Joined on Jan 2007
@ United Kingdom
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#13
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Originally Posted by sapporobaby
However, some applications are tied to the IMEI, so you will still need to purchase a second license.
Many people, many, many people did not like the fact that they had to purchase two different licenses for the same piece of software. If I want to run x on my N95, I can, while I can run the same software on the E90.
As for the Psion stuff - yes, I believe it's all true. Remember a lot of Psion staff moved to Symbian (it was a spin off from Psion), who were then bought by Nokia, so have now ended up at Nokia.
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2007-08-03
, 18:35
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Posts: 3,401 |
Thanked: 1,255 times |
Joined on Nov 2005
@ London, UK
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#14
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Originally Posted by Karel Jansens
Isn't this what focus groups are for, to avoid this kind of mess?
I liked how the article looked at the E90 from the perspective of former Communicator users. I only used a Communicator for a very short period of time (a 9500), but I really liked how it continued the old Psion philosophy of "a computer in your pocket" (meaning that you could do anything with it you could do with a desktop -- at that point in time, obviously).
The E90 clearly abandoned that philosophy and while interoperability is a nice feature, it is not the main concern of the target demographic of the Communicator. Having more people developing more and cheaper software for the E90 is something that target couldn't care less about.
The focus group members who gave input on the E90 are probably the same focus group members who said a hard cover wasn't necessary on the N800... I do wonder where Nokia find them, they certainly have a knack for finding the least suitable people to give feedback on future products. Talking to people who care about the old/existing products would surely have identified the failings and shortcomings in the E90 (and N800 for that matter).
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2007-08-03
, 18:43
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Posts: 11,700 |
Thanked: 10,045 times |
Joined on Jun 2006
@ North Texas, USA
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#15
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Man, Milhouse, you are getting into one of my biggest peeves. As a Quality feedback Analyst who sees one mistake after another made over customer expectations, I would truly love to watch the decision making process at work...
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2007-08-03
, 18:50
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Posts: 3,401 |
Thanked: 1,255 times |
Joined on Nov 2005
@ London, UK
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#16
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Originally Posted by Texrat
Me too. It does seem strange that Nokia decided to throw away some of the old Communicator features that were clearly cherished by the loyal Communicator users. How could Nokia have been this ignorant? The possibility exists of course that Nokia were not ignorant at all and dropped the old features with full knowledge of the likely reaction, which suggests that Nokia don't give a fig for loyal users, and are happy to alienate an existing user base if it means shifting a few more units to a more fickle and less discerning set of users. Nice.
Man, Milhouse, you are getting into one of my biggest peeves. As a Quality feedback Analyst who sees one mistake after another made over customer expectations, I would truly love to watch the decision making process at work...
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2007-08-03
, 18:53
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Posts: 3,220 |
Thanked: 326 times |
Joined on Oct 2005
@ "Almost there!" (Monte Christo, Count of)
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#17
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Originally Posted by Milhouse
Well, if you're going to be all rational about it...
Isn't this what focus groups are for, to avoid this kind of mess?
The focus group members who gave input on the E90 are probably the same focus group members who said a hard cover wasn't necessary on the N800... I do wonder where Nokia find them, they certainly have a knack for finding the least suitable people to give feedback on future products. Talking to people who care about the old/existing products would surely have identified the failings and shortcomings in the E90 (and N800 for that matter).
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2007-08-03
, 18:59
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Posts: 3,220 |
Thanked: 326 times |
Joined on Oct 2005
@ "Almost there!" (Monte Christo, Count of)
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#18
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Originally Posted by Milhouse
It's not only Nokia. I own a Sony Ericsson P910i smartphone, which has what can probably be described as one of the best and smartest one-finger-control-devices (I'm talking about the 5-way rocker wheel) ever invented for a phone.
Me too. It does seem strange that Nokia decided to throw away some of the old Communicator features that were clearly cherished by the loyal Communicator users. How could Nokia have been this ignorant? The possibility exists of course that Nokia were not ignorant at all and dropped the old features with full knowledge of the likely reaction, which suggests that Nokia don't give a fig for loyal users, and are happy to alienate an existing user base if it means shifting a few more units to a more fickle and less discerning set of users. Nice.
"Focus groups" told SE that the wheel was too complicated to use (which leads me to believe that at least that focus group was of simian origin, most likely chimpansees), so they dropped it on the P990 in "favour" of a 3-way rocker and two buttons. Suffize to say that that decision was not exactly applauded by the actual users of the phones and has in more than one case resulted in refusal to upgrade, or even total dropout of the SE camp.
I now believe "focus group" may be a synonym for "drunks who happen to be stumbling by our office entrance today".
That, or just apes...
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2007-08-03
, 20:59
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Posts: 1,513 |
Thanked: 2,248 times |
Joined on Mar 2006
@ US
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#19
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Originally Posted by swing
As to the lineage of Hildon, the article is mostly correct. I have already said in several posts on this forum that Hildon was based on the Series 90 UI used in the 7700. Why people think the connection between 7700 and 770 is a new revelation, I don't know... maybe because S90 was short-lived.
However, some applications are tied to the IMEI, so you will still need to purchase a second license.
As for the Psion stuff - yes, I believe it's all true. Remember a lot of Psion staff moved to Symbian (it was a spin off from Psion), who were then bought by Nokia, so have now ended up at Nokia.
One important fact is not in the article. In October 2002, Nokia inked a license agreement with RIM to put a version of the blackberry software (for non-touch screen devices) on the Communicators. If there was a PSION related project that was nixed, this is probably the reason why. The timing fits. Unfortunately, the license was not utilised by Nokia until 2006, due indirectly to the NTP wireless email patent lawsuit against RIM that first made all the headlines in 2003.
But Hildon has little in common with the E90 or even S80 - the UI was HEAVILY updated and modified (perhaps by former Psion people) to get the Series 90 UI for touch screen devices. As to the E90 not being a good Communictor - it was not intended to be a true Communicator. Series 80 Communicators have been lagging and in jeopardy for a long time, and once S60 3rd edition started doing rather well and could be adapted to the wider screen, they were doomed. Communicator loyalists should have revolted when it was announced that the next generation would use S60. It was obvious then. Of course, there are things in S80 that are not in S60!
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2007-08-03
, 21:39
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Posts: 3,401 |
Thanked: 1,255 times |
Joined on Nov 2005
@ London, UK
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#20
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Originally Posted by SD69
And that is precisely what the old Communicator users are unhappy about - the really good S80 features loved by users that Nokia saw fit to ditch while offering not very much in return.
Of course, there are things in S80 that are not in S60!
And, no, I won't buy the e90. My 9500 has just been "regenerated" (hinges, flat cable, screenside keys) and by now series 80 is good for me.