Nokia 6820 Wireless Messaging Handset Reviewed 173
Brainsur writes "The Nokia 6820 is an ergonomically pleasing handheld device that integrates short text, multimedia and instant messaging capabilities with all of the features and functions that one normally would expect to find in a dedicated GSM/GPRS cellular phone."
Yes, but (Score:4, Funny)
WTF? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:WTF? (Score:5, Interesting)
That because it's probably taken straight from the media kit for the product.
I'm doing tech support in a teaching theater for a PR class this summer. They barely ever require my help, so I sometimes listen in on what's going on.
One of the most fascinating things they talked about was how important "ready-made" materials that could be presented as a "story" were. Basically, reporters are generally lazy. If you send them stuff they can mostly cut and paste that's informative and doesn't look _exactly_ like an ad, they'll use it almost verbatim.
To be honest, I almost got the impression that the "reviewer" had not used the product at all.
-Erwos
Re:WTF? (Score:2)
El Reg got here ages ago (Score:5, Informative)
So why is this being posted now? Hmm?
Re:El Reg got here ages ago (Score:2, Insightful)
So why is this being posted now? Hmm?
Because /. editors are crap these days. Probably several reviews were submitted as stories several months ago, and got rejected. Finally an old press release gets submitted as a story, and gets accepted. This is nothing unusual in today's Slashdot. We need some competition - a site more or less like /. but with competent editors.
Re:El Reg got here ages ago (Score:5, Interesting)
Of course, I may be wrong, but the answer makes sense... In many ways cell-phones are more advanced in Europe than in the US, primarily because GSM is common in Europe, and still only really coming in in the US. Hence the "need" for tri-band (and now Quad-band) phones so they work world-wide.
Re:El Reg got here ages ago (Score:2)
Seriously, two of the biggest cellphone manufacturers are over here (Nokia, Ericsson), and we take to that sort of thing faster than the Americans. Minidisc, anyone? You also won't find anyone saying "bluetooth is dead!" this side of the pond, either, as lots of us actually use it daily. :)
Could be worse, it could be a Nokia 6600 (Score:2)
One might assume that, since pretty much all previous Nokias worked, that things like editing phone
Re:WTF? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:WTF? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:WTF? (Score:1)
www.mobiledia.com ? or slashdot.com since when
is this consumer electronics review site?
I dont mind a post about consumer electronics, but hey 6820 has been out for a while.
and I HAVE that phone !!!!
(and no, i am not posting my review here)
Yeah but cheap quality (Score:1)
Re:Yeah but cheap quality (Score:2)
Whaddya mean their quality has fallen dramatically? I'm using one right now to post this comm KABOOM! *shrapnel, bone fragments, brains oozing through hole in skull*
Re:Yeah but cheap quality (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Yeah but cheap quality (Score:1)
Re:Yeah but cheap quality (Score:2)
My 3588i has the following problems:
Broken (and now missing) antenna cap
Fading Sprint logo on bottom of faceplate
Shiny paint chipping off of answer/hang-up buttons
Soft button #1, "1", "4" undersensitive
"6" alternating between undersensitive and extremely OVERsensitive
Rubber grip on backplate coming off
"NOKIA" text on rubber grip gone
Re:Yeah but cheap quality (Score:1)
Re:Yeah but cheap quality (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Yeah but cheap quality (Score:2)
I have personal experiences regarding six different Nokia-phones and they have all worked very well. Two of those models (6130i and 6600) have been in wider use, so I have had the possibility to see how well they work. And they
That review sucked.. (Score:1, Interesting)
IMO (Score:1)
Re:IMO (Score:3, Funny)
Is that anything like a checkerstaco?
"I'd like a connectfoursalad with a side of strategofries please."
"Would you like any chutesandladders sauce?"
"No thanks, I always keep some hiddenvalleyaxisandalliesranch on me to dip them in."
Re:IMO (Score:2)
I wouldn't if I were you. It would take several evenings to eat one order of fries.
--
Evan "Some advancedsquadleaderbarbeque sauce for me, please"
Re:IMO (Score:2)
SMS has done that for years.
or if you want to go via internet, buddy list etc. then I use jMSN.
Re:IMO (Score:2)
SMS only allows you to directly contact other cellphone users, and unfortuntately you pay a silly $0.05 fee per each message.
IM on a cellphone using GPRS data services is much cheaper in comparison and you can contact people who are at their computers, not at their phone and see if they are available.
Re:IMO (Score:1, Funny)
EDGE (Score:3, Informative)
I have one... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:I have one... (Score:5, Funny)
Damn... thanks for subsidizing Nokia's R&D for the rest of us.
Re:I have one... (Score:2)
Re:I have one... (Score:2)
Re:SSH question (Score:2)
The CPU in the 6820 is grossly underpowered for extensive use of the SSH client - session startup is painful, but it works in a pinch. In my blackberry, it's not so bad.
Phone Quality (Score:5, Insightful)
What the public wants now is quality, better reception, and higher reliability.
Re:Phone Quality (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Phone Quality (Score:3, Insightful)
And who provides that are carriers, not phone manufacturers like Nokia
But I understand your point.
Re:Phone Quality (Score:3, Funny)
At only 4x the pocket space!
Re:Phone Quality (Score:1)
The public already has these things (or at least, the GSM-using public has these things, assuming adequate coverage) - what they don't have is a need to buy a new mobile phone.
As things stand now, everyone that wants a mobile phone has one, and all these new phones with the extra features and gadgets are designed and manufactured for the section of the market that sees the phone as a fashion item.
Simply, if you want a phone t
Re:Phone Quality (Score:2)
Re:Phone Quality (Score:5, Insightful)
Quality? Nope, the quality is 'good enough'. That's not because consumers are stupid, it's because a phone isn't worth $600 just because it can last 20 years.
Better reception? The phone manufacturers have little to do with that. More towers need to be placed.
Reliability? I'll give you partial credit for that. Better battery life is okay. There's a point of diminishing returns, though. People actually do want cameras on their phones. People actually do want to play games on their phone. People actually do want MP3 ringtones on their phones. People actually want their phones to be cool, not just functional. Don't believe me? Go sit down at a Cingular store for half an hour. Reliability is a distant 3rd compared to "What am I getting with my $200 purchase?"
It's really cool to complain about cell phones lately. For some reason, though, nobody seems to understand that people actually have to buy these phones to make them popular. Otherwise, the units without the nifty features at much cheaper prices would be far more popular. They're not. Why? Because a cellular phone has become an entertainment device as well as a communications device. Who cares if the games aren't Game Boy quality? Who carries their Game Boy around 24/7? Who cares if the digital camera is only 640 by 480? Who carries their $500 camera around 24/7? Who cares if the appointment book is a bit difficult to enter new memos into? Who carries their $500 PDA around 24/7? Who carries ALL this stuff 24/7?
I can't believe that the self proclaimed 'nerds' don't understand the value. It's like we're all minimalists all the sudden. Funny what earning karma can turn ppl into.
Re:Phone Quality (Score:2)
Re:Phone Quality (Score:2)
Re:Phone Quality (Score:3, Insightful)
Me? I have a Nokia 6600 with just about all the imaginable features. And I do use those features (yes, that includes the web-browser!).
Seriously: It's pointless to whine "But I just want to make phone-calls
Re:Phone Quality (Score:2)
What the public wants now is quality, better reception, and higher reliability.
Just pick a phone with an external antenna and a big honking battery with outrageous SAR values.
Though if you gauge what the public want by what they actually buy, they want the exact opposite.
now, you fool (Score:2)
Re:Phone Quality (Score:2)
I'm pretty sure they already do that. In fact, I'd be suprised if there were a single major cellular carrier or handset manufacturer that DIDN'T do focus group testing to find out what people want in a phone.
What the public wants now is quality, better reception, and higher reliability.
No, that's what YOU want. Don't make the mistake of assuming most other people are like you.
The group of people sittin
Re:Phone Quality (Score:2)
You are partially right. However, when I bought a new cell phone, I bought one with a built-in MP3 player, FM radio and decent storage. It saved me the trouble of having to buy a portable MP3-player (which I had wanted to do for some time).
There are tons of features on my current phone that I will not use (often), but there are also some that I wou
What the? (Score:5, Insightful)
The title of this article should read "Nokia comes out with new version of same old crap... like they do a dozen times every year."
Re:What the? (Score:2)
Re:What the? (Score:2)
Also, what other company makes a phone with this sort of keyboard? I know only of the Nokia 6800, that's it.
Re:What the? (Score:2)
More info (Score:1, Informative)
OLD NEWS (Score:1, Interesting)
A quick question (Score:4, Informative)
Who has two thumbs and thinks this phone is a waste of money? This guy.
I don't particularly care for Nokia phones, and even my Sony Ericsson T226 is overkill for what I need. I can understand integrating your address book into your phone, but the rest of this stuff is a waste of circutry. I'd rather they spend the manufacturing dollars on a phone with clearer signals and better durability. I'd pay good money for something like that.
Re:A quick question (Score:3, Insightful)
would you? would you really pay more to get less?
then do so and buy some of the high-end business models they like to put out as well with reduced functionality and added impression of being rugged(8xxx)
anyways.. most of the people that complain how they would just like to have clearer signal seem to come from the same areas.. particulary areas where a bet
Re:A quick question (Score:2)
I'm getting sick and tired of people whining about the feature-packed hi-end phones. "But I just want to make phone-calls!". Well boo-fucking-hoo! Go right ahead and buy a basic phone with just the basic features! market is full of them! Put your money where your mouth is and stop whining!
Time for new icons? (Score:1, Offtopic)
I used the lesser model (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I used the lesser model (Score:1)
Re:I used the lesser model (Score:2)
My real problem with it is that when I lose signal for extended periods of time, it sometimes doesn't re-establish signal when I get back to a place where it's perfectly clear, occasionally blaming the problem on a SIM card error, usually just not reconnecting. I have t
Credibility (Score:3, Interesting)
Strike one, Slashdot.
My Best Phone Ever (Score:5, Informative)
As far as email goes, I havn't tried it because it seems that the IMAP4 client for the phone is broken. I'm still able to check my mail via IMAP4 on my Pocket PC when connected via the phone using Bluetooth.
The keyboard is excellent for it's size but I fear about getting RSI in my thumbs.
I certainly get a lot of looks when I whip it out and fold the keyboard open. It is highly common to get the "what on earth is that?!?" comment from some... ahhh back to the days when I had my first US Robotics Pilot 5000 and the continual praise heaped upon one for having such a unique device.
I find that I'm almost never using my Pocket PC anymore because I can download all my calendar, contacts, etc into this one.
I don't believe the US version has the Blackberry client but the Australian version sure does. I'm hesitent to get it activated because of the AU$50 (US$35) per month fee that Telstra [telstra.com] charge.
This is a massive leap ahead over the 6800 [nokia.com.au] and when Nokia inevitably release a followup to this one I'm not hesitating in getting it.
Things I'd love to see in the next iteration of this phone:
The low points of this phone are:
Re:My Best Phone Ever (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:My Best Phone Ever (Score:2)
This phone is awsome. I agree witht he parent on the lowpoints.
Aw... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Aw... (Score:1)
Just wait a while and you'll see a soccer mom driving an H2 using her cell phone not only to talk but also as a personaly enjoyment toy
Old news.. but check out the Siemens SK65 (Score:2)
Re:Old news.. but check out the Siemens SK65 (Score:2)
Looks like another ripoff of Bell's telephone (Score:3, Funny)
eBook Potential? (Score:2)
--
Evan "I prefer the IIIc over my iPaq. DateBk5 and the screen."
Nokia 3660 Recommendations (Score:2)
* IM using Agile Messenger (ICQ, MSN, AIM, Yahoo)
* Send/Receive my comcast.net POP e-mail
As a plus, I can do all of these things without paying silly little per KB or per message fees. T-mobiles "t-zones" for only $5/month allows you to access unlimited GPRS data so it's a very good deal.
I tried looking for adobe's PDF reader, but it doesn't work on my
Link to the manufacturer (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/6820 [nokiausa.com]
Used to have one (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm not that big a fan of Nokia... (Score:2)
I mean yeah, I guess it'll make phone calls and stuff, but good lord. Nice match for a 17" Powerbook...
m-
Pushing something up (Score:2, Interesting)
The phone obviously reeks of average functionality, with a not-so-good camera, same ice-cream bar design, average features, etc. They haven't talked about its voice clarity, signal catching strength, enhancement software with camera, durability, software, and many other things. Am I supposed to read directly from the company's press release
Bluetooth, Keyboard, Camera (Score:3, Informative)
Like all Nokia phones, the battery is incredible. The keys are a little small for an old phart like me, but they are very useable. The clamshell QWERTY keyboard is also a little hard to use, but easier than ditsing around with the keys when trying to type more meaningful memos. I used it to the max for the first month sending text messages and it was better than my whining makes it out to be.
In addition to the phone, I bought a Motorola Bluetooth headset. It is by far the best complement to the phone! The two make an unbeatable pair. Oh yeah, the phone has a camera and the one time it screwed up was when I took a booty shot of my wife. Um, this is slashdot, right? Scratch that. The video mode is cool. Anyway, the 6820 is a solid phone and I hope to get a few years of service out of it.
Thank goodness I have nextel (Score:2)
Euphamisms (Score:1)
Yes. For my "business". You just keep telling yourself that you are not a phone fashion geek but a "business professio
A very handy phone (Score:4, Informative)
What stands out is how natural the keyboard is. The device is weighted perfectly. You can also type quite fast, as the two halves of the keyboard are roughly a hand-length apart. Handtop makers and PDA designers should take particular notice in how much more natural this design is than a thumb keyboard exposed on the bottom of a device. This really is the future, I believe in the design that strongly.
An especially handy feature is that as soon as you start typing, the phone goes into "Note" mode - just type the first letter of a sentence, and you're inputting into a notepad-like application. No frills, but you can save and edit easily, then email or SMS the text.
There's also a cool keyboard-light button at the top left, to illuminate the whole device for typing in low light. I can't tell you how stylish the thing looks with light streaming out from each key on the pad.
There's also a customizable "GoTo" button on the phone face, so you can instantly utilize the voice recorder, alarm clock, timer, calculator, your inbox, and the other dozen+ applications.
The camera is about one-half or even one-third megapixel, I'd say - still looks fine (tho small) when emailed. There's a built in mini-Outlook, with audio reminders and all, which is now 100% usable thanks to the keyboard. Literally, there's no need for a PDA if calendar, contacts, and notes are your primary apps.
It's one of the rare devices that earns a 5 out of 5 rating. No astroturfing here, this thing has earned my love.
My eyes hurt! (Score:2)
This seems a lot cooler (Score:2)
Privoxy (Score:2)
Privoxy blocked http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=4780&alloc_id=10190&si
See why or go there anyway.
Cheers,
Reid
128x128 screen (Score:2)
AT&T Has An Exclusive Contract With Nokia? (Score:2)
I have a conspiracy theory. I noted when AT&T came out with the Nokia 6800, the precursor to the 6820. I even went to an AT&T store to check one out, and the 6800 phone in the AT&T store said that it was compatible with "AT&T" "Cingular" and "TMobile", under the services section of the Nokia OS. Now the 6820 has been released and at almost the same exact time, TMobile has released the 6800 as one of their products. I am willing to water that AT&T paid a good sum to Nokia to have excl
Re:AT&T Has An Exclusive Contract With Nokia? (Score:2)
QWERTY Keyboard Layout is Just Fine (Score:2, Informative)
Actually the locations of the @ and double-quote symbols are in exactly the same place as on all my regular desktop/laptop keyboards. The double-quote is above the number 2 (shift-2 to access) and the @ symbol above the single quote near the enter key (shift-' to access).
Very Useful Application (Score:2)
MicroCalc
Other (free?) applications that people really like on the 6820?
Re:How the hell? (Score:2)
Ever since everyone* started using either Squid with adzapper, or Mozilla/Firefox with Adblock, OSDN has had to find new ways to raise ad revenue.
* If you don't do one of these two things, you are statistically insignificant. And a sucker. Or using some other ad blocker.
Re:whoreabull failure of PostBlock devise reviewed (Score:2)
Sony Ericsson k700i (Score:2)
Full specs [sonyericsson.com]
Pics [mobileburn.com]
Trust me, it's the k700i you really want...
Re:Sony Ericsson k700i (Score:2)
Re:Sony Ericsson k700i (Score:2)
Not that I would mind having 3G in the k700, but I'll probably upgrade when we get it here anyway...
Re:Sony Ericsson k700i (Score:2)
Re:Sony Ericsson k700i (Score:1)
Re:Sony Ericsson k700i (Score:2)
Re:Sony Ericsson k700i (Score:2)
There's no point having PDA functions, web browsing, email etc on a phone that only has a number pad.
Predictive text doesn't work on urls, names, addresses, email addresses etc. If you're going to use it like a PDA you need a keyboard - it's not just txt messaging that the keyboard kicks ass at.
Having used the 6800, then the 6820, I will never touch a phone without a keyboard again. And thanks to this slashdot article I know know that there is also the Siemens
Re:I'm amazed... (Score:2)
Am I the only one that wants several efficient devices that does each task well rather than a device that does all of them crappily? I'm not going to type off a 20 page paper on a cell phone, nor will I use one for a powerpoint presentation, a wakeup clock radio, etc. etc.
You might think it's wonderful, but I think that puting all your eggs in one small, breakable, easily stolen/lost basket is a ridiculous idea.
Furthermore, I can't even find a basic cell pho
Re:I'm amazed... (Score:2)
Lots of people have use for these sorts of phones. I know I do (I have a T610).
Of course, this is /., so people tend to think that everyone else thinks exactly like them. Oops.
Re:I'm amazed... (Score:2)
You insensitive clod! (Score:1, Offtopic)