Nokia Lumia 800 Impressions & Review

This is my in depth review and impressions on the Nokia Lumia 800. It may be different and unusual from other common reviews you have read through before as this more towards my personal thoughts and impressions. It may include many personal point of views (please do not take it personally) and I may write a lot or in depth on certain parts; some people may considered it as writing too much on it or too repetitive at times. So, if you’re purely looking for nice pleasant review, you may be disappointed as I will be talking about the pros and cons; but do remember, some pros and cons may not be of importance to everyone.

In any case, I will be highlighting some important part, so if you just want to go through, you may focus on the highlighted text.

» Click to read additional note about this review & impression... «

I will be writing about the pros and cons along the way. I believe no product is perfect, and if there’s weakness or drawbacks, we need to acknowledge it and let the manufacturer knows so that they were informed, they understand the importance or needs of consumers better. It’s no use protecting a brand and covering up the weakness/drawbacks, this way, there can be no improvements and the future product will eventually fall behind the others.

 So, a word of caution and advice for readers, I may talk about the drawbacks of the Nokia Lumia 800 or Windows Phone OS (or even other phones), please do not take it personally and know that it’s a drawback that needs to be acknowledged. On the software (e.g. Windows Phone OS), it will be based on the current revision of this review, so in future, it may have been resolved or the feature may have been provided (which means it’s a good thing).

Nonetheless, it’ll be a hopeful wish that the manufacturer’s acknowledge the drawback and consider providing a solution for it.

Important Note:

Because the Nokia Lumia 800 is very identical to the Nokia N9 in terms of hardware and specifications, many of the hardware and specifications written below will be similar or taken from my previous Nokia N9 impressions and review.

The primary difference between Nokia Lumia 800 and the Nokia N9 is the phone Operating System (OS), which gives an entire different feel and usage on the device.


Here's an overview video of Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) featuring Nokia Lumia 800:

Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) - A Brief Overview With Nokia Lumia 800

My impressions on the Nokia Lumia 800.

First impression on the Nokia Lumia 800:

The looks and design of the Nokia Lumia 800 is similar with Nokia N9, so it isn’t something that is new for me. As from my previous Nokia N9 impressions and review, I’ve mentioned that I really like the device design, how it feels (the smooth body), and also the “matte” look.

The colors available were also similar to Nokia N9, ranging from Black, Cyan and Magenta, and there is also the rare White, but it will not be in “Matte” color.

The phone feels good in the hand, and it’s solid. The body is smooth as its matte instead of glossy paint, it’s nice to touch and hold. The matte look makes it looks nice and modern, well at least, for me.

Feels good in the hand; solid build and looks great!

Upon unlocking the device, you’ll notice the crisps, clear and bright display flourish with the vivid Live Tiles. The screen feels great, responsive, smooth and nice to touch, well, basically it’s just like the Nokia N9.

The speaker seems soft, even at maximum volume. Although having mono speaker similar like the Nokia N9 is one of the culprit. 

For the camera, on first impression, it seems good, fast and easy to use, and there's touch focus feature; additionally, there is also some nice feature like metering mode. More of it will be covered in the review section below.

Lastly, my impression on Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) OS:

The User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) gives a familiar feel, it’s 2D ‘Flat’ Look & Feel; which I later discover it’s the Web UI and UX feel (more on this in below Operating System section).

Personally, I find that although the OS is smooth, responsive and it’s simple and easy to use; it seems that at the same time, they remove the flexibility, including many functions and features of a typical smartphone OS. There’re many restrictions and limitations added (compared with typical smartphone OS), which should not be done on a mobile computer phone or smartphone.

What I wish to highlight here is, to introduce simplicity, there is no need to restrict and add limitations, it’s just doesn’t sound and feel right.

To make it simple, Microsoft has made Windows Phone OS like Apple’s iOS, with all the advantages like simplicity, smoothness as well as the drawbacks of Apple’s iOS, such as the limitations and restrictions. It's weird isn't it? The common practice should be, take the goods, drop the bad; but seems it wasn't applied here? It seems as though because the iPhone is famous, they just copy everything blindly?

However, in comparison, there’re some additional interesting features provided by Windows Phone OS:

1. Live Tiles Homescreen or Start Screen (iOS have NONE)
2. Deep and comprehensive Social Networking Service (SNS) Integration. (e.g. People Hub, Picture Hub, etc).
   One of the most appealing features for Windows Phone OS. It has very deep and comprehensive integration and one must really try it out and experience it, especially if you’re a social network person (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live).

3. Office Mobile applications pre-loaded.
   Another nice feature, especially for people who use or need Office editing application on their smartphones. It has very comprehensive Word, Excel and Powerpoint application. Those that prioritize this will really appreciate it.

4. Exclusive for Nokia Windows Phone device: Nokia Drive, Contacts Transfer. (more exclusive applications avaiable in Marketplace under Nokia Collection category.)

In terms of the look and feel, obviously they’re very different as they’re different OS altogether, but there is a clear difference in the look and feel of both:

1. iOS has 3D look and feel.
2. Windows Phone has the 2D ‘flat’ look and feel.
   NOTE: For those familiar with Web design, you’ll notice the look and feel is the Web look and feel.

2D 'Flat' Look and Feel

What are the limitations and restrictions? Just to name a few, which you don’t commonly see these limitations an restrictions in any true smartphone OS (iOS not really a "qualified" smartphone OS, well, at least for me):

1. No Bluetooth file transfer
2. No Mass-Storage access
3. No File-Manager
4. Reliance on media transfer software like Zune, iTunes.

These are just some of the major issue (also found on iOS) which shouldn’t even be there as a smartphone OS, but were somehow implemented by Microsoft. These restrictions and limitations makes it more like a Media OS (aka Zune) rather than a common smartphone OS. Just like iOS, it's more like a Media OS suited for iPod Touch device. Personally, I wouldn't consider it a smartphone OS, more like a mediaphone. 
Example: A Pocket Computer or Mobile Computer at size of a mobile phone with added phone function, we categorize it as a smartphone. Thus, a Media Player (such as Zune, iOS and some other media player from other brands) with added phone function, I would call it a mediaphone rather than a smartphone.

Personally, I would strongly hope Microsoft will remove the limitations and restrictions as much as possible; It’s suppose to be a smartphone, a mobile computer which people can rely on, not be restricted and limited to what they can do. It’s frustrating and it’s an issue when people know it can be done easily, but were restricted and limited by Microsoft.

Smartphone should give the user convenience and pleasant experience when they’re using, not giving the user frustration, inconvenience and all the hassle just to get something simple done. 

Anyway, this is my personal opinion, I’ve been a Windows Mobile user since Windows Mobile Smartphone 2002 (Motorola MPx200), I was so looking forward for a good true mobile computer OS from Microsoft, but were actually disappointed with the limitations and restrictions they implemented. A good and potential OS, but were dragged down by such restrictions and limitations, is it worth it? It can be easily resolved; it’s just a matter of management decisions.

As of current, with the limitations and restrictions, how much will it actually affect the public? Well, every user have their preference and requirement; Some people aren’t really bothered much about the OS restrictions and limitations, they might not even utilizes it (e.g. iPhone); they just want a simple and basic phone that is smooth, reliable and have great variety of applications and games. It doesn’t matter if it’s a media player or mobile computer, as long as it’s delivers the performance, easy to use and simply, works; as proven by iPhone, many people are satisfied with it and/or able to bear with the limitations and restrictions. BUT, what I would like to point out to Microsoft here is, why limit to only these users that doesn’t mind or can live with the restrictions and limitations? Moreover, now they’re involving Nokia; most Nokia users are from Symbian background with no such restrictions and limitations. Can these users adapt and accept these changes? Can Nokia afford to lose these Customers?

Personally, I do sincerely hope Nokia and Microsoft will take these into considerations seriously.

In comparison with iPhone, which the Windows Phone have very identical advantages and disadvantages as of current, I do believe Windows Phone does has more potential, it just need to gain its popularity and branding. Besides, it offers more than what currently iPhone has to offer, such as Live Tiles, People Hub, Office Integration, and so on; thus it may appeal to those who appreciates the additional offerings from Windows Phone OS.

» Click to read my impression on Windows Phone OS and iOS... «

Personally, I would put iOS and Windows Phone in the same category. One main reason is they are very alike as explain above, both are very simple, smooth and responsive, but at the same time, both have many limitations and restrictions. What’s more, both relies on a software for “media” file transfer, and you cannot access the internal storage or transfer other types of files.

To put it simple, to me, iOS is not really a mobile computer OS or targeted to be one. It was made with the media player in mind, unlike their Mac OS or simply any personal computer (mobile or not). Why? The OS is simple like those media player device, and it has similar restrictions and controls like those media player device. To transfer media files, you need to use their media transfer software (iTunes), just like how their iPod works. It doesn’t work like how a personal mobile computer intended to work. iPod touch is a media player device, and like any other media player device, it usually comes with limitations and restrictions, and for some company, it does not provide access to it’s device internal storage, you will need to use their media transfer software to transfer the media files. As for iPhone, it is basically an iPod touch with added phone functionality. So, personally, for me, iPhone is more of a mediaphone.

You might notice many professionals don’t consider iPhone as a true smartphone as well, with reasons most likely similar to my personal opinion.

What about Windows Phone then? With the reliance on Zune (similar like iPhone on iTunes), and the strict control/restrictions and limitations, it feels like a revamped OS meant for the Zune player instead of the previous Windows Mobile.

Hence, as current, these 2 OS are very similar in that both are very controlled/restricted OS with many limitations; BUT, it can be changed easily, it’s just a matter of management decisions and it was so not Microsoft nature to implement such restrictions and limitations. In fact, I was surprised to find out and still can’t believe it to date. I just can wish and hope Microsoft will look into this seriously and once again, provide us a true mobile computer experience in smartphones.

The Design:

In short and simple words, the design looks elegant, simple and beautiful.

Considering this design is similar with Nokia N9, most people would’ve been familiar or seen the design; what sets it apart mainly is the buttons in the front, especially the familiar Windows icon button. With this, even with the phone in sleep mode, most people will know this phone is running Windows.

The difference between the Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia N9 are as below:

1. With 3 button in front, while Nokia N9 is button-less concept. This also makes the Lumia 800 screen slightly smaller to occupy the buttons.
2. Shutter key, which Nokia N9 lacks of.
3. Change placement of the LED flash to the side of the lens (kind of weird for me). The Nokia N9 was on top of the lens, which looks more common.

There’re 3 buttons on the front are BACK, WINDOWS (HOME), and SEARCH button. These are not the usual hardware button; it’s on the display itself, capacitive controls. Thus, there’s no worrying if the button will be damage or stuck, but at the same time, it lacks the “feel” of the button is actually pressed. There’s a small problem though, you might accidentally “molested” one of the button, especially the right side (if you are right-hander), then you will be frequently be visiting “Mr. Bing”.

Nokia Lumia 800 (Left) and Nokia N9 (Right)
Sleep Mode

Nokia Lumia 800 (Left) and Nokia N9 (Right)
Lock Screen Mode 

Dual LED Flash on the side on the lens and dedicated shutter key at the bottom.

Personally, I find the Search button of little use and I wonder how many will actually use it or find it useful. Microsoft should actually have considered this and let user customize the button. On the Nokia Lumia 800, as I have mentioned that the button is not the usual hardware button (capacitive controls), one may accidentally press it. If fact, I have actually several encounter, and it can be quite annoying as you will be meeting “Mr. Bing” quite frequently.

SIM Card:

The Nokia Lumia 800 requires the micro-SIM (obviously, since it’s identical to Nokia N9). This may be actually be inconvenient to some people, especially when they want to switch SIM Card with devices using normal SIM (especially during emergency).

Personally, I’m OK with it; it’s just the trouble for the first time as you need to get a replacement for micro-SIM. For switching SIM Card to another device which uses the normal SIM, there are actually micro-SIM adapters available.

» Click to read more about Nokia N9 Micro-SIM issue - "No mobile Network" and possible solution «

There is one issue with micro-SIM in Nokia N9, specifically in Malaysia, as we have the old type SIM card and the newer type SIM card, the difference is the smaller chip in the newer SIM card. With the older SIM, the chip is big and may have issues with “No Mobile Network” or it may take very long time to detect network. Changing to the newer type SIM Card with smaller chip seems to resolve this issue.

Read more about it here:

http://theidealmobile.blogspot.com/2011/10/solved-nokia-n9-no-mobile-network-error.html

There’s also some cases where the micro-SIM is claimed to be have been bent, thus causing the device unable to read the SIM Card. I suppose this could be cause by when inserting/removing the micro-SIM into the micro-SIM adapter. So, users might want to take precaution during inserting and removing of the micro-SIM.

micro-USB Slot

micro-USB Slot

micro-SIM Holder (Open)

micro-SIM Slot

micro-SIM Holder

Non-user Replaceable/Removable Battery:

Like it or not, the Nokia Lumia 800 has non-user replaceable/removable battery. There’re many debates on it, with some prefers it, while some hated it. Personally, I prefer removable battery as well; it may come in handy for many situations, especially when you need to change battery, or for people who carries a spare battery, but for non-user replaceable/removable battery, it helps in the form factor and design of the phone. If you notice it, the phone body is smooth all over with no “lines”, except the top, which is for the SIM card and micro-USB slot (and of course, the buttons on the right).

Durability:

The body is made of Polycarbonate Plastic, which is a very tough and versatile plastic offering unbeatable strength combine with very light weight. It’s used in variety of applications, ranging from bulletproof windows to Compact Disks (CDs). So, the material use is a very tough material.

What about the paint? You’ll be glad to know that the polycarbonate is colored itself rather than painted. This means, no peeling paint issue (no worries on scratches), and even a deep scratch won’t reveal any difference in color.

As for the glass, it’s the infamous Scratch-Resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass, which was also used on the Nokia N8 and also the iPhone4. It’s very tough and it’s said to be the same material used for Helicopter Windscreen.

Corning® Gorilla Glass

Durability Test:

For the Nokia N9 impressions and review, I did not do any durability test.

What about the Nokia Lumia 800? Of course, I’m not going to do it to this phone! LoL! BUT, don’t be disappointed yet, because… I’ve actually dropped my Nokia N9 a few times. Can this be considered a durability test? Hehe =P

In fact, I’ve dropped it with the screen facing down, albeit it’s not very high. The drop is mostly around 1.5 feet onto the concrete or tiles. So far, it survives all the falls with no major damage (touchwood). There’s however a slight dent on one of the edges, but that can’t be avoided considering the impact. The good news is that, the color stays the same since it’s not painted, thus no paint peeling. I also have several scratches on the back aluminium plate.

The Dent on Nokia N9

The Dent on Nokia N9

The Operating System:

The Nokia Lumia 800 is powered by the Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango) System, which is an entirely NEW Operating System for mobile platform from Microsoft.

This OS gives the 2D ‘Flat’ style Look and Feel. You will notice everything is flat on the OS, the buttons, the Live Tiles, the menus, and so on are all 2D and ‘Flat’.

For those who are into software development, mostly likely you will be familiar with the ‘Flat’ Look & Feel.

The User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) gives me a familiar look and feel, which I've managed to uncover this familiar feeling. When I first use the phone, I was testing the Voice Command, and I encountered a bug; it reveals something (the codings) which suddenly uncovers my familiar feeling. It was the Web UI and UX feeling, the UI and UX of the Windows Phone OS feels like I’m using a web based system. So, if someone happens to have a familiar feeling with the UI and UX, but still wondering, maybe you felt the same thing that I have.

Windows Phone OS - 2D 'Flat' Look & Feel

Voice Command

Voice Command - Available Commands

The OS is pretty basic with 2 main screen, the Live Tiles concept home screen (or Start Screen) and Applications menu.

From the Live Tiles home screen, you can swipe to left or press the arrow right on the screen to access the application menu on the right. The applications menu is actually pretty simple and plain with no category or folders for grouping; so it can get quite messy if you have a lot of apps. You can use the search icon on the screen (not the search button on the display) to filter or search for the app you want though, or you can pin the frequently or your favorite app to the Live Tiles home screen.

Below, it’s my explanation on Windows Phone design, navigation and interaction.

Basically, for Windows Phone OS, you will notice most (if not all) the applications are usually represented in one long extended/panorama “page” style and you navigate through each section/view of the page. Each section/view of the page will have its own content and functionality. Imagine a typical app with 3 screens, you usually use buttons to access the different screens and go back. For Windows Phone OS design, these 3 screens will be represented together as panorama; all you need to do is just flick/swipe to the left or right to access the next screen, which is a section/view of the panorama.

With this design, it’s actually better especially for the use of BACK button because regardless of which screen or section/tab of the application you’re in, you’re always and still in the first level of the application, so you just need to use the BACK button ONCE to exit the application regardless which screen or section/tab of the application you’re in. For users who are familiar the BACK button, you will notice the BACK button brings you back one level. For typical application, every time you access a different screen in the application, you go in deeper one level. To exit with BACK button, you need to go back each level until you’re back to the first level of the screen.

This panorama design also gives better experience in using and navigating through the application, everything is represented in one page separated by sections or views.

Developers are encouraged to apply this design into their application to ensure seamless and similar experience for user.

As example:

The usual Facebook application on iOS or Android, you access the News Feeds, Profile Page, Photos in different page by accessing the links or buttons, and the more you access, the deeper the level you go, pressing back with bring you back each level. In Windows Phone OS, you’ll notice it’s all represented in 1 long extended page (panorama), but you will be viewing each part (e.g. News Feed) at one time, and access the next part (e.g. Profile) by swiping to the left or right.

On the top usually you will see the “title” of the current part of the page, you can swipe LEFT or RIGHT to access the next or previous part of the page. Regardless which part of the page you’re on, how many times you go LEFT and RIGHT, you’re still in the same level; thus pressing BACK once is enough to exit the application.

Live Tiles Home Screen (or Start Screen).

Example of Panorama Page Concept (Panorama Metro UI)
Photo Taken From:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-US/howto/wp7/people/people-hub.aspx

Overall, the UI and UX are nice and unique; but as this is personal preference, it may not appeal to everyone as there’re people who actually find it boring and dull.

Limitations & Restrictions of the Operating System:

It is really unbelievable for me and I’ve never thought I would write about this topic actually, especially about a Microsoft OS. It’s still surprising and unbelievable to me up until today that Microsoft actually implemented such restrictions and limitations, it really defeats the purpose of having a mobile computer phone (smartphone), and most of it, there is no reason to implement this restrictions and limitation because it just causes inconvenience and frustration to user and it makes Windows Phone OS look bad, as well as, loses out against it’s competitor. Moreover, these limitations and restrictions can be easily resolved; it’s only a matter of management decisions. In my personal opinion, this is just so NOT Microsoft.

I’m not going into the details on this which can be really long write-up (if this isn’t already long), but let’s just say, it’s like iPhone all over again. In the first place, I wonder why Microsoft takes the drawback of the iPhone? Microsoft should take the goods and drop the bads; but it seems they take everything.

Simple things such as Bluetooth file transfer is NOT available; it can cause inconvenience and frustration to many users especially those that have been using it. Besides, it’s a COMMON and WIDELY used transfer method. It’s not like the hardware isn’t available, this is call being controlled and restricted what you can/allowed to do.

Example: A user took a photo, and he/she can’t send to his/her friends via the common widely used transfer method, Bluetooth.

It makes the user feels embarrass, frustrated when they have to tell others that their “smartphone” can’t do it.

Even sometimes, someone may own 2 or more devices, it give them inconvenience and frustration as they cannot transfer files easily between their device and have to rely on internet connection availability and go through the steps of uploading and downloading through SkyDrive, just to transfer 1 file. How inconvenient is that?

What’s more, you can’t transfer the photos to the computer without Zune. If you’re at someone’s place and you want to transfer some photos or office documents, the person’s computer need to have Zune installed, else you’ll need Internet Connection and go through the hassle of uploading and downloading each file, which is so inconvenient and frustrating. Moreover, some office may not allow Zune to be installed in the work place, you can’t transfer photos taken easily and have to rely on SkyDrive? Then again, some office may also block access to these sites, and does not allow their Wi-Fi to be used by staff. So, you’ll need to have data connection to email each and every photo or documents? Can you feel the inconvenience and frustration?

I strongly urged and hope Microsoft removes such restrictions and limitations in high priority. What’s the point of having a smartphone when you have so many restrictions and limitations which make the user feel inconvenient and frustrated?

Let's just put it simple, as a mobile computer phone or smartphone, it should be working like a mobile computer, as in when we don’t have our notebook with us, we can still rely on the smartphone to do most of the basic stuffs; but as current Windows Phone OS limitations and restrictions, it doesn’t feel like having a mobile computer. What ever happen to Microsoft?

This is my final non-technical verdict on Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) OS. The Mango taste sweet at first, but it gets sour and bitter as you bite and taste more; thought there’s still some sweetness to it. It’s kind of like a love and hate relationship.

USAGE & HANDLING:

If you’ve been a user of Nokia N9 before this or even used before for a while, holding the Nokia Lumia 800 will makes you feel like the Nokia N9, thus you might operate it like the Nokia N9.

As example:

1. Double tap to activate the phone from sleep.
   Sadly, it doesn’t work with the Nokia Lumia 800. This double-tap feature is really very nice and convenient. With the Nokia Lumia 800, you have to press the power/lock/unlock button on the right side, which can be annoying, especially if you put the phone into the phone holder and the holder actually blocks the button.
   
   Nokia or Microsoft should consider using the “Windows” button to activate or implement the double-tap concept.
   
   NOTE: For those who doesn’t like double-tap concept, this can always be made an option in the settings. The beauty of software is, it customizable; Manufacturer’s should always provide more options for user instead of limiting.

2. After activating the phone and in lockscreen, by default, Nokia Lumia 800 lockscreen wallpaper is exactly the same as the Nokia N9, this makes it more confusing, and one might try to swipe like the Nokia N9; With the Nokia Lumia 800, you can only Swipe Up to unlock, while on the Nokia N9, you can swipe from any 4 direction.
   
   Another difference is, on the Nokia N9, you have to swipe from outside the screen/display. If you do that to the Nokia Lumia 800, you’ll have problem trying to unlock it; you have to actually touch on the screen/display and then swipe up to unlock, which is like dragging the wallpaper up.

3. Swipe Gesture – With the Nokia N9, we can swipe the application away to go back to the Home View, or activate Swipe Down to close.
   With the Nokia Lumia 800, there’s no such feature, but for those who have been using the Nokia N9, may have been used to this feature and try to use the swipe gesture on and off, more so since the Nokia Lumia 800 looks identical to the Nokia N9.
   The Swipe Gesture on the Nokia N9 (MeeGo Harmattan) is really natural and nice, which makes people easily adapt and used to it.

Windows Phone OS is built with simplicity in mind, so you can be pretty sure that it’s easy to pick-up and use. There maybe some things that you might need to know or learn, like how to activate the multi-tasking or app-switching window and how to activate voice command for example. Press the Back button and pressing the Windows (Home) button inside an app does different thing, the back will close/kill the app, the Windows (Home) button is to pause the app state, leave it in the multi-tasking window and brings you back to the Live Tiles home screen.

One also needs to get familiar with the scrolling panorama “page” design, which is implemented in most if not all of the applications.

There is the User Guide, but sadly, it requires internet connection and it’s pretty slow; it can be very inconvenient as you may not always have access to internet connection. A software developer/company should not expect everyone to have internet connection or having internet access all the time; I mean, it’s a basic fundamental when designing and developing software.

I suppose they want to better management and maintenance of their User Guide, but there’s always way to do it like it can be synchronize and updated; they should provide an offline version to the user.


The User Guide is also available online here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-US/howto/wp7/default.aspx

Expectations:

As a smartphone user for very long time, since the early Symbian device, Windows Mobile Smartphone 2002 (MPx200), Maemo & MeeGo and also Android; I was expecting a true mobile computer OS which we can rely on and use when we don’t carry a notebook, or that we don’t have to move onto the PC to do the basic stuffs everytime. Of all the smartphones, N900 (Maemo) provides the very best experience so far.

I never like iOS due to the fact that it’s doesn’t provide any of those capabilities, it doesn’t work like a mobile computer, it’s full of restrictions and limitations; It’s basically media player based or category OS. It does have smoothness and nice animation, but that’s also usually what a media player would/should have. What interest most people are actually the applications and games available, and once you invest in it, it’s even harder for you to switch because it’s not transferable to another platform. So, it’ll be nice if there’re special offers or deal for people who wish to “convert”, hehe =P

As for Windows Phone OS, I was expecting something way much more, especially having been a user of the early Windows Mobile. Sadly, it drops into the same category of iOS mainly due to the restrictions and limitation implemented.

Personally, I would strongly hope Microsoft will change this soon, loosen up the restrictions and offers more flexibility and customizations, options. Please offer a TRUE mobile computer OS that we can actually use as a true smartphone.

These are just my personal expectations and what I feel. I don’t get why Microsoft needs to control, restrict and limits the Windows Phone OS; it’s driving true smartphone customers away. If they want to capture the market, they should change and offer a true mobile computer OS like they used to. Moreover, now it’s affecting Nokia as it’s base and current Customer are not use to these restrictions and limitations, can they adapt and accept? Can Nokia afford to loose these Customers?

Hardware Specifications:

For the hardware specifications, basically, it’s very similar to the Nokia N9 but with updated specs, which mostly are improvements, except the RAM; the Nokia N9 packs with 1GB RAM, but the Nokia Lumia 800 only offers 512MB RAM. Is this a big deal? Well, it depends, but generally to most users, what’s important is, will it effect the operation and usage of the phone? The answer is most likely, no. The key point here is, Microsoft have well managed their OS in terms of RAM utilization, such as, you can only open up to a maximum of 5 apps. I don’t know the full details on how is the memory management and so on, but for most end user, as long as the performance maintains the same and it doesn’t affect their usage, it doesn’t really matter if there is 512MB or 768MB or 1GB RAM; it's just a number that makes people feels good, like "Yo! My smartphone has 1GB RAM!" 

Processor:

Powered with Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon Scorpion processor clocking at 1.4Ghz.

If you’re a person who prioritize or concerned with hardware specifications, you will be disappointed especially when at current writing, many of the smartphone in the market are already running Dual Core processor for some time already and smartphones running Quad Core processor have already been announced; BUT as what I’ve written on the Nokia N9 impressions and review, let's not get into the details of the processor type, single or dual core; Sure, it's "nice" to have the latest and most powerful processor, but what's really important to most user? Its how the device actually performs, am I right? KNOWING that you have a latest or fastest processor, it's just something that makes you feel good. The actual performance on the device is what's important.

If you’re holding a device with the best processor in the market, but performs sluggishly and/or not smooth. Will you actually be happy with it?

But if you have a low spec device, but it gives smooth performance, responsive, and no sluggish issue. How would you feel?

In the end, the specs are just what makes people feel good to know; in other words, self satisfaction.

Many times, people are too concern with the specs or what is on paper that they fail to realize what’s actually important.

Of course, it’s always nice to have a higher or better spec device and especially for the same price you have paid; but that’s another story and there’re also other factors to concern about, it’s not just about specs, there’s also the material, build quality, hardware used, etc. to justify the price.

Memory:

Packed with 512MB RAM, albeit less than Nokia N9, but it’s actually enough for Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango).

RAM is one of the very important factors which will affect the overall OS performance; but, it also requires a good memory management from the OS.

Windows Phone OS have good memory management and is well controlled. As current Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) version, it only allows multi-tasking of up to a maximum of 5 applications; thus, it doesn’t need a device with high amount of ram (at least for now) and Microsoft can define the standard to better control all the Windows Phone available, ensuring it’s stability and reliability. As iPhone, it’s easy to control because only Apple is providing the device, but Windows Phone have different manufacturers providing their own version of Windows Phone; it’s harder to control, and thus, they need to define and set strict standard of requirements.

In short, although the amount of RAM isn’t a lot like the Nokia N9, but even with 512MB RAM, it runs smoother than many smartphones with 1GB RAM with no performance issue; moreover, the reliability on the performance and the stability are far better.

Ok, so it’s all good? Well, as I stated in the beginning and also in my previous Nokia N9 review, I prefers to talk about the good and the bads. So, yes, now Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) only allows up to 5 applications running. What if future versions allow more? Well, this is where we use the word, limitations I guess? It’s just like the Windows Phone with 256MB of RAM, it has additional limitations due to the amount of RAM available. With limited RAM, you are limited to run a limited amount of apps OR depending on how they utilize or implement the memory management, the “smart” OS may decide to close the app for you. Don’t get me wrong, the “smart” word is not meant to praise, it’s “sarcasm” because there are no manners, and it didn’t ask the user or let the user decide first, imagine you switch to another app to check something and when you tries to go back, the previous app you’re working on half way have gone missing. Unless, the application actually crash, else, it should let user decide (or define in options, always ask or close-automatically).

Display:

3.7” AMOLED Capacitive Touch-Screen, 16M Colors and resolution of 16:9 FWVGA (800 X 480 pixels with around 252 ppi pixel density).

The screen is slightly smaller than Nokia N9 to make room for the capacitive controls (Back, Windows (Menu) and Seach key).

Above are the technical specifications, but it may not be useful or understood by many people or it may not matter at all. What’s important is how good does the screen actually looks, the clarity, the colors, the brightness, the feel, and how good it performs under the sunlight.

Well, it’s similar like the Nokia N9 actually, the display is absolutely stunning! It captures people attention easily and all the people I show it to, they really love display, even those that have not much interest in the phone due to Windows Phone OS, they’re still loving the display.

You have to see the real device yourself to judge it fairly.

As what I’ve said in my Nokia N9 impressions and review, it may not be have the “SUPER” word on the AMOLED, or “IPS” wording or whatever “bombastic” jargons or words, which… really, is that important at all?

What really matter to most (if not all) people, is the actual display itself, how it look and feel.

Like the Nokia N9, there is 2.5D curved glass and the display is like basically glued to the gorilla glass with no air-gap. This is one of the contributions of the great viewing experience, it brings the display closer and as if it’s painted on the glass; when you touch the screen, you can feel the closer distance compared to most other devices, as if you’re touching on the display itself. You’ll have to see and experience it yourself to appreciate it.

Stunning AMOLED Display

Stunning AMOLED Display

The glass is also scratch-resistant glass by Corning, or better known as “Corning® Gorilla® Glass” (which is said to be the same glass used on Helicopter Windscreen).

Corning® Gorilla Glass

Corning® Gorilla Glass

2.5D Curved Glass - Side

2.5D Curved Glass - Side (Close Up)

2.5D Curved Glass - Bottom

2.5D Curved Glass - Bottom (Close Up)

2.5D Curved Glass Overview

What about the feel? You really have to try it yourself, it really feels nice, smooth to touch and very responsive.

Now, what’s important is the impression by people. As I shown to others, all of them were actually impressed by the screen when they first looked at it (regardless of iPhone4S users or Samsung Galaxy S II users), it really makes a difference. This shows and further proves that what’s really important is the look and feel; and yes, most of them did highlight positively on the responsive touch and they really like it.

Finally, just like the Nokia N9, the Nokia Lumia 800 also comes with Anti-Glare polarizer (Nokia's Clear Black Display (CBD)), which helps reducing glare or reflection. This will be useful especially for people who use their phone outdoor (under sunlight) often. According to reviews, the anti-glare polarizer does make a noticeable big difference as both Nokia N9 and Nokia Lumia 800 is claimed to be the least reflective screen so far.

Outdoor (Automatic Brightness) - Evening Sun but still bright ( ISO100, 1/160 @ f/2.2 )
Display facing bright area with reflection, thanks to the polarizer in reducing reflection. 

Outdoor Sample

Outdoor Sample

In comparison with the Nokia N9 display, the Nokia Lumia 800 display is actually dimmer (could be fix/changed in firmware updates? Or they purposely make it dimmer?)

Camera:

8 Megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, large lens aperture of f/2.2 and wide angle lens (28mm equivalent on 35mm format; but in 16:9 mode, it's capable of achieving 26mm equivalent on 35mm format, thanks to the new sensor size; which is why it's actually 8.7MP, it utilizes different imaging area for different format. You can read more about it in Damian Dining site: http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/06/27/damian-dinning-on-nokia-n9-imaging/

Basically, it’s the same camera module as the Nokia N9, but with new chipset which has different image processing.

How does it compare or fares against the Nokia N9? Well, based on a friend who is very skilled in mobile phone photography, he claims that the Nokia Lumia 800 does a lot better. This guy has taken many amazing photos with the Nokia N8, Nokia N9, Nokia Lumia 800 and some other Nokia devices. To be convinced, you must visit his flickr page, and you might not believe it was actually taken with a mobile phone camera. He has also shown it to many people including the key people at Nokia, they’re all very impressed. Seeing is believing (but you might still be skeptical).

JTproductions:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thenokiagallery/sets/72157629369608885/

by JTproductions with Nokia Lumia 800 default camera (untouched with no Editing)


It's even showcased in Nokia Connects website:
http://nokiaconnects.com/2012/03/22/future-tech-mind-photos-the-eyes-have-it/


What do I think? Well, firstly, in terms of camera options, both currently have offered something that another doesn’t.

Nokia Lumia 800 has metering mode adjustment (but lack of exposure lock option).

Nokia N9 (PR1.2 update) has continuous shutter (Burst mode) with limited resolution. These are actually software features; it should be able to add in through software update.

In terms of usage; both are actually easy, nice to use and performs well, but I have to give credit to the Nokia Lumia 800 here as it comes with dedicated shutter key.

Image Quality:

Lighting is the key to photography and plays an important role. For small sensors camera and/or mobile phone camera (which usually has small sensors), light is even more crucial. Without adequate lighting, the camera will need to slow down the shutter speed (risk of blurry image) and/or increase the ISO (more noise, loosing sharpness, muddy image; poor image quality). For mobile phones, there are limited options and capability, such as the minimum shutter speed available, maximum ISO available, and so on.

With that said, with adequate lighting, you can use minimum ISO to get really nice quality image with amazing detail, sharpness and dynamic range; the sensor and Carl Zeiss optics also plays an important role. The large lens aperture (f/2.2) will also help to capture more light and slightly shallower depth of field especially when shooting Macro (or Close Up).

You can view some amazing shots taken with the Nokia Lumia 800 from this guy; he is very skilled and experienced with mobile phone photography as I’ve mentioned and shown earlier.

JTproductions:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thenokiagallery/sets/72157629369608885/

The Nokia N9 comes with “Automatic Motion Blur Reduction” feature to help reduce motion blur issues during image capture. There seems to be no mentioning about this from Nokia Lumia 800 specifications, but I assume it has it since the Nokia N9 has it.

The dual LED flash has been moved to the side of the lens on the Nokia Lumia 800 compared to the Nokia N9, which is on top of the lens.

For the Nokia N9 (assuming it’s the same with Nokia Lumia 800), according to Damian Dining, the LED flash is 20% more powerful than the most powerful LED flash ever use (at least in other Nokia device).

Some people may ask about Xenon Flash, which has more power and reach (shooting distance), thus also better in freezing motion, but LED flash can come in handy as it can be used as a torch light with torch application and also as video light during video recording. So, both has pros and cons.

Nokia N9 - Torch App (OFF)

Nokia N9 - Torch App (ON)

Dual LED Flash as Torch sample from Nokia N9

The camera application provided is decent; I’m still hoping for more controls and features to be offered, such as, lock focus, locking exposure, timer, burst, panorama, as well as HDR. Some of this feature may be available in 3^rd party Camera application, but it will be better to have it in the default camera application.

Built-in Image Editing:

There isn’t really a proper image editor built in; it only has a simple option, Auto-Fix All. As always, the auto option may not work for all photos, and I notice usually it enhance the brightness and/or lower the contrast because even though the photos I took seems to be too bright or not enough contrast, the auto-fix option tend to make it worst by increasing brightness and/or lowering contrast most of the time. There’s no custom options for user, such as manually adjust the brightness and contrast. There isn’t even an option for doing cropping. Microsoft seriously should consider providing at least some basic editing here.

However, exclusive for Nokia Windows Phone device, there’s a very interesting and nice image editing application called ‘Creative Studio’, which the user need to download and install it from Marketplace under ‘Nokia Collections’. This application can also use to capture image with or without effects, and there’s also Panorama mode!

Additional Feature:

The camera also has a unique and nice feature where you can activate the camera when the phone is in sleep mode. First you need to activate it in settings, and when your phone is in sleep mode, press and hold the shutter key. After about 2-3 seconds, the camera will be activated and ready to take a photo. Very convenient and nice feature.

Overall, the camera is nice, smooth, responsive and easy to use, however, I seem to face problem with the auto-focus. It tends to focus on the background if the subject is not big enough to cover the large auto-focus point. This is very annoying as many of my precious shots that managed to capture the moment; I notice it focused on the background instead. It may not be obvious or noticeable by some people as viewing on a small screen may not be obvious especially to untrained eyes. I have further tested and verify this is the problem with the auto-focus.

The Nokia Lumia 800 is capable of capturing videos in HD resolution (720p) up to 30fps with continuous auto-focus. If the hardware and features are similar to the Nokia N9, then it should offer very good and clear sound recording. It comes with Active Noise Cancelling with dedicated mic.

For sample, during Nokia N9 impressions and review, I’ve recorded a video with the Nokia N9 during the launching of Peugeot 508, the moment when the price was announced. The sound is surprisingly very clear although environment back then was quite noisy.

On continuous auto-focus, I notice it’s not working so well, it hunts and it is very slow (took some time to adjust its focusing), so if the subject is moving subject, it may not be able to focus at all. It seems as though the focusing is not responding or there is a problem; many people complaint about it, some suggested a restart on the device, while some recommend closing or switching the auto-focus off and on. Upon further testing, I further verified that the problem is cause by the slow auto-focus. If you point on a static not moving object and wait for a moment, it will successfully auto-focus onto the object, moving away to another object, you need to wait again for the auto-focus to kick in and focus onto the object.

I hope this issue can be resolved by Microsoft soon, hopefully it’s already rectified and resolved in the upcoming firmware update.

There’s also no built-in video editing function; it’ll be nice to at least have some basic function such as, cutting, joining, basic transition and lastly adding text. Since it provide good sharing capability, it’ll be nice to have built-in basic video editing instead of having to transfer to the PC to do the editing and re-transfer back to Zune which might need to go through conversion. If so, one may as well upload directly from the computer instead of using Windows Phone share feature.

The limitation; Similar to Nokia N9, currently it doesn’t seem to have any in camera video stabilization feature (it was available on the Nokia N8). However, there is feature to activate the LED flash for video recording, which was not available on the Nokia N9 (before PR1.2 update).

Peugeot 508 Launch in Malaysia (18th October 2011)

Recorded on Nokia N9 - Check out the clarity of the audio recorded.

Internal Memory (On-board Storage):

Unlike the Nokia N9, the Nokia Lumia 800 only comes with 1 model with internal memory (on-board storage) of 16GB. There’s also NO memory card slot.

This is the internal storage space of the device which allows user to store their files, captured images, etc and also system and application files. But then, I don't think you would be able to store other your personal files, or applications files or use it as storage medium due to the restrictions implemented on Windows Phone; there's no File Manager, you can't access the internal storage. You can only transfer media files via Zune software. Even with Cloud Storage or Email, there're no File Manager or File Browser for Windows Phone, you can only store "specific" media files supported by Windows Phone or rely on apps, such as, Office Mobile to view and edit Office Documents.

No mentioned of USB On-The-Go (OTG) feature, but based on Windows Phone OS current limitations and restrictions, I don’t think this feature is available.

As a plus point of Windows Phone OS, every Windows Live ID will be given FREE 25GB cloud storage for SkyDrive, with a limit of 100MB per file. Basically, this allows you to upload your photos, videos, etc. to SkyDrive with the limitation of 100MB per file, so make sure the video you recorded is within the maximum limit.

Audio:

The audio performance for Nokia Lumia 800 surprisingly seems worst than Nokia N9, if the Nokia N9 itself isn’t already not very good. This could be due to the software/firmware issue, assuming both having the same hardware. Similar to the Nokia N9, it comes with only Mono speaker which is a minus point but I guess due to the body design and limited space, it’s sort of a give and take scenario.

I’ve already rant about the mono VS stereo thing on my Nokia N9 impressions and review, so I’m going to skip it here.

Mono Speaker at bottom

For the audio driver or playback performance, there’s a well-known issue. You can read this from many reviews, it seems to have problem on the lows or bass, like there’s totally no bass; this issue has been addressed and will be fixed in the next firmware update. It’s just surprising that this issue seems to be missed out during their Quality Control (QC)? Regardless, it seems they didn’t release a quick update to fix this issue and users have to wait for the fix which will come along with other updates.

» Click to read about the Malaysia Nokia Lumia launch issue... «

In Malaysia, for the Nokia Lumia launching promotion, the first 100 buyer gets the Nokia Purity headset by Monster for FREE, and for the rest who bought at selected retail outlets will get the In-Ear Monitor (IEM) version instead (while stock last). Now, isn’t this a surprise? There is already problem with the audio quality, thus this will not give a good impression for people who tested it especially during the launching, as attest by one of my friend; He felt there were no lows or bass and thought it’s lacking of an equalizer to fine tune.

In my personal opinion, they should actually rectify this problem sooner and launch a minor update to fix this issue (as I notice in GSMArena’s review, they already notice this problem in early December 2012).

Restrictions & Limitations:

The major drawback of the Windows Phone OS in Audio department (not the fault of the phone here) is the restriction in requirement to transfer via Zune, it will not be convenient to some/many people (even many iPhone user has been complaining about this). That said, there is also restriction on type of supported audio format, which should be automatically handled by Zune (if conversions are required).

VIDEO:

The Nokia Lumia 800 is capable of HD (720p) playback, but there’s nothing much to talk about for video playback here because Microsoft decided to follow Apple’s path in controlling and restricting Video playback capabilities of Windows Phone OS (again, not Nokia nor the phone’s fault).

Whatever video you have, you need to transfer it via Zune which will convert it accordingly to the supported format before transferring to the phone.

Basically, for such limitations and restriction, there isn’t much to talk about. Some people wouldn’t even bother to transfer the videos.

In short, it discourages users and they can’t play non-supported video format shared by others through email, Cloud storage, etc.

GPS:

GPS works pretty good and able to lock on pretty fast. It works well, however, for Nokia Drive, current firmware requires internet to function. This is very weird, but it has been addressed and will be fixed in the next update.

For Nokia’s Windows Phone, the Nokia Drive application is exclusive for Nokia’s Windows Phone. Differentiating from Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive is optimized for in-car navigation and it comes with FREE voice-guided navigation.

Software (Operation System) features:

Despite the simple and plain look and feel of Windows Phone OS like Apple’s iOS, it actually packs some really interesting and nice features, namely, Live Tiles, Social Networking Services (SNS) Integration, Office integration, Voice Commands, Speech-To-Text, Bing search, Bing Vision, and so on; with  Social Networking Services (SNS) Integration  being the most interesting and appealing feature especially to people who loves Social Networking services, such as, Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live, and so on.

Despite many similarities with iOS, such as,the simplicity, limitations, even the restrictions and the reliance on Zune software (iTunes for iOS), these features are what sets Windows Phone apart and giving it the edge.

Live Tiles:

While some smartphone users may not consider it as a true or proper homescreen, it’s still a proper home menu or start screen except it comes with limitations and restrictions. Compared to iOS, there isn’t any homescreen at all, once you unlock the phone in iOS, you are presented to the applications menu; Well, it can’t be blame as it was never actually a smartphone OS to me, it was a media player OS, suited for the iPod Touch. For this, the Windows Phone OS take a lead by having this interesting Live Tiles homescreen.

A way to look at it is, there is at least a proper “home” or Start screen where you can put your shortcuts in the form of Tiles, widget like tiles and it's also animated or provides information and updates. The animation capabilities is as seen on "People" tile, it will constantly changing the photos of your contacts randomly or the "Pictures" tile, which will constantly changing the photo from your Camera Roll. The Calendar tiles will show information, such as, the upcoming events. A "Contact" tile will show animation of the Contact profile picture, name and latest/recent update (if any).

The Live Tiles allows some minor customizations such as re-organizing of the tiles and adding more tiles which is actually shortcut to an application from the applications menu.

Due to the Live Tiles concept and design, wallpaper will not be of use, thus there is no wallpaper (except for lock screen). You can only customize the color of the tiles, limited to one color which will apply to all the tiles.

It’ll be nice to have more customization, like let user create their own custom tiles, and decide what to put in there, such as a background. This shouldn’t be any issue, just a matter of whether Microsoft allows and will implement or not. Perhaps Microsoft can gather ideas from people around.

Some comments I’ve read suggested custom “themes”.

While some may hate this Live Tiles concept, some actually love it a lot and it’s one of the main reasons they bought a Windows Phone.

» Click to read additional note about Live Tiles homescreen... «

The Live Tiles, can actually be achieve in other OS with proper homescreen and customization capability. It can be done using widgets; That said, it can be done better with more customizations and flexibility, depending on the developer for the widget. With flexibility, you can have more possibilities.

Tough it may be nice to customize the homescreen to Live Tiles look and feel, it may not actually be a good idea because widgets consumes resources (memory especially). Anyway, it’s just to note that with flexibility and customization, one can do the same or even better, it depends on individual preferences, some doesn’t need all of this, they just need something simple and straightforward.

Integrated Social Networking Service (e.g. People Hub, Pictures Hub, etc.):

This is a very interesting and nice to have feature, its the integration of social networking services (SNS) into the OS. For Nokia N900 (Maemo5 OS) and Nokia N9 (MeeGo Harmattan OS) users, this feature is nothing new as it’s been implemented on both the OS.

For those who are new to this Social Networking Service (SNS) integration innovation, it’s actually a revolutionary and very interesting innovation first introduced in the Nokia N900 (Maemo5 OS), but sadly, it’s not well known by many as the OS and device itself isn’t popular, thus not much people knows about it and how cool it is. If it were iPhone, I bet it will change everything; as you see, branding and popularity is very important. 

Social Networks has been gaining its popularity and importance for more and more people over the past few years, even more so today. Many people would have a Facebook account, active or not. By making Social Network service (e.g. Facebook) more accessible and convenient, people would be more connected and utilize it more, while for those who are already into social networking service (e.g. Facebook), they will truly appreciate and enjoy this integrated social networking service innovation.

What does it actually do?

For those unfamiliar, basically, on other devices, in order to check your Facebook feeds, or message/chat with someone in Facebook, you will need to have the Facebook application installed. For those OS which supports widgets, there might be a widget that can pull the News Feed from Facebook to view from homescreen without opening the Facebook application. Then if you want to chat with someone on MSN/ Windows Live or Skype, you need to install and run another application which offers this service. In short, you need to install and run multiple application separately, and you have separate contacts to manage, in your phone, and in each application.

With Social Networks integration, these services will be integrated or merged into the OS. In the OS itself, there will be an “accounts” or similar settings which let’s you add whatever social network accounts you have and currently supported by the OS (e.g. Facebook, Windows Live). Once you added, it will synchronize with your social networks account contacts and it will be merged into your phone’s contact book. Thus, now your contact book will contain all the contacts from your social networking service account you have added; it will contain information from their social network’s account.

You can also start an instant messaging (or Chat) with the contact who is online without opening any specific application. The instant messaging service will be integrated into your Conversations/Messaging (e.g. SMS). In Windows Phone OS, there is Group Chat feature available as well.

Although I have mentioned that this service is nothing new and available in Nokia N900 and Nokia N9; however, the implementation of functions and features have their differences, with each having its own pros and cons. I will not go into the details on Maemo5 OS and MeeGo Harmattan OS here. 


Basically, for Windows Phone, it has deep, detailed and very comprehensive integration; in each of your contacts in People Hub, you can view their profile, their latest updates on social networks such as Facebook, you can even view their Pictures and Albums from their social networks directly from your phone without using any application. It’s really amazing, you don’t have to go through the hassle of opening and navigating through Facebook to view all these. What’s more? You can even view comments and LIKE or comment directly; it’s so convenient and easy. This was not available on Maemo5 or MeeGo Harmattan OS, thus, it’s a huge plus point for Windows Phone OS.

In below section, it’s not so much of a review, but a very detail run through on the Social Network Integration feature I mentioned above which is available on Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) OS. You may skip this entire part.

SETTING UP & ME:

Firstly, after you setup your Windows Live account, a new tile will be created in the Live Tiles home screen called “Me”; this is basically your profile or contact information, the primary contact.

This Windows Live account which you first added will be the primary account and cannot be changed unless a reset is done. You can add more Windows Live account but you can’t make them as primary.

When you access the “Me” tile, on the top it will list what accounts you have and there will be 3 views:

1. profile
   Basically, this is your profile view, it will show your profile picture which you can change and suggest where to post to. Beside the profile picture, it will show the latest updates from you from the social networks you have added.
   
   You can also post a message, which you can choose to post to which social network, check-in service and set your chat status.

2. notifications
   This view will show you the notifications from your social networks account you added (e.g. Facebook), you can access the content directly from here, where you can post comment/reply or like. There’s no need to go through any application. Very convenient.

3. what’s new
   This view shows the latest updates posted BY YOU in your social networks account, e.g. what you have posted in Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live, and so on. 
   
   NOTE: It does not show updates from other contacts.
   
   You can also comment or like directly from here. Again, no need to go through any application.

ME - what's new
This View shows all your latest news or updates by YOU from your social network accounts, such as, Windows Live, Facebook, Twitter, and so on.

PEOPLE HUB:

Next, I’ll move on to People Hub. As the name implies, it’s where it contains all the information of the people, which in this case, your contacts. 


Basically, People Hub is your contact or phone or address book, whichever you like to call it, but usually it’s called Contacts in other phones, except for Windows Phone, it’s more than just a Contact Book, it has much more to offer.

People Hub

In this page, you’ll find option for settings, which let’s you filter your contacts list, how you wish to sort and display, use your location and finally, you can also manage your accounts.

The People Hub consists of 3 views:

1. all
   This is like your typical Contacts page in any other device; it will show all your contacts here.
   
   On the top, it will show your profile picture and latest status updates; if you access it, it will bring you to the “Me” page.
   
   Below it, it will show Groups (if you have any).
   
   Finally, it’s the list of all your contacts.
   
   The options available in this view are:
1. add – to create a new contact or group.
2. search – to search for a contact
   Filtering, sorting and display by of contacts can be customize in settings option in this page.

2. what’s new
   This view will show all the latest updates from your social network accounts you have added, such as, Facebook, Windows Live, Twitter.
   The difference from “Me” page is that “Me” page shows ONLY updates posted by you.
   
   Similarly, you can check out the comments, post comments, LIKE, as well as, access the pictures without going through any applications. If it’s a link to a certain websites, it will launch Internet Explorer for you.
   
   You can also filter which social network updates you want to see.
   
   On top, just below “what’s new”, it will show which social network service update it’s currently showing. By default, it’s “all”. You can tap it and filter which updates you would like to see.
   
   For this tab, there is an additional “refresh” option, which allows you to manually invoke a refresh to retrieve all the latest updates.

3. recent
   This is a basic view, which list all your recently access contacts (or people), for quick access to them.

When you access a particular Contact/People page, you can see their name on top followed by what social networks accounts are available. There’re 4 views for this page:

1. profile
   This is the profile of your contact. It will also retrieve profile information from their social network accounts which is made available (e.g. Contacts, Birthday). This can be duplicated as it can be from different social network (e.g. Facebook, Windows Live), but it will show where is the information from at the bottom of each information.
   
   On top, it will show the profile picture retrieved from their social network accounts. You can edit and choose to use profile picture from which social network or customize to use your preferred picture. Choosing from social network, it will change according to their latest profile picture.
   
   Beside the profile picture, it will show their latest status update from their social network account.
   If there is Facebook and their wall post is enabled, there will also be option for “write on wall”.
   
   You can also access text+chat (messaging), which basically already integrated as one; During messaging, you can switch between mobile text (SMS) or Chat (Facebook Chat & Messenger (MSN) – currently supported).
   
   For email information, if you tap on it, it will launch options for using which email account before proceeding to emailing the contact.
   
   Finally, in this view, there’re several options available:

a.    pin

Pin this contact to Live Tiles as a new tile. It’s like shortcut to your favorite contact.

This tile is animated; it will show new updates and messages from this contact.

b.    link

To link or unlink similar contacts (when you add the social network accounts from Windows Live), Windows Phone will try to automatically link these contact for you based on matching criteria (e.g. contact number, email, etc). There will be some contact that the system did not link for you when the criteria don’t match. You can link it yourself, or unlink if there’re any wrongly linked contacts, or you simply wish to separate it for some reason.

c.     edit

To edit a contact information. The primary information like phone number, are all stored in Windows Live. So you will need to choose the option “edit Windows Live”.

NOTE: You cannot edit profile information from other social networks.

You can customize the profile picture to retrieve from which social network or add your own custom photo. If retrieve from social network, it will update according to their latest profile picture.

You can assign ringtone to individual contact.

LIMITATION:
Currently, there is limitation whereby a Contact/People’s Windows Live account can only have 1 mobile number, 2 home numbers, 2 work numbers, 1 company number, 1 pager number, 1 home fax number and 1 work fax number. It seems it’s not designed with flexibility in mind.

HOWEVER, I found a workaround for this. You can have more than 1 Windows Live account for the particular contact/people, thus you can have another mobile number added.

Example: Create another Contact/People, which will have a Windows Live account; now you can add in a mobile number, then you can LINK it with the related contact/people and now you have more than 1 mobile numbers per contact/people.

d.    delete

If you wish to delete this contact from your phone and your Windows Live contacts.

NOTE: You can also manage these contacts from your Hotmail.

2. what’s new
   This view shows all the latest updates from this particular account’s social network, such as Windows Live, Facebook, Twitter, and so on.
   
   Unfortunately, there is no filter option here to filter updates from which social network.

3. pictures
   This is an interesting view, it will retrieve all the albums and picture from this particular contact’s social network accounts that is set visible. This is simply amazing. No longer have you had to go through the hassle of opening the application or website (e.g. Facebook) and going through several pages of navigation just to get to the albums or particular picture.
   
   With this integration, it’s very convenient and it actually loads very fast. You can view each photo, including its description and comments. You can also comment on the photo, like it, or view or tag someone. Just how cool is that? When you tag someone, there is also face recognition feature where it will automatically tag the faces in the picture so you just need to proceed with the next step in who to tag.
   
   Finally, the best yet, once you access the albums, it will cache (store) the albums thumbnails into the phone, and if you access an album, it will cache (store) all the thumbnails of the photos from album into the phone. For photos which you have viewed, it will also be cached (stored) into the phone. So, you can view it even when you go offline. It’s just so cool!
   
   Zooming in and out on a photo is very smooth with no lag or delay and the quality is still there. It’s such a pleasant experience.
   Additionally, there are options when you view each picture. You can save it to phone, use as wallpaper and add or view tags.

Accessing "Pictures" from a specific Contact will retrieve all the visible albums from this Contact's Social Network accounts (e.g. Facebook, Windows Live).

4. history
   Basically this view stores all the recent conversations or calls between you and your contacts. The contacts is represented in Tiles (animated).

GROUP:
There’s also Group feature, which allows grouping of your contacts/people. This is indeed a great feature which I personally really like as it’s available on Symbian OS. With Group feature, you can send SMS/Chat/Email to groups easily.

You can pin the group to the home screen as a means of shortcut. It will be represented as animated Tile which will show new updates and messages from this Group.

Basically, in group page, you also have few views, but mostly similar with contacts view:

1. group
   This view shows all the contacts in this group, each represented in a tile. Clicking each contact’s tile will bring you to the particular contact’s page.
   
   Just below it, you can text and/or send email to contacts in the group which have the mobile number for text or email address for emails.

2. what’s new
   This will show all the social network updates of the contacts in the group.

3. pictures
   In this tab, you have album tile which contains ALL the complied pictures from everyone in this group.
   
   Just below it, you can individually access to each contact’s specific albums and pictures by clicking on the contact’s specific tile.

This feature is nice and convenient where you can specifically view updates and pictures from specific group instead of viewing updates from all contacts or accessing each person’s update from the group.


NOTE: You can assign a contact to more than 1 Group.

One missing feature I notice in comparison with Symbian OS Group feature is the ability to assign ringtone to a particular group. This is nice feature as you can assign ringtone to everyone in the group easily.

Although there might be conflicts if the contact is in more than 1 group, but it can be done similar as Symbian OS Group implementation; it will apply the latest ringtone assigned.

NOTE: Social Network feeds are downloaded and stored into the phone, thus, you can view it even if you go offline.

Group View - Main

Group - Pictures

MESSAGING:

With social networks integration, you no longer have to rely on specific application for instant messaging or Chat. It’s integrated into messaging, where you usually use for Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Multimedia Message (MMS). Now you can chat with the people on the supported social networks with chat feature, such as Windows Live and Facebook.

Messages are organized into threads, which is basically a “Conversation”. Within this conversation, you can easily switch to Text or Chat; text meaning your usual SMS or text message using your carrier’s network.

For texting, there is Group text support, which you need to turn it on manually.

“Speech To Text” feature is available in messaging, and it works for both text and chat. Nice~

Messaging Thread (Conversation)

As of current version, Skype is not integrated and there is actually a Skype application in development. It will be more preferable if Skype is integrated as well, just like in Maemo5 and MeeGo Harmattan OS.

It will also be nice to see more integration services, such as, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, and so on.

Without such service integrated, users will have to rely on the app, to open it everytime and leave it running in the background. This also means, user can now multi-task with less application since there is a limit of how many applications is allowed.

PICTURE HUB:

If you access Pictures tile in the Live Tiles homescreen, you will have 3 view:

1. no title (or main)
   This view provides the grouping or category of the pictures available in the phone.

1. camera roll
   Shows all the pictures and videos captured with the phone camera.

2. albums
   Shows all the photo albums in “tiles”.

i.                  Camera Roll

ii.                Saved Pictures

iii.              7

Basically these are the default pictures provided together with the phone.

iv.              Albums from your Social Network accounts, such as, Windows Live, Facebook and so on.

3. date
   Group all pictures available in your phone by date (Month-Year format grouping; Example: March, 2012)

4. people
   This view show pictures from people/contacts, displayed in “tiles”.
   The first tile will be the pictures of the owner “Photos of Me”. (e.g. Photos of you from Facebook which you've been tagged.)
   
   Next tiles will be the Group tile, such as, Family Group.
   
   Finally, the last tile will be the people/contact’s tile. For those you have viewed before, it will automatically be shown here. If not, at the very bottom, you can manually choose a contact whose pictures you wish to be shown here, where you can easily follow-up on their latest photo updates.

2. favourites
   This is where you add pictures that are special to you and let Windows Phone use these pictures to personalize your phone.
   
   There’s a link on this view, which will open up Internet Explorer to show you how it works.
   
   Basically, in this view, you have options to:

1. choose background
   Choose a photo which you like, it may require cropping. After it’s done, Windows Phone will try to personalize your phone with this picture.

2. shuffle background
   This will shuffle the current background picture.

3. settings
   Basically this is the pictures+camera settings, which you can also access from settings.

3. what’s new
   This view shows the latest updates with picture from your social networks, such as, Windows Live, Facebook, and so on.
   
   This means, you will only see those feeds/posts which contains picture. A neat feature, especially when you want to filter and only see those feeds/posts with pictures only.

Picture Hub - People

Picture Hub - Albums

Pictures Hub - what's new
Showing all news or updates with Pictures only.

For those photos from Social Networks, you’ll be able to view comments, view tags, add your comment, likes it and also tag someone. For those albums which you have access before, all the thumbnails of the photos in the particular album will also be cached (stored) into the phone, similarly if you view a photo, the photos and its details will also be cached (stored) into the phone. You will be able to view these anytime when you’re not connected to the internet. Isn’t it amazing?

Finally, there is also the “Share” options which allows you to easily share and upload photos or videos to the supported Social Networking service which you have added, such as, Facebook, Windows Live, SkyDrive, and so on. There is also “quick-share” option which you can assign to your preferred account such as SkyDrive, Facebook or Twitter. Basically, it provides quicker sharing ability with fewer steps involved.

For SkyDrive, you can turn on automatic upload which will upload your pictures automatically to SkyDrive. Since the device doesn’t have external storage support and takes time to manually upload each file to SkyDrive, not to mention it’s limited to 5 uploads at a time, this automatic upload feature will be a nice feature to have. Tough, it also means you need to have internet connection available and if you’re on data plan, you need to make sure your data plan can cover it.

CALENDAR:

The Calendar is also sync with your social networks accounts Calendar. If someone created an event in Facebook and invited you, the event will also show up in the Calendar in your phone.

Calendar Event From Facebook

Calendar Event From Facebook - Detail

VERDICT ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SERVICES (SNS) INTEGRATION:

These integrated features are something that you must see and experience yourself to appreciate. It’s a really nice to have, convenient and neat feature. Even if someone who seldom use Facebook, with such convenient and neat feature, they can easily see the updates and feeds which will help them in keeping up to date; and unlike those applications, which whenever you access them it will need internet connection to get the latest feeds, Windows Phone cache (store) those feeds and photos into the phone so you can view them anytime even without internet connection, and there's no need to open any application(s). All these convenient and nice features really gives a nice pleasant experience and helps you keep up to date easily.


Usually,  for a person whom previously seldom checks Facebook because he/she needs to access the application, doesn’t have data plan and have limited access to Wi-Fi, with these integrated features though, they can still check updates anytime because the feeds are stored into the phone for offline viewing. This will in turn help them keep up-to-date easily because they will be able to read it when they're FREE and there's no Internet connection available.

LIMITATIONS:

As with all functions and features, things are usually not always perfect; that’s where we users provide our feedback, suggestion and ideas to improve it.

1. Limited and very simple share option.
   Facebook share will be uploaded to “mobile upload” album ONLY and with NO other options.
   
   In Maemo and MeeGo Harmattan OS, you can choose to upload to other albums (including “Wall Photos” in Maemo OS; thus, you don’t have to access Facebook through browser to share any photo which you want to share your Wall). In MeeGo Harmattan OS, you can also create album and set privacy (only Private or Public tough) from the Share options itself. We can also choose the image size from
   default service resolution/size, small up to Original resolution/size, there’s tags, metadata removal and finally in MeeGo Harmattan OS PR1.2, there is Face-Tag recognition.
   In MeeGo Harmattan OS, there's share service for flickr as well, and you can create “Set” as well as settings privacy option for individual photo.
   
   I would love these nice features to be implemented on Windows Phone OS, and make it better too, such as, allow setting album and photo privacy option in detail (e.g. Private, Friends, Friend of Friends, Public), re-organize pictures in Album, editing the Album such as settings the Album cover and so on.

Amazing Share or Upload Options From MeeGo Harmattan OS on Nokia N9.
You can choose album (or create one and set the privacy), choose Image Size, Metadata preservation, and Face Tag Recognition.

2. No Skype, Google Talk and some other services integrated.
   It was available on Maemo5 and MeeGo Harmattan OS.
   
   Skype application was under development, but it will be better to be integrated into Messaging, thus, user doesn’t have to rely on the app and leave it running. Running an application means user have less application to multi-task because of the limited amount of applications allowed for multi-tasking.

3. Only 1 mobile number, 2 home numbers, 2 work numbers, 1 company number, 1 pager number, 1 home fax number and 1 work fax number is supported for each Contact/People (Windows Live Account in particular).
   
   This is a very weird limitation. I’m not sure if Microsoft actually overlook it, but it’s really weird considering it’s been so long and with the update of Windows phone 7.5 Mango, this limitation is still there.
   
   If somehow this is intended, then it will be considered a restriction instead, but I refused to believe this as there’re no valid reasons for this and it’s not the right way, how can you expect someone to only have 1 mobile number?
   
   But if this is a limitation, I still don’t understand and cannot believe it was overlook by Microsoft, the software giant, which provides development tools, database management softwares, database design tutorials (will also covered flexible contacts management) and finally, the company which was once famous for Windows Mobile OS.
   
   In short, they’re not a new or fresh software company and definitely not new in mobile industry. I honestly don’t get this.
   What’s worst; looking at how they label each phone numbers type, like Home1, Home2; It seems as though they didn’t design the database for  flexible contacts which let’s the user to add as many contact type as they want. If what I suspect of their design is true, it seems they have FIXED number of contact number for each contact type. In order to allow more, they will need to provide software update EVERY SINGLE TIME. As a software primarily for contacts, it should not be design this way, this is really weird and unbelievable to me.
   
   WORKAROUND: I found a workaround for this. You can actually have more than 1 Windows Live account for a particular Contact/People, thus, now you can have another mobile number added. 
   Example: Create another contact/people, which will have a Windows Live account; now you can add in a mobile number, then you can LINK it with the related contact/people and you will now have more than 1 mobile numbers per contact/people.
   NOTE: You cannot add additional Windows Live account to the particular contact/people, so you have to create a separate Contact/People, which will have a new Windows Live account, and then you LINK them together. Now a Contact/People will have 2 Windows Live account.

4. Primary Windows Live ID cannot be change unless you do a hard reset.
   This can be quite inconvenient, but not really a big issue; however, it will be nice if we have to option easily switch the primary Windows Live ID.

CLOSURE (FINALLY):
I guess that’s all to it and I think I covered in very detail on each feature almost like a User Manual, =P; but I hope it will be beneficial for those who doesn’t own a Windows Phone and have no idea about this Social Networking Services integration features and benefit. They may have heard about how great is the feature from words or mouth or through other review, but it may not have been covered in detail or the reader may not know in details what it actually do and how they can benefit from it.

In fact, actually, for those who are really interested and want to see a more clear, straightforward and short explanation, they can actually refer directly on the Windows Phone How-To available online:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/howto/wp7/people/people-hub.aspx

As for my part, it may not be interesting or easily understood with words sometimes, and most of the time people prefer to see pictures and the best yet, videos. Well, yes, I've actually made a video for this, it's quite lengthy but there's actually a lot of show. I've squeezed it to 15 minutes and I did miss out some of the things tough:

Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) - Multi-Tasking in Detail With Nokia Lumia 800

MULTI-TASKING:

Multi-tasking in Windows Phone is introduced in the 7.5 (Mango) update, but it comes with some limitation.

1. Limited to 5 applications (Live Tiles Homescreen is not included)
2. No true Multi-tasking for third party applications but they can have “enhanced” multi-tasking feature.

Basically, it’s very similar to Apple’s iOS implementation of multi-tasking.

To have “enhanced” multi-tasking, applications are allowed to implement several features that are allowed to continue to run in the background such as,

1. Background Music
2. Background File Transfer
3. Scheduled Task
4. Scheduled Notifications
5. Fast-Application Switching – handling applications state and Idling detection.

For background task feature, it seems user can decide whether these background tasks are allowed to continue its task in the background through background task in settings.

Personally, I have no experience nor am I a developer for Windows Phone, so I’m not sure of the details of the workings above, basically, there some features that are allowed to continue to run in the background but it will need to be implemented and handled by the developer with caution.

By default, there’re few applications which supports true multi-tasking or have services that runs in the background, such as Maps, Nokia Drive, Music, Telephony, Messaging, and so on. These are the usual applications that should have true multi-tasking capabilities.
Aside from that, the default web browser, Internet Explorer, seems to have true multi-tasking or services that continues to run in background where the web browser continue to load in the background even after you deactivate it and using other application. However, after it finish loading, it doesn’t seem to be running like how the web browser in Nokia N9 functions, where it seems to be in sleep or deactivated state right after it finish loading the page. Comparing with web browser in Nokia N9, which supports true multi-tasking, leaving the web browser running will continue to consume resources and power and eventually drain the battery.

Although Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango) only allows multi-tasking up to a limit of 5 applications (including games), it’s actually enough for most people. From my personal point of view, having a limit is OK; it’s more important how these are handled.

What do I mean by that? Well, even though you’re allowed to open up to 5 applications, those applications that are not in use a put away in dormant state (sleeping, inactive), so, when you run a game or applications that requires more memory, those dormant state application(s) will be terminated and tombstoned to free up memory. Thus, even if you’re allowed to open up to 5 applications, it depends on the available memory. Having said this, for Windows Phone with 256MB Ram, those dormant state applications will be more likely to be terminated and tombstoned.

So, what’s the problem with that? Well, it’s actually good as the OS managed well on the memory to ensure the stability and performance of the OS, but the problem comes when you find your applications/games missing from the multi-tasking window. For user who didn’t know about how Windows Phone OS handled this, they will be wondering what’s wrong. For those that know and/or understand, it also depends on situation. Imagine if the applications being terminated and tombstone is a document you’ve been working on and have not save the latest changes or a game played half-way and have not save it yet.

In my personal opinion, it will be better for the OS to ask the user first.

Then again, someone may say that it’s annoying if being asked all the time. Well, the beauty of software is, it’s flexible, we can make an option in settings; For those that prefers the OS to decide and auto-close for them, they can set it to auto. For those that prefers to have more control, can choose to set it as “always ask”. By default, it can ask for the first time with option like don’t ask again, or just put in on auto by default (based on the recommended settings during initial set-up).

Multi-Tasking Window or View

So, Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango) multi-tasking feature only allow up to 5 applications. What if the user opens the 6^th application?

Basically, from what I was informed, FIFO (First In First Out) concept is applied; if you try to open another application after there’s already 5 applications opened, it will close the first (or oldest) application.

It looks simple right? BUT, it was NOT exactly the case. IF you access or activate any application, this application will be moved to the back (becomes the last) of the multi-tasking window list as the LATEST or LAST accessed application. So, what happens if you open the 6^th application now? The FIRST application in multi-tasking window list will be close instead.

How do you know which is the FIRST application? Basically, you count from the 1^st application from the LEFT. If there are 5 applications, and you activate or access the FIRST application, it will be moved to the LAST position and become the LAST application.

Confusing? Basically, just remember that in your multi-tasking window, the FIRST application you see FROM THE LEFT will be the first to be closed by the OS.

If above isn’t confusing enough for some people, it can get even more confusing when I include below Internet Explorer tabs.

Despite having a limit of 5 application limit, it doesn’t SEEM to include the sub-application or additional tabs within an application, OR DOES IT?

For Example: Internet Explorer allows you to open multiple tabs. These tabs in Internet Explorer doesn’t SEEMS to count into the 5 application limit, regardless if you have 1 tab or 6 tab.

So, you can have 5 applications open in multi-tasking window, with 1 of it being Internet Explorer with 6 tabs open. It SEEMS like the IE tabs isn’t part of the 5 application limit right?

Wrong! In fact, notice that when you’re using the IE, you’re viewing a SINGLE tab. If you switch to another tab when you already have 5 applications running, the new tab will occupy as 1 application in multi-tasking window, and thus closing the least accessed application (FIRST application in Multi-Tasking Windows); you will now have 2 Internet Explorer in Multi-Tasking Windows.

In short, each tab in Internet Explorer can become or calculated as 1 application IF it was being ACTIVATED or ACCESSED. But, if you leave it in the tabs window, it will be in DEACTIVATED or SLEEP state.

If you open more than 5 applications again, the Internet Explorer tabs will be closed or put away from the multi-tasking view, but you can still see them in the Internet Explorer tabs window.
Confusing as it may sound, when you actually hands on and experience how this works, you may have a clearer picture. For the convenience, I’ve provided a sample video on this at the end of this Multi-Tasking topic.

Similar like how Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) OS controlling the limit of applications for multi-tasking, there is also a limit of how many tabs you can open in Internet Explorer, which is 6. When you’re at the limit of 6 tabs, it will not allow user to add new tab (button disabled), but you can still open link in new tab which will result in the first or oldest tab being closed. Again, this is similar like how the OS determine which application to be close, the first (if you have not access/activate any other) OR oldest tab (which you least access), will be close first if you open the 7^th tab. The problem here is, when you access/activate any tab, it will not move the tab to the to the last position; which is normal, the tab should remain where they are. Thus, you may now know the ordering of the tab which was least accessed and when you open the 7^th tab, you may notice one of the tab missing as it was closed.

To make it more confusing, although you’re limited to 5 applications open in multi-tasking view, it can actually preserve more than the current 5 application state. Confusing? Well, I myself are not too sure myself on how this works, but for those application that were put away or seems closed by the OS when you open more than 5 applications, these applications state are still preserved albeit no longer showing in multi-tasking window.

What do I mean? Let’s say if you’re editing a word document half way, then you open other applications which result in your word document being put away or close by the OS; which also means, you can no longer see it in multi-tasking view. So, if the OS only allow 5 applications to be open, and the rest will be closed, we would assume that the “close” will mean everything is lost, right? BUT, if you try to re-open the word document again, you’ll be surprised that it’s still there where you left it. So, it was not really completely terminated, but its state was saved just like how iOS works? Does it mean, you can preserve more than 5 application state? If yes, then it’s basically no different with iOS which allows saving state of many applications; except that Windows Phone OS have 5 applications limit which will show up in multi-tasking view. This behavior is also application dependent, which means, the developer need to handle the behavior of their application for these conditions.

The questions now are, what is the limit and when or how will the application actually be terminated later? I would assume (based on some information from Microsoft sites), if more memory is required, then Windows Phone OS will terminate the application permanently to free up memory. If this is true, a device with more memory (RAM) will be better (assuming the state is stored in RAM instead of virtual memory); but, I believe its also application dependent, the state should be able to be written into permanent storage, which the application can load back when it’s being restarted again.

Another question is, what are the differences with the applications that are open and showing in multi-tasking window compared to the applications that were put away from the multi-tasking windows, but still preserving its state? Honestly, I’m not sure, but I suppose the application that is showing in multi-tasking window can continue their background task and have higher priority from being terminated when the OS decides to permanently terminate application to free up memory.

You will also notice the Internet Explorer tabs having this state saving function as well; when it was deactivated, the tabs and its content are still preserved. Even after you open many applications, when you activate or access the preserved Internet Explorer tab, the content is still available for offline viewing (without Internet Connection).

I’m not sure on how long will the state be preserved, and how will it be permanently terminated; I would assume when the device needs more memory, it would terminate it, unless maybe it’s utilizing virtual memory (if there is any) to do it. BUT, if you restart your device, then SOME these preserved states will be permanently gone, meaning the content is gone, but you can still see the list of tab, the web address and thumbnails.

Example: After your restart the device, if you open Internet Explorer, the tabs will still be there with the thumbnails. It looks as tough the content is still available, but if you try to activate or access the tab, it will try to get the content of the page, which will require internet connection. I believe this state is written into permanent storage.

In fact, basing on this, it means the same can be done for Office documents, as example, when the application is closed or put away by the OS, it can keep the state in permanent storage and/or save the document as temporary file if user hasn’t save the document; thus, even after user restart the device, they will be able to get back the their documents just like how it was left before.

The limitation imposed on how many applications or Internet Explorer tabs are allowed is for better resource management so there is enough memory, which in turn contributes to the reliability, stability and smoothness of the OS. This is also why, they don’t require high amount of RAM. With good control and strict requirements, you can have better assurance that your OS will perform well on various devices that meets to the specifications.

Lastly, the problem of how the OS managed multi-tasking and closing of applications as what I’ve mentioned above is, the OS will auto handles and decides to close for you without having any option to user. For me, it like it has no manners, hehe =P

Personally, I hope Microsoft will consider the option I’ve mentioned above. It’ll give better experience to users who wish to be able to decide on the preference how the OS handle the closing of the applications, instead of seeing their application missing from the multi-tasking view and/or possibility of loosing their work completely.

I would also prefer a better view for multi-tasking or Fast-App switching. The current view on Windows Phone isn’t really nice and easy to use. It’ll be nice if we can see an overview of all the applications, just like how Internet Explorer showing the tabs; which is also how MeeGo Harmattan implemented its multi-tasking view. In MeeGo Harmattan, it can be further customize to show more or less application in single view and have the option to close all, which is really convenient. For Windows Phone, if you want to close everything, you need to hit the BACK button several times and when you’re in Internet Explorer tab, the BACK button also functions as BACK function in the browser, thus it will first go back to previous page until the first page before closing it.

Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) - Social Networking Service (SNS) in Detail With Nokia Lumia 800

Office Hub:

Another interesting feature of Windows Phone is the availability of powerful mobile version of mobile Microsoft Office applications, which includes Word, Excel and Power Point.  In Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango), it provides full integration between Desktop and Mobile applications through Office 365. Document edited can be uploaded to Office 365 server (or SkyDrive) and modification can be automatically synced.

This feature will please mostly to those who needs Office applications on their mobile, even more with its full integration through Office 365, useful for those on-the-goes and needs their document accessible everywhere including making last minute changes easily.

The Excel mobile application is really comprehensive, it supports formulas, even Charts.

Word mobile is pretty basic and straightforward and seems to have limited choice of formatting as of current version.

PowerPoint mobile is also very basic and straightforward. It basically let’s you create and edit a basic presentation slides and the features available currently is very basic, but it gets the job done.

Office Mobile Notes

Office Mobile Documents

Excel Mobile - Sample Charts

Excel Mobile - Formulas

Bing Vision:

One of the 3 primary controls or buttons on Windows Phone is the Search button which will launch Bing search. One of the unique and interesting features in Bing is the Bing Vision.

Mr. Bing - Hit The "Search" button to meet Mr. Bing

Unlike other platforms, you need specific application to scan QR codes, barcodes, and so on. For Windows Phone, you have this provided to you through Bing Vision, which is great.

Bing Vision allows user to detect product information from QR codes, Microsoft Tags, scans barcodes and even book, movie and album covers. It can also provide local availability and cost comparison information on goods so people can quickly purchase items of interest while on the go; but this service will be depend on country, where it’s available.

Basically it works by utilizing the Camera. For Android users, it’s like Google Goggles applications, except you can’t take a picture, only scan visual codes, including book, movie and album covers. The advantage is, it’s much more responsive because you don’t have to take a picture and wait for it to process, it works while you’re scanning, just like a real bar code scanner.

Aside from that, there’s one more very interesting feature, it can identify and translate text in real-time. You can scan any text from a newspaper, from a product box, from a plastic bag, as long as it’s text and recognizable or detectable by the phone, it will recognize and highlight the available text, which you can then hit translate to translate. This is a very amazing and useful feature.

However like many languages, direct translation may not give the correct meaning, but it will still be useful especially when you need to know roughly or some important information from say, a product you bought or planning to purchase.

All these features rely on Internet or Data Connection; obviously, as it will need to get the data from somewhere.

Web Browser:

The web browser is no stranger to most people, especially Desktop Windows user, unless the person has never seen or uses one and has been using Google Chrome web browser since the beginning? Hehe.

It’s the infamous Internet Explorer web browser. For those who has been disappointed by the Internet Explorer, do note that it’s has much improve from its predecessor, and in Windows Phone, you’ll notice immediately how fast and smooth it is.

Internet Explorer Mobile - Tabs View

If you visit HTML5 Test site, it may not have good score, but in terms of usage, it’s one of the best “performing” mobile web browser. Best in terms of smoothness, speed, reliability and stability.

Flash is not supported, although before this, I do remember before this, there is plans for Full Flash for many smartphone OS, but seems it’s been dropped and never make it to other smartphone OS except Android and Maemo5, which already have it before the plan.

Applications:

In this part, I’ll write about some specific applications.


First and foremost, for Nokia Lumia (Windows Phone) devices, there're interesting and useful applications provided by Nokia in the market under "Nokia Collections". These are specifically for Nokia's version of Windows Phone only.

Nokia Collection Applications - Specifically for Nokia's version of Windows Phone only.

Contacts Transfer:

This application is specifically for Nokia’s version of Windows Phone only.

Basically, it’s to provide ease of contacts transfer via Bluetooth from various devices from other platform to Windows Phone. You can transfer contacts easily from other popular platforms such as iPhone, Android, Symbian, etc.

This is a really convenient and useful feature. Many people may usually face problems or issue trying to get their contacts transferred when they change platform. Fortunately, Nokia has taken the initiative to develop such useful and convenient application.

It’s not perfect tough, firstly, not all platforms are supported, secondly the incompatible format or contact detail may not be transferred and finally there’s limitation in Windows Phone contact in terms of contact number support.

For Windows Phone contact, each contact information are stored in a Windows Live account, and each Windows Live account only allow 1 mobile number, 2 home numbers, 2 work numbers, 1 company number, 1 pager number, 1 home fax number and 1 work fax number. I’ve mentioned about this limitation earlier. In short, if your contact from another device has 2 mobile numbers, only one of the mobile numbers will be transferred; unless you have separated them as 2 contacts.

Nokia Drive:

This application is also specifically for Nokia’s version of Windows Phone only.

For those that have been using Nokia Symbian devices or MeeGo devices, this application is no stranger. The map features is pretty good, with few choices of viewing available, but personally, in regard of the map and direction-finding, I find it not as good as Papago and Garmin, but it does gets the job done.

In terms of the performance, it’s pretty good and stable. I can’t really comment much on the details as I hardly use it, but it’s handy when you don’t have other GPS device available.

The current version requires internet to function. This is very weird, but it has been addressed and will be fixed in the next update.

Landmarks OFF

Landmarks ON

Night Mode - Landmarks OFF

Night Mode - Landmarks ON

Creative Studio:

This is a Nokia Windows Phone exclusive application, it’s an image editing application, allow you to capture image with or without effects, and there’s Panorama mode! Best of all, it’s FREE!

Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango) doesn’t come with built-in image editor, not even a basic one. It only has one option which is “auto-fix all” and I find it useless most of the time. It would be nice to at least have a basic editing option like brightness and contrast adjustment, and so on. For Nokia users (especially Symbian), we’re used to having such options available built-in by default. Nokia providing this application and for FREE is very thoughtful of them, appreciated this very much!

Create Studio by Nokia

For the Creative Studio application, it provides features such as applying effects onto available images in your phone or newly captured image. There’s also effects capture option, meaning you choose an effect and you can see it while you’re capturing a photo.

The available effect for capture are like those various face warps effect, and life styles effect such as, sketch, night vision, cartoon, dreamy, color and silkscreen. On some other platform, you need to purchase a specific application, just to achieve one of the effects like sketch or cartoon. So, Nokia providing all these effect and for FREE is a benefit for Nokia owners.

Face Warps Options

Life Style Effects Options

For editing, you can apply various effects, such as, dreamy, freaky, back to 76’, summer evening, flawless skin, silkscreen, watercolor, cartoon, sketch and finally, auto-enhance.

Besides these effects, you can manually apply specific adjustment to the image, such as, cropping, rotate, contrast, sharpness, color, color boost, and exposure.

Overall, I’m satisfied with the available editing options but I would like to see White Balance or Temperature adjustment option and also Fill light option added to this application; The White Balance option will help to fix or correct White Balance issue on image which is quite common and the Fill Light can help to brighten the dark/shadow areas without really affecting the highlights.

Effects Options

Adjustments Options

Finally, the Panorama mode; it’s a really nice to have feature, very useful when you need to capture landscapes or something wide (e.g. rows of cars gathering, large groups, sceneries, entire ballroom scene, all in 1 panorama photo. Without this mode, you will need to capture multiples mages and use some software to stitch them into one panorama image, OR though cropping a photo (reducing the height drastically). I’ve used third party Panorama application on Nokia N900 and Nokia N8 before and it works great, especially on Nokia N8. It was able to stitch very well even thought it take few tries during capture which I thought would not turn out good, but surprisingly, it looks great.
For this version, Creative Studio Panorama function, the capture process is faster and easier than those 3rd party I've tired before on Nokia N900 and Nokia N8, but end results the 3rd party seems does a better job despite it takes longer to process and harder to capture each shot correctly.

Facebook:

The Facebook application is developed by Microsoft and it adapts the similar panorama page experience. Overall, it’s pretty good and comprehensive but still lacking some functions and features available on Facebook, such as, it doesn’t seems to support timeline, and I think you can’t manage your Pages or Group, or as admins, but it deserves a Credit since it’s developed by Microsoft and it is pretty comprehensive. It’ll be nice if they offer more functions and features, like management of Pages and Groups, organizing photos in albums, and so on.

In terms of design, it looks very similar to what has been integrated into the OS itself except it allows access to Groups, Pages, Notes, and other features of Facebook.

In terms of performance, it works very well and smooth; a pleasant to use. There’s some occasional lag but that’s primarily due to the application trying to retrieve or retrieve the latest update.

Facebook Application
by Microsoft Corporations

Facebook Application
by Microsoft Corporations 

Verdict:

Overall, for the Nokia Lumia 800, the device itself is desirable; the design is elegant, simple and beautiful just like the Nokia N9. With the stunning display and polycarbonate unpainted “matte” body look which feels nice and smooth to touch, it’s nice to look at and feels good in the hand.

The Operating System powering the device however, can make or break the deal depending on people can live with and accept the limitations and restrictions. Some people may be able to accept it at first, but can they live with it or how long, that is the question. People may take the plunge and tries to live with the limitations and restrictions, but they may eventually get enough of it and give it up.

What’s really interesting on the Operating System is the Social Networking Services (SNS) integration. It will really please those who are really into Social Networking like Facebook, it will help keep them up to date easily, it’s so easy and convenient, a very pleasant experience. For those that seldom use Social Networking services, such as, Facebook, due to they feel inconvenient having to access and checking from the Facebook application or the need to go to their computer to log into Facebook, this phone will actually help them to get more up to date as it’s much more convenient with everything integrated. What’s more, with the content available offline, they can read it when they’re free even when there’s no internet connection available.

For people who need to use Office applications, will be please with the provided Office Mobile application and also the integration through Office 365.

Other major strengths of Windows Phone OS are the smoothness, stability and reliability. The common problems with most smartphones in the market are the poor response and lack of stability and reliability, and for most general users, they need a responsive, stable and reliable phone that will operate smoothly. This is where Windows Phone will provide this experience; it will really please and give an amazing experience to people who have been suffering and annoyed with the response, reliability and stability of their previous and current smartphones.

There’re some other nice features of the OS, which may interest different people, but as I’ve mentioned above, there’re restrictions and limitations which can make or break the deal; and the awkward thing is, these restrictions and limitations can be easily resolved IF, only IF, the decision maker of Windows Phone willing listen to their customers, see through the importance of it, and how it will affect people’s everyday experience. Isn’t Windows Phone supposed to put Peoples First? 
If this is true, they should consider about the users, those restrictions and limitations are unreasonable, it was uncommon for smartphones. 


Bluetooth File transfer is a very common feature, even on non-smart phones, and which “true” smartphones have reliance on a media transfer software (e.g. Zune or iTunes)? Why is there no File Manager for us to organize our documents and files? Where is the external storage? Why can’t we access the storage from our computer? All these are so uncommon for a smartphone device, even some media players allows us to do some of these.

For this, I strongly hope Microsoft will put into serious consideration on removing those restrictions and limitations, and at the same time, Nokia will try to push Microsoft on these issues. Moreover, current Nokia customers have never live in such restrictions and limitations, and most likely they don’t want to, else, they could’ve switch over to iPhone.

Nonetheless, for those that can live with and accept these limitations and restrictions, they will find Windows Phone OS pleasant to use, stable, smooth and reliable. They will also appreciate the deep and comprehensive Social Networking Service (SNS) integration, especially those that uses Social Networks like Facebook a lot. For people who use Office, they will appreciate the Office integration available on the device. The panorama page concept will also please many people and gives a new and pleasant experience, it’s much easier to navigate and use each application this way, and it’s also better presented.

Windows Phone OS have great potential, but the limitations and restrictions can be one of the major deal breakers that may turn away many potential Customers, more importantly, current Nokia users, especially those that has been loyal to Nokia over the years. There are no such restrictions and limitation in Nokia phones before and the users may not be able to accept or live with these restrictions and limitations. Besides, with such tight competition, how will Nokia and Microsoft planning to compete with the market if they’re not looking into gaining more customers and fulfilling customer’s needs and demands?

It’s an important turning point right now, especially when current Nokia Symbian users who wish to change their device and choosing between Android, iOS and Windows Phone. Which will they choose and why? The restrictions and limitations on Windows Phone may just be the deal breaker or reason for many of these potential customers to drop it out of their list.

Is this what Nokia and Microsoft wants? I believe any company would want to get more customers and fulfill their demands and needs.

If they don’t act fast, when these user switch to another platform, and start venturing, exploring, setting up their contacts, and settled down, it will not be an easy task to win back these customers later. Moreover, if these customers INVEST into those platforms (Android or iOS) and purchased many applications and games, it’ll be even harder to get back these customers later. Hence, in my personal opinion, it is very important right now for Nokia to take action and liaise with Microsoft and for Microsoft to acknowledge this and hopefully remove these limitations and restrictions that could potentially affect the decision of people who are potentially and seriously considering Windows Phone OS.

It’s supposed to be a smartphone, make it like one.

Finally, here’s the summary on list of advantages and disadvantages of Nokia Lumia 800. It’s my personal take and I may not have list down everything. I’ll also be breaking down to hardware and software as this time, the hardware (Phone) is from Nokia while the software (Operating System) is from Microsoft; Nokia will have little or no control over the Operating System unlike the past.

Advantages or Unique Features:

Hardware:

1. Nokia’s Clear Black Display (CBD) – basically the Anti-Glare Polarizer.
2. Scratch Resistant Corning® Gorilla Glass
3. Colored Polycarbonate plastic body
4. Sharp 8 Megapixel Carl Zeiss Lens with large aperture of f/2.2
5. Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic

Software - Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango):

1. Deep and comprehensive Social Networking Service (SNS) integration.
2. Office integration
3. Panorama Metro UI – Keeping the application simple, easy to use and navigate, and less level.
4. Unique Live Tiles concept.
5. XBox Live integration.
6. Voice Command & Speech-To-Text.
7. Surprisingly easy to type and accurate Virtual Keyboard.
8. Free 25GB SkyDrive for every Windows Live ID.
9. Nokia’s Collection of FREE applications:
1. Nokia Maps (pre-loaded)
2. Nokia Drive with FREE voice guided navigation. (pre-loaded)
3. Nokia Music
4. Contacts Transfer
5. Creative Studio – image editing application, effects and panorama mode.
6. Etc.

Disadvantages:

Hardware:

1. Mono Speaker.
2. No Front Camera. (Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango) also doesn't support Video Calls)
3. No HDMI Port.
4. Non-user replaceable battery.
5. micro-SIM Card slot.
6. No memory card slot (Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango) doesn't support)

Software - Windows Phone OS 7.5 (Mango):

1. Reliance on Zune for media files transfer ONLY.Does not support transfer of other file types (e.g. Office documents)
2. No Mass-Storage mode.Cannot access to phone internal storage via Computer, only accessible through Zune.
3. No File Manager.
4. No Bluetooth or WiFi File Transfer.
   You can easily find many request for this SIMPLE and COMMON WIDELY USED feature, yet not available on Windows Phone OS despite having updated to 7.5 (Mango):
   
   Here’s one which was requested by a Mobile Guru or Admin:
   http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/1549711-support-bluetooth-file-transfer

5. No support for external storage.
6. No USB On-The-Go (OTG) support.
7. No flexible support for videos and musics, everything has to go through Zune.
8. No backup feature in Phone (E.g. backup everything including messages). Contacts are sync and backup to Hotmail, but no option to backup messages.

9. No Flash or Silverlight support in browser.
10. No Video Call support.
11. Restrictions for custom ringtone sound, such as, maximum duration and maximum file size.
12. No assign ringtone for Group feature.
13. Limited contact number support
14. No multi-select for contacts for deletion.
15. No Phone or Contact Management software; Zune has no such feature.
    NOTE: Although we can manage the contacts through Hotmail, but it seems some contacts is not showing in Hotmail. As Example: I have many “<Unnamed >” Contacts, I have issues deleting them from my phone because there’s a lot and there is no batch delete option, I have to delete one by one.

16. Limited customization available.

Item 1 to 7 are common but important feature and it can be easily resolved by Microsoft (Item 5 will require new hardware). It’s just a matter of “management decisions”.

As you can see in below link (which I’ve already included), you can easily find MANY request for all these SIMPLE, COMMON and WIDELY used feature YET not available on Windows Phone OS. Isn’t Windows Phone about Putting People First?

This link is just for Bluetooth File Transfer, you can easily find many others there. Ironically, this was requested by the Mobile Guru or Admin:

http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions/suggestions/1549711-support-bluetooth-file-transfer

In my opinion, this is important to be resolve these drawbacks soonest possible especially now that Nokia will be using Windows Phone as their primary OS for smartphones, Nokia current users may not be able to adapt to the loss of these functions/features or the restrictions and limitations. These simple yet important functions/features are common for smartphones, yet not available on Windows Phone OS, worst yet, can Nokia afford to loose their Customer just because of this small issue which can be easily resolved?

If their customer were disappointed and switch to another platform, it’ll not be good for Nokia, moreover, it will be hard to gain these customers back when they moved on, explored, transferred their contacts and setup everything on another platform; it will be even harder if these customer start investing on the other platform like purchasing apps and games on that platform. These purchases will not be able to transfer to other platform, but if they’re on Androids, they can switch between manufacturer and still get their purchased apps and games.

To further attract more current Nokia owners, I would suggest Nokia to come up with some promotions for those owners that have purchase applications and games on their Nokia device (traceable from Nokia Account?). If Nokia able to make those purchases available/transferable to Windows Phone, then it’s EVEN BETTER. If not, some promotions or deals based on how much purchases the Customers have invested in those apps and games before will be something nice to consider.

Lastly, the most common and major drawback which also affects many other platforms, such as Maemo and MeeGo Harmattan, is the lack of applications and games. It’s not just about having a lot of applications and games, it’s about having those popular, demanding applications and games. Most people don’t really bother about the OS functions and features, what they actually concern are simply the applications and games. You can make a very simple phone, thus stable and reliable, and as long as it has all the popular and demanding games available, it will become successful and popular; just look at iPhone.

In this department however, it’s actually improving everyday and it will soon catch up. Microsoft has also been pushing hard on this, so I believe soon this will be less of an issue later. The main issue, I would still refer back to the limitations and restrictions, which can be a major deal breaker for many. Personally, I can only hope and wish Microsoft will take these into serious considerations.

Disclaimer: Please note that above are my personal opinion, impression and reviews. I do not make any claims whatsoever, just my personal opinion (example: I can dislike something or think that something is bad, but it's just me and it doesn’t mean the thing is really bad or anyone must agree with me; it maybe different for another person), and I do not claim all my information provided is correct. So, please do not feel offended, everyone have their own preference, opinion, feelings, impression, it maybe different from each other.