Symbian in Motion

N81 8GB Special Edition Part 3 - Comes with Music and Games

Stealing a line from Nokia’s Press Release - N81 8GB comes with Music, as this is what this device was created to do. Play music and games. There were many blatant hints to what was special about the N81 8GB, take for instance: “Entertainment. The Next Episode” design on the packaging it arrived in, also the “a little hush please… the next episode is about to begin” and not forgetting the Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones. It is clear this is a Multimedia device designed to deliver Multimedia, which it does with ease.

N81 8GB and Bose

This could be described as a match made in heaven, although I’d put it more near a very successful marriage. The headphones and the N81 8GB work in tandem to deliver some of the best music I have heard not just from a handset, any portable music device. I would like to think when purchasing a Special Edition N81 8GB it comes bundled with the Bose Headphones, as I think these two items go hand in hand in respect to enjoying music on the go. I would like to think it was down to the N81 8GB which delivers the crisp sound and the deep thumping bass, but I would have to say it is the Bose headphones, and for good reason to, spending £270 on a pair of headphones you would expect them to deliver as such. Now don’t think that it’s just the headphones responsible for the great music, the handset has a part to play.

I tested them both with my N95 and the N81 8GB and although the N95 did give some quality feedback it wasn’t comparable with the results from the N81 8GB. The music was considerably louder, crisper and even if the N81 offers less bands on the E/Q settings than the N95, it delivers a punchier bass and crisp mids. As I’m a keen music enthusiast I had to have them up as loud as can be, and the results where, well, LOUD! The bass response is unbelievable I can’t stress this enough, my eardrums where vibrating with ecstasy but no pain as the active noise cancelling not only works with external sounds, but also keeps the sound always crisp even if it needs to reduce it by a few decibels.

Many of my friends and colleagues who also tested it out were amazed with the quality and shocked at the price! Let’s face it, not everyone is going to spend large amounts of money on headphones that sound great, they’re content with half decent sound coming from their music device. I think that’s where Nokia will find trouble in marketing the N81 8GB. Yes users want music, they also want gaming and if it comes from one device all the better, but at what price and how good is it? The N81 8Gb is not only going to compete with the iPhone in terms of Music and Games due to it’s 8GB internal storage, but also devices like the iPod Touch, Creative Zen, Sony Ericsson’s W Series, Samsung’s music orientated handsets with similar features to those of the N81 8GB and Motorola’s Z series. It will be an unpredictable battle and I think it will be close as many of the other devices have appealing features of their own. The “touch” of the iPhone and iPod give it advantage as well as a large screen and great UI to boot. The Sony Ericsson W series are small, easy to use and almost unnoticeable at times, all down to the great design of the handsets which make them very appealing and attractive. While all these competitors have their own unique edge and some (iPhone and iPod) have a great advantage, the N81 8GB has two things that make up for it; Symbian OS and N-Gage.

Gaming

One of the more appealing factors in favour for the N81 8GB is the integrated support of the N-Gage platform, not only from a software point of view but hardware too. Yes the dedicated game buttons on the top of the handset are a great addition.

The combination of the N-Gage platform and dedicated game buttons make this very much a lucrative prospect. Nokia made a hash of the original N-Gage release and has learnt from it quite well. Where the old platform failed due to not supporting it enough and having a dedicated hand held gaming device acting like a phone, the approach this time is quite the opposite. This is the way it should have been done. Hardcore gamers carry around gaming devices, whilst your average Joe carries his handset hoping to play the occasional game to kill time etc… The N-Gage 2nd around will appeal to these very exact genre but is not limited to them. The mobile gaming scene is pretty big and growing fast, as gaming can be an occasion, dedicated or random activity, having a handset which can do this instantly, without add-ons and fast is surely a winner.

Starting up the N-Gage software takes you through a flashy intro scene before bringing you to the initial screen, where currently you have the choice to find out more, download the N-Gage application or try some Demo games. There are 3 Demo Games available, Space Impact Light, FIFA 07 and Asphalt Street Races 3. Clicking any one of the titles loads up the games and you are off. As the N81 8GB is designed for the N-Gage platform especially with it’s 2 dedicated game buttons, you start of in the landscape screen position. You do have the option to change back to the portrait, depending on the game itself, which could be appropriate for some games but I prefer the wide-screen experience personally. Playing all 3 games just demonstrates how easy and comfortable the layout and buttons are, instead of having your fingers cramped within the confines of the keypad, they are set free in more traditional gaming style, which is more comfortable and natural. The games are in 3D, play smoothly, are slightly easy to complete but they are demo’s and I’m sure there will be much more improved upon release. I’m personally looking forward to the actual re-release of the N-Gage, I just hope it lives up to what promises to be.

Final Word

The N81 8GB isn’t perfect, the button layout in and around the navi wheel isn’t the best, the features are not what you’d expect from a mid-range Nokia phone, the 2 Mega Pixel camera is a major draw back, as most mid-range handsets on the market have a minimum of 3.2 Mega Pixels. The lack of HSDPA is another major factor, I think it would have helped in encouraging users to download music on the go anywhere from the Nokia Music Store, and in the coming future perhaps even games from the N-Gage shop. The lack of GPS is not such a big deal, as it’s not commonly expected in handsets quite yet and as this isn’t a top-end handset I personally don’t think it would have much appeal to it.

The build quality and design is one I do like, it suites the rest of my electronic gear, from the Piano black Samsung Tv / Pc Screen, to my black PSP, it fits in without causing too much disturbance. The handset’s heavy metal casing around the body gives it a sturdy and smooth feel, unlike the plastic feel of the N95 with it’s bumps and buttons sticking out. From a design point of view I can’t fault it (bar the button layout).

The N81 8GB does what it’s targeted to do; it’s a Multimedia device aimed at a specific market. Like the N91 8GB when it was released, only it does more and promises more. I hope Nokia take note and support the N81 8GB, for the market it’s aimed at, it should be a hit.

This concludes my review of the N81 8GB Special Edition, whilst I had it I’ve personally enjoyed my experience, although I had different ideas at first. But it has changed my perspective on it. It just goes to show don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

You can read the previous posts on the N81 8GB by clicking through the links respectively.

N81 8GB Special Edition Part 2 - Getting Set and Familiar

Landed and Acclimatised - N81 8GB Special Edition Part 1

N81 8GB Special Edition Picture Special

N81 8GB Special Edition Landed

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