Dr Who Review Part 1- Introduction and Overview

Review: Nokia E7, office i - Overview and Detailed first impressions

Hither I'm reviewing the final retail version of the E7 - the new male monarch of Nokia'south Eseries line up. This all-encompassing first review part focuses primarily on the hardware, but it also considers the device's business organization and multimedia credentials. Future review parts in the coming days from Steve and myself volition expect at each of these, and other areas in even more than item.

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Sections

1. Introduction
2. In the box
3. Pattern
4. Keyboard
5. Effectually the telephone
6. Size
7. Part of a family, differences from the N8, blueprint constraints
8. Symbian^three software
9. Ovi Services
10. Enterprise capabilities
11. Multimedia capabilities
12. Initial terminal thoughts

Introduction

The E7's position at the top of the Eseries line up marks information technology as Nokia's flagship business device. While it may not carry the 'Communicator' label, information technology is articulate that Nokia see the E7 as a continuation of the much-loved landscape QWERTY family. This family originated with  the Nokia 9000 (1996) and subsequently moved through the Nokia 9110 (1998), Nokia 9210 (2001, as well Nokia's get-go Symbian device), Nokia 9500 (2004) and, most recently, the Nokia E90 (2007).

The Communicator devices were always marketed equally the ultimate mobile business communication tool - and this remains truthful for the E7. Simply it is also fair to say that, every bit the Communicator family unit has evolved, and so besides has the mobile world.

The E7 has, necessarily, embraced the trends of multimedia convergence and mobile Internet and consequently has become much more than simply a business communication tool. This means that the E7 should really be regarded as a combination of the heritage of the Communicator family and the convergence prowess of the Nseries.

In the box

Equally office of their ongoing ecology commitments, Nokia has sought to minimise packaging of its products. Every bit a result, the E7 comes in a surprisingly small box - non really hinting at the monster that lurks within.

In add-on to the device and the (as expected) slim manual, USB connectivity cables, headset and charger, you'll also find HDMI and USB OTG adapter cables. That's everything you'll demand to become the near out of the device, although some may wish to invest in a case to protect their investment.

Design

At start glance, the E7 might seem similar but another slab smartphone, only the ingenious opening mechanism and accompanying QWERTY keyboard shows that this is very clearly a device with a dual nature. It offers a refreshingly different (form gene) approach in a smartphone market dominated past touchscreen slabs of one variety of another. Being usable in either airtight (slab) or open up (QWERTY) configurations effectively gives two devices in i package, allowing you to choose the optimal configuration for the task in hand.

Previous communicators achieved a similar trick by bolting on a phone to the outside of the device. The E7's tilt and slide screen opening machinery (a refinement of the system used in the N97) is not only more much more elegant, but also more usable.

Typically, devices with circuitous mechanics and dual usage scenarios compromise on the solidity of the airtight configuration. Ane of the things that impressed me almost virtually the E7 is that those unfamiliar with the device could easily mistake it for an oversized N8. In slab configuration, the device feels stone solid and is well balanced in the paw, with no move or flex hinting at the presence of an opening mechanism. Revealing the keyboard to an unsuspecting friend for the offset time almost always provokes an exclamation of amazement. Nor are there such compromises in open mode (QWERTY), where the keyboard and screen are equally solid and well counterbalanced.

This design quality is a pattern that is repeated throughout the device. The combination of outstanding build quality and premium materials give the E7 a real feel of beauty and luxury. Wrapped in an anodised, scratch resistant, aluminium trounce, the E7 is a robust device, which should accept no problems surviving every day usage.

In terms of industrial design, given the complex mechanics and the hardware that's been squeezed within, there's no doubtfulness that the E7 is one of the finest devices Nokia has ever produced.

Keyboard

While on-screen keyboards have come a long manner in the last few years, in that location are always going to exist those that prefer physical QWERTY keyboards. Information technology is for people like this that the E7 exists and with the whole device designed around the tilt and slide mechanics there's no dubiety that the keyboard is the star of the show.

The keyboard is revealed by having the screen slide upward and away into a tilted position at an angle of around xxx degrees. This is achieved past a gentle push button on the edge of the screen, after which the screen moves into position with a satisfying clunk. There is a knack to this, with the fob being to permit the springs provide most of the force required. Paradigm E7 units were rather stiff in this regard, but the retail unit reviewed here is much improved, evidence that design optimisation piece of work continues even after a device has been announced.

At each end of the keyboard, the moulding slopes upwards - a necessity for structural reasons and for the integration of aerials and ports. This gives the appearance of placing the keyboard in a trough, just thanks to generous spacing it'due south non a problem. The height row of the keyboard, which is closest to the screen, is perhaps a lilliputian cramped, but non excessively so. Information technology shouldn't be an issue, aside from for those with very large hands.

Every bit mentioned, the E7'south keyboard is an development of that found on the N97 and N97 mini. Because the E7 is a bigger device, there'south room for an actress line on the keyboard. Having four lines makes an immediate deviation, equally the layout is closer to that of traditional desktops and laptops. The nearly obvious case of this is the return to a central location for the space bar, but other benefits include a standard placement of the comma and full cease punctuation to the right of the one thousand fundamental. Just as chiefly, the keys are larger and more widely spaced, making typing for longer periods much more comfortable.

It is abundantly articulate that Nokia has devoted a great deal of time and attention to optimising the design of the E7'due south keyboard. Each key is very slightly domed and has a matt finish (similar to the E72), which gives it a grippy texture. The tactile feedback, with a clear downward motion and 'click' for each key, is much better than a kickoff glance at the flush-chicklet-style fundamental blueprint might propose. All of these characteristics help improve typing speed and accuracy.

Almost every key has a secondary punctuation or number marking, these are accessed either via the dedicated function key or a long press of the key. The keyboard is backlit, with illumination levels controlled by the ambient light sensor, which means the keyboard merely lights upward when needed, thus optimising energy consumption.

The inclusion of arrow keys makes general text editing is easier, simply they can too be used to navigate around the vast majority of UI elements. You lot nevertheless need to use the softkeys, but that's not an issue as they sit just in a higher place the keyboard. Possibly more than problematic is the dwelling key, which is located further away in the middle of the right hand end of the screen. This presents a trouble if you lot are using the E7 as it sits on a flat surface (rather than cradled in the hands). You lot'll need to move a hand away from the keyboard and 'compression' the home key, because a simple press volition just push the E7 across the surface it's sitting on. Even so, given the home key is actually only used when switching tasks, this is not a major business organisation.

There are ii main styles of typing that conform the E7. The first style is property the device settled in the palm of each hand, with the ii thumbs used for typing. Index fingers naturally wrap around the E7 and come to residue on the swivel support (a really clever design impact). The second manner is to sit the E7 on a flat surface and use alphabetize, middle and ring fingers for typing; those with minor hands may be able to utilise all 5 digits and touch type. This second style should give faster text entry speeds, specially with practice, but obviously is not something you can exercise while on the motion.

Importantly, fifty-fifty though we're dealing with a physical keyboard, (every bit shown to a higher place) the E7 has optional automobile-correction and auto-completion text input settings (the same every bit those on other Symbian^iii devices). By default these are switched off, merely it's well worth trying them out as they can help speed entry and ameliorate accurateness.

Thanks to the good design and generous sizing of the keyboard it should be possible for most people to accomplish betwixt xxx and 35 words per minute - well-nigh definitely towards the college end of what's possible on a mobile device.

Assessing keyboards is notoriously subjective; anybody has a different gear up of criteria and usage scenarios. Moreover it is possible to be fast on most any keyboard, provided you exercise enough. With that said, I would judge the E7 as having the best QWERTY keyboard that Nokia accept put on a mobile device. Peradventure merely every bit importantly, it doesn't accept a very steep learning curve , which means the majority of people should be pick up an E7 and become up to a decent speed relatively quickly.

Effectually the phone

Looking around the rest of the device (in airtight manner), y'all'll find the usual Nokia slider lock on the left hand side of the device. It also doubles as the activation mechanism for the E7's LED torch mode (every bit on the C7 and C6-01). When the homescreen is showing, property downwards the slider cardinal for two seconds makes the photographic camera LEDs switch on.

The right hand side of the device houses the camera capture central, volume rocker, and SIM card slot. Both keys are a cut above the norm, some other example of the E7'southward premium design. The SIM card slot houses a removable tray, making it easy to bandy SIMs equally needed, a notable improvement over the N8's rather recessed slot.

The elevation of the device houses all the external connectors (mini HDMI out, microUSB and three.5mm multimedia) and the power button. The microUSB port is used for charging, PC connectivity and USB OTG connectivity. The edge is the about sensible location for these ports and collecting them all in 1 place ways that the residual of the device has smoother lines. In epitome units, the microUSB and HDMI ports were hidden nether the aforementioned flap, in the retail unit of measurement, they are separate and the microUSB port has no cover, which make more sense given information technology is used for daily charging.

The back of the device houses the viii megapixel EDoF camera, loudspeaker (upper left) and dissonance cancelling microphone (lower right). The mono speaker is reasonable, but the placement is non optimal - there' a tendency for it to go deadened when the E7 is sitting on a apartment surface (east.thousand. during speakerphone calls).

The front of the device is unsurprisingly dominated past the four inch AMOLED screen. After the C6-01, the E7 is the second device with Nokia's new Clear Blackness Display (CBD) applied science. CBD re-arranges the layers in screen matrix to include polarising capabilities and virtually completely eliminate reflections (i.e. much improved visibility outdoors) and increase the observed colour vibrancy. The results are extremely impressive, giving the E7 i of the best screens on the market. The screen resolution remains at 360 x 640 (nHD), which is significantly less than some competing devices, but, with the possible exception of web browsing, it does not make that much deviation day to day. Thank you to its AMOLED display, the E7 has the same ever on clock/date screensaver (when locked) as plant on the N8. On the E7, it is turned off by default, simply can hands be re-enabled in the Themes settings.

At the bottom of the screen, the dwelling key is placed in the eye. This contrasts with earlier devices that get-go this central, a holdover from S60's past. A key position is arguably more accessible, is more than appealing visually and suits both left and right handers equally. The dwelling house key doubles as a notification light, blinking to alert you to new letters and missed calls. Also on the front end you'll find the VGA camera for video calling (just right of the Nokia logo) and the ambient light and proximity sensors (only right of the E7 label).

Size

At 123.7 x 62.4 x 13.half dozen mm, the E7 is wider and longer than whatever of Nokia's other contempo devices, a by-product of using a bigger screen. One handed operation, ever an important criteria for mobile usage, is still very much possible, but peradventure a picayune less comfortable, specially when reaching to the elevation corners of the screen.

Compared to the N8 (113.five ten 59.1 ten 12.9 mm), the E7 is almost 10% longer and wider, primarily because it uses a larger screen. Yet, it is only 0.7mm thicker and that's ignoring the N8'south camera hump. When you consider the actress mechanics and infinite required for the QWERTY keyboard, it is a very impressive achievement. This is further illustrated by the fact that the lower portion of the E7 (i.east. ignoring the upper screen element) is just 9mm thick.

Comparing the E7 with the E90 (132 x 57 x 20 mm) shows just what a deviation clever pattern can make. Over again, length and width are largely dictated by the screen, merely a drop from 20mm to 12.9mm thickness actually underlines the benefits of the tilt-screen design over the clamshell approach.

Nokia 9500, E90, E7, from superlative to bottom. Impressive slimming down from the original 'brick'!

At 176g, the E7 is a heavy phone (41g more than the N8) so it is non going to be pocketable for everyone. However it is a big improvement over the E90 (210g), still less than HTC'southward competing (and smaller) Desire Z, and the appreciating Communicator nickname 'brick' really doesn't work this time round.

Make no mistake, the E7 is nonetheless a big phone, but the size and weight compromise required to get a total landscape QWERTY keyboard is smaller than information technology has ever been before.

Role of a family, differences from the N8

The E7 is the fourth Symbian^3 device to get on sale, post-obit in the footsteps of the Nokia N8, C7 and C6-01. The devices all share the aforementioned basic hardware architecture, with the same processor, graphics acceleration (dedicated GPU co-processor), RAM (256MB), sensors (proximity, ambient light, compass, GPS, accelerometer) and connectivity features (pentaband 3G, WiFI b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0), which means base functioning is very similar.  The devices are differentiated through their cost, design, form factor and additional hardware specifications.

The closest relative to the E7 is the N8; the large differences between the devices are the class factor (E7: QWERTY, N8: slab), screen (E7: 4 inch CBD AMOLED, N8: 3.5 inch AMOLED) and camera (E7: 8 megapixel EDoF, N8: 12 megapixel AF and Carl Zeiss Optics). Equally such, the key choice is between an enterprise centric device or a multimedia centric device. Or, put another way, having a choice between a QWERTY keyboard or superior camera, with size as a possible additional decision cistron. Withal, in that location are also a number of other smaller differences, which may tip a purchase decision i mode or the other.

The E7 omits a microSD card slot, 2mm charging jack and FM transmitter. The 2mm charger is the easiest to ignore; after all, the E7 includes a high powered microUSB charger, which means at that place is no divergence in charging times. The absenteeism of the FM transmitter is a shame, but can, if essential, be replaced past an external unit. The absence of a microSD card slot raises some concerns, simply is offset to some extent by the 16GB of internal mass memory and the ability to plug in a USB memory stick (or microSD menu in an adapter) via USB On-The-Go.

On the plus side, the E7 has 350MB of internal (system disk) retention, compared to the N8'south 120MB, which gives more space for cadre applications and operating organization use. It also has a bigger ROM bulldoze (1GB), merely that is unlikely to make a difference in the long run. A few boosted, enterprise-related, software items are bundled with the E7, which nosotros will discuss in more than particular below.

The E7'southward omissions may seem like Nokia cutting corners or deliberately leaving things out. But, in this, the primary causes are design constraints. While some of these components may seem very small, the tolerances within the modern smartphone pattern are extremely small-scale - measured in tenths of a mm, or even less. This ways adding or moving a component, fifty-fifty a few mm, can have a major impact and may not be applied. Nor is it enough to fit everything inside a sure area; factors such every bit aerial placement, structural integrity and performance considerations create very particular restrictions.

For example, a combination of the keyboard mechanics and structural integrity considerations means there is no room along the spine of the device for a microSD card. Similarly, a 2mm charger port takes up a surprising amount of room - every bit much as v% of the area on the circuit board. In the case of the absence of the FM transmitter, it's likely to exist related to adequate transmitter placement and performance (the FM transmitter hardware is probably still nowadays).

The aforementioned design constraints as well explain the E7'south downgraded camera. In nearly phones, the thickness is dictated by the size of the camera module; information technology's why the N8 has its camera hump. The EDoF camera module in the E7 is significantly smaller than previous equivalents, offer a better size/functioning ratio. Without it, the E7 would be a thicker device - an acceptable trade off for some, but, in Nokia'due south heed, not for the bulk. Look for Steve to go into the E7'southward photographic camera functions in far more than item in the next review function.

The camera modules of the N73, N86, N97 - and the E7

Ultimately, many of the discussions around the E7's hardware are going to focus on such design constraints. Such design decision compromises are an unavoidable function of the modernistic mobile device, which seeks to pack more into less. There are but too many competing elements and requirements for anybody to be satisfied, which ways Nokia has to strike a balance.

So if you're thinking most ownership the E7, the question you have to enquire yourself is - tin I be satisfied with the balance that Nokia has struck? If not, and so yous need to look at another Symbian^iii device or further afield.

Symbian^three Software

Equally with the hardware architecture, then information technology is with the software. The E7, N8, C7 and C6-01 all share a common version of the Symbian software. While there are a number of minor differences related to differing hardware specifications, Nokia intends to maintain a single code base as far as is possible (a dissimilarity to earlier Nseries and Eseries models) and will update the software for all devices at roughly the same time.

Equally such, what we said about the software in four of the first five parts  (part one, part two, part 3, function 4, part 5) of our N8 review can as well exist applied to the E7. Yet, the E7 ships with a version of the software (firmware 13.016) that is four months more mature than the original N8'south. PR ane.0 on the E7 is equivalent to PR ane.1 on the N8 and C7. This means that the E7 is, by comparing, notably more stable (not a single crash during iii intensive days of testing) and has better performance (smoother and faster transitions and UX navigation).

As you'll see from the above screenshots, the retail version of the E7 does have a different look and feel to the earlier Symbian^three devices, but that's because it ships with a different set of themes, which has a different icon prepare. Other tweaks include a different third party software parcel (run into enterprise section below), extensive help files and a few E7 specific settings, such every bit slider controls (and associated set up wizard).

While Symbian^3 is now increasingly familiar, especially to N8, C7 and C6-01 owners, many people looking at the E7 will be coming to it for the beginning time. It'southward therefore worth reminding ourselves of some of the key features of the latest version of the Symbian platform: large performance improvements across the board, streamlined UI with an emphasis on directly UI interactions (single tap), intelligent use of screen real manor and finger friendly UI controls, full back up for capacitive screens with multi-touch,  graphics acceleration giving first-class multimedia and gaming capabilities, and awarding upgrades and tweaks, including a iii page homescreen, new music player and improved versions of Ovi service client applications.

In common with other finger touch driven UIs, the E7'south larger screen size, when compared to the other Symbian^3 devices, makes the UI slightly more comfy to use. Although conspicuously at that place's a trade off between concrete dimensions and screen size.

The dual nature of the E7 ways portrait and landscape usage will both be used frequently. This highlights ane of Symbian^3'southward strengths - every application can exist used in both landscape and portrait modes and at that place is a greater caste of consistency between the two than in competing platforms.

Nokia has faced a lot of criticism for the Symbian^iii user experience (UX). Some of this is fair; the legacy of Series 60 is still present and the spider web experience, in particular, is out of engagement. However, much of the criticism that Symbian^3 faces in unfair or ill-informed.  Its multimedia capabilities, phone-axial features, energy consumption and resource requirements are all first class. Moreover, the importance of familiarity to the existing user base should non exist underestimated; Symbian^3 can quite reasonably be described as a platform that may not acquire new customers for Nokia, but goes a long way to stopping existing customers from departing.

In contempo months, Nokia has recognised some of the competitiveness bug of the Symbian^three UX layer and has said that all devices will receive a program of continuous updates. The E7 volition benefit from this only every bit much equally other members of its family. Compared to competing devices, where updates can exist more sporadic, this could be an important factor in any purchase decision.

Ovi Services

As with all contempo Nokia smartphones, Ovi services provide an important role of the feel. Ovi Maps remains the industry leading crown gem, but services such as Ovi Music (automatic sign on, carrier billing support, DRM gratuitous) and Ovi Store (increasing catalog size, improved client, seamless installations) have also come a long way in the last year.

Enterprise capabilities

In keeping with the one platform approach Nokia is taking with Symbian^iii, there are no major enterprise software additions to the core platform on the E7. Withal, the platform itself has some strong enterprise features, which we will cover briefly here, merely examine in more item in a futurity article.

The Nokia Messaging service is primarily aimed at the consumer marketplace, only may besides exist applicable in the SME (small-medium enterprise) space. More than enterprise friendly is the provision of a Mail for Exchange client, which uses the aforementioned postal service client equally Nokia Messaging. Mail service for Commutation has come a long way since its introduction more than than five years agone, becoming better featured and more stable. Some limitations remain (east.g. support for just one Exchange account at a time), but it should be more sufficient for well-nigh users. In a like vein, Lotus Notes Traveler, which should be bachelor for the E7 shortly, provides support for those enterprises using IBM software in their dorsum end.

Both Exchange and Lotus Notes are part of a deliberate strategy by Nokia to partner with existing enterprise services to provide Nokia device compatibility. The nigh obvious example of this is the strategic alliance that was appear with Microsoft terminal year, which has already provided Part Communicator Mobile (instant messaging) and a web interface for Microsoft Sharepoint (document management) for Nokia devices, with more products and services to come.

A long term strength of the Symbian platform has been its support for VoIP services and the E7 is no exception. Afterwards installing the SIP VoIP Settings awarding, information technology'southward possible to gear up the E7 with any SIP service. VoIP calling is integrated into the Telephone and Contacts application. As shown in the screenshots here, information technology's also possible to set VoIP as the default calling type, thus making integration near completely seamless.

Nokia has besides chosen to parcel a number of third party applications. The almost significant of these is the inclusion of Quickoffice Premier, with full editing capabilities for Give-and-take and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations viewing capability. In common with the C7 and C6-01, the E7 also ships with F-Secure (security suite, mostly locked, but with gratis Anti-theft activated), World Traveler (travel utilities), and all Symbian^3 devices ship with Adobe PDF (document viewer), Zip director (file compression utility) and Dictionary.

Finally, on a purely corrective level, the Office folder, which is usually found within the Applications folder, is promoted to the front application card (displacing the Videos folder on the N8 etc.)

Taken as a whole, these features provide a decent set of enterprise features. However, in that location is definitely room for improvements; there'southward a sense that the out-of-the-box enterprise features have been somewhat eroded from the Communicator days. Third party applications, from the Ovi Store, can fill some, but not all, of the gaps.

What should be bonny to enterprise users is that Nokia provides a diverse range of Enterprise-focussed handsets, of which the E7 is the high-stop device. Moreover, Nokia'southward partnership approach to key services, most notably email, offers an ability to slot into existing infrastructure more seamlessly than some competing products. However, as noted by Wireless Worker, Nokia still has some work to exercise on the execution of this strategy and needs a better story around deployment and device management for big enterprises.

Multimedia capabilities

Eseries devices have traditionally been a piddling lacking in the multimedia department. The swish camera-related applications, meliorate video playback support and audio features were left to the 'cooler' Nseries devices. Thanks to the unified hardware and software arroyo of the Symbian^3 devices, this changes with the Nokia E7. In multimedia terms, photographic camera capabilities aside, the E7 is just as capable as the Nokia N8.

In gild to give them the proper attending (and at to the lowest degree pretend to keep this department to a reasonable length), Steve will cover the multimedia capabilities of the E7 more than thoroughly in the second role of this review.

Concluding initial thoughts

The Nokia Communicator line ever served a role equally a provider of flagship devices; intended to be a visible demonstration of Nokia'southward industry leading technical and design competencies. This still very much applies to the E7; it is packed with engineering science and is a marvel of industrial pattern.

The software experience, driven by Symbian^three, may not measure up to quite the same high standards as the hardware, but it is a well known quantity and remains a capable, feature rich and powerful platform. Moreover, the promise of upgrades to come mean that the E7'southward software is unlikely to stand still.

In a smartphone dominated mobile world, the Nokia E7 may non stand out from the rest of the marketplace as much as the Communicators of onetime, just it still manages to stand apart and is a compelling device, which will no doubt find may loyal fans.

Rafe Blandford, All Almost Symbian, 7 February 2011

Reviewed past Rafe Blandford at 11:05 UTC, February 7th 2011

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Source: http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/reviews/item/12564_Nokia_E7_part_1-overview_and_f.php

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