Nokia Remix: Singapore – Pictures from Lifehouse Concert and the Upcoming Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Will the new Nokia touch screen phone that comes with one year unlimited music download and more redefine what a phone can be?  I was holding one last Friday and I was thrilled by its potential.  And there is no event like a Nokia event.  Lifehouse was in the house, together with the local bands and my favorite radio DJs “The Muttons” too.  I took a picture with them.  It’s priceless.

I couldn’t attend the press conference during the day due to work commitment.  But the Nokia team was kind enough to give me a 1-hour personal demonstration on the upcoming Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.  Again, I tried to distract them and see if I could slip one into my pocket.  Again, I failed like the last time.

Come With Music

When it comes down to functionalities and user-friendliness, Nokia is king.  No doubt about it.  What the world has been silently waiting for is Nokia’s answer to Apple’s iPhone and its clones.  I certainly do.  While Apple threatened to shutdown iTunes early this month due to royalties dispute (current model is 61-29-9 cents split between the record industry, iTunes, and artists respectively), Nokia has worked out a deal with four major labels – EMI, Universal, Sony, and Warner – and more to give Nokia users one year unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue across a range of devices.  Is this new service “Come With Music” too good to be true?  Looking at how Nokia gives away free maps to the users, I am pretty sure that the only catch is “go buy a Nokia phone”.  Allowing users to unlimitedly and legally download music is as close to the Internet user behavior as it can get.  I am holding my breath on what the cost structure may be.

Touch, Play, Share

The new phone is a beauty.  If you are familiar with the XpressMusic series, the design of 5800 is a big leap ahead.  Weighted less than an iPhone, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic comes with a touch screen that supports wide-screen format and has an impressive resolution – best in its class.  I checked out a video clip played and the color is stunningly vibrant.  Another surprise is the quality of the internal speakers.  The music played out loud, really loud, and the sound is crisp clear.  These features alone are enough to put my beloved N95 to shame.  Can you visualize how badly I would drool to play the Ayumi music videos on this?

Unable to resist poking at this new baby, I am delighted that everything is literally at my fingertips including being able to put 4 of my top hot looking female contacts (with profile picture) onto the home-screen.  Maybe a bit too convenience.  Imagine one day Cynthia gets hold of my new 5800 while I was away and is able to track down my past communication and their respective blog updates with just a touch onto their profile pictures?!  Disastrous.

To be honest, I was skeptic on how this new touch screen phone handles my obsessive love in sending short messages, jotting down new blogging ideas, and drafting blog entries anytime, anywhere.  I asked for a demonstration and the enthusiastic product manager casually rotated the phone and the screen switched to landscape mode automatically.  Nice!  He then brought up the virtual QWERTY keyboard and I was like: though my fingers are not that fat, no way I can type a message with that!  Like a magician, he pulled out a stylus from nowhere (actually from behind the phone) and started typing.  Not bad.  Being a difficult consumer, I complained that QWERTY is not my cup of tea.

No problem at all, he said.  He then switched to a handwriting recognition mode that if you are from the Palm era, you would probably leap in joy (not to forget to mention the copy-and-paste function this new baby has).  Not bad.  But I am the type of guy who loves the old way of doing things.  The product manager did something to the phone and all of a sudden, I saw a life-size virtual alphanumeric keypad!  I pressed onto the virtual buttons and the phone vibrated in response.  Neat!  Lastly, for the musicians, the phone comes with a plectrum (see picture above … in my language, I call it a guitar pick) as an alternative to interact with the touch screen.  I know.  Who would have thought?

Final Thought

This entry is more like a preview than a review due to my limited time with the new Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.  There are tons of other cool functionalities I am running out of space to write including the synchronization to the social networking sites such as Ovi by Nokia, Facebook, YouTube, and etc.  I would like to leave you with this final thought.  Towards the end of “Sex and the City” movie, Carrie wanted to call her missing groom and she asked for a phone.  Someone passed her a touch screen phone (that looked like an iPhone).  Her immediate response was like: don’t give me that, give me something I can use.  I can relate to her.  And I don’t think I will have a problem with this new Nokia phone.  It is that easy.

Below are some of the pictures I have taken during the Nokia Remix: Singapore event with Lifehouse in the house with my point-and-shoot camera.  Enjoy!

PS. A big thanks to the Nokia team and the TEXT100 team!

39 thoughts on “Nokia Remix: Singapore – Pictures from Lifehouse Concert and the Upcoming Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

  1. Liyi

    Hey Wilfrid, thanks for dropping by for coffee, and am really glad that you thoroughly enjoyed yourself at the music party. Till next time! Will definitely keep you posted. =)

  2. wilfrid Post author

    Ndroo – Thanks for your comment! Coming from you, I am flattered. I wish I have a better camera during the show though. Still using my point-and-shoot, still waiting for my mid-term ideal camera.

  3. wilfrid Post author

    Haoooo – Yes, it is a lovely phone. I think it will be a great Christmas gift so I also hope that Nokia will release this on time.

    Not to forget to mention the one year free download of all their music catalog! That is way beyond what I would expect a phone of.

    PS. I hope they don’t change the plan for that one year free download policy.

  4. wilfrid Post author

    Haoooo – OMG, I have totally forgotten to ask for XpressMusic 5800. But yet, I was told that N97 will be available early next year with a certain indicative price tag …

    … silly me. And my friend is going on leave from tomorrow 🙁

  5. wilfrid Post author

    Ravi – It is not launched in Singapore yet! Unfortunately all my Nokia contacts are on block leave! If I were you, I would visit the phone shop and place an advance order. From the requests I have read so far, I strongly believe this one is going to be hard to get when it first launches.

  6. xiao3yu3

    I just popped by the Nokia outlet at Funan yesterday and they told me 5800 should land on singapore shores by the first week of march.

    now that’s a long wait.. i’ve hoped for this phone too since like december!

  7. wilfrid Post author

    xiao3yu3 & ravi – Sorry for the late reply. I am just being informed that Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is expected to hit the stores in Singapore this quarter. But as for the exact date and price, they will inform me.

    I guess … still a while to wait eh? Better place your order now!

  8. LTWW

    Hey! I got the info that Nokia 5800 will be officially launched on 28 Feb! Cool phone man! First phone to convince me that its a must 🙂 Watch out as ads on it are currently appearing on every corner of Singapore!

  9. Eunice

    Wow, I just realised everyone’s hyped up over the new phone, while I just really envy the author for being able to attend the Lifehouse’s private showcase! Mega fan of Lifehouse here, really wanted to attend the private showcase ’cause I wasn’t of legal age to attend their gig at St. James. 🙁 Anyway, nice phone, nice pics!

  10. wilfrid Post author

    Eunice – Thanks for your comments! I had no idea that Lifehouse had a gig at St. James. And I am quite surprised that they don’t have one at some venues that can be attended by all. I wonder why …

  11. cg86

    Was googling around for a review on this phone, which i’ve been waiting for since goodness knows when. (WLan + cam + music? it’s drool worthy in it’s own class)

    I love your review, especially the way you described the different typing skills. Like you, I’m a old-fashioned kinda person, so when you mention the default alpha-numeric keyboard, i’m thrilled.

    Now all I’m waiting to do is for one of the telco operators in Singapore to start selling one.

    Great review! 2 thumbs up! (I’d give u 2 big toes up too, but I don’t think that’s relevant)

    =)

  12. wilfrid Post author

    cg86 – Thank you for your kind words. From my brief interaction with the phone, it does have a lot to go for. I had the opportunity to chat with one of the product managers in one recent Nokia event. I asked why such a long wait and he shared with me that Nokia wants to make sure that the new 5800 XpressMusic has the highest manufacturing quality before a release here in Singapore.

    I can understand as this is Nokia’s very first touch screen phone and they are a bit behind from the rest of the touch screen models. Hence, to get it right at first launch to me is an absolute must.

    And no, I am not from Nokia … lol. I work in a bank …

  13. LTWW

    Thanks for your reply. From what I know, the ‘Comes with music’ is actually paying it in money through the purchasing of the phone. It would cost a few bucks more, probably 50 to buy the ‘Comes with Music’ . If I am not wrong, I think they actually give you an account to the 5800 XpressMusic store. This phone has attracted one of my classmates already!

  14. wilfrid Post author

    LTWW – Hey, you are right? I went to a Nokia event last evening and yes, the advertisement is everywhere today in Singapore.

    Apparently, all the 5800 XpressMusic phones Come With Music. I will write a little bit on the event in just a bit.

  15. Pingback: Part One: Nokia Come With Music - Too Good to be True? - A Media Event

  16. Pingback: Day 1 of Unlimited Music Download - So I Surprised Cynthia with a Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

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