N-Gage First Opinions

Hi All,

Thought you might be interested in this. Got my N-Gage at launch
(07/10/2003). It broke 08/10/2003. My supplier called to my work with a
replacement unit. Since then I have got to test the other features (radio,
mp3 player etc) and I have bought Sonic for it too... Screenshot enclosed.
The graphics are good, the screen was an excellent choice as the refresh
rate is excellent. Radio quality is excellent (much better than 6610). MP3
software is good but limited (features - no graphic equalizer). The supplied
headset is a stupid design and involves plugging in the left and right
channels seperately. Honestly would have thought Nokia would have gon the
(excellent) Pop Port route with this one. No infrared - bluetooth makes
up for this though.

I have managed to use it with my Nokia bluetooth headset (HDW-1) and the
quality is good.

Overall, a poor start, and a few obvious ommissions spec wise from Nokia,
but a good phone and games device once it starts working. Also, I am
wondering, am I missing something or is there no way to save games ( lol, if
there isn't I'm selling it - offers please ).

Thanks,
Justin.

---

› See More: N-Gage First Opinions

the pcm is poor, allows only mono for game sound and realplayer
I wonder why the pcm for mp3 can't be used with games and realplayer
a bad start...
but there're several improvements over 3650

Justin Trant wrote:

>Hi All,
>
>Thought you might be interested in this. Got my N-Gage at launch
>(07/10/2003). It broke 08/10/2003. My supplier called to my work with a
>replacement unit. Since then I have got to test the other features (radio,
>mp3 player etc) and I have bought Sonic for it too... Screenshot enclosed.
>The graphics are good, the screen was an excellent choice as the refresh
>rate is excellent. Radio quality is excellent (much better than 6610). MP3
>software is good but limited (features - no graphic equalizer). The supplied
>headset is a stupid design and involves plugging in the left and right
>channels seperately. Honestly would have thought Nokia would have gon the
>(excellent) Pop Port route with this one. No infrared - bluetooth makes
>up for this though.
>
>I have managed to use it with my Nokia bluetooth headset (HDW-1) and the
>quality is good.
>
>Overall, a poor start, and a few obvious ommissions spec wise from Nokia,
>but a good phone and games device once it starts working. Also, I am
>wondering, am I missing something or is there no way to save games ( lol, if
>there isn't I'm selling it - offers please ).
>
>Thanks,
>Justin.
>
>
>
>

After a day of use, this PC Mag review
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1321972,00.asp of the N-Gage is about
right, if a little harsh.

I think the game capability is surprisingly good, but the inability of the
PC Suite to link via the supplied USB cable has been very frustrating. Not
really covered in the manual and probably something that will be enabled
soon.

If Nokia make:
- the whole thing smaller, allowing the speaker and mic to be moved from the
front to the side so that you don't look like a pillock when talking
- the USB cable work for everything, not just transferring files to the data
card, and with USB2 rather than just USB1.1
- the memory card slot accessible from the outside and compatible with SD
and MMC
- include infrared (Bluetooth still being too difficult and not sufficiently
universal)
- the radio include RDS capability
- better headphone connectivity (the plugs stick out and will break)
- the device stronger and more robust

They are on to a winner

Things I like:
- Contact data model that includes most of MS Outlook
- no camera (don't use it anyway)
- stereo radio
- MP3 capability (although could display more tag information)
- excellent mail access including IMAP
- good battery life
- excellent interface (always a Nokia strength vis-à-vis SE)
- no operator customisation or operator lock (thanks to CarPhoneWarehouse
and t-mobile)
- screen
- keys (except centre push on the joy stick which is slightly too hard to
get right)
- good speaker for the speakerphone
- vibrate signal strong
- mini-USB data connector (now if they can get the PC Suite to support it)
- Nokia standard charger

I think it will be a limited success because teenagers will love it. The
game playing is simply too good compared to the existing mobile games and
the rest of the above factors are mildly irrelevant to them.

"ef" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> the pcm is poor, allows only mono for game sound and realplayer
> I wonder why the pcm for mp3 can't be used with games and realplayer
> a bad start...
> but there're several improvements over 3650
>
> Justin Trant wrote:
>
> >Hi All,
> >
> >Thought you might be interested in this. Got my N-Gage at launch
> >(07/10/2003). It broke 08/10/2003. My supplier called to my work with a
> >replacement unit. Since then I have got to test the other features
(radio,
> >mp3 player etc) and I have bought Sonic for it too... Screenshot
enclosed.
> >The graphics are good, the screen was an excellent choice as the refresh
> >rate is excellent. Radio quality is excellent (much better than 6610).
MP3
> >software is good but limited (features - no graphic equalizer). The
supplied
> >headset is a stupid design and involves plugging in the left and right
> >channels seperately. Honestly would have thought Nokia would have gon the
> >(excellent) Pop Port route with this one. No infrared - bluetooth
makes
> >up for this though.
> >
> >I have managed to use it with my Nokia bluetooth headset (HDW-1) and the
> >quality is good.
> >
> >Overall, a poor start, and a few obvious ommissions spec wise from Nokia,
> >but a good phone and games device once it starts working. Also, I am
> >wondering, am I missing something or is there no way to save games ( lol,
if
> >there isn't I'm selling it - offers please ).
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Justin

%some dood% scribbled:

> Hi All,
>
> Thought you might be interested in this. Got my N-Gage at launch
> (07/10/2003). It broke 08/10/2003. My supplier called to my work with
> a replacement unit. Since then I have got to test the other features
> (radio, mp3 player etc) and I have bought Sonic for it too...
> Screenshot enclosed. The graphics are good, the screen was an
> excellent choice as the refresh rate is excellent. Radio quality is
> excellent (much better than 6610). MP3 software is good but limited
> (features - no graphic equalizer). The supplied headset is a stupid
> design and involves plugging in the left and right channels
> seperately. Honestly would have thought Nokia would have gon the
> (excellent) Pop Port route with this one. No infrared - bluetooth
> makes up for this though.
>
> I have managed to use it with my Nokia bluetooth headset (HDW-1) and
> the quality is good.
>
> Overall, a poor start, and a few obvious ommissions spec wise from
> Nokia, but a good phone and games device once it starts working.
> Also, I am wondering, am I missing something or is there no way to
> save games ( lol, if there isn't I'm selling it - offers please ).
>
> Thanks,
> Justin.

Hi, can you tell me, does the NGAGE work as a normal phone in that you
hold it to your ear during calls or is it one that you have to have the
headset plugged in to use the phone facility?

Cheers,

Lee.

>Hi, can you tell me, does the NGAGE work as a normal phone in that you
>hold it to your ear during calls or is it one that you have to have the
>headset plugged in to use the phone facility?
>
>Cheers,
>
>Lee.
yes you can use it normally or with the handsfree/headset or using the
loudspeaking feature

snip
>The supplied
>headset is a stupid design and involves plugging in the left and right
>channels seperately.
Not exactly , there are two plugs but one is for the microphone and
switch. If you use the adapter which enables you to use standard
headphones you will notice it only uses one socket which would mean
only one channel would work using your theory.

Andy

> Hi, can you tell me, does the NGAGE work as a normal phone in that you
> hold it to your ear during calls or is it one that you have to have the
> headset plugged in to use the phone facility?

You >can< use it without a headset but you will look even more of a tit than
people who use handsfree kits in public. The 'ingenious' design involves
holding it sideways against your head, ensuring that anyone who happens to
see you talking on it will howl with laughter and quite possible point you
out to others. Better to have people assume you're talking to yourself
(i.e. use the handsfree) - it's the lesser of two ridiculous options.

--
Sy/\/apZ

You can hold it flat to your head too. Its looks better that way. The
phone I mean...

Carl
http://www.yahoogroups.com/groups/n-gageuk