5 Things Nokia Needs To Learn From Apple
I recently spent a little over a week with the Apple iPhone. I can’t say it was the best experience of my life, but I most certainly did notice several things that Nokia should take notes on, and several other things that Apple needs to learn from Nokia. You won’t find an iPhone review here on Symbian-Guru. It’s out of context. If you’re wanting a review, check out this one at MobileBurn.com. Instead I think it’s important to pick out things that I think Nokia could learn from Apple, and later, things that I think Apple needs to pick up from Nokia.
There’s several things that the iPhone simply does exponentially better than Nokia’s S60 products do. These are listed in no particular order…
1. Email Setup - When I connected my iPhone to my computer running iTunes, it automatically checked Outlook, found that I have 4 email inboxes setup, and pulled all of the necessary settings, other than the passwords, for these accounts. That means all I had to do was go into the Mail application and add passwords. That’s it. What’s silly is that Nokia’s PC Suite supports email syncing with SOME phones, and even then, it doesn’t pull all your mailbox settings, just your actual emails. Apple has the clear advantage with this, I’ve NEVER seen such an easy and convenient way to get email setup on my handset.
2. The iPhone comes with a dock. Seriously, every Nseries should, too. Doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Just a little stand that will sync/charge my handset, and simple enough that I simply need to drop the phone onto it. All this really does is encourage users to connect their handset with their PC, which is something I think Nokia wants to do, anyways.
3. The whole repositories thing. The Internet Tablets have this, but they’re still a bit difficult. With the Installer app on the iPhone, literally all you need is a URL. Type that in and you automagically get a huge list of freeware to install. What’s even better, when an app gets updated, your Installer app tells you. To update, merely get in there and click ‘Update’. That’s it. And the Installer app comes with several well-stocked repositories already populated. I realize you can’t build this functionality into S60, but we desperately need something like that that makes it dead easy for users to get 3rd party apps. The current S60 method (having them scattered all over the internet and relying on bloggers to pass the word) SUCKS. I don’t care if a 3rd party entity develops an app that copies this functionality, but we need it badly.
4. Automatic Access Point Switching. I never ONCE saw anything about Access Points on the iPhone, and I shouldn’t see it on any other phone. ‘Dumbphones’ don’t bother the user about what access point to use, why does S60? With the iPhone, I told it what WiFi network it was allowed on, and it would seamlessly switch back and forth between EDGE and WiFi. When I went to the grocery store, it would switch to use EDGE to check my email. When I got back to the apartment, it was automatically back on WiFi. I never once told it to do that. It also REALLY bothers me that S60 asks if I want to use the AT&T MMS access point (I noticed it in the UK on T-Mobile, too). Of COURSE I don’t. I only want to use that for - MMS. Silly phone.
5. PC Connectivity - When you turn on the iPhone, the first thing it tells you to do is connect it to iTunes. Granted, this is so that you can ‘activate’ it (which is a load of horsecrap, but that’s for another post), but it immediately informs users that they can connect their phone to their computer for an enhanced experience. I like this. First, however, Nokia needs to develop a PC Suite for Macs (and obviously rename it).
So that’s it. After a little over a week with the iPhone, these are the things that I felt Nokia needs to take notice of, and quickly. The biggest one, I’d say, is the repositories. The process of finding applications, getting them installed, and then keeping up with updates needs to be DRASTICALLY rethought and re-assessed.
something Nokia should do is to announce phones AT LEAST two months or so before the release , keeps the public interested and raised the sales , not selling it on the next day of announcement just like what happened to the N82 Release !
Apple Announced their soo called revolutionary iPhone 6 freakin months before the release ,and that’s the reason of it’s huge sales worldwide
I have to disagree with you. Nokia typically announces phones SEVERAL months before they’re available. The problem is they then stop talking about them for a few months, so the public loses interest.
The N82 was a fluke from Nokia’s typical M.O.
i dont think number 3 counts as this is a hack not something developed by apple as we can already install apps without jailbreaking the iphone cant.
I can agree with everything but 2. I have no need or desire for a dock.
What Nokia does need to do is have a Nokia store in every mall like Apple does. Have support people on site as well.
The problem with Nokia is that they let engineers solely design their phones. Apple on the other hand, has a team of GUI folks working with engineers in order to maximize not just the functionality but the end-user experience too. Nokia & other may great at the hard skills that products like these require; but Apple has mastered the soft skills that the end-user doesn’t even know they’re looking for and is the reason why smart phones haven’t caught the mass market attention until now.
Bravo Steve Jobs!
PS: Steve & Apple did this once before with the Macintosh & with the iPOD too.
Surely Nokia’s Download! app on every phone gets *some* way to what you’re after? Now, if they could add popular (and certified) freeware as well, and some kind of ‘New!’ update system, they’d be there, IMHO
I’m sure you’re aware that that installer you’re mentioning is _not_ Apple software but a rider of the jailbreak activation/unlock procedure?
(there is no installer in official 1.1.x firmware, not yet, and unless you’ve got a direct line to Apple, I’m curious as how you could install anything on an unlocked device right now)
That installer you mention in your third point is installed by the tools you (obviously) used to hack the device. And like Steve mentions, Nokia’s Download! app is a standard, supported way to distribute apps for Nokia devices (and it can distribute both model-targeted apps and generic apps for all devices).
I’m surprised that you would use that against Nokia…
One thing that I’ve always liked to see Nokia do is advertise their flagship phones in a manner that lots of people will see these adverts. The iPhone adverts are currently running everywhere on TV in the UK, and just before and after the release in november there were O2 adverts for the iPhone at bus-stops, on buses, on large billboards and on the internet EVERYWHERE.
I’ve said this before, but, if the N95 sold 1 Million+ in the UK alone even with Nokia’s pretty damn poor advertising of the device, imagine how many more it would have sold if Nokia advertised the N95 like Apple did the iPhone?
Interesting thoughts Ricky. You listed some thing I didn’t know the iphone could do, and made me want them in my Nokia. Great post -
I’ve often thought repositories would be a great idea. Coming from the Linux world as it does, there are different ways that different Linux OS’s handle repositories, and different tools for using them… but in the end, even some of the crudest tools in use are more effective than random Google searches for freeware and/or payware.
@Steve: if you’ve ever used a Linux system’s repository to add software, you’ll see the catalog just isn’t close. Search for software, mark as many of the things you find as “install”, hit “apply” and voila, they are installed. You can update all your apps at once as well.
-olly
I absolutely agree with the automatic AP switching. I and others I know have literally begged Nokia to allow something like this since S60 1st ed and nothing has become of it. Knowing Nokia’s me too strategy of late, however, I suspect that it’ll be an integral part of S60 3rd ed FP3, which means we can expect it somewhere around the end of 2009.
The new Nokia way…
I love my iPhone!
When the SDK comes out, Nokia has no chance in the smartphone front.
Nokia does not have the level of integration that Apple has created for the iPhone.
The operating system and Apple’s applications are actively being developed and improved. Thus iPhone users can expect better things as time goes on - while other smartphone users are stuck. Apple is one of the best software developers. Nokia is absolutely not. This gives the iPhone an organic quality - it grows, develops, and matures over time. With the SDK, this growth will be by leaps and bounds. The iPhone already has a ton of unofficial software.
AP switching is great as long as you have an all-you can eat data package. Many people don’t. I have 120Mb/month included in my package, but even then, I don’t want non-urgent and large downloads (such as podcasts and vodcasts) to use up or exceed my data package when these can be done over WiFi at no cost. I’ll save my data for when I’m out and about and NEED it, thank you very much.
Seamlessness is great, but not at the expense of control. Automatic switching for web and other apps where the user is at least to some extent in control (or at least aware) of the amount of data being transferred is fine. For anything where data transfer occurs in the background, more control is needed. I for one don’t want my phone bill going through the roof because my phone is too clever for its own good and doesn’t use the most appropriate access point for the task in hand. It MUST have a way for the user to define what IS the most appropriate access point.
A dock’s great if you have a Desktop PC (or at least a PC on a desk). I use a laptop … on my lap, so having a dock attached to it would be no use to me. It’d be more trouble than it was worth unless it was a standalone charge-only dock. And I’d argue that the dock would be even more appropriate for the E-series than the N-series too.
On the other hand, if there WAS a dock, an option (ON by default) to automatically back up the phone on connection to a dock or cabled (i.e. fast) connection (like ActiveSync does for Windoze Mobile devices) would encourage more people to actually back up the data on their devices.
Nokia had Access Groups in vanilla S60 3rd edition, but dropped them in FP1. Reintroducing these would allow the flexibility of switching APs where required, whilst allowing the user to retain control.
What I don’t understand is why they were dropped (unless they didn’t work and it was easier to just get rid than to fix them).
what i would love to see is the transaction effect when u change the angle of the phone and how the screen rotate with all what u guys mentiones in the 5 points… a phone like it, but slimmer, better cam with same abilites that Nseries are having now…
Only 5 things Nokia needs to learn? Don’t make me laugh, this list is the tip of the iceberg.
What about…
Usability - my S60 is so clunky it’s a complete joke. From the moment you turn it on, its unfriendly maze of options and physical usability issues, demand a steep learning curve….this is just plain wrong. I tried the iPhone next to the S60 and even never having seen one before, let alone touched one, I could use the iPhone in seconds. Not so the Nokia…and I know the Nokia inside out.
Too much menu drilling - it drives me mad to have to do some things over and over while others have shortcuts. How about user-set default settings that stick past a battery change
Web browsing… no, lets call that Nokia web crashing. Again its a joke. And while we’re at it - a larger screen that doesn’t scratch.
Like I said, this list is a starting point and useless if you think the basic operation of Nokia’s offerings is OK to begin with.
Roll on my contract expiry, they might have improved a few things but I won’t hold my breath.
Ricky, remember the N95 Dock you bought from ebay.. ? It was from a company called Brando or something.. Whatever came of that ?
@Rui - I do understand that the installer is NOT Apple software. However, it is currently on the Apple iPhone, and easily installed on it (you visit ONE webpage).
I don’t know if you understand that this list was complimenting Apple. The Installer app is phenomenal, and miles ahead of Nokia’s Download! app.
The problem with the Download! app is that Nokia decides what goes in there. It’s not so much of a resource as an on-device sales portal. Whereas with the notion of repositories, ANYONE can set one up, the user simply adds the URL and then is able to easily install the application, and also is alerted of any updates. The iPhone one is the easiest I’ve used, as all you need is the URL to add. I loved it.
I realize this is definitely a short list, it was certainly not meant to be comprehensive. I personally don’t agree that Nokia needs to completely copy or learn Apple’s UI. It’s easy, that’s true, but it’s also a bit TOO simple for my taste, and misses alot of things that users would like to do. Little things here and there.
Nice points, but I will trade all of these 5 improvements and any mentioned above just for the ability to charge the N95 or any other Nokia via the USB connection.
It must cost all of a couple of wires to implement and is THE most frustrating omission of all.
–mco
Great article Ricky, as always, you’re right on the money! I’ve owned an iPhone since they became available in the UK, I honestly think the thing is a revelation - even without 3rd party apps! I’ll be truly amazed if Nokia can reach this level of pure refinment within the next couple of years. So that gives Apple quite a considerable window of opportunity to grab a sizable market share.
As I’ve mentioned before, 2008 is going to be an exciting year in the mobile space, I think we may finally get to see what people value the most, do they want 5+ mega pixel cameras or would they prefer a slick UI? Personally, I want both, which is why I’m typing this on an iPhone, but my N82 is right here, ready to capture video and photos!
Something that should be on the list? The Nokia PC sync/Music Manager software is horrible, the worst. I spent a month with the N75 and finally gave up. I never was able to load my Sandisk microSD card with music, ever. Even the errors themselves were utterly random and inconsistent. I cant tell you how many hours were wasted on try to make advertised features actually work. The contrast was that the Iphone, with minutes of hooking into my computer had loaded eveything, synced it perfectly.
@Robert - I agree 300%. I don’t actually use Nokia’s Music Manager because it’s simply terrible. I have, however, seen a few demos of Nokia’s upcoming desktop application to work in conjunction with the new Music Store, and I’ll say, what I’ve seen thus far could rival iTunes, for the mass market. We’ll see how well it actually goes.
What’s funny, and I wrote about it here: http://www.smstextnews.com/2008/01/02/the_iphone_is_not_the_best_music_phone/
Is that the iPhone, while easily the best phone for getting music ON the phone, is quite possibly one of the worst for being able to ENJOY the music. It’s like Apple got half of the musicphone equation right, and Nokia (with *standard* 3.5mm audio jacks, great stereo speakers, and A2DP) got the other half right. They’re both falling short of a true ‘musicphone’.
I have to disagree also about access point switching. As someone else mentioned, not everyone has unlimited data packages. Part of the convenience of using this feature with the iPhone (natively) is that AT&T/Apple forces you to have an unlimited data package. While this feature is great, it goes right along with every other feature of an Apple product: sacrificing choice for ease.
True, however, one could also argue that Auto AP switching could help manage and reduce cellular data usage. The way the iPhone works, if there’s a WiFi AP in range, it’ll attempt to switch to that before using the EDGE connection.
I do see your point, though, that this could easily run up your bill. I suppose the BEST solution would be to be able to set a monthly data limit on the cellular AP, though I think that is getting a bit beyond.
I imagine with a Nokia implementation of Auto AP switching (as seen in the E-series) one could easily remove the cellular AP, thereby eliminating that threat.
Or even just the option would be nice for those who do have unlimited data. I certainly won’t argue that I don’t want it, but being forced into it isn’t the answer either (just like threaded SMS).
I’m suprised no-one’s mentioned MOSH - Nokia’s Mobilise & Share (software repository) app. Although there’s quite a lot of crap on there, it does provide the option to upload your own content and organise it into ‘collections’. I use it to backup all my .sis files. You can access content direct from your phone, or by sending an SMS download link to your phone from any web browser. As the name suggests, it’s also great for sharing content.
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Jan 26th, 2008 at 1:01 am
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