The TV out feature on many of the Nokia N series handsets is extremely useful.  It was first available on the Nokia N95 and since then has popped up on many of the higher end N series handsets.

I have recently been using it to make instructional videos for Emoze (a client of mine) demonstrating how to install their push email client on to handsets.  TV out is a feature that I think is quite under utilized but has a great deal of potential.  I wish Nokia would include it in their E series of phones also seeing as it would make a great presentation tool.

Do you use TV out?  If you do how do you use it?

I was visiting CTIA last week in Las Vegas and got reintroduced to the Nokia E75.  I was handed a brand new topaz colored handset.  I was told I needed to update the firmware on it before I should start using it but do you think I was going to wait till later that afternoon to play, NO WAY.  So I started in with it and set up my email and started downloading apps.  I instantly fell in love.  It was pretty good from the get go but figured I shouldn’t install to much because I would have to update the firmware and have to start over fresh.  Well low and behold when I got the updated firmware every single app was still right where I left it.  That was a very nice way to start this new and enjoyable relationship.

The first thing I did when I got the E75 was start playing with the slide out QWERTY keyboard.  It’s pretty good.  The slide itself is rock solid.  The E75 is a true E series in terms of strength and it gives you a great feeling in your hand.  I also learned that it is supposed to be the evolution of the E90 Communicator.

For me one of the exciting new additions with S60 3rd edition feature pack 2 is a really strong new email app.  Well it’s much nicer then the old one but not as nice as I expected.  I have been using Emoze and it is better then the built in email app. Don’t get me wrong, the built in app is not bad or lacking by any means, it just doesn’t seem as polished as it could be.

Some of the things I really like about the E75:

• Tri band 3G and quad band GSM radios. Meaning both the European and North American (NAM) versions will work in most countries around the world.
• Camera has dedicated shutter button that also acts to start the camera (a bit slow to start but it works).
• Ovi Contacts (Ovi instant messenger) appears on the home screen when downloaded and activated.
• I can go to either of my 2 emails I have on the phone directly from the home screen by highlighting that account versus going to just my default account or the email home screen which lists both accounts.
• The user interface (UI) is pretty snappy and nicely polished.
• The battery life seems like it’s pretty good.  I will have to test it more but I get the feeling it will go the distance.
• The rotation from standard phone interface to having the QWERTY keyboard slid out is nice and fast.
• I really like the fact that the phone can be charged via Micro USB or the traditional prong charger.
• Lastly the handset just feels good.  It has a comfortable and strong feel in your hand.  It’s not plastic feeling at all and has some heft to it.  Along with that fact, I consider this a huge plus, my wife wants it.  She wants to steal it from me.  Her only request was that she get it in white.  Now I know that there’s a white one floating around somewhere so if the white variant doesn’t go to market can my wife have it when your done with it?

Now there are some things I don’t like about this handset also:

• First off and most annoying is the fact that my handset (and I’ve heard at least one other handset also has this problem) is VERY mushy in terms of response when you push the D pad down. I have a real issue with this as it’s one of the most common key presses on phones.  I’m hoping it’s just one or 2 of these handsets and not a whole run of them but it’s something that a buyer needs to keep in mind.
• I don’t find the slide out QWERTY keyboard to be all that pleasurable to type on,  This is a pure preference thing for me, I just prefer the form factor of the Nokia E71.  As far as the keyboard goes though it is very good.  The tactile feedback is nice and so are the keys themselves.  I don’t find I have very many missed key presses in general.
• I have a real problem with Nokia’s decision on their implementation of the predictive text.  Every time I want to use the question mark I need to press the right direction on the Dpad to “disconnect” from the word so an apostrophe doesn’t appear instead of the question mark.  I find this unbelievably annoying and don’t think very much hands on testing of the handset was done.
• This last thing is not a big issue but still and issue.  I don’t like having the red “end” button used as power on and off.

All in all I think the Nokia E75 is an absolute gem of a handset.  It does everything it’s supposed to and does it all VERY well.  There are some new tweaks and additions to it that make it an upgrade from any other E Series and N Series device.  Of course there are some things I don’t like about it but it’s my job to find those things and point them out so you the reader can make an educated purchasing decision without ever holding the handset in your hand.  To help you make that decision I will say that I give this phone a big thumbs up.  I would recommend purchasing it without hesitation to anybody.  Keeping in mind it’s limitations, for example it’s not made for taking pictures.  All in all for someone who does a lot of email or texting it’s a great handset.  It’s also nice to have the dedicated calendar/email buttons and a dedicated stand alone S60 phone on the front.

It’s a great phone and I recommend it.

By Jeb Brilliant
Chief Editor
I had a really nice conversation with Jeff Rice today.  He’s the CEO at DeFi Mobile (disclosure, they provide me with VOIP).  I had some pointed questions I wanted to ask but we started off with what they are up to right now (the good stuff).  First though I should tell you that DeFi is a Mobile VOIP provider, working over wifi networks with a list of thousands it auto connects to and only costs $40/month for unlimited calls.

Now to let the cat out of the bag, DeFi has their app being reviewed by the iPhone people so they can get it into the iPhone App Store.  This is big for people living in the States.  There are many times more iPhones here then Nokia N and E Series devices, so they hope this means that the general public here in the US will start to download DeFi on to their iPhones and get a taste of Mobile VOIP.  And DeFi will be offering all new accounts a 101 free minutes anytime and to anywhere in the world.  So you can call landlines and mobiles.  You will also be able to always call for free other DeFi users, other VOIP providers, iNum #rs, Google Chat folks, and hopefully soon Skype folks.  So that’s what’s going on at the moment with DeFi.

To get started with DeFi once their iPhone app is available you will just have to download it and give them your mobile # and email address and poof your in business.  This is a great opportunity for couples to talk to each other for hours at a time or companies with globally located employees to talk, all for free.  This is just a stepping stone for folks to then pay the $40/month and get flat rate unlimited calls to anybody on any network, anywhere in the world.  Maybe even disrupt the big telcos by lowering your minute plans with them.

One very interesting and important innovation by DeFi is that they are going to be giving out iNum numbers in the future.  This iNum is a very new concept giving people a # geared toward being used around the world and not being chained to a geographic location.

On a side note, Jeff is currently using a Nokia E51, E71 and iPhone.

Thank you to Jeff Rice for his time and Tim Warner for making this happen.

A month or 2 ago I attended a Nokia event at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles.  As is Nokias way, they handed out a cool bag with a few goodies in it.  One of the treats was a MD-6 portable speaker set.  I didn’t think much of it, and put it on my desk to play with in the future.  My buddy Ben attended the event with me and he also got the goodie bag.  Yesterday I was over at Ben’s house and he was listening to his iPod via the portable speakers.  I was thoroughly impressed with the sound quality (not that I’m well versed with this kind of thing) and he had said he was using it all weekend with the stock batteries that came with it.

I was so impressed that as soon as I got home I got my speakers out and connected them to my wifes iPod.  We were listening to music all evening and decided that we would bring the speakers with on our vacation.

The speakers come with converters so they will work with 2.5mm and 3.5mm headphone jacks and definitely work with Nokia phones including the E and N Series.

I can highly recommend the MD-6 mini speakers and look forward to using them a great deal on my family vacation.

I had to reinstall Defi a mobile VOIP application for Nokia E and N series devices that support wifi last week.  So I thought I would record it and show you how easy it is to do.  Unfortunately the only other device I had with me at the time was a Nokia E71 that as you will see does not have the greatest camera.  Honestly the video is less important then the audio and to be see how easy it is to install.  I am putting both videos below for your viewing pleasure.

The first video is  me downloading the Defi application and installing it.

The second video is me again (surprise surprise) downloading the Defi Global applications (all the hotspots for free use).  I believe the total time it took for both apps was about 5 minutes.  Amazing in my opinion.

Anyways, check out Defi and their mobile VOIP for a great and VOIP experience.  It’s $40 for unlimited (3,000 fair use) phone calls to any number mobile or land line around the globe.

I am really enjoying this N95-4 more then I ever imagined. It is my first US 3G device and for what it’s worth, it is SOLID. I don’t have to do many restarts unlike other devices in this family and I can multi task like crazy. The slide is solid and the battery life is significantly better then it’s predecessor the N95-1 (though I still usually kill it before lunch).

My favorite thing about the device is being able to use Truphone over 3G wherever I go. Mobile VOIP is great.

I didn’t actually enjoy this phone until I was using the N82. The N95-4 is just more elegant and business friendly plus the US 3G really helps. It’s no E series device but I like it. My only disappointment is the camera flash but hey, it’s only Nokias flagship device (when it was first released).

All in all I would recommend this device to anybody who can drop the cash on it. It’s absolutely a solid device. If you have any questions about it feel free to ask.

Thank you to WOM World for letting me borrow this device.

This is great news for the Nokia E Series lovers like myself out there. Nokia has added 2 new sibilings to the E Series family in the way of the E66 and the E71. Both have stellar product sheets and here they are, Nokia E66 and Nokia E71.

I was lucky enough to get to play with the E71 a few months back and boy was it a hot piece of kit back then. I can only imagine that it’s gotten more stable. The screen on this baby was being used to it’s fullest extent and not wasted like some of it had been in previous E Series models like the E61, E61i, and E62.

I will add reviews as soon as they go up.