Guess who's had more fun over the course of the last week playing with a Nokia 7650 than in a long time? That's right; Jørgen Sundgot. Read what the Editor-in-chief makes of it!
The Nokia 7650 is one of the most anticipated products of 2002, and rightly so. The phone incorporates advanced phone capabilities with functionality traditionally found in handhelds, and lets users have a go at it through an interface that can be operated one-handedly. Software can be installed either in the shape of native Symbian OS applications or J2ME applications - and combined, the features make up for a previously unmatched feature set. The total combination is what sets the Nokia 7650 apart from the crowd as an innovative device, and now I'll tell you all that's worth to know about it.
 | The digital camera of the 7650 can only be used when the keypad is extended
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That merry Xmas feeling
As a new and previously unseen type of device, I must admit the Nokia 7650 caused a bit of a tingle when I opened the box. That feeling, however, quickly turned into surprise as I found out that Nokia's new box design had been applied to the 7650 - which resulted in me barely avoiding dropping the 7650 and its accompanying charger on the floor. Its manual, which I later found out was of the usual and impeccable Nokia quality, staid nicely put through my short juggling act. A phew later and some charging, and lo and behold; I had a 7650 to review.
The phone itself has a keypad that slides up behind its main part to protect the lens of the 640 x 480 pixel resolution digital camera. The lens is centered on the back of the phone, and taking pictures is only possible when the keypad is extended. The solution is sturdy, but no substitute when in lack of a hammer. The keypad is otherwise equipped with the normal keys one might expect, as well as an ABC button in the upper left corner that acts as a shortcut for alternating between text input modes and a C button in the upper right corner for erasing text. Tactile feedback is good, and audible alerts can also be configured for key presses.
The main part of the phone is comprised of its excellent 176 x 208 pixel resolution 16-bit TFT display, accompanied by two action buttons directly below the display, and below these a four-way joystick with an press-to-action function, as well as a menu button to the left of the joystick. On the upper part of the front, there's a proximity sensor for switching the loudspeaker function off when the 7650 is lifted to the ear, and a light sensor if the phone is set to automatically adjust the backlight corresponding to the lighting conditions. A button placed far up on the left side of the phone switches the loudspeaker function on or off, and also activates the voice dial function if pressed and held. The power on/off button is placed far up on the right side of the phone, and like other Nokia phones allows a user to switch between 5 profiles or switch the phone off, but also lock the phone with a designated code.
The proximity sensor works well and so does the light sensor, while the tactile feedback on all buttons is good. The joystick is rubber coated and provides a good grip, and also gives good feedback upon being pressed to invoke an action. The audio of GSM phone calls is of standard Nokia quality - not exceptional, but more than good enough. What really shines, however, is the phone's loudspeaker. Not only does it provide good loudspeaker capabilities, but also plays back excellent audio from various applications and games using its Beatnik Audio Engine - and if this doesn't become the new European craze, I don't know what will.
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