Nokia recently released updates for S60 3rd Edition Fearure Pack 2 devices and S60 5th Edition phones. The updates included an updated NokiaBrowser bumped to version 7.3.1.26, as well as updates to Ovi Maps.

I got my hands on a friend’ss Nokia E72, which is one of the devices benefiting from the updates, and proceded to see what changes exactly were delivered.

Updating OTA
OTA updating was a breeze. The 17MB update file was downloaded and installed without issues. However, after the update, while other applications were able to use my data connection, the new browser just wouldn’t work.

Updating via Ovi Suite
To address this, i decided to reinstall the firmware via ovi Suite. This time, it was a huge file of 196MB. However, after the re-installation, all problems disappeared and everything works fine now.

NokiaBrowser 7.3 in action

While NokiaBrowser 7.3.1.26 for S60 v3 is the same version that ships with Symbian Anna, you need to know upfront that only the performance improvements of the Anna browser are here. Nothing has changed in the user interface, which remains a bit clunky to use.

The new browser is faster in page rendering though, plus it has basic support for HTML 5 (it scores 123 out of 450, beating only the WindowsPhone browser), some support for CSS 3, and JavaScript 1.8. Because there are no UI modifications, there is still no option to open new tabs in the menu, which is a bit disappointing. However, this feature should be available in the new browwser for S60 5th Edition devices, which have touch displays.

However, if you click a link coded to open a new page, new pages do open and you can switch between them.

That’s pretty much what the new browser for Symbian S60 3rd Edition (feature pack 2) is about: significant performance improvements. A commendable effort by Nokia, though I have a nagging feeling that some users would feel unimpressed. Still, let’snot forget that S60 3rd Edition is a much older platform and modifying the UI might not be worth the trouble at this time.

What do you think? Were you expecting more?

Due to be available towards the end of quarter three of this year, Nokia on Monday announced the successor to the highly popular E71 – the Nokia E72.

The Nokia E72 continues the design tradition of the E71 with a candy bar QWERTY keyboard. It also has essentially the same software elements albeit enhanced – s60 third edition feature pack 2. The new kid on the block builds on the success of its predecessor, while at the same time bringing a few new things to the table. The upgrade in my opinion is not in any way revolutionary, rather, it is an incremental one.

This latest E-series device comes equipped with a 5.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash, an upgrade from the 3.2 megapixel camera on the E71.

Nokia has implemented an optical Navi key (track pad) in the centre of the D-pad of the device for a more intuitive and animated scrolling in the menu. While this is new for Nokia E-series, the technology is not new as this has been implemented by Samsung on a few of their devices.

One of the new things that the E72 brings to the table is somewhat of a surprise. There’s now a chat application pre-installed called Ovi Chat that is integrated into the contacts application. What it means is that from the contact menu you can chat on Yahoo and GoogleTalk. This is highly welcome as there will be no need to install a third party application to do chat.

Another surprise that the E72 springs on us is the inclusion of the N-series style image and video gallery. I am truly happy about this as I hope that it marks the end of the old and boring image gallery that E-series owners have been subjected to in the past.

Nokia messaging is on-board out of the box, with support for multiple e-mail accounts. The interesting part is that there is a lifetime license for Nokia messaging on the E72. There is also a life-time license for Ovi Chat.

Other upgrades include a digital compass embedded in the map application, QuickOffice editing suite is now up from the 4.3 version to 5.3 with support for Microsoft office 2007.

Is the E72 a true upgrade from the one year old and very successful E71? While I was hoping for the Symbian foundation OS, I am of the opinion that the E72 has come to take the shine from the E71.

I am not particularly a fan of the Symbian s60 v3-powered Nokia E75 QWERTY slider. So far as I can see, it is a new phone with dated specifications and runs on a dated OS. Sorry Nokia.

Dayo seems to be more compassionate towards the E75. But chalk that up to the fact that he hasn’t got an E90 (a proper communicator), so he can’t tell what a fake looks like. Yes; I’m beefing….

But for the benefit of those who can’t wait to get their hands on it, the E75 is now available in Nigeria, and is selling for around N90, 000 (you can order a piece directly from the Mobility Nigeria phone store and it’ll be delivered to you free; call 08084391076). And if trends over time is anything to go by, it should cost significantly more at the Nokia Store at VI.

Interestingly, the older and certainly original Nokia E90 (probably the last of the communicator clan) costs between N5, 000 and N10, 000 more, and you’ll get a better QWERTY keyboard, more internal memory, and a much better camera (never mind the 3-megapixel count on the E75). Yes; I’m beefing some more…

This claim that the E75 is a decendant of the Communicator family is a joke. Right? Right? Someone please tell me its a joke….

Okay, back to topic, if you want a much slimmer and pocketable device than a 2-year old brick-like communicator, and want to also be able to brag that you use a 2009 device, call 08084391076 right away to place your order and you’ll soon become an object of envy by friends and foes alike. The “Transformers” factor as you switch from candy-bar mode to slide-out QWERTY mode will help too.

Here’s a stunning theme for your s60 3rd edition smartphone from TehkSeven.

Download N86 (Solace)