Nokia Lumia Android. Nokia smartphones on Android: first look

This article is not any kind of PR project; Microsoft and Nokia employees did not participate in its creation. This is the personal opinion of the author who was present at the presentation, the need for which is due to an inadequate perception of the current situation around Nokia X. For some reason, many people preferred to hear only about the fact of using the Android OS and ignore all the other circumstances surrounding the release of Nokia X to the market. I hope this material will allow readers form a more objective impression of what the new Nokia X line is and what goals it pursued Nokia company during its development and launch to the market.

For some reason, many professional journalists reacted with unhealthy excitement to the fact of using Android in Nokia devices, and the formal announcement of smartphones with it was perceived almost as death Windows platforms Phone (although Stephen Elop misspoke twice about what's what). You can argue about the prospects of the new solution, but there is definitely no need to draw far-reaching conclusions about the “victory of Android”, and here’s why.

What is Nokia X, X+, XL

So, there are three devices in the line (the recommended retail price is indicated in brackets):

• (89 euros)
• (99 euros)
• (110 euros)

They stand out for their low price, cheerful design with bright colors and the operating system used. However, let's take a look at the technical characteristics:

Let's add that all three smartphones support working with two SIM cards of Micro-SIM format in Dual mode Standby, i.e. the GSM communication module is used alone. Each smartphone in the X line has: Micro-USB connectors and a 3.5 mm audio jack, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS wireless interfaces and Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n. Smartphones are designed to operate in WCDMA (900, 2100 MHz) and GSM (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz) networks. They support data transmission technologies HSDPA (7.2 Mbit/s), HSUPA (5.76 Mbit/s), EGPRS (236.8 Kbit/s) and GPRS (85.6 Kbit/s).

Against the backdrop of press releases about the configurations of the new flagships, the specifications of Nokia X devices seem downright weak. However, they are quite sufficient for solving basic tasks (especially undemanding users in emerging markets), and the key advantage of smartphones is their low price.

One of the features of the new Nokia X line is the use of Android OS (more precisely, Android Open Source Project OS version 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, hereinafter simply AOSP), which allows you to access a large number of applications and games for this platform, which are either free or very inexpensive. At the same time, new smartphones have their own “tiled” interface (Nokia Glance Screen shell) and do not have Google services, but they are pre-installed Microsoft services(like OneDrive ( former SkyDrive) and Outlook.com mail) and Nokia services (Here maps, MixRadio, etc.), as well as the Yandex Store application store. Thus, the main feature of new smartphones that you need to pay attention to is the interface and services.

The main interface of the Nokia X line is similar to the interface of the Lumia line - the same large tiles with clear schematic icons. There are even rudimentary “live tiles” capabilities. The interface is divided into two parts: the general menu (tiles) and Fastlane (fast strip). Fastlane contains the most frequently used applications (somewhat reminiscent of what was given by Windows default 7 in the Start menu), but the user has the ability to control the application directly from this menu - for example, start listening to music, i.e. this is the simplest and automatically working solution that does not require an active user role.

Second important feature— operation of all Nokia services (we mentioned separately mapping service Here and online radio MixRadio), as well as Microsoft services, primarily OneDrive cloud storage and outlook.com mail. Let me remind you that any service is good because it allows you to integrate content between different devices and platforms, i.e. Nokia X buyers will be tied to online services that are used in Nokia and Microsoft devices, and not Android (the same synchronization of contacts).

However, it was the fact of using the Android OS that was something of a red rag for the bull (despite the fact that “Android isn’t real!”). Why did this happen?

Origins of the problem

At one time, Nokia faced difficult choice. While the company did not develop its Symbian OS, resting on its laurels as a market leader, its competitors were far ahead. Independent development of the system in “catch-up mode” would cost Nokia too much money, effort and time (especially considering the problems with controllability and decision-making in the company). Other existing solutions on the market required serious improvements and huge investments in the ecosystem. The only ready-to-use solution was the OS Google Android, and many people pulled the company in this direction.

However, from a strategic point of view, this decision would be rather a losing one - despite its apparent obviousness. In the Android market there is absolutely terrible competition and a real war between players - with their dead (the same Motorola) and seriously wounded (HTC, Sony). So it’s pointless to hope for calm, progressive development for this market.

True, there are also complaints about the choice of the company’s CEO, Stephen Elop, because the OS Windows Phone(WP), despite all the power of Microsoft, is also developing poorly, especially considering how bright and unusual devices released to the market by Nokia. However, WP is gradually gaining momentum.

Under these conditions, the release of products based on the Android OS was perceived by many as a “betrayal” and a 180-degree turn. However, in reality this is not the case.

Android, but not quite

First, many people somehow overlook or deliberately ignore the fact that Android is not Google's proprietary OS, but an open platform. At one time, Google was forced to take as a basis Linux kernel, so now the entire mobile OS is considered open-source, and anyone can take it and use it, including modifying it for themselves. This is often used by Chinese manufacturers who produce products in the open. free version(AOSP) working with alternative stores applications.

Secondly, the “free” nature of Android is a fairy tale. More precisely, the fruit of successful exploitation by Google PR specialists of enthusiasts’ love for everything “open and free.” Google takes money, it only takes it for using Google services, which constitute a significant part of the value of the system.

Price pressure

It seems that Nokia has exhausted its options for reducing the price of devices based on the Windows Phone OS, and the pinnacle of the price reduction process was the Nokia Lumia 520 smartphone (which, thanks to its low price, is selling well). At the same time, Nokia sees that the demand for obsolete devices in the line remains very high, especially in developing countries. And to abandon this market is madness.

Therefore, the company began to look for ways to make its cheap line more modern, but maintain its main advantage - the price. At the same time, in addition to saving on hardware configuration, it would be good to reduce software costs. And the first candidate is the operating system.

“Young and promising” operating systems like Firefox OS, Sailfish OS or Tizen cannot be used: these are extremely crude platforms for enthusiasts, without a wide range of software and with a large number of flaws. They also need to be seriously invested in, and besides, the instability and limitations of the platform can disappoint users and push them away from Nokia.

Therefore, there is only one candidate left - Android OS. But paying Google money for its services is stupid for two reasons: firstly, the main goal was to save money, and secondly, Nokia has its own developed services, and besides, the company has access to Microsoft services. Under these conditions, a solution simply suggested itself:

1. Take not Google Android, but the base platform, which is open and free - AOSP.
2. Customize it to the Nokia style, including the interface and services.

Despite official statements from the stage that the situation with applications for the Windows Phone OS is progressively improving in quantitative and qualitative terms, even Stephen Elop said that the Android OS has a huge variety of applications, and a significant part of them are free, which is an important advantage for cheap devices and poor emerging markets.

In this regard, the advantage of the new Nokia X smartphones is formulated as follows: “a widespread platform with a wide selection of free applications will allow users from developing regions to get acquainted with the new capabilities of mobile devices and appreciate their benefits.” Yes, there is no access to Google Play, but the company will work with regional online stores, plus, applications can be installed “in other ways.” For example, the Aeroexpress application was used, which is described as “very popular in Russia”; when searching from a phone, a link was given to the Yandex Store application store.

By the way, regarding application compatibility with Nokia platform X, it’s worth giving an explanation here. The Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus single-chip system used uses a dual-core processor with an ARM Cortex-A5 core. This is a very low-cost solution based on ARMv7 architecture. According to Nokia itself, 75% of all available applications for Android are fully compatible with this platform (we're talking about ARM), and the remaining 25% will require minor modifications. To make the modification process simple and convenient, Nokia offers developers to use the tools included in the Nokia X Services SDK. It is stated that porting will not require more than eight hours of working time, even if you have to unlink the application from Google services. To help developers, Nokia has created a special one that analyzes applications for errors and suggests which of them need correction.

The end of Windows Phone OS?

Only in the dreams of fans of other mobile platforms.

I understand that the further we go, the more managers and PR people “shape” reality instead of reflecting it, which gives rise to a completely understandable distrust of their words. However, Stephen Elop emphasized several times that the Lumia line remains Nokia’s flagship line and will continue to develop. And the announcement of new products on the Android platform does not contradict this statement.

By the way, Stephen Elop was immediately asked the question: would the Windows Phone OS become the second “hot platform” after Symbian (with this statement by Stephen Elop, let me remind you, the displacement of Symbian from the market began). In principle, the question itself shows well that journalists think more in terms of military operations than in terms of working with clients. However, the answer is no less interesting: the Android market is too crowded. There are many Chinese manufacturers that produce products based on Android OS, but they have nothing to stand out in the market. Nokia, first of all, offers its own unique set of services, as well as its unique interface and simpler and convenient diagram working with the device.

If we translate this into Russian, then Nokia X buyers don’t really care what OS their phone has. They need an inexpensive, simple and functional smartphone with which they can solve their problems. And Nokia offers them exactly this complete solution, which they will not need to understand.

Finally, if you pick up the Nokia X and turn it around, it doesn't look like Android smartphones. Its interface is designed in the style of the interface Nokia Lumia(i.e. Windows Phone OS), even the beginnings of “live tiles” are available. It works similarly, although the FastLane interface (list recent applications) is significantly simplified, but this way you can use it completely “automatically”, without being distracted from your thoughts.

But the main thing is that I was left with the impression that it is much easier (in terms of interface, services, etc.) to switch from a Nokia X smartphone to a Lumia with Windows Phone OS than to other smartphones based on Android OS. This is the main feature of the new line: it is more integrated with Nokia than with Android.

Total

No matter what anyone says, Nokia X is not an “emergency plan in case Windows Phone fails.” This necessary component line, which has its own specific features. These features must be perceived as a whole, and not cling to one of them (OS) and ignore the rest.

Once again, I urge you to pay attention to the main feature of these smartphones: they are intended for emerging markets. Nokia has the Asha line, which is very popular, but is very outdated. It needs a modern replacement that offers modern capabilities. Moreover, according to Nokia estimates, the market for low-cost smartphones in developing countries will grow four times faster than the smartphone market as a whole. This market should not be missed.

So, what is Nokia X:

• very inexpensive, but smartphone
• simple interface in Nokia style
• Nokia services, Microsoft services
• necessary services built into the OS and ready to use immediately (no need to mess around with configuration)
• Ability to run cheap/free Android applications

It seems to me that most Nokia X buyers will be switching from old primitive push-button mobile phones. In these conditions, simplicity of the interface becomes a very important requirement, along with low price. Services from Nokia and Microsoft will connect users to their ecosystem while teaching them how to use modern technologies. And a wide range of free applications and games is a nice bonus for any cheap device.

Taking into account current market trends and features target audience, which Nokia X is aimed at, it will most likely turn out that free Android applications will indeed become a “bridge to a new world of applications” for those who are just mastering a smartphone, but in the future the familiar interface with “tiles” and a set of Nokia services will play a decisive role +Microsoft.

And then, when choosing the next smartphone, the user will prefer to save his content and access to services (mail, cloud, maps, etc.), rather than a set of applications. And Android... well, Android? An internal platform that few people see and which few people are interested in. No more.

Nokia / Nokia is a Finnish company that until 2011 had the largest share in the global mobile phone market. This success was due to push-button models, however, in the era of smartphones, Nokia has lost its former importance. From 2011 to 2014, Nokia released smartphones under the Lumia frame in the operating room Windows system Phone, but this operating system was not widely used, and therefore the success of Lumia smartphones was not great. In 2014 Nokia company sold its entire mobile phone segment (including the Lumia brand) Microsoft. However, in December 2016, the Finnish company HMD Global, together with Nokia, decided to revive the legendary Nokia brand and bought part of the rights from Microsoft. As a result, in 2017, completely new ones appeared, as well as a new line of Android smartphones: Nokia 2, Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 and Nokia 8.

Nokia 2 - Nokia smartphone with the most powerful battery

The average price is 8,000 rubles. Based on the serial number, this model was supposed to come out first, but was the last of the 2017 models to come out. Today's second Nokiareceived 33% of fives for reviews in Yandex Market and 63% of recommendations for purchase.

Technical characteristics: 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720, Android 7.1 operating system, 8 GB of internal and 1 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB, support for two SIM cards, 8 megapixel main camera, 5 megapixel front camera. Battery capacity 4100 mAh. Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor. As we can see, most of the characteristics are quite weak, but the same cannot be said about the battery: it is even more powerful than the flagship Nokia models 8.

4th place.

Nokia 3

Average price - 9,350 rubles. This model received 24% of five reviews in Yandex Market and 31% of recommendations for purchase.

Technical characteristics: 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720, Android 7.0 operating system, 16 GB of internal and 2 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB, support for one SIM card, 8 MP main camera, 8 MP front camera (with autofocus , which is rare for selfie cameras). Battery capacity 2650 mAh. 4-core MediaTek processor MT6737.

3rd place.

Nokia 5

Average price - 11,690 rubles. This model received 42% of five reviews in Yandex Market and 49% of recommendations for purchase.

Technical characteristics: 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720, Android 7.1 operating system, 16 GB of internal and 2 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB, support for one SIM card. The 13 megapixel main camera has an f/2.0 aperture, dual LED flash, 1.12 micron pixels and phase focusing. The front 8 megapixel camera uses a sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, the size of individual pixels is 1.12 microns. Battery capacity 3000 mAh. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 processor. There is a fingerprint scanner. As we can see, compared to Nokia 3, this model has a slightly larger screen, a better main camera, a larger battery capacity, better processor and there is a fingerprint scanner. With such a significant difference, the cost of Nokia 5 is only 2.3 thousand rubles more.

Nokia 6

The average price in Russia is 14,220 rubles.

This model received 44% of five reviews in Yandex Market and 63% of recommendations for purchase. Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, Android 7.1 operating system, 32 GB of internal and 3 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). The 16 megapixel main camera received phase focusing, dual LED backlight and f/2.0 aperture. The 8 MP front camera has the same aperture. Battery capacity 3000 mAh. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 processor. There is a fingerprint scanner. The differences from Nokia 5 are as follows: bigger screen, Full HD display resolution, twice as much permanent memory and one and a half times as much RAM, better main camera.

Nokia 8 64GB - Nokia smartphone with the best reviews

Average price in Russia - 28 7500 rubles. The model, which went on sale on September 1, 2017, received 53% of five reviews in Yandex Market and 72% of recommendations for purchase.

Technical characteristics: 5.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2560x1440, Android 7.1 operating system, 64 GB of internal and 4 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 256 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). Battery capacity 3090 mAh. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. There is a fingerprint scanner.

Nokia 8 is equipped with a basic dual camera 13 megapixel with color and monochrome sensors, which ensures the merging of two images, as well as a 13 megapixel wide-angle front camera with phase detection autofocus. Both cameras use lenses from ZEISS, a renowned German optics company. This is a kind of response from Huawei, which is developing its cameras flagship smartphones cooperates with the German company Leica.

Nokia 8 is the first phone with built-in support for Nokia OZO 360° surround sound technology, allowing you to record lifelike videos with 3D sound and enjoy flawless playback.

The differences between this model and the Nokia 6 are as follows: higher screen resolution, twice the internal memory and 1 GB more RAM, twice the supported memory card capacity, the presence of a dual main camera and a better front camera.

Rumors about Nokia Android smartphone have been circulating for a long time, they even gave him the quite respectable name “Normandy” and - as an alternative to “X” - and everyone waited with curiosity whether these rumors would come true.

The rumors were even more than justified: instead of one smartphone (with the name, you really guessed right), three were presented: X, X+ and XL. Contrary to assumptions, these are not three powerful models like the Lumia 820, 920 and 1020, but three modest ones budget smartphone, which fill the niche of inexpensive Nokia devices (like Asha). Not entirely correct. The X line took a place between Asha and Lumia. They were presented at MWC 2014 by former Nokia director Stephen Elop.

Android is no Google

The smartphones - all three - fall into the budget category, so don't expect eight-core processors or high five-digit AnTuTu scores from them. The price starts from 89 euros (in Russia it is still unknown, especially due to the jumping euro exchange rate) for model X, which can already be purchased, the other two will be available a little later, and the price for them differs slightly: model X+ costs 99 euros, XL – 109 euros.

Nokia X has a four-inch IPS display with a resolution of 800x480 pixels, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 200 processor, each core running at 1 GHz, 4 GB of storage and 512 MB of RAM, as well as a 5-megapixel camera without flash and autofocus, no front camera. The device supports dual SIM cards, and there is also a microSD slot to increase the space by another 32 GB (check). Nokia X+ differs from the X model only in the amount of RAM increased to 768 MB. Both smartphones will be sold in six different colors (black, white, red, yellow, light green, blue) - just like the Lumia and Asha series - and also have a 1500 mAh battery with dimensions of 115.5x63x10.4 mm and weight of 128.7 g.

Nokia XL is a little more impressive: it has a five-inch screen, but with the same resolution of 800x480 pixels, 768 MB of RAM, and already two cameras: 2 megapixel front and 5 megapixel rear. The battery here is 2000 mAh, and the dimensions are 141.4x77.7x10.9 mm with a considerable weight of 190 g.

All three support Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, and A-GPS.

The shops

I suggest not starting with the negative, but focusing on Nokia.Store and Yandex.Store

Probably the biggest disappointment for users is that Nokia does not provide access to the standard store on its new devices. Google Android apps Play. Instead, customers are invited to use their own Nokia Store, as well as the newly-minted Yandex.Store, which we wrote about not so long ago in an article about new shell Yandex.Kit. Yandex.Store now has about 100 thousand applications; it is the same greatly reduced Google Play, only under the name of Yandex and with the addition of applications to it separately.

As the developers say, adding applications is simple - when publishing an application through a certain service, it is enough to give consent to publication in Yandex.Store. Interestingly, this is really not only for Russia: this bunch stores operates in general and in other markets. By the way, everything will not necessarily be limited to Yandex - other partners will most likely appear in the future.

But there is good news: since this is Android, you can install the desired application via an APK container, which, by the way, works even in the case of another country. This option may be useful in any case; However, if an application installed in this way uses some Google services like maps, requires you to make in-game purchases, record achievements, and share with them - in general, such applications will not work normally.

Second good news– applications in the company store are only available for free, because there are no paid ones yet. This can be explained by the fact that gadgets are aimed at developing third world countries, where the purchasing power of the population is traditionally lower.

Operator on the line

The store is actually only part of the picture. The complete one begins with the information that Android 4.1 is used as the operating system, which is complemented by the proprietary Nokia X Software Platform shell, based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). These budget devices have Google services ( Google Search, already mentioned Play Store, Google Maps, Drive, etc.) are replaced by Microsoft services (Bing Search, Nokia Store & Yandex.Store, HERE Maps, One Drive storage, etc.) or their analogues from third parties. In general, they took the minimum from Google and replaced the rest with almost everything of their own.

Interface branded shell is very similar to Windows Phone, since it uses the same tiled “ideology”, but does not copy it completely (and it would be impossible). But we can also find a reference to Asha here: the Fastlane tab, where notifications, recently performed actions and running applications are shown in chronological order.

Also, of course, the new smartphones of the X line can be called very tasty candy for customizers, since if they have the opportunity to unlock the device, they may be able to install some of the popular firmware on it and evaluate the delicious new items full program on the other side.

Dry residue

Smartphones will appear in different countries in Europe and Asia, and possibly in Latin America. The USA and other advanced countries will be deprived of the happiness of seeing new Finnish devices on their shelves. The low price of smartphones suggests that they may be offered free of charge from a number of European operators along with a contract. Nokia X, by the way, is already on sale in a number of countries - since February 24.

Formally, we can consider that Nokia has relaunched the Asha line with more modern devices. And at the same time, X-models are much more functional than similar-priced Asha-devices, which is due to open platform Android. Here you can see another plus: the functionality of the system is noticeably wider than that of Asha.

On the other hand, there are still few applications in stores - all of them, in total. There is enough for everyday needs, but there is nothing more specific (primarily games - serious ones won’t even start, but there are no frivolous ones yet). Actually, the new Nokia smartphones will not be able to handle heavy applications; this is an ultra-budget segment. They will compete with various Chinese nonames like Keneksi or the semi-Chinese Fly, and with everything else, one cannot help but admit that Nokia will definitely win over them, first of all, with its brand and the additional features that it offers. Alone maps HERE Maps are worth it. But - at the same time, we keep in mind the relatively weak configuration and understand what can be launched and what is better not worth it.

As for positioning, it is unlikely that new products will displace budget ones Windows solutions Phone 8 – we mean Windpws smartphones, starting with Lumia 520. The point here is that the price of X gadgets is noticeably lower, and also that the ideology of the systems is still fundamentally different. Rather, what we can say here is that the lineup X complements the line of other Nokia smartphones with ultra-low-cost solutions, thus completing it and ultimately representing the company in all market segments, from ultra-cheap to super flagships. True, on different operating systems - but this is not very significant, especially since they are all made in the same style.

This decision is, in principle, correct: the line * does not discredit Windows Phone 8 with too cheap solutions and makes it possible to displace already established, not very quality smartphones other, less famous manufacturers. And at the same time, complementing its “Android-like” OS partially with solutions from “adult” smartphones under Windows control Phone 8 (try to find a full-fledged navigation system in such ultra-budget devices of some Fly). Although in some ways the devices have something in common with Microsoft product– take, for example, the “tiled” interface of the new OS from Nokia, which has something in common with Windows Phone and in some way creates a foundation for the user to switch to a more expensive option.

Therefore, for the “about 100 euro” segment, the decision is completely justified. The X-line does not compete with WP8 and does not take away sales from itself, but adds its own devices from brands that have long proven themselves to be good in Russia (and even similar to the more expensive Lumia), as before.

RUB 5,970

Smartphone Nokia 2 Dual sim Copper

Video frequency 30 fps. Screen size 5.0 inches. For 2 SIM cards. Video resolution - 1280x720. Battery capacity 4100 mAh. Memory card slot - microSD. . With auto-rotate screen. SIM card type - nano SIM. Camera 8.0 Mpx. The case is classic. With radio. Touch screen type - capacitive. With a digital video camera. With Multitouch. Screen resolution - 720x1280. Front-camera 5 Mpx. With GPS. Waterproof. Type - smartphone. The size of the built-in memory is 8 Gb. Max. memory card capacity 128 GB. With mp3 player. Screen manufacturing technology - S-IPS. Weight: 145 g. Dimensions 143.5x71.3x9.3 mm.