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Video: Nearest Tube iPhone app augments reality with directions

by Vladislav Savov posted Jul 7th 2009 @ 8:06AM

Augmented reality applications to this point could be best categorized as tantalizing to the mind, but otherwise pointless. Thankfully, it seems as if that's no longer the case. AcrossAir, a nascent app builder for the iPhone, has conjured up a slickly executed digital guidance application that augments video with real-time distance and directions to the nearest subway station. With the iPhone 3GS pimping an improved camera, inbuilt compass and GPS, we had a hunch that it wouldn't be long before someone slammed them all together and gave commuters and tourists alike a reason to smile. Presently only capable of serving up directions in London, this app should find plenty of user interest that will hopefully drive its development for other metropolises around the world. Click through to check it out for yourself, and expect to see it ready for download as soon as someone (or something) at Cupertino decides to start approving live video programs. Any day now, Apple...

[Via Tokyo-Genki]

Continue reading Video: Nearest Tube iPhone app augments reality with directions

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic gets its first firmware update: aww!

by Darren Murph posted Feb 9th 2009 @ 3:59PM

It's always a momentous occasion when a hot-as-white-fire handset sees its first firmware update, but the latest package -- designed to get your 5800 XpressMusic up to v20.0.0.12 -- is way more than just cute. Available now for downloading, the update adds in camera photo geotagging, full device search and marginally faster operation overall. Users can opt for an OTA update or the traditional PC Suite approach, and if you're somewhat terrified about engaging in either, just take a deep breath, hit the read link, and follow the instructions. We swear it'll be alright.

Nokia ships one millionth 5800 XpressMusic, does a little dance

by Darren Murph posted Jan 23rd 2009 @ 2:53PM

Okay, so we're going on the assumption that the 500,000 figure uttered by Nokia CEO Olli Pekka Kallasvuo during this week's Q4 earnings call was a touch old -- you know, considering that the outfit is now trumpeting the shipment of a cool million. Following a (very!) successful UK launch, Nokia has just shipped its one millionth Tube, which is the handset maker's first mass market touchscreen device. And to think -- it hasn't even debuted in many corners of the globe yet.

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic bundled with Shure SE210 earphones in Hong Kong

by Darren Murph posted Dec 19th 2008 @ 1:19PM

As you can probably tell from the naming convention used on Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic, this here phone was designed with music playback in mind. Shocking, we know. That being the case, we're not surprised to see this here Nokia / Shure bundle surface in Hong Kong, and honestly, we're a little surprised it took this long. The special edition kit will come packaged with one handset and one set of Shure SE210 earphones, and it's expected to go on sale today for around $620. Too bad you'll have to jet to Hong Kong and drop by the currency conversion joint to actually snag one.

[Via The Nokia 5800 Blog]

European Nokia 5800 XpressMusic now available at Chicago flagship store

by Darren Murph posted Dec 14th 2008 @ 5:31PM

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic (or the Tube, as we prefer to say) has been on sale in certain corners of the globe for a few weeks now, but the touchscreen-heavy handset has just now made itself to US soil. Sadly, it lacks the support necessary for US 3G data, but those who simply cannot wait another day can hop a flight to O'Hare (or Midway, if you please) and snap up one of the Euro versions at the Chicago flagship store. 'Course, you'll get the US warranty and all, and you'll only be asked to hand over $349.99 to take one home. As of now, only the blue variant is in stock, and the NYC store is still waiting for shipment.

Update: It's available at the New York City store as well, so get your (European) S60 5.0 on, won't you?

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic goes on sale somewhere in the world

by Joshua Topolsky posted Nov 27th 2008 @ 9:55AM

If you've been gritting your teeth and letting the PR onslaught of the iPhone 3G, Storm, and G1 knock you around as you waited for Nokia's entry into the widescreen, touchscreen superphone market -- that wait appears to be nearing it's end. Nokia has gone and gotten all official and release-y with it's anticipated (if somewhat disappointing) 5800 XpressMusic... or as we know it, the Tube. According to the company's PR, the device "is now, or will be soon" available in Russia, Spain, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Finland, "among others." If you'll recall, the phone boasts a 3.2-inch, 16:9 resistive touchscreen (hey, they throw in a guitar pick stylus), a 3.2-megapixel camera, 8GB of on-board storage, and the constant assurance that you're using a phone once called the Tube. No word on price or plans, but we expect cheap, and lots.

[Thanks, Pdexter]

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic gets examined in-depth

by Donald Melanson posted Nov 4th 2008 @ 10:30PM

We already caught sight of one early review of Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic handset a little while back, but if you're looking for something more to whet your appetite you may want to head on over to All About Symbian, which has an expectedly exhaustive look at the touchscreen phone. That naturally includes plenty of pics of the device and its interface, although the site is reserving its final conclusion for part two of the review, which is promised "soon." That's not to say there aren't plenty of impressions to be found though, including word that the device's build quality seems solid despite its plastic construction, and that the device's resistive touchscreen is "extremely good" compared to other resistive touchscreens (it also seems to have been improved compared to earlier Tube pre-production models). Still on the fence? Then hit up the read link below for more.

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic gets reviewed, coddled

by Darren Murph posted Oct 9th 2008 @ 7:33AM

Given that most of the world won't see Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic until 2009, you may be better off just forcing yourself to overlook this here review until you can snag one without importing. If you're just too impatient for all that, however, you should know that an early critique of the affectionately dubbed Tube deemed it mighty impressive. Call quality was solid, the OS was stable in most areas, and the display was a joy to look at and interact with. In fact, reviewers had a difficult time finding anything exceptionally negative to say, noting that this is the handset for anyone after a "well-rounded, do-it-all solution." It was also made clear that this phone and the iPhone were really two different animals not worth comparing (advantage, Tube), but that didn't stop critics from confessing that the 5800 packs an "unparalleled price / quality ratio that changes the rules for all phone makers out there, including Nokia itself."

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic to mature markets: see you in 2009

by Darren Murph posted Oct 6th 2008 @ 3:19PM

The Foundations said it best in their 1968 classic, but seriously, why let us down like this? Nokia didn't mind busting out a litany of press shots and all the specifications one could need to get amped up about the 5800 XpressMusic, but it obviously has something holding it back from launching in "mature markets" before 2009. In an announcement that's just as disappointing to the suits in Espoo as it is to those in North America and Down Under (just to name a couple), we've now learned that the touchscreen-dominated handset will only be available in seven countries in Asia, the Middle East and Europe before 2009 dawns. Even worse? Not knowing how deep into next year we'll have to wait for this thing here in the US of A. Catch our feelings spelled out in video form after the break.

Continue reading Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic to mature markets: see you in 2009

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic phone intimately detailed on video

by Joshua Topolsky posted Oct 2nd 2008 @ 3:02PM

If you've been enjoying those still pictures of Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic touchscreen phone, but feel you're lacking an in-depth experience, we think we can help. A slew of demo and instruction videos have just been slapped up on the Ovi Share site, allowing you to get a better idea of just how the device works, and what it looks like when it's doing it. Luckily for you, we've taken the trouble of including all of the videos after the break for your viewing pleasure, saving you the painful and laborious experience of hitting a read link. Enjoy.

[Via Cellpassion]

Continue reading Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic phone intimately detailed on video

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 2nd 2008 @ 12:30PM

While it may not be Nokia's first touchscreen phone (anyone out there remember the 7710?), the 5800 XpressMusic is certainly the first to come out of Finland with a mainstream appeal. What we've alternately known as the "Tube" throughout much of its development cycle is the first production device to run S60 5th Edition -- the fourth major overhaul of Nokia's ubiquitous smartphone platform since 2002 and the first to support fingers, styli, and high-res displays. Speaking of high-res displays, the 5800 comes equipped with an impressive 3.2-inch 640 x 360 resistive touchscreen to go along with its 3.2-megapixel autofocus cam, Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash, GPS, WiFi, 3.5mm jack, and a microSD slot with support for 16GB cards. It'll be available in three versions -- European HSDPA, North American HSDPA, and GSM only -- and ships this quarter in black, red, and blue for €279 (about $392) unlocked with an 8GB card thrown in for good measure. Music fans with voracious appetites for new tunes might want to hold out, though, for the Comes With Music-equipped version that follows on "early next year" at a to-be-announced price.

Gallery: The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Reuters: October 2nd is go for Nokia Tube launch

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 26th 2008 @ 5:17AM

October 2nd: mark it down 'cause Reuters says that's the date that Nokia will launch its Nokia Tube -- aka, 5800 XpressMusic. According to a pair of industry sources, Nokia will launch the much anticipated, long overdue, S60 touchscreen device at a media and analyst event in London -- exactly as Pocket-lint's source told us earlier. All that's left now is for the invites to be distributed.

Nokia 5800 Tube press shot leaks into the wilds

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 24th 2008 @ 8:42AM

One day after Google goes touchscreen, along comes what looks to be an official press shot of Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic -- aka, the Tube. No new details here, though Nokia appears to have cleaned up the industrial design around the buttons of some of those earlier prototypes we've seen. October 2nd looks like the date that we'll finally get our fill of the first S60 Touch handset. Though given the number of leaks and rabid competition Nokia faces in the touchscreen OS space -- our appetite for this device might be quickly satiated.

[Via unwired view]

Nokia's XpressMusic 5800 Tube launching October 2nd?

by Darren Murph posted Sep 23rd 2008 @ 5:38PM

Okay, so first we heard that Nokia's Comes with Music service would be good and ready by October 2nd. Then we heard October 17th. Now, a certain "anonymous industry source" has revealed that the long-awaited XpressMusic 5800 (or the Tube, as it were) will be launching on the 2nd of next month. With so much conflicting evidence out and about, we're firmly in "wait and see" mode at this point, and considering that "launch" gives no indication of a ship date, we reckon you're better off doing the same.

[Thanks, Mikkel]

Nokia 5800 "Tube" rolling into Britannia next month?

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 9th 2008 @ 9:29AM

Ah yeah, that's right -- wasn't Nokia supposed to be coming out with a touchscreen smartphone at some point? Citing an unnamed source, a delightfully unsubstantiated rumor has popped up on Just Another Mobile Phone Blog claiming that Nokia's first S60 Touch device, the 5800, will get a British launch just a month from now on October 8. Given Nokia's historically epic spans between announcement and launch, putting a device on retail shelves that hasn't even been revealed yet in just four short weeks seems improbable -- but on the flip, we can certainly imagine Espoo wanting this one available in plenty of time for the holidays. Our fingers remain firmly crossed, both for an October release and for a right-quick unlock and ship across the pond.

[Via Engadget Spanish]