OK so I’ve  haven’t written a full review of the 5800 yet but that will be coming soon. However I have as of yesterday been able to update to the latest firmware v20.0.0.12 using the Nokia PC Suite, it didn’t want to play via FOTA.

Its a good improvement, there are new features about and its certainly quicker than it was before. And with it I’ve been able to get loads of new applications and games that wouldn’t work before.

Changelog

• “Faster touch-screen input” (the phone is generally more responsive)
• “Faster internet data download times”
• Geotagging information now available in Camera (finally), plus photo taking now possible with the front (secondary) camera.
• Dictionary application added, with support for multiple languages (as first seen on E66 and E71).
• “Improved e-mail experience” (this includes improved scheduled email retreival)
• App. update application added (as first seen on N85 and N79) – this is used to update individual Nokia applications outside of firmware updates.
• General operation seems smoother, better performance is various applications, including Gallery, plus screen rotations are faster.
• Playing back Flash/FLVvideos had less hiccups, especially on YouTube, where Web on the 5800 now becomes almost as good as a dedicated YouTube client, there’s an article on this coming from Steve shortly…
• ‘Search’ on the standby screen now searches phone content as well as on the Internet
• Cosmetic effects added, especially in Gallery when switching orientation
• Support for OMA DRM, enabling BBC iPlayer programme downloads and other future applications
• The usual litany of small bug fixes.

View on the Nokia 5800 and getting applications

If you want a good place to get some S60v5 software for the phone give Daily Mobile a click. There are also loads of good new themes for the phone as well.

As for the phone itself I’m really impressed so far, battery life is brilliant even with bluetooth left on all the time. Surfing on the phone is very fast and the screen excellent. The software is starting to come and with it being the same as the N97that’s only set to accelerate, the future of the phone and the format is looking very positive indeed.

Its out on the 26th of January 2009, isn’t it? Well yes and no… I’ve looked at several places and some are indeed getting it on the 26th of Jan one a little sooner, but not for £249. Oh no they are £335 but thats £85 more than you can get it from Nokia.

But Nokia aren’t supplying it direct until the 23rd of February, so what good is saying it will be released on the 26th of Jan. Now I know this is a little rant, but come on Nokia, if Apple can get the iPhone across the globe in a week and flooded into stores I’m sure your supply chain can do the same and if not sort it out. Its things like this that mean you are losing market share hand over fist.

Oh and when will the 5800 be out on T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2 and Orange is anyones guess some say it could be early Feb but I can’t find any solid info. If anyone is reading this and does know comment away please.

So they announced the 5800 with a big fanfare and great it looked to. But then the news slowly started to filter through that it wasn’t going to be out in the forth quarter after all, at least not in the UK.

But after a bit of hunting and a chat with someone in Nokia the 5800 is going to be released in the UK on the….. wait for it, 26th of January 2009. I hope everyone in Russia and Spain are enjoying it and why the UK has to endure such a delay I will never know.

It begs the question why can’t Nokia announce a handset and get it on sale within a couple of weeks like apple manage with the iPhone? We can but hope.

Oh and as we are mentioning release dates the N97 isn’t going to be out until May at the earliest and most likely June, that’s unless it slips or they release it into other markets first.

Well look what Nokia have just announced. The all new top of the range Nokia N97 complete with 3.5″ 640×360 screen, 5Mpix carl Zeiss camera and qwerty keyboard in a package just about the same size as an iPhone. But how does this sound as a quote from the press release, “From the desktop to the laptop and now to your pocket, the Nokia N97 is the most powerful, multi-sensory mobile computer in existence,” said Jonas Geust, Vice President, heading Nokia Nseries, it can’t arrive quick enough.

Sizing compared to iPhone.

Phone: 115 mm x 61 mm x 11 mm
iPhone 3G: 115.5 mm x 62.1 mm x 12.3 mm
Nokia N97: 117.2 mm x 55.3 mm x 15.9 mm

Not enough.., then how does 37hrs of music playback or 4.5 hrs of movie playback, so its got great battery life. The screen is 16×9 and pretty good resolution and with a cracking form factor, 32Gb of installed memory, this could be the phone to have in the first half of 09 when it should be released. I think I’m going to get one.

Update: Found a link to the full spec sheet – Enjoy – N97 Full spec sheet.

Well who would have thought it Nokia has delayed the release of the 5800 Xpressmusic phone. Its set to take a bit of the fight to the iPhone, but at the bottom end of the market segment not the high end that the iPhone currently has all sown up.

But if you were hoping to get it before Christmas in the UK then you are out of luck, get something else I think Nokia will be hoping its one of the premium models like the N96 that just really don’t cut it. I can’t say that I’m not frustrated about the delay because I am. I mean they have already released it in Spain and Russia, lets hope they do some good work beta testing it for us to iron out the bugs before it comes to the UK, its the only solace I can take from it at the moment.

So if you don’t want an iPhone, don’t like Windows Mobile and think the G1 is satans child but do want a touch screen phone then you are going to have to wait until 2009 to get your hands on a Nokia 5800, bar humbug.

Nokias Junior iPhone rival slated for 2009 release

I’ve mentioned already that I want, no need a new phone but still haven’t decided which one to get. The iPhone is great but well everyone has one and I want to be different. The HTC Touch HD is a cracking phone but as I’m on the T-mobile network and have a discount I’d like to stay with them so that would mean getting it sim free.

But in the current climate spending £544 at Expansys is a little steep a new contract is an outside option but I really can’t be bothered with the hassle of leaving T-mobile to come back.

So onto the all new Nokia 5800 (not Tube remember), its got pretty much everything that I’m looking for. A decent touch screen, at 640×360 its got that, WiFi, HSDPA and I don’t want it too big. I don’t have huge pockets so I don’t want something that’s as wide as a laptop either and I do want it to feel nice in my hand and be able to hold it easily.

Oh and last but by no means least, good battery life. Why is it that people are happy to have a phone that only lasts a day…. well I’m sorry but thats just not good enough. The 5800 looks like its got a great battery life and some good apps in a great package that will hopefully be pretty cheap. So when is it out in the UK, no idea, December is still a possibility but its looking likely that its not until next year. If you are in Spain you have a week to wait, I hope you enjoy it. I will report back when I get mine and do a full review.

If you fancy reading a bit more he a look over at MobileBurn.com’s 5800 review

We all have this dilemma every 12 to 18 months when our contract is up and you fancy something new. My trusty Sony Ericsson has had its time and I fancy getting one of the new crop of full screen phones. But which one?

The ever popular iPhone is in the running but I just don’t think I can cope with the often sub 24hr battery life that most people seem to suffer from, yes it looks great and everything and it has loads of apps but its just not doing it for me. The new Blackberry Storm looks interesting but it lacks a few key features that I’m looking for.

So that leaves me with either the new HTC Touch HD or the Tube opps sorry Nokia 5800. Now one is very expensive even as an upgrade thats if your network has it and T-Mobile doesn’t (No the G1 isn’t an option) and the other should be cheaper but it might not be out until next year.

Choices choices I will report back when things get closer.