The Nokia N8 to this day is one of the best smartphones to come from Nokia, mainly because of its camera. The 12 megapixel camera on the Nokia N8 has been coupled with a Xenon flash and though we have seen it succeeded by the Nokia 808 PureView, we would love to see some of its design philosophies borrowed by modern Windows Phones. The Nokia Lumia 1020 is the latest and greatest from Nokia, with a huge 41 megapixel sensor and PureView technology. So how much has Nokia progressed in their device design and camera department?

First lets check out this video comparison of the Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Nokia N8


While the Nokia N8 does win points for its metal construction, the true test comes down to its photography prowess. So lets take a look at some photo samples from the Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Nokia N8.


Keep in mind that you can take advantage of the #ZoomReinvented feature of the Nokia Lumia 1020 and use the full PureView image to zoom into any area of the picture you want to.


Head over to the source link below for the full resolution images.


source - NokNok

The Nokia N8 features a 3.5 inch touch display, 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded through microSD, a 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and a Xenon Flash for low light photos, 720p HD video capture, a secondary camera for video calls and is powered by a 680MHz processor with 256MB of RAM. The N8 is available in gray, blue, silver, green and orange and is encased in an ultra strong anodized aluminum casing.

The device runs Nokia’s Symbian operating system, which the company has planned to phase out by 2014 in favor of Microsoft’s Windows Phone. However Symbian still remains a popular platform for the modding community and some dedicated developers.

If you want to get a great deal on this smartphone you can get it for just $199.99 with a 50% discount from Amazon as part of the online retailers holiday offers. Find the color which suits you best and you can be a proud owner of the last of Nokia’s N-Series.


The Nokia N8 has since been succeeded by the Nokia 808 PureView and most recently the Nokia Lumia 920, but still remains one of the best camera phones in the market.

The Nokia Lumia 920 has been taking on all comers in an attempt to claim the camera flagship crown. We think its stiffest competition comes from within Nokia’s camp itself when it recently went head to head against the Nokia 808 PureView. Now it’s getting set to take on one of the top camera phones alumni – The Nokia N8.

Watch the photo comparison below and see how they fair against each other.

Low light, distant detail
N8	Lumia 920
Indoors, low lighting, auto flash, human subject
N8	Lumia 920
Very dark, some artificial light, no flash, landscape
N8	Lumia 920

How do you think the Lumia 920 fairs against the Nokia N8? Share your thought in the comments section below. You can check out more image samples and comparison by following the source link.



source – All About Windows Phone

It wasn’t to long ago that Nokia first started rolling out the Belle Refresh update to the first generation of Symbian^3 devices, which include the Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01, Nokia X7, Nokia Oro and the Nokia 500. As you can image the company will have several devices to cover and the first wave of updates have now been completed. Nokia is now reported to have started the second wave of the Belle Refresh update which carries the name ‘Improved Software’ and the 111.040.1511 version number .

The Improved Software update brings more widgets, updated core apps and general performance and usability improvements to the devices. You can perform the update on your devices OTA (Over-the-Air) or by using the Nokia Suite. The update is around 13MB in size and users are advised to backup their data before performing the update.

Also make sure to reboot your device once the update is complete.

The change-log of the Belle Refresh update version 111.040.1511 is as follows

• Web browser is now v8.3.1.4 (was 7.4.2.6 in Belle) and has better HTML5 support
• More clock widgets (digital clock lookalike)
• Other useful widgets: Calendar Agenda view, RSS Widget, Bookmark, Music player Medium size, Weather now, Weather forecast, My location, Facebook, Mobile Data Counter
• Notes widget, for quick access to notes and to create a new one.
• Facelift (of playback controls) and functionality for Music player (split of Albums and Artists at last, implemented with tabbed interface, plus warnings of hearing loss when listening with headphones at high volume) – v17.1.14 (was 17.0.16 in Belle)
• Maps Suite 3.9 built-in (for the full firmware image via Nokia Suite)
• Qt 4.8.0 now built-in
• (for N8 only) Big Screen now built-in
• (for N8 only) DLNA play now built-in
• (for N8 only and only via Nokia Suite full flash) ColorizIt utility built-in
• Numerous assorted fixes and optimisations, including Flash video support – high bitrate videos and content are now handled fine, without crashes

Keep in mind that the update is still in the process of rolling out and may have not reached your particular region. Some components of the update may be applies as individual updates through the Nokia SW Update app.

After you have received the Belle Refresh update, you may also receive some additional updates including the latest version of Microsoft Office for Symbian, the Search app and the Social app.

Have you received the Belle Refresh update for your eligible Symbian device? Leave us a comment below if you have.


source – AllAboutSymbian

Nokia has released the Nokia Belle Refresh software update to their first generation of Symbian^3 devices. The Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01, Nokia X7, Nokia Oro and the Nokia 500 which will receive the software version 111.040.1511, while the Nokia E6 software version will be 111.140.0058.

and brings new widgets, a new web browser, updated media player, better support for flash videos along with general performance and usability improvements.

The Nokia Belle Refresh update brings the following features and improvements to your Symbian smartphones:

• A new browser with HTML5 web apps support, a new set of home-screen widgets, and the previously released Microsoft Office Mobile App and Nokia Maps Suite 2.0 in one package.
• Nokia N8 will have some extra apps for imaging.

The full change-log of the Nokia Belle Refresh (111.140.0058) update is as follows:

• Full HTML5 Support
• Services available also offline

• Use your voice to search – Maps and Drive
• See your photos on Map
• Multi-point routing with the route planner
• Explore cool places nearby, straight from your home screen.
• Public transport integrated with line information and departure times.

• Automatic Contacts linking to Facebook and Twitter
• New home screen widgets
• Improved performance
• Renewed app layout & FB notifications

• Big Screen
• Colorize IT (excl. China)
• PlayTo (home electronics connectivity)
• Gallery widget
• Qt4.8
• Ovi Services branding to Nokia Services
• Updated Nokia Store

• Refreshed ‘Now Playing’ view
• Lists are tabbed for easy access , swipe from one tab to another
• New ‘Artist View’
• Play & pause in pull-down status pane

• Clock, analogue big
• Clock, mechanic
• Clock, text
• Clock, flip
• Calendar, agenda view
• RSS widget
• Bookmark
• Contact, individual (Social upgrades)
• Contact, Group (group support upgrade)
• Music Player, medium
• Weather, now
• Weather forecast
• My Location
• Social widget
• Facebook, summary
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Mobile data counter
• Search
• Email, new arrival
• Gallery
• Notes
• Email, detailed

• 2G/3G
• Offline
• Silent
• BT on/off
• Cellular data on/off

Check out the following video demo of the Nokia Belle Refresh update running on the Nokia N8

• Full HTML5 Support
• Services available also offline

Nokia Maps Suite 3.09 - available via IAD in case of FOTA update

• Use your voice to search - Maps and Drive
• See your photos on Map
• Multi-point routing with the route planner
• Explore cool places nearby, straight from your home screen.
• Public transport integrated with line information and departure times.

Social 1.5 - available via IAD in case of FOTA update

• Automatic Contacts linking to Facebook and Twitter
• New home screen widgets
• Improved performance
• Renewed app layout & FB notifications

N8 Imaging Update

• Big Screen
• Colorize IT (excl. China)
• PlayTo (home electronics connectivity)
• Gallery widget
• Qt4.8
• Ovi Services branding to Nokia Services
• Updated Nokia Store

Improved music player

• Refreshed 'Now Playing' view
• Lists are tabbed for easy access , swipe from one tab to another
• New 'Artist View'
• Play & pause in pull-down status pane

New widgets

• Clock, analogue big
• Clock, mechanic
• Clock, text
• Clock, flip
• Calendar, agenda view
• RSS widget
• Bookmark
• Contact, individual (Social upgrades)
• Contact, Group (group support upgrade)
• Music Player, medium
• Weather, now
• Weather forecast
• My Location
• Social widget
• Facebook, summary
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Mobile data counter
• Search
• Email, new arrival
• Gallery
• Notes
• Email, detailed

Toggles

• 2G/3G
• Offline
• Silent
• BT on/off
• Cellular data on/off

[NOTE] Certain apps may stop working after the update due to compatibility issues. You will have to update these apps through the Nokia Store.

A new firmware update (111.40.805) has appeared on Navifirm for the Nokia N8. While we aren't certain on what new features are available in the new firmware, it appears to be the much awaited Belle Refresh update for the Nokia N8.

As you may already know the first generation Nokia Symbian^3 devices are set to receive an update titled Belle Refresh Update instead of the Nokia Belle FP1 or newer updates which will be available for the latest devices.

If you own a Nokia N8, Live in a region where the update is available and want to brave the opportunity to install this new update, you can check out the source link on how you can get your hands on this update.




source – DailyMobile

When it comes to photography there is no question that the Nokia 808 PureView is in a league of its own, but what happens when you compare video capturing between the top smartphones?

Check out the following video sample comparison between the Nokia N8, Sony Xperia S, Samsung Galaxy S III and the Nokia 808 PureView


The Nokia N8 features a 12 megapixel camera which is capable of capturing 720p HD video at 30fps. T

The Sony Xperia S also features a 12 megapixel camera but is capable of capturing 1080p HD at 30fps and features continuous auto-focus and video stabilization.

The Samsung Galaxy S III has an 8 megapixel camera which is capable of capturing 1080p HD at 30fps and allows simultaneous capturing of HD video and images.

The Nokia 808 PureView has a 41 megapixel camera which is capable of capturing 1080p HD at 30 fps and features lossless digital zoom courtesy of its huge image sensor.

There was no doubt that the 808 Pureview will stand out in this test with its larger image sensor, but what surprised us was while both the Xperia S and the Galaxy S III boasted 1080p video recording like the 808 Pureview, it was the N8 with its 720p video recording which takes second place in our eyes. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.

 

The following screenshots show off the update to have software version 111.040 dated 16-0502012 and a new browser which is even newer than the version (8.3) available on Belle FP1.
 

The screenshots also show off a new clock widgets and the widgets available in the Belle FP1 update.



The music player has received a visual update and allows you to sort between Artists, Albums and Songs.
 

Unlike Nokia Belle FP1 the notifications and activities are not grouped on the notification bar.



The report suggest that the update is still under development and that we could expect more changes before it is made available to the public.

source – UnleashThePhone

If you own a Nokia N8, you know you probably own one of the best camera phones in the market today. But Nokia has its successor - the Nokia 808 PureView is all set to launch in May and it boasts specs which make all modern camera phones feel like toys. So will you be upgrading your Nokia N8 with a brand new 808 Pureview when it launches ?

The following video comparison of the two devices may help you decide.



Both handsets run Nokia (Symbian) Belle OS but the 808 PureView has an updated feature pack 1 software on board. The faster processor and increased memory on the latter also provides a faster overall user experience. The larger crisp display on the 808 PureView thanks to the ClearBlack display technology makes it more appealing to the eyes.

Unfortunately the video only demonstrates the physical comparison between the two devices and doesn’t help us answer our biggest question. How much better is the 808 PureView camera compared to the current camera flagship - The Nokia N8.

As a camera phone the PureView (at least on paper) promises to awe, but will the lack of apps on the Nokia Store continue to turn users away. Given that Nokia promises the PureView camera technology will make its way to Nokia Windows Phones.

The Nokia N8 which is more than 15 months old, still rules the roost as top camera phone according to a review done by TechRadar. Nokia has continued to support their flagship cameraphone first with the Symbian Anna update which will soon be followed by Symbian Belle.
It's swift, so easy to use that a technophobic penguin could operate it and offers great pictures on the fly. It might not give you the absolute maximum a cameraphone can muster in every scenario, but it's a jack of all scenes and a master of many of them too.

The Symbian Belle update for the Nokia N8 is now available on Navifirm. Nokia previously aimed at releasing this update by the end of this year but have since announced that the Symbian Belle update will only be available in 2012.

Does the fact that this version has appeared on Navifirm, which is an official Nokia resource mean that Symbian Belle is ready for release?

Navifirm is a resource which allows you to unofficially download and install the latest (official) firmware on your Nokia Symbian devices.

The Nokia N8 along with the Nokia E7, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01 and Nokia 500 are in line to receive Symbian Belle which brings a lot of the modern smartphone features like a notification tray and multiple home-screens to the Symbian platform.

The Symbian Anna update which was released last week offers some great improvements which include continuous auto-focus and 30fps HD video capture. We can be sure that the N8 will continue to see more updates through Symbian Belle which may go public in a few days.

The Symbian Anna update has finally started rolling out for the Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia C7 and the Nokia C6-01 in key European and Asian markets including UK, France, Italy and India.

1. Improved text input usability through the introduction of a portrait QWERTY keyboard and widespread use of split screen input. Split screen overlays text entry input boxes on existing screen elements and works in both portrait and landscape orientations. For example, in Maps a search can be entered and auto-completed results seen as you enter text. Similarly, in Messaging, when you reply to a message in Conversations view you can see previous messages in the thread.
2. Updated Web application with a more intuitive user interface and faster performance. This includes a standard location for the address bar at the top of the page (with improved auto-complete, which benefits from the new split screen text entry), visual back button accessible at all times (bottom left), and a redesigned and more responsive 'quick menu access' floating button. Performance of page rendering has been improved, with an updated version of WebKit and improved scrolling and page navigation performance. The Web application continues to be based on the Symbian WebKit code base.
3. New fresh icons, delivered as part of a new theme. The icons are derived from the existing icongraphy, but with rounded edges, giving a more contemporary look and feel.
4. Draggable homescreen, making moving between homescreens more intuitive. Widgets now load on a as-needed basis, improving performance and reducing the amount of memory used.
5. Ovi Maps 3.6, which is already available for existing devices (it recently graduated from Beta Labs). The major features in this version are improved search, the ability to share a location via email and SMS (including to non-Nokia phones), public transport overlays to map view, improved social check-in functionality and the ability to download country maps directly to the device over the air.
6. Updated Calendar application, which gains a split-screen month/day view.
7. Updated Mail application, with better use and layout of UI elements (most notably in email lists), faster rendering and scrolling of HTML emails and improved stability.
8. Improved enterprise and security in the Microsoft Exchange implementation (Mail for Exchange). Meeting requests are now fully supported and the updates also include the provision of six new security policies, including enablers for the capability to turn encryption on remotely from Exchange device management tools.
9. Addition of device encryption functionality - the device, mass storage and microSD card memory can be optionally encrypted, with support for hardware accelerated encryption provided by the operating system.
10. New Intranet application, which makes it easier for corporate users to connect and access their company Intranet.
11. Pre-install of Microsoft Communicator Mobile for corporate IM and presence (currently available via Ovi Store for selected devices).
12. The latest version of Qt (4.7.3) and Qt Mobility (1.1.2), to improve developer productivity. This includes support for Qt Quick and a significant number of API improvements. Also included are Flash lite 4 and Java Runtime 2.2.
13. [Nokia C7 only]: The NFC (Near Field Communication) hardware in the Nokia C7 is activated by the update. It allows you tap C7's together to share contacts, photos, video and play games. In addition, NFC-enabled accessories can be paired by tapping and the device can be used to read NFC tags.
14. [Nokia N8 only]: Under the hood tweaks made to prepare for extra camera features, including a UI tweak, plus continuous auto-focus in video mode and higher frame rates. These will be enabled in a separate application update, officially teased as perhaps coming on Monday.
15. Over 100 under-the-hood optimization and bug fixes.

The Nokia N8 was Nokia’s flagship Symbian^3 smartphone and one of the company’s most ambitious devices. It featured a 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash, HD video recording, HDMI output, Dolby Digital Plus support, and a premium aluminum unibody design.

At launch, the N8 represented Nokia’s biggest attempt to prove Symbian could still compete in the rapidly changing smartphone market. More importantly, it showed that Nokia still understood mobile imaging better than almost anyone else.

A flagship built around multimedia

The Nokia N8 was designed to be much more than just another smartphone. Nokia positioned it as a complete multimedia device capable of replacing standalone cameras, portable media players, and even some home entertainment functions.

It shipped with 16GB of internal storage and supported additional microSD expansion, while later versions allowed up to 64GB of total storage capacity.

• 12MP Carl Zeiss camera with Xenon flash
• 720p HD video recording
• HDMI output with Dolby Digital Plus audio
• DivX and Xvid playback support
• Aluminum unibody construction

At a time when many smartphones still struggled with multimedia playback and video output, the N8 felt unusually complete.

Hardware and design

The N8 featured one of Nokia’s best hardware designs of the Symbian era. Its anodized aluminum body felt premium, durable, and distinct compared to the plastic-heavy competition of the time.

The unibody design gave the device excellent rigidity, while the curved edges made it surprisingly comfortable to hold despite the camera hump on the back.

The hardware also included mini HDMI output, USB On-The-Go support, stereo speakers, and a dedicated camera shutter key — features that were still relatively uncommon in smartphones at the time.

The legendary 12MP camera

The camera was unquestionably the main attraction.

The Nokia N8 used a massive sensor for its era, paired with Carl Zeiss optics and a Xenon flash system that immediately separated it from most smartphone competitors.

Daylight photos looked sharp, detailed, and natural, while low-light performance was genuinely impressive for a mobile device released in 2010.

The Xenon flash helped the N8 capture realistic indoor and nighttime shots that many rival smartphones simply could not match.

Even years later, the N8 remained respected among camera phone enthusiasts because of how naturally it rendered photos compared to the increasingly aggressive processing approaches that would later dominate smartphone photography.

HD video and HDMI output

The Nokia N8 was also one of the first smartphones to truly embrace HD multimedia.

It recorded 720p HD video and supported direct HDMI output to televisions and monitors. Combined with Dolby Digital Plus audio support, the N8 could function almost like a portable media center.

The inclusion of DivX and Xvid support also meant users could load videos directly onto the device without constantly converting formats first.

At the time, that level of codec flexibility was genuinely useful.

Symbian^3: better, but not enough

The N8 launched with Symbian^3, which was intended to modernize Nokia’s aging smartphone platform.

Compared to earlier Symbian versions, it absolutely improved things. Performance was smoother, multitasking was stronger, and touch interactions were more responsive than older S60 devices.

Still, the platform already felt caught between generations.

Android and iOS were rapidly evolving, bringing smoother interfaces, richer app ecosystems, and more modern touch-first experiences. Even though Symbian^3 improved usability, it still carried older design decisions that made the system feel less fluid than its competitors.

That became one of the N8’s biggest challenges. The hardware often felt more advanced than the software running on it.

Battery life and everyday use

Battery life was another major strength.

The N8 could comfortably last through a full day of heavy use and often much longer with lighter workloads. Nokia quoted up to 12 hours of battery life in some usage scenarios, and the device generally delivered excellent endurance compared to many early smartphones.

Combined with strong call quality and reliable connectivity, the N8 worked well as an everyday device beyond just its multimedia strengths.

Why the Nokia N8 still matters

The Nokia N8 arrived during one of the most important transition periods in smartphone history.

It represented both the peak of Nokia’s Symbian hardware ambition and the beginning of the company’s decline in the face of Android and iPhone competition.

Despite that, the N8 remains one of the most respected camera phones ever made because it focused heavily on hardware quality, realistic photography, multimedia flexibility, and premium design.

It also helped establish many ideas that later became normal in flagship smartphones, including advanced mobile imaging, HDMI output, high-quality video recording, and premium metal construction.

Final thoughts

The Nokia N8 was not perfect. Symbian^3 still felt dated in places, the app ecosystem struggled against rivals, and the smartphone market was evolving faster than Nokia could adapt.

But the N8 still succeeded at what it set out to do.

It delivered one of the best smartphone cameras of its era, outstanding multimedia capabilities, excellent battery life, and hardware that genuinely felt premium. Even today, the N8 remains one of the most iconic Nokia smartphones ever released.