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Nokia 5510 - Cell Phone and More

Posted by michael on from the fumbling-toward-the-perfect-handheld dept.

matthew.thompson writes: "Nokia have released a phone to give the RIAA nightmares - it includes built in MP3 playing AND encoding and an FM stereo radio - so you can MP3 up tracks from the Radio or from an external source via a line in jack. It's also got a full qwerty style keyboard and GameBoy Advance style layout. RIAA headache inducing features here and piccies etc here." I'm not quite sure how this works - Nokia's page says the gizmo plays "secure" mp3 files, which sounds to me as if it is crippled. Here are some hi-res photos. Update: 10/11 12:59 GMT by M : Ahh, my misreading. It says "secure AAC and MP3 files", and apparently "secure" is intended to apply only to AAC. According to the FAQ, the phone is crippled - only stores crippled AAC files, not unencumbered mp3's. A shame.

8 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm. by serial+frame · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Devices that do everything are usually pushed aside in favour of an individual device that does something.

    I like that kind of 'modularity'.

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    -
    And the Angel said unto me, "These are the cries of the carrots! The cries of the carrots!"
  2. hmm.. by XyouthX · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't like how this cell phone that doesn't really have any new features at all (phones with mp3 players have been available for almost 2 years).
    get this much exposure, while the technically more interesting solutions (GPRS, built in bluetooth, POP3 and SMTP client etc.) like the Ericsson T39 and the upcoming T68 doesn't.

    the only thing new about this thing is the keyboard and the poor stand by time.

  3. Another great device not avail in N. America by saridder · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's a great device, a novel new design, has plenty of new devices, but until we upgrade our wireless capability in N. America, we won't be using it for a while.

    Availability: Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific in the 4th quarter of 2001

    I say we go the DoCoMo route, insted of WAP anyways. Plus, where's the PDA functionality. It seems more a gameboy than a business tool.

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    --- RFC 1149 Compliant.
  4. Finally - a full keyboard by hrbrmstr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The MP3 features are nice, but it's great to finally have a full keyboard that doesn't require a stylus to operate (ala Palm-ish phones). The only real, cool feature IMHO. I love my Nomad, don't play handheld games much and not interested in being in Nokia's "club".

    There does need to be some significant improvements in *power* options if we are supposed to be convinced to be electronically tethered 24/7. I doubt the 2hrs claim will be the norm for most folks.

    All the next rev needs is Java, integrated GPS, color screen and old Nintendo/Atari emulation. Now *that* will be a great ... ahh ... err ... phone?!

    --
    Mind the gap...
    1. Re:Finally - a full keyboard by biglig2 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Indeed, any phone you expect to sell into the UK teenager market (the high end of which is where this is aimed) must concentrate a lot on SMS messaging.

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      ~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
    2. Re:Finally - a full keyboard by haunebu · · Score: 3, Interesting
      All the next rev needs is Java, integrated GPS, color screen and old Nintendo/Atari emulation. Now *that* will be a great ... ahh ... err ... phone?!

      OK pal, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Want to make piles and piles of monay? Make an Atari/Nintendo/Arcade emulator for this thing, right here.

      Nokia will sell millions upon millions of 9210 (9290 in the Americas) Communicators. You know what everybody with a Communicator wants? Exactly the same thing you do: Games. Good ones. There are a few good ones coming out for the 9210 (Like Virtually Board Snowboarding), but a lot of people would like to play some great old Atari/Nintendo/Arcade games on it. Surely some Slashdotter can come up with an EPOC app that'll do it, right?

      Release it as open source if you want, or charge 5 bucks for the thing. (If just a few thousand people buy it, well, you've got yourself a new car.) I mean sheesh, MAME is open source, isn't it? How hard could it be to compile it with the Nokia/EPOC dev tools?

      --

      Blue skies, Barthy Burgers, girls...

  5. This device rox by Tha_Zanthrax · · Score: 3, Interesting

    but maybe it could become more cooler if Nokia worked together with some PDA-company (Best choice would be Palm IMHO). They could reduce the keyboard's size be building one of these in it to make more room for the screen.
    Devices is this one allready excist but most are a PDA that you can make phonecalls with or a cellphone that remembers your appointments.

  6. two selling points by nutty · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Alright, in europe, every youth carries a cell phone, its a requirement...well at least in sweden and finland. So, if they can get music out of it also, then thats wonderful. That means not having to carry a minidisc along with the cell phone, and with tight pants all the craze, there isn't much room for a plethora of devices.

    Two, there is a massive element of irony that this phone, with its full keyboard, will sell beautifully on the deaf market. (The irony being that it plays music)...SMS is a HUGE thing for deaf people, who can use their cellphones to communicate to full potential, and a full keyboard is a godsend for them.

    Its a grand product.