In the picture above we have practically all of the "Communicator" Series of Nokia, a type of device that began with the Nokia 9000 (1996), which is still stay alive thanks to the recently introduced Nokia E7 (2011).
Within the portfolio of Nokia, the "Communicators" have always been a separate product concept, more advanced than the rest, the black label of the finnish company. 15 years have elapsed between the first and the last model, a sign of strength for a communication device that continues to have followers and public confidence, after all a product that it's been adapted to the current technological developments.
Generational differences stay in both hardware and exterior design, representing technological innovations of its time and the communication skills to serve the user (either voice as "text").
DESIGN, EXTERNAL AND HARDWARE FEATURES
The Nokia 9000 and Nokia E7 have only one similarity if we look at them closely, and is nothing but the fact that both feature a full QWERTY keyboard. The most striking thing when we get them together is its dimensions and weight: the 9000 boasts a weight of 397 grams and a thickness between 32 and 37mm, while the E7 is as thin as 13.6 mm and weighs only 175 grams.
The two products share a label but the E7 has changed the design. The 9000 is a clamshell phone with external display of 1.75-inch and alphanumeric keypad, plus a full QWERTY keyboard and 4.7-inch display when opening the device. The E7's concept its been acquired from the N97 model, missing the external screen and keypad, and incorporating a single 4-inch screen.
If the E90 still keep a distinctive design common in the "Communicators", the 2011 device is adapted to the trend of the moment and stays with a single screen and QWERTY keyboard, which help to reduce the thickness of the product and get a less elongated body: the Nokia E7 turns to a more compact cellphone.
If we analyze the body of both phones, we will notice two curious details that characterized the Nokia 9000: the external antenna, and the location of the earpiece at the back of the phone (disappeared in the 9500 and 9300). We will find the E7's earpiece over the word "Nokia".
The front of the 9000 is populated by numerous mechanical buttons, but observing the E7 we will be delighted with a flat display with Gorilla Glass finish and only a single action button located on the lower-central area, which when pressed will give us direct access to the applications and multitasking menus.
The Nokia 9000 we will just find a 12-pin connector on the bottom, to use the phone in the car and to insert it into a desktop charger: it's necessary to connect a PAR-1 adapter to use a data cable or "standard" Nokia charger. In the top of the device highlights the IrDA (or infrared), which in today's mobile phones is only included on the Japanese market.
The Nokia E7 multiplies the available connections, basically because it will use multiple technologies: an smart phone is a multimedia product. In the top there are a 3.5 headphone jack, micro USB port (for charging and use the data cable) and an HDMI out to connect the device directly to a TV in order to play HD content ( with multichannel sound.) On the left side is located a lock / unlock screen mechanism, and in the right we discover a compartment for SIM card plus a dedicated button for camera feature.
If the 9000 only owns an infrared technology for wireless communications, the Nokia E7 uses Bluetooth v3.0 (to transmit / receive files, and be connected with other devices) and Wi-Fi (b / g / n) to access broadband Internet after being paired with a Wi-Fi router.
The design of the device's body is another major difference between the two phone generations. The 9000 is not uniform and in fact you will appreciate the similarity with the old home phones: the body is wider at the ends and curving inwards as we approach the center. Even in the front, the alphanumeric keypad is slightly sunk into the housing. Yes, the edges are perfectly rounded.
The design of the Nokia E7 is nearly uniform and flat, and only at the ends we will observe how the body is slightly curved.
With both devices face to face, the QWERTY keyboard denotes the changes occurred in the past 15 years. The 9000's keyboard keep an structure and composition almost identical to what we would find on a computer keyboard: Ctrl, cursor, "intro", reverse, number, Tab, Esc, Shift... commonly distributed. And also there are function keys to access SMS, Fax, calendar, and other features. The E7's keyboard, in comparison, is incredibly compact, with smaller keys, numbers and letters sharing the same key... and basically with a distribution designed according the available size.
The keyboard of the Nokia 9000 was more suitable to use with the device resting in a surface, whereas in the case of the E7, much lighter, text input is performed while you hold it with both hands.
SOFTWARE, FUNCTIONS AND APPS
The Nokia 9000 was, unquestionably, a mobile device for professional use, while the Nokia E7, although within the "E" series (business), perfectly fits to the particular consumer needs.
The last decade of the twentieth century was just the start to popularize the use of mobile phones, and the consumer was more close to devices such as the Nokia 3210, Ericsson T10 and Motorola Startac, for example. An era in which the functions of a mobile phone were limited to sending / receiving text messages (SMS) or sending / receiving voice calls: plain and simple. Products like the Nokia 9000 represented a technological leap for very specific needs and within a very select group of people (the price of the product was very high).
The Nokia 9000 was one of the stars of the movie "The Saint" with Val Kilmer, where the device showed some of the advanced features of this smart phone, such as the Internet. The Nokia 9000 with GeoWorks operating system was a communication tool capable of organizing contacts and an executive meeting, to establish a list of tasks, send fax, access to Internet, send and receive email ... and of course make calls: the 9000 was like a tiny computer.
Note: Operating system screens
But 15 years of technological innovations, evolution in wireless communications and software, new trends and needs in the communication between people, synergy into the cellular functions of different types of product... . have led to the today's "Communicator", the Nokia E7, that is not only a communication tool but also a productive entertainment solution, unthinkable decade and a half ago.
About the ways to get a communication, the E7, with Symbian OS ^ 3 allows the user to contact with its circle of friends and family either through phone calls or video calls, social networks (Twitter and Facebook, p. ej), instant messaging (MSN Messenger ...), email and SMS. A compendium of options, which make it impossible not to get in touch with someone by message, only with text, or also with documents, images, or even home videos.
The Nokia E7 is more than just a communication tool, it can be used as mp3 and video player, through the device's screen, or vía HDMI port to place the image in a TV); to take photos and record video with the 8MP lens; and also, the Nokia E7 is a gaming Smartphone.
With the E7, unlike the 9000, have increased the importance of the apps and, thanks to OVI Store and its thousands of applications, we can get weather information, edit images, receive RSS News feeds, editing and reading documents, get benefit of the device management utilities...
note: Nokia E7 screen shots.
Software developers, improvements in operating systems for mobile devices, the increasing adoption of 3G data plans by consumers, and the popularity of apps have been the key points which have contributed to the transformation and evolution of the legendary saga of Nokia Communicators.
But the sucess of 3G broadband Internet access has been the main responsible to enjoy YouTube and services linked to OVI Maps, to look for a job offer from the browser, to be informed about weather, upload a photo to Facebook from wherever in the world, or to get in touch with our friends and family, in real time, via instant messaging ...
The "Communicator Series" have been changing gradually, and the 2011model is perhaps the best product of its time, like the Nokia 9000 in 1996.
minulla on nokia 9110,9210i,9300i
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