Users of Nokia 5800XM rejoice as the Finnish giant has blessed with an impending software update. The firmware v40.0.5 is available via NSU and the most important thing to come with the update is Kinetic scrolling. Additionally, the update as always squashes some bugs, brings some stability and now has a Home Style Widget like 5530.

The update should be available soon over-the-air but you can quickly fire up NSU to check if it’s available for your phone (depending on the phone’s country code).

Changelog:

- Kinetic scrolling everywhere except: main menu, application menu, browser;
- Home style widget with Nokia 5530;
- if you rotate the phone horizontally on messages, it automatically activates the QWERTY keyboard;
- Refresh Icons “Sharing Online”, “Configuring Accessories”, “Configure Phone”;
- Improved application “Updating Applications”, which also renames Upgrade SW;
- The application “Data transfer” was also implemented in “Settings”;
- Real Player Updated to 12 October 2009;
- Touch more responsive;
- Improved stability;

[Via Nokia]

In addition to 5230, Nokia also announced 5530 XpressMusic for the Indian market. The phone sits nicely in between 5230 and 5800XM and brings a 2.9-inch display, 3.2MP camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, EDGE, microSD card slot, 3.5mm audio jack and customizable shortcuts on the home screen.

As for the price, the 5230 will sell for around Rs. 11,000 and 5530XM for around Rs. 14,000.

Nokia created 5530 XpressMusic to lure consumers seeking a touchscreen device and not spend dearly. But in the case of Americans, there’s not much of a difference if they had to go for the 2.5G 5530XM or 3G radio enabled 5800XM.

Nokia USA have started taking pre-orders of 5530 XpressMusic for $290, which is about $10 cheaper than 5800XM being sold at most of the retailers. There was a high probability of this deal being wasted but good for consumers (and Nokia) is that they’re bundling the Mini Speakers MD-8, valued at $40.

Nokia didn’t strip out features to make its third S60 v5 phone cheap but have added a few like 4 customizable shortcuts on the home screen, Contacts Bar that stores up to 20 contacts and a bit more. In terms of hardware, the phone features a 3.2MP sensor, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot.

Product Page

[Via Engadget]

FCC recently approved Nokia’s 5800i phone, which seemed to be a downgraded variant of 5800 XpressMusic. However, it turns out to be that it might not be what we think. Boy Genius Report reasons it out well and semi-confirms that the 5800i phone is meant for China. And yes, I have one to add too.

Anyways, they say the bands listed with 5800i are WCDMA 900/2100MHz and quad-band GSM. These bands are perfectly compatible with China Unicom. Secondly, the FCC ID has some Chinese characters written, which again points towards the same thing. Finally, the info I gathered should sum it up. The Bluetooth listing shows the “Geographical Availability” listed as Asia.

Regarding the specs, the 5800i (product code RM-602) seems to have the same specs as 5800 XpressMusic.

Nokia’s second unveiling in Singapore is the 5530 XpressMusic that gives the 5800XM goodness at a more pocket friendly price. Design-wise, 5530XM is similar to its touchscreen sibling and has few new features on the UI front. In addition to the Media-bar drop which is also found in 5800, the new phone includes 4 customizable shortcuts on the home screen and a Contacts Bar that stores up to 20 contacts, giving quick access to call them, message them or check the conversation history. Hardware specs features a 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, EDGE, hot swappable microSD slot and 3.5mm audio jack.

The phone will hit the retail market in the third quarter of 2009 for around 199 Euros before taxes and subsidies.

Chinese companies have a knack to produce clones that are not out in the market so it is not really surprising when a new clone surfaced over the weekend claiming to be the successor of highly successful 5800 XpressMusic. However, despite its worldly claims I don’t think it’s original.

Its alleged specifications:
5 megapixel camera
S60 5th Edition OS
3.5-inch screen
No 3G
Integrated kickstand

Reasons:
Since we’re seeing it as a successor, we expect it to up the ante in every department from the previous model. Though it gives the same OS, a tad larger 3.5-inch screen, upped camera and a kickstand, it does not have 3G or a front video camera, which is rather unusual. 5800XM has it.

Also, most of the Nokia phones have a Carl Zeiss camera which they mention on the back of the phone. 5800XM had it so there was no reason why it won’t be on 5900XM. However, the picture above does not mention the presence of Carl Zeiss anywhere at the back.

5800XM camera boasted flash but the purported 5900XM does not have it (picture above). Instead it resembles a speaker cover which gives an indication that there are two speakers on the sides of the camera, pretty much akin to Chinese make phones.

Finally, here’s the kicker. The pic above reveals the expansion slot of the phone. Can you read what’s written? It’s TFLASH aka Transflash. As far as I know Nokia does not call its expansion slot by T-Flash. Do they?

[PConline via Symbianfreak]

It looks like Nokia is following the age old saying ‘strike when the iron is hot’. Nokia’s 5800 XpressMusic is doing well in the market but to earn a few more moolahs off their hot selling phone, they have launched a Star Trek edition 5800XM in UK. Unfortunately, you won’t get any features like you find in the Sci-Fi series, just a regular phone but with a few color options and pre-installed Star Trek content.

It will go in colors of Red, Blue or Black/Silver and include exclusive screensavers, wallpapers and ringtones. It will also have few Star Trek pertinent applications too like the Phaser, Red Alert and Kelvin Communicator.

Unlike other special editions that wants a fan to pay through their nose, this one will go free with Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile or around £25 per month with O2.

The phone will be sold exclusively by Phones4U from May 1.

[Via Mobile-review]

The rumormongers were feeding us with lots of Nokia news lately. However, Nokia’s official blog has decided to put all the grapevine floating around the interwebs to rest, and for good. Regarding the Nokia 1100 rumor, they have confirmed that there is no issue with the 1100 software and is not hackable.

The hot capacitive touchscreen panel rumor for 5800 XpressMusic device has also been shut up. “We’re not changing the hardware of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic” is what they say. So that means the order is for another capacitive touchscreen based phone?

Next rumor is about N97′s release date being shifted back to December by Vodafone. According to them, even though the official product page lists as July, it is supposed to be in the ‘wild’ in June.

Lastly, they squash the Comes with Music service not doing well in UK rumor. There are no numbers to share but the service’s reception has exceeded their expectations and claim that CwM customers download 20 times more music than any other music store customer.

[Via Nokia Conversations]

Nokia’s mass market touch phone has toppled iPod and ilk to become the number one music player in the UK market. The research carried out by GfK includes data from Jan 8 – Mar 14, 2009 and defines music player that plays music, is portable and has a 3.5mm audio jack – which 5800XM gladly fulfills.

Nokia is definitely upbeat about this (which we can see from the image above) and also about the fact that they have shifted over 3m units since its launch. But as rightly pointed out, we cannot overlook the truth that 5800XM is subsidized by cellular operators while rest of the PMPs are sold at their full retail price. Is the competition justified?

[Via NokNok|Mobileent]

What?! Really? Taiwanese component suppliers are feeding us with some Nokia news that we really want to hear. They are claiming that Nokia is planning to replace 5800XM’s resistive touchscreen display with a capacitive one. Why? But of course, to compete with the touchscreen offerings from Apple, LG, Samsung and others.

The suppliers point out that Nokia’s initial order of capacitive touchscreen panels can produce two million 5800 handsets and has a release timeframe between May to June. They also emphasize that capacitive touchscreen will also be integrated in future touch phones too (Isn’t that obvious?).

For technology challenged people out there, here’s a simple explanation regarding both the touchscreen technologies.

Resistive touchscreen is used in most of the touchscreen phones. It works by applying a bit of pressure on the screen, with a finger, stylus or anything else. On the other hand, Capacitive touchscreen panels are advanced than resistive ones and executes a touch command only when touched with a finger. A stylus or any other object applying pressure won’t work. It also supports multi-touch.

[digitimes via Dailymobile]