Cape Town - It is rather sad that "alarm bells are ringing for Nokia" as some of the handsets they've been releasing are among the best in the market, says a die-hard Nokia fan.
Fin24 user Stuart Hendricks, who owns a Nokia Lumia 1520, was responding to a video interview in which Arthur Goldstuck said that for now, Nokia still dominates the African market, but alarm bells are ringing for the brand.
Hendricks admits Nokia handsets are not necessarily the best in the market from a features point of view, but in terms of "usability, stability and durability, Nokia phones are right up there".
"I'm currently using a Nokia Lumia 1520. I'll be brave enough to say that it certainly isn't the best phone I've used, or the best phone on the market right now.
"It has many drawbacks (both the phone itself and the Windows Phone OS).
"Firstly, it is far too big. I know that Nokia have recently released the Lumia 930, which is for all intents and purposes a shrunken down 1520, but the 930 was not available when I took my upgrade in April this year.
"So, wanting to break away from Android and iOS (which I've both used over the past four years), I made the jump to Windows Phone. Many apps I could find relatively easily on the Windows Store, but some were conspicuously absent.
Instagram junkie
"Being an Instagram junkie, I sorely miss VSCOcam and Snapseed, my two go-to apps on my previous Android phone. On that note, the native Instagram lags behind on WP, as opposed to the Android and iOS offerings. The user experience hasn't been optimised for such a large screen, and has led me to download the much better third-party 6tag app."
Hendricks said one could say software is the weak point of Nokia and moreover, Windows Phone. "But that would be to betray just how easy Windows Phone is to use, day to day".
The homescreen is simple, appealing and uncluttered, he wrote, adding that the app draw, "while a little basic", makes apps easy to find.
"Overall, there is generally very little lag with this OS - it's slick and smooth, and regular OS updates ensure that improvements are made on a regular basis."
Hendricks hailed Nokia's HERE Maps as just as intuitive as the dominant Google Maps, and "it's quicker".
"Keeping my OneNote synced with my work PC allows me to track daily notes and transfer data seamlessly between phone and PC."
Exceptional camera
Hedricks was in awe of the camera, which "opens up quickly and is a cinch to use".
"Hell, the camera deserves an entire paragraph on its own...
"Quite simply, the current crop of Nokia cameras produce jaw-dropping results (see my sample shots alongside and below for proof).
(Pic: Fin24 user Stuart Hendricks, with a Nokia Lumia 1520)
Hendricks said his reason for choosing the Lumia 1520 (with the 20mp camera) as opposed to the Lumia 1020 (with 41mp camera) is the better processor and screen resolution, among other things.
"And even though the output resolution of my camera is half that of the 1020, the results have still blown me away. The possibilities for experimenting are endless - from lowlight/slow shutter shots to action shots, the Nokia camera outperforms all other cameras on the market by far. A cheap R150 tripod and smartphone mount set-up allows me to take shots just as good as some DSLRs."
(Pic: Fin24 user Stuart Hendricks, with a Nokia Lumia 1520)
Hendricks said to see Nokia dwindle would be a great shame, "because they offer such great offerings at reasonable prices".
"I have to admit that my Lumia 1520 isn't a computer replacement as Mr Goldstuck mentions, because Windows Phone 8.1 does not support Bluetooth devices such as keyboard or mouse, has no USB on-the-go support (again, for input devices), nor does the OS provide a tablet-type landscape mode for all apps and the homescreen. These are things that Microsoft needs to address," he wrote.
Hendricks said he is a massive Nokia fan - "by now that should be clear", but more importantly, Nokia should stay because the South African smartphone market needs it to.
"It would be awfully dull with only two major OSes and a handful of manufacturers to choose from."
He stays "confident and happy" in his choice of smartphone, and "certainly wouldn't want to trade it (except perhaps the smaller Lumia 930)".
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- Fin24
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