N82 videos: Nokia discusses WiMAX/4G, multimedia hosting during CTIA show

I recorded a few videos with my Nokia N82 camera phone during the CTIA’s Wireless 2008 conference in Las Vegas.  I posted one video to YouTube and Vimeo and the second video just to Vimeo because it’s more than 100 MB and more than ten minutes, which is over the time and file size limits for YouTube.

At Wireless 2008, Nokia officially announced its WiMAX-enabled N810 Internet Tablet.  I got to play with it very, very briefly.  It’s almost identical to the N810, but the keys feel a bit nicer; they seem slightly easier to push.  Also, there’s a small “hump” on the back of the device that, I think, is where the WiMAX radio is located.

(I’ll be writing more about WiMAX in less than a week.  Stayed tuned.)

3G, WiMAX, LTE

The first video (Vimeo only; see below) is with Victor Brilon, Nokia’s senior product manager – home networking solutions – for convergence products, who discusses a variety of subjects, including bandwidth versus pricing, the HAVA player (that is similar to the Slingbox and works with the WiMAX N810), the relationship between 3G, LTE and WiMAX and open wireless networks.

Also participating in the conversation is Jeb Brilliant, the president of Brilliant Expos, who is rather plugged in (or “unplugged”) into wireless developments, and Mark Squires, Nokia’s director of communications for social networks, who is helping launch Nokia weblogs (more about that in another article). 

Jeb’s the one with the beard on the right and Mark’s in the middle.  Victor (on the left) does most of the speaking and is wearing a sports or suit jacket.

The video was shot in a meeting room at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the video quality is really rather good — when you’re viewing the original file in QuickTime.  The audio is good for the two participants closest to the camera — Victor and Jeb — but Ray’s voice is muted because he’s farther away. 

I have told Nokia executives — and would like to tell them again and again — that they’ve got to offer a better way to record audio, such as an optional adapter for an external microphone.

Ovi video

The second video, posted on YouTube and on Vimeo (see below), is with Serena Glover, one of the founders of the multimedia hosting/sharing/social networking site Twango that Nokia purchased and now calls Ovi.  Serena discusses capabilities she’d like Ovi to offer while she’s at Wireless 2008, such as being able to see photos and videos of friends/colleagues who are at the conference.

Serena also discusses distribution and openness, including sharing and viewing content without having to become a member of the site.  Rafe Blandford, the editor of the great All About Symbian Web site, does most of the talking with Serena.

As with the other N82 video I just posted, the video quality is excellent — if you’re viewing the original file — rather than the downgraded quality on the Web.  So, don’t judge the true quality of the N82 from what you see on the Web.

Comments

[rex]

would like to see a bluetooth unit to remote audio from phone for video purposes.

[Alan A. Reiter]

Good idea. Nokia needs to offer a solution or solutions for better audio, especially as more consumers and journalists begin shooting videos.