Display & Apps

Display

Specs

The display on the Lumia 800 is 3.7 inches and has the resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. Even though the display matrix is PenTile, thanks to the high pixel density of 252 ppi it looks very sharp. Text is easy to read and pictures look sharp.

Colors are amazing, as usual for AMOLED panels. Actually, they're deeper than on the SGS II. The display is quite a lot brighter than the screen of the S II, but it's also noticeably smaller.


Click on image to enlarge

The display being PenTile means that each pixel has only two subpixels, instead of the normal three. That makes the display look somewhat grainy compared to the regular RGB subpixel layout. Single pixel lines look as if they're dotted, but that really doesn't affect to the usability of the phone in any way. Most likely you'll never notice it unless you like to look at the display from only a few centimeters away.

Characteristic of AMOLED panels, this one too has a superior contrast. Blacks are what they should be, black, not grey. AMOLED panels still can't turn black pixels completely off, as goes the wide belief. Actually the black pixels are very dark grey, and in well lit areas you can't see that. Even though they're on, the pixels are so dim that they don't consume a lot of battery, if at all. That's why you are better off using the black theme of Windows Phone with AMOLED displays. For LCD displays the color of the pixel doesn't matter, as most of them are lit using LEDs rather than each pixel emitting the light individually, which means that black colors are lit too and consume the same amount of battery as all the other colors.

Performance

Outdoor performance for this display is a lot better than that of the S II. As I already mentioned earlier, the display uses Nokia's ClearBlack technology, which uses polarizing coating for the glass layers under the hood. You can read more about this topic on Nokia Conversations.

The coating prevents the ambient light from mirroring from the display and glaring to your eyes, thus decreasing visibility outdoors. Every phone should have this.

Apps

Everyone loves apps, right?

Today's smartphones are all about apps. So, what does the Windows Phone Marketplace offer for an ex Android user, for example?

If nothing else, a fresh breeze. Gladly, it doesn't end there.

I was personally impressed by the Marketplace. It has new games that you haven't been able to play on any other platform. At least any mobile platform. The feature to be able to test expensive games before actually buying them is just beyond awesome. That's just outstanding. Of course the Marketplace has games and apps that you might have had on your Android phone, as well as it has free apps, too. The average price of the paid apps though, is higher than on Android's Play Store.


Click on image to enlarge

When I got this phone I rushed off to the Marketplace to see if I can find the apps I use daily. There they were. Spotify, Flickr and WhatsApp to name a few.


Click on image to enlarge

I was really impressed with the Spotify app. The UI is really nice, as it is in the Flickr app, though the usability and user experience suffer greatly because it's very slow in downloading all the photos, as it downloads everything again every time you open the app. Caching the photos would help alot.

Nokia has been able to include some of their own apps to the Marketplace, and the link is visible on the first page you are presented with as you open the Marketplace app.

That includes Nokia Maps, Nokia Navigation, Nokia Transport, Nokia Music, Contacts transfer, Network Setup, WRC Live, TuneIN Radio, App Highlights, CNN and Creative Studio.


So, if you're considering jumping onboard the Windows Phone ship, don't hold back because of applications. The amount of applications depend on the amount of users, which will appeal developers to develop apps for the platform. Additionally, you can check out if your favorite apps you use daily are available for Windows Phone. Just follow this link.
___________________

NIKO March 30 2012

Comments | Back to top