Flashback: the Nokia X series or how the Android dream turned into a short snooze

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Flashback: Nokia X series or how the Android dream turned into a short snooze

You could have heard the tragic story of the Microsoft Kin units an entire new cell platform was launched and discontinued in simply 48 days. Right now we wish to revisit one in every of Microsofts barely extra profitable cell tasks. Granted, that is one of many lowest bars for fulfillment to be cleared.

Do you bear in mind the Nokia X line? No, not the present X-phones which can be made by HMD World. The unique X-series began underneath Nokia and was introduced by Stephen Elop at MWC 2014 in February. If that identify set off alarm bells in your head, yep, this was through the transition of Nokia Gadgets & Companies division to Microsoft.

The deal was signed in late 2013 however wouldnt shut till April 2014, after the Nokia X telephones launch. The telephones have been a mishmash of a number of issues, however they have been the primary Android-powered units by the Finnish firm, which spent years and billions of euro attempting to make use of various platforms.

It began with the Nokia X and Nokia X+. They have been mainly the identical gadget, however the X+ had extra RAM 768MB as an alternative of 512MB and got here with a 4GB microSD card pre-installed. As you may already inform, these weren’t high-end units.

Flashback: Nokia X series or how the Android dream turned into a short snooze

They have been attention-grabbing, although. They ran Android (4.1 Jelly Bean initially), however didn’t have entry to the Google Play Retailer. Microsoft and Nokia needed to construct another software program ecosystem much like what Amazon was doing with Fireplace OS.

Early in its life the Nokia X platform was often known as the Asha on Linux challenge, which ought to let you know the goal marketplace for these units. The Asha telephones straddled the road between featurephones and smartphones they have been low cost, accessible, decently succesful and have been a part of Nokias subsequent billion technique (the objective was to attach 1 billion folks to the Web for the primary time).

The unique Asha platform wasnt rather more highly effective than Collection 40 even when it ran WhatsApp, Fb, Offended Birds and had a fundamental map app. The X-series was theoretically as highly effective as any Android, so long as the software program match contained in the restricted RAM.

Flashback: Nokia X series or how the Android dream turned into a short snooze

To be honest to Nokia and Microsoft, this wasnt a low-effort challenge. They introduced a few of their greatest recognized apps HERE Maps for navigation, the Xpress browser, the MixRadio music participant, additionally Skype and Outlook for communication.

Flashback: Nokia X series or how the Android dream turned into a short snooze

In addition to the Nokia Retailer, X telephones might additionally obtain apps from the Yandex Retailer. If you happen to didnt know that was a factor, dont fear most individuals didnt both. Finally (with model 2.1 of the platform) customers have been allowed to put in the Google Play Retailer and Google Play Companies.

Lets have a better take a look at the specs. The Nokia X featured a 4.0 IPS LCD (480 x 800) and was powered by a Snapdragon S4 Play chipset (twin Cortex-A5 1.0GHz CPU, Adreno 203 GPU). It had 512MB of RAM and 4GB inner storage. On the again was a 3.15MP digicam (480p video), on prime a 3.5mm jack. The telephone ran on a 1,500mAh battery. The X+ was primarily the identical save for the additional RAM (768MB) and pre-installed microSD card.

Nokia XNokia X+
Nokia X Nokia X+

This {hardware} may sound acquainted its not far off the Lumia 520 that launched a yr earlier than. And now we have fond reminiscences of the 520 (but we barely even recall the Nokia X, humorous how that labored out).

The Nokia X (dual-SIM) launched in India at 8,600 (which equated to $140/100 again then), costing greater than the Lumia 520. It additionally hit Malaysia for MYR 400 ($120).

Since Nokia determined to make use of solely the core of Android, it developed its personal interface to go on prime. You’ll be able to learn our evaluation for extra particulars, right here we’ll simply shortly go over the system.

Nokia X platform: Always On DisplayNokia X platform: LockscreenNokia X platform: HomescreenNokia X platform: Homescreen
Nokia X platform: At all times On Show Lockscreen Homescreen

It featured the Fastlane homescreen, borrowed from Asha telephones. This will look impressed by Home windows Telephones tiles, however Nokia requested third-party builders to stay to Android design pointers reasonably than attempting to mimic Home windows. You would place shortcuts and widgets on the homescreen and resize them as you noticed match.

The precise Fastlane was on the left this was a timeline that included the whole lot from latest calls to not too long ago used apps, new images and incoming mail and so forth. It was extremely customizable and you would cover a number of the issues to cut back muddle.

The Fastlane interface was a timeline of recent events, files and appsThe Fastlane interface was a timeline of recent events, files and appsThe Fastlane interface was a timeline of recent events, files and appsThe Fastlane interface was a timeline of recent events, files and apps
The Fastlane interface was a timeline of latest occasions, information and apps

The X telephones got here with a Chromium-based browser that had tabs and was decently quick even on 3G. Fb and Twitter apps have been pre-installed as nicely.

The pre-installed browser could handle the modern web on low-end hardwareThe pre-installed browser could handle the modern web on low-end hardwareFacebook and Twitter apps came pre-installedFacebook and Twitter apps came pre-installed
The pre-installed browser might deal with the fashionable net Fb and Twitter apps got here pre-installed

This was the crown jewel of Nokia software program HERE Maps with offline voice-guided navigation. A devoted SatNav unit might simply value as a lot because the telephone itself and there was much less competitors again then (Google Maps was but to excellent offline operation and knowledge was costly).

Nokia's HERE Maps offered offline voice-guided navigation for freeNokia's HERE Maps offered offline voice-guided navigation for freeNokia's HERE Maps offered offline voice-guided navigation for freeNokia's HERE Maps offered offline voice-guided navigation for free
Nokia’s HERE Maps supplied offline voice-guided navigation without spending a dime

On the flip aspect, right here is maybe the worst a part of the Nokia software program the app retailer. Nokia has had a number of app shops over time (bear in mind Ovi?), however none ever achieved a fraction of the success of the Google Play Retailer.

The Nokia Store was a pale shadow of the Google Play StoreThe Nokia Store was a pale shadow of the Google Play StoreThe Nokia Store was a pale shadow of the Google Play StoreThe Nokia Store was a pale shadow of the Google Play Store
The Nokia Retailer was a pale shadow of the Google Play Retailer

Nokia claimed that 75% of all Android apps are appropriate with the X platform, builders simply wanted to submit their APK. The opposite 25% might simply be transformed to work with out Googles Play Companies (nicely, so Nokia claimed, anyway).

A number of months after the X and X+ got here the Nokia XL. Sure, it was bigger, however with a 5.0 show it wasnt XL even by 2014 requirements. The IPS LCD stored the decision at 480 x 800px regardless of the longer diagonal. The was one improve, although, a 5MP principal digicam.

Wait, two upgrades the XL had a 2MP selfie digicam, the X and X+ had none. To be honest, the Lumia 520 didnt have a selfie digicam both. Sure, these have been tremendous low cost units ($50-$100), however how a lot did a 2MP sensor value, anyway?

Nokia XL
Nokia XL

Weren’t positive how nicely the Nokia X sequence did. For a short second it regarded just like the X telephones scored 1 million pre-orders in China. That turned out to be an error in translation of types JD was operating pre-order marketing campaign and supplied an opportunity to win a free Nokia X for those who clicked a button (which was free, no deposit mandatory). So, a button was clicked 1 million occasions. What number of telephones have been truly offered to customers is anyones guess.

Flashback: Nokia X series or how the Android dream turned into a short snooze

Confusion didnt finish there folks thought that Microsoft had killed off the X-series and thus that the Nokia X2 was canceled. The X2 stunned everybody by occurring sale in Russia and Pakistan for 115-125.

The Nokia X2 was a gentle improve over the unique, not that we anticipated extra after just some months. It prolonged the display screen to 4.3 (nonetheless 480 x 800px) and it included Nokias ClearBlack tech a polarizing filter that massively improved daylight legibility.

It additionally ran on extra highly effective {hardware}, a Snapdragon 200 the 2 CPU cores have been upgraded to Cortex-A7 (1.2GHz) and the GPU to Adreno 302. Even higher, that they had a whopping 1GB of RAM to play with (storage was nonetheless at 4GB). The digicam on the rear stepped as much as a 5MP sensor, now able to recording 720p video. There was even a selfie digicam, although surprisingly it solely had a 0.3MP sensor (worse than the XL).

Nokia X2 Dual SIM
Nokia X2 Twin SIM

Despite the fact that it got here out in July, simply months after the March launch of the unique fashions, the Nokia X2 additionally introduced the following era Nokia X Platform 2.0. And since Microsoft is Microsoft, the corporate introduced that the unique trio the Nokia X, X+ and XL is not going to be up to date to 2.0. Its as if it realized nothing from dropping customers over the Home windows Telephone 7 to eight replace fiasco.

The Nokia X Platform 2.0 was based mostly on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, so folks werent lacking a lot. Nonetheless, its a kick within the enamel to listen to that your telephone, barely just a few months outdated at this level, is already out of date.

Flashback: Nokia X series or how the Android dream turned into a short snooze

The Nokia X platform itself turned out of date simply as shortly. Bear in mind once we stated that folks thought that the Nokia X2 was canceled? That wasnt hypothesis, Microsoft killed this system and laid off 18,000 folks. CEO Satya Nadella stated that future Nokia X designs shall be repurposed as Home windows Telephone units.

This was in July 2014, shortly after Microsoft accomplished its acquisition of Nokias telephone division (which was renamed to Microsoft Cell) and solely half a yr for the reason that Nokia X platform was first introduced. This demise wasnt as swift as that of the Kin, however in a method it was worse some followers had spent years wishing that Nokia would quit chasing the Home windows Telephone dream and simply use Android. Okay, they have been most likely wishing for Android on a high-end gadget, however the X sequence was a begin.

Later in 2014 got here one other Nokia-branded gadget operating Android the Nokia N1. We talked about in final week since this 7.9 slate was powered by an Intel Atom Z3580. It ran Android 5.0 Lollipop and it did have the Google Play Retailer pre-installed. It didnt use Fastlane, nevertheless, as an alternative it launched the Z Launcher (extra particulars in our evaluation).

Nokia N1
Nokia N1

There was no Nokia N2, the division now underneath Microsoft management targeted on Home windows telephones and tablets. We will perceive why the management didnt need any Android-based distractions since Home windows Telephone wanted all the eye it might get.

Microsoft has a brand new Android telephone as of late, the Floor Duo. Nonetheless, this time it labored immediately with Google to include some developments for multitasking on dual-screened units into Android correct. As for Nokia, it’s blissful constructing 5G networking tools and doesnt appear in a rush to return to creating shopper units.

We dont know what was occurring behind the scenes, however the Nokia X and Nokia N1 don’t really feel like a coordinated technique to undertake Android for low-end units. Or a coordinated technique of any type. Issues have been actually messy again then – inner competitors killed MeeGo within the crib in favor of Symbian, which in flip was tossed out in favor of Home windows Telephone. With that in thoughts, its not too stunning that one more competing telephone challenge at Nokia floundered.

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