Where Next for Nokia Nseries?

The Nseries range is starting to look a bit tired, truth be told. There are many areas where Nokia are going to have to make improvements if Nseries can still be considered top of the class when it comes to multimedia, otherwise they risk falling far behind the competition and becoming just also rans.

First thing that needs to be addressed is the camera. For a long time now, the standard camera on an Nseries device is 5.0 megapixel with autofocus, and Carl Zeiss optics. Which, in itself, is ok I guess. But other manufacturers are offering so much more; why no face detection, smile detection, blink detection? No image stabilisation? Why not something like Best Pic which Sony Ericsson have been offering on their Cybershot phones for years! With other devices offering cameras with so much more in terms of features, the camera on NSeries is starting to look a bit tired in comparison.

Then consider video capture. Again, I guess you could say an Nseries device is adequate, but QVGA @ 30fps just isn't enough anymore. Nseries needs to start offering high definition video capture, higher frame rate, super slow motion, and so on.

Video playback also needs to be updated. I've never got on with the Real player, video streaming has never worked well, and the handset needs to support more popular video formats, without need for installing extra applications. Native support for DivX and XviD video files is a must, surely?

Memory is also somewhere where Nseries devices can be improved. More Nseries devices need high internal memory capacity as standard, as well as being expandable with Micro SD cards. The N96 and N97 have this, but more Nseries devices should, and I hope to see it when new devices are announced.

And whilst I'm having a bit of a rant, I find it incredible that a multimedia device has no option onboard for creating something as simple as a slideshow. On a Sony Ericsson C905, it is a simple matter to take captured images, link them together, add in some text, add in a soundtrack, play the video, email it off, upload it to the web, anything. Simple, easy. That I can't do this on an Nseries phone is just amazing, honestly.

These are just a few of the things Nokia need to look at updating on upcoming NSeries devices if they are going to keep pace with the competition. There's bound to be more that I've not thought of (at this late hour). If there's something you think Nokia need to update on the Nseries range, add your thoughts and wants and ideas in the combox.