Nokia set to capture the nation with launch of the Nokia N8

The highly anticipated Nokia N8 arrived in New Zealand today and its launch is expected to set a new standard in smartphone imaging functionality.

The Nokia N8’s 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash provides users with everything they need to take the highest quality photos and shoot HD-quality videos. For the first time, users can edit their content on-screen and share it by transfering on to an external hard-drive with USB-on-the-go or upload to social networks sites from the homescreen for example.

Nokia Australasia’s head of product marketing, Stephen Wright, said: “The Nokia N8 is the first step in the renewal of our smartphone range. It has exceptional imaging and editing functionalities that surpass other smartphones, along with all the features you would expect from a top-class handset.

“With the Nokia N8 we decided to push the boundaries of what consumers can do with a smartphone and in doing so we’ve created asomething that provides a truly exceptional user experience,” Wright said.

The Nokia N8 is an ideal choice for anyone wanting to create amazing content, connect with family and friends, and enjoy unrivalled entertainment on their mobile. The Nokia N8 allows consumers to:

• Connect the handset to a home theatre system using the HDMI input and watch HD-quality video in Dolby Digital Plus surround sound
• Access thousands of apps – everything from social networking services like Foursquare, to games and productivity apps on the latest version of Ovi Store
• Update their status, share locations and photographs, and view live feeds from Facebook and Twitter in a single application
• Access free global maps and voice-guided navigation with Ovi Maps
• Access work and personal emails, social networks and instant messaging through Ovi Messaging, for free
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The Nokia N8 is the first device to run on the faster, simpler and more responsive Symbian platform. Symbian plays a central role in Nokia’s smartphone leadership and represents a significant improvement in how the software interacts with the hardware.

Symbian introduces several major OS advances including support for gestures such as flick scrolling and pinch-zoom. The hardware acceleration also delivers a faster, more responsive user interface.

Improved memory management allows multiple applications to run simultaneously for a faster multi-tasking experience. Another new feature of the Symbian platform is multiple homescreens, which can be customised with different shortcuts and applications.

“Consumers will really see and feel the difference with the new Symbian platform. Being a fully open platform also means that developers can create exciting and flexible content the way they want to,” Wright continued.

Locally, Air New Zealand has made its grabaseat app - which delivers real-time updates of grabaseat flights - available for free download on the Nokia N8 through Nokia’s Ovi Store.

The Nokia N8 will be available from Vodafone from Friday 19th November 2010 for a retail price of NZD$999 and Telecom will be bringing it to its range in the New Year.

In New Zealand the robust, aluminium body with a real-glass 3.5” AMOLED display will be available in dark grey and silver white.

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For more information on the Nokia N8 visit www.nokia.co.nz/n8.