Review: Nokia E73 Mode
Calls
The calling software of S60 hasn't changed much over the years. Pressing the send key will bring up a list of recent calls. Tabs run across the top of the call log to let you know if you're looking at a list of all calls, missed calls, received calls, etc. Pressing sideways on the D-pad will move through each different tab, letting you see the different call lists. Highlight a number in the call log and select it to call.
During a call, the menu key offers a wide array of options, such as sending an MMS, turning on the speakerphone, etc. Nokia phones are so good at getting this basic function of telephony right, it is hard to find anything wrong with it.
Contacts
The E73 holds 1000 contacts, and can be stuffed with all the information you might need to store. Out of the box, it has but two phone number fields and one email field per entry, but there's an "add detail" function that lets you add as many additional phone numbers, email addresses, etc., as you wish.
Adding contacts can bit a bit frustrating. Most U.S. consumers probably haven't heard of Nokia's Ovi Mail or Ovi Contacts services. In fact, neither is preinstalled or even referred to on the E73 itself. Instead, the only way I was able to sync my Gmail contacts was to set up Gmail as an Exchange account. This is a pain in the butt, and requires following instructions on Google's help pages to figure out. It's just not easy enough.
Alternately, Windows users can take advantage of Nokia's desktop syncing software to load up their device.
The one goofy thing with S60 is there are a million clicks required to do anything. It feels like every other action has a drop-down menu associated with it, asking you to make addition choices. It gets old after a while. The contacts app is one place where this just has to become a matter of muscle memory. There are so many options, buttons, tabs, drop-downs and selections that it can be overwhelming. The learning curve may be steeper than on other platforms, but S60 has plenty of flexibility.
Video Tour: Nokia E72
Summer 2009
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Nokia E73 Mode / E72
