Jolla Reviews from the Media / General Public

[zamorph]

I thought it would be good to keep a separate thread for reviews of the Jolla.

There has been discussion about some of the reviews in the Jolla User Experience Thread (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=91875) but I think that thread should be kept more for actual users' experiences.

I found what I feel is a more balanced review of the Jolla - at least compared to the reviews from Engadget and The Verge:


Jolla smartphone hands-on review: The Sailfish OS phone (http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/mobile-phone/3491641/jolla-smartphone-hands-on-review/) - from PC Advisor

From the review:

Getting accustomed to the gestures is difficult, but that's acceptable for a new operating system. Luckily users will be guided through a tutorial on first use.

Navigations aside, the Sailfish OS runs smoothly and looks visually pleasing.

[ggabriel]

I guess this goes here: http://youtu.be/kHvk4molYyc

Not a review, but part of the press conference that they did in London.

[maluka]

The Jolla UI is different to Android and iOS, excitingly so, to the point where you can feel its potential to offer something fluid, flexible and freeing to use.

http://techcrunch.com/2013/11/30/jolla-first-phone/

[Thoke]

Bumping because I think this thread's good to have, linked this thread here (http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=91915).

[Dave999]

http://www.jollausers.com/2013/12/in-depth-review-one-week-experience-the-jolla-phone/

Long read for longreaders.

[benny1967]

There's a review in German here, including a video:
http://www.golem.de/news/jolla-im-test-das-smartphone-das-nokia-nicht-wollte-1312-103048.html

("The smartphone Nokia didn't want")

They seem to like it. Google's translation of the final paragraph, partly fixed by me:

Jollas first smartphone is a successful platform for the new mobile operating system Sailfish OS. Thanks to the extensive and intuitive gesture control the smartphone can be used much more comfortably than devices with other systems after only a short time.

Sailfish OS is concise, clearly structured and has been running smoothly and almost stable in the current beta version. However, we still miss some features, such as landscape mode in the browser and more configuration options, for example in the camera app. Jolla should should make improvements here with further updates, and also improve battery life.

Compatibility with Android is handy, Android apps work fine in most cases. This could be essential for Jolla to survive in the smartphone market. The dominance of Android and iOS seems too big to have success with another closed system.

The exchangeable shells, called "The Other Half", could be used for more than just a mere change in the appearance of the smartphones in the future, thanks to the built-in chip. Currently, they already change the background image and color scheme of the device. Other functions are possible.

The retail price of 400 euros is to be considered relatively high comparing the hardware with some Android smartphones, however, one has to take into account that this price includes not only the smartphone with the new idea of ​​changeable covers with chip, but also the development of a completely new smartphone operating system. Compared with the also relatively new Firefox OS, Sailfish OS seems to us mature and powerful - but it also aims less at the entry level [than Firefox].

The first Jolla Smartphone is not only suitable for Meego enthusiasts, but is also attractive for users of other mobile operating systems, thanks to its user-friendly UI. Currently, interested persons must overlook small weaknesses of the beta version of the operating system.

[llelectronics]

Here is a Jolla Review in german round about 1 hour Jolla Love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_fGrktCWNQ