Nokia announced that its highly anticipated N8 smartphone started shipping this week, amid reports last week of delays in shipping the device to those who preordered the phone. The N8 is Nokia's latest attempt to regain its share of the smartphone market lost to the iPhone and Android phones, but the device has several shortcomings that would put off prospective buyers.

The N8 is Nokia's flagship device, and it took its sweet time to arrive on the market. It was announced in April, and took almost six months to move to shipping status, eons in the world of technology. During this time, we have seen a new iPhone, several highbrow Android phones, and a flagship BlackBerry phone (see how they all stack up against each other).