Nokia N97 Reviews

Nokia has unveiled the new touch-screen multimedia N97 smartphone designed to take on Apple's iPhone.

The Finnish mobile phone giant has dubbed its new N97 handset the "world's most advanced mobile computer", and promises it will bring users closer to the internet on the move.

The device combines a large 3.5in touch-screen, similar to that found on the Apple iPhone, with a slide-out Qwerty keyboard reminiscent of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and the T-Mobile G1. Unlike the Apple iPhone, the N97 will be able to play the Flash videos used on many websites, including our own Telegraph news pages. It also supports instant-messaging and email on the go, boasts a five-megapixel camera, and a huge 48GB of memory, capable of storing thousands more songs than the Apple iPhone and many other leading devices.

"From the desktop to the laptop and now to your pocket, the Nokia N97 is the most powerful, multi-sensory mobile computer in existence," said Jonas Geust, a vice president at Nokia. "The Nokia N97 mobile computer adjusts to the world around us, helping stay connected to the people and things that matter most."

Nokia has put high-speed web access at the heart of its new device, along with one-button, 'always-on' access to social-networking sites such as Facebook. The phone also uses its built-in GPS technology to provide location-specific information. Nokia, which calls the service 'social location', said that it will enable N97 users to update their social-networking profiles with precise details about their location and find nearby friends.

"Today, we are at the threshold of another profound change in the way we connect and interact with each other and with our world," said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, chief executive of Nokia. "This is a world where you will have the power to tailor and personalise your internet how and when you like, to make your day-to-day life easier and more fulfilling."

The new N97 will tie in closely with Nokia's Ovi platform of software and services, which include music downloads, photo-sharing services and mapping software. A new-look Nokia Maps program on the N97 will allow users to pre-plan a journey on their computer and then synchronise the route across to their mobile phone.

Nokia has also promised that it will follow the lead of Apple, Google Android and Research in Motion, makers of the BlackBerry, by making it easier for third-party developers to write additonal software and programs for Nokia handsets. Owners of the N97, which runs the Symbian operating system, can already download thousands of applications to their phone, and Nokia said it is creating "new opportunities" for third parties to develop innovative widgets and internet service applications for Nokia devices.

Nokia N97 - Key Features

Software:

• Runs S60 5th Edition. You can read more about S60 5th Edition in Nokia 5800 preview. However, the N97 will have the Nseries version of S60, which means there will be a number of extra applications including Internet Radio, FM transmitter, Home media (UPnP) and Photos.
   
• The home screen can be personalised with Internet-aware widgets (based on WRT technology). Examples included in the press photos include weather forecasts, social networking (Facebook, Friendster, My Space) status summaries, and media collections. There are also indicators for time, profiles, email, application shortcuts and so on.
   
• Text input is via on screen keyboard (full screen QWERTY, pop-up QWERTY and alphanumeric), as is standard on S60 5th Edition, or handwriting recognition or via the QWERTY keyboard.
   
• Fully compatible with Ovi services including Maps, Music, Share and Games. Nokia Music store can be accessed from the device (touch optimised version) or from Nokia Music for the PC (an iTunes -Windows application). Nokia Maps now supports high resolution satellite imagery, 3D buildings (selected buildings) and richer map meta data. Pedestrian route finding and turn by turn, voice guided car navigation, are available as premium services.
• Internet focus with WebKit based browser, comprehensive RSS feed support and runtime technologies including Flash, WRT (widget).
• Introduces the social location (So-Lo) concept; the N97 has software that allows you to automatically update and share your location with friends and popular social networks.
   
• 'N-Gage compatible' device, which indicates that the N-Gage platform will be touch enabled by the release date of the N97.

The devices being demoed at Nokia World are running an early version of the software. In the six months leading up to the release date it is likely to evolve considerably.

Hardware:

• Physical dimensions: 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm (18.25 mm at camera area), and weighs approximately 150g.
   
• Tilt form factor with horizontal slide to reveal full QWERTY keyboard. The upper half of the device slides away from the bottom half and moves upwards in a diagonal direction. The slide is impressively smooth and when closed feels very solid in the hand (so much so its not immediately apparent it is a horizontal slide device).  
   
• There are three keys on the front of the device: send and end keys and a home/menu key. On the left side of the device there is a slider lock and a microUSB port, on the top of the device is the power and 3.5mm audio jack and on the right hand side are the volume keys and the camera capture key.
   
• 3.5 inch, 360 x 640 (nHD) resolution resistive touch TFT screen with 16 million colours. The device can be driven using finger touch or stylus, or from the QWERTY keyboard.
   
• Haptic feedback for screen touches. This is provided via general vibra feedback, as on the Nokia 5800.
   
• 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash. The camera is covered by a sliding lens cover similar to that found on the N85 and N79.
  
  The camera is also used to record videos at VGA at 30 frames per seconds, but I've seen a demo of it recording and playing video back in a 16:9 resolution mode (also as on the 5800). The usual Share online application is present for uploading images and video to online services such as Flickr and Share on Ovi (available services likely to be expanded before launch).
   
• Integrated A-GPS and compass sensor (magnetometer) means that the N97 'intuitively knows where it is' and this is used by Nokia Maps, and for social location; also embeds location information into images and video.
   
• 3.5 mm audio jack (also used for TV-Out) and built in stereo speakers. Music playback time of one and half days (36 hours). There's also an FM radio and FM transmitter.
   
• microUSB jack (USB 2.0 HiSpeed) and supports charging over USB
   
• 32GB of internal flash memory
   
• microSD card slot with support for SDHC cards upto 16GB in size (giving total potential memory of 48 GB)
   
• Wi-Fi, 3.5G (tri-band HSDPA - 900, 1900 and 2100 Mhz), quad-band GSM and Bluetooth connectivity (various profiles including HID, SAP, A2DP and AVRCP).
   
• 1500 mAh battery (BP-4L - the same monster as that used in the E71, E90, 6650 and N800).
   
• There is no stylus built into the phone, but one will be included in the box.
   
• The Nokia N97 is expected to ship in the first half of 2009 (presumably in June) with an estimated price of 550 Euro before taxes and subsidies.

Nokia N97 - Social Features & Advanced Technology

The Nokia N97 introduces the concept of 'social location'. With integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the Nokia N97 mobile computer understands where it is. The Nokia N97 makes it easy to update social networks automatically with real-time information, giving approved friends the ability to update their 'status' and share their 'social location' as well as related pictures or videos.

The home screen of the Nokia N97 mobile computer features friends, social networks and news, available by simply touching the home screen. The 16:9 widescreen display can be fully personalized with frequently updated widgets of favorite web services and social networking sites.

Nokia N97 vs Apple iPhone 3G

Some of the drawbacks: early consensus is that the N97's touch interface is not quite up to fluidity of the Apple iPhone standard; it's pricey (nearly US$700 without a carrier subsidy; no UK pricing has been announced); and won't be available in the UK until mid-2009.

Besides the Apple iPhone, rivals include Research in Motion's recently introduced BlackBerry Storm, and two Windows Mobile smartphones, the Sony Ericsson X1 and the HTC Touch Pro.

Just like the Apple iPhone 3G, Nokia N97 users can create a customized home screen with the widgets of their preferred Web services and social-networking sites. The Nokia Web browser, unlike Apple's Safari browser on the iPhone, supports Flash and Flash video.

The combination of the touchscreen and a full slide-away QWERTY keyboard (the iPhone uses just a virtual keyboard) is intended to unite an intuitive touch interface with the thumb-driven keyboard for heavy duty texting and email.

Nokia N97 - The Messaging Master

the N97 also boasts integration with messaging clients such as Windows Live and Yahoo, and gives you fast access to Facebook and MySpace, among others, with just a few clicks.

The Nokia N97 displays feeds and messages from your social networks on the homepage, meaning you don't have to stumble around accessing apps. Via GPS you can let friends know where you are or send them geo-tagged pictures.

Unlike the iPhone 3G, which doesn't feature a Qwerty keypad, tapping out long messages, browsing the Web or chatting to friends over IM should be easy.

Nokia is hardly going overboard with the hype on this one: "The N97 isn't a device that will trigger knee-jerk hysteria," it modestly promises, and it's right, but it's a solid phone that will hopefully deliver a great messaging and social experience.

Nokia N97 Update Software 2.0