 ColouredTouch N97 theme |
 DragonFly N97 theme |
Nokia N97 themes are compatible with Nokia 5800 handsets.
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ColouredTouch N97 theme |
DragonFly N97 theme |
Nokia N97 themes are compatible with Nokia 5800 handsets.
Comments on this Entry:
]]>The term 'S60' that we have known, loved, and clung so dearly to is about to be taken out to the back of the barn and shot. The S60.com website has been shuttered, the content relocated and the Symbian name is officially set to take over for the Nokia-owned operating system.
Developers have been issued with a new Product Development Kit named Symbian ^2 (the ^ is silent...), incorporating the new Symbian OS technology for smartphones, elements of the old S60 stuff, as well as custom software for use with Sony Ericsson and Japanese NTT DoCoMo devices.
To keep things fresh, two new versions of Symbian will be released annually, with Symbian ^3 going out to devs 'in the Autumn'. This could mean some handsets showing off the shiny new Symbian by early 2010!
Even more interestingly, there are handsets available right now that are compatible with future builds of Symbian including the Nokia N97, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Samsung i8910 HD and the forthcoming Sony Ericsson Satio.
Does this mean the N97 could be a trojan horse for the new breed of Symbian, one firmware update away from becoming a real smartphone titan? Let's hope so, as S60 was definitely starting to show some grey hairs...great to see Symbian committed to keeping up in the race.
Ernest Doku is Technology Editor of mobile phone comparison site Omio.com. He twitters at @omiocom.
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Symbian^2 on my shiny new N97-NAM? the thought of it is exciting, i hope it happens!
]]>The Nokia N97 measures 117.2mm (H) x 55.3mm (W) x 15.9mm (D) whilst the 3G S is 115.5mm (H) x 62.1mm (W) x 12.3mm (D).
As weight goes, the Nokia N97 weighs a hearty 150g compared to the iPhone 3GS' weight of 135g, two grams more than the 3G model. Granted, a lot of that is due to the QWERTY keyboard that slides out of the former's ample rear, making for a full physical and touch combination. A fair concession, but added to the narrower and longer layout of the N97, it makes for a slightly more unwieldy device as pockets go...
Whilst both handsets have a 3.5" screen, the Nokia N97 opts for a widescreen (16:9) display, which makes it a joy for watching movies. The 3:2, 320 x 480 display on the iPhone makes for a wider, yet shallower screen, a nicer form factor as the expense of a native screen for media.
The N97 trumps the iPhone 3G S in both quality and quantity, with a 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens and LED flash, for both great stills and video recording. Apple finally acknowledges that people might want to take pictures with their iPhone 3G S, giving a 3MP autofocus camera, 30fps VGA video recording, and a mini edit-suite for trimming movies before uploading them.
The iPhone 3G S has memory has a massive premium as the 16GB is somewhat cheaper than the hefty 32GB model. With no memory expansion apart from buying a larger model, the N97 is awesome by taking 32GB and lets you beef it up by 16GB via a microSD slot.
HSDPA is stepped up on the 3G S, 7.2 Mbps immediately translates into much faster web browsing and faster download speeds! The N97 is no slouch with a 3.6 Mbps speed, but with a more robust browser supporting Java and Flash it makes websites take a little bit to load them up. Do you want most of the internet, really fast, or all of the net but in a little bit more time?
Bluetooth 2.0 has finally included headset support to its roster for the 3G S, meaning wireless music - finally! It allows the iPhone to keep up with the N97, as both have Wi-Fi connectivity and support for their respective online stores.
As phones, both are still strong handsets with Voice Dialling and speed dial contact features via shortcuts. Funny how making and receiving calls has almost become a supplementary feature to these top flight devices!
Verdict
The interesting thing to note is that on paper, the N97 should thrash the new iPhone. Better camera, a higher resolution screen at a better aspect ratio, more memory and a physical keyboard for those not head over heels for haptic feedback. However, the asthetic allure, the user interface and the apps make the 3G S such a strong device. It may be an incremental advancement on the iPhone 3G, but it fixes the handset in (most of) the right places! All of the shortcomings that they felt existed have been improved upon.
The Nokia N97 has the form factor and functionality to set the pace, but I fear that Symbian is holding them back ever so slightly...a flagship handset which is so similar to an entry-level device in terms of menus and navigation (5800 XpressMusic) is a very risky proposition... If we could see an update to the software to match those initial concept vids, then the N97 would be unreservedly better. As it is, it just has a few issues that keep it from taking down Apple's iconic device.
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why don´t you compare RAM and processor? those two items make the N97 look even worse
Look- however you slice it, the US market is hook line and sinker gonna go for the iPhone. Why the N97, bring the Samsung Omnia HD or the HTC Touch Diamond/Pro 2 or any other recent phone- people will still go for the iPhone.
For this reason I detest Engadget,Gizmodo and all these sites- they are so US centric and act like nothing else but the iPhone exists.
Let's see how well the N97 does in Europe/Asia- those are the main markets for Nokia, not the US.
Now Earnest, I gotta let you have it. And good. ;)
Research has shown a longer narrower device feels better in pocket than a short wide one. Maybe the thinness helps, I don't know, but which did you prefer? Your answer seemed confusing.
Why was no mention of the higher pixel density of the N97? Its higher resolution, so stuff looks better on it. That's important, especially in America's digital TV environs, with people learning what 720p and 1080i and 1080p mean. But it seemed you waffled on a choice there, too. You even called the iPhone's screen "wider", which it isn't. It is taller, but narrower. This is visually evident in side by side photos.
The camera section gave no mention of the iPhone's lack of flash or the resulting image quality, which is good for the Nokia, and bad butt horrible for the Apple. Also, the Nokias have had video editing software since 2005. You made it seem as if Apple had an advantage in that department, when they definitely don't.
On the OS front, where was the true comparison? One is pretty, the other utilitarian, but what about features and capabilities? Which one does more? Nokia, of course. Is it hard to use, or just not as easy as the flashy but simple iPhone? Consumers should know Apple's OS isn't as mature or optimized as Symbian, and they trade multitasking for transitions, so while that iPhone is zippy, the N97 can run multiples of the same type apps concurrently, proven stable with over 15-20 apps running at once, which is like having multiple iPhones without the flashiness. And multitouch isn't a "missing" feature. Symbian has alternative solutions, like dedicated zooming buttons for photos and a zoom button for web pages. The other "next generation" OSes are "missing" Symbian's "last generation" features, not the other way around. Most people don't see flashy 3D transitions as a core feature, and power users would probably prefer they be turned off to save resources.
As far as applications, you make it seem as if Symbian only has 1000 apps to Apple's 50,000. That's very misleading. There are many apps, and the Ovi Store is just one of many sources. A quick search on Google would show plenty more apps, which shows that Symbian is more like a PC OS. Did Windows have an app store? Ovi is Nokia owned, but Symbian is open source, so apps are plentiful. Even alot of the 3rd Edition apps, which far outnumber 1000, work on 5th Edition. You REALLY did the platform a disservice by not being more thorough. I believe the Symbian apps are more plentiful, useful, of better quality, and loaded with freeware to force retail apps to be compelling. Check Downloads.com, CNet.com, and Softpedia.com for proof. Consumers deserve the facts.
Also, while Apple is working on third party controllers, Nokia already is supported for the Zeemote, a Wii-like gaming controller.
By the way, you could've mentioned the N97 has a compass as well. It is new to the Nokia as on the iPhone, so why not mention it? Is this really an iPhone review? "iTunes is the platform of choice" for phone enhancement?? Says who? 10% use it. 40% use Symbian, don't use iTunes, and still modify their devices. How'd you get to your conclusion? Impression, guess, or Steve Jobs?
I like that the iPhone has A2DP profile support now, but what about BT Obex Push? Its a glaring omission from the iPhone, but not mentioned in your comparison. Its a shame stereo bluetooth was just added to the iPhone in version 3 as it is.
Now you claimed the data speed was faster via 3G. Tests prove it isn't, though it should be. So its faster on paper, but not in real life. Plus, besides Chicago, where does at&t have that high speed service? Nowhere? Lol...
I did appreciate your description of the browsers. All of the web with a short wait or some of it really fast. Good way to put it. But tell everyone Flash and Javascript can be turned off for faster web viewing. I don't think it'll be as fast as the iPhone, but who uses part of the web anyway? Oh yeah, I know.
So your verdict is since the iPhone is pretty, has nice transitions, and an App Store, its a contender? I bet not at full price. At $700, its gotta be the Nokia. I doubt anyone would buy an iPhone at full price otherwise.
All that being said, your review was good, and I appreciate your viewpoint. We're all different, with differing tastes. Nokia should refresh its transitions and UI mainly because it has TAT in its back pocket, and it could easily make a great device combining the best of both worlds. We're all waiting for that, and I suspect it'll be in 6 months, or when ROVER/N900 comes out (unless its alot better than the N97, it'll have its sales cannibalized). So I'll be awaiting Nokia's next moves...
btw, you can't compare processor and RAM on different software platforms. Look at Windows XP and Vista. XP at 1.9 GHz and 2 GB RAM is great, but for Vista, its a nightmare. See my point? The iPhone has better RAM and processing, but how many apps can it run at once? I bet it can't run 19 even when jailbroken, which I'm running now while posting this via my N95 8gb to prove my point. Its a totally different device not in the same class with a true smartphone like the N97.
Okay, that was a comprehensive response, but allow me to retort! :)
"Research has shown a longer narrower device feels better in pocket than a short wide one."
- It's longer and narrower, yes. But the N97 is also quite a bit thicker thanks to the keyboard, making for a pretty bulky device in the pocket. Remeber those metal pencil cases from school? It feels like that. Not fun in the pocket.
"Why was no mention of the higher pixel density of the N97? Its higher resolution, so stuff looks better on it."
- True, but didn't want to go into the talk of occasional laggy videos are on the N97 (especially when apps run in the background) as well as how the accelerometer only works in one direction, as opposed to being able to flip the iPhone in any direction, whilst the video continues to play in real time.
"You even called the iPhone's screen "wider", which it isn't. It is taller, but narrower. This is visually evident in side by side photos."
- Um...no? Guess this might be a mix up for not talking about portrait vs. landscape. Portrait, iPhone screen is wider. I mentioned that the N97 was 16:9, maybe wasn't clear. http://u.nu/3s6e
"The camera section gave no mention of the iPhone's lack of flash or the resulting image quality, which is good for the Nokia, and bad butt horrible for the Apple."
- Fair enough. I made mention of the advancements for the iPhone camera functionality and video, the N97 still trumps it without having to go into too much detail into how thoroughly! Plus, that's what the compare table is for!
"On the OS front, where was the true comparison? One is pretty, the other utilitarian, but what about features and capabilities? Which one does more?"
- Without even bringing up the RAM and CPU comparison in terms of having no lag when going between menus or choosing options, the Symbian interface is truly a barrier to entry unless you have used at least 2 prior S60 handsets thoroughly! It's comfortable and easy to find things...because it's the same UI you've been using for the past 3 + years! The iPhone OS manages to be pretty, utalitarian and intuitive. Symbian manages one of those...
Ask non-tech people to find specific features on a Symbian handset vs. the iPhone, the gulf of difference is most definitely palpable.
If S60 v5 is at its most optimised on the N97, that's a shame. No one in their right mind would prefer to use thin and imprecise scroll bars on the side of the side to navigate menus and web pages, when the far simpler and quicker method of 'pulling' the iPhone screen is available.
Even on an i8910 HD, boasting a much faster CPU than the N97, S60 wheezes and splutters with even 5 or 6 apps running at once. The number of freezes in my three weeks of using it is touching three figures. The N97 doesn't fare a whole lot better, as it seems the widgets are a bit of a resource hog...something for core users to turn off perhaps?
"Even a lot of the 3rd Edition apps, which far outnumber 1000, work on 5th Edition."
- Without touch support or optimisation they KIND OF work rather than are suited to the device. Many won't work without opening the QWERTY in that case, and using the d-pad.
With Nokia's service (and Windows, for that matter) being around for so long, why not provide a better single place for users to obtain all of these wonderful applications? Should they have to trawl through a range of third party sites, when it could all be organised in one place, on your handset, for direct download? They really dropped the ball, not only in sleeping on their app goldmines whilst Apple waltzed in and destroyed them.
My major bugbear is that Nokia didn't create the N97 in a vaccuum. They saw what the iPhone was, what it could do and as their flagship device, the N97 was their response to it. To have dropped the ball on so many features (resistive screen, no Nokia messaging as standard, slow CPU, QWERTY with insanely placed space bar, S60 v5) is frustrating.
We all know Nokia could have hit a home run with that form factor, if the functionality was there to back it up. It's just a shame that it's 'only' created a solid hit.
Trust me, we ALL want to see Apple get a true contender, it will only stimuate greater competition and better phones for all of us!
All in all, brilliant points, well raised Christexaport!
I'm torn! I currently run an Ipod Touch, an HTC Tytn II and a Nokia 5500 series touch phone (I''m a bit of technophile, lo siento) and I am having enormous trouble making a decision on whether to pick up the 3G S and trump my sister or the N97 and trump my boss. I'm looking for a business class phone so N97 would be the logical choice since it comes with World Traveler but my Ipod Touch already has three Travel programs loaded already!!! Arghhh! Dear Darla, which would you pick?
Excellent rejoinder and great mature and sensible response from Ernest. I have used every single communicator from 9000/ 9000i/ 9100/ 9100i and the last one calle dthe e90 was a complete rip off.
Being a symbain user for 10 years, i recognize the advantage of keyboard based phones.
BUT in todays times the expectations have changed, multyimedia, processing speed, softwares all lead to my decision to changeover to the appleworld..
If i need a good photo, ill use a slr/ digi camera anyway.
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]]>Today myself and Kenny from N97Geeks have put the N97 through it's paces with a series of stress tests.
The tests range from screen scratch resilience to water tests. The aim of the tests is to give N97 users an idea of just how durable the N97 is and what to expect if the phone happens to drop out of their pocket or in to a bowl of cereal, but hopefully the average user won't be playing with their phone over a bowl of cereal, but you never know.
Tomorrow we'll be doing a couple of drop tests. I know a few friends who dropped their iPhone and cracked the screen, so it'll be interesting to see how the N97 fairs up. We did a couple of tests last night but they didn't come out too well but the screen didn't crack, even when dropped on concrete from head height. Hopefully it will hold up during tomorrows tests.
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]]>With the release of Nokia Maps 3.0 on the horizon, Nokia have released Maps Updater. Unfortunately for Mac users, it's an .exe PC only file.
I'm an avid Mac user, as well as a Nokia fan. So how on earth do I get Maps on my phone?
Well thankfully it's not difficult, but more difficult than it should be none-the-less. N97 Geeks have posted a guide to installing Maps on Mac and conveniently included the Maps .sis file to download. If you're using Safari, right click the download link and save as, otherwise safari will try to unpack the file.
The worst part is, Maps Updater simply installs the .sis file, it's absolutely unnecessary.
Source:N97 Geeks.
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]]>Initial opinion is largely positive regarding the slick smartphone from Nokia, yet honest first impressions from ZDNet's David Meyer lament the resistive screen and middling build quality. He did like the smooth sliding keyboard and purposeful nature of the home screen widgets.
Steve Litchfield's epic review on All About Symbian is equally glowing regarding the slider mechanism and build quality in general, chucking in positive comments regarding the powerful battery, selection of pre-installed content and the visibility of the screen in various lighting conditions.
He also goes into an interesting level of detail regarding imaging quality from the 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss camera, as well as web browsing on the S60 v5 device.
A commenter on the Nokia Blog chucked in a great post of Nokia N97 pros and cons after a half hour NYC store demo. Loving the slick picture viewer with iPhone style 'bouncy' physics, the phone's surprisingly small size and the quality look of the black model, they only found fault with the disappointing D-pad, the removal of a virtual QWERTY for fully closed usage and overly small buttons.
If you want to buy Nokia N97 in the UK and it just has to be white, it looks like the only place you'll be able to do it is from Phones 4 U, according to Pocket Lint. The exclusive lasts for 2 months, and will be released in most European territories on a contract from the 26th of June. The good part is that it will be available for free on a 24-month, £40 contract but anyone afraid of being tied down will have to shell out £100 up front on a £35 monthly deal. Plenty of texts and minutes are chucked in with both.
There are a few N97 deals popping up from the other retailers, eager to get preorders in way before release. One thing for certain is that the N97 looks to be big this summer!
The hype train for the N97 has left the station, with it already becoming the choice for celebrities (if they get paid), popping up in the new Black Eyed Peas video for 'I Gotta Feeling,' showing off the slider form factor and web browsing on the black version.
An exciting offical event to whip up interest was also hosted on a number of sites, where cryptic clues and taxing riddles led to 8 Nokia N97 winners in the 'Search for N' campaign, the UK arm being run in conjunction with NokNok.tv.
Completely at a loss to what all the fuss is about with the Nokia N97? Think it just looks like an Xperia X1 knockoff? Prepare for a full N97 re-education courtesy of Cnet, with an exhaustive guide to the ins and outs of the most exciting handset to come from the Finnish manufacturer! Detailed pics show off what comes in the box, whilst a quick vid of Flora with the N97 gives us a look at the handset close up.
The winner of the 'best and most detailed foreign review' has to go to blog-n97.fr, who have filmed a magnum opus like no other, showing off every single facet of the super smartphone device. Unfortunately, just like the best foriegn film Oscar winners, their work was oft overlooked due to not being in the English language...take a peek, it's worth it!
Not sure if the N97 can replace your digital camera/camcorder? Check out this amazing selection of N97 pictures and videos, compiled if not personally taken by the Nokia N97 Blog. Frankly amazing!
All this, from a phone that is still a couple of weeks away from release! It's genuniely exciting to see the level of interest which many people have waited a long time for. Some handsets, from Nokia as well as other manufacturers, have disappointed this year. With feedback ranging from muted to glowing, it looks like the Nokia N97 might be the one to kick off the avalanche of really impressive handsets for the summer!
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