Comments on: Nokia's mystery device? The Nokia N97

Nokia officially unveils the Internet-focused Nokia N97, a full-QWERTY smartphone with a touch screen. Will its style and substance compete with the iPhone, G1, and BlackBerry Storm?

[ww917352]

Nokia N97 looks pretty sweet. I am so much looking forward to some video reviews.

Looks very cool, but from the video it seems slow at performing certain functions. Very hard to really tell though.

[7aji88]

yes, it seemed a bit sluggish, but the fact that it records video at 640*480 at 30fps should means that it has a fast processor. Also all of those features still makes it very attractive.

[akhilchugh]

Will Iphone be able to survive the N97 attack. Its already facing a tough competition from the N96. Found a good discussion on this topic at http://N97Blogs.info

[swimm12984]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CpesK7lmMg]YouTube - THE REAL Nokia N97 Demonstration Video[/url]

Nokia N97 Data Sheet
Planned Market Introduction
?1st half 2009

Category
?Explore

Internet
?Easy and fast connections to internet services
?Easy text input with QWERTY keyboard and touch screen
?3.5 inch sliding tilt display ?Live personalized home screen with widgets
?Up-to-date information via RSS feed?Fully compatible with Oviservices
?Browse real web pages
?Take pictures and videos and share them immediately

Video and TV
?Watch high-quality video on the large 3.5 inch 16:9 widescreen
?Video playback at 30 fps, for a wide array of formats
?Play videos, music and pictures on TV using TV-out
?Access internet video feeds through Nokia Video Center

Music
?Enjoy great audio through standard 3.5 mm jack headphones, built-in stereo speakers or Bluetooth technology
?Digital music player with support for playlist editing, equalizer and categorized access to your music collection
?Search, browse and purchase songs online in Nokia Music Store (for availability, please visit [url=http://www.music.nokia.com]Nokia Music Store[/url])

Maps and Navigation
?Nokia Maps with integrated compass and A-GPS receiver
?Multimedia city guides and navigation services.
Drive: voice guided car navigation, or
Walk: pedestrian-optimized turn-by-turn guidance. (Navigation may need to be purchased separately.)

Games
?World-class game titles with N-Gage
Note: Features and services may be offered as upgrade or for purchase

Technical Profile
?System: WCDMA 900/1900/2100 (HSDPA),EGSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
?User Interface: S60 5th Edition
?Dimensions: 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm*mm (L x W x H) *18.25 mm at camera area
?Weight: Approx. 150 g
?Display: 3.5 inch TFT with up to 16 million colors HD16:9 widescreen (640x360 pixels)
?Battery: Nokia Battery BP-4L, 1500 mAh

Media
?Memory: Up to 48GB (32 GB on-board memory,plus 16GB expansion via microSD memory card slot)
?Video playback:MPEG-4 / SP and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264,up to 30 fps, up to VGA resolution
?RealVideo up to QCIF @ 30 fps
?Windows Media (WMV9) up to CIF @ 30 fps
?Flash Lite 3.0 / Flash Video in internet browser
?Music playback: MP3, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, WMA

Main Camera
?Lens: Carl Zeiss Tessar?
?Image capture: Up to 5 megapixels (2584 x 1938) JPEG/EXIF (16.7 million/24-bit color)
?Video capture: MPEG-4 VGA (640 x 480) at up to 30 fps
?Aperture: F2.8
?Focal length: 5.4 mm
?Flash: Dual LED camera flash and video light

Operating Times
?Talk time: Up to 320 min (3G), 400 min (GSM)
?Standby time: Up to 400 hrs (3G), 430 hrs (GSM)
?Video playback: Up to 4,5 hours (offline mode)
?Music playback: Up to 37 hours (offline mode)
Connectivity & Data Services
?WLAN IEEE 802.11b/g with UPnP support
?Micro-USB connector, Hi-Speed USB 2.0
?3.5mm stereo headphone plug and TV-out support (PAL/NTSC)
?Bluetooth wireless technology 2.0 with A2DP stereo audio, enhanced data rates (EDR)
?GPS receiver with support for assisted GPS (A-GPS)

©2008 Nokia. All rights reserved. Nokia and Nokia Connecting People are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks or trade names of their respective owners.
Specifications are subject to change without notice. The availability of particular products and services may vary by region. Operation times may vary depending on radio access technology used, operator network configuration and usage. Operations, services and some features may be dependent on the network and/or SIM card as well as on the compatibility of the devices used and the content formats supported. Some services are subject to a separate charge.

[irfanil]

i wish it had a capacitive screen... happy with my N82

[abeautifulhaze]

It does...

[tateblaze]

Me too, N82 will always standout amongst the N series because on that one thing, the Xenon flash. Seems like all the cnet editors are apple fans. None of them have a strong knowledge of moblie OS' other than the Iphone and windows mobile. What even shocked me even further was when they rated a motorolla phone Motorola ZN5 (http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_zn5-2432.php) better that the Samsung INNOV8 (http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i8510_innov8-2471.php). I just gave up at that point.

here is the reveiw if you think i'm kidding

http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6454_7-687-101.html?tag=mid_container;pf_left_nav

[jilsonj]

i heard nokia is making a system where any nokia phone can send txt, call, pxt to another nokia phone for FREE!!! Using a satellite kinda like G.P.S. i heard its coming out on 2012

[texaslabrat]

@abeautifulhaze

No, it doesn't. Like most, if not all Nokias (leaving it open there, even though I can't think of a single exception), with touch-screen technology it has a resistive screen favored by Europeans due to the colder climate (capacitive screens don't work with gloved fingers) and the Asian market for stylus-based character selection.

[b_baggins]

European climate is no colder than the Northern U.S. If it uses resistive, it's because it's cheaper. Period.

That said, like all phones with the QWERTY slide out, it will be big, clunky and awkward. But, hey, everyone knows the only reason the iPhone is such a hot seller is because it has a touchscreen. So we'll put a touchscreen on our phones, too!

[Mark_Anderson]

@b_baggins

You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. It uses a resistive screen to facilitate written character input.

As for 'big and clunky and awkward', it's 15.5mm thick.

[Sonic124]

If you're willing to pay the $700 for the phone, why not simply buy it unlocked when it's released in Europe? No high end Nokia phone has ever been subsidized in the US. When it is finally released in the US, you'll end up paying the same amount anyways because you are still basically buying an unlocked phone. The only reason to hold back the purchase is to perhaps wait for them to release a US version which handles all of the US signal bands. Otherwise, just buy it when it's released in Europe and enjoy your purchase. I doubt you'll ever see it at the $300 price range unless Nokia finally starts making some deals with US carriers to subsidize the price.

[humanssssss]

It is well known through time and with intense competition, price of everything likely will fall. This is especially true with electronic gadget. Electronic gadget has a consistent 30% biannual drop in price. It is without a doubt these gadgets will drop in price in very short time.

[texaslabrat]

The biggest reason is the reasoning that went along with the N95 when it was initially released: lack of U.S. 3G compatibility. It wasn't until the North American version of the N95 was released (aka n95-3) that you could have a fully 3g-enabled version that worked in the States (on AT&T, anway...T-Mobile is another story) with both frequencies. The N97 has a slight leg-up in that it has a tri-band 3G radio (900, 1900, 2100), so it *should* be a little better in that department..though there are areas of AT&T's coverage that the lack of 850Mhz might cause some coverage gaps so in those areas a European N97 would be limited to EDGE speeds. But, given that at&t's 3G coverage is primarily concentrated with 1900Mhz...it shouldn't be a huge deal for most folks. Here's a map that shows what I'm talking about (I'm assuming it's relatively current) http://www.cellularmap.net/att_850_1900.shtml

[sabaticl]

Subsidized Nokia? How about I bought my Nokia 3650 Worldphone in 2003 or 2004, (I still have 2 working), through a deal on Amazon. $300 phone, I got $150 discount immediately from Amazon and $150 rebate back from Nokia. Net FREE phone. Cingular service, now AT&T.
THAT was a deal. STILL has features like infared and video that the iphone doesn't have!

[tech_junky48]

hmmm...

Seems like a beefed up AT&T Tilt with a better camera and more onboard memory. It is good to see a touch screen finally be used in one of the N-90s. I would have suspected that they would increase the camera, what with the Innov8 out and everything. How long 'till we see phones that don't have too many features beyond a really good (maybe 5mp) camera?

[MadLyb]

Looks like a Tilt too.

[ski.nick520]

how about the moto ZN5?

[sm0k3ydaband1t]

you do realize that the samsung innov8 takes about 30 seconds of holding the phone perfectly still, and when i say perfectly still i mean no movement at all or else your 8 mega pixles isnt worth crap. the images come out very blurry, and not only that but the innov8 is horribly slow and riddled with programming issues, and if my memory serves me right, it doesnt have wifi either. but it will still be awhile before we see a good high res camera on a phone.

[tech_games]

Another big phone that is supposed to compete with the Iphone. I was hoping for a skinnier Iphone type, not a copy of AT&T or others.

[AppleSuxLeo]

I`ll take thickness over a phone with no keyboard or replaceable battery any day !

[Ilgaz]

That 5xxx (forgot model) total touchscreen ("tube") thing is iPhone competitor.
This is more like a 9xxxx series (and E90) with excellent multimedia and touchscreen capabilities. Nokia doesn't race with anyone on this segment since they invented it themselves.
Look to Web for 9300, 9500, E90 and you will see what I mean. 9300 still serves me good BTW :)

[Zacm05]

I'll take no buttons and a huge touchscreen over thinness now, although thinness is nice to have. I used to like buttons a lot better, but I got used to a touchscreen. I use my friend's button phones and I feel like I don't know how to use them anymore, it's a weird feeling.

[dysonl]

The iPhone may be the skinniest phone but it is also fat, i.e. too large. You need to wear freakin' cargo pants to have pockets big enough to comfortably carry the fat toy.

[therealgeeves]

I feel that these devices are too wide for a phone.
iPhone 115mm, n97 117 - I have relative large hands and find holding the iphone as a phone not comfortable.

I use N80 which is 95mm width. I think the ultimate target must be about 110mm or less. I guess it depends on how to secure the screen to the case...

2c worth
:)

[zcollvee]

good stuff!

[gbelk08]

Whenever I get really excited about a new phone and start drooling at the mouth, I'm put back in my seat by one fact.

I'm on Verizon.
*tear*

[sm0k3ydaband1t]

at least you can get a touchscreen phone through them. i live in vermont and have unicel. i know, youve never heard of it but i get coverage everywheres, but we dont even have a phone with wifi let alone a capacitance touch screen. so im stuck buying unlocked quad bands ala carte...u know how expensive that is?

i feel your pain

[photog_7]

Consider yourself blessed! As a perk, my boss bought me a new iPhone and is paying the AT&T bill, an offer I couldn't refuse. The PDA part of the iPhone is really great, but I long for a good telephone with Verizon's great coverage. One plus to the new iPhone is that in my office I have absolutely no signal with AT&T, so he can't call me on my cell phone anymore! I really miss Verizon.

[Gkinght]

So true!!!

[ksustarling]

Looks like a very nice phone but too expensive. Maybe AT&T will pick it up in a couple of years once my iPhone 3G contract is up. But of course by then, something else will be out that's much more amazing. I never understood how someone could pay so much for an unlocked phone. I have a fairly decent job and so does my wife but $700 is just too much even with all the nice features that my iPhone doesn't have. I would consider it if a US carrier picked it up and I could get it for $350 or less. For now I'm stuck emailing photos to my contacts instead of just using MMS...

[crasher7]

What the? US haven't got N96 yet?!?! Why so Nokia is so slow...??? Malaysia ardy gt it, and they have release on US yet

[clicclic99]

This N73 user loves the 3MP camera on his phone, but installing software on a Nokia device is a major P.I.A. for Mac users. It's just too difficult and inconsistent.

Nokia needs to beef up their software development partnership program and focus SERIOUSLY on making the software shopping/download/installation experience as seamless as Apple's - for PC users and Mac users. Wonder why Apple's iPhone is all the rage? Installing software on it is child's play - on both platforms.

Go ahead and explain how easy it is. It isn't.

[jregina]

It looks great, but personally I'm holding out until Clearwire rolls out WiMax. That way I don't have to pay for calls, txt messages and internet as different services.

[cbaisa]

word. sprint is setting up to be the best carrier for the next five years. they already have three times the spectrum of any of the other carriers and will be able to make full use of WiMax with Clearwire. I wish we could get the 4g HTC MAX. It's like the iPhone's older, smarter, faster, cooler brother.

[sm0k3ydaband1t]

i dont know how much you know about sprint, but there company is inside out and about to go belly up. they are not the leading carrier in the states. in fact they are 3rd, behind att and then verizon. ill be thoroughly shocked if they make it another 2 years without being bought out. plus try getting sprint reception in the northeast...youll pull your hair out before long.

[tecmic]

The iPhone's still got some serious issues regarding it's actual phone function (for me anyway, here on O2 in the UK) but it still leads the pack in terms of it's touchscreen, browser, the apps and design.

Could benefit from a memory card and removable battery.

The 'opposition' mostly, still haven't had the courage to drop the clunky keyboard nor come up with an 'Appleesk' touch screen. (the sexiest on the planet) Nokia's 'N' series all look like PDA's and the '97' appears to be continuing that theme. Functionality? that's a personal choice.

[celticbrewer]

To each their own. I won't buy a smart phone without a real keyboard. Especially since the iphone users I know all hate the touch screen keyboard. I also have friends who let me try their blackberries, G1, and some winmobile thing and they all seemed more appealing to me than the iphone.

But like gbelk08 says above, I'm on verizon, so I'm pretty much screwed regardless. I guess I'll have to use my phone for *gasp* making calls and texting.

[jilsonj]

nokia usually makes phone that are easy to use in a business.
But nokia has made a touchscreen phone just like the iphone. its the awesome nokia 5800Xpressmusic
It does almost everything nokia n97 does. check it out!

http://dailymobile.se/2008/10/09/nokia-5800-review/

[Ilgaz]

There are 2 Webkit based third party browsers and the amazing Opera 9.5 coming soon to Symbian S60.
iPhone users would pay for a browser like Opera (in touchscreen) if Apple allowed it to app store. I am using its beta on most weird Symbian ever (UIQ3) and you can trust me on that.
iPhone has a great browser but it is the only choice. No competition like Symbian and Windows Mobile market. That competition started to achieve amazing things right now.

[Zacm05]

I actually like the touchscreen keyboard better than physical buttons, considering my fingers are too big for actual buttons, and the iPhone error corrects for me so most everything I type is spelled correctly.

[pedspeds]

I think this is very exciting. Nokia is finally playing the touchscreen game -- and if there is any phone maker that can possibly outdo Apple's iPhone (because, let's face it, the iPhone is the touchscreen phone to beat), it would have to be Nokia.

[sm0k3ydaband1t]

i hate the fact that everyone is so high up on the iphone strickly because of well placed adds and hype. apple stole the idea for the iphone from LG. take a look at the LG Prada. thats the original iphone and if u take a look at the prada 2, youll realize apple has no business making phones...stick to mp3 players and stop brainwashing america apple!

[Zacm05]

Ok, then I guess I am the first person you have ever met that is high up on the iPhone because I actually like it and think it's great. Apple didn't steal any ideas. When somebody steals an idea, they usually botch it up. Instead, Apple made a very powerful device which has actually made me more productive in daily life.

[7aji88]

now this is the iPhone killer that everyone was waiting for. I hope some carrier will offer with a discount, but looking at the N95 I don't think that anyone will do that, specially AT&T because they got the iPhone which is a chicken that lays golden eggs for them.

[Zacm05]

Actually, the iPhone is a really good phone, especially the 3G. I like it 100x better than my Blackberry I used to have.

[TigerG]

Looks awesome for a phone that was released 5 years ago.
Jeez how lame...and the price?

[Mark_Anderson]

1) Tell me which phones had those specs five years ago.
2) It'll be free on contract in the UK

Muppet.

[jtklein]

It never ceases to amaze me that no one makes a truly great device for VZW, which clearly has the best network. If verizon had a phone to rival the i-phone they would put AT&T out of business.

[sm0k3ydaband1t]

verizon will never put ATT out of business because theyre using CDMA technology...do you know how many companies overseas use CDMA? none! att is superior because for one they have more coverage, and two, they are GSM which means world phones, so people traveling overseas can pick up a vodaphone prepaid card slide it in and go. and all verizon has is the best network advertising can buy. anyone realize how much more often a VZW ad comes on than an ATT or sprint ad? its pretty substantial. and "the most reliable network" what exactly does that mean? ill promise you it doesnt mean they have better coverage...from my experience they dont even have good customer service.

[Zacm05]

Really, I had a couple Verizon phones, and I couldn't get service anywhere. I got Helio for a bit of time, and had perfect service. Now I have AT&T, and still I have perfect service. Sorry, maybe it's the area I'm in, but Verizon just doesn't cut it, and their phone selection is uninspiring.

[jtklein]

I live in highly populated area ( NY Metro ) and I really need to make PHONE CALLS on my wirweless device. AT&T falls way short in that area and every consumer report seems to agree. The real pity is that they offer much nicer phones. I just gave a friends blackberry storm a work out and it is another zero. We VZW users can wait and hope.
For me, I wish AT&T would improve it`s network.

[ywkhgqo]

I agree. Verizon was rated number one in customer service by the way smokeydaband. ATT is not superior. All of the reviewers say Verizon's coverage and quality are superior to AT&T. You're telling me you don't see as many stupid representations of a cell phone's signal bars (AT&T commercials) as you do asking if they can hear the verizon guy now? Fewest dropped calls is BS. Verizon for the win.

[jkohut]

I agree with others that Nokia has to be careful of price. My current Nokia 6682 has been an excellent phone for 3 years (although support for it has fallen off somewhat recently). I can do Google Maps, Email, Internet Browsing, Internet Music, etc... Shows Nokia's engineering forsight from 3 years ago, but I am not paying $450 for an E71 (can't get AT&T to give me a discount on E71 or other good Nokia Smartphone) or $700 for a N97. Seems like Nokia could be going the way of GM, Chrysler, and Ford by living on past success. They have to realize that getting market share is important, as it allows them to continue to exist down the road. They wait too long to discount their phones and therefore have been overtaken by Iphone and Blackberry (and soon Android) as far a relevance.

[EAfanboiz]

They have 39% marketshare. The US is shockingly not the only country in the world.

[EAfanboiz]

Nokia has the largest marketshare in the world at about 39%.

[b_baggins]

The U.S. is not the only country in the world, but it's the only one that counts economically. 5% of our mortgages go under, and the WORLD nosedives into a recession. Deal with it.

[Mark_Anderson]

@b_baggins

The economy went under because stupid greedy people lent money the couldn't afford to people who couldn't pay it back. Unfortunately it was a fairly global phenomena. As for trading blocks the biggest in the world is actually the EU.

Silly boy.

[dysonl]

The US is the only country that counts retards like Baggins by the millions.

[ayobanbase]

this phone looks great, i'm already starting to sell my n96 i'll keep the money until it is released here in the uk