Category: Nokia

Nokia C3, C6, E5-Reality check

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Nokia C3 Unique S40 device with 2MP Camera, qwerty keypad, 3.5 mm connector, 55 MB internal memory, supports up to 8GB Memory card, WLAN support, Inbuilt support for ‘Game changing’ Nokia Messaging for mails and IMs. and price? just RS. 5, 500/- to Rs. 6, 000/- as announced. May be even more lowered down after production.

Nokia C6 A device that seems to fare even more better than Nokia N97 Mini (Rs. 19, 500/-) and even if not, then passing the very popular Nokia 5800 (Rs. 13, 000/-) for sure. Same Symbian OS as Nokia N97 Mini, same processor as Nokia N97 Mini, same 128 MB RAM, 5 MP Camera with LED Flash, secondary camera, sliding qwerty keypad, 3.2” resistive touch TFT screen with nHD 16:9, 640x 360, Free Ovi Maps voice navigation with A-GPS support, WLAN, 3G, Inbuilt support for Game changing Nokia Messaging for mails and IMs and same battery as Nokia N97 Mini… price? just Rs. 14, 000/- – Rs. 15, 000/- at max.

Nokia E5 Top class business device fairing even better than even Nokia E72 (Rs. 18, 500/-) due to many email supports, Lotus/ Exchange support, same 600 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM, 250 internal memory, 5 MP camera, Free Ovi Maps voice navigation obviously, HSPDA/ HSUPA, WLAN, same sleek looks as featured by E72 or E63 and battery life said to be 18.5 hours on GSM… price? Rs. 12, 500/- or Rs. 13, 000/-

Enough excitement naa??? Get a read over David Gilson post about detailed comparison of these devices with ones, they going to replace. With excitement, Its also a good question to think up on that where are the hidden compromises to present such mouth watering prices? Coz on specification sheets, it seems to bringing the best elements of successful Nokia Smart Phones, but how much we should actually expect coming for us ????

Well.. if we talk about Nokia C3, then if you really think then only addition is WLAN and qwerty keypad or you could add up support for bigger memory card into it as well. Internal Memory boosts up from 30MB as was similar priced Nokia 5310, shouldn’t be that much of price concern as launch dates have years between them. I don’t count Nokia messaging integration on costlier side.

What’s on costlier side is QWERTY and WLAN. but Nokia, Apple already shown that they could sport WLAN on cheaper rates with their E63 and iPad respectively.

Nokia C3 is a great device for lower end market and might be a big success like old sets like 3300, 3310 and 1600 been. So far, I guess no compromises made as prices are reasonable with a little brave push. Hope as it looks in pictures, Nokia coming with metallic body for C3.

Next is Nokia E5 … those who might have missed from specification sheet, let me remind you neither its coming with Carl Zeiss lenses nor I am expecting it to sport that metallic tough looks as E72 had. More of it, what made Nokia E72 standing out of crowd, the Optical Pad is also missing from Nokia E5. At the end, what’s most wrong part is, its loss about battery, in place of BP-4L (1500mAh) we are going to get BL-4D (1200mAh). Even if its being shown with more talk time, it can easily be expected that battery performance might get crucially lower than its competitor. Current price of E72 has been lowered to 299 Euro and Nokia E5 is being launched on around 190 euro. Less battery and missing optical pad seems to justifying the lesser price.

Also I am thinking about the compromises made around functioning, as increased battery life on lower battery means there are some energy saving techniques applied within and as it happens usually it going to cost over performance from somewhere. Yet to see.. and if Nokia really have found some special technique, then why not it’s there with other two? Future will reveal.

Sure, there are compromises and I am okay with them as its going to allow a broader audience to receive the business series with full feature. Though one shouldn’t expect it going to be great on Camera (provided the Non-Carl Zeiss and No Auto Focus), which is bad as many times a business person uses camera for taking scan like images of documents. Don’t know without Auto Focus and Carl Zeiss, how that would fare. ~~Just could hope that they don’t get plasticy in the way, as the body of Nokia 5800 was and~~ they will sure get an additional sale from my side .

For me, still E72 after next firmware updates (might include this Nokia Messaging into that) fares better due to better battery as Business users tend to use WiFi and 3G than GSM.

People always said that Nokia N97 and even N97 Mini are overpriced in a way and it was sure evident then one looks over the other successful one Nokia 5800. Nokia C6 seems to giving answers to all those people. Disappointment is on air for few, who expected at least 256 MB RAM and 600 MHz from the successor of Nokia N97 Mini, but let me tell you all of these devices are never meant to be successor of any. Neither E5 nor C6. They are in league of their own and an attempt of Nokia to show that still they rule on the scale they have defined.

The highest priced among the three, Nokia C6 sure reasons the price due to addition of QWERTY and OS capability of Nokia N97 in Nokia 5800. We have lost tilt slider and 82 MB internal memory, when compared to Nokia N97 Mini. Charging got powered by Micro USB, which is nextGen but still… as I have seen that if we use 3G connection at full force on Laptop via Smart Phone, then it drain battery faster than it charges. I am not sure that should call it a positive addition or not, but its sure convenient for majority.

What are we going to miss most with Nokia C6 is again Carl Ziess and dual LED flash, which will sure make the Camera go completely ordinary. I was not even happy with Nokia 5800 and don’t know how C6 will fare in Camera side that way. I never come to know that why Nokia used lesser battery in N97 Mini and higher in 5800 and same question hits back here as well.

Yes!! there are compromises and some are even painful like camera and battery. 128 MB RAM is not going to take it very far the way it seized sale of N97 Mini and if it lacked anything in A-GPS in comparison to N97 (compass already not there), then it would sure be lesser popular than other two models. The only place where it fares better than other two devices is screen size, which facilitate comfortable browsing and navigation experience.

The only touch screen device of the three model sure would be crucial as still many people wants touch devices. But don’t know why I am feeling that it has less brighter future than other devices and upcoming devices (To be frank)…

So, as a conclusion, I think ‘inclusion’ of Nokia Messaging and Chat (that was already there in Beta Labs from some time available for few select models) sure ground breaking for NextGen communications and a sign of the shift that how seriously various businesses taking social networking. Nokia really went aggressive by including WLAN and all comprehensive features at such mouth watering prices coz sometimes we don’t consider worth of some good things till don’t use them due to price. These devices will bring the power of QWERTY, multitasking, heavy storage support and strong connectivity to mass.

I once said that there are so many features in advance Smart Phones, like we could send co-ordinates that where are we or could upload pictures or could communicate with international friends so easily but that doesn’t make effective appearance till we get such smart phones reaching to all your friends. It was always hard to convince any friend of yours to buy a handset of Rs 20, 000/- as you will always be asked that what’s point of buying a smart phone in such a price, when could buy whole Netbook in same price easily?

You check your Ovi Contacts and find only a few online. You check Google Maps Lattitude and find only two three friends have updated their locations (coz they don’t have smart phones with GPS) You left being lonely many times. I am sure that these new device gonna change the same experience. But sure, we need to keep the expectations realistic as its not gonna be a biggest Multimedia experience for sure. Should wait for next move from Nokia.

Just got more updates today

Check out the video showing C3, C5, C6, E5

Few observations ….

C6 It’s good to see that there is no tilt slider in C6 as for me, I was always susceptible about the same in Nokia N97 Mini and loved the smooth slider experience of Nokia N900. Hope this would be the same. There are physical buttons for receiving and rejecting calls, but the whole body seems to be similar to that Nokia 5800 means no metal in this one at least.

C3 and E5 It seems that I shouldn’t be that worried about the build of these two as both of them seem to sport metallic back and build. Sorry I doubted in first place.

Waiting that when I would be able to take my hands on them….

More updates

Got to see flicker stream of RS77 and view of E5 and C6 there. Interface-wise not much seems to be changed, but I am happy to see the solid looks of E5. Wait continues …

Nitish Kumar
https://nitishkumar.wordpress.com
http://scifireviews.wordpress.com
http://nitishkumarsays.blogspot.com

Nokia C3, Nokia C6, Nokia E5-What you always wished for

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It was just last day, when I wrote over the invitation received from WomWorld. I was wondering that what it will reveal? Why the card was required to sent in place of a simple email? Wished if they could do that integration of IMs again the way they did in Nokia N900? Was thinking about the price on which the new device will come? Was thinking that if they will be worth thinking about? Will they be touch devices again? Are we going to see the first MeeGo? Is the most rumored N-8 is about to unveil?

Lots of questions and answer was just …. Wait!!!! speculations all around .. even if myself and many got the bit that it has to do something with Nokia Messaging and IMs, but still wait was wait..

I really never took part into such an online event and unfortunately even today wasn’t available due to loads of work, but even sneak peak was enough to excite and I was waiting to reach home to write upon it. And here I am …

What was that invitation card about? We have seen many type of campaigns, remember those empty banners saying something is coming… advertising needs lots of creativity and sometimes with so simple ideas. So was the invitation card. Yes!!! I am smiling when writing that the black backside of the card was really cryptic and of actual worth.

There was a screen on the site, which presented a flash based app asking for allowing to access your webcam and then asking to show your card from backside.

Nothing happened …. ??? Now move the card a bit …. unveiling the new device in front of you … amazing…

Yes!!.. Nokia really unveiled the next gen of messaging and more exciting the way it got everything right either it be price or battery life or connections or apps coz only that thing matters more than anything about the real connections. I am just left thinking about my old post on what a dream phone should be like? What should Nokia give a thought? And I am really really overwhelmed that its like getting prayers heard. I am still fascinated that how much of my thoughts coincided. Nokia unveils three new dream devices centered around Nokia Messaging and Social connections.

Yes… not only Nokia N900 like IM integrations and conversational approach will be common to all three of them, but all are having qwerty keypad, WLAN and heavy batteries > 1200 mAh. It really seems that Nokia getting things perfectly right and taking the best elements of its own experience from all of its successful devices rather than thinking about wide spread fever around Touch-Phones.

Let me Introduce the device one by one ….

Nokia C3 Series 40 devices.. like the one I had Nokia 5310. Many loved them due to their price and functionality. It was not for those people, who are very much concerned about browsing over phones, but wish to have cool camera/ music phones in hands with best talk-time.

Nokia C3 represents the same class. You get connectivity with Gtalk, Yahoo, Live Messenger and Ovi chat, conversational view, One click access to mail via Nokia Messaging (Graduated from beta), favorite contacts on home screen, just like you seen in Nokia N97 etc, easy updates/ uploads to Facebook, Twitter etc, Wireless Lan with easy access point authentication (No 3G though), 2 MP Camera, 3.5 AV connector, FM Stereo Radio, 55 MB internal memory (more than enough for Series 40), though no memory card included but supports up to 8 GB and amazing 1320 mAh battery with 7 hours talk time.

Though searching over web didn’t confirmed me about the processor, but it seems that it would offer 64 MB RAM and 128 NAND ROM. Enough for a Series 40 na????

Could find the official specifications here

Nokia C3 datasheet

Now the best part of the deal. What’s the price? 90 Euro before taxes means should stand somewhere Rs. 5, 500/- or Rs. 6, 000/- if I am right about conversion rates.

I know you cant believe it.. but the world is sure going to change and the ruler is back. Really will be interesting to see if it returns back the era of non-touch phones. And don’t run to Nokia Priority shops, it’s scheduled to be released in Q2 means somewhere around June/ July 2010.

Nokia C6 Do you think that something holding you back, when you take a Series 40 device in your hands? Do you think that a Series 40 device is made for only school going teenagers? Do you think that you can’t live without latest Symbian 9? You think that it would be like living in some village without the cool apps you had in your N82, N97? You still don’t want to loose the grip with touch device. Nokia still with you 🙂

Nokia C6 represents surprisingly the only touch device among these three next gen messaging devices. Nokia N97 like full keypad, Nokia 5800 like screen, full Email support for Gmail, Yahoo, Live Mail, Ovi Mail, IM client available from Ovi Store for Gtalk, Live Messenger, Yahoo or Ovi Chat. Almost exactly same or better customizable home screen than Nokia N97. What more you could wish for?

Here comes more … nHD 16:9, 640x 360, 3.2” TFT screen with 16M colors, 5MP primary camera with Integrated Led Flash, secondary front camera for video calling, FM Stereo Radio, feee ovi maps voice navigation with Integrated A-GPS (No compass though), WLAN, 3G, 200 MB Internal Memory, 2 GB Card included and supports up to 16GB, Micro USB Connector (Not sure that it could be charged through the same or not) and the amazing 7 hours talk time with 1200 mAh battery, What else you wished for?? Really pushes N97 way behind. rocessor will be the same as Nokia 5800, 434 MHz ARM11 and will feature 128 MB RAM

Could find the official specifications here

Nokia C6 datasheet

Again the best part of deal. Nokia really got the point right what I mentioned in my Nokia 5800 post and my dream phone post. The price is highest among the three but still just 220 Euro means will stand somewhere Rs. 14, 000/- – Rs. 15, 000/- obviously if I am right about conversion rates.

You are really thinking na.. if have already bought Nokia N97 Mini or didn’t bought due to high price or even if you started loving your Nokia 5800 like some die hard. Why Nokia does this? Why their own products stands like best rivals? Its time to enjoy and make fun, for them who waited for better. Yes!! this one is also scheduled to be released in Q2 means somewhere around June/ July 2010.

Nokia E5 Do you think that IMs and Social updates are for only kids and youth? Do you think that being a professional meant to keep you away from social? Do you think that business phone are made of something else and fun phone of another? You ask that why a strictly professional boss or executive can’t be a active socialite? Yes!! Nokia heard you ..

Nokia E5 brings best of their business phones like E63 and E72. Same qwerty keypad, same long battery life, best 5MP Camera with full focus, best of the connectivity with 10MB upload speed/ 2MB download speed with HSPDA/ HSUPA, favourite contacts with images on home screen, One click IM/ mail clients, support for Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Traveler means covering 90% business mails all over the world and never to miss free Ovi Maps Voice Navigation with Integrated A-GPS Support. Yes!!! this one also packs the same conversational view of IMs/SMS and graduated Nokia Messaging.

You may be disappointed that why business devices still has those 2.4 “ QVGA LCD 320×240 as this one has, but 250 MB Internal memory and support for 32 GB card (2GB included) really come to blow your mind. Here comes Nokia to take you in wonderland, the talk time of 18 hours 30 mins on GSM. Really some trick behind this as its still 5 hours and 30 mins on 3G and battery is BL-4D 1200 mAh. Really wish to know details behind this GSM optimizations. But its amazing for people, who finds them travelling most of the time. This really seems unbelievable when you know that it features the same processor earlier Nokia N900 & Nokia E72 and more of RAM will be 256 MB. Great!!!! Superb!!! Really making me restless …

Oh!!! you are waiting for the price na… here it comes … 180 Euro before taxes means somewhere Rs. 12, 500/- or Rs. 13, 000/- I guess. Same price as Nokia 5800. I really love this price tag. The next few month will be hard as this device is not gonna released in Q2, but Q3 means in September/ October I think. Let’s see when it will make it to India. I hope very soon.

I was already impressed with Nokia E72 and it was being loved all over the world… its like overkill. I love you Nokia. Anyone still holding BlackBerry?

For me, the announcement came like a dream came true and Nokia seemed to be like some Santa giving all my wishes. As Thomos on Engadget wrote, Nokia bringing the best of smart phones in affordable ‘dumb phones’ market. The world is sure about to change. The complaints seem being over now that Smart Phones prices are getting as high that people started thinking about buying Netbook and doing compromises. I always said Smart Phones will realize into connections, when many will hold high end devices … it really about to happen. 🙂

For me, it will be more interesting to watch that how webkit based browser will fare in all of these device ~~and what processors and how much RAM these are going to get as the same is not mentioned in press released but means a lot.~~ Also have to see that if they will release the same IM client for other devices or not? Again … wait not over even now 😦 ….

Paul@WomWorldNokia already assured me that I will be on their mind once they get access to these dream devices. So, I will sure be back with more details, when get one of these in my own hands. Clocks started ticking slow .. 😦

Update: Updated the link for Dream Phone post. Was pointing to wrong article. Check again.

Nitish Kumar

https://nitishkumar.wordpress.com
http://scifireviews.wordpress.com
http://nitishkumarsays.blogspot.com

Nokia EveryoneConnect invitation from WomWorld

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Sometimes, you find yourself smiling only over things happened. While eagerly waiting for my ovimaps slugs to reach courtesy @ovibyNokia, a DHL courier of A3 size reached to me on Saturday. Received today as I was on leave to entertain parents, who are in Delhi now days.

Take a look what came out of the same ….

Oh!!! you think something more inside the packet?? Sorry nothing else inside than this 3” x3” Invitation card. Surprise na!!!! Anyway, take a closer look

The backside of card also showing something like chat/ message icons… is it cryptic message? Sorry could not use some sci fi technologies to go beyond the black colour … may be …

The link given in the card is http://events.nokia.com/everyoneconnect/, which is showing a cool flash based countdown as given below

I guess, Paul@WomWorldNokia already hinted me about some surprise coming my way few weeks back. Though speculations are around that it might be a launch of rumored NextGen mobile N-8 or connecting with last event, something related with Nokia Messaging. ~~I think I could be assured that this must be N-8 only as WomWorld knows what interests me more… let see… meet you there …..~~

Ok. I just went a little deeper, checked the source of the site, by the hint there, I changed the dates of my system to April 14, 2010 and here is what I got …

I am not sure what it is.. is it Same Nokia Messaging App available free for all now with some added functionality? Or it is the same integration of IMs and SMS as I loved in Nokia N900?

I don’t think that it would be that hard to integrate Skype/ Gtalk into common Smart Phones. APIs for both are available and provided the devices in market, they could sure afford to extend the same concept to other devices as well. Will they wrap it up in form of some app or will they offer a firmware upgrade for tighter integration?

Not sure that my expectations will be coincide with the upcoming, but will love it, if it happens.

I feel bad about Idea people crying out there for Save Paper campaign. Poor they … Invitation of an online event through this much bigger courier 😉

Nitish Kumar

Skyfire-You can play Farmville on Nokia N82

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Farmville: An addition of web surfers in same way cigarettes might be for some office goers. Symbian users always been deprived of experiencing the same due to heavy flash used in the same and only Flash Lite 3.0 can’t do Farmville. Look like Skyfire taken the task. Yes!! You can use heavy flash on your only Flash Lite 3.0 device with Skyfire.

I given Skyfire a try for running Farmville on my Nokia N82 and the result were …

FarmVille on Nokia N82

Not sure what doing the trick, but as much I could guess and read, it render websites first as images rather than actual pages and this explains how it handles Flash. Flash might be playing on servers and device must be getting series of pictures. This implies that this kind of Flash performance should be fast on faster connections like 3G or Wi-Fi and worse if using mere GPRS.

I really want to invite users, if could comment about technique being used behind the same. Till then have good comparison between Opera and Skyfire (Courtesy Original post)

Nitish Kumar

Nokia N82-Still clicks like my heartbeats

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Sometimes, you cherish your decisions, you once made in blink of eye against the verdict of others. Buying Nokia N82 after loosing my Nokia N70 in a theft, was really that sort of decision, I never regretted later on.

Note: Please do not consider this as a review for Nokia N82 as I just thought to share what I think about my this lovely companion. After all, when I already had written about others like Nokia 5800, Nokia N900 and Nokia N97 mini, then why should I leave the one, I always loved most? A tribute to my journey with N82.

Bought two and half years back, somewhere in October 2007, Nokia N82 was not my instant choice, given lots of thoughts to it, due to its price tag and my lack of interest in Smart phone features then. I was already having a decent 4MP digital camera and used Nokia N70 before. Could say, even Nokia N70 was a new world to me and my fun with it was limited to FM and decent 2 MP camera only. Should say with N82, it was for the first time, when I went for buying some smart phone with a keen eye over features.

What was special with Nokia N82 and what was competition?

The other one in my mind was Nokia N73, in price range 13.5k I guess, providing decent photographs, 2GB memory and nice voice quality without headphone. Probably, these were the things an average consumer look for.

I was looking for something else. Something, which may sustain the requirements for longer run. Something which must be awesome on camera either it be video or stills , must be high on connection side 3G, Wifi, GPS etc., with longer battery life, music side must be core and still with an elegant business look.

Nokia N95 and Nokia N82 were close options to me, but the details favored the later released one more. Nokia N82 was more worth to price. Let’s see why?

More RAM: Though lesser internal memory than Nokia N95, 100 MB in comparison to 160 MB of Nokia N95, but Nokia N82 was with just double amount of RAM, 128 MB, which actually matter, when it comes to performance.
More comfortable: Display size was little less 2.4” in comparison to 2.6”, but still it was with a good build. Less on weight and no sliding (I wasn’t in favor in those days as susceptible to failure in long run). Keypad was something unique about it, which actually raised my typing on cell. Though criticized by people in first look, but once used to, keypad was really sweet heart!!!
Better connectivity: Though it missed Infrared (Outdated), but GPRS was still faster and same with GPS performance. Micro USB was sure better option than Mini USB, though I wished in those days that what if charging through Micro USB was also included.
Better memory support: Nokia N82 was not only providing you 2GB card included in package in similar price, but the support was also up to 16GB in comparison of 8GB limit of Nokia N95. I really didn’t thought till recently (when I got to be with Nokia 5800 and Nokia N900) that one would be wishing for more than it.
Best Camera ever: Though today, I yet to give Nokia N86 a try, but not only specification sheets and reviews, Nokia N82 always got more praises than any other in the league. Xenon flash was way better than LED one with Nokia N95.. perhaps the deal breaking for me. I have tried almost every camera phone from Nokia till now, but even after two and half years none of them came to actually beat Nokia N82. I always wondered that why Nokia didn’t continued with Xenon Flash?
Better battery: I was envy of business phones in those days for their longer running batteries, though they were nowhere near in Multimedia department. Was finding the best within Multimedia phones and a 1050 mAh was sure better than a 950 mAh of Nokia N95.

So, that was easy to make the decision, even if price was high (even then were less than that of Nokia N95), but I was betting for future and it didn’t let me down till now.

How it still holds its relevance?

After two year later, now I understand that the decision for buying Nokia N82 was like hitting the jackpot unknowingly as it holds its relevance even now, even when we are talking about iOS, Android and Symbian^3, ^4. Going behind 3G and Xenon was a such great decision, which kept we N82 users proud till even now.

Though Nokia and most of the Smartphone users seems to be loving touch phones more and more, but for me, touch was meant to drain more battery for sure and for many a times, not that accurate as some keys might be. I was always a keyboard person rather than mouse one :P. So, in this way Nokia N82 was kind of flagship in non-touch phones from Nokia with legendary camera skills. You wont believe it but I have snapped more than 5000 pics through the same and even videos been of DVD quality. I always found myself in love with its camera, which still stands like God.

I have experienced 600 MHz processor with Nokia N900 and went through Nokia 5800, Nokia N97 Mini etc and really know how wonderful it would be being with some snapdragon 1 GHz processor, Still a Dual ARM 11 332 MHz processor with 3D Graphics HW Accelerator was ahead of league that time as rest came later on and even now, it fairs very well. Either it be GPS or be it support with apps like Fring, Nokia Image Exchange, Nokia Messaging and youtube, you never find yourself stuck with something, which is holding you back in advancing technology. It was a privilege to have a Nokia N82.

People may be lured by a similar looking recently released Nokia N79, which is available in 13k now days and offers same 5MP camera with slight better processor and 4GB card included in package. Lighter in weight and price, but people miss the fact that its a compromise version without Xenon Flash, without 3D accelerator Hardware and lesser memory support. The same reasons Nokia N82 faired much better than Nokia N95 in past.

I am adding a few screenshots to show how it holds after latest firmware’s

Whom I find beating Nokia N82?

For people preferring non-touch phones, I think Nokia N82 been a winner from a longer while and will be loveable till Nokia doesn’t come up with another 5MP Camera with Xenon again. Though I should say E72 seems to have shaken my thoughts. Internal memory, Processor, Connectivity, GPS and Battery life.. it seems to be winning in all departments except the led flash, which sure not Xenon, but fair better than others.

Though Nokia N900, Nokia N97 Mini and Nokia 5800 have made me addicted to big screens but still who could manage without touch screen or that bigger screen, Nokia E72 does the job much better than anything else around. I really wanna check out one. Probably the only one, I find could replace my Nokia N82 otherwise, even with Nokia N900, I would like to keep my Nokia N82 as backup phone for sure.

Even if I leave excellent connectivity options and power within this legend a side, its camera alone worth of keeping it with you forever.

Update: Something I recently discovered. Good News Farmville fans out there, you can play Farmville on Nokia N82 with Skyfire Browser now (Available in Ovi Store).

Nitish Kumar

Nokia N97 Mini Review Part 2-Whatever you can expect for

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Call it affection to Nokia N900, says it mess at personal front now days, may be my a bit illness on health front; I really feel that I was unable to give sufficient time to my latest trial device Nokia N97 Mini. Though I written comments about Un-boxing, wrote about Hardware Specifications and a few posts are there on small Ovi Maps adventures with it. But still this amazing device deserves a review about its functioning. Trying to cover a few this time…

Usually when you talk about Nokia N97 Mini, then common opinion is “its made for youngsters”; thanks to its bright, responsive, big 3.2” touch screen, QWERTY Keypad opening in slightly tilt mode to make it a Mini Netbook, always on connection for status updates from various social networks, fast processor and increased RAM/ Application memory, strong multimedia skills due to amazing 5 Megapixel camera & FM receiver and smooth video experiences (local and web) and huge storage options with 8GB internal memory and support for 16 GB MicroSD card to increase it more.

But sometimes I really think that except the comparatively lesser battery (though that’s also enough decent) why not to call it a Business Device? QWERTY keypad operating in long landscape aiding to fast typing like on some 13” Netbooks, big display to support viewing web pages comfortably without much compromise, almost all connectivity options (3G, wi-fi), all time synced contacts, photos, calendar, even files with Ovi, so that if you are using multiple devices then you get the same experience (I can’t help myself not to think about, if some corporate start using synced contacts, calendar and files through one account ), 5MP Camera capable to take snaps of documents like scan images, support for TV-Out for presentations, number of applications out there for suiting your needs and huge space for keeping your mails and files ready on the go. What else are your expectations from a Business device?

For me, its been kind of full entertainment device by which, I could keep on checking my updates, my blog, snapping here and there, sharing anything over web on the go, watching movies when travelling to somewhere and getting bored. If we want to go green, then we should really promote such device at our best.

Ok!! enough talking. Lets talk about how it looks like, when we operate on it means Screen Shots, lots of them….

At first, when I was looking for how to take screenshots, then it reminded me that how easily I was taking them in N900 by pressing Ctrl+Shift+P … but anyway, I found a free app in Ovi Store itself by name of Best Screensnap and then started taking snapshots after setting HotKey (it made me confused that if Camera key would be set for taking screenshots then how to take snaps, anyway, I changed the hotkey on long press camera key). Added the same app to my beloved Nokia N82 as well.

Here are some screen shots and notes about them:

Home Screen (Portrait Mode)

Home Screen (Landscape Mode)

Addition of Home Screen widgets was the greatest thing that started with N97 classic and obviously continued with Nokia N97 Mini. Users of Nokia 5800 and other Smartphone in lower cost range still crave of the same feature on their screens, but probably this feature is kind of too much for their low RAM or application memory.

If you go through options, then you can see that there are options to hide the contents and go back to plain home screen without any widget on it. There are also option to hide/ show content by swapping your finger left/ right side on screen. Moreover, options are here to keep the content Offline as well (Handy if you want to save the data usages or battery for a while).

Default contained Facebook widget, which I replaced first with Accuweather and later on with favourite contacts. Though I tried to add Gravity later on, but didn’t found quick way to add something already installed in your Phone, it was directing to Ovi Store.

Calling and Dial Pad (Landscape Mode):

Dial Pad look similar as of other touch screen phones from Nokia and USSD numbers obviously work out of the box unlike Nokia N900. Provided the sleek looks, one can never be needing the H/W keypad to dial some number, even if one requires then he could directly type numeric keys of the keypad (no necessity of pressing shift key in that case).

Signal Reception of Nokia is legendary as always and surprising I found the sound louder than Nokia N900 and others. Kind of a good thing for Indian Users. 😉

Messaging:

The Keypad is awesome to type on. I already said that I just loved the similar keypad in Nokia 900, so bound to love it. Although it still lacks of auto-complete feature in Nokia N900 (may be some third party apps out there for the same), but it support long press keys to get symbols etc.

The touch screen keypad lacks of mini qwerty that is quite disappointing as it was there even in Nokia 5800. True that one should use H/W keypad for the same, but there may be scenarios that you can’t operate with two hands. I really recommend Nokia to add the same in next firmware update.

Rest two format are available in the same way as on other phones and good that they have retained handwriting mode, though I didn’t used it that much, but sure a good thing for occasions.

Various Menus inside:

First screen shot is about Menu screen and then I am following the calendar app.

A nice view and then full fledge options for meetings, notes etc. These are all the same options as we find in other leading Smartphone’s from Nokia.

In next, as you can see above, is Contacts. As you already heard that Nokia N97 Mini come with kinetic scrolling out of the box, true with Contacts and other menu items. Addition in Nokia N97 Mini is appearance of first letter as you scroll down (D and C in pictures). Definitely Symbian getting polished day by day, device by device. Expectations are higher for Symbian^3.

Another and kind of most important app is Web. Interesting here is Auto Full Screen feature, even if not like full fledged on Nokia N900, still it was better than other phones. Experience was amazingly richer due to embedded Youtube support (same as available in Nokia N82 or others, don’t remember it was same in Nokia 5800 or not)

As I always recommend, I installed Opera 10 Mobile in it as well and interesting was to note that appearance of my blog was more or less same on both the browsers, though there are more options in Opera for sure. Look at the screenshots as given below.

A lovely app is Nokia Messaging with HTML mails support, though on trial for few days, but I will love it when Nokia will made it free like its Ovi Maps. This is something that made me checking mails somewhere else than Gmail’s app. Definitely different than any other thing, though I wish it was having more formatting options inside, may be native HTML Coding itself.

This thing not only supports Push Mails, but the white face make it look much elegant than other email apps. For the detailed descriptions, one could head toward a detailed article from Zomgitscj.

As about Camera, then I already said that it compares to Nokia N82’s Camera, which has been my best so far in such a way (credit goes to Xeon Flash) that even I didn’t found Nokia N900’s Camera preferable over the same (even if was technically better), but Nokia N97 Mini even with Dual Led flashes changes your opinion. It is really good one about snapping and really removes my disappointment as was with Nokia 5800 about Led Flashes.

You would be surprised to know that I already have snapped more than 5000 snaps from my Nokia N82, so could understand that having such a good camera could increase your photo collection in your camera. Options for tags come much handy for such situations.

I also tried Nokia Photo Browser that is a Beta Lab app and sure impresses in view. Not have tried but came across one awesome article about arranging your snaps on Nokia N97 Mini. Definitely a powerful device as far as Photos are concerned.

Digging more deeper takes various menus and submenus, which most of you must be already familiar with, so not going into details. Though will mention to look at the last screen shot, it provides the control over Notification lights in a new way, which is a cool thing.

So, here we come to discuss about the most interesting and important feature of this amazing device, Ovi Maps. Though content is older in this article, but could worth taking a look for exploration of Ovi Maps.

I also have wrote a couple of articles over Ovi Maps and even got a tweet from @ovibynokia that I have became entitled for some cool ovi goodies. Don’t know what would be that …. Surprise.

Waiting for that. Till then check other screenshots.

Rest remains is the world of applications. Many comes out of the box with shortcuts to install them means a huge applications folder with full of icons, took at least 4 screens to cover them all. There is an amazing message reader as well to read loud your messages for you.

What I installed in addition were Fring, Gmail, Opera Mini, Opera Mobile, Skype, Periodic, Compass, Flashlight, Orkut, Best ScreenSnap and the almighty Gavity (I have fallen in love with it). Just added Nokia Here and Now via Software Updates. Amazing thing again.

So, this was the app world about Nokia N97. I addition I checked Videos over the same. I still miss the 3.5” screen of Nokia N900 that was extra large without any buttons on the screen. May be some people like me will wish that if Nokia could have retained the same 3.5” Screen as was in original Nokia N97 and would have added the same battery as was in Nokia 5800.

I should say that in symbian league, it was the best from Nokia till now. Unfortunately when someone like Nokia N900 appears on the screen, then its bound to steal the show and we started skipping others. But if you talk about features, then you will be surprised that how much effect Nokia N97 Mini will have on your crave for some Laptop/ Netbook always with you. Most of the things, like social media, mails and web access are following you now with its home screen widgets and you find yourself not missing even if you travel a lot.

I really wonder that where Black Berry Phones are getting their places even after their buggy scroll ball (I got all of them go bad after one year or two in my office, not one but half a dozen consistently)?

Yes!! there are some complaints/ suggestions for Nokia Team about Nokia N97 Mini ….

Why to leave the same messaging innovation as we seen in Series 40 devices like Nokia 5130, where we had option to send messages to people we last messaged, people we called recently and setting favourites for messaging? It was too cool in even those low end devices and I thought good things to be continued in higher end devices. I don’t find any additional requirement or issue in porting the same feature, when you already made it once.
Why still we are left with some trial Quick Office and Adobe Acrobat? I had it in full with Nokia N82 at least for reading and expected it to be available in read version at least with Nokia N97 Mini like device.
I have really no idea what suggested Nokia people to remove the Mini QWERTY keypad from touch screen, but its a real must have. Please give it back in next firmware update or whatever…
I can understand Nokia’s requirement about making a device low on price and high on features that made them compromising the battery and FM Transmitter. But don’t you think that battery is as essential as Network coverage itself? Think about it.

Nitish Kumar