Tag: WomWorld

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A Nokia E72 Diary-Day 2

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14 days, two new devices. You know you gonna miss them badly, when those will leave you. A precious chance, new experiences, tempting innovations and golden moments. You wanna take each of the event to your heart, wanna to know each aspect, wanna to shout about each glitch or awesome features and more importantly wanna to live the legacy. Why to miss any of the day?

Don’t know in the busy life, I will be able to cope up, but starting my ‘Diary with Nokia E72’. Rest 13 days and 13 posts about Nokia E72. Will I be able to do that? Never been even able to write 13 posts on even different topics in 15 days. Let me try this new challenge.

May 04, 2010, Day 2

Are you among people, who think that their laptops with 3-4 GB of RAM shouldn’t be burdened with eye candy of Windows Vista or Windows 7? Who are fine with Windows XP, because it does everything well and providing more resources will make it more responsive, more resourceful and more great.
Are you among people, who think that why so much stress on touch screen devices that drains power like insane, while the same power and cost could have been used to make already well worth Symbian UI more powered?
Are you among people, who still keep a standby age old lightweight phone like Nokia 1100 or Nokia 1400 with you for backup, if you ran out of power anytime?

Here comes the answer for your wishes. The real runner, Nokia E72. Because for many like me, its always about how much you do rather than how styling way you do.

Detailed views will come after a few days of usages, here comes some early impressions ..

The Positives Ones

Amazing and solid build: Remember those days, when you were used to accidental dropping of phone as you were assured that it wont be broken. Nokia N97 Mini and now this. Solid looks are back. Such a lightweight, thin yet completely solid with Stainless teal device really matches with your all in control young business looks rather tying with the bulky competitor. You may check the pics given below where I kept it various brands, soon will post the pics with iPod Touch and Blackberry possibly.

In fact, weight and build were on such a lighter side that makes me feel like checking out the phone, while driving bike etc. Picture perfect for your pocket and super elegant for your hands.

Keypad: I heard about this keypad that many love it. I always thought that how people could be preferring this keypad even over the horizontal ones like N97 or N900. Always was thinking that how numbers were working, were we need to press some shift and then dial numbers?

The keypad is truly awesome. What makes you liking something? You like something that you feel natural means you thought that this key we use often, there should be some direct key for that. Nokia E72 keys work in multifunction way, either it be “@” or “/”, we get all important keys ready for you in single stroke (only for “_”, I was needed to go into symbols). I was also wondering that why no contacts shortcut on the screen and just was going to complaint…. and I got the contacts, calendar, home and message key built it. More you live with it, more you fall for it, the way the space it utilized and still doesn’t feel like cluttering, really makes this like a full time device you wish.

Optical navi wheel was a good edition, but may be like few others, I felt some complaints as well. I means it is perfect for many scenarios, but sometimes it stucks for a user starting with for first time like you stuck from coming on search button from text windows in Ovi Store. The direction keys always should be ready rather than completely rely on Navi wheel. Still think that this is something that will improve later on. But its also lovable for the ease it provides you while navigation web pages. I have kept the vibration on navi wheel on from settings and it feels good.

Strongest on connectivity side: What the best you expect from a phone, strong on connectivity. No matter which area you live, no matter how much less signals you have, all you want crystal clear sound without any breaking and no fear of loosing calls because of being a little less network area.

Nokia E72 really rules in this department. You will say that connectivity is always been strong point of Nokia and all of its sets keep the legacy, so what’s special about it? I will say, you need to use it to believe it. Not a single complaint over connectivity issue. I used Wi-Fi, I used 3G and used usual GSM, no matter how long you use it, no matter how frequently you switch, its away from bad habits like draining battery or heating up of device.

GPS: This has probably became the strongest selling point of Nokia now days. The free voice navigation. I already have said that navigation looks superb, when you use some 3.2” or 3.5” screen (that’s why I am particularly looking for Nokia N8), but the most important factor is how fast it gets the grip.

I have used GPS over Nokia N73, Nokia N82, Nokia N97 Mini and Nokia N900 and undoubtedly its best of all. For me, Nokia N900’s one was no mature, when I reviewed, Nokia N97 Mini was creating much heat and N82/ N73 were a little bit heavier for their corresponding devices. But Nokia E72 gets it just perfect and it has the compass as well. Use Navigation with compass for a while, you will find it like something navigation is out of context without it and above all its free for lifetime. Great package Nokia!!!

Note that this lock I have got inside the room, where GPS signals are how much low, you may notice from the bars.

Super amazing battery: ‘Amazing’ word has been used to things so often that we need to call the battery something more than that. As I mentioned in un-boxing, this is the battery, one wanted in each phone. As a heavy user, who likes to keep the phone busy, I never expected my phones run more than 6-7 hours. It was always like even if your phone was full charge in morning, you gonna need to charge in eve or worse you loose battery while travelling back to home. This really frustrates to loose battery in odd situations coz many times, we need the phone most.

Don’t know rigorous and formal testing, but practical my phone went for like one day and 4 hours straight. Even when I tried each of the function including the stress test. For me, I expected it to loose battery completely in between the stress testing, but it didn’t and went much further than that. I love you E72.

The Annoyance

Connecting PC to web via phone: With Nokia E72, functions of Smartphone modem seems to have changed a little. Now we don’t only get PC Suit and Mass Storage options, but we get one more like PC to web. Seems to make the use of mobile internet connection on PC easier, but for me story was downside. Yes!! it might not be fault with Nokia and more to do with my MTNL connection, but I felt that basic things were more perfect. I mean getting a modem in your control panel after connecting in PC Suit mode and then making a dialup with that, but this PC to web seem to have messed up things.

I struggled for get the 3G net connected over my PC via E72 and till now not sure exactly how it works. I mean I try and try, restart the phone sometimes and then it gets. I understand that this must something with multiple settings available on phone as if I try Vodafone, then it instantly detects the connection. Internet on E72 has no complications in itself, a completely smooth experience, but I wish with PC too, it was a simple story like always (never struggled with N73, N97, 5800, N82 or N900)

May be I need tips on it, anyone of you who might have used Nokia E72 for internet on PC?

Yeah! some screenshots, though I am not getting enough time to play with this review unit. Office go bad sometimes, when you need little relaxed time 😦

And yes, I haven’t forgotten the royal one, Nokia BH-905, will come back over the same. Might be you will find me recording own Ovi Map instructions via the same 😉

Nitish Kumar

Now you could download the app for this blog on your Nokia (Symbian5) via this link or widget via this link.

Here arrives Nokia E72 and BH-905

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Great people at WomWorld/Nokia and 1000Heads, my journey of trial devices from them started with Nokia N900, passing through Nokia N97 Mini, now has reached to Nokia E72 and BH-905. Yes!! two devices this time. There was two choices on accessories; HF-510 car mount or BH-905 and I decided to go with BH-905 because of my own curiosity around the device known as the best bluetooth headset available till date.

I already mentioned in my Nokia N82 post that I was very much interested in Nokia E72 as in my views for the real work touch screen never work the best as they sure drain batteries more than the non-touch ones and if you run out of power before you reach home, then it doesn’t matter that whatever other exciting/ awesome features your device has. After all, a Smartphone is intended to be the best companion of yours and should run as longer as it can to do the tasks you actually need not just draining batteries for some cool gestures of fingers or anything less productive. Nokia E72 seems to be doing exactly the same what a smart phone should do.

As about BH-905, then I admit that I wasn’t sure about liking the same due to bigger size and price than one could afford and so I was more interested to know that what the thing is and what’s it intended to. Let’s see, will come back with my thoughts over it once start using it.

For now, presenting the early pics (un-boxing)

So, this was the box. Obviously bigger than I received earlier due to two devices inside and big Nokia BH-905 box. Unfortunately, I paid for custom duty of around Rs. 545/- that I later was told from WomWorld/Nokia that I shouldn’t have paid. But anyway …. they are looking into that.

Here comes the device packaging. Don’t go over rough and non-recyclable looks as these are trial devices and already been used. Nokia must be offering the same black recyclable packaging with these devices too.

Ok!! I opened the package of Nokia E72 first. I was already knowing that its black (white was my favorite color for the device, but availability is limited to some specific markets till now I guess. What was loveable was solid and slim looks of device, you will see in later pics.

Opened a little more. Sigh!!! its a US version for sure (though unlocked obviously). Such power points don’t work with India. Not an issue as I have at least three-four chargers from other phones. Interesting was to note the fact that charger was MicroUSB one though the device has the Thin Universal Nokia slot. Sure another trial device effect. Praises for including strip, cleaning cloth and cover for the device, disappointment for much shorter data cable. Nokia!!! not all of the people use Laptops only…

First close pics of Nokia E72. I was taking all the pics from my Nokia N82 with Xenon flash on, but as a shiny device it is and it was a day time (though inside a room), so I decided to switch off the flash for this pics. Its so light to be such a powerful device. I only could have compared it with my old Nokia 5310 XpressMusic that I gives to mom.

Yes! its stainless steal. I wondered that why design was chosen to keep stainless steal in natural color than colouring it in way, its in Nokia N97 mini, but sure it give a tough look and made me think that I should subject it with a heat test by today only.

Yes!! its not Carl Zeiss. I was to sure look for this as next three four Nokia devices are coming without Carl Zeiss (Nokia X2, C3, C6 and E5). I was sure not that excited with a camera with Single Led Flash and No-Carl-Zeiss (you may check my comments in reply of a reader on own post about Nokia N82). But should tell you, the camera on Nokia E72 completely surprised me. Dual Led wasn’t looking anyway lesser powerful whatever I might be knowing about both the technologies, so was the Camera without Carl Zeiss. I didn’t seemed to missing anything. Sure I need to go into some deep comparisons between my Nokia N82 and Nokia E72 in next posts. But its genuinely superb and now I am not suspicious about next coming ‘consumer’ devices from Nokia. Thanks E72, you made me excited about Nokia E5 camera again.

This is the battery, I wish to have in each of the Smartphone may have; Nokia BP-4L. Battery sure going strong as I used it rigorously but no sign of that much draining. Nokia E72 also have the SIM card slot in similar ways like Nokia N97 Mini though the fear of loosing the metal holder is no more here as its fixed with the body. You taken the point.

So, I am inserting my MTNL 3G SIM into it. A real thing with me and you should expect me to be more on web in next few days. 🙂

Here comes the Giants; Nokia BH-905. A much more interesting device to know about. Will see it later on. Lime light will remain with Nokia E72 first.

The First Stress Testing:

I given a stress test to the device that even Nokia N900 and Nokia N97 Mini failed earlier. While leaving the office, I placed a Megaupload download of 850 MB file inside the Nokia E72 and also opened Ovi Maps. Locked my positions and compass too. As my home was around 20 km far and thanks to Delhi traffic, I was expected to take at least 40 mins before reaching there, there was much of time, much of fluctuations in connectivity and much of load for device to get heated up (as my complaint was with Nokia N97) or drained down.

Do you know the results? The cooling of Nokia E72 is the best I might have seen till now and of course, the file was downloaded successfully and still battery was showing 60-70%. Unbelievable.

And Man I must tell you, this one has the real GPS. Best I seen till date. Even better than I seen Nokia N97 Mini or Nokia N900. Though I wonder that all three seems to have same hardware.

Rest will come.. keep tuned in and leave comments.

Nitish Kumar

WomWorld-Influencing the world from behind the curtain

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Update: Much happy to see many WomWorldian joining here. I know that most of you love to do things rather than saying and we find you people silent most of the times only giving voice to our words. Many like me still wish to get list here grow more to know more about you people.

Twitter accounts and pics …. wish to add more name … 🙂

May be the title seem a bit over … but that just prompted me when I thought to put some lines for today’s post. Will try to introduce a team here, whom I just started to know since last few months (in a way), but knowing more of them still fascinates …

1000heads …. WomWorld … heard of these names?

May be even the pictures above don’t strike something in your mind, but let me tell you, this is the team, now we know as WomWorld/ Nokia. Each image posted above, when clicked will take you personal twitter page of each of them.

Ok!! tell me, how many of you make decisions about buying products? Either it be phones, electronics, house hold or anything?

TV Ads? Print Media? Friends?

Earlier our opinions were based on what shop owners or sales persons tell you, then it shifted to TVs/ Ads. That’s what companies were doing to reach potential and existing customers. But there was always one thing that never changed, opinions of people like you, opinion of your friends, opinion of people, who might have nothing to with brand or promotion itself, opinions based on personal experiences.

Here came the independent internet reviews …

Internet reviews really have became a big influencing factor for buyers now and cnet reviews, mouthshut.com etc have made big places in buyer’s mind. This is called World of Mouth, publicity from mouth-to-mouth. After using Mouthshut.com so long for my purchase decisions, recently I entered a new world about my very trusted Nokia through WomWorld.

Honestly, now I feel ashamed of myself that I wasn’t aware of existence of WomWorld till recent until Paul mailed me about my Nokia 5800 post. With a few words of praise, he also mentioned that he could send a few Nokia devices to me for trial. Not knowing anything about WomWorld or any similar thing like that it was a surprise to me, surprise in that much big way that I didn’t even given a thought to search about WomWorld … later on after a few days, when Paul asked me to fill some details so that he could send me Nokia N900, then it sounded some real to me. But really neither me, my room partner or any of my colleague were convinced that such a costly device coming to me like common man for trial, neither did I shared the excitement with many people.

In place of waiting for Nokia N900 in real, then I started searching web about WomWorld and Paul… then the journey started. I received Nokia N900 soon and written a couple of reviews over it, later on the other device that came to my door step was Nokia N97 Mini… I even started following them on twitter and soon won first few entries price from @ovibynokia

Just a short journey, but still big impressions for the products and the way, the team is making them reach to the market.

One could feel the impression as last many post of mine centered around Nokia Products .. in no means for any kind of promotion, but from the heart. Increased hits, a different recognition and a feeling of warmth that’s what I shared and hope to share more with WomWorld.

Oh!! Sorry.. I should put a few lines about what WomWorld/ Nokia is.

WomWorld/ Nokia is a Nokia sponsored resource providing latest news, comment and feedback on all things related to Nokia from the world of social media and beyons. A wing of 1000heads.com that is the largest dedicated global Word of Mouth agency in the world, which is based in London, with staff in New York, Vancouver, Paris and the lovelier parts of the Oxfordshire countryside.

They help brands to listen to people, and people talk about brands.

How to do that? They do this by understanding conversations, and using the insight they gain to build and nurture immersive relationships between brands and people. This inspires Word of Mouth, builds advocacy and ultimately increases revenues for their clients.

They do like door to door advertising by contacting bloggers directly and offer trial devices through most simplest procedures (taking each and every cost related thing on their own part). More of it, unlike any other PR agencies in the world, I found them much shy in talking about themselves. You hardly hear anything about the biggest name in PR industry that’s because they do it and leave the part of talking to others only. Probably that’s the soul of World of Mouth is.

A short journey, but still I thought that there should be a post from WomWorld itself introducing its members in details. That’s why posting this… may be it will kick off a detailed post from WomWorld/Nokia itself.

I went through blogs of a few WomWorldians and find that some of them have a separate identity as bloggers as well. It’s really intriguing me to know more about the process of building the team and workplace.. let’s see… what we will hear from them in reply of this post.

Other online marketing professionals out there needs to took note of it, there is a lot of things to learn from these people.

Nitish Kumar

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

The Nokia device after 10 years

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Another competition from @WomworldNokia, where this time they have thrown another stone in the pond by asking the question that what a Nokia device will look like in future, say 10 years later. You can win some Nokia goodies like their legendary BH-905 headset or other Nokia/ Ovi goodies or Nokia T-Shirts etc. Though that Ovi Map competition is still on till April 13, 2010, but those who might not have won something there.. could try their luck again this time…

10 years would be a long time and things should evolve really a lot than we could have been thinking now, many of you already seen the concept of future Laptop and also the news that half of its part already could be available soon. So, what would be still there to stay …

Being a realistic person, I wont go directly into Star Treks (like many people used to think about 21st century). Battery life, signal strength, usability, portability and one in all that Nokia always tried to make (hope that this hunger will never stop) always been and must be the prime elements that gonna to stay here always when we talk about Smart Phones. So, I will try to revolve my thoughts around the same and will keep it centered around what really seems to be possible after 10 years.

Battery Life: The future will be sure of such device that would be running insanely longer without any restrictions. We reached up to 15-16 hours of talk time, but still this will be a place, where people will be looking for in future. Taking the idea from Quartz based wrist watches, I really think that something could be devised that would be running from body heat or movements coz this would be a thing that will sustain for sure than anything else like Sun, Atomic energy or anything else. More of it, this would be a step towards Eco device as well.

Just think, you will not be needed to charge your phone or replace your batteries for very long like you don’t do with your wrist watches. You will never cry on switched off phones in odd places.

Signal Strength: Connecting people … been the slogan of Nokia and so Nokia always worked upon presenting devices with legendary signal reception. But still all been dependent of service provider all the time. We watched people in movies crying over signal reception just like the way we find ourselves out of battery in crucial occasions. Obviously, the thing that needed to be evolved most.

Considering the step taken with Nokia N900, VOIP is sure a core of future technology and extending the same in future context, technology should evolve in a way that connects each global connections in the same way (something like we seen in Anti-Trust movie). Something that could make use of radio connections, TV signals, Wi-fi signals or anything like that in the same way for powerful voice conversations or data usages. Something such will reduce the dependencies over service provider signals and roaming issues as everything will be combined and providers will be earning money through cloud usages only.

just think, you will not be needed to worry about if that place, you wanna go will make you out of signal reception or you would be paying for higher if travelled in some other country. You are connected, no matter where ever you are.

Usability & Portability: The way of using phones has changed a lot since the first telephonic conversations started. Not long, when we were used to wait outside the PCOs for our turn in night after 11PM for some cheaper calls or the time, when we were needed to call the operator to book some long distance call or those old phones, we were needed to move the ring in rounds to dial some number. Starting from getting slim phones, now its all being changed into touch phone and qwerty era. One can never be assured that what the next turn the technology will take and what users will like in next.

We seen Minority Reports movie and the way, Tom Cruise interacted with machines there. We started getting such cameras in market that are having inbuilt projectors. Sure one can think about a future where dialing number would be more of voice based than any touch or press interface itself or even combination of all such input methods. Voice recognition technologies are evolving and same time processing power of Smart Phones too. Its very realistic to think about such a time when dialing would be having plenty of options like voice commands, a projected screen in air that could take any size you wanted (like some from 3.5 to 10 meters). Even one could think of tiny Bluetooth headset or of any other technology then, which will remove the necessity of using hands completely.

Such flexible devices could be wrapped around your wrist, may be part of your color or anything like that (as you seen in the concept future Laptops) and the concept of cloud could extend things in a way that even phones wont matter about connecting people and the device we would be having then would be kind of some universal nature. Whole data like your contacts, SMS, music contents and even call history etc will be saved in cloud only (depending upon evolved connectivity then).

Just think, with the same device you would be calling someone, doing presentations at office and even using as personal theater at home. Never using hands for calling and provided evolved video calling then maybe not even voice if required at occasions. You would be carrying the same like regular dressing coz you have not to worry about its size, not to worry about its battery and not even needs to be worried about connectivity.

Really so many thoughts in mind, but summarizing into a few points …

What I see in #FutureNokia is

Seamless connectivity over any available global connection like TV/Radio signals
Addition of projectors in Smart Phones (its high time to introduce one as cameras already did)
Batteries that could run unusually long over Human body movement or heat etc
Use of flexible displays to make the device settle down in untraditional places
Consistent experience over device due to cloud technology.

Though it wont be part of the competition as the competition actually needs hand drawn, photoshoped or anything like such drawing to be submitted that how the device will ‘look like’ not what it’ll be, but I am happy with sharing my thoughts only.

More than the competition itself, the thought really touched me more and sent me back there in my teenage when I was like 12-13 years and with one of my friend from a big wrist watch shop, I was used to dream about future things, those common fantasies like we were able to disappear, if we were able to travel faster than thoughts, if we were able to make a home, where there were so many mirrors placed in a way that even light get trapped for more than 12 hours and we were able to enjoy daylight even at night time without spending anything. We were used to use tiny motors from watches for making fans or button based curtain openers for woody little houses we were making, were used to take part in showcasing toys in dynamic manner in front of public using so many little tricks with electronic parts.

Oh… those days.. one get trapped if starts thinking about them, but still I think that we were used to be more creative then or thoughts were more fresh than any mature one ever could have. I really think that Nokia should open some kind of competition for kids in the same way to know that which design will be cool. Definitely, kids could surprise you more for sure.

Nitish Kumar

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

Nokia N97 Mini Review Part 1-Hardware Dissected

This time I really wanted to go for a review with sleeves off, so thought to take my time (though reasons for delay were office related, personal etc as well). But here I am back again. This time, I have decided to take the things one by one rather than summarizing things in one or two posts.

Here is my take on Hardware first.

Dimension and build:

width x height x depth:    52.5 x 113 x 16.4 millimetres (2.1 x 4.4 x 0.6 inches)
(0.9 mm more in depth from Nokia 5800, not noticeable, more width and height sure appreciable)
Bounding-Volume:    97.3 cubecentimetres
Mass:    138 grams (battery included)
(29 grams higher than Nokia 5800 but considering metal body, its nothing)

Build is kind of perfect except the sliding mechanism as I mentioned in earlier post. Device seems solid from every side and even no components out under the battery. This time, I was not scared from opening the battery cover as just a side uplift for the same (its steel). Keypad layout is the same as was of N900, so I am happy about it, but one complaint was there and so is here about dedicated numeric keys. After all, its a phone first, touch way is nice, but somehow if dedicated numeric keys were there, then it was more of a phone. The 1200 mAh battery is so thin suiting to slim dimensions of cell. Sim slot mechanism is so cool, but I fear about loosing the metal plate (like I have lost hook of my BH-212 bluetooth headset). I really loved the way it has been built coz it didn’t make you feel that it has a full hardware qwerty keypad with it waiting to slide out. 😉

Check the pics given beow.

Processor and Chipset:

CPU+Clock: 434 MHz (N900 has 600 MHz)
CPU: ARM 1136JF-S
Width of Machine Word: 32 bit
CPU Core: ARM11
Level 1 cache: 16KiB data cache / 16 KiB instruction cache (Double of it N900 has)
Instruction Set: ARMv6 (N900 has v7)

Part of RISC family, ARM processors are part of most of embedded electronics now days. ARM architecture was suitable for smart-phones for their higher clocking capabilities and low power consumption. Nokia took ARM architecture ahead and other players followed. Though now, we find Snapdragon processors clocking at 1GHz from same ARM family, but who might have seen power of even 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 clubbed with PowerVR SGX graphics, would sure like to wait more. Yes!! the widely used 434 MHz one seems a bit outdated now, but still it stands better than the average if not the best ones out there.

Earlier released with 369 MHz, same Nokia 5800 shows 434 MHz now, I wasn’t really sure that both have the same processor or different ones. Little deeper dig told me that Nokia 5800 had different one named Nokia Rapido YII3E (kind of over clocked now) and iARM 1136JF-S sure has better capabilities. Not everything shows on specs. Check ARM official website.

Where N97 Mini lacks with other leading smart-phones of now days is dedicated graphics. it still without something like PowerVR SGX graphics that’s a let down for sure.

Memory:

RAM type: SDRAM
RAM capacity: 128 MiB
ROM type: Flash EEPROM
ROM capacity: 512 MiB, including 280.6MiB user-accessible non-volatile storage
Secondary ROM type: Flash EEPROM
Secondary ROM capacity: 7630 MiB

This is the area of enhancement in N97 Mini over Nokia 5800. Nokia 5800 had only 73 MB out of 128 MB RAM accessible, while it has all. There was 256 MB ROM with only 81 MB available for users and now with N97 Mini it has 512 MB ROM with 280 MB accessible for users. Nokia N97 has a secondary ROM of 8GB in addition for all kind of usages, while still supports microSD, microSDHC, TransFlash, High Capacity (SD 2.0/HC) memory cards with capacity of up to 32GB. Yes!! I know greedy like us still cry loud for 256 MB RAM, but greed never ends.

At cost and performance side, then having an internal storage in GBs is sure the best for performance but ask for cost as well. So, the same justifies the cost of N97 Mini in a way.

Display:

Display Type: color transflective resistive touch screen TFT display
Display Color Depth: 24 bit/pixel (16777216 scales)
Display Diagonal: 3.2 " (81 millimetres)
Display Resolution: 360 x 640 (230400 pixels)
Viewable Display Size: 1.56 " x 2.78 " (39.71 x 70.6 millimetres)
Dot Pitch: 230.3 pixel/inch (0.11031 millimetre/pixel)
Video out: NTSC/PAL resolution, Proprietary connector

I am really not sure that whether both the display unit is the same as was used in Nokia 5800. Considering the price, they should have increased the resolution at least. It seems a bit more responsive than Nokia 5800, but that should be due to better OS and processor I guess. Moreover, I noticed that N97 Mini has something wider about display. Don’t know what it is, but its there for sure. May be some OS enhancements made that way or something else.

As far as discussion about Capacitive Vs Resistive goes, then sure capacitive ones have the wow!! factor, but still considering the price and convenience of stylus with resistive screen, I don’t mind being with a resistive one. I might be Nokia Fan-Boy, but checked capacitive one on iPod 3G Touch and didn’t found it so ground breaking that one can’t bear being with resistive one

Camera Performance:

Main Camera : –

Sensor Type: CMOS sensor
Resolution: 2592 x1944 pixels (5.04MP)
Lens: Carl Zeiss optics
Autofocus (AF): Supported
Optical Zoom: 1 x
Macro Mode: Supported
Built-in Flash: mobile light (Dual LED) 400, Video light
Camcorder: 640×480 pixels , 30frame/sec
Recordable Image Formats: JPG
Recordable Video Formats: 3GP, MPEG4
Geotagging: Supported

Secondary Camera : –

Sensor Type: CMOS sensor
Resolution: 320 x240 pixels (0.08MP)
Camcorder: 176x144pixels , 15frame/sec
Recordable Image Formats: JPG
Recordable Video Formats: 3GP

I always been in love with my Nokia N82 5 MP Camera with Xeon flash and even after using N900 for a while, my faith didn’t broken that Xeon flash was something out of world. I was kind of totally disappointed with Nokia 5800 and sure Nokia N97 Mini seems brighter on this time. I am really surprised that even with Led Flash, it manages really good snaps otherwise I was so much in love with Xeon that never thought anything else could give something like this.

With this camera performance, it really justifies its price as Nokia N82 must be around 17.5k now days, I guess.

Carl Zeiss optics been a blessing for Nokia because of its performance. As about the base technology, then I know that CCD one that is used in the main stream digital cameras will never make it to smart phones as they consumes a lot of power, though produce high quality of pictures, while CMOS ones will be susceptible to Noise even at the best. But practically, you can see that its totally acceptable for a non-professional to completely live and love his smart phone CMOS Censor based camera. 🙂

GPS Unit:

Built-in-GPS module: Supported
GPS Protocol: NMEA 0183
GPS Antenna: Internal antenna
Complementary GPS Services: Assisted GPS
Built-in Compass: Available

Though I am not sure which chipset it usages but I assume that it must be SIRF III like most of the devices. GPS really been a blessing and addition of Voice guidance by Nokia makes it something like part of life. I am still disappointed that why not free navigation made the way to my beloved Nokia N82 yet or will it ever? I know prices are slashed for navigation, but still …. Addition of Compass makes it so cool and accurate; something on another level. Sure faster than Nokia 5800 and Nokia N82 when it comes to locking and I still feel better than Nokia N900 due to so naive Ovi Map software there. Moreover, better performing Ovi Maps due to improved memory and prosessor I guess otherwise N82 has started troubling with new version of Ovi Maps. Adding a video from boybandreject00 for overview

Limitations of GPS technologies aside, its like integrating all your travelling needs like Camera, Music, Internet and GPS at the same place. Limitations are like .. I think it doesn’t sense that we are over some flyover or below that or obviously doesn’t get updated about if route are changed or temporarily blocked by authority for weeks. May be in other countries situation might be some different, but in India, it is fact.

Connectivity:

Cellular Networks: GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS900, UMTS1900, UMTS2100
Cellular Data Links: CSD, HSCSD, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA,GPRS Class B Multi-slot Class 32,, EDGE Class B Multi-slot Class 32, HSDPA 3.6 (Cat. 6)
USB: USB 2.0 client, Hi-Speed (480Mbit/s), USB Series Micro-B (Micro-USB) connector
Bluetooth (802.15): Bluetooth 2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate, Internal antenna
Wireless LAN/Wi-Fi-(802.11): IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 54 Mbit/s

I come to read somewhere that when it comes to specifications, then Nokia likes to tick all of them, so is the case with Nokia N97. It drops Infrared and HSUPA support, but still have plenty of super fast connectivity options for utilizing its connected widgets.

I really feel that connectivity on the go is an era where Smart Phones beats Laptops, Netbooks and computers. Though N900 is a revolution of its kind, but still many coulod manage their works with a Full qwerty keypad and nice screen with all time connected fast web. Only issue was with switching so many available options, then Nokia is improving in this area with each device. While I find Nokia N900 the smoothest, N97 Mini also seems to have avoided most of the connectivity glitches.

Music Unit:

Audio Channel(s): 3D stereo sound
Analog/Digital Converter (Recording): 16 bit nominal quantization, 48000 Hz sampling frequency
Digital/Analog Converter (Playing): 16 bit resolution, 48000 Hz holding frequency
Microphone(s): mono sound
Loudspeaker(s): stereo sound
Audio Output: 3.5mm plug
Analog Radio: FM radio (87.5-108MHz) with RDS radio reciever, Proprietary headset as antenna

When it comes to Multimedia, then Nokia always been a champion of all and my expectation are much high after having N900. Still my demands will be the same. Find some way to play all kind of media files. Not a rocket science and could be done via any firmware update. I guess what needs to be done is negotiation with various format providers. Next annoyance is to use Wired Headphone for FM Radio. Why? What about Bluetooth Headset? Please drop this requirement …

I wish if FM Transmitter was part of the deal.. I was having no issue in buying this right now.

Power Management:

Battery: BL-4D 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery
Talk-time (maximum): GSM 430 mins, WCDMA 240 mins
Standby time (maximum): GSM up to 320 h, WCDMA up to 310 h
Video playback time: (nHD, 30 fps, maximum): 210 mins
Video recording time: (VGA, 30fps, maximum): 170 mins
Video call time (maximum): 120 mins
Music playback time (offline mode, maximum): Up to 28 h

It fares well for whole day operations, but I really see no point in removing the earlier 1320 mAh, which was there in Nokia 5800 except the fact about size. But when Apple and other could make slimmer batteries, then why not Nokia? I really see no point in reducing the battery at least, as powerful battery might be, it would be more appreciated. May be some price concerns, but don’t make compromise on battery at least plz!!!.

So, here I am finishing my first round of review for Nokia N97 Mini. Will be back soon about other things. Join the conversation and suggest me more.

Nitish Kumar