We have mixed feelings about our iPhones 3G, but generally we're crazy about them even though they crash a lot. A whole lot. Are we insane? Maybe we should wake up and see what a real cell phone is like. Case in point: the long-anticipated Nokia N96, doing things Steve Jobs might be bragging about by about 2012.
What’s so great about this $800 cell phone that's finally shipping? It has a 5-megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens and video recording, and its pictures are all geotagged by the onboard GPS. There are a couple of LED flash units keeping your snaps well-lit. It of course has 3G connectivity, and also rocks a pair of 3D stereo speakers. And hey, it can play Flash videos. And what’s that? Turn-by-turn GPS directions?
While it does have that excellent two-way slider — giving you a real physical keyboard in one direction and numberpad in the other — missing is that neato iPhone user interface. Still, I’m feeling a bit of buyer’s remorse setting in. I’ll console myself by repeatedly recoiling at the N96’s $800 price tag, compared to $300 for my 16GB iPhone 3G.
Nokia, via CrunchGear
editor@dvice.com
By Knitterliness at 2:30 PM ON 09/03/08
My very expensive Nokia N95's slider broke after only a few months of use, rendering my beautiful video screen alternatively dead, reversed, checker boarded and upside down. Warranty repairs, you ask? Exceeded the cost of a new iPhone. Never again will I buy a phone with moving parts. Beware the Nokia Slider Screen of Death.
By tiltron at 2:41 AM ON 09/04/08
DVB-H, anyone?
By jameswinter at 3:25 AM ON 09/04/08
I've been using my N95 heavily for more than 12 months, and I've had no problems with the slider or any other feature. I may switch up to the N96 just to get the TV and a nice new device. Sure, the iPhone looks cool, but I like a physical keyboard as well as a nice screen.
By Markus at 3:45 AM ON 09/04/08
I got my hands on the N96 and I have to say the thing that got me was the TV. Watching TV while on the bus was cool - even better, though, was that when I arrived the N96 worked as a PVR: Kept on saving the program, to watch it when I had time.
Awesome stuff.
By DBonano at 11:30 PM ON 09/04/08
For me, I won't go Nokia again. Bad interface. Don't end up using 70% of the functionality. I use almost everything on the iPhone plus with the App store I am far more productive at work and it's just a great media player for off hours.
By abaddon504 at 3:44 AM ON 09/07/08
im really excited to finally see this phone available in a U.S. version. ive been waiting for it for a long time. an iPhone killer for sure, i just wish it had a touch screen, or a QWERTY. either feature would put it over the top in my eyes. thats just my opinion though.
i do have a question for the previous posters Tiltron and Markus: are you U.S. users? have you actually used the phone in the States to watch TV and use the PVR? (please say yes!)
By Borg at 6:05 PM ON 09/13/08
yeah the n96 is nice but the battery life is unholy my iphone lasts 70% longer than the n96 does.