Category: Nokia

There are an increasing number of devices blurring the lines between categories these days. Nokia’s new N97 is being positioned as a mobile computer and while we’ll have to wait to see how this new vision will be executed, it has the potential to be more than just marketing given the power and capabilities offered. The N810 is already a computer in my pocket and while it’s not a phone (yet – please!) it fits into the MID / UMPC zone which tends to be inclusive of devices that can grow larger than a pants pocket …

As you get into the larger devices netbooks have become a big factor largely driven by cost which while not the key factor for everyone is a serious detail. The average prices are less than $500 and while you need a bag to carry them around they can run Windows or Linux and familiar applications from the desktop (or larger laptops).

Walt Mossberg offers some good point / counter points in today’s column:

Netbooks still constitute a smaller niche than laptops and the exploding smart phone, or hand-held computer, category. But they are threatening to break into the mainstream in a big way, especially in an economic climate where a low price and fewer bells and whistles are suddenly more attractive.

They are much more portable than most standard laptops. They are easier to use on a plane or carry around town. And they are way cheaper, between $300 and $500, than the very lightest, thinnest standard laptops, which often top $1,000.

Compared with even an amazingly powerful pocket device, like the iPhone, the Google (GOOG) G1, or the forthcoming BlackBerry Storm, a netbook, at about twice the price, offers a much larger keyboard and screen. And they can run far more sophisticated software and perform a much wider variety of computing tasks.

But netbooks come with serious compromises. While they are great for light use on the go, their cramped screens and keyboards, and slow processors, make them much less potent and less comfortable to use than even a so-called ultraportable laptop. And, as small as they are, they can’t fit in a pocket like smart phones can, be as easily used as a still camera, or function as a cellphone.

I’ve been actively considering a netbook since I tend to read so much news about them. My biggest issue is actually usage. I already carry a Lenovo X61 for work which is a 13″ 3.5 pound laptop. The size, power and weight are all excellent and I can’t see adding a second 3 pound machine to my bag when the while reason I scaled down in size was to cut the weight in half. I could see using the netbook as a hobbyist to tinker at home and maybe on short personal trips …

The power and flexibility offered in today’s (and soon to come) pocketable devices is really where it’s going to get interesting. A phone tends to be th emost personal device we carry and something that along with your keys and wallet is always with us. As it becomes more powerful and offers an increasing degree of flexibility to do things I might have previously had to do from a tabletop or lap, our lives will really start to change. Unlike most netbooks, a phone (or at least what we call phones today) is a connected device and with that we get access to – well whatever we need from where ever we want.

Technorati Tags: Nokia, N97, N810, mobile, mobile computer, travel, productivity, netbook, laptop

Thought you might like to see the new N97 in white …

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Technorati Tags: Nokia, N97, Nseries, mobile, nokiaworld2008

Some rough video I shot last night …

Technorati Tags: nokia, n97, nseries, nokiaworld2008, mobile

Tomorrow will reveal a new device from Nokia and there’s certainly a great deal of speculation from the bloggers here on what we’ll see. I’m really looking forward to getting some hands-on time with our “something new” though I think beyond the hardware I am hoping we will also be able to get a much more clear view into how Nokia’s Services will work.

Nokia announced Ovi at Nokia World last year and has done quite a bit to kick start the brand though many would also argue they’ve yet to do enough. To date, the services have largely existed as individual components rather than an integrated solution and that’s what I’m hoping will really change.

Hardware is a key component to how things work while mobile, but an integrated service solution is what will actually drive both usage and adoption … not too mention selling more hardware.

Assuming we see a high end device (what we are all hoping for here) it will likely be one of many things to come in 2009. Scoble feels we are looking at make or break time for Nokia which is a bold statement and something I totally disagree with. As Michael Gartenberg states, “Nokia’s future hinges on more than just one device.” I believe Nokia has around 50 devices for sale in various markets and offers something from the very low end entry to the ultimate high end. There’s no doubt that the iPhone single SKU (2 with drive size) strategy is simpler, but the iPhone is not the device for everyone or every market.  Mindshare (and the growing market share) are something to keep watching … when you are the global market leader, there’s typically only one way to go …

I’ll post as much as possible over the next few days with live updates, tweets and multimedia … stay tuned!

Technorati Tags: nokiaworld2008, nokia, marketing, mobile, apple, Ovi, services

For the past month or so I’ve been using the Nokia N96. I have the N96-1 which as Nokiaphiles know is the Euro edition so no 3G for the US. That has not been too much of an issue because I’ve had regular overseas trips. For the first time since I started writing about mobile technology I’ve been able to fully test the capabilities of a device in a very global context.

The N96 has been a very mixed bag. On the surface it’s a really good looking mobile handset. The hardware design of the Nseries line has evolved considerably since the N70 and particularly in the N9x line, Nokia’s flagship tier of Nseries, there’s a great deal of power in your hand. The N96 continues in the same line as the N95 and shares many functions and even specs. The screen is gorgeous and makes watching video a pleasure in either portrait or landscape modes. As good as the hardware is is pretty muc exactly how unreliably the software has performed. I’ll go into some more detail, but in many situations, I’ve found the software has actually defeated the potential experience I could have been having through the hardware’s capabilities.

First the good.

The N96 is the current headliner for the Nokia Nseries line and has some very serious specs to boot! Coming from an N95 you’ll notice that the media keys around the navi-wheel (which does not offer scrolling) appear and disappear contextually when the media player is enabled and the slider is either up or the device is unlocked and in the closed position. The landscape slider reveals the media keys on the side which also change with (I think they are OLED) as you move between music or video and N-Gage when the center two become your game-pad standard A/B buttons.

The screen is a 2.8″ QVGA display which works great indoors or out. I have the N96 set to auto-rotate which I really like though it can stick for a few moments longer than you might like. Auto rotation uses the sensor to detect the orientation of the handset and rotates the UI accordingly. The side of the device does NOT include the gallery button next to the shutter which is annoying as I used that daily on the N95. I think the lack of a covered lens on the 5MP Carl Zeiss camera is the bigger miss. Why offer such a high quality camera and make it so easy to scratch? There’s a kickstand hiding in the border of the camera lens which flips out to let you place the N96 on a table (or airplane tray) to comfortably watch video. There’s a keypad lock switch next to the 3.5mm headphone jack and after a day of use I wondered why this had only existing on the Nokia Tablets until now.

On the inside, the N96 offers a relatively low (128MB if I remember correctly) amount of RAM, but there’s a 16GB drive to compensate. I saw low only because I’ve run out of memory with a few apps open failry frequently. 128MB used to be cool, but apparently no more in today’s multimedia multitasking world. I’ve also loaded an 8GB MicroSD card so I’m able to carry a whopping 24GB of data in my pocket! USB 2.0 Hi-Speed makes it painless to move large files back and forth with your mac or pc. I’ve been using the N96 as my main media player and have been generally very pleased with the results. Sound quality is solid and I’ve used both my Shure 420 Earphones as well as the Nokia BH903 Bluetooth headset in regular rotation.

The N96 is the first Nseries with DVB-H which means you can receive digital TV over the air in countries in which this is supported. I’ve only gotten a signal and reception in Frankfurt Germany and Helsinki, Finland. The N96 has been with me in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, London, Germany, Ireland, and by the time this post goes live Copenhagen (only had 30 min to run through the airport). DVB-H is definitely cool though aside from the limited market penetration (no fault of Nokia) there are only a few channels of video and then typically a few more of music. I can’t see using it that frequently though I suppose if I lived in one of the active markets it might be quite nice on the bus or train to and from work.

The N96 runs the Feature Pack 2 version of S60 like the N78 released before it. I’ve shown how FP2 works previously and I have only seen one additional feature in the N96 by comparison which I’ll address shortly. A key benefit of FP2 is over the air non-destructive firmware updates! This is a huge enhancement as you can FINALLY update your device as new releases are available without having to start over by reinstalling all your applications.

Now the bad …

The new feature within the N96 is a power saver mode available from the profiles menu (press once on your power key if you don’t use it that way). You might be wondering why the N96 would need a power saver … well allow me to share my disappointment in Nokia’s choice of the BL-5F 950Mah battery. This is the same crap battery that’s in the Nokia N95-1. When I saw and asked about this back in February at Mobile World Congress, I was told there were software enhancements that would enable the N96 to be more power efficient with the same battery. Sadly, I’m not seeing that at all. This is definitely a device that needs to be charged during the day if you use it as it was intended. I’ve found using power saver combined with offline mode on planes definitely helps things out if you are just doing media playback… When the low battery warnings start coming you can get close to an hour of additional use. On the flip side, the battery charges back up qui

I’m on my third N96. I believe the retail unsubsidized price of the N96 is around $900. For that much money my expectations are that I’ll be blown away by both the specs and the performance. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to make it through a day without multiple freezes and restarts. My skill at removing the battery cover to remove the battery while walking is unparalleled!

I’ve also noticed that the N96 is without a doubt the slowest mobile device I’ve ever seen start up. There’s anywhere between a 1-5 minute wait on start from when the homescreen appears and the battery and signal meters become active. This delay can actually take even longer and is rarely on the low end of the range. Every other device I’ve ever used has been ready to go within seconds of a cold start. Until this happens the N96 appears to be stalled — Key presses are not recognized and you are unable to make or receive calls. Because the N96 tends to need a restart more than once a day, this aspect of things is particularly annoying.

My first N96 was apparently an early release – not a proto – but a very early model off the line. I swapped that out for the next one which received a new firmware update soon after to remedy some of the issues, but these issues remained. The third device and the one I am currently using has the most current firmware available officially – 11.101 23-09-08. I’ve heard some rumblings about v12 which can’t possibly come soon enough.

Final thoughts

Until this particular device arrived, I was not able to find the Transformers movie which has been touted on all three boxes. Clearly someone missed fired on the printing before the software was ready. I have watched the movie a few times now on various flights and it looks and sounds excellent! The negative here is the forced inclusion of subtitles which are on by default with no way to remove them (at least none that I could find). I’m not sure why you’d want subtitles on the small screen – especially given the movie is in English and easy to hear.

Nokia Care has taken excellent care of me here and I have to really call attention to the team there and to the blogger relations program which has enabled my priority access to support. At this time though I would have a hard time recommending the N96 to someone looking to make a purchase. I’m hopeful that another firmware release will fix things up. I do recall a similar process with the original N95, though I would have expected past lessons to have been learned for this release. The N85 which was just released and something I hope to test soon will definitely give the N96 a solid run for attention.

Technorati Tags: Nokia, N96, Nseries, mobile, dvb-h, firmware