Nokia unveils flagship N97 phone

[ipoppy]

I got question.....
Why Apple not giving us:
1. Navigation app like TomTom
2. MMS
3. Copy/Paste
4. Video recording
5. Built-in digital TV receiver
... and other useful features which can be found in all smart phones apart from iPhone?
Or I will change question....
Why Apple got that strange strategy of not telling anyone why they did that this way but not that way? Why they never answer any questions from customers. Why Why Why?
The reason I am asking is that I think iPhone is just prototype, which still can make money for Apple. I can live with this prototype but its really ANNOYING why Apple don't make any comments about most requested features. Is it really hard for Apple to say "TomTom will be avaialble before end of the year" or" we having problem to make proper appfor video recording .It will take time". At least I know what I can expect then. For now I keep my iPhone in my hand and I wonder if I will ever see any of these features... which is again very ANNOYING.

 

[arkmannj]

of course it has. all symbian phones have c&p and all symbian phones have had c&p since day 1.

Thanks, I was mostly just being an annoying putz, Yes I'm one of those iPhone users always whining that my iPhone doesn't have such a basic function.

:: Heads off to the whining party at http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html once again..anyone else wanna join in ?::

 

[bloodycape]

[*]nokia most likely isnt gonna update as often as the iphone does...
[*]if it breaks or something happens to it, i cant just walk into a store and they'll switch it out on the spot...
[/LIST]

I know there is a Nokia store in Chicago, been told of one in NY and Florida, and I have seen one in Los Angeles so there are a few stores. Then again if this gets picked up by a carrier then all you need to do is walk into the carriers store and get a replacement.

 

[ZzBoG]

It's just better, than Iphone, sorry.

 

[nanoboy]

I got question.....
Why Apple not giving us:
1. Navigation app like TomTom
2. MMS
3. Copy/Paste
4. Video recording
5. Built-in digital TV receiver
... and other useful features which can be found in all smart phones apart from iPhone?
Or I will change question....
Why Apple got that strange strategy of not telling anyone why they did that this way but not that way? Why they never answer any questions from customers. Why Why Why?
The reason I am asking is that I think iPhone is just prototype, which still can make money for Apple. I can live with this prototype but its really ANNOYING why Apple don't make any comments about most requested features. Is it really hard for Apple to say "TomTom will be avaialble before end of the year" or" we having problem to make proper appfor video recording .It will take time". At least I know what I can expect then. For now I keep my iPhone in my hand and I wonder if I will ever see any of this features... which is again very ANNOYING.

Tom Tom type navigation was announced to be underdevelopment by the company behind Tom Tom itself since the day iPhone 3G came out. Dunno what took them so long. But that's the thing in product design though, you need to go through numerous iterations of design and test cycles, it's hard to make concrete prediction as to when it'll be ready, sometimes.

Yes i agree with you there that I dunno why copy/paste and MMS are so hard for Apple. Although a TV tuner I think is an overkill for a mobile phone. PSP has it now but it's more suitable because its screen is slightly bigger than iPhone.

The old saying, competition is good for the consumers. Don't you worry - just like how every other company has been working on copying the iPhone rev 1 since the first day it came out, I'm sure Apple has been working on the iPhone rev 3 behind the scene ever since the first day iPhone 3G was out the door this year. It'd be a major release with new features/specs that'd make it stand out from the wannabes.

 

[bloodycape]

Apple makes:

Computers
iPods
iPhone
Software
OS

Nokia makes:

Phones (and tons of models)
Internet Tablets
GPS devices

fixed

 

[mrmayor92]

i think this phone actually looks great ill def be keeping an eye on it


any word on how much it will cost on a contract and what service it will use in the u.s?

 

[Nuvi]

Tom Tom type navigation was announced to be underdevelopment by the company behind Tom Tom itself since the day iPhone 3G came out. Dunno what took them so long.

The development was cancelled for some reason. The internal GPS wasn't good enough and external BT GPS couldn't be used, are the most common explanations. Its also said that TomTom and Apple didn't get along... Anyway, Nokia also bought the biggest map provider Navteq and TomTom bought the second biggest, Teleatlas. Actually those are the only global mapping data providers.

 

[ipoppy]

Tom Tom type navigation was announced to be underdevelopment by the company behind Tom Tom itself since the day iPhone 3G came out. Dunno what took them so long. But that's the thing in product design though, you need to go through numerous iterations of design and test cycles, it's hard to make concrete prediction as to when it'll be ready, sometimes.

Yes i agree with you there that I dunno why copy/paste and MMS are so hard for Apple. Although a TV tuner I think is an overkill for a mobile phone. PSP has it now but it's more suitable because its screen is slightly bigger than iPhone.

The old saying, competition is good for the consumers. Don't you worry - just like how every other company has been working on copying the iPhone rev 1 since the first day it came out, I'm sure Apple has been working on the iPhone rev 3 behind the scene ever since the first day iPhone 3G was out the door this year. It'd be a major release with new features/specs that'd make it stand out from the wannabes.

Thanks for reply. Your comment probably is not far away from truth but all this is just a guess. And thats what is annoying about Apple because it shouldn't be hard for them to tell what is behind scenes. At least some little glitch of what they up to with software. Why other companies they do that but Apple don't?

The development was cancelled for some reason. The internal GPS wasn't good enough and external BT GPS couldn't be used, are the most common explanations. Its also said that TomTom and Apple didn't get along... Anyway, Nokia also bought the biggest map provider Navteq and TomTom bought the second biggest, Teleatlas. Actually those are the only global mapping data providers.

It make sense but also I heard this on one of Mac forums:

"TomTom's Navigator System for PDAs retails for $49.99, so I imagine that they would want to charge Apple a similar premium for each license, thus increasing the cost of the iPhone. Google Maps, however, is free to implement, thus providing us with a nice Map/Direction application for the iPhone's built-in GPS at no additional cost. According to the rumors, Apple and Google are working on a turn-by-turn navigation system for the iPhone, so we will see TomTom-like features eventually.

Video recording is currently being worked on by several third-party application developers. From what I understand, video recording is simple, but recording video with audio is causing some problems. My guess is that we'll see third-party video recording applications within the next few months"

It would make sense too. But come on Apple...just tell us!!!

 

[applepies]

fixed

Phones (and tons of models)
Internet Tablets
GPS devices
Networks
OS
Software
Radios
Headsets
Speakers
And a lot more



Fixed

 

[Mr Maui]

Lightning fast? What are you, a turtle? I've had every high end Nokia phone for the last 7 years up to the N96, of which I had 3 and had to return them all for defects. S60 is S L O W. FP2 is better, but still slow. Now remember, i am comparing this to the iPhone. In no way can S60 be considered lightning fast.

Unless you're a turtle....

)

WHO NEEDS LIGHTNING FAST!!!! WE HATE FAST!!!! GO PLAY WITH YOUR iPHONE ON SOMEONE ELSE'S TIME!!!

 

[Nuvi]

"TomTom's Navigator System for PDAs retails for $49.99, so I imagine that they would want to charge Apple a similar premium for each license, thus increasing the cost of the iPhone. Google Maps, however, is free to implement, thus providing us with a nice Map/Direction application for the iPhone's built-in GPS at no additional cost. According to the rumors, Apple and Google are working on a turn-by-turn navigation system for the iPhone, so we will see TomTom-like features eventually.

The navigator app was meant to be sold on app store along the maps. The price for app and maps was estimated to be over $100.

There is no way you can have downloaded mapping data using google. Google gets their maps from Navteq and Teleatlas. Google has license for on-line use but distribution of real maps would be serious breach of contract. Hence no turn-by-turn navigation. If Apple wants serious navigation they need to play nice either with Navteq (Nokia) or Teleatlas (TomTom - already tried but didn't work).

 

[ipoppy]

If Apple wants serious navigation they need to play nice either with Navteq (Nokia) or Teleatlas (TomTom - already tried but didn't work).

Its not matter of "want"...they must have it one way or another to stay competitive. For me its most important thing missing from iPhone at this moment. If Apple won't release turn-by-turn with at least iPhone v3 I will be looking somewhere else then....with probably many others too.

 

[ivladster]

So funny, how all these iPhone wanna-bes show these cool videos, like HTC and LG. They look amazing. When the actual phone comes out everyone pukes. I mean Nokia is one of the Pros in Phone Market, now that's a real competitor. It took them 2 years to develop this kid of phone after iPhone was shown. Its about right.

 

[nobandsland]

140 years of experience

Phones (and tons of models)
Internet Tablets
GPS devices
Networks
OS
Software
Radios
Headsets
Speakers
And a lot more



Fixed

...and Nokia used to produce: televisions, computers, computer displays, WLAN products, digital television receivers (set-top boxes), ADSL modems, ...

Thus, Nokia has quite a lot experience (since 1865, in fact )

 

[0098386]

5. Built-in digital TV receiver

Lol, come on now. Mobile TV signal is terrible in the UK and last time I checked was only available in London, Oxford and Cambridge. And have you tried using portable DVB-T recievers? Good gravy they have worse coverage than DAB when in motion.

Besides BBC 1 and 2 will be (if not already) live on the iPlayer. Internet will be bringing TV to phones, not systems that were designed for fixed positions and aerials high on rooftops.

 

[0098386]

It has 32GB (internal) + 32GB (SD slot) of memory (drool)

Where did you hear this? According to the Wiki it supports up to 16gb external, not 32.

 

[angelneo]

Personally, I don't understand why is there an obsession with cameras on our phone, I agreed it's nice to take a photo (esp as evidence ) but do you really need a 5-8MP camera on your phone? with special lenses?

EDIT: Just saw the promo video, err... the UI is really different from the hands on video at engadget. The actual UI is not as slick as the one in promo, not even close

DOUBLE EDIT: Typo, oops

 

[chameleon81]

Personally, I understand why is there an obsession with cameras on our phone, I agreed it's nice to take a photo (esp as evidence ) but do you really need a 5-8MP camera on your phone? with special lenses?

EDIT: Just saw the promo video, err... the UI is really different from the hands on video at engadget. The actual UI is not as slick as the one in promo, not even close

I need not 8 but 5 is good. I know capturing a picture is not about pixels but iPhone' s 2 meg camera can not take good pictures in my standard.

Because of this reason I bought Omnia when it was launched and returned it in 2 weeks because of the ridiculous touch screen .

 

[abijnk]

nice looking phone. Resistive touch screen kills it for me though. Having owned both, capacitive is the way to go.

 

[Nuvi]

Where did you hear this? According to the Wiki it supports up to 16gb external, not 32.

Apparently it was said by one of their directors heading N-series development. I found an interview when I searched info about N97. Tried to find it again but couldn't. Anyway, sounds right since N97 uses microSDHC slot. However, there isn't any 32GB microSDHC cards available yet so that might explain why wiki has 16 GB as max external memory or I might have got it all wrong and the max external memory is hardware limited to 16GB.

 

[bruinsrme]

Apparently it was said by one of their directors heading N-series development. I found an interview when I searched info about N97. Tried to find it again but couldn't. Anyway, sounds right since N97 uses microSDHC slot. However, there isn't any 32GB microSDHC cards available yet so that might explain why wiki has 16 GB as max external memory or I might have got it all wrong and the max external memory is hardware limited to 16GB.

I thought it said 32G on board with an expansion of 16G via microsdhc

 

[t0mat0]

I got question.....
Why Apple not giving us: For now I keep my iPhone in my hand and I wonder if I will ever see any of these features... which is again very ANNOYING.

The N97 isn't slated to be released for several months, one not so minor point in discussing it.

A feature in the hand is worth 2 in the press release...

 

[winterspan]

My first thought is WHAT A FRAUD. The interface on the phone in the video is obviously pre-rendered. whether or not Apple and other companies do the same thing I don't know, but it certainly is the most blatant example.. Seriously the interface speed and fluidity is NOWHERE NEAR what is shown on the video. Even the iPhone, which has the fastest interface animation/transition can't do what they show.

Now I'm not a Nokia-hater. This hardware looks good if a little bit thick, and definitely has some standout hardware features like 32GB flash, 5MP camera with autofocus/flash, high resolution screen (although it is NOT a capacitive touchscreen, instead being a resistive model... similar to all the crappy touchscreen WinMo phones that work with a stylus and a finger. These are nowhere near as responsive as a capacitive model like the iPhone's display). I do wish Apple would take a cue from Nokia regarding the camera though, which is still a sore spot on the iPhone.

However, like all the other wannabe "iPhone killers" that have failed so miserably, they focus on the hardware and neglect the interface. Instead of building a new touch interface from the ground up, they simply bolt-on a touch layer to the existing ancient S60 code base, which is entirely conspicuous in the akward, cluttered, and unintuitive interface. I wish they would just throw S60 out of the window and simply add phone functionality to their Linux-based "Tablet OS 2008" that runs on their iPod-touch like "internet tablets".

The only interesting thing with this phone will be if they upgraded the processor and GPU to Texas Instruments OMAP3 line, which uses the new ARM Cortex-A8 core and PowerVR SGX graphics. Though if the platform is not sufficiently optimized it won't matter how much power you throw at it. Perhaps that is why this phone will not be released until H1 2009. I'd expect an iPhone v3.0 to be ready by then..

 

[Saladinos]

It's a technofile's wet dream. Still wouldn't buy one.

Since 2.2, my iPhone hasn't put a foot wrong. If anything, I'd replace it just because I've grown bored of it. Information is too hard to access, and the home screen and lock screen need some sort of a refresh to make it easier.

Still, these are minor flaws. Symbian has far greater ones. Overall, the iPhone's still the better choice.