Nokia N96. Now there’s a UMPC partner phone!

Posted on 16 September 2008, Last updated on 16 September 2008 by

Continuing my thoughts on smartphones today, I wanted to highlight the Nokia N96 that I checked out in Amsterdam yesterday. Now there’s a phone that, for the first time, has me thinking about upgrading from the N82. Its got a crappy browser, J2ME apps are slow to start up and its got a DVB-H receiver that’s as good as useless in most places due to the lack of any service but it doesn’t matter because it does all the stuff that MIDs don’t do. Its got an amazing camera and software that, on the N82, has allowed me to capture, tag and share stuff that would have been missed or forgotten with a dedicated camera. It’s got a maps and navigation application that I find second-to-none in the smartphone world and its got a much easier to read screen and better keyboard than on the N82. Here’s the best feature though; It also has a fast USB subsystem which means you can really start to use it as a mass storage device. 16GB on-board and SDHC support means that 32GB is possible today; Perfect for plugging/pairing with a MID and using as your only file-store. Better still, use a Windows XP-based ultra mobile PC and the Nokia PC Suite for even more functionality. I also like how Nokia are moving OVI, maps, email and chat forward and am really enjoying the Nokia experience.

n96

Apparently the browser is slightly better than on the N82 but I doubt it’s anything too impressive. Even so, when you’ve got a MID or ultra mobile PC with you as I often do, you tend to reach for that first when it comes to serious Internet activities because at some point, even the best smartphones get annoyingly slow and cumbersome for long-duration Internet work.

If other manufacturers don’t get their cameras, video, storage and mapping up to the standard of Nokia’s N96 soon, I can see myself buying one of them. I’ll just wait for the first Android-based phones first before I make my decision though!

16 Comments For This Post

  1. reverendo says:

    what’s the screen size?

  2. Clipstra says:

    The size of the screen is 2.8″. I think that’s the same as the N95 8GB.

  3. reverendo says:

    thanks for the info
    it’s just too small for me… since I would like to use it as a PDA I’d need sth with a larger screen… I’d be using it with a bluetooth headset anyway so the extra size wouldn’t have to dangle around my ear…
    it seems that only the Glofiish X800 and the Touch HD are the only real candidates in what I’m looking for

  4. steve says:

    QVGA. Very low res.
    S.

  5. reverendo says:

    Thanks for answering, but I was asking about the size, not the resolution…
    any info on that?

  6. chippy says:

    Under 3″ I guess. Looked like the N85 8GB screen.
    Steve

  7. Dukeswharf says:

    The Nokia N85, with its OLED display, and N95 busting features is pound for pound a better device than the N96.

    But the new s60 daddy of them all is the Samsung i8510 with its 8 Megapixel camera, just for openers!

    Nvidia have stated that Tegra APX based phones will be brought to market before the ending of 2008, which promises to be very interesting.

    If Google, and partners, get the Android experience right, well…

  8. Jon Allen says:

    Waiting for OMAP3430 PowerVR SGX handsets, can’t be too long now…

  9. TareX says:

    Chippy, by now you should demand more than S60. I think Android will be the mobile OS for you…. till Windows Mobile 7 arrives on Tegra processors around mid-2009.

  10. chippy says:

    Yeah. Thats why i’m waiting!

  11. jpmatrix says:

    it lacks a touchscreen…
    and perhaps a sliding keyboard ;)

  12. tacy says:

    Gender: For Sale:-nokia N96 16gb/3g,apple Iphone 16gb,nokia 8800 Art
    ——————————————————————————–
    We are the most reliable and legit electronics company and we deal to serve our customer taste and we serve
    our customers what they want because Our company stand on honesty and trust and that is the key to our sucess.
    We are on a Bonanza,If you order for 2 mobile phone,you will get 1
    mobile phone for free & if you order for 5units of mobile phone you will
    have 2 free mobile phone and free shipping.
    SPECIFICATIONS:
    (europeans/usa-specifications) general network gsm 900/gsm 1800/gsm
    1900 platform – tri band (gsm900 + 800 + 1900 MHz: countries where
    manufactured: Finland and Hungary.
    EMAIL…
    mobilephonesalesrep@doramail.com
    SKYPE ID…mobile phone
    Here is our company products catalogue for your interest and inquiry.
    ——————-
    NOKIA PHONES
    ——————-
    Nokia N80………$180
    Nokia E90………$320
    Nokia E60………$140
    Nokia S60………$160
    Nokia N93……..$220
    Nokia N92……..$210
    Nokia N95……..$250
    Nokia N95 (8GB)$300
    Nokia N91………$220
    Nokia N99………$500
    Nokia N97………$300
    Nokia N90……..$200
    Nokia N70……..$180
    Nokia N73……..$200
    Nokia N7……….$150
    Nokia 8800 Sirocco….$280
    Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold$280
    Nokia N93i……$240
    Nokia n96…….$450
    nokiae71………$350
    HTC MOBILE PHONES
    —————————
    HTC SHIFT UMPC……….$250
    HTC Advantage X7500…….$200
    HTC P4350 Pocket PC (unlocked)…..$250
    HTC X7501 Cell Phone………$170
    HTC TyTN Unlocked SmartPhone….$200
    HTC TyTN II…………….$300
    HTC CRUISE…………….$270
    ——————
    Apple iphone
    ——————-
    Apple iphone 16gb…..$350
    Apple iPhone 4GB……$250
    Apple iPhone 8GB……$180
    Apple iphone 3g 16gb …… 350

    New Samsung X830 $250
    New Samsung Q1 $200
    New samsung D500……$210
    New samsung D600……$230
    New samsung D800……$250
    New samsung D900……$280
    New samsung U700……$320
    New samsung U600……$300
    TomTom GO GPS Car Navigation System @ 350usd
    TomTom Go 910 GPS Car Navigation System @300usd
    TomTom Go 510 GPS @ 250usd
    Nikon D2Xs Digital Camera $500
    Nikon D40x Digital Camera + Lens ..cost$1400
    Canon EOS 400D cost$800USD
    Canon EOS 40D cost$750USD
    Canon EOS 450D cost$800USD

    ——————
    NEW PIONEER
    ——————
    NEW PIONEER CDJ-1000 MP3 MK3 PLAYER……..$450
    NEW PIONEER CDJ-800 MP3 MK3 PLAYER ………$320
    NEW PIONEER CDJ-800 MP3 MK2 PLAYER ………$280
    NEW PIONEER DJM 1000…$700
    NEW PIONEER DJM 800…..$600
    NEW PIONEER DJM 600….$500
    NEW Pioneer DVJ-X1 DVD ………..$700
    Pioneer DVJ-1000 AUDIO ………..$600
    Pioneer CMX-3000 Twin CD Player…$800
    Pioneer DJM-400………………$350
    Pioneer DJM-300(s) Mixer ……..$120
    Pioneer DJM-600 Mixer ………..$520
    Pioneer DJM-3000 19″ Mixer ……$330
    Pioneer DJM-909 Battle Mixer…..$600
    Technics SL-1200MK2……………..$600
    Technics SL-DZ 1200………………$350
    Technics SL-1210M5G Pro Turntable.. .$380
    Technics SL-1210MK2 Turntable $170
    Technics SL-1210MK5 Pro Turntable …$250

    ===================
    BULK PURCHASE
    ===================
    10 UNIS NOKIA N96……………$4000 USD+FREE SHIPPING
    10 UNIS NOKIA N95 8GB………..$3000 USD+FREE SHIPPING
    10 UNIS APPLE IPHONE 16GB…….$3000 USD+FREE SHIPPING
    10 units Apple iPhone 8GB…….$2500 USD+FREE SHIPPING
    10 units Playstation 3 80gb…..$1800 USD+FREE SHIPPING
    For Enquiries:
    We offer prompt ,safe and best Shipping from OUR Warehouse, the product
    will arrive within 48 Hours Via Either Fedex / Dhl / Ups Courier
    Sevices
    ———–
    warranty
    ———–
    We are given you 1year internation warranty and you are guarantee 100%
    delivery no charges or customer fee.
    OUR POLICY
    ************************
    Our services and terms are base on customers relationship and trust for
    effective and long term business relationship and 100% customer
    service including our customers safety because we strive to have excellent
    communication & customer service.
    RETURN POLICY
    ****************************
    You may return the item within {30} days of
    delivery.Products with Manufacturer Warranty which
    exceed 40 days,could be returned directly to the
    manufacturer according to their instructions.
    For the inquiry or the interest contacts us today in the direction of
    the company
    e-mail……..tacylomax147@gawab.com
    tel…………..+447023065583

  13. eblogworld says:

    Good piece.

  14. T.Davis says:

    Beacause I do so much traveling this GPS offered ezactly what I was looking for. Portable GPS with voice directions and an easy to read screen. These feature work very well and it is very customizable.

    PROS
    Small device with Wide easy to see display
    Voice directions are clear
    Device automatically readjust directions if wrong turn is taken
    Easy to use device no instructions needed

    CONS
    No travel case included
    Extra parts will need to be purchased if you want system professionaly installed
    Not much documentation
    Device always poers on when car starts, this should be my decision but i can turn it off.
    Maintains travel averages (speed with min. max.)

    All in all I am very satisfied with my purchase. I would advise to shop for the best price before ourchasing.

  15. Kevin says:

    This is my first GPS and I searched a lot of Garmin and Tom-Tom reviews before making my selection. The best price was on Amazon and I’m very pleased with the unit. Nice not to have to use Mapquest anymore!

  16. James Brent says:

    Hi, cheers for the great read.

Find ultra mobile PCs, Ultrabooks, Netbooks and handhelds PCs quickly using the following links:

Acer C740
11.6" Intel Celeron 3205U
Acer Aspire Switch 10
10.1" Intel Atom Z3745
HP Elitebook 820 G2
12.5" Intel Core i5 5300U
Acer Aspire E11 ES1
11.6" Intel Celeron N2840
Acer C720 Chromebook
11.6" Intel Celeron 2955U
ASUS Zenbook UX305
13.3" Intel Core M 5Y10a
Dell Latitude E7440
14" Intel Core i5-4200U
Lenovo Thinkpad X220
12.5" Intel Core i5
Acer Chromebook 11 CB3-131
11.6" Intel Celeron N2807
Lenovo Ideapad Flex 10
10.1" Intel Celeron N2806