Nokia N96 starts shipping, in shops soon
Nokia yesterday announced it has started shipping the Nokia N96, which means it will become available, SIM-free, in shops over the next few weeks. Availability via operators will take a little longer; the UK launch on the 3 network is scheduled for October 1st. The N96 is a high-end Nseries device with a focus on mobile TV and video (large 2.8 inch screen, video stand, DVB-H receiver, and preloaded movie content). It also features a 5 megapixel camera and integrated GPS. Read on for more details.
Here's an extract from the Nokia press release:
Nokia today announced the availability of the much anticipated Nokia N96, its flagship multimedia computer in the iconic Nokia Nseries range. It boasts live TV, 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, turn-by-turn voice navigation, 16GB of internal memory that can be increased to 24GB with an optional microSD card, superior sound and music, N-Gage gaming and a stunning 2.8" display. First shipments of the Nokia N96 have started and it will be available with an estimated retail price of EUR 550 before taxes and subsidies.
"The Nokia N96 is mobile entertainment at its best, a fitting flagship for our Nseries range. It defines convergence by blending phone and multimedia options seamlessly with the unique Nokia Nseries dual slider that makes discovering and sharing experiences easy. Watch live TV and video, take high quality photos and geotag them to specific locations or directly upload them online via the fast internet connection - it is all about taking mobile entertainment and communication to the next level," says Jonas Geust, Vice President, Nokia Nseries.
Supporting live TV as it happens using DVB-H technology, the Nokia N96 delivers advanced television viewing across a number of channels. It is even possible to record favorite programmes to watch back whenever suits, be it on a train, in an airport lounge or in a café over a drink.
In many markets, the Nokia N96 comes pre-loaded with a blockbuster movie (title varies by region). Feel part of the action as it erupts through the vivid 2.8" display and built-in 3D stereo speakers. Sit back, watch the plot unfold and enjoy the special effects hands-free, practically anywhere, thanks to a cleverly designed 'kickstand' on the back cover.
The Nokia N96 has the ability to store up to 40 hours of video content transferred from a PC via hi-speed USB 2.0 connection or found online with WLAN and HSDPA support. The Nokia Video Center offers access to a variety of content ranging from movie trailers and comedy to news from world-leading providers such as YouTube, Reuters and Sony Pictures. The Nokia N96 supports the most common video formats including MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video.
You can read our preview of the Nokia N96 here.
The Nokia N96 is the latest in Nokia’s Nseries line up. It has the familiar dual slide design from the N95, but this is a TV and video focussed mobile device. As such it is not a replacement for the N95, although it does share many of its attributes and features and is, of course, a very high-end handset.
Here's our video preview of the N96 that we recorded as MWC in February this year. We'll do an updated review once we have our hands on some production hardware:
As a bonus here's a picture, sent in by a reader, of the special edition N96 that was being sold through FaceTheTask.com
Published by Rafe Blandford at 16:35 UTC, September 4th
Categories: Hardware
Platforms: S60 3rd Edition
News Discussion
Unregistered
Comment: I can't say i am looking forward for this phone (i wonder why).
Tzer2
Comment: The 550 euros plus taxes is lower than some of the more ridiculously high rumoured prices, but still a pretty hefty chunk of anyone's bank account.
It may well be that, as many people have been saying, the N85 offers better value for money overall, though the N96's on-board 16 gigabytes (plus 8 gigs through microSD giving 24 gigs in all) may well be a big selling point.
Regarding DVB-H, it's unlikely to take off while it's only available in such expensive handsets as TV companies rely on mass audiences for funding. Perhaps the N96's DVB-H is best regarded as an experiment rather than a real push to help the standard.
It may well be that, as many people have been saying, the N85 offers better value for money overall, though the N96's on-board 16 gigabytes (plus 8 gigs through microSD giving 24 gigs in all) may well be a big selling point.
Regarding DVB-H, it's unlikely to take off while it's only available in such expensive handsets as TV companies rely on mass audiences for funding. Perhaps the N96's DVB-H is best regarded as an experiment rather than a real push to help the standard.
developer-cpp
Comment: Nokia does not have a brand name phone.
Nokia confuses the user. Why this N96 is not named N95, because it looks similar, and 99% of the features are similar? Why they have so many models E..., N85, N82, N79, N95, N96 - just copies of each other?
Why they don't choose a resounding name instead of boring numbers?
People feel a connection if they have the same name of the model "IPHONE".
If you have a N85, I have a N95, somone else has an E70, what's that common?
Apple has only one name for the phones: "iPhone" even for the 3G version. No numbers, no iPhone 2008 or else.
All the talk now is what do you have a cell phone or an "iPhone"...
iPhone can do more things quicker, easy to use, intuitive...
the s60 is still like a old OS with no proper User Interface, with no will to make the user feel that the use of the phone is a "deja-vu"...
iPhone has a better screen resolution, a bigger screen size, a better experience for everything starting from YouTube, movies, music, Internet, upload/download, AppStore - to work/business applications.
iPhone is a winner in every sense for the imaginative user-friendly interface and much more.
N96 - too late, the same as old N95, nothing new in a very competitive market - it can be the bye-bye for Nokia on the smart-phone market... but yes, they will still sell the cheap s40 phones to emerging markets... kudos
Nokia confuses the user. Why this N96 is not named N95, because it looks similar, and 99% of the features are similar? Why they have so many models E..., N85, N82, N79, N95, N96 - just copies of each other?
Why they don't choose a resounding name instead of boring numbers?
People feel a connection if they have the same name of the model "IPHONE".
If you have a N85, I have a N95, somone else has an E70, what's that common?
Apple has only one name for the phones: "iPhone" even for the 3G version. No numbers, no iPhone 2008 or else.
All the talk now is what do you have a cell phone or an "iPhone"...
iPhone can do more things quicker, easy to use, intuitive...
the s60 is still like a old OS with no proper User Interface, with no will to make the user feel that the use of the phone is a "deja-vu"...
iPhone has a better screen resolution, a bigger screen size, a better experience for everything starting from YouTube, movies, music, Internet, upload/download, AppStore - to work/business applications.
iPhone is a winner in every sense for the imaginative user-friendly interface and much more.
N96 - too late, the same as old N95, nothing new in a very competitive market - it can be the bye-bye for Nokia on the smart-phone market... but yes, they will still sell the cheap s40 phones to emerging markets... kudos
Rafe
Comment: Nokia has a different naming strategy - probably a must given it has rather more phone models in its line ups... It segments better than any other manufacturers.
I rather think the brand is Nokia itself - is synonymous with phones. Nokia products are used by more people (1 billion+) than any other products on any other CE industry. It actually the world's most used / known brand in that sense.
Nseries and Eseries are collective brands - i.e. that's what the N85 and N95 have in common.
...and of course you entitled to you opinion on the iPhone - the debate is going to run and run...
...every phone has strengths and weaknesses and everyone needs something different..
I rather think the brand is Nokia itself - is synonymous with phones. Nokia products are used by more people (1 billion+) than any other products on any other CE industry. It actually the world's most used / known brand in that sense.
Nseries and Eseries are collective brands - i.e. that's what the N85 and N95 have in common.
...and of course you entitled to you opinion on the iPhone - the debate is going to run and run...
...every phone has strengths and weaknesses and everyone needs something different..
Unregistered
Comment: [quote]All the talk now is what do you have a cell phone or an "iPhone"...[/quote]
I think you'll find it's 'do you have a phone or have you got a Walkman' actually ;)
Whilst the iPhone does indeed have the best UI in the business today, it has a handful of pretty huge cons too, I'll stick with my Nokia thanks.
I think you'll find it's 'do you have a phone or have you got a Walkman' actually ;)
Whilst the iPhone does indeed have the best UI in the business today, it has a handful of pretty huge cons too, I'll stick with my Nokia thanks.
bartmanekul
Comment: [quote]All the talk now is what do you have a cell phone or an "iPhone"...
[/quote]
First time I have ever heard of this.
I am afraid the UI debate is completely out until the iphone offers the same number of features the same specced nokia does.
The point being that you cannot have so many features and customisation into such a simple UI, so no more talk about that unless there is a proper comparision. Which I might add, there will never be.
Nokia are indeed behind in the touchscreen department, well, non existant at the moment.
Obviously they are working on this, time and the 5800 will tell what they come up with.
As for the N96, frommost people I know the attitude is one of indifference.
[/quote]
First time I have ever heard of this.
I am afraid the UI debate is completely out until the iphone offers the same number of features the same specced nokia does.
The point being that you cannot have so many features and customisation into such a simple UI, so no more talk about that unless there is a proper comparision. Which I might add, there will never be.
Nokia are indeed behind in the touchscreen department, well, non existant at the moment.
Obviously they are working on this, time and the 5800 will tell what they come up with.
As for the N96, frommost people I know the attitude is one of indifference.
morpheus2702
Comment: Let's face it, Nokia has got the launch strategy of the N96 majorly wrong, the main element being the timing.
When were we talking and salivating about this product - February, March maybe? We had all ridden the ride of the good vibes and momentum Nokia had built up with the N95 and the N95 8Gb... how could the N96 not be any better?
But they've taken so long to launch it that not only has the N96 been overtaken in the tech stakes - from within the S60 camp with the Samsung InnoV8 AND from within Nokia themselves with the N85!
Sure if you still want a brand new Nokia with a 2.8" screen then there is the N96, but tell me what else is there that it offers? DVB-H? I've not done any research but how many countries operate this? Is it seriously worth the premium? I suggest not.
End of the day, the N96 was 6 months late, it's going to come out and will be an oddity, a quirk and with a short lifespan.
If Nokia want to get back on the horse and re-establish their momentum, they'll be working on an N97 that is going to trump everything: a silly-amount-of-pixel camera, 32Gb onboard, every contextual-keyboard trick they can throw at it and some genuinely new things no other N-series phone has.
When were we talking and salivating about this product - February, March maybe? We had all ridden the ride of the good vibes and momentum Nokia had built up with the N95 and the N95 8Gb... how could the N96 not be any better?
But they've taken so long to launch it that not only has the N96 been overtaken in the tech stakes - from within the S60 camp with the Samsung InnoV8 AND from within Nokia themselves with the N85!
Sure if you still want a brand new Nokia with a 2.8" screen then there is the N96, but tell me what else is there that it offers? DVB-H? I've not done any research but how many countries operate this? Is it seriously worth the premium? I suggest not.
End of the day, the N96 was 6 months late, it's going to come out and will be an oddity, a quirk and with a short lifespan.
If Nokia want to get back on the horse and re-establish their momentum, they'll be working on an N97 that is going to trump everything: a silly-amount-of-pixel camera, 32Gb onboard, every contextual-keyboard trick they can throw at it and some genuinely new things no other N-series phone has.
Unregistered
Comment: it's seems that nokia have lost that magic touch?
Unregistered
Comment: I agree with morpheus2702. The N79, N85, N96 are all boring replica's of the N95 with some little extra bit that geeks want, just so they can say 'my phone's better than yours'...
Bring on the N97, it should be sexier than the iPhone and better than anything we can imagine right now.
I'm waiting with my trusty N95 8GB till something more feature rich comes out that is as good looking as the iPhone.
Bring on the N97, it should be sexier than the iPhone and better than anything we can imagine right now.
I'm waiting with my trusty N95 8GB till something more feature rich comes out that is as good looking as the iPhone.
Unregistered
Comment: [quote]it's seems that nokia have lost that magic touch?[/quote]
To be fair, given how far they moved the goalposts with the N95, it's a pretty tough act to repeat, even the Innov8 isn't as big a leap forward (I distinctly remember Samsung making a Korean only 7mp phone a year or so back).
To be fair, given how far they moved the goalposts with the N95, it's a pretty tough act to repeat, even the Innov8 isn't as big a leap forward (I distinctly remember Samsung making a Korean only 7mp phone a year or so back).
Williamoni
Comment: [quote]All the talk now is what do you have a cell phone or an "iPhone"...[/quote]
From people with absolutely no understanding of the smartphone world maybe.
N96 does look like a bit of a mistake for Nokia, but E71, N78, N79 and N85 all look like big successes to me.
I can't believe all this negative stuff about S60 and Nokia.
Woe is me indeed.
I'm more than happy to stick with S60.
Apple have done a good job with their phone but there are obvious limitations. Copy and paste is one, the camera is another.
And let's be fair about Nokia. They've done amazing work over the last ten (?) years and taken mobile technology forward further than any other company.
Nokia - I love you and please could you send me my free N85 now? ;)
From people with absolutely no understanding of the smartphone world maybe.
N96 does look like a bit of a mistake for Nokia, but E71, N78, N79 and N85 all look like big successes to me.
I can't believe all this negative stuff about S60 and Nokia.
Woe is me indeed.
I'm more than happy to stick with S60.
Apple have done a good job with their phone but there are obvious limitations. Copy and paste is one, the camera is another.
And let's be fair about Nokia. They've done amazing work over the last ten (?) years and taken mobile technology forward further than any other company.
Nokia - I love you and please could you send me my free N85 now? ;)
Unregistered
Comment: I agreed with developer-cpp that there is a lack of connection and a sense of belonging with the Nokia phones. Every release of new Nokia phones come with new hardware, software and new number (N95, N96, N97...). People just don't relate too closely with their phone and dump their old phone and get a new one every year or two.
Whereas in the iPhone world, people get emotionally attached to their iPhone. Apple takes care of their end users every well by giving them free software updates. That helps to maintain the resale value of iPhone. It is very hard for iPhone users to switch to other brands without hard feeling. It is much easier to convert a Nokia user to an iPhone but not the other way round...
[quote=developer-cpp;390264]
Nokia does not have a brand name phone.
Nokia confuses the user. Why this N96 is not named N95, because it looks similar, and 99% of the features are similar? Why they have so many models E..., N85, N82, N79, N95, N96 - just copies of each other?
Why they don't choose a resounding name instead of boring numbers?
People feel a connection if they have the same name of the model "IPHONE".
If you have a N85, I have a N95, somone else has an E70, what's that common?
[/quote]
I
Whereas in the iPhone world, people get emotionally attached to their iPhone. Apple takes care of their end users every well by giving them free software updates. That helps to maintain the resale value of iPhone. It is very hard for iPhone users to switch to other brands without hard feeling. It is much easier to convert a Nokia user to an iPhone but not the other way round...
[quote=developer-cpp;390264]
Nokia does not have a brand name phone.
Nokia confuses the user. Why this N96 is not named N95, because it looks similar, and 99% of the features are similar? Why they have so many models E..., N85, N82, N79, N95, N96 - just copies of each other?
Why they don't choose a resounding name instead of boring numbers?
People feel a connection if they have the same name of the model "IPHONE".
If you have a N85, I have a N95, somone else has an E70, what's that common?
[/quote]
I
Unregistered
Comment: According to Forum Nokia N96 has indeed got an 3D Graphics HW Accelerator but there is no mention about OpenGL ES 1.1 support. Do you know what that means ? I donīt.
CuriousOne
Comment: Hey Rafe, could you attach a hi-res version of the photo of the N96 SE?
Unregistered
Comment: Nokia has run out of idea after iPhone was introduced last year. Seems that there is no major breakthrough from Nokia even though companies like Samsung and HTC have released iPhone look-a-like smartphones.
Many high school students and young professionals are flocking to iPhones. My 15 year old son has already asked me for an iPhone for his next birthday present. Even older people are converted to iPhone as its screen is much larger and fonts are much bigger. I really fear for the survival of Nokia. Will it become the next Motorola?
[quote=Unregistered;390290]I agree with morpheus2702. The N79, N85, N96 are all boring replica's of the N95 with some little extra bit that geeks want, just so they can say 'my phone's better than yours'...
Bring on the N97, it should be sexier than the iPhone and better than anything we can imagine right now.
I'm waiting with my trusty N95 8GB till something more feature rich comes out that is as good looking as the iPhone.[/quote]
Many high school students and young professionals are flocking to iPhones. My 15 year old son has already asked me for an iPhone for his next birthday present. Even older people are converted to iPhone as its screen is much larger and fonts are much bigger. I really fear for the survival of Nokia. Will it become the next Motorola?
[quote=Unregistered;390290]I agree with morpheus2702. The N79, N85, N96 are all boring replica's of the N95 with some little extra bit that geeks want, just so they can say 'my phone's better than yours'...
Bring on the N97, it should be sexier than the iPhone and better than anything we can imagine right now.
I'm waiting with my trusty N95 8GB till something more feature rich comes out that is as good looking as the iPhone.[/quote]
bartmanekul
Comment: We are either getting an influx apple fanboys or people that have drastically scewed views of the mobile market.
Iphone does not place nokia in any sort of trouble. It might steal some sales but at the end of the day its still one phone, which many people do not like for whatever reason (mine is I dont like touchscreens).
Manufactorers like nokia offer a huge range of phones, dispite the differences between the N78 and N79 one person will still prefer a certain one.
The N85 is a big breakthrough, people just dont see it because they do not realise they are getting a lot of what they actually asked for, rather than pointless headline grabbing specs like an 8MP camera, which in reality will not make a huge amount of difference.
Longer batterylife, better screen, lens cover, USB 2, the list goes on and on.
To me it proves Nokia are listening to its customers to a large extent, and I for one find this very good and applaud them for it.
What exactly has apple brought to the iphone 3G that people have asked for?
MMS? Video recording? Cut n paste? All of those are easy to add, the hardware supports it.
So please dont go on about Nokia losing the plot or falling behind. Because they are making increasingly better phones and actually listening to its customers.
Ad the fact remains I have still not seen a single iphone in the wild, and yet I have seen many many N95s, which is just one model of Nokias huge range.
Flocking to the iphone indeed :rolleyes:
Iphone does not place nokia in any sort of trouble. It might steal some sales but at the end of the day its still one phone, which many people do not like for whatever reason (mine is I dont like touchscreens).
Manufactorers like nokia offer a huge range of phones, dispite the differences between the N78 and N79 one person will still prefer a certain one.
The N85 is a big breakthrough, people just dont see it because they do not realise they are getting a lot of what they actually asked for, rather than pointless headline grabbing specs like an 8MP camera, which in reality will not make a huge amount of difference.
Longer batterylife, better screen, lens cover, USB 2, the list goes on and on.
To me it proves Nokia are listening to its customers to a large extent, and I for one find this very good and applaud them for it.
What exactly has apple brought to the iphone 3G that people have asked for?
MMS? Video recording? Cut n paste? All of those are easy to add, the hardware supports it.
So please dont go on about Nokia losing the plot or falling behind. Because they are making increasingly better phones and actually listening to its customers.
Ad the fact remains I have still not seen a single iphone in the wild, and yet I have seen many many N95s, which is just one model of Nokias huge range.
Flocking to the iphone indeed :rolleyes:
ILoveGadgets
Comment: I am a bit confused here. Nokia are pushing this phone with DVB-H which (from what little information I can find) would appear to be subscription-based and with hardly any take-up. But I also read that other handsets are planned which take advantage of DVB-T which is readily available (signal dependent of course), is free and has a very wide take-up with freeview etc.
I am happy to admit that my knowledge in this area is sketchy to say the least, but wouldn't it have been more sensible for Nokia to include DVB-T technology - coupled with TV out would be an absolute winner.
If anyone has any more information sources on the DVB-H / DVB-T debate I would be interested to see them as at the moment I'm not sure a great deal should be made of the N96's ability to view DVB-H.
I am happy to admit that my knowledge in this area is sketchy to say the least, but wouldn't it have been more sensible for Nokia to include DVB-T technology - coupled with TV out would be an absolute winner.
If anyone has any more information sources on the DVB-H / DVB-T debate I would be interested to see them as at the moment I'm not sure a great deal should be made of the N96's ability to view DVB-H.
Unregistered
Comment: I've had a search and am struggling to find any information for DVB-H in the UK, does anyone know what content is available?
bartmanekul
Comment: [quote=Unregistered;390373]I've had a search and am struggling to find any information for DVB-H in the UK, does anyone know what content is available?[/quote]
None, the TV function on the N96 is totally pointless for the UK.
None, the TV function on the N96 is totally pointless for the UK.
ashu
Comment: one mention of 'i' word and we at all about symbian forget the topic and get into a trance!
However, i came across one post at the nokia blog (mark guim) where a guest writer told about an accessory that may just blow our minds away. Its an usb charger! Don't know how official and authentic, though.
However, i came across one post at the nokia blog (mark guim) where a guest writer told about an accessory that may just blow our minds away. Its an usb charger! Don't know how official and authentic, though.
Unregistered
Comment: Agreed that the N85 is a great phone. I am nokia user since 1998 and don't plan on changing brands. I think the iPhone sucks on features and for lots of reasons am very unimpressed with it.
What has apple done right? Design.
Why did so many people want an iPod when most other MP3 players were better? It looks cool.
Why do so many people want an iPhone when a N95 kicks it's ass? Design, ease of use and associated status.
Nokia has given us everything we asked for in the N85, but it still will not stop people saying 'I want an iPhone'. Why? Cause the iPhone is 'cool'...
Bring in the N97 or something such like, that people think is the COOLEST thing to have and a must for every Christmas stocking...
What has apple done right? Design.
Why did so many people want an iPod when most other MP3 players were better? It looks cool.
Why do so many people want an iPhone when a N95 kicks it's ass? Design, ease of use and associated status.
Nokia has given us everything we asked for in the N85, but it still will not stop people saying 'I want an iPhone'. Why? Cause the iPhone is 'cool'...
Bring in the N97 or something such like, that people think is the COOLEST thing to have and a must for every Christmas stocking...
Unregistered
Comment: All those posters praising the iPhone is probably just one person pretending to be multiple users. Apple has the worst of fanBOYS... ;)
If you have complaints about Nokia, fair enough but when you start saying how much better the iPhone your credibility goes out of the window.
Many people don't like iPhones including myself. I prefer one hand operation. The iPhone has a great UI but that's about it... I don't like being told what you can and can't do which is what the iPhone is. Also the worst phone in terms of features. The features don't even compare with a phone a few years old.
If you have complaints about Nokia, fair enough but when you start saying how much better the iPhone your credibility goes out of the window.
Many people don't like iPhones including myself. I prefer one hand operation. The iPhone has a great UI but that's about it... I don't like being told what you can and can't do which is what the iPhone is. Also the worst phone in terms of features. The features don't even compare with a phone a few years old.
Unregistered
Comment: One good point about having an iPhone is that you are rest assured your iPhone will not be outdated when a new model is introduced. This is because Apple always provides free updates that keep your iPhone up-to-date.
Nokia, on the other hand, has just too many models. Not all models get updates regularly from Nokia. For example, N93 has not received any update for more than a year now.
[quote=Unregistered;390430]All those posters praising the iPhone is probably just one person pretending to be multiple users. Apple has the worst of fanBOYS... ;)
If you have complaints about Nokia, fair enough but when you start saying how much better the iPhone your credibility goes out of the window.
Many people don't like iPhones including myself. I prefer one hand operation. The iPhone has a great UI but that's about it... I don't like being told what you can and can't do which is what the iPhone is. Also the worst phone in terms of features. The features don't even compare with a phone a few years old.[/quote]
Nokia, on the other hand, has just too many models. Not all models get updates regularly from Nokia. For example, N93 has not received any update for more than a year now.
[quote=Unregistered;390430]All those posters praising the iPhone is probably just one person pretending to be multiple users. Apple has the worst of fanBOYS... ;)
If you have complaints about Nokia, fair enough but when you start saying how much better the iPhone your credibility goes out of the window.
Many people don't like iPhones including myself. I prefer one hand operation. The iPhone has a great UI but that's about it... I don't like being told what you can and can't do which is what the iPhone is. Also the worst phone in terms of features. The features don't even compare with a phone a few years old.[/quote]
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