There's been a lot of discussion about the value of the N96 and its place in the N9x line of Nseries devices from Nokia. Many feel that the feature set, and more so the lack of new mobile technology that we've been accustomed to seeing with N9x devices doesn't warrant the numerology. After speaking with the product manager for the N96, several things become better understood about the device and it's place in the N9x range. First off is the fact that there's no new hardware. Embedded data is not new, nor is an SDHC card slot, obviously. However, such large internal memory storage in addition to the expandable memory slot is. LED flash is certainly nothing new, and in fact has been argued as a step backwards from the xenon flash of the N82. To the contrary, a dual LED system that allows for sustained operation with the purposes of night time video recording is a step forward- clearly it's not the performance of a xenon flash, bu the flash works very well. James Burland at NokiaCreative.com has a quick video up that shows the brilliance of the LED lamp during video recording in a dark room that is worth a look. While it's not something that you're going to use every day, or perhaps all that often at all-  that's not the idea behind the feature set of the N96. Take into consideration the DVB-H capabilities. Again, this is obviously nothing new- we've seen it in the N92 and the N77- neither of which saw much success. The idea is that this device is not about DVB-H, it's just one of the features. The N9x line isn't about what's new, it's about a product tier, and a feature (and price) level. It's about high level of functionality in a reasonable sized device. The N96 isn't about any one feature- its about the feature set, and to that end the N96 really shines.

Aside from the lack of an Earth-shattering new feature- the big complaint you will hear about the N96 is the battery size- it's a 950mAh battery, same as the 'classic' N95. A lot of people are asking why Nokia neglected to learn the lesson with the very vocal disdain for the battery life of that device. I can assure you that they have learned a lesson- though it's not as apparent at first glance. Nokia has deemed it more important to work on improving the efficiencies of the device's power consumption, rather than to pack a larger battery into the device in exchange for a feature or two, or ending up with a brick of a device- another complaint that some had with the N95. So the battery life is extended through the optimizations made for music playback, which is now 14 hours- or nearly double the playtime of the N95 they claim. Feature pack 2 makes several optimizations to the system to conserve battery usage, and it's not using the same processor as the N95- presumably offering more operating time. They've also decided against the xenon flash for the same reasons- battery life and size. It was easy for them to fit the N82 with a xenon bulb because of the real estate that the mono-block design allows, but it was apparently not much of an option for them with the N96- again with concerns for creating a massive brick of a device.

When it comes down to it, the N96 is intended to be a consumption-user's device, not a content creator. That's where the thinking has to be to understand the N96- which I'm starting to get a little more now. What do you think now after hearing more about the N96? Does it fit in the product tier of the other N9x devices? Do you still think there should have been some radically new feature included in the device?

    Looks like those eager to jump ship on the N95 won't have to wait quite that long. Mobile City Online has opened up preorders for the N96, with an expected release date of May 7th at a price of $799.99.  I'm not entirely sure the $800 is worth the 16GB of flash along with a DVB card that will not function in the states, but to each his own. I have to say I would be a bit suprised if this actually shipped on projected date, as just last week Nokia stated a 3Q release date. This could however be a nice change of pace, announcing products and actually shipping them before the expected release date. Either way, I can assure you on won't be the first on the waiting list. If you are feeling brave, head over to Mobile City Online and drop down on your preorder. 

The phone was leaked weeks ago, and just a few days ago we got a glimpse at the specs. Now, at Mobile World Congress, Nokia has made the dream a reality. The N96 did pack a few surprises under its sleeve as well, including specific gaming keys for N gage, a kick stand for watching video (and TV),and the confirmed 16GB of storage with a microSD slot. We are still a bit disappointed that the xenon flash was skipped, and not the mention the weak 950 mAh battery (didn't we go through this with the original N95?). But not everything can be perfect, however this mobile is coming dangerously close. And for those planning on ditching the N95 -the N96 isn't slated for release until Q3 (I would expect August-September) and at a hefty €550 (just under $800 for those in the states). Assuming this thing isn't delayed, you still have a solid 4-5 months to enjoy your N95. 

Hit the jump for the official specs, and Ricky also has the official data sheet at Symbian Guru....