Nokia Users

Firstly, let me explain a little bit about myself.  Yes, I’m a Nokia enthusiast, and have been for a few years now, but in my review below, I have tried to be objective as possible, and instead of praising the N97 in every aspect, I do actually talk about its bad points too. 

The following is really more of a personal overview than a review, as I have not covered everything due to many of the obvious points already being covered in detail elsewhere.  I have based my following overview following a few weeks of daily usage.  The reasons for this belated overview are, 1. I didn't want to base my impressions on just a few hours use, but rather a few weeks constant usage, 2. I was hoping V11 would of been available by now, and planned on a comparison between this and V10, but this will have to come in another post.

Reading the oh so many early reviews of the new Flagship device from Nokia, the N97, note, “Early Reviews”, one can understand why this device has received such a poor response.  You really do need to spend at least two or more weeks with the device, actually using it daily, in different environments to get a true feeling, and account of what this device can do, and does. 

The N97 breaks moulds, and is an evolution in the mobile industry today, mark my words, as the N95 did before it, bringing more functionality, and internet connectivity, and Social media networking, the N97 will indeed change the way people use the internet today.  Remember though, the N97 is not aimed at Business users, I’m sure, a more fitting, more powerful device, specifically aimed at Business users will come, maybe at Nokia World, or MWC, who knows. 

Back to the Nokia N97, The Multi-Media Sharing, Social Networking Mini Computer, and my thoughts, opinions, and detailed Review.  Ok, it’s a phone too, but it’s also far more than just a phone.

Who remembers the Nokia N95 when that was first released, running V10 firmware?  I know I do, and oh boy what a headache it was setting up to a state you were comfortable with. 

Then came the numerous, and welcomed firmware updates for the N95, which in turn, each update brought new, and wonderful things to light with the device, then bringing it to its current firmware, V31, which now, even to this day, has created a device that’s still as ever popular two years down the line, with many of its competitors, although boasting similar properties, not quite carrying them out as well as the N95. 

The N95 however, never did get UDP (User Data Preservation) implemented in any of its firmware updates, unlike the N82 which did.  Nokia, if you’re reading this, could you tell us why this was?  Luckily the N97 has UDP, so no need to reinstall, and set everything back up again from scratch when updating it firmware.

Back to the N97, and yes, it’s still on V10 firmware, its launched firmware.  V11 has been released for NAM, and Euro models thus far, but UK models, such as mine are still waiting for this firmware, which apparently has many bug fixes. 

Some of these V10 bugs I will now share with you, as my N97 also has these.

1. Screen Backlight, and screen locking/unlocking bug.

This bug basically is where, when you slide the unlock switch on the side of the N97, the screen sometimes stays unlit, and no backlight comes on.  Sliding the lock switch again appears to work.  This bug has been fixed in V11, but I’m yet to confirm myself due to V11 not yet being available to my handset.

1.  Widgets on Home Screen connectivity bug.

This bug is where the Home Screen Widgets, Facebook, and Accuweather experience connectivity issues with the assigned access point.  This bug has also been fixed in V11, and currently, both Facebook, and Accweather widgets have been removed from the Ovi Store to also be updated.

1. USB connectivity issues.

This bug was where you would connect your N97 to your pc or laptop, only to find it was not found, or didn’t charge.

V11 fixes this bug.

Moving away from the bugs, and software for the moment, I will come back to the OS, and UI a bit later on in my review.

N97 Keyboard.

This is a very interesting aspect of the N97, and as many of those early reviews have pointed out, it’s not the most user-friendly of keyboards, with an ill placed spacebar, and only three rows.

I will go out on a limb here, and say that these early reviews are talking nonsense, not all, but many.  This is a Mini QWERTY keyboard, not your run of the mill, every day full size keyboard, which we all know, when used, we tap the spacebar with either of our thumb sides.

The side placement of the Spacebar on the N97 is actually in the most natural, and logical position for such a keyboard as the N97.  Nokia have, here, broken the mould, and moved away from other mini QWERTY keyboards that have tried to reduce the size of this such mould of QWERT keyboards, and actually studied user usage, and in actual fact, not placed the spacebar to the right just for fun, or to be different, it’s actually there for you, and to make your whole typing experience a lot easy, and speedier.  Same goes for the D-Pad, this again, is in a perfect position, yes, at first you may take a little while to get used to it, but it’s like anything else, practice makes perfect with anything you try new.

I did at first have a few gripes with the keyboard, yes, and these were just with the Capitals, and Number input, but yesterday while using the N97 to Twitter using the superb native Twitter client for S60 from Mobileways.de, I asked my fellow followers if they, like me had any issues with the N97's mini QWERTY keyboard.  I mentioned that it’s not the spacebar I have problems with, but the actual number, and symbol input.  Well, to my surprise, I found out, thanks to fellow Nokiausers writer, Robert Hall, that there is a unique shortcut for numbers, and symbol entry, that being just simply tapping the shift for a capital letter, no need to hold it down.  With the symbols, you can either simply tap the blue arrow prior to selecting the symbol you want, or if you wish to enter several numbers or symbols consecutively, tap the blue arrow twice, and this will allow you to type a long number out without the need to hold down the blue arrow.  The QWERTY keyboard will default to number input for number only fields, no need to press the blue arrow key for these. Brilliant.

Learning the above keyboard shortcuts brought my overall keyboard experience a much more pleasurable one, and am no longer frustrated with anything further with it.

Touch Screen

This is only my second experience with a Nokia touch screen device, in fact, any touch screen device apart from my old Garmin SatNav.  My other Nokia Touch experience was with the N800.

The N97 as you now know by now, has a Resistive Touch Screen, this, in simple terms means you have to actually put slight pressure onto the screen rather than just touch it.  My over all experience with the screen has been very positive, and being Resistive has ruled out any accidentally pressed area’s on the screen whilst navigating around web pages, and alike.

When you use the screen you get tactile feedback, which consists of a custom set slight vibration, which works very well, in particular when using the Numeric onscreen keypad.

Yes, you get a Stylus with the N97, and this again is an area most critics have pulled Nokia up on, mostly because it’s not inbuilt into the N97, but comes separately, with a mini lanyard to attach it to your N97 with.  I must say, I have not once used the stylus, but can see it coming in handy for those small clickable onscreen areas should you not of double tapped on the screen to enlarge.

Below the Resistive Touch Screen, you have just one hardware key, the menu key, which breathes whilst on standby, showing a nice subtle pulsating white glow around it.  There are also a further two buttons on the front below the screen, these are in actual fact, both touch buttons, accesses in the same manner as the resistive screen, having to press slightly on either the green call key to answer a cal, or red key to end a call.  You do get a couple of onscreen options to answer a call too, one of which is to slide your finger over the animated bar shown when someone calls.  Nice touch.

Widgets

When working correctly, these are in fact, a superb idea from Nokia, and are not just shortcuts on the N97 home screen, they are in actual fact, live widgets, which feed you live information on their given settings.  For example, the Facebook Widget will show you in scrolling form, a few of your friends latest updates, then show you if you have any messages, or if you have been poked, or if you have any friend requests pending.  As said, when working perfectly, they are simply superb, but with V10, there have been a few issues with connectivity, but this will be sorted in future updates.

Accuweather Widget, again, what this will do, is feed you information that you have set it to tell you, for example, here, I would configure it to show weather information for Kuopio, a small town where I live in Finland, and then on my home screen it would show today’s weather, and a summary.  When clicking onto the widget, you get to choose a more detailed, broken down account of the weather, in graph form, or temperature readings throughout the week or so.

User Interface

Now this is one area of the N97 I do agree with some of the critics, that being, the UI, and Transitions, or should I say, complete lack of.  Ever since the N97 was first showcased last year at Nokia World, videos, and demo material showed the N97 boasting a very pleasing to the eye UI, matching that of similar devices in the market place, mentioning no names here.

Where are these screen Transitions Nokia?  You can’t advertise something, and then sell something completely different.  I am really hoping that Nokia implements these in a future firmware, because I for one, and I’m sure many other buyers of the device were looking forward to the Screen UI, and transitions that were shown in the countless video promotions on the N97.

GPS & Compass

No problems here, fast connectivity, and superb UI.  remember though, I am talking about Ovi Maps 3 here, not the preinstalled Maps.  Built-in Compass can take a minute or two to configure, but once done initially, it don’t take too long to reset up for next use.

S60 5^th Edition Touch

My N97 is the first device I have owned with S60 5^th Edition OS, let alone a Touch variant of it.  Most of my experience is with the ever so popular S60 3^rd Edition.  The N97’s OS is to me, very familiar of course, and most things come quite naturally when navigating the menus, sub menus, configurations, and settings, however, if you have never used an S60 based device, it may take you a little while to get used to things. 

If, however you are used to the UI on say, an iPhone for example, (ouch, there, I’ve said it), your experience with S60 maybe that it’s blocky, and outdated.  Here, I would agree, the UI in S60 is certainly an area Nokia need to work on, and in fact, they are, The new backward compatible Symbian OS, but I guess we will have to wait and see what they have in store for us later in the year, and wonder if the N97 will see those On screen transitions I mentioned a little earlier on.

Some Preinstalled Applications are on Phone Memory.

I found out after seeing my phone memory was low, that many of the preinstalled applications on the N97 were installed onto phone memory.  I would recommend anyone who has an N97 to reset, and format the mass memory, and start over, installing all your applications to mass memory. In mine, and others experiences over the last few days, we have found that many of the preinstalled applications, and widgets are indeed, installed to the Phone memory, and this, tied in with building up of web browser cache is the reason why many of you are getting the memory full prompts.

Make sure you can obtain all required files you wish to reinstall before removing, and resetting your N97, and then once done, start to rebuild it, saving everything to mass memory.

Here is what I personally did, and not have almost 50MB of RAM, and 40MB of phone memory, and have several applications installed.

Backup what you wish to keep. (.sis &.sisx files) onto your pc/laptop

Key in *#7370* which resets your N97, default code is 12345

Once this is done, format mass memory. Menu > Applications > Office File manager > Mass memory > Options, > Scroll down to Format Mass memory

Once formatted, *#7370# again

Then, what I did, to ensure a clean slate, was reinstall the current firmware, V10 in my case.

http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0990/ce1d6fb8b9ed40819921c51039c1edb8.jpg

Connect N97 to NSU, and select "reinstall". Ensure your battery is full, and sim card fitted.

Once done, I started to rebuild my N97, installing everything to Mass memory apart from Python, and Wordmobi, which have to be installed to phone memory, as too any python related apps/programs.

Nokia Maps

To my surprise, the N97 came with the older, more dated Nokia Maps, V2.  I quickly replaced this with Ovi Maps 3.0, which I have to say, now it’s out of Beta, it’s simply a joy to use, with no issues what so ever for me.  The N97 has a built-in Compass, which I must say has a crazy method, which you have to perform in order to get it to work correctly.  Check out your user manuals on this one, it’s a little difficult to explain, but I will give it a shot.  Basically, holding your N97 in your one hand, whilst Ovi Maps launched, you have to simulate the figure “Eight” (8) in the air in front of you.  Yes, I know, I looked like a right tool doing this the other day, and got a few funny looks.  It does work though.  After about a minute or less, you will notice the ring around the North of the Compass change from red, to yellow, and then to Green, and once green, you will be rewarded, with your maps being coordinated with yourself, i.e., when you turn around on your axis, your maps will rotate too, showing you exactly the direction you are faced in coordination with your maps.  

Calls, Texts, and Emails.

Having made, and received several calls a day on the N97, I have not experienced any of the issues some owners have experienced with Microphone over sensitivity issues.  Call quality has been simply superb, I can hear my callers very clearly, crisp, and no reception issues at all.  My callers have told me they can hear me very well, although, during one call, it was mentioned that everything in the background, my end could be heard.  Maybe it’s a sign of that Mic bug in my handset, hopefully V11 will cure this, if not, V12.

Texts, and emails is an absolute joy.  The slide out QWERTY comes into its own here, but as mentioned earlier on, you really need to practice with it first, and find out all the shortcuts that are there, which go together to make your whole user experience that much more.  The keys don’t have that much travel, but there is enough there so to remove the possible accidental key presses.  Here, I have the keyboard tones set to number 2, which as when as the slight key feedback, I also get the audio confirmation the key has been pressed.

Camera’s, Photos & Videos

Given the N97 is still running V10, the photo, and video quality isn’t too bad at all.  Comparing side by side with my N95-1, N95-2, and N82, I would say the N97 has the edge on better quality, sharper, and more natural colours.  As you know, the N97 has the same 5MP camera as those devices I just mentioned, however, the N97 has a completely different sensor, and software for its camera, so it’s obvious, to me anyway, that these, together, are doing exactly as they are supposed to.  Thumbs up to Nokia on this one.

When you take a photo, they are now stored in their respected folders, date, month, downloads etc.  When you transfer a photo from your PC, or laptop to your N97, it will show up in your Download folder.  Some people have thought this odd, but if you think of your N97 as a mini computer, it makes perfect sense.

The N97 has not just one, but two cameras.  The secondary camera on the front of the device, to the left of the ambient light sensor (more on sensors further into my review), is not just capable of showing you to a caller via video call, but it can actually record video too.  There is also software available which allows you to play music on your N97, and use the secondary camera to switch tracks, pause playing track, stop, continue track, and even rewind played track by just using your hand waving over the top of the N97 whilst its say on a table for example.

FM Transmitter, Radio, Music player, & Speakers

The built-in FM Transmitter is nice addition to the N97, and does work, however, as other users have reported, there is a small problem.  It’s not the frequency that is the issue here, but the actual range, the distant between the receiving FM player, and the N97 cannot be much more than a few feet.  This was my experience in our car, but some N97 owners are in fact, happy with their ranges, some even say the FM transmitter works fine to their car stereo, whilst their trusty N97 is in the boot.

The Radio on the N97 has RDS, which is a nice feature, RDS (Radio Data System), is built-in, and allows you to see radio stations program listings, if they support RDS of course.  For example, should you be tuned into a channel, and not know who the DJ is, RDS will show the DJ’s name, or show name, and it’s Genre.

Music player, just like any other Nokia S60 device, is very easy to use and quite straight forward, and shows Album Art, if your music has it embedded very clearly.

Speakers.

I really hope the quality of the inbuilt N97 speakers can be improved with new firmware, I’m hoping it’s a case of the equalizer settings not being configured correctly in V10, I really hope I’m not wrong here, because when I compare the N97 speakers to that of the N95, the sound is much more tinny from the N97 speakers, and no real depth to anything played from them.  Quite disappointing.  One of the Nokia Engineers on Nokiausers has commented that the actual speakers used in the N97 are smaller than those used in the older N95 models.

Battery Performance

The N97 has the same Battery found in the E71 handset, a 1500mAh Li-Pol battery (BP-4L), which in my experience, giving it a charge each night, has given me no need to worry about the battery running low during a full day of usage.  The battery has lasted me all day, with the Home Screen Widgets connected constantly to my home wireless network, making calls, sending texts, and even playing music.  At the end of a full day, I have noticed only one, or two bars have dropped from the Battery meter.  Battery life will not reach its full potential until a few charge/discharge cycles, doesn't need to be full discharge.

Build Quality & Slider Hinge Mechanism

The build quality of the N97 is very, very good.  It feels of a good weight, not too heavy, feels great in the hand, and feels its price tag, of superb build quality, apart from the battery cover I may add, which can creak a little, but I have found out a simple, quick method of fixing this, which I have detailed within our Nokiausers forums.

The chrome outer bezel of the N97 is chrome plated stainless steel, and adds to the quality, and feel of the device.  Some people would argue that this is chromed plastic, but it is mentioned in the user manual as stainless steel, and if you actually inspect it closely from the rear of the screen, while slide open, you can just about see, the thin layer of stainless steel used.

On the rear of the N97, the 5MP camera is protected, by not only a sliding lens cover, but built-in lens glass cleaning slide cover.  If you look very carefully at an N97, note the blue cleaner under the slide.  This removes any fingerprints or dirt each time you open and close the cover.  The dual led’s are recessed, and not under the same glass as the camera lens, but have an actual cutout, so what you feel with your fingertip when touching this area, is not a scratch, but the recessed leds.

Now onto the, what I consider to be the true selling point of this device, the hinge mechanism, this is truly a work of genius, and being main of lightweight alloy, gives you a very firm, and positive opening, and closing operation, with a positive clunk, click, similar quality sound to it of what can only be compared to of a prestige car door opening, and closing.  You really have to have the device in your hand to experience this for yourself, as words alone do not do this justice.  Get yourself down to your local Nokia Flagship Store, and pick one up for yourselves for a little play with, and all will become clear.  The hinge in no way casts any doubt about the solid build factor of the N97, and boasts a confident build of construction.

Sensors

Proximity Sensor - On the front of the N97 to the top left of the face, you will find the Proximity Sensor, this sensor basically, senses when the phone is up against your face when taking a call, thus disabling the screen.  Good touch, and has worked very well in my experience. 

Ambient Light Sensor – Also on the front of the N97, top right, you have the ambient light sensor, this pretty much tells your N97 what environment you’re in, be it indoors, in a dark place, or well lit area, and will adjust the screen and keyboard illumination accordingly to suit those conditions, giving you a more comfortable user experience.

Accelerometer – This is a sensor, which if you have owned an N95, or N82 previously, you will be aware that it assists the auto-screen-rotation from portrait to landscape, and back again when device is moved/turned accordingly.  This sensor has also been used in many third party applications, and games. This sensor is also used in a couple of other functions in the N97, for example, if your N97 rings, and you don’t wish to take the call, simply turn it over so the screen is faced down, and the N97 will reject the call, or direct it to your user profile choice, answer-phone, etc.

Breathing Light.

There is a breathing light which emits around the only hardware key on the front of the N97 when in standby, but on some devices, mine included, a second breathing light is visible at the top of the front, inside the top of the Ambient light sensor. 

 Package contents.

With the N97, in its box, you get everything you would imagine with a Flagship device, but there are a couple of items missing.  First of all, there is no TV Out Connectivity cable.  Why Nokia chose not to include this is a mystery, and although not a problem for us mobile geeks, who probably have more than one of these lying in a drawer somewhere, what about those consumers that have never owned a Nokia handset with TV Out option before.?  They will have to go to the additional expense of buying one.  Also, unlike the N86, which came with a new style in-ear Nokia headphones, the N97 got the old, and common type Nokia headset that we all see in other Nokia handsets packages.  You would of thought, the N97, being the Flagship model, it would have had these newer in-ear headset.

You do however; get a cleaning cloth, and small Stylus, as well as the usual software DVD, and manuals.  The N97 Charges via Micro USB, so you will find a USB to Micro USB lead, and mains charger to Micro USB, and a small adapter which converts new, and old style Nokia chargers to Micro USB.

MicroSD Slot

Fitting and removing a MicroSD in the N97 can be a little tricky, especially if you don’t have long fingernails.  The MicroSD fits with the contacts faced down, (writing faced up while N97 screen down).  I had to resort to using a second MicroSD in order to eject the MicroSD, as it was pretty tricky to say the least.

Final Conclusion.

Good Points

Lovely, clear 3.5” Resistive Touch Screen

Mini QWERTY Keyboard

Battery Performance

Hinge Mechanism

32GB Mass Storage

3.5mm Audio Jack

MicroSD Hot Swap

5MP Camera

Secondary Camera Video Recording Capabilities.

MicroUSB Charging

 

Bad points

Poor Quality Battery Cover Materials Used.

MicroSD fiddly, and also have to remove the battery cover to get to it.

V10 Bugs, including the side screen lock issue.

No TV Out Connectivity Cable in packaging.

Given the above, Good, and Bad points, I would still recommend the N97 handset if you are looking for a device with the combination of touch, and QWERTY in particular, but not for Business use. 

If you are a someone who uses your mobile for emails on the go, love to share photos, a blogger, or into Social Networking, using Facebook, Twitter, and alike, then the N97 is for you.  If you are looking for something a little more powerful, and Business orientated, I would wait for Nokia’s next Business Aimed model. 

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