The iPhone killer has officially arrived: world, meet the Nokia N97
The iPhone, even amidst a furious onslaught of competitor smartphones, has for the most part retained its title as the leader in the smart phone or touchscreen market. The reason for this is that many competitors have managed to nail the replication of or improvement on one of the iPhone’s many strengths, but have fallen short of the well-rounded appeal of the iPhone. Somebody should have told Nokia that it’s simply unfair to storm the scene and blow away the iPhone all at once.
The Internet is abuzz today regarding Nokia’s announcement of its new flagship device, the N97. I use the term device because, even though it functions in the capacity of a mobile phone, it is so much more. In fact, Nokia isn’t dubbing it a mobile phone…they call it a mobile computer.
Not a netbook or a smartphone. It is the first true computer the size of a normal mobile phone. You might be thinking, well most phones have high-speed data, qwerty keyboards, onboard memory and intuitive operating systems and graphical user interfaces…how does the N97 stand out?
First off, the N97’s memory capacity dwarfs the storage of all smartphones on the market, boasting 32 Gb of onboard storage with space for up to an additional 16 Gb. The N97 contains a 5-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera assembly capable of taking 30 frame per second DVD-quality video, a full touchscreen capabilities coupled with full keyboard and tilting touch display, and GPS.
That’s the hardware side of it. In execution, the handset is simply breathtaking. Perhaps most impressive is the home screen design of the GUI; whereas on other smart handsets, users are forced to browse through applications to view updates to individual platforms and applications. Not so with the N97; users can add and rearrange widgets for their favorite social networking and media platforms on the homescreen, which updates information to each widget continuously.
Forget waiting for an update to reach your email and then display a new message in your inbox on your handset; instant updates displayed directly on your home screen. Some are even calling the N97 the Facebook phone, obviously because the handset will be the first to make continuous social networking in one’s pocket a reality.
Video rendering is gorgeous. The camera can capture DVD-quality video at 30 frames per second, and playback doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. The media player reflects a simplicity like that of the iPhone, employing simple controls and easy navigation.
The tilting touch display looks to be of the highest caliber, comparable if not superior to any other on the market today. Tilting the screen back and forth requires little effort, but isn’t flimsy. When tilted, the screen leaves plenty of real estate available for the full QWERTY keyboard, which contains well-spaced, appropriately-sized keys.
Nokia didn’t engage in the game of iPhone imitation, unlike many handset manufacturers. On paper, Nokia has bested the iPhone in just about every way.
That leaves two questions: what will the price be, and once it is in consumer hands, how will it perform? Flashy debuts will always put a product in the best possible light, and Nokia isn’t particularly known for making cheap handsets. Obviously the N97 isn’t what you might call inexpensive, considering just the hardware of the mobile computer and not the overall performance of the operating system, UI or other aspects. That’s what I like to call the wait-n’-see factor.
The N97 is projected to ship in the first half of 2009 for a price of 550 Euros before taxes and the all-important carrier subsidies. Who wants to call Steve Jobs to see what plans he has for the next iPhone, and whether or not he plans on replacing his handset with this lovely little mobile computer?
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December 3rd, 2008
Oh, I don’t know, this seems like a whole new concept, not an iphone clone/killer. The Omnia by Samsung is much more geared to compete directly with the iPhone. This seems to be going after the HTC brick/touch market. Would you agree?
December 3rd, 2008
N97 is not even targeting an average consumer. It’s similar to Nokia Communicator line targeting mainly business users. The interface is far less friendly then iPhone one. I don’t even know why people always have to say “iPhone killer” this and that. Until we see a true multi-touch screen phone with the App Store rich with applications and iPod-like media integration please do not even talk about “killing iPhone”.
December 3rd, 2008
“Some are even calling the N97 the Facebook phone, obviously because the handset will be the first to make continuous social networking in one’s pocket a reality.” – really?
It’s already a “reality” with the iPhone.
December 3rd, 2008
What a stupid notion for an article. When are idiot bloggers going to get off this need to constantly declare something the “iPhone killer”? Get over this notion and move on to reporting. NOTHING is going to “kill” the iPhone except Apple pulling it from the market.
December 3rd, 2008
Does it have a flash player? ;-)
December 3rd, 2008
Pretty ironic watching you getting blasted for hyping a phone before it ships from the iPhone crowd. It took the second version to bring the features up to what other phones had for years.
The App Store wasn’t even a possibility at release, there is a vendor and service provider lock-in and you can’t run Flash websites, cut and paste text or voice dial.
The iPhone is a great device and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. The strange attachment to an inanimate object and knee-jerk defensive attacks like your Mother’s character was besmirched seems to suggest a bit less time at Facebook and more time talking to other humans is in order.
We even get CAPITAL LETTERS at the mere suggestion that someone might be able to improve on existing tech.
December 3rd, 2008
The reason I used the term killer is because the iPhone is deemed the ultimate in mobile communication right now…even though it obviously appeals to a very specific niche of consumers. Though it isn’t trying to compete in the iPhone’s market, the device really does take seamless integration of internet and mobile uses to new heights, and for that reason, it bumps the iPhone off of the pedestal (that even you here are saying doesn’t exist). ‘Tis my point.
December 3rd, 2008
“The reason I used the term killer is because the iPhone is deemed the ultimate in mobile communication right now”.
————–
The term “mobile communication” is not a precise term. It all depends on how an actual person uses a mobile device in question. Until you heavily used a particular device in the realm of YOUR definition of “mobile communication” it’s very difficult to compare two devices.
Comparing devices function by function is the job of staff tech reviewers. How you actually use a device, your user experience in using a device to perform a specific task – that’s what should be analyzed. For instance, I practically never use the phone as a “camera”, so for me it’s a joke of a camera, no matter if it’s 2MP or 5MP.
I used to deal with a bunch of advanced Nokia phones for many years (N85 and N96 most recently). “Blown away” is a cliche but it would be an understatement to say how I felt after switching and “heavily” using iPhone 3G for a few months.
December 3rd, 2008
This article is very biased, you havnt even touhed it, and you say it beats the iphone in almost every way, yes it does have very nice specs, but do other phones.
the android g1 called itself the iphone killer aswell, the only thing its killing now is itself, im not hearing much about the web brower, the android had a very laggy web browser, and couldnt compete with iphones web browser which is very smooth.
My point is you cant say it beats the iphone till you’ve interacted with it, lets just wait and see how the specs perform.
December 18th, 2008
I’m very excited about the N97; however, there still is no “firm” date when it will be released in the US and, there is no carrier who is “equipped” enough to provide the service. Look at the AT&T problems with 3G and the iPhone! How will they be if they have to push it to 3.5G or God forbid, 4G!? Why are “we” in the US so backward when it comes to telecommunications? Look at Europe, they have 4G already and we’re still playing with EDGE??? Anyway, I’m excited about the “flagship” and will get one no matter who the provider is because NOKIA IS AN AWESOME COMPANY.
December 21st, 2008
Why do you people compare this to the G1 or any other phone? Unlike other companies you mention, Nokia is the most successful mobile phone manufacturer in the world. By far. It’s not like this is just another wannabe. There is a reason why Nokia does not bind itself to carriers… So anyways, this is not the iPhone killer, you are right. It is on a such higher level than the iPhone that it does not need go down and become one in a long line of iphone “killers”. Also Nokia created devices better than the iphone long ago (i.e. Nokia n95)
March 6th, 2009
Apple fan-boys need to calm down and stop foaming in the mouth the moment someone says some gadget is a “iphone killer”. Likewise, I don’t like the sweeping proclamation that something is a ‘iphone killer’ either. The game is not over until it is over.
That said, it IS right that the N97 is a much much better gadget hardware-wise, compared to the iphone. It is a much better phone – there is really no denying that, you know. But iphone is undeniably a more entertaining gadget at the moment, with its cool looking interface and fun apps.
June 27th, 2009
Hi there, i have an N97, and it rocks, sorry to the iphone fan club but i agree with the artical 100%. The iphone has been given far to much credit for what it actually is, and when it first came out, it lacked in a few ways, sorry but it did, and i know what im on about cos i had one. For a start, not for long, i got shut of and got a N95 8gb instead, not been able to send MMS? which has been a given on all mobiles since the year dot, and i couldnt quite understand why they stuck a 2mp camera on it, which has now gone up to a 3mp ooooo, hay, spoiled or what. Considering the fact that the world had moved on from some of these what are now basic features on a phone, and were moving upwards of 8 to 9 mp now on mobiles, for apple to bring out an advanced? phone, and stick basic features on it like that was a mistake, sorry, but it was, to be honest, i enjoyed the N95 8gb more than the iphone. The N97 is very user friendly, its a nokia for a start and forgive me for trusting a company that has god knows how many years experience in making quality mobile phones and sending them out worldwide to the satisfaction of the people, meeting the needs and changing with the times when needed, and then you have apple, sorry, how many phones have they brought out again? doing it for how long now? hummm, case closed. Im not slaging them off so dont think that, i just that they should of put more thought into it. The Nokia N97 is everything you expect, and alot more you dont, all of which puts a smile on your face, keeps you entertained for hours and the quality of the media is second to none, this phone has got it all going on, quiality, connectivity, entertainment of a very high quality and so so so much more that meets all needs of who ever picks it up, sorry iphone but VGA, yer we er….ya know, moved on from that one lol. I absolutley love the N97, all i want to say is before you slag it off and write it off….try it first……you probably wont pick up ya iphone again for a while, say what ever ya like about what iv written, still dont change the fact that the 97 does over take the iphone on so many levels and has pushed it out of the lead.