Nokia N95 one-ups Apple's iPhone via unrefined display 'hack'

There's no denying that we were fairly taken aback by the beauty of the iPhone's screen, but leave it to a clever (and likely bitter) N95 owner to trump Apple's best shot with his very Nokia. While not nearly as ingenious as converting the device into a mapmaker, this crude demonstration explains how to increase the screen real estate linked to the N95 if you're willing to sacrifice your left (or right) arm. Granted, the "hack" did begin with a broken N95, so strapping a portable TV onto one's forearm and utilizing the device's video output was about the only real solution within arm's reach (ahem). Like it or not, it's laced in utility, and you can catch a video of the action after the jump.

[Thanks, Eirikso]

[derek @ Jul 4th 2007 3:31AM]

How does this "one-up" the iPhone? Walking around with a big screen attached to your arm? If he has this out in public he's going to get his ass kicked.

[Dustin @ Jul 4th 2007 5:27AM]

by me.



what?! someone's gotta do it!

[Paul @ Jul 4th 2007 4:02AM]

if you have an iphone out in public view (in the ghetto) you're likely to get your ass kicked AND subsequently your property stolen

[agupta @ Jul 4th 2007 4:10AM]

... how does this "one up" the iphone at all??
whether or not anyone is going to get their asses kicked, why would u want that. why would ANYONE want that??
if i wanted something bulky, ugly, and heavy, i would have asked him to develop one for me...
not to mention... he still has to use the n95 as a remote. so really all he did was connect it to a display...
congrats nokia!! the iPhone is now worthless!

[ryan @ Jul 4th 2007 4:18AM]

lol congrats on finding a way to link this to the iphone..God forbid you post 3 straight articles without mentioning it :)

(only kidding..I couldn't resist)

[am @ Jul 4th 2007 4:24AM]

One way in which this one ups the iPhone is that the Nokia N95 has a video output as a standard feature. No hacks required.

[Daniel Smith @ Jul 4th 2007 4:37AM]

The funniest part is at the end when he tries to use the big screen as an iPhone and zoom in and out by pinching his fingers!! That was hysterical, he was like aww man it's not working!!! HAHA!! That was great!!

[eirikso @ Jul 4th 2007 4:43AM]

The complete translation of that last part of the video:

- Let's try multitouch
- No, multitouch doesn't work
- Darn.

:-)

[Bjarke Andersen @ Jul 4th 2007 5:16AM]

When refined I could actually se potential in this "hack".

Monitor in car, and a cradle for the phone, and you have a bigger screen for GPS, Mail, internet, video/tv in your car.

[lassi @ Jul 4th 2007 8:01AM]

n95 outputs pretty decent video(640x480 mpeg4.. hw decoded.. the menus etc appear in the normal 240x320 or 320x240 depending on orientation, videos get scaled to fullscreen if played through built in video decoding libraries.. like with the default realplayer in it) through the tv-out.

you can also run some emulators on it.. msx, sega master system.. etc. they're better with a bluetooth keyboard though.

[Wesley Atkins @ Jul 4th 2007 5:57AM]

Ridiculous! I have a Nokia N95 but would never strap a bigger monitor to my arm. I looks stupid and will make your arm ache like mad. How stupid!

[Anto @ Jul 4th 2007 7:02AM]

Yeah, just like the iPhone that looks soooo portable!! LOL!!!!

[Top @ Jul 4th 2007 7:47AM]

Still dont get whats the idea here with this N95 got video output on it. And was that guy high?

Happy N95 owner waiting for Nokias next N serie phone

[Joe @ Jul 4th 2007 8:17AM]

I have a Nokia. Does that one up an iPhone? Recollections of Touche anyone?

[Constable Odo @ Jul 4th 2007 8:38AM]

Dick Tracy would have loved it. The only problem with that large display is getting a coat with large enough sleeves. Might be interesting trying to make a cellphone car while driving with that setup.

[Paul @ Jul 4th 2007 9:17AM]

I have an iPhone, but I am not an Apple fanboy!

But I still have respect for good technology. Excluding this idea, you cant say the N95 is a bad phone. When I was about to purchase my iPhone I strongly considered this handset. In terms of specification, its fantastic (3G, GPS (Real GPS), video out, 5megapixle camera (Zeiss Lens)and a wide range of compatible files. Most magazines have even reviewed this as a must have gadget.

So, why not appreciate technology for what it is, rather than a brand?

[DT @ Jul 4th 2007 9:19AM]

Wow, so sleek!

[Alan Strangis @ Jul 4th 2007 10:15AM]

Wearing this on your arm = dumb

HOWEVER...

Gives me an idea... Are there any LDC picture frames that have a video in, so it could do double duty as an external display from the livingroom... my phone is more than enough for IMDb/email/chat and it would be cool to be able to jack in, then go back to being a picture frame when not needed... instead of checking the desktop in another room, or having a laptop on.

[Oyvind @ Jul 4th 2007 11:42AM]

Just wanted to let you know that it's for FUN.

I came to work and my collegue Ståle was sitting there browsing his N95 phone contents on a huge 17" TV monitor (a broadcast monitor). Because he had broken the glass on his N95 working at a festival that weekend. So I told him that he could strap the monitor to his arm and just use it that way. He replied something like "...this would probably work better" - and found the small LCD you see on the picture in a pile somewhere.

It's funny that people take this so seriously.

[DrYSG @ Jul 4th 2007 1:02PM]

Showing how it works on an arm is a step towards the correct mounting:

1) Eye monocle
2) Flexible display on arm
3) Belly flip down
4) Heads up display projection on "sunglasses"

Make it the right size and flexibility and you might have a winner.

Or, let's have a contest and ask the folks here for intersting mounting ideas.

[Rich Ricio @ Jul 4th 2007 4:11PM]

So whats the hack?
Nokia N95 comes with TV out?

[ug @ Jul 4th 2007 5:57PM]

I think this demonstrates how people want to have their cake and eat it too, but ergonomics says otherwise.

[Mark @ Jul 4th 2007 7:28PM]

I think this demonstrates how some people have had a serious sense of humour failure.

[XSportSeeker @ Jul 4th 2007 8:10PM]

This is interesting.
Only thing I couldn't understand is WHY OH WHY did he had to strap that in his arm?
Maybe just to be funny or something.
But yeah, this would be great use on the backseat of a car. Good job!
Also, no need for comparisons with iPhone whatsoever.

[John Hudson @ Jul 5th 2007 6:22PM]

This is just a bad idea. Nokia is going the wrong way with this "THING"