Nokia launches the N79 and N85

Nokia promised us two new handsets today, and just as we heard last week, it's the N85 and N79. Not a lot of surprises with the N85 since it popped in the FCC database a couple weeks ago and started appearing in the wild: 2.6-inch AMOLED screen, GPS, five megapixel cam, N-Gage compatibility, 8GB of microSDHC storage, WiFi, and a 28-hour music playback battery life. The N79 replaces the N78, similarly bumping the cam to the big five em-pees with a dual-LED flash, GPS, 4GB microSDHC storage, WiFi, swappable back covers, and a 24-hour music playback battery life. Should be out in the UK as of next month, but we're hoping to see these hit our fair shores posthaste. N79 pictured after the break.

[Via Electronista]

[Victor @ Aug 25th 2008 10:43AM]

Is it just me or is Nokia coming out with the same phone over and over again? There is no difference between any of their N-series phones.

[HUNG @ Aug 25th 2008 10:56AM]

well, like most companies, it tweaks it to make it more desirable to the once that has not bought one of their phones yet, the same design is because it it a design that works.

[Pdexter @ Aug 25th 2008 11:10AM]

Well i dont see anything bad with the fact that 5mp starts to be the norm with Nokia phones and 2.6 OLED screen, S60 FP2, 8GB memory card coming with the N85 and rather slimm. Not to talk about the price that's supposed to be low.

I understand what you are saying, but they are milking it before new generation of S60(and maybe with totally different OS...) phones start to run end of this year and these really aren't bad phones at all. I do not like this N81 design thought, give me E66 like metal wrapping and i'm super happy.

[huh @ Aug 25th 2008 11:21AM]

Yes, they are coming out with slightly tweaked versions of the same phones. My theory is Nokia is using all their money to try to diversify to keep media attention on them with the "n97! now with 8.5 mp!"

They pit numerous product teams against each other using marketing people (track down the video interview that includes the n95 team leader and a marketing person, with bloggers who'd received free phones, what a disgusting anti-consumer love-in).

Nokia takes horrible strategies for the consumer, who are dazed by all the models that are barely different, and even though these are expensive devices, Nokia treats them as disposable since you can't get updates for phones past its arbitrary version (contrast this with the the iPhone, where every device is update-able to the latest version). And cracks are showing, the n95 plastic lens cover (over the glass lens) is subject to scratches even if you protect the phone, not a word from Nokia on fixing this problem, it makes the most important feature on this phone useless. Not to mention the whole n-series is an embarrassing grab bag of interface approaches (today screen, media player, grid view, ngage, all inconsistent approaches to the same problems, it is humiliating comparing this device to the consistency of the iPhone).

[Montie @ Aug 25th 2008 11:48AM]

Funny thing is that Nokia's devices rarely have much of a hype behind them and still they sell like no other. People wont get brainwashed and will get the device that they like.

huh and where is this company that you are talking who takes care of you and gives a good night kiss before you go to sleep?

Nokia updates it's N and E series phones(no love for those who are living in states side that often thought) N95, N78, N81 and N82 have all gotten updates some have had several. Haven't ever heard of this N95 lens cover problem so no comment for that.
Comparing iphone(can't you people get over it already?) to companies that produce several different devices for different user base is useless. Not to even talk about iphones problems that Apple have like cracking plastic, 3G problems and scratches and they at least don't need to concentrate to any other phone than one. My ipod touch is full of scratches and while it's getting charged it crashes every other time will looking at youtube, but Apple havent come up with new coating for me and gave my money back....buu huu

[jakem @ Aug 25th 2008 11:52AM]

You can get updates for Nokia phones. It is only different if you get your phone locked to a carrier in which case you have to wait for the carrier to (hopefully) release their own version or debrand your phone to get the update directly from Nokia. It's not an ideal situation but updates are available.

As for the N95 camera, mine's never scratched despite the fact that my phone lives with my keys and coins. Even if it was scratched, I don't know why you think the camera is the most important feature of the phone. It's a dual slider for a reason you know.

Personally, I don't find the multiple Nokia models confusing (I find Sony versions way to confusing because of the longer codes) although they do seem to be releasing enough N-series models to dilute the brand a bit.

[Rich @ Aug 25th 2008 6:21PM]

"Is it just me or is Nokia coming out with the same phone over and over again?"

It works for Apple...

[Dean Murphy @ Aug 25th 2008 10:43AM]

bight green oh no

[nanobis @ Aug 25th 2008 2:25PM]

no wounder ther back is swapable

[SD @ Aug 25th 2008 10:46AM]

HOLY CRAP !!!

Looks awesome OLED DISPLAY 2.6 way to go Nokia

[DiGiC @ Aug 25th 2008 10:44AM]

Gotta give it to nokia, they've started to up thier game lately in regards to battery n camera :)

[Sue @ Aug 25th 2008 10:45AM]

I just got my new Sony Ericsson W980 which is great! Massive storage of 8GB - no need for a fancy device which looks like it's going to break any second. The sound quality is awesome!!

[azz0r @ Aug 26th 2008 1:04PM]

My old n95 doesn't feel like its going to break O_O

I used to have Sony Ericsson phones constantly, then I realised I was just buying the same phone over and over with very little OS changes and the same slightly tweaked camera.

Wouldn't leave the Nokia brigade now, nothing but quality feature packed phones! Not perfect, but certainly a step above.

[AlbertoCab @ Aug 25th 2008 3:50PM]

ONe, Sony Ericsson W980 is also made of plastic and it is basic in comparison to the specs of the N85 or N79...plus it cost just as much. Second. I got more broken sony ericssons then i do Nokias. Actually, I got no broken Nokias. I had 4 of them and they all work till i sold them to upgrade.

[Al @ Aug 25th 2008 7:01PM]

How is that 3.5mm headphone jack working for you?

[Richard @ Aug 25th 2008 10:51AM]

When is the N96 coming?

[alberto @ Aug 25th 2008 12:13PM]

umm...am going to be nice. Try igoogle.com. Type in N96. Then click on one of the sellers. Then buy it for $800.00. It's been out for a while now. Not a long while but enough to make your comment laughable.

[jason @ Aug 25th 2008 1:30PM]

@ alberto

Your comment is laughable. The N96 JUST launched last week. How could that be laughable? As a matter of fact, I don't even think people who have ordered them, have even received them yet.

[Richard @ Aug 25th 2008 1:46PM]

I don't know what country you live in, but it has not been released in the U.S. I understand that quad band phones will work here, but the problem with a lot of them is that the 3G services will not work here. I am not going to waste money on a useless 3G phone.

So, I ask again. When is the N96 getting released?

[alberto @ Aug 25th 2008 4:20PM]

Jason. I don;t know about carriers. But I know it is available for sale as an unlocked phone. My cousin in Spain has one for a month now. There even Chinese clones out of the N96 now. Maybe my cousin knows someone, he is a phone junkie. But I was just told US can get there hands on it sometime in September.

[Zach @ Aug 25th 2008 10:53AM]

Dang this is a pretty phone. It's got the functionality as well. Too bad I'd have to sell my firstborn before even considering buying one of these sweet mama's. That is, you know....I had any kids.

[BFish @ Aug 25th 2008 10:53AM]

So no more VoiP on new Nokia phones ?
http://www.jkontherun.com/2008/08/is-nokia-bowing.html

The flagship N96 seems to be just ripped of N95 with higher pricetag.

[Peeps @ Aug 25th 2008 11:12AM]

N96 was and will be niche phone like N77 and N90 where with DVB-H. N85 will be the mass market phone with rather cheap price(300-440 unlocked).
Thought us who already got N82/N95/N95 8GB, N85 isn't enough to upgrade and we do need to wait for 5800(if the 3.2mpx camera is enough for you), Nokia TS flagship(probally will be released at the first month of 2009), 8mpx phone that will be announced November or go for INNOV8 from Samsung.

[I-phone Is I-sexaayy @ Aug 25th 2008 10:59AM]

LOL....are they for real?

[Jeff @ Aug 25th 2008 11:07AM]

Yes they're real...you can touch them.

[Kos @ Aug 25th 2008 11:13AM]

Well they kind of arent real yet as Nokia hasent actually released them yet. Tomorrow is the day.

Btw love that "swappable back covers"! Hopefully N79 ships with white too....

[Zeus.:God @ Aug 25th 2008 11:49AM]

US Air Force? More like Apple Defense!

(see what I did there?)

[alberto @ Aug 25th 2008 12:08PM]

"are they for real" are you kidding me airforce. what sort of ignorant statement is that. At least Nokia's improving their N-Series line.. What has apple done. re harsh the same polish turd with improvements it should have had when the first iphone came out.

Dude, do us a favor and get off cloud 9.

[I-phone Is I-sexaayy @ Aug 25th 2008 12:45PM]

nokis sucks, I know this as a developer, as well as just looking at them hahahah

[J.L @ Aug 25th 2008 1:55PM]

And i'm a president of SE and i know that X1 will be released tomorrow.

If you really want to advertise your iphone i would suggest to discuss like normal over 18 years old and you might actually get some positive answers and not give more proof that most of the iphone owners are brats. Now you just seem like one of the paid iphone lovers that people here have learned to ignore.

[I-phone Is I-sexaayy @ Aug 25th 2008 2:51PM]

your president of a company that is getting their asses handed to them by apple, of course your going to bash it. i cant wait till you go out of bussiness :)

[J.L @ Aug 25th 2008 3:08PM]

Heh well you just made my point.
And no worth to make me look like SE fan. Havent liked their devices for 2 years.

[I-phone Is I-sexaayy @ Aug 25th 2008 3:29PM]

poor poor man :)


look at this guy when he opened his iphone! haha iphone rocks


http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u75/ErikShirk/l_2aaed8aece39bd1aab75c850d6c9af8d.jpg

[alberto @ Aug 25th 2008 4:00PM]

Airforce this only proves how clueless you really are. Thank you for proving the point. You make real Mac fans like me look like idiots. I miss when Apple was only for a select small nitch market. Now we have to put up with intolerant idiots like airforce.

[My Ipod beats your computer @ Aug 25th 2008 5:24PM]

the airforce uses only top-of-the-line tech.

your life= epic fail :)

[Al @ Aug 25th 2008 7:04PM]

More like Chair Force, am I right?

[gary @ Aug 25th 2008 11:47PM]

why don't you mms or bluetooth me that pic of the guy opening his phone.... oh wait... u can't..... never mind

[L.Rawlins @ Aug 25th 2008 11:31AM]

They both contain FM Transmitters aswell. A great addition for blasting your 4-8GB of tunes into your car or bedroom hi-fi.

[TareX @ Aug 25th 2008 11:43AM]

How long will it take Nokia to realize it's August 2008, and none of its phones (low and high end) has a hi-res screen?

[Pdexter @ Aug 25th 2008 12:02PM]

To answer your guestion wait for September when S60 TS phones start rolling out. 5800(tube) being the first with 640 × 360 screen(more than iphone! ;))

To be fair N80 had higher res screen than most of the current top5 phone manufacturers and E90 have 800x352 screen.
I dont see any problems with 2.4 screens having qvga reso and Nokia got some quality screens there with 16 million colours and all that, but when it starts to go to 2.8 then the reso must go up and my next phone must have over qvga resolution too.

Like N80 might have showed, consumers at least in Europe havent been after for the high res phones so Nokia, Samsung and SE havent had need to up those screens.

[Magallanes @ Aug 25th 2008 12:14PM]

320x240 is just fine for anything but internet and full-length movies (short movies fix perfectly in 320x240), for internet and movies you will need *at least* 800x600, can you name a cellphone with this "hi-res" features?.

[Jooseppi @ Aug 25th 2008 1:58PM]

Well, my E90s 800*352 is enough high-rez for my needs

[digitallysick @ Aug 25th 2008 11:52AM]

I have a n95 8gb and i love it, it has far more function than the iphone and a decent cam! You aren't forced to use itunes for everything, you have MMS , tethering , stereo bluetooh

[ClarkyCat @ Aug 25th 2008 11:59AM]

So the N78 is obsolete after only 2 months? Well, 1 month after worldwide distribution. It hasn't even gotten N-Gage support yet!

[Jerry Norbury @ Aug 26th 2008 4:44PM]

Quite right, that's just nonsense. Looks to me like the N79 is the slider version of the N78.

[solmar @ Aug 25th 2008 12:00PM]

Hmm, blast Nokia for releasing slightly updated phones with minor tweaks... and then praise the iPhone? How different is the iPhone 3G from the original, really? Granted, it has great software, but is it a major leap over the previous gen iPhone (most of the same limitations, actually)? The iPhone has also been here for how long? How many generations? And it's upgradeability is being compared to how many years of Nokias? I'm not trashing the iPhone, as it's good for what it does, and it's got a great "neat-o" factor, but it isn't the end-all or the greatest.
As if all the other mobile phone companies don't do the same thing. Technology advances so fast that products are refined and released much more frequently than before, "to keep up with the Jones's", so to speak. It's not like you're being forced to buy it, it's just now you won't have the excuse to moan "oh, why can't xxx company have this new xxx feature on their product?". Just like when people moaned "oh, why can't the iPhone have 3G?". Hence the iPhone 3G. Perhaps it shouldn't have been released, if you had your way of keeping products static.
I've been looking at the N82, the previous generation, and although it's a great all-round phone, it's got a few problems. This generation could solve those problems and be the phone for me, so I'm quite glad that Nokia chose to churn out a new model.

[Soze @ Aug 25th 2008 12:14PM]

Btw if someone didn't get it these phones havent been officially announced yet. It will be tomorrow.
http://events.nokia.com/

[Frankfurter @ Aug 25th 2008 12:20PM]

Ah! More crap from Nokia.

[Michael Scrip @ Aug 25th 2008 12:35PM]

Do these have a plastic screen?

I don't have an iPhone... but I do admire their glass screens.

[digitallysick @ Aug 25th 2008 12:58PM]

I think iphone users should check out the specs of the N95 , i will agree the iphone has a better ui, and i like the on screen keyboard. But, its just not worth it when it comes to shooting video and taking pics (gps) the n95 has it beat, it has had 3g and gps for quite some time now.