n97
Latest
Nokia N97 sells two million units in three months, Nokla sells two dozen
Well, maybe Nokia recently announced a 66 percent yearly drop in Q2 profit. And perhaps N97 reviews have been, how we say, less than stellar. But there definitely seems to be a fan base for the handset: according to Mobile News, sales of both this guy and the 5800 XpressMusic combined to total 10 million in the last 10 months, with sales for the former adding up to a whopping two million since its launch three months ago. In fact, half of the XpressMusic sales were generated since the launch of the N97 -- certainly suggesting that the younger sibling successfully raised the company's profile and brought its fellow handset along for the ride. Does this make Nokia the "undisputed leading player in the smartphones space," as the company's chief executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo put it? By sheer volume of devices, perhaps -- but mindshare continues to be a problem that we're guessing they're eager to see if Maemo 5 and the N900 can solve. The CEO of Nokla could not be reached for comment.[Thanks, David D]
Video: Nokia's N900, N97 mini, X3, X6 and Booklet 3G hands-on roundup
Just in case you missed it, you should probably be informed that Nokia had quite the morning yesterday as Nokia World 2009 kicked off in Stuttgart. Not only was the N97 mini made official, but the company's Booklet 3G was fully detailed and the first two handsets in the newfangled X series were also unveiled. Naturally, a slew of cameras descended upon the new gear just as soon as the suits left the stage, and we've rounded up the best of the best below for your perusal and enjoyment. If you're looking for the actual news on these very devices, have a look right here, and feel free to hop on past the break for a few videos from the show floor.Read - Booklet 3G hands-on photos (more angles)Read - Booklet 3G hands-on video (another take)Read - Nokia X3 and X6 hands-on videoRead - Nokia N900 hands-on videoRead - N97 mini hands-on video
Nokia finally comes clean with N97 mini: €450, ships in October
Nokia World 2009 just kicked off over in Stuttgart, and while the outfit's CEO didn't have much to say outside of a few nice teases, Mr. Anssi Vanjok did the honors of officially unveiling the N97 mini. Of course, we've already seen this not-so-minuscule handset previewed over in the wilds of Russia, but it's certainly nice to have Nokia's formal seal of approval on the device. Nokia's pushing the mobile's social networking capabilities, not to mention calling it the world's "slimmest travel companion" thanks to the built-in Lonely Planet guidebooks. As for price? Try €450 ($639), but Sir Anssi asserted that the phone should be available for free on contract in "many, many markets." As for specs, we're looking at a tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard, with the first shipments starting in October.
Nokia N97 Mini press photo outed, existence still not official
We've already gotten quite an eyeful of Nokia's N97 Mini -- so much so that it's hard to believe this thing still isn't official. So be it, though, here's the first official press shot we've seen, from the same site that revealed the N900 pic earlier. Feeling any more excited about it now than you were yesterday? Us neither. [Via Mobile Bulgaria]
Nokia N97 Mini previewed: not so mini, not so great
As sure as the sun, Mobile-review's Eldar Murtazin managed to nab a very early look at the still yet-to-be-announced Nokia N97 Mini, and as if we needed another reminder, the FCC filing wasn't kidding with that 1:1 scale. Turns out it only takes "around a centimeter" difference to earn the "mini" nomenclature in Finland, and in addition to that peculiarity, the company's apparently managed to make the keyboard actually worse than its predecessor -- no small feat, if you ask us. Of course, we haven't had a chance to try it ourselves yet, but the prognosis so far isn't so good. Perhaps more interesting is good ole' Eldar's teasing about a number of other touchscreen Nokia devices, some without keyboards, that'd target the same segment as the N97 Mini, including one he'll be revealing and previewing tomorrow -- and no matter what it is, we can all but guarantee with supreme confidence that it'll have a more compelling raison d'être than this thing.
Nokia N97 mini pops in the FCC, not so much mini-er than the N97
It's still hard to believe that Nokia's already upstaging the N97 with the N97 mini just two months after the big guy shipped, but here we are, staring at the FCC documentation. There's not much to go on here besides this label-location drawing, which is marked with a 1:1 scale -- allowing us to set our regular N97 down next to it and show you just how little Nokia achieved with all that development money. Check it after the break, along with another pic of the mini the inimitable Eldar Murtazin just posted to his blog. [Via Mobile Bulgaria] Read - FCC Read - Eldar Murtazin's blog with additional pic of the mini
Nokia N97 gets a minor firmware bump
It's not going to knock your socks off with a plethora of Earth-shattering new features, a faster processor, and a capacitive display that magically sprouts out of the micro-USB port and replaces the resistive one, but Nokia's latest N97 firmware still sounds like a worthwhile download. Version 12.0.024 is said to be purely a bug fix and performance improvement release, and early accounts seem to validate that claim -- as always, availability will vary around the world based on your carrier and product code, but it's worth a hookup to NSU to see if it's available to you. [Via All About Symbian]
How would you change Nokia's N97?
It's the phone that Nokia should've used to introduce the world to Symbian S60 5th edition, but is it the "hero"-type device that it was marketed as? Nokia's N97 is undoubtedly expensive, debatably beautiful and thoroughly polarizing (as two of our own found out). While it's impossible to say the handset was introduced to go head-to-head with Apple's iPhone (the whole "only sold off contract" thing kind of hampers that), there's little doubt that this phone was Espoo's most significant attempt yet to make a name for itself in the full-touchscreen smartphone market. If you handed over the handful of C-notes required to take this bad boy home, why not tell us exactly how you feel now that you're an owner? What would you like to see changed on Nokia's next attempt? What measures up? What falls short? You've got one shot (maybe two, depending on the mood of our comment system) -- don't screw it up.
Nokia N97 Mini is seriously just a smaller, cheaper N97, it seems
Eldar Murtazin over at mobile-review has chimed in on those alleged Nokia N97 Mini shots that leaked last week -- and as anyone who follows the mobile industry knows, when the ridiculously well-connected Eldar speaks, folks tend to listen. The dude says that the N97 Mini is very much real, as is the name, which -- get this -- he claims was leaked by Nokia itself in an effort to stave off an unnamed competitor who'd also been planning to release a smaller version of one of its handsets with a "Mini" label slapped on the name. At any rate, the N97 Mini apparently isn't pulling any punches -- it's said to be exactly what you see, little more than a smaller N97 with a reconfigured keyboard and no camera lens cover. That sounds like a tough sell at first, especially when you throw in Eldar's claim that it'll step down to 8 and 16GB versions from the N97's 32GB, but the good news is that Espoo's seemingly looking to get this on the market for about €100 less ($144) than the N97. As for an official announcement, Eldar says that Nokia's planning to unveil it at Nokia World next month; the original model was revealed at last year's show, and frankly, we're hoping for a little bit more innovation than this by the time they're done unveiling the new lineup. Rover, perhaps? [Via Unwired View]
Nokia N97 'Mini' gets pictured in the wild?
We've already heard talk of a Nokia N97 Mini (or Mini N97, if you will) from folks who should know what the situation is, and it looks like things have now gotten more interesting still, with some seemingly legitimate pictures of the rumored device finding their way to us that show it out and about with its bigger brother. As you can see above and in another pic after the break, the device is slightly smaller and slightly slimmer than the regular N97, and it's also received a few subtle design changes, particularly on the back, where the camera has lost its sliding cover. Could it be real? Almost certainly -- either that, or it's a tremendously talented KIRF -- though we're not sure we understand the business justification for a new version of the N97 that isn't small enough (or different enough, for that matter) to hold its own spot in the lineup. Not much more to go on than that, unfortunately, but you can pretty safely move this one up a notch on the ol' Rumor-o-Meter.
Oh, by the way: July 16, 2009
Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Thursday, July 16th, 2009: The Samsung Omnia II will go on sale in Singapore this Saturday, July 18 for S$898 (about $619) unlocked, while the Omnia Pro will be available August 1 for something under S$550 (about $379). [Thanks, Rixter] Remember that mysterious Samsung Link for Bell? MobileSyrup has scored the lowdown on the device, and it turns out not to be a smartphone of any sort -- instead, it's just a text-centric dumbphone (isn't that theme starting to get a little played out?) with a 1.3 megapixel camera and a 2.2-inch display. It'll allegedly launch on July 30 in your choice of white or black for CAD $19.95 (about $18) on a three-year deal. HTC has already managed to roll a fix for that Bluetooth vulnerability they've been dogged by in recent days. [Via pocketnow.com] Ovi Maps 3.1, N-Gage, Ovi Contacts 2.1, and a mysterious "phone memory update" are all now available to users of North American Nokia N97s. Early reports suggest that some users are having trouble getting the goods installed successfully, so let us know how it goes. Continuing a trend it started earlier this year on other smartphones, Verizon has gone ahead and unlocked the GPS on its Samsung Omnia with an official firmware update. The release also includes an updated WinMo 6.1 AKU, Bluetooth tethering support through VZ Access Manager, and some memory fixes. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nokia cuts market share targets as Q2 profits plummet
Ok Nokia, this is getting serious. The world's largest cellphone maker just announced a 66 percent yearly drop in Q2 profit while lowering its 2009 market share target for its cellphones. Originally, Nokia had expected market share to rise in 2009, presumably based on a successful launch of the N97 flagship device. However, outside of a core group of S60 diehards, the N97 has been universally panned in both reviews and user forums alike. And with nothing but rumors of an Atom-based Nokia netbook on the immediate horizon, well, let's just say that we're suddenly concerned about the health of our friends from Espoo.
3 UK launches Nokia N97, Skype calling's a go
3 UK has thrown the N97 up on its site, so let the Nokia N97 orders begin. Of course, 3's "free calling" is plastered all over the N97's order page, so if you're a Skype fan, or an existing customer enjoying all that free calling, you'll still feel at home. Pricing on this do-it-all bad-boy is £free as long as you're willing to fork out £35 plus per month for the privilege. If you're more of a pay as you go type, fear not, you can still grab the N97, but it'll cost you somewhere in the £319 range. The website lists July 3rd as the earliest shipping date if you grab at it today, so quit reading and start ordering.[Via Unwired View]
Nokia N97 firmware update 1.1 is live
Well, today is July 1st -- and Canada day, we'll have you know -- and true to our mention and Nokia's word, the N97's update of glory to version 1.1 (11.x.021) has indeed landed. So, what treats lie in store for you lucky Nokia N97 users? According to the changelog posted by Serie-N.it, we can expect a USB detection fix, widget fixes, some MfE (Mail for Exchange) tweaks, UI transition improvements, photo thumbnail performance improvements, and the backlight issue that made out very own Chris Z. howl with rage is apparently patched, too. Yeah, that's all we're seeing, though, perhaps more will come to light once we've seen it updated and hear people telling their tales. Let us know how you get on, won't you?[Thanks, serie-N.it for the changelog]
Nokia N97 and Dell Vostro bundled for $730: make one mistake, get one free
The N97 might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're still tempted to pay the $700 entry fee, you could sweeten the deal by throwing in a free-ish laptop -- Dell's currently bundling the Vostro A860 with Nokia's latest for $730 after a discount coupon. Flip that sucker on eBay for anywhere close to its $379 list price plus some "handling fees" and you might just come close to paying a reasonable price for the N97. Well, sort of reasonable. Those still interested should hurry past the read link, as the full discount will only be available through tomorrow or until stocks last.
Nokia N97 getting firmware 1.1 on July 1
There's no shortage of complaints -- some minor, some not-so-minor -- about the shipping firmware in the N97s that are already out in the field (our wonky backlight comes immediately to mind), but fortunately, it seems that Nokia's looking to tackle the issues perhaps more proactively than it's ever done before. Nokia Conversations' official Twitter account has announced that the "first variants" of the N97 (which we would take to mean the North American version, since the US got it first) will be blessed with firmware 1.1 starting on July 1, which hopefully will be available over-the-air without any Nokia Software Updater silliness. No word on what exactly will be changed in the new release, but honestly, if we can just get the LL Cool J startup screen, that'll be good enough for us.[Via Nokia Experts]
Engadget Podcast 152 - 06.26.2009: The Day the Music Died 2
Yes, that's the one and only MJ to open the podcast -- this one was recorded just shortly after the Engadget crew had learned the news. Join Josh, Paul, Nilay and special guest Chris Ziegler as they deny the Nokia N97, get angry at the HTC Hero, bargain with Windows 7, depress themselves over the fate of the netbook, and finally learn to accept the Zune HD's Tegra processor. We won't lie -- Engadget Podcast 152 was a struggle, but in the end we all learned a little something about life, love, and forgiveness. Update: Any further tasteless MJ jokes will be met with a swift ban. Be nice! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Guest: Chris Ziegler Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Billie Jean Hear the podcast 00:02:26 - Nokia N97 review: a tale of two bloggers 00:26:28 - HTC Hero running Android and Sense UI leaks from HTC's own website (updated, official, video) 00:30:28 - HTC Hero hands-on: Flash, keyboard and ruminations (updated!) 00:48:09 - Windows 7 official pricing announced, limited pre-orders start tomorrow 01:03:40 - HP Mini 5101 cleans up nice, shows the serious side of netbooks 01:05:15 - HP ProBook 4310s hands-on 01:10:25 - Entelligence: Netbooks, R.I.P. 01:22:50 - Zune HD has a Tegra processor, confirms official Zune podcast Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
Video: Nokia N97 gets a torture testing, goes great with milk
If the opinions of two star-crossed bloggers weren't enough to sway you firmly into either the "yea" or "nay" column regarding a Nokia N97 purchase, perhaps seeing how it fares after being dunked into a bowl of corn flakes will help you make up your mind. N97Geeks.com has gone the 'ol torture test route, including of a series of scratch attempts for the screen and the body as well, plus the aforementioned test where it became a part of This Complete Breakfast. The result was an almost fully functional if slightly scuffed up handset that now has a non-working menu key and a wee bit of internal condensation, meaning you can probably get by without a screen protector or case if you hate buying accessories. But, for best results, keep this one clear of your Kellogg's.
Nokia N97, N86 8MP, E52 all get N-Gage compatibility
Quick, what's easier to find: an E52 or a game that'll run on it? You'd think this is an egregious case of putting the cart before the horse, but you've got to give the N-Gage team credit for being well-prepared -- they're already listing Nokia's new mega-thin business candybar as being compatible with the service. Also on board is the just-released (and still hard to find in many parts of the world) N86 8MP and -- perhaps most notably -- the N97, making the beastly handset Nokia's first S60 5th Edition phone with N-Gage support. How's the experience sans keys? Let us know your thoughts in comments.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nokia N97 review: a tale of two bloggers
Thomas Ricker and Chris Ziegler came away from their N97s with very different opinions of Nokia's premier superphone -- and they weren't afraid to let those opinions be known in a series of vicious verbal volleys. Head on over to Engadget for all the drama!
