Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

The N stands for Nice

ERIN BELL

Special to Globetechnology.com

Latest comment posted at 2:14 PM EDT 23/05/08

Nokia's N95 is an impressive multimedia device hampered only slightly by lack of QWERTY keypad ...Read the full article

This conversation is semi-moderated What is moderation? | How do I report a comment?

  1. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: I've had the n95 for 4 months, I talked Fido into unlimited Internet.

    Comments about the review:

    1. The secondary camera is for video calling! It's not intended to for self portraits (hint: use a mirror), it's intended for small image formats. It would be overkill to include two high quality cameras on a device. But it can't be stressed enough how good the camera is compared to just about every other device out there, the image quality is generally as good as a dedicated 5mp point and shoot camera (though it is slow to operate and the flash is weak). It's very nice to be able to carry this device everywhere you carry a cell phone, your memory has just been augmented.

    2. The battery life gets better over time, as the battery is conditioned. I can get a few days of moderate use out of the device, which is quite good considering what it is.

    3. The music player is nice to have, but very awkward to use.

    Also worth mentioning that since it's Symbian based and supports decent Java apps, there are a lot of third party apps for it, though most of them have small fees.

    But yeah, the lack of a qwerty keyboard and touch screen are drawbacks.
  2. Gabriel Hall from Calgary, Canada writes: You're also missing that this phone has an acellerometer. With the installation of a 3rd party app the phone can automatically sense which orientation it is in.

    Nokia just announced the availability of the N96, this phone's successor later this year. You're about 2 years behind in the review of this model.
  3. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: Gabriel Hall , the n95 is almost identical to the n95, and the n95 is just now being offered by Nokia. So it's a timely review.
  4. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: er, n96 is almost identical.
  5. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: Wow, happy Monday. The n95 is just now being offered by Rogers. Sure wish I could edit my comments.
  6. T S. from en medio toronto, Canada writes: I've had an N95 for 3 months, and love it. I'm surprised the review didn't delve deeper into the phone's top-line features: wifi (I can make VOIP calls at skype rates using a 3rd party app called FRING - instead of racking up minutes through Rogers), stereo bluetooth (headphone cables goodbye!), GPS, good voice and video recording...
    I only miss my Treo's QWERTY keys when texting a lot - if I go online I use a bluetooth keyboard. And there is 3rd party answering machine software (called VOICE INBOX) that allows the phone itself to answer calls for you - no need to spend that extra $11/ month on voice mail. (granted, this won't let you get messages when you are out of range, say, on the subway...). Although I miss some of Palm's intuitive calendar and organizing features, and it doesn't have the "feel appeal" of the iphone, this smartphone packs more hardware per dollar than anything else - and has more useful shareware and 3rd party applications available than the competition.
  7. Rob Virg from Taipei, Taiwan writes: As mentioned, the 2nd camera is for video calls, there is no need for higher resolution. The reviewer missed many of the annoyances of the phone and probably should spend a little more time learning the basic tech involved before reviewing the gadget. The major problems I found: The UI is not that intuitive, it takes a while to figure out how to setup the interface the way you want it. The sync functions are weak and the application software lacks alot for a device as expensive as the n95 Check an app like Mobiledit and you will realize how much the Nokia software sucks. (I am saying this because I really would like Nokia to put a little effort into improving the junk application they sell with their phones). Bookmarks are awkward to transfer and you are stuck with certain folders that seem to be default but are useless., contacts can only be synced from the windows address book (what if you use Linux?), there is no feature to send and receive sms messages from the PC desktop via the phone, and many more lacking features. You need to install a third party app to get skype and MSN on the device. You would think Nokia could work a deal with skype to do a custom app for the n series (considering it is already available for some n series phones). The N95 is one of the best phones I have owned as far as connectivity, but the UI and app software still lack a lot. The hardware works fine, the software is still sucking wind. I am wondering when, if ever they will get it right or should we just give up and all buy iPhones...
  8. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: I hate to say it, but Windows Mobile, and more hopefully Google Android or other Linux based products will be better contenders to the iPhone, because Nokia is too focused on product niches, rather than coming up with a really great device. They have way too many product lines, with compromises in each line to reinforce other lines. You should see product interviews, with their marketing handlers present making sure the technical person doesn't say the wrong thing, it's really embarrassing. So while I enjoyed trying the n95, it was the best all in one device for a period of time (especially considering the camera quality), I'm sure my next phone won't be from Nokia.

    And I agree with the above, among other things the interface is just not very intuitive.
  9. andy c from Canada writes: nokia just anounced the the E71 (very good blackberry knock off)
  10. Giuseppe Liberatore from Singapore - for now, Canada writes: A very good blackberry knock off - so a "very good" terrible phone? Bad joke but I personally hate the crackberries. As for the N95, I notice that Rogers is finally introducing it into Canada; meanwhile I've been looking to upgrade from my now becoming obsolete N95 to the perpetually soon to be launched Nokia touch screens [S60, N98...] or the N96 that is being sold in Europe and Asia - although I wonder how long it will be before they are available in Canada. As far as the N95 is concerned, I have one of the earlier version, an unlocked N95-3, and it is a great phone, especially the voip feature. It does everything I need it to do, and more. I have no desire for a phone with a qwerty keyboard since I don't use it as a computer. (If I wanted a Nokia device that was more computer than phone, I would purchase the E90). As well, you can purchase an iGo Stowaway keyboard that works with the N-95.
    That being said, I have a The question that I have is why it take so long for Roger's to add new and innovative phones?
  11. Don Himsel from Nashua, United States writes: We've begun using the N95 to go live for our newspaper. I've written about it on Angela Grant's newsvideographer site- http://newsvideographer.com/

Join the Conversation, Leave a Comment

This conversation is semi-moderated What is moderation? | How do I report a comment?

You must be logged-in to submit a comment — login now!

Not registered with globeandmail.com? Register now. It is quick and free.

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top