Nokia N92 Preview

Nokia N92 Specifications & Features

Screen : Internal Screen Active Matrix Anti Glare 2.8" QVGA Colour (320 x 240 pixels), External Screen 1.0" 65k Colour (128 x 36 pixels)

Imaging : 2 Megapixel Camera (1600 x 1200 Pixels), 4 x Digital Zoom, Second CIF Camera (352 x 288 Pixels), Integrated Flash, Flash Modes (On, Off & Automatic), Video Recording, Video & Still Image Editors, Nokia Life blog, Image & Video Clip Upload To Web, Mobile TV Application, Channel & Content Protection, Integrated DVB-H, Interactive Services, Automatic Channel, Discovery, Channels Select Favourite, Record Up To 30 Mins (With Intergrated Memory), 30 Seconds Replay, 1 Week Electronic Service Guide With Program Information, 50 TV Channels, Multiple Subscription Methods (Pay TV, Free-To-Air & Preview)
Messaging : SMS (Text Messaging), MMS (Multimedia Messaging), SMS Distribution List, Instant Messaging (S60), Email, Predictive Text, Multi Slide Presentation, Automatic Resizing Of MMS, 2 Way Keyboard For Messaging (Fold Open Mode or Closed), Easy To Use Email Client With Attachment Support

Sound : Digital Music Player, RealAudio Voice, RealAudio7, RealAudio8, Equalizer, 64 Polyphonic MIDIv Visual Radio, Download & Play (Video & Music), Nokia Audio Manager, 3D Audio Ringtones, True Tones Ringtones, Voice Commands, Voice Recorder, Handsfree Speak

Entertainment: Java™ Applications, Java™ MIDP 2.0, CLDC 1.1, Downloadable Java™ Games, Nokia XpressPrint, Nokia Xpress Transfer, Nokia Xpress Share, Organiser, Contacts
Calendar, Alarm Clock, Calculator, Timer, Nokia PoC Push To Talk
Speed Dialling, Automatic Redial, Automatic Answer, Conference Call, Personal Information Management (PIM), Advanced Series 60 PIM, Speaker Independent Name Dialling (SIND)

Connectivity : 3G, Bluetooth®, USB 2.0 Full Speed Via Pop-Port™
WLAN, Network, Tri Band (GSM 900, GSM 1800 & GSM 1900), WAP,OMA, W3C

Internet : Nokia Web Browser With Mini Map, EGPRS, WAP 2.0, XHTML, XHTML MP, WCDMA 2100

Memory & Talk Time : 40 Mbytes Memory, Expandable 128 Mbytes miniSD Memory Card, 4 Hours Talk Time, 336 Hours Standby

Weight & Size : 139 g 9.86 x 5.12 x 2.58 cm

Occupying a space at the top of Nokia's multimedia-driven Nseries phone range is the N92, whose selling point is being able to play live digital TV broadcasts.

Upside
We had a gander at the N92 during Nokia's product showcase, and were able to catch the cricket live on the impressively optimised 42.4 by 56.64 millimetre screen. While we've come across real-time TV broadcasts from the 3 mobile network when reviewing 3G phones, the visual details -- such as the position of the cricket ball -- are often difficult to make out on relatively small screens. Shows come through crystal clear as the N92 contains a DVB-H (digital video broadcast for handhelds) receiver, rather the patchy video streams we've seen from 3G networks. The N92 is different; everything about it, from the screen ratio to the design of the buttons to the speakers, is planned with television watching in mind. Rather than being a novelty or a way to fill in the time on a train, the live broadcast offering is like having a mini television in your pocket. You'll even be able to see where that cricket ball lands.

Battery life for has been quoted as four hours' worth of TV watching, or 14 days standby, which was better than expected. The N92 is also big on connectivity. Its ability to connect to a wireless network (802.11b/g) means you can transfer files between the phone and your wireless-enabled home computer without needing to be in the same room.

You can also send photos taken with the 2 megapixel camera direct to compatible printers via PictBridge or Bluetooth. We were given a demonstration using PictBridge and an HP Photosmart Compact Photo printer, and were impressed with the speed and simplicity of converting a happy snap from digital to paper.

Downside
A big screen means a big phone, and the N92 is pretty darn hefty. Even those accustomed to the large form factor of many 3G phones may be surprised at how chunky this model is.

The keypad is also a bit awkward to use for dialling and texting, as it has been designed to be used while in the screen-watching configuration. In fact, making calls or sending messages with this phone appear to be incidental features -- it's all about the multimedia.

Outlook
Trials are taking place with broadcasters to determine whether mobile live TV will have a long and lucrative future in the Australian market, so it could be a year or so before we see a comprehensive television programme on the N92. The phone is planned for release in mid 2006, so we'll need to wait at least that long before seeing Warnie in crystal-clear miniature.

Price-wise, no dollar amount has been set yet, but we're hazarding a guess that it won't exactly be cheap to buy a combined television/phone with a huge list of features.

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Nokia 9500 Communicator Review

Tri Band, GPRS 10, EDGE 6, WAP 2.0, Symbian 7, Bluetooth, InfraRed, Java 2.0, Port USB
Dimensi = 14,8x5,7x2 cm
Internal Screen = TFT 65.536 color, 640x200 pixel
Eksternal Screen = TFT 65.536 Color, 128x128 pixel
Fitures = Polifonik/MP3, Series 80v2.0, Qwerty, Camera VGA, Memory 80 MB, MMC, WiFi 802.11b/g, Office Application, xHTML, HTML (Opera), MMS, Email, Fax, Player MP3/AAC/MPEG4, POP-port, Game, etc
Battery = Li-Ion 1300 mAh, standby 300 hours, talk time 3 hours
Released = Triwulan I 2004

The 9500 Communicator is like no handheld you've ever seen -- unless it's another Communicator. At first glance the device looks like an oversized mobile phone, and indeed you can hold it to your ear and make voice calls. But you need to open it up, clamshell style, to see its full array of features. Inside is a QWERTY keyboard and a wide, narrow screen.

Not surprisingly, the case required to house all this is big, although Nokia has managed to slim down this new Communicator compared to its immediate predecessor, the 9210i. The 9500 Communicator measures 148 by 57 by 24mm and weighs 222g. That's not the kind of device you can slip into a shirt pocket and forget about.

This is a tool designed primarily for business people who require access to data and communications facilities on the move. It's certainly no fashion accessory, as is immediately apparent in the hardware design, which is suitably utilitarian. Three-tone grey, black and silver with nothing obtrusive or ostentatious are the key characteristics.

The 9500 Communicator runs on Symbian OS 7 and the Series 80 platform, and should cope with software designed for previous Communicators. It's important that a business tool provides a full range of connectivity options, and the 9500 duly offers GSM/GPRS (plus EGPRS or EDGE), Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Nokia has also chosen to also add a camera, even though many companies may see this feature as more of a drawback than a benefit.

Nokia has been clever when it comes to RAM. Business users are likely to have relatively heavy data requirements, so it's good to see 80MB of storage memory. This is Flash storage, so it will survive if the battery drains completely. You can augment this using memory cards, although it's a shame Nokia has chosen MultiMedia Card, which doesn't allow you attach peripherals. For this, you'll have to rely on Nokia's Pop-Port interface, which limits your scope. The memory slot sits under the battery cover, but not under the battery itself, which makes cards easy to swap yet relatively secure.

The main screen measures 110 by 36mm, has a resolution of 640x200 pixels and offers 16-bit colour (65,536 colours). The screen on the front of the device, which comes into play when using the Communicator 9500 in phone style, gives you 128x128 pixels, also in 16-bit colour.

Within many applications you can choose to use the full width of the screen or just 90mm of it. In the latter case, a margin to the left shows information such as battery charge level and radio signal status, while one on the right offers application-dependent options. Up to four options are possible, and they are selected via four buttons on the right-hand edge of the device.

The idea is that you get manoeuvrability within applications without having to call up the menus that are also available and provide a fuller range of options. It's an intuitive system, unchanged from earlier Communicators, and we appreciate the fact that the user has control of which of the two modes to work in.

The supplied software range reflects this device's target market well. There's a contact manager, calendar and an integrated messaging tool that copes with email, MMS, SMS and fax. You get a word processor, a spreadsheet and a presentations tool -- all three of which are compatible with Microsoft Office. A calculator, Web browser, image viewer, voice recorder, music and video players are also present.

The software suite is topped off by a notes application that lets you save short texts to the main screen -- which Nokia calls the Desk -- with the minimum of key presses. The Installation CD offers a ZIP file manager and a PDF viewer among its additional tools, as well as desktop synchronisation software.

Our test device was not quite a final version, so we were not able to benchmark the battery. In general, though, we found this to operate within Nokia's suggested range of 4 to 10 hours of talktime, 200 to 300 hours on standby with Wi-Fi off, and 180 to 240 hours with Wi-Fi on. We survived for a couple of overnight trips between recharges.

We were able to test the device's general usability and the software. On the usability front, it's the keyboard that impressed us the most. This includes full QWERTY keys, a number row and above that a row of application shortcuts (one of which is user customisable), along with a range of extra buttons, including a navigation key. The QWERTY keys are small (10 by 7mm) and there's no air space between them. They are too small for touch typing, but we found them big enough for reasonably fast two-fingered or two-thumbed typing.

Connectivity options are well thought-out. We had no difficulty joining our wireless network or using our T-Mobile SIM to access the Internet, and we paired with a Bluetooth headset (Motorola's new HS850) and successfully made voice calls, all very easily and with no fuss. Wireless connections are managed via a common interface, so that, for example, you open the Web browser, tap in a Web address and are then asked which available option you would like to use -- your wireless network, your network operator or whatever else might be around. Nokia even offers a public Wi-Fi hotspot finder that will locate the nearest ones. True to its corporate focus, the 9500 Communicator incorporates SSL, VPN, Ipsec and WPA.

The software is, for the most part, intuitive to use, and what it lacks in bells and whistles it makes up for in continuity of use across different applications. It's possible, for example, to configure groups of contacts in one application and then write a single message to go to each member of a group in another.

As already noted, the 9500 Communicator is designed for a specific market -- the mobile professional requiring good access to contacts, basic office documents and communications. It manages these functions very well, and although it's large and somewhat unwieldy, the 9500's clean-cut, functional approach is appealing. Outside its niche the 9500 Communicator feels clunky and lacking any 'wow' factor. Within its niche, though, it covers the bases impressively well.

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[NOKIA 9300i]

Tri Band, GPRS 10, EDGE 10, WAP 2.0, Symbian 7.0, Bluetooth, InfraRed, Java 2.0, Port USB
Dimensi = 13,2x5,1x2,1 cm
Internal Screen = TFT 65.536 color, 640x200 pixel
Eksternal Screen = TFT 65.536 Color, 128x128 pixel
Fitures = Polifonik 40 channel (MP3), Memory 80 MB, Qwerty Keyboad, Series 80v2.0, MIDP 2.0, MMC, hot swap, HSCSD, Wi-Fi 802.11g, xHTML, HTML (Opera), Player MP3/AAC/RA/MIDI, MMS, Email, Fax, Organiser, Office Application, Speakerphone, Game, etc
Battery = Li-Po 1100 mAh, standby 230 hours, talk time 8 hours
Released = September 2007

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Nokia 9300 Communicator Specification

Announcing the 9300 Smartphone, Nokia suggested that it has both 'beauty and brains', and is 'the best all-in-one device for users, regardless of workstyle or lifestyle'. The implication is that it could appeal both to consumers who are considering a handy mobile data device with built-in communications features, and to professionals for whom the 9500 Communicator seems bulky.Tri Band, GPRS 32, WAP 2.0, Symbian 7.0, Bluetooth, InfraRed, Java 2.0
Dimensi = 13,2x5,1x2,1 cm
Internal Screen = TFT 65.536 color, 640x200 pixel
Eksternal Screen = TFT 65.536 Color, 128x128 pixel
Fitures = Polifonik 24 channel/MP3, Memory 80 MB, MMC, HSCSD, S80 2nd edition, SMS, MMS, Email, Picture Messaging, Player MP3/MPEG-4, MIDP 2.0, Word/Exel/Powerpoint Compatibility, xHTML, HTML, Qwerty Keyboad, Alarm Clock, SyncML, Currency Converter, Calculator, Calendar, Speakerphone, Game
Battery = Li-Ion 970 mAh, standby 230 hours, talk time 8 hours
Released = Triwulan III 2004

The lack of Wi-Fi and a camera, along with a smaller overall device size, are the key differences between the two phones. The handset-only prices are split by a hair and not really relevant when comparing the two products. If you can live without the camera and Wi-Fi, the 9300 Smartphone will definitely be easier to carry around in a pocket.

Design

The 9300 Smartphone certainly looks small and neat next to the 9500 Communicator. The latter's 148 by 57 by 24mm dimensions and 222g weight are reduced to 132 by 51 by 21mm and 167g. By way of comparison, T-Mobile's MDA III, for example, weighs 210g, while O2's xda II is a slightly more pocket-friendly 190g. The reduction in size is accompanied by a different look, with the 9300 Smartphone clad in a two-tone silver livery that we find more appealing than the three-tone grey, black and silver of the 9500 Communicator.

However, the basic premise remains the same: the 9300 Smartphone has a number pad on the front and opens up to reveal a keyboard and wide-format screen. The device is designed to work both as a data manager and a mobile phone.

Features
The 9300 Smartphone relies on Symbian Series 40 for its phone-related functions and features. The external screen is a 128x128-pixel, 16-bit colour display, with a cursor and softkey buttons for navigation. The 9300 Smartphone is a tri-band GSM/GPRS phone with support for high-speed EGPRS (EDGE) connectivity, although no UK network operators have yet adopted this mode.

The phone can be turned on and off independently of the data features, which are the real draw. This side of things is handled by Symbian OS 7 and Nokia's Series 80 platform, and becomes available when you open up the device in clamshell format. A 640x200-pixel screen occupies the upper part of the open clamshell, with a QWERTY keyboard beneath it. The screen arranges the bundled applications in groups identified by icons -- the home screen is called the Desk.
All the applications you'd expect are here: contact book, diary, word processor, spreadsheet, presentations manager, file manager, calculator and Web browser. A messaging tool takes care of email, SMS and faxes. There's also a voice recorder, a music player and a movie player, plus a separate telephone dialler that uses the 9300's loud and very effective speakerphone. Microsoft Office compatibility with appropriate applications extends to Office 97.

On the right side of the screen is a column of four buttons, just like the ones on the 9500 Communicator. These buttons allow quick access to up to four options, which vary depending on the application being used. As with the 9500 Communicator, some applications can be stretched across the full width of the screen, in which case these button-based options are not available.

The lower part of the clamshell is occupied by a keyboard. This comprises a set of QWERTY keys with a number row above and above that a row of wide thin buttons which act as shortcuts to applications. One of these is labelled My Own and can be customised. There is also a small joystick which acts as a means of navigation within and between applications. Applications generally have a menu system which is activated using a dedicated key, then navigated with the joystick, though there are also many key combination shortcuts which can be used as alternatives. A number of the keys have second functions.

The 9300 Smartphone's keyboard is remarkably good considering it's packed into such a small device. Typing was equally successful when single-finger prodding with the device sat on a desk, or two-thumb typing with it nestling in the hands. That said, data-entry speeds are obviously slower than they would be with a notebook keyboard.

Nokia's PC Sync desktop software manages data sharing via a wired connection, and the package comes with both a cradle and cable.

There is 80MB of built-in memory for storing data and applications, and this is non volatile -- that is, it will be retained if the battery runs completely down. There's also a MultiMedia Card slot under the battery cover that can be swapped without the need to remove the battery itself. Nokia provides a 128MB card to boost the memory quota. If you want to add peripherals, you'll have to use Nokia's proprietary Pop-Port interface. Bluetooth is built in, and we successfully paired the 9300 with a Bluetooth headset. Two notable absentees from the feature set -- both present in the 9500 Communicator -- are Wi-Fi connectivity and a camera.

Performance

The processor, a Texas Instruments OMAP 1510 running at 150MHz, delivered well when applications were running, but we found them a little slow to load. We noticed this most when opening our contacts database, which is admittedly rather large.

Battery life was impressive. We instructed the device to play MP3 music from the MultiMedia Card continuously, and it did so for 12 hours and 42 minutes. We generally like to force the screen to stay on during this process, in order to work the battery hard, but in this case there is no 'always on' option for the screen, so we allowed it to go off after 6 minutes. Consequently the test is not really comparable to those we carry out for other mobile devices.

Our real-world everyday usage test indicates that Nokia's claim of 3.5 to 4 hours of talk and 150 to 200 hours of standby time is about right.

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Nokia 9210i Major Features Reviews

The “improved” version of Nokia’s communicator product, the 9210i, doesn’t look much different to its predecessor model - still being the big chunk that comes with a long list of available features, appealing to individuals that rather not carry their laptop around with them. There are some new things on this communicator model that will make life somewhat easier. But to have the trailing “i” within its model number, it has to at least come with some sort of advancement, right?
Dual Band, WAP 2.0, InfraRed, Java 2.0
Dimensi = 15,8x5,61x2,7 cm
Eksternal Screen = TFT 4096 Color, 640x200 pixel
Fitures = Monofonik/WAV, Memory 40 MB, 8 MB SD-RAM, Qwerty Keyboad, MMC, CPU Processor 32-bit ARM9-based RISC, HSCSD, SMS, Email, SyncML, Fax, Currency Converter, Calculator, Voice Command/Dial, Speakerphone, Game
Battery = Li-Ion 1300 mAh, standby 230 hours, talk time 4 hours
Released = March 2007

New/outstanding features
Probably the biggest and most beneficial change is the increased availability of built-in memory on the Communicator - up to 16MB of user memory is now available, as compared to the mere 2MB on the 9210. The built-in WWW (World Wide Web) browser comes with several improvements as well - now supporting CSS and JavaScript, the ability to open two browser windows at the same time, and a content sensitive pointer and edge sensitive scrolling. Macromedia’s Flash Player and RealNetwork’s RealOne Player have been included as well.

On the basic phone functionality side of things, picture messaging support has been added as well.
Physical aspects
Nokia has changed the colour used for the keypad to a silvery base, which coincides with the key colours below the small LCD screen. This physical variation is probably used to distinguish the 9210i from the previous 9210 model, but does make the exterior kinda look better also! :)

Apart from that, everything is virtually the same - keyboard layout, LCD screen, exterior design, and its high quality build. A very solid PDA phone indeed!

User Interface & display
The 9210i retains the same Symbian OS user interface as previously found on the 9210. In addition to the QWERTY keyboard, the 4-way navigation key facilitates the “moving around” part on the 9210i, while quick access keys above the number buttons allow the respective functions to be brought up instantaneously. Four soft keys on the right of the display provide context-sensitive functionality.

On the outside, the phone interface is very similar to any other Nokia phone menu layout - but has been cut down to only relevant phone functions only. These include a basic messaging interface, call registers, call divert, and IR activation only. Other functions are only accessible from the primary communicator interface.
Making and receiving calls
You can take the calls directly via the 9210i’s earpiece or through its speakerphone. To switch between the two, simply have the communicator interface opened to enable the speakerphone ability - and have it closed up to talk like with any old phone! Call quality using either method is as good as any other mobile phone or desktop speakerphone.

There is also the headset or car kit accessory available for the Nokia 9200 Communicator series of PDA phones. Probably one of the very few PDA phones to come with the latter ability.

Messaging
One would reckon a QWERTY keyboard is going to make all the difference when it comes to messaging. But don’t forget the size of the keys when compared to the one on your laptop or PC! The QWERTY keyboard on the 9210i isn’t too small. But alike most handheld devices with a fixed keyboard, there’s nothing much we can do but accustom ourselves into using it.

The 9210i comes with several messaging methods - including the standard SMS, Internet email, and fax transmissions. All this can be accessed via the “Messaging” quick access key from the communicator interface. Should you only need to type a few words, SMS messages can still be composed through the phone interface. Take note that T9 is not supported on the 9210i.

Build quality
The construction of the 9210i is probably one of the best when compared with its sister products (probably because of the type of people using their Communicator-based products). You should not be able to find any flimsiness or unusual sounds - even on prolonged use!

Battery life
A high-capacity, 1300 mAh lithium-ion is supplied with the 9210i’s sale package, and provides good battery times for all situations. Of course, if you end up using the PDA functions more on a single charge, the overall talk and standby times will vary significantly. On average use, I was able to attain approximately 4-5 days standby and around 3-4 hours of talk time.

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