Nokia N95 - [updated, official]
Published by Rafe Blandford at 14:20 BST, September 26th 2006
Nokia have announced the Nokia N95, featuring an innovative double slide design with multimedia controls and a keypad on opposite end of the phones. Read on for full details, pictures and the full press release.
Summary: The N95 is Nokia's first HSDPA (3.5G) device, but also boasts Wi-Fi, WCDMA, quad-band GSM, Bluetooth (including A2DP), IrDA and USB 2.0 connectivity (via mini USB connector). Other hardware features include a 5 megapixel camera, a built in GPS, TV-Out, 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio, a MicroSD memory card slot and 150MB of internal memory.
In the hand the most impressive aspect of the device, given its feature set, is its size. At 99mm x 20mm x 53mm (90cc), the N93 packs an impressively amount into a small space. Nokia have managed to add two major technologies to the Nseries line (GPS and HSDPA) while significantly reducing the volume of the device. In length and width dimensions it is larger that the other Nseries slider - the N80, but it is considerably thinner.
HSPDA is the next generationin cellular connectivity. The N95 is a category 6 HSPDA device which means it is up to 10 times faster that WCDMA (3G). Clearly HSDPA support is required at a network level, but many networks have already begun their testing or roll out periods. The faster connection speeds make downloading media (such as podcasts via the in built Podcast application) more palatable and should also improve latency/round trip times. Wi-Fi, WCDMA (3G) connectivity, together with quad band GSM and EDGE are also supported. Bluetooth 2.0, IrDA and USB make up the local connectivity options.
The 5.0 megapixel camera uses Carl Zeiss Optics with autofocus and digital zoom with a dedicated 2 stage capture button on the side of the phone. Video capture at near DVD quality is also supported. On the side of the device there are several buttons dedicated to camera usage. This allows the device to be held in a similar way to a traditional camera with the screen, in landscape mode, used as the view finder and the shutter button on bottom right hand side of the device (top right when phone is held horizontally). On the rear of the device, next to the camera is the slide switch, which is used to open the lens aperture and activate camera mode. Although it is difficult to judge the image quality at this stage the evidence we saw suggest that the N95 will be on of the most capable camera phones available.
A GPS is integrated into the device with anticipated accuracy of around 10m (satellite signal permitting). The devices will ship with an application called Maps which has global overview maps built in. More detailed maps (with coverage over more than 100 different countries available) can be downloaded for free from an online server. The detail available varies from country to country, but in many cases it is available down to street level. A point of interest (POI) database is also included. All the maps are available for free, as is basic route planning, but navigation functionality (with voice and on screen prompts) will be available as a pay-for add on. City Guides will also be available for purchase and other services are likely to be made available in the future. The mapping software and services is likely to based on technology from gate5, a company which Nokia recently announced it was acquiring.
Music playback is also a major focus of the device. The dedicated multimedia keys on the top flip of the device are primarily designed for music playback (although can also be used in other multimedia contexts). Wireless stereo sound output (via the A2DP Bluetooth profile) is also supported, and stereo audio output is also supported by the TV output feature and the on board stereo speakers. The music formats supported include MP3, AAC, AAC+ and WMA. Video playback on the QVGA screen is excellent and supported video formats include 3GP, Real Video and MP4 with support for the latest AVC codec.
The multimedia key now leads to a revamped application and multimedia shorcut view which now supports both a greater number of shortcuts (applications, multimedia files and bookmarks) and more flexible personalisation. As a result it is now a more generic shortcut key mechansim and offers an alternative to the standard application launcher.
The N95 uses S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 (Symbian 9.2) and as such includes version 2.0 of the open source Nokia web browser (supporting WML, XHTML and HTML in one browser), Flash Lite 2.0, FOTA (firmware over the air updates) and more.
The N95 uses the same small power port as other S60 3rd Edition devices, but the in-box charger is considerably smaller than the existing models (up to 60% smaller). The N95 has a 950 mAh battery, it is likely that the N95 will require a daily charge with moderate to heavy use, although 3-6 days may be possible with lighter use (dependent on network strength, type and other factors).
The N95 will be available in Q1 2007 and the approximate unsubsidised price is €550. Initially it will be available in the EMEA market. It will not be officially available in the US although gray imports are very likely.
Resources and Related Stories
Nokia N95 First Impressions Review
Nokia N95 - Your Questions Answered
Nokia N95 Launch Story (this story)
Nokia N95 Software Directory / List
Nokia N95 Sample Camera ImagesNokia N95 Device Photos
Further Images
Click images for high resolution original images.
Press Release: It's what computers have become - the new Nokia N95
September 26, 2006
Categories: Hardware
Platforms: S60 3rd Edition
News Discussion
This is close to being a dream phone as far as I can see. Relieved to see that you don't list a HDD in the phone. This would be a shame in an otherwise near-perfect spec list, and would only make it heavier and more delicate. Better to have 2 card slots than an HDD if you're hell-bent on more storage, tho of course an 8GB microSD would be good.
Speaking of which, buyers of the N95 might be interested in this product - 4GB in your MicroSD slot, with 8GB on the way...
http://www.usmodular.com/MCE/default//product/2290
What will be cool is in a few years when mass market low end consumer models have this power - the point being the apps that it makes possible. Nokia are absolutely right - it is what computers have become. Which is why Microsoft and the PC are already on the road to oblivion, though few realise it yet.
Looking forward to seeing all the details tomorrow, and developing software for this device!
Alex
phonething.com
It would have the convenience of a vertical layout for calls and writing texts, and the game-friendliness of a horizontal layout for playing games (and of course horizontal is also better for web browsing, watching videos etc).
The multimedia controls on the left side of the screen would complement the d-pad on the right, and work really well in gaming. They probably just need a few more buttons below the multimedia ones, for more complex games.
Even if this model is a bit too expensive for the average gamer, they could use the same design solution on cheaper models too.
> More or less the same. Not very impressive to me.
Ah. I think you're the man that wants a gold plated mobile with holographic projection, 2 TB storage, and is an interplanetary communicator and teleporter, all for £9.99 ;-)
No, the N95 only blows away every other mobile west of Asia (and a lot within it). That's not impressive at all ;-)
Love to have this but i will be able to live with the N80 (hopefully). :tongue:
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Originally Posted by Hardeep1singh
Only question left in my mind is Nokia always leaves their phones just one feature short, to make sure people buy newer phones. What could be missing in this one?
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Granted though, if the build quality is good enough and the firmware more polished than what we've had so far on 3rd edition phone, this certainly will be the ultimate multimedia phone. (EDIT: for the next 6 months that is but since it won't be released before at least 6 months then scrap that, it won't be the ultimate multimedia phone :-).
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Originally Posted by elp
VGA screen, touchscreen and qwerty keyboard.
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Originally Posted by elp
VGA screen, touchscreen and qwerty keyboard.
Granted though, if the build quality is good enough and the firmware more polished than what we've had so far on 3rd edition phone, this certainly will be the ultimate multimedia phone. (EDIT: for the next 6 months that is but since it won't be released before at least 6 months then scrap that, it won't be the ultimate multimedia phone :-). |
Not VGA Screen, but Sharp have 904 have it an year ago, no touchscreen (but Psion have a years ago) no qwerty keyboard like HTH TyTn...:frown: More or less the same, why:con?
In the windows mobile/HTC world that's standard specs, but for some reason when it comes to symbian smartphones I find these details hidden in some review - if I'm lucky. I know MHz between Symbian and WM or different handheld processors don't always compare well, but it's still info I'd want up front if I bought a PC. For instance, does N95 use the same arm-cpu like the N93 and if so at what speed?
Those who want an even more 'dream' phone than the N95 should take heart from the developments going on with Mobile Linux. This opens the door to more manufacturers and customised developments and will increase competition - and thus tech specs. I'd lay bets on the up and coming economic powerhouses in the Far East (e.g. China etc.) getting into this field and aiming to compete with Nokia.
Alex
phonething.com
It would be a waste of time asknig about free RAM though - Nokia seem utterly clueless about what RAM does. Which makes it not insurprising that their models end up with less of the stuff than is really needed.
I was trying to zoom into a photo to demo a freshly booted N93 yesterday. I couldn't get beyond 50% without hitting the buffers and Gallery crashing. It's just not good enough.
RAM management on v2 firmware, as on the E61 and E70 is better, but I still hit limits more often than I'd like. All S60 3rd Edition devices should really come with at least another 32MB of RAM. I can't believe it would cost Nokia more than a few dollars per device and would have saved them a HUGE amount of R&D in terms of trying to work round the RAM paucity in software.
Somehow I don't think the N95 will be any better 8-(((((
Steve Litchfield
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Originally Posted by ajck
A keyboard is just a daft suggestion - PDAs are a nearly dead breed - anyone that wants a qwerty keyboard needs to lay their hands on a bluetooth foldable job, or for something tiny, check out the "Freedom Mini" - qwerty, BT and credit card sized.
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In general though, i think that a built-in qwerty keyboard is far from being a daft idea. T9 just isn't good enough for more than typing short SMS and email messages so until we manage to find a more suitable input method for mobile devices a qwerty keyboard is required for any serious smarphone user.
When i bought my Sendo X (which has just a numeric keypad) I also bought its foldable keyboard thinking that i'd use it all the time. It turned out that i almost never used it. It's small and light compared to a real keyboard but still far to large and heavy to carry with you all the time. So it always stayed at home. And even when i wanted to write a note or SMS at home, I often used T9 instead of the keyboard because using the keyboard would mean sitting at my desk, unfolding the the keyboard, connecting the phone to the keyboard and only then start typing. It's just too cumbersome.
I've had a look at the Freedom Mini you mentionned but i'm not impressed at all. Why would i want to carry a separate thumbboard when i could have one built-in my phone? Plus, judging from the reviews i've read, it looks like this thing would drive me nuts in no time. You can't simply start typing away on the keyboard, you first have to switch on bluetooth (then remember to switch it off at the end since i don't use bluetoth otherwise), then type a caracter, then wait for the connection to be established then and only then you can start typing. The '.' and ',' caracters are not directly accessible, you need to press and hold the shift key to enter an upper case letter... No thanks, i don't think that this can replace a built-in qwerty keyboard that always there when you need it.